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Violence against Kosovar Albanians, nato’s intervention 1998-1999

MSF SPEAKS OUT MSF Speaks Out

In the same collection, “MSF Speaking Out”:

- “Salvadoran refugee camps in Honduras 1988” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2003 - April 2004 - December 2013]

- “Genocide of Rwandan Tutsis 1994” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2003 - April 2004 - April 2014]

- “Rwandan refugee camps Zaire and Tanzania 1994-1995” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2003 - April 2004 - April 2014]

- “The violence of the new Rwandan regime 1994-1995” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2003 - April 2004 - April 2014]

- “Hunting and killings of Rwandan Refugee in Zaire-Congo 1996-1997” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [August 2004 - April 2014]

- ‘’Famine and forced relocations in Ethiopia 1984-1986” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [January 2005 - November 2013]

- “MSF and North Korea 1995-1998” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [January 2008 - 2014]

- “War Crimes and Politics of Terror in Chechnya 1994-2004” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [June 2010 -2014]

-”Somalia 1991-1993: Civil war, famine alert and UN ‘military-humanitarian’ intervention” Laurence Binet - Médecins Sans Frontières [October 2013]

Editorial Committee: Laurence Binet, Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, Marine Buissonnière, Katharine Derderian, Rebecca Golden, Michiel Hofman, Theo Kreuzen, Jacqui Tong - Director of Studies (project coordination-research-interviews-editing): Laurence Binet - Assistant: Berengere Cescau - Transcription of interviews: Laurence Binet, Christelle Cabioch, Bérengère Cescau, Jonathan Hull, Mary Sexton - Typing: Cristelle Cabioch - Translation into English: Aaron Bull, Leah Brummer, Nina Friedman, Imogen Forst, Malcom Leader, Caroline Lopez-Serraf, Roger Leverdier, Jan Todd, Karen Tucker - Proof reading: Rebecca Golden, Jacqui Tong - Design/lay out: - Video editing: Sara Mac Leod - Video research: Céline Zigo - Website designer and webmaster: Sean Brokenshire.

Thanks to MSF Australia team for their support

Thanks to Pascal Dauvin for providing certain interviews, thanks to Rony Brauman for his advice. Produced by the Médecins Sans Frontières International Movement MSF Australia is in charge of the design, running, update, and promotion strategy of the website http://www. speakingout.msf.org

2 © Médecins Sans Frontières. September 2006 - June 2014 FOREWORD

This publication is part of the “Médecins Sans Frontières Speaking Out” case studies series prepared in response to the MSF International Council’s wish to provide the movement with literature on MSF témoignage (advocacy).

The idea was to create a reference document that would be straightforward and accessible to all and help volunteers understand and adopt the organization’s culture of speaking out.

It was not to be an ideological manual or a set of guidelines. Témoignage cannot be reduced to a mechanical applica- Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 tion of rules and procedures as it involves an understanding of the dilemmas inherent in every instance of humanitarian action.

The International Council assigned the project to a director of studies, who in turn works with an editorial committee composed of MSF representatives chosen by the International Board for their experience and expertise. They serve in their capacity as individuals and do not represent their national sections.

Faced with the difficulty of defining the term témoignage, the editorial committee decided to focus the series on case studies in which speaking out posed a dilemma for MSF and thus meant taking a risk.

Key information sources -MSF volunteers’ written and oral recollections — are reconstructed by highlighting documents from the period concerned and interviewing the main actors.

The individuals interviewed are chosen from lists prepared by the operational sections involved in each case. Speaking in the language they choose, these individuals offer both their account of events and their assessment of MSF’s response. The interviews are recorded and transcribed.

Document searches are conducted in the operational sections’ archives and, as far as possible, press archives.

The research is constrained by practical and financial issues, including locating interviewees and securing their agreement and determining the existence, quality and quantity of archived materials.

The methodology aims at establishing the facts and setting out a chronological presentation of the positions adopted at the time. It enables the reconstruction of debates and dilemmas without pre-judging the quality of the decisions made.

The main text describes events in chronological order. It includes excerpts from documents and interviews, linked by brief introductions and transitional passages. We rely on document extracts to establish the facts as MSF described and perceived them at the time. When documentation is missing, interviews sometimes fill the gaps. These accounts also provide a human perspective on the events and insight into the key players’ analyses.

Preceding the main texts collected, the reader will find a map, a list of abbreviations and an introduction that lays out the context of MSF’s public statements and the key dilemmas they sought to address.

In addition, a detailed chronology reconstructs MSF’s actions and public statements in regional and international news reports of the period.

3 MSF Speaks Out

Each case study was written in French and translated into English and is available in both languages.1

These case studies were essentially designed as an educational tool for associative members of the organisation. With the hope of broadening their educational scope the studies are now being made available to the public for free, on the website www.speakingout.msf.org, the various English and French-language websites of individual sections of Médecins Sans Frontières, and on Google Book.

We hope you find them useful.

The Editorial Committee.

September 2013

4 1. Document excerpts and interviews have been translated into both languages. CONTENTS

Abbreviations ...... page 6

Maps ...... page 7

People interviewed and their position at the time of the events ...... page 9 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 Introduction ...... page 10

Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998-1999 ...... page 13 • MSF moves into emergency mode ...... page 18 • MSF decides it is time to speak out...... page 28 • The first eyewitness accounts collected by MSF are published in the press...... page 50 • The Racak massacre increases tension…...... page 62 • Divergences within MSF over NATO’s possible intervention...... page 77 • MSF starts collecting eyewitness statements from refugees...... page 93 • MSF insists there is no thing as a ‘humanitarian’ war...... page 97 • Media visibility and the realities of our operations...... page 104 • The question of funding from NATO countries...... page 111 • MSF alert to the confusion between the military and humanitarian interventions and the protection of refugees...... page 121 • How to use the eyewitness accounts?...... page 146 • MSF insists on refugee protection...... page 162 • Publication of the MSF report “Kosovo-acounts of a deportation”...... page 178 • The Greeks go it alone...... page 195 • Again, MSF insists on assistance and protection...... page 214 • An awaited, media covered return to Kosovo...... page 237 • The Nobel Peace Prize and the ‘collateral damage’ of the Kosovo crisis...... page 263 • Epilogue

Chronology of events...... page 277

5 MSF Speaks Out

ABBREVIATIONS

ACF Action contre la faim MDM Médecins du Monde (Action Against Hunger) (Doctors of the World) AGCD Administration générale de la MT Mother Teresa (Albanian NGO) coopération au développement NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Belgium) OFDA Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance AFP Agence France-presse OSCE Organisation for Security AI Amnesty international and Cooperation in Europe AP Associated press PHR Physicians for human rights CIDA Canadian International Development USAID United State Agency Agency for International Development CIMIC Civil Military Cooperation SHAPE Supreme Headquarters Allied Power CPAS Centre public d’action sociale in Europe (Belgium) START II Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty CRS Catholic relief service UNICEF United Nations Children Fund DRC Disaster Relief Committee WFP World Food Program ECHO European Community Humanitarian WHO World Health Organisation Office EPI Expanded Program of Immunisation FEMA Federal Emergency Agency ET Emergency team (MSF) IFHR International Federation HAD Humanitarian Affairs Department for Human Rights (MSF Hollande) UNHCR United Nations High Committee IDPs Displaced persons for Refugees IO International office (MSF) HRW Human Rights Watch IC International Council (MSF) ICRC International Committee of Red Cross MOU Memorandum of understanding IFRC International Federation of Red Cross Sitrep Situation report IMC International Medical Corps IRC International Rescue Committee IPTY International Penal Tribunal MSF B MSF Belgium For former Yougoslavia MSF CH MSF Switzerland KFOR Kosovo Peace Force MSF F MSF France KDOM Kosovo Diplomatic Observation MSF G MSF Greece Mission MSF H MSF Holland KIC Kosovo Information Center MSF S MSF Spain KVM Kosovo Verification Mission MSF UK MSF United Kingdom KLA Kosovo Liberation Army MSF USA MSF United States (UCK in Albanian) LDK Ligue démocratique du Kosovo

Extract from MSF archives or press clippings. Extract from interviews conducted in 2000, 2001, 2002, and in 2003 with people who participated in and/or witnessed the events.

6 Click to access the reference material list. Then click on the refering number to access the video. to Belgrade

SERBIA Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999

MONTENEGRO Mitrovica

Istok Srbica Drenica Valley Pristina Peja Giogovac Kosovo Polje Decani KOSOVO Racak Dakovica (Djakovica)

ALBANIA Prizren

Skopje MSF programmes (until March 1999) MACEDONIA

7 MSF Speaks Out

to Belgrade Nis SERBIA

Rozaje

MONTENEGRO

KOSOVO Pristina

Podgorice

BULGARIA Han i Hotit

Krume Shkodër Blace Kumanovo Radusa Kukës Skopje Bar Brazda Tetovo

MACEDONIA

Debar

Durrës Tirana

ALBANIA

Fier Berat

Korcë

Vlorë GREECE

Refugees movements

MSF programme

8 PEOPLE INTERVIEWED AND THEIR POSITION AT THE TIME OF THE EVENTS

Dr. Philippe Biberson, President, MSF France Samantha Bolton, Communications Coordinator, MSF International Dr. Odysséas Boudouris, President, MSF Greece (denied that his interview is maintained in the public version of this study) Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in Kosovo from June 1998 to April 1999 Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, MSF Legal Advisor

Dr. Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, MSF France Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 Dr. Rony Brauman, Director of Studies, MSF France Foundation Dr. Vincent Brown, Epidemiologist, Epicentre Katrien Coppens, Humanitarian Affairs Department MSF Holland Dr. Eric Dachy, Programme Manager MSF Belgium Dr. Olivier Dechevrens, President MSF Suisse Anouk Delafortrie, Communication Officer, MSF Belgium [...], MSF Deputy Legal Advisor Thierry Durand, Director of Operations, MSF Switzerland/MSF Greece Operational Centre Antoine Gérard, Director of Programmes, MSF USA Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager, MSF France Michiel Hofman, Coordinator MSF Holland in Macedonia, mid April - May 1999 Anne-Marie Huby, Executive Director, MSF United Kingdom Dr. Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, MSF Belgium Bénédicte Jeannerod, Communications Officer MSF France Hereklea Kalzetioki, Human Ressources officer, MSF Greece Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, MSF International Michaël Neuman, MSF Officer-in-Charge of collecting accounts from refugees in Montenegro Stephan Oberreit, Exploratory mission officer in Albania, MSF France (April 1999), MSF International Council Representative by MSF Switzerland and MSF Greece (May - June 1999) Dr. James Orbinsky, President MSF International Council Dr. Sotiris Papaspyropoulos, Honorary President MSF Greece Alex Parisel, Executive Director, MSF Belgium (interviewed but does not want to be quoted) Virginie Raisson, Deputy Coordinator in Montenegro, MSF France, April - May 1999 Antonis Rigas, Logistician, MSF Greece Isabelle Seguy-Bitz, Member of the Board of Directors, MSF Switzerland Eric Stobbaerts, Executive Director, MSF Spain Christopher Stokes, Coordinator MSF Belgium in Albania and Kosovo, April 1999 to June 1999 […], Executive Director, MSF USA Bas Tielens, Information Officer for Kosovo, MSF International, October 1998 to March 1999. Laurence Thavaux, MSF Field Manager in Pristina in 1996, in Pec, April 1998 to February 1999, and a nurse in Montenegro in April 1999 Erwin Vantland, Communications officer in Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo, MSF International, May - June 1999 Bastien Vigneau, Deputy Programme Manager MSF Belgium Rafa Vila San Juan, Director of Communication, MSF Spain

9 MSF Speaks Out

INTRODUCTION

In the early 1980s the ethnic Albanian population who formed the majority in the Serb province of Kosovo revolted against the discriminatory system imposed on them by Serbia. That system was further strengthened after 1989 by the new President of the Yugoslav Federation, Slobodan Milosevic.

MSF teams, which had been working in Kosovo since 1993 in the wake of the intervention in Bosnia, specifically supported the parallel health network established by the Albanian independence movement. From March 1998, attacks on Albanian villages by the Federal Yugoslav army and the Serb police increased, and were exacerbated by the guerrilla action of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA/UCK). Several thousand people were killed and tens of thousands more fled into the interior and over the border.

Conscious of the deteriorating situation, MSF decided to inform European public opinion and to increase awareness by publishing communiqués and refugee eyewitness accounts which were reported in the press.The United States and Europe - who were behind the Bosnia peace accords - simultaneously increased pressure on Belgrade, calling on the Milosevic government to put an end to violence against Albanian Kosovars or risk an armed intervention by NATO.

On 24 March 1999, after several months of fruitless negotiations during which violence and population movements increased, NATO began aerial bombardment of Serbia and Kosovo. The Serb forces responded with increasing terror, forcing hundreds of thousands of Albanian Kosovars to flee to neighbouring Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. MSF then organised a number of relief operations for these refugees at the borders of Kosovo. At the same time, NATO mobilised military assets as a means of organising and controlling aid.

In April and May 1999, MSF on several occasions publicly denounced both the control being exercised over the refugee camps by NATO - which was a party to the conflict - and the marginalisation of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). In particular, MSF stressed the need to provide refugee protection and signaled what was happening to the Albanian Kosovars who were still in the province, under the control of Serb forces.

On 30 April, MSF published a report entitled, ‘Kosovo: Accounts of a Deportation.’ Compiled on the basis of refugee accounts and an epidemiological study, this report showed that the Kosovar Albanians were the victims of a systematic process of terror and expulsion, described by MSF as “deportation.” It again alerted public opinion to the lack of refugee protection in the camps run by NATO.

At the beginning of May, MSF’s Greek section undertook an exploratory mission to Kosovo and Serbia, despite opposition from the other sections who considered that this mission was not in accordance with MSF’s principles of operational independence. The Greek section was excluded from the movement until 2005 as a result of this action.

Throughout the period of military operations, MSF managers actively refuted the notion of ‘humanitarian war’ promoted by NATO.

These different stances were taken in the context of an armed conflict in which western countries were participating directly and which they justified by invoking human rights and humanitarian requirements.

10 This particular political environment considerably reinforced the dilemmas and difficulties for MSF: • Should it speak out to denounce violence being committed against the Kosovars, at the risk of being itself excluded by the Serb authorities from access to these people?

• By denouncing and describing the violence against Kosovars, was MSF encouraging/supporting the NATO intervention?

• Should MSF take a position on the NATO intervention, or not? Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 • What sort of relationships (finance, cooperation, etc) should be established with countries that were committed either militarily (such as NATO members) or politically (Greece) in the conflict?

• By raising the alert about UNHCR’s absence/withdrawal/lack of effectiveness in managing the refugee camps, was not MSF taking the risk of reinforcing this marginalisation?

• Is it justifiable, by invoking an interpretation of the impartiality principle that implies a responsibility to assist victims on both sides of a conflict, to carry out an exploratory mission that sacrifices the principles of operational independence?

• Does MSF hold double standards for developing countries armed forces and western armed forces?

Serb nationalists. blackbirds” inKosovo Polje, adate and placethatremain powerful symbolsfor 1. Thisfollowed the Serbs1389defeat atthe siteknown asthe “field of domination At theend of WorldWar I, after500years of Ottoman (the Kosovars), and 17 percentSerb. and Macedonia.Itspopulationis82percentAlbanian Kosovo issurroundedbySerbia,Montenegro,Albania -1999 1998 NATO’S INTERVENTION AGAINST KOSOVAR ALBANIANS, VIOLENCE adolescents. into thepossiblecriminalpoisoningof2,000Albanian tors, a MSF Belgium team conducted an investigation Rights CommitteeandagroupofethnicAlbaniandoc- In March 1990, at the request of the Albanian Human non-violent. of Serbia. Initially, the ethnic Albanian resistance was and placedtheprovinceunderdirecttrusteeship nationalist leaderendedKosovo’sautonomousstatus dent oftheYugoslavFederationinMarch1989, head oftheYugoslavCommunistParty.Electedpresi- receiving encouragementfromSlobodanMilosevic, what theyconsideredthe‘Albanisation’ofprovince, Kosovo’s Serbsalsoorganiseddemonstrationsagainst dent republic. bloody forcetodemonstrationscallingforanindepen- independence. TheYugoslavarmyrespondedwith the KosovarAlbaniansgavevoicetotheirdesirefor In 1981, oneyear after the Yugoslav leader’s death, part ofSerbia, Kosovo enjoyed considerable autonomy. Kosovo enteredMarshalTito’sYugoslavFederation.As Albania,’ combinedwiththecurrentAlbania. In 1945, under thecontroloffascistItalyaspart‘Greater Kingdom ofYugoslavia.From1941to1943,itfell doctors from Kosovo, sought immediate assistance from of theAlbanianCommitteefor HumanRights,aswell toms suggestingpoisoning (a psycho-toxin?).Members adolescents inKosovo,Yugoslaviapresentedwithsymp - Between 19-23March1990some2,000ethnicAlbanian Extract: Belgium, March 1990 (inFrench). ‘Kosovo: APoisoningEpidemic?’Report 1 , Kosovowasincorporatedintothefirst by MSF elected. The Belgrade regime declared the body illegiti- proclaimed Republic ofKosovo.Aparliament wasalso Albanian opposition,waselected presidentoftheself- League of Kosovo (DLK), the political party of the In 1992, Ibrahim Rugova, head of the Democratic Bosnia. erupted betweenSerbiaand Croatiaandlaterwith the Yugoslav Federation, oneafter another, conflicts ened followingthesecessionofseveralrepublicsfrom referendum illegal.WithSerbnationalismstrength - boring Albania.Belgradeimmediatelydeclaredthe The newentitywasrecognisedofficiallyonlybyneigh - claiming thefoundingof“RepublicKosovo.” In 1991,theethnicAlbanianheldareferendumpro - police authorities in thedays following ourmission. of this unexplained epidemic were arrested by Yugoslav Twenty ethnicAlbaniandoctorswhotreatedthevictims Additional comment confirm any suspicions. purposes. A morein-depth investigation might allow us to the disseminationofsomeproductforcriminalorother with theearlycases-possibilityofpoisoningthrough not exclude - atleastnot at theoutsetand in dealing there is a ‘collective panic’ element at work, we should determine the definitive origin of this epidemic. Even if Given thecurrentstatusofourinvestigation,wecannot stance could be obtained. treated onlyforsymptoms.Nosampleofthesprayedsub- (collective panic?)Giventheunknownetiology,theywere neurovegetative imbalancethatimprovedspontaneously facilities. Thestudentswerereportedtohavesignsof have beenpoisonedbyapsycho-toxinsprayedatschool 2,000 KosovarAlbanianadolescentswerereportedto [...] Duringtheperiod19-23March190,approximately as witnesses, if necessary. the KosovarAlbaniancommunity,sothattheycouldserve - Actasobserversinapossiblecriminalaction(?)against sulfate, chlorpromazine, […] - Sendmedicinesrequiredtotreatthevictims:atropine Médecins Sans Frontières Belgium. Specifically, to:

13 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

mate and transferred its powers to the Serb parliament. is a compounding factor, which according to the Serbs, The Serb trusteeship continued to harden. Instruction makes it difficult to maintain equipment and obtain drug in Albanian in schools was abolished; Albanian man- supplies. The Albanian clinics (which receive donated agers were from expelled from businesses, govern- supplies) consider the Serbs the source of the problem, as ment, hospitals, and the police force where they were the latter systematically confiscate medicines on arrival replaced by Serbs. Albanian-language newspapers were in Kosovo. closed and repression mounted. - Finally, we have heard many accounts of Albanian In February 1993, an MSF team on an evaluation patients who were victims of Serb repression (surgery rec- mission in Kosovo observed the policy’s destructive ommendations by Albanian doctors systematically subject effects on Albanians’ daily lives and, specifically, on to review, delayed treatment or transfusions, falsified their access to medical care. The team emphasized medical files and autopsy reports, etc.) [...] the likelihood of an ‘explosion’ and the certainty of a massacre (without being able to specify a date) and Potential developments: recommended that MSF in Kosovo and neighboring Based on the uncertainties and political parameters relat- countries (Albania and Macedonia) prepare to take in ed to the health situation on both sides of the border, the refugees. several scenarios are possible:

1) Internal conflict The current situation could harden further, without open ‘MSF Evaluation Mission in Kosovo-Albania.’ warfare, or could move to open conflict, which might be 6-18 February 1993, Report by Maurice Nègre confined for several days or weeks inside Kosovo (whether and Virginie Raisson (in French). surrounded or not), thus without leading to population displacement outside the borders. ‘Massacre’ hypothesis Extract: would occur in the absence of buffer forces and if cities In general, the circumstances facing the health care sec- with Albanian populations are bombed. tor reflect Kosovo’s political situation and what appears to be the Serb strategy to push the Albanians to the The Albanian Kosovars will very soon face the problem breaking point. However, even if international attention is of access to medicine and, more generally, of access to only now focusing on the problem, we are in fact, in the health care facilities. advanced stage of a process that dates back to the early 1980s and that accelerated in 1989 with the ‘poisoning For MSF: affair.’ […] - If we prepare in Kosovo (for vaccination, for example - see medical report) and in Albania based on the Albania 1989: 7,000 Albanian children had a skin reaction following aid project (MSF Belgium zone?), it should be possible to a vaccination campaign. To the Albanians, the only pos- cross the border (our contacts have not denied that such sible explanation was that the Serbs were poisoning them. crossings exist). NOTE: DLK contacts on both sides). The poisoning was acknowledged by a joint commission, - If we prepare only on the Albanian side (ad hoc project but the cause was never investigated (Benedetti report, in the Kukes hospital, for example), border crossings are MSF?). Nonetheless, positions crystallized as a result. possible but not risk-free. Albanians did not trust Serbian medical workers and refused to be vaccinated. In 1990, Albanian medical stu- In both cases, primarily medicines and logistics will be dents and some professors participated in a demonstra- involved; few treatment staff. Regardless, and in both tion. In retaliation, the army surrounded the hospital. cases, preparation addresses current real needs. Many professors and Albanian doctors were assaulted and 2) Open conflict with refugees heading to Macedonia forcibly dispersed. The medical school was subsequently In a later phase, Albanian Kosovars could well be displaced closed. Since that time, the situation appears to have into Macedonia (primary destinations for reasons related rapidly declined. to roads, displacement to other destinations, family ties, - Many Albanian doctors have been dismissed and replaced poverty in Albania, etc.) This also assumes that the Serbs by Serb doctors from Belgrade. All government agencies or Macedonians do not block the road to Macedonia and have been placed under Serb control. that it is not mined or is protected by the UN. - Albanian doctors have organised to set up private Albanian clinics, an Albanian medical school, etc. Weak For MSF: points: immunisation, transfusion and supplies. Clinics - See Macedonia evaluation mission report. Does not are poorly equipped, so patients with complex illnesses, exclude preparation on the Albanian side. requiring surgery and problem pregnancies are sent to 3) Open conflict with refugees heading to Albania (sce- public hospitals. nario compatible with the two others) - The dismissal of a large segment of the population raises Heightened risks if bombing occurs because border vil- the problem of social security coverage and access to lages populated almost exclusively by Albanians, except treatment and medicine. As a result, several free clinics Prizren and Pristina. Area of influx: Between Tropoja and 14 have opened, but they have few resources. The embargo Shishtaveci. Impassable high mountains on both sides. Gorazde. were activeinthe Muslim enclaves of Srebrenica and in theSerbianpartofBosnia,whileotherMSFteams tion, workingfromBelgrade,MSFaidedindividuals denied carebytheofficialhealthsystem.Inaddi- MSF also supplied a parallel network serving Albanians supplies. ThroughtheAlbanianNGO,MotherTeresa, facilities inthreeKosovodistrictswithmedicineand in KosovoApril1993.Itsuppliedofficialhealth A jointBelgium-FranceMSFteamstartedworking justify any actionthat we take. The needsoftheAlbanianpopulation-onbothsideswill Kosovo shouldnothaltMSF’smobilizationintheregion. In conclusion:thehighprobabilityofan‘explosion’in border clandestinely. Peshkopje region,whereitmaybepossibletocrossthe reconnaissance, etc.(manymulepaths).Alsoevaluatethe sides ofthebordertoconducttopographicalandroadway - Evaluationmission(survival kit) necessaryalongboth ing points. point): establishlocalcontactsandidentifylikelycross- region (orprobablytherefugees’mainconvergence - PreparationinAlbaniawithadhocprojecttheKukes the border region, Kosovoside. - Preventionandpreparationviavaccinationcampaignin For MSF: possible influx from Diber (Kosovo)toPeshkopi. tion closestoday),andBrukaMorina(to Kukes). Alsonote Morina (toBaijramCurri),QafPrushKruma,bordersta- Currently threefrontierstationsandkeyroads:Qaf to open a missioninPristina, Kosovoon 1 April1993. health systemwas seriouslylacking.Asaresult, MSFdecided During thosevisits,weobserved thattheregion’smedicaland ous violentepisodesattacks(riots, toxicgas, etc.). care. MSFhasbecomeinvolved periodicallyfollowingvari- the healthcaresystem-both in-patientandout-patient nificant weaknessesinthesterilization systemthroughout etc.), basicmedicalandsurgicalequipment,aswellsig - ly-reusable supplies (syringes, suture threads, dressings, major shortagesofessentialmedicines, anesthesia, partial- ation missionsconductedintheregion,ourteamsobserved At therequestofAlbaniangroupsandduringvariousevalu - VI-1. Background of MSFactivity in Kosovo coordinated by MSFFranceand Belgium. in the former Yugoslavia. Split and Belgrade are jointly together withSplit(Croatia),coordinatedallprogrammes This missionwascoordinatedbyMSFBelgrade,which, Extract: August 1994- 30 April1995(inFrench). Mission reportbyMSFBelgium,Kosovo24 the possibility that donations could bemisappropriated. changing needs.Last,weshouldalwaysbeattentiveto we workwith.Thiscontactalsoallowsustokeeptrackof tain ongoingcontactwiththevariousmedicalfacilities maintained properly.Monitoringalsoallowsustomain- confirm thatthecontributedequipmentisbeingusedand cines mustberedistributedtopatientsatnocostand medicine) becauseitisclearlyspecifiedthatallmedi- for whomtheyareintended(patientswhocannotpay tributions are actually used on behalf of the individuals - Monitoringcontributions. This is to ensure that con- projects underway. under acceptableconditions. We haveseveral renovation ments tomedicalfacilities,sothatcarecanbeprovided washcloths, towels,etc.Renovationreferstoimprove- hygiene items,includingsoap,shampoo,detergent, scabies medication.Non-medicalsuppliesarepersonal injections andminormedicalmaterials,aswellanti- surgical suppliesandequipment,fordressings, important distribution items and includebasic medical- non-medical supplies.Medicalsuppliesarethemost There aretwocategoriesofdistributions:medicaland - Handlingallaspectsofdistributionsandrenovation. ers have been expelled after workinghere for sometime. isations have tried, unsuccessfully, to work here and oth- and everythingisverydelicate.Manyinternationalorgan- nities, Kosovoisanextremelysensitiveregionpolitically Given the tension between the Serb and Albanian commu- various contacts-official,unofficial,SerbandAlbanian. - Establishingandmaintaininggoodrelationshipswith The three categories of activities include: VI-3. MSF Activities and Gnjilane districts. - hospitalsandhealthcenterswecoveronlyMitrovica facilities and hospitals. In terms of the official structures Kosovo, whichiscomposedoffivedistrictsforparallel MSF inKosovoisbasedPristinaandcoversallof 2 -Coverage official as wellparallel systems. dards atmedicalfacilities:hospitals,outpatientfacilities, The generalgoalwastoimprovethelowmedicalstan- 1 -Goal VI-2. MSF Belgium Missionin Kosovo - Support for the Albanian parallel medical system. A small of medicine, working through the public system. - Supportforhealthagencies andclinicsthathaverunout cases of severe tubercular meningitis. - Ananti-TBprogrammewith WHO-thereareserious sions run very high.Several activities are underway: sector. Thereisnoarmedconflict inthisregion,butten- (10%). Since1990,theSerbshavedominatedpublic of the population distribution - Albanians (90%) and Serbs 4) The Kosovo context is particularlyinteresting by virtue Extract: February 1994 (inFrench) Board MeetingMinutes, MSF France, 25

15 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

hospital has been set up in a house, open daily, where 600 […] I don’t think our activities in Kosovo bothered medical consultations are performed daily with a volunteer Belgrade. They had other fish to fry. And, we weren’t very staff of 25 doctors (on rotation). There are four other visible - MSF’s programmes were concentrated on the clinics operating on the same model and a distribution enclaves, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Republica Srpska. network that reaches 300,000 people. MSF will help them by providing supplementary equipment. According to T. Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager MSF Renaud, this is a very significant programme (half-French, France (in French). half-Belgian). It seems clear that we should give priority to action, while remaining discrete in the area of public statements. We have very limited room to manoeuvre. Throughout the war years in the former Yugoslavia, the international community did not focus its attention on events in Kosovo. The Bosnian Peace accord, signed in Dayton on 14 December 1995, ignored the fate MSF Belgium had worked in Kosovo since 1992- of Kosovo’s population. However, the Serb-Yugoslav 1993. We thought that the region would become army2, strengthened by the Serb self-defense militias problematic at some point. We focused our projects and ultranationalist paramilitary groups3 that operated on medium-term development efforts. This was appropriate ruthlessly in Bosnia and Croatia, boosted its terror in Kosovo, where they face recurring problems with measles operations in the province in an effort to promote the and access to water. The plan was to spend several years on gradual exodus of the Albanian population. In 1997, public health programmes because that would allow us to the cycle of demonstrations followed by repression position ourselves politically, but MSF France had a different accelerated in Kosovo. In the face of Serb oppres- approach. Their attitude was: “There’s an emergency, let’s sion, Albanian resistance became more radical. The get in there; it’s over, let’s get out.” It’s a different rhythm. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA - UCK) made its official A mission with projects that struggle along, based on multi- appearance, while Ibrahim Rugova, the head of the year plans, are very different from an emergency mission. non-violent Albanian political opposition demanded that the province become independent and even join Bastien Vigneau, Deputy Programme Manager MSF neighboring Albania. France and Germany called for Belgium, (in French). special status for Kosovo but Belgrade refused.

‘Let’s Put Kosovo Back on the Map,’ Laurence We set up our Kosovo programme in 1993. The prov- Thavaux, Managing Field Nurse in Pristina. ince had lost its autonomy in 1989 and there were Messages (MSF France’s internal publication). significant renewed tensions between the two com- February-March 1996 (in French). munities - Serb and Albanian. At the time, we thought it would be interesting to position ourselves in Kosovo so that Extract: we could understand what was going on there. We had a On this December day, 1995, on the eve of the signing joint French-Belgian mission and began to develop contacts of the Yugoslav Peace accords, the Kosovo Albanians with the Albanian group, Mother Teresa, to work in the still hope that the benevolent international community Albanian parallel structures. In 1993, these structures were will not again avert its eyes from this tiny province of not as well-organised as they were by 1998, but the network the former Yugoslav federation. Over the last several was already starting to form. In addition, after the 1992 months we have watched a continuous parade of European ‘illegal’ elections, Ibrahim Rugova was ‘President of Kosovo’ diplomats and foreign celebrities stream through the and parallel ministries had been established. So there really capital, Pristina. The great leader, Rugova, President of was an outline of an Albanian administrative and political the Kosovo Albanians, is linked to Gandhi through their structure. […] We decided to reposition because access to shared pacifism. care was clearly a problem, particularly in the official health These very important persons are deeply concerned with facilities. That was when the Serb administration began to the Kosovo Albanian fate and Rugova welcomes them into fire Albanians from the public sector, schools and hospitals. his inner sanctum. After a quick review of the situation, Albanians no longer had access to education or health care. they return home, satisfied with events. […] This created problems, but they left us alone. On the How do you save your skin when ideology is your only one hand, we were providing minimal aid in Kosovo at the weapon? Does freedom have a price? time. We had only two or three international staff there. On Encouraged by the diplomats’ promises, Rugova perseveres the other, we were supporting two or three infectious disease departments in the Serb public hospitals. What’s more, 2. At the end of the war, the Yugoslav Federal Republic was composed of Serbia, to balance things out, MSF Belgium was providing consider- Montenegro and Kosovo. 16 able aid to the Republica Srpska, the Serb region of Bosnia. 3. This refers to the - regrettably - famous Arkan Tigers, or Seselj Chetniks. it’s toolate. to payseriousattentiontheKosovoAlbaniansbefore can’t savelives,butdoesfreedomhaveaprice?We’vegot freedom. Theywouldendupslaughteredbecauseideology they maychoosetodieonabattlefieldinthenameof longer evenbeabletoimagineafuture.Onthatday, because theywillhavenothinglefttoloseandno Some daysoontheAlbaniansmaynolongerbeafraid the twomillionAlbanianswhoarebeingheldhostage. more worried about the fate oftwo French pilots than of What arewewaitingforinFrance?Ablood-bath?We and repression on adailybasis. Albanians experiencearbitraryarrests,torture,extortion a glimmerofhope.Inclimateperpetualterror,the life offersnotasinglepositivechangethatcouldsustain starting tomount,whiletheireldersarelosinghope.Daily declines alittlemoreeveryday.Youngpeople’sangeris single word was spoken about Kosovo. Rugova’s credibility mobilisation throughout the Albanian diaspora,not a during theDaytonPeacenegotiations.Despitewidespread reached theendofitsrope.Somanyhopesweredashed Our impression is that the Albanian population has ago organisedthemselvesintoa parallel society. list islong.Maybethat’swhytheKosovoAlbanianslong obtain access to health care, which is quite expensive. The the righttospeak,work,andattendschool,notmention art: destroytheAlbanianwilltosurvivebydenyingthem been murderedhere.Andthemethodologyisraisedtoan pictures. Butoverthelastsixyears,anentirepeoplehave the internationalcommunity’sinterest,alongwithbloody Kosovo? Youneeddeadbodies-lotsoftoawaken Kosovo. Alliswell.Andbesides,who’sreallyworriedabout on thesubject.Afterall,there’snoconflictloomingin tional community,whichishappytopostponediscussions Republic ofKosovo.Hispositioncomfortstheinterna- on his pacifist path, patiently awaiting the birth of the tried inPristina, the province’s county seat. tion. Nineteen menbelievedtobeKLAmembers havebeen Kosovo LiberationArmy’(KLA), aclandestineorganisa- ing ahood,announcedthat theyweremembersof‘the week, threearmedmeninuniform, includingonewear- Albanian killedinaclash with thepoliceearlythis On Friday,atfuneralservices for HaljitGeci,aKosovo Western initiatives toopen dialogue withtheseparatists. vowed to“exterminateAlbanianterrorism”andrejectall become grist for the Serb regime’s mill. The Serbs have battling onbehalfof1.8millionKosovoAlbanians,have ending theirclandestinestatus,these‘freedomfighters,’ tensions inthismajority-ethnicAlbanianprovince.By public appearanceinKosovo.Theirheightened accused of terrorism by Serbauthorities made their first Armed menproclaimingmembershipinanorganisation Extract: 30 November 1997 (inFrench). the Shadows,’IbrahimOsmani,AFP(France), ‘Kosovo AlbanianFreedomFightersMoveoutof clearer. People werestartingtotalkabout theKLA.Not a month’svacation andthesituationhad becomemuch to comeback if itblewup.Ididgobackthenextyearfor then, peopleweren’ttalkingabout theKLAyet.Ipromised were goingtoexplodesoonand that it wouldbeawful.Back I left,hadlotsofAlbanian friends.Everyonesaidthings ing primarilywiththeparallel MotherTeresanetwork.When organising campaigns to eradicate fleas and scabies, work- MSF wassupplyingtheambulantasthroughoutKosovoand no longer go tomedical facilities or to schools. expensive fortheAlbaniansthanSerbs.could being firedfromhospitals.Medicalcarewasmuchmore rights violations were occurring. Albanian doctors were ignored intheDaytonaccords.Evenso,serioushuman wasn’t talkingabout Kosovo andithad been completely schools andthehealthcaresystem.Atthattime,media lot withAlbaniansandIsawwhatwasgoingoninbars, tas (mobile clinics) and living with Albanians. I went out a three orfourmonths,supplyingtheMotherTeresaambulan- ended upallalonewithKosovarstaff.Istayedforabout responded with a violentcrack-down. forces, estimated at several tens of thousands, have Albanian governmentsupportsthedemand.Serbpolice independence and even incorporationinto Albania. The in 1989.Today,KosovoAlbanianleadersaredemanding itants, which was stripped of its autonomy by Belgrade Albanians make up 90% of the province’s 2 million inhab- all have denied membership in theorganisation. sentenced totermsoftwotwentyyearsinprison,but guilty ofterroristactsonbehalftheKLAhavebeen the beginning of the year, 35 ethnic Albanians found liberation andavengevictimsofSerbpoliceterror.”Since ment to“useallmeansavailablestruggleforKosovo’s to thelocalpress,KLAalways emphasizes itscommit- existence onseveraloccasions.Initsstatements,faxed President Slobodan Milosevic, has questioned the KLA’s (DLK), the major opposition movement to the regime of Ibrahim Rugova,headoftheDemocraticLeagueKosovo of the messages hasnever been confirmed. responsibility forseveraldeadlyattacks.Theauthenticity has issuedsome40communiquéssincelastyearclaiming help the province’s Albanians unite with Albania. The KLA of “terror” in Kosovo and stated that only the KLA could applause, he accused the Serbs of conducting a regime that canfreeKosovo,”themaskedmandeclared.Toloud Albanian peopleandrepresentstheonlyfightingforce police were present. “The KLA draws its strength from the continuation of the struggle to liberate Kosovo.” No (west) villagecemetery,thethreemenannounced“the Speaking before20,000peoplegatheredintheLausa the information, which was broadcast on Tirana television. the leadingKosovoAlbaniandailynewspaper,confirmed Witnesses includingEvlijanaBerani,areporterforBujku, Belgium, andIwasthereforsixmonths.Infact, that time, it was run by MSF France and MSF In 1996,IendedupinPristinaasafieldofficer.At

17 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

really the KLA, I guess, but about ‘liberators.’ People were would be independent one day, with the support of the saying that something was going to happen. And then there international community, which would ensure its status as was this sort of ‘Basta ya’ movement among the youth. I a protectorate during a transition period. remember student street demonstrations in Pristina, which were put down violently by the Serb police. The students didn’t dare demonstrate anymore. They no longer had any rights. The parents of young Albanians couldn’t stand this Sitrep 4, François Fille, MSF Yugoslavia happening to their children any longer. They would say: Coordinator, to Eric Dachy, Bastien Vigneau, “It’s one thing for us, but we want the next generation to MSF Belgium Programme Managers, 9 March be able to study freely.” 1998 (in French).

Laurence Thavaux, MSF Field Coordinator in Pristina Extract: in 1996, in Pec, April 1998 to February 1999, and nurse You see things more clearly once you start moving around in Montenegro in April 1999 (in French). (few agencies go out to the field). 1,200 internally- displaced persons primarily from Lower Prekas, partially destroyed. The most important information we obtained was thanks to Dr. Barhi, from Handicap International, who took part in the trip (number of displaced persons with the names of locations, nature of the population, MSF MOVES INTO etc.) and we managed to assess needs, particularly in EMERGENCY MODE terms of food and NFI [non-food items]. We made notes and then spoke with people who had information to offer […]. Visited the Drenica with Stéphanie and access to Srbica. We confirmed everything that the ICRC told us yesterday. People are terrorized. In the clinic, a group In early March 1998, Serb police and the Yugoslav army of doctors, accompanied by a Mother Teresa doctor, told attacked, looted and set fire to villages in Drenica val- us that they were unable to work. I didn’t recognise the ley, resulting in the death of 2,000 ethnic Albanian director because he had changed so much in one month. and the flight of 250,000 more, who took refuge in Every time they want to care for a patient on the outskirts Albania. The Serb police cracked down on demonstra- of the city, or refer him or her somewhere else, they have tions by Albanians in the capital, Pristina in support of to ASK THE POLICE FOR PERMISSION. Ex: A young girl their fellow citizens in Drenica. In response to warn- was wounded; her family died yesterday during a police ings from the international community, the Belgrade attack, as snipers lay in wait as they fled. Everyone is regime said that tensions in Kosovo were internal afraid to go out and information on the IDP numbers and matters of concern only to the Federal Republic of needs is not available. They aren’t asking for medicine Yugoslavia and denounced Albanian ‘terrorism.’ MSF because between our distribution last week and the ICRC’s formed a mobile emergency team to care for displaced yesterday (bandages, food and NFIs), they have supplies; persons in Drenica Valley. however, they would like to be able to treat people in the hills. In the meantime, almost no patients in the clinic and the Mother Teresa centre is still closed. The water delivery system has been cut off since yesterday. ‘Kosovo Powder Keg Ready to Explode - Mass Apparently, that happens regularly […]. Demonstrations After Weekend Violence,’ Victoria Stegic, Libération (France), 3 March 1998 (in You can feel the tension in the way people behave. Leaving French). the clinic, someone pointed out a morgue guarded by an army of cops, where 45 bodies were lying exposed, including Extract: 12 children and 14 women. We were hesitant to go there The official death count of 20, including 16 Albanians because we couldn’t find a good reason. We continued on and 4 Serb police, confirms the violence of this week- to a village west of Srbica (Rudnik). Extremely tense check- end’s clashes between Serb police and armed Albanians, point but in the end, we did manage to speak with MT/DLK who Belgrade refers to as ‘terrorists’. Yesterday, tens of (Democratic League of Kosovo) activists next to a field. Not thousands of Albanians took to the streets of Pristina, 100% sure of the relationship with Bahri from Handicap Kosovo’s county seat, to express solidarity with the popu- International, not completely comfortable, but enough about lation of the Drenica region, where clashes occurred, and that. They are cut off from Srbica and from Mitrovica and do to protest Slobodan Milosevic’s regime, which they accuse not have medicine, food, clothing, etc. According to these of carrying out ”terror, violence and ethnic cleansing.” people, there are 8,000 displaced persons - that’s a lot but it’s The police were brutal in their efforts to break up the possible (they were coming from Laushan, where there were demonstrations. Several dozen demonstrators and several reports of fighting). Thanks to the Paraplegic Association journalists were injured. […] Since the early 1980s, entire and the Mother Teresa group, we obtained information on 18 generations have grown up with the belief that Kosovo the IDPs in Mitrovica (3,200 at 11:00, and 3,400 when we continues. police. Thesurroundingareaisfullofthem.operation locations. Fromoneofthewindows,twobusesfilledwith thing isover.Thiswasconfirmedbythenewarrivalsinmany want to make the Albanians leave theareanow that every- returned at16:00).Thepoliceleftsuppliesandseemedto - Theauthorities willnotletusworkin an MSFfacility But: is working with us,it’s a priority. (Eric pushed hard on that) and an emergency coordinator facilities. Nowthatwearebetween emergency‘“purists’” couldn’t eventhinkaboutworking outsidethesurgical - WhenTheresawasstillthere(sheleftlastweek),you treatment, even ifit’s just non-emergency surgery? for treatment?WhatdotheAlbanianswhentheyneed authorities say?Thateveryonehasaccessandcancome since itwouldbehardtodiscreetaboutit.Whatdothe the Albanianside?Isupposethat’sareallydifficultissue treatment facility,evenamakeshiftone,besetupon only facilitiesthatcanaretheofficialSerbones?Can a place can’treallyperformsurgeryifnecessary.Sothe What Igatherfromyoursitrepsisthatthefacilitiesin they are. is notthecase.Nooneamongexpatsknowswhere were intheparallelfacilities,wewouldvisitthem,which located, buttheywon’tsay.Onethingiscertain-if a group)havefairlyclearideaofwheretheinjuredare - Theparallel facilities (let’ssay,theAlbaniandoctors as to me. from yourperspectivebutthisdistance,itseemsodd data fromthatsource?It’sanobviousquestion,ofcourse, to parallelAlbanianfacilities, why don’tweatleasthave going totheofficialSerbfacilities,butiftheyhaveaccess fairly precisedata?Iunderstandthatinjuredpeoplearen’t to thesponsoredfacilities?Ifnot,whycan’ttheyobtain general senseofthenumberinjuredwhohavecome through theMotherTeresagroup.Dotheyhavesame You arestillworkingonmedicalsupplies,primarily Regarding the map -I’lltry to putone together. activists inthefieldgatheringdata,villagebyvillage. IDPs. MTaretheonlyoneswithanetworkofsources/ - AccordingtotheMotherTeresagroup,thereare24,000 region? kind ofmapshowingthevictims/displacedpersonsin ber andlocationofdisplacedpersons?Couldwegetsome region, do you have a clearer sense of the possible num- Given yourvariouscontactsandvisitsthroughoutthe Extract: B Belgrade, 18 March1998(inFrench). MSF FranceDeputyProgrammeManagerto Several Questions Email from Graziella Godain,

it didn’t even make the papers here. Heavy weaponry and tanks fired on civilian populations and how itworkedandwascarriedoutsowidelyinKosovo. didn’t talkaboutitmucheventhoughwewerefamiliarwith opposing theSerbs.Itwashorrible.strangethatwe but theywerealways‘theChetniks’whokilledthepeople the samenames,uniforms.Therewerevariations, Sometimes they’dgobackto their villageduringthedayto pretty cold.Peoplemightstay foroneortwoweeks. the forests,ofteninveryharsh conditionsbecauseitwas tors andTVswiththem.Later, you’dfindthemcampingin Africa. Thesepeoplehadtimetoflee.Theytooktheirtrac - These weren’tdisplacedpeopleliketheonesyouseein stayed untiltheend.Wesawquiteafewdisplacedpersons. about leaving for Kosovo. I was there two weeks later and term projects,’ like theEPI sion setupanemergencyteam,whilecontinuingits‘long- attacks and whose populations had begunto move out. region, closetothevillagesthathadbeentargetedby who wereprovidingmobileconsultationsintheDrenica two or three expatriates and many Albanian medical staff 4. EPI:Expanded Programme of Immunisation. clinic? On theresistanceside? want tocomeforwardbecauseofSerbreprisals.ToaKLA wounded. Onceagain,theproblemisthattheydonot minimum medicalstandardsandofferseasyaccesstothe it would have tobeunder cover inaplace that meets - Ifwewanttoworkoninamore‘irregular’setting, option for the timebeing). facility (MToraprivateclinic;havetogiveupontheMoH (do nothavetheright).Ithastobeinanexisting,legal always thesame-guys,faces, already beenimplementedinBosnia.Theywere I was very familiar with the strategybecause it had go.” Thatwasinearly1998.IcalledMSFrightaway ‘Kosovo’ ontheBBCandIsaidtomyself:“Herewe I wasonamissioninLiberiawhenheardtheword place. At that point, the joint French-Belgian mis- February 1998, the first attacks against Drenica took The problemshadalreadybegunbylate1997andin Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager Eric Dachy, Programme Manager MSFBelgium 4 . Itinvolvedamobileteam of MSF France (in French). (in French).

19 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

see what was going on. In general, when the villages were becomes impossible to guarantee the availability of sup- attacked, the houses were looted and the livestock were plies - particularly replacement parts.” While the military killed. Some houses were also booby-trapped. We organised value of resolution 1160 may be largely symbolic, its medical consultations using mobile clinics. We would bring adoption does represent a serious political setback for people a little food, clothing and soap. We would talk to Belgrade and Yugoslavia’s strong man, federal president them to find out what was going on and where the other Slobodan Milosevic. displaced persons were. It was hard to follow because villages were being attacked continuously so there were needs almost everywhere. There weren’t a lot of people with gunshot wounds. Rather, they’d been beaten and tortured. ’Serbs Reject Mediation, 23 “Terrorists” Killed in There was also psychological suffering. The torture didn’t Kosovo,’ AFP (France), Belgrade, 24 April 1998 leave physical marks, but when people told their story, it (in French). was awful. Sometimes we would take the wounded to the Pec hospital and couldn’t get in because Serbs were being Extract: treated there. The hospital was closed to Albanians. On Thursday, Serb voters overwhelmingly supported Slobodan Milosevic’s rejection of international mediation Laurence Thavaux, MSF Field Coordinator in Pristina in the Kosovo (south) conflict, where the Yugoslav army in 1996, in Pec from April 1998 to February 1999, Nurse has killed at least 23 ‘terrorists.’ According to the election in Montenegro in April 1999 (in French). commission projections, 97% of voters opposed Thursday’s referendum in Serbia. Voter turnout was estimated at 75%.

[…] In Kosovo, where Albanians boycotted the referendum, the situation continued to worsen, with a series of On 31 March 1998, the UN imposed an embargo on clashes occurring between the Yugoslav army and sup- weapons deliveries to Belgrade. Subsequently, the porters of an independent Kosovo. According to a source European Union and the US prohibited investments in close to the army, at least 23 supporters were killed on Serbia. On 23 April 1998, the Serbs approved Slobodan Wednesday and Thursday. […] The Albanians, who com- Milosevic’s rejection of international mediation by a prise 90% of the province’s population and are demanding vote of 94.73%. independence, have refused to talk to Serb authorities without an international mediator.

’Embargo Is a Political Setback and Limited Military Problem for Belgrade.’ AFP (France), 1 April 1998 (in French). In April and May, the violence expanded into other regions of Kosovo. MSF teams tried to help victims Extract: and displaced persons via clandestine Albanian health The UN Security Council yesterday approved an embar- networks, while continuing their efforts to support go against Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), to be official health facilities. implemented immediately. It seeks to pressure Belgrade authorities into agreeing to enter into useful dialogue with Albanians in Kosovo, the southern Serb province with a 90% Albanian population. The embargo was based on a Sitrep , François Fille, MSF Coordinator in proposal from the contact group on the former Yugoslavia Yugoslavia to Eric Dachy and Bastien Vigneau, (the US, Russia, Great Britain, Germany, France and Italy). MSF Belgium Programme Managers, 5 April The group was formed following a series of Serb police 1998 (in French). operations in Kosovo that began on 28 February and have left at least 80 Albanians dead. The special police units that Extract: intervened during the operations in the Drenica region of Tuesday, 7 April 1998 […] Izbica. central Kosovo were quasi-military forces armed with heavy machine guns, mortars, armored tanks and helicopters. Returned to this village, where we saw a number of patients last week. Nothing special to note. 75 consulta- According to a Western diplomatic source in Belgrade, the tions. Same illnesses. People from the community helped embargo should not constitute a serious military prob- us to screen individuals in front of the private house lem - at least in the short term - for the well-equipped where we are working. Yugoslavia, which is also an arms producer. In particular, Information: When we returned, we noticed a significant the source noted, it will not affect Belgrade’s ability to increase in the police presence along the road. Many indi- conduct law-and-order operations in the coming weeks vidual trenches were dug recently. They re-consolidated. and months. On the other hand, the source emphasized, Everyone was wearing a helmet. On the other hand, we 20 Yugoslavia will “certainly face a longer-term problem as it were not subjected to heightened intimidation at the will be hereforsix months. up itsmedicalcapacitieswiththearrivalofanursewho that areabletotreatthewounded.TheICRCisbuilding identify (quantify,evaluate,prepare)allprivatefacilities able tofollowuplikethat.It’sclearusthatwehave cooperation. Iftherewereaconflict,noonewouldbe even afterconfirmingthemedicalstaff’sintentionsand checkpoints, theyhadtospendawholenightwithhim to Mitrovicaandrunningintolotsofproblemsatpolice days ago, after referring a patient with a gunshot wound continue makingsystematicreferralstothehospitals.Two receive InteriorMinistryauthorisation,they’reunlikelyto time determiningthenumberofwounded.Iftheydon’t with theICRC,which,likerestofus,ishavingahard you wouldn’tthinkwereinthe‘bush’[…]Meeting really heatingupthere.Fortypoliceatthecheckpoint, road betweenSrbicaandGlogovactoMorina;thingsare A largepolicepresencehasbeenorganisedalongthe only afew kilometers from amajor police force. the Albanians are patrolling between Izbica and Rudnik, ried -that’sobvious.Notsurprisingwhenyouknowthat checkpoints ascomparedtolastweek.Thepolicearewor- opportunism on ourpart). No one in Serbiaisoptimistic. everyone else - arebeingtargeted(without anysenseof been. Foronce,thelocalSerb populations-victimslike managed toobtainaccessafter thepoliceinfieldhad We willsoonbefocusingour effortsonDecani,wherewe and confirm their means of accessandreliability. just havetohurryupandmakesuretheyarecompetent them withallkindsofsurgicalsuppliesandinjurykits.We in thehotspots(please-nopuns)trustustoprovide patients, buttheAlbaniansurgeons,whoareoperational regarding theeffectivetreatmentofthesewounded vents itfromtakingaclearposition).Nodevelopments (a termthattheICRChasnotyetadoptedandpre - reliable partner,soweareabletotreatthe‘warwounded’ credibility withthelocalpopulationandareconsidereda conduct 100consultations/dayonaverage.Wehavegood gunfire fromfightinginLikoshanandIzbica,wherewe Our mobileteamdoesn’tresisttravelingwithinreachof of medical supplies andwatsan). operational plan in case of extended conflict (positioning violence intheDrenicaregionandaretryingtosetupan behalf ofpopulationsthathavebeenvictimizedbypolice 2) Wearemaintaininganexceptional level ofactivity on tribution of medicines; we’ll continue andthen we’ll see. successes. We’llrallyaroundvaccinations,watsananddis- as nottocompromiseourprioreffortsandundeniable 1) Wehavemanagedtoresumeournormalactivities so MSF Activities Extract: (in French). MSF Belgium Programme Managers, 4 May 1998 Yugoslavia toEricDachyandBastienVigneau, Sitrep, FrançoisFille,MSFCoordinatorin working on that, too. involvement withtheauthoritiesisessential,andweare worrying aboutus.[…]Aselsewhere in theworld, our some pointwe’llhavetoexpectthatthepolicewillstart ing identifyingmarksfromallsuppliesdistributed)butat are takingallprecautions(verifyingourcontacts,remov- our lackofaccess,Ithinkthisisstillthebestsolution.We suspicion, thechallengethesewoundedpatientsposeand to keep reasonably quiet about it. That said, given police own interestandthatoftheAlbaniandoctors,weneed clandestine and illegal network. So for now, to protect our be completelytransparentinourworkandsupplyinga our support. Of course, there is a paradox in wanting to If wearesatisfiedwiththeresult,canthenincrease supplies, we’llsoonknowwhetherthesystemisreliable. people in charge. After making a limited distribution of tributes themtothedoctors/surgeons.Weonlyknow lows: MSFgivesthesuppliestoMotherTeresa,whichdis- siderable riskbygoingouttothesites.Theplanisasfol- these doctors’workingconditions.Theyaretakingcon- Teresa), we arecontributingsignificantly to improving contact withthesurgeons’organisationandMT(Mother sibility for providing a minimum of care. After establishing access to and trust of the wounded and 2) taking respon- a teamofsurgeonsexistsandiscapable1)gaining The emergencyteamfinallymanagedtomakesurethat Extract: along theYugoslav-Albanian border(poisoning ofsome, Albanian press, anti-personnelmineshaveclaimed victims that carriesbadhistoricalassociations. Accordingtothe by the KLA). And last, we’re turning up new information Orahovac andespecially around Decani,inplacesheld ing continuesandisworse thanever(aroundKlina, where manydisplacedpeople weregathered).Also,fight- team wasgoingouttoconductanevaluationinaplace areas (yesterday south of Drenica, when the emergency First, we are increasingly being denied access to certain notion that the conflictis spreading. sources arehardlycauseforoptimism.Theysupportthe and data/statementswearegatheringfromavarietyof is stillacceptable,ofcourse,butalltheinformation and expandouremergencyprogrammeinKosovo.Security There are three reasons why we are planning to continue Extract: (in French). MSF Belgium Programme Managers, 7 May 1998 Yugoslavia toEricDachyandBastienVigneau, Sitrep, FrançoisFille,MSFCoordinatorin 1998 (inFrench). MSF BelgiumProgrammeManagers,15May Yugoslavia toEricDachyandBastienVigneau, Sitrep, FrançoisFille,MSFCoordinatorin

21 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

intimidation of others - it’s clear that the information comes to us each time from one or another of the camps). In particular, we’re hearing about the presence of Serb ’MSF FRY [Former Republic of Yugoslavia] Position units -- easily distinguished from the others -- smeared on Kosovo’ Email from the MSF B Coordinator in with camouflage. People are telling us about the worst Belgrade, to the Programme Manager and gen- escapades and actions (all observed in Bosnia, racist oper- eral directors of MSF B, MSF F and MSF H, 12 ations against the opposing side, ready to mount cleans- June 1998 (in French). ing assaults as soon as they get the order), […] When we saw the gear, it was on a tank, with two loudspeakers on Extract: each side, blasting “Chetniks, kill them all” music, like in Since the crisis began and faced with a variety of obsta- “Apocalypse Now.” cles, MSF has tried to maintain ongoing contact with the Kosovo populations (the displaced or those affected by The second reason is that despite our work, the popula- the civil war). tion (at least in the Drenica) continues to have extremely limited access to health care. Every week, the number Access - or, rather, lack of access - is the norm and we of consultations we hold rises. We are documenting a are working continuously to ease it. Over the last month, growing number of illnesses related to precarious living we have noted that Belgrade and the Serb authorities are conditions and forced displacement. working, more or less openly, to prevent us from carrying out our work based on legal or administrative pretexts. Last, the ‘humanitarian space’ is shrinking in western Today, even as police authorities maintain tight controls Kosovo. The current emergency team is handling the over the work humanitarian groups are doing, they are mobile clinic, working with an operational network of also showing signs of more conciliatory behavior. We are Albanian doctors in the heart of the conflict zone and thus hopeful about several attempts to reach victims and setting up an autonomous surgical facility. The team provide them necessary aid. While we are not blind to can’t pursue that latter initiative, spread out and expect what’s going on, their behavior does lead us to be more to perform regular missions in new conflict areas without optimistic. WE MUST CONTINUE OUR WORK. A TEAM IS NOW weakening or creating problems for the mission’s other WORKING NON-STOP. departments. When we set a deadline, if it passes, then we’ll change our strategy. Right now, we are holding between 200-400 consultations/day, and even if there is no medical emergency, Sitrep, Stephanie Van Peteghem, Medical strictly speaking, we are one of the only real ways that the Programme Managers, MSF Yugoslavia, to Eric victims’ stories can get out and be told. At the same time, Dachy and Bastien Vigneau, MSF Belgium there’s a ratcheting-up on all sides. The Serbs are holding Programme managers, 29 May 1998 (in English). to their positions, which we know well. The Albanians are taking advantage of the situation to move their political Extract: pawns forward, based on the notion that more victims = The situation is aggravating, to say the least. There is greater legitimacy. For once, the international community continued shelling of several villages in the Drenica area is taking a position and not holding back. The situation is and the south-west of Kosovo. There have been Serb now in confrontation mode. attacks in Klina, Djakova, Decani, Srbica, Pec [...]. A huge build-up of Serb forces has been reported in Glogovac, What do we make of it? For the reasons stated earlier, along the Suhareka-Orahovac-road and other places, this MSF must maintain its access, which has been seriously also increasing the number of IDPs in the region. It has threatened by our repeated visits to the ‘hot spots’ and to be said that the Kosovo Liberation Army is moving too. by the risk that Belgrade could find out about our work New roads are hastily constructed by the local population, with the wounded. What about military intervention? 1/ thus facilitating the access/way-out both for the UCK and By appearing to align ourselves, yet again, with political the IDPs. Many fear that this is just the beginning of it all. schemers in the West who share responsibility for political mismanagement and strengthening Milosevic’s (and Tudjman’s) power, MSF risks losing its identity. Our only concern is the victims. We don’t have to take a position and embark on a seven-year diplomatic disaster. Indirect access to the populations worsened the operational coordination problems between the Belgian and French sections’ Programme Manager. It also had an impact on decisions about communications issues, which conflicted with those about maintaining opera- Shared coordination in Kosovo didn’t match the real- tions and security. ity in the field. Two stations were assigned to the French section but neither of them belonged to the 22 coordination team. MSF Belgium chose the team members. by ouractivities.Themobile teams were conducting a lotof shared discourse.Theinitiativeswereparticularlyinspired tioned somewhere, we still maintained a commitment to a decision hadbeenmadethateachsectionwouldbeposi - had alwaysmaintainedactivecommunications.Oncethe of securityandresponsibility for people. Thetwosections tions becamelessimportant.Itwas,aboveall,aquestion into their area anyway. After that, administrative authorisa- they couldn’tmanagesecurityandtheSerbsgainedentry ingly amatterofgoingtothepro-Albanianauthorities.But with thePristinaauthorities.Andeventhen,itwasincreas- Sbrebrenica. were heard bythe French Parliament’s ‘mission d’information’ onthe events in in the massacre. InMay 2001several MSF volunteers and management staff parliamentary commission examine France’s political and militaryresponsibilities of several members of itslocalstaff.InJuly2000MSF publicly demanded thata containing witness statements of the survivors and denouncing the disappearance massacre and the absence of UNaction. In January 1996MSF published areport deported 40,000peopleand executed 7000others. MSF publicly denounced the the presence of aDutchPeacekeeping contingent, the Bosnian-Serb forces Bosnian-Serb forces tookcontrol of this‘securityzone’ onJuly11th1995.Despite 5. AnMSF teamwaspresent inthe enclave of Srebrenica, inBosnia, when the Srebrenica the Serbs had never forgotten MSF France’s position on French section,whichneverregisteredofficially. Furthermore, MSF BelgiumwastheentitypresentinKosovo,not the coordination,notus.Officially,forBelgrade’spurposes, Brussels maintainedtheoperationallinkwithfieldand came back. tion gathering.Wesentthemallthetools.Butnothing Paris, encouragingthemtoundertakesystematicinforma- [Françoise Saulnier,LegalAdviser],wesupportedthemfrom had accesstoinformation.WithhelpfromFrançoise In May,Iwentbacktothefieldandnoticedthatteams Kosovo, sowecan’tsayanything.”Itdraggedonandon. the ‘security’syndrome:“Wecan’triskbeingthrownoutof But weranintoobjectionsfromourBelgiancolleaguesand began topushthecoordinationteamspeakoutpublicly. tion madeitswayuptoheadquarters.StartinginApril,we and howthevillageswerebombed.Butverylittleinforma- from peopleabouthowtheyweredriventheirhomes could assesswhatwasreallygoingon.Wehadstatements were reallyrightthereintheheartofsituationand and weresupportingtheMotherTeresaambulantas.We provided first aid while we had medical activities underway greater thantheICRC’s.Theyconducteddistributionsand a significantpresenceinKosovo.Ourwaseven time, MSFwaspracticallytheonlyhumanitarianactorwith two coordinationteamsseemedsomewhatridiculous.Atthe Kosovo isnotaverybigplace.Sotohavetwosectionsand certainly noguaranteethatwe’dbeabletowork.And, Kosovo anymore.Youjustneededanarrangement central authorisationfromBelgradeforanythingin Once theviolencebegantoescalate,youdidn’tneed 5 . So being identified directly as MSF France was Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager, MSF France (in French). case of a massiveinflux of ethnic Albanian refugees. Montenegro and prepare an operational positioning in mobilised toexploretheborderregionsofAlbaniaand operational sectionsforemergencyoperationswas Team (ET)thatassembledteams,adhoc,fromallMSF but alsotoneighboringcountries.TheEmergency Albanian fledenmassetotheinteriorofprovince, In June 1998, in the face of Serboffensives, the ethnic and written was consistent. It was alotof work! Someone reallyneededtomakesurethatwhatwasreported half theresponsesreferredtothingsthatmadenosense. in context.Westartedwithaquestionnaireandnoticedthat couldn’t understandwhattheyweresaying.Ithadtobeput which theywouldmentionanunclewhowasn’tthere.You problem. information. And,whatweheardwasthatthereabig our presence to find out how things were going and gather lages totryholdconsultationsandtakeadvantageof Albanian doctors.Totheextentpossible,wevisitedvil- exclusively medicalactivities,specificallywithethnic effect. Decision: Thursday/FridaybyMarie-Christine and tion evenworsen incomingdays, the ETcouldcome in to A close coordination will be maintained. Should the situa- people arrived). Responsibility: MSF Holland. Montenegro. Objective:same asabove(reported6,000 - Asecondexplowill(try to) movefromSarajevoto Belgium. of Kosovarpeople(3.700reported).Responsibility:MSF try toseewhatcould/shouldbedonewiththeinflux - AnexploteamwillmovefromTiranatonorthofcoun - decided inregard to theKosovo situation: Belgium OperationsDirector]andme,[the]followingis After consultationbetweenMarie-Christine[Ferir,MSF Dear All, ates didn’t have time. They would send two pages in stories. WhenIgotthem,noticedthattheexpatri- I tried several times - I asked people to send their 1998 (inEnglish). Deputy ProgrammeManagerKosovo,4June MSF HollandtoGraziellaGodainFrance Wouter Kok,EmergencyProgrammeManager ‘Explos toAlbaniaandMontenegro’ Eric Dachy, Programme Manager, MSFBelgium Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, MSF Belgium (in French). (in French). Email from

23 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

me. We will keep everybody informed on the developments problems, both in Albania and Montenegro, are chronic via the ET structures. problems which require a more structural intervention. - On the whole there was good acceptance of Kosovar population by the host populations, as well as enough local coping capacity given the relatively low number of ‘ Kosovo: Shift from ET to IT?’ Email from IDPs and refugees. Vincent Janssens, MSF Belgium Operations Director, to the MSF B/F/H Programme Managers However, it is clear that it is a burden and if a big and operational directors, 10 August 1998 (in influx would occur, external aid is certainly warranted. French). In Montenegro a degree of compassion fatigue is evident both in the ministries and the local population. Hello everyone, This is understandable considering that after 1994 the Following several meetings and telephone conversations, country was host to some 60,000 refugees, part of which and given the timing (7 weeks for the ET), the question remain. In addition, officials witness large amounts of aid has been raised on ET follow-up in this context. Ellen’s directed towards Albania. Montenegro’s open door policy feeling [ET team], which we share, is that the influx to of welcoming those from Kosovo has not been rewarded Montenegro and northern Albania remains small, emer- with significant donations from abroad. It was mentioned gency preparation is still difficult and security problems repeatedly that aid agencies come, assess, make promises exist in these locations (arms trafficking). and are not seen or heard of again. We could resume the debate over whether the ET should Recommendations: have covered Kosovo at the same time, but this question - Both UN and NGOs should take a regional approach to is essentially one to be raised in the future. MSF-B sug- the crisis, with Kosovo as the focal point. gests that the ET’s presence in Montenegro and Albania is - Assistance should be provided to both refugees/IDPs and not indispensable. As a result, they suggest pulling the ET the local population. In Montenegro, assistance should out and turning Montenegro into a rear base for the Pec also be provided to the Bosnian refugees and the Romany team. Northern Albania would then be monitored by the population. southern Albania team? Of course, we absolutely do not - Any assistance given should be within the existing struc- want this to be seen as the section pulling back and, as tures; no parallel systems should be created. part of the same process, would like to propose a certain - Refugees should be allowed to move freely within level of internationalisation (IT) still to be jointly coordi- Albania; they should not be restricted to the northern nated by France and Belgium: region. - In the field, by inviting MSF-H HR [human resources] for - Before any large intervention can occur in the Tropoja the 3rd mobile team (or other position), district, there will have to be a serious attempt made by - Headquarters should provide an effective, cross-section the government of Albania to [address] increase security communication and programme management systems threats in the form of banditry. Given that this is an issue that involves multiple decision makers and multiple consequences, please speak up ASAP.

While clashes continued between Serb forces and the ‘Assistance to Refugees and IDPs from Kosovo KLA, the possibility of armed NATO intervention in (Northern Albania, Albania, Montenegro)’, 6 June Kosovo, with or without UN authorisation, was under - 6 September 1998, Final Report, Amsterdam consideration. Albania asked NATO for assistance along September 1998 (in English). its border with Kosovo.

Extract: 1.1 Context at the start of the programme During the first days of June 1998 an influx of Kosovar ’Crisis in Kosovo: NATO Prepares for the Worst - people into Montenegro and Albania was reported as a Takes Measures and Could Threaten Additional consequence of increased fighting with Kosovo. When the Action.’ AFP (France), 28 May 1998 (in French). MSF-Belgium team running a ‘regular’ programme in south Albania requested support, it was decided to do this as Extract: MSF Emergency Team, with MSF-Holland as the Back-Up On Thursday, NATO adopted a plan to help Albania and Section. Two teams were sent, one to Montenegro and the Macedonia, including summer manoeuvres in those coun- other to northern Albania, where the MSF staff in place tries, and decided to continue reviewing possible preven- continued to be involved. A third team was on stand-by to tive military deployment in the Kosovo region should ‘the travel to Macedonia should the situation warrant it. [...] worst’ occur in the Serb province. “The situation in Kosovo is explosive” and “all possibilities should be considered,” 1.6 Conclusions about achieving general objectives Hubert Védrine, French Foreign Affairs Minister told the 24 - In fact there was no medical emergency. Many of the press. He noted that a decision by the UN Security Council now onpossible action inKosovo. Germany respondedmorefavorablytoinitiatingastudy that NATOmightoptforinthefuture.TheUS,France,and Greece, opposeanymentionofspecificmilitaryactions several allies,includingGreatBritain,Italy,Spainand possible militaryinterventioninKosovo.[...]However, rent measuresifthesituationsodemands,”alludingto the future,Alliancemightalso“considerotherdeter- [...] Intheirfinaldeclaration,theministersnotedthatin gency arise in theKosovoregion. emergency civilianplansshouldahumanitarianemer- Partnership forPeaceframeworkandexpectstoprepare establishing trainingcentersinbothcountriesunderthe and Macedonia‘securetheirborders.’Italsoanticipates and Macedonia[...]toestablishhelpAlbania program ofthePartnershipforPeaceonbehalfAlbania measures intendedtostrengthenthemilitarycooperation ministers fromthesixteenNATOcountriestookseveral During a weekly session at the Luxembourg Palace, force. would be the only “relevant legal basis” for the use of VII oftheCharter, authorises the Council“totake all draft resolution, introducedbyGreatBritain underChapter the Albanianseparatistsstruggling againstBelgrade.The that such a meeting would be perceived as supporting six countriescomprisingthe Contact Group,Russiastated firmly opposedtothatoption. Duringameetingofthe intervention atthispoint, althoughRussiaremains and Albanians. Those present did not rule out military currently thesubjectofatug-of-warbetweenSerbs outbreak ofviolenceinKosovo,theYugoslavprovince determination totakeallnecessaryactionavoidan On Tuesday,theinternationalcommunityannouncedits Extract: immediate end” toallviolence in Kosovo. Antonio Monteiro,announcedtheCouncil’scallfor“an the SecurityCouncilpresident,PortugueseAmbassador lent attacksagainsttheseparatists.[...]OnFriday, fled their homes since Serb forces have launched vio- Commission onRefugees(UNHCR),50,000peoplehave tions againstBelgrade[...]AccordingtotheUNHigh Kosovo onSaturday,despitethethreatofnewUSsanc- their operationsagainstAlbanianseparatistsinWestern According toAlbaniansources,Serbforcescontinued Extract: Unrest,’ ‘International CommunityMobilisestoPrevent Threats,’ ‘ Serb Operations Continue Despite American AFP (France),10June1998(inFrench). AFP (France),6June1998(inFrench) for UN intervention. region.” The resolution would thus provide a legal basis necessary measurestorestorepeaceandstabilityinthe stance on behalf of the victimsofviolence. of theFrenchsectionwanted totakemoreaproactive tional directionpersisted. In particular,themanagers coordination problemsanddisagreementsoveropera - overseen bythePristinacoordinationteam.However, joint BelgianandFrenchsections’missionwas Kosovo. Itwasorganisedundertheauspicesof France volunteersopenedaprogrammeinPec,Western In lateJune1998,ateammadeupprimarilyofMSF tion explodes.” be sounreasonableastorefuseinterveneifthesitua- Council, Annanexpressedhis“hopethatnocountrywould (southern Serbia)andholdsvetopowerontheSecurity and ChinaopposeanymilitaryinterventioninKosovo a dangerousprecedent.WhileRussia(anallyoftheSerbs noting thatactionwithoutsuchsanction“wouldcreate regional groupsshouldhaveU.N.sanction,”hestated, to discipline tomorrow?” he asked. “Any use of force by on thepartoforganisationitself.“WhowouldNATOtry mandate couldalsoopenthedoortoanarchicexcesses According toAnnan,NATOinterventionwithoutaUN ITV. [...] General Kofi Annan on Saturday, during an interview with would create“adangerousprecedent,”saidUNSecretary Any NATO military action in Kosovo without a UN mandate Extract: east of the countryinto a crisisarea,” Mr Bizhgasaid. refugees intoAlbania“threatenstotransformthenorth- Continuing hostilities in Kosovo and an influx of Kosovar Tirana with experts from the Atlantic Alliance. [...] Yugoslav-Albanian borderatameetingonThursdayin Interior Minister,askedNATOtodeployalongthe According toapressrelease,PerikliTeta,Albania’s Extract: (in French). out UNMandate,’ ‘Kofi AnnanWarnsAgainstActioninKosovowith- French). Frontier,’ ‘Albania Demands NATOPresence at Its Northeast AFP (France),11June1998(in AFP (France),28June1998

25 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

We thought it was paradoxical to have mobile clinics The Albanians went to the clandestine hospitals, based only in Pristina that would travel across which were extremely well-organised. There was a Kosovo to Pec and Prizren, given the problems with network of Albanian anesthesiologists and surgeons checkpoints there. So we pushed to decentralize the emer- who worked officially in Pristina and would also come to gency teams, with one based in Prizren, one in Pec and one these clandestine hospitals. They had an entire information in Pristina. The Pec area seemed to me to be the most and escort system to get from Pristina to the secret hospitals, important area because the city had a large Serbian popula- which had been set up in private houses. They had large tion. It was the symbol of the Serb control, with its hospitalisation wards. We found badly wounded people there, Orthodox monastery. And it also bordered Montenegro, not just fighters, but civilians who’d been hit by exploding where problems already existed. I suggested to MSF Belgium bombs and had other wounds. They managed to get around that we set up a modular system. They refused. In June pretty easily. I think it would’ve been much harder for MSF to 1998, we opened the Pec mission, but it remained a joint get there, with the Serbs watching us. We supplied them, but French-Belgian project because MSF Belgium didn’t want a not directly. We worked through doctors in certain hospitals French module. With a modular system, the team could’ve or ambulantas. I was able to visit one of those hospitals. It reported back to the coordinators but we would’ve had was very well-organised. They had a bunker underneath, just stronger, and perhaps more independent, ties with Pec. That in case. We knew that they were pretty close to the KLA. would’ve been an interesting transition for us in taking on I did things that I didn’t tell the MSF team in the field about. a project without having to duplicate the coordination. The drivers and the Albanian staff were aware of my commit- The problem was that the coordination team blocked our ment. So when we’d head out in the mobile clinic into the communication with the field team, so we continued to be Drenica, we would always leave in two cars that would split in the dark about what was going on. The volunteers had up so that we could see what was going on. We’d leave the information and went out to sites that the coordination mobile team on site with the first car and then later, we’d team never even mentioned to me. So then I began com- head out not far from the front lines. The ICRC was support- municating directly with my team in Pec and getting infor- ing the Albanian hospitals. They had Albanian surgeons, who mation directly from them. Two months after she arrived, took them out to these areas. They were furious because we a nurse sent me an email saying that her work wasn’t at always got there before they did. We were always the first. all what I’d said it would be and that she hadn’t realised Officially, MSF hadn’t agreed to do that kind of thing. We she would be sent to an expanded vaccination programme. would have needed passes, which would have taken too much She was tired of it and wanted to work in mobile clinics time. And in terms of security, it might have been a bit close. like everyone else, because she thought that was where she could be most useful. She didn’t understand the purpose of Laurence Thavaux, MSF Field Coordinator in Pristina the mission. in 1996, in Pec from April 1998 to February 1999, nurse We asked the coordination team: “Given the bombings, we in Montenegro in April 1999 (in French). assume there would be lots of wounded people. Where are they going? Where are they being treated? What’s going on?” We continued with our small mobile clinics. We saw people with superficial wounds but never any seriously wounded patients. Laurence Thavaux, the MSF France nurse MSF France agreed to a joint mission because there based in Pec, knew that the KLA had set up field hospitals. were administrative advantages. It wasn’t a tradi- She had had several contacts with Albanian surgeons who tional arrangement and at that time, they weren’t were working in these KLA hospitals and were also treat- doing it much anymore. It was just to facilitate things. We ing wounded civilians. Here in Paris, we tried to set up a tried to set up a sort of joint plan. In the beginning, I had network and establish a sense of trust with these doctors the impression that things were going fairly well. so that we could develop a better understanding. In fact, the KLA was very sceptical. They knew that if they attracted Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, MSF humanitarian aid, they risked discovery by the Serbs. The Belgium (in French). coordination team and Brussels really blocked us on that issue, saying that if we started to treat the wounded or do other things, we’d be putting ourselves at great risk. The Serbs could easily find a reason to expel us. The coordinator at the time prohibited the teams from continuing that The main activities were to support the Albanian support. But Laurence continued to maintain some contacts health system. Under Rugova, they had started this and provide certain surgical supplies clandestinely - without parallel government system. So we helped them with her Coordinator knowing! support to their clinics [and] with referrals. They could not go so far so we had to try to get [refer] Albanian people when Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager they had problems that could not be dealt with the primary MSF France (in French). level. We had to help to try to get [them] back into the 26 Serbian health system [for treatment] in hospitals. on atthattimeintermsofinternational focusandpressure. activities andaswelltothis sort ofclimatethatwasgoing official sideofourposition, andthatwasrelatedtoour course, wehadtonegotiate inBelgradetomaintainthe and heneededdifferentauthorisation,etc.Andthenof and meetanotherguywhowouldsayheneverheardofhim this area.Andthendriveanotherkilometredowntheroad one commanderhewouldsaythat’sok,Iamthechiefof structures weresomewhatdisparate.Youwouldspeakto with theAlbaniansideofKLAguyswasnoteasy.Their more open.And,itisalsoworthmentioningthatdealing would makegesturesandgivethemtheimpressionofbeing When theinternationalfocuswasonplacethenthey political climate as well as if KLA would just been in town. get access aftertwo days. It sort of depended on the they werecarryingouttheiroperations, and thenwewould certainly led to tensions. to besomekindofascentandthatwasinBrussels be managedbyParisandBrusselsBelgians.Therehad up issuesallthetime.Butfrommyviewwecouldn’treally which were sent to everybody. Anybody could call or flag what weweredoing.WedevelopedtheseweeklySITREP[s] field levelweallagreedwithwhatwasgoingon.We meetings andwesaidwhatwasgoingon.Ithinkatthe more or less out of the field. We had some sort of monthly mainly French.Ithinkwewereabletokeepthosetensions more even-handed approach. The [MSF] people in Pec were in Pristinaand in Belgrade so that we were able to have a could fillbyprovidingmaterialstotheSerbhealthsystem helping theterroristsetc.Sowedidtrytofindgaps course thegovernmentwasaccusingusbeingonesided, system inasortofcorridorthatrandownfromPec.Of running mobileclinicsandsupportingtheAlbanianhealth But wehadthisofficebasedinPecandtheywerealso down to Glogovacand across to Klina which is towards Pec. biggest areaofactivitieswasmainlyintheDrenicaregions, people beinginternallydisplacedduringtheconflict.The We hadmobileclinics.Thereweretensofthousands Albanian guerrillas were complicated, too. placed Albanianswerelocated.Relationshipswiththe valleys wherethevillagesandsitesthathouseddis- by armedSerbforceswhocontrolledaccesstothe by theconstraintsand,sometimes,threatposed The MSFmobileclinics’workwascontinuouslylimited military were effective in sealing off the area where mally wewouldhavenoaccess.Thepoliceandthe On thegroundwhentherewasanoffensive,nor- Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in Kosovo, June 1998toMarch 1999 (in English). Kosovo, June 1998toMarch1999 (in English). intervene and prevent further escalation. villages andcalledontheinternationalcommunityto operations carried out by Serb forces in ethnic Albanian noting thedestruction,violence,andethniccleansing tion, PhysiciansforHumanRights,distributedareport On 24June1998,themedicalhumanrightsorganisa- like ours, to go into villages and drawpeople out. to ourbeingthere.Theparamilitaryalsousedwhitecars, came through.Wewonderedifthatcouldhavebeenrelated that hadn’tbeentouchedbutmightbehitafterwe eyes! Sometimes,therewerevillageswevisitedregularly they poundedthevillagejustahead.Rightinfrontofmy had achancetosayanything-thetank’stowerturnedand towards meandassoonIgotclosetohim-hadn’teven started walkingtowardsthetank.TheSerbsoldiercame away and we looked at the scene from a distance. Then I were justinfrontofit.Istoppedthecararound50metres blocked. TherewasatankacrosstheroadandSerbs When Igottotheroadleadingvillage,itwas a dayortwoearlierandwherethereweredisplacedpersons. wanted togoavillagewhereanattackhadtakenplace into theditch.Theydiditonpurpose.Anothertime,we [the sideoftheirtank]rearviewmirror,sendingus age topassandaswewentby,thetankspusheduswith would keepusfromgettingahead.Intheend,wedidman- as nightfell.Itwasfoggy.Everytimewetriedtopass,they we hadaflattire-endedupbehindconvoyoftanks returning fromPeja-weusuallydidn’ttravelatnightbut the Serbs,wewere,obviously,pro-Albanian.Onenight, from toptobottomandsay:“Youdon’thaveapass.”To dissuade usfromgoingthere.Ortheywouldsearchthecars your ownrisk.”Thentheywouldfirefromthetanksjustto go ahead, but it’s mined. There’s fighting, so you travel at The Boston-based medicalgroupcallsfor urgentinter- and rape, throughout Kosovo during the past six months. including detentions,arbitrary arrests,violentbeatings Rights (PHR), documents serious human rightsviolations, A preliminaryreportreleased byPhysiciansforHuman Extract: in 1996, Pec fromApril1998 to February1999, Nurse Laurence Thavaux, MSF Field Coordinator inPristina through theircheckpoints.Ortheywouldsay:“OK, certain areasbecausetheSerbpolicewouldn’tletus Sometimes itwashardforustoobtainaccess 1998 (inEnglish). release, PhysiciansforHumanRights,24June of Human Rights Abuses in Kosovo ‘Medical GroupRecountsIndividualTestimonies in Montenegro in April1999(inFrench). ’ Press

27 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

vention by the lnternational Community (lC) to prevent against Serb civilians and security forces. In a 5 August further escalation of these atrocities. 1988 press release, MSF Belgium expressed its concern PHR reports that intensive, systematic destruction and about the medical situation in Kosovo. MSF USA also ethnic cleansing of villages in the Decane and Dakovica distributed the release. MSF’s USA section was actively districts of Kosovo by Serb police and military has resulted relaying information on Kosovo to the media and to its in the widespread killing of civilians. This information donors. The Belgian and French sections’ programme was gleaned during the week of 15 -22 June, 1998 when managers decided to ask the teams to gather state- PHR representatives conducted interviews with refugee ments from the population. families in the northern Albanian towns of Bajram Curri, Tropoje, Dojan, and Margegaj.

