DSA Statement on Kosovo
issued by the Steering Committee
of the National Political Committee
April 21, 1999

		We are witnessing the third war in the Balkans in less than a decade. There can be little doubt that Serbian nationalism and a series of orchestrated "crises" by the Milosevic government are primarily responsible for the present tragedy. DSA members, like many on the left, are divided on the best way to stop the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. We are opposed to the NATO bombing of Belgrade and other urban centers and we are deeply troubled by the possibility that the initial campaign may have accelerated Milosevic's ethnic cleansing campaign in Kosovo. DSA calls for: The withdrawal of all Serbian military and paramilitary forces from Kosovo and the subsequent disarmament of the KLA. The introduction of an international force including significant non-NATO elements in Kosovo to protect all residents of Kosovo and ensure the autonomy of a democratically elected provincial government. The return of all refugees to Kosovo. The situation in Kosovo demonstrates the need for a truly international peacekeeping force, under United Nations auspices, to separate and disarm combatants, protect the Kosovars from Serbian military and paramilitary forces, and protect the Serbian minority. Such a force could have acted against the genocides around the globe, such as the conflict in Rwanda, which the new isolationists dominating the Republican Party have used to justify standing on the sidelines. We have never believed that NATO had the moral authority to carry out such missions. We call on the War Crimes Tribunal at the Hague to continue its work and vigorously prosecute all war criminals including those responsible for directing ethnic cleansing campaigns; and we call on the world community to provide humanitarian aid to rebuild the economic infrastructures in Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania that have been disrupted by this conflict. Balkan nationalism has been manipulated by all sides and all sides share in the blame for the present catastrophe. The U. S. government and the governments of most European nations have acted in the past to strengthen Milosevic and failed to support alternative democratic political movements because they were seen as politically suspect and less accommodating to Western economic and geopolitical interests. The West too easily abandoned the idea of a multi-ethnic democratic Yugoslavia during the rise of the chauvinistic and authoritarian Tudjman regime in Croatia and Milosevic in Serbia. If the twentieth century has demonstrated anything it is that nationalism in the Balkans can not be suppressed by military force alone. Serbia should not be demonized, nor should its responsibility as by far the strongest military power in the region be excused. To end Serbian ethnic cleansing diplomatic carrots must accompany the stick of peace keepers. Thus upon Serbian withdrawal of its military and paramilitary forces from Kosovo and the return of all refugees to their homes, the West should lift the economic sanctions and consider admission to the United Nations and other appropriate international organizations for the Yugoslav state. Finally we call on the world community to take the steps to create a permanent police force directed by the United Nations with the express mission of protecting the basic human rights guaranteed by the United Nations Charter.

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