Kosovo and U.S. Policy

In 1998 and 1999 the United States and its NATO allies attempted to put an end to escalating violence between ethnic Albanian guerrillas and YugoslavSerb forces in Yugoslavias Kosovo region. They were outraged by Serb atrocities against ethnic Albanian civilians, and feared that the conflict could drag in other countries and destabilize the region. These efforts culminated in a 78-day NATO bombing campaign against Serbia from March to June 1999. Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic agreed to withdraw his forces from the province in June 1999. Since June 1999, Kosovo has been governed by an interim U.N. civil administration, under the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244. After elections are held and an autonomous government is in place, Kosovos final status is to be considered. Almost all ethnic Albanians want independence for Kosovo Serbs say it should remain within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia FRY. The NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR is charged with providing a secure environment for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1244.