“People are fleeing Kosovo in the face of deliberate and ‘ MSF Mobile Teams Report Alarming Medical concerted armed attack on civilians and their homes, an Situation in Kosovo,’ Press release, MSF assault entirely in contravention of international law,” Belgium, 5 August 1998 (in French). ‘Doctors said Dr. Jennifer Leaning, Senior Research Fellow at the Without Borders Mobile Teams Alarmed by Health Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies Situation in Central Kosovo’, Press release MSF and coordinator of the PHR investigation to northern USA, 6 August 1999 (in English). Albania. “Given the failure of the West to intervene in the past, we urgently call upon the IC to take bold and effec- Extract: tive steps to respond immediately to this crisis, before it On Tuesday, August 4, a Doctors Without Borders/ escalates into dimensions no international organization or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) mobile team went to meet government can contain.” populations who fled to the hills surrounding Nekovce, central Kosovo. Several thousand people are living in The PHR team conducted in-depth interviews with a ran- extremely difficult conditions. During the day tempera- dom sample of 38 heads of households of refugee families, tures rise up to 100°F, and without shelter and very little comprising approximately 330 people. The respondents food or drinking water, Doctors Without Borders fears that limited their accounts to incidents of which they had first- this situation could become fatal to the most vulnerable hand knowledge. Refugees told the PHR team that they group-the children. witnessed a total of 60 killings of relatives, friends, and neighbours during Serbian armed forces attacks on their Keith Ursel, Doctors Without Borders Coordinator of the villages in the last several weeks and months. Eyewitness mobile clinic program in Kosovo, explains: “generally, accounts of such killings include: these people are ‘double displaced.’ It is the second or - The selection of a man from a group of mourners at a third time they’ve had to flee the fighting in their region. funeral by Serb special forces who was then killed in front Over the last couple of days, most of them have walked 9 of the funeral cortege. to 13 miles to reach safety. We were able to leave behind - The fatal shooting of a young mother by snipers as she baby food, plastic sheeting for the construction of shel- left her home. ters, chlorine to disinfect the water, cans to hold water, - The description of how one refugee’s two aunts were and soap. Still more is needed, especially food. We also burned to death in their home when Serb police military fear that the exposure to the sun, combined with dehydra- forces advanced on their village. tion and diarrhoea, could become fatal to some of these - The killing of three men by a grenade explosion and the people, especially the children.” pinning down by sniper fire of their two companions for three hours until they escaped under darkness. Every day two mobile teams criss-cross Kosovo, with - The killing of three uncles of one informant by sniper fire local medics, in search of accessible locations to set as they tried to flee an artillery barrage. up mobile clinics. Patients are mainly being treated for diarrhoea, respiratory and skin infections, and also for problems caused by stress (such as headaches and gastro-intestinal problems). Up to 350 consultations can be carried out per day. Frequently, however, the mobile teams have difficult or no access due to the fighting or MSF DECIDES IT IS TIME because they are stopped at roadblocks. TO SPEAK OUT

‘Ethnic Albanians Continue to Live in Fear’, CNN Worldview (transcription) 5 August 1998, During the summer, Serb forces launched several 18:18 (in English). offensives. European Union members continued their support for Ibrahim Rugova, but kept their distance Extract: 28 from the KLA, which was intensifying its actions SADLER: They press on, knowing that Kosovo’s fires have late. disaster. Westerneffortstostopitmayalreadybetoo the expenseofwhatmaygrowintoanotherhumanitarian Belgrade’s favourbutbattlefieldgainshavebeenmadeat The balanceofterritorialcontrolhasclearlyshiftedin recently overrun,anetworkofKLAbunkersisexposed. town, once held by the Kosovo Liberation Army, but (On Camera):AYugoslavarmyunitrollsintoyetanother innocent civilians, homes abandoned and ablaze. las maybeontherun,sotooarecountlessthousandsof ist controlledareas,althoughtheethnicAlbanianguerril- SADLER: TheSerbssaytheiractionsaretoliberateterror- forest. left theirhomeandarenowlivingin,asyou’veseen,the the whole region covered with groups like that who have first deliveryofhelpthatthey’regettingandprobably 11 days, alotoffear,andIthinkyouareseeingherethe [...], DOCTORSWITHOUTBORDERS:We’vebeenherefor believe it’s toounsafe. not. Evenifthereisnothinglefttogobackto,theystill refugees togoback,butthesefacesexplainwhymostare back home.Westernpowersareattemptingtoencourage she says,fromrocketsandsniperfire.We’reafraidtoturn trees. Whatmakesthemhide?Itsfear,fearfromgrenades are womenandchildrenhuddledbelowthebranchesof Survival intheopenhastakenitstoll.Downbelow,there virtually nothing left, no drinking water and no shelter. climb wearilyupthehill.Theyarelivingroughandhave greater hardship;agroupofmencomeouthidingand the elderly.Deeperincountryside,theyfindeven clinic, andwithit,aglimmerofhopeforthesick medicine isquicklyunloaded.Doctorssetupatemporary at their first stop, an abandoned schoolhouse. Food and scattered peoplefarandwide.Therearetearsofrelief and tobeafirsthand witnesstotheirtragedy. Foralarge access togroups ofdisplacedpeoplehiding inthehills, have beenable,byinsistence andobstinance,togain MSF teams,despitetremendous difficultyatcheckpoints, is reaching 200,000, atenthof the population! according toUNHCR,thetotal numberofIDPsinKosovo latest phaseoftheconflict,declaredtwoweeksago.And between 50,000and70,000havebeendisplacedbythis modated inprivatehomes.Accordingtosomesources, spread, seemstohavedisplacedtoomanybeaccom - the housesofrelatives.Butlatestoffensive,sowide - had forcedfamiliestotakerefugeinothervillages, flee into thehills. Previous attacks, in recentmonths, mostly villages and small towns, forcing populations to The latestoffensiveofSerbforcesinKosovohastargeted Extract: Director, 12 August1998(inEnglish). ‘Letter from Kosovo’ from MSF USA Executive valleys of theaffected region. mobile teamstoexpanditsreachthroughoutthehillsand fighting. MSFplanstoimmediatelyexpandtheprogramof we alldreadthecontinuation,andlikelyescalationof ter and the risks of respiratory infections. And of course, threat ofrainsisaconcern,withtherelatedneedforshel- be transported in our vehicles. In the weeks to come, the tions, with a major limitation:no fighting-age man can to hospitals.MSFhasstartedcarryouttheseevacua- nant mothersandtheseriouscasesneedingevacuations pressure, mental trauma etc.). More worrying are the preg- in thehills(diarrhoea)andto mental health(highblood Many pathologiesarerelatedtothequality of waterfound sionals (also in hiding with their displaced community). plies tothedisplacedmedicaldoctorsandhealthprofes- carry outconsultationsonthespotand/ortogivesup- purification tablets, plastic sheeting andmattresses: we basic suppliessuchascollapsiblewatercontainersand and controlledareas.Wealsoassistthepopulationswith organization able to send medical teams into the affected last offensive.Ourworkisessentialaswearetheonly in whichtheysoughtshelter,cameunderattackthe attacked inrecentmonths,andthentherelatives’homes, have beentwicedisplaced:theiroriginalvillagewas a minimumsupplytothehills.Oftenfamilieswefind cover. Theyhaveverylittlefood,butsomebrought shelled bySerbpolice.Sotheycookatnight,undertree fear thatsmokecouldcausethemtobelocatedand Some families in hiding are evenscared to cook as they Bosnia ethnic cleansing. return, asadreminderofthepracticesadoptedin by arson,reportedlytopreventthedisplacedpopulation’s ently daysaftertheshellingtoo,possiblyintentionally houses aresetablazenotonlybytheshellingbutappar- the shelledvillages.Inmanyofthesevillages,fieldsand mostly byshelling;Serbianpoliceforcestakecontrolof lagers escapeintothehillsasvillageswereattacked, part of the Drenica region, the formula is the same: vil- this matter. and Keith. And I know Joelle will also be of great help on some storiesasEricD.mentioned inhisproposaltoyou rial. Anyway, it is still essential that you quickly send us and usesomeofthesetestimonies (témoignage)asmate- (doctors???) tellingustheirstories. Wecanbuildadossier daily eventstojournalists. This alsomeanshavingIDPs munication strategy with you. It means more than relating both convincedthatnowistherighttimetobuildacom - a monthly(ormoreifnecessary)meeting.Also,weare Basically wekeepthecoordinationasitis,formalised Things wentfinewithGuillaumeandGraziellainParis. Extract: French). MSF CoordinatorinBelgrade,7August1998(in Deputy ProgrammeManager,toTimBoucher, Email from BastienVigneau, MSF Belgium

29 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

[...] We all feel that we should STOP/ENOUGH the [internal mountains and forests, where it is difficult for aid organ- MSF] politics and shouting! Do something about Kosovo isations to reach them. [...] Jessen-Petersen criticised the because people are dying there and it is going to get failure to respond to the organisations’ needs. ”We have worse, enough time has been given to diplomats, and still received only one-third of what we requested and that will no solution has been brought by the international com- not be enough,” he noted. munity! The conflict dramatically changed last week, and definitely no improvement is expected. We already said in [...] On Wednesday, the Organisation for Security and our communications that the Belgrade administration was Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) requested NATO assistance beginning to block access to Yugoslavia for foreigners; to build shelters in northern Albania for the Kosovo refu- refusing access to zones has been filmed by CNN, etc. gees. Daan Everts, OSCE Ambassador in Albania, said that NATO soldiers could help build winter shelters to house Kosovars are fleeing their country, and Western Europe has Kosovo refugees, who currently total around 14,000. no clear policy concerning those refugees. We’ll have a brainstorming session on Monday concerning these issues, and choose the means to use to reach these objectives. If you already have material (testimonies), ideas, messages you think are appropriate, please send me an email before On 28 August 1998, MSF Belgium organised a pub- next Monday 10:00. lic awareness campaign in Brussels and launched an appeal directed at European political leaders and the Belgian government to ensure a halt to the violence and guarantee the safety of Kosovo’s population. On 31 August 1998, faced with an influx of Kosovar refugees On 20 August 1998, with negotiations blocked, inter- in Belgium, MSF opened a shelter where they could national leaders called for a ceasefire and increased aid spend the night in Brussels. In the interim, refugees for the fleeing Albanian Kosovars, predicting that the were housed at MSF headquarters. situation would become a ‘humanitarian disaster.’ On August 22 1998, the Serb army launched a new offensive in central and northern Kosovo. On 24 August, the UN demanded that Belgrade agree to a ceasefire, with- ‘An Appeal to European Political Leaders from drawal its forces, dialogue with the ethnic Albanians, Médecins Sans Frontières,’ MSF Belgium Press and facilitate the refugees’ return. release, 26 August 1998 (in French).

Extract: MSF teams are sending mobile clinics out on a daily basis ‘Humanitarian Catastrophe Threatens Kosovo, to assist the populations in the forests and countryside. According to International Organisations’ In addition to this sudden and distressing change of cir- Alexandra Niksic, AFP (France), Pristina, 20 cumstances, these men, women and children are unable to August 1998 (in French). maintain proper hygiene, provide for their own survival or receive medical care. Extract: The situation will worsen in winter if they are forced to ”If there is no progress, a humanitarian crisis could live without shelter, drinking water, and health care. turn into a humanitarian catastrophe,” warned Emma Bonino, the European Community’s Humanitarian Affairs This violence was not inevitable. Western governments Commissioner, on a visit to Kosovo Wednesday. Thousands could have prevented it. Experience has shown that the of people have taken refuge in the forests, fleeing fighting recent bloody conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia ended only between Serb forces and Kosovo Liberation Army rebels. when the international community decided to end the killing and provided the means required to do so. Diplomatic sources say mediation efforts by US Emissary Today, statements without action only encourage the war- Christopher Hill, expected to begin Thursday in Kosovo, mongers to continue their policy of escalation. have not yet produced results. The Albanians refused to negotiate until Belgrade halts operations against the KLA. Over the last two months, the massive influx of refugees [...] Bonino and Soren Jessen-Petersen, UN Deputy High from Kosovo into Belgium has created an acute crisis for Commissioner for Refugees, who was also in the province organisations that accept asylum seekers. on Wednesday, have called for an immediate ceasefire. Despite the contributions and participation of a range of They also demanded easier access to the region for actors in the field, refugees of every nationality go with- humanitarian organisations. out shelter nearly every night. They are a powerful illustra- tion of the weakness of Belgium’s current asylum policy. More than 230,000 people have fled their homes in the face of fighting. Around 170,000 of them have been dis- This situation was not inevitable, either. Solutions do 30 placed within the province and have sought refuge in the exist. In the name of the values that Europe claims to - - government: In thenameofsamevalues,wecallonBelgian - - leaders: Frontières todayissuesanurgentcalltoEurope’spolitical tions and under the Geneva Convention, Médecins Sans respect, inthenameofsecuritycivilianpopula- - - - The following individuals will be there: 175 Ruedela Loi (Schumantraffic circle). on Friday,the28th,between10:00and16:00,acrossfrom viduals working with our projects in Kosovo and Belgium refugees. Weinviteyoutovisitthesiteinterviewindi- tent there,representingthedisplacedpopulationsand will symbolisetherealityofKosovo.Wealsoplacea burned house near the Schuman traffic circle. This house the publicatlarge.Wewillthusplaceareplicaof Belgian politicaldecisionmakersandalsowishtoinform ceptable situation,weareappealingtoEuropeanand in refugeereceptionfacilities.Inthefaceofthisunac- In addition,thosewhofleeconfrontglaringdeficiencies to escapethe attacks. They havenothing. sands ofciviliansarehidinginthemountainsandforests and residentsaredrivenfromtheirhomes.Tensofthou- have come under artillery attack, houses are set ablaze, theatre of violence against civilian populations. Villages Over the last six months, Kosovo province has been the Extract: dignified andhumane welcome for all refugees. coordinated asylumpolicyastheonlywaytoensurea To choose a more open, more consistent and better in Belgium. needed toprovidearoofanyonerequestingasylum To release,onanemergencybasis,theresources that people may return to theirhomes. To ensure that security is restored in the province so Albanian. petrated againstcivilianpopulations,whetherSerbor To takeallappropriatestepstohalttheviolenceper- among the displaced populations. recently returnedfromevaluatinglivingconditions Marie-Claire Durand,aFrenchsanitationexpert,who mobile teams in Kosovo. Laurence Thavaux,aFrenchnurseworkingwiththe shelter programme in Belgium. Pierre Ryckmans,Belgian,Managerofthe‘night-time ‘Kosovo BurnsatEurope’sDoor,’ ence, MSFBelgium,28August1998(inFrench). Press confer- London. Later we even opened a small project on the coast, London. Laterwe evenopenedasmallproject onthecoast, whole routeworked out-Brussels,thenthe coast, andthen attractive becauseitwasonthe waytoLondon.Therewasa Brussels. ForEasternEuropeans ingeneral,Belgiumwasvery house peoplein such need,”says Ryckmans. stand howacountrylikeourscouldlacktheresourcesto present themselvesaftertwomonths.“It’shardtounder - (CPAS, asocialservicesnetworkagency),wheretheymust then bedirectedtothePublicCentreforSocialAction breakfast andalighteveningmeal.Asylumseekerswill mented womenandchildren.”MSFwillprovideitsguests organisation thatexpectstoopenashelterforundocu- managed to find shelter. We are working with a non-profit greatest. Bythefollowingdays,somepeoplehavealready that’s thedayofweekwheninfluxKosovarsis we openonMondaybecauseknowfromexperiencethat tinue until the end of September. ”It’s very important that seekers aresinglemen.”Initially,theoperationwillcon- Interior Ministry statistics, “80% of the Kosovar refugee priority towomenandchildren.However,according We canhousesome30peopleattheMSFoffice,with time, with the resources at hand.” agency], togetinvolvedinrefugeereceptionforthefirst Office ofForeigners[thegovernmentimmigrantservices [a non-profitrefugeeassistanceorganisation]andthe the situation,wedecided,alongwithPetitChâteau that thepoliticianswere not sendingaclear message on were notangibleimprovementsunderwayinKosovoand Manager Pierre Ryckmans. “As it became clear that there office. “WefeltthatBelgiumwasdelaying,”saidProgram open anighttimeshelterinthecapitalcity,nexttoitsown Beginning onMonday,thehumanitarianorganisationwill Médecins SansFrontièresBelgiumtotaketheinitiative. The precariousnatureoftheirsituationhasprompted is nobilateral agreement with Belgium.” accept them,eveniftheyreturnvoluntarily,becausethere any event, the Federal RepublicofYugoslavia refuses to Deputy CabinetDirectorfortheMinistryofInterior.“In for thelastseveralmonths,’explainsDirVandenBulck, expelled.” ‘Wehaven’tbeensendingtheKosovarshome facing eventsthatmayputtheirlivesatrisknotbe November 1997inthe‘Moniteur,’providing”thatrefugees ers. Theexplanationmaybefoundinanoticepublished July wasarecord-breakingmonth,with500asylumseek- Extrait: Beginning in August 1998, Belgium also faced the Beginning inAugust1998,Belgium alsofacedthe actually saw Kosovar families in the streets of actually sawKosovar families in the streets of problem oftheKosovarsarriving inthecountry.You 29/30 August 1998 (inFrench). Shelter for Kosovar Refugees,’ Frontières Takes ActiontoProvide Nighttime ‘The ReceptionFacilitiesareFull:MédecinsSans Le Soir (Belgium)

31 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

near the spot where the boats leave. People were in very risky People driven from their homes try not to move too far situations. They were cold and they had nothing. It was from their original residences. They go to other villages, tragic. We found ourselves amongst men who tried to push camp out in the valleys and build shelters with whatever the refugee women into prostitution. We had to deal with materials they can find. The situation differs considerably that, sometimes by separating the girls from these parasites, from one locale to the next. Some people go home, others who were everywhere. We had to deal with security problems farm and some places haven’t been touched yet. ourselves. At that point, things had moved beyond us but we didn’t have any obvious solutions so we decided to set up the MSF has no access to the villages when the destruction is burned villages across from the European Union. occurring. We arrive later, along with everyone else. One team is based in Pristina, another is in Peja, and the third Anouk Delafortrie, Communications Officer, MSF is working in the Prizren region. We’ve developed several Belgium (in French). programme components: a) Medical component: the mobile teams move from village to village. It’s not very satisfying, but there’s no major medical crisis. The problems we face have to do with hospital referrals; people are afraid to travel, are We were with Eric Dachy and a couple of others, and not always welcome at these facilities and we don’t know we said to ourselves: “What can we do?” So we how they are being treated. There are no hospitals in the organised a whole series of events. We drove up in rebel areas. front of the European Parliament and set up a stand. We b) Material aid component: we handle the distribution of built a replica of a Kosovar village and set it on fire. We any items that could help people survive, wherever they interviewed passers-by and handed out fliers. It worked well end up, and we have direct access to those sites that are with the public and members of parliament. We also housed the most isolated and least served by aid. Kosovars at the MSF Belgium headquarters because there c) Communications/testimonies/lobbying component: the was no more room at the Petit Château, where illegal refu- government denies that there are homeless people. We gees are housed in Belgium while waiting for papers or were slow to speak publicly because we didn’t have any- deportation. We said to ourselves: “We have projects in one who could take people’s statements. It takes time to Kosovo. We know the situation there and we’re at the other write. end of the chain of events.” So we organised night shifts. It was an amazing mobilisation. What is the role of the Kosovo Liberation Army vis-à-vis the population? All Albanians support the opposition and Bastien Vigneau, Deputy Programme Manager, are required to support the rebellion. The rebels are quite MSF Belgium, (in French). irresponsible with regard to the population. They wanted to hold positions militarily but were unable to do so. That might have been the only way to draw international public attention to Kosovo, but that decision had significant consequences. In September 1998, the French and Belgian sections’ Kosovo programme managers made a joint visit to their shared project. Shocked by the population’s tragic situation, they decided to speak out in public together. ‘Mobile Teams Based in Pec Report Serious On 15 September 1987, MSF Belgium, MSF France and Deterioration in the Situation in Western Regions MSF USA alerted the press to the worsening situation Over the Last Few Weeks,’ MSF France, Press observed by MSF’s mobile teams in Kosovo. release, 15 September 1998 (in French). ‘New Abuses in Kosovo - Populations in a Deadlock,’ MSF Belgium, Press release, 15 September 1998 (in French). ‘Doctors Without Borders Minutes of the 25 September 1998 Board Teams Alarmed by Escalating Humanitarian Crisis Meeting, MSF France (in French). in Kosovo - Wounded Have No Access to Medical Care,’ MSF US, Press release, 15 September Extract: 1998 (in English). Kosovo (Guillaume Le Gallais): The Serbs are conducting a war against civilians in Kosovo. The scenario is as follows: Extract: Serb forces surround a village, allow the residents to flee, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) shell the village, destroy everything (including livestock) teams based in Pec, Kosovo, report a serious deterioration and loot the valuables. The conflict moves from village in the situation in Western regions of the province over to village. No one knows where it will travel to next or the past several weeks. Villages have been subjected to how it will all end. And, winter is coming. In reality, the fierce military attacks and systematically bombed, burned Serbs’ reaction, intended to punish rebel supporters, is and looted and residents chased from their homes. Many 32 completely disproportionate to the rebellion. displaced persons are suffering from bullet or grenade campaign. Guillaume andVincentdecided tosetupacommunications by doingso and thepeople had everythingtogain. […] So could reallyofferpeople,wehad absolutelynothingtolose out couldjeopardizeouroperations,butgivenhowlittlewe meant endorsingwhatwasgoingon.Weknewthatspeaking compared to what they need. Suddenly, remaining silent take, livingintheforest,whatwecanprovideispeanuts Guillaume. Werealizedthatwith200,000refugees,giveor had setupatthattime.Thevisitwasacompleteshockto Operations DirectorinthecellstructurethatMSFBelgium Programme Manager]andVincentJanssens,then - are given every day, mainly tothe displaced population. and Prizrenregions.Threetofourhundredconsultations Three mobileteamsareworkingaroundPec,intheDrenica brought totheregionsmostaffectedbyconflict. structures. Forthelast6months,reliefactionshavebeen Kosovo since 1992 providing medical support to health by thecomingwintermonths.MSFhasbeenworkingin of thousandsdisplacedpeopleisfurtherthreatened the precariouslivingconditions.Thehealthofthesetens ple, diarrheaandrespiratoryinfections)areworsenedby longer abletowork.Moreover,healthproblems(forexam- structures havebeendestroyedandmedicalstaffareno In the regions of Kosovo severely affected by war, health displaced persons, forcing them to moveonce again. in afield.Afewdayslater,Serbiantanksuprootedthese attack onthetownofBrolic,hadtakentemporaryrefuge In Isniq,over 10,000 people who fledtheSeptember9 also reportsofilltreatmentatthehandsSerbianforces. surrounding forestwheremenwerearrested.Thereare Serbian militaryforcespursuedvillageresidentsintothe percent ofthehousing.Accordingtoeyewitnessaccounts, previously, multiplebombingraidshaddestroyedupto90 the areasurroundingPornorsk,nearPec,wheretwodays September 6,1998,aMSFteamsucceededinreaching ing from villageto village, or hiding in the forest. On homes, andothershavebeendisplacedformonths,mov- forced tolodgewithrelativesinalreadyovercrowded possessions lootedandtheirhousesdestroyed.Someare residents trytoreturntheirhomes,theyfind fled to take refuge in the nearby mountains. When village partially orentirelydestroyedandwhoseinhabitantshad The MSFteamrecentlyvisitedvillagesthathadbeen Boucher, Coordinator for MSF in Pristina. in frontofusandotherinternationalobservers,”saysTim increasingly violentattacksarebeingcarriedoutopenly, wounds anddonothaveaccesstomedicalcare.“These Bastien Vigneau[MSFBelgiumKosovoDeputy Kosovo ProgrammeManager]leftforwith In September,Guillaume[LeGallais,MSFFrance Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager MSF France (in French).

force. 24 September1998, NATO begantoprepare an aerial negotiations beginunderthreatof‘newmeasures.’On 1199 demandingthatSerbforcesretreatand September, theUNSecurityCouncilissuedResolution offensive incentralandnorthernKosovo.On23 On 22September1998,Serbforceslaunchedanew the mobile teams were seeing were getting worse. more timewithpeopleinthemountainsandsituations numbers ofpeoplewerebeingdrivenout.Wehadtospend “Do ourprogrammesstilladdresstheneeds?”Increasing changed. Therewasalotofdiscussion around thequestion: extensive itwouldbecome.Andtheninautumn,everything ‘emergency’ mode.Inthebeginning,wedidn’trealizehow to moveoutofthatmedium-termperspectiveandinto a cautiousapproachtocommunications.Itwashardforus in additionto themeasurescalledforunder resolution 4. the current efforts aimed at facilitating suchadialogue; ated politicalsolutiontotheissue ofKosovo,andwelcomes timetable, leadingtoanend of thecrisisandtoanegoti- tions andwithinternational involvement,andtoaclear immediately intoameaningful dialoguewithoutprecondi- Yugoslavia andtheKosovoAlbanianleadershiptoenter 3. trophe; situation andtoaverttheimpendinghumanitariancatas - ship takeimmediatestepstoimprovethehumanitarian Republic ofYugoslaviaandtheKosovoAlbanianleader - 2. humanitarian catastrophe; the KosovoAlbanianleadershipandreducerisksof a the authoritiesofFederalRepublicYugoslaviaand enhance the prospects for a meaningful dialogue between in Kosovo,FederalRepublicofYugoslavia,whichwould immediately ceasehostilitiesandmaintainaceasefire 1. Nations, Acting underChapterVIIoftheCharterUnited Recalling its resolution 1160 (1998) of31March1998, The Security Council, Extract: Calls upon the authorities in the Federal Republic of Calls upontheauthoritiesinFederalRepublicof Demands further thattheFederalRepublicof Yugoslavia, Demands alsothattheauthoritiesofFederal Demands thatall parties, groups and individuals medium term,likevaccinationcampaigns.Wetook our programmesinKosovowerefocusedonthe What Iparticularlyrememberisthatforalongtime, ‘ , 23 September 1998 (in English). Council, 23September1998(inEnglish). Resolution 1199, UN Security Council,’ Anouk Delafortrie, Communications Officer, MSF Belgium (in French). UN Security UN Security

33 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

1160 (1998), implement immediately the following concrete measures towards achieving a political solution to the situation in Kosovo as contained in the Contact Group ‘Contact Group Agrees On a Kosovo Resolution statement of 12 June 1998: Accord,’ AFP (France), New York (United (a) cease all action by the security forces affecting the Nations), 23 September 1998 (in French). civilian population and order the withdrawal of security units used for civilian Extract: repression; On Monday, the six contact group countries reached an (b) enable effective and continuous international moni- agreement on a draft resolution warning of “additional toring in Kosovo by the European Community Monitoring actions” if Belgrade did not halt repression in Kosovo. Mission and diplomatic missions accredited to the Federal However, Sergei Lavrov, Russian Ambassador to the UN, Republic of Yugoslavia, including access and complete stated that the text did not give NATO a ‘green light’ to freedom of movement of such monitors to, from and launch a military intervention. The text was adopted under within Kosovo unimpeded by government authorities, and the terms of Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The contact expeditious issuance of appropriate travel documents to group includes Germany, the US, France, Great Britain, international personnel contributing to the monitoring; Italy and Russia. (c) facilitate, in agreement with the UNHCR and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the safe The text states that if Yugoslav President Slobodan return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes Milosevic does not fulfill his commitments, the Security and allow free and unimpeded access for humanitarian Council “will consider additional actions and measures organizations and supplies to Kosovo; to maintain or restore stability in the region.” “Nothing (d) make rapid progress to a clear timetable, in the dia- in this text authorises ‘the use of force’,” Lavrov told the logue referred to in paragraph 3 with the Kosovo Albanian press after a Council meeting. community called for in resolution 1160 (1998), with the aim of agreeing confidence-building measures and finding a political solution to the problems of Kosovo; ‘NATO Asks Its Soldiers to Organise an Aerial Force for Possible Armed Action in Kosovo,’ AFP (France), Vilamoura (Portugal), 24 September ‘Serb Forces Launch Vast Offensive in Northern 1998 (in French). Kosovo,’ AFP (France), Pristina, 22 September 1998 (in French). Extract: On Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana Extract: announced that the Alliance had asked its army to organ- On Tuesday morning, Serb security forces launched a vast ise an aerial force in anticipation of possible armed action offensive in northern Kosovo against Albanian “terrorist” against Serb targets in Kosovo. “This decision sends an groups that have taken refuge in the Cicavica mountain important political signal that NATO can use force if nec- region, said Colonel Bozidar Filic, Serb Interior Ministry essary,” Solana said. […] spokesman in Pristina, the county seat. “Police officers have blocked the region and are pursuing separatist Under pressure from the US, it seeks to lend credibil- Albanian groups suspected of having committed crimes ity to the international community’s threat to use force, and participating in kidnapping civilians,” he told the reaffirmed Wednesday by the UN in a resolution calling press. on Belgrade to halt its offensive against the Kosovar Albanians. A new NATO decision will be required to take According to the officer, the ‘terrorist groups’ have action. The allies had been considering a range of options retrenched in that sector, considered the last bastion of over the last three months and chose to focus on air the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), after taking serious raids. If they are ordered, they would initially involve losses in the province’s Western and central regions. [...] strikes by American Tomahawk cruise missiles. The aerial The Albanian Information Center announced that police force stand-by, voted on Thursday, signals the member attacked some fifteen villages in the region last Friday and countries’ ‘firm intention’ to make those forces available that at least sixteen people, including two children, had to NATO. been wounded in Prekzaz and Mikusnica. [...] The police representative stated that, with the agreement of local Serb authorities, fifty Albanian villages had organised “interior security groups responsible for restoring conditions to normal,” in response to KLA efforts to rally the Between 23 September and 5 October 1998, the MSF communities to its cause. mobile team provided aid to people in the Pristina-Pec- Prizren triangle, which was attacked by the Serb army and police forces, particularly in the displaced persons’ 34 camp in Vatchak and the village of Golubovac. A writer vivors’ testimonies. accompanied theteam,assignedbyMSFtogathersur- When the militiatook us into a courtyard in the village, sixteen of us were left-the young and not-so-young men. about thirtymen.Theyput theoldesttoonesideand Then theyseparatedthemen fromthewomen.Therewere We cameoutoftheforestwith ourhandsonheads. us, withourfamilies,yelling atustodropourweapons. to findhisfamily.Hetells his story.“Theysurrounded He waswoundedintheshoulderandhip,butmanaged Selman istheonlyonetohavesurvivedmassacre. we carried the corpses.” Red Crosscameandthentheyleftagain.Allnightlong Here weareagain,withnothing,nothing.[…]TheSerb people]. Theyburnedtheaidyougaveusandourflour. at thetopoftheirlungsastheybeatupandhacked[the two nearbycemeteries.Djemilasaid:“Theyweresinging night. Thismorning,thereweretwentyfreshgravesinthe The lastmilitiamenremainedinthevillageuntilSunday would kill us. They took myuncle.” is dead.“Heyelledatusnottoleavethehouse,orthey motion acrossherthroatandthelittlegirlcried.Heruncle heads cutoff.Withaquickgesture,shemadeslicing returned tothevillage,family’stwomenhadtheir her sister-in-law’s10year-olddaughter,andbrothers houses. WhenDjemila,herdaughters,sister-in-law, the onestheywantedtokillandtook14ofthem […] Youheardfiringandscreamseverywhere.Theychose The womenwerescreaming,thechildrenscreaming. had fled.First,theyseparatedthemenfromwomen. lage andpursuedthemintothenearbyforests,wherethey at 09:00. Many soldiers and militiamen penetrated the vil- captured withthem.Itwasamassiveattackthatbegan their bodiesareburiedwiththoseoftwelveothervillagers Two meninDjemila’sfamilywerearrestedonFridayand pocket and then tookitout, yelling: “Look a terrorist!” black. Theycapturedtheyoungmen,putabulletintheir around theirheadsandcheekspaintedgreen with hats with the brims turned back, others with scarves wearing threekindsofuniforms-blueandkhakisome, We’d neverseenanythinglikeit.Theycamewithtanks, of thehouses,stoppingus.“Wetoldthemnottohurt on theground,theirlegsstiff.Weepingwomencameout smoldering beams.Severalcows,killedbygunshots,lay we discovered a landscape of ruined houses with still- to theVutchakvalley that we had foundlast Thursday, When weenteredthevillageofGolubovac,onroad 28 September 1998: Drenica,Kosovo Extract: French). France andMSFBelgium,29September(in Managers andcommunicationsofficersatMSF Fax fromMyriamGaumetotheProgramme burned andthe livestockkilled.We’vebeen herefortwo clandestinely, at night.Thegrangesandstocks havebeen are runningout.Thementry toreturntheirhouses, MSF hasjustfoundthismeager campwhere food supplies Serbs have found theirbest officer -General Winter.” hand undertheshelter and bringsitout,dripping.“The won’t be enough,” one father says, sadly, as he puts his pounded thevalleyforthreedays.“Winterishereandthis able. Thegroundissoakedbythestrongrainsthathave tresses ontheground.Inafewdays,theywillbeunus - down alongthewallsanditinfiltratesthinfoammat - gardens. But,thenighttimedampsendswaterrunning branches, likethegreenhousestheymakefortheirkitchen months havebuiltshelters of plasticsheeting, heldupby […] The refugees who’ve populated this valley for two charred houses, but they have nofoodleft. the villageofBajica,forexample,havereturnedtotheir woman andchildrenstartedtoleave.”Somefamilies,in you don’tgetoutofyourhouses,we’llkillyou.”Sothe and twenty-fiveofthemsearchedus.Thentheysaid:“If “There weretwohundredofthem.Theycamewithatank were alsostrippedoftheirearringsandgoldjewelry. second womanadded.Asothersrecounted,thewomen but theytook1,000marksand1,500fromanother,”a drove aroundus.Awomantookmoneyfromherpocket, slipping andfallinginthemud.Thearmoredvehicles 500 marks to return the men to us. People were terrified, hands ontheirhead,andthensomecamebacktodemand ed thewomenfrommen,theytookthemaway,their was fouro’clockintheafternoon,onFriday.Theyseparat- set firetothemattresses.Theplasticwentupinsmoke.It by herchildren.“Themilitiamencameinwithoilcansand empty, likethiswomanholdinganoillamp,accompanied eral wagons.Thefamiliesareonfoot,theirhandsnearly ley isdeserted.Alongthesoddenroad,horsespullsev- the sameautumngreenandgoldlandscape,butval- the tank,remain.It’ssamestream,swollenbyrains, Today, onlyafewdestroyedbeamsandcars,crushedby Three days ago, several thousand families lived there. as iftosignalthatitwastoolate.Theevilhadbeendone. more thanonemanraisedhiswristoropenedhands for thepeoplewholivedinvalley.Alongroad, with afewmetalclipsvisible.Wecontinuedon,looking consultations wereburned.Onlyapileofashesremained, The medicalsuppliesinthebuildingwhereMSFheldits There was no KLAinourhouse.” they givehimbacktomewithaKLAberetonhishead? Osman, 25,waskilled.Hisgrandmothercried:“Whydid fourteen ofusandasinglemanshotall.”Hisbrother, I managedtostandupanddragmyselfhere.Therewere kicked me,too.Ididn’tscream.Whentheyfinallyleft, screaming. He’dbeenhitwithtwomorebullets.They Then theystartedkickingus.Amannexttome drinking. Theystartedshooting.Iwashitandithurt. we heardonepersonwalkingtowardsus.Theotherswere our head. That lasted about an hour, maybe more. Then they madeusliedownonourbellies,withhands

35 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

months and not a single humanitarian convoy has made it teams were working in the Drenica valley in mobile teams. here, a man tells us, distraught. He stares at us, as if not They had access to very isolated locations and to popula- daring to believe that the nightmare is over. The arrival of tions that had been displaced once, displaced again and the MSF trucks rouses people from their torpor, relieving displaced yet again. They conducted a series of interviews. the refugees’ fatalism. Until now, they have been left to It was like the doctor who asks the patient a few questions their own devices. The same request is made by all: plastic and later realizes, after the accounts accumulate, that the sheeting for shelter. They all have one concern: “and what stories she’s hearing aren’t just individual incidents but add about Pristina?” Caught in a storm of gunfire and suffocat- up to the displacement of several hundred families. ing smoke for the last 48 hours, they fear the tanks have moved into the capital, heralding Kosovo’s end. Bénédicte Jeannerod, Communications Officer, MSF France (in French).

It would’ve been better if every expatriate had been able to describe his or her days over the course of a On 29 September 1998, one day after Belgrade week. We would have put it all together and we’d announced the end of military operations, the human have had the description of the tragedy. But it didn’t hap- rights organisation Human Rights Watch published a pen - either because they didn’t have the time or the dis- report on the massacre of civilians in Kosovo. Their tance or because they did it clumsily. I received a few information on the Vatchac and Golubovac region was fragmentary accounts. The Coordinator told me: “It’s not provided by MSF teams there. working. People don’t have the time or the perspective.” We could’ve done the classic thing and sent someone who would have assembled the accounts and interviewed people, but I said to myself: “If we wanted to distribute that publicly, it ‘Eighteen Civilians Massacred in Kosovo Forest would’ve been more useful to send someone who could also -Thirteen Others Believed Executed,’ Press tell the rest of it.” release, Human Rights Watch, New York, 29 September 1998 (in English). Eric Dachy, Programme Manager MSF Belgium (in French). Extract: Today Human Rights Watch reported that Serb forces massacred an extended family of eighteen ethnic Albanian civilians, including five children, in a forest in the Drenica region of Kosovo on September 26. Human Rights Watch Eric Dachy, one of the members of MSF Belgium’s researchers on the scene saw seven of the bodies, all of Kosovo cell, the former Balkans programme manager which had been shot at close range in the head. Several of during the war in Bosnia, was a good friend of the corpses had been mutilated. “The massacre was clearly Myriam Gaume, an independent journalist. She headed out an attack on defenseless civilians who were hiding in there for MSF to help the team assemble the statements. the woods,” said Holly Cartner, Executive Director of the Eric Dachy’s idea was that she knew the Balkans and was a Europe and Central Asia division of Human Rights Watch. good writer, so she would be able to write an article and a “The Yugoslav Army and Serbian Police are fighting a war book for us. She went out there for the two sections. When against civilians, and this is another sad example of the she came back, she debriefed in Brussels and Paris and gave unspeakable atrocities being committed against them.” everyone her materials. I know that to get information and The Drenica region of Kosovo was considered a stronghold immerse yourself in this process of gathering statements, of the Kosovar Liberation Army (KLA), and was the sight you have to send someone to do it. And Myriam did it. When of similar civilian massacres in February and March 1998. she saw the reality in the field and the extent of the dam- Human Rights Watch has seen credible evidence of similar ages, she knew that the information had to get out and atrocities, including the recent summary execution of something had to be done. She gathered a fair number of thirteen men, in nearby villages. accounts herself, but she also briefed the teams and later [...] According to one eyewitness interviewed by Human she edited some of the writing. Rights Watch, the Deliaj family had been living in the forest since September 25. On September 26, at 10:00 am, Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager Serbian armed forces entered the forest on foot, according MSF France (in French). to the witness, who heard shooting and screaming coming from the area of the massacre. [...] In the village of Gllogovc [Golubovac], located approximately five kilometers south of Donja Obrinja, Human Rights Watch visited what appeared to be the execution site of fourteen young The statements were gathered in a fairly systematic men, whom villagers said Serbian police had beaten and 36 and interesting way. This was a time when the MSF executed. The site was strewn with approximately eighty I discussedthis withKeith[Ursel,MSFdoctor inKosovo] me, giventhecircumstances, butI’mnoexpert inthisarea. on thefrontlines.Thepress releases seemprettyweakto more numerousandsevere. […]And,ourteamsare but fightingcontinuesand the atrocitiesarebecoming Belgrade hasannouncedthat itiswithdrawingitstroops, to execution. Watch thatthemenwereseverelybeatenandabusedprior for execution.OnecredibleeyewitnesstoldHumanRights ians atalargehouse,andthenselectedthefourteenmen that thepolicedetainedgroupoftwohundredcivil- Golubovac onSeptember26.Theeyewitnessesclaimed woods toescapeshellingintheirvillages,return two hundredvillagers,whohadbeenhidinginthenearby According to eyewitnesses, police forces approximately touring the region today. the execution, and was interviewed by Western diplomats the men had been executed. One man reportedly survived fresh blood stains along the fence where villagers said spent bulletcasings,andHumanRightsWatchobserved Lec-whom we knew-was tortured andexecuted. the mutilatedbodies.[…]Inshort,asyouknow,Dr. on theseexpatriates,becausesomebrokedownseeing doctor wasconcernedaboutthepsychologicalstress their armored Nissan. Moral of the story: the KDOM Tuesday’s atrocities.Thentheywentstraighttherein Diplomatic ObserverMission-askeduswherewe observed tion ontheground.Yesterday,membersofKDOM-Kosovo In short,it’sclearthatMSFisTHESOURCEofinforma - 5 children, was massacred in anotherlocation, etc. […] Theyare also reporting that a family of 18, including press that14youngmenwerebeatenandexecutedthere. after hearingourinformation,andisnowconfirminginthe [témoignage]). Inshort,HumanRightsWatchwentout described Myriam (see her collection of testimonies the previousweek).Housesrazedafterhugeoffensives, village whereVincentGuillaumeandIhadourselvesspent on Monday,28September,thenewsaboutGolubovac(the ing general needs. It was in this way that they conveyed, what they have seen, indicating exact locations and stat- UNHCR meetings,MSFvolunteersgivetheirreportsandtell tact with the victims. In the evening, when they debrief at affected regions on a daily basis, come in constant con- day-to-day realityofviolence.Ourteams,whichcombthe ly wideningthegapbetweenpoliticaldiscourseand Serbian forceshavefloutedbasichumanitarianrules,fatal- peak intermsofhumanrightsviolations. More thanever, In thelastfourdays,situationinKosovohashita Extract: September 1998 (inFrench). officers atMSFBelgiumandFrance,30 managers, generaldirectorsandinformation Deputy ProgrammeManager,totheprogramme Email from Bastien Vigneau,MSFBelgium

brutality on theground, a political farce. been adisconnection betweenpoliticaldiscourse andthe that doctorsarebeingtargeted, thatformonthstherehas ready bynextTuesdayorWednesday. Focusonthefact prepare technicallyforthismeeting. COMthinksitcanbe nies [témoignage]andthemessagestoconvey, andto will beneededtochoosethe frameworkforthetestimo- Keith to Brussels (Tim and World, etc.). Preliminary work “Milosevic said…”).Inordertodothis,we’veinvited only politicalorstructuralinformation(“NATOsaid…” 2- Tospeakoutonbehalfofthepopulations,andnotgive heads] (Tim insists). after reviewbyOPS/COM[operationsandcommunication and factual), so we can send them out to news agencies, also toprovideasecondtypeofdocument(condensed Myriam didquality work. Wewanther tocontinue,but 1- Wewant to givejournalists more information: • Extract: way MSFcanspeakoutonbehalfofthesevictims. and the desire, put us to work and tell us, quickly, in what interviewed byjournalists,oncamera.Ifyouhavethetime this morning,andhewouldbewillingtocomeback pretty quickly. that ofcourseitwaspickedupandkeptoutinthepress didn’t getthatpragmaticapproachofourmessage.After out. Wehadtheagreementofheadquarters.HRWpeople probably theimpactonuswouldbetoogreatifwespoke page of the main Albanian newspaper. We thought that around atrocities that constitute war crimes. field teamsthattheyfocusthesearchforinformation director suggestedtotheprogrammemanagersand drafted aninformation strategy. MSFFrance’s legal tion officersfromtheBelgianandFrenchsections On 1October,theprogrammemanagersandinforma- between Anouk and Vincent, here’s where we’re heading. conversation betweenGuillaumeandBastien,today Reaction tocommunicationquickly,afteryesterday’s investigation and managedtogetthatonthefront people. Wetalkedtothemandtheywentdidan Basically, weweresupportingHumanRightsWatch Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in Kosovo, June 1998toMarch 1999 (inEnglish). 1998 (inFrench). MSF FranceInformationOfficer,1 Deputy ProgrammeManager, and AnneGuibert, Emails betweenBastienVigneau,MSFBelgium st October

37 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Keith knows the area well, has followed the course of the their mission and they’re in danger…war crime. It may conflict, and will speak in English, which makes it easier also be because they’re seen as leaders of Kosovar society. for better broadcast. In either case, we prove the failure to respect the medi- 3- Someone else—Vincent, for example—will go with cal mission in a time of war (crime) or the intention to Keith. destroy a society (crime). 4- We’re knowingly risking this kind of action, given that many things could happen over these 4-5 days. What we’re 2- General obstruction of the MSF medical mission and risking is a round-trip ticket. destruction of relief supplies prohibiting access to places we went the previous day, where we identified needs, an • Bastien: [...] amassed population being deprived of care… Arresting people being transported by ambulance for care. The Hi Bastien destruction of health care facilities or medical relief supplies that we leave on the scene. It’s true that we’re having a lot of trouble finding Kosovo angles different than what’s in the newspapers every day. 3- Persecution of the civilian population, that is: But, we have to move forward, and you are right to make - Acts of brutality, executions. these suggestions. Having Keith come is a good idea. I - The destruction of civilian property and goods essential think that we should focus our work on three main areas to the population’s survival, including relief supplies. in the upcoming days and weeks: - Deliberate destruction unrelated to precise military -the fate of medical staff, which could use a bit more objectives, indiscriminate attacks intended to spread ter- documentation ror. -the facts (raw testimony, more detailed personal stories, - Forced displacement, including prohibitions against anonymous medical certificates) travel and people returning to their destroyed villages, -using these elements, characterise what we’re seeing: no doubt, in hopes of preventing the amassed population looting, atrocities; what is systematic, (what are mis- from serving as proof of village destruction and attacks takes…). on civilians. In short, it’s really good to have Myriam’s information, but we have to firm up the sources and the details. Soon there This all has to be done quickly, because the situation is will be enough to construct a little dossier; it’s up to us to going to move very fast. We’ve got to be methodical but see what angle to give it. extremely responsive, ready to let one or another of these [Anne] three issues get out, if necessary, if the information is important enough. Let’s not let the desire to be exhaus- tive, or for perfection, slow us down.

‘Kosovo’ Email from Françoise Saulnier, MSF This war seems to follow a particular pattern: always Legal Advisor, to the Kosovo programme man- remaining below the threshold of outside intervention. ager, 1st October 1998 (in French). Brutality takes subtle forms (like sending people back to their destroyed villages) or hidden forms (we don’t see Extract: much, of course, of what’s going on, and that’s deliber- Dear friends of Kosovo, Dear Myriam, ate). So we have to be vigilant, let the emptiness, silence, After reading your report and following our meeting, here and absence do the talking, and listen as much as pos- are a few comments: sible to the people. Beyond the always poignant personal Bravo for what’s already been done—it would be inter- stories, it’s the overall objective of this war that we need esting to narrow down the information search to three to reveal. It is typical that people flee fighting. It is not subjects on which our voice has legitimacy and might be typical that they be pursued by the fighting and forced useful. All three of these subjects constitute war crimes to flee 8 times. It is not typical to confiscate and burn according to international law. the mattresses of civilians in flight (goods essential to the population’s survival). Through interviews we have 1- Atrocities against ethnic Albanian medical personnel: to elicit the fact that the population of a village of XXX failure to respect the inviolability of medical and health people fled on XXX to XXX, was attacked again on XXX, fled personnel during a conflict. The list you’ve already sent us to XXX… And, see how many people remain after three is impressive. We need to bolster all this by putting it back months of war there, compared to the original population in the historical context of our intervention in Kosovo. of the village. There was a well-organised network of doctors with whom MSF was working. We would have to find the numbers. Do It also seems important, on the medical level that the a tally of what’s left of all that, and of who we still have teams draw up individual medical certificates for those in terms of a network and contacts with whom we can we treat for war wounds. Since this isn’t the majority, it work (find the numbers with respect to drugs or some- shouldn’t be too much work. These certificates are impor- thing else…). Add that if the doctors have disappeared or tant, because they are the only concrete proof that these 38 are in hiding, it’s because the authorities do not respect people are victims of war. Someday they will be able to tion. threatened to use its veto against any NATO interven- Diplomatic pressure on Belgrade was growing. Russia too high, to avoid crossing the conflict threshold. made surethatthelevelofthesemilitaryoperationswasn’t to avoidtalkofwar,conflict,inKosovo.Besides,he were swingingbackandforth.SoMilosevicwasdetermined the formerYugoslavia[ICTY]wasalreadyinplace.Things labeled warcrimes.TheInternationalCriminalTribunalfor conflict, theatrocitiescommittedagainstcivilianscouldbe crimes. Indeed,onceitbecameaquestionofinternalarmed flict -tryingtoevadeanyresponsibility for potentialwar but especially—bydenyingthelabelofinternalarmedcon- only tryingtoavoidaninternationalisationoftheconflict, years before11September2001.Wethoughthewasnot armed conflict,justanti-terroristoperations-thiswastwo ment consistedofmaintainingthattherewasnointernal nationalisation oftheconflict.Attime,hislineargu- military operationsdidnotgettoohigh,toavoidaninter- had thiswholestrategyofmakingsurethatthelevel and paramilitariesonthehumanitariansituation.Milosevic tificate form, just in case. and we’lltalkaboutitagain.I’mattachingamedicalcer- any breachofconfidentiality.I’llletyouthinkaboutit, It mightbeuseful,butshouldstoredwithcaretoavoid decide whetheryou’llkeepacopywiththecircumstances. (for safetyreasons,incaseoftransfer).It’suptoyou cumstances oftheinjuryifpatientdoesn’twantthat patient getsacopy.It’snotnecessarytomentionthecir- name—and notjusthisorherunreadablesignature.The be dated,signedandstampedbyMSF,withthedoctor’s case, thecertificateisaconfidentialdocument.Itshould length andseeiftheywantacertificateornot.Inany It’s anopportunityforustotalkwiththematgreater request compensation or prove what happened to them. Wednesday by theAFP.Accordingto ‘government,’ massacre” by Serbian forces,inacommuniqué received NATO touseforce“protectan entirepeople,andsaveitfroma The ’government-in-exile’ofKosovar Albanianscalledupon Extract: tions bytheYugoslavmilitary,Serbianpolice, were being targeted, and the impact of joint opera- We thoughtweshouldshowtowhatextentcivilians 1998 (inFrench). Force,’ ‘Kosovar Government Calls Upon NATO to Use [...], MSF DeputyLegal Advisor (inFrench). AFP (France),Belgrade,30September message, and thedistributiontopress ofadocu programme managers aroseoverthedrafting ofthe tarian situationinKosovo. Disagreementbetweenthe the MSFteam,andtoissue awarningonthehumani tion ofDrLec,aKosovarAlbanian doctor working with news conferenceinBrussels tocondemntheassassina several days.On9October 1998,MSFBelgiumhelda the MSFteaminKosovowithdrewtoMacedoniafor tribution ofarmstotheSerbiancivilianpopulation, Serbian governmentretaliationagainstNGOsanddis On 7 October 1998, following rumors of possible by Serbian authorities. ians inKosovowere“continuing,”contrarytoassurances deemed thatactsofviolencebySerbforcesagainstcivil- In BrusselsonWednesday,theNATO’sPermanentCouncil unacceptable.” […] thatleavesKosovounder(theauthorityof)Serbiais right to self-determination.” It states that: “Any solution Albanian peoplehavetheinternationalandinalienable ing theinternationalcommunityto“understand that the […], buthavelostitforever.”The‘government’isask- in Belgrade have neither defeated nor regained Kosovo and genocide,”thetextmaintainsthat“thecriminals communiqué read.Condemning“thepolicyofapartheid NATO inparticular,toactanduseforcenow,”the is once again calling upon the international community, response […]. The government of the Republic of Kosovo “This situation calls for a national and international baric war” carried outby Yugoslav forces. national andhumanitariancatastrophe”duetothe“bar- the situationinKosovohas“assumedproportionsofa during avisit to Greece. the Defense Minister, in an interview given to RIA Novosti a changeinMoscow’srelationswiththeAlliance,added ion todemandabuildupinRussianmilitarycapacityand NATO strikesagainstYugoslaviawouldcausepublicopin- Igor Sergeyev declared to the RIANovosti news agency. Nuclear DisarmamentTreaty,RussianDefenseMinister “to theColdWar”anddelayratificationofSTARTII intervention againstSerbpositionswouldprovokeareturn consideration bytheUNSecurityCouncil.[...]ANATO against the Serbs over the Kosovo issue comes up for “undoubtedly” useitsvetoifthequestionofusingforce by Interfax,indicatedonTuesdaythatMoscowwill Russian ForeignAffairsMinisterIgorIvanov,quoted Extract: French). Intervention,’ ’Moscow WillUseitsUNVeto Against aNATO AFP (France),6October1998(in - - - -

39 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

ment containing testimony gathered in late September ence in terms of protection, since it did not prevent them by the MSF team in the Pec-Prizren-Pristina triangle. from committing crimes in front of international observers Some in the media interpreted the statements of MSF - We have an insufficiently balanced programme (on Serb Belgium’s Director of Operations director as a call for side) to be able to count on their (moderate) support armed intervention. - We were operational until yesterday (Prizren and Mitrovice) and Pec the day before; most of our teams have multiple-entry visas so they could be brought back in [to the country] in one and half hours if necessary ’Myriam’s stories, etc…’, Email from Vincent - Tim and Katia are still waiting until the last moment Janssens, MSF-Belgium Operations Director, to (last info probably Saturday) the programme managers, operations directors, - We will communicate with UNHCR, KDON and the inter- and communications directors of MSF-F and national observers MSF-H, 8 October 1998 (in English). -The whole issue of ‘should I stay or should I go’ is a matter of feeling (which is best sensed in the field), timing Extract: (both too soon and too late make you a fool), and added 2. I understand that in certain places you want to add to value in staying; we feel we made a balanced assessment. the release a copy of Myriam’s stories as info to journalists, I oppose to that for the following reasons: Just this PS: - This information is not new, not to say that it is as old I feel we made a fair analysis, we are aware that we take as facts are. risks (if the strikes are tomorrow we will have no atten- - The objective of their writing was not to tell facts, it tion) and we can probably always do better. I’m willing was to bring across an appreciation of the suffering, and to respond to the best to questions but, I am not ready as such, they are meant to be edited later when the whole to spend more time on the telephone listening to blind thing is complete with an accompanying text; this is not criticism and frustration. the case at present All the best for tomorrow - They tell (through a journalistic style) what Keith has been living through so, rather plan additional meetings with Keith... - Written as such it makes a strong statement that could ‘Kosovo’ Email from Guillaume Le Gallais, seriously impede any return to operations (and we know MSF France Programme Manager, to Vincent how unmanageable a written statement can become), it Janssens, MSF Belgium Operations Director, 8 could have been an option to take that risk but this was October 1998 (in French). not what we decided when going to the press Extract: 3. According to the question of our team leaving when we In any case, I wanted to respond to several points raised by call for a reinforced international presence: the document on tomorrow’s conference. I think what comes - Let me put it clearly that it has nothing to do with a out of all this isn’t totally clear in the sense that our “mes- kind of US-hysteria some seem to be feeling which we are sage” seems to be too multiple and is thus not as strong. not experiencing here or in Kosovo I also think that we absolutely have to give anyone who - It has nothing to do with the real risks of air strikes asks for it a written document one that leaves a mark. because we expect them (if they happen at all) to be Ideally, this document should be widely distributed by all precise enough not to hit civilians; they will of course sections (not all of them have a Keith or a you handy). prevent us from doing fieldwork You will find attached, an organised (sort of) document - It has to do with the risk of retaliations that are clearly that might help with this. As for you specifically, I think felt as serious and focused on expats (and of course fur- it’s impossible to “explain that military action has clear ther on Albanians): consequences on humanitarian activities” ==> this is - Arms have been distributed amongst civilian Serbs clearly to enter into the unknowable and impossible ques- - Vojislav Seselj, Vice Prime Minister, has stated that he tion of air strikes. This is super-slippery terrain, and the would target the NGOs source: VIP, synthetic newsletter broader issue of the victims and access to care seems produced by Serb journalist in Belgrade) much more important to me. There, I hope that these few - National staff confirms this serious risk and that they comments are OK with you. won’t be able to help - Also confirmed by our contacts in the Mother Teresa organisation - Serb troops are a heteroclite mixture of subgroups ‘The Humanitarian Situation in Kosovo,’ Press (extremists, ex-prisoners, normal people...) making it conference, MSF Belgium, 9 October 1998 (in fairly uncontrollable French). - Experienced person of the emergency pool (Katia) and Tim being there for a long time are the best reference Extract: 40 - The international status will probably not make a differ- You are invited to a press conference, to be held this the region. a visittothefield.Hewilltalkaboutprogrammesin section andHeadofMSF’sKosovoprojects,isbackfrom - Vincent Janssens, Operations Director for MSF’s Belgian ing. KeithUrselwilltalkabouthisexperiencesinthefield. or disappear.Onedoctorwasshot,othersaredisappear- being chasedofftheirland.Peoplearemistreated, systematically shelled,burnedandlooted.Residentsare have fledthefightinginforestsandhills.Villagesare in nearly daily contact with the civilian populations that one ofthreemobileMSFteamsinKosovo.Hehasbeen Coordinator ofourEmergencyProgram.Keithbelongsto - KeithUrsel,whohasbeenworkingfor3monthsas ence will be presentedinEnglish by: Friday […],onthesituationinKosovo.Thispressconfer- revealed that all the medical supplies in the building stolen ordestroyed. AvisitonSeptember28 toGolubovac ed andsickcannolongerbe treated.Medicalsuppliesare functional - like in Zhilovoda and Brolic. Thus, the wound- of themcompletelyorpartially destroyed,arenolonger - Health facilities are being targeted by attacks; many have also had tofleefor fear ofreprisals. arrested. Severallocaldoctorswhoworkedinourteams tors fromCirezzhavedisappeared.DrJ.Sverkewas Members of his family have been beaten up. The four doc- the country.We’vehadnonewsofDr.VfromSedlare. in sixdifferentlocationsovereightweeksbeforeleaving Serbian police,DrA.fromMalishevo had toseekrefuge in Ponorc,wasarrestedthenreleased.Pursuedbythe Dr. C., from Zhilivoda, has disappeared. Dr A,working in thevicinity.Hiswifeandfourchildrenarehiding. and killedinGradica.Hismutilatedcorpsewasfound by Serbiansecurity forces. Dr H. wasarrested, tortured, to threats,arbitraryarrest,torture,andevenassassination Albanian doctorsknownbyMSFteamshavebeensubject forces. Surgeonsseemtobeparticularlytargeted.Several displaced populationsarepersecutedbySerbiansecurity Albanian doctorsandmedical personnel working with population of any aid, including medicalassistance. tions areproofoftheintentiontodeprivecivilian and impedimentstotheworkofhumanitarianorganisa- deliberate destructionofhealthfacilitiesandsupplies, 3- ThepersecutionofAlbanianmedicalpersonnel,the which families depend for survival has been sacked[...]. The livestockhasbeenslaughtered.Everythingupon fields, barns,andharvestshavebeenburnedlooted. the country,entirevillageshavebeendestroyed;houses, looting of villages. In the Western and central parts of 2- MSFteamsdescribethesystematicdestructionand lation [...]. valley have witnessed atrocities against the civilian popu- ent inthePecandPrizrenregionsDrenica 1- Inrecentweeks,MédecinsSansFrontièresteamspres- Extract: on 11October 1998 (inFrench). ‘Kosovo,’ Draft text distributed tojournalists had beenburned. where theMSFteamperformedoutpatientconsultations its aid on the areas where there is fighting. Three mobile its aidonthe areas wherethereisfighting. Threemobile These lastfew months, theorganisationhas concentrated bas beenrunninghealthprogrammes inKosovosince1992. the forestswithlittleassistance. DoctorsWithoutBorders been displaced,ofwhichtens ofthousandsarelivingin dangerous levelsinKosovo. Around 200,000peoplehave Winter isapproachingandtemperatures areloweringto who care for themare being targeted”heconcluded. are therenomedicinestohelpthem,butnoweventhose Coordinator. “Thesepeoplearesufferingsomuch,notonly said KeithUrsel,DoctorsWithoutBordersEmergency who havedisappeared or whohavebeen forcedtoflee,” number of medical personnel who are reported arrested, tortured, andkilled.“Weareworriedaboutthehigh closely with Doctors Without Borders, Dr Lec, was arrested, fighting. Onthe25thofSeptember,adoctorwhoworked tance tothepopulation,arespecificallytargetedin ones at risk. Medical personnel, who bring hope and assis- Civilians requiringmedicaltreatmentarenottheonly care,” said DrVincentJanssen, just backfrom Kosovo. are alsoafraidandatriskiftheydon’tgetmedicineor with complicatedpregnancies,asthmatics,anddiabetics only onesindangerandwhofearfortheirlives.Women they need the treatment. “The war-wounded are not the be transferredawaytothelargerreferralhospitalsevenif do reachmedicaltreatmentonalocallevelareafraidto chronic illnessessuchasdiabetesandasthma.Thosewho requiring immediatesurgeryandregulardressingsto mous medicalneeds.Theseneedsrangefromwarwounds health carebuttheyareafraidandnowthereenor- The populationofKosovo had enjoyedagoodstandardof the village on the28thof September. Canadian-American EmergencyCoordinator,aftervisiting of ashes and some metal tweezers,” said Keith Ursel, supplies hadbeenburned.“AlIthatwasleftapile of Gllogovc[Golubovac],wefoundthatallthemedical building wherewehadbeenseeingpatientsinthevillage deliberately burnedordestroyed.«Whenwevisitedthe Medical personnelaretargetedandmedicalsupplies and localdoctorsfacewhentryingtohelpthoseinneed. against theincreasingdifficultieshumanitarianagencies of themedicalteamjustoutfromKosovospoke plies andtoolittleaccesstomedicalcare.Twopersons of peopleinKosovofacingacoldwinterwithfewsup- Sans Frontières(MSF)voicedconcernforthethousands medical reliefagencyDoctorsWithoutBorders/Médecins At apressconferenceinBrusselstoday,theinternational Extract: 1998 (inEnglish). Press release,MSFUSA,Brussels,9October Supplies BurnedasThousandsHideinForests,’ ‘Medical PersonnelTargetedinKosovo–

41 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

teams are now working around Pec, Drenica, and Prizren, each seeing about 100-300 patients a day among the displaced populations. For security reasons, the Doctors ‘Serb Forces “Are Torturing Doctors in Kosovo,”’ Without Borders teams have been temporarily reduced. Katherine Butler and Rupert Cornwell, The Independent (UK), 10 October 1998 (in English).

‘ MSF Asks for a “Strong International Physical Extract: Presence in Kosovo,’ AFP (France), Brussels, 9 Doctors and medical personnel helping refugees in October 1998 (in French). Kosovo are being hunted and tortured by Serb forces, the Coordinator in the province for the medical aid agency Extrait : Médecins sans Frontières said yesterday. Keith Ursel, a Vincent Janssens, Director of Médecins Sans Frontières Canadian nurse who arrived back from the province yester- (MSF) operations in Kosovo, called Friday for “a strong day, said a young ethnic Albanian doctor from the village international physical presence” in this region to restore of Gradica, 25 km from Pristina, was abducted, had his the confidence of a population subject to acts of terror fingers hacked off and his eyes gouged out with a knife and forced displacement. Janssens did not want to go before being shot by Serb forces. Lec Ukaj headed a team into detail on how this should be done, emphasising that dedicated mainly to helping pregnant women and deliver- this was the province of ‘military experts.’ “Between dip- ing babies. Two weeks ago Serb forces moved in and “Dr lomatic actions and air strikes, there is a whole range of Lec” as he was known, was dragged off. Witnesses inter- options,” he emphasised. viewed by Médecins Sans Frontières said they heard him screaming. “They asked him what hand he used to treat His Canadian colleague, Keith Ursel, a member of the same the Albanian patients and then they asked him which eye humanitarian organisation, who has been in the former he used. But it is not the only example. At least nine Yugoslavia for the past several years, has increasingly doctors have gone missing and medical personnel are been speaking out on the deterioration in the humanitar- being hunted because they are the direct link between ian situation he has witnessed in Kosovo. He has person- the people and outside help. The Serb forces also stop us ally observed tactics used repeatedly by Serbian forces at the checkpoints, looking for surgical equipment”, Mr against several Albanian villages. First there is shelling, Ursel said. then the able-bodied residents flee before security forces burst in, looting and questioning those who didn’t man- The medical charity, which says tens of thousands of age to escape. “Some are beaten, tortured, and sometimes refugees camping in the hills of Drenica could be wiped killed. A few days later, the villages are systematically out by the winter and hunger and disease, appealed for burned,” he maintained. Ursel declared that Serb forces an international protection force to be sent in to Kosovo. specifically go after Albanian medical personnel, “proba- “Up to 50,000 ethnic Albanians are on the run, too scared bly because they provide physical and emotional comfort” to return to their villages,” Mr Ursel said. Women giving to the population. He personally knew Dr Lec Ukaj, who he birth in the open without proper medical care was a main says died after being tortured on 25 September in Gradica. cause of death. A quarter of the 200,000 displaced people are thought to be living in makeshift shelters in the forest. Keith Ursel saw old people, asthmatics, and pregnant women die for lack of adequate care. The disabled were sometimes left Email exchange between Guillaume Le Gallais, to fend for themselves. MSF France Programme Manager, Vincent Janssens MSF Director of Operations and Wilna Van Aartsen, MSF Holland Emergency Programme Manager 9–12 October 1998 (in English). ‘ A “Strong International Presence” to Restore Confidence,’ Sabine Verhest, La Libre Belgique Extract: (Belgium), 10 October 1998 (in French). • Hi Tim and Guillaume, With some more distance I see now why our appeal could Extract: be interpreted as calling for a military intervention; The displaced in Kosovo need greater confidence in although it was [made] as clear as possible without saying order to return to their villages. This is why - as [explicitly that MSF is] opposed to air strikes, [however] I winter approaches - Vincent Janssens, Médecins Sans should have suggested [in the press] ‘political experts’ to Frontières (MSF) Operations Director in the Serbian prov- cover for the spectre in between rather than the military. ince, launched an appeal Friday in Brussels for a “strong Sorry for this lapse. In follow-up on this be aware of the international physical presence” to help reassure those in even more explicit comments from Joelle on the military the region. “Between diplomatic actions and air strikes, intervention. Still I must admit that I don’t really see how there is a whole range of options,” he added, without the publication of your (Guillaume) document would neu- 42 further explanation. tralize this: it basically insists on details of the incidents We wantedto speak outalsobutwewere quite conscious Of course,inthe headquarters,theywanted tospeakout. had workedwithhim.And,of coursetheyfeltverystrongly. killed him.Therewerequitea lotofguysinourteamwho a fewweeksbeforethis,andeventually theyfoundhimand [for him and] mentioning his name. That happened maybe support. Weheardtheseaccounts thattheyweresearching the peoplesupportingUCK[KLA]intermsofmedical […] Many greetings, Wilna opening was alike. the threatofSerbreprisalswouldforcetopullout...”AP Reuters opened:“AleadingagencysaidonFriday...that two wires military intervention, butalmost the opposite. In theDutchpress(didyoureceivearticles?)andin In reaction to yourfeedback below quickly the following: you forward it ? Guillaume, wedidnotreceiveanytextinAmsterdam,can wouldn’t do at thepubliclevel... stressed ouroppositiontoairstrikes;butthenagainthis and itmakesmefeelthatwecouldhaveactuallymore I thinkthisisthewrongangleoflookingatreality, honour the slogan of‘staying when othersgo...’ - Andwewouldsuggestinternallystayingbasicallyto principle not to mixwith politico-military. - Wedon’twanttotakethisupforreasonofageneral are basically afraid to take (groundtroops) - TheyputNGOsactuallyinariskpoliticiansandmilitary to humanitarian organisations operational capacityandbringalongindirectlythethreat - Actuallythosestrikes(wedidnotaskfor)impedeour - This is forsurenot met bymere air strikes operations; and thepossibilityofstillfurtherimproveourassistance - What we want is protection of civilians on the ground moment is thefollowing I wouldlike reaction upon: following someinternalcriticismonMSFleavingforthe Actually another thing I thought over in the week-end the “espionite” paranoia). lic the link between journalists and MSF will calm down conference withMyriam(I’mnotsurethatrenderingpub- in thefrontline;particularly if youmightconsiderapress feedback intoaccountsince it isbasicallythemwhoare with Tim over the week-end and I feel we have to take his with Myriamwhoissupposedtocomebacktoday.Ispoke was originallymadefor(abooklet?)andgothroughthis this outasapressrelease,Iwouldkeepitfortheuseif So basically,Iwouldn’tbemuchinfavourofbringing what do we want? be behindit,butdoesn’treferatalltothemainquestion: and interpretationsofwhatthe(military?)strategicmust with himthattheSerbforces had been askingfor clinic. Wehadheardfromotherpartnerswhoworked Doctor Lecwasoneofthepeoplewesupportedina

states, one oranother. it wouldcome to probablytheuseofforce by theWestern one way, because of all that Milosevic had done before. And in theBalkanswasawarethatthisthingonlygonnago ironic aswellbecauseinfact,everybodywhohadexperience ence, weweresayingitprettyclearly.Andthiswasquite When Vincentstartedtotalkaboutastrongphysicalpres- was just;MSFineverysectionEuropeissayingthis. And wejustdidit.Itwasobviouswhereitcamefrom, were atmost risk. Theywanted to getthingsoutaswell. doing anything. I think it included the Albanianguyswho The classicarguments:Ifwewenttoofar,wouldn’tbe we didwanttostaythereaswell.Weconsideredtherisks. bit late in coming.” had declared:“WinterisapproachingandMSF’sreporta Bonino, EuropeanCommissionerforHumanitarianAction, little lateincomingoutwiththeinformation.Emma there wasafeelingatMSFBelgiumaswellthatwewere making itanissue?”Intheend,wedidanyway.Ithink Wouldn’t thatexposehismedicalcolleaguesevenfurtherby not justforthe UCK[KLA,orKosovoLiberation Army]. that theSerbs really haditinforthemedical systemand visits, welearnedthathehad beeneliminated.Thisshowed the villageswevisitedonour rounds.Andsoononeofour wasn’t reallypartofourteam. Hewasadoctorinoneof context wasabitlikesending themintoawarzone.DrLec perhaps a little naïve. Sending unarmed observers into this presence -thisiswhyweinsistedonadding‘physical’was time, wedefinitelyrealizedthatcallingforastrongphysical “We’re notcallingformilitaryintervention.”Atthesame tary intervention.”Andyetwewerealwaysveryclear: know more,andsomeofthemsaid:“Thisisacallformili - force. Thiswasclearlystated.Butthejournalistswantedto between negotiation and an international Peacekeeping naïve, butIalsohopedtherewasamiddlepath,something fact, sentandtheyweredrivenout.Maybeitwasabit them fromcommittingsuchatrocities.Observerswere,in If there were enough observers, it couldpossibly dissuade ing withastronginternationalpresence,[with]observers. believed thatitmightbepossibletostopwhatwashappen- debate: “Whatdowedo?Domentionhisname? ed. Dr.Lecwastorturedandkilled.Wehadabig And thenitwasthedoctorswhowerebeingtarget- going togetoutofthisallbythemselves. We came totheconclusionthatKosovarsweren’t I thinktherewerealotofquestionsaboutthis.We Tim Boucher, CoordinatorMSF Belgium /France in Anouk Delafortrie, Communications Officer, MSF Kosovo, June 1998 toMarch1999 (in English). Belgium (in French).

43 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Obviously we can’t just let that go. This was a show of soli- “Averting military action will require a decision to stop darity with them. We knew very well that by speaking out the operation,” he added, emphasizing that there will, a we were leaving ourselves open. We also knew that even priori, be no new meeting of the NATO council to decide doctors, like all active Kosovar Albanians, might belong to on military action. The activation order that will be given the UCK. There were UCK people hiding amongst the civilians will cover both air intervention scenarios—limited strikes in these regions. using cruise missiles, and a graduated air campaign—that NATO has had ready for several months. […] NATO mem- Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, bers, who have given up on the idea of a new UN resolu- MSF Belgium (in French). tion, owing to Russian opposition to any use of force, failed to reach an agreement on a joint definition of a ‘legal basis’ for military intervention in Yugoslavia. “Each country has its own interpretation” of this question, and “believes that it has its own legal basis,” indicated one On 12 October 1998, NATO was about to issue an acti- diplomat, regretting that a 16-member text could not be vation order to its troops, without having obtained agreed upon. UN agreement - thanks to Russia’s opposition - and without agreement among its members on a defini- During several meetings on this issue, Great Britain tion of a ‘legal basis’ for military intervention in emphasised ‘the humanitarian necessity,’ Germany wanted Yugoslavia. On 13 October, US Special Envoy, Richard ‘a firm legal basis,’ and other countries preferred to make Holbrooke’s negotiations with the Serb regime resulted reference to UN resolutions. According to the same sourc- in a draft agreement on the deployment of an OSCE6 es, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana concluded that Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM), with aerial sup- “each ally believed there to be a legal basis” for armed port. On 19 October, as the first verification mission intervention. Several diplomats minimized the scope of was taking place in western Kosovo, several witnesses the problem. “A consensus to act implicitly implies a reported bombing by the Serb military, who neverthe- consensus on the legal basis,” assured one of them. The less denied any offensive. NATO planes were deployed international community called upon Belgrade to cease to the region. hostilities, withdraw Serbian troops, ensure favorable conditions for the return of refugees, and begin negotiations with Kosovar Albanian separatists.

