BELGRADE, June 10 (Hina) - On June 10 two years ago, NATO air raids against Yugoslavia were discontinued after NATO and Yugoslav Army representatives signed an agreement on the withdrawal of all Yugoslav army and police forces from
Kosovo on June 9. The Yugoslav authorities have still not released official information on the number of persons who were killed or wounded in the intensive, everyday NATO attacks, which lasted 78 days. The number of killed soldiers, police officers and civilians is estimated at between 1,200 and 2,500 whereas the number of the wounded is estimated at some 5,000. Human Rights Watch reported last year that some 500 civilians had been killed in the attacks. The NATO operation started at 8 pm on March 24, 1999 after long but unsuccessful talks on the resolution of the Kosovo crisis in Rambouillet, France. The operation, dubbed "Angel of Mercy", was aimed to protect Kosovo Albanians and
BELGRADE, June 10 (Hina) - On June 10 two years ago, NATO air raids
against Yugoslavia were discontinued after NATO and Yugoslav Army
representatives signed an agreement on the withdrawal of all
Yugoslav army and police forces from Kosovo on June 9.
The Yugoslav authorities have still not released official
information on the number of persons who were killed or wounded in
the intensive, everyday NATO attacks, which lasted 78 days.
The number of killed soldiers, police officers and civilians is
estimated at between 1,200 and 2,500 whereas the number of the
wounded is estimated at some 5,000. Human Rights Watch reported
last year that some 500 civilians had been killed in the attacks.
The NATO operation started at 8 pm on March 24, 1999 after long but
unsuccessful talks on the resolution of the Kosovo crisis in
Rambouillet, France.
The operation, dubbed "Angel of Mercy", was aimed to protect Kosovo
Albanians and prevent their exodus by Yugoslav military and police
units.
On March 31, 1999, UNHCR stated that almost one million Albanians
had left Kosovo. It is estimated that some 200,000 Serbs and other
non-Albanians left Kosovo while some 800,000 Albanians returned to
the region after the NATO operation.
Yugoslav sources have estimated the damage caused by the NATO
operation at some USD 30 billion.
On the day NATO air attacks on Yugoslavia were discontinued, the UN
Security Council adopted Resolution 1244 on Kosovo and two days
later, first international peace forces (KFOR) arrived in Kosovo.
France's Bernard Kouchner was appointed the province's
international administrator. Kouchner was replaced by Hans
Haekkerup this year.
(hina) rml