Ground Safety Zone (GSZ): Time out for rebel strong hold - Serbia (original) (raw)

Text: Lt-Cdr. Rune Berge
KFOR's headache and Serbia's nightmare for the last 18 months is cured. Yesterday joint Yugoslav and Serb Security forces completed their return to Sector Bravo in the Ground Safety Zone (GSZ), and the ethnic Albanian armed groups have fulfilled their promises to demilitarize, demobilise and disband. The Presevo Valley is no longer a safe haven for extremists.

There was no rebel resistance as the Yugoslav/Serbian forces crossed into the section of the zone where the insurgents had their toughest strongholds in the Presevo Valley. Yugoslav Army units (VJ) did however not enter populated areas during the operation, but the Serbian Special Police (MUP) entered the former rebel held villages of Dobrosin, Konculj, Lucane, Turija and Mali Trnovac. No serious incidents have been reported in this final cut of the GSZ.

In other words, a significant step has been taken towards stabilizing peace in this trouble-tormented part of the Balkans. The Ground Safety Zone is no longer a safe haven for extremist activities.

Speaking from a military point of view the re-entry was accomplished once contact was established between KFOR and VJ units last night, but there is also a second phase that involves the deployment of mine-clearing units who will remain in the territory.

How was it all done?

It was the North Atlantic Council that decided to authorise COMKFOR Lt. Gen. Thorstein Skiaker to allow the controlled return of Yugoslav and Serbian security forces into Sector B "as the final step in a phased and conditioned process."

"The GSZ was established to provide a buffer between KFOR and Yugoslav forces, which is no longer necessary," NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson said in a press release, adding that NATO would closely monitor the implementation of the return.

To avoid bloodshed at the re-entry, all possible measures were taken, with agreements made with both FRY/Serbian officials and representatives for the ethnic Albanian armed groups in Presevo Valley. COMKFOR Lt. Gen. Thorstein Skiaker gave the ethnic Albanian armed groups a one-week deadline to voluntarily disarm and come to a safe haven in Kosovo.

"As a soldier, I appeal to their leaders to avoid bloodshed and loss of life. There is no dishonour in seeking peace," COMKFOR said as he announced the successful screening policy.

That left the ethnic Albanian armed groups one week to make up their mind about how they were going to face the re-entry of the Yugoslav forces into Presevo Valley, which has been the rebel stronghold for one and a half year. All together approximately 550 former members of armed groups chose to cross into Kosovo and give themselves in to the NATO-led Kosovo force.

"It's time to use other means than weapons," said Shefket Musliu, the commander of one of fractions of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac Liberation Army (UCPMB), as he signed an agreement to lay down his arms.

With the exception of persons suspected of having committed serious crimes, all the former members of the armed groups who lay down their weapons were released after a screening procedure.

The authorities in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia followed shortly up this policy by also offering the members of the armed groups amnesty.

Remains in charge of the GSZ

The FRY military forces withdrew from the northern and southern part of Sector Bravo two days after the re-entry, handing over the security responsibilities to the newly established multi-ethnic police force.

But COMKFOR's responsibility for the Ground Safety Zone (GSZ) doesn't end with the demilitarisation of UCPMB, or with the completed re-entry of the FRY joint security forces. The zone will remain and COMKFOR will continue to exercise authority over it.

KFOR is also currently engaged with the FRY authorities in southern Serbia, in working out the details for the return of refugees to the Presevo Valley.

"For all of those people who have fled the Presevo Valley, our message is fundamentally the same. We encourage them to return to their homes and villages, to resume their normal lives and to engage in dialogue and the political process to achieve their goals." Said Sqn Ldr. Roy Brown, KFOR spokesman on a press conference as the joint FRY/Serbian forces entered the last remaining part of Sector Bravo yesterday.

According to him the FRY authorities are encouraging displaced persons to return to their villages, but due to the potential mine threat, it will take another 24 to 48 hours to clear the zone for full freedom of movement for people going in and out of the Presevo Valley.

COMKFOR has expressed however that he understands why ethnic Albanians are concerned about what the future might bring in connection with the return of MUP and VJ to Presevo Valley.

"Given the recent past, I can fully understand these concerns," he said at the press conference giving the rebel deadline.

He continued: "But today we are facing a different situation. There is a new government in Belgrade. That government has committed itself to normalization and dialogue between Serbs and ethnic Albanians in the Presevo Valley. The use of violence has to end. KFOR is here to provide security to all, while democracy and peace are built."

He also stressed that NATO and the International Community will continue to follow developments in the Presevo Valley closely.

"We expect FRY and Serbian authorities to implement fully the measures they have promised to improve the lives of Albanians in Southern Serbia, and the FRY/Serbian forces will only return to Sector B according to a plan approved by me. They are obliged to stick to this plan. The Serb authorities will be held accountable," he said.

Facts about the zone

The five-kilometre wide buffer zone was created in June 1999 to separate NATO troops from Yugoslav forces, which withdrew from Kosovo after the 11-week bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. VJ armed forces were not allowed access into the GSZ, and this Hole in the wall-situation created a safe haven for ethnic Albanian armed groups.

In an attempt to decrease the amount of tense clashes between the ethnic Albanian separatists and MUP, NATO three months ago decided to allow Yugoslav troops back into this rebel strong hold, one step at the time.

The Yugoslav and Serb Security forces have now completed the return to the zone, including the most sensitive area in the Presevo Valley, Sector B.