‘NATO Ready to Give its Troops an Activation Order,’ AFP (France), 12 October 1998 (in French). ‘Holbrooke Confirms 2,000 OSCE People and Extract: Aerial Verification,’ AFP (France), Belgrade, 13 NATO was to give its troops an activation order in the October 1998 (in French). Kosovo crisis Monday night, a decision that clears the way to unleashing air strikes at any time on Serbian military Extract: targets in Yugoslavia. NATO’s Permanent Council (ambas- US Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke confirmed Tuesday in sadors from the 16 member countries) began meeting Belgrade that the situation in Kosovo would be verified Monday at 3:00 P.M. GMT. A formal decision from the 16 by 2,000 people from the Organisation for Security and members of the alliance was expected by late afternoon Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and by an aerial system. at NATO headquarters. “I hope that the Russian Federation will participate in this programme,” said Holbrooke. Nevertheless, progress […] The decision to issue an activation order allows NATO made toward resolving the Kosovo crisis will not lead to military leaders to strike at any moment in Yugoslavia. sanctions against Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) It involves a transfer of authority to the Supreme Allied being lifted, said Holbrooke, because “we’re not out of Commander Europe over planes, ships, and troops provided the emergency yet.” by the allies for a given operation. In practice, the Supreme Commander, US General Wesley Clark, will conduct opera- He told the press, “The OSCE will have 2,000 people on the tions to position ships and aircraft armed with cruise mis- ground in Kosovo who will be a verification mission, not siles, and begin training and intimidation missions, with monitors, not observers, and (the mission) will be there combat planes able to fly around Yugoslavian air space. with the full permission of the Yugoslavian government.” Members of the OSCE mission “will have their safety guar- […] “Slobodan Milosevic’s got a gun to his head. It’ll be anteed, freedom of movement, and diplomatic status,” he loaded, with the safety off,” summed up one diplomat. added. “They will supervise all elections and have many other tasks.” Holbrooke added that the Chairman of the OSCE, Bronislaw Geremek of Poland, “will come to Belgrade 6. Resulting from the 1975 Helsinki Accords between the USSR, the United States, soon to sign an agreement with Yugoslavia” to that effect. and their respective European allies, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (55 States) is periodically asked to send observers to ensure fair In addition, the American diplomat indicated that there 44 elections in countries with fragile or re-emerging democracies. will be “aerial verification, by non-combat aircraft, of the the Kosovar Albanians andthe authorities inBelgrade. tinue hisefforts”toreachapoliticalagreementbetween the USMediatorforKosovo,ChristopherHill,would“con- Belgrade forthatpurpose.Holbrookealsoindicated that MrSolanaandGeneralClarkwould“soon”begoingto the Yugoslavauthorities,”saidMr.Holbrooke.Headded Commander ofNATOinEuropeGeneralWesley/Clark,and Secretary-General Javier/Solana,SupremeAllied will beclarifiedinaformalagreementbetweenNATO situation ontheground”inKosovo.“Thisarrangement in itsholster,” asserted Bujar Bukoshi. their heads, evenifthe gun has been put temporarily back will notnegotiatepeacewithMilosevic“withagunto campaign againstAlbanianseparatists.Kosovarleaders ing warcrimescommittedduringtheseven-monthSerb that theagreementcontainsnoprovisionforinvestigat- to pre-crisislevels.In addition, Bukoshi bemoans the fact and ofonlydemandingareductioninpolicetroops the issueofwithdrawalSerbiantroopsfromKosovo, Milosevic. Heaccusesthewestofhavingbackeddownon of ‘majorconcessions’ to Yugoslav president Slobodan According to Bukoshi, the Belgrade agreement is the result rights,” he added.[…] agreement thatprovidesfullcivillibertiesandpolitical aggression,” writesMrBukoshi.“Wewillonlyacceptan to asurrenderandcapitulationwithrespect to Serbian 500 villages,onlytoacceptanagreementthatamounts murder of thousands of citizens, and the destruction of “The displacementofaquarterthepopulation, Extract: in the Kosna Reka IDP camp, some thirty kilometers west been any“offensive operation.”Severaldozen Albanians However, inBelgrade,amilitary leaderdeniedtherehad Liberation Army (KLA, or UCK). men inanattackontheirpost, verylikelybytheKosovo operation cameafterthedeath, Saturday,ofthreepolice- sector westofPristina,Kosovo’sadministrativeseat.This the militarylaunchedanoperationonSundaynightina to AlbanianvillagersquestionedbyAFPandothersources, which willultimatelyhavesome2,000members.According prepare forthedeploymentofverificationmission, Monday, in Pec, in the western part of the province, to An OSCEteamconducteditsfirst mission ontheground French). (France), Washington, 14October 1998 (in According totheKosovar“PrimeMinister,”’ ‘ Pristina, 19 October1998(inFrench). Belgrade DeniesAnyOffensive,’ ‘Military AccusedofConductinganOperation, The Belgrade Agreement: A“Surrender” AFP (France), AFP

under discussion. national informationofficerforKosovoiscurrently maintaining control. The job description for an inter- to furtherinternationalisetheKosovomission,while end, theMSFBelgiumProgrammeManagerdecided to theET(theinternationalemergencyteam).In section suggestsgivingoperationalresponsibilityback tion ofjointmissionsinKosovoresumes.TheDutch The discussionbetweenMSFsectionsontheorganisa- act and toverifythesituation,”hesaid. to seethatthereareplanesoverKosovoready ification process.ItwillbeveryimportantforMrMilosevic to act. (NATO) Planes are over Kosovo to guarantee the ver- [UN SecurityCouncil]resolution1199.”[...]“Weareready President SlobodanMilosevicto“abidebytheconditionsof condemned “alltheprovocations,”andcalleduponYugoslav In ParisonMonday,NATOSecretaryGeneralJavierSolana the weekend violence” inthe sector. to haveleftforthecenterofprovince“onaccount on Refugees(UNHCR)cancelledtwoaidconvoysthatwere action” recently.[...]InPristina,theUNHighCommission the Yugoslavmilitaryhad“notundertakenanyoffensive offensive operationsthepreviousnight.Heclaimedthat agency Beta,deniedthatthemilitaryhadconductedany military command,quotedbytheindependentnews [...] InBelgradeonMonday,asourceclosetotheYugoslav surrounded and shelled. from aNegrovceresidentwhoclaimedthat the village was on MondayofhavingreceivedaphonecallSundaynight and sawflashes.AninternationalobservertoldtheAFP roadblock 5kmfromNegrovce,heardloudexplosions night, a European TV crew, stopped at a Serbian police and infantrybegansurroundingNegrovce.LateSunday Sunday night,aWesternjournalistwaspresentwhentanks eral sources,wasalsotargetedbythemilitaryoperation. close tothevillageofNegrovcewhich,accordingsev- ing firingonthevillageandsurroundingareas.Trpezais Trpeza to seek refuge in the woods after the military start- of Pristina,confirmedtoAFPhavingfledthevillage level to putsufficientinvestment ininternal and external There is,under thepresentformula,aproblem atBrussels’ preparations: been butreinforcedduring last week’spressconference We hadthefeelingandpressure forawhileandithas English). directors MSFB,FandH,12October1998(in to ProgrammeManagersandcommunication Janssens, MSFBelgiumDirectorofOperations ‘Communication onKosovo,’ Email fromVincent

45 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

communication (feedback to the field, include timely everybody -inclusive partner sections- in the discussions, link with external opportunities etc.) It was part of my ‘RH Kosovo,’ Email from Vincent Janssens, MSF objective to internationalise the operations in and around Belgium Director of Operations to MSF Holland Kosovo (until we can/want to consider an ET formula) to Desk, MSF Belgium HRM, 15 October 1998 (in make sure about a steady flux of info at international level English). (the other part being further internationalisation of the HR in the field). As such I am happy to be able to inform Extract: that Bas Thielens (previously come on Montenegro and The main principles to get clear amongst the collaborating Albania) from MSF-H com department is willing and avail- sections: able to take up this challenge in Brussels (for a month); A/ HR postings very useful particularly given the enormous interest from I think this is basically going fine. the Netherlands for the issue. We didn’t discuss practi- B/ Steady exchange of information in all directions cal issues but I would of course be happy if on financial I feel like this is also going OK; particularly since adding terms we could consider this post also in an international Bas; way (all bits help since we are basically broke!); I think C/ Sharing the financial risk he’ll prefer anyway a MSF-H contract. The same would go I think (haven’t seen the contract) that for the moment a for the additional investment we should do within short lot is covered; but probably we will face soon more needs: in Montenegro and Albania: ASAP I would like to make Montenegro, relief, increased expats, watsan, rehabilita- an overview of the theoretical postings for the coming tion, Serb hospitals, [...] (CIDA interested!); so we’ll have months and then see how we can make sure about a rea- to define how we’ll deal with a possible financial risk sonable international presence. (3x33%?) D/ Agreeing on procedure for advocacy At present we are taking into account “suggestions” from other sections; if we are asking for increased contributions ‘Kosovo,’ Email from Wilna van Aartsen, MSF we’ll have to have a more formal procedure to work with Holland Emergency Programme Manager to MSF this (majority of 3?) Belgium and MSF France Programme Managers, 13 October 1998 (in English). [edited] A lot of questions, so send your remarks ASAP. I can see that this IT scheme is fragile and we have not much time Extract: to debate this over and over; if it would prove unrealistic, Dear both, The political strategy in Kosovo, an interna- I fear that the only two alternatives would be: tional presence (OSCE monitors), with the NATO threat and - Return to the previous scheme and face the probable diplomatic pressure on going at the same time, MAY lead justified internal criticism of not responding to the needs to one of the following scenarios. There are other sce- - Opt for the classic ET-scheme, with its present weak narios as well but I like to briefly highlight the one below, points. without discussing the effectiveness of this strategy and other possible scenarios but looking at this scenario and its humanitarian consequences and MSF responses (this does not mean that I neglect other likely scenarios). ‘ RH Kosovo,’ Email from Wilna van Aartsen, MSF Holland Emergency Desk to MSF Belgium and MSF One of the scenarios: diplomatic efforts and military France desks, 19 October 1998 (in English). threat result in monitors on the ground and a window of opportunity to have humanitarian access (temporary?) Extract: and respond to the increasing needs on the ground. The idea was launched to ‘make’ Kosovo + surrounding area an ET mission at ET core group meeting, it did I like to urge that we prepare ourselves NOW in order to however, not receive support from Graziella and Bernard have HR available ready to go in (preferably with visa (Barcelona). Guillaume and Jean-Clement were against. I procedure finalised in advance). In other words, have a did not agree with the arguments not to ‘make’ it ET. Main plan of action ready (I was briefed that London is the best arguments against were (short resume of a much longer place to get Yugo visa, by the way, is that so?). Please discussion): your reactions. - No acute emergency - Long-term MSF intervention therefore ET not applicable - Sit, some months ago worse in Kosovo, ET should (maybe) have been applied at that time, not now. It should have been ET in an earlier phase, I agree with that one, but we should not cry too much and too long over the spilt milk, and we can rectify it now (Sudan revisited?). 46 tees shareddecisionmakingonthefewfundamentalissues. the cooperationamongstsections,inparticularETguaran- applicable inKosovo,ETgivesguidelineshowtoformalise core grouplastThursday.Soaccordingtome[the]ETis [but] stillcommitmenttotheETwasexpressedby I dorealisethattheETprocessis‘inlimbo’atpresent, lobby activities and positioning towards PR. position intheKosovocrisis,andsubsequentlyadvocacy/ tial risks,HRM involved [and] already in process,MSF’s me:$, financialresponsibility[by]sectionandthepoten- issues. Theissueswhichneedformalisingareaccordingto the debateanddecisionmakingonveryfewessential that asectionprovideresourceswithoutbeingengagedin realistic, nor acceptable to any of us (as history shows) mally, indeedinordertopreservethatgoodwill.Itisnot but afewfundamentalissuesneedtobeagreeduponfor- ment). Goodwillamongstsectionsneedstobemaintained (optimising theMSFaction,itwascalledinETdocu- by themissionitselfduetoconstraintofresources itself (strongdesireasIknowyourealise)anddesired now thatMSFHinvolvementisdesired,byboth two sectionsconcerned(BandF)cannotbemaintained, national team)whichiscountingongoodwillamongstthe The presentformulaoffunctioning,anITmission(inter- care. […] community histories andofprovidingaccess tomedical problems ofmedicalstaff, tracingthevariousvillage activities… Andwehaveworked outwaysoftacklingthe eyewitness work,developitand proposelobbyingorother field, mustbethereforthe teamandmustinitiatethis is notover). Someone must be responsible for that in the the programmeandtodosooverlongterm(thewar owe it to ourselves continue towork on thisaspect of This lastaspectisandremainsextremelyimportant:we lobbying - Communicationactivities,providingeyewitnessaccounts, - Logistics activities (sanitation, relief) - Medical activities Coordinator - Tim).These three maintasks are: into threemainareasofresponsibility(overseenby a In myviewthecoordinationteamcanbedivided for his visa). filled assoonpossible(PascalVignierisstillwaiting said: thispositionisofcriticalimportanceandshouldbe really isabadname!).Idon’tagreewithwhatyouhave Point 4-Rethepositionofinformationofficer(which A few quick comments on yourlast piece […] Hi Vincent, Extract: French). Director ofOperations,20October1999(in Desk KosovotoVincentJanssens,MSFBelgium Email fromGuillaumeLeGallais,MSFFrance being followed by EricandBastien??? I assumethatthisday-to-dayoperationalsideisstill information …andnotoperations,ashispaperssuggest. flow, sitreps,etc.[then]isroleindeedtolookafter is reallytoworkwiththePristinateamoninformation (Tim nolongertelephonesme…).Thereagain,ifhisrole has beentherehetightwithfieldinformation that thereissomeconfusionthere!!!).Similarly,sincehe [Operations Directors]!!!IncludingWilma(itseemstome from whatIread,he‘wouldlike’toworkwiththreeODs tant… Asconcerns Bas’s role,becarefuloftwothings: The steadyexchangeofinformationseemstomeimpor- Regarding the main principles: decision maker aswellonthiscontext, well lguessit What does“participate actively”means?If itmeansbeen and madeadebriefinginParis, BrusselsandNewYork. MSF USAwithJoëllewhocame visitKosovothissummer concerning advocacy.Notto mentionothersections,like one aslreceivedseveralphone callsalongthelastmonths Brussels is looking after this matter). AIso the Spanish material in Kosovo, Jean Plettings OC6 logistician in Durand (MSF Greece proposed to sent some logistical Ellen thissummer),theSwisssectiontooaswroteThierry section isveryinterestedinthematter(weworkedwith participating moreactivelyinthecrisis.IknowDutch l knowtheothersectionsarelogicallyinterestedinto OPERATIONAL DECISION MAKING of Kosovo. that wetryhardtofindthebestsolutionsforpeople people, weIlitisasmallpricetopay.lcanassureyou is abetteroutputfortheoperationsandfield towards morestructuralproblems.However,iftheresult always easy,generatestensionsandsometimescanglide on a hot context with international pressure are not great luck),thesekindofrelationsbetweentwosections experienced withinMSF(unlessyouhaveatremendous areas, givingsuggestionsorothercriticsetc.AsyoualI making, defining betterstrategies,pointingoutshadow allowing them to be a critical partner helping decision Paris is receiving as weIl as us operational information world (including MSF). centralized theinformationfromfieldoroutside That means Brussels is the operational centre where is issues). improvements oncertainmatters(suchascommunication the missionhasbeendefined(withoutminimizing no otherschemedecideduptonow,weproceedtheway […] Asthemissionhastobedailyfollowed,andwith Dear alI, Extract: 22 October1998 (in English). MSF Switzerland/Greece programme managers, ager toMSFFrance,Holland,Spain, Bastien Vigneau,MSFBelgiumprogrammeman- between Yugoandheadquarters,’ ‘ Update onOPS[operational]organisation Email from

47 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

might be a good solution in order to better feel the crisis, give information to our respective donors, for public awareness, internal communication etc... But very inef- There was pressure from all sections, from the 19 ficient in terms of operationality and management issues. presidents and general directors and I don’t know It is already quite difficult to do it the way it is with two how many operations directors, board members, the sections (but always fun...), that it would not be appropri- president of the International Council, etc. All these people ate. However, there is no problem for receiving comments were interested in what was going on in Yugoslavia and (“l’effet miroir”) from the others. As already mentioned in Kosovo and a fairly significant number of them wanted to few emails, we can open to other sections: come and see what was happening on the ground. And this HR [Human Resources] PARTICIPATION does not even include the various media services, Agence To emphasize international participation, we open the IT France-Presse or journalists. It was there that I discovered philosophy to other sections. That means although there what the mobile telephone was. You begin at eight o’clock is up to now a potential for 15 expats (right now only 9 in the morning with a briefing for Japan and Australia. And because of VISA’s authorization: major current problem), in the evening you are still there at 10 o’clock with the we have no problem to open these profiles. United States. The general director of MSF USA tells me: COMMUNICATION EVENTS “Tomorrow I have an interview with CNN, so what can I Some press release, press conference, special events and say?” I understand of course that I need to reply to her, but lobbying have been organised in some sections and pro- everyone is asking me the same thing. So after a while I posed to other sections concerning: began to be a little tired. And then above all, I did not have - The Western European Immigration issues in general and any time left to concentrate and to analyse the situation as a consequences of the war in Kosovo. with my team. I am asked: “Can I call your Coordinator?” - The situation and exactions the population is facing in At the beginning I say “yes,” and then I say “no,” but they Kosovo. went ahead and called him anyway. The worst thing is when There could be a much better coordination work among all people come back from the field. They are so shocked by sections to realise public events or lobby issues. what is happening! This is Europe, not Africa. In the field they have seen Europeans with the same infrastructure they have - video machines, television antennae…They have identified with them and the emotion is multiplied a hun- Resolution 1203, United Nations Security dredfold. So when they come back they say: “Something Council, 23 September 1998 (in English) must be done,” and in these circumstances we need to do some emotional debriefing. So under this pressure, we have Extract: opened up our human resources fully to MSF the planet over. 3. Demands that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia comply Out of the 25, 30 or 50 expatriates - I don’t recall exactly fully and swiftly with resolutions 1160 (1998) and 1199 how many - there were only 10 Belgians. In fact, we felt we (1998) and cooperate fully with the OSCE Verification were under so much pressure that we made an international Mission in Kosovo and the NATO Air Verification Mission mission out of it. The best way of operating was that the over Kosovo according to the terms of the agreements American volunteer who went there should relate his experi- referred to in paragraph 1 ence when he came back. above; 4. Demands also that the Kosovo Albanian leadership and Bastien Vigneau, Desk, MSF Belgium, (in French). all other elements of the Kosovo Albanian community comply fully and swiftly with resolutions 1160 (1998) and 1199 (1998) and cooperate fully with the OSCE Verification Mission in Kosovo; 5. Stresses the urgent need for the authorities in On 25 October, the UN Security Council adopted the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo resolution 1203 requiring immediate application of Albanian leadership to enter immediately into a meaning- the agreements signed by the government of the ful dialogue without preconditions and with international Yugoslav Federation with NATO and the OSCE. The OSCE involvement, and to a clear timetable, leading to an end Permanent Council authorised the deployment of 2,000 of the crisis and to a negotiated political solution to the of its observers to Kosovo in the context of its verifica- issue of Kosovo tion mission, provided for by an agreement signed with 6. Demands that the authorities of the Federal Republic of the Serb authorities on 16 October. Yugoslavia, the Kosovo Albanian leadership and all others On 27 October 1998, after a substantial pullout of Serb concerned respect the freedom of movement of the OSCE forces, NATO abandoned the immediate use of force Verification Mission and other international personne. but maintained its military forces ready to intervene. Thousands of Kosovar Albanians returned home. The first OSCE ‘verifiers’ arrived in Kosovo.

48 12 October. concluded with theAmericanenvoyRichard Holbrookeon adherence totheprovisions of theagreementonKosovo the possibilityofimmediate airstrikesgivenBelgrade’s vene inYugoslavia,whileat thesametimedismissing NATO hasdecidedtokeepits militaryforcereadytointer- Extract: and freedom of movement of thesemissions. emergency, action may be necessary to ensure the safety tion oftheagreementonground.Itassertsthat,inan of the2,000OSCEverifiers,whomustverifyapplica - the ground.[…]Thisresolutioninsistsonprotection OSCE missionresponsibleforcarryingoutverificationon tary) action to ensure the safety of the members of the Saturday, neverthelessopensthewaytopossible(mili- This Security Council resolution 1203, adopted on possible reversion to the use offorce. tions relatingtoit,butwithoutexplicitlymentioninga Belgrade therapidandcompleteapplicationofUNresolu- the use of force. The UN Security Council notably required but withoutexplicitlythreateningapossiblereturnto that Belgrade submit to the United Nations’ demands, the UNSecurityCouncilofanewresolutionrequiring The OSCEdecision follows the adoption on Saturday by mence apoliticaldialoguewiththeAlbanianseparat-ists. from theprovince, allow thereturnofrefugeesandcom- immediate ceasefireinKosovo,withdrawitsspecialforces tion demanded,in this context,that Belgrade impose an of thattimeframe.ArecentUNSecurityCouncilresolu- of oneyear”inKosovo,“withthepossibilityextension” OSCE decision, the mission “will be established for a period Great Britain,Italy,andRussia).[…]Accordingtothe on theformerYugoslavia(Germany,UnitedStates,France, presented toBelgradebytheUNandContactGroup the-ground checksforcompliancewiththerequirements These ‘verifiers’ will have the task of carrying out on- of amission of 2,000personnel. Zivadin Jovanociv,allowingthedeploymentbyOSCE Geremek, andtheYugoslavMinisterofForeignAffairs, in BelgradebytheOSCEChairman-in-Office,Bronislaw accordance withtheagreementsignedon16October on Sunday,envisagesdeploymentofthemissionin The decisionoftheOSCEPermanentCouncil,whichmet Extract: 1998 (inFrench). ing theSerbAttitude,’AFP(France),28October ‘Satisfaction butCautioninWashingtonregard- October 1998(in French). deployment ofitsmission,’ ‘The OSCEPermanentCouncilauthorisesthe AFP (France),25 commit any combattroops to thisforce. Albright stressedthatWashingtondoesnotintendto is preparedtosupport,sheindicated.However,Madeleine yet beentakenonthesizeofforceUnitedStates Macedonia todealwithanyeventuality.Nodecisionhas formation ofarapidinterventionforcetobestationedin taking place.Inaddition,NATOintendstoacceleratethe measures, withfirstreconnaissanceoperationsalready NATO wouldverysoonactivateallofitsaerialsurveillance Secretary of State. But Madeleine Albright noted that avoid immediateuseofforcebyNATO,saidtheAmerican The SerbmilitaryretreatfromKosovo“isinsufficient”to 250,000 peopleoverall from their homes. fighting intheprovincesinceFebruaryhasdrivensome this situationseveralweeksago.Accordingtoofficial, which isasubstantialreductiononthe75,000peoplein still withoutshelterinthecentreofKosovo,headded, according to this same official. Some 20,000 people are […] Refugeesarereturning home inlargenumbers, following weeks. Butdefinitelysituation is notsolved. We thinkthat [the] situationwillremain stable overthe 3. Expectations for the future? will try to follow up situation. paring toreturnKosovo(not confirmedyet).Pecteam return (?).Rumourthat5000 IDPsinMontenegroarepre- from abroad(Montenegro/Albania...)mightquitequickly (to completelydestroyedhouses/villages).Alsorefugees ‘massive’ returnofIDPstotheirvillagesisbeexpected OK. Quitesoon(ifsituationremainsstableofcourse) ation, withtheintentiontoreturnifeverythingseems people goingbacktotheirvillagesassessthesitu - Confidence not really restored yet. But more and more of surgical patients. But in general: positive evolution. In Pristinahospital,stillpolicepresentandblockingvisits (Rugova valleyinPecarea).UCKmorevisiblethatbefore. left butsometanksare hiding inless accessible areas present anymore.Rumoursthoughthatnotalltroops population inpeace.Insmalltowns, less ornopoliceman destroyed villages(allUCKsuspects);butleavingoriginal controls. TheyareespeciallyharassingIDPscomingfrom Police stillpresentinbiggertownsanddoingpassport MSF fieldteamsdidnotseeany check pointanymore. ing. Checkpointsareabandonedandburnt.Yesterday, [...] SinceMonday26/10,Serbtroopsarevisiblywithdraw- and will be absorbedinOSCEmission. Diplomatic observermissions(EU,KDOM...)arecontinuing and moreobserversarriving.Theyarenotoperationalyet. Preparations forOSCEverificationmissiongoingon.More Extract: English). tion officer,Brussels,28October1998(in Coordinator MSFPristinatodesksandinforma- Daily Sitrep, fromKatiavanEgmond,Medical

49 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Only (temporary) cease fire for the moment. If no political - To be informed what is going to be released to the press negotiations are started, things might start all over again. and when (before and not afterwards) Because: Milosevic ready for some steps towards a degree of - Better timing autonomy of Kosovo, but still within [the] state of Serbia. - Better formulation of our messages, to avoid repercussions from the press/(paranoid) authorities, a humanitar- For UCK/LDK, this is completely unacceptable. The only ian character and impartiality should be clearly reflected acceptable outcome for them remains independence of in our messages. Kosovo within acceptable period of time. They feel like the international community made concessions to Milosevic, None of these 3 aspects were correctly managed in the giving up slowly and even ignoring their demands. Thus, concerned article: if no political talks and changes, relative “Peace” might - We were not informed. We were told information col- appear very fragile. Serb troops can be back in one day lected by Myriam would be used for reportage on Kosovo (just like they pulled out in one day). Some tanks left in in some magazines later on (or eventually for tribunal of strategic positions. Den Haag?) - Bad timing. Just before second NATO ultimatum expires... On [the] operational side: return of IDPs will mean [an] gives the impression nothing changed (and easily misin- increase of relief and watsan operations! Thus the watsan terpreted in the way we would prefer to see some kind expat and technical coordinator are urgently needed. of military intervention). But, Serb troops [are] recently MSF should focus on identification and relief supply of 30 complying more or less with [the] UN resolution. Positive smaller isolated villages. Big relief organisations targeting evolution thus, from their side for now. Danger is coming on bigger centres. Clear arrangements with other agencies for the moment more from UCK side (provocative actions, needed + increase of MSF pipeline legitimising Serb revenge actions). Better to make aware public opinion when it’s going [the] wrong way again. - Bad introduction of the article. It looks like a confirmation of the general belief we are alI spies. Nine expats involved in collecting testimonies against Serb police and militaries. No word on the humanitarian character of our work/organ- THE FIRST EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS isation. No impartiality. Some atrocities occurred on UCK COLLECTED BY MSF side as well, though we have no good information on this ARE PUBLISHED IN THE PRESS and thus [are] not mentioning this. Impartiality? Two scenarios might happen: - Or completely ignore; no attention given to it. - Or they decide to use the article against us. We wiIl In its edition dated 28 October 1998, published on the know it by the national press. If over the coming days, afternoon of 27 October, the French daily Le Monde all Serb newspapers publish “MSF = big spies” articles, published eyewitness accounts collected by the MSF we might expect some troubles. We could be called to team and the writer who accompanied it, relating to Belgrade to explain our activities. Future VISA applica- atrocities committed by the Serb army and police in tions could be easily denied. More difficulties in getting the Pristina-Pec-Prizen triangle between 23 September authorisation for importation of goods could occur. We do and 5 October 1998. This delayed publication, some not expect they will consider expelling the current team. weeks after the events, in a period of calm in the bombing, provoked criticism within MSF. The report In case we are called to give justifications, l do not agree was challenged in parts of the Serb press. that this should be handled by the Kosovo team alone. We expect, if this kind of situation should occur, official back up from MSF headquarters (official statement to our defence). So could you please consider and think about Daily Sitrep, from Katia, Field Coordinator MSF arguments we can forward on behalf of MSF organisation Belgium/France in Pristina to programme man- directors, whenever it comes to this stage? Because, if agers and the information officer in Brussels, headquarters take responsibilities on the “témoignage” 28 October 1998 (in English). [witnessing] character of MSF they should also take responsibilities in protection of the “operational” charac- 4. Le Monde : ter of MSF, when it comes to it. But of course, we hope no A lot of things have been said already, but done is done particular attention will be given to it by the Serb authori- I guess. We do not want endless discussions or personal ties and everything remains “normal”. repercussions. But, following (I am speaking on behalf of the whole team and myself) would like to make clear to 5. Info for Bas: any MSF headquarters/communication department. We are I was contacted by BRT news today, to give some com- not against speaking on behalf of the population, but for ments on the article published in “Le Monde” and on the 50 future communications, we would Iike: situation in general. They did not announce that it was send himto Pec teamfor one week. to Pristina.Wediscussedwithinourteam,andintend arriving inBelgrade.Wewillpickhimupandbring On Friday30November,Alex(Magnumphotographer)is them for 3 days...). nobody elseinterestedinhavingjournalistsfollowing Pristina? (Keith leaving on 10 November at latest, and Do you have any news on when Life is expected to be in Keith atthe same moment. same, and having priority if they want to reportage on field. TheyareawareofLifemagazineintendingtodothe newt week(orendofthisweek)forthreedaysonthe Washington Postcamebytoday,andwanttofollowKeith secution of the medialstaff in Kosovo. behalf ofalocalChinesenewspaper,ontheissueper- MSF HongKongwantstodoaninterviewwithKeithon of philanthropy”. sion yesterday,aswellwithUSnewspaper“Chronicle Holland yesterday.KeithdidaninterviewwithCBStelevi- general information today. I did an interview for Radio 2 us. IwascontactedbyaNorwegiannewspaper,togive on BRTnews.Thusnotacorrectwayoftodealwith Only thisnightIfiguredoutitwasbroadcastedlife[live] an intervieworthatourconversationwasbeingtaped. And theman had towalkinfrontofuslike that,quite then putthe badge withtheUCKeagleinto theother. cut offhistwoears,putthem intooneofhishandsand he wasveryyoung.Inanother case-theeldestthey they broketheperson’sribs withriflebuttsbeforehand; on theirkneesandshotthem inthehead.Inonecase were 17,20and40yearsold. Theymadethemgetdown the ditch,onestheyhadfoundinmountains.They here.” Itwasafterwardsthattheykilledthethreemenin lowered theirautomaticweaponsandsaid:“Getoutof crying out,peoplewereslippinginthemud.Thenthey gave 2,000markstosave five people. Thewomenwere set youfree.’Peoplebroughtalotofmoney;anoldman you.” Thepolicekeptsaying,’ifyougivemoney,wewill have anyweretold:“Getoverthere;we’regoingtoshoot taking everyone’sgoldandsilver,peoplewhodidnot the police cameback. The torturingbegan. They started sons: youngmenbetween16and25.[Thenextday]only a whilethey came backwithsomeof them, onlyeightper- the woodsorsomewhereelse-wedon’tknowwhere.After the militiaaskedforourpapers.Theytook70meninto ing, aftertheyhadseparatedus,menfromthewomen, […] The child’s father, Osman, said: “On Saturday morn- sons inthe Pristina-Pec-Prizen triangle. 1998. The accounts were gathered by a team of nine per- and policeintheperiodfrom23Septemberto5October regarding atrocitiescommittedinKosovobytheSerbarmy Médecins SansFrontières(MSF)hasobtainedevidence Extract: 1998 (inFrench). Serb Forces,’ ‘Kosovo: NewAccountsoftheBarbarity Le Monde(France),28October they had decided totakeit out onthefamily. destroyed justnearthehouse[wherepolicewere]; but withrockets.”Ibelievedthat,sinceatankhadbeen will destroyyou-anditnotbewithriflesanymore, going todie.IfyoutakeuparmsdefendKosovowe and keptonrepeating:”Wearegoingtokillyou,you’re man spoketouswithsuchhatred.Hereceivednoorders - a human being to another human being. The police- ask myselfallmylifehowitispossibletodosuchthings to run away: she was shot and her eyes gouged out. I will night with the bodies. A young 18-year old girl had tried Very slowly, one byone;theykeptthemselves amused all men withknives,earscutoffandabullettothehead. they alsosmokedsomething.Thatnightkilledthree All night,sheheardthepolicedrinkingandtalking, woman andtoldher:“Youmustlookafterthesechildren.” they massacredthefamilytookthreechildrenanda night in one of the village houses, where they ate. When the houseinObrijewereallkilled.Thentheyspent as iftheywereprogrammedtokill.Thosefoundin through withtanksandthenthepolicewould arrive. It’s my life.Witheachoffensive,firstthesoldierswouldpass in blankets,quickly.ItistheworstthingIhaveseen On the first day we buried 13 people, then 17; wrapped There wasatwo-year-oldchild.Twoyearsold-Isawit! whose ears had been cut off. A family of 17, all killed. the bodies;itwashorrible.Isawan80-yearoldwoman terrible things.Thechildrenwerenotallowedtoapproach riddled withknifecuts,amongstthem.Thatdaywesaw human. Isawayoungmentallydisabledperson,hisbody not imagine that a human being would do that to another of themwasheadless-hisbrainhadbeencrushed.Ican reached Obrije.ThereIburied13peopleinoneday.One noon theywillbekilled,”wesetofftowardsNekovc,and day, afterthepolicehadsaid:”Ifanyoneisstillhereat will happen to them if you continue to fight.” The next UCK! Tellpeoplewhyyouareinthewartellthemwhat dazed, whiletheyweresaying:“Thisiswhatwedotothe during the medical consultations. volunteer) has collectedaretheonestold by thecivilians Serbian forces’exactions.The storiesthatMyriam(aMSF and ourteamsinthefieldare notdoinginquiriesabout monies arepartofareportissued byMSF:thatisnottrue Paris. In the LeMondearticle, it issaid that thesetesti- You canreferthemtoPeter, inBrusselsandtome, ably willhavesomereactionsfromyournationalpress. quoted byotheragencies,newspapers,etc.So,youprob - end ofSeptember.Thearticleisverystrongandnow extracts oftestimoniescollectedbyMSFinKosovoatthe afternoon, theFrenchdaily,LeMonde,haspublished As weinformedBrusselsandtheteamsyesterday,this Hi there, cers, 27 October 1998, 20:00 (in French). cers, 27 October 1998,20:00 (in French). ‘ to theotherMSFsections’communicationsoffi- Jeannerod, MSF France Communications Officer Kosovo Testimonies,’ from Bénédicte Email fromBénédicte

51 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

You can find herewith the little dossier that we did two - Send exactly the documents they sent to Le Monde weeks ago and in which the MSF position is summarised. - CalI me back today so we can explain ourselves You all have already received it, but just in case you need Yesterday, l also talked with Benedicte who had the con- it again. Sorry, it is still in French. tact with the Le Monde journalist. She told me she was Salut à tous, Bises, Bénédicte. not responsible for the timing or the introduction and amalgam of the journalist. Last night she also sent a rec- tification/explanation message. l also so told Guillaume they (we) have been screwed by that guy and that it is ‘My Response to Wilna on the Le Monde Article,’ true once you release a paper you can’t control it, but at Email from Bastien Vigneau, MSF Belgium Desk least we were aware of this ultimatum and we could have to Wilna van Aartsen, [MSF Holland Emergency predicted it. Desk], 29 October 1998 (in English). This morning in Belgrade nothing was mentioned about This Kosovo article keeps me busy since yesterday...and this article. But, still there are possible consequences, Bas is sick! Anyway, for you (but just you), I’ll try to sum- the field is very cautious. Today we asked Graziella and marize what is going on. Guillaume to send back alI the info to other sections.

Since July, MSF wants to have data on what people live. Unfortunately, the field was not able or didn’t want to take some testimonies from some of our patients or people Letter from Myriam Gaume to Anne Guibert we met along our consultations. That’s why we asked (MSF France Communications Officer), Guillaume Myriam (journalist and writer who already worked for MSF) Le Gallais (MSF France programme manager), to go there and to be able to live with the mobile clinics Denis Pingaud (MSF France Communications and write some the stories of the people. Director), 4 November 1998 (in French). Now, two weeks ago some testimonies from Myriam have been chosen to [be] use[d] for [the] public (give the voice I was very happy to see the results of my eyewitness to the victims). Guillaume told me they sent this to Monde accounts in Kosovo finally published. As you will recall, I a week ago. Monde chose to release it yesterday, prob- had been very surprised to be met with a certain indiffer- ably because of the ultimatum. The fact that MSF talks ence back here, even though on the ground I kept battling about what the population have to say is not the issue to produce texts on a regular basis. My first objective has here. Although it is [they are] strong stories, it [this] is been attained now that Kosovar suffering has made it on the [same] way Keith and Vincent testified 2 weeks ago to the front page of Le Monde, even if it is just for a few concerning tortures and executions of people by the army, hours, which enabled wider distribution to a number of especially of a Dr we knew. other media outlets and other countries. On the other hand, I have not understood why my name was not able to appear What [happened] yesterday and this morning [that] we as co-signatory along with the MSF label. Yet my photos are were not happy about is the following: covered by copyright. And when you use professionals such - The timing (ultimatum day). Releasing it yesterday was a as Frédéric Laffont or Salgado in other areas the contract disaster. Does MSF clearly announce its approval of air strikes reflects an exchange of know-how, working through the that much that it shows these testimonies that same day? blending of skills to serve a particular message. - In consequence of this AFP pushed it a bit further “a few hours from the ultimatum, MSF blah blah blah.” It was because I was able to give structure to the eyewit- - The fact that there is no REPORT and systematic research ness accounts, to convey their strength and to conduct the on the massacre. MSF is not a human rights organisation, interview in such a way as to make the accounts authentic and the journalist of Le Monde presents it this way in its but readable, that they were able to feature as news items introduction. in Le Monde - which no communiqué would ever have been - The fact that this journalist implies that the 9 expats able to achieve. We’re not talking here about a scoop or currently in the field are there only to do this massacre some stroke of luck, but the normal result of conjunction scanning job... between an event of major significance and the appropri- - That within the title “Serbs Barbarian” we are spelling ate means of reporting it. Just as MSF has not abandoned out that “the bad guys are the Serbs and the rest are the its identity in respect of these accounts, but on the nice people.” contrary has used it quite legitimately, I did not wish to abandon my own signature. Anyway, l also had to deal with a lot of sections who where harassed by journalist phone calls. Yesterday, after calling The first consequence has been to create dangerous confusion the field (security etc.), l talked with Guillaume where l told in the case of a medical team of nine persons (what a tribute him that l was very much concerned by the introduction of to my productivity) which is claimed to be spending its time the journalist. […] l sent him an email asking--telling him gathering eyewitness accounts rather than taking care of the what I’m telling you and asking him to: sick. I remind you that I had to struggle on a daily basis to 52 - Send an explanation to alI other 18 sections obtain the minimum space necessary for my work, vis a vis that, but it wasn’t very sensitive. ulated orenrolled.Ididnot have anygreatproblemwith cranking upthepressure…” Everyone islikelytobemanip- underway. We said to ourselves: “Well look,LeMondeis vague ultimatumintheair;therereallywasaprocess before thebeginningofnegotiations.Therewasasort recent about it. It was a bit irresponsible! […] It was just atrocities inKosovo.’Whereas,facttherewasnothing adjustments, buttheimpactwasinheadline:‘New body ofthetext,sothatreadercouldmakeappropriate whereas theyweresixweeksold.Thatfactappearedinthe as anaccountofeventsthathadoccurredjustyesterday very correctonthepartofLeMondetopresentallthat recent accountsalthoughinfacttheywerenot.Itwasnot await your response!Cordially. laboration and rendering it ‘shameful?’ I am uneasy, and I why thislast-minutemodesty,maskingmyprofessionalcol- and indeedexternalpublicationssigned?Thequestionis: not ifmyworkisrecognised.AreallMSFinternal the waypositionsareformulated-Iwishtocontinue.But a lotduringthismissionand-despitesomeopaquenessin where wordstakeonthestrengthofaction.Ihavegained edgement and on the need for me to get closer to an area as concernsMSFsince1993,hasbeenbasedonanacknowl- partnership intwocomplementarydomains.Myapproach, up todescribethedailylifeofKosovars.Itwasanequal the conflict in Karabagh thathe chose me and signed me Diplomatique. ItisbecauseEricDachyhadreadmybookon me severalpublications in LeMondeaswell of myprofessionalism.Myrigourasaninvestigatorearned And morethanforyou,myjobisbasedontherecognition In the same way as all of you, I make my living from my job. clumsy whenfacedwithemotionaloutpourings. deeply attached, but someofwhomweredefenceless and a groupofpeoplewhowerefabulousandtowhomIremain Figaro,” immediately gave its oppositeopinion. a so-calledreportofMSF,anotherwidelyreaddaily,“Le enveloping itsbigeditorial“Kosovo-HorrorinEurope” tion, lies,andslanderconcerningthesituationinKosovo, Serbia in its Wednesday’s issue, using the worst fabrica- After theLastJudgementpronouncedbyLeMondeagainst Extract: Myriam wasnotquoted.Theywerepresentedas at theinitiativeofGuillaumeandGraziella,but Extracts fromvariousaccountsappearedinLeMonde staff from Serbo-Croatian). (Serbia), 30 October 1998, (translated by MSF ‘ American Contradiction Eric Dachy, Programme Manager MSF Belgium ,’ Vecernje Novosti (in French).

So what,thatnever changed anything! great pieceofcinemaeverytimetheywentintoaministry. tors whovisitedBosniaandHerzegovinaweretreatedtothe But, theSerbshavealwaysinsultedus.Allofourcoordina - was calleduptoBelgradeandscoldedintheministries. of LeMondewasnotaproblem.Ofcourse,theCoordinator political realitiesofKosovoatthetime.Forus,frontpage from heaven for journalists, enabling them to refocus on the negotiations lookedlikelytotakeplace,allofthiswasmanna newspapers, ontheradio,etc-ittookoff!Inaddition,since denly therewasasnowballeffect.Wehadinterviewsinother it onpage1butpublishedmorethanjustextracts.So,sud- not the ones who decide. In this case Le Monde not only put they publish them on the front page or they don’t: we are to journalistsandtheytakeordon’tvariousextracts, published itonthefrontpage.Normallywegiveourstories from increased interest in Kosovo and that is why Le Monde many journalistswerebecominginterested.Webenefited and we brought out our accounts at the moment when In October1998,mediainterestbegantofocusonKosovo sions between sections, and these gotin the way. we hadourdecision-making processes, ourinternaldiscus- after thesepeople,whennobodywaspayingattention.But, report shouldhavecomeout,whennobodywaslooking tion sinceMayorJune,andIbelievethatthat’swhenthis displaced personsinKosovo.Wehadthesameinforma- placed; there were still 100,000 to 150,000 or even 200,000 having bombsdroppedonthem.But,theywerestilldis- mean? It is true that at that time people were no longer back becauseitwasnolongernews?Andwhatdoes‘news’ should ithavebeenpublishedornot?Shouldweheld when fightingwasatitsmostfierce.Thequestionhereis: September/October was theceasefirephase,notperiod Albright andMiloseviconthewithdrawalofSerbforces. during aperiodofcalmrelatedtothenegotiationsbetween The problemwasthattheissuebeingdealtwithlate, Le Monde, which in some respects actually softened it […]. to convey.But,itdidnotcomeacrosswellinthearticle tuted the prime target. That’s the message we were seeking tions were one ofthestakes in thiswar,and indeed consti- rebellion attacking a legitimate army. The civilian popula- of astatefightingagainstresistanceorrebellion, We wantedtoshowthatwearenottalkingaboutthearmy tion ofthepassivesupportthatpopulationcouldbring. icy oferadicatingtherebellioninvolvedsystematicdestruc- a passiveforcethatworriedtheSerbauthorities.Theirpol- flict, civiliansclearlyrepresentedoneofthestakes, deliberate decisiontotargetcivilians.Inthiscon- With this publication, we were trying to show the Graziella Godain, Deputy programme manager MSF France (in French).

53 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

read between the lines and understand that this is directly linked with the ‘bad experience’ of last October. I think We were dealing with a situation whose violence was we have to be careful with this ‘never again approach’ as a matter of public record - indeed it was the central it may not lead to a real improvement of our work if it is issue in what was going on. Negotiations, news too much directed at building safeguards and guarantees. reports, criticism of Milosevic, calls for the mobilisation of So I think it is important to agree on the diagnosis before the ICTY - all of that had a single objective, namely the deciding on the treatment and so defining the main prior- unacceptable violence to which the Albanian population of ity of Bas’ work. Kosovo was being subjected. Moreover, MSF Belgium had been present in Pristina for years, albeit in a fairly small 1- When it comes to media management, the word ‘con- way. I recall that Le Monde put it on its front page and trol’ is a false one. It gives wrong security feelings. Either made a direct connection with what was happening. And, at you give information to the media, either you don’t. But that time something was still happening in Kosovo. So, by no one will ever be able to control from A to Z what hap- making public statements, MSF necessarily crossed paths pens with [it]. You can also establish [an] embargo on with the diplomatic process and with military preparation. information until a specific date. But even with this, you have the question of morning or evening newspapers in Rony Brauman, Director of research, MSF France Europe or the US that prove that information cannot be Foundation (in French). issued exactly at the same time everywhere around the world. When you look at what happened at the press conference, you understand that we were led to say more that what we wish (at the press conference) and that we were led to speak at a ‘wrong’ time we [which we would not] Discussions concerning the profile of the international have chosen (the day of the deadline for air strikes in Le position for the information officer (sometimes also Monde) because we, as MSF, were: called ‘Public Relations Officer’) on Kosovo were rekin- - Too late anyway to say what we had to, on Kosovo. dled by the publication of the MSF report in Le Monde. -If we had maintained a flux of information to the media since February or July; - If we had clarified our position on what concerns us and what does not concern us in this crisis (air strikes, NATO ‘Job description Public Relations Officer,’ MSF human rights observers, UCK, Serbian police and military Yugoslavia, 23 October 1998 (in English). activities, respect of the civilians, their vital properties, and the relief, respect of the medical duties ...); then we Main responsibilities would not have found ourselves in such a difficult situa- The promotion of MSF activities in Kosovo. tion at the last minute. Golden rule: The less you give to - To the press, proactively organising contacts the media, the more they put you under pressure, and the - Assist HOM in clarifying the MSF position and formula- more they tend to fill [in] the blank by extrapolating or tion of press statements misunderstanding what you say. - Liaison with communication depts - Assist field teams with press management 2- We cannot be proud of this advocacy operation but at - Inform and update MSF sections least it saved us from having been totally silent on war - Standardise and formalise the information that MSF crimes. Now our real challenge is to make sure that we will forwards to other organisations e.g. UNHCR to present a not be in such a position in the future. I think that it is a coherent and professional image waste of time to focus Bas’ work on how to control media, - To assist HOM and medical coordinator with the setting to establish new communications procedures that will up of a database/mapping system which the different “protect us” more, to decide whether or not Le Monde is teams will feed into. [no longer] not anymore a reliable newspaper, and to ban such a newspaper from our list (why not the Washington post?). Because at the headquarters level, communication people are usually not unprofessional. ‘ To Bastien, Vincent, Graziella, Tim, Bas and all the MSF volunteers in Kosovo,’ Message from If we want to avoid the repetition of what happened, we Françoise Saulnier, MSF Legal Advisor, 17 have to take a proactive profile in terms of information November 1998 (in English). rather than a controlling attitude. We have to concentrate on the gathering of information relevant to our programs Extract: and relevant to the fate of the population. We have to After having briefed Bas here in Paris, I feel the neces- identify the new problems that will arise in this phase of sity to share some feelings and comments with alI of you. resettlement and distribution of international assistance One of Bas’ tasks would be to rebuild confidence with the (to who, through which channels, under what conditions, team about its ability to control the process of advocacy and decide if it suits or not our own humanitarian stan- 54 and the use of our information by the media. It is easy to dards and ethical duties...). We have to keep journalists with whom they were working, continued. of Albanians,notablymembersthemedicalcorps the ceasefire,Serbpoliceharassmentandintimidation During November,MSFteamsnotedthatregardlessof strengthening oftiesbetweenKosovoandSerbia. Belgrade proposeditsowntext,whicharguedfora who weredemandingindependence.On21November, province, wasrejectedbymostoftheAlbanianparties Group, whichprovidedforsubstantialautonomythe the UnitedStatesenvoyandendorsedbyContact The proposalforthefutureofKosovosubmittedby So Istarted to do somehuman rights work. UCK hadretreated,andtheSerbstoo,sothingswerequiet. backup, and by the time I arrived it was all very quiet again. Bas canconcentrate on thisonly. chance tosucceedinit,itwillbebettermakesurethat This is a heavy work to do. If we want to give us the best not by each. - Thewayhumanitarianactivitiesaremadepossibleor and, - The way humanitarian law isor not respectedby each the people. We areonlyaccountable on: not collectinganykindofinformationonwhathappensto protect. We are not a human rights organization, so we are that givesusmoneyandtothevictimswehope We areaccountableonwhatwedoingtothepublic of crisis. informed regularlyaboutallthisandnotonlyonthespot by government forces. have been arrested, beaten and in at least two cases killed doctors whohavebeentreating civilianvictimsofthewar ians mayhavediedasaresult. Theworkersalsosaythat few remaininghealthworkers say,andhundredsofcivil- the ruralhealthsystemtocollapse, aidworkersandthe ment’s offensive against ethnic Albanian rebels has caused The climateoffearinKosovoduringtheYugoslavgovern - Extract: International, October 1998to March 1999(inEnglish). Holland. I would report to the network, be a press Belgium andHolland.Iwasthebridalgiftfor They werethinkingofajointedmissionbetween Bas Tielens, Information Officer for Kosovo, MSF (NYT), 4November1998(inEnglish). Die,’ MikeO’Connor,InternationalHeraldTribune ‘With Kosovo’sHealthSystemaCasualty,Civilians like other places inthis area. ricaded andpossiblybooby-trappedbytheSerbianpolice in Malisevoisemptyofstaffandmedicine,itsdoorsbar- destroyed bygovernmentforces.Adistricthealthcenter armed insurgents.[...]Thenearestmedicalclinicwas doctors who had been arrested were guilty of supporting policy ofintimidatinghealthcareworkersandthatthe [...] Yugoslav government officials said that there was no anonymity. international healthagency,whospokeonconditionof the partofgovernment,”saidaseniorofficialan rural health care system. “This is a systematic policy on civilians may have died because of the collapse of the arrested or have fled the country and that hundreds of rillas. [...]Buttheysaythatabout20doctorshavebeen died during their offensive against ethnic Albanian guer- including healthclinics,andhundredsofcivilianshave [...] Governmenttroopshavedestroyedmanyvillages, Mitrovica and SuvaReka. Decan, civiliansharassedand beaten.Similarreportsfrom restaurants andcafesinPec.Morepolicepresence tion againstAlbaniansbypolice,andattacksonAlbanian injured byabullet.Morereportsofharassment/intimida - masked men who spoke Serbian. One of his children was worked in Pec hospital was shot dead in his house by 3 Last Wednesdaynight,arespectedAlbaniandoctorwho ians. TensionshaveincreasedinthePecandDecanareas. Serb forcesandtheUCK,withmoreinvolvementofcivil - tit fortatactions(attacksandabductions)betweenthe The fragile“ceasefire”’isstillholdingdespitecontinued […] CONFIDENTIAL (see press line) Observations stability in Kosovo. see alastingpoliticalsolutionthatguaranteeslong-term Because ofthehumanitariansituation,MSFwouldliketo and todraw attention totheir needs. […] The mainmessageremainsthefateofIDPs/returnees, […] PRESSLINE Theresa structures, 8 aredamaged,of which 3seriously. est fightingtookplace,outofthe28officialandMother assessments in the Pec/Decan, where some of the heavi- to belessthanpreviouslyestimated.Accordingour work. Theextentofdestruction/damagetoclinicsseems Doctors arestillreturningbutinsomeareasafraidto The situationinhealthstructuresremainsthesame. Extract: ‘ November 1998 (inEnglish). Press Departments’Internaldocument,26 Kosovo Communication update 015,’ MSF

55 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

done so but we were limited by the question of human resources. We were not even able to supply a medical coor- For the people that had been forced out of their dinator! homes, there was a good host family system, but still some people were living out in the open in the Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager MSF middle of winter. So, we got some trucks and we would be France (in French). doing more relief and shelter activities (blankets, plastic sheeting.) We did a bit of food, and hygiene kits. In terms of caring for wounded, it would have increased over the time up until April 1999. But sometimes ICRC or sometimes the Albanians themselves would deal with their own Still dissatisfied with the operation of the common casualties. It would also depend on the feelings of the mission with the Belgian section, the French section’s local commanders. They were so paranoid. They weren’t Kosovo desk decided to send an exploratory mission to always ready to give us access. There was a general trend Montenegro so as to position itself in case there was a that did increase but our access would change, it would go stream of refugees from Kosovo. The mission only left up and down according a variety of facts. They would ask at the beginning of January 1999. for the driver or one of the senior medical staff to go into the barrack at the checkpoint. I think there was some verbal abuse. Part of the problems was that we didn’t have any communications as well. We had no radios. They wouldn’t In November, given the situation we decided to send lend us any. We did get some sat phones but we were not a team on an exploratory mission to Montenegro. supposed to have them and if they would found them you Brussels did not agree, as they believed that this were thought as spies. It was always a worry when they would give us problems and would be of no use. My view is came back late. And the other thing was the mines. That that they were afraid we would become too independent was a major problem. These guys, the Serb security people from them. That worried them because they had not got are pretty sophisticated, and had they wanted to put their over the article in Le Monde and were aware that if they cut mine in our car they could have done [so] quite easily. They us too much slack, they would lose control over us. So, at actually put mines for these diplomatic observers, the OSCE. the beginning, they did not want this exploratory mission, So there was an increase in pressure and on a daily basis although in the end they accepted it. But, it took time, we were discussing with the teams: “What could we do to visas took forever and they wanted the exploratory team to mitigate the risks that you’re facing. Do you think this is go via Pristina for briefing purposes, etc. I accepted all of viable to continue this? Are we putting the local staff at that. I couldn’t care less. The team set off but with all these too much risk?” All we could really do is encourage the delays they did not arrive in Montenegro until just after people and the teams to have a good open discussion about Christmas. it and see if everybody wants to continue. If they didn’t, of course, we stopped that. And, then just to be extremely Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager cautious, maintain a high level of awareness particularly for MSF France (in French). the mines. And, then we had this rule that if anybody in the car says “I don’t feel good”, then... [we wouldn’t go on. ] That was the best we could do.

Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France The context was so volatile that we needed, on the in Kosovo, June 1998 to March 1999 (in English). international side, to avoid being spread too thin and thus, we needed to find a joint international formula that guaranteed consensus and good cooperation, and enabled us to avoid problems. It could also have the advantage of infusing greater depth into the debate. For us In November, December, and January, at a time it was all about finding out how to manage communications when negotiations were being prepared and when in the name of MSF in an explosive and quickly changing the media was saying that Serb troops were pulling context. With MSF Belgium in Belgrade and Pristina and MSF out, our teams in the field noted that the opposite was hap- France in Pec, near Montenegro, if MSF were to be targeted pening. They still saw bombings and attacks on villages. It in statements it was easy for the MSF France team to go was all less visible and on a smaller scale, but it was con- quickly into Montenegro, whereas in Belgrade you ran the tinuing. The presence of Serb troops, militia, and police risk of finding out first from the Serb authorities, and that remained enormous. But, at MSF no-one wanted to talk could have been too late. about it, for the sacrosanct reason that: “If we speak, we will be kicked out.” It was not that we were not tempted, Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, MSF on several occasions, to leave the consortium! But let’s say Belgium (in French). 56 that we continued to try to make it work. We could have bility by MSF. was consideredbysometobeanevasionofresponsi- between human rights and humanitarian organisations a publiccommenton this report. This ‘task sharing’ mation officerinKosovo,whoproposedthatMSFmake had beengatheredwiththesupportofMSFinfor- medical infrastructurebySerbpolice.Thisinformation Albanian medical personnel and thedestruction of 1999, denouncingthearrest,tortureandmurderof extracts fromareportplannedforreleaseinFebruary organisation issued a press statement containing On 23December1998thePhysiciansforHumanRights that because they wanted to starttheirownthing. Montenegro andinterethnicissues.Iwasn’treallyhappywith issues ontheadministrativeboundarybetweenKosovoand Graziella goingtoMontenegro.Therewereclearlybe could go[getworse]there.So,eventuallyweagreedwith nothing happeninginMontenegro,itseemedthatthings “This is MSF France and this is what we’re doing.” There was became themorepressurewewouldgetfromParistosay: level. Myimpressionisthatthehighermediaprofile wanted theirpieceandthathadbeendecidedattheboard afraid my view is that really on the French side, they just had happenedandflagginguphumanrightsabuses.So,Iam try puttingourmessagedownintermsofaccountswhat doing?” Thetémoignage[witnessing]thingcameup.Wedid ties were committed mainly from the end of the summer health professionals.” Thegroupnotesthat theseatroci- and chained to beds or radiators” by “Serb police or Serb The groupalsocitescasesof patients havingbeen“beaten published inearly 1999. ing twomonthsofinvestigation, whoseresultsaretobe Kosovo,” notestheorganisationinacommuniquéfollow - ment andforceddisappearanceofAlbaniandoctorsin terised bycasesofmurder,torture,detention,imprison - against AlbanianmedicalpersonnelinKosovois“charac - Wednesday. “Theintimidationcampaign”perpetrated medical association,PhysiciansforHumanRights,on to “systematicatrocities”bySerbs,declaredanAmerican Albanian doctorsandpatientsinKosovoarebeingsubject There was a lot of tension. We would often say to There wasalotoftension. We wouldoftensayto we’re not doing? What do you think we should be we’re notdoing?Whatdoyouthinkweshouldbe Graziella: “Whatactuallydoyouwant?Whatisitthat in Kosovo, June 1998toMarch 1999 (inEnglish). December 1998 (in French). Doctors andPatients,’ ‘Doctors DenouncetheIntimidationofAlbanian Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France AFP (France),24 and laws relating tohuman rights,” sheadded. ity, whichareprotectedbyinternationalhumanitarianlaw in acampaignthatdisregardstherulesofmedicalneutral- Kosovo LiberationArmy,havebeenharassedandpursued zones, orzonescurrentlyformerlycontrolledbythe doctors inKosovotryingtoassistpeoplelivingwar medical doctorandmemberoftheAssociation.“Albanian patients arewarcrimes,”declaredJenniferLeaning,a “Attacks onhealthestablishments,doctorsandtheir Holbrooke. Slobodan MilosevicandtheAmericanenvoyRichard agreement was reachedbetweentheYugoslavPresident and duringautumn1998continuedaftertheKosovo sons ofneutrality, MSF cannot supportthis. monitors inareasunder(previous)KLA-control.Forrea - point three,PHRasksforextrapresenceofinternational als fromallbackgroundstobeaseffectivepossible.In healthcare inKosovo,andworkswithhealthprofession - MSF inKosovotakesanintegralapproachtowardsthe Albanian doctorsandemploytheminmobileclinicsetc. the maximumextentpossible”collaboratewithKosovo- that internationalhumanitarianorganizationsshould“to point three,andinparticularseven,whichisstated Yuogoslavia and theinternationalcommunity, except for ports PHR’s recommendations to the Federal Republic of in the press conference of October 9th. MSF fully sup- a greatnumberofviolationsitself,aswasalreadyreported very worriedabouttheseviolations,andhascomeacross Should yougetquestionsonthis,thelineisthatMSF (8 pages), is availableby fax fromKris in NewYork. pitalized Kosovar-Albanianpatients.Thefullpressrelease cal practice,policeharassment, and abusesagainsthos- .destruction ofmedicalfacilities,forcedflightfrommedi- medical care,tortureandphysicalabuse,search care professionals,detentionandarrestfordelivering regarding Kosovo.Thereportdocumentsmurderofhealth on violationsofhumanrightsinthemedicalsphere, excerpt oftheirupcomingreport(tobeissuedinFebruary) Physicians forHumanRights(PHR)todaypublishedan should have been doing over the last several months and 1) Iamveryhappy thatPHRisdoingthe workthatMSF Extract: English). Officer toMSFnetwork,23December1998(in from BasTielens,MSFInternationalInformation ‘Extra CommunicationUpdateKosovo,’ officer (in French). ager andtotheMSFFrance communications Assistant LegalAdvisortothe programmeman- ‘Kosovo (extra,update),’ Email fromMSFFrance Email

57 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

has not done or done badly (cross out whichever does weak resolution demanding that Milosevic allow the ICTY not apply) despite the successive presence of two persons to work). responsible for this matter. Really, when one knows how long MSF has been in Kosovo, through this network of doctors. Frankly speaking, it’s not something to be proud of… 2) I am very happy about this fine example of comple- MSF could have gone further by itself with this. mentarity between humanitarian NGOs and human rights Probably we were more operational than most medi- NGOs, so dear to our friends in MSF Holland. Each one has cal NGOs. Our operational activities were significant, his own work - the humanitarians are on the ground to and through the Albanian members of our staff we were help and the human rights NGOs are there to look after dealing with some wounded etc. We had quite a widespread human rights, because that is the work of specialists (you presence on the ground really […] But we maintained our need to know how to gather information and how to speak operationality. to victims without traumatising them). Since the humanitarian NGOs are on the ground and the human rights NGOs Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in are not, or arrive when people are dead, a superb solution Kosovo June 1998 to April 1999 (in French). has been found: the former will pass their information on to the latter. Long live sub-contracting. The circle is closed, everyone has his specialist job and in addition our operations won’t be threatened. What a gift! Except that all of that is a long way from reflecting MSF’s The most important part was trying to get the team identity and what makes us different; that it is an open look out for things they might encounter during door to operations of terrible quality (following along their medical work. And, then liaise with Physicians passively when violent phenomena occur); that it means for Human Rights who worked in Pristina. And, they advised abandoning the protection pillar of humanitarian action me what we should look out for. During my break, I went to (we will henceforth only offer assistance - that reminds the office in MSF Holland to speak with HAD [Humanitarian one of UNHCR, does it not?); that human rights NGOs Affairs Department] to see if they had a sort of ready-made know nothing about humanitarian law (yes, that is true, tool. I went on some trips with mobile clinics to facilitate I am not just bragging). Sub-contracting is always a sign and filling out medical forms. I made one study of a mas- that responsibilities are being abandoned by the body sacre. It occurred in summer 1998. At first we had the doing the sub-contracting. And, in this case, it’s MSF. impression we were the first to hear about this, but then speaking to the people on side, turned out that there had 3) I am very happy that we have strong messages. A com- been diplomats [visiting] already. We heard about it munications strategy - tell me if I’m wrong, Anne. Here we through the mobile clinics and then I went to interview have MSF commenting on reports from human rights NGOs. these people who were attacked by Serb soldiers. Some We are going to have to be on the ball, given on the one people had run into the bush and heard a lot of screams and hand the volume coming out each day and on the other shouting and found impacts on trees and stuff like that, and hand the fact that MSF is present in eighty countries. Not people had seen wounded. But still two or three people had to put too fine a point on it, I find it all stupid. And, died. It was relatively minor. But I could see if I find... I the proposed message is ridiculous; it looks like textual guess it would be evidence in a court case against a Serb analysis at about high school level. And, analysis on an officer. It was filed in Brussels. I have never had much elevated plane at that - almost metaphysical - given that feedback from Brussels at all. I don’t know what they nothing less than neutrality is invoked regarding the pro- thought of that work. It was quite a minor sort of activity. posal to deploy more observers. This is something I had developed on the side when I had a lot of time in the first month. It was so quiet that I said: You will have gathered that I am not in favour of MSF’s what can we develop in order to be prepared should there making itself ridiculous by commenting on PHR report. If be the conflict and have a base to speak out. journalists really (but really) insist, they could be told: - We have been in Kosovo for a long time (can you remind Bas Tielens, Information Officer Kosovo, MSF me of how many years?). International October 1998 to March 1999 (in English). - We have indeed noted that Kosovar medical personnel were particularly targeted at the height of the internal conflict and, we have publicised humanitarian law violations when we have become aware of them. - All these crimes are war crimes (no one is saying so) and On 24 December 1998, without informing the OSCE should be brought to trial. verification mission (KVM), which remained powerless, - The International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia is Serb forces launched a substantial offensive against a competent to try these crimes, but the Yugoslav authori- UCK stronghold in the north of Kosovo. The UCK was ties are preventing investigators from going to the area henceforth a political interlocutor, intransigent on 58 (for information, the Security Council has adopted a very the question of Kosovo independence. It met regularly prepared to intervene in Kosovo. the KVM.On29November,NATOreiteratedthatitwas with WilliamWalker,theAmericanRepresentativeon for making the warring parties seereason. whose membersarenotarmed,hasveryrestrictedmeans with people they describe as “terrorists.” But, the KVM, authorities, whoupuntilnowhaverefusedtonegotiate of Kosovo,whichisanunacceptableclaimfortheBelgrade UCK willacceptnooutcomeotherthantheindependence times metnotonlySerbbutalsoUCKcommanders.The been onthegroundoverlastfewdaysandhasseveral this verywell.Itsleader,theAmericanWilliamWalker,has Security andCooperationinEurope(OSCE)hasunderstood The Verification Mission (KVM) of the Organisation for Mr Demaçi said lastweek. the intermediaryofAmericanEnvoyChristopherHill), his ownteamresponsiblefortalkswithBelgradethrough (the ‘President’ of the Kosovo Albanians, who has created Talks should no longer “depend only” on Ibrahim Rugova according toitspoliticalrepresentativeAdemDemaçi. the province,butaspiringtoplaya“predominantrole,” that itbeassociatedwithnegotiationsonthefutureof to setitselfupasapoliticalforce,requiringnotonly part that it controls 70%. The UCK is increasingly aiming and anopponentofPresidentMilosevic,claimsforhis Momcilo Trajkovic, one of the Serb leaders in Kosovo Kosovo, according toexperts. it onceagaincontrolsaboutathirdoftheterritory at 15,000arms,whiletheUCKitselfclaims30,000.Today, the westofprovince.Westernexpertsputitsnumbers fered a series of setbacks, losing most of its strongholds in structured and organised than last summer, when it suf- According toWesternsources,theUCKtodaymuchbetter in October,had obtainedanagreement from Yugoslav decision tointervene. Bybrandishingthis threat,NATO, act orderconstitutesthelast stagebeforethepolitical security situationinKosovo,” addsthecommuniqué.The the LiberationofKosovo) not toendangerthefragile and tothearmedAlbanian groups oftheUCK(Armyfor authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), NATO, JavierSolana,“hasmadeanewappealtothe declared in its communiqué.The Secretary-General of “recalls thattheactorderisstillinplace,”Alliance “NATO isreadytointerveneatanytime,ifnecessary”and December 1998 (in French). Four Days of Fighting ’Explosive SituationintheNorthofKosovoafter French). Kosovo,’ ‘NATO ReadytoIntervene“IfNecessary”in AFP (France),29December1998(in ,’ AFP (France), 28 who were in Germany returned to fight. ing weapons. There was such a Diaspora! Many Kosovars happening. Theyhadsupport,evenifitwasjustforprocur- didn’t knowwhowasreallybehindthemorhowthat The UCK’sincreasingstrengthwaspalpable,althoughwe more specificallytargeted.Somedoctorswereassassinated. population. Thus,therewasahardening.Somepeoplewere tougher andmorebrutal in theirways of persecuting the paramilitary units(belongingtoArkan)werebecoming the entirepopulation.Facedwiththat,Serbpoliceand estimates. and sixwoundedontheSerbsideaccordingtounofficial resulted in 15 deaths on the Albanian side and one dead sination of a Serb police officer. Four days of fighting tion againstanUCKstrongholdinreprisalfortheassas- Yugoslav policeandarmyhavelaunchedamajoropera- Christmas inthenorthofSerbprovince,where activity inKosovo.Fightinghasresumedsincejustbefore President SlobodanMiloseviconthecessationofmilitary newspapers. It seemssimilarmessageshave beenspread lation ofconsequent articlespublishedin 4mainSerb Andric that was released yesterday, as well as the trans- Hereby I forward you the public statement of Dr Vukasin Hello, The crisis ended in January. MSF arranged a meeting to take this up with Dr Andric. teams weresubjectedtonewadministrativeredtape. interviews withitscoordinatorinKosovo.TheMSF MSF replymadein a press communiqué and through sations weretakenupbytheSerbmedia,aswas MSF’s requestforworkpermitextensions.Theseaccu- to thebenefitof‘Albanianterrorists.’Hequeried afforded by Belgrade and were engaging in arms traffic in Kosovoweretakingadvantageofthehospitality the Serbandinternational press that the MSF teams responsible for health matters in Kosovo, stated to On 4January1999,DrVukasinAndric,theSerbofficial in 1996, Pec fromApril1998 to February1999 and Laurence Thavaux, MSF Field Coordinator inPristina ised. Ofcourse,theyhadthesupportofpractically in winningterritoryandtheywerequitewell-organ- The UCKwerebecomingimpressive. They succeeded January 1999 (inEnglish). MSF Pristina, MSFPec, and MSF Prizren, 5 Belgium andMSFFranceProgrammemanagers, Message from Katia, MSF Belgrade, to MSF nurse inMontenegro in April1999 (in French).

59 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

on the Serb governmental TV channel yesterday as well - The regional Secretary for health and added that MSF’s as on one radio channel. Up to now, no official reaction/ members “are misusing their mission because they were accusation received from government side against MSF, caught hiding and smuggling the weapons for Albanian thus the consequences this can have on MSF activities are terrorists.” Andric also said that one MSF team was discov- not very clear yet. ered to use the frequencies that are used for communication of the Ministry of Interior. We received some questions on the forwarded accusations - All the tolerance of the state was not enough for warning from different sides (ECHO, Belgian Embassy, Reuters, MSF to undertake finally the job for which they received AFP, Telegraph...) and these were all replied in the same the permission. They continue, voluntary or not, to assist sense as the attached press release prepared by Bas (see the Albanian side exclusively, distributing only some ‘tiny annex). Apparently, Dr Vukasin Andric seems to be quite bits’ of attention and help to population in need of other a ‘big fish’ in Ministry of Health. He is Health Secretary ethnics, said Andric. Because of all this, Andric considers of the Kosovo-Metohija Temporary Executive Council. We that their obstinate attempts to extend their work permit tried to get in touch with our main contact person in are to be discussed and that we should see if we should Ministry of Health in Belgrade, Dr Gajic for more informa- extend our hospitality to these “so called humanitarians” tion and eventual back up, but she refuses to give any because they “use a human and noble idea for their or comments/get involved into this (not very surprisingly, someone else’s aims, helping, directly or indirectly the since she is already in a dangerous position by authorising terrorists and the terrorism.” MSF visa/drugs importations). - “Is it morally correct to ask the extension of their stay permit of the state whose hospitality they are misusing for The press release prepared by Bas, will be distributed illegal activities?” wonders Andric. in the press centre in Pristina, as well as spread out in Belgrade to different journalist channels, different • ’ Vukasin Andric About the Representatives of the Embassies and ECHO. We will try to get an appointment International Org MSF: Weapons Under the White Coats,’ with Dr Vukasin this week through sending him a fax. Borba (Serb regime’s daily), 5 January 1999 (trans- If we get a positive answer (???), probably Guy and Bas lated into English from Serbo-Croatian by MSF staff in will try to see Dr Vukasin this week, since he is based in Belgrade) Pristina, and Tim (sick for the moment) and I are actually • ’ Undesirable Doctors,’ Glas (mild Serb opposition), 5 in Belgrade. Or, Tim and I will try to meet him next week. January 1999 (translated into English from Serbo- We do not believe these accusations will endanger our Croatian by MSF staff inBelgrade field missions for the moment, but we will closely follow • ‘ Doubt of Humanitarians,’ Blic (Serb opposition) 5 up security situation/access in the field, of course; we January 1999 (translated into English from Serbo- fear we might get problems with authorisations for visa, Croatian by MSF staff in Belgrade). importations of drugs... Not a lot of other options than to wait and see and hope for the best I guess.

‘Yugoslav Mission of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Surprised by Authorities Accusations,’ Declaration of Vukasin Andric, Secretary for Press release from MSF Pristina, 5 January Health in the Temporary Executive Council, in 1999 (in English). Politika (regime’s daily) from Yugoslavian press agency Tanjug, Pristina, 4 January 1999 (in In a public announcement issued yesterday, Prof[essor] English). Dr Vukasin Andric, the Health Secretary of the Kosovo- Metohija Temporary Executive Council, stated that the Extract: mission of Médecins Sans Frontières in Yugoslavia is “Médecins sans Frontières” misusing their mission. […] involved in several illegal activities. Mr Vukasin accused The Secretary for Health in the TEC of Kosovo and Metohija, unspecified MSF members of misusing the medical neu- Vukasin Andric, declared today that representatives of the trality for smuggling arms for the Kosovo Liberation Army international humanitarian organisation “Médecins sans (UCK). Also, one team is accused of using a police radio Frontières” were misusing their stay in Kosmet and that frequency and the mission as a whole of giving assistance a question should be asked whether to continue to offer only to Kosovo-Albanian people. them hospitality. In Andric’s declaration for [the] public, it is stressed that MSF and some other members of the For the mission of MSF in Yugoslavia, these allegations international humanitarian teams “who are misusing and come as a complete surprise, as the organisation has putting in the second plan the reason for their stay here” always had a good cooperation with the Yugoslav authori- are not helping to resolve and improve the situation in ties, especially the Ministry of Health, and has been coop- Kosovo and Metohija as well as resolving the problem in erating with the Institute for Public Health since 1993. [a] peaceful way and thus “they are excluding themselves Because of its medical character, MSF is of course by no from the list of those who are welcomed.” means involved in any king of dealings with arms and also 60 […] does not provide aid on the basis of ethnic backgrounds. police communication is outof the question. to use any kind of radio;therefore, interference with Also, MSF(aswellasmanyotherNGO’s)wasneverallowed Serbian people,insideandoutsideoftheorganisation. The missioninYugoslaviaworkswithAlbanianaswell untrue,” he said. have beenmadeagainstuswhentheyareveryclearly “We willtrytoestablishwhythesekindsofaccusations to talkYugoslavofficialsinBelgradelateronTuesday. ernment to have radios.” Boucher said he was scheduled “We donothaveradios.Weareallowedbythegov- never beeninvolvedinanycriminalprocedures,”hesaid. hardly needtosaywedonotcarryweaponsandhave Boucher toldReutersnone of thosechargeswastrue.“I been usingradiofrequenciessetasideforSerbianpolice. year. AndricwasalsoquotedassayingaMSFteamhad a fierceoffensiveagainstethnicAlbanianseparatistslast moved intoKosovoafterSerbiansecurityforcesconducted MSF andotherinternationalhumanitarianorganisations ists,” Andric was quoted as saying. smuggle inandconcealarmsforethnicAlbanianterror- abused theirmissionastheyhavebeencaughttryingto cial Tanjug news agency. “Médecins Sans Frontières have Serbian administration in Kosovo, and carried by the offi- on Monday by Vukasin Andric, a top health official in the clearly untrue.”Hewasrespondingtoastatementmade Boucher, saidtheaccusationbyaSerbofficialwas“very The headofthecharity’smissioninYugoslavia,Tim Extract: demanding a detailed reportonourmedical andnon- MSF officein Pristina wasvisitedbytwo police officers rect towardstheteams.Yesterday, Wednesday28/1,the some checkpoints,butpolice remainedpoliteandcor- complete and time consuming checking by police at The teams (Prizren and Pec) were submitted to more laboration should continue. side, butsaidthatwearestillwelcomeandourcol - would receiveanapology.Hecomplainedaboutourone sources and it would be checked out and if correct we accusations, butstatedthattheinfocamefromother the guywhoaccusedusinpress).Herepeated secretary ofthetemporary executive council ofKosovo; 22/1, Tim and I went to see Dr Andric (regional health Not muchmedia‘publicity’overthepastweek.OnFriday Extract: Kosovo,’ Albanians in the Flashpoint Yugoslav Province of Tuesday thatitwasBiasedTowardsEthnic ‘Médecins SansFrontièresDeniedChargeson January 1999 (inEnglish). Sitrep, MSFYugoslaviatoBrussels29 Reuters, 5 January1999 (in English). full ofspiesor running guns.Butontheother side,Icould saying thatthe carthatjuststoppedatthe checkpointis drunk soldiersatcheckpoints lookingatthenewspaper, newspaper, that it was dangerous.Ofcourse, there were I didn’tthinkwhentheystarted playingdirtytricksinthe intelligence and security knew exactly what we were doing. when I went to Belgrade, I realised how much the Serbs’ that becauseitisveryclearlyagainsttheSerbs.Certainly, to defendmyselfwithinBelgradeifyoucomeout “You really needto recognise that I won’t really have much by NATOorthewest.Iremembersayingtodesk: We wereobviouslyontheedgeofpushingforuseforce quite a difficult argument to contend[address]. So pleasedon’ttellusthatyouareimpartial!”Andwas guys thatwereaskingNATOtocomeandbombusinBosnia. for NATObombing.Andtheywouldsay:«MSFyou’rethe about BosniawhereKouchnerdirectly called foruseofforce, tion it.HehadalsosomecuttingsfromKouchner statements said “MSF accuses the Serbs of doing this.” We didn’t men- Belgrade hadaphotocopyofthisIndependentarticlethat call ourmovementstothepolice.Onhisdesk,guyin basis.” That was partofthedeal to getaccess: we would exactly. Infact,wegiveyouallourmovementsonadaily rorist. It is very easy for you to find out what we’re doing doing this, you know that we’re open, we’re not helping ter- a coupleofsecurityguys.And,Iwassaying:«Whyareyou meeting with some people from the ministry of health and human rightsabusestothepressinEurope.But,Isata state specificallythattheyknewweweretalkingabout ting thisinthepapers.IwenttoBelgrade.Andtheydidn’t this tothegovernmentandcomplainthattheywereput- of abusebytheSerbsforces.And,thenwetriedtoaddress A dirtytrickscampaignwastheirresponsetoourindication that created problems for us. was theradioequipment.Wewereportrayedasspyingand photo ofthetopMSFbuildingand,course,there spies. ItmentionedthepreviousCoordinator,andthena there wouldbeadoublepagecolourspreadsayingMSFwere noon) theguysatcheckpointshadafewbeers,and because bythetime(attwoorthreeo’clockinafter- So, it started to create problems for our mobile teams newspapers thattheguysatcheckpointswerereading. responded byputtingarticlesinthetabloids.Thesewere in Belgrade,ofcoursetheyweren’thappy.Initially, UK. Andthishadanimpact.WhenIwenttoseetheguys I remembertherewasanarticleintheIndependent some information.And,thiscameoutinnewspapers. info to MOH authorities, who areourpartner[s]. will notrespondtotheirdemand,statingthatwegiveall The incidentwasreportedtoUNHCR.Forthemoment,we issued theorderanddidnothaveanofficialdocument. same toallagencies.Theyrefusedbeclearonwho medical distributionsin1998,statingtheywouldaskthe started to see that quite clearly and, so we collected geting ofAlbanianhealthstaff.Ourmobileteam We hadoneinitiativethatwashighlightingthetar-

61 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

go to Belgrade and say: “Hey, you guys know exactly what’s what we were the only ones to see. Videos, cameras, and going on, what we’re doing, so why are you saying we are recorders were forbidden. We contacted Myriam Gaume, running guns when you know we’re not and if we were run- whom we had known since Armenia, and she enthusi- ning guns, there is no way you would allow us to be here.” astically agreed to accompany a mobile team for three And they accepted that point. You could speak to a degree weeks. If you want to know what an MSF team does in an quite frankly with them. So... maybe we should have pushed emergency situation, […] read this book. You will change a bit further. your mind.

Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in Kosovo, June 1998 to March 1999 (in English).

When it was published, we did not give a press conference because there was no pressing message, nothing urgent. This was not an intentional position During a whole period we were treated as UCK spies. as such, there was no analysis concerning such a confer- They claimed that we were trafficking in arms. This ence. It was really a question of relating a little of what was is fairly classic, something that we had already been happening: three weeks in the life of the Kosovars. It sold through in Congo. It is true that we supplied medicine. From well: 15,000 copies and Poivre d’Arvor [prime-time news memory, I think that we never replied formally to direct presenter for one of the main French television channels] requests from the UCK. I think that MSF France had this showed it on the news. We had various reactions. It was request also in Pec and that the team there was more active sent to many people, along with a letter. But, in order to because UCK was more comfortable in Pec. When MSF had target all the European parliamentarians, we would have to leave Kosovo for Montenegro, they made supplies avail- needed a lobbying list and a lot of time to put it together, able to a network. That is clear. We had a network of and that was not done. Preference was given to public Albanian doctors and medicine was provided solely for civil- action. After all, Kosovo concerned everyone. Following ians. But, it is probable that MSF medicine was used for UCK that, we organised small debates on the question subject sick or wounded. We always avoided taking a formal posi- whenever possible. That gave rise to invitations and to other tion in favour of one or the other. We always avoided for- debates, and so on. mally taking sides with one or the other. We always worked with a medical network. And, the only Serb contact that we Eric Dachy, Desk MSF Belgium (in French). had was we were obliged.

Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, MSF Belgium (in French). THE RACAK MASSACRE INCREASES TENSION… During January 1999, the ‘Petits Libres’ publishing house, in association with MSF Belgium, published the book entitled ‘The Hidden War in Kosovo,’ which brought together all the eyewitness accounts collected On 15 January 1999, 45 people were killed in an oper- by MSF in Kosovo. ation by Serb forces in the Albanian village of Racak, in the south of Kosovo, on the road between Pristina and Prizren. On 16 January 1999, an MSF team went to Racak and discovered a decapitated corpse. It did not ‘The Hidden War in Kosovo,’ by Eric Dachy MSF go to the place where the 45 bodies were located. MSF Belgium Desk Kosovo for MSF Belgium, pub- noted that most of the villagers had left, as well as the lished in Contact (internal MSF Belgium publi- local doctor who had taken the medicine with him. On cation), January 1999 (in French). 17 January, a convoy of two trucks and two MSF cars bringing assistance to Racak and the surrounding vil- Extract: lages was stopped by the UNHCR representative. The This small book (10cm x 15) represents something impor- team saw a Serb police contingent arrive, heard the tant for everyone in MSF who has contributed to and sound of firing and bombing, and saw the villagers flee especially for the teams in the field. In October 1998 along the road. MSF tried in vain to help the displaced for some months, they were confronted with an alarming persons, who fled into the surrounding mountains. degree of distress the families of Kosovar peasants, whose villages were attacked by the army and militia, and who were hunted right into the woods with heavy weapons. 62 It was necessary to describe what we were seeing and information tomorrow evening. sheeting, blanketsandclothing)forthedisplaced.More two 4-tonnetruckswithrelief-items(food,BP5,plastic mountains andothervillages.Tomorrow,wewillsendout people from the villages around seem to have left for the into themountainsandarecaredforbydoctor.Also, him. Thevillagersreported15woundedwhoweretaken doctor ofthelocalambulanta[fled],takingdrugswith Almost allthevillagers(1500)hadleftRacak,also not gototheditchwhere40shotpeoplewerefound. entered Racakandsawonedecapitatedman.Theteamdid we sentoutateamtoseewhatcoulddo.The As thenewsofmassacreinRacakcamethismorning, Dear all, to [look for] find wounded. In Petrovo, we found the rep- man wasalready enoughforus.Wewentback tothecars not much we could do, and the sight of the decapitated We didnotwanttogoup theditch,becausetherewas too much so wecouldn’thelp her. give thewomananinjection, butshewasmovingaround further on,becausetherewere bodiesthere.Wetriedto nervous journalistofAFPsaidwehadtogoaditch was rollingonthe ground, completely hysterical. A very TV. Onlyafewpeoplewereleftinthevillage.Onewoman from thebody.Therewerepicturesofbodylateron there. I went up to the hole, until I was about 1.5 metres of thishouse,inaholenearthegate.Theykilledhim holding a bullet, pointing upwards. He was lying in front was foldedoverhisbreast,andinrighthandhe 50-60 yearsold.Hewaslyingonhisback,rightarm shirt andgreentrousers.It[He]wasabigman,about body hadnootherinjuries.Heworesimpleclothes:a The headwascutoffinoneblow,andmissing. journalists. Soonafterenteringtheyard,Isawbody. was laying.Therealreadyacarintheyard,andsome and sawthehouseinfrontofwhichdecapitatedman the UCK,whoaskedustogoRacak.WewentRacak, to theentranceofPetrovo,wherewewerestoppedby us thatthepolicehadbeatenthemyesterday.Wecame were stoppedbyagroupofwomenandchildren,whotold between StimljeandPetrovo(onSaturday16January),we 9. Descriptionofevent:Whenwewereonourway Location of event: Municipality Stimlje Village, Racak. 8. Dateofevent:16January1999,Time12.00, Extract: English). Kosovo toMSFnetwork,16January1999(in from BasTielens,MSFInformationOfficerin ‘Kosovo: Massacre Racak, MSFActions,’ ‘ 1999 (inEnglish). of MSFnursebypressofficer,20January MSF Kosovo,HumanRightsReport,’ Interview Email Stimlje, where theyhadfamily.Wedidnot seeanypolice went out to take a look. After that we took the family to The womenwemetfirstin the smallvillageeventually were afraid to go out of the car when we came to Racak. was nowinRacak.Wesaidit wastheUCK,butpeople The familyweweretakingin thecaraskedusaboutwho Also, theICRCteamdidnothave aplanaboutwhattodo. was OKwithhim.Theywerenotcarryinganysupplies. hit, andthatIwantedtoleavesuppliesinPetrovo.That do. IsaidwantedtogoBellince,whichhasalsobeen what Iwasdoinghere,andaskedmegoingto said weweregoingtoRacak.TheguyofIMCaskedme about whattodo.Theyhadalreadybeenthebase. I info aboutthemassacre,anddidnotseemtohaveaplan IMC, ontheirwaytothevillage.Theydidnothaveany the otherway,therewerethreecarsofICRCandtwofrom 100 metersfromtheUCKbasewegotstuckagain.Coming and wentbackwiththewomanherfamilytoRacak. Soon, everyonewascrying.Weleftblanketsinthevillage, There wasonewomantherefromRacakwhostartedtocry. told thepeoplethereaboutwhathadhappened in Racak. representative of Mother Theresa, who was still with us, cars gotstuck.Wemanagedtogetthevillage,ad hiding. Therewasalotoficeontheroadandoneour We decidedtogothevillagewhere200civilianswere quences of their behaviour. a time when the doctors would have to face the conse- Urosevac/Ferizaj. Healsosaidthattherewasgoingtobe shrapnel hadtopay500DMfortreatmentbyadoctorin money, andsaidthataUCKfighterwhowaswoundedby BT). Heaccusedthedoctorsofstayingincitytomake angry withSkender(oneofMSFKosovo-Albaniandoctors, “people willonlysaythatwekeepitforourselves.”Hegot we shouldloadthestuffbackandtakeittocivilians: the basecameuptousandstartedshoutatthat one oftheircarsatthebase,butthencommander women andchildren”.Westartedtoloadourmaterialinto Then hesaid:“theSerbsarebarbarians.Weneverkilled ther upthehill,whichhadnofood.Hetookourpassports. tection. Healsotoldusabout200peopleinavillagefur- the base.Hesaidthatpeoplefirstofall,neededpro- guard at the entrance called the second in command of very newbigtent.Thesitewasdifficulttoreach. looked verywellorganised.Ithadtwobigbuildingsanda cal materialsforthewoundedinbase.TheUCKbase the bodies in Racak.” He asked us to leave some medi- base. Hesaid:“thewoundedareok;I’mgoingtoidentify On thewaytoUCK-base,wemetdoctorofthat hospital in Pristina. up thehill.OSCEtook most seriouslywoundedto locked upthevillagersintheirhouses,andtookagroup ians werefromthesurroundingsofRacak.Thesepeople civilians came into the village. He thinks the masked civil- with shelling.Afterthat,policemen,soldiers,andmasked told usthattheattackhadstartedat06.00(onFriday) went withtherepresentativeofPetrovo.Incar,he further uptheroad.Wehadsomedressingmaterial,and He toldusthattherewere15woundedinanUCKbase we hadalreadymetbeforewhenMSFworkedinthisarea. resentative of Mother Theresa (Kosovo-Albanian charity,

63 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

in Racak. There was one tank in Stimlje, and 5 to 6 empty Land Cruiser, is doing an assessment in the same region. civilian trucks with soldiers in the cabin. There were two The truck is not carrying relief, but has to go to the big- policemen on the crossroads at Petrovo. We returned to gest city there, Urosevac/Ferizaj, to get a new canopy. Pristina. The most horrible thing was that we were not IMC is trying to reach the IDPs with a medical team, and welcome: “You came too late, we don’t need you.” ICRC is doing a relief distribution and is sending a surgical team.

’Kosovo: MSF Tries to Enter Racak and Surroundings’ Email from Bas Tielens, MSF, 18 January 1999 (in English). Presented by the Kosovars and the OSCE as a massacre of civilians, the events in Racak aroused the indigna- A small MSF convoy of two trucks and two Land Cruisers tion of the international community. For their part, with relief, set out yesterday at 09:45 to assess the situ- the Serb authorities claimed that the victims were UCK ation and distribute relief around Racak; the village in members killed in combat, and condemned the drama- which 45 Albanians were massacred on Friday. The con- tisation of the events by the guerrilla forces. However voy was stopped by UNHCR at the outskirts of the town they blocked any sort of international inquiry. This of Stimlje; where already a relief-convoy of the Danish massacre increased tension between Serbia and the Refugee Council was waiting. The security officer of international community, which intensified diplomatic UNHCR informed the MSF team that the situation was far activity and preparations for a possible armed inter- too dangerous to continue, but that OSCE was negotiating vention. The Clinton administration prevailed on NATO to calm the situation. to submit an ultimatum to Slobodan Milosevic.

