Archive for the month of March 1999

Press statement by NATO Secretary General Janvier Solana

Yesterday evening around 8 p.m., Operation Allied Force began.

Last night's operation was carried out with a broad participation by Allies. This demonstrates NATO solidarity, unity and resolve in carrying out this action. Let me stress that strikes were conducted against carefully chosen military targets focused on the air defence network of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Statement by NATO Secretary General Janvier Solana following commencement of air operations

I have been informed by SACEUR, General Clark, that at this moment NATO Air Operations against targets in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have commenced.

In the last months the international community has spared no efforts to achieve a negotiated solution in Kosovo. But it has not been possible.

In the first days of Operation Allied Force, approximately 350 aircraft were committed to this operation. Many of them were already present because of previous or ongoing operations.

The first attack occurred on March 24, 1999, around 2000 local time. Thirteen of the nineteen NATO members contributed aircraft, of which 8 countries actually were engaged in combat:

Chronology

The air strikes against Yugoslavia did not come as a surprise. Listed next are some of the events that eventually led to the air strikes.

October 13, 1998 - NATO's decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, issued an Activation Order for limited air strikes and a phased air campaign against Yugoslavia (Operation Determined Force).

October 15, 1998 - An agreement was signed between NATO's SACEUR and the Yugoslav Chief of General Staff over a verification mission, complementing an OSCE verification mission.

October 24, 1998 - The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1203, supporting the NATO and OSCE verification missions.

October 27, 1998 - NATO maintained the Activation Order for the phased air campaign against Yugoslavia.

January 20, 1999 - NATO increased readiness of the assigned forces. Forces were brought on 48 hour status.

January 29, 1999 - The international Contact Group called upon all parties to agree on a political settlement for Kosovo by February 20, 1999. NATO's NAC agreed that Secretary General Solana could order air strikes any time.

February 20, 1999 - The Contact Group extended the negotiations until February 23, 1999.

February 23, 1999 - Negotiations were again extended by the Contact Group until March 15, 1999. During this time, both the Serb and Kosovo parties were granted the time to approve the peace plan. The Serb delegation did not seem willing to accept the peace plan.

March 18, 1999 - After difficult negotiations in Rambouillet (France) and several delays the Kosovo Albanians signed a peace deal unilaterally calling for an interim autonomy during three years and 28,000 NATO troops to implement it. The Serb delegation refused to sign and the peace talks were suspended indefinitely.

March 22, 1999 - The US special envoy Richard Holbrooke warned Yugoslav president Milosevic of air strikes unless he signed the peace agreement after all. Milosevic refused.

March 23, 1999 - NATO authorized air strikes against Yugoslavia. The Secretary General ordered military commanders to initiate air operations. See NATO press release March 23 by Secretary-General Janvier Solana.

March 24, 1999 - NATO actually commenced the air strikes. See NATO press release March 24 and >NATO press release March 25 by Secretary-General Janvier Solana.

Also see the NATO statement of March 25, issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council on April 23 and 24 April. This statement also mentions the five NATO requirements with which Yugoslav President Milosevic must comply.