By Jan Oberg

TFF PressInfo 67 – May 7, 1999

Originally published here.

Serbo-Croatian version here.

“The G8 foreign ministers’ declaration of principles to resolve the Kosovo “crisis” is a mishmash of face-saving elements for the West and addresses none of the root causes of the conflict or the failure of the West as a mediator,” says TFF director Jan Oberg. “This declaration may be used to justify continued bombing and, if implemented, promises a very sad future for the Balkans. But ‘conflict illiteracy’ abounds, so leading media call it a peace plan – repeating their treatment of Rambouillet.”

Here follows the full G8 text of principles as published by BBC on May 6:

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“The following general principles must be adopted and implemented to resolve the Kosovo crisis:

* Immediate and verifiable end of violence and repression in Kosovo.

* Withdrawal from Kosovo of military, police and paramilitary forces.

* Deployment in Kosovo of effective international civil and security presences, endorsed and adopted by the United Nations, capable of guaranteeing the achievement of the common objectives.

* The establishment of an interim administration for Kosovo, to be decided by the Security Council of the United Nations to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants for Kosovo.

* The safe and free return of all refugees and displaced persons and unimpeded access to Kosovo by humanitarian aid organisations.

* A political process towards the establishment of an interim political framework. An agreement providing for substantial self-government for Kosovo, taking full account of the Rambouillet accords and the principles and sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and other countries of the region and the demilitarisation of the UCK.

* Comprehensive approach to the economic development and stabilisation of the crisis region.”

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“Here are 10 reasons why this declaration can be seen as another peace plan fraud: 

1. The ministers call this a “crisis” and not a “conflict” or a “war.” [Read more…]