From about 10.30 on, vehicles of the special police set out from the police base in Stimlje in the direction of Racak. Small groups of civilians started coming towards Stimlje ‘ Massacre in Racak: an OSCE report Accuses Serb along the road and through the fields from the houses Forces’ AFP (France), (NY United Nations), 18 just outside the town. At 11:00, the negotiations between January 1999 (in French). the OSCE general and the Serb commander broke up, and after five minutes, shooting started in the hills. Policemen Extract: could be seen searching houses and buildings. The UNHCR- In a report conveyed on Monday to the United Nations security-officer told the MSF team he was going to wait Security Council, the OSCE has accused Serb security forces until 13:00 to see how the situation would be then, and of having massacred 45 civilians of Albanian descent in make a decision about his own convoy, that was some- Racak, in the south of Kosovo. This report claims that the where near in the area. The MSF-team also decided to facts, verified by the OSCE Verification Mission (KVM) in wait, and got in touch with Pristina via the radio of a Kosovo, “include proof of arbitrary detention, extrajudicial UNHCR car, to call for a medical team. murder and mutilation of unarmed civilians by the security forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.” This report, Meanwhile, the police brought in more reinforcements dated Sunday, was conveyed on Monday to the 15 mem- and occasional shelling could be heard. The medical team bers of the Security Council, meeting in an emergency decided to invite a team of International Medical Corps session after the massacre. to come along (IMC is the medical agency responsible for the Stimlje municipality), and arrived with three vehicles Belgrade has decided to declare the OSCE head in Kosovo, (two MSF, one IMC) at around 1400. The relief trucks were William Walker, persona non grata. Walker had accused sent back to , as there was no possibility to do, but the Serb forces of having committed a “crime against human- MSF and IMC medical teams stayed in Stimlje. Via the local ity” in Racak. The report of the Organisation for Security branch of the Kosovar aid organisation Mother Theresa, and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) states that survivors the teams got information about possible places where reported that “Serb security forces entered Racak at IDPs could have fled to, and at around 15:00, the teams approximately 07:00,” on Friday. “Some of them were went on assessment, together with a UNHCR car. dressed in police uniforms, some in black uniforms with balaclavas.” Witnesses have said that they recognised Near Dranmjak, villagers told the teams about several some of these police as coming from Stimlje, and that hundred people in the hills, but that the road leading to they recognised others who were “civilian Serbs from them was very bad. The teams decided that MSF would try Stimlje who were wearing police uniforms.” to continue, while IMC would stay behind to distribute some relief. The UNHCR car radioed to Pristina and had to The report also gives a precise description of the manner return. The road proved to be very bad indeed, and just in which the 45 Albanians, including a woman and child outside Dranmjak, it became clear that it was useless to of 12 years, were killed outside and in the village. Most continue, also since it was already 1600. were killed by a bullet to the head and at “extremely 64 Today, an MSF truck, together with a medical team in a close range,” according to the report. Two men had been the facts.” Yugoslavia to travel immediately to Kosovo to investigate allow theInternationalCriminalTribunalforFormer The organisationbelievesthat Belgrade “must forthwith tion of international humanitarian law and human rights.” underlines thatthismassacre“constitutesaclearviola- decapitated andthethirdhadbeenscalped.TheOSCE the UnitedNations, Sergueï Lavrov,replied that: “all she inability toenter Kosovo,theRussian Ambassador to mentioned in the declaration. Asked about Ms Arbour’s the Yugoslavrefusaltocooperate withtheICTYwasnot sought theimmediateopening ofaninquiry.However also “vigorouslycondemned” theRacakmassacreand Meeting inemergencysession onMonday,theCouncil William Walker. condemn Belgrade’sdecisiontoexpelthechiefobserver, nevertheless joinedwithitsSecurityCouncilpartnersto a negotiatedsettlementinKosovo.OnMonday,Russia does notenvisageanypolicyotherthanthesearchfor ence of Russia and France complicates things. Moscow question outoftheUNSecurityCouncil,wherepres - where theAmericansareclearlytryingtokeepKosovo The samesituationisbeingexperiencedinNewYork the resultsobtained,suchexclusivityisnotwarranted. tion isameansofmakingthemunderstandthat,given prefer tomanagethecrisisalone.TheElysée’sinterven- without receivingaresponsefromtheAmericanswho France, Germany,GreatBritain,Italy,andRussia),but the ContactGrouponformerYugoslavia(UnitedStates, For weeksnow,Parishasbeenseekingameetingof to challenge the international community on all fronts. Yugoslav Presidentisraisingthestakesandhasdecided grata, givinghimforty-eight hours toleave.Inshort,the the entrytoKosovo.Belgradethendeclaredpersonanon Louise Arbour,was turned backbylowlyborderguards at the InternationalTribunalforformerYugoslavia(ICTY), Klaus NaumannandWesleyClark,theChiefProsecutorfor to receivethetwomostseniorNATOofficers,Generals […] AfterSlobodanMilosevichad,onMonday,refused events, aspects ofwhich are unclear. assist intheinquiry,carriedoutbySerbsintoFriday’s morgue inthehospitalPristina;theirautopsyistohelp Monday transferred the bodiesinRacakmosqueto OSCE Observers,WilliamWalker.Serbsecurityforceson former Yugoslavia,anddecidedtoexpel the Headof Arbour, theChiefprosecutorforTribunal in quicksuccession,refusedentryintoKosovobyLouise Yugoslav President,SlobodanMilosevic.Belgradehas, again beenchallenged,onMonday18January,bythe a wait-and-seeattitudetothemassacreinRacak,has The internationalcommunity,whichhadreactedwith Extract: January 1999 (inFrench). Yugoslav Challenges,” “The InternationalCommunityandtheNew Le Monde(France)20 to reauthorize air strikes. NATO lastfall,the16alliancememberswouldthenvote comply withthecease-firetermsthatheagreedto […] IfMr.Milosevicignoredtheultimatumanddidnot directly with heavymilitary pressure,’’ General Clark said. Milosevic thatheisthemostcompliantwhenthreatened munity haslearnedthroughlongyearsofdealingwithMr. feel anyrealisticmilitarythreat.‘’Theinternationalcom - leader wastotally non cooperativebecause hedidnotyet with Mr.MiloseviconTuesdayconvincedthattheYugoslav today thathehadcomeawayfromhissevenhoursspent American, saidinatelephoneinterviewfromBrussels NATO’s supremecommander,Gen.WesleyK.Clark, an one Pentagonofficial said. April in Washington and turn it into a ‘’Kosovo summit,’’ marking theWest’striumphovercommunism planned for was theabilityofMr.Milosevictobelittlecelebration officials said. Of uppermost concern, the officials said, was corneringtheAllianceintoprovingitsworth, during atendentiousencounterinBelgradeonTuesday, Milosevic, whorebuffedtwotopNATOmilitaryofficials Kosovo asthealliance’s50thanniversaryapproaches.Mr. cials said,tosaveNATOfromappearingirresoluteover was feeling an urgency to ‘’do something’’ several offi- strikes withindays,officialssaidtoday.TheAdministration Yugoslavia thathemustbackdowninKosovoorfaceair for anultimatumtellingPresidentSlobodanMilosevicof The Clinton Administration is planning to push NATO allies Extracts: Yugoslavia.” civilians bythesecurityforcesofFederalRepublic tion, extrajudicialmurdersandmutilationofunarmed verified bytheobservers“includeproofofarbitrarydeten- of Albanian origin. This report confirms that the facts security forces of the massacre in Racak of 45 civilians on Saturdayby William Walker,who had accused Serb Security Council,theOSCErepeatsaccusationsmade In addition,inareporttransmittedonMondaytothe detailed text on Tuesday. more ontheissue.However,itwastoexaminea the Kosovoconflict,Councilwashardlyabletodoany before undertakingsuchamission.”Dividedasitison needed to do was to ask for the Security Council’s help January 1999 (inEnglish). by JanePerlez,TheNewYorkTimes(USA)21 ‘ US toPushNATOIssueultimatumSerbLeader ,’

65 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

1. What do we know for certain? At 07:00 last Friday morning, Serbian police launched an “’The West is Preparing for Both Peace and War operation against the village of Racak. They claimed to be in Kosovo - Military Pressure is Increasing,’ Le hunting a group of ‘terrorists’ from the Kosovo Liberation Monde (with AFP, Reuters) (France) - 24 Army (KLA) who had killed a policeman several days January 1999 (in French). before. The fighting took place in the vicinity of three villages, Racak, Belince and Malopljce, and lasted all day. Extract: At 11:30 the KLA’s political wing announced that both WESTERN COUNTRIES discussed, on Friday 22 January, a sides had suffered fatalities. These exchanges of fire were draft political settlement to the conflict in Kosovo, while reported in numerous dispatches from international press at the same time increasing their military pressure to force agencies including AFP, Reuters, and AP. Journalists were Belgrade to withdraw its forces from the separatist prov- confined to the periphery of the action. They all noted ince. The Contact Group on the former Yugoslavia (United the presence of international observers (some specified States, Great Britain, Russia, France, Italy, and Germany) that these were American) who were also confined to the met in London to examine a peace plan drawn up by the sidelines. They observed the introduction of heavy weap- American diplomat Christopher Hill. Following the meet- onry: the Serbian police, supported by the army, used ing, the diplomats set, as an objective, that “negotiations tanks and anti-aircraft guns. The Albanian separatists should occur at the earliest opportunity on a political replied with mortar and small-arms fire. settlement involving direct international commitment.” They also reiterated that a military intervention remained The Serbian forces had authorised a single television crew, on the agenda if the two parties refused discussions. from the American APTV agency, to film the operation in the village. The Serbian information centre, quoting the […] The Washington Post underlined on Saturday that the police, announced that fifteen ‘terrorists’ had been killed European allies were hesitating to give their support to air and a large quantity of weapons seized. At 15:20, the raids against Yugoslavia unless the United States agreed deputy head of the OSCE, whose inspectors had been to participate in a multinational peacekeeping force in monitoring the fighting since 08:45, contacted a Serbian Kosovo. The Secretary for Defence, William Cohen, is general and asked him to stop the fighting. At 16:45, the firmly opposed to sending American troops to Kosovo. But OSCE announced that fighting had ceased. The Serbian according to an American national security official quoted forces withdrew at 17:00. During the night the Albanian by the newspaper, “any serious discussion on the means information centre, which had initially announced one for a long-term settlement of the Kosovo question must fatality, reported a total of seven deaths. The following explore all options, including American participation on morning, OSCE inspectors discovered corpses, twenty of the ground.” “It is true that our allies are reticent about which lay in a gully above the KLA-occupied village. The supporting air strikes against the Serbs in the absence of OSCE Coordinator, the American William Walker, spoke of a clear strategy concerning what is going to happen on a ‘crime against humanity’ in which civilians had been the ground,” he said. executed at point-blank range. That same morning, the Serbian police boasted of victory and claimed to have In addition, diplomats from the Contact Group under- killed dozens of ’terrorists.’ lined their ‘disgust’ at the massacre of 45 Albanians from Kosovo in Racak on 15 January. 2. Who were the victims? [...] According to an Albanian source, they were civilians plus about eighteen soldiers belonging to the Kosovo Liberation Army. […] The body count differs according to the source. The OSCE gives 37, the Americans 45 and the Investigations and analyses by different international Albanians 51. According to the OSCE, two thirds of the press outlets regarding the Racak massacre raised the victims in the gully were over fifty years of age. Cartridge question of possible manipulation of the facts in ways cases were found nearby, and the same sources claim favourable to one or other of the parties involved in they could only have come from weapons used by Serbian the Kosovo conflict. forces. On Monday, Racak was the scene of confrontations between separatists and Serbian forces, which were forcibly removing the bodies that had been laid out in the mosque. The bodies were taken to the morgue in Pristina. ‘Nine Questions on the Deaths at Racak,’ Hélène Two teams of foreign pathologists arrived in Yugoslavia to Despic-Popovic, Pierre Hazan, Jean-Dominique examine them. But apart from Serbian doctors, only OSCE Merchet, Libération (France), 21 January 1998 inspectors and Byelorussian doctors were given access (in French). to them. The Finnish team was still in Belgrade yesterday night. An OSCE spokesperson said that it was “not Extract: authorised to enter Pristina.” The Finnish pathologists Nine questions probe the grey areas in the conflicting ver- had already been denied access to the victims’ bodies of 66 sions of a massacre. a massacre perpetrated earlier in the autumn. assess the number ofcasualties.” evacuate someofthelightly woundedbutwas“unableto there wereanywounded.Shortly afterwards,hesawthem noted observerscalmlytalking toAlbaniansandaskingif Friday evening.Besidesthree orangeOSCEvehicles,he had enteredRacakbychance afterthefightingthat observers. ItcamefromanotherFrenchjournalistwho Wednesday, confirmed theexistence of these phantom witness statement,quotedinLeFigaroandMondeon circulating aroundthemissionbyFridaynight.Another but wereclearthatrumoursofcivilianvictimshadbegun was thatteamshadbeenintheareaearlieronFriday, ers hadenteredthevillagethatevening.Alltheyknew the Frenchmembersclaimedtobeunawarethatobserv - Libération telephonedthemissiononMonday,someof anything specific,butdidnotwanttobeidentified.When to thevillage.Theobserversaidhehadnotseenorheard Serbs hadwithdrawnandtheinhabitantswerereturning 17:00 thepreviousday.Thefightinghadstopped, foreign observer who said he had entered the village at On Saturdaymorning,anAFPjournalistinRacakmeta 5. Whatare the doubtfulelements in the story? grata. resorting tomanipulationanddeclaredhimpersonanon ian clothes.TheyaccusedtheAmericanWilliamWalkerof after beingstrippedoftheiruniformsanddressedincivil- place and claimed that the corpses had been rearranged The Serbianauthoritiesdeniedthatamassacrehadtaken through theforehead.Onemanhadbeendecapitated. the head.Ayoungwomanhadresistedandbeenshot found deadonthehill;mostofthemhadbeenshotin away abouttwentymen,youngandold,whowerelater locked thewomenandchildrenincellarstook flee. Towardsnoon,Serbianforcesenteredthevillage, the highergroundweremachine-gunnedastheytriedto When they were encircled, villagers occupying houses on guarded bynomorethaneightfighters,allofwhomdied. tion asapunitiveexpeditionagainstpeacefulvillage At thevillageonSaturday,Albaniansdescribedopera- 4. Inwhat way dothevarious versions conflict? against humanity”. a hard-linestance,accusingSerbianforcesof“crime joined theobservationteamandimmediatelyadopted witnesses, almostalwaysthesamepeople.WilliamWalker house. Journalistsandobserverstalkedtotwoorthree area. Onedecapitatedvictim had beencarriedbacktohis twenty bodies. Other bodies were found lying around the who ledthemstraighttoagullywhichcontainedabout simultaneously. Inthevillage,theyencounteredKLA, reached thesceneofpreviousday’sfightingalmost base atnightfall.OnSaturday,journalistsandobservers unable to verify this at the time and had to return to their 24 men had been arrested in Racak. The inspectors were an unspecifiedlocation(notRacak)andtoldthemthat withdrew at17:00onFriday,villagersmetinspectors The OSCEexplainedyesterdaythataftertheSerbianforces 3. How did thenewsbreak? police. Thejournalists mayhavechosentheir anglessoas covering theoperation attheinvitation of theSerbian caution: itwasshotbySerbian cameramenwhowere fire fromKLAtrenchesinthe hillsshouldbetreatedwith police cautiouslyenteringan emptyvillagewhileunder been furthertampering.The APTVfilmdepictingSerbian pendent expertscouldestablish whetherornottherehad massacre, arenotveryconvincing.Moreover,onlyinde - with apoorinternationalimage),concludingtherewasno in the presence of pathologists from Belorussia (a country The resultsoftheautopsiesperformedbySerbiandoctors bear tracesofmutilationorblowsinflictedafterdeath. autopsies shoulddeterminewhetherornotthebodies when theyweretransferred to Pristina). Inanycase,the least twice(whentheyweretakentothemosqueand difficult because the bodies had already been moved at to shedanylightonthecase.Eventhen,itwouldbe Only an independent international enquiry would be able 9. Will we everknow the truth? ants, even thoughbothacts are crimes. influence publicopinionthanthemassacreofcombat- in Pristina.Themassacreofciviliansismorelikelyto their bodiesrearranged,”saidapuzzledWesterndiplomat «It’s quitepossiblethattheAlbanianswerekilledand ants executedbytheSerbianforcesafterfighting). ratists) orpartial(thevictimsinthegulleybeingcombat- fighting andarrangedinamacabretableaubythesepa- did occur, it could have been total (people killed in the not indicatethatitactuallyhappened.Ifarearrangement the scene.Butfactthatitwaspossibletodosodoes Theoretically, this gapallowsenoughtimetorearrange and thediscoveryofbodiesfollowingday. return ofsomethevillagersafterfightingstopped There isagapofmorethantwelvehoursbetweenthe 6. Couldthe scene havebeenrearranged? the police coming underfire. the footagesaythatitshows an uninhabited village and been confirmed by the OSCE. Journalists who have seen to accompanytheSerbpoliceintovillage.Thishas a crewfromtheAmericanAPTVagencyhadbeeninvited Yesterday, LeFigaroandMonderevealedthatonFriday evening? that noneofitsteamswereinthevillageontragic clarify whotheobserverswere?Andwhydoesitinsist didn’t theOSCErevealsourceof this information,or inform observersthat24menhadbeentakenaway,why women werelockedinthecellars?Ifvillagersdid they notalerttheobservers?Whydidnoonereportthat were presentinthevillageonFridayevening,whydid These details give cause for concern. If the inhabitants mosque. the fighters. On Sunday, 40 bodies were laid out in the 54 bodies.TheKLAclaimstohaveseenthebodiesof bodies, alldressedincivilianclothes.Walkermentioned ber ofdeaths.AnOSCEinspectorclaimstohaveseen38 The uncertaintyisexacerbatedbyconfusionoverthenum-

67 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

to exclude anything that seemed too controversial. Any reports to Milosevic on Kosovo issues. “We often see him such film should also be examined by experts and authen- as the link between the government in Belgrade and the ticated to see if it was cut. This is another good reason for administration down here” in Kosovo, one official said. submitting the case to international justice. […] One source familiar with the phone calls between military leaders in Kosovo and officials in Belgrade on Jan. 15 and succeeding days said they show that “the intent was to go in heavy” to find three guerrillas whom government ‘Serbs Tried to Cover Up Massacre,’ R. Jeffrey security officials blamed for the ambush of an Interior Smith, The Washington Post (USA), 28 January Ministry convoy on Jan. 8 southwest of Racak in which 1999 (in English). three soldiers died. “It was a search and destroy mission” with explicit approval in Belgrade, the source said. Extract: As tank and artillery fire and the chatter of machine- The attack on this Kosovo village that led to the killing guns echoed off the hills surrounding Racak, Sainovic of 45 ethnic Albanian civilians 12 days ago came at the called Lukic from Belgrade, according to Western sources. orders of senior officials of the Serb-led Belgrade gov- Sainovic was aware that the assault was underway, and he ernment who then orchestrated a cover up following an wanted the general to tell him how many people had been international outcry, according to telephone intercepts killed. Lukic replied that as of that moment the tally stood by Western governments. Angered by the slaying of three at 22, the sources said. In calls over the following days, soldiers in Kosovo, the officials ordered government forces Sainovic and Lukic expressed concern about the interna- to “go in heavy” in a Jan. 15 assault on Racak to search tional outcry and discussed how to make the killings look out ethnic Albanian guerrillas believed responsible for the like the result of a pitched battle. slayings, according to Western sources familiar with the Their efforts to cover up what occurred continued, the intercepts. Western sources said. One measure Sainovic advocated in As the civilian death toll from the assault mounted and his calls was to seal Kosovo’s border with Macedonia to in the face of international condemnation, Yugoslavia’s prevent Louise Arbour, a top U.N. war crimes investiga- deputy prime minister and the general in command of tor, from entering. Arbour was turned back. Another was Serbian security forces in Kosovo systematically sought to demand that Interior Ministry troops fight to regain to cover up what had taken place, according to telephone control of the killing site and reclaim the bodies. Serbian conversations between the two. Details of the conversa- forces launched a second assault on the village Jan. tions, which were made available by Western sources, 17, and the following day they seized the bodies from shed new light on the attack and its aftermath, which a mosque and transferred them to a morgue in Pristina, have again brought NATO to the brink of confrontation the provincial capital. A third was to explore whether the with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic over his killings could be blamed on an independent, armed group government’s repression of separatist ethnic Albanians that supposedly came to the region and attacked the resi- in Kosovo. The calls show that the assault on Racak was dents of Racak after government troops had left. Sainovic monitored closely at the highest levels of the Yugoslav was told that making this claim was not feasible. government and controlled by the senior Serbian military Shortly after the attack, a Yugoslav government spokes- commander in Kosovo - a province of Serbia, Yugoslavia’s man said that the bodies found on the hillside were dominant republic. armed, uniformed members of the Kosovo Liberation Army. The bodies of 45 ethnic Albanian civilians were discovered The account was challenged by international inspectors on a hillside outside the village by residents and inter- and journalists who arrived on the scene Jan. 16 and national observers shortly after the government forces found dozens of corpses on the ground, all in civilian withdrew. “We have to have a full, independent investiga- clothes. Government officials later alleged that some tion of this to get to the bottom of it,” a senior Clinton of the victims were accidentally caught in a cross-fire administration official told staff writer Dana Priest in between security forces and the rebels or were deliberately Washington. “Those responsible have to be brought to jus- slain by the guerrillas to provoke international outrage. tice.” In a series of telephone conversations, Deputy Prime But survivors, diplomatic observers and rebels who were in Minister Nikola Sainovic and Serbian Interior Ministry Gen. the area at the time of the killings say that little shoot- Sreten Lukic, expressed concern about international reac- ing occurred inside the town early in the assault and that tion to the assault and discussed how to make the kill- no battle was underway at around 1 p.m., when most of ings look as if they had resulted from a battle between the victims are said to have died. These sources say that government troops and members of the separatist Kosovo Kosovo Liberation Army forces were not deployed near a Liberation Army. The objective was to challenge claims by gully where at least 23 of the bodies were found, and that survivors - later supported by international monitors - that none of the trees in the area bore bullet marks suggestive the victims had been killed in an execution-style massacre of a battle. and to defuse pressures for a NATO military response. A team of forensic pathologists that arrived in Kosovo Sainovic is the highest-ranking official in the Yugoslav from Finland last Friday, a week after the killings, has government responsible for Kosovo matters and has been found nothing to contradict these accounts, according present at most negotiations with top Western officials; to a Western official. “A picture is beginning to emerge 68 several Western officials said they understand that he from the autopsies, and it is a tragic one,” said another programme in theprovince. Kosovo withaviewtoopeningseparateMSFFrance mission toMontenegro.Thewouldalsoexplore gramme, the decision was taken to send a new exploratory team. Followingafieldtripbythedeputyheadofpro- the lineofcommunicationmaintainedbycoordination sion’s decision-makingprocessanditsreservationsover expressed dissatisfaction with the MSF joint Kosovo mis- At theendofJanuary,MSFFranceDeskagain out. “Now getreadytoshoot.”Hefledbeforetheshotsrang them up.”Yakupisaidhethenoverheardanotherorder: as 29,Shabanirecalled,theorder given was:“Okay,bring are there?”onesoldierasked.Whenthereplycameback were beingledawayfromthevillage.“Howmanyofthem were sayingontheirwalkie-talkiesastwogroupsofmen reporters that theyoverheard some of what the troops Jakupi andanotherRacakresident,RemShabani,told some localpolicemenandSerbianciviliansinuniforms. wore blackskimasks,butsurvivorssaidtheyrecognized under arrest.Manyofthetroopsinvolvedinoperation the handsofInteriorMinistrytroops,whosaidtheywere on Jan.17thatmanyofthedeadwerelastseenalive in said. Villagerstoldinspectorsandreportersatthescene was veryhardforustocomedownintothevillage,”Buja sides... andtheymovedtheirforcesduringtheday,soit wave ofartilleryandtankfire.“Wewereshotatfromthree most ofthemweredrivenintothehillsearlyJan.15bya government securityofficialssuspected.Buthesaidthat forces inthearea,Racakwashometomanyrebels,as According toShukriBuja,32,thecommanderofguerrilla us... firing camefrom all over.” ravine before troops “started shooting from the hills at in house-to-housesearchesandorderedtowalkalonga he andothermenhadbeenroundedupbysecurityforces he escaped death by running into the woods. He said that Jan. 16byImriJakupi,32,aresidentofRacakwhosaid liminary conclusion is consistent with an account given on their finalreportwillbereadybynextweek.Butpre- to becompletedtoday,andtheFinnishpathologistssay on fromseveraldirections.Thelastof40autopsieswere indicate thattheywere“humiliated”beforebeingfired source, explainingthatthetypesofwoundsonvictims - Toexplorethe necessityandpossibility ofrunninga September 98, seereport) that aDutchETbackupmission operatedfromJune98to - Toassessthesituationof Kosovo AlbanianIDPs(note 1/01/99. It had twoobjectives: Frolich) andalogistician (Nicolas Dedieu)beganon An exploratory mission comprising a doctor (Katrin 1) Montenegro Extract: manager (in French). 1999, astakenbytheMSFFranceprogramme Programme managersinBrussels,’25February ‘ Minutes of the Meeting of the Kosovo Republic. - PoliticaltensionsbetweenMontenegroandtheSerb flicts in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, tions (approximately35,000people)followingthecon- - ThestillsizeablepresenceofSerbianrefugeepopula Republic, as welltheembargoimposedonentireFederal lic suffering from the economic collapse of Yugoslavia - Theconsequencesofundertakinghealthcareinarepub and thepossibilityofanotherinfluxdisplacedpersons, - TheproximityofMontenegrototheconflictinKosovo, by several factors: The importanceofachievingthismissionwasemphasised republic. medical programme,whichaddresseshealthissuesinthat where it carries outmobile clinics. now, MSFstill hasunhinderedaccessto thelocations the situationisunstable,that couldchangerapidly.Until MSF isworkingnotdeteriorating forthemoment,butas The humanitariansituation in themunicipalitieswhere position with the government untenable). interpreted asfavouringNATOinterventionwillmakeour stability inKosovo.(note:allcommentsthatcouldbe into anegotiatedsolutionthatguaranteeslong-term tional communityshouldputasmucheffortpossible displaced becauseoftherenewedfighting.Theinterna - soon aspossible,inordertostoppeoplebeingkilledor appeals tothepartiesinKosovostartnegotiationsas court in Pristina, and not make its findings public). MSF investigating thebodieswillonlyreporttodistrict investigation (note:theFinnishforensicteamcurrently crimes intheformerYugoslaviawillbeabletodoitsown last SundaynearKramovik,andhopesthetribunalforwar MSF ishorrifiedbythemassacreinRacakandkillings Press line (replacing the press lineofJanuary 23rd): room of the hospitalinPec. killing ofanAlbaniandoctorworkingintheemergency etc.) isover,wewerementionedagaininrelationtothe Although the‘campaign’againstMSF(smugglingweapons [Yugoslavian media]: be handedouttojournalists.[...]MSFintheYu-media Internal documentforMSFpressdepartments,notto Kosovo comm-update 020 (27January 1999): relationship with MSFis. be relayed to journalists depending on how good their The informationbelowis,inprincipalinternal,butcan Dear all, Extract: Kosovo, 28 January 1999 (in English). Kosovo, 28January1999 (in English). Tielens MSFInternationalInformationOfficerin ‘Kosovo CommunicationUpdate,’EmailfromBas

69 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

[...] Regional division MSF/MDM/IMC tion and required to do other types of work but was given Something to be aware of: on the operational side, there no explanation. We no longer communicate directly with is a geographical division between MSF, MDM and IMC for the teams as MSF Brussels criticised us for doing so. For efficiency reasons. This means that we will not always two thirds of last year, there was little in the way of rel- be involved in a crisis here, and in that case will not evant testimony, or it arrived too late (the March offen- have much to say. Racak for instance is in a municipality sives; the first messages in September). In the last press covered by IMC. As far as the response to emergencies is release, MSF announced its concern over a possible NATO concerned, MSF will play an important role in the whole intervention…! of the province. During late 1998/early 1999, we communicated on everything, even when it did not concern the line MSF was taking. That’s ‘spin,’ not testimony. MSF F feels dispossessed ‘Press Line Again,’ Email from Graziella Godain, and wants to regain control of the mission by developing MSF France Deputy programme manager to MSF a separate project in Kosovo; working in Pec, for example Kosovo Information Officer, MSF Belgium pro- (without the Pristina office). gramme manager , MSF France Press Officer, MSF Legal Advisor, 3 February 1999 (in English). - Anamaria Bulatovic: On what basis? Has there been a reassessment of needs? Dear Tim and Bas, - Graziella Godain: Needs vary a great deal from one zone Hopefully we will meet on Monday because I really need to another. We’ve got to look at the way we’re running to discuss with you many things of course but I would like our programmes (expanded vaccination and training pro- already react about your press line. gramme during most of 1998 took place in the thick of the conflict). The network on which MSF relies seems very -Each time you select names in your address mail which superficial and we should try to strengthen it – by ties don’t have anything to do with either press communica- with the Mother Theresa Society, for example. However, tions or Kosovo. given what was said earlier, our grasp of the situation is -I don’t understand why those press lines are not dis- extremely limited (a presence alongside populations does cussed with the desks in BXL (maybe it is?) but also in not necessarily imply closeness to them). Paris before sending them to everyone through the MSF - Odysseas Boudouris: MSF G is very aware of what’s hap- network?? According to media, over-coverage of this pening in this zone for obvious reasons of proximity. crisis, and the really sensitive context, all the press lines Athens has offered MSF B its operational wing if refu- should be discussed together before publication. gees flood into northern Greece. As yet, there’s been no -Press line/2nd of February: I really become more and response to this offer. more afraid by what you call MSF press line! Las time it - Gundula Graack shared the feeling about the lack of was about “against or for” NATO intervention. Today it information getting through to Germany. She recom- is about “MSF appeals to the parties in Kosovo to find a mended that, in general, information should be passed on negotiated solution!!” to the partner sections of the operational sections. - Bruno Corbé asked if it was possible, in the case of joint What is MSF? Security Council? US government? EU parlia- missions, for the other section to visit the field. ment? What is its role and specificity? If we don’t have - Yes, someone from MSF Paris was there in April and anything else to say about the population, the medical September 1998. situation, the medical staff, etc. I am worrying a lot about - Bruno expressed surprise because he thought that the why we are there??? So, next time thanks for sending us Mother Theresa contact was exclusive to MSF B. BEFORE your press line. - Graziella explained that what is contested is more the way of working with this network. In effect, distributions take place but there is no real medical activity or checking: three batches of surgical supplies were given to rural Minutes of the MSF France Board Meeting, 29 hospitals but we don’t know how they were used. On the January 1999 (in French). other hand, the projects during the conflict should have been pushed harder. For example, we didn’t follow up the Extract: contacts with Albanian rural hospitals; whereas one or two MSF is running several kinds of operations in Kosovo: had been set up (one of two hospitals was sent supplies). mobile clinics and hospital support (medicines, supplies). That has never been explained or clarified. This is a joint mission with the Belgian section, which is - PhilIipe Biberson focused on MSF action in the con- acting as the ‘backup section.’ In practice, MSF-F does not text of Kosovo where teams, notably from Brussels, have participate in decisions (operational, testimony) and is been working for several years. But the recent dramatic often notified of decisions or operational modifications developments, the deployment of OSCE observers, and two weeks after they are made. the positioning of NATO in Macedonia, represent a radical evolution which places MSF in what is often called a 70 Thus the MSF-F team in Pec was shifted to another loca- ‘military-humanitarian package.’ MSF has to react to this tact with the authorities). Bosnia and Croatia. MSF has access problems (visas, con- the MontenegrinsthemselvesandSerbianrefugeesfrom problem ofaccesstocareforthesepopulations:some The situationisbeingreassessedbecausethereareal this summerandwithdrewbecauseneedswerecovered. three weeks.Itwastherefortwoandahalfmonths Montenegro foramonth;itshouldlastanothertwoto - Graziella:MSFhashadanexploratorymissionin avoids stirring things up. its attitudewhenitpullsoutofjointcoordinationand vocation. It’sacounter-productivesystem.MSFFjustifies of thingdistancesusfromMSF’sgoalsandourtrue we shouldbewaryofhearsayandgeneralities.Thatkind - PhilippeBibersonshiftedthediscussionbywarningthat ism orwhetheritcouldbeexplainedbysomekindoffear. approach thatwasdiametricallyopposedtohumanitarian- - ChristianaskedifMSFB’sattitudecorrespondedtoan week … MSF Pariswasnot consulted! documentaries whichwereshownonBelgianchannelslast not workingproperly.InKosovo,twotelevisioncrewsshot - Bruno agreed on the principle of separation if things are the operational choices made. point ofview,lackconsultation,ordisagreementover coordination iftherearedifficultiesingettingacrossa an end in itself. MSF F will withdraw from international Liberia atthemoment.Jointcoordinationshouldnotbe in Bahr-el-Ghazal.Thereisgoodjointcoordination other hand,inSudanMSFFwentalongwiththeproject did notagreewiththeoptionschoseninfield.On decided everythingwithoutconsultationandMSFParis Dutch wayofworkingwastoodifferent;theCoordinator withdrew fromjointcoordinationwithMSF-Hbecausethe - KarimLaouabdiaexplainedthatinSierraLeone,MSFF but itseems to bealone voice. one? ThisisnotthefirstdeclarationofintentfromMSF-F, - Brunoaskediftwosectionsonsitewouldbebetterthan isations (when aid convoysare running, forexample). mixed upwiththestructuresofOSCEorotherorgan- has changed;wefeelthatMSFislosingitswaybygetting our onlylinkwiththefieldandperceptionisthatMSF - Graziella: MSF Brussels sends us situation reports. That’s - ChristianLosson:What is thereaction from MSFBrussels? or we embed ourselves there. There are two solutions: either we cross Kosovo off the list tion ofothersectionsbuttherehasbeennoresponse. changing context.Philippehasbroughtthistotheatten- with thework in Kosovoandthewayitismanaged. Inote tomorrow todiscuss thefrustrationMSF-F is experiencing I knowthatyouhaverequested ameetinginBrussels Extract: 1999 (inFrench). Operations andGeneralDirector, 2February to MSFFranceProgrammemanager,Directorof Janssens, MSFBelgiumDirectorofOperations, ‘MSF-F KosovoPlan,’EmailfromVincent So Iwent, spent 48hourswiththeteam, Itravelled be there.” were tellingme:“There’swork tobedone,it’simportant triates fromotherorganisations basedinMontenegrowho Montenegrins, with the Prince of Montenegro and with expa- the YugoslavFederation. In Paris, we had contacts with Federation aswellinKosovo. NowMontenegroispartof thought itwasimportanttohaveafootintheYugoslav gees would end upinAlbaniaand even inMacedonia. But I selves inMontenegro.Therewasabiggerriskthattherefu - didn’t understandtheimportanceofpre-positioningthem - telephone andIfeltthatitwasn’tgoingwell,they before theexploratorymissionended.Ihadteamon coordination people.So,IdecidedtogoviaMontenegro when itexploded.IhadtogoBelgradeseetheKosovo didn’t haveafootinthedoor,wewouldn’tbeabletoreturn Yugoslav context,ifwedidn’tstartworkbeforehand, gees passing through Montenegro. And, I knew that in the certain thatweweregoingtoseeamassivefloodofrefu- be shiftingtoahighergear.Inanycase,Iwasalmost of the issues toberaised. up adialogueisprecededbyexplicit,writtenclarification sion, Imustinsistthatanynewinitiativeaimedatsetting constructive. Inordertoavoidfurtherpointlessdiscus- In internationalterms,noneofthisisverypositiveor lel meetings with messages are divisive, to saythe least. be toomuch,fortheexecutive?)andoforganisingparal- the problem too much,or was thereahopethat it would 3. ThestepsoftakingupthematterwithBoard(was the Kosovo context. part ofastrategy(unknowntous),whichextendsbeyond that itisessentiallyasentimentaldecision,unless text oftheexistingsystem.Thisgivesusimpression suggestions orattemptstoconsiderthemwithinthecon- uneasiness withthemission,therehavebeennoconcrete move. Apartfromavagueindicationoffrustrationand tives whicharesupposedtoprovidethebasisforthis 2. Thearguments,motivationsandoperationalalterna- Consequently, we findthis option unacceptable. the currentsituationinKosovoandthreatstoMSF. Kosovo. Theveryideaisirresponsibleanddangerousgiven 1. Yourapparentdesiretolaunchanautonomousentityin Meeting! My questions currently concern: subject hadbeendiscussedandratifiedattheMSFFBoard from thefactthatthismeetingwassuggestedafter the other hand, I do have some serious questions arising invitations togettogether,butIwon’tgointothat.On communication onyoursideandlackofinterestinour that thishasbeensuggestedafteralongperiodofnon- tions wouldyieldnothingandthatasaresultwe’d that therewasakind of acceleration, that negotia- I feltthatthingswereturningverybadinKosovo,

71 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

around. It was obvious that there was no emergency to in the valley. He had taken up arms in order to defend it. respond to. The whole population was behind him, women and children. But you couldn’t simply say that the need wasn’t there. I They controlled the valley. And the Serbs had no access to found two possible projects: one at Ulcine, with an Albanian it. They were at the bottom of the valley and the only access community, and the other on the Croatian border, with was a little track which climbed through the mountains. And some Bosnian minorities who had been totally abandoned. the KLA had taken up positions in the mountains. There was We also went to Rozaje to see an Albanian community no other way in. They transported masses of stuff from the which was living in a danger zone because the federal army Rugova Valley to the Drenica through a corridor. It took days, maintained a strong presence there. In Belgrade, I had but there was a proper supply chain. There were also some intense discussions with Tim Boucher, the Coordinator of the former Croatian paramilitaries. They used to tell stories about Kosovo programmes. We had furious arguments over the lack the atrocities they had committed during the war in Croatia. of communication, the testimony, the whole way we were They were war criminals. It was incredible because despite working in Kosovo. It was the straw that broke the camel’s the stories, I never detected a sign of cruelty in their faces. I back. When I returned, Guillaume and I decided to send an knew practically all the KLA fighters down there. I didn’t have exploratory team to Kosovo as well. We wanted them to look much to do with them. I concentrated on the people in the at the situation and give us an objective report, because we remoter villages. I travelled all over the valley on foot or on had lost all confidence in the coordination team. horseback with Mustapha, an Albanian doctor; our backpacks were full of medicines. We would travel for kilometres in the Graziella Godain, Programme Manager MSF France mountains. MSF still came to hold consultations from time to (in French). time. One day the mobile team saw me turn up in a car with about ten KLA fighters. The Coordinator was there, somewhat perturbed. But he did advise me to be careful. They gave me medicines. I stayed for three weeks. At first it was fine because we had the radio, we still had television, and then At the end of January, the MSF field coordinator in Pec one day everything was cut off, that was just before the bom- finished her mission and decided to make an unofficial bardments. That began to have an effect and I asked myself: and private visit to the Albanian populations encircled “Should I stay, or should I leave?” I wasn’t sure any longer. by the Serbs in the KLA-held Rugova Valley. Laurence Thavaux, MSF Field Officer in Pristina, 1996 and Pec, April 1998 to February 1999. Nurse in Montenegro, April 1999 (in French).

I had finished my mission with MSF but did not return to France immediately. I did not want to leave Kosovo. I had known these people since 1996. I felt uneasy about leaving them because there had been no The member states of the International Contact Group developments and I didn’t see how I could leave it at that. for the Former Yugoslavia (France, Germany, Italy, So I arranged my trip to the Rugova Valley. When I worked Russia, UK, USA) which also sat on the UN Security in Pec, we used to hold consultations in that closed valley, Council worked to obtain the Council’s support for a KLA stronghold with scattered villages. I set off but I their settlement plan. The plan envisaged negotiations couldn’t go via Pec because the road was blocked by a between representatives of the Serb Republic and Serbian checkpoint. So I took the bus to Montenegro, to the Kosovar Albanians to begin on 6 February at Rozaje, and spent two weeks with a KLA-connected family Rambouillet (France). While preparing for a probable which acted as a go-between. When the thaw set in, I could intervention, NATO acknowledged that it could do make my way on foot in the other direction, through the little to bring pressure to bear on the KLA resistance mountains. Graziella Godain [MSF France Deputy Programme fighters. UNHCR announced that in the last month Manager] knew of my plan. She had visited the MSF explor- 45,000 people had fled their homes because of the atory mission in Ulcine, Montenegro. She asked me to make fighting. a detour before going into the valley so that we could talk. She tried to persuade me not to go, but she didn’t succeed. I set off on foot with Selman, a teacher. We walked for twelve or thirteen hours, thigh-deep in the snow. From time ‘ Contact Group Seeks Declaration of Support from to time, he’d start whistling. People responded but we Security Council,’ AFP (France), London, 29 couldn’t see them. January 1999 (in French). When we arrived at the head of the valley, we stopped while he fired several rounds into the air with his Kalashnikov, sig- Extract: nifying ‘this is my territory.’ It looked magnificent in the set- The Contact Group countries which are also permanent ting sun. The people of the Rugova Valley were peasants, they members of the Security Council will ask the SC for had a different mentality. It was their valley, a sanctuary a “declaration of support” for the Kosovo settlement 72 they were prepared to defend. Selman was one of the chiefs plan adopted on Friday, said German Foreign Minister real risk of awar”in Kosovo. a realhumanitariandisasterandexposeourselvestothe appealed for“anendtotheviolence,beforewewitness joint communiquéissuedaftertalksinLondon.MrFischer basis of’substantialautonomypforKosovo,accordingtoa terpart Robin Cook, must arrive at an agreement on the Foreign MinisterHubertVédrineandhisBritishcoun- within threeweeks.Thetalks,presidedoverbyFrench Paris) on 6 February and to arrive at a political agreement Albanians toopennegotiationsatRambouillet(near On Friday,the‘Six’calledonBelgradeandKosovo Italy, make uptheContact Group. Yugoslavia. Thefourcountries,togetherwithGermanyand held afterameetingoftheContactGroupforFormer all belong,MrFischerannouncedatapressconference support” fromtheUNSecurityCouncil,towhichthey and France are “still seeking to obtain a declaration of Joschka Fischer.TheUnitedStates,Russia,GreatBritain a fewweapons fromtheSerbs,includingsome fromtheir Albania isone of them,butthereareothers. Webuyquite ber oftheminavariety locations, NATOknowsthat. supply lines,”hesaysconfidently. «Therearealargenum- Podujevo, findstheideaamusing. «Nobodycanblockour which comprisesnotablyPristina andthenearbytownof of onethesevenmilitary regionssetupbytheKLA, to channelweaponstheKLA.“CommanderRemi”,head and airportsinneighbouringAlbania,astheseareused gested thatinternationaltroopsshouldblockadetheports Some diplomatsatNATOheadquartershaverecentlysug - fight their war onahit-and-run basis. no regroupingareas,heavymilitaryinstallations;they ters oftheterrain.Theyhavenobarracks,fixedbases, enclaves guardedbyarmedpeasants,therebelsaremas - Apart frommajorroadsandtownsafewSerbian the KLAhasoccupiedaboutonethirdofprovince. Since thepartialretreatofSerbiantroopsinOctober, he added. threat thatwecoulduseagainstthematthemoment,” hole intheground.Ireallycan’tseeanyseriousmilitary It wouldbeanotherVietnam;they’dhavetobombevery air raidsareoutofthequestion,everybodyknowsthat. Aerial bombardment?Theyliveamongthepopulation,so expressed doubts,”whataretheythreateningthemwith? army inciviliandress,whoaskednottobeidentified, the OSCEverification mission, anofficer of anEuropean pendence. InPristina,amemberofthegeneralstaff attempt tomakethemrenouncetheirclaiminde- the KosovoAlbanians,andparticularlyKLA,inan NATO isalsothreateningcoercivemeasuresagainst Extract: Pristina, 30 January1999(in French). ‘ Undeterred,’ MichelMoutot,AFP(France), NATO ThreatsofMilitaryActionLeaveKLA and conducts hit-and-run campaigns.And noonereally against aguerrilla forcethatblendsinwith thepopulation make verylittleimpression.Air strikescannotbelaunched motivated Serbianforces.[...] NATO’spressureandthreats despite thematerialsuperiority oftheconsiderablyless that itcanobtainindependence througharmedforce, with RobinCookonSaturday. Infact,theKLAisconvinced Serbian gaols,refusedtocommithimselfatameeting the AlbanianMandelawhospenttwenty-eightyearsin negotiations. Itspoliticalrepresentative,AdemDemaci, [...] TheKosovoLiberationArmy(KLA)ishostiletothe after final “consultations” between theallies. Alliance mayauthoriseairstrikesagainstSerbiantargets If thetalksfail,secretarygeneralofAtlantic stantial autonomy” for the province falls on 21 February. February. Thedeadlineforreachinganagreementon“sub - resentatives of the Kosovo Albanians at Rambouillet on 6 Great Britain, and Italy), to begin negotiations with rep- Yugoslavia (Russia,theUnitedStates,France,Germany, issued bythesixmembersofContactGroupforFormer has givenhimselfseveraldaystorespondthesummons idea ofaninternationalconferenceonKosovo.Milosovic to aPejacefulsolutioninKosovo,hehasnotrejectedthe While announcinginhisusualfashion“commitment” And Belgrade’sstrongmanisshowingsignsofweakening. Extract: been signed.” intervention won’thappenbeforeapeaceagreementhas the sameKVMsource.“Buteverybodyknowsthatan itself, andthusrestricttheKLA’smovements,”concluded would betopositiongroundtroopsinkeyareasofKosovo ing inthesupplyofarmstoKLA.«Theonlysolution drug andprostitutionmoney.Theyareactivelyparticipat- it comestothelaunderingandclandestinetransferof and theUnitedStates,areexperiencedprofessionalswhen to Westernnewsservices,theAlbanianmafiasinEurope the KLA,causesseparatistslittleconcern.According lect fundsfromtheAlbanianDiaspora,whichisfinancing Similarly, thethreatoffreezingbankaccountsusedtocol- much enthusiasm among military leaders. regions dominatedbyheavilyarmedclansdoesnotarouse the prospectofdeployingtroopsinremote,mountainous control oftheborderbetweenKosovoandAlbania.But It has also been suggested that Western troops take Serbs, that’s all it amounts to.” think NATOhastoshowthatit’snotsimplytargetingthe threats againstusarenotserious.Theycan’tbombus.I soldiers andpolice.Wehaveallthemoneyweneed.The Libération the KLAWon’tShiftitsPosition,’VictoriaStegic, Negotiations –MilosevicRaisestheStakesand ‘ French). Kosovo: A Trial of Strength before the (France), 1 st February 1999 (in

73 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

believes that the west can block supply lines and stem the Place of interview: Pec flow of arms and money to the combatants. Name of interviewer: XXX Name of witness: local doctors Albanian/Dr XXXXOSCE Pec A protectorate. The failure of the west’s plan is not Indirect witness guaranteed, however. The probable deployment of NATO Name of victim: XXXX ground troops would finally convince both the authori- Albanian, medical doctor ties in Belgrade and moderates in Kosovo. Belgrade could Address: Pec justify their presence as a guarantee of the international Type of event: medical doctor killed. community’s stated determination to avoid the secession Detailed description of the event: On 20-01-99 at 17:00, of Kosovo. The moderates could boast that they have the doctor went to the emergency ambulanta in Pec (walk- finally obtained the solution that Ibrahim Rugova has ing) because he was on duty. At 17:20 he met somebody been advocating for the last nine years: an international at the road and talked with him. Afterwards nobody saw protectorate as an interim solution before independence. him. The next day in the morning he was found with a bullet in the head and the brain exploded, in Prekale (which is not his [home] living place). By whom:

On 7 February, the MSF Information Officer in Kosovo 1. Police reported to OSCE that this doctor was asked sent MSF France legal advisers the testimony the team by MSF to work with MSF and that he refused. So that had collected on the massacre at Racak and the murder UCK killed this doctor. This doctor has never made any of an ethnic Albanian doctor on 21 January. The Serb application to MSF. Another doctor from the emergency police claimed that the doctor had been killed by the ambulanta of Pec XXXX (same surname) came a few days KLA after refusing to work with MSF. Other sources ago in MSF Pec office – as translator for somebody who reported that he had been executed because he had wanted to apply as driver. At the same time he asked MSF witnessed the murder of six Serbs. if we were also looking for a medical doctor because he was interested.

2. Some sources (who reported to DR XXXXX) said that Letter from Bas Tielens, MSF Kosovo Information this doctor has been a witness in the killing of 6 Serbs in Officer to Françoise Saulnier, MSF Legal Advisor, Panda Café on 14-11-98 and therefore was killed by the 7 February 1999 (in English). same gang of young Serbs - ’Black Tigers.’

Extract: Enclosed are copies of notes that I want out of the country. The notes are by our doctor in Pec, Ingrid Geerinck, about a doctor that was killed near Pec on 21st of January. NATO stated its readiness to launch air strikes against Katia and Tim handed Graziella in Belgrade the draft of a Serbian targets if the Rambouillet talks failed. In the policy document for our human rights actions. It has been event of an agreement, it declared its willingness to discussed with Tim, and the field teams. The themes listed deploy a peacekeeping force. On 23 February 1999, under ‘3’ are what we see as most feasible and sensible the negotiations ended in a framework proposal for the to concentrate on, given our context here. Please, let me establishment of an autonomous province of Kosovo. know if you have any suggestions for improvement. Another conference was planned in France for 15 March to study the methods of implementation. The Serbian Also, Graziella has two completed human rights reports, one government continued to mass troops on the border on Racak, a testimony by Laurence, and one about killing with Kosovo. Fighting between Serbian forces and during the Drenica offensive last September. The last one Albanian rebels intensified while divisions within the is part of a bigger report on a massacre on the same day latter sharpened. that I still have to finalise. Furthermore, I’m planning to compile reports on the trials I’ve visited [attended]. Some good news there: Dr Bajraktari, the accused in the second trial I’ve visited, got released the week before last week. ‘Battles Between Serbian Army and KLA. Rebels Rocked by Internal Divisions,’ AFP (France), A far as human rights violations against doctors are Pristina, 25 February 1999 (in French). concerned, the information we are getting now does not indicate that there is an organised campaign going on, but Extract: doctors still feel targeted. My personal impression is that it The divisions between the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation seems moderate [but that] people are somehow targeted. Army (KLA) became abundantly clear as the rebels once The people that got killed near/in Pec recently, were well more engaged with Serbian forces in the north of the respected by both sides; and not involved in ‘terrorist’ province on Thursday afternoon. [...] Serbian police and 74 activities. the Yugoslav federal army yesterday fired on positions teams. difficulties arosewhenittriedtoobtainvisasforits tinued toorganiseanindependentmission.However, policy thatwaslikelytoemerge,theFrenchdeskcon- over theformandcontentofuncoordinatedofficial of theBelgian section, which expressedreservations decided tobringitanend.Despitetheopposition the management of the joint mission in Kosovo and acknowledged thepersistenceofdisagreementsover On 25 February1999,the Belgian and French desks days,” the officerexplained. deployed invariousregionsofKosovoduringthelastfew cially from anti-aircraft units, have been mobilised and threat posedbyNATO.Alargenumberofreservists,espe- offensive againsttheKLAbutaremeanttoconfront «These troop movements are not inpreparation for an confirmed thattroopshadbeendeployednearKosovo. A seniorSerbianofficer,whoaskednottobeidentified, transferred to the special police based in the province. that anti-aircraft guns from the regular army had been continuing to mass troops on the border with Kosovo and In Brussels,aNATOofficialstatedthattheSerbsare prevent them fromdoing so,” saidMsLacoste. road andthattheKLAisperfectlyunjustifiedintryingto is that the police are perfectly justified in patrolling this said KVMspokesmanWalterEdenberger.«TheOSCEview route whichisnormallyopentoSerbianpolicepatrols,” up apositionontheOrahovac-SuvaRekaroad,southern of the province. «On Wednesday, a large group of KLA took KLA rebels have now taken up new positions in the south no information concerning casualties. local time (15:00 GMT), “the shooting stopped.” There is charged fiveshellsaminute,”sheadded.Atabout16:00 Bukos (north).Theywerejoinedbyarmytankswhichdis- opened fire with automatic weapons on the village of mission (KVM). «At 14:40 local time (13:40 GMT), police Béatrice Lacoste, a spokeswoman for the OSCE verification held byKLArebelsinthenorthofprovince,said in Pristina.The exploratorymission’sterms ofreference team will coordinateits operations with the MSF-B team any otherzoneifjustifiedand relevant).Thisexploratory future project(in2or3municipalities inEastKosovoor visas andsendanexploratory missioninordertodefinea mission inKosovoby01/03/99. MSFF’sdecisiontoobtain cal methods.MSFFdecided to withdrawfromthecurrent achieved. Needforfurtherdiscussionandtodefinepracti - Conclusion: No final agreement on a future operation Extract: French). 1999, MSFBelgiumProgrammemanager(in Programme managersinBrussels,’25February ‘ Minutes oftheMeetingKosovo present, this desiredoes not exist. supposes afundamentaldesiretoshareeverything.At diversity.’ Infact,theexploitationofsuchrichnesspre - (3). MSFBdoesnotbelieveintheclaimed’richnessof to the improvement ofoperational output. endangered populations.Theinitiativedoesnotcontribute of a section’s own wants rather than of the interests of (2). MSFBinterpretsthispropositionasaprioritisation taking rapid coherent measures is crucial. current generalised and specific threats, the possibility of an sections would,inthepresentcircumstances,constitute (1). MSFBbelievesthattheexistenceoftwoseparate because: with its own representation. MSF B rejected this option 3. MSFFthenproposedacompletelyseparatemission representative. conflict wouldbeunabletobringasolutionsingle Moreover, ifdisagreementarose,headofficesthatarein be sharedbetweentheprojectandheadoffice). subsequent lossofdecision-makingpower(whichwould team tothelevelofadministrativerepresentation,witha by MSFF)reducingtheresponsibilityofcoordination not acceptabletoMSFBbecauseitimplies(asconfirmed 2. MSFFsuggestedaseparate,modularmission.Thisis MSF Fhas never beenexcluded. there is room for improvement if this is desired, and that edged thattheconceptisnotperfect,butnoted that thesystemcouldnotbesalvaged.MSFBacknowl- acknowledged thatthissentimentislong-heldandfelt opportunities togivemattersdueconsideration.MSFF adequate adaptation,assumptionofresponsibility,and tem asoftoday,onthegroundsthatsysteminhibits 1. MSFFhasunilaterallyterminatedthejointmissionsys- Conclusions Extract: to exit afterwards;so this looksmore like the process of this caseisthat wedon’tcomewithaparallel mission to gothroughwhenmissions split;theunusualaspectin So thislooksliketheusual administrative workwehave Extract: separation procedures. will bedefinedduringdiscussionswithMSF-Bonthe ill-timed enhancementofthesecurityrisk.Given France programmemanagers,1 ‘ between MSF Pristina and MSF Belgium and MSF French). 1999, MSFFranceprogramme manager (in gramme managersinBrussels,’25February Minutes of the Meeting of the Kosovo pro- English). Feedback onDeskMeeting,’Emailexchange st March1999(in

75 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

one section pulling out of a joint formula and leaving the a letter of invitation. But our only contact was MSF Belgium, context. […] In terms of the request for visa facilitation and the Serbs I knew worked for MSF Belgium. We also tried for the explo-mission, I must alas request the field to not through the hotels, but it didn’t work. I said to myself that respond positively. As a matter of fact, this explo-mission Kosovo was impossible for the time being, anyway. If we is not a separate issue: couldn’t get a coordination team and an independent network 1- There were not TOR drawn up with the present mission to obtain visas, our team in Pec wasn’t going to last long. and we therefore fail to see the operational argumentation for this initiative (this is a fact, not an impression). Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager, MSF France (in French). 2- We understand (so this is so far only an impression) from our meeting, and from HR that were approached in the field for this, that the initiative basically responds to the MSF F desire to start up a separate mission in the area of Pec. At one point in a particular meeting, they said that in their experience we didn’t give out enough infor- As a consequence we see the visa-request as a concrete mation, that they were not allowed to prepare step towards the creation of a second independent MSF things properly, that we concealed information, that it mission in the region; as explained in the summary of wasn’t a genuine joint mission which allowed them to func- our meetings, MSF B does not only disagree, but sees this tion as an equal partner. We were rather taken aback, initiative as a serious security risk with no operational because their arguments seemed to lack substance. We added value and will therefore also oppose to it. If needed tended to regard this approach as a deliberate choice on formal steps to use the veto right will be undertaken. I their part: “Things might get a bit hot, a bit politicised, so don’t want to dramatize, but I want to be clear that we we’d prefer to work independently and in isolation.” Now a are not ready to play additional dangerous games in a joint mission always demands compromises, and I could well context like Kosovo. imagine how that was not quite to their liking. What annoyed us was more the way they approached the matter Dear Tim, than the fact that they wanted to withdraw. We would have [...] We had a desk meeting last Thursday in Brussels. preferred if they had said: “OK, we’re not happy in this set- Despite the fact that it was an interesting and long dis- up, we’d much rather go it alone,” instead of telling us that cussion, the issue was the same as we discussed together we were not serious about the joint mission. At the time, on the phone last time: we took exception to their accusatory tone. It wasn’t very - The actual joint mission (MSFB/F) is over since the 1st helpful at that particular time. We were a bit upset. One day of March 99. they were telling us that we were not sincere and the next - MSF F is willing to send an explo mission in Kosovo day they were calling to see if we could arrange visas. We ASAP in order to evaluate the actual situation and define kept the agreements and the records. a future project. We didn’t discuss yet the split modalities Now, our approach was a bit different to that of MSF France between both sections but as the visa process is very long, and we feared, of course, that they had something else in I would like to start ASAP the request. So could you ask mind and were getting a bit beyond themselves. It was clear Rada in Belgrade to send us the invitation letters for the that in a context such as Serbia, this could have put us in team? [...] danger, because we were staying there. I said no. It got a bit dramatic; they were very, very angry. I don’t think they PS: you should receive the meeting report as soon as it were used to people saying no to them. We did try to get is approved by both desks. Nevertheless, I will send you them the visas in the end, but I refused at first because I the one I wrote. I will call Vincent today to finalise this thought that was no way to behave. report with him. Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, Hoping you can see the right priorities. MSF Belgium (in French). Greetings, Vincent

It would have been up to us to do all the visas. The I went to Brussels and said: “It’s all over. We’re ter- visas were a nightmare. Months to get people there. minating your joint mission and getting out. We’re And we tried to facilitate visits of all these guys, sending people in, we’re sending in an exploratory because everybody wanted to come; people from Greece, mission.” They wouldn’t let us obtain the visas. As a result, from the United States. And, it was difficult to establish. I I couldn’t get volunteers back through Belgrade, so I couldn’t think I said I wasn’t going to get them visas. We facilitated plan on sending them to Kosovo because we didn’t have the missions for the desk and different people to come, but I visas. I knew some of the local Serbian personnel who had said: ”No. I’m not going to spend our time for you guys to 76 been working with us in Belgrade for years. All we needed was come and do an explo.” We already had our relationships wanted a Frenchmission there. it justseemedliketheboardofMSFFrancehaddecidedthey the currentstructure.” They wanted something else. For me Kosovo isasmallplaceandwesaid:“Pleasecomeinunder wanted onethingandwecouldnotseethevalueofit. we triedtobeflexiblesofarbut,itseemedtheyjust with Belgrade,theauthorities,Pristina.Forme, Serbia andYugoslavia.” provides alargemeasureofautonomyforKosovowithin in a“genuinepossibility:politicalframeworkthat Djukanovic believestheRambouilletconferenceresulted asking [...]hisonlyobjectiveistostayinpower.”Mr “Milosevic willdowhattheinternationalcommunityis The Montenegrinpresidentbelievesthateventually press conference in Podgorica, the Montenegrincapital. the internationalcommunity,”saidMrDjukanovicata He’s uptohisoldtrickoftryingprovokeacrisiswith Milan Milutivonic.“ItispartMilosevic’svastwarscenario. Council withMrMilosevicandthePresidentofSerbia, met oncethisyear,”saidMrDjukavonic,whositsonthe of theSupremeDefenceCouncil(SDC).“TheSDChasnot der betweenKosovoandMacedoniawithouttheapproval of orderingtheYugoslavarmytoamasstroopsonbor- Yugoslav headofstate.ThePresidentaccusedMrMilosevic Mr Djukanovic,areformerandfierceopponentofthe would strengthenSlobodanMilosevic’sposition,”said ter. First,innocentpeoplewouldbekilled;second,it “If they started bombing, it would be a double disas- Extract: According to a presidentialcommuniqué, MrMilosevic Extract: the peace plan tabled at Rambouillet. had failedtopersuadetheSerbianpresidentaccept United StatesEnvoyinBelgrade,acknowledgedthathe and Montenegro.On11March,RichardHolbrooke,the concentrating troopsontheborderbetweenKosovo strengthen SlobodanMilosevic,whomheaccusedof of Montenegro,claimedthatNATOairstrikeswould On 10March1999,MiloDjukanovic,thepresident Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in March 1999(in French). of Montenegro,’ ‘Air Strikes Strengthen Milosevic, Says President French). AFP (France),Belgrade,11March 1999(in ‘Holbrooke FailstoShiftMilosevic’s Position,’ Kosovo June 1998 toApril1999(inFrench). AFP (France),Belgrade,10 France Foundation, signed theappeal. MSF’s FrenchsectionandaResearchDirectoroftheMSF Albanian people. Rony Brauman, former President of policies inKosovoandforself-determinationthe alities advocating a firm stand against Milosevic’s an appeal from a group of prominent French person- On 12March,theFrenchdaily,Libération,published audience. at theappropriatemoment,”Mr.Holbrookeremindedhis Forces inEurope,USGeneralWesleyClark,totakeaction the power to authorise the Supreme Commander of Allied Secretary-General (oftheAlliance),JavierSolana,has military) activationorderstillstandsandisviable.The envoy. [...] Mr Milosevic “understands that the (NATO the presenceofMrsAlbright,accordingtoAmerican which hadvergedonfailurebutbeensavedthanksto an opportunitytoreviewtheRambouilletconference, been “verycommitted,veryintense”andhadprovided for peace,”headded.DiscussionswithMrMilosevichad they will not prevent us from cooperating in the search the NATOmemberswhomakeupContactGroup,but Mr Holbrooke.“TherearedifferencesbetweenRussiaand Moscow calling for ‘progress’ in the peace process, said on Thursday, “willbe the bearer of a firm message” from Mr Ivanov,whoisduetomeetMr.MilosevicinBelgrade of the meetings wehave had heretoday.” Russian foreignministerIgorIvanovandwill“informhim Madeleine Albright.MrsAlbrighthas“alreadycontacted” in ordertoreportonhismissionSecretaryofState explained thathewouldleaveBelgradeonThursday Holbrooke, whenaskedaboutthissubject.Mr.Holbrooke in Yugoslavia.“Thatisexactlywhathesaid,”statedMr in Kosovo,declaringthatforeigntroopshad“nobusiness” again rejectedtheideaofdeployinganinternationalforce NATO’S POSSIBLEINTERVENTION DIVERGENCES WITHINMSFOVER ‘ Boltanski, Save Kosovo,’ M.F Allain, Ch. Berling, L. G. Mink,D. Mitterrand, A.Mnouchkine, Y. A. LeBrun,CL. Lefort,JL.LeCorre,A.Lipietz, A. Joxe,IsmaëlKadaré,Y.Labbé, CL.Lanzmann, B-H. Lévy,G.Herzog,P.Hassner, F.Jeanson, Masalou, R.Goupil,A.Glucksman, M-D.Gremek, Gaillot, A.Garapon,P.Garde, M.Gendreaux- B. Faivred’Arcier,F.Fetjö,A. Finkielkraut,J. Coq, J.D’Ormesson,J.P.Elkabbach,A.Escudier, Bruckner, P.Cabannes,H.Cixous,Y.Cochet,G. R. etP. Brauman, PeterBrook,P.

77 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Moullier-Boutang, E. Morin, B. Njman, V. strate his determination by receiving Ibrahim Rugova as Nahum – Grappe, O. Mongin, B. Noël, Met R soon as possible. Ophüls, J. Rancière, M. Revault d’Allonnes, D. Rondeau, R. Rotmann, J. Semelin, P. A Taguieff, F. Tanguy, Y. Ternon, J.P. Vernant, E. de Véricourt, H. Vincent, E. Wallon, Libération (France), 12 March 1999 (in French). I was in favour of armed intervention in Kosovo, as I was at one time for Bosnia. And I defended the Extract: idea that Europe had more of a responsibility for The bloody ethnic cleansing begun in 1991 in former areas maintaining order on its own continent that in the rest of of Yugoslavia has now resumed in Kosovo. The same politi- the world. The calls for intervention in Kosovo were there- cal policy undertaken by Milosevic that led to the resump- fore part of an attitude I had already adopted several years tion of crimes against humanity in Europe (Vukovar, before; even when I was president of MSF, I had already Srebrenica, etc.) is now being carried out in Drenica in taken this stance. I had called for the bombing of Serb bat- Kosovo: 30 villages and 50,000 people are completely teries surrounding Sarajevo in 1992 and 1993 in a way that encircled by special police forces and Arkan’s militias are I find completely regrettable and I’m not giving that as an ready to strike. Tanks and helicopters from Belgrade are example to justify it. On the contrary, with hindsight, I bombing and burning down villages that are cut off from think that I was completely wrong. But I did it and in a very the world, resulting in dozens of victims. Once again, embarrassing way: I was the one who brought about this terrorized families are fleeing the massacres. Milosevic’s interview as president of MSF so that I could then more eas- policy has not changed: he ‘cleanses’ non-Serbian popula- ily rid myself of my role as president of an aid organisation tions from the territories he covets. After laying waste to by saying, ”but it’s not the humanitarian doctor who’s talk- Slavonia and Bosnia, he is now going after the Kosovar ing to you; it’s the French and European citizen.” That was Albanians, whose autonomy he suppressed in 1989. He a rather crude and clumsy sleight of hand! So at the time thus risks inflaming the entire region, from Albania to events were taking place in Kosovo, my attitude was psycho- Macedonia. logically very similar, but I didn’t involve MSF. The idea to Albanian is the culture and language of 90% of the call for intervention seemed completely justified to me. Also region’s population, which is subject to a policy of oppres- with hindsight, the fact that I called for intervention in sion and apartheid. One out of two Albanians has been Kosovo for political reasons, which is in the text, and for imprisoned and tortured. In the past seven years, the other reasons which do not appear in the text, are fine with Kosovars have led a non-violent struggle under the lead- me. ership of Ibrahim Rugova. But, who in Europe has cared? I have no regret on that account. Insofar as it doesn’t involve Kosovo was forgotten in the Dayton peace agreements MSF, I accept responsibility. Nor were we firebrands eager to three years ago. Because the province of Kosovo ‘is part see jet fighters take off. But, this type of text and the posi- of Serbia,’ Milosevic has always had free reign to persecute tions that we could take in public debates were intended to the population. He is now using popular resistance as a show that there was support for the action undertaken. We pretext to cry terrorism and launch murderous operations wanted to show that there would be no surge of pacifism or against civilians. However, it’s not a question of terrorism, support for last-minute negotiations on our part. That was but the exasperation of a certain number of desperate the point of this text. And publishing the text close to the young people who no longer believe in non-violence. actual military intervention is a further indication of this somewhat superfluous desire to ‘set the table after the food Are we going to stand by while Kosovars are ethnically has already been served.’ I believe that in this sense, we cleansed, an act that has been announced by the assassins represented the somewhat organised expression of rather and long expected by the experts? The Albanian people widespread fragments of French public opinion. We weren’t of Kosovo have the right to demand self-determination. trying to convince public opinion; instead we were part of a Given this intolerable situation, we call upon public movement of opinion, and as people expressing themselves opinion in Europe to pressure governments to insist on in the press, we did so with our usual tools. a firm stance from various international bodies, even if it means resorting to force, in order to begin a political Rony Brauman, Director of Research, process leading to a new status for Kosovo. That is the MSF France Foundation (in French). necessary condition for the establishment of peace in the region. Milosevic must be induced to make a commitment to stop his aggression against the population. Compliance with this commitment must be overseen by international observers. Most of MSF’s sections are located in countries that belong to NATO, which was preparing for a military We also urge the French government to support the efforts intervention in Kosovo. Within these sections, the of the International Criminal Court, which must urgently debate on the Kosovo dilemma reflects the debates summon Milosevic, himself the perpetrator of crimes that were taking place in the countries concerned. 78 against humanity. We call upon Jacques Chirac to demon- about the new living conditions that NATO has created threat isallaround. Thatiswhytodayitcritical tothink The sinistereventsinRaçak leadonetofearthatthe We’ll have them. Whowill kill them? Unknown. the responsecame.Weare waiting fortheminKosovo. waited fortheminRwanda, where ittook500.000before taking action.There,itwas intheMarkallémarket.We west wantsdeaths.WewaitedfortheminBosniabefore key toaninternationalresponse.Let’sbeclearhere:the Kosovars do today. Why? Becausethepotential victims are tions mayneverhavefacedsuchaseriousthreatasthe since thiscrisisbegan.Theresult is that civilian popula- ing silenceonthepartofnon-governmentalorganisations in suchacomplexconflict.Perhapsitexplainsthedeafen - life nowprescribedeath.Thatisaweightyresponsibility date, thesituationisnewandunique.Thedefendersof entirely. Let’sjustacknowledgethat,interms of aman- Whether thatisdesirableornotanotherquestion result in5.000victimsthere,somewherenearBelgrade. Criticise fifty deaths here andthenext reprisal could habit, theyshouldknowthatnow,theirwordscankill. If humanitariangroupsspeakoutandcriticise, as istheir ing theUN days hasthus been firmlyestablished. humanitarian-military connectionthatwassofeareddur- its stomachthatitwillacceptviolenceinresponse.The something that will make public opinion sick enough to trigger is…humanitarian.Bloodandkillingsarerequired- It’s notpolitical,either.But,wenowknow:NATO’snew tary. The Soviets won’t be attacking Central Europe again. requires atrigger.Today,thattriggerisnolongermili- a strikeanddestroyit.Settingsuchmachineinmotion NATO defines an enemy and threatens it. It may launch has beentheorganisation’scultureforlast50years. defined itsmissionasdefenderofthefreeworld,this (in BosniaandKosovo)donotfallunderArticle5,which threat -thatis,anenemy.Evenifit’snewoperations operational, militaryalliance,intendedtoresponda Everything changedwithNATO.Thisisacompletely habit, they should knowthat now, their words cankill. humanitarian groupsspeakoutandcriticise,asistheir tions, particularlythrough‘civilaffairs’departments.If many peaceful connections with humanitarian organisa- dition ofinterpositionoperations.Theyhaveestablished and respectforacertainbalance,inkeepingwiththetra- unto themselves - UN forces have demonstrated caution the Somalian disaster and the Gulf War - which are cases the end,itwaskeptunderreasonablecontrol.Apartfrom might be the Trojan horse of a new, armed imperialism. In many peopleintheThirdWorldthathumanitarianworkers The righttointervene,brandishedrashly,suggested Extract: (in French). MSF France],LeMonde(France)20March1999 Jean-Christophe Rufin[formerVice-President, ‘NATO, HumanitarianAidWorkersandDeath,’ what pacifist in its views. work closelywithcivilsocietyandtheorganisationissome- national procedures and itscandalisedus. At MSFSpain, we Council, wasreallythemostbasictypeofviolationinter- United Nations,withoutanygreenlightfromtheSecurity national policeforcewithamandateusurpedfromthe weight tothemilitarystate.NATOinterveningasaninter- a pacifistperspectivethatwasconsideredsortofcounter- under Francoism,confrontedsociety’sconservative vision – associated with it. There is also an entire movement which, tion becauseofthepresenceAmericanbases, which are ity to resolve this crisis. The humanitarian stakes are enor- pening onthe ground. TheUnitedStateshas aresponsibil- way ofthinkingwassomewhat knee-jerk;thisiswhat’shap- and sayaninterventionwas needed toprotectthem.Our victims. Soitwaseasytodenounce theSerbian aggressor good guys and the bad guys.’ For us, the Kosovars were the aspect oftheconflict.Ourunderstanding waslimitedto‘the Albania. AtthattimeinMSF,weweren’tatallawareofthis capacity, some were raising money and sending itto staff member,butamongpeoplethatIknewinaprivate people belongingtothisdiaspora–notofficiallyasanMSF pora’s funding ofviolent elements inthe UCK. Infact,Imet Kosovo crisiswhichdenouncetheroleofAlbaniandias - their death. help the populations to survive, rather than send them to tence, humanitarianaidorganisationscan,perhapsthen Freed fromthatfearfultaskthreatenstheirveryexis- against deadly manipulation, is essential. Their roleasobjectivewitness,whichcanhelpguarantee someone istoserveastheNATOtrigger,letitbethem. of theirobserversiscriticalinhigh-risksituations.If are nottheorganisationstotakeiton.Still,presence Union. Ofcourse,shouldanoffensivebenecessary,they for SecurityandCooperationinEuropetheEuropean more appealingthanNATO.Next,aretheOrganisation Nonetheless, asaninterpositionforce,itiscertainly them -theUnitedNations.Onecancriticiseitsfailures. cards intheinternationalcommunity’shand.Firstamong That way,wecanavoidprematurelytossingouttheother tion. Weneedtolookatthesideeffectsitproduces. on theground.Weknowqualitiesofthisorganisa- been viewedwithsuspicionbythecivilianpopula- In Spain,anythingconcerningNATOhasalways In Spain, the general context explains many things. are manyanalysesaboutthetriggeringof very pro-Kosovar,soitwasanti-Serb.Today,there In theUnitedStates,wehadacommunitythatwas Eric Stobbaerts, Executive Director, MSF Spain(in French)

79 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

mous. The violence being carried out is state violence; it’s not only a small rebellion but something well-organised. We’re witnessing round-ups; we’re witnessing particularly In French society, Milosevic is no longer very popu- dreadful acts of violence.’ We never called for military inter- lar; nor are his armies and allies. We aren’t going to vention. I don’t think that we ever said: “There needs to be call for an attack against Milosevic and for his mili- air strikes.” But, we probably said that the American gov- tary defeat, but we’re also not going to complain about it ernment had a responsibility and it wasn’t accepting respon- [if it happens]. We see what’s happening in Kosovo and in sibility. In fact, we maintained this ambiguity.’ a way we’re relieved that someone’s intervening to put an end to it. At MSF, we’re rather in tune with French society […] Executive Director, MSF United States in this respect. For MSF’s French section, this is an extension (in French). of the civil war associated with the breakup of Yugoslavia. So our ambivalence is related to our experiences during the civil war, during which Yugoslavia ceased to exist. We are well aware that all the parties to the conflict have committed crimes, but in practice Belgrade has committed many of From the beginning, we took a clear position: “It’s them and at MSF we have been directly affected by atroci- not MSF’s role to take a position for or against ties committed against our patients and against our col- bombings and military initiatives.” There were, how- leagues with whom we work. I’m especially thinking of ever, some questions and discussions: “What are we going Srebrenica; Vukovar is another example… to think if it goes ahead? Are we going to protest?’ We We’re not at all surprised that they’re massively attacking didn’t ask ourselves, ‘are we for or against the bombing?” the civilian population of Kosovo. We know that that’s part But, “When it happens, what are we going to say about it?” of their methods. We’re very worried because we know that I don’t recall that the specific question: “Should NATO strike that has already led to large massacres and we believe or not”’ was really the subject of debate. I think that our it could happen again in a similar context. On the other questioning was much more operational in nature. We fore- hand, we have seen that in the history of Yugoslavia, at saw the difficulty. I believe that we closely followed the certain times, our hostility to Belgrade’s power challenges whole process, come what may, while trying to avoid any our neutrality. Our form of opposition to Belgrade’s power extreme position in favour of bombing. We always hoped to has sometimes stepped outside the bounds of humanitar- avoid that and we asked ourselves a lot of questions, such ian work. For example, a number of MSF officials spoke as: ”»If there really is a total military campaign, what will out about the war in Bosnia. For my part, I felt a certain become of the situation in Kosovo and in Serbia itself? How anxiety. I found that during the war in Bosnia, we drifted much room to manoeuvre will we have?” toward a loss of neutrality. On the other hand, as a humanitarian field worker who had suffered from Belgrade’s policies Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, and as a democratic European citizen, I found that we could MSF Belgium (in French). only hope for the defeat of this type of ultranationalist and highly bellicose regime, which had committed terrible crimes.

Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, I have the impression that at MSF Belgium, we MSF France (in French). believed very quickly that the NATO air strikes were not the right way to stop Milosevic’s policy of ethnic cleansing. On the contrary, he benefited from it. And perhaps we were very ambiguous when we said: ”Something has to be done; the European Union and the international In the Netherlands people were shocked. They community aren’t acting responsibly.” But, we didn’t say thought that what was happening in Kosovo was what should be done and then NATO struck and we very unacceptable. But there was not a very strong dem- quickly said: “That’s crazy, look at the massive wave of onstration against the strikes. Not like hundreds of thou- people; Milosevic’s benefiting from it.” I had the feeling sands of people. that we didn’t really know [what to say]. What was the solution? Very quickly, among ourselves, we were very criti- Katrien Coppens, Humanitarian Affairs Department, cal. ”NATO did a disservice to people; in the final analysis, MSF Holland (in English). it was a disaster.” In any case, I think that we were less pro-air strike than Paris.

Anouk Delafortrie, Communication Officer, MSF Belgium (in French). There are many people originally from the former Yugoslavia who work in Switzerland and among them are many Kosovars. So, they had informed the 80 population in their own way. I have the feeling that people sonnel in Belgrade began. Kosovo VerificationMissionandWesternembassyper- agreement. TheprocessofevacuatingtheOSCE’s adjourned duetotheSerbs’failurecomean group, whichhadresumedon15MarchinRambouillet, Albanians ofKosovo,undertheauspicescontact On 19March1999,negotiationsbetweenSerbsand cials at different levels profoundly imprintedinthemindsofquiteafewMSFoffi- worker, whichInowcallsomewhatneoconservative,was defender of human rights and the role of humanitarian ethnic cleansing.”Thiscoexistencebetweentheroleof “While humanitarianworkgoeson,sodoesthebusinessof calling for.Oneofthefavouriteexpressionsorideaswas: denouncing the‘humanitarianalibi,’that’swhattheywere cated armedintervention, as wasthecaseforBosnia.By that was a minority opinion. The atmosphere was tense. That wastheirwayofsaying,‘they’regoingtoshootus.’But Geneva; theyworebadgeswithatargetovertheirheart. Before thestrikes,thereweredemonstrationsbySerbsin aggressor andmaybeitwasn’tsobadtoteachhimalesson. believed thattheseairstrikeswerejustified.Therewasan Thursday evening. Milosevic bears “complete responsibili - agreement proposed bytheinternational community on dent. AsfortheAlbanianparty, ithadsignedthepeace finger pointed at Slobodan Milosevic, the Yugoslav presi - Conference Centre in Paris, ended with an accusatory Monday underacloudofpessimism attheInternational the negotiations.Thediscussions, whichgotunderway French andBritishForeignMinistersCo-chairmenof ments,” announcedHubertVédrineandRobinCook, the Serbianpartyexpressesitsadhesiontoagree - There shall be no resumption of these discussions unless the currentdiscussions.Thediscussionsareadjourned. “We believethatthereisnolongeranyreasontocontinue Extract: touch, there was a rather large proportion that advo- expressed their opinion and with whom I was in At MSF France, in any case, among those who Paris 19March 1999 (inFrench). Preparations forMilitaryStrikes,’ ‘ Adjournment ofNegotiations,Apparent Isabelle Seguy-Bitz, member of theBoard of Directors, MSF Switzerland (in French). MSF France Foundation (inFrench). Rony Brauman, Director of Studies, AFP (France),

evacuating them from Kosovo. beginning to reducetheir staffs and were considering homes sincethebeginningofconflict.NGOswere UNHCR announcedthat400,000peoplehadlefttheir fleeing the Pec region arrived in Rozaje in Montenegro. Serb armyandtheUCK.Fivetosixthousandpeople and Serb forcesordamaged by fighting between the lages, whichwereattackedandburnedbythepolice that severalthousandKosovarshadtofleetheirvil- was increasing.On21March1999,UNHCRreported military pressureontheKosovarAlbanianspopulation Given therisksofaNATOmilitaryintervention, tinually violated ceasefire. and-a-half months,toensurecompliancewiththecon- Mission (KVM),whichhadbeenonthegroundforthree- withdraw 1.400employeesfromitsKosovoVerification for SecurityandCooperationinEurope(OSCE)decidedto sonnel fromtheirembassiesinBelgrade.TheOrganisation capitals announcedtheevacuationofnon-essentialper- for abombingcampaign.London,Washingtonandother the Westernpowersgaveeveryappearanceofpreparing Several hoursaftertheadjournmentofdiscussions, threat of NATO airstrikes on Serbtargets. Jacques Chirac,whileVédrinestatedthattherewasa‘real’ ty” forthefailureofconference,saidFrenchPresident in thearea. the housesandsetthemonfire. Tankswerealsodeployed population fledintotheforest. Maskedsoldiersentered UNHCR spokesperson.Thevillages wereattackedandthe near Pristina,theprovincial capital,accordingtothe scene playedoutinBarilevo andProgovac,twovillages to KosovskaMîtrovica(innorthernKosovo).Thesame people, especiallywomen,childrenandoldmen,fleeing their return, the UNHCR team came across hundreds of come atdawnandhadledthemenawaybyforce.On looted. Womenhidinginthecitysaidthatpolicehad of theMotherTeresahumanitarianorganisationhadbeen the civilianshadfledtheirburnedhouses.Thewarehouse The UNHCRteamwitnessedadramaticsituation:mostof through a secondary road, Kumin explained. ists andaidworkers,theteamwasabletoentercity had beenblockedandaccesswasforbiddentojournal - spokesperson interviewedbyAFP.Eventhoughtheroads city after fighting, according toJudith Kumin, anUNHCR estimated atsome20,000residents,wasforcedtofleethe noon toSrbicareportedthattwo-thirdsofitspopulation, An UNHCRmissionthatwasabletotravelSundayafter- (France), (Geneva),21March1999(inFrench). Ground, According to the [UN]HCR ’Crisis inKosovo:DramaticDeteriorationonthe ,’ AFP

81 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

In addition, some 200 people fled to Macedonia over the to pick up my plane ticket for France. It was a little risky to weekend. It is, however, growing increasingly difficult go through Belgrade so they had me go through Skopje in to flee: UNHCR saw Yugoslav soldiers laying land mines Macedonia. When I returned to France, the air strikes began. along the border. UNHCR was able to send in another three convoys on Sunday, but its movements are limited Laurence Thavaux, MSF Field Manager in Pristina in by the fighting. It has also cut its staff in half, from about 1996, in Pec from April 1998 to February 1999, and a 30 expatriates to 15 on Sunday following the order given nurse in Montenegro in April 1999 (in French). Saturday by the UN to withdraw non-essential personnel. On Saturday, UNHCR had estimated that there were some 20,000 displaced persons as a result of the new Serb offensive in Drenica, the fiefdom of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK). The fighting on Sunday has created thou- On 22 March 1999, the Yugoslav government requested sands more displaced Kosovars. The UNHCR spokesperson a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on said she regretted the departure of 1.400 staff members of Kosovo and the threat of NATO air strikes. But none of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s the 15 council members, not even Russia, made such a (OSCE) Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM) because “this request, necessary for a meeting to take place. On 23 presence was a factor of trust and security for civilians.” March 1999, MSF teams, which continued to work in the Pec and Prizren areas, withdrew to Pristina.

