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France Suggests Changes in NATO-Yugoslav Agreement Over Kosovo
France suggested a possible change in the "military-technical" agreement between NATO and Yugoslavia on Tuesday over a five-kilometer long security strip between Serbia and Kosovo, because of the recent intrusion by Kosovo Albanian separatists into the strip.
Francois Rivasseau, spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry, said NATO should try to "adapt" some elements in the agreement, which was signed in June 1999 after a three-month bombing campaign by the North Atlantic military alliance against Yugoslavia.
The spokesman called on the United Nations peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) to coordinate with Yugoslav authorities to make sure that the administrative dividing line between Serbia and Kosovo is not violated by Albanian separatists.
"It is up to the KFOR to make sure that the line between Kosovo and Serbia is not violated. KFOR should coordinate with Serbia to put an end to this abnormal situation," he said.
Under the NATO-Yugoslav agreement, Yugoslav army may not enter the security strip located in southeast Serbia, and only Serb civil police can enter the zone.
Kosovo Albanian separatists belonging to the "The Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac" have occupied several villages in the zone for one week.
The United Nations peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) mediated a truce between Yugoslavia and the Albanian separatists in the security zone region on Tuesday.
During a visit to Kosovo last Saturday, French President Jacques Chirac condemned the "terrorism" perpetrated by Kosovo Albanian extremists against Serbs and moderate Albanians.
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