The American Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has stated that NATO’s intervention in Kosovo was necessary and legitimate to stop ethnic cleansing by the criminal Slobodan Milosevic.
March 24 marks 25 years since NATO began the bombings that resulted in the liberation of Kosovo.
The American Mission to the OSCE stated that what happened in the Kosovo war will never be forgotten.
“25 years ago, NATO began Operation Allied Force to end the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Kosovo. After all diplomatic avenues to end Milosevic’s brutal ethnic cleansing campaign were exhausted, military action was the last resort. NATO’s use of force was necessary and legitimate. The UN Security Council had expressed concerns about the severe humanitarian situation in Kosovo, the increasing number of refugees, and the threat it posed to international peace and security. We will never forget what happened a quarter-century ago. We remember the thousands of innocent people who were killed or went missing, and the hundreds of thousands who were forced from their homes due to the violence of Milosevic’s ethno-nationalist regime and his forces,” the mission’s statement reads.
According to the response of the American Mission to the OSCE, to ensure that what happened in Kosovo does not recur, “The United States is focused on the future of the Western Balkans and the European integration of the region.”
“We call on all partners in the region to focus on completing the task of building a stable, prosperous, multi-ethnic, and secure Western Balkans. The United States celebrates your progress towards EU membership. We will continue to work with you to strengthen democratic governance and respect for human rights, implementation of electoral reform, advancement of media freedom, improvement of economic integration, and preservation of multiethnic cooperation and respect,” their statement continues.
The American Mission to the OSCE emphasizes the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia for a “brighter future of the Western Balkans.”
“A brighter future for the Western Balkans requires the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, including eventual mutual recognition. We fully support the EU-facilitated dialogue, which is the only way forward for a future that all Kosovars and Serbs deserve.”
They thanked the OSCE missions in Kosovo and Serbia for their active work in helping both countries achieve their goals for greater European integration, including EU membership.
“We encourage all parties to honor the memory of those who lost their lives by working together to build a peaceful and prosperous future in the Western Balkans,” the mission’s statement concludes.
Source: Koha.net
