| COMMUNITY |
| Message Boards Chat Feedback |
| SITE SOURCES |
| Contents Help! Search CNN Networks |
| SPECIALS |
| Quick News Almanac Video Vault News Quiz |
 |
|
|
U.N. considers Yugoslav arms embargo
March 18, 1998
Web posted at: 6:46 p.m. EST (2346 GMT)NEW YORK (CNN) -- The U.N. Security Council is considering a resolution slapping an arms embargo on the Yugoslav federation in the wake of recent police actions against ethnic Albanians in the province of Kosovo.
The proposal was developed by the Contact Group, a policy-making body on Balkan issues that consists of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States.
"We believe it's a good strong text calling for an international arms embargo," said Bill Richardson, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. "It's moving forward. Hopefully, it will be adopted in the next few days."
Diplomatic sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said officials of various Security Council member states were refining the language of the arms embargo resolution and would discuss it further on Thursday.
The timing of an actual vote is unclear. Sources said the Russians were seeking to delay a vote until their foreign minister, Yevgeny Primakov, completes a visit to the Yugoslav capital of Belgrade.
Draft urges ethnic Albanians to use 'peaceful means'
A draft resolution being circulated to members calls for a ban on arms supplies to the Belgrade government and on "training for terrorist activities" in Kosovo. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan would establish a monitoring system to make sure weapons supplies are cut off.
The text also calls on the leadership of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population "to condemn all terrorist action" and pursue their goals by "peaceful means only."
The resolution also calls on the Yugoslav government to take "immediate steps to reduce tensions" in Kosovo, where more than 80 people have been killed since crackdowns on Albanian separatists were launched February 28.
The draft also expresses support for an "enhanced status" for Kosovo within the Yugoslav federation -- a veiled call to restore autonomy to the Serbian province, which was taken away in 1989.
Serbia and Montenegro are the two republics within the Yugoslav federation. Kosovo is a province within Serbia, though it had a degree of self-rule until that was stripped away during the chaos that led to the departure of four of the six republics that then made up the federation.
About 90 percent of the population of Kosovo is ethnically Albanian, rather than Serb.
Key to embargo may lie with China
However, the key to whether a U.N. arms embargo is imposed on the Yugoslavs may lie with China, which, as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, could veto the arms embargo proposal.
Chinese officials have maintained that the resolution of the Kosovo dispute is an internal matter for the Yugoslavs to settle. However, they have not come right out and said that China would veto the resolution.
Diplomats believe China may see parallels between Serb rule in Kosovo and China's 47-year control of Tibet.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Contact Group agrees to Kosovo resolution - March 17, 1998
- U.S., Russians look to ease tensions in Balkans - March 17, 1998
- Thousands of ethnic Albanians march in Kosovo - March 15, 1998
- Serbs extend new offer for Kosovo talks - March 14, 1998
- More rallies, no talks in Kosovo - March 13, 1998
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (official government site)
- OSCE: Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina - providing information about the OSCE's activities
- Yugoslavia.com - information, news and links
- Serbia Now - non-partisan, non-profit news digest
- Serbia Online - general information on Serbia, its history and institutions
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Sound off on our message boards & chat |
|
© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.