(2006-1186-F Segment 1) Republic of Kosovo

The materials in FOIA 2006-1186-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) was formed in 1963 and was the third combination of separate Balkan states since 1918. The first conglomeration of autonomous states and republics to be called Yugoslavia was formed October 3, 1929. The SFRY consisted of six Socialist Republics and two Socialist Autonomous Regions. The six Socialist Republics were: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Serbia. The two autonomous regions were: Vojvodina and Kosovo; both of which made up the Socialist Republic of Serbia. From the creation of Yugoslavia, ethnic and religious differences complicated the process of establishing a unified state and effective governance. In the 1980s, following decades of simmering tension, competing nationalists movements began maneuvers to take control of the Yugoslav federation. A new constitution, the collapse of the Communist system, and failed elections led to the minority Serb population controlling Kosovo’s police, courts, and Provincial government and increased their role in National defense and foreign affairs. Ethnic Albanians refused to participate in a government that they saw as corrupt. This gave the Serb minority in Kosovo a majority voice in elections. Combined with the anti-bureaucratic revolutions of the late 1980s in Montenegro and Vojvodina, Serbs and supporters of Slobodan Milosevic suddenly held power in four of the eight provinces, or republics, that made up the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). Beginning in the late 1980s and the early 1990s the Communist party was losing control of the government. Ethnic and religious differences created widespread unrest across the country. A significant economic downturn with high unemployment began in 1990. These political, economic and social factors contributed to several states declaring independence. Bloody, and highly personal war, broke out in several former Yugoslavian countries following their separation. The war in Kosovo began in April of 1997, when the Albanian separatist Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) attacked Serbian security forces. The war was largely a guerilla war fought between the KLA and Yugoslavian police and defense forces. It was marked, as was the whole of the Yugoslav wars, by extensive humanitarian suffering and genocide. In October of 1998 a short-lived ceasefire was a agreed to and then quickly violated. International pressure brought high-level discussions at the Rambouillet Conference led by NATO. However, these talks failed and in March 1999, NATO began a bombing campaign against the Yugoslavian forces in an attempt to force them to accept the independence of the KLA. Serbian forces continued their ethnic cleansing campaign and by April the United Nations estimated that approximately 850,000 Albanians were now refugees. On June 3, 1999, Slobodan Milosevic, President of Yugoslavia, capitulated and on June 12 he accepted the proposed peace conditions. A United Nations led Kosovo Force (KFOR) moved in to take over law enforcement duties and allow for refugees to return to their homes. The United States sent troops to support the NATO mission to Southeast Kosovo where they served for approximately four months. During the period between June 12 and June 14, 1999 there was only one Deputies Committee meeting that discussed Kosovo, that being on the 12th. There was a Principals Committee meeting on the 12th but they did not discuss the situation in Kosovo. Open records are primarily administrative paperwork and emails discussing Kosovo in general terms as well as preparations for the meeting on the 12th . The nature of the discussion and the business of the meeting resulted in many records closed for national security reasons.