Info Matin, MSF Belgium daily morning brief, 22 March 1999 (in French). There had been a couple of threats. There were at Extract: least two times where a political decision had been KOSOVO taken in New York or by the G8 or whatever to get Important offensives by the Serbian army in Drenica this everybody to evacuate. I think once or twice we discussed weekend. Seven thousand additional IDPs in Vushtrin and and said, “it’s not actually going to happen.” Of course, a total of 15,000 in Glogovac. Four police officers were eventually it did. It was clear. Everybody pulled out. The UN executed in Pristina on Saturday evening. Tension has had gone. We pulled the teams back from Pec and Pristina. been on a steep increase since Saturday morning, follow- And I stayed in Pristina with a nurse and a doctor. It was ing the withdrawal of the OSCE observers. very difficult. I think there was about two or three days when everybody evacuated before the bombing started. All MSF teams are still present in Pec, Prizren and Pristina. In the Albanian staff was too scared to leave their houses. So, Pec and Prizren, MSF is the only international NGO present. all we could do really was talk to people. Telephones were In Pristina, there are small teams from MDM [Médecins du still working. So we could talk to people in the Drenica Monde], IRC [International Rescue Committee], IMC region. And it was clear there was a big offensive going on [International Medical Corps] and UNHCR. On Sunday, only and we tried to get authorisations to get out there. But, in the Pristina team went out. Today, all three teams will get Pristina everybody was very tense, and to move down into out and UNHCR is sending a convoy to Glogovac. UNHCR the town was dangerous. There were no Albanians on the is in security phase 4 (out of 5, which equals evacuation). streets, there were lots of Serbs. Civilians were all armed Same for MSF. As the situation evolves, it is very probable walking around the streets. There were sorts of barricades all the team will shrink to a minimum of four people (the over the place. So, we struggled, we thought we might be HOM and three medical staff). As in December, the rest of able to do something. Our objectives were to try to get to the staff will be repatriated to Skopje. The weekly sitrep Drenica and give some assistance to the people. It was clear will be available today as well as a special sitrep for this that the Serbs wouldn’t allow us to do that. We didn’t want time of crisis. to take our vehicles out, so we walked into town and we made a contact with the authorities to try to get permission to get out. We contacted the Yugoslav Red Cross to see if we could provide some assistance through them. Of course it was a gesture, but they probably wouldn’t do anything to I didn’t know what to do. Selmann told me that if help the Albanians. the air strikes started, he wasn’t sure he could get me out. The Serbs knew that there was a foreigner Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in in the valley and that I couldn’t get back out. They thought Kosovo from June 1998 to April 1999 (in English). they could take me through Drenica. But, in case fighting started, that would be risky. And, it would take five days… I was very unhappy about it. I decided to leave Rugova Valley. Then Selmann left to fight and I didn’t see him again. Another fighter accompanied me the same way I had On 24 March 1999, after the failure of the Holbrooke 82 come, through Montenegro, where I took a bus to Pristina mission, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana announced in theterritoryofFederalRepublic Yugoslavia. acknowledge thestateofemergencydecreedbyBelgrade tary action.ThegovernmentofMontenegrorefusedto United StatesobtainedCongressionalapprovalformili his oppositiontothestrikes.Thepresidentof peace agreement. The Russian foreign minister stated after therefusalofPresidentMilosevictoaccept the decisiontolaunchairstrikesagainstSerbtargets “obtained nothing” during Holbrooke’s discussions, said a NATO contingent in the province. The United States regarding a ceasefire in Kosovo or the deployment of had failed.Milosevicrefused tomakeanycommitments ning thathisdiscussionswith theYugoslavpresident ure ofHolbrooke’smission. Holbrooke saidTuesdayeve- spokesperson. Solana’sannouncement followedthefail- to hurttheSerbs,”saidKevinBacon,Pentagon launch atanopportunetimeandwethinkthatit’sgoing that the secretary-general (of NATO) has the power to […] “Wehaveplansforarapidandsevereaircampaign province of Kosovo. which isresponsibleforsouthernSerbia,includingthe General NebojsaPavkovic,CommanderoftheThirdArmy, to forcewithallthemeansatitsdisposal,”declared normal dailyactivities.”TheYugoslavarmy“willrespond gets willnotbetargeted.Itisimportanttocontinueyour television. “Webelieve[…]thatcitizensandciviliantar- damage,” PrimeMinisterMomirBulatovicannouncedon on the ground in order to avoid and reduce losses and imminent war),armyandpoliceunitshavebeendeployed of emergencyorastatewar.“Inviewthedanger(of stitution, this measure precedes the declaration of state state ofdangerfromimminentwar.Accordingtothecon- London. InBelgrade,theYugoslavgovernmentdeclareda plan, saidBritishDefenceMinisterGeorgeRobertsonin unless PresidentMilosevicagreestotheKosovopeace Wednesday night.Thestrikeswillcommence will relyoncruisemissiles,maybeginTuesdayor According tothediplomats,massiveairstrikes,which meeting with NATO’s Council (of ambassadors). prolong thehumanitariandisaster,”saidSolanaafter Serbian forcesinKosovoandtoweakentheirability Its goal is to stop the violent attacks perpetrated by the support theinternationalcommunity’spoliticalobjectives. Yugoslavia,” said Solana. “This military action aims to Clark, tolaunchairoperationsintheFederalRepublicof of thealliedforcesinEurope,AmericanGeneralWesley ance. “Ijustgaveinstructionstothesupremecommander bombing inagreementwiththe19membersofalli- evening thathehadgiventheordertolaunchaerial NATO Secretary-GeneralJavierSolanaannouncedTuesday Extract: March 1999(in French). Holbrooke Mission,’ ’NATO toLaunchAirStrikesafterFailureof AFP (France),Brussels,24 - the SecondWorld War.” “changes thenatureofinternationalorderinheritedfrom that hadnotcommittedanyaggressionoutsideitsborders that thethreatofNATOmilitaryactionagainstacountry Russia’s “firm opposition” toanyNATOairstrike.Hesaid Before flyingbacktoMoscow,Primakovhadreaffirmed ed againstpresentinganamendmentopposingairstrikes. to takemilitaryaction.Atthelastminute,theyhaddecid- planning tosubmitaresolutionauthorisingthepresident action. SenateRepublicansannouncedthattheywere the White House to ask them to support possible military morning, ClintonhadreceivedCongressionalleadersat Milan Milutinovic. “We could never accept that.” In mid- no moreSerbia”intheprovince,saidSerbianPresident soldiers. TheywillruleoverKosovoandtherewouldbe force inKosovo.“They’replanningtosend28.000armed unanimously againstthedeploymentofaforeignmilitary On Tuesdayevening,theSerbianParliamentvotednearly strikes. to returnimmediatelyMoscowduetheimminentair a flight to the United States, turned around mid-Atlantic in Kosovo.”RussianPrimeMinisterYevgenyPrimakov,on make peace,we’rereadytolimithisabilitywar said the president. If President Milosevic “doesn’t want to to usemilitaryforce,butifwehavedoit,I’llit,” Americans topreparethemfortheairstrikes.“Idon’tlike President BillClintonduringa(televised) speech to operationally prepared. section was making everyefforttoensure itwas massive influxofrefugees intoGreece,theGreek conducted byNATO.Because ofthepossibilitya that theywouldnottake part inanymilitaryaction sible arrivalofrefugeesat theirborderandstated The Greekauthoritieswere preparingforthepos- President Slobodan Milosevic. of reformerswhoarepoliticalopponentsYugoslov parliament inPodgorica.Montenegroisledbyateam were scheduledtospeakWednesdaytheMontenegrin Milo Djukanovic,andthePrimeMinister,FilipVujanovic, of ‘imminentwardanger’.ThePresidentMontenegro, a stateofemergencyafterTuesday’sdeclaration decided nottoacceptanydecisionbyBelgradedecree with Serbia, forms the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, also newspaper Vijesti, the government of Montenegrowhich, Montenegrin pressannouncedWednesday.Accordingthe the use ofits civilian facilities by the Yugoslav army, the tory foranyconfrontationwithinternationalforcesand Montenegro hasdecidedtoprohibittheuseofitsterri- Extract: 1999 (inFrench). ’ (France), Podgorica(Yugoslavia)24March Montenegro DistancesItselffromBelgrade,’ AFP

83 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

to happen, the bombings, etc? I called MSF Athens and they told me that they were preparing for something [an inter- ’Greece Strengthens Border Surveillance, says vention in Greece]. Minister,’ AFP (France), Athens, 24 March 1999 (in French). Antonis Rigas, Logistician, MSF Greece (in French).

Extract: Greece has “strengthened surveillance” of its borders, fearing the arrival of a wave of refugees following the air strikes against Serbia planned by NATO, said Defence UNHCR had announced the evacuation of all per- Secretary Dimitris Apostolakis on Wednesday. “We have sonnel from United Nations humanitarian agencies. taken law enforcement measures, and armed forces have Some members of the MSF team were evacuating to been sent to the borders,” said Apostolakis, during an Macedonia. In addition to the ICRC staff, the three interview at a private radio station in Athens. An autho- remaining MSF volunteers were the only agencies rep- rised source said that the Greek authorities were plan- resenting a humanitarian presence in Kosovo. ning to set up refugee camps in north-western Greece at Pella, Florina, Kozani, Ioannina, Kilkis, and Larisa in coordination with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “Greece is carefully following the situation and All UN Personnel Evacuated from Kosovo,’ AFP, is ready for any eventuality,” noted Apostolakis, adding (France), Geneva, 24 March 1999 (in French). ’ that “all necessary measures have been taken.” Apostolakis reiterated that Athens “will not take part in Extract: NATO military operations” against Serbia. It will “only All personnel of UN humanitarian organisations have been participate in a peacekeeping force in the event of a evacuated from Kosovo due to the imminent NATO air strikes, political agreement,” he said. He specified, however, that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced Greece has provided “facilities” to the NATO forces “in Wednesday. Represent-atives of UNHCR, the World Food the framework of international agreements.” The defence Programme (WFP), and UNICEF left the separatist province secretary said he wanted “Greece [to] keep its distance Tuesday evening at the request of the UN security coordina- from this whole affair” and he described the statements tor, according to UNHCR spokespersons. UNHCR had eight of US President Bill Clinton and German Foreign Minister expatriates in Kosovo. A small number of essential person- Joschka Fischer that Greece and Turkey might be encour- nel stayed in Belgrade. “We’re going to see what happens,” aged to join the conflict, as “exaggerated.” said spokesperson Judith Kumin. UNHCR had no information Wednesday morning about a possible influx of refugees to Albania and Macedonia, the two most accessible countries, Kumin said. Kosovars had tried to reach Macedonia at the ‘Kosovo Evolutions,’ Email from Tzanetos beginning of the week but were denied entry by Macedonian Antypas, MSF Greece Programme Manager to authorities, who demanded visas. Thierry Durand, MSF CH Directors of Operations, 26 March 1999 (in English). Skopje promised UNHCR on Tuesday that Kosovars eligible for entry could take refuge in Macedonia in the future, said Extract: Kumin. The UN agency is waiting to see if Skopje keeps its Dear Thierry […], commitment. She had no information Wednesday morn- Following the last developments, and since the situation ing on movements of the population to the Macedonian in Kosovo continues to be ‘explosive’, without us knowing border. The border with Albania is difficult to cross. The the next steps of the raids [NATO air strikes], the Greek Yugoslav army created a control zone and it has reportedly section of MSF is prepared to address any crisis, as we are laid land mines in the area. Adding to the difficulty, is the the closest to this situation. mountainous terrain, said UNHCR.

As for PR for the programmes in Greece (programmes within our borders), I believe that it falls under my authority to prepare the Greek section to deal with the refugee ’Kosovo News,’ Email from Bastien Vigneau, influx that may occur in Greece. Such a preparation means MSF Belgium Deputy Programme Manager, 25 that will have to carry out some activities in case of influx March 1999 (in French). of refugees so that we will be able to defuse the crisis. Extract: - Since Tuesday afternoon, the team in Pristina is still reduced to three persons (HOM and 2 doctors). - Yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 24/3) Tim (HOM) was On 24 March, I was on holiday. And, I was pretty able to find a Serb translator and went to the police to 84 worried like everyone else in Greece. What was going confirm MSF is staying in Pristina. arrested, questioned andbrought back tothe border. to know if we had heard of him. Some journalists were told himtheyhadlosttheircorrespondent.Theywanted call in the night. Last night at 3 AM, CNN called Tim and World, etc.).Hewillturnoffhisphonebecausethey [...] Timreceivesalotofjournalists’ calls (CNN,BBC - - - And Montenegro! Novi Sad (Vojvodina -northofBelgrade) Kragujevac (central Serbia) Pristina (Kosovo) Pancevo (near Belgrade) - - - IN KOSOVO ------GENERAL Extract: human/logistical support to MSFH forthis explo. with that.Aswealreadystartedtheexplo,willgive mission. For us, and the team, there is no problem [MSFH] willgotoMacedoniaandtakeovertheexplo Montenegro andthatafterdiscussionwithMSFF,they MSF HinformedusthatMSFFistryingtoreturn in theDrenica as yet.[...] are readytobeused.Nocountrysidemovementsforecast hospital togetanupdateoncasualties.Thesurgerykits This morningtheteamistryingtocontact/reach everything remained quiet. Yugoslav armywaspresentwithtanksinthestreets,and in thecityitselfbuttherewasnopowercity, The team’sbiggestconcernwastheoutbreak of fighting Different places weretargeted by NATO: ings ofPristinayesterdayataround20:30localtime. The teamheardthefirstmissileshittingsurround- in Kosovo. MSF andICRCarethe2onlyinternational organisations Albanian villages in thefield.This morningweheardSerbshelling Kosovar Seems retaliationincreased towards KosovarAlbanians intensification in thecoming days morning confirmsairstrikes onPristinawithpossible Interpretation of our discussion with NATO officer this border after declarations. trolled. Somejournalistshavebeingbroughtbacktothe International press systematicallymonitored andcon- closed by force) No freedomofexpressionallowed(oppositionradio Serbs (especially towards expats from NATO countries) A verystrong‘anti-foreigner’feelinggrowingamong Albanians and militaries,notmentioningthefearsofKosovar There isaseriousincreaseoftensionsamongcivilians to fight for theirpositions There isstrongdeterminationFromNATO,Serbs,andUCK night Stronger bombinginYugolastnightandduringthe Kosovo Update, 26 March1999(inEnglish). put acoupleof missilesintothecentre, into thepolice be bombing positions outside of Pristina. And then, they started and I think the first couple of nights it seemed to And, then there was just a silence. Then the bombing And, Isaid:“You’renotgoing tobombPristina,areyou?” words. So he said “I just wanted to check where you are.” with everybodyelse.”Hewas fairlycircumspectwithhis Brussels, I’m from NATO, you guys are going to evacuate appropriate response is. And wewerereactingaccordingly;decidedwhatan another go?Whatistherightoperationaldecisionhere?” we leave,shouldnotleave?Shouldonestay, each oftheoperationalsectionsthatwereinvolved.“Should Jean-Marie theInternationalSecretary,andPresidentof ously discussedthatwiththeappropriatepeople-theOD’s, was reallytoensurethesecurityofMSFteam.Iobvi- it wouldbeprudentforMSFtoremoveourexpatriates.It but thatwaswhathetellingme.Iinformed ------[...]MSF (non) actions - - Brussels on Monday Bas willtakeover,andmovefromBarcelonato to beexpelled by authorities. Too many,nomorejournalistsinPristina,toohighrisks Tim isnotansweringtojournalists’callssincelastnight. Pristina. therefore verylittleinformationonthesituationout Obviously no possibilities to go to the field. We have were well treated. arrested bypoliceandwehadtogothepost.We Contact withthehospitalyesterday-we’vebeen lators. Morale isgood. little communication abilities as we have no Serb trans- Our staffisstayingathome/office(samestreet),very house was ‘shaking.’ Last nightstrongershellingonPristina.Timreportedthe exchanging info, analysis, etc. using the cars in Pristina. Both teams work together in ICRC & MSF completely isolated, no possibilities for some executions took place (??) In Gjakovac it wasreportedthatasurgeon killed and looted In Pecitwasreportedthatourwarehousehadbeen James Orbinsky, President MSF International Council said withanAmericanaccent:“I’mcallingfrom the bigevacuation.Theguyphonedmyofficeand I thinkNATOwasquitebizarre.Wehadacallbefore a fewdays.Hedidn’tactuallyusethoseexactwords know thatthebombingsweregoingtobeginwithin Somebody fromNATOactuallycalledmetolet (in English).

85 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

security building by the stadium. The three of us were bar- According to the OSCE, 70,000 Kosovars have arrived in ricaded in the centre of the house with the windows covered northeastern Albania since Saturday and ‘waves’ of refu- up and everything. We were in contact with the local staff, gees continue to flood in. According to UNHCR, an esti- the Albanians. I think couple of them came just to check mated 30,000 Kosovars have arrived in the Kukes region in and exchange information about the situation. But, then northern Albania since Saturday afternoon, but the exodus everybody was just in their houses terrified. So we went into continues. Some 4,000 an hour are arriving in Albania, town try to speak to the authorities, try to get access. It according to NATO. didn’t really go anywhere. We also went to say: “Hey, we’re to provide assistance to you, we would like to get access to The government of Montenegro reports that 10,000 Drenica, but we recognise that the bombing is going on and refugees had arrived by week’s end in the Pec region you have casualties and medical needs.” (western Kosovo) in addition to the 25,000 already there. I had been asking them: “Can you guarantee our depar- Montenegro which, with Serbia, forms Yugoslavia, was ture to Macedonia?” It was the quickest way out. I think already sheltering 20,000 refugees from Kosovo before two hours you could be down there. And, up to that point the start of the NATO air strikes. Between 15,000 and they said “yes, you’d be able to leave.” After, they hit the 20,000 Kosovar refugees are heading toward Macedonia, centre of Pristina, particularly the security building. Our according to a statement by Macedonian Foreign Minister main contact, the security building guy was actually in Aleksander Dimitrov in Berlin on Monday. the basement and injured his arm. And then they said we couldn’t go anywhere. Things had been turned up a level. The Romanian government said it had taken measures to So, that was when ourselves and ICRC (who had some of receive between 3,000 and 4,000 Kosovars. Italy and the their accommodation attacked), moved to the Grand Hotel Czech Republic have indicated that they are also willing in the centre of town. to receive refugees. According to NATO, more than half a million Kosovar Albanians have been displaced within Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in the province since the beginning of Serbian operations to Kosovo June 1998 to April 1999 (in English). repress the population. […]

“The NATO bombings have caused about a thousand civilian deaths in Yugoslavia,” said Russian Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev on Monday, as quoted by the Itar-Tass news service. The number of civilian deaths is 10 times higher MSF BEGINS ITS OPERATIONAL than the number of soldiers killed in the NATO bombings, DEPLOYMENT AROUND KOSOVO said the Russian minister. Yugoslav Information Minister Milan Komnenic declared in Belgrade that the bombings of the past few days had resulted in ‘numerous civilian casualties’ and major damage. NATO has not provided any report or estimate on this issue. On 29 March, NATO, OSCE, Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro announced the arrival of tens of thousands of Kosovar refugees in countries bordering Kosovo. On 30 March 1999, UNHCR announced that more than ‘Hundreds of thousands of people may flee, says 90,000 Albanians had left Kosovo since the beginning [UN]HCR,’ AFP (France), Geneva, 30 March of the air strikes, driven out by a systematic campaign 1999 (in French). of ethnic cleansing. The refugees arriving in Albania and Montenegro confirm that they had been subjected Extract: to violent attacks. More than 90,000 ethnic Albanians have left the Yugoslav province since the beginning of the NATO strikes six days ago. This influx brings to 550,000, or more than one-quarter of the total population of Kosovo, the number of peo- ’Parties to Conflict Assess Air Strikes,’ AFP ple driven from their homes, both refugees and displaced (France), Paris, 29 March 1999 (in French). persons, since the beginning of the conflict between independence fighters and Serbian forces one year ago, Extract: said UNHCR spokesperson Kris Janowski. “We’re witness- REFUGEES: ing a very, very serious crisis of refugees” fleeing toward Around 10.000 Kosovar Albanians were headed to the Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia, he said. Albania has Albanian border Monday afternoon, joining more than taken in more than 60,000 people over the past few days, 60,000 refugees from the Serbian province who had Montenegro, 20,000, and Macedonia, 9,000. already reached the border, according to Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko. “The situation is catastrophic and “People continue to flee to these countries by the hour. more refugees keep coming,” he told AFP. Most of the The influx could reach tens to hundreds of thousands of 86 refugees are in the Kukes region (north-eastern Albania). new refugees, depending on how the situation develops requests to be included in missions to theregion. the Greeksection,whichhadbeenmakingrepeated coordinate operationsandintegratevolunteersfrom of operationsthedifferentsectionsweretryingto ent inthesouthernpartofcountry.Thedirectors attempting torepositiontheonethatwasalreadypres- from BrusselstotheKukesregioninAlbania,after Macedonia. TheBelgiansectionwassendingateam volunteers toassessthesituationinAlbaniaand ing a team without visas to Montenegro and sending mission toMacedonia.TheFrenchsectionwassend- The Dutchsectionwasundertakinganexploratory from Kosovo. seminating apressreleaseannouncingMSF’sdeparture Belgrade. The Belgian and French sections were dis- The lastMSFvolunteerswereleavingPristinafor Bosnia (1992-1995),” he said. worst humanitarian disaster (in Europe) since the war in spokesperson. “WeagreewithNATOthatwe’refacingthe bring veryfewpersonaleffects,accordingtotheUNHCR scenes ofexpulsionandviolencehavebeenableto However, thosereachingMontenegroandAlbaniareport been abletobringwiththemtheirpersonalbelongings. talk abouthavingwitnessedatrocitiesandhaveoften said Janowski.RefugeesarrivinginMacedoniadonot ing peoplefromtheirhomesthroughouttheregion,” mitted byparamilitarygroupsthatarebasicallychas- also ofactsviolenceunrelatedtothefighting,com- accounts) isascenarioofexpulsionsandfighting,but he said.“Thescenariothatisemerging(fromrefugee hand reportsoftheatrocitiesattributedtoSerbs, week beforeNATO’smilitaryintervention, has nofirst- UNHCR, whichevacuateditspersonnelfromKosovolast fait accompli is beingcreated”, said Janowski. borders areleftopensothattheycanleave.Asituationof underway, with people chased from their homes while the that averywell-organisedcampaignofethniccleansingis exhausted, traumatizedandterrified,headded.“Wethink in Kosovo”,saidJanowski.Peopleareoftenarriving They arecurrently inSkopje,Macedonia. Overthepast edly looted. Eight MSF volunteers left Pristina last week. MSF warehousesinnorthern Pristina andPecwerereport- ity towardforeignerswasmaking theirworkimpossible. insecurity inandaroundthe cityandthegrowinghostil- head ofmission,leftPristina becausethehighlevelof from Pristina.Theteam,made upofadoctor,nurseand Médecins SansFrontièresvolunteersarrivedinBelgrade Brussels, 30March1999.Yesterdayevening,three Extract: ‘ Belgium, 30 March 1999(inFrench). ’MSF Leaves Kosovo,’ Press release, MSF had already suffered greatly during the war. few daysfurtherworsensthesituationofpopulationsthat extremely precariousconditions.Theexodusofthepast been displacedduetothe hostilities andwereliving in ley. Itisestimatedthatmorethan300,000peoplehad by thefighting,suchasPec,PrizrenandDrenicaval- isolated villagesandatsitesshelteringpeopledisplaced mobile teamshavebeenprovidingmedicalservicesin the beginningofmilitaryoffensiveinFebruary1998, health carenetworkmanagedbylocalassociations.Since providing supporttoofficialmedicalfacilitiesaswella MSF hasbeenworkinginKosovosince1993andhad organisation remaining in Kosovo. edly looted.Thereisnownointernationalhumanitarian northern PristinaandPec(westernKosovo)werereport- Moreover, MédecinsSansFrontièressuppliesstoredin movement intheareaandmadeanyactivityimpossible. The increasinghostilitytoforeignnationalspreventedany still operating in the province to withdraw to Belgrade. insecurity forcedthelastteamofMédecinsSansFrontières evacuate itspersonnelfromPristina,Kosovo.Thegrowing Late yesterdayafternoon,MédecinsSansFrontièreshadto Extract: expanding its activities inthose countries. sible. MSF has teams in Albania and Macedonia and is MSF willdoeverythingitcantoreturnasquicklypos- there arenoforeignhumanitarianpersonnelinKosovo. These servicesended10daysago.Forthetimebeing, provided dailymedicalaidtothedisplacedpopulations. few months,theMSFteamhadsetupmobileclinicsand Although the team in Pristina was not able to travel tion isnow left working in Kosovo. reported tohavebeenlooted. Nohumanitarianorganiza- houses northofPristinaand in thewesterncityofPecare impossible. TheDoctorsWithout Borders’stocksinware- hostility towardforeignersmade anyhumanitarianwork situation inPristina,wheretheywerebased.Increasing withdrawn to Belgrade due to the deteriorating security to leaveKosovo.Thelastteamofthreemembershas Sans Frontières (MSF) yesterday made the decision Brussels/New York:DoctorsWithoutBorders/Médecins Extract: USA, 30March 1999 (inEnglish). Withdraws toBelgrade,’Pressrelease,MSF ’ Evacuates from Kosovo - Last Medical Team

Press Update: Doctors Without Borders March 1999(in French). Province’s BorderRegions.’MSFFrance,30 Evening and is Focusing its Efforts on the Evacuated its Personnel from Kosovo Yesterday ‘Press briefing–MédecinsSansFrontières

87 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

outside of Pristina to assess the situation, it was did not see any refugees. No positioning of material now clear from reports that violence in the province had for MSF, we wait for further developments and info. from increased. Doctors Without Borders continues to be pres- the field teams. It seems that the Macedonian authorities ent in Yugoslavia; teams are currently conducting needs could be ready to receive up to 100,000 refugees on their assessments in Montenegro, as well as in neighboring soil before thinking about transferring people to other Macedonia. A team of eight international aid workers is neighboring countries. preparing to begin aiding the refugees in Albania, and a full charter [cargo airplane] of supplies has been sent. Montenegro: Paris has sent two persons on Saturday with- Health care needs already identified include treatment for out visas via Italy and Croatia; they have arrived in Croatia foot injuries incurred on the long journey from Kosovo, but no more news as of today. Two more persons with water and sanitation supplies, blankets, and nutritional visas will join them today. No direct news from inside. supplements. Doctors Without Borders will seek to return to Kosovo as soon as possible. Albania: MSF B had a regular programme in Fier (south Albania) but no office in Tirana. The team came from the south today to Tirana and is heading this afternoon to Kukes. Persons will be sent asap via Italy to Tirana to Minutes of the Operations Directors’ Tele- reopen the Tirana office and begin proper monitoring. conference on the Kosovo Crisis, 29 March 1999 […] (in English). NATO: Brussels is having regular contacts with them; they more or less encourage MSF not to stay in Serbia-Kosovo. Extract: For the time being no positioning of MSF regarding the Kosovo: MSF (3 staff) decided to evacuate Pristina this NATO operations or the situation in general as access, morning together with ICRC (19 staff), escorted by the direct evaluation, monitoring, and witnessing is impos- Serbian police in a 7 to 9 car convoy. The convoy was sible. heading towards Belgrade and during the teleconf has passed the Kosovo-Serbia border. The team was stranded Athens: Preparation is being made in Greece for a possible in the office, could not get out and assess anything. The flow of refugees to arrive, especially through Macedonia. local staff does not come to the office, and the stores with If it materializes, they will be directly involved. There is drugs and equipment have been looted. No space at all for a strong wish for more implication and involvement from assessments or assistance, the only ones that had some the Greek section in potential activities in the region. possibility were the Yugoslavian Red Cross - until Friday Everybody understands the concern and has no objection, or Saturday (highly political with Mrs Milosevic involved) at the minimum, we should incorporate Greek volunteers when they were looted over the weekend and had their into teams. If an operational activity is beginning in cars commandeered. Northern Albania, Thierry requested a module to be pro- Some brief telephone contacts between the MSF team in posed to Geneva-Athens for this region. Pristina and the local staff in Pec reported a disastrous situation: houses burned, Arcan-like militia activities, 2. Decisions: separation of men and women, possible black list for cer- 1. No operational ‘share’ of the region as of today. In tain wanted people. No direct confirmation. In Pristina, case operational activities begin in a given region, ad hoc there are ‘rumours’ of militia-like Serbian activities, set- discussion and decision will take place. So, for the time ting houses on fire. Situation highly dangerous, no cross being, Brussels for Serbia and Albania, Amsterdam for border thinkable, no humanitarian space. Macedonia, and Paris for Montenegro - have a monitoring and explo mission and reporting role only. Belgrade-Serbia: Only 3 local staff for the moment in 2. Acute info sharing until further and/or different deci- Belgrade, no expats. MSF B will try to send two expats sion by dirops there will be a daily teleconference among tomorrow (non-NATO nationality, maybe Russians). Maybe the dirops - next one being tomorrow Tuesday 30th of Tim from Pristina will remain in Belgrade once they reach March at 13:30. the city. We still have an important stock of drugs and 3. Dircoms must propose for tomorrow, an adequate infor- material there, we are in discussion with the Serbian MoH mation dispatch system for the MSF network having two to provide some materials according to needs assessed. functions: collecting daily information from the different For the time being, no possibility of independent regions (directly through field teams and Programme direct assessment of bombed sites or whatsoever. Managers) for reconciliation and preparation of a daily international sitrep to be dispatched to all 19 sections Macedonia: Approximately 22,000 refugees, as of now, and, attend the dirops teleconf and to take minutes and that go through an IFRC reception center and are settled report orientations from this level to the 19 sections as with families and friends. According to UNHCR-IFRC, if fig- well. TD to inform the Swiss dircom to organise and pro- ures go beyond 50,000 external assistance may be needed, pose a system for tomorrow with his colleagues. but not for the moment. UNHCR with Macedonian authorities seems to have identified potential camp sites if num- 88 bers rise. Last Friday, the MSF team went to the border but Macedonia, preparation ofconditionsto collect stories, Witnessing: Foralltheteams inAlbania,Montenegro, and from the info officers. will berevieweddailyandcommunicated tothenetwork dissemination offieldphone numberstothemedia,that file, nopoliticalstatements at all.Forthetimebeingno in BelgradeontheevacuationfromPristina,butlowpro - full charters)Timmadeafewinterviewsyesterdayevening plan as of today for further press releases ( [like about] noon and can be dispatched by all who wish to do it. No ation fromPristinawillbeissuedBrusselsthisafter - Press comm:Ashortandsimplestatementontheevacu - exist. [...] path nostickersonvehicles,fragilesocialbalancestill by two others. The NGOs locally are on a low visibility persons fromAmsterdamarethereandwillbereinforced potential return to Kosovo and 4 will return to Brussels. 2 Skopje thatwereevacuatedfromPristina,2willstayfor an estimated20,000people.Outofthe6MSFpeoplein port whenandifneededwillprepositionmaterialfor positioning of materials. MSF expressed its wish to sup- centres havebeenidentifiedbyUNHCRbutnosignificant local NGOcalled‘elHillal.’Potentialcollectivereception are accommodatedinfamilies,friends’housesthrougha months cumulativefigureof25.000people.Allthem the refugeesinMacedonia-referringtopasttwo [according to]thefiguresgivenbymedia,TVsabout Macedonia: ’Only’3,000refugeesarrivedyesterday, days. No directinfoas of today’steleconf. sons ormore[fromMSF]willbesentinthecomingtwo have nomoreroomincollectivereceptioncenters.3per- humanitarian aid in the province. It seems that refugees It seemsthattheMontenegroRedCrossis‘controlling’all and someequipmentdrugswillbepositionedthere. ties. AsmallMSFbaseisbeingsetupinDubrovnik(Cro.) trying tobringinsometrucksfromCroatiawithdifficul- (Mont.). CRS,UNHCRareinRojayeanditseemsICRCis in Montenegro(BBC)arereportingtensionPodgoriza arrival yesterday around 1,000/hour. Some journalists Rojave (Mont.)arrivingfromPec(Kosovo)witharateof Info fromUNHCRreportapproximately20,000peoplein that theycouldcrossfromCroatiaintoMontenegro. visas gottheconfirmationfromcustomsandUNHCR Montenegro: Yesterdayeveningtheteamoftwowithout Pec over the phonebutnoreal freedom ofspeech. Belgrade. The team still managed to talk with local staff in material. Theclimateforforeignersremainsdifficultin visiting somestructuresandsupportinmedicines of Health and there might be some access granted for fact thatseemstobeappreciatedbytheSerbianMinistry MSF remainstheonlyhumanitarianagencyinSerbia,a Extract: Crisis –30 March 1999(inEnglish). Minutes ofDiropsTeleconference–Kosovo out oftheirhouses.And,therewereparamilitarycheck there wouldbe suchviolence,tensofthousands ofpeople accreditation in Macedonia.Iguesswedidn’t imaginethat Macedonia. IMCor IRC hadbeenpositioned;theygottheir We shouldhavebeenpositioning peopleinAlbaniaand pattern of internal displacement. We should have foreseen. seen thishappenwithinKosovo. Therewasalreadythis We allgotitwrong.We’ve missed it.Onourside,we’d was becomingclear. scale ofthething,systematicsortSerboperation how they’dbeenforcedoutoftheirhouses.And,thewhole BBC. Shejustlookedsodifferent,destroyed,describing into Macedonia,andshewasdoinganinterviewforthe nurses there.Shewasattheborderandshe’dcomeacross Pristina downto Brazda andthere was one of ourlocal And, Isawthesepeoplewho’dbeenputonthetrainfrom to Brusselsandthenwestartedseethingsveryclearly. months hadstolen[exhausted]everybody.Iwentbackup there. Ithinkthatsortofmountingtensionoverseveral And, thoseguys,theformerteamfrom,Kosovostayed France, Belgium,Hollandetc.Therewassomuchtodo. started tosortofbreakupinto[separatemissionsfor] gone south.OncetheywereinMacedonia,thenthings and Macedonia.TherestoftheKosovoteamhadalready I think that MSF had already started deploying in Albania Budapest. to leave.And,IcaughtabusHungaryandflewout people werestillthere,buteverybodywasjustpackingup went toonecoordinationmeeting.WHOandacoupleof of daysandtherewasnotmuchelsethatwecoulddo.I in centralBelgradeaswell.WewenttotheHiltonacouple other guysleftforHungary.But,thenyouhadthebombs Belgrade…We stayedacoupleofdaysinBelgrade.The went outtheotherwaythroughMitrovicatowards didn’t wantustowitnessthehorrorthatwasgoingon.We etc. Theycouldhaveledusthroughbut,ofcourse,they points wheretheywereabusingpeople;takingtheirmoney, operational purposes. son toMacedoniaandtwopersonsAlbania,butnotfor (contingency plans,figures),Parisdecidedtosend1per- Paris: In order to ’confirm’ the global picture in the region order that they feel fully involved] purposes. operations sitesinthethreeregionsfor‘appropriation’[in made byopscenterstointegrateGreekvolunteersinthe be donethisweek.Itisnecessarythatproactiveefforts Macedonian-Greek border,pre-positioningofmaterialwill Greece: Prepares for potential arrival of people on the Collection and goodcollection conditions areamust.[...] if forthemoment,westillhavenoplanuseofthis. cern, especiallyforrefugeescomingfromPecarea,even experiences, anddebriefing of refugees have tobeofcon- road down to Macedoniawasfull of peopleforced Of coursewhatwelearnedafterwardsisthatthe They said:”Youcan’tgothatwaytoMacedonia.” -

89 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

forced across borders. It’s such a horrible image. These seeing on television every night, people they had been living trains were like some Stalinist or WWII German kind of with. manifestation, and maybe we didn’t believe people could be that nasty. Christopher Stokes, Coordinator, MSF Belgium, in Albania (in French). Tim Boucher, Coordinator MSF Belgium/France in Kosovo June 1998 to April 1999 (in English). The Belgian section took its whole team out of Kosovo, while IMC and MDM kept their teams in the We were slow off the mark because people didn’t area, and returned to Albania much more quickly. believe the strikes would occur, even though there During a teleconference between sections, it was announced had been many warnings. This is also UNHCR’s argu- that Gabriel and Stephan were prepared to go and help out ment - the lack of instant readiness. The strikes began right the team in Albania. In fact, we arrived in Albania a few before a weekend, and we lost the weekend. But still, I hours before Christopher Stokes and the fresh Kosovo volun- wonder why we weren’t ready and on the border right away. teers who had been back to Brussels. We met the team from At that time we already had a long-term mission in southern the Belgian section, which was working on a long-term Albania. I well remember saying: “Why didn’t we send in a programme at a hospital in southern Albania. That team team right away? There would have been five people there; was totally focused on its long-term project and was unable it would have made a difference.” But they arrived too late. to go into emergency mode. There was no transportation And UNHCR did the same thing. planned to get to the border where the refugees were. Most of the vehicles had already been taken by other NGOs or Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, journalists. As a result, we arrived long after the other NGOs. MSF International Council (in French). We joined Christopher’s team and gradually made our way toward the border, taking taxis. It was all rather complicated. We helped the teams do explorations and set up At the beginning, we were counting on the team treatment centers. that was already in Albania, but that didn’t really work. They were people who didn’t have experience Stephan Oberreit , MSF France exploratory mission in emergency situations. We knew there was a problem, but officer to Albania (in French). we underestimated how quickly things would develop, and also, in the specific case of Albania, we were too compliant with the authorities in general. So we sent a team on an exploratory mission. It wasn’t easy. It created some tension, because the kind of intervention required was contrary to We also decided to send an exploratory mission to what the government wanted. It posed some risk to the Albania and Macedonia, to get our own overview of existing project, which was a project to support the hospital the situation. I had a bit of a disagreement with my col- in Fier, and this meant maintaining very good relations with leagues, the directors of operations. They asked me: “What the authorities. And suddenly, another MSF team arrived are you going to do with two volunteers in Macedonia and needing to take immediate action, without taking the time Albania — especially in Albania?” I told them “I’m sending to reach agreements or obtain permits. people to find out what’s really going on.” Stephan Oberreit and Gabriel Salazar were the ones who went to Albania. Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, They were working with the team from MSF Belgium, helping MSF Belgium (in French). them get their emergency operation under way, and we in Paris were able to have an overview of what was happening during the crisis, thanks to people who’s capacities we knew I think MSF made an operational error by not offer- — people we could trust. ing to send the team members leaving Kosovo [onwards] to Albania. We didn’t have the logistical Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, support or the volunteers. Six of us arrived with a small MSF France (in French). seaplane. It took time to set things up. Actually, if the team had left Kosovo with vehicles, and if we had sent it on to Albania, we might have got to a better operational position in fewer days. It’s possible to go from Macedonia to Albania. You have to go through the south. I’ve done it before. But We took the political decision not to work in the they told me: “We thought the team members had been camps, because we didn’t want to work with the strongly affected by what they’d been through and we didn’t military. We chose to work in Montenegro, because want to put them back into this context, we preferred to we knew NATO was not operating there and that would avoid bring them out.” But I talked to the expats themselves. confusion and allow us to feel a little more at home. We They felt terribly uncomfortable about leaving the area. weren’t going into Albania either, because a team from MSF 90 They just wanted to go back and help the people they were Belgium was already working there. Gabriel and Stéphan had sections to sendvolunteers to Macedonia and Albania. ‘the forcing’ with those responsible for the different of operationalsections.Heacknowledgeshavingdone set anexamplethatwouldresultinamultiplication letting theGreeksectionbecomeoperationalwould reproduced verbatim-theMSFmovementfearedthat who wasinterviewedbutdeniedthathiscommentsare According tothepresidentofMSFGreeceattime- and headedupbythatsection’sdirectorofoperations. tional centrethatwasrunjointlywithMSFSwitzerland had beenexpanding its activitiesthrough an opera- attempts with other sections, for the previous year it the MSFmovement.Afteranumberofunsuccessful my oftheGreeksectionhadneverbeenacceptedby from Greeksociety.However,theoperationalautono- geographic proximityandthepressuretheywereunder involved inoperationstheBalkansbecauseoftheir of the Greek section argued that they should be more teams interveninginthecrisisKosovo,heads Despite effortstointegrateGreekvolunteersintoMSF region, andwe started ourinterventionatRozaje. At thatpoint,refugeesfromKosovoarrivedthePec exploration didn’t go well. We very quickly sent more people. disturbances; therewerefederalforceseverywhere.Their from CroatiabecauseMontenegrowasexperiencingalotof strikes hadalreadybegun.Theyhesitated.calledme and thenontoMontenegroattheendofMarchwhen through Croatia.ThefirstexploratoryteamwenttoCroatia them via Belgradelike the first team, we sentthemall visa viaCroatia.”Wetried,andthistime,insteadofsending Montenegro toldme:“Giveitatry,youcangetinwithout were signingtradeagreements.PeopleIknewinside exploratory mission.Atthattime,CroatiaandMontenegro stayed incontactwithMontenegroanddecidedtosendan too, wemadeafirmdecisionnottoworkinthecamps.I aged bytheSaudiarmyorsomeotherarmy.InMacedonia after that.Butwewouldbelocatednexttothecampman reinforce theirnumbers,astheSpanishsectionwoulddo started workingwiththatteam,sowewereabletostay The recent situation in Kossifopedio makes up a big and Dear friends, Extract: the IC, 1-2 April1999(inEnglish). Secretary MSFInternational, andMembersof International, Jean-MarieKindermans, General Greece, JamesOrbinsky,PresidentMSF Nikolopoulou, member of the Board of MSF Email exchangebetween,Konstantina Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager, MSF France (in French). - directors and operational directors.Atthis time,MSF I discussedthese withvarioussectionpresidents, general Wednesday March31,toreview MSFGreece’sperceptions. Greece) onSundayMarch28, onMondayMarch29,and role: I spoke with Odysseus Boudouris (President of MSF Regarding MSFGreece,and its needtohaveanactive with the crisis. tive system of coordination forthemovement in dealing Thus, thereisatthistime,aclear,transparentandeffec - are alsosharing information, resources andexpatriates. movement, includingMSFGreece.Teamsontheground and jointsituationreportgoingtoallofficesintheMSF Finally, there is adailyreport of boththeteleconference directors whenready,andanappropriatedecisionmade. will bereviewedbyalloperationsdirectorsandgeneral regarding theongoinghumanitarianissuesandcrisis.This a possiblepublicpositionthatMSFcanorshouldtake MSF Spainistoday,preparingadraftanalysisregarding week, and which will continue). centres (whichhavebeentakingplacedailyforoverone coordinating dailyteleconferencesamongalloperational either Belgradeorsurroundingregions.MSFSwitzerlandis Kosovo proper,thereisanactiveefforttore-entervia with exploratorymissionsandoperationalactivities.In France areactiveinAlbania,MacedoniaandMontenegro over oneweek.Atthistime,MSFBelgium,Hollandand sections of MSFisin place, andhas been inplacefor A clearprocedurefortheco-ordinationofdifferent tion, fundingandmostofalltheengagementexpats. active role. This concerns the circulation of informa- which isdefactoimplicatedinthiscrisis,tohavean Finally, yousaythatitisnecessaryfortheGreekSection, the area of Kosovo. for the co-ordination of the different sections of MSF in it isnecessarytodefine,withoutdelay,aclearprocedure required ofMSFataninternationallevel.Youalsosaythat cance, andthataneffectivecoordinatedresponseis Balkans isofmajorhumanitarianandpoliticalsignifi- ter, yourightlyidentifythatthecrisisunderwayin received this morning (see copy below). In your let- Firstly, thankyouforyourletterofMarch31,whichI Dear Board of MSFGreece: Greece Konstantina Nikolopoulou,memberoftheBoardMSF of expats. information, thefundingandmostofallengagement to haveanactiverole.Thisconcernsthecirculationof Greek section,whichisdefactoimplicatedinthiscrisis, of MSFintheareaKosovo.Itisalsonecessaryfor procedure forthecoordinationofdifferentsections Therefore, it is necessary to define without delay, a clear internal malfunctioning. suffering, toundergooncemore,theconsequencesof our organisationasawholeandthepopulationsthatare tion ininternationallevel.Itwouldbeunacceptablefor tragedy, MSFneedstoactimmediatelyandwithcoordina- end soon.Torespondwithresultsinthishumanitarian complex crisiswhich,unfortunately,doesnotseemto

91 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Greece has an active role with three expatriates working with MSF Belgium in Albania, and two expatriates who are today conducting an exploratory mission in Skopje under Unlike the US or Japanese sections, which were cre- the auspices of MSF Holland. ated to raise funds, MSF Greece wasn’t founded as a All sections of MSF - as a humanitarian movement - are result of an external impetus. It was created by de facto implicated in this crisis. All sections in the former volunteers in Sotiris’ kitchen. Historically, they had a movement are looking for ways to place both private and certain legitimacy; they set up their office. Their desire to institutional funds that are available for them. As well, all be operational was a problem for everyone. The French had sections are deeply aware of the need to remain focused tried to include them [in their section], as had the Spanish. on our humanitarian objectives and to avoid these being At the time, they had set criteria for allowing them to used by any party to the conflict for their own political become operational, thinking that they would never achieve purposes. This is, as always a difficult challenge; them. But they had achieved them, so as far as they were […] James Orbinski, President, MSF International Council concerned, it was legitimate for them to become an operational centre. They kept on fighting for that. It was highlighted when Philippe Biberson [President of MSF France from 1994 to 2000] declared that all sections were meant, I learned about MSF in 1979 when I was attending eventually, to become operational. I remember that Odysseas secondary school I was in France. I saw them on TV, had put a copy of that statement up in his office. and I wrote down the address and started writing to So at that time, they undertook operations under another them. In 1981, I went back to Greece to go to university. I name. They had created an artificial NGO that was inde- was living in Athens, and attended the MSF General pendent of MSF. And, they were conducting operations that Assembly every year in France. Then I started going to the they funded under a different name, in Palestine and in Belgian and Dutch sections’ General Assemblies. By 1988, I Georgia, for example. When I proposed a common opera- was a doctor, and I went to El Salvador on a very political tional centre for MSF Switzerland and MSF Greece, I went to mission. I knew all the leaders of MSF and I kept telling a meeting in Brussels with the general directors who were them we needed to create an MSF section in Greece. After to approve the Swiss section’s new supervisory role with the the MSF France General Assembly in 1989, they said to me: Greek section. Eric Gomaere, the Executive Director of MSF “MSF Greece? All by yourself? What will we do in Greece?” Belgium at the time, was a bit cautious. He said to me: “I’ll And they gave me four or five pieces of advice: “The medical go along with this set-up. But we’ve had quite a time with community needs to be informed about it; you need to find the Greeks. So if you get a sense that things are about to volunteers who will go into the field; you need to get media go off the rails, be sure to tell us.” exposure so that people know about you. You’re on your own I had some sympathy for those guys: they were fighters, - see what you can do.” So I spent two years going to uni- and they’d set up their own association. For the first few versities and speaking to medical associations. I found vol- months, I believed in what they were doing because they unteers and sent them out with MSF France. Gradually, we were motivated. I went to Athens one week out of every developed a group of four or five people with MSF training month for eight months to try to get things going. I had and experience. I talked to the media, as did the doctors tried to get some people from my network to go, but that who joined us. And in May 1990, the International Council didn’t work. I couldn’t find any volunteers to go and work of MSF gave us the go-ahead. There were five of us. in Athens. I became less and less sure about their cause. I In 1994, after the Belgian and Dutch veto [at the wanted to put them in charge of managing the programmes International Council, the Belgian and Dutch sections voted in Bulgaria and Liberia. But that would mean creating a against giving the Greek section operational autonomy, and real desk with reliable people. I couldn’t find a programme the Spanish section was given responsibility for its opera- head. There were internal conflicts everywhere. Even within tions], I thought: “Five years of stagnation! And we could MSF Switzerland I was having problems, because they didn’t end up going through another five. That’s it, I want to leave.” want to transfer any programmes to Athens. The further And I started getting ready to leave. In 1995, I found some- along we got, the more I realized that it wasn’t working. one for the position of executive director and was looking for When the crisis erupted in Kosovo, Odysseas started putting someone to be president. But, the situation was so bad at a lot of pressure on me: “You know, it’s right next to us, the time that no one was willing to take the position: “We it really involves us … No one is more guilty than anyone can’t work with people from outside the country. They set else… we have to be visible for Greek society,’ etc. I, in up roadblocks and veto our decisions.’ Things weren’t going turn, put a lot of pressure on the Belgians to include Greek very well with the Spanish; they weren’t progressing very well volunteers in their teams in Kosovo. Then we gave them because they were facing their own crisis. And we wanted our the opportunity to finance MSF Belgium’s operations in the own operations too. So we were continually at loggerheads. Balkan region. After that, I had to divert a cargo plane to We had had enough. Finally, I chose Odysseas as a candidate Thessalonica that was heading from Brussels to Pristina for president. I said: “Here’s a guy who will give them what so that we could take photos of it to provide publicity for [they asked] for, he’ll really let them have it.” MSF in Greece. It was at the limit of what I could defend in terms of operational efficiency. But it was never enough Sotiris Papaspyropoulos, Honorary President, for Odysseas. I was constantly getting this pressure, these 92 MSF Greece (in French). demands, especially from him, regarding the visibility of the with whom they had more immediate ties. society, promptingthemtoprovideassistancepeople took apositionthatseemedtocorrespondofGreek Balkans. Fromourpointofview,theGreeksectionalways were working with teams from other sections. Skopje andalsoinAlbania,butthroughvolunteerswho the biggestGreekNGOsweren’tthere.MSFGreecewasin Greek NGOswereinKosovo,Skopje,hereandthere.But All GreecehadbeeninformedthatIdon’tknowhowmany to MSFGreeceandHolland.ThenIwentbackAthens. to assessthesituationandneeds.Igaveallmyinformation Skopje. Hewasanoldfamilyfriend.ThenIwenttoTetovo during thenight.IhadaGreekinterpreterwholivedin an absolutedisaster.Theyhadlosttwoorthreebabies pated in the firstmeetings to see what we could do. It was cians IhadalreadygottoknowinBurundi,andpartici- survey, andshe was to workwitharepresentative of MSF Francewas putinchargeofcoordinating the by all the operations directors. A legal advisor from accordingly. OnMarch301999, theplanwasadopted stand whytheywerefleeing andadaptouroperations collecting informationfrom refugeesinordertounder- The Frenchsection’sKosovo crisiscelldecidedtobegin there.” in Greece.Hewouldargue,forexample: “MDM Greeceis Greek sectionintheKosovocrisis,toimprovetheirposition Switzerland/MSF Greece Operational Centre (in French). Antonis Rigas, Logistician, MSF Greece (inFrench). tion inAlbania;theywantedtobeallpartsofthe There had also been discussions around the interven- We hadknownitwascomingforaverylongtime. MSF sections.IfoundsomeDutchpeople,logisti- midwife. I was going to get in touch with the other I wenttoSkopjeinanMSFvehiclewithavolunteer EYEWITNESS STATEMENTS MSF STARTS COLLECTING Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, MSF Thierry Durand, Director of OperationsMSF FROM REFUGEES International (in French). Macedonia. MSF in Kosovo. A communications officer was sent to discussed theconditionsforapossibleinterventionby the operationsdirectorsandprogrammemanagers the methodology.Duringtheirdailyteleconferences, Epicentre, MSF’s epidemiology satellite, to develop of the various refugeegroups with regardto: analysed (atheadquarters) inordertoobtain anoverview pieces ofinformationwillgo directlytoMSF.Theywillbe confidentiality of the refugees’ stories. All the individual in atransparentwaythe field,whileprotectingthe da. Informationgatheringmust thereforebeconducted statements, inaclimateofdisinformation andpropagan- dent informationthatwecanusewhenmakepublic This workisalsoessentialtoprovideMSFwithindepen - trauma they are suffering from […]. programmes totheprecarioussituationtheyfaceand ter understandingoftheirstoriesinordertoadaptour group, and departure dates. It is important to get a bet- fled under conditions that varydepending on the region, in order to understand what they need. Refugees have It isimportanttoknowwhatpeoplehavebeenthrough understanding ofthesituationfacedbythispopulation. tion gatheringprocessistoprovideMSFwithabetter refugees tothefieldteams.Thegoalofthisinforma- Please passthisinformationcollectionformforKosovo Extract: will be askedtodecidemethodology of story collection. Macedonia. FrançoisSaulnier[LegaladvisorMSFFrance] stories and next week stories will be collected from On Friday,apressofficerwillbedispatchedtocollect Overall consensusforMSFtoclarifyactionandstrategy. Conclusion: Anagreementmustbereachedbyeveryone. future actions. The timingofMSFre-entryintoKosovoisfundamentalfor the momentthereisnopointtakingsuchasecurityrisk. However, others felt that despite this positive intention at ties asthiswouldbeawayofportrayingimpartiality. tant thingtoestablishrelationswithSerbianauthori- there wasasplitfeeling;somethinkthatitisanimpor- or notMSFshouldgobackintoKosovo.Amongst“callers,” is believedthatrefugeeswillgo.Needtoconfirmwhether Antonis RigasistouringsitesinNorthernGreecewhereit Greece Extract: Shannon, MSF Brussels, April 1 Minutes fromThursdayTeleconference,Ciara France Legal Advisor, 2 April 1999 (in French). Balkans,’ ‘Information GatheringonRefugeesinthe English). Email fromFrançoiseSaulnierMSF st

1999 (in

93 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

- Sex ratios Congo in 19978 to cross-check retrospective mortality and - Conditions under which they left their homes (were they testimony collection methods, with smaller samples. deported or did they flee?) Vincent Brown from Epicentre and I decided to do an epi- - The specific experiences of the population in the differ- demiological study, although the objectives of the study ent regions of Kosovo. had very little to do with medicine. We made up an epide- The sheet will be used as an interview guide. Interviews miological questionnaire. We set up a mapping system. We will be recorded on blank paper, using the question num- would ask a standard set of questions to a certain number bers from the sheet. The family names and given names of people. Then, with every tenth person interviewed, we of those interviewed will be recorded on a separate docu- would go further into their family history. We had learned ment, along with the corresponding interview number (or from experience not to accept stories of violations that initials). were told to us spontaneously, but to choose the people we interviewed, and not to ask them to tell us about all the atrocities they had seen, but just to tell us the story of their own families. Otherwise, if 100,000 people see a dead body on the side of the road, you end up with 100,000 dead When the crisis began, we were very well aware that bodies! At the same time, this method allowed us to deal we were involved in a propaganda situation, in a war with people in a more human, less sensationalised way. It our countries were involved in. Graziella had worked also gave more credibility to the facts than an individual in Bosnia, and I had begun in 1991 with Vukovar, so we story would. Because we could also find plenty of tragic knew the whole story. We remembered that in this region, stories just by going out into the streets of Paris at night atrocities aren’t just the products of people’s imagination. — enough to fill a report — but those stories wouldn’t be And we were very much aware of the possibility that people representative of what a given population had experienced. would try to feed us misinformation and manipulate us. We So we couldn’t just take any stories we heard. We needed to wanted to be sure to have as much of our own information have a sample that was representative, randomly selected, as possible, information we ourselves had gathered so that etc. We went into the transit center, divided it into 20 by we could be more or less certain about what was happening. 20 squares, and estimated how many people there were per From the time the strikes began, when the population 20 by 20 square. If there were 30, for example, we would movements started, MSF had already positioned resources in decide to take 1 in 5. And from these people selected at ran- preparation for its operations. I proposed that we set up an dom on the 20 by 20 squares, we would get something like information gathering programme with the people who were a representative sample. If we just interviewed the people on the move so that we could understand why they were who were waiting in line at the health center, we would only moving, and what kind of violence they had been subjected have people who were injured, which would not be represen- to in the interior. We were well aware that the Serbs would tative. Or if we only chose the obstetric emergency group, claim that people were moving because of the strikes. But we would only have women who had had miscarriages, but there is also such a thing as mass panic, which we are very that wouldn’t mean that the whole population of Kosovo familiar with. So we didn’t want to go in with any precon- had had miscarriages! ceived ideas, or assume the worst, and then set about to I didn’t approach this strictly as a legal expert, nor did convince ourselves that the worst had taken place. Nor did Vincent approach it strictly as an epidemiologist. What we want to underestimate things that might be happening brought us together wasn’t our professions, but our work on a large scale, knowing that we wouldn’t have access to with MSF — the fact that we could see what MSF needed Kosovar territory for a while. and we thought that with our professions, we could make So, we decided to immediately set up an information gath- a contribution by working together. Legal people are quite ering system so that we could be as responsive as possible used to turning to medical experts when dealing with legal in terms of assistance. We didn’t know what people needed, medicine and when medico-legal reports are required. Law but we knew that a humanitarian circus was shaping up. requires evidence, and evidence is scientific. So the two Right away, we started thinking about methodology: exactly approaches are really quite compatible. Epidemiologists what type of information should we gather? How? From want very short yes-or-no questions, which limits the risks whom? What was relevant? What kind of information were associated with interpreting and reading the results. They we not interested in? How could we make sure our informa- want results that can be translated into tables and graphs. tion was reliable, cross-check it, and end up with something So they aren’t too keen on questions that give more narra- of sufficient quantity and quality? We had already done tive answers. This is perfectly legitimate, but in the case of a little work with Epicentre, our epidemiology satellite, the refugees from Kosovo, these risks were negligible. Our on Kibeho7 in 1994, and on tracking Rwandan refugees in objective was not to produce tables and graphs, so it worked

8. From November 1996 to the summer of 1997 at least 200,000 Rwandan refugees were hunted and massacred in the forests of Zaire, then Congo, by the rebel forces of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, with the support of the Rwandan Patriotic 7. In April 1995, at least 4000 displaced Rwandans were massacred in the camp of Army. Throughout this exodus, MSF tried to provide assistance to these refugees Kibeho by the troops of the Rwandan Patriotic Army (of the new Rwandan Regime), and to speak out about their fate - facts that were denied by the international in the presence of UN peacekeepers and an MSF team. See ‘The violence of the new community. See: ‘The hunting and killing of Rwandan refugees in Zaire-Congo: 94 Rwandan regime’. MSF Speaking Out. Laurence Binet. 2004. 1996-1997. MSF Speaking Out. Laurence Binet. 2004. in therainallnight and they aren’tgetting anything toeat, - we’retryingto lookafterthem.”Iftheyhave tosleepout tributing foodandshelter say:“Theseareourpatients receiving assistance,youcan go tothepeoplewhoaredis- 30% ofthepopulationgroup youareworkingwithisnot built up,youcangoontothe nextstep.Forexample,if they can’tsay.Then,usingthis informationthathasbeen make thenumberssaythingsthat,accordingtorules, of internalconsistencyprovidedbymathematics,andnot are valid.Youneedtohavethedecencyfollowrules using therulesofmathematicstoensurethatresults are surveymethodsthatallowyoutodeduceproportions, This iswhereit’simportanttobealittlemethodical.There consequently biased. the basisofinformationthat’sextremelyfragmentary,and within agroup.Otherwise,youbuildallyourreasoningon of events,it’sreallycrucialtoknowhowwidespreadtheyare based onover50%ofthepeopleinvolved.Forsomekinds is basedonafewanecdotes,it’snotthesameaswhen ture thatincludesarangeofpointsview.Whenyourview how representative your emotions are, and build up a pic- liable tobecomebiased.Soyouhavetrykeepinmind a lottoo,andifyoujustfocusonyouremotions,you’re the sametime.Thepeopleonothersidehavesuffered be everywhere at once; you can’t see all points of view at emotion. Buthowrepresentativeisthatemotion?Youcan’t tional impact,andyoubuildalotonthefoundationofthat makes astrong impact onyourmind. It makes a hugeemo- abstract anymore,it’sapersontellingtheirstory,andit fairly abstractinyourmind.Andallofasudden,itisn’t why you came to help - but up till now, it was something violence. You knewthingslikethatwerehappening-that’s happen togetpartofastory,andoftenitinvolvesextreme trying tofindout,too.Inthecourseofaconsultation,you of storiesaboutwhathashappenedtothem,andyouare members ofthepopulationyou’reworkingwith,tellyoubits set upyourdispensary.Also,thepatients,refugees, field with plansfor collecting information. me, ‘OK,I’llgoaheadinMacedonia.”Everyonewenttothe Françoise?’ KatrienCoppensfromHADinAmsterdamsaidto head outtoAlbania;canshedothequestionnairewith view. TheBelgianssaid:“We’vegotDianewho’saboutto would makesensetousethesametoolsgetanoverall different placeswerecomingfromthesamepopulation,it phenomenon, andthatsincethepeoplegoingtoallthree to operationalinformation,thatitwasaverylarge-scale ation. Everyoneagreedthattherewasaproblemwithregard format; itwouldprovideuswithanoverallviewofthesitu- that ifthesurveywasdoneeverywhereusingsame We proposed the project to the other sections, explaining to the type of results wewere looking for. quite well.Itwasablendoftechniquesthatbestsuited to accomplish a certain number of vaccinations and have objectives to meet. Within the day, you have When youarriveatanemergencyoperation, Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, MSF Legal Advisor, (in French).

be done with the report after it was produced. a surveyreport,butnothingwasdecidedastowhatwould the majoritywereinfavorofthis.Itwouldcertainlyleadto to dothesamething.Atourmeeting,itbecameclearthat assistance. SoIencouragedmyfellowoperationsdirectors tion tosomeoneelse,actingsimplyasprovidersofmaterial if wedelegatealltheresponsibilityforgatheringinforma- responsibility, and account for the quality of what we do, we do.It’shardtoseehowcouldgenuinelyassumethis 1997) reallytrainedustofeel100%responsibleforwhat (Vasset, MSFFranceDirectorofOperationsfrom1989to propaganda. Thatwastheobjectiveofthiswork.Brigitte picture oftheevents,sothatwewouldn’tbetakeninby ments onewayortheother,wewantedtobuildupourown organised during the Gulf War. So before making any state- that hadcarriedoverfromthewayinformationbeen languages. And,westillhadacertaininstinctivewariness erful and was discussed much morefrequently in Western was theSerbianpropaganda.NATO’smuchmorepow- there wasNATO’spropaganda, and ontheotherhandthere were they runningfrom something else? On the one hand these peopleactuallyrunningfromNATO’sairstrikes,or fleeing, and exactly what was happening to civilians. Were I thinkitwasessentialtounderstandwhetherpeoplewere this in modern society. applied toourfieldofwork;there’snothingunusualabout and itmakesnoimpact.It’sastatisticalsurveyapproach Otherwise, peopledon’tacceptit.Theyunderstandit ture, inoursociety,that’showweputtogetherinformation. we considertobethebesttoolsforimprovingit.Inourcul- work toimprovethequalityofassistance,soweusewhat and proportions,yourrequestwillbeignored…Wetryto that hassomekindofbasis,withspecificlocations,dates How manyarethere?’Andifwedon’tproduceinformation back: whereareallthesepatientsyou’retalkingabout? over theirheads,etc.Thenthequestionimmediatelycomes they also need food to eat, water they can drink, shelter proper assistance,theydon’tjustneedtobegivenpills, that makesitevenmoredifficult.Ifwewanttogivethem a majorityofthe population.Itwascarried outwithgreat we willneverbe abletosaythatitreflects the situationof logical techniques, but it remains a convenience sample. So hundred families. We usedfairly representative epidemio- veys werecarriedoutbasedon aconveniencesampleoftwo conclusion that three of these were quantifiable. Our sur- violence? wheredidtheyleave from?Thenwecametothe rights” questionnaires and adapted them: what type of nine questionsthattypicallyprovideabackdropto“human nomena reportedamongstthepopulation.Westartedwith witness statements and capture the prevalence of the phe- selves how epidemiology could help reinforce these dinated thesurveyatheadoffice,weaskedour- Together withFrancoise,thelegaladvisorwhocoor- Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, MSF France (in French).

95 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

urgency and was quite limited. It was a first. And I think it what was happening. Even before the report was published, was a success, because we were able to extract one piece of we knew what would come out of all of this. At the meetings information. It was important to know what state they were of the operations directors, we had some pretty serious in on arrival, with or without papers, how long they had discussions about that. We decided, by a vote of five to been there for, their reasons for fleeing. It’s true that in our three, to characterise what was happening as a deliberate survey there were not many questions on needs. But opera- policy of deportation, and thus as crimes against humanity. tions also needed answers to a few questions and trusted The Dutch and Spanish abstained. We weren’t inside Kosovo me. I have experience and I chose three or four questions any more; we had access to people outside. We weren’t even concerning blankets, access to food etc… When the survey in Belgrade any more. To find out what was happening in was carried out there was still a great deal of solidarity on Kosovo when we no longer had anyone there to give us the part of the population who provided shelter to those information, we had to rely on people who were coming displaced and it didn’t look as if it was going to be a prob- from there. And listening to them, we became convinced lem. However, we realised that there were break-downs in that a crime was being committed. the distribution of bread, that in the places they were shel- tered people had less than one square meter each. It Thierry Durand, Director of Operations, couldn’t go on like that. There was also no point in asking MSF Switzerland/MSF Greece Operational Centre if they needed nappies for the babies: everywhere smelt of (in French). urine. Things like that became apparent informally, during the visits. There was no need for a survey to find it out.

Vincent Brown, epidemiologist, Epicentre (in French) I wasn’t exactly crazy about the idea of sending investigators. It’s a method we have used successfully on certain occasions, but it seemed to me that we had been a little more systematic in those cases. I felt I think it was mainly due to the fact that there was that we were getting too caught up in the popular senti- no more room for us at all in Kosovo. I think the ments of the time, which were focused on human rights, to idea of assessing the refugees’ situation came up the point that they were taking the place of our focus as a spontaneously because people had started to flee. In medical aid organisation. In this case, we were frustrated Albania, we had already posted people at the border, and because there wasn’t much we could do as aid workers. I they had begun to see refugees arriving. So from there, think the debate should have taken place at that point. something needed to be done, not just counting people and seeing where they were going, but also finding out what Philippe Biberson, President, MSF France (in French). they had experienced. What should we be expecting? Were there many wounded? What had they been through? Where had damage occurred? We still hoped to go back to Kosovo once the situation had stabilised a little, so we needed to know where we would need to explore. I think it happened fairly spontaneously, and we were able to get beyond the MSF INSISTS THERE IS NO THING tension and agree: “OK, so we’re all interested in collecting AS A ‘HUMANITARIAN’ WAR information on what is happening to people.” I’m not sure now who took the initiative, but I think we were all in agreement. When we did it, our main concern was to find out what we could do on the ground. If we could no longer help people where they were, where they were being deported to, the least we could do was to try to gather some information. At that time, I don’t think we had really anticipated using the testimonial approach. It was important to collect informa- As an institution, MSF chose not to take a position on tion, but we hadn’t given much thought to how it might the legitimacy of NATO’s air strikes; the majority of its be used. directors considered this question to be outside the organisation’s scope. However, during the following Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, weeks, the various sections publicly expressed their MSF Belgium (in French). disagreement with NATO’s characterisation of its intervention as a ‘humanitarian war.

We had to be careful, get away from the ‘good 96 Samaritan’ attitude; understand where we were and that time, the Belgians, Dutch, and French, there wasn’t stance. Inany case,amongtheoperational sectionsat like the Spanish, but they were following their traditional There weresomewhosomewhat opposedtothestrikes, between their personal positions and those of MSF. the issueverylong.People wereabletodifferentiate one of the belligerents in the conflict at that time.” have aformalroleintermsoftakingposition,supporting it’s notours,wedon’thavethatexpertiseandnordo against bombing,thegeneralsensewas:“Thisisnotforus, In terms of position on whether or not MSF should be for or general feeling that this wasthe right approach. that’s thesenseofdiscussionatthattime.Therewasa protection ofciviliansinasituationthatkind.Ithink we alsohavetoanticipateourroleintermsofinsuringthe policy. But,wehavetoanticipatetheconsequencesand for MSF.Wedon’thavecompetenceindeterminingmilitary But inaway,thefeelingwasthatthisisnotdecision in their own societies’ public opinion. own associationorjustunderstandingwhatwashappening way. Theywereunderpressurefromeitherpeopleintheir and itwasadiscussionthathappeninginanongoing lot ofdiscussionsamongtheODs.Ispokewithfewpeople sion tobe held laterthis week. NATO? Javierwill make adraft of afirst proposal...discus- [...] Question:ShouldMSFtakeanofficialpositiontowards a publicdeclaration. Kosovo bylocalstaff;MSFisinastrongpositiontomake Action: Aneedtoreconfirmwhathasbeenwitnessedin staff in Belgrade. arrives inBrussels,thisdecisionhasbeenagreedbylocal laration topressoutliningpresentsituationwhenTim Communication: MSFBconsideringmakingapublicdec- in Hungary on hiswaytoBrussels. ence only,i.e.noexpats.TimBoucher(Coordinator)now Context: MSFBteamsevacuatedfromBelgrade,localpres- Belgrade, Serbia Extract: calls withseveralpeople.Informally,therewerea against. Itwasverymuchthattherewerephone We didn’thaveameetingonthebombing,foror position in favorof the strikes. But we didn’t debate the sections,somememberswantedMSFtotakea There wassomedebateaboutthis,becausewithin

31/03/09 (in English). ‘Kosovo MSF International Council (in English). Update,’ CiaraShannon,MSFBrussels, James Orbinsky, President,

Milosevic. ment onthefactthatsomethinghadtobedoneoppose much debateaboutMSFtakingaposition.Therewasagree- been clear that it was coming for along time… was used.Wedidn’tfinditshockingorsurprising.Ithad cause. So,maybeweweren’tsurprisedthatargument the ideathatcausewasjust,itahumanitarian NATO’s argumentsinfavorofthewarwerealwaysbasedon take astrongenoughinterestintheissuetokeeptrying. we didn’traisealoudenoughalarm,ormaybe far enoughinraisingthisissuepublicly?Maybenot. that a war can never be humanitarian as such. Did we go military people here in Brussels. We wanted to tell them we were always very, very clear. We went to talk with the think that is why we didn’t want to take a position. I think What hadn’tbeentried?hadsalvagedlater?I didn’t knowthewholestory…Whathadreallybeentried? between Russia and NATO, with American involvement, we relations andthemoresubtlefactorslikelatentcoldwar We were well aware that in regard to both Serbo-Albanian their ownforces butonthoseof NATO. opted for thepathof violencewiththeUÇK,notrelyingon demonstration of force. As for the Albanians, theyhadclearly disintegrating. As aresult,itwasseenasessentialtomake a it would disappear, so there was a strong fear about the country Kosovo, theintegrityof thecountryandauthoritytolead ning, for the Serbs, itwasanobvious power play. Without who didn’twantamilitaryconfrontation.Rightfromthebegin- We realisedthatinthisconflict,wewereperhapstheonlyones a desirefor confrontation,andnotjustontheSerbianside. there wouldbemoreprovocations. Fundamentally, therewas time itseemedasifanagreementoracease-firewaspossible, ing troubleseeinghowwecouldcopewiththesituation.Every that therewasvirtuallynoroomfor negotiating.We werehav- us muchroomtomanoeuvre. Thepeopleonthegroundrealised ing, whichwehadanticipated,anddidn’tthinkleft present rather than AlbaniaorMacedonia, where everyone money. I chose to go to Montenegro where NATO wasn’t not to contribute to their propaganda, to avoid taking their ganda. I didn’t believe this war was humanitarian, so I tried When thebombingstarted,weweremuchmorecon- operations thanaboutspeakingoutagainstthebomb- cerned about where we would be able to set up our trying to avoid getting sucked into NATO’s propa- ized as‘humanitarian.’Isaw howreticentwewere, We didn’tagree that thiswarshouldbecharacter- Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, MSF International (in French). MSF Belgium (in French).

97 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

was involved. But, we considered this war to be necessary. only the Spanish position. The reaction was very strong: “We We know there are necessary wars. Someone had to oppose have nothing to say about NATO—it’s their business.” So we Milosevic. We didn’t want him to be allowed to commit yet did it only with our society. We know that we are not a another massacre. As private citizens, we all felt very pacifist organisation but, we were very hard in our position strongly about this. Overall, within the MSF movement, it saying: ’this is not a humanitarian issue. And we should be was a feeling shared by the majority, including the then stating that clearly to all of the people. NATO doesn’t want President of the International Council, James Orbinsky. In to hear that they are not doing this for humanitarian rea- society, there were people who said this war wasn’t human- sons. They say that they do that only for humanitarian itarian. In Italy, Germany, and Greece, there were pacifist reasons. So we want to be very aggressive on that message. movements that were demanding an end to the air strikes, There is no war with humanitarian purposes because human- and some sections of MSF, or parts of sections, joined with itarianism is a consequence of war. We are not saying any- them. Our Spanish, Italian and Greek colleagues, and oth- thing against the strikes. What we say is that: “They are ers, certainly, were sucked into a pacifist movement which, risking humanitarian space.” We were very aggressive in our opinion, played into Milosevic’s hands. That was my against this. The other sections were not against our posi- criticism of the Greek section. We didn’t want our position tion but they didn’t commit to doing something about it. So based on the fact that there’s no such thing as a humanitar- we were rebels in that sense here. ian war only as that would put us into the pacifist camp. At times like that, things move very quickly. Positions are Rafa Vila San Juan, Director of Communications, taken that are not particularly nuanced. You have to be on MSF Spain (in English). one side or the other. It’s not very easy to be in the middle. That was the dilemma we were facing.

Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, MSF France (in French). At the time, I believed that we shouldn’t say anything individually, and that a coherent humanitarian organisation shouldn’t give the slightest signal of Internally, we weren’t in favor of the use of violence sympathy or antipathy regarding any conflict. I remember and bombing. We were uncomfortable with the idea speaking out to try to cool down the pro-intervention state- of MSF asking for military intervention… it didn’t ments I was hearing within MSF. Some, perhaps those who seem to be within MSF’s mandate. We didn’t think MSF had previously been involved in politics and who made a should come out for or against the air strikes. What was connection between their work with MSF and their political extremely annoying was that at our international meetings, involvement, were more strongly tempted than the others to MSF directors and leaders were saying, ‘that’s what’s need- express them. But deep down, people knew they had to ed, they need to start bombing, Milosevic needs to be taken refrain from expressing their opinions about the war. Saying out, they have to give the Serbs a good pounding.’ That’s how strongly you disagree with an expression like ’humani- how people were talking — it was not only violent, but also tarian war’ doesn’t do any harm. Maybe in France, where a very Western view, and, in my opinion, biased. We were at this expression was also being used, it didn’t receive so war in Europe, and somewhere, our soldiers were fighting. much criticism, or we were less active in criticising it People were thinking both as citizens and as members of a because in the end, there was enough support for the inter- humanitarian organisation. Personally, I was shocked to vention that the expression just went along with it. Yes, it hear some of the things people were saying. But when NATO could be seen as propaganda, but then when propaganda is decided to intervene, we were extremely scandalised by this on the right side, its called communication! So it’s all part idea of a humanitarian war, just as scandalised as the rest of the game. Propaganda is always what the others are of society. We made this clear to our own members and to doing… when we don’t like what they’re saying! our donors. Right from the first days, we were aware of the manipulation, and we reacted to it immediately, even Rony Brauman, Director of Studies, before there was a consensus internationally. MSF France Foundation (in French).

Eric Stobbaerts, Executive Director, MSF Spain (in French). In retrospect, I wonder if some people were actually saying: “There’s no use discussing it - it suits us, so we won’t talk about it.” Maybe it was a time when We had an international teleconference at the very things were going the way we thought they should and beginning of the strikes in which we proposed to frankly MSF was happy about the intervention. It wasn’t make a bigger statement. We said: ‘this is not a done in the way we would have liked, but still, we weren’t humanitarian war. NATO is one of the parties in conflict. We going to go out of our way to speak out against the bomb- should be independent. We should explain what the human- ing in Serbia. We might say a few things like: “Be careful itarian concept is and we should explain specifically that not to harm civilians.” But frankly, we had what we wanted. NATO is lying when they say that there is a humanitarian We were happy. We were coming out of Somalia where 98 agenda in this war. But, it was not that accepted. It was things had gone badly, and Rwanda where nothing had been MSF in the United States. Macedonia, andMontenegro.Theywerealsoissuedby ening theiractivitieswithKosovarrefugeesinAlbania, press releasesannouncing that theywouldbestrength- On April1st,MSFBelgiumandFranceissuedtwo humanitarian community in England who weresaying that. of gloryduringKosovobecauseweweretheonlyonesin through. But we must not kid ourselves: we had our moment war withhumanitarianwork.”Ithinkthemessagereallygot views. Foralongtime,ourlinewas:“Wemustn’tconfuse of thatprogramme,wewereaskedtogivealotinter- very important to distinguish between the two.” As a result Humanitarian workissuch-and-such,andthiswar.It’s witnesses, and I said: “It isn’ta humanitarian war. defense, theobjections,witnesses.Iwasoneof ‘NATO on Trial’ that had a very wide audience. There was the didn’t matter, that was like the ‘icing on thecake.’ Kosovo wasaplus.Thedetailsofthetypeintervention happened inRwanda.Soforus,militaryintervention done atall.Wehadbeenbadlytraumatisedbywhat a saturation point in both countries while the number of authorities. Now, however,localfacilities havereached Macedonia couldstillbecared forbyfamiliesandlocal Until recently,therefugees innorthernAlbaniaand that are already ontheground. and threewereontheTirana planetoreinforcetheteams pumps. Fourvolunteerswere onboardtheSkopjeplane blankets, tentsandplasticsheeting,watertanks, planes arecarrying 50 metric tonnes of medical material, plane leftAmsterdamforSkopje,Macedonia.Thetwo This morning,aDC-8leftOstendforTirana,andsecond TV interviews.Iparticipatedinaprogramcalled tarian.” For days and days, I kept giving radio and In theUKwechosetosay:”Awarcan’tbehumani- New York, April1 Influx Mounts,’ Cargoes, toAlbania,Macedonia–asRefugee ‘ Doctors Without Borders Sends Relief Workers, Doctors WithoutBordersSendsReliefWorkers, […], Executive Director, MSF USA(inFrench). April 1 and Macedonia,’ Refugees. TwoCargoPlanesLeaveforAlbania ’MSF PreparestoReceiveTensofThousands st , 1999(inFrench). Anne-Marie Huby, Executive Director, , MSF USA/Brussels/ Press update, MSF USA/Brussels/ st Press release,MSFBelgium, 1999 (in English). 1999(inEnglish). MSF UK(in French). tens ofthousands ofpeople.Aslongaswe arenotinthat activities give us theprivilegeofcominginto contactwith players inthisconflict,weare beingcautious.Ourmedical is happening.Giventhehighly manipulativenatureofthe data overanumberofdays in ordertounderstandwhat happening throughouttheterritory? Weneedtocollect representative itis:aretheevents isolatedacts?Arethey When wehearalarminginformation,alwaysaskhow the population involved, which is our way of proceeding. form anopinionwhenwehavebeeninclosecontactwith information playsamajorrole.Wehopetobeable by allthemedia.Asinconflicts,manipulationof our reasoningonthefirstinformationthatisbroadcast is operatingonassumptions,andwedon’twanttobase strikes. Ourinformationbaseisverylimited.Everyone We donothaveaspecificopinionregardingtheair position circulated within the movement. position ontheKosovocrisis.Proposalsforapublic MSF’s inabilitytoanticipateeventsandtakeapublic from theinternationalpress,wereconcernedabout were facingaparticularlyintensebarrageofquestions the region. The heads of the US and UK sections, which to giveanopiniononthepoliciesbeingcarriedoutin see approach,sinceitdidnothaveenoughinformation French dailyLibérationthatMSFwastakingawait-and- The Director of Operations of MSF France told the region). in Ulcinj(southernregion)andRozaje(easterncentral the groundassessingsituationofdisplacedpersons are beingtruckedtoMontenegro. A team is alreadyon In addition,30tonnesofsupplies(shelter,drugs,etc.) Extract: and Albania. this week,twoadditionalplaneswillleaveforMacedonia tion intheareatoplanMSFaidoperationsthere.Later Montenegro. Thisteamiscurrentlyassessingthesitua- The daybeforeyesterday,anotherMSFteamarrivedin ground arepreparinginitialreceptionpointsforrefugees. refugees continuestogrowbythehour.Theteamson French). Press release,MSFFrance, April 1 Reinforces itsPresencewithKosovarRefugees,’ ’Press Briefing2–MédecinsSansFrontières ‘ (in French). Frontières, Director of Operations, Médecins Sans Limited to Fixed Areas,’ Jean-Hervé Bradol, The SituationisVolatile;theRefugeesareNot Libération (France), April 1 st 1999(in st 1999

99 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

situation [working inside Kosovo], we are very cautious. do good feeling of refugee assistance? Shouldn’t we be That has been our approach for twenty seven years. It careful to measure how we play into the hype? Shouldn’t is difficult and extremely premature to draw any conclu- we point out that the refugees are only one part of the sions. Our method has proven itself. Up until Monday, we equation, and that the media focus on the international had a team on the ground in Pristina, but they had to support to them acts as a fig-leaf for the shortcoming of leave. Now, we have several teams all along the periphery protection in Kosovo? of Kosovo: in Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania. They are assessing needs and gathering information. We have Left to our own devices, this is more or less what a few of started sending standard supplies for assisting refugees to us have been saying, at least -- and accidentally without Albania - that is where the largest number of refugees are prior consultation - in London and New York (*). At every - and teams have started working. Our primary concern is stage...everyday will bring a new load of communication to look after the victims, the refugees. But the situation is traps, and thus I would welcome more cohesiveness on this, quite volatile. The refugees are not limited to fixed areas. and would like to recommend that the DG & DO discuss how According to the latest news, the Albanian government the ‘political coaching’ of the MSF networks’ public expres- is considering pushing the refugees toward the south for sion could be done, beyond sitreps and press releases. obvious security reasons. So we don’t know what kind of Amities rescue operation we need to be preparing for. It’s clear that Western governments have taken a strong (*) I called Anne-Marie [Huby, MSF UK Executive director] position by making a military commitment. How will this today in London, and we compared notes for the first time benefit the populations involved? It’s much too early on the Kosovo crisis media issues, it appears that we had to know. Particularly since we don’t know what their had the same concerns and reflexes. You may want to chat actual plans are. Making a judgment about a policy that it over with her when I am still in bed, 7 hours behind! has not yet been clearly revealed is difficult, and would be extremely hasty. So we are taking a wait-and-see Just a brief reply to Joelle’s statement. approach. She rightfully mentions a few considerations that many in different places try to sort out individually; probably media hypes are different in different places and I don’t have the impression that people in the operational ’Kosovo - Albania - Macedonia - Montenegro sections are exclusively absorbed by the refugee - and Statements,’ Email from MSF USA Executive aid- issue; but I must agree that we are so far not very Director and comments from Vincent Janssens, anticipative towards the larger MSF-Family in terms of MSF Belgium Director of Operations, April 1st reflexion; I personnally feel this has to do with funda- 1999 (in English). mental problems of large-groups- reflexion mechanismes and the evident risk of mixing up hard facts and individual Dear all, interpretations, operational plans and public statements; We are receiving MSF press releases and press updates, but the issue of developing a coherent assistance and advo- in the mix of internal communications, we are, I believe, cacy plan (and secondary from that plan to distil pertinent in need of firmer, more cohesive, conceptual statements elements and formats for the media) was on the agenda on the developments. All of us are asked by our own media amongst operational directors over the last days and will to comment beyond the facts, and while we might on result in paperwork by beginning next week; this may some other crises choose to stick to charter loads, refugee seem rather late proportional to media pressure, but I feel pleas, and operational plans (!), there it more to it at more crucial to be pertinent than to be quick to the press. this stage. When the announcement was made of massive So feel free to contribute with questions and suggestions aid from governments for the refugees, and the operation and with feedback on the upcoming paper. more and more labelled as ‘humanitarian,’ here and there, Vincent without a cohesive approach coached by MSF, we spoke up on the concern this raises for us to be part of a band-aid on the Kosovo problem.

While many agencies might rejoice in the windfall of dol- ‘Re: MSF‘s position on Kosovo crisis,’ Email lars and ECUs this new phase seems to offer, I believe MSF from James Orbinsky, President of MSF voice ought to be different. We can continue to affirm International council to MSF Network 2 April our operational intent and cite the refugees’ plea when 1999 (in English) we have first-hand accounts, but we must be careful no to fuel the ‘allies’ P.R. and raise expectations that we are Dear All: the solution to the problem. At this stage....shouldn’t I think Joelle is right. We need a coherent MSF perspective we reaffirm that humanitarian intervention is about both on the Kosovo crisis that avoids falling into the humani- protection and assistance, not only assistance? Shouldn’t tarian ‘hype’ created around Western military objectives. we refocus the attention on the Kosovo black-out and the Her arguments rightly recognise the need to ensure that 100 failure to protect? Bring the attention away from the a focus on humanitarian aid does not obscure the need James Orbinsky Best, immediate basis asthesituation changes. Once thisisclear,thenwecanreactonamoredailyor few daystoestablishaclearviewoftheissuesatstake. enormous mediapressure,butasinanycrisisittakesa then bereviewedbytheOD/GDs.Iknowpeopleareunder He isworkingonthistodayandtomorrow,itwill Spain) toprepareadraftanalysisintermsoftémoignage. time theOD/GD’shaveaskedJavierGabaldon(ODofMSF tection ofciviliansbothinsideandoutsideKosovo.Atthis directly andindependently,theneedtoensurepro- which includesboththeabilitytoaccessandassist Our focusshouldbeonensuringhumanitarianspace, information, or asnew information isgathered. within hours as events unfold, as we analyse existing tread in terms of any position we take. This could change and NATObombing,thereisaveryfinelinethatwemust At thistime,inthemidstofbothmassiveethniccleansing this evidence exists. scope ofmassacres,buteffortsarebeingmadetoseeif action. Atthistimewelackevidenceonthescaleand then asMSFwemustcondemnitanddemandappropriate are thesesystematicandofagenocidalscale?Iftheyare, clear that massacres are taking place inside Kosovo, but of thosepeopleislackingornon-existent.Aswell,it humanitarian accesstopeopleinKosovo,andprotection We knowthatthereismassiveethniccleansing,and justification for accelerated ethnic cleansing. the justificationforNATObombsandbombingisa ticularly difficultasethniccleansingisincreasinglyitself conflict fortheirownpoliticalobjectives.Thisispar- humanitarian objectives are not used by any party to the We mustalsoensurethatwhatweasMSFconsidertobe ticularly at Macedonia. and forIDPsrefugeesseekingtocrossborders,par- Kosovo wheremassiveethniccleansingistakingplace, to focusonhumanitarianprotection.Thisistrueinside procedures! and reactive, let’sestablishsmartbutnot toolengthy that. Mypointis:greatthatyou agree,butlet’sbeprompt strongly believewemustforce ourselvestodobetterthan and HQwithregardstomore thansimpleaidlogistics,I experience intheregion,and thestrengthofskillsinfield non-descript part of the relief community buzz. Given our a properpaceotherwiseourvoicewillbeanunspecific, DAY oreveryfewdayandMSF‘sthinkingmustevolveat perspective onthiscrisis,thesituationchangesEVERY request for a more dynamic, coordinated and ‘political’ I don’tmeantobeapestbut,aswroteinmyprevious Dear all, English). Director toMSFNetwork,2April1999(in Statements,’ ‘Re(2): Kosovo-Albania-Macedonia-Montenegro Email fromMSFUSAExecutive also, what’s the true story andnext step inMacedonia? military in distributing humanitarian aid,» she said. And found.” Atanyrate,wewillneedthecollaborationof and Isaythatifthereareproblems,solutionshavetobe sent intoKosovo,saying:“Everybodyhastheirduties, she wasinfavourofinternationalgroundforcesbeing human rights.But,Boninododgedaquestiononwhether ted under the Geneva Conventionand the declaration of conference, addingthatsuchaplanwouldbepermit- in Kosovo,armedprotectionisneeded,”shetoldapress to beeffective,restoreaprotectedhumanitarianzone signalled tomebyAntoine:“ifwewantthisassistance Emma Bonino(SourceAFP-ReliefWebSiteApril2), TOMORROW is...your guess. Ours: protected zones! and fig-leafforafailedprotectioninKosovo.Theissue YESTERDAY, Ibroughtuptheissueofhypeoverrefugees, Kosovo inthe last weekalone.Massacresare takingplace atic scaleistaking place.Over 260,000 peoplehave fled At thistime,ethniccleansing onamassiveandsystem- has been accelerated in recentdaysby NATO bombing. workers arevirtuallyabsentinside Kosovo.Ethiccleansing inside Kosovo.Journalistswere expelled,andhumanitarian Serb forceshave launched a campaign of ethnic cleansing national humanitarian law inside andaroundKosovo. 3) Andtheimmediateandunconditionalrespectforinter - ICRC), not by NATO; nised independentandimpartialagencies(likeUNHCR action shouldbecoordinatedbyinternationallyrecog - in Macedonia,Montenegro,andAlbania.Humanitarian support andcoordinationforhumanitarianassistance military objectives,andanimprovementinlogistical 2) Animmediateseparationofhumanitarianspacefrom vention of ethnic cleansing; use ofgroundforcestoensuresafetyciviliansandpre- civilians andIDPsinsideKosovo,includingthepossible 1) Theimmediateconsiderationofdirectactiontoprotect Medecins Sans Frontiers calls for: Given recent eventsin Kosovo and its surrounding region, Space inKosovo and SurroundingRegion’ ‘MSF CallsforImmediateHumanitarianProtectionand Draft press release: April 4,1999 Best, James Orbinsky critical. We candiscussduring the teleconference. that thingscanchangeovernight,sodon’thesitateto be teleconference. Pleasereadtheattachedfile.Irecognise have preparedadraftpressreleasefordiscussionatthe major changesinthelast24hoursKosovocrisis,I After discussion with many of you today, and given the Extract: ’ English). Council toMSFNetwork3April1999(in James Orbinsky,PresidentofMSFInternational Draft PressReleasereKosovo,’Emailfrom 101 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

inside Kosovo, but their scale and scope is as yet unclear. 4/ The bombing set the materialised starting point for a It is clear that ethnic cleansing will continue. There is no new phase in which military action overtook the humani- protection of civilian populations. This is contrary to any tarian space: the initiative in itself and particularly the and all basic tenets of international humanitarian law. behavioural switch it provoked amongst warring factions Outside Kosovo, in neighbouring Macedonia9, Montenegro, in Kosovo (uncontrolled and uncontrollable gang-warfare) and Albania10 humanitarian assistance is unacceptably late makes now humanitarian assistance or even international and failing to meet the basic survival needs of refugees presence impossible. and internally displaced persons. NATO military actions 5/ Without arguing over whether this overtake was right and objectives mixed with NATO declarations to provide or avoidable, we should focus at the present reality that humanitarian assistance are hampering effective humani- shows that humanitarians under the present circumstanc- tarian space. Humanitarian space includes the ability of es cannot respond to the civil needs for assistance and impartial and independent actors to freely access assess, protection in Kosovo. As such, responsibility and perspec- monitor, and deliver humanitarian assistance. At this time tives lay to a large degree with the military. civilians lack basic food, water, shelter and sanitation and 6/ There is a growing mix-up between military and human- are at increased risk of exposure and epidemic disease. itarian international initiatives and mandates (UNHCR): Internationally recognised independent and impartial - NATO initiatives were supposed to solve the humanitar- humanitarian agencies (like UNHCR and ICRC) should be ian problem in Kosovo; through an unforeseen reaction- designated as lead agencies to coordinate humanitarian chain it resulted in exporting the humanitarian problem to actions. This is not the legitimate responsibility or role the neighbouring countries. of NATO. Humanitarian action is failing in Kosovo and the - In Macedonia, humanitarian response procedures are surrounding region on two fronts: assistance is ineffective “controlled” by exclusive bilateral talks between NATO and and protection is non-existent. There is a profound risk of the Government, leaving UNHCR and the humanitarians as even greater death and suffering for civilian populations no party; NATO staff is involved in setting up camps in the coming days and weeks. With a view to possible - In Albania, where basically only humanitarian objectives future developments in the Kosovo region, MSF is prepared are at stake, NATO decides to send in troops with unclear to engage and meet humanitarian needs where they arise. objectives. Protection of civilian populations from ethnic cleansing 7/ There is important and converging evidence from refu- and independent and impartial humanitarian space are gees that systematically Albanian Kosovars are forced out absolutely necessary at this time. of all villages and towns and have to leave Kosovo; there are cases of people beaten up and indirect evidence of killings but it is hard to make an absolute picture of this. 8/ Humanitarian response to the needs in neighbouring ‘Global Paper on Kosovo Crisis,’ Memo from countries was somehow delayed and is facing difficulties Vincent Janssens, MSF Belgium, Director of (see below). Operations, 3 April 1999 (in English). 9/ The NATO-action is not understood by Serbian popula- Extract: tion, also by the non-extremists amongst them. Casualties - To be adapted progressively on the Serb side are probable but kept secret and will be - Operational reference difficult to respond to. As such showing our impartiality - Source for communications has become even more difficult than in the past, although 1. READING OF THE PRESENT SITUATION we maintained still some relation till the end. 1/ Humanitarian assistance to Kosovar population in Kosovo was possible before NATO-bombing; it was difficult and responded only to the basic needs of the civilians. Once the strikes began, reporters started calling us 2/ International presence, both humanitarian and observ- to ask what we thought. I said that we would judge ers (in the later phase) provided with balanced info on this military offensive as we would any other and incidents and on the consequences of the increased ten- would take the time we needed to develop a position on sion for the civilians. To a certain extent it contributed what was happening to the civilians - who was doing what also to protection of civilians in being disturbing wit- and what the possibilities for humanitarian activities might nesses to the situation. be. In that interview, I mentioned the intensity of the NATO 3/ Serb exactions and repression of Albanian population propaganda implying that the war was being conducted for under the argument of confronting the KLA has been good reasons. “We are of two minds about that. With a few going on for many months disregarding NATO-threads or exceptions, on an individual level, we are pleased that there -actions. has been an international reaction against Milosevic. But from a professional perspective, we have been careful not to feed NATO propaganda in our statements. Whether we’ve 9. In Macedonia global coordination among humanitarian actors is poor, and succeeded or not is another matter.” That’s how I answered hampered by confusion between NATO and UNHCR dealing separately with government actors. This is made worse by the fact that authorities did not allow because I saw that there was a problem. humanitarian actors to make adequate emergency preparations in the previous weeks. 10. In Albania, insecurity and faltering coordination in the face of a massive influx Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, 102 of refugees is creating a bottleneck in delivery of humanitarian assistance. MSF France (in French). NATO. NATO strikes...Ingeneral,theorganisationwasverypro- say thatinFrance,private,MSFpeoplewereverypro- I wassurprisedthatnooneelsedoingit…haveto US withallthisbecauseitcouldn’thavebeeneasytosell. It waslikethat.Idon’tknowhowhappytheywereinthe leadership here.” I rebelledslightlyoneday,saying:“We’relackingsome the internationallevel.Ijustrememberameetingwhere But atthetime,Idon’trememberanysenseofvitality step upbutatothertimes,hewassomewhatabsent…. to forcehimgetinvolved.Fromtimetime,hewould operational priorities in the section discussions… So we had the thinkinginnetwork.Hehadtogetbackinto in greatdemandthemediaandhesortoforchestrated thinkers. Idon’tknowwheretheywere.[...]Jameswas there were no more leaders at MSF, let alone any more crisis. We were in afrustrating situation, realising that That wasit!Therenointellectualleadershiponthis question!” with thesectionstoprepare.Theirresponsewas:“Oh!Good which questionswouldcomeupandwehadraisedthem we hadtogotheWashingtonPressClub.Ialreadyknew knew thequestionsbefore MSF wasasked them. Oneday, express them.InLondonandNewYork,weevenfeltlike ing themandafterwards, having people like James Orbinsky alone inthiscrisis,comingupwiththemessages,articulat- no realmomentumonthisissue.Ioftenfeltlikewasall the spokes-people.WerealizedthatinsideMSF,therewas ing amuchmorevisiblepositionthantheothers.Wewere (Huby, MSFUKGeneralDirector)andIfoundourselvestak- that therewasaclear vision andaposition. Anne-Marie But whenIsaytherewasnodisagreement,don’tmean with theEuropeansections-French-Belgian-Dutchline. faced thatconstraintofhavingtoalignourpublicpositions prevented usfromspeakingoutonKosovo.Butwealways really neededan operationalviewfromthedifferent time wewerein acomplexwarsituation,where we The problemwithKosovoitthat thiswasthefirst say. Whatdoyouthink?”Iwouldsay:“Well,OK.” time. Shewouldsaytome:“ThisiswhatIwant Joëlle and Iwouldtalk on thephone from time to concerns. Therewasnoobstaclethatwouldhave tions, whichseemedtobestuckinoperational We tookamorecriticalpositionthantheothersec- […], Executive Director, MSF USA(inFrench). Anne-Marie Huby, Executive Director, MSF UK(in French).

the situation. on whatweshouldbeputtingoutregardingouranalysisof ficult togetanideaofwhatwasgoingonandfeedback had nocommunicationsofficeronsite.Itwasalittledif- to the field. They said no. For a certain period of time, we time, IwasinLondonandwhenitstarted,I’dofferedtogo had nothingcoherenttooffer. They were out ofit.Atthe communications, and the network. The international office there wasreallypoorcommunicationsamongoperations, didn’t getalong,wereforcedtotalkeachother.But, explain anythingclearly.Thecommunications directors, who I don’tthinkweunderstoodwhatwasgoingon.Wedidn’t had anopinion.Theorganisationwasveryfragmentedand because noonehadseenwhattheothersweredoingand people tofindoutwhattheythought,butdidn’tknow this. IcanonlytalkaboutMontenegro.”calleddifferent I haven’t seen it. I didn’t go to Albania. I can’t speak to once inhislife,hehadnoopinion.Hesaid:“Idon’tknow. Operations Director]tofindoutwhathethoughtandfor I remembercallingJean-Hervé[Bradol,MSFFrance who hadgonetobothcountries.Icouldn’tdoitallalone. There was a timewhen I was in the field. I was the only one talking toeachother.Nooneknewwhowasdoingwhat. ships amongthesectionswereattheirworst.Peopleweren’t countries. Thiswasthemomentwheninternationalrelation- to endtheexpulsionsofethnicAlbaniansfromKosovo. Refugees, calledontheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia On 2April1999,SadakoOgata,HighCommissionerfor of theway.“The widespreadabuseofhuman rightsby the Morini passnear Kukes, and made to walk the rest a few kilometres away from the Albanian border post at forced ontobuses.Theywere thentransportedtoapoint similar storiesofhavingbeen roundedupinPristinaand Refugees arrivingonfootat theAlbanianbordertold and herdedonto overcrowded trains. homes. Manywerestrippedoftheiridentitydocuments staff thattheyhadbeenforcedatgunpointtoleavetheir came fromtheKosovocapitalofPristina.TheytoldUNHCR former YugoslavRepublicofMacedonia.Mostthem to 40,000peoplearrivedbytrain,caroronfootinthe Albanians. Thursdaysawthelargestdailyinfluxwhenup immediate halttothewholesaleexpulsionofKosovo the FederalRepublicofYugoslaviaFridaytobringan UN HighCommissionerforRefugeesSadakoOgataurged Extract: Samantha Bolton, Communications Coordinator, UNHCR, 2 April1999(inEnglish). as HumanitarianCrisisMounts,’Pressrelease, ‘UNHCR’s OgataDemandsanEndtoExpulsions MSF International (in French).

103 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

the Yugoslav security forces must cease, and cease now,” 240,000 refugees in the last 24 hours have arrived in Ogata said. “Mass expulsions and the destruction of iden- Albania. It is estimated by NATO that in the next 10 days tity documents are blatant violations of international law (half of population of Kosovo) would have fled to neigh- and are morally repugnant. The refugees are suffering bouring countries. It has been suggested by British Defence dramatically and the scale of the expulsion is placing sources that President Milosevic is planning to eject more enormous strain on other countries in the region and than 1.5 million ethnic Albanians out of Kosovo. risks to have a destabilising effect.” Mrs Ogata called for massive international support to meet the growing needs 3. MSF H teams in Macedonia confirm that Macedonia of the refugees. “The relief operation is on the verge of refuses to shelter anymore refugees, unless a guarantee is being overwhelmed,” she said. “Our capacity to respond made from other countries that they will relocate them; simply cannot keep pace with the scale of the expulsions refugees stuck in no-mans-land. and forced population displacements.” 4. Milosevic has stronger grip on Montenegro provoking refugee flow into Albania Albania-In the last 24 hours 40,000 refugees have entered Albania. It is believed that that there are now over 130,000 refugees. Many share the same story: the Serbs MEDIA VISIBILITY AND THE kicked them out of their homes and burned their papers. REALITIES OF OUR OPERATIONS Any form of shelter/accommodation is now saturated. Thousands are sleeping in the open.

MSF Activities: Two teams left today, one to the North (Skoder and Kukes) and one to the South in Fier. On the night of 2 April 1999, NATO carried out its first The cargo from the planes has been blocked by MOH, the bombing in the heart of Belgrade. At the Macedonian problem it seems is that the authorities want control of border, tens of thousands of Kosovar Albanians fleeing goods and are not used to NGO’s demanding independence their country were held up in the no man’s land of Blace, of their materials. The 2nd cargo is arriving today at which was difficult for humanitarian organisations to 17:20; this plane carries watsan and relief items and MSF reach. For several days, Macedonian authorities had photographer Roger Job. been blocking the refugees’ transfer to the camp built by NATO soldiers for the UNHCR in Stenkovec-Brazda. Camps at Tirana: MSF team visited an old military camp MSF teams faced the complexity and slow bureaucratic in Mullet 12km from Tirana, estimated capacity 2.000 procedures imposed by the Macedonian authorities. people. Five hundred people present at the moment, Médecins du Monde (MDM) had registered and gained mostly women, children & elderly arrived from Prizen by entry in the country several months earlier and could tractors and then buses from Kukes. Local authorities are therefore commence working. During the first days in charge. MSF volunteers would work under the “banner” of MDM which allowed them to take action more quickly. Some Needs: To put more tents up. Major problems with latrines felt that MSF was not visible enough on worldwide tele- (only 20) activities. Many NGO’s visiting this site. Tirana vision, which was broadcasting images of the Kosovars’ Lake-Sportive complex – 2,200 people here, camp satu- distress on a continuous basis. rated.

Northern Albania-Kukes: Rumours of a new crisis. In a security meeting, a rumour reported that 100,000 people ’Kosovo Update 03 April 99… Dramatic Changes,’ are on the move to Kukes Sitrep, 3 April 1999 (in English). MSF Activities: An explo team is travelling north, but they have experienced delays. Constraints: Problems with get- Extract: ting drivers to drive to North, too dangerous and takes up Major humanitarian emergency - Situation out of Control. to 10 hours. General Situation Communication: Paola Cortese is travelling to North with 1. NATO missiles last night bombed the Ministry of the assessment team. Interior in central Belgrade. NATO has received instructions to begin HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE in four ways Albanian -Montenegro border (source: press briefing NATO/Brussels). UNHCR reported that at 2 sites near Skoder a total of - Transport and supplies to refugees 57,000 refugees are waiting at the border; confirmed - Set up refugee camps reporting of growing hostility to refugees. Fear that refu- - Construction gees will turn back into Albania. - Assist at ports and airports Dures: Refugees collected in 3 places, one covered by CRS 104 (NATO teams went to Geneva for coordination) (300 people). The needs: food, mattresses and blankets. have beendelivering food.Teamassessing Ulcinje (south) factories). Sanitation bigproblemhere.ICRC andUNHCR the Serbianforces.Approx.5,000 settledin4centres(old displacement isbeingdone inaveryorganisedwayby village byvillage,whichhighlights thefactthattheir ing fromPecandsurrounding areas,theyarearriving BBC WorldServicenews).Most ofthepeoplearecom- critical &outspokenSerbiansisterMontenegro(source has warnedSlobodanMilosevicagainstacoupwithits General Situation:NATOSecretary-GeneralJavierSolana Montenegro and Sundayin Skopje. second and third cargo will arrive respectively on Saturday planning ishappeningbetweenauthoritiesandNATO.A on ‘speedy’bordercrossings.NoclearroleforNGO’s-all No decisionhasbeentakenbyMacedonianauthorities fied inthecrowdmayplayrollovercomingconstraints. to ‘no-mans-land’attheborder.LocalMSFBstaffidenti- despite allpressureapplied,notyetreleased.Noaccess have notyetarrivedduetobeingstuckincustoms,and reception andpermanentcamp.Constraints:MSFmaterials construction to otherlevels of construction:border, MSF Hplan:Toestablish3OPD/healthpostssimilarin accommodation for 60,000is under construction. is foreseeninBrawda(betweenBlaceandSkopje) capacity isbelowtheneed.1bigtransitcamp/centre 2km fromborder. It isclearthatthepresentplanned acceptable standards(situatedonoldgarbagesite),just A fourth camp is developing in Radusa, however below Cegrane 6-10,000 capacity; Neprestema 2-4,000 capacity; sit siteshavebeenidentified:Bojane2-3,000capacity; Jaznice. Atthemomentnumbersareunconfirmed.3tran- here havecrossedthemountainrangebetweenBlaceand ond bordercrossingseemsbetter;manyoftherefugees 250,000 to arrive. The registrationprocedure at the sec- quickly. Theteamisworkingwithascenarioofpotential when theauthoritieswillallowpeopletocrossmore Cross. Theregistrationisstillveryslowanditnotclear Humanitarian actionismonopolisedbyMacedonianRed refugees arewithoutshelterandhaveverylittlefood. to thepeoplein’no-mans-land’anditisthought 02/04/99 4trains=16,000people.MSFhasnoaccess trains =16,000people;01/04/992=8,000 Many more are waiting in neighbouring hills. 31/03/99 4 people arewaitinginamuddyfield‘no-mans-land’. at thebordernearBlacewhereaminimumof40,000 General Situation:Itissaidthattherean8milequeue Macedonia work in coastal area since NATOisjammingtheSerbianradar,phonesshould Communications: TelephoningAlbaniamightbedifficult enced fieldworkersdoothersectionshavestaffavailable? resources: MSFisplanningtorecruitnumbersofexperi- on Saturday.Customclearancetakesoneday.Human available cars.However4ToyotaswillarrivefromSkopje problem torentcars;manyjournalistshavehiredmost are being housed by host families. Transport: There is a the peoplearereferredtohospital.Manyrefugees There isamedicalpostwhichlacksmedicineandso rhoeas, and shock; still to assessfood problem. General medicalproblems:respiratoryproblems,diar- facilities, medical screening, and sanitation in the camp. run themedicalaspectofthiscamp,assessing people aroundthesesurroundingvillages.MSFwilltryto 30,000 already arrived). No figures as yet re: numbers of estimated thatthereare10,000refugees(estimated to assessthesituationinRozajeNorthwhereitis Rozaje and South to Ulcinje. Yesterday the team went MSF plan:FActivities-2Explomissions:Northto modate 15,000 people isbeingorganised by UNHCR. and UNHCRdistributingblankets.Atransitsitetoaccom- 10.000 refugeeshere.Manyhousedinlocalfamilies;ICRC where approx.10,000newcomersarrived,already on itshandling oftheproblem.Uptothat point,Skopje of itsmaking, the governmentresentedbeing challenged provided by UNHCR. Faced withahumanitarian crisis not criticized themedia,which hadreportedthestatistic its agencieshadalreadyregistered 70,000refugeesand refugees. […]TheMacedonian governmentstatedthat authorities’ slowpaceinregistering andtransporting Macedonian government;itspecificallycriticisedthelocal of thedifficultiesinestablishingcooperationwith But UNHCRexpressedgrowingfrustrationintheface bus chartered by theMacedonian authorities. the assistancecenteronMondayafternoon,boarda UNHCR, morethan5,000refugeeshadalreadyarrivedat housing in Macedonia or third countries. According to to registerthem;andathirdhandletheirtransit three sections:onetofeedandhouserefugees;another already significant.TheStenkovec-Brazdacentreincludes number ofrefugeesaroundBlacetotals20,000,whichis as high65,000,manyjournalistssaythemaximum number ofAlbaniansinBlace.WhileUNHCRputsthetotal Widely-varying estimatesarecirculatingregardingthe having been driven fromKosovo by Serbforces. for severaldaysinBlace,underhorribleconditions,most assist thethousandsofKosovoAlbanianrefugeesblocked border station,innorthernMacedonia.Itisintendedto and Brazda,thecentreisonroadleadingtoBlace ‘fully operational’.LocatednearthevillagesofStenkovec created thedaybeforeonanemergencybasis,wasnow UNHCR announcedthatthenewrefugeeassistancecentre, authorities inmanagingthehumanitariancrisis.NATOand plained ofalackcooperationonthepartMacedonian UN HighCommissionforRefugees(UNHCR),UNHCRcom- Yugoslavia, setupbyNATOforcesinMacedoniaforthe refugee assistance centre just opened near the border with Skopje governmentandcertainaidactors.Althoughahuge on Monday,butmisunderstandingmountedbetweenthe Albanian refugeesinMacedoniabegantobeorganised International assistance to tens of thousands of Kosovo Extract: AFP (France),Skopje,5April1999(inFrench). ‘Kosovo RefugeeAssistanceSetUpinMacedonia,’ 105 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

had avoided the convulsions sparked by the break-up of tries. It’s not a medical-sanitation crisis, so that was also the former Yugoslavia. The government was concerned a little disorienting for us. […] MSF’s lack of visibility dur- about the impacts of a massive flow of Kosovo Albanians ing the early weeks is explained primarily by the fact that on Macedonia’s own fragile ethnic balance and stability. we were slower than others to set up activities that the Some 30% of the small country’s several million residents cameras could record and that we held back on political are Albanian. issues. In the end, the fact that MSF wasn’t very visible in the media early on doesn’t bother me very much. I think we can accept that we wanted to understand what was going on so that we could respond more effectively. […] ’The Op-Ed: Visibility and Understandability,’ Alain: I’m bothered by the fact that we can accept that Denis Pingaud, MSF France Director of we weren’t present and visible from the beginning […] Communications, Messages editorial, MSF obviously, we are speaking out today but an operational France Internal Publication, April-May 1999 presence is important, too. I think this could have a major (in French). impact on our fundraising in a competitive market […] People might well prefer to give to MDM because they saw Extract: them on TV. Visibility and Understandability P. Biberson: I didn’t say so much the better. […] Let’s Many within MSF were unhappy about our lack of ‘vis- move past our wounded pride. We can also legitimately ibility’ on the Kosovo crisis, particularly with respect to accept the fact that we didn’t want to get involved in the television coverage. This calls for an explanation. In every brouhaha so that we could take the time to develop our such situation, media presence is the result, above all, analysis. Let me remind you that MDM quickly called for of a certain amount of happenstance: being in the right an intervention on the ground. […] We didn’t agree and place at the right time for TV news. Our timing delay has didn’t want to get caught up in a game of one-upmanship. hurt us because in terms of public perception, the effect I’m aware of the risk of losing public support, especially produced in the first week is key. However, we chose to given that—and this is not a small detail—we decided speak out when our missions were actually in place and we from the beginning (and all the MSF organisations fol- could deliver a clear message. lowed suit) to work only with private funds. In the medium term, what is important to our donors is J.-H. Bradol: Yes, I agree, but I want to restate what I MSF’s ’understandability,’ not its ‘visibility.’ By chasing said at the last board meeting: we also have a problem the camera, we risk losing time but, more importantly, with operations. MSF is not in a position to be able to meaning. respond appropriately to emergencies. For example, MDM managed, on its own, to get its cargo out, whereas we wanted to do things on the up-and-up. We’re too tied to the whole institutional representation issue and we wait- Minutes of the MSF France 30 April 1999 Board ed for the local authorities to give us the go-ahead. I’m Meeting (in French). exaggerating to make a point, but it seems like we don’t manage to do anything any more without following an Extract: organisational chart. We’re not street-wise operators any- E. Luciolli: How do we analyse UNHCR’s inability to move more and this culture doesn’t work well in an emergency forward? setting even if, it might be appropriate in other settings. J.-H. Bradol: UNHCR had a hard time responding and its Françoise: To put it simply, I think we’re trapped in a job was probably not made any easier on the political superiority complex. We want to be where no one else is, front. Madame Ogata, the High Commissioner, even asked we don’t want to get mixed up in NGO crowd that rushes NATO to take responsibility for the entire supply issue. in to offer aid and that ‘compromises.’ We want the popu- That said; UNHCR is a cumbersome machine that always lations entirely at our mercy. Of course, we could always takes time to get rolling. It’s now starting to produce say that what makes the difference is the quality of our data and register people, thanks also to Mr. MacNamara’s analysis, but you also have to get into the field quickly arrival (protection director), who is running the opera- and made a commitment! tions on site. […]Graziella: While there was a certain gap in taking a P. Biberson: On the issue of humanitarian aid groups’ public stance and while our visibility might have been responsiveness - it’s hard to be operational in the first poor, I want to say that there are more than 100 MSF two weeks of such a massive and rough displacement. I people working in the area and that we got 25 people think that what we saw wasn’t so much a ‘humanitarian into Montenegro in a few weeks - without visas - and 180 crisis’ as an inadequate response on the human rights tonnes of cargo! No one else managed to do that. I call and legal fronts. These deported persons needed to be that a strong will to provide aid. The hesitation people are acknowledged and protected as individuals. We had a hard talking about doesn’t apply to the commitment to provide time drawing up a list of needs (which were not primarily aid to the deportees. medical and so outside our typical response). It’s a war context, but also a political crisis involving the regional 106 destabilisation of fragile ethnic balances in border coun- some thingsdifferently. But,weweretrying toresolvecon- were theones leading it…It’struethatwe could’vesaid time, wewerelivingthrough a warforetoldandourtroops for it.Itwasahugecrisisand itwascloseby.Forthefirst or ifwemissedsomething-later on,wewouldbecriticized ment. Andwewereafraid-what ifwedidn’tsayanything but alsothatwewerebeing pushed bythemediaenviron- there. Wecouldn’tremainsilent.feltaresponsibility, stickers up andputting them on the stethoscopes. shots. MDM cameupwith the idea of cutting their bumper on T-shirts and baseball caps. They made tighter and tighter media war.ThereportersweresickofshowingNGOacronyms there on anon-goingbasisdoingpoliticalwork. Their policywasmuchmoreconsistent.Theyhadsomeone cally didn’texistforthereporters.MDMwaseverywhere. it -wewerereallykindofuseless.InMacedonia,MSFpracti weren’t playersintheKosovomediagame.Wehavetoadmit Albania andinMacedoniaitwasMDMthatdoingit.We present andvisible,putpressureonattheborder-in in Goma1996-thatis,gotothebordereveryday,be planes, lotsof supplies andnotmuchflexibility.Whatwedid were blockedattheairport.Theyendedupwiththesehuge operation. Theydeployedplaneswithtonnesofsuppliesthat same mistakeasinGoma1994.Thatwasalogistics think thatinMacedonia,theDutchmadesomewhat weren’t attheborderstotalkjournalistsandpeople.I tremendous credibility.Weweren’tanywhere.Ourteams gees.” All the TV stations picked it up and it gave them everyone said:“MDMisintheno-man’s-landwithrefu but theyweretryingtoputthepressureon.Atthatpoint, able theycouldn’tcareforpeople.Itwasabitover-the-top, be filmedandtomakethestatementthatitwasunaccept tried tocross the borderwithsuitcasesfullofmedicinesto symbolic, aswellhighlypolitical,gesture.Theirdoctors Samantha Bolton, Communications Coordinator, MSF through historicmoment,withthewarjustright the press,images…Wefeltthatwewereliving We putthepressureonourselves:environment, was incapableofdoingit.MDMtheretomakea in themud.Noonewastakingcareofthem.UNHCR In theBlace‘no-man’s-land,’refugeeswereliving tion betweenAlbaniaandKosovo.[...]Itwasa media’ attention. They had set up at the main sta- At thattime,MDMhadprettymuchgarneredthe in Albania, then inKosovo(April to June1999) Christopher Stokes, Coordinator MSF Belgium International (in French). (in French). - - -

time to deal with theproblem. in Albania,andtheendwedidn’tgiveourselvesmuch crete problemsthatwewerefacinginthefield,particularly tional in Montenegro... France alsotookalotoftimebeforereallybeingopera- that theteamsweretryingtodoeverythingtheycould.MSF Macedonia, theyweren’tFrench,butBelgiansandDutch The operations department told us that inAlbania and ing inMontenegro,butyoudidn’tseeanyevidenceofthat. still solimited.Weheardthatsmallteamshadstartedwork- arrived inMacedoniaandAlbania,MSF’soperationswere there werepeopleaskingwhyaweekaftertherefugeeshad field. Andthatwasanothermatterentirely.Inthehouse, on televisionalsoreflectedtheissueofourpresencein MSF wasn’tinthecamps.Infact,issueofourpresence there? MSFneedsagreaterpresenceinthemedia.”But, called us,saying:“Butwhatareyoudoing?You’renot staff, their cars - they knew what was going on. Friends Albania beforethestrikes,sotheyhadtheiroffice, because theyalreadyhadoperationsinMacedoniaand took advantageofthevoid.Theywerealreadyregistered du Monde a lot. They were the first ones in Blace and they pletely missing from the media landscape. You sawMédecins makes donorsfeelinvolvedandcontinuetosupportus.” always done.That’swhatmaintainsareputation,it’s that’s notparticularlycompelling,andwhatMSFhas that pointwas:“Hearingadoctortalkaboutwhathedoes, the dominantpositioninourcommunicationdepartmentat tion onKosovosohedidn’tseewheretheproblemwas.But talking aboutthemandthepublicwasfloodedwithinforma out. As for the Kosovars, according to him, the media was tion wasuselessifwedidn’thaveaparticularpositiontoput ing anMSFnurseonthetelevisionnewsdescribesitua doesn’t haveaparticularpositiontopromote.”Forhim,hav the screen.There’sawholemediafussaroundit,butMSF have aproblemwiththefactthatwe’renotshowingupon tor says:“Wehaveamajoroperationalweakness.Idon’t first airplanehasleft.’”Andthenthecommunicationsdirec to sendoutapressrelease.‘MSFhassentfirstteam.The We saidtoourselves:“Sincetheteamsarethere,wehave Bénédicte Jeannerod, Communications Officer, MSF have muchpresenceinthefield,sowewerecom- started arrivinginAlbaniaandMacedonia,wedidn’t When thecrisisbegan,whenfirstKosovars a fullcharter, MSF hassentthreeinternational vol- They’d put one out every three days. ‘MSF has sent It waslikeabiddingwarwith thepressreleases. Jean-Marie Kindermans, General Secretary MSF International Council (inFrench). France (in French). - - - - 107 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

unteers.’ But you need time to create a message and if Talking to Albania and Macedonia over the weekend, it there’s no operation, we can still always try to create some- was amazing to see that they were not aware of what thing, otherwise we won’t get anywhere! I had a team in the the other was doing (for instance, Albania did not know field that was working and sending information back. You about Macedonia’s customs problems and vice versa). In have to digest that information, think about the strategy addition, the teams are not really able to monitor how and the message. And we had these continuing requests the international press is portraying the crisis (at least at from the media. It was a vicious circle: the media was talk- this stage). ing about Kosovo, so the donors were saying: “Where’s MSF? What’s MSF doing? We don’t see you on TV!” The fundraising Someone in the field told me that: “I am hearing more department was swamping us with requests because they from my family about the angle of the day than from MSF.” were getting these calls from donors. What could we tell This kind of feedback would be better done by phone than them? We’re not in the camps in Albania or Macedonia, by email, to make sure that info officers and HOMs are where the TV cameras are. It was a constant cacophony. I aware of the issues first thing in the morning. felt like every time MDM said something, I had to speak, too! … I put the brakes on. I told them that I would send 3. Information officers: out a weekly press release to give an update but not one It would be really good if MSF B could tell the network every other day. (not for release - just for info) what the various information people in the field are planning to do. I have seen Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager various names mentioned under the communications MSF France (in French). heading, so I wondered whether these people would be gathering refugee testimonies, or what. This kind of independent gathering of humanitarian/human rights issues would be very useful of course, but it would be good to know it is on its way. The executive directors of MSF UK and Germany raise questions about information coordination within the […] 5. Keeping the momentum going: movement, the fate of the local staff of MSF’s former Yesterday I drafted the English version of the press release missions in Kosovo, the legitimacy of the refugee on Blace. Although Skopje had still not received it by the evacuation operations in Macedonia and Albania to evening (I must ask Malou what happened) I assume that other countries, and the responsibility of the host many in the network used the statement, or at least said countries. During their 6 April 1999 meeting, the similar things in interviews. What do you guys now recom- operations directors decided that only the Belgian mend to keep the momentum going, to push for further section in Albania, the Dutch section in Macedonia, access etc? I think it would be great if the sitreps included and the French in Montenegro would be operational some advice on such things in future. As you know, in dealing with the Kosovo refugees. The other sec- Samantha will be in Skopje from tonight, and will no doubt tions would integrate into these programmes. They help with that, but I just wanted to highlight the need to also reconfirmed MSF’s commitment to taking action, keep advising people, not just give them raw facts. again, as quickly as possible in Kosovo. In the coming But, thank you for all the work so far and all the best. weeks, the movement’s leaders agreed to seize every Anne-Marie opportunity to discuss this issue.

’Afternoon Sitrep Tuesday 6 April 99,’ Email from Ulrike Von Pilar MSF Germany Executive Director to MSF network, ‘Re(2) Afternoon Sitrep Tuesday 6 April 99,’ 6 April 1999 (in English). Email from Anne-Marie Huby MSF UK Executive Director to MSF network, 6 April 1999 (in Extract: English). We need information on the whereabouts of our local staff from Kosovo. I was very happy to hear that we had Extract: already found two or three who even seem to continue to The news agenda is moving and changing faster than work with us. I think this is most important news - as MSF the MSF sitreps (understandably). Along with the usual we feel particularly concerned about these people, and questions about the relief efforts, we are also getting sub- in addition I find it a good angle to talk about Kosovo sidiary questions about, for instance, the legitimacy and proper. Just one last remark: no idea how you did it (let effectiveness of the planned ‘airlift’ of refugees. I have me know) - but we had to give a name to the special asked Francoise Saulnier in Paris to help me with this, donations coming in now. Disgustingly, two of the big- but this is typically something that MSF B, as the section gest German organisations are marking these donations responsible for information, should circulate to the field [as coming from] by ‘victims’ - which I find the wrong - and generally try and anticipate the issues of the day. focus and in addition, I wonder if they want to avoid proper earmarking (which would be understandable but 108 2. Feedback: incorrect). Most other organisations use ‘refugees’ while Ulrike That’s all for now- bye andtry to getsomesleep support these murderers. tion. Thisinturnpromptedoutragedcallsaboutwhywe Kosovo again and also if possible for Serb civilian popula- we optedfor‘Balkan’tryingtosaythatwantworkin Thank you for yourcooperation. appears that the majority of thePecteam is inAlbania. Rifat, Sebe, Liman, Shefshet, and Agime from Pristina. It with staffmembers?We’vealreadyfoundMilazim,Kelmed, In anycase,canyouletBrusselsknowaboutcontact plane ticket, etc.). done fortheminthecurrentsituation(recommendation, least threemonths’salaryandconsiderwhatmightbe 2. Ifthisisnotpossibleordesirable,providethemat to organise their lifeinexile. 1. Continuetheircontracts,whilefirstgivingthemtime anticipate when we findthestaff members: sensitive to this situation. Here are the possibilities we through the end of March. I am sure that you will be MSF might help them in the future, etc. They were paid from updatingtheoutcomeoftheseactivitiesandhow mobile teams.Unfortunately,circumstancespreventus mitment and physical courage in their work with MSF’s have, forthemostpart,demonstratedapersonalcom- field. It’s important that you know that these employees honor itscommitmentstothem.Pleaseforwardthisthe them. WearealsoveryconcernedthatMSFwillbeableto their securityandanxioustoknowwhathashappened names andpositionsbecauseweareconcernedabout March 1999.Below,youwillfindacompletelistofthe team anditslocalstaffwassuddenlycutoffaround24 Following theevents,contactbetweenMSFKosovo Dear Friends, Eric Montenegro and Albania. Thanks for yourconcern, what hasbeensenttothefieldteamsinMacedonia Of coursethisisanissue.Pleasefindhere(inFrench) Ulrike, Many ofusare gettingmediacallsregarding theplanned Dear all, Extract: work, 6 April1999(inEnglish). Germany ExecutiveDirectorandtoMSFnet- Manager KosovotoUlrikeVonPilar,MSF from EricDachyMSFBelgiumProgramme ’Re: AfternoonSitrepTuesday6April99,’Email work, 6 April 1999(inEnglish). Huby, MSFUKExecutiveDirector toMSFnet- Questions,’ ’Refugee Email fromAnne-Marie in ‘monitoring’ how safeKosovo is forpeopleto return. tion. Humanitarianorganisations willhavearoletoplay status iftheyhaveastrong caseofindividualpersecu- is signed.Individualrefugees canthenapplyforrefugee the war,whichisthenwithdrawn whenapeaceagreement granted toallthemembersofcommunityaffectedby sis, Europeancountrieshavedevelopedatemporarystatus Strictly speaking, unfortunately yes. As inthe Bosnian cri- (according to humanitarian andrefugee law)? just couponsforfoodetc-veryprecarious.Isthis‘legal’ as soon‘thecrisisisover.’Refswillnotreceivemoney, very temporarystatus,andwillexpecttosendthemhome governments too)isplanningtograntKosovorefugees a 3. TheUKgovernment(andIassume,otherEuropean avoid aflood of refugeesat home). government seemstousetheethniccleansingexcuse families, andprovideeffectiverelief.(Mynote:theUK of theUNaretoREGISTERrefugeesproperly,reunite The questionisirrelevant.immediateresponsibilities nic cleansing aims oftheYugoslav government? 2. Doesrelocatingrefugeesamounttofurtheringtheeth- + adequaterelief - findingappropriateandsafelocationsfortherefugees Kosovo, evenduringaperiodof“official” i.e. declaredwar tuaries andbackupbasesformilitaryoperationsinto - Makingsurethatthecampsarenotusedaswarsanc The host countries areresponsible for: may amount to aseconddeportation) and Turkey, against the wishes of the refugees concerned, will (inotherwords,anagreementbetweenMacedonia - Theycan’tberelocatedtoanothercountryagainsttheir - they can’t beturnedback to Kosovoagainst their will - Theyhavetherighttoliveinsafetyhostcountry applies: humanitarian law,thefollowing(obviousstuff-sorry) rights, ortochooseathirdcountryofasylum,butunder convention do not apply. They are not entitled to asylum as aresultofwar,sotheindividualrightsgrantedby but not recognised widely)! The Kosovo refugees have fled deportations couldbeentitledtorefugeerights-arguable cutions (thoughsomelawtheoristsarguethatvictimsof applies only to people who have suffered individual perse- According to the 1951 Convention on Refugees, asylum Europe? 1. Arerefugeesentitledtorefugeestatus(asylum)in based onFrancoise Saulnier’s info: Here arethemainquestionswegetting-withanswers I thoughtI’d copy youjustfor info. be totallysilentwhenaskedadirectquestiononair-so beyond ourdirectareaofcompetence,butitisdifficultto over? Isthisright?Etc…Thisisclearlyanissuethat to Kosovooratleasttheregionassooncrisisis Are governmentsright to say that refugees should return this legitimate? evacuation ofrefugeesoutMacedoniaandAlbania:is 109 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Conclusion: MSF will go in Kosovo as soon as it gets the opportunity. ’Operations Directors Meeting on Kosovo,’ It has to be made public then in order to insure the secu- Minutes, Brussels 6 April 1999 (in English). rity of the team. The options to stay in Belgrade will be checked with others NGO’s, ICRC, etc. and it will then be Extract: decided if a team will be sent to Belgrade or not. Actions MSF Geneva prefers not to get involved in the big circus Position of general distribution. The needs are more or less arti- A position has be taken on ficially created by politicians. International humanitarian 1. Protection of people in Kosovo aid is massively present. In this mass MSF has no real 2. Refugees in Macedonia being send to Albania added value anymore. MSF should take a position. MSF Protection of people in Kosovo: Humanitarian space was Brussels believes there is enough space for MSF to work on gained in Kosovo. Now with the NATO intervention this the field and MSF has been speaking out yet, even more humanitarian space has been lost. MSF’s position is that it than being operational in the beginning. It is proposed is of the responsibility of the NATO to address and assure to ask Epicentre to do an assessment in order to better the humanitarian space. understand the situation, what is really happening, etc. Refugees in Macedonia: MSF does not agree with send- The objective is to collect info/data centralized by one ing the Kosovar refugees to Albania. The Kosovar people person and to make a synthesis for internal use in the should be able to stay in the different surrounding coun- first place. Afterwards it can be discussed what to do with tries until their return to Kosovo. As Albania is somehow the information. seen as “their” country, their stay in Albania can be seen as an acceptable situation and then the risk is real that at In Montenegro an epidemiological survey done by the end nothing will be done to enable them to return to Epicentre is on its way. MSF Amsterdam will contact their homeland. MSF priority is for refugees to be settled Epicentre in order to follow the same methodology in col- in their own country. lecting epidemiological data in Macedonia. MSF Brussels will decide later whether either Epicentre or the medical department will do the survey. ‘Trip into Pristina,’ Email exchange between It is agreed that operations will be limited to the three Wilna van Aartsen MSF Holland Operations sections actually operational: MSF B in Albania, MSF H in Director, Javier Gabaldon MSF Spain Operations Macedonia and MSF P in Montenegro. Other sections will Director, and Vincent Faber, MSF Switzerland be integrated in these operational sections. All sections Executive Director, 9 – 10 April 1999 (in are happy with the present set-up. English).

Return to Kosovo Extract: First it has to be decided what kind of action MSF wants Dear all, in Kosovo, because The situation is as follows: • The villages are empty: what are the needs then? In Macedonia there are strong rumours and discussions • There is no authority other than the military to make about a group of journalists and humanitarians going into arrangements with (insecurity) Pristina (tomorrow?) from the Macedonian side. The MSF • There is a realistic risk for recuperation of aid by Serbs team in Skopje would like to join this mission, however as well as by UCK practicalities all round are still to be resolved. This is not in line with the debate and decision we took last The objective is access to victims. There are three condi- Tuesday. I am of the opinion that if the situation has tions to work with authorities: changed again since Tuesday (which it does all the time), • Free control/monitoring we should maybe reconsider our position in regards to re- • Free assessment entering Kosovo, and in particular Pristina. For the time • Free speaking with populations being I am not in favour of going in with a kind ‘convoy’ If we go to Kosovo it has be announced publicly in order into Pristina, I am against it. Apparently, there is an to ensure the security of the team. The majority of the attempt from ICRC to go in separately/independently. Are Kosovars who are still in Kosovo are staying in territories we willing to join this initiative if MSF is able to indepen- controlled by the Serbs. Still there is a small group of dently asses the situation in Pristina? Are there develop- Kosovars staying in UCK territory. If we go in UCK territory ments in Montenegro in relation to the trip into Kosovo the link with UCK will be obvious and disable [inhibit] us from that side today, which may influence this discussion? to provide assistance to the people in need on Serb ter- I am awaiting your reactions. ritory later on. But, there is a strong will amongst the Many greetings, majority of the operations directors to go into Kosovo and assess the needs there. 110 institutional donor. the Norwegiangovernment,whichremainedaMSFB the issueoffinancing for the Belgian section from were partiestotheconflict.Debatecontinuedover in emergencysituationswhentheusualdonornations that operationalsectionscouldrelyonprivatefunding a mutualsupportsystemtoshareresources,ensuring The executive directors’ group then decided to initiate funding, becauseitlackedadequateprivatedonations. level of emergency operations without institutional because theBelgiansectioncouldnotfinanceitshigh to it.However,thisdecisionwasthesubjectofdebate decision andallsubsequentMSFpressreleasesreferred the conflict.Theexecutivedirectorsconfirmedthat from NATOmembercountries,whichwerepartiesto operations with institutional funds, specifically, funds also decidednottofinanceKosovo-relatedemergency During thatsamemeeting,theoperationsdirectors Dear all, private funding in thisoperation. tract andtogetcommitmentsof[from] sections toput possibility togobackwardswith[cancel]theECHOcon - political debate. Jean-MarieKindermans will explore the operation inordertoavoidriskbeinvolved[the] have tobeexploredput[use]privatefundsinthis Conclusion: thegroupofDO’srecommendthatalloptions dependency. operational andnot to beblockedbecauseofreasons one sectioninsuchcrises. MSFB haschosentobecome from theothersectionsforfinancialriskstakenby now mechanismsdon’texistinMSFtoguaranteebackup institutional fundingagenciestoguaranteecoverage.Till dence. Fundingrequestshavebeenintroducedtodifferent as possible,proper[private]fundstoguaranteeindepen- tional funding from NATO member states and use, as much crisis (the implication of NATO),MSF should avoid institu- Institutional Funding:Consideringthespecificityofthis Extract: THE QUESTIONOFFUNDING FROM NATO COUNTRIES English). and operationsdirectors, 7 April1999(in Financial Director,toMSF financial directors Funding,’ ‘Avoiding Institutional Funding in Kosovo Minutes, Brussels 6 April 1999(inEnglish). ‘Operations Directors Meeting onKosovo,’ Email fromRuudKeulen,MSFHolland Ruud Keulen Kind regards, about this. funds. Pleasecall(ormail)meifyouwanttoknowmore amount of money, if we can avoid the use of institutional tions (directlyorviaourpartnersections),asubstantial MSF Hiswillingtoconsidercontributeyouropera- your sections to comply with it because of a lack of funds. alisation. However,Icanimaginethatitisnoteasyfor join us.Itwouldbeabigsteponourwaytointernation- accordance withthisdecision.Wehopethatyouwillall Holland fullyagreeswiththisdecision.Wewillactin (especially whentheycomefromNATOcountries).MSF tutional fundshavetobeavoidedasmuchpossible regard totheuseofinstitutionalfundsinKosovo:insti- OD -meeting(yesterday)adecisionhasbeentakenwith This morningIwasinformedthatduringtheinternational greater every daythat passes. notice but the financial risk ran by MSF Belgium will be the latest,Thursdaynoon8 April. I’msorryfortheshort mit tothisbudget.Soplease, contactmeASAPandby (Thursday) ontheamountyour sectioncanformallycom- tion from you ASAP and by the latest tomorrow morning minimise theinstitutionalfunds, wewillneedinforma- while tryingtomaximisetheuseofprivatefundsand Hong Kong.InorderforMSF-Belgiumtoproceednow, from fund-raising actions in MSF-Norway, Denmark, and (570,000 USD).Another150,000USDareplannedtocome (380,000 USD),BelgianGvt(500,000USD)andEcho USD), MSF-Italy(170,000theNorwegianGvt tions and/orcommitmentsfromMSF-Germany(280,000 So farsome25%ofthebudgetissecured,i.e.contribu - seeking refuge in Albaniaorreturns to Kosovo. assistance duringthe6monthswhetherthispopulationis Albanian populationandthattherewillbeaneedforMSF stress thatMSF-Belgium’splanningfocusesontheKosovo as thepresentinKosovo/Albania.I’dliketherefore,to for aperiodaslongsixmonthsinsituationsuch is, ofcourse,verydifficulttoanticipatetheexactneeds in two3-monthphases,willbesenttoyoushortly.It budget, whichiscalculatedonactivitiestobeundertaken during 6monthsstarting30March1999.Thedetailed refugees amountsto7,000,000USDcoveractivities for MSF Belgium’s operations for the Kosovo Albanian as awholewillhavetomakecommitments.Thebudget NATO. In order for MSF Belgium to do, the MSF movement particularly, funds from governments who are part of Kosovo Albanian refugees with private funds and, to avoid finance, asmuchpossible,MSF’soperationsforthe There is a strong wish in the international movement to Dear friends, (in English). directors andoperationdirectors,7April1999 Belgium FinancialDirectortoMSFfinancial Refugees,’ ‘Funding ofMSFB’sProjectsforKosovoAlbanian Email fromGoranSvedin,MSF 111 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

With best regards, will be directly linked with our operational activities to Göran Svedin the Balkans. Best regards, Nikos Kemos

‘Funding of MSF B’s Projects for Kosovo Albanian Refugees,’ Email from Ulrike Von Pilar, MSF ‘Re: Funding of MSFB’s Projects for Kosovo Albanian Germany Executive Director, to MSF financial Refugees,’ Email from Anne-Marie Huby, MSF UK Executive directors and operations directors 8 April 1999 Director, MSF financial directors and operations directors, (in English). 8 April 1999 (in English).

Dear Alex and Goran, Dear Alex and Goran, As I have said yesterday to Jean-Marie, we will fund I very much support Ulrike’s and Nikos’s notes today, your activities with an additional 500,000 Euro which recommending that no funding from NATO-countries or is roughly FB 20,000,000, under the condition that you ECHO should be accepted for this emergency. Last week, cancel your contracts with the institutional donors. We we in London decided to turn down an offer of a free joint will be happy to continue to support your programmes, public appeal with other agencies because all MSF sections incl private funds, if you need more. But, I would like to expected to be fully funded (or, in the case of MSF F, there stress that we would have preferred to be contacted by was too little operational info to project funding needs). you BEFORE asking NATO-Govts for funding. That includes Indeed, I was told by MSF B that you found the use of ECHO of course. We are very disappointed that after all our private funds more cumbersome and difficult to manage discussions of the last months and our strong commitment in the early stages of an emergency. (Bastien and I ended to support anyone trying to reduce institutional funding it up agreeing that what was needed was better manage- has not been possible to accept our offer. The tone of your ment and co-ordination of private funds, and an effective message below [above] is very irritating. “In order for MSF ‘brake’ system to ensure that we don’t raise too much B to do this the MSF movement as a whole will have to money, as in the Mitch case). On a positive note, I think it make commitments.” This makes me really angry: as if we would be a fantastic step forward for MSF’s independence had not already made commitments! It was MSF Germany (and for internationalisation) if MSF B was to decide to which offered FB 10,000,000 to MSF B 10 days ago - it reimburse all institutional donors for this emergency, and was our initiative, no one from Brussels ever called us in ask partner sections to mobilise to make up the differ- order to ask if we could help. Before saying “you have to” ence. If you choose to do so, we in London will join in the may be there is a possibility to say “could you please.” itl [international] fundraising effort whenever feasible (by One phone call would have been enough to receive one or the way more information about what this staggering USD two million Euro from us, and I am sure others would have 7m budget is going to be spent on would be welcome!). It reacted in a similar way - there are private and institu- is crucial if we are to remain credible critics of the current tional funds, but here is the best kind: MSF funds. Please NATO humanitarian circus. get your fundraising strategy in order; we are not prepared All the best, to sell our principles at dumping rates. AM Good luck for your work and efforts Ulrike

‘Kosovo Crisis Funding,’ Email from Frances Stevenson, MSF UK to MSF financial directors ‘Re: Funding of MSF B’s Projects for Kosovo and operations directors, 9 April 1999 (in Albanian Refugees,’ Email from Nikos Kemos, English). MSF Greece Executive Director to Goran Svedin, MSF Belgium Financial Director, to MSF finan- Hello all cial directors and operations directors, 8 April Could I share some thoughts with you about Kosovo fund- 1999 (in English). ing? As you know, this week, the ODs covering the Kosovo crisis agreed to minimise use of govt funding from NATO Dear Goran, countries. We were very pleased to hear this, as several Regarding your message I would like to include MSF GR of you obviously were too. However, we heard yesterday correspondence briefly in three major points. from MSF B that they have now decided they will seek 1) We strongly believe that the Kosovo crisis should be donor funding from both non-NATO and NATO govts financed only with private funds and by no means insti- (including Canada, Norway, Belgium etc). This is very tutional funding from governments or organisations that disappointing. Even if the private fundraising strength are part of NATO. of MSF internationally is insufficient for MSF Belgium’s 2) MSF GR will fully fund a cargo - it’s already in process- enormous budgetary needs in Albania, there are quite a for Tirana. few non-NATO countries with MSF support sections that 112 3) MSF GR contribution with private funds for Kosovo crisis could be approached: Frances Best wishes NATO inthe Balkans. and crediblepositiononthe“humanitarian”actionsof being compromised and could take a clearly independent to non-NATOcountries?Themovementcouldthenavoid internationally and confine their institutional fundraising and makefulluseofMSF’sprivatefundraisingresources ing). SurelyitshouldbepossibleforBrusselstomobilise MSF BisalreadylookingintothepossibilityofIrishfund- tions whichcouldalsobeapproached,e.g.Ireland(Iknow non-NATO countrieswhichdonothaveMSFsupportsec- and SwedenUSD12millionsofar).Therearealsoother (e.g. Switzerland: USD 35 million,Japan USD 15million, making hugefundingcommitmentsfortheKosovocrisis According tofiguresI’veseen,most of thesegovtsare Australia, Austria,HongKong,Japan,Sweden,Switzerland asked tobuild upefficientfundraisingdepartments. Now can’t doitright -wearenotoperational, but havebeen have beenfromournon-earmarked funds.Apparentlywe was for the samereasons-andatthis moment it would tions. IfweinGermanyoffered fundingtoMSFFtoday,it want tousetheminanintelligent wayandsupportopera- - wearenottryingtoplace thembyallmeans-wejust assume thesameishappeninginMSFF.ButIassureyou Germany, buttherearedonationscominginevidently. I profile -sothereisnoactivecampaigningforfundsin remark. Ithoughtwehadallagreedtokeepitatalow of fundsbut,IdonotquiteunderstandFrederic’slast As said before, we share the concerns over NATO-kind Dear Frederic, Frédéric Amicalement, sections. them. IaskedKarimtosharethisconcernwiththeother partner sections,aretrying(byallmeans?)toplace tions raisedlargeamountsofprivatefundsand,forthe 3/ Iamalsoveryconcernedbythefactthatallsec- tion approach. are notmixedwithNATOfundsandifweagreeonopera- 2/ Wearereadytogivethemprivatefundsifthose ing institutional funds from NATO governments. 1/ WedonotunderstandMSFBelgium’spositionforseek- Thank you for copying your messagetome. Dear Frances, 9 April 1999 (inEnglish). Frederic Tremblay,MSFFranceFinanceOfficer, Von Pilar,MSFGermanyExecutiveDirectorto ’Re: KosovoCrisisFunding,’EmailfromUlrike Stevenson, MSF UK,9April 1999 (inEnglish Tremblay, MSFFranceFinanceOfficertoFrances ‘Re: KosovoCrisisFunding,’EmailfromFrederic Ulrike Amities real financial policy. chance -andimmediatelycauseconcern.It’stimefora percentage ofinstitutionalfundsinMSF,weseethisasa that wereceivemoreandprivatefunds,knowingthe in Brussels terms offinancialpolicy.ECHO andAGCD Please findherewith thefinancialcommitment ofMSF Dear All, Extract: 500,000 for operations inAlbania. Board ofDirectorsunanimouslyagreedtoallocateCHF Board ofDirectorsVote/Decision:Themembersthe evening. pleased that the four section presidents are present this this kindofmutualsupportmechanism and wearevery International Councilhasacentralroletoplayinrefining a financialriskthatcouldcreatebankruptcyrisk.The operational centerwouldnothavetobear,onitsown, also beveryinterestingtosetupmechanismssothatan is also making contributions for this purpose. It would Albania. WeunderstandthatthelargerMSFmovement allocating CHF500,000inprivatefundsforoperations of Directorsproposestoactivelysupportthissectionby Brussels’ problemsregardingprivatefundsandourBoard Support from MSF Switzerland: we are familiar with Extract: Javier Thank you for youattention define the terms ofthe agreement. Our financialdepartment will getintouchwithyoursto mit with:USD500,000fromMSFE[Spain]privatefunds. ing NATOmemberstates’funding,wearepleasedtocom- upon MSF private funds (whatever the section) and avoid- Kosovo Crisisandtodrawupafundingstrategybased ing yourintentiontocancelECHOfundingrequestforthe Following ourphoneconversationthisafternoon,confirm- Dear Alex, April 1999(in English andFrench). executive directorsandfinancial directors,12 Parisel, MSF Belgium Executive Director to MSF Commitments,’ ‘Financial Minutes, 9April1999(inFrench). ’MSF SwitzerlandBoardofDirectorsMeeting,’ 9 April 1999 (inEnglish). Operations toMSFBelgiumExecutiveDirector, from JavierGabaldon,MSFSpainDirectorof ‘Re: KosovoPrivateFunding/MSFSpain,’Email Email fromAlex 113 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

were cancelled today as promised. Most of the sections I believe that purity is becoming a major issue here have agreed with the 3 first points addressed in the which has nothing to do with independence. MSF is fully attached document (sorry it’s in French, I was too much independent from NATO states as the budget from Norway in a hurry). Please think about points 4 and 5 (reporting represents no more than 5% of MSF budget in Brussels and advance). You will also find the already committed and certainly less than 2% for the movement. There was amounts by each section for the moment. Please confirm a time where independence meant 50/50, I believe. So if there is any doubt on the amount. A revised budget and please, let us put our energy in other issues. We all have action plan will be sent to you tomorrow, we just got an made strong commitments on the institutional issues adapted plan of action from the field tonight. Do not hesi- which might mean a huge progress for the movement. If tate to call for any ‘political’ question. Thanks in advance this is going to be transformed in a quest of purity, we and many thanks for the support given. might lose a lot of energy and time on it. And maybe a Alex strong momentum. Alex 3. Future coverage policy ECHO budget rejected, all requests to non-NATO donors • Dear all, placed on stand-by, no request for new institutional funds. I’m finding it interesting (if very dispiriting) to discover The only institutional budget committed: USD $370.000 how different the interpretations of the idea of an agree- from Norway. All funding needs will be distributed first ment can be. It reminds me of Clinton and Monica: it within the movement. If institutional funds needed: prior- depends what you mean by ‘is.’ In English we call this ity to the UNHCR channel and then non-NATO donors. The ‘splitting hairs.’ A couple of messages from Alex Parisel movement’s private funds are providing vertical coverage (see below) now make it clear that: of needs (all budget lines), on a pro-rata basis, based on a. MSF B intends to keep the Norwegian government funds their financial commitment. We propose slightly higher because they were agreed before the OC decision about headquarters expenses (5%) but, by including three task NATO govt funds (I hear hairs splitting). force people in operations expenses for expats, as forecast b. MSF B intends to ‘prioritise’ non-NATO govts for insti- in the initial request to donors. tutional fundraising. So they still envisage the possibility of taking NATO govt funds. When the OCs agreed to fund 4. Reporting the Kosovo crisis response primarily by private funds and We propose to prepare a financial report for the entire no institutional funds from NATO member governments, MSF movement with all the standard details; each section it seems that for MSF B this meant ‘we will start with contributing to financing on a pro-rata basis, based on private funds but will also take funds from one NATO their commitments. This will enable us to avoid writing 20 member govt, and then will try to take non-NATO govts different reports, one per section, which would effectively for institutional funds, but if we feel like taking NATO govt be a system of institutional funds. funds, we will. Although Alex clearly disagrees, I think that the concept of purity is sometimes extremely important. When, for example, we see DFID using its funding for the Red Cross ‘Funding Debate,’ Email exchange between, as a PR fig-leaf for its disgraceful role in this war, even Alex Parisel, MSF Belgium Executive Director, though it is only 3,5% of the total Red Cross budget, it Ulrike Van Pilar, MSF Germany Executive shows how easy it is for a funding govt to use an NGO as Director, Frances Stevenson MSF UK, Eric a political tool. The NATO govts need to appear to adopt Stobbaert, MSF Spain Executive Director, humanitarian aid agencies as a PR cover for their role Antoine Gérard, MSF USA Director of in this war. We MUST disassociate ourselves from this. Programmes, 14-15 April 1999 (in English). Of course, 5% funding from the Norwegian Govt is not going to destroy our independence. It is, however, going • For your info – [from] Alex, to completely discredit our very strong message that we I will here give you a brief translation of the document accept no funds from NATO member govts, which made a ‘Financial Politics - Kosovo Emergency- MSF Brussels.’ In very strong and completely unique statement. Apparently, order to guarantee some space of action, the financial the small amount of Norwegian funding is more impor- policy is elaborated with perspective of 3 - 4 weeks. No tant to BXL (despite the fact that it would take about requests to institutional donors will be sent as long as half an hour for our private fundraisers to provide this to our needs for a 3 - 4 week period are covered. In the them if they are so desperate). I agree with Alex that we future, all financial needs will first be sent to all sections. shouldn’t waste time and energy on this. Surely the best Demands will be sent to institutional donors only if sec- way forward is therefore to abide by the international OC tions do not have the possibility to commit themselves to decision. […] cover the needs with private funds. If demands have to Best wishes to all be sent to institutional donors priority will be given to Frances UNHCR and governments who are not members of NATO. • Dear all, 114 • Dear all, Just a brief response after having spoken to Alex. Alex its responsibilities. We will too. money wasaccepted.So,noproblem,everybodyistaking to JavierandEricasforeverybodythattheNorwegian will replaceitbyUNHCRmoneyasforeseen.Itwasclear MSF B will return the MSF Spain money. If needed we • Hello to Everyone Eric Stobbaerts Regards, to keepstronglycommittedwhathadbeendecided. to disturbthecurrentinternational‘Eden’,butwehave transparently argumented[discussedwith]tothem.Sorry Norwegian government,isimmediatelyrefundedand Therefore I request that the money, kindly given by the all institutional funding from member states of NATO. operation wasbasedonacourageousdecisiontorefuse government. Our decision to finance 500.000 USD to the me thatwewouldacceptanyfundsfromtheNorwegian news. Let’s put it clearly: it has never been mentioned to I amjustbackfromSomaliaandstunnedwiththelast • Hello to everyone, Ulrike office has no wineleft, I havetogo. Good nighttoallofyou-inBonnitissnowing,andthe 7. Questions open forthefuture... from NATO governments. NATO, butwecannotsaythatdidnottakeapenny especially logisticallyandpoliticallyindependentfrom 6. Wecanprobablystillsaythatwearefinanciallyand it risks becoming pointless. with itandwouldliketostopthisdebatefornow,since 5. Ifthisiscorrect,Istilldon’tlikeit,buthavetolive first), didn’t gettheDutch one anyway. 4. MSFBhascancelledBelgianandECHOcontracts(big the charms of NATOgovernment funding. 3. Knowingthis,thedirectorsdecidedtohenceforthresist Belgians had to honourthiscontract. aware oftheNorwegiancontractandacceptedthat 2. IwastoldthatVincent,Karim,EricandJean-Mariewere 1. Iam not happyaboutthe Norwegian funds ing intermsof concreteoperationsandrecognition inthe emphasizes that actingonthisprinciplehas yieldednoth- image of an NGO tied to NATO funding. However, Alex lion). The goal of this decision was to avoid creating the ment), decidedtoturndown this financing (USD$6mil- donor/NATO membercountry (theNorwegiangovern- already receivedacommitment fromaninstitutional level. However,MSFBelgium,theonlysectiontohave crisis (NATO).Thisdecisionwasmadeattheinternational institutional fundsfromcountriesinvolvedintheKosovo With regardtofinancing,MSFhasdecidednotrequest Extract: Minutes, April 1999(inFrench). ’Meeting oftheMSFBelgiumBoardDirectors,’ private money onan international basis. Thisbreaking with hands free.This wasthefirsttimewe’dshared somuch we shouldnotacceptNATOmoney forourworkbutkeep risk involved.Sointhiscontext, itseemedlogicaltousthat pulled intoanti-Belgradepublic statementsandtherewasa other episodesduringthewar inwhichwehadalreadybeen given ourstronghostilitytowards Milosevic,therehadbeen a problemforallofus.Asoperationsdirector,weknewthat remembered MDM’sadcampaigns:’Milosevic=Hitler.’Itwas because itcameupforallthehumanitarianaidgroups.We war intheformerYugoslavia.Itwasallmorevisible for thisoperation.Thiswasachronicproblemusinthe voted toasktheexecutivedirectorsnotuseNATOmoney being brought in as NATO auxiliary forces. Together, we conducting the operation because there was a danger of used innegotiations with Serbia. That didn’thappen.AccordingtoJames,itcouldstillbe operational in Serbia since we are independent in Kosovo. ners. Bymakingthisdecision,wehopedthatcouldbe no longerhaveaccesstosupportfromourprioritypart- tional funds seems to offer only disadvantages, since we never beenadisabilityforus.And,turningdowninstitu- this decisiontoJames:accessinstitutionaldonorshas dent. PascalexplainedMSFBelgium’sreactionregarding capitalize onthefactthatwehaveremainedindepen- movement. But, he agrees that we have not managed to we cangeneratetheprivatefundsnecessarywithin from countriesparticipatinginaconflict.Inaddition, However, JamespointsoutthatMSFneveracceptsmoney of that position. or atleastthatwehaven’tmanagedtoenhancethevalue have probablygonetoofarinobservingcertainprinciples, for thesamereasonsofneutrality.Theythinkthatwe us inthesensethatwearenotUNHCR’sprioritypartners understand ourattitude,butthatattitudeishandicapping no valueonourindependence.Furthermore,thedonors ducting surveysattheSerbborderbut,placeabsolutely field. The Yugoslav authorities are criticising us for con- sible without your financial support. Sans Frontières’activitiesintheregionwouldnotbepos- ties toaidtherefugeesonanemergencybasis.Médecins distributed tentsandblanketssetupmedicalfacili- Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. Our teams have April, MédecinsSansFrontièreshasbeenworkingin You canshowyoursupporttoeveryrefugee.Sinceearly to therefugees.Weprovidemedicalcareeverypatient. 86 MédecinsSansFrontièresvolunteersareprovidingaid EMERGENCY - KOSOVO tions imposedonthesections’managementfor tries wasakindofpreconditiontheoperationsdirec- The decisionnottoacceptmoneyfromNATOcoun- April 1999(in French). ‘Kosovo Emergency,’Pressoffset,MSFFrance,

115 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

tradition had impacts on the internal financial organisation. section, that section… I did the math, the tables, and I As operations directors, we thought it was really important realized that I wasn’t managing to allocate it all. We had to in terms of political independence. And it allowed the move- give the sections the opportunity to tell their constituency ment to learn to share money a bit on the basis of politics. how we had used the money that was raised, so the money really had to be used. Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, But, even when we turned down the institutional funds, MSF France (in French). there was still too much money. So that created a huge amount of pressure to set up operations, which created other tensions. In Albania, we had to launch a lot of activities to justify our fundraising. And, we weren’t finding a place for them because it had been difficult to In practice, this wasn’t discussed much in advance. As get the evaluation missions going. And there were already in every emergency, when we started seeing popula- plenty of NGOs and soldiers that had filled up all the space. tion movements, we quickly said that we had to send Christopher, the Coordinator, felt all that pressure. “Spend! tents and aid supplies. So we started sending funding Do something!” The discussion came back to us just when requests to ECHO11 and other donors, who were still under we no longer needed institutional funds because suddenly, pressure to fund us for other emergencies. We told them: “We there were other sections that had money to give us. We are thinking of such-and-such an operation. What are your had to refuse the institutional funding. So we asked certain funding possibilities?” We didn’t really anticipate the fact donors for money, and then we had to tell them that in the that Kosovo could well turn out to be something so different end, we didn’t want it. There wasn’t a lot of consistency. from any other context… I think our institutional funds were But it forced us to explain why and I think that in general, close to 50%. That was pretty high. At the time, the partner it was pretty well understood. section connected to us was really small and didn’t bring in much. So our message was: “We won’t accept any more insti- Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, tutional funds if the international movement will guarantee MSF Belgium (in French). us enough to carry out our operations. It’s not only an issue of pure principle, but a pragmatic one. Create the conditions under which we can turn down institutional funds - not the opposite. Don’t start by restricting us on the basis of this principle, leaving us completely dependent on the MSF sec- In the US, the Clinton Administration set up a media tions to have our own funding.” campaign to raise and manage contributions to the It’s easy to refuse international funding if you’ve got NGOs helping the Kosovar refugees. This involved enough private funds. So, it was easy for MSF France and using private humanitarian aid organisations to fund- MSF USA to call for complete autonomy. It was part of a raise with the public. The organisations would have no much broader framework of discussion. MSF Belgium had control over the money they raised because it would always felt that MSF France wanted it to be more inde- be completely organised by the Administration and pendent from institutional financing because eliminating the army, which as a bonus, would improve its image institutional financing would reduce MSF Belgium’s opera- as a humanitarian player. The MSF USA section tried tionality. And then, little by little, it turned out that there to prevent InterAction, the NGO group it belonged were lots of other possibilities besides institutional funds. to, from being pulled into this strategy. When it The crisis got a lot of media attention, so there was a lot withdrew from InterAction’s Disaster Reaction of private money available. [...] And that strengthened the Committee, InterAction’s president had to notify the position that: “There really are resources within MSF so we Administration of its members’ opposition to the sys- don’t need to ask anymore.” It mooted the question a bit. tem. However, many US NGOs remained convinced by Those who were accepting institutional funds weren’t doing the Administration’s notion that the government, the it out of need but because they didn’t want to yield on that army and the NGOs now needed to cooperate closely point. They were challenging neutrality. in responding to humanitarian emergencies and that In the end, we made an overall plan, asking all the sections: this would not compromise aid organisations’ indepen- “How much do you want to put in?” The partner sections dence. had a lot of money. And since there wasn’t a clear international arrangement, they continued to put money in operations. In addition, they also wanted to fund certain specific projects. This went hand-in-hand with the communications With Aid Effort Overwhelmed, NATO Will Take goals. The US, in particular, was very involved. This was a Over Coordination,’ Elisabeth Becker, The ‘ time when there was no overall international framework Washington Post (USA), 6 April 1999 (in in terms of communications, fundraising or distribution of English). funds. We had to take money from the Germans, from this Extract: NATO announced today that it was coordinating all trans- 116 11. European Community Humanitarian Office. portation of food, relief supplies and medical care to the council. relief effort,saidBrianAtwood,thechairmanofnew American civilianandmilitarycontributionstotheKosovo Clinton establishedaspecialcounciltocoordinateall role inbothNATOandtherefugeeagency,President [...] Since the American government plays such a key in Geneva. March 24, said Kris Janowski, a refugee agency spokesman people whohaveleft Kosovo sincethebombingbeganon by another55,000today,bringingthetotalof480,000 of suppliesbyairfortherefugees,whosenumbersrose nation ofthereliefconvoysoverland, as welltransport voluntary groups. Now NATO will assume military coordi- operations ontheground,workingwithatleast55private the soleorganizationcoordinatingreliefandrescue police. TheUnitesNationsrefugeeagencyhadbeen States, withitslogisticalsupport,orItaly,camp make contributionstothereliefeffort-beitUnited it uptoeachindividualcountryamongits19members temporary housinginNATOcountries.Buthadleft airlifting refugeesoutofMacedoniaandflyingthemto NATO earlierhadannounceditwouldtakechargeof Lieut. Col.Wilhelm Bocklet, aNATOspokesman. establish anairliftoperationcenteroutsideBrussels,said ing bags, even thermal underwear - to the refugees and to trucks filled with supplies - food, medicine, blankets, sleep- quarters in Tirana to organize the ground transportation of Shea, spokesmanforNATO.NowNATOwillsetuphead- and evacuatingthosewhoneedmedicalcare,saidJami town of Kukes, ferrying emergencysupplies to therefugees flying helicoptersbetweenTirana,Albaniaandtheborder Macedonia and three camps in Albania. NATO pilots are working roundtheclocktothrowuptentsatsixcampsin Kosovo havetransformedthemselvesintoareliefoperation, Already, NATOtroopswhoweretoserveaspeacekeepersin had reached that point.” choice andwhenwehad350,000refugeesknew “We askthemilitaryforhelponlywhenwehavenoother the refugeeagency’srepresentativetoUnitedStates. whelmed; weneededtosavelives,”saidKarenAbuZayd, rioration situationontheKosovoborder.“Wewereover- ing forimmediatemilitaryhelptobringorderthedete- saying heragencywasoverwhelmedbythecrisisandask- vate lettertoJavierSolana,theNATOSecretaryGeneral, Commissioner for Refugees, MrsSadako Ogata, sent a pri- ber countries.Overtheweekend,UnitedNationsHigh camps, aftertwodaysofreliefeffortsbyindividualmem- Kosovo refugees, as well as airlifting them to temporary Antoine Gerard, ourProgramDirector,attended ameeting Extract: English). Moody, President InterAction, 9 April 1999 (in Letter from MSF USA Executive Director to Jim

organizations. rate picture of the independence of our private, voluntary you andyourstaffmaybeabletotakerestoreanaccu - and wouldliketoexpressmysupportanyinitiatives tiatives for our community in the short and the long term, you toconsidertheimplicationsofFEMA/USAIDini - members ofthegroupactiveinKosovocrisis,Iurge As amemberofInterAction,andasonetheleading reference to USAID. answer the calls by referring to USAID, nor make undue (2) request that the telemarketing staff be trained NOT to where theworkofourorganizationsisbeingfeatured;and bound telemarketingfirms,tohandlethe“800”number its members, could explore private arrangements with in- consider howInterAction,withthefinancialsupportof USAID andInterAction,wouldliketohaveyou(1) We are very concerned by the potential confusion between members of InterActionoperating in theregion. private, independentsectorandshouldbediscussedby organizations. This should remain the responsibility of the repository of private and individual donations to volunteer to haveFEMAcreateaKosovoRefugeeFundasfederal is notintheinterestofInterAction,noritsmembers, of relieforganizationsintheBalkans(MSNBCApril8).It to haveMrWittratherthanyou,speakaboutthework It isnotintheinterestofInterAction,oritsmembers, the victims of theconflict. the Kosovoregiontoprovideassistanceandprotection coming months,aswestrivetogain-andregain-accessin and realityofourimpartiality.Thiswillbeessentialinthe reaffirm ourindependencetosupportboththeappearance dependent onUSforeignpolicyimperatives.Wemustalso voice andidentitybeforetheAmericanpublicwhichisnot governmental agencies,wemustdevelopanindependent region, itisadangerouspathforouragencies.Asnon- the private,voluntaryagenciescarryingoutworkin Administration toassociateitselfwiththepublicimageof tal organizations.WhileitmaybeofinteresttotheUS this strategyisnotinthebestinterestofnon-governmen- organizations working in theBalkans, I am concerned that the Americanpublicinformedabouthumanitarianaid While FEMAandUSAIDstatethattheirintentistokeep donations fromtheU.S.publictoKosovarreliefeffort. meeting wastheeffortunderwaybyFEMAtocoordinate aid toKosovar refugees in the Balkans. The subject of the sentatives ofInterActionmemberorganizationsproviding (FEMA) withdirectorJamesLeeWitt,hisstaff,andrepre- yesterday attheFederalEmergencyManagementAgency while respecting human dignity. These goals are to be tarian agency are to save lives and alleviate suffering It iscommonlyunderstood that thegoalsofahumani- Extract: April 1999(in English). Disaster Response Committee InterAction, 14 Letter fromMSFUSAExecutiveDirectorto 117 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

achieved through the guiding principles of impartiality, with the US military and their major funding by the US gov- independence, and neutrality. As a humanitarian agency ernment jeopardises the neutrality of NGOs members and is that adheres strictly to these principles, Médecins Sans in contradiction with MSF’s humanitarian principles as well Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) believes that as is in contradiction with other humanitarian charters. For proactive solicitation of coordination with the US military these reasons, MSF is withdrawing from the DRC. with financial support of the US government has jeop- ardized the ability of the InterAction Disaster Response Committee (DRC) to represent impartial humanitarian organizations. As such, l am writing to inform you that Letter from Jim Moody, President of InterAction after careful consideration, Médecins Sans Frontières has to John Podesta, Chief of Staff to the President, decided to withdraw from InterAction’s Disaster Response The White house and Brian Atwood, Administrator, Commit tee (DRC). US Agency for International Development, 16 Our major concern is that one of the DRC’s central activi- April 1999 (in English). ties - military coordination - is in contradiction with our humanitarian principles. We take issue with and are Extract: opposed to linking humanitarian organizations with the I write urgently to express the grave concern of InterAction military. While we trust that the intention of the DRC’s members assisting victims of the crisis in Kosovo that the interaction with the military is to increase their under- Administration is again considering establishment of a standing of the humanitarian organizations’ principles, we U.S. government-run Kosovo Relief Fund. After express- believe that a body which seeks to represent independent ing total opposition to this proposal when it came to the humanitarian organizations compromises its neutrality attention of the NGO community last week, InterAction and independence when one of its four core activities is members were assured by FEMA Director James Lee Witt active participation in military briefings, conferences, war at an April 9 meeting that the fund was dead. Our mem- games, and exercises that are funded and orchestrated by bers are alarmed to now discover that this is not the the US government. case. Although there has been no further formal consultation with the NGO community, we are informed the [...] To demonstrate our alarm over civil-military col- Administration nevertheless may establish the fund. laboration and its implications for humanitarian organizations, we refer to the NATO draft doctrine for Civil- Many of our members helping Kosovo refugees are receiving Military Cooperation (CIMIC), which was circulated to logistical and other support from the U.S. government and DRC members following the attendance of a SHAPE civil- this is certainly appreciated. ln our April 2 meeting with military conference by a DRC staff member. The doctrine the President, we welcomed his interest in and support for clearly states the primacy of military and political goals our activities in the Balkans. However, the financial rela- in the CIMIC agenda: “Civil military liaison provides the tionship between American citizens and their non-govern- basis from which other CIMIC functions develop and will mental organizations is one in which the U.S. government always be conducted in support of the military mission.” should not interpose itself. The U.S. government should not The document also states that these activities are to be be in the role of dividing up the money, for many obvious “derived from a political strategic objective.” We question reasons. Further, there is no need for the government to how humanitarian organizations can maintain their impar- serve as receiver and distributor of funds to support NGO tiality and independence of action once they agree to act activities. Only a tiny percentage of the persons calling the in coordination with, or effectively under the coordination FEMA phone bank and our office have had difficulty select- of a military structure. ing an agency to which they would contribute. We believe that the unacceptable result of such coordination is that humanitarian activities are subordinated to agendas other than humanitarian. We disagree with con- ferring humanitarian credibility, as we believe the actions Letter from Jim Moody, President of InterAction of the DRC are doing, on any body which exists primarily to MSF USA Executive Director, 19 April 1999 to fulfil a military objective. [...] Furthermore, in the spir- (in English). it of political independence, which we trust all humanitarian actors adhere to, we would like to register our concern Extract: with the fact that the DRC is funded almost exclusively I agree entirely with the substance of your letter. From the by the US government to implement, among its other onset of the current crisis InterAction has been very asser- activities, the liaison with the US military and others. We tive in calling the public’s attention to the role its member believe that such a clear government link through the DRC NGOs are playing in responding to the needs of Kosovars. - a body which represents a framework for a common voice Completely independent of AID, we compiled both a list within the international humanitarian community - to a of our members accepting contributions for their work and major military power, has the potential to endanger our that of their affiliates on the Kosovo crisis, and a sum- collective independence and jeopardizes the fundamental mary of their activities. Both documents are posted on our impartial appearance and nature of InterAction members. website and are updated every day. [...] As our web site is 118 [...] In conclusion, we believe that the DRC’s extensive work in the public domain, we were not in position to object to were toldlateFridaybytheNSCthatproposalisdead. seen, ourcampaignappearstohavebeensuccessful,aswe absolute. Asindicatedinemailtrafficyourprobablyhave proposed U.S.governmentKosovoReliefFundhasbeen in heateddialogueonthesubject,ouroppositionto where InterActionmembersengagedseniorU.S.officials As Antoinecanattest,asheattendedoneofthemeetings Brian Atwood. relief fund, see my enclosed letterto the White House and Regarding ouroppositiontoaUSgovernmentrunKosovo a separate 800-number sinceitisextremely expensive. InterAction list,nottheUSAIDlist.Wehaven’tsetup office number. The list to which callers are referred is the is accessedbyfollowingtheinstructionsgivenatour they cancontributetoNGOreliefactivitiesKosovo.It members ofthepublicwhocalIInterActiontoaskhow [...] Wehaveestablishedaseparatephoneservicefor ing onprivate citizen tosupport the workof NGOs. President ClintonandFEMADirectorJamesLeeWittcall- ously, couldweobjecttogovernmentofficialsincluding accepting contributionsforhelpingKosovars.Nor,obvi- ing tocallsfromthepublicforinformationonagencies the U.S.governmentusinginformationfromitinrespond- believe that thiscanonly be useful. the properlevel ofmilitaryplanninginthat preparation.l NATO, andweareincreasing oureffortstoincorporate established responseprotocols withintheUN,NGOsand trained staff,pre-positioned necessary supplies,andhave ing theresponsetohumanitarian emergencies.Wehave out infront,withoffices throughout theworldshap- international coordination.TheU.S.governmenthasbeen migrations 25yearsago,wehavemademajorgainsin Since lfirstbecameinvolvedinU.S.responsetoforced organizations during ahumanitarian crisis. for the smooth hand-off of relief operations to .civilian the bestwaytoensurethatmilitariescaneffectivelyplan efforts asameanstothisend.Goodcoordinationisalso of humanitarianorganizationsandseetheircoordination the militaryshouldsupport,notsubstitutefor,work dinating with the military. They work on the premise that humanitarian workashavingbeencompromisedbycoor- Forum, theDRCmadeitclearthattheydonotseetheir tarian crises,includingtheU.S.military.DuringApril dination withaIlactorswhobecomeinvolvedinhumani- the DRChasmadegreatstridesinordertoenhancecoor- InterAction’s DisasterResponseCommittee.lbelievethat l amverysorrytohearofyourdecisionwithdrawfrom Extract: English). USA ExecutiveDirector,16June1999(in Population, Refugees,andMigrationtoMSF United StatesDepartmentofState,Bureau Letter from JuliaV.Taft,AssistantSecretary, of the sizeof the Central American community inthe United States. contexts, for example, inthe caseof hurricane Mitchin Central America, because 12. FEMA(Federal Emergency Management Agency) alsointervenes ininternational the victimsofhurricaneMitch andsubstitutedKosovofor we’ve taken the script from the fund-raising campaign for board operatorsrepliedvery candidly:“It’sverysimple; answer thatquestion?”Thewomaninchargeoftheswitch - know.” Heturnedtohiscolleaguesandasked:“Canyou are yougoingtotellthem”’PaulWittreplied:“Idon’t asked howcallsfromthepublicweretobehandled:“What tive such as Jim Moody, President of InterAction.” I also so, wecouldperhapsalsotrytoincludeanNGOrepresenta - to talkontelevisionaboutKosovoasdirectorofFEMA.Even of whichMSFwasamember)Isaidtohim:“Youaregoing InterAction (the umbrellaorganisation for American NGOs, intervention was.On8April,atameetingofFEMAand for Kosovo.”Heclearlyhadnoideaofwhatahumanitarian Witt, whoappearedonthescreen,saying:“Giveyourmoney sion appealsforcontributions,anditwasitsdirector,Paul isations interveneintheKosovocrisis.FEMApaidfortelevi- major publicfund-raisingoperationtohelpAmericanorgan- earthquakes intheUnitedStates,haddecidedtosetupa task istorespondcrisessuchashurricanes,floodsand and lhope you willcontinue to beone. InterAction. MSFhasalwaysbeenaconstructivepartner, community might question whyyouareevenamemberof will rejointheDRCinfuture.Ifyouchoosenotto, l hopeyouwillreconsideryourcurrentstanceandthat military deploymentsinhumanitariancrises. the past. Now the concepts of CIMICs are regular features of ing efforts.Therehasbeenadramaticimprovementover provide neededperspectivestomilitaryplanningandtrain- how usefulitwastohaverealNGOs,ICRCandUNpeople prehensive andeffective.Joelle,lrememberatInterAction with NGOs-thesecanmaketheresponsetocrisesmorecom communication amongdifferentpartsofthegovernmentand Such emergenciesrequireclosercoordinationandbetter nity’s humanitarianeffortsandtoproviderequisitesecurity. played anessentialroletoassisttheinternationalcommu- years -inSierraLeone,Kosovo,Timorthemilitaryhas As complexemergencieshavegrippedtheworldinrecent and fractured due toalack of coordination. that humanitarianassistance does notbecomepoliticized architecture whichwillrespondtotheneedsandensure together with aIl will we be able to build a humanitarian plan better for those contingencies. Only through working military involvementwillbeappropriate,andweneedto we allrecognizethattherewillcontinuetobetimeswhen wants toturnhumanitarianactionovermilitaries-but is essentiallyinternational,neutralandcivilian.Noone military forces.Thecurrenthumanitarianarchitecture Most humanitarianemergenciesdonotinvolveany Federal EmergencyManagementAgency Development, the WhiteHouseandFEMA, USAID, theUnitedStatesAgencyforInternational 12 , whose 119 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Mitch.” I asked: “Are you calling what’s happening in an independent fashion, by saying ‘Give to American NGOs.’ Kosovo today a natural disaster?” Why did you not chose that formula?” And on 9 April, they put Clinton on television. They didn’t I have devoted my energies to this case because it gave me have to pay for a clip. They simply said: “The White House an understanding of their entire logic of intervention, and needs to make a speech,” and every TV channel was there. also of their marginalising UNHCR. Their objective was also to The substance of what Clinton said was: “Look, Milosevic is enhance the ability of the NGOs to work with funds obtained killing people. We have to help the refugees. It’s important. not from the US government but from the American public – We need the public’s help. Open your wallets.” And where but collected and used under US government control. were you to donate your money? That’s where FEMA came In the end, we were completely taken in. We were very in. They have the logistics to provide switchboards with proud of saying: “We don’t take American money.” But the enough operators to answer thousands of calls. So Clinton US government’s strategy was not to fund NGOs. They would said: “You call this number (it was the USAID number – have been ruined by the many millions of dollars they’d they didn’t have a problem!) and you’ll find some charming have had to pay out! On the contrary, their strategy was operators who’ll tell you who you give your money to, for to get the American public to fund the operation. At that those poor Kosovars.” We immediately called that number. point, we began to say to ourselves: “We have to react. We We found people who had no idea what this humanitar- have to be vigilant in future, because this mechanism is ian crisis was all about. What I did was to say to them: perfect, and works extremely smoothly: on the one hand, “Those poor Kosovars! I’d like to give money to money to military operations, on the other, humanitarian operations help them. Should I make out my cheque to USAID?” Some that cost nothing and a guarantee that American NGOs will operators said: “Yes” they were so badly briefed. Others be forced to intervene, because they are inundated with said: “No, it’s not USAID; it’s the NGOs.” Then we asked: funds from the campaign that has been organised.” “What does that mean, NGO?” They had a list of the all the American NGOs, and asked us: “Where do you live?” – “New Antoine Gérard, Director of Programmes, York” – “I can give you a list of all the NGOs in New York” MSF USA (in French). – and MSF was on that list! We called again, and said: “I’d rather give to a Catholic or Muslim medical NGO.” And they gave us a list of those NGOs: the telephone number or the web address, or the free phone number! What greatly displeased us was that InterAction clearly was not involved up-front, but had certainly been approached in MSF ALERTS TO THE CONFUSION order to give its approval for this operation. On 9 April, the BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND Executive Director of MSF USA wrote a letter to the director of InterAction: “I am sorry, but we strongly disapprove of HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS this operation.” We sent a copy of the letter to all the NGOs AND THE PROTECTION who belong to InterAction, explaining that there was no OF REFUGEES reason why NGOs should be dependent on American strategy for their fund-raising. In his letter dated [???] the director of InterAction refers to a letter that he sent to the White House and to the director of USAID. This letter was sent only on 16 April, In other words, he had not been proactive In a press release on 5 April 1999, MSF asked that the before our letter of resignation from the DRC. And he does administrative and financial obstacles impeding the not inform us about it in his reply until 19 April – and in the implementation of humanitarian action be lifted, and meantime, FEMA continued collecting money through its TV reminded those concerned, that humanitarian opera- slots. He took his time to think about his reply because he tions in Macedonia must be coordinated by UNHCR. In wanted to be sure he could say: “I have written to the White fact, MSF teams observed that UNHCR was being mar- House and USAID.” He was woken up at the last moment ginalised, and that contingents from the various NATO by the announcement of our resignation. Otherwise, he member states were omnipresent. would have done nothing. At the time, it was not at all like American NGOs, and especially not InterAction, to challenge the authorities like that. We had another meeting with FEMA and InterAction. Right ‘Lines for External Communications Macedonia at the beginning, I went to see the other InterAction rep- - Q&A,’ Email from Ruud & Marieke, MSFH Press resentatives, and I told them: “If you give your support to Officers to MSF Kosovo Programme Managers, 7 this kind of operation, we will make our position public. April 1999 (in English). In fact, one of the things they have in mind is that USAID should be made responsible for redistributing the money Extract: to the American NGOs according to their operations!” We What happened with the refugees at the Blace-site? reached agreement ten minutes before the meeting started. Monday afternoon the Macedonian authorities started During the meeting, we asked: “Why are we, InterAction, massive transportation of the refugees from the strip of 120 not ourselves paying for the TV slots and raising funds in land at Blace. treated in line withtheinternational standards. as itistheirmandatetosecure thatrefugeesarebeing that UNHCRtakesoverthe coordination ofthecamps, the Blacesiteintothesecamps. Wedo,however,urge sites so quickly and that refugees could be taken out of in thecamps.MSFishappythatNATOorganisedthese The campsweresetupbyNATOandtheyarestillpresent What dowe think ofthe situation inthecamps? and sanitation facilities. and preparingtosetupmoremedicalpossiblywater- We arenowassessingtheneedsinotherrefugeecamps refugee camps (Blace and Stencovic), with local supplies. We havealreadystartedupsomemedicalassistanceintwo Is MSF allowed towork in Macedonia? out andwearejustwaitingfortheofficialconfirmation). tered. (Someun-clarities[problems]arestillbeingsorted communication! Line:weareinprocessofbeingregis- NOTE: thisissueissensitiverightnow;NOPROACTIVE Is MSF having problemswith the authorities? arrive. by bustoAlbania.Theyareexpectinganother10,000 Albania reportsthat10,000refugeeswheretransported Allegedly, 9airplanesfullofrefugeesleftforTurkey. MSF please giveacalltoPolly)and23.000Brazdacamp. Stencovic camp(seeyourmap,ifdidnotreceiveone, We knowthatabout15,000refugeesweretakento Where were the refugeestaken to? seems to be noadequateregistration. that itwillbeextremelyhardtofindeachotherasthere cerned thatfamilieshavelosteachotherinthecrowdand in linewiththeinternationalstandards.MSFisverycon- rather chaotic.Thiswholeoperationwasdefinitelynot organised inthesecondday,especiallyfirstdaywas they wouldbetakento[and]registrationwasonlybeing very chaotic.However,therefugeeswherenottold refugees). Ingeneral,theevacuationwasnotviolent,but refugees duringtheevacuation(police/soldiersbeating We received reports of violence being used against the How didthe evacuation go? We donotknow what’s goingon there. der anymore and thatthe Kosovars have been sentback. Rumors say the Serbs will not allow refugees over the bor- tion for the restof that road. Macedonia ASFARWECANSEEwehavenoconfirma- are nolongerontheroadwhichleadsfromKosovoto The peoplewhowerewaitingtheretogetintoMacedonia border is closed. Land’ are empty now. The Serbian site of the Kosovo We canconfirmthattheBlacesiteand‘No-Man’s- the buses as well. Macedonia - were let into Macedonia andtransported with who werestuck in ‘No-Man’s-Land’- between Kosovo and empty. Besides the refugees in Blace, also the refugees people out. Wednesday morning early, the camp was Dozens ofbussesweredrivingupanddowntomovethe

Albania, Montenegro, and Macedonia. Dr Winkler.Morethan40MSFvolunteersareatworkin macy toleadthismajorhumanitarianemergency,”said Commissioner forRefugees;onlyUNHCRhasthelegiti- operation becoordinatedbytheUnitedNationsHigh tion mechanisminMacedonia.“Itisessentialthatthis about theeffectivenessofhumanitariancoordina- international law.Theorganizationisalsoconcerned population inneedofhumanitarianaid,asrequiredby cut administrativedelays,andgrantfreeaccesstothe ties inbothcountriestospeedupcustomsprocedures, of theemergency.MSFhasappealedtoauthori- delays in Macedonia and Albania since the beginning Aid agencieshavebeenfacingserious administrative ment.” deny ustheauthorizationtodeployourteamsandequip the capacitytointervenebutauthoritiescontinue said DrLexWinkleradirectorofMSF,inBlace.“Wehave providing thenecessaryassistanceistotallyunacceptable,” days. Thefactthataidagencieshavebeenpreventedfrom ground have deteriorated considerably over the last few Kosovo. “Thesanitaryandmedicalconditionsonthe dered accesstotherefugeesstrandedonborderwith Macedonian authoritiestodaytograntaidagenciesunhin Borders/Médecins SansFrontières(MSF)appealedtothe The internationalmedicalreliefagencyDoctorsWithout Extract: section of MSF. not authorised,” saidLexWinkler,Director oftheDutch prevented fromreachingthis location,becausetheyare the groundhavecapacity tointervenebuttheyare need of health care. “The humanitarian organisations on tional access”tothisarea,in whichrefugeesareinurgent and Macedonia,demands “immediateanduncondi- to thesituationinBlace,onborderbetweenKosovo of teamsandmaterial.MSFdrawsattention,inparticular, of humanitarianaction,andtoauthorisethemovement the authoritiesinvolvedtofacilitateimplementation istrative andfinancialdelays.”MSFBelgiumcallsupon Albania andMacedonia“isbeinghamperedduetoadmin - on Mondaythat“forseveraldays”humanitarianactionin The BelgiansectionofMédecinsSansFrontièresstated Extract: release MSFFrance5April1999(inFrench), MSF USA5April1999(inEnglish).Press Holland, 5April1999in[English]Pressrelease 4 April1999(inEnglish).PressreleaseMSF on MacedonianBorder,’Pressrelease,MSFUK, Access toKosovarRefugeesinNo-Man’s-Land ’MSF CallsforImmediateandUnconditional French). Delays,’ ’Humanitarian Aid:AdministrativeandFinancial AFP (France),Brussels,5April1999(in - - 121 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

centre at the border, to carry out medical screening of refugees and to provide first aid. MSF plans to support the ‘Information Update Kosovo 2,’ Anne Guibert, hospital in Krume, to which the Kosovar refugees have MSF France Communications Officer, 6 April been referred, and to assist health centres in the sur- 1999 (in French). rounding area. Problem: all MSF’s medical and non-medical supplies have been held up by Albanian Customs. Extract: Montenegro Macedonia Team of 7 people, 3 still to come. It is estimated that Team of 15 people: According to government figures, today, there are in total between 50,000 and 60,000 55,000 refugees have entered Macedonia. Tens of thou- refugees in Montenegro, if you include new arrivals and sands of Kosovars, living in no-man’s-land on the border those already there. In the past few days, the team has between Macedonia and Kosovo, have been waiting for made an assessment of the sites at Rozaje and Ulcinje. permission to re-enter Macedonia. For several days, the At Rozaje there are between 10,000 and 15,000 refugees police have not been allowing them to do so. Conditions in the town itself, and doubtless more in the surrounding for reception and care on the site are very bad: no sanita- area. They arrived from the Pec region, in waves, one vil- tion, no latrines, for example. On the other side of the lage after another, one neighborhood after another, which border, the people who have gathered there have been clearly shows the organised nature of forced removals in given neither plastic sheeting nor blankets, and bread and Kosovo. They fled in the face of threats. Many refugees water are in very short supply. No NGO has permission to have left Rozaje for the south of the country. The majority work among these people. MSF is not even authorised to of the refugees in Rozaje are being taken in by Albanian work in no-man’s-land (see press release, 5/5). Six volun- families. Around 5,000 people are being accommodated on teers are providing assistance, for the time being under 5 sites, consisting of former factories and a mosque. The the aegis of Médecins du Monde and IMC. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNHCR and Mother Theresa are working on these sites. Sanitation During the weekend, NATO built reception sites for these is a problem in these five places. 35 Montenegrin doctors refugees inside Macedonia. Thousands of refugees from are working in the clinic in Rozaje. In the past few days, Blace were then taken to Brazda, to a camp set up and run they have been seeing around 1,000 patients a day. The by NATO, with a capacity for 15.000 refugees. Part of the main problems are respiratory infections, diarrhoea and camp is being administered by French troops, the other shock. MSF has offered to provide medical and sanitation part by British troops. MSF emergency supplies were still services at the five sites, and plans to organise medical being held up at customs as late as yesterday, and MSF has screening for the incoming refugees. not been able to begin distributing it. The first lorry left today. Once the equipment is available, MSF plans to open At Ulcinje, in the south of the region, there are a total health posts near the transit camps. MSF repeats that it of around 12,500 new arrivals registered by UNHCR, and is UNHCR (not NATO) that should run the refugee camps. certainly 10,000 more waiting to come. Many are being taken in by families (Ulcinje was where the people of Pec used to go for holidays). UNHCR has set up a camp in a I think the big issue for us was the fact that the former holiday centre, the Neptune Centre. 300 people are refugees were not allowed in. There was this Blace currently accommodated there. If facilities were provided, setting where they were stuck. We had huge difficul- the camp could have a total capacity of between 8,000 ties getting permission from the government to provide and 10,000. MSF has offered to provide medical and sani- assistance in the no-man’s-land and then the discussion was tation services in this camp. The team needs also to go about how far we were willing to push, given that although to assess the situation at PIave, south of Rozaje, where this was a humanitarian crisis, most refugees arriving were 20,000 refugees are thought to have arrived. Two MSF lor- not suffering from major medical needs at that time. So it ries carrying emergency supplies (blankets, plastic sheet- was how far we were able to provide assistance right now ing, etc.) are expected at the camp. A fully loaded charter and jeopardise for the future involvement and access to flight arrived at Dubrovnik today, carrying sanitation refugees once they are allowed into Macedonia. Then, there equipment. Problems with the health ministry on where was the whole issue that once people were allowed in; the the equipment is to be sent. Problems over coordination Macedonian government had negotiated that people would with Médecins du Monde, who plan to carry out the same be immediately transferred and transported to other coun- programmes as our teams. tries. Families were split up etc. Macedonia was very fearful to become Albanian. A nicely organised little state, we don’t Albania want these Kosovars in. There was a Kosovar minority and Team of 22 people. UNHCR estimates the number of refu- they were afraid they would get these freedom fighters in gees in Albania at 170,000, and they are continuing to Macedonia. That is why they were very reluctant. But, the arrive. At present, Kukes is the refugees’ main crossing- setting of Albania with its freedom fighters did not happen point. At Krume, five kilometres to the north, there are at all. I think it was a completely different setting. The also large numbers of refugees who have been unable questions of the journalists were very much about cholera, 122 to cross the border at Kukes. MSF is setting up a health really looking for a disaster. Blace was full of press standing “Where isUNHCR?” “Oh,wealsoinvitedthem tothemeet- the linkbetween themilitaryandNGOs” right?Right: you chairingthismeeting?” They said:“Obviouslyweare the sameforUSAID.Thatwas bizarre.SoIasked:“Whyare Overseas DevelopmentAgency, MilitaryLiaisonOfficer’and actually business cards that were saying ’British government government agency).Andbizarrely, bytwopeoplewhohad USAID and ODA, (Overseas Development Agency, the British which were chaired by the two main donors which were tance. Theywerenot.Therecoordination meetings be the natural coordinating body for humanitarian assis- help, up to acertain point. questioned therightofarmiesorgovernmentstoprovide cares whohelpswhomoutside.Personally,Ihavenever important waswhathappeninginsideKosovo.Nobody I would say that I found that a secondary matter. What was even Montenegro.Asforwhatwashappeninginthecamps, access totherefugees,whichwasnotcaseinAlbaniaor Macedonian government,becausetheyclearlyprevented indeed provide added value. the oneinwhichitwasacknowledged that thetroopsdid there wouldhavebeenhumanlosses.Thisepisodeistruly the NATOtroops.Itwouldhavetakenusmuchlonger,and organisation wecouldneverhavebuiltacampasquickly And people were traumatised. There wasnocholera;itareallydisgracefulsituation. organisation. Ofcourse,peopledied,butnothingmajor. cynical but,thiswasthebiggestthingforusasamedical wanted tohavesomekindofdisasterhappening.Abit thing forthemwasthatnobodycouldgointoKosovo,they there withtheirmouthscovered,lookingdown.Thebiggest Switzerland/MSF Greece operational centre (in French). [...], Deputy Legal Advisor, MSFFrance (in French). Katrien Coppens, Humanitarian Affairs Department, speak outsufficientlyloudlytoNATOandthe ticular. On the Blace episode, I think we did not That camefromtheMacedonianauthoritiesinpar- everyone acknowledgedthatasahumanitarian ities, all the refugees stayed out in the open. And In Blace, due to blocking by the Macedonian author- sidelined. Normally,inarefugeecrisis,UNHCRwould bizarre situationwhereUNHCRhasbeenpurposely What IfoundonarrivalinSkopjewasacompletely Thierry Durand, Director of Operations,MSF MSF Holland (in English). for a coordination mechanism! meetings. Which,therefore,wasaprettyinterestingset-up officers for ODAand USAID whowere coordinating those were financedbytheUSAIDorODA.So,itwasliaison donors oftheNGOsaroundtable.AllNGOs,exceptMSF, coordination mechanismwhichwaschairedbythetwomain UNHCR wouldbejustoneoftheagenciesrepresentedina UNHCR. Thus,itwasalreadydesignedfromthestart,that countries fromNATOnottogivetheusualcontribution So therewasacollectivedecisionfromallthedonor UNHCR that wasnot a member of theNATO. It wasJapan,theonlyoneofmaindonorcountriesto ticular crisis,onlyonecountrygaveanormalcontribution.” all the normal donor countries that contribute, in this par- on protectionandrelieflevel.”And,theysaid:“Well,from the factthatyouhaveamandatetoaddressrefugeecrisis mandate comesfromthedonorrelationshipsbutmore ners’ contracts.That’sfairenough.ButIdon’tthinkyour donors andthenindeedyoustartyourimplementingpart- have yourappeal.Andthenyougetbudgetfromthe money? Imeanit’samajorrefugeecrisis?Normally,you financers oftheseNGOs.SoIsaid:“Whydon’tyouhavethat for coordinatingNGOsfromthefactthattheyweremain implementing partners.”Theysaidtheygottheirlegitimacy coordinator because we have no founding to engage with ing.” Right.UNHCRshowed up and said: “Wecannotbe riences inGomaandKisangani who hadworkedinCongoandlearnedfromtheirexpe- a goodemergencyteaminKukes,particular,withpeople what wewouldliketodo.”Later,theyrallied,andinstalled NATO. But,atthesametime, wethoughtUNHCRwasina cal resources,itdidn’tbother usatalliftheycamefrom coordination ofassistance.If UNHCR didn’thavethelogisti- NATO wasbeginningtohaveacompletestrangleholdover or thatgroupofpeople.Andwehadtheimpression who wasgoingtodowhat,takeonthis ings, butwehadtobewithotheractorssothatknew do it there,” and so on. We hated the coordination meet- said: “Look, we want to set up camps here; we’d like you to we foundourselvesincreasinglytalkingtoarmypeoplewho takes discussionswiththeotheragencies.And,inmeetings, coordinated byNATO.Acampisn’tbuiltjustlikethat;it was thatthejointefforttoprovideaidbeginningbe we hadtheresourcestodoit.Whatwasmoreproblematic mount ouroperations.Weactedtotallyindependently.And, really give them space. We didn’t need NATO in order to refugees inZaïre-Congo 1996-1997” (August 2004). and Tanzania 1994 – 1996”(April2004)and “Hunting and Killing of Rwandan 13. See”MSF Speaking Out”–Laurence Binet :“Rwandan refugee campsinZaïre the resourcestomatchourprogramme,nor overwhelmed. Theytoldus:“Wehaven’tbeengiven I thinkthattobeginwith,UNHCRwascompletely Michiel Hofman, Coordinator in Macedonia,MSF Holland, mid April–May 1999 (inEnglish). 13 camps.But,NATOdidnot 123 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

position to take decisions about coordination concerning On 6 April 1999, Russia and China accused NATO of the camps, and to have discussions with the NGOs, without targeting civilians and therefore of being, responsible being overridden by NATO. At that time, we had the impres- for the exodus of Kosovars. Refugees in the Blace no- sion that NATO was taking over. And, NATO said: “We’re man’s-land were forcibly evacuated by the Macedonian doing it because UNHCR is not capable.” Off the record, authorities to the camp at Stenkovec–Brazda set up NATO people told us: “They’re a bunch of incompetents, and by NATO for UNHCR, as well as to Albania and Turkey. it we don’t do it, nothing will happen.” Representatives of the European Union, UNHCR, and ICRC expressed reservations about the way these Christopher Stokes, Coordinator, MSF Belgium in evacuations were carried out. On the same day, an Albania and in Kosovo April to June 1999 (in French). international conference attended by representatives of governments, specialist agencies of the UN, and NGOs, came out in favour of an urgent evacuation of the refugees who remained on the Macedonian border. The governments of some NATO member states agreed The armies had a very visible presence, and were to accept the refugees, others refused. UNHCR was carrying out very different activities. There were officially put in charge of coordinating humanitarian Greek, American, German and Austrian contingents, assistance to the Kosovars, in liaison with the military all working pretty fast, and the Albanians, who clearly and, with local governments. NATO said it would coor- wanted to talk with them, but hardly knew what UNHCR dinate transport assistance to Kosovar refugees and the was. Instead of saying: “Yes, the armies can come in, but airlift to reception centres. under our coordination,” UNHCR kept much too low a profile.

Stephan Oberreit, exploratory mission officer in ’ NATO Continues to Increase the Number of its Albania, MSF France, April 1999 (in French) Raids; the First Refugees Leave,’ AFP (France), Brussels/ Belgrade, 6 April 1999 (in French).

Extract: Taking advantage of an improvement in the weather, At the beginning the teams were hampered by the NATO continued to increase the number of its raids during presence of troops in the camps for two reasons: the night of Monday to Tuesday, when the first groups first because of targeting in Albania and later of Kosovar refugees began leaving Macedonia for Turkey because access to the refugees was complicated, and they and Norway. The bombing damaged many Serbian towns, were forced to collaborate too closely with the military. Our killing five people and injuring twenty in Aleksinac (south teams collaborated with them extensively on questions of of Belgrade), and aiming at various targets, notably a logistics, because we were very far behind. And so, the posi- number of radio and television transmitters, said Serbian tion that military personnel should not assist civilians when sources. As a result of these attacks, broadcasts by the they are outside of their own countries [refugees] was nei- Serbian television channel RTS cannot be received in ther a very cogent nor a very well-argued one, including many parts of Serbia. NATO was not able to confirm these within the international community. It was very controver- deaths. “We had nobody on the ground to verify this sial. Later, we found our feet again, when we were able to information” and “we are doing all we can to limit the show that intervention by the military was costly and not as number of civilian casualties,” stated an official of the effective as all that, and that they weren’t very efficient in Alliance, minimising the civilian damage caused since the their work. The first press releases were released locally, and war began on 24 March. there was no discussion about them. We learned about them Serbian sources reported that two allied aircraft had been later. I recall that the one issued from Macedonia by the shot down, a claim that was categorically denied by NATO, Dutch was not at all to our liking. Then, there was the one who added that the bombing had been “highly intensive.” issued from Albania by Christopher Stokes [Head of the MSF “In Aleksinac, a town of approximately 25,000 inhabit- mission in Albania] and James Orbinsky [President of the ants, known for its coalmines,” the Serbian television ser- International Council]. They held press conferences that vice RTS reported, that about a dozen buildings, including didn’t always go well, because there was something about the accident and emergency department and a dispensary, us of ‘defending our own position.’ They didn’t speak in a had been destroyed, and broadcast pictures showing com- very calculated way. With hindsight, I’m not sure it was the mercial buildings and houses in ruins. Serbian sources also right way. said that new bridge over the Danube was destroyed at Sombor, a town 200 km north-west of Belgrade. The offi- Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, MSF cial news agency, Tanjug, reported that in Kosovo, a fuel International (in French). storage plant and part of the runway at Slatina airport, near Pristina, had been hit. In northern Serbia, a railway bridge over the Danube, linking the province of Voivodina 124 with Croatia, was destroyed. The pro-government TV near Krajlane (west ofPristina). ties againsttheKosovoLiberationArmy(KLA)positions for theSerbianforces,toprotectthemwhenmakingsor- some 500KosovoAlbanianswereusedashumanshields atrocities. Inparticular,witnesses’statementsagreethat arriving inMacedoniaandAlbaniacontinuetoreport tries totemporarilyacceptsome100,000.[...]Refugees in accordancewiththecommitmentofcertainNATOcoun- to foreigncountries of the first Kosovar refugees began, airlift to bring humanitarian aid to the region, evacuation at the Kosovo-Macedonia border. Following the start of an accept thethousandsofethnicAlbanianrefugeesheldup the future.OnTuesday,Albaniadeclareditwasreadyto expected,” andthatthetotal“couldreach900,000”in of refugeesfromKosovo“hasgrownmorerapidlythan for Refugees,MrsSadakoOgata,judgedthatthenumber In aJapanesenewspaperinterview,theHighCommissioner describing them as “barbarous” acts [...]. particular anger about the NATO raids on Belgrade, Tuesday, the Russianpresident, Boris Yeltsin, expressed of refugeesfromKosovointoneighbouringcountries.On at civilian targets and, of being the cause of the flood after ChinaandRussiahadsharplyaccuseditofaiming its targets,affirmedaspokespersonfortheAlliance, had been affected by the raids. NATO had not extended installations connectedwiththesemilitarytransmitters had beentargeted,andthatitwaspossiblecivilian ing onTuesdaythat“militaryradiorelaytransmitters” about damagecaused,andwentnofurtherthanstat- NATO isalwaysverytight-lippedaboutitstargetsand second-largest city had been hit. channel Politika reported that the airport at Nis, Serbia’s refuse to get onthebuses or toboard the aircraft.” with them.Whenwetellthem wherethey’regoing,they information totherefugees, becausewehaveproblems to Turkey,butweareasking journalistsnottorevealthis the first flights of the day, she replied, “they are going where theyweregoing.Asked aboutthedestinationof gees were leaving against theirwill, or without knowing official acknowledgedthatalargeproportionoftherefu - were expelled fromKosovo by Serbian troops. An airport stuck fordaysinwretchedconditions,aftermostofthem Skopje, wherethousandsofethnicAlbanianshavebeen buses from the Macedonian border post of Blace, north of tions. [...] The refugees are being taken to the airport in criticism fromrepresentativesofhumanitarianorganisa - Kosovo tothirdcountries,provoking reservations and fashion, thousandsofethnicAlbanianrefugeesfrom evacuate, oftenagainsttheirwill,andinaninhumane The MacedoniangovernmentcontinuedonTuesdayto Extract: Petrovec (Macedonia), 6 April 1999 (in French). Provoke Criticism,’PierreLhuillery,AFP ’Forced Evacuations of EthnicAlbanian Refugees (France), the first influx of refugees alone. waiting toolongtointervene,leavingMacedoniaface mation abouttheworkofauthorities,andwest Georgievsky, accusedWesternmediaofspreadingdisinfor - On Tuesday,theMacedonianPrimeMinister,Ljubco responsibility” for it. UNCHR and the Macedonian authorities had a «shared to a“veryseriousfailureonthepartofUNHCR,”andthat A diplomaticsourceinSkopjeconsideredthatitamounted were beinghandled,“separationoffamilies”inparticular. he was“totallyagainst”thewayinwhichevacuations delegate oftheICRCinSkopje,FrançoisZenRuffinen,said stated thattheyhadnothingtodowiththeoperation.A organisations, andtheNATOforcesdeployedinMacedonia presence attheairport,norhadotherhumanitarian be doneinordertosavelives,”hesaid.UNHCRhadno it inordertocalmthesituationMacedonia.Thatmust “It’s notUNHCR’spreferredsolution,butwehavetodo reservations, butneverthelessjustifiedtheoperation. Geneva, UNHCRspokesmanKrisJanowskialsoexpressed tation isnotgoingtosolvetheproblem,”shedeclared.In away (fromKosovo).Addingforcedexiletodepor- those bordering Kosovo. “People do not want to go far ciple ofsendingtheserefugeestocountriesotherthan Bonino, saidshehad“strongreservations”abouttheprin- The EUCommissionerforHumanitarianAffairs,Emma masks and gloves. yards totheplane.Thestewardesseswerealsowearing unceremoniously putonairportbusestotravelthefew with nothing,werequicklycheckedbythepolice,then – sometimescarryingaplasticbagasluggage,butoften frightened, therefugees–ethnicAlbaniansofallages kind ofprotection.Distraught,exhausted,andoften where theywereworkingdayandnightwithoutthat organisations hadnotreportedanyepidemicsinBlace, diseases. And yet,teams belonging tohumanitarian apparently toprotectthemagainstpossiblecontagious police officerswearingsurgicalmasksandrubbergloves, arrived attheairport,refugeeswerealwaysmetby Tuesday, conditionswerescarcelyanybetter.Whenthey with familiesbeingseparatedandchildrenterrified.On nity. The airlift began dramatically on Monday evening, where there is a substantial Kosovar Albanian commu- destination. OthersthoughttheyweregoingtoGermany, planes underpoliceguard,saidtheydidnotknowtheir In fact,manyrefugees, walking fromthebusesto urgent needfor atemporaryhumanitarian evacuationof on thisissue, at whichapleawasmade concerning the in GenevaonTuesdaybythe internationalconference the responsibilityofUNHCR. Thiswasthedecisionmade Coordination ofhumanitarian aidtotheKosovarswillbe AFP (France),Geneva,6April1999 (inFrench). Humanitarian AidtoKosovo,’BrunoFranceschi, ’ UNHCR Put in Charge of Coordinating 125 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

the refugees. Representatives of 56 countries, specialised support for opening the borders of Western countries United Nations agencies, and the ICRC, as well as several to refugees from Kosovo. The Spanish section of MSF NGOs, agreed that UNHCR should have overall coordina- issued a press statement in which it demanded that tion of this aid, in liaison with local military forces and humanitarian space be created and the civilian popula- governments. The meeting accepted the principle of tem- tion inside Kosovo be protected. The French daily paper porary evacuation to third countries for those refugees Libération published an appeal for action by ground who wish it, and who are now amassing at the borders troops and for recognition of Kosovo’s independence of Kosovo, including the border with Montenegro, one by the European Union. The appeal was launched by a of the two republics making up the Federal Republic of group of French intellectuals, including Rony Brauman, Yugoslavia (FRY). described as ‘honorary president’14 of Médecins Sans Frontières. The text was reprinted, under the names The conference hopes that these measures will make it of Rony Brauman and Alain Finkielkraut only, in the easier to obtain the Macedonian government’s agreement Spanish daily paper El Mundo, in its issue of 9 April. on the evacuation to a transit camp of the approximately 60,000 Kosovars currently held at the border. By Tuesday morning, UNHCR had counted 650,000 refugees on the borders of Kosovo, of whom 450,000 had fled ’ On Western Ambivalence Regarding Acceptance the province since 24 March, the date on which NATO of Refugees from Kosovo.’ Alex Parisel, Executive aerial bombardment of Yugoslavia began. This population Director of MSF Belgium, interviewed by Agnès movement was “forced, planned and orchestrated”, the Gorissen, Le Soir, 7 April 1999 (in French). High Commissioner for Refugees, Mrs Sadako Ogata, told the conference. Since this migration began, UNHCR has Extract: collected many testimonies pointing towards the forced In your opinion, what is NATO’s responsibility for what is removal of the entire population, apart from the many happening? men, of whom some have been executed. – I cannot give my opinion as to whether the air strikes were appropriate. I can only note that before the strikes, The paramilitary forces of the Serbian ‘warlord’ Arkan Kosovo had no political future, but humanitarian agencies are frequently identified by the refugees as responsible had access to the population on the spot. Since then, for these abuses, said UNHCR spokesman in Geneva Kris not only is there a total black-out in the province, and Janowski. “The men are missing, and the refugees all say no humanitarian work can be done there any more, but they were killed and tortured in front of their families,” we do not have access to the refugees in neighbouring he informed a press conference. Faced with this tragedy countries. Clearly, intervention by NATO has exported the (which UNHCR admits is being handled better in Albania Kosovo problem outside Kosovo – even if the underlying than in Macedonia), the government in Skopje has problem is the policy of the Yugoslav president, Milosevic. decided to close the border where some 60,000 Kosovars are gathered, about two thousand of whom have already Is involvement by soldiers in humanitarian operations a been airlifted to Norway or Turkey. These movements are good way of ‘making amends?’ being carried out in conditions that are unacceptable to – Certainly not! NATO is a military actor, with military and UNHCR. Families were separated, did not know where they political objectives. When politicians and the military turn are going, and had not been registered by UNHCR. “We into humanitarian actors, we witness scenes like those we wish to avoid transfers of this kind, without the involve- saw last Monday in Macedonia, when refugees were shoved ment of UNHCR,” explained Judith Kumin, spokesperson onto planes without a word, without even knowing their for UNHCR as a whole. destination – Turkey, as it happened. To me, that looks very much like arbitrary ‘deportation.’ It wouldn’t have Most members of the Atlantic Alliance have now agreed to happened if UNHCR had been allowed to manage things. It accept refugees from Kosovo on a temporary basis. France, has wide experience of this type of situation, even to the doubtful even about the principle of taking these refugees point, if it deems it necessary, of calling on military logis- away from their home region, finally agreed, with prime tical support. But the politicians speak in the name of minister Lionel Jospin acting as an intermediary. humanitarianism, creating more confusion than solutions – that’s true even of Emma Bonino, the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs. At this point, it is more than urgent to put an end to manipulation and the cacophony of voices, and to redefine roles: let the politicians and the On 7 April 1999, in an interview with the Belgian soldiers return to their own issues – that means Kosovo newspaper Le Soir, the Executive Director of MSF and Yugoslavia – and leave the humanitarians to deal with Belgium, while acknowledging Milosevic’s political the refugees. We’re tired of being caught in a loop, of not responsibility, declared that NATO had exported the Kosovo problem outside the province. He criticised the 14. There is no position of honorary president in MSF France. In 1999, Rony fact that politicians and army officers were turning Brauman had not been president of the section for five years. Since May 1994, he 126 themselves into humanitarians, and pronounced his has been director of studies at the MSF Foundation in France. humanitarian – orhuman–position. protection, evenifit’stemporary.Thatistheonlypossible leave theminthisstateofdistress.Wehavetooffer social structuretowhichattachthemselves.Wecannot there, uprooted;theyhavelosteverything,andno policy ofethniccleansingishypocritical.Thosepeopleare would amounttoconcedingvictoryMilosevicinhis quences ofitsactions.Tosaythattoaccepttherefugees The westmustnowtakeresponsibilityfortheconse- Milosevic’s policiesthatareattherootofproblem. happening ontheground,evenif,Irepeat,itisPresident – Inaway,thewesthassomeresponsibilityforwhatis these refugees or not? Should thebordersofWesterncountriesbeopenedto political issues that are bigger thanthemselves. hundreds of thousands of people to remain hostage to being able to do our job. Above all, it’s unacceptable for impeding the delivery of aid. cratic obstaclesinthereception zones,obstaclesthatare should takeallnecessarymeasurestoeliminatebureau - 3. Inneighbouringregions,localauthoritiesinthearea when itis requested. should restrictitselftoprovidinglogisticalsupportonly nated byanimpartialagencyoftheUnitedNations.NATO 2. Humanitarian needs and priorities should be coordi- nic cleansing, and displacement inside Kosovo. civilian populationwhoarevictimsoftheconflict,eth - provide humanitarianassistanceandprotectiontoallthe dent humanitarianorganisationsaccesssothattheycan 1. MSFasksthepartiestoconflictgiveindepen - on thesespecific points: MSF ismakinganappeal,andaskingforimmediateaction In viewofeventsinKosovoanditsneighbouringregions, ation ofindependentandimpartialhumanitarianspace. population inthefaceofethniccleansing,andcre- for medicalassistance,effectiveprotectionofthecivilian ent time,thereisanurgentneedintheregionofKosovo meeting humanitarian needs in this region. At the pres- developments in Kosovo, MSF is firmly committed to among thecivilianpopulation.Inviewofpossiblefuture and weekstheremaybeevengreatersufferingdeath conditions, thereisaclearriskthatinthecomingdays and thepopulationiscompletelyunprotected.Inthese There isnoaccessforhumanitarianassistanceinKosovo, Extract: (in Spanish). Kosovo,’ Protection fortheCivilianPopulationinside Immediate Creation ofHumanitarian Space and ’Médecins SansFrontièresDemandsthe Press release,MSFSpain,7April1999 Kosovo; EU governments must take it. leader, backuptheKosovars, andsettlethequestionof action ispossiblethatwould delegitimisetheSerbian are drawingtheSerbsclose around him.Anotherformof hoping hewillbeabletoretain partofhis‘prey;’andthey ethnic cleansing;theyarenot preventingMilosevicfrom have athreefolddisadvantage:theyarenotstopping The bombings,ofwhichMilosevicisthesymbolictarget, suading the Serbs to no longer to identify with their ruler. plans, resolvingthesituationagainsthiswishes,andper - future by supporting the tyrant’s victims, opposing his Politicians ought first to concern themselves with the planes aretargetinghimforhispastandpresent crimes. Milosevic that’sblindingus.Lawyersarelookingforhim; In Kosovo, it’s the moral obsession with punishing people were thinking. nationalist solutionthatborenorelationshiptotheway precarious andartificial;projectingamulti-ethnic,post- that wasachievedaresultlittlemorethan jacket of international ‘legalism’. In Bosnia, the only thing must taketheinitiativeindoingso.Secondly,strait- our militaryapproach,andthatEuropeangovernments earth policyinSerbia.Itisclearthatwehavetochange to leadsomethingthatismorallyodious:ascorched machine. Butthisaim,whilerationalinprinciple,isliable the groundsthattheyaredestroyingSerbianmilitary made Milosevicgiveway.Theyarebeingjustifiednowon far limited its action to such strikes, and they have not first, thestraitjacketofairstrikesalone.NATOhasso To achievethat,wehavetoescapefromtwostraitjackets: question, of creatingthe basis forajust solution. protest orassistance,butapolicy,wayofresolvingthe in his own way. This military action must not be a form of to stopMilosevic,andpreventhimfromresolvingthings question ofbordersintheregionSouthernSlavs– first have–beforetheto-be-wished-forconferenceon for negotiations(theyhavefailed),orelsetoosoon.We now meansmilitaryaction,sinceitiseithermuchtoolate materially, morally,andpoliticallyindispensable.That Union governmentsmustmeetthecriteriaofwhatis project toeliminateanation,interventionbyEuropean In Kosovo,wherewearefacinganinsaneandodious Libération – Debates 1999 (inSpanish). Alain Finkielkraut,ElMundo(Spain),9April ‘The Case for Military Action,’ Rony Brauman and Libération (France), 7April 1999 (inFrench). Jean-Claude Guillebaud,andPaulThibaud, Action,’ byRonyBrauman,AlainFinkielkraut, Kosovo’s Independence–TheCaseforMilitary ’The European Union will Have to Recognise 127 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

The essential thing is to take action on the ground, which would break with the ‘archangelic’ and morally repugnant style of a war in which we suffer no deaths, in which the If Rony thought it necessary to use force, he Americans are hemming themselves in and hemming us thought so as a private citizen. But it wasn’t for MSF in. Now, as we await the formation of an expeditionary to say: “We think it’s good that there are strikes.” I force capable of holding Kosovo, we can help and encour- think you have to distinguish between the two positions. age the Kosovars, and create, defend and extend a zone of refuge in Albania and Macedonia, providing support for Eric Stobbaerts, Executive Director, the troops on the ground. But, the clear aim of this inter- MSF Spain (in French). vention must be to establish independence for Kosovo, without the prospect of partition or integration into Yugoslavia. Recognition of its independence by the EU is vital if its commitment is to appear firm, and if it is clearly to be seen that the solution does not lie with Milosevic. You have to look first at how this type of text comes about. Usually, it’s on the initiative of an individual Milosevic has two means of covering up his brutality and or a small group. Either out of a feeling of personal turning it to his advantage: Yugoslav sovereignty and affinity – as in the case of this text – or from a ‘political the need for his agreement in resolving border problems. calculation.’ In the positive sense, you look for artists, The use he is making of the former is such that we can humanitarians, intellectuals, politicians, to give a kind of no longer stop there. We also have to deprive him of the cross-section of opinions. You hunt around in many differ- latter advantage by no longer making him the key actor ent directions. And I was, no doubt, contacted as the ‘duty on whom ‘pressure is put,’ and by creating a fait accompli humanitarian.’ I had no part in writing this text. But as that thwarts his plans. In order to preserve the tool of soon as it was published, I thought it was useful to support their tutelary role over Europe, the Americans are restrict- a position like that. I signed it. What I think is good, is that ing themselves to what they can take on (and what is the Kosovars are in the foreground. manifestly inadequate): intervention by NATO in Kosovo. First and foremost, it was an appeal to support the KLA. And Here is an opportunity for European governments to you can be critical later. The Kosovars who were organised emancipate themselves, not in a spirit of resentment or by militarily were the KLA, and the KLA was a group that’s cultivating ingratitude, but out of necessity, out of a duty certainly open to criticism, sometimes Islamist, sometimes towards themselves; not dragging their feet like rebellious tending towards fascism. So they’re not the kind of people client states but by taking the initiative. Are they capable whose case can easily be made. But at the time, we didn’t of an act of radical autonomy like that? really know that. Furthermore, we weren’t in a position to choose our allies. We supported Rugova while at the same We are among those who have criticised (and are still time demanding that the Kosovars’ appeal to be able to criticising) the way in which the European Union was take part in the fighting, to do the fighting on the ground, constructed, through the by-passing and humiliation of be answered. It’s an approach in which I recognise myself, nations, through the destruction and not the creation of anyway; responsibility owned by those concerned, rather than political will. Current events are not proving us wrong. liberation from outside. It’s an approach that seems useful to But if the EU seizes the opportunity it has of legitimising me. And the critique of the vision that was being called ‘prov- itself in action, we will support it without hesitation, even idential’ – life and death falling from the skies, the planes we while continuing to debate its institutional style. Europe’s sent up there – that’s a position I continue to defend. There determination to assert itself is the criterion by which to isn’t a word about humanitarian action in this text. choose between the various forms of Europe. That absurd signature as ‘honorary president,’ I don’t know where it came from. I have to acknowledge it, but I take no responsibility for it. As for the publication of the article in El Mundo, I had heard about it, but I had never seen it. And I didn’t know that Alain Finkielkraut and I were the only Rony also demands independence for Kosovo. That’s signatories. Libération is read in Belgium, and Switzerland. nice! Maybe…why not? But if they had launched a Publication in Spain brought the thing back into the whole ground attack, would that have been in the Kosovars’ international movement, and created an echo effect. And no interests? We may still wonder about that. Perhaps they doubt I spoke on RFI [Radio France Internationale], after would have taken the opportunity of massacring a few of that. I understand clearly that in a context in which the other them themselves. Did Rony demand a ground attack to pro- sections are accustomed to seeing MSF France tending to go tect the Kosovars? roaring off, swords drawn... my declarations, signed “Rony Brauman, Honorary President of MSF ” raised a few eyebrows. Eric Dachy, Programme Manager MSF Belgium (in French). Rony Brauman, Director of studies, MSF France Foundation (in French).

128 leaving theirhomes, seeingthefighterjetsdropping bombs across theborder, seeinghundredofthousand ofpeople and lookingacrosstheborder andseeingpeoplewalking Personally, in the heat of the moment, being on the border the strategy. It was really not obvious. ground troopsorwhatever,we wouldhavebecomepartof is right,whatwrong,theeffectiveness ofbombardments, sucked inbytheargumentmakingastatementonwhat their ownhomesocietyforcasualties.Andifwehadbeen the mountainstheywereinwasquestionoftolerance attack helicopterswhichwouldhavebeenveryeffectivein holding thembackfromgroundtroopsandusingtheir They [NATO]werepreparedandtheonlythingthatwas questions about all of these issues. sure! Shouldweusethehelicopters?”And,some[more] “When shouldwe?WhendoWedon’tknow!We’renot grounds troopsthere.Theyhadtheattackhelicopters: propaganda around this particular action?” They had the what isalreadyhappeningandaddingweighttotheNATO if you like.” some sortofleadershiponthisquestion,anintervention, It wasmoreamatterof:“Atthispointwe’dliketosee in the GIs inperson. sticking myneckouttothepointofsayingweshouldsend attack imposedonlocalpopulations.But,Idon’trecall meaningless. We’ve said that from thebeginning. ground troops,thenotionofhumanitarianprotectionis purpose, onlyTonyBlaircoulddemonstrateit.Without We saidthatiftheNATOinterventionhadahumanitarian protection forthepeople,astherewerenogroundtroops. against Milosevic’s defences, but it brought no humanitarian that to bomb from 15,000 feet was a kind of air protection what’s sureisthatbombingfrom50,000feet…”Wesaid role. Wereplied:“We’renotexpertsinmilitaryaffairs,but on theground,becausewethoughtthatwasn’texactlyour demanding it.Wedidn’treallywanttocallforintervention the question,arewejustifyingwhatisinevitable, bardments orgroundtroops,whichthenbegintobe So thequestionwas:“Ifwespeakinfavourofbom- that thechoiceofnotwishingtoenvisageaground nature oftheintervention,andincreasedrisk Later, ofcourse,wejoinedinthecritiquesabout sition andevensomeLabourPartypeoplewere the deploymentofgroundtroops,becauseoppo- Journalists werealwaystryingtogetuscallfor […], Executive Director, MSF USA(inFrench). Anne-Marie Huby, MSFUK Executive Director (in French).

position on those ground troops. know. InretrospectI’m very gladthatwe did nottakea and seeing,Icouldhavegoneeitherway,honestlyyou essary for airstrikes to stop. was notenough,andrepeatedthefiveconditionsnec- in Kosovo.On7April,NATOstatedthatthismeasure Slobodan Milosevic announced a unilateral cease-fire between military and humanitarian action. some humanitarianorganisationsabouttheconfusion to thispositioninanarticleonthequestionsraisedby repatriation of the refugees. humanitarian lawontheregistration,movement,and the internationalcommunityensureapplicationof populations remaininginKosovo.Itrequestedthat expressed itsconcernaboutthefateofAlbanian ated MSF’sactivitiesintheregionofKosovo,and In apressreleaseon8April1999,MSFUSAreiter - fire Kosovo as “insufficient.” Slobodan Milosevic’sannouncementofaunilateralcease- ing hisaudiencethatonTuesdaytheallieshadconsidered Jamie Shea,atthedailyNATOpressconference,remind- airborne operationsinYugoslaviaarecontinuing”,said While the response to these demands is awaited, “NATO political agreement making Kosovo autonomous. - That[hisgovernment] contribute totheconclusionofa - That all refugees be allowedtoreturn to theprovince, tional peace force - Acceptance of the deployment in Kosovo of an interna- - Withdrawalofarmedforcesandpolicefromtheprovince, - Cessation of hostilities and murdersinKosovo the Alliance, said these five conditionsare: response, arecontinuing.JamieShea,theSpokesmanfor bardments, which,intheabsencesofarofapositive Milosevic of its five conditions for a halt to the bom- Wednesday, NATOremindedYugoslavPresidentSlobodan Extract: AFP (France),Brussels,7April1999(inFrench). ‘NATO Reminds Belgrade of its Five Conditions,’ MSF International Council (in English). The New York Times refers James Orbinsky, President,

129 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

‘Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières ‘With NATO in Charge, Relief Looks Less Neutral,’ (MSF) in the Kosovo Region,’ Fact sheet, MSF Elisabeth Becker, The New York Times (USA), USA, 8 April 1999 (in English). 10 April 1999 (in English).

“It’s terrible. It’s really hard to describe. You can see in Extract: the eyes of the refugees... they are extremely overstressed; The new partnership of NATO and the United Nations refu- they are tired, afraid... Some people were able to grab a gee agency is bringing supplies and shelter to hundreds few things when they left Pristina...most had not time to of thousands who have fled Kosovo, but some fear it is take anything. They had to pass checkpoints on the way to straining the traditional neutrality of aid groups. NATO Macedonia, where they were stripped of their belongings, troops have set up camps in Albania and Macedonia, so they have no passports or papers.” - Martin Tekulve, NATO airplanes are flying badly needed supplies there Doctors Without Borders, Macedonia, April 1, 1999. and NATO technicians are running all the logistics for the - There are 85 Doctors Without Borders international vol- flights, even at the United Nations refugee headquarters unteers working on the refugee effort. Doctors Without in Geneva. By working so closely with one side’s military Borders has now sent eight cargo flights to the region. during an ongoing assault, the refugee agency may have - Doctors Without Borders was able to begin work imme- crossed the line that allows relief organizations to care diately in Albania, focusing on refugees gathered in the for the victims of both sides of a conflict, some govern- towns of Krume and Lataj in the north and Vier in the ments and aid groups say. ‘’I’m afraid that in the minds south. Many refugees are passing through the northern of Americans and Europeans, the military and the relief villages on the way to other locations; Doctors Without organizations are working on one side of the war togeth- Borders is providing first aid and mental health care. In er,’’ said Joelle Tanguy, the Executive Director of Doctors the southern region, where the number of refugees is Without Borders. ‘’We’re all part of the same operation, increasing daily, Doctors Without Borders is setting up but we can’t be. Independence is our main asset - to be urgently needed water and sanitation structures, estab- able to walk into a war zone and act as independent relief lishing health posts, and conducting epidemiological sur- workers.’’ veillance. Refugees are mainly suffering from exhaustion, respiratory infections, diarrhea, and traumatic stress. On Tuesday, Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary - In Macedonia, Doctors Without Borders, along with a General, defended the relationship during a Security number of other aid agencies, faced difficulties receiving Council meeting, saying he personally approved and authorization to begin working and to retrieve our medical ‘’gratefully accepted’’ NATO’s involvement. At the request supplies. Doctors Without Borders issued a press release of the Russian delegate to the United Nations, Mr. on April 5, 1999, demanding full access to the refugees Annan also made public the exchange of letters between and the ability to work. We are now providing assistance Secretary General Javier Solana of NATO and Sadako Ogata, in some of the refugee encampments and have provided the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, supplies to other agencies, including the Macedonian which established their partnership. On Wednesday, NATO Red Cross. As of this writing, large numbers of refugees spokesmen in Brussels were dealing with the same subject, are being relocated both within Macedonia, and to other saying that ‘’NATO will not seek to create an independent nations by the Macedonian government; the situation is humanitarian role for itself’’ and that the military was changing by the minute. under the lead of the high commissioner. ‘’It’s obvi- - In Montenegro, Doctors Without Borders is preparing ously an extremely uncomfortable position,’’ said Kathleen to launch a medical program in Ulcinje and Rozaje. There Newland, a refugee expert at the Carnegie Endowment, are currently five American Doctors Without Borders vol- speaking of the United Nations refugee agency. ‘’They’re unteers in the region. They include a nurse, psychologist, trying to emphasize the civilian character of the opera- logistician, doctor, and public health specialist. tion, but that protest pretty much flies in the face of - Doctors Without Borders is extremely concerned about what is obvious - that UNHCR is lining up with one side the protection of those Kosovars still within Kosovo and of the conflict.’’ Echoing the sentiments at other relief those who appear to have been involuntarily relocated. organizations, she said: ‘’As far as the NATO participation We calI on the international community to ensure the in relief operations goes, that’s all for the good, they are enforcement of international humanitarian law with life savers.’’ Neutrality is a responsibility under interna- regard to their registration, relocation, and eventual tional law for many refugee organizations, including the repatriation. International Committee of the Red Cross, which said this week it could not become partners with NATO the way the United Nations refugee agency has. When asked for alternatives, Ms. Tanguy and other aid organizers suggested keeping the military and relief operations entirely separate, with individual countries making contributions and the United Nations in charge. 130 Referring to NATO refugee camps in Macedonia, she said, were in a stateofshock. stated that the Kosovar refugees arriving in Albania sections. Thepresidentoftheinternationalmovement porting thesedeclarationswasrelayedbythedifferent tion ofKosovarrefugeesbemet.Thepressreleasesup- concern thatminimalcriteriaforassistanceandprotec- the High Commissioner for Refugees, MSF expressed its On 9April,atthepressconferencegiveninSkopjeby their village homes. and allied combat jets continue to patrol the skies over in northernIraqafterthePersianGulfWar.UnitedStates thousands of Iraqi Kurds from Turkey to a safe haven area and theAmericanBritishmilitariestoescorttensof and overseeground-breakingcooperationbyreliefgroups Ambassador toTurkey,Mr.Abramowitzhelpedconceive to putasideallotherquestions.’’AstheUnitedStates be relievedasquicklyyoucan,’’hesaid,‘’andhave research organization. ‘’The magnitude of suffering has to a SeniorFellowattheCouncilofForeignRelations, has takenoverthereliefeffort,’’saidMortonAbramowitz, tions, asitmustbe.‘’InKosovo,ingreatpart,themilitary military inevitablytakesafteritiscalledintotheseopera- decade saythatthereisnogettingaroundtherole other officialswhohavehandledrefugeecrisesinthis have supervisedthecamps’constructionbysoldiers.But refugee agency, and that the agency’s officials could then have beenforcedtonegotiatewiththeUnitedNations and otherofficialssaidtheMacedonianGovernment could ‘’They shouldbeUNHCRcampsfromtheverystart.’’She the refugees[…].Tonight thecommteam here inSkopkje agenda withsome seriousissueswhichweare havingwith release tomorrowbeforethe nextOgataone,settingthe Anyway, theplanisforMSF todoapressbriefing/press with aIl the refugees). quotes abouthowtheydidn’t knowhowtheycouldcope softer imagehelpingouttherefugeesanddoingNGOtype the firstplaceandthenbyhavingaIlsoldiers a ‘humanitarian’ asthereasonforinterveninginKosovo over (even though they have had great PR out of using Apparently, SolanaagreedthatNATOwouldIiketohand be allowedtofullycoordinatethecamps-inMacedonia. Solana theHeadofNATO,toinsistthatUNHCRshould at whichsheannouncedthathadameetingwith a half.ShejusthadIivepressconferenceattheairport has justarrivedinSkopjeandwillbehereforaday Just toletyouknowthatSagatoOgataheadofUNHCR Dear aIl, Extract: to MSFpressofficers,8April1999(inEnglish). MSF InternationalCommunicationCoordinator, ‘Ogata inSkopje,’EmailfromSamanthaBolton, V1 Samantha. That’s all for nowmore from the team later circus ‘humanitarian intervention is military strikes.’ only thingpeoplerememberofthiswholepoliticalmedia strikes. Ifwedonotthisnowthenthatmaybethe make itclearthathumanitariandoesnotmeanNATOair issue to keep our independence on the agenda and to of editorials/indepthop-eds,etc.,tofollowuponthis with visibilityatthispointintime.Weshouldalsothink co-opted intoNATOoperationsastheyaretheonlyones As humanitarianorganisationsweappeartohavebeen is ourchancetoreestablishwhathumanitarianmeans. etc. Wereallyhavetodoabigpushonthisissue- in hospitals outside the camps and then getting back in and therearedifficultieswithpatientsbeingtransferred sites. Refugeesarenotallowedtomovefreelyinandout sent toanothercamp,TurkeyorNorway,ontoother tion; refugeesdon’tknowwhooftheirfamilyhasbeen From UNHCRpointofviewthereisveryweakregistra- on thelogistics - diggingandclearing). best tocoordinate-withoutmuchsuccess(theyarebetter camps withsoldiersinfatigueseverywhere-tryingtheir the camps-notleastthattheyreallyarelikemilitary on UNHCR).InSkopjetherearesomeseriousissueswith ing atthat,soletherdothatpart-weputthepressure without talkingaboutthegovts(Ogatawasalreadyhint- refugee rights/humanitarianNGOrighttoaccessmessage blocking issues-astheycanalIbeputintooneUNHCR/ on thetable,especiallymoresensitivegovtrelated difficult issues we are having with refugees and access Strategically thisisanidealopportunitytoputalIthe problems in therespective countries. might Iike to add from the point of view of the refugee have been alerted, and will be Iooking into what they to be doing. MSF F (Montenegro) and MSF B (Albania) UNHCR issayingbutalsotoclarifyexactlywhattheyneed the teamstoworkonwhatwecansaysupport will beworkingwiththehumanitarianaffairsofficersand Skopje, Macedonia/New York,April9,1999 —Theinter- Extract:

English). Macedonia /NewYork,USA, April91999(in Take Action,’Pressrelease , MSFSkopje, Frontières (MSF) Calls on Mrs Sadako Ogata to – DoctorsWithoutBorders/MédecinsSans Responsibility for All of the Kosovo Refugees April 1999(inFrench).’UNHCRMustTakeFull Refugees,’ that UNHCRCarryOutitsMandatewiththe ‘Médecins SansFrontières Expressly Requests Brussels/Skopje, 9April1999(inFrench). Press release,MSFBelgium,Holland, Carry OutitsMandatewiththeRefugees,’ ’Médecins SansFrontièresAsksthatUNHCR Press release,MSFFrance,Paris,9 131 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

national medical relief organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today called on Mrs. Sadako Ogata to ensure that UNHCR takes full respon- ’ The Kosovar Refugees: a Population in Shock,’ sibility for the Kosovo refugees, including those outside Michael Thurston, AFP (France), Kukes the NATO refugee camps. UNHCR must ensure that it fulfils (Albania), 8 April 1999 (in French). its mandate to fully protect and assist the refugees in accordance with international refugee standards. MSF is Extract: extremely concerned that the minimum standards for the According to Dr James Orbinsky, one of the many foreign assistance and protection of refugees have been ignored doctors now in Kukes, in Albania, near the border with for the Kosovo refugees. “Many innocent civilians are suf- Kosovo, “the effects are profound. Only time will allow fering from the conflict in Yugoslavia. The least we can do the wounds to heal, but sometimes they are there for is to take proper care of the people who escape,” said Dr. life.” The doctors meeting the Kosovar refugees at the Lex Winkler, Executive Director of MSF. «This means that Albanian border have to deal with an entire population UNHCR must take on its full responsibilities to assist and – adults, and children, too – in a state of psychological protect these people. shock. 300,000 refugees have arrived at Kukes within a few days. Their testimonies emerge without the need for During the past couple of weeks, refugees were left for questions from journalists or help from the humanitarians. days in difficult conditions at the border, with no assis- They’ve come back from hell, and they need to talk about tance. Recently at the border in Blace, when refugees it. “They’re in a state of profound shock (post-traumatic were put into buses and transported away, there was no stress, in medical terms). We’ve seen similar situations permanent UNHCR presence to monitor the number and in Rwanda and Afghanistan,” said the doctor. “The need destination of buses or refugees. The systematic moni- to tell their story is a classic symptom. They have been toring of new arriving refugees is still not taking place, dehumanised, they’re trying to re-establish some sort of and many refugees have not been registered. Without human contact,” added Orbinsky. [...] In the most dif- registration, refugees have no rights and families cannot ficult cases, you have to resort to medication. “If they be reunified. Without registered names, the numbers of really can’t cope, the only solution is to prescribe seda- refugees are easy to manipulate and assistance is difficult tives.” [...] “The children don’t have the same ability to to monitor. Families were and still are being separated and express themselves as the adults. They tend to somatise transported to camps and to other countries (sometimes stress. Psychological trauma often shows itself in them without their consent) and without information about in the form of stomach troubles,” explained Dr Orbinsky. each others’ whereabouts.

Although heavy logistical assistance has been useful, NATO is first and foremost a military organization which is ’ UNHCR Aid to Displaced Persons is Still Being currently involved in the conflict. It is not a humanitarian Limited by the Skopje Authorities,” Henri de actor and is neither responsible nor able to coordinate Bresson, Le Monde (France), 11 April 1999 (in humanitarian relief activities for refugees. Protection and French). assistance for refugees is the responsibility of UNHCR. Extract: UNHCR must take responsibility for the refugees in the Taking advantage of the arrival of Mrs Ogata, the humani- NATO refugee camps (Stencovic, Brazda and Neprosteno), tarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which or other camps (Radusa) as well as for the thousands of has several teams in place, delivered a strong protest refugees who are temporarily housed with families, for against this situation at Skopje on Friday 9 April. In its those who are still crossing the borders, and for those who view, “minimal criteria of assistance and protection have are trying to do so but are being returned. MSF calls on been ignored in the case of the refugees from Kosovo.” Mrs. Ogata to ensure that UNHCR fulfils its mandate and At a press conference, Mrs Ogata promised to remedy this specifically that it: situation, assuring journalists that she had obtained a • Ensure that the individual needs of refugees are met, guarantee that the border would no longer be closed to particularly for vulnerable groups refugees, as was still the case on Thursday at the Jahnice • Ensure registration of refugees and reunification of border-post, where several hundred people were being families help up by the Macedonians. UNHCR intends, Mrs Ogata • Ensure that the refugees and not forcefully repatriated said, progressively to take over administration of the or relocated NATO camps. But at the moment, in Macedonia, there is • Ensure that refugees are treated humanely nothing to suggest that she still has the resources she once had. She believed that in any case, the allied forces would be needed to continue to provide security in the camps.

The refusal by the Macedonians to allow the refugees freedom of movement could cause new tensions both inside 132 and outside the camps. If the situation deteriorates, the cleared outof thecamponTuesdaynight withoutbeing and sanitation. Morethan30,000refugees wereforcibly border crossingatBlace,with inadequatefood,water corralled 5,000refugeesinto asmalltransitcampatthe followed worldcriticismof Macedonia afteritsofficials refugee campsthatnowhold 44,000Kosovars.Themove from Britain,France,Italyand Germanyhaveerectedsix trol ofthecrisisearlierthisweek.SinceMonday,troops of Kosovarsseekingshelter,grantedNATOcompletecon - which hasadmitteditwasoverwhelmedbythenumber the welfaretorefugees.TheMacedoniangovernment, nizations inMacedoniathatUNHCRhadfailedtosecure expressed concernbyNATOofficialsandotherrelieforga - MSF’s condemnationfollowhighlevelsofprivately- its fullresponsibilitiestoassistandprotectthesepeople.” people whoescape.ThismeansthatUNHCRmusttakeon Yugoslavia. Theleastwecandoistotakepropercareofthe many innocentciviliansaresufferingfromtheconflictin Dr LexWinkler,theMSFExecutiveDirector,added:“Too gees inaccordancewithinternationalrefugeestandards.” it fulfilsitsmandatetofullyprotectandassisttherefu ignored fortheKosovorefugees.UNHCRmustensurethat for theassistanceandprotectionofrefugeeshavebeen “MSF isextremelyconcernedthattheminimumstandards fered byUNHCR,theworld-respectedreliefagencysaid: one ofthemostembarrassingcondemnationseversuf ethnic Albanianswhohavefloodedintotherepublic.In camps inMacedoniasetupbyNATOtoshelterthe165,000 ment issuedastheJapaneseheadofUNHCRvisitedrefugee MSF madeitsstingingcriticismsinaharshly-workedstate day by air, underthesupervision of OSCE. ber. Between1,000and1,500areleavingSkopjeevery Turkey andNorwayhaveagreedtotakeasignificantnum- suaded to accept 10,000additional refugees), Germany, countries. Atpresent,onlyAlbania(whichhadtobeper- be tosendtherefugeesasfarawaypossiblehost solution (andthegovernmentisstickingtoit)mightwell meekly by.MustNATOthenprovidethepolice?Theonly Albanian-speaking communityinMacedoniawillnotstand ing medical treatment. reuniting familieswhohavebeenseparatedandjeopardis- that refugeeswereregistered,exacerbatingtheproblemof and Albania,alsoclaimedSadakoOgatahadnotensured (MSF), whichhassentmorethan30doctorstoMacedonia refugees whohavefledKosovo.MédecinsSansFrontières failing toprotectandassist600,000ethnicAlbanian the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of An international medical reliefcharity yesterday accused Extract: 10 April 1999 (inEnglish). Tracey Lawson(inBlace),TheScotsman(UK), says minimumstandardsignoredfor600,000,’ Nations OfficialofFailingRefugees-Organisation ’War inEurope–MedicalCharityAccusesUnited - - - scale, and they havenot been done.” basic thingswhich onlyUNHCRcandoon suchahuge the responsibilityofUNHCR,” shesaid.“Therearesome has to come from higher up the ladder. And refugees are groups aloneisnotenough. “Effective reliefonthislevel she knowsthededicationof individualsandvoluntary who haveputtheirlivesonhold tocombatthesuffering, workers fromalmost40non-governmentorganisations constant streamofpatheticrefugees.But,likemanyrelief is helpingtopiecetogethertheshatteredlivesof who works for the relief agency Médecins Sans Frontières, of Skopje,intheBrazdaareaMacedonia,ChristaHook, out ofKosovo,writesTraceyLawson.Inthehillsnorth ethnic Albanianrefugeeswhohavefledorbeenforces Refugees’ allegedfailuretoprotectandassist600,000 the bruntofUnitedNationsHighCommissionFor It ispeoplesuchasChristaHookwhoarebearing - Youcan have anepidemicon your handswithin days a greater priority than immediate registration. spokesman, saidthewelfareofrefugees’healthhadbeen which aggravatedthesituation.”KrisJanowski,aUNHCR and our not being able to have access (to the refugees) up of transient camps, it was the blockage of the border people atmanytimes.IfMSFarereferringtothesetting arrangements. “Ithinkcriticismsarefreelygivenbymany and takingtheleadinaskingforthesethingsmaking have hundredsofstaff.Weareverymuchintheplanning In theMacedoniancapitalofSkopje,shesaid:«wedon’t gees at Blace. Macedonian authorities’ refusal to allow it access to refu- and claimedUNHCR’sworkhasbeenhamperedbythe istration services,whicharetobegininearnesttoday, taken a leading role in setting up NATO camps and reg- Mrs Ogata responded by claiming that the UNHCR had ethnic Albanians from Macedonia. the UNHCRpreventforciblerepatriationorevacuationof responsibility ofUNHCR.”Thereliefagencyalsodemanded should itbe.Protectionandassistanceforrefugeesisthe coordinate humanitarianreliefactivitiesforrefugees-nor MSF continued:“NATOisneitherresponsiblenorableto diseases, whichwouldspreadrapidlyinthecamps.Then and toisolatethosewhomightbecarryingcontagious cials saidthatregistrationwasvitaltoassesshealthneeds register theKosovarsonarrivalatNatocamps.MSFoffi- ated fromBlacebytheMacedonians and thefailing to properly thenumberanddestinationofrefugeesevacu- MSF alsoaccusedthecommissionoffailingtomonitor to remaininsqualidconditionsatBlaceforseveraldays. The independentcharityclaimedUNHCRallowedrefugees reflected inthecatalogueofcriticismsissuedbyMSF. organisations andmilitarycommandersintheareawas tive andunprepared.Thefrustrationofdozensrelief However, thereareconcernsthatUNHCRremainsineffec- peacekeeping duties. camps toUNHCRandfreeitstroopsconcentrateon registered; NATOisdesperatetohandovercontrolofthe 133 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

The Geneva-based UNHCR’s failure to register refugees PRESS CONFERENCE - Ogata came into the press confer- released from Blace is among a number of mistakes Dr ence after meeting with the Prime Minister and President. Hook and her colleagues believe the commission had She said that “both UNHCR and the Macedonian Govt made. The 56-year-old Scot added: “with registration, have learned some lessons.” Many of the journalists health problems can be listed and this is a vital way of raised questions about the UNHCR’s capacity to actually safeguarding the entire population of refugees. It only deal effectively with the refugee crisis - not competent needs one person with a contagious disease in living enough. Also, questions about missing refugees. UNHCR conditions like this and you can have an epidemic on your said they would start registration today and that they hands within days. On an individual basis we need to know were concerned about those remaining in Kosovo. The who had chronic conditions, such as diabetes, so we can main point that was picked up in the UNHCR press con- plan what levels of medication these people need.” MSF’s ference, from our statement, was asked by Il Giornale mission to safeguard the health of populations in crisis- - Italian newspaper - to Ogata basically saying that MSF hit regions has perhaps made it angrier than other relief was concerned about the refugees who were not in the groups at UNHCR’ alleged failures. three official NATO camps, and what would be done for them. Ogata then said that they were trying their best, Dr Hook, who works as a locum GP in Scotland between that they were negotiating with the Macedonian govt to relief stints with the agency, was attracted to MSF because better assist these refugees and that UNHCR looked for- of its approach to securing a safe environment by provid- ward to working for these refugees with MSF. MSF was the ing sanitation, clean water, and other logistic require- only international NGO mentioned by name in the press’ ments vital to effective medical aid. Originally from Perth, conference. she has since 1994 worked with MSF in Zaire, Rwanda, Georgia, in for the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia, wav- MSF’s statement came out at the right time, as yesterday, ing goodbye to her Edinburgh home and three grown-up the German govt also expressed concern at the way UNHCR children to help to save the lives of others. “I don’t know had been working (in diplomatic speak that is tantamount where my motivation comes from, but I love my work, to slamming them). Most of the journalists had already and it is rewarding to feel that you can give something seen for themselves what a mess the whole thing was from to people who have lost so much,” she said. “MSF’s broad a humanitarian point of view, and are clear that without approach to healthcare and logistic support means lives the military assistance the NGOs/UNHCR could have never can be saved. But we cannot work alone. Our good inten- got their act together (this means this is what the public tions and hard work are not enough. We need the help of is reading!) people who have official responsibility for people such as the Kosovar refugees and that means UNHCR.” OPERATIONAL FOLLOW UP - It is essential that now MSF operations follow up on these concerns that we have expressed. If we are saying that we have been blocked or have not had enough access and are concerned about the ’Follow Up from Ops/Comm on UNHCR,’ Email people outside the camps, then we have to make sure that from Samantha Bolton, Communications we really are trying to reach them and to do something Coordinator MSF International to the Programme (also be visible working outside NATO camps). MSF teams Managers and communication departments, 10 in Macedonia are already planning / doing explos etc - so April 1999 (in English). good news.

Extract: MILITARY HAND-OVER - Some of the handovers from mili- Just a short note to follow up on Ruuds last note. tary are now happening - the Israeli military hospital will There were around 15 TV stations at the Ogata press hand over to the German Red Cross (Israelis coming over conference and around 100 journalists. Most had received to help the Muslims and then being taken over by the the MSF press statement in the morning when we all dis- Germans in a camp...)! The NATO health post in Brazda tributed it at breakfast in the main hotels. It seems as camp will be handed over to MSF on Sunday. The NATO though most of them will hang around for another week or health post in Stancovitch will be handed over the IMC. so - and then go down to basic rotations until something The NATO soldiers will still be in the camps but not doing radical happens again. That means that this week they will health or sanitation - security presence (not sure of exact be running around looking for stories and following up wording for what they are doing). on any of the issues raised, including checking if UNHCR and NGOs are doing their job properly now that they have [...]PS - After press conference UNHCR Spokesperson, Kris made such a fuss! Janowski, was being filmed and interviewed by ZDF and made a big show of coming up to give MSF a big kiss and a hug It is essential that we follow up on the issues that we have to show that UNHCR and MSF are friends! Even said jokingly raised - both in terms of our operations (explos/working with that he was irritated that ZDF had turned off the camera for non-NATO camps + coherent message follow up) plus follow- the event!!! - Maybe we should readapt our comm tactics... ing up with UNHCR to make sure they do register the refu- 134 gees and deal with the refugees not in the NATO camps, etc. Rescue Committee], one of the American organisations with Rescue Committee], oneoftheAmericanorganisations with director ofemergency operationsoftheIRC [International ral disaster,andhadtobegiven shelter.”Itelephonedthe the refugeesasiftheywereimmigrants orvictimsofanatu- have absolutelynoideawhat arefugeeis.They’retreating thing isinquestion.Clearly, we’re dealingwithpeoplewho of registrationisaddedtoit,the humanitarianidentityofthe these logisticsareallowedtobeputinplace,andtheproblem for you?Wewouldliketocommunicateaboutthat.Whenall ian issuewassuckedupintoNATO propaganda. serious tensionsonthatsubject.Wefeltthehumanitar- the partiesinconflictarosefromthat.[…]Therewere refugee camp in Albaniathatwasnot militarised by one of determination bytheBrusselsoperationalcentretoopena did itinpublic.Itevenledtospecificgroundoperations.The they weregivingupashumanitariansinthefaceofNATO.We message was coherent. repatriation, andifthatwasUNHCR’sresponsibility.Our the legalofficertofindoutwhatwordsoneshouldusefor with head offices. We wanted to say something. I had called sion earlier.Speakingoutlikethathadbeenlittlediscussed it wouldhavebeenmuchmorehelpfultothisdiscus- something, andtheysaidithadbeenveryhelpful,butthat sections iftheydidn’tdosomethingaboutit.Theydid it. Iusedthethreatofcreatingascandalamongother Missions cameoneafteranother.Theyhadn’tthoughtabout ground... MSFhadnotyetissuedanymessage.Headsof have the time to get a sense of how things were on the was notdoing its work.Ihadjustarrived. I didn’t really distributed themomentOgataarrived,andwesaidUNHCR MSF Hollandoffice.Wewrotethiscommuniqué,whichwe press release,comethisevening.”Weallsatdowninthe arrived withvolunteers.Wecalledthem:“We’rewritinga ning... ThedirectorofcommunicationsMSFFrancehad military. Wemadeourdecisionveryquickly,intheeve- Samantha Bolton, Communications Coordinator, MSF We noticedallthesemilitarycampsthatwerespring- We wereveryshockedbyUNHCR’sattitude.Andthere American NGOs and asked them: “Isn’t that a problem American NGOsandaskedthem:“Isn’tthataproblem ing upallovertheplace.Itelephonedtwoorthree over it.Wetoldthemwecouldnotunderstandwhy had alsobeenapublicargument.WeattackedUNHCR not registered,andthecampswerebeingrunby should notbedoingitswork,andthatpeoplewere We stated that it was not possible that UNHCR Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, International (in French). MSF France (in French). of NATOmember states.Also,inMacedonia, theMSF out inadisorganised waybythemilitary contingents humanitarian action,which untilnowhasbeencarried Guard’, wasintendedto improve coordinationof started on17April,andthe operation,called‘Joint Kosovo, andguaranteeing their security.Deployment uting humanitarianassistance totherefugeesfrom men toAlbania,taskedwithtransportinganddistrib - its agreementforthedeploymentofaforce8,000 On 11April1999,thePermanentCouncilofNATOgave what thepeoplewereactuallyexperiencing. putting therefugeesatrisk.Wetriedtohighlightrealityof of UNHCR,andtheplacementNATOtroopsinrefugeecamps statements Iwasinvolvedinwherewepointedoutthefailure this militarisation of humanitarian aid and there were several humanitarian spacecouldbeprotected.So,wewereawareof said tome:“Onceagain,MSF,you’vetouchedasorepoint.” aspects,’ withaquotationfromJoëlle.Later,thisjournalist and preciselytheassociationofmilitaryhumanitarian tioning themilitaryinterventioninitscurrentdefinition substantial article, you could read, ’some NGOs are ques- Macedonia. Thenextday,intheNewYorkTimes,aquite her ontoourExecutiveDirector,whohadjustreturnedfrom That’s veryinteresting.MayIdosomeinterviews?”put the confusionbetweenmilitaryandhumanitarian. your number.ItseemsyouhavesomeproblemsatMSFwith cialist onmilitary questions. Shesaid:“JimBishopgaveme Pentagon correspondentoftheNewYorkTimes,theirspe- The followingday,Ireceivedatelephonecallfromthe way of thinking.” replied: “This is another MSF thing. It’s very European, your a problem and we’d like to communicate about that?” He expressed thesamekindoffeelings?It’sbeginningtobecome intervention. DoyouknowifotherNGOsinInterActionhave begun todevelopacertainwayofthinkingaboutthismilitary tion ofAmericanNGOs,andIsaidtohim:“‘inMSFwe’ve of theaidcommitteeInterAction,umbrellaorganisa- I telephonedJimBishop,aformerambassador,andpresident and I’vealwaysseenacertainvalueinmilitaryintervention.” kind, becausemyfather’sanarmyofficer,andbrother, a bitdifficultformetomakeanacknowledgementofthis him. Hereplied:“I’venoideawhatyou’retalkingabout.It’s involved inKosovoatthattime.Iputthiswholequestionto the largestpresenceinAlbaniaandMacedonia.Itwasdeeply When the bombing started, we were particularly aware When thebombingstarted,wewereparticularlyaware ing to force UNHCR to play its humanitarian role so the ing toforceUNHCRplayitshumanitarianrolesothe of tryingtocarveoutthehumanitarianspaceandtry- James Orbinsky, President, MSF International Antoine Gérard, Director of Programmes, MSF USA (in French). Council (inEnglish).

135 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

teams noted from daily experiences, that while its staff responsible for public relations in NATO are very efficient, those dealing with humanitarian assistance The camps were actually not managed by the NATO operations are much less so. authorities. But, they surely wanted it to be portrayed this way. Their public relations machine was very good in the sense that they got the footage that they were looking for: “NATO was helping the poor Kosovo refu- ‘NATO Launches ”Operation Joint Guard” and gees by setting up those camps.” The reality on the ground, Carries Out Limited Raids,’ AFP (France), as usual, was much messier than a strictly managed NATO Brussels/Belgrade/Washington, 12 April 1999 camp. Officially, the camps were managed by the Macedonian (in French). government assisted by UNHCR. The job of UNHCR was really pushed aside by extremely aggressive NATO public Extract: relations officers to be actually seen in the forefront as On Sunday, NATO took a major step towards sending a organising those camps. But, at the same time the NATO force to assist refugees from Kosovo to Albania, while was really incapable of managing a camp beyond having the continuing its raids on Yugoslavia. The Permanent Council heavy equipment to level the ground, which all they were (ambassadors) of NATO approved plans for ‘Operation doing, and placing NATO soldiers to literally unpack and put Joint Guard,’ which will provide for the deployment of up tents. Operationally speaking, the only contribution from some 8,000 soldiers in Albania, whose mission will be to NATO were these two things. The heavy equipment in terms “ensure the safe arrival of humanitarian aid, its transpor- of bull dozers leveling the ground of those pieces of land, tation and distribution” to the refugees. On the military donated by the Macedonian government is very a visible front, NATO resumed its raids during the night of Sunday action. And, the cameras were around whenever one of the to Monday, in particular, on the areas around Belgrade blue helmets was doing this job. And, again they had these and Pristina. very visible acts of having smiling NATO soldiers unpacking [...] For the first time, NATO aircraft also dropped 2.5 mil- tents. lion leaflets over Yugoslavia explaining the reasons for the Something wasn’t evident from this footage: these tents raids, confirmed Jamie Shea, who said that the airborne were not actually NATO tents because they had forgotten force would be increased from its present 500 aircraft to bring tents. They had been brought there by UNHCR or to around 600, with 82 additional American planes and other relief agencies. And, anything else that goes into camp seven British ones. The leaflets explain that the Alliance management, they were not doing it either. Like the way- will halt its bombardments if Yugoslav president Slobodan station for distribution, the crowd control, managing the Milosevic ends hostilities and withdraws his forces. [...] infrastructure of the camps. Some needs were completely not On the humanitarian front, ‘Operation Joint Guard’, NATO’s taken into account. 50,000 people were living in the biggest first mission of this kind since its creation in 1949, should of those camps, north of Skopje. The fact that these 50,000 allow for the regrouping in one structure, led by NATO, of people actually needed somewhere to shit is something that the various efforts undertaken in Albania by contingents they didn’t foresee. What they didn’t think at all is that for of allied troops already on the ground. NATO will act 50,000 you need 5,000 latrines. That kind of essential part ’in support’ of the local authorities and of the UN High of a camp infrastructure like water–sanitation was not in any Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), which has a ‘pilot role’ of the NATO books at all. The actual situation was extremely in bringing aid to refugees, the diplomats in Brussels messy on the ground. Everything around us was full of shit emphasised. In order to facilitate this operation, Tirana because people actually had nowhere to go and do what they has decided to “give NATO rights of control over all of had to do… So, you have a confused MSF who didn’t know Albania’s airspace, ports and military infrastructures.” exactly what to do or why, in front of the cameras. Anyway, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has, however, expressed we were pushed aside by the very hard PR machine of NATO reservations about ‘Operation Joint Guard’, believing who had a very clear objective to get themselves on the that NATO should not conflate its war operations with television screen as a humanitarian actor. a humanitarian mission, since the latter could be seen as a “preparation for military action on the ground,” Michiel Hofman, Coordinator in Macedonia, MSF with Kosovo as its target. [...] On the northern border of Holland, Mid-April - May 1999 (in English). Albania, the influx of refugees from Kosovo continued, with the arrival at the border post of Morina during the night of Saturday to Sunday of some 4,200 Kosovars, said the OSCE spokesman in Tirana, Andrea Angeli. In contrast, the border between Yugoslavia and Macedonia On 11 April 1999, MSF issued a press release from was closed again on the Yugoslav side, said UNHCR. The Tirana (the Albanian capital), requesting that the UN Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) put at 400,000 the number agencies be made responsible for coordinating aid. of Kosovar refugees driven from their homes and now Other humanitarian organisations had mixed views on in hiding inside the Serbian province, reported Foreign this. The Macedonian authorities are claiming control Secretary Robin Cook. over the refugee camps in their territory, in particular, 136 the one at Stenkovec - Brazda, where the MSF medical camps run byUNHCR. that new sites had been foundfor the refugees in the istration ofrefugeeswasunderwayinMacedoniaand to MSF’sallegationsoffailure.Heclaimedthatthereg- On 13April1999,aUNHCRspokesmanreactedsharply team had just taken over fromitsNATO counterpart. impartial NGOs.” actors such as NATO, and in coordinating with neutral and in carefullyrequestingsupport fromnon-humanitarian now bemoreactiveinsetting humanitarianpriorities, region.” Hesaidfinallythat “UN agenciesabsolutelymust and impartialcharacterofhumanitarian assistanceinthe tarian assistance will jeopardize the long term neutral cerned thatimmediatemilitaryeffortstoprovidehumani - today, butwillalsoexisttomorrow.Weareextremelycon - actor.” DrOrbinskysaidfurtherthat“refugeeneedsexist at war. NATO is not a neutral and impartial humanitarian run. ThesimplefactisthatNATOamilitaryactor which couldputtherefugeesatsecurityriskinlong- being seenassupportorpreparationformilitaryactions coordination of UN Agencies. Otherwise such support risks in thiscrisis,butitmustbeattherequestandunder support from non-humanitarian actors iscertainly needed the future.”DrOrbinskyaddedthat“immediatelogistical neutral humanitarianzonesandmaybeatsecurityriskin camps. Ifthisperception exists, campscannotbeseenas should notberunning,orseentorunningrefugee been vitalinthiscrisis,NATOmilitariesandmemberstates capacity. WhileimmediateNATOlogisticalsupporthas must notbearationaleforfuturemilitarydeployment Council, saidthat“supportforhumanitarianoperations James Orbinsky,MD,PresidentoftheMSFInternational ian operations. troops totheborderareaostensiblysupporthumanitar- operational. Globally,NATOisseekingtodeploy8,000 the KosovoborderwhereUNHCRandNGOsarealready intention tosetuptransitcampswithinafewmilesof For example,FranceandGermanyhaveannouncedtheir and seekingtomanagerefugeecampsinsideAlbania. states with support from their militaries, are establishing and neutralNGOsinAlbania.Atthispoint,NATOmember and assistrefugees,tocoordinatewithindependent UNHCR tomoreactivelyfulfilltheirmandateprotect assistance. MSFalsocalledonUNagenciesandespecially long-term neutralandimpartialcharacterofhumanitarian international communitytorespecttheessentialand Sans Frontières(MSF)todaycalledonNATOandthe The internationalmedicalrelieforganizationMédecins Extract: 1999 (inEnglish). MSF, Tirana(Albania),Pressrelease,11April Risks BeingSeenasSupportforMilitaryAction,’ Efforts –MilitarySupportforHumanitarianAid ’UN AgenciesMustLeadHumanitarianAid Pec. displaced personsinsideKosovoatPristina,Prizren,and of Kosovars,MSFprovidedmedicalassistancetointernally Macedonia andMontenegro.Beforetheforcedmigration Fier andatransit-campinKorce.MSFisalsopresent border regionofKukes. MSF isalsoassistingrefugeesin inside Albania. MSF is currently assisting refugees in the According toofficialfigures,over250,000refugeesare they are supervised by Macedonian police. camp duringdaylighthoursonly,butareinsistingthat agreed toallowlightly-armedNATOfootpatrolsintothe the refugeecamps.TheMacedonianauthoritieshave is insistingthatNATOsoldiersbeallowedtopatrolinside deportees. AccordingtotheSpanishdailyElPais,UNHCR notoriously pro-Serb,havebeenmistreatingtheAlbanian area. TheMacedonianpolice, who areofSlavicoriginand being managedbyNATOsoldiersandNGOsworkinginthe gees areconcentrated.Thecampwasbuiltandiscurrently particularly theBrazda-Stenkovacsitewhere38,000refu- Macedonia totakechargeoftherefugeecampsthere, ties have asked the leaders of the NATO forces based in vision (UK)onSunday11April,theMacedonianauthori- Moreover, accordingtoanewsitembroadcastbyBBCtele- Extract: work in Kosovo.” to acceptpublicfundingfrom NATOmemberstatesforour parties to the conflict. Furthermore, we have decided not be reducedtotheroleofservice providerstooneofthe and theprotectionoftheir rights. But,NGOsshouldnot nise andcoordinatetheprovision ofaidtotherefugees that wasnotthecase.Astimegoeson,wehavetoorga - ments should have justified intervention in Kurdistan, but their political aims to the general public. The same argu- began; they use moral arguments instead of explaining manipulating thehumanitariananglesincestrikes Director ofOperations,“NATOcommunicationshavebeen jeopardised.” […]AccordingtoJean-HervéBradol,MSF’s tral humanitarianzonesandtheirfuturesecuritycouldbe perception exists,thecampscannotberegardedasneu - perceived tobetakingcharge,ofrefugeecamps.Ifsucha soldiers andmemberstatesshouldnottakecharge,orbe diate logistical aid has been vital in this crisis, NATO objections tothemixingofgenres.“WhileNATO’simme- Médecins SansFrontières(MSF)wasthefirsttostateits In acommuniquéissuedinTiranaonSunday11April, Extract:

1999 (inFrench). Paul Benkimoun,LeMonde(France),13April ‘NGOs WaryofNATO’SHumanitarianInitiative,’ (France), 13 April1999(inFrench). ‘UNHCR AccusedofMissionFailure,’ Le Monde 137 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Jean-Luc Bodin, Director-General of Action Against want to be drawn into an argument with UNHCR but wants Hunger/(Action Contre La Faim), expressed a similar view: to help it to force the issue so that states acknowledge “The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) should the full scope of its role, which they are not doing at reassert its role as a leader and coordinate all humanitar- present. It is clear that Albania would rather negotiate ian aid.” […] Interviewed by Le Monde, Marc Gentilini, with NATO than with UNHCR. Macedonia has no desire to President of the French Red Cross, said that he was “baf- open proper refugee camps. NATO is also remaining vague fled by the confusion between humanitarian and military about its intentions. roles. If a decision is taken without consulting humanitar- Q: NATO has launched Operation Joint Guard, which has ian organisations, it could ruin attempts to muster public a mandate to send up to 8,000 troops to Albania to sup- support in France. The abiding principle of the Red Cross port UNHCR and “guarantee the safe arrival of humani- is that of neutrality and of coming to the aid of all those tarian aid, its transportation and its distribution to the who need it. If the conflict took the form of an extended refugees.” In addition, there are several thousand soldiers ground offensive, the confusion of humanitarian organisa- helping to run the camps in Macedonia. What is so repre- tions and NATO forces would no longer be compatible with hensible about such actions? our ethics.” […] Jacky Mamou, President of Doctors of the A: NATO’s activities in northern Albania are probably World/(Médecins Du Monde), took a more balanced view: necessary to secure the delivery of humanitarian aid. On “If Operation Joint Guard can help to stabilise the camps the other hand, it is clearly receiving little cooperation and prevent the widespread dispersal of the refugees, we from the Macedonian authorities and its position there is are not against it,” he said. “There is no need for hypoc- ambiguous. And, NATO has not declared its readiness to risy; getting aid into northern Albania safely is essential; protect the sites in Macedonia. Moreover, the presence of some of it has already been hijacked. It is quite possible uniforms in the camps may be a deliberate attempt to mis- that NATO will do the same as they did in Macedonia, lead Western public opinion. The image of soldiers is reas- where they rapidly handed responsibility to UNHCR and suring. It creates an impression of order in a place where the humanitarian organisations working in the camps.” disorder is in fact the rule. The registration of refugees has hardly begun in the military-run camps. Elsewhere, the refugees are subject to a variety of pressures and are often forced into supporting various causes. Moreover, if ‘ Should NATO Participate in Humanitarian the camps are not regarded as neutral humanitarian zones, Action?’ Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, MSF France their future security could be jeopardised. NATO is not a Legal Adviser, interviewed by Jean-Christophe neutral humanitarian actor and it must understand that it Ploquin, La Croix (France), 13 April 1999 (in is vitally important to distinguish between humanitarian French). action and political action; that humanitarian action is not a card to play in the conflict; that it should not be Extract: used as propaganda or as a public relations tool. Q: For the last five days, Médecins Sans Frontières has been criticising the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its slow response to the situation in Macedonia and Albania. Why? ‘Macedonia Communication,’ Email from MSF H A: Because in such a situation the aim of humanitarian Skopje to MSF Amsterdam, 12 April 1999 (in action is to remove the refugees, particularly the weakest, English). from the logic of violence in which they have become enmeshed, as soon as possible. According to international Extract: conventions, only UNHCR is authorised to assure the pro- Current activities of MSF: tection of refugees. These conventions were signed by all 1./ 2 OPDs (Out Patient Departments) in Brazda - popu- the UN member states. UNHCR must negotiate with the lation 15,000/capacity 62,000 - (British NATO) camp. governments concerned the conditions which will enable Sunday morning medical team of NATO handed over their it to verify that procedures for registering refugees have OPD to MSF (see for Q&A, and small report below). MSF is been implemented, that families are being reunited, that now leading medical agency in this camp. camps are located in safe, protected areas, and that 2./ MSF handed over their medical activities in Stankovic eventual departure from the camps is voluntary. These (French NATO) camp to IMC (International Medical Corps). precautions are simply small ramparts that international Now, MSF is not present anymore in Stankovic camp. law has erected in order to protect refugees. Otherwise, 3./ MSF started Sunday one OPD in Radusa camp - pop. they would be completely trapped in a power struggle and 1,300/cap 1,300 - (NON NATO, Macedonian Government left to the mercy of opposing parties who can make them controlled). MSF is the one and only medical agency in disappear whenever they choose, as we saw at Blace. this camp. (We took over from IMC) Now negotiations between UNHCR on the one hand and 4./ Daily assessments by mobile teams at the border, Albania and Macedonia on the other are progressing other refugee camps, and the villages around that also slowly. In Tirana, as in Skopje, we don’t know whether absorbed ten thousands of refugees (in order to support UNHCR is encountering obstacles in its discussions and local structures in case of any influx of people across the 138 we would like it to tell us what is going on. MSF does not mountains and other borders areas). [...] and Cooperation in Europe). moment coordinatedbyOSCE. (Organisation for Security the camps.Onrequestof UNHCR, registrationisatthis the crowdsandweresplitup. Registration has started in tragic storiesaboutfamilymembersthatlosteachotherin registration oftherefugeesisveryimportant.Thereare *What abouttheregistrationandfamilytracing?The on this. in linewithinternationaltreaties.MSFwillkeepaneye (and task)tomonitorthatthisisimplementedcorrectly, the MacedonianGovernment).UNHCRhasmandate ciple the task of the receiving country/host country (i.e. responsibility to protect and assist the refugees is in prin- is intheprocessofmovingout?Securityaconcern.The *What aboutthesecurityincamps,now[that]NATO agency inBrazda camp. this together.MSFisatmomenttheleadingmedical by theNGOs.Ifanyproblemsmayarisewe’lltrytosolve terday inBrazdacamp,allthemedicalneedsarecovered the reliefeffortsincooperationwithNGOs.Sinceyes- *What aboutcooperationwithUNHCR?UNHCRcoordinates sibility for this. refugees andwearehappythatUNHCRtakestherespon- from NATO.UNhasthemandatetoassistandprotect MSF urgedstronglyforUNHCRtotakeovercoordination the campandfulfillingheavylogisticalneeds.Lastweek international agencies.NATOdidagreatjobconstructing MSF supportsthistransitionprocessofhandingoverto *NATO out-UNHCRin,whatdoesMSFthinkofthis? Q&A NATO hand over: (grown-up military men in tears,huggingeach other). that hadworkedwiththerefugeesfromfirstdayon very emotional,inparticularfortheNATOmedicalteam now soundsabit‘overthetop’,butbeingthere,itwasall Then suddenlythisprayer followed byaChristiansong.It serene atmospherein this camp of thousands of refugees. Sunday here in Macedonia. Beautiful light, an almost a circle,somerefugeesandMSFatearlymorningEastern MSF. Imagine, about a hundred military men standing in the medical team of NATO handed over their activities to During amodest,smallceremonySundaymorningat8am, [...] NATO MEDICALHAND OVER inBrazdacamp: closely theeffortsanddevelopmentsregardingthisissue. responsibilities ofUNHCR).OfcourseMSFwillmonitor doubt theircompetence”(seealsoQ&Abelow,aboutthe criticize UNHCR. “At this moment we have no reason to during thepressconferencebyMrsOgata.Fornow,don’t - UNHCRpromised last Friday ‘everything’ we asked for the authorities. not wantingtodestroycarefullybuilt-uprelationswith warehouse)! DON’Tmentionthispro-activelyanymore, some boxeswithmedicalmaterialthatareintheMoH Thursday, allourcargoisthroughcustoms(apartfrom - Customsconstraintsarea‘passedstation.’Since - Focus on ouroperations! BASIC COMMUNICATION LINES: to UNHCRand itspartnersoftheNATO-run campsare may beneeded. Meanwhilepreparationsfor thehandover have agreedtoidentifynew sites forrefugeecampswhich UNHCR andgovernmentauthorities inthecapitalSkopje in two weeks, the latest update released in Geneva said. finish theregistrationofallrefugees inMacedoniancamps process atitssisterStankovic site.TheUNHCRintendsto population at the NATO-run Brazda camp and started the UNHCR wasnearingthecompletionofregistration of pushingthemoutandclosedagain.”InMacedonia, border, hesaid.“Theborderisthenopenedforthepurpose in whichpeoplearebeingroundedupandtakentothe ping upoperations,especiallyaroundthePristinaarea”, Within Kosovo, Yugoslav authoritiesare pursuing “mop- not requested a go-ahead. sion wouldhavetobemadebyNATObutthatUNHCRhad backed anairliftoperation,herepliedthatanysuchdeci - what thefoodsituationwas.AskedwhetherUNHCR trapped in the war-torn province although it was not clear perhaps hundredsofthousandsKosovarswhoremained he said.Janowskidescribedas“dire”thesituationof of the assumption that somethingmay or couldhappen,” and Macedonia,“itwouldnothaveworkedonthestrength then askeditsdonorstofundsimilaroperationsinAlbania faced withthreeKosovos,»saidJanowski.IfUNHCRhad huge operationinKosovo.”Thenallofasuddenwewere air strikecampaignagainstYugoslavtargets,UNHCRhada Until aroundMarch23,thedaybeforeNATOlaunchedits was perhaps a little premature,” hesaid. tough situation.Snipingatusunderthosecircumstances costs ofthemassiveinfluxethnicAlbanians.“Itwasa time takingintoaccounttheirconcernsovertheeconomic with theagencytohelprefugeeswhileatsame open andthattheMacedoniangovernmentcooperated stressed thatUNHCRhadtomakesuretheborderstayed a logisticalandpoliticalpointofview,saidJanowski.He best underthoseextremelydifficultcircumstances,”from the refugeeswerebroughttosafety,hesaid.“Wedidour eventually UNHCRworkedwiththeauthorities,andall because ofordersfromtheMacedoniangovernment.But the primitiveBlacesite.UNHCRhadnoaccesstothatsite Macedonian governmentofthousandsrefugeesfrom the UNHCRhadfailedtooverseeevacuationby spokesman KrisJanowskisaid,referringtocriticismthat fectly wellwhatthesituationwasinMacedonia,”UNHCR its mandate with the Kosovar refugees. “MSF knew per- accused UNHCRofneglectingitstasksandfailingtofulfil Frontieres (DoctorswithoutBorders-MSF)lastFriday challenges. InternationalaidorganisationMedecinssans crisis, insistingithaddoneitsbesttocopewithdaunting hit back at attacks over its handling of the Kosovo refugee The UNHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR)Tuesday

(France), Geneva 13April (in English). over HandlingofKosovoRefugeeCrisis,’ ‘Kosovo RefugeeAgencies–AidinRow AFP 139 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

proceeding well and should be completed shortly, the tained a critique of UNHCR’s position. We said that UNHCR agency said. should shoulder its responsibilities over the refugees. We also said that it wasn’t the task of armies to take charge of the refugees. It’s clear that the Albanian government did not understand the role of UNHCR. We were trying to say that all that military-humanitarian discourse was a problem I think we were more concerned about preserving our in itself. Perhaps we didn’t express it in a very subtle way. own strict neutrality. But there were so many But we were very much aware of a problem. demands on us that we couldn’t avoid being implicated. Sometimes, the very fact of being there overcommit- Stephan Oberreit, Exploratory mission officer in ted us. We were pseudo-soldiers and we put a spoke in the Albania, MSF France (in French). wheels just like all the other NGOs. We were working in a camp in Kukec. We had to hand it over, to abandon it because NATO had assigned responsibility for the place to a less effective Spanish NGO. In that sense, the issue of humanitarian space and relations with military forces was Mainly on arrival I argued with Amsterdam and also the focus of major discussions. We tried to do what we with my counterparts in Macedonia and Tirana. I thought was best. The UN agencies arrived in the wake of said: “We are sort of being stupid here if we start NATO, so they didn’t have much freedom of action. Medical with criticising the United Nations, UNHCR; in this case we care in several of these camps had been undertaken by the are being so predictable, that we are doing exactly what military and by the Spanish and Italians who had moved in NATO wants.” Further, there was this all body of evidence and had started running things. UNHCR had very little room that the normal international humanitarian response mech- for manoeuvre. They could have denounced the situation. anisms could not cope with a crisis of that magnitude. It But then who would have done the work? At the time, we was bullshit! Of course, there were dozens of thousands of were thinking: “If soldiers are running the medical side, refugees. But, since when is that a magnitude which a nor- what role are we supposed to play?” mal mechanism can not handle? That was nothing as com- The military tried to coordinate the effort, to reallocate the pared with Goma with half a million of refugees. The skill in spaces. In Tirana, all the air space had been taken over itself is not beyond the capacity of the humanitarian and organised by NATO, which also managed the supplies, machinery. Especially not in a context where, at least in a the cargo-loading. We even travelled in NATO planes. That place like Albania and Macedonia there is no particular left us a bit exposed to our own critics. But road travel was political concern and a superior infrastructure. Which make risky. I think it’s a good example which shows that despite it even easier to do it rather than more difficult. all the worthy principles, there are some areas where the only existing humanitarian space is located within the Michiel Hofman, Coordinator in Macedonia, MSF military space. So either you accept the pernicious effects Holland, mid April – May 1999 (in English). of being taken over, the risk of being lumped together, or you stick very firmly to the principle. The desire to preserve a humanitarian space in the midst of that military madness was all very well, but I don’t think it was very realistic. As for us, we didn’t succeed. We tried to remain loyal to the We miscalculated… We had all arrived with a bit of principle and we did what we thought was for the best. the ‘African’ spirit. We thought: “There are refugee UNHCR was incapable of managing all that humanitarian problems, so UNHCR counts for something.” But madness properly. There were container loads of clothing, UNHCR wasn’t saying anything about it. It took us a while supplies that were totally irrational and couldn’t be justified to realise that we had laid into [criticised] UNHCR, whereas on any grounds. But nobody sorted it out. The Albanians in fact it was the wrong target. In reality, UNHCR was took great advantage of that. They made big profits out of weakened by politics. We should have supported it, even if that international military-cum-humanitarian invasion – it it was making stupid mistakes and not registering the refu- radically changed their economy. It was a real circus. gees. Perhaps we should have said that the host countries had a responsibility to support UNHCR. We were a bit too Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, MSF quick to react. The statement attacking UNHCR made Ogata Belgium (in French). very angry. Her spokesman, Kris Janovsky, called me right away and said: “But what are you doing? Once again you have come here to stir things up with UNHCR. Every time you turn up, you criticise UNHCR. You know nothing about the Balkans. We are completely trapped here. We’ve got That press release created a storm of controversy. We nothing to do with all that.” Given the way the situation ran into James Orbinsky, the President of the unfolded, I think that if we had backed off a little and if International Council, who arrived in Tirana when it someone had had a wider, more political vision, we might came out. We spent hours discussing every aspect of it with have conveyed the same message but with more emphasis 140 the head offices. It lashed out in several directions. It con- on the responsibilities of the states. UNHCR was powerless American channels. doing interviewswithBBC,CNN,ABC,andallkindsof a goodreasontodoit.Itwasnotjustpressreleases;I have chosentowriteapressreleaseofthatkindhavingnot of our daily life in that moment and certainly we wouldn’t Coordinator forMSFBatthattimeinthisarea.Itwaspart with theUNHCRpeopleandsowasChristopherStokes, the behind you,wewantyoutodoit.”Icertainlywastalking take yourpositions,responsibilitiesandweare is whatweweretryingtodo,say:“Look, have beenbetteroveralltoempowerinawayUNHCRwhich space thenNATOwouldhavetoretractalittlebit.It thought thatitmightbepossibleUNHCRclearthe situation. Thingsweregoingveryquick.Atthattimewe enough inthefieldandOgatahadnotquiteunderstood huge machinethatNATOwas.UNHCRwasjustnotpowerful completely open humanitarian field. because itwouldnotstanduptoNATOandwasleavinga tion: our overridingconcern was to protest about UNHCR handled, butitdoesdemonstratetherealityofourinten- which onthewholeisanattackUNHCR!”Itwasmis- are tellingustheoppositeofwhatisinpressrelease, UNHCR, Iwasfacedwithjournalistswhokeptsaying:“You tion inthesituation.AfterthoseMSFpressreleasesabout and thehostcountriesinordertostrengthenUNHCR’sposi- row withUNHCR.OurintentionwasmoretoattackNATO to strengthenit.Sothatgeneratedanunnecessarypublic UNHCR when,infact,theaimofmanoeuvrehadbeen naive. in thatgame.NATOwastoostrong.Ithinkwewereabit Samantha Bolton, Communications Coordinator, MSF sibilities andnotallowittobepushedasidebythis to push back against NATO and to assume its respon- The pressreleasewasreallyanefforttopushUNHCR what we had decided; in other words they attacked up there.Theydid approximately the opposite of To befrank,allthecommunicationsteamsslipped did nothavethe moneytodoitsjoband wefelt Macedonia that criticised UNHCR. WeknewUNHCR We werenothappywiththe pressreleasefrom James Orbinsky, President , MSFInternational Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, International (in French). MSF France (in French). Council (inEnglish).

terbalance the illegalityoftheoperationand restorethe Therefore, NATO neededahumanitarianargument tocoun- tion becauseitwasn’tbacked bytheSecurityCouncil. reasons. Inthefirstplace,it wasanillegalmilitaryopera- decided tokeepagriponhumanitarian actionforseveral ably militaryreasonsaswell. It wasobviousthatNATOhad describing asacircusorstate ofchaos.Therewereprob- a wayforthemtoregaincontrolofwhateverybodywas when itlaunchedOperationJointGuard.Inmyview,was mitted bythemilitary.NATOstartedtogetworried.That’s states. Youcouldhavefilledabookwiththeblunderscom - were conductedbynationalcontingentsfromthevarious to do its work.” the militaryoperation,youhavetogiveUNHCRmeans to setupahumanitarianoperationthatisindependentof ernment funding.Andwekeptsaying:“Ifyoureallywant because thepublicwerebeingliedtoovermatterofgov- current crisisinKosovo.”Wegotabitheatedoverthisstory they covertheentireBosnianproblemandarenotfor nine milliondollarsbutthesefundsarelinkedtoBosnia, to theUNHCRrepresentativeoverhere:“Theygaveeightor money, wehavegiven28milliondollars.”But,according the StateDepartmenttheysaid:“Ofcoursewehavegiven paltry eightmilliondollarsforKosovo.WhenIcontacted figure on26April.TheUnitedStateshadgiventhema million. AsIkeptonatthem,theycameupwithanother total of46milliondollars,whereastheyhadaskedfor138 to tellushowmuchtheyhadreceived.Theyreceiveda really graspthecurrentstrategy.”On9April,Iaskedhim a betterunderstandingofyourfinancialsituation.Wecan’t representative here at the United Nations and said: “I need people arefleeingKosovo?”IalsocontactedtheUNHCR government takingtohelpUNHCRatatimewhensomany a questiontoheratpublicmeetings:“WhatstepsistheUS ment. IregularlychallengedJulietteTaft.wouldoftenput ticularly thelowleveloffundingfromAmericangovern- difficulties ithadinsettingupitsprogrammes,andpar- At MSFUSA,ourconcernswerethestatusofUNHCR, were very clear about that. UNHCR becauseitcan’tgetthingsdone.”Idon’tthinkwe the NGOssaid:“Thereisnopointingivingourmoneyto USAID, whohadaccompaniedherontrip,claimingthat done, etc…”Whenshereturned, I heardthedirector of ing: “UNHCR is totally incompetent, it can’t get anything visited theregionandMSFdidherafavouraswellbysay- gee issues(shereporteddirectlytoMadeleineAlbright) State Departmentofficialinchargeofpopulationandrefu- UNHCR was useless. Shortly afterwards, Juliette Taft, the time. WealsodidNATOafavourbypubliclyannouncingthat that putting downUNHCR was not the best solution at that the firstmilitary‘humanitarianactions’inAlbania tem toacivilianbasis.Forpublicrelationsreasons, One ofouraimswastorestoretheregionalaidsys- Antoine Gérard, Director of Programmes, MSF USA (in French).

141 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

appearance of legitimacy. I also think that NATO needed to “Worryingly, signs of tension in Montenegro have appeared manage population movements in case there was a ground over the last few days which make us concerned about the offensive, although there was some doubt about that hap- future safety of these people. We hope that an agreement pening at the time. There was a debate because some between the Montenegrin authorities and the United humanitarian organisations had called for a ground offen- Nations High Commissioner for refugees will ensure the sive. On several occasions, MSF called for the UN to coordi- security of the new refugees camps”, added Mr Calas. MSF nate relief operations in the region. It was very strange. is setting up temporary medical clinics for the new arrivals After that, MSF seemed to lose the taste for publicly advo- and teams are working with to improve the medical and cating for the coordination of relief operations by the UN! sanitary conditions within camps.

[…], Deputy MSF Legal Advisor, MSF (in French).

‘ Montenegro’s Resources Trained to the Limits - Refugees Race Catastrophe, Relief Officials Say,’ Ray Moseley, The Chicago Tribune (USA) 12 On 12 April 1999, MSF France, followed by MSF UK, April 1999 (in English). issued a press release announcing that a new wave of refugees was flooding into Montenegro. Montenegrin Extract: villages were overwhelmed and the displaced popula- New refugees are arriving in Rozaje at the rate of 1,500 a tions were utterly destitute. The MSF team struggled to day. Dr. Jacques de Milliano, a Dutch physician who heads adapt its relief operations in a context characterised by the Doctors Without Borders mission in Rozaje, said at fluctuating security and shifting populations. least 15,000 more refugees from the Istog area of Kosovo are expected to arrive in the next few days because Istog fell to the Yugoslav army Friday and Saturday. “At the moment, I have no answer for where they can receive ‘New Influx of Kosovar Refugees Arrive in shelter,” he said. “Rozaje is full. Every house in Rozaje Montenegro - Thousands Left without Shelter,’ has taken in 10 to 15 refugees, the four local factories are Press release, MSF France, MSF UK, 12 April full of them, and so are the churches and mosques. Maybe 1999 (in English ). some can be moved to the coast and some to Albania, but it is vital that European countries give shelter to number Extract: of them.” De Milliano, a former International President For the past three days a new wave of Kosovar refugees of Doctors Without Borders, said that on Saturday night has arrived in Montenegro. “The continual flow of refugees his organization brought in six tents, each capable of has increased – for the past few days we have seen 2,000 sheltering 50 people, the only tents to arrive so far. [...] arriving each day in an alarming state” explains François “The aid is just starting but it is not sufficient”, he said. Calas, MSF’s Head of Mission in Montenegro. In Rozaje, Rozaje is one of four Montenegrin sites housing refugees, the capacity to receive the refugees is already saturated. and de Milliano said it is vital that another site be found, Neither the Montenegrin authorities nor the local solidar- preferably in a more hospitable region. ity networks are able to cope with the situation. Of the 63,000 Kosovar displaced persons now in Montenegro, about 27,000 are living in particularly difficult conditions; 7,000 of these are today without any form of shelter; the ‘New Wave of Kosovo Albanian Refugees Floods temperature in Rozaje falls to freezing at night. into Macedonia,’ Deborah Pasmantier, AFP (France), Blace (Macedonia) 14 April 1999 (in “The 20,000 people we currently are working with have French). less than one square metre of space each in the existing reception centres. They sleep sitting on the floor, or in Extract: tractors or lorries. In general several hundred people have On Wednesday, at least 2,000 refugees from Kosovo arrived to share one toilet”, says François Calas. The new arrivals at Blace, a border post between Kosovo and Macedonia, are in a noticeably poorer condition than MSF saw previ- said Paula Ghedini, a spokeswoman for the United Nations ously. Whilst the first group of refugees travelled by road High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). According to in cars, tractors and lorries, this new wave of displaced Ms Ghedini, there are “at least 2,000 people” on the have come by foot across the mountains in the snow. Macedonian side of the no-man’s-land between Kosovo They arrive at Rozaje exhausted and in poor health after and Macedonia. “It seems that an even larger number of walking for 15 to 20 hours. These new displaced people refugees are ready to cross over. They are still waiting hail principally from the region of Istok, north-east of in trains at stations in Urosevac and Kaganic,” she said. Pec, from which they have been expelled. Those MSF has According to UNHCR, most of these refugees “arrived by spoken to describe threats of violence against the civilian train from Urosevac, but some travelled from Prizren and population there. Gjilan in civilian vehicles.” 142 tents that were totally unsuited to local weather conditions. difficult toprocure inthemarket.Wehadfound somedesert tripled the population. We set up tents that had been very eat it.InUltsine,thearrival oftherefugeesdoubledor [high proteinfooditems]all over theplacebuttheydidn’t them wasill-suitedtotheirneeds andwants.TherewasBP5 by families.Therewerenoreal camps.Thereliefweoffered immediately headedforAlbania,wheretheyweretakenin lem. HalfthepeoplewhohadbeendisplacedfromKosovo ders wouldbeclosedandthenextdaytherewasnoprob - ing allthetime:onedaytherewasadangerthatbor - much, and because in terms of security, things kept chang- terms ofaprogrammebecausethesituationfluctuatedso not quitereadyforthem.Itwasverydifficulttorespondin refugees which never arrived, or ifthey did arrive we were up tents.Infactwewerealwaysbeingwarnedoffloods wasn’t involved inthat. And it didn’t happen. around amap and discusshowto return toKosovo. But I night, theteamleaderswouldgatherintorchlight fragmented memoriesofhowtheprojectwassetup.At in terribleconditionsderelictpinefactories.Ihavevery We setupreliefactivitiesveryquickly. People wereinstalled all thatmanyofthem,nomorethanfourorfivethousand. was moreacaseofdisastroussituation.Therewerenot tions andgoinghungry.Buttherewasnomalnutrition.It to themostappallingviolence,livinginverydifficult condi- were in good health. They had spent a week being subjected were inpoorshape,tiredandcold.Butonthewhole,they came bycar.Mosthadwalkedthroughthemountains.They refuge in Macedonia. Kosovo Albanianshavesofarcrossedthebordertoseek for therightmomenttoleaveKosovo.[...]Some125,000 had spentseveraldayshidingintheforestsastheywaited they hadbeengiventenminutestoleavetheirhomesand about one thousand arrived on Monday and Tuesday – said getting worse.”[...]MostoftherefugeesfromUrosevac– of apossibleexodus.[…]Itlooksasifthesituationis said theyhadnotbeenbeaten.”“Wehavewarned seem tohavealltheirdocumentssuchaspassports.They told toleaveassoonpossible.Mostoftherefugees they had not been forced onto the trains but had been try toget across. “Mostof the peoplewespoketosaid Ms GhedinisuggestedthatothergroupsfromPrizrenmight accounts from refugees in Montenegro (inFrench). days offranticactivitywheneverybodywasputting manent post-emergencysituation.Therewerethree It was not a genuine emergency. We were in a per- would arriveonfootfromtheRugovaValley.Some every nightgroupsofdozensorhundredsrefugees I wasthere[inMontenegro]forthreeweeksand Michaël Neuman, Officer-in-Charge of collecting previous week. I kept intouch with them for along time. even though their houses in Pec had been burned down the me; between20and25.Theywouldlistentothesestories and crying,evenmytranslators! They werethesameageas count ofallthepeopleImet.Everyonewastalkingatonce move ontoseeanotherrefugeeabitfurtheraway.I’velost down, we’dtalkandsmoke,whenwefinished night. Theywerethreeveryintensiveweeks.Iwouldsit er. We did the enquiry during theday and the relief work at his epidemiological study andwewereabletoworktogeth- directly. Then Vincent Brown of Epicentre arrived to conduct of questionsthatcroppedup.Isentthemeverything we couldmodifythequestionnairesaccordingtokinds in telephonecontactwiththeinquirycoordinators,sothat “Where didyoucomefrom?Howgethere?”Iwas was prettybasic.Therewerefiveorsixquestionssuchas: ers andtheyhadtoldmewhattypeofquestionstoask.It what hadhappened.ImettheMSFFrancelegaladvis- side takingnotes,talkingtopeopleandtryingfindout spective mortality study. gees whiletheEpicentrerepresentativebeganaretro- A MSFvolunteercollectedstatementsfromtherefu- well-organised. kitchens whichfunctionedverywell.Thecommunitywas well, cameandaskedforourhelp.Theyhadorganisedfree tions. TheAlbaniansolidaritynetworks,whichworkedvery was no food. We were not used to helping these popula- We wereveryslow,behindinourwork.And,thenthere these figuresinto accountinordertotakea fairlyrepresen- 1,000 people were crammed into every site. So we took gymnasia orabandonedfactories. Andbetween500and going tobed.Therewereeight orninecollectivecentres, people untiltwoorthreeo’ clockinthemorningbefore week weateoursupperatten o’clock,andthenhelped get themintotentsandprovide themwithblankets.Fora were stillverycoldwhentheyarrived.And,itwasvitalto safer then.Theyhadcoveredeighteenkilometresbutthey from the hills in the middle of the night, because they felt Virginie Raisson, Deputy Coordinator in Montenegro, accounts from refugees in Montenegro (inFrench). ed twointerpreters.Itravelledaroundthecountry- waiting fortheproperlogisticiantoarrive,Irecruit- I wasthereasthemissionbeingsetupso,while were overwhelmed–smallgroupscomingdown ity washelpingpeoplefindshelter.Thelogisticians I delayed the study by six weeks because the prior- Michaël Neuman, Officer-in-Charge of collecting MSF France, April/May 1999 (inFrench). 143 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

tative proportional sample of the number of families at each from refugees who have fled Kosovo. The international com- site. We excluded twenty or so mosques after establishing munity and NATO must have information on the situation that, on the whole, living conditions in a mosque corre- of people on the ground, from aerial photography or from sponded to those in a centre. It took two and a half weeks. other sources. The purpose of the diplomatic and military We used six investigators and pulled out all the stops. It was initiative launched over the past months was to prevent a rich in detail because Michaël had already conducted about humanitarian crisis inside Kosovo and to ensure their secu- thirty interviews. As a result, I was able to sit down with rity. At this time, all attention is focused on refugees out- him for an hour or two while he briefed me, so I had a bet- side of Kosovo and on the NATO bombing campaign directed ter perception of the more quantitative work I had to do. In toward Serbia. The focus on the security of people still in fact there had been four deaths from violence during the Kosovo is gone, and our initiative is to re-focus attention flight from Pec, as they had taken refuge in the hills and here, and not simply on refugees and NATO bombing. then during their walk along the high ridges. A male child The international community and NATO have launched had died from the cold and the effort had been too much this diplomatic and military initiative ostensibly for for an elderly woman, who had suffered a cardiac arrest. humanitarian purposes; they must have information on Two more had been killed. Others had disappeared the status/security of people and are therefore responsible for assessing that information and exploring all options to Vincent Brown, Epidemiologist, Epicentre (in French). ensure the security of people in Kosovo. It is their responsibility. It is not for MSF to now pose specific solutions. Journalists were quite pushy demanding specific proposals. James was consistent with his answers and said that if NATO can obtain satellite images of military objectives, On 13 April 1999, the president of the MSF International they can surely obtain pictures of population movements Council held a press conference in Tirana and attempted and the conditions they are living in. We are asking for to refocus attention on the plight of the populations info on the humanitarian situation of the people in Kosovo still trapped inside Kosovo. When asked for sugges- whose fate is at best unknown and, that the international tions, he said that NATO should publish satellite pho- community take their responsibility [but until now] have tographs to facilitate the tracking of populations and [remained] silent [on this issue]. At the end, we believe the delivery of aid. Some journalists took this to mean journalists got the message. Basically, NATO and the that MSF possessed information about the presence of international community are putting all their attention on NATO troops in Kosovo. That same day, The New York the refugees and on their military actions, and are leaving Times published a ‘Letter to the Editor-in-Chief’ from the security of people of Kosovo on a secondary level. We the Executive Director of MSF USA. The letter expressed will have to follow up this issue in the coming days and concern that the coordination of the refugee camps had we are waiting for your feedback regarding the impact of been conferred on NATO rather than to UNHCR, the UN this press conference in your respective countries. agency mandated to ensure the protection of refugees.

‘ The Alarming Mystery of the Disappeared – MSF ’Tirana Press Conference – 13 04 1999,’ Email Voices Concern Over the “Million or More” Ethnic from MSF information officer in Albania to MSF Albanians Trapped in Kosovo,’ Fabrice Rousselet, press officer network, 13 April 1999 (in English). Libération (France), 14 April 1999 (in French).

Extract: Extract: The press conference was this morning at 9:00 am, and How many of the Kosovo Albanians driven from their some 25 journalists attended it, among them USA Today, La homes are still in the province? Are there 260,000 as NATO Republica, Liberation, New Republic, Financial Times, Stars claimed yesterday? Or 400,000, as Foreign Minister Robin & Stripes, ABC (Spanish newspaper) and Reuters press and Cook quoted on 11 April? Or over one million, the figure TV. The presentation took around 20 minutes starting with advanced by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) yesterday? Christopher (HoM) introducing MSF activities in Albania. That leaves us with another, and more important, ques- Then, Diane Plessia (Mental Health Officer) explained the tion: what has happened to them? [...] conclusions we could draw from the 30 testimonies we Nevertheless, MSF yesterday accused NATO of not doing have collected from the refugees in Kukes. Finally, James enough to ensure the safety of the ethnic Albanians who Orbinsky (President of MSF International Council) made the remain in Kosovo. MSF believes the Atlantic Alliance is statement regarding the humanitarian situation in Kosovo. concealing information concerning the “million or more As expected, the very first question was made by USA Albanians” still in the province. According to James Today and asking for our proposals to ensure the security Orbinsky, president of MSF’s International Council, “the of the people trapped inside Kosovo. James answered MSF Kosovo Albanians should be the first priority of the inter- is a humanitarian organization, and not a state. MSF does national community from now on. But, they have been not have its own direct information on what is happening reduced to silence; they are caught between the hammer 144 in Kosovo at this time. Our only direct information comes of Milosevic and the nail of NATO and have been aban- it isassisting,” Mr Orbinsky concluded. It isfightingawarandthusendangeringtherefugees in humanitarianwork.Itisnotanimpartialorganisation. humanitarian effort:«TheAllianceshouldnotbeinvolved tarian organisationcriticisedNATOparticipationinthe the border had seen “mass graves.” Finally, the humani- going ontoexplainthatmanyAlbanianswhohadcrossed diers are still perpetrating massacres in Kosovo,” before Albania, MSF also claimed that “Serbian police and sol- On the basis of refugee statementscollected in northern first step indrawingupan assessment of the situation.” peared. If we canfind out wherethey are, it would be the where theirinhabitantshavegone.Theydisap- Pristina andPechavebeenemptiedwedon’tknow The Allianceshouldpublishthesephotos.Townslike of thesepeoplewithitssatellitesandaerialphotographs. doned bythelatter.NATOcanpinpointwhereabouts American journalists jumpedonthisstatement: “Butthat’s we knowthat there areNATOtroopsinside Kosovo.”The asked forclarification.Atone time,Jamessaid:“Moreover, the informationweneededfor ouroperations.Andinfactwe been torched,”etc.Soourfeeling wasthatNATOactuallyhad more refugeesaregoingtocome through;anothervillagehas saying thingslike:“Myvillage hasbeenburneddown;many the peopleonotherside.Andarrivingwere that wewereseeingnothingaboutwhatwashappeningfor pictures aboutthedegree of precision of their weapons but happening. Wehadthefeelingthattheywereshowingus aware thatNATOmusthavehadinformationaboutwhatwas desire, to be relocatedto another country. imperative torespecttheirindividualdesires,orlackof and respondtotheneedsofrefugees.Thisincludes designated underinternationallawtoregister,protect dinate assistanceandprotection.Theagencyhasbeen High CommissionerforRefugeestoprovideandcoor- disasters, itremainsthemandateofUnitedNations the militarymayhaveanedgeinlogisticsduringsome of aneutralagency,isendangeringthem.Although the coordinationofNATOratherthanprotection tional community,byputtingtheKosovorefugeesunder insignificant inthefaceofsuchacrisis,interna- between militaryandhumanitarianassistancemayseem Coordination” (newsarticle,April7):Whiletheline Re: “WithAidEffortOverwhelmed,NATOWillTakeOver Extract: refugee arrivals varied considerably and we werewell Can’t wehavesomeinformation?”Thenumberof We wantedtoask:“WhatisgoingoninsideKosovo?

April 1999(in English). Executive Director,TheNewYorkTimes,13 Do Best,’LettertotheEditor,MSFUSA ‘In Kosovo,TimeforAlltoSaveFace;AidGroups ‘on theotherside.’WeknewverywellthatNATOhadinforma it innewspapersthattalkedaboutNATOtroopsbeingpresent think thatitreallywaspublicknowledge.Hemusthaveread badly. Wewereaccusedofgivingoutmilitaryinformation.I replied: ‘thisispublicknowledge.”And,thatwentdownvery military information!Doyouhaveanyconfirmation?’James it wasspeculation. that itwasamistake.Wedidnothaveconfirmationofthis; I remembermostbecausewhenitcameoutwebecameaware was oneofthemainpointsthispressconference, was rediscoveringitsprecisionweaponsofdestruction.That the ground.Theydidn’tshowsatellitephotos,butEurope time, theyhadalltheimageryrelatingtosituationon not theyweremakingtheirwaytowardstheborder.At of thenumberpeople,wheretheywere,andwhetheror soon afterwards,NATOgaveusamapcontainingestimates tion about what was going on inside the country.Indeed very between therockofNATOandhardplaceMilosevic. That wasreallywhatweweretryingtodo.Ourline the effortwasreallytosay:“Lookthesepeoplearetrapped.’ the agendaanymore.Itwassomehowquitesecondaryand were experiencingandsufferingwaslost,itnotevenon they hitting.But,thestoryand the realityof what people many poundsaretheycarryingandhowtargets military strategy,airplanesandhowfastaretheygoing, and the international media, and one day it was all about example, justlookingatthenewspaperfromalloverEurope to thegreatAmericanbombingcampaign.Iremember,for the NATOpropagandamachinethatreducedentirereality of thebombs.Andinaway,totakesomewindout sequence ofwhatMilosevicwasdoingandasaconsequence Kosovo andwhatwasactuallyhappeningto them, asacon phant militaryaction,toputthelightonpeopleinside was tosomehowdrawthelightawayfromthiskindoftrium what Iwassaying,sayingthat…”thinkinawayit the Zaireborder andwassayingthatallsorts ofthingswere sort ofsituation aswithdeMillianoin1996 when hewason We talkedaboutitagainafterwards. Itwasexactlythesame strength isspontaneityandtruth, withoutulteriormotives. has itsdisadvantagesbecause thereisnobackup,butits Albania andKosovo, April toJune 1999 (inFrench). issue. Itwasn’tsomehowaboutmyselfandtheintel I don’tthinkthewholepressconferencewasonthis ligence issue. And then I clarified: “No, no this is not had firstusedwithJacquesde MillianoinZaire.It on thespot.‘Freeelectrons’-it wasthetechniquewe James manageditbyhimself.Everythingwasdone Christopher Stokes, Coordinator MSF Belgiumin James Orbinsky, President, MSF International Council (in English). - - - -

145 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

happening inside the country. In that case, there were no HOW TO USE THE EYEWITNESS international discussions. They prepared things locally. In ACCOUNTS? any case, preparation for a press conference is always done at the last minute, with three or four people working it out on the run. We spoke about the general message. But we said to ourselves that, inside the country, things were happening. We thought that what we had access to was merely the tip of the iceberg. There was not much discussion about that. Everyone knew that this was a major common concern. Certainly, this period was one of substantial decentralisation so far as expressing a point of view was concerned. I am sure During the 13 April press conference, the person respon- that we did not speak about these stances on the telephone. sible for collecting testimony from refugees in Albania I don’t think that James spoke about it to others, although drew on the initial accounts when she stated that a perhaps with the general directors or with some of the systematic policy was in place to expel the Kosovar presidents - but that would surprise me. We were under pres- population. This thesis was taken up again in the pub- sure to say something, even though everything had already lished release following the press conference, giving been said. We would have been better off not saying any- rise to some reservations within the MSF movement. thing. I felt that verystrongly. Press officers on the ground began also to distribute a number of accounts, accompanied by photos of the Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, people being interviewed. The MSF Belgium Coordinator MSF International (in French). in Albania, stated to the British daily The Independent, that MSF had obtained refugee accounts mentioning the existence of mass graves in Kosovo. Dutch journalists referred to accounts collected by MSF referring to the use of gas by Serb forces. The MSF Belgium programme I thought that it was very clumsy. The president of manager, reacting to an OSCE declaration on the use of our British section was on the ground. He came back human shields by Serb forces, again drew on refugee saying: “That press conference was not very smart, accounts to confirm the information. not professional or well-informed.” It went down very badly. We lost a lot of credit. The press release was badly put together: mishmash. We shot ourselves in the foot. ‘Macedonia Data Collection,’ Email from Katrien Anne-Marie Huby, Executive Director, Coppens, MSF Holland Information Officer in MSF United Kingdom (in French). Macedonia to Françoise Saulnier MSF Legal Advisor, 13 April 1999 (in French).

Extract: I arrived in Macedonia on April 3rd. The situation was There were a lot of hot shots in Tirana at that very chaotic as refugees from Kosovo were stopped at the moment. Top figures were there, Orbinsky, Parisel, border and only let in on a very limited scale. MSF and the General Director of Belgium at the time, the others were not allowed to provide assistance and the whole room was filled with big shots, Samantha was even humanitarian situation was terrible. After two days, the there. She was trying to balance all the drive coming from refugees were suddenly transported to camps, transported these big men who desperately wanted to say something. to Albania and Greece and airlifted to Turkey. The situa- That was my impression. You can’t be silent as MSF, you tion was again very chaotic, no registration took place, have to say something. So we were among ourselves discuss- families were separated and people were involuntary ing about aerial pictures they must have. Do we need safe relocated to other countries. UNHCR was not able to coor- corridors? Do we need to say how we can give assistance to dinate any assistance/protection activities and everybody these people? And, why is it so weird that we don’t actually was running behind the facts; no registration etc. Given know what is going on? Of course there was the conspiracy the situation in the first days of my stay in Macedonia, theory: ‘NATO doesn’t want to show the reality, they have l focused on the situation of the refugees in Macedonia, people on the ground. It is obvious; they always have spe- instead of interviewing refugees on the situation in cial people on the ground.’ It was a big struggle to get Kosovo. Therefore, in the first days, little testimonies were something. I don’t even know the statement we did. David taken. When the people were moved to Brazda camp I Rieff was there and he was very disappointed by MSF. He interviewed refugees, but focused on their current protec- said that in the press conference. tion needs as refugees in Macedonia. This [was done] also because the human rights org[anisations] present; HRW Bas Tielens, Information Officer in Kosovo, and AI, the OSCE human rights monitors, and later the then in Albania, MSF International, HCHR monitors all took testimonies as well as focusing on 146 November 1998 to April 1999 (in English). the situation in Kosovo. this toyou as well. adapted the questionnaire to serve this purpose. Will send I willsendyoutheTOR[termsofreference].Wealso protection concernsinMacedoniaforthecomingdays. on thetrainingofMSFstaffincollectinginformation, With theteamandSofiwediscussed[theneed]tofocus no refugees were arriving (borders closed Serbian side)? all happenedthelasttwoweeks.Atthatmomentalmost that mostpeoplewerevictimsoforganisedexpulsion.This witnessed separation,killings,rape,etc.Thissuggests nies oftherefugees.Theyalsodidnothearpeoplewho also confirmedbyotherorganisationswhotooktestimo- Macedonia arefromthearea/townofPristina.Thiswas any furtherintoMacedonia.[...]Almostallrefugeesin people arrivedinBLACE,[but]theywerenotallowed they arrived at the border, after waiting in no-man’s–land, beaten andsawonthewaythathouseswerefire.When the restofcrowd].Somewitnessedthatpeoplewere ness, killingorrapeseparationofyoungmen[from In Kosovo,duringtheirflight,therefugeesdidnotwit- torn apart and thrownaway. The train was fully packed. jewellery, IDs,andpassports.ThepassportsIDswere harassed andpolicemilitarytriedtostealmoney, ing atthestationand,intrain,peoplewerebeing spent morethentwelvehoursatthestation.Whenstand- ger train which left for the border. Some of the refugees were gathered.Thepeoplethenforcedonapassen- of themwerebeaten.Atthestation,thousands of people for youhere-gotoAlbania.GoandlookNATO.”Some told them:“Wedonotwantyouhere,thereisnoplace were beingharassedbythepoliceandmilitarythey military menwerestandingonthesideofroad.People towards the central station in Pristina. Police and masked leave. Onceoutonthestreet,peopleweredirected men with arms went from door to door and told them to Pristina. Therefugeessaidthatpoliceandmaskedmilitary The testimoniesrevealapatternofforcedexpulsionfrom The testimonies l took showed thefollowing: NATO/Clinton” and that they were never to come back or NATO/Clinton” and thattheywereneverto comebackor approached houses, toldoccupantsto:“Go toAlbania/ police, military and/or paramilitary forces systematically Northern Albania,comefrom villages. Refugeesreportthat be pursued.Themajorityof refugees whohavearrivedin policy ofpopulationexpulsion hasbeenandcontinuesto Serb forceswhichsupportthe conclusionthatasystematic have receivedconsistentreportsofactionstakenbythe interviews withKosovarrefugees,MSFfieldstaffsinAlbania press conference: «In the course of extensive and lengthy Here istheshortstatementImadethismorningat advisor, 13 April 1999 (in English). advisor, 13April1999(inEnglish). Belgium ProgrammeManagers,MSFFrancelegal MSF BelgiumandHollandpressofficers, Human RightsOfficer,MSFBelgiumAlbaniato Northern Albania,’EmailfromDianePlessia,MSF ‘Human Rights/Collectionof Testimonies in retained inKosovo. reports andwefeartheworstformillionpeoplestill have crossedtheborderinpasttwodaysconfirmthese several dozens of people or more). The new refugees who or tanksandmassacreswithmassgraves(onthescaleof of beatings,abductions,individualsrunoverbycars cases ofmissingpersonsandirregularbutfrequentreports dying from exhaustion along the way. There are widespread are numerous reports of elderly people and young children ed duringthechaosofthisorganisedexpulsionandthere and automobilelicenseplates.Familieswereoftenseparat- cials confiscatedalIformsofidentificationcards,passports paramilitaries whodirectedthemtotheborder.There,offi- ‘safe’ passage.AlIalongtheroadtheyweresurroundedby frequently askedforcash(DM)andvaluablesinreturn After peoplewereexpelledfromtheirhomes,they enough, duetoageorinfirmity,arestillreportedmissing. fleeing families.Peoplewhowereunabletomoverapidly forces burnedorotherwisedestroyedhousesleftbehindby they wouldbekilled:“Kosovoisnotyourcountry.”Serb - Serb military: “This is Serbia.” place.” been burneddown,andthere weresoldiersalloverthat - “Almostallthehouseswe could seealongtheroadhad dead, heslit his throat.” In ordertomakeabsolutely surethatmyhusbandwas started crying.Thesoldierwalked awayandthenreturned. money. The paramilitary soldier shot him in the heart. We money. My husband shrugged, indicating that they had no told myhusbandtogetoffthetruckandgivehimhis - “Wewereallsettogo.Oneoftheparamilitarysoldiers heard shots from where the menhadbeen left behind.” - “We were taken to a neighbouring village, and then we tary trucks.” People werefrequentlyabductedandtakenawayinmili - when thelinewasstoppedbyparamilitarysoldiers. - “Wewereneverallowedtostopandcouldonlyrestabit - “Youhave no placeinKosovo, go toAlbania.” if anyone dare toleave, they wouldbe killed.” - “Wewereroundedupatthevillagesquareandtoldthat of civilians from Kosovo: graves, aclearpatternofbrutality,andforcedexpulsion reports fromrefugeesofrape,massacres,murders,mass rity forthepeopleremaininginKosovo.MSFhasobtained focus attention on the refugee crisis. MSF demands secu- demands that the international community notsimply tarian access,presenceorassistanceinsideKosovo.MSF populations, and noindependent and impartialhumani- force. At this time, there is no security for trapped civilian have been effectively closed, and people turned back by In thelastsixdays,bordersforKosovarsseekingrefuge Extract:

(in English). in Kosovo,’MSFPressrelease,13April1999 Immediate SolutiontotheSecurityofCivilians ’Silence OverOneMillion–MSFDemandsan 147 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

These reports demonstrate a clear and convergent pattern this Albanian release, while the rest of the operation and of a state-planned and implemented campaign of expul- communications (in Albania too) have been otherwise sions, forced migration, and terror that approximates the attempting to establish just that: professionalism and gravest of crimes against humanity. People now inside impartiality. It would have been best to have a press Kosovo have not been reached, and their situation is release separate from the témoignage, and provide back- critical. According to official figures, over 450,000 people ground and human profiles for those statements in a set have fled Kosovo since March 24, 1999. The refugee crisis of better documented interviews, appended to the press is simply the tip of the iceberg. At this time, it is clear release. The press release could have then focused on a that a massive and systematic campaign of terror and more analytical angle. We should also continuously state forced migration has taken place inside Kosovo. Yet, our concern for the populations in Kosovo, but carefully two thirds of Ethic Albanians remain in Kosovo and their craft our statements to avoid fuelling the ground troop fate is not known. Beyond the urgent refugee crisis is a debate. Or otherwise, let’s have a discussion internally widening and ongoing primary crisis of the absence of whether we want to ask for ground troops. Is there a coor- security for, and information on the status of hundreds dination and coaching mechanism in place to help field of thousands of civilians inside Kosovo. MSF firmly poses teams with communication support? Where is the idea we the questions: had in the past, of an international coordinator such as Samantha, coaching a team of press officers? Wouldn’t - Are the parties to the conflict and the international com- it also be useful to have regional coordination so that munity assuming as a priority their full political responsi- we all raise the same issue on the same day in Albania, bility for the security of people trapped in Kosovo? Montenegro and Macedonia (whenever appropriate) and - Are they now engaging all options in taking clear and have therefore more impact through saturation? effective action to ensure the security of civilians inside Kosovo, and to ensure respect for neutral and impartial humanitarian assistance inside Kosovo? Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting, Tuesday 13 April 1999, MSF France, and 22 April 1999 (in French). ‘[Witnessing]/Témoignage,’ Email exchange between Marie-Christine Ferir, MSF Belgium Extract: Interim Programme Manager, MSF USA Reaction to the MSF Belgium press release from Tirana: Executive Director and MSF Network, 14 April - Low level of credibility of what we were saying; 1999 (in English). - Ambiguity in the title: implied clear questions from American journalists regarding military intervention. 1. Marie-Christine Philippe: the methodology used in obtaining the eyewit- Re: Refugees statements/témoignage: Please be informed ness statements is problematic: where, when, how, who? that Françoise Saulnier at MSF France is centralising all of Responses to these questions should be possible without the témoignage statements from Albania, Macedonia and entering into debates over whether or not there should Montenegro. Diane Plessia is collecting all témoignage be an intervention. Should we send a press officer to date from Albania and then passing it on to Stefan de Montenegro? This needs to be discussed with Virginie Woolf (MSFB) who then passes it to Françoise. At this Raisson; the security problems in Montenegro do not time, témoignage is still being collected from Albania, argue in favour of an increase in the number of MSF per- Macedonia and Montenegro and therefore at this moment sonnel. the final MSF témoignage message has not been concluded and anything that is a refugee quote must not be mistaken as being témoignage. Yesterday, MSF B in Tirana sent out a press release demanding an immediate solution to the ‘Kukes Comm[unication] Report # 2 - Refugee security of civilians in Kosovo and used some quotes from Quotes,’ Email from Kris Torgeson, MSF USA the refugees in Albania to paint a clearer picture of their Press Officer to MSF communication depart- plight. These were not TEMOIGNAGE statements. Françoise ments, 14 April 1999 (in English). Saulnier after collecting all the data will make a conclusion on the results. Extract: Here is the rough text of some interviews l did with 2. Joëlle refugees in Tirana (in downtown sports stadium camp) Dear all, and here in Kukes Hospital (with psychologist Christina l would like to suggest that in the future, when confronted Moore). The first is especially messy but is interesting as with such témoignage statements that we are more cau- it is with members of an extended family of 24 people that tious in the ways they sneak into our press releases. While have suffered a lot. People are so traumatized (and the l believe we must not abandon our ‘témoignage’ commit- translators generally are not that great so it is sometimes ments, l have a lot of concerns about the unprofessional hard to get all the details without spending hours - which 148 or politically engaged image we are developing through l have not had yet - with each family -sorry for that). I’ll place tosettleinTirana.Butlwantgoback.» 40 hourswithoutfoodorwater.Nowwewilltrytofinda left intractors.Thereweresomanyofus.Wetravelledfor stole goldchainsfromaroundthewomen’snecks.Everyone surrounded it.Theytookallthecarsandeverything. villages. Theypushedeveryoneintoonevillageandthen ing started.TheSerbsbeganshellingtheareaaroundafew money andpapers.Itbegan4daysaftertheNATObomb killed. TheSerbpolicecametoourhouse.Theytookall stayed inKosovo.Hewasafraidhewouldbeimprisonedor of mytwobrothers-in-lawareherewithme.Myhusband to aminibusdriverbringushereTirana.Thefamilies ily -tostaythere.Finally,thismorningwepaid250 DM per dayfor24people-myfamilyandextendedfam It wascoldandwehadnofoodorwater.Wepaid18DM across toAlbania.lnKukes,westayedinabilliardhall. days: 8daystotheborderand2waitingthereget “I cameovertheborderwithmy9children.Ittookus10 sports stadium in downtown, Tirana, April 11, 1999. (near Prizren), interviewed in Kosovar refugee camp in XXX, 42 year old woman, from village of Reshtane Suvareka name (that’s all I’ve given inafewplaces). If youuseanyofthesequotes,betterjustthefirst Kris For comm purposes only. Anyway, sorryforthelengthymessage.Here’sstuff. now Salgado,we’llcertainlyhaveplentyofpictures.[...] then cometoKukesonThursday.WithRoger,Tom,and Tirana withsomeonefromStern[Germanmagazine]and Paris isthatSebastianSalgadocoming.He’llarrivein The otherbignewsllearnedtodayfromJonathanin exhibits)? I hopeitcomestogether. tos thatcouldbeusedinavarietyofways(newsletters, discussed doingaseriesofrefugeetestimonieswithpho- colourful wordstodescribeit,ofcourse),buttodaywe by the lack of action by MSF here in Kukes (he used more with storymaterial.Rogerhasbeenquitedisappointed when shegathersmoretestimoniessowecanhavephotos about afterthefact...)andRogerplanstogowithher conference inTiranathismorning(whichlonlylearned Diane fromMSFInternationalisalsobackthepress of someotherrefugeessheisdoingconsultationswith. infinitely bettershotsofthelittleboyquotedbelowand Kukes Hospital and elsewhere to take, what l know, will be Tomorrow, RogerJobwillgowithChristinaMooretothe totally suck,they’llbeavailablesoonafterlgetback. photos ofallthepeopleininterviewsandiftheydon’t or storymaterialyoumightbeworkingon.Ihavetaken try togetmoreifyouthinkthey’reusefulatallfordonor The medicalaid organisationMédecinssans Frontières Extract: Crimes,’ Steve Boggan/Tirana, ‘Investigators Toldof15Mass Graves–War (UK), 16 April 1999(inEnglish). The Independent - - address the problemsof the refugees. to carryamentalhealthprogramthatcanspecifically line isthatMSFcollectingthetestimoniestobeable is unconfirmedyet,asanalysisstillhastobedone.The ing tomassgraves,butonlysomeofthem.Alltheinfo Christopher didnotspeakaboutallthetestimoniesrelat- Regarding Christopher’sinterviewonmass-graves: the provision of aid. time, thecollectionofevidenceisrunningintandemwith to eventswerelostintheconfusionofconflict.This much frommistakesmadeinBosnia,whenvitalwitnesses Governments, aidagenciesandprosecutorshavelearnt siderable.” The traumainvolvedinretellingtheirstoriescanbecon- because wealwaysinsistonacounsellorbeingpresent. only a fraction of the people who want to talk to us Emergency CoordinatorinTirana.“Wehaveinterviewed time againofmassgraves,”saidChristopherStokes,MSF’s take statementsfromwitnesseswhoaretalkingtimeand “We haveassignedoneofouraidworkersfull-timeto northern Albania. tence ofthegravesfromrefugeeswhohavecrossedinto says it has more than 50 testimonies relating to the exis- must bedone. TheScandinaviandonorstend tobevery From astrategic pointofviewandforour credibility, this about givingback Norwegian funds. NATO countries-thereiscurrently adebategoingon raising issue - MSFhassaidit will nottake funding from HUMANITARIAN VSMILITARY Thistouchesonthefund- 4) INDEPENDENCEOFAID AGENCIESINCONFLICT- up fromSkyandsoonothernewsagenciesnodoubt.[…] - Today in the Independent -16 April – is reporting follow There willbealotoffollowupthisonSKYTV,etc.FYI need toorganise our infocollection and line. sections. Verysensitive.Thisstoryisgoingtorunandwe that needscoordinationofinformation-inputfromall 3) INVESTlGATORSTOLDOFMASSGRAVES-thisisthestory ing toset our ownpriorities. [...] to beansweringtheagendasetbyjournalistsplustry - know withnews,thestoryismovingfastsowearegoing organise ourselvesonmassgraves+NATOfunding.Asyou be respondingto.Therearetwoissueswereallyneedto Here istheNEWSTODAY-Thiswhatwewillhaveto April 1999(in English). Belgium Press Officer, to MSF Press officers, 17 ’The Independent,’EmailfromBasTielens,MSF ‘ 16 April 1999 (in English). 16 April1999(inEnglish). MSF Internationaltosectionspressofficers, Samantha Bolton,CommunicationsCoordinator MSF onMassGraves-NewsAgenda,’Emailfrom 149 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

understanding/respectful of ethical positions, and will before letting loose with our information to the media. probably respect us even more if we stand by our prin- Greetings from everyone in the Kukes and Krume team. ciples on this issue. It is also an ideal opportunity to really galvanise Norwegian private donors {really lacking at the moment as they all rely on their govt to do the work} - to get private ‘Line Regarding MSF in Albania Reporting on donors to fund MSF directly. Making a public statement Use of BZ-Gas,’ Email from Bas Tielens, MSF in Norway and handing back the money in an ethical Belgium Press Officer, to MSF Press officers, 17 way will bring a lot of media coverage in Norway and will April 1999 (in English). open up the debate about the need for private funding to organisations, etc. MSF B should not be afraid to give back Dear all, the money - it will not endanger future money giving and Yesterday evening, a report came out via Dutch apart from anything we have no choice given the position TV-journalists about MSF speaking about the use by the that we have taken. Serb forces of the hallucinating BZ-gas on the Kosovar- Albanian border near Kukes. This is the same gas Human Rights Watch reported was allegedly used near Srebrenica. According to the Dutch journalists the source is the ’Bad Rumours Going on About What We Say,’ Federation of American Scientists, reporting that a MSF- Email from Diane Plessia, responsible for col- doctor would have made such a statement. The medium lecting refugee accounts in Macedonia, to MSF first reporting on the issue is unclear, nothing can be Belgium executive director, press officer, found on the issue on the internet. Clearly, this is an Programme Manager, communication director erroneous report that cannot be attributed to MSF. Please and MSF France legal advisor, 16 April 1999 (in keep me posted if you see the story appearing somewhere English). else.

Extract: Since James’s press conference in Tirana last Tuesday there have been reactions from people who are angry (for ’Human Shields,’ Email from Ciara Shannon, example about the “scoop” on the presence of special MSF Belgium Press Officer and Alex Parisel, forces in Kosovo) or believe that our press release was bad MSF Belgium Executive Director to MSF - and I’m sure many of us can understand why. But, more Network, 20 April 1999 (in English). annoying than that are the so-called statements made on mass graves or indeed the use of gas by the Serbs. [...] Human shields: Please be aware that Eric Dachy (Director Ciara received my statement, so you can be reassured, but of Kosovo Task Force) in an interview with a Belgian TV still these rumours now circulating seem out of control. station was asked about human shields in response to a Please call me if you have ANY doubt. AND, if possible, press release from OSCE on ‘human shield’. A decision was could we clarify things at the different levels concerned made between Alex Parisel and Eric to go ahead with what (cf the MSF “spokespeople”) about violations of human MSF knew and Eric spoke for less than 1 minute. Eric men- rights that we are witnessing. For example, before having tioned that MSF were collecting refugee witness accounts spoken to me James had already prepared his pre-press and some who were interviewed confirmed organised release (which was distributed in hotels, etc. the evening displacements of people with or without military convoys. before) talking about rapes, mass graves, etc.! I have Eric also mentioned that Albanian people were being clearly said that I did not have statements and formal obliged to wear Yugoslav military uniforms to work in the proof of rapes or of mass graves and that one cannot Yugoslavian military installations on the border. Eric also announce such things (which are mega-sensational and mentioned that people had been bombed by Yugoslavian that journalists are going to lap up). I have not been able planes while walking to the border and he then concluded to follow up on what was said or misstated afterwards that the use of human shields was obvious for MSF. Plan [by] very bad journalists (or even before: there were so of action in case of media interest: if this is picked up by many interviews). Are you able to get to the source of this other wires/journalists Diane will be sending her witness information and deny it? (I am sure that you are just as accounts tomorrow morning to MSFB and we will distribute annoyed as I am). appropriate information to back ‘MSF claims on human shields’. We are trying to put together this collection of accounts Thanks seriously, checking and rechecking the stories. There is Ciara nothing like this sort of easy rumour to blow away all our credibility… So there it is; apart from that I suggest of Dear all, course that we should go a bit quiet on emergency press Discussing with Tirana, we recommend a low-profile conferences along the lines: “we know what is going on approach on this issue. In his very short interview (OSCE in Kosovo.” It seems to me [to be] important to stand was the focus), Eric did not mention the existence of 150 back and take the time to gather more matching accounts written reports, he spoke about “des réfugiés nous ont place. occupying allthespace!Itwasreallyabitover tarian circus,withNATOarrivingatthelastminuteand ly difficult operational environment. This [was a] humani- other, purelyoperationalpreoccupations!Itwasanextreme - was decidedattheinternationallevel.Wehadsomany and collectaccountsfromrefugeesinthreecountries.”That very little. We were told: “Okay,people are going to come took placecompletelyseparatelyfromus.Wewereconsulted these discussionsaboutcollectingeyewitness accounts. That a young woman assisting women refugees. MSF inapositionthat‘didnotraiseanyquestions,’namely were lesswell-offfinancially.Itwasaquestionofshowing favour ofgettingamessageacross,probablybecausethey that abookcouldnotbewritten.MSFBelgiumwasmorein this: theappearanceofanewspaperarticledidnotmean broke ranks,becausetherewasnothingsecretaboutallof filming herwhileshewasworking.Itcan’tbesaidthat probably notallthatcomfortableforhertohavecameras I didnotyethavetheresultsofherwork.Ofcourseitwas Alex be addressed very soon. Moretomorrow. elements inhand.But,theissuesheraisedwillhaveto Eric reacted on the OSCE report while we did not have all based onhisstayinAlbania,areprobablyclosetoreality. by otherdeclarations,evenifthedeclarationsofEric, unfortunate andshouldnotatthisstage,beempowered their press releasetoday). The way things happened were with observationsmadebytheOSCE(asformulatedin saying similar things in Diane’s work); which converge tions andconversations(eventhoughsomewitnessesare say isthathisstatementsarebasedonEric’sobserva- can referallquestionstoBrussels.Ifpushed,you discussed withFrançoiseSaulnier.Whenquestionedyou analysed andusedinafully-coordinatedwayasitwas give out the work done by Diane. This work needs to be mous importancesincewedonotwant,atthisstage,to rapports [therefugeesreporttous].”Thisisofenor- Albania andKosovo, April toJune 1999 (inFrench). that onthegroundwedidnotparticipateinall I don’trememberatall.Youneedtounderstand investigation. Isawherontelevisionatatimewhen diately begangivinginterviews,whilecontinuingher On theground,MSFBelgiuminvestigatorimme- Christopher Stokes, Coordinator MSF Belgiumin Legal Advisor, MSFFrance (in French). Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier,

these refugee accounts. confusion betweenthedifferentpurposesservedby health careinKosovo,whichdrewattentiontopossible The LancetonMSF’sexperienceindealingwithmental later inanarticletheinternationalmedicaljournal press departments.Itwasalsodiscussedseveralweeks views. Thismessagewaspassedontothemovement’s particular the psychological impact of theseinter- clarified themethodologytobeused,underliningin of thesafetypersonsinterviewed.Theyagain raised questions of confidentiality - and consequently use ofrefugeeeyewitnessaccountsforpresspurposes For their part, investigation coordinators recalled that of formulatingacommonpositionontheKosovocrisis. office’s information officer to help sections in the task ities throughout the network, asked the international things driftingoffcourseandtocoordinatepressactiv- ‘NATO’ camps.Theinformationdirectors,keentolimit that MSFwasnotparticipatingintheconstructionof In Brussels,theBelgiansectionannouncedpublicly national TVs and radios[carried] took over the message. would notparticipateinthebuildingof‘NATO’camps.All UNHCR. Toremain[continuethe]logicweannounced under theneutralandimpartialhumanitarianumbrellaof to honourits‘humanitarianinterest’byprovidinglogistics same astheinterestofpopulation,andaskedNATO the ‘humanitarianinterest’ofmilitarytroopsisnot emergency humanitarianassistance.MSFpointedoutthat access totheciviliansinsideKosovoinorderprovide Kosovo. Also today, in Brussels, MSF called for urgent of neutralandimpartialhumanitarianassistanceinside security ofciviliansinsideKosovo.MSFcalledforrespect ment today, demanding an immediate solution to the MSF Statements:BinTiranaissuedapressstate- internationally coordinatedfromoneoperational centre, operations inMacedonia, AlbaniaandMontenegro arenot stand-by forsupportinbigger advocacyactivities.Asthe positioning. Samanthawilladvise thesectionsandwillbe and publicdebate,inorder toidentifyissuesforMSF’s on betterfeedbackon,and analysisofmediacoverage sections intheprocessofpositioning. Samanthawillwork the dircomshaveaskedSamanthaBoltontoassist ments re:Kosovo(particularlytheTiranapressrelease), Following the extensive discussions about public state- Dear all, 1999 (inEnglish). Shannon, MSFBelgiumPressOfficer,13April ‘Balkan (Kosovo)CrisisSitrep,’EmailfromCiara (in English). Communications toMSFnetwork,15April1999 Huurman, MSFHollandDirectorof ‘Communications Re:Kosovo,’EmailfromRuud V2 151 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

we should make sure that each section is involved in the clinics/health posts to collect overall info / medical debate on the bigger issues. evidence On behalf of the dircoms, - Kaz De Jong - MSF H psychologist is going to Macedonia Ruud Huurman to see to what exactly can be done in the field on the rape issue from a public health point of view is the problem as bad as it seems or are there other pressing issues?)

‘Media Feedback for Ops/Comm Strategy,’ Email Please send in your brief summaries / what your govern- from Samantha Bolton, Communications ments are saying - where you think there is a lack of info Coordinator MSF International to MSF network, ASAP 15 April 1999 (in English).

Extract: As you read from Ruud’s note, there is an urgent opera- ’Message to the Press Officers,’ Email from tional need for feedback on what messages are going out Françoise Saulnier, MSF Legal Advisor to MSF and what is being said in all of our media. As the recent press officers in Albania and Macedonia, 14 Tirana confused message illustrated, we need to be keep- April 1999 (in English). ing track of which media is saying what and of what our governments/the real world are saying so that we don’t TO ALL PRESS OFFICERS IN ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA come out with statements like ‘silence on one million’ in 1) We would like to remind you that under no circumstanc- Kosovo when the whole world - CNN and his brother - is es the identities of living or dead refugees must circulate saying a lot more about the fate of people in Kosovo than internally or externally. MSF - even though there may be little coverage on the 2) We also beg you to think first of the victims, after the issue in Swedish or other press for example. MSF ops need MSF communication, and not use aggressive means in to identify the basic problem, what they want to achieve your job. (get into Kosovo - push Belgrade for access, etc.), then 3) If you wish to take testimonies, please use the inter- we, as comms, work on the strategy and way of commu- national data collection form sent to Albania, Macedonia nicating. To do this, the reality of the international and and Montenegro. local media in each of our countries needs to be taken Many thanks into consideration. This is as much a war of propaganda as of guns and refugees, and we need to be strategic in ops and comms to maintain a minimum of humanitarian space/voice. This is your opportunity to input on strategy/ ’Clarification Regarding the Balkans’ Eyewitness to support ops and the field. Please could you all send me Accounts,’ Email from Françoise Saulnier, MSF ASAP a summary today and on a daily basis of your head- Legal Adviser to Programme Managers, general lines/main government lines - need not be long - so that directors, and heads of missions of MSF sec- l can put them together and forward them to ops. Also, tions working in Kosovo, 16 April 1999 (in please mention where and on what MSF is quoted and any French). other relevant info of other orgs or where you think there is a lack of information e.g. about what is going on in Extract: Kosovo. Clarification regarding the press and eyewitness accounts. It was decided when the outflow of refugees from Kosovo E.g: In Britain last night/today the main news stories: began that we would put together a collection of refugee - Rape camps - Rape as weapon of war - strong reports by eyewitness accounts. The aim of this collection is to journalists assemble eyewitness accounts of refugee deportation con- - MSF B Doc interviewed on ITN in Northern Albania saying ditions in Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania. Over and he had examined raped women and daughters above individual stories we want to build up a collective - NATO bombing refugee convoy history - village by village, valley by valley, and town by - British govt development minister using rape as emotive town. Consequently, the aim is not to collect individual counterbalance to NATO bombing of refugees. anecdotes on atrocities but to identify tendencies relating - Reports of Pope condemning UN agencies for giving day to the policy of ethnic cleansing, its different forms, and after pill to refugees - victims of rape (is this true in the the different methods used in the various regions. The field? which agency?) objective is one of advocacy and of operational adaptation - Arkan and Mladic - indicted war criminals for Srebrenica to this specific context. etc. - are recruiting from prisons to build up Serb militia A questionnaire has been prepared in order to standardise Other interesting info: information collection between the different MSF sections. - Physicians for Human Rights and Medical Foundation for We needed to ensure that the information collected by the Victims of Torture are looking into the rape issue to build various parties would enable replies to be given to our 152 up cases on war crimes/justice - but they do not have questions on the different forms of violence used against methodology. gathering. LastweekIalso sent theseteamsanoteon fact sheetonthepsychological aspectsofinformation with apsychologist(Marie-Rose Moro),Ihavedrafteda Albania. Followingarequest from theteams,andtogether in Macedoniaandbythreepersons(Diane,Lisa…) ing theaccountscollectedbyKatrienCoppensandSofi from refugeesinAlbaniaandMacedonia.Iamstillwait - these accountsandwanttocomparethemaddthose Pec, Istok,KlinaandDakovica.Wehavealreadystudied concern thefateofsome200peopleinregions Oberreit duringhismissiontoAlbania.Theseaccounts in Montenegro,andtheaccountscollectedbyStéphane But sofarIhaveonlyreceivedaccountsfromMichael - Diane,Lisa and Johannain Albania. - SophiinMacedonia; - Michael in Montenegro; The people authorised tocollect this information are: project is as at16April. this form, which we will then forward. That’s where the a witnessattheTribunalcouldpersonallyfilloutandsign forms writtenbytheTribunal.Arefugeewhowishestobe Tribunal. I have sent to teams in the field some special the particularaccountcouldbesenttoInternational victims orwitnessestospecificcrimes.Inthesecases - Where some of the refugees interviewed have been synthesis document). tendency thatwefoundinnumerousothercases(asper isolated accountoronethatisrepresentativeofageneral 2. Makingcleareachtimewhetherwearedealingwithan victims 1. Withoutmentioningtheactualidentityofrefugeesor and press purposes, but: - Individualeyewitnessaccountscanbeusedforadvocacy information derived from its ownsources. eral information,allowingtheTribunaltoconnectitwith can betransmittedtotheTribunalinTheHagueasgen- to isolatedacts(rapes,genocide,etc).Thisdocument happening totherefugees,withouthavingreactonly rately andrelevantlytomediaquestionsaboutwhatis examples. This document will enable us toreply accu- etc, andofillustratingthesetendenciesbyconcrete but ofidentifyingtendenciesasconcernsregions,dates, is notaquestionofpresentinglisthorrificanecdotes depending onthereturnofinformationfromfield.It subjected. Thissynthesisshouldbedraftednextweek the formsofviolencetowhichpopulationisbeing - ThroughprovisionofanMSFsynthesisdocumenton cacy role to befurthered in anumberof ways: This information-gatheringsystemwillenableMSF’sadvo- be filled in bytickingboxes. mation weseeasusefulandrelevant.Itisnotaformto indicative: itisaninterviewguidethatincludestheinfor- assassination, deportation, etc. The questionnaire remains the civilianpopulation:separationofmenfromwomen, and wewillmake thispublictoassistinthe recognition in asynthesis byvillageandregionin Kosovo[…] are gatheringrefugeestories andwillputthemtogether tion involvedinadvocacyregarding people’sfate.So,we MSF is,whatdoes,andwhy. MSFisamedicalassocia- and whatwearegoingtodo withthisstory.Tosaywhat is importanttopresentoneself clearly.Tosaywhoweare nised andwemustparticipateinthisrecognition. […] It are inacontextofcollectivedrama.Thismustberecog - initial meansofdefenceandcontinuingtoexist.We that werecognisewhathashappenedtothem.Thisisan telling theirstoryareactive.Theyspeakinginorder are thosewhocollectingtheaccount.Those the traumathathasbeensuffered.Those who arepassive tive recognitionofarealityandcollective phase of treating the trauma. This is the phase of objec- approach inpsychologicalterms. It provides thefirst with theintentionofpublicadvocacy,isanessential obtain representativeinformationaboutareality,done ing storiesandcomparing them withothersinorderto because ithasanaim:advocacy.Onthecontrary,collect- purpose ofeyewitnessaccountsisnotpassivelistening words and statements. […] Information collection for the fessional, individualreportbutpublicrecognitionthrough things. Thatshouldnotberecognitionbymeansofapro- it knownandrecognisedsotheycanmoveontoother have livedthroughsomethinginhumaneandtheywant treated atthelevelofpsychoanalyst.Therefugees Some sufferingbelongstoeveryone.Itshouldnotbe vidual suffering. That is thetimefor the psychoanalyst. - Thesecondstageisoneofrecognitionspecificindi time of speaking, ofproviding an account; tion ofthetraumahavingbeenexperienced.Thisis - Thefirststageisoneofobjectiveandcollectiverecogni two stages: The careofpsychologicaltraumaalwaystakesplacein REPLIES: Paris. who is in chargeof psychological programmes at MSF I putthesequestionstoMarie-RoseMoro,apsychiatrist, logical help thattraumatised refugees may need. capable of providing the specialised medical and psycho- 2 - They are worried that they are not themselves doctors ing them recount whatthey have lived through. they mayincreasethetraumafeltbythesepeoplemak- 1 -MSFmemberswhocollectwitnessstatementsfearthat QUESTIONS: refugees. sequences of the passive listening that they do with these have raisedquestionsconcerningthepsychologicalcon- Teams gatheringwitnessaccountsfromKosovorefugees Extract: MSF Legal Advisor, 16April 1999 (inFrench). Statements,’ ’Psychological AspectsofGatheringWitness Email fromFrançoiseSaulnier, 153 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

of what happened and in order to better understand the course, make these testimonies and our conclusions public needs of the people that we are about to treat. Collective (maybe as early as next week) but at this stage, the value recognition of the trauma suffered by refugees is ensured of the testimonies you have seen in the media and in by the advocacy that MSF will do. MSF reports should be considered as entirely ANECDOTAL - however dreadful the individual testimonies.

THE LINE WE ARE FOLLOWING HERE (for info): Today and ‘News Review – Kosovo,’ Email from Samantha over the weekend, we will say, though terrible things Bolton to MSF press officers, 16 April 1999 (in have obviously happened (that is the understatement of English). ‘News Review,’ ctd. Email from Anne- the day), it is very important to remember that ALL the Marie Huby, MSF UK Executive Director to MSF information on rape, mass graves, etc. is entirely piece- press officers, executive directors, presidents, meal/anecdotal. (The proverbial “is anybody here been directors of operation, Programme Managers, raped and speaks English?” journalistic tradition is alive 16 April 1999 (in English). and well as confirmed by MSF psychologist Christina Moore in Albania). The UK and US govts are clearly using Extract: allegations of rape in camps, etc. (on which there is still C) MSF NEEDS TO COMMUNICATE /THINK ABOUT STRATEGY no documented evidence) to reinforce the “butcher of ON: Belgrade” image and deflect attention from collateral - Concrete issues - B damage caused by NATO bombing (indeed it was Robin - Deteriorating situation in Montenegro - F Cook who announced the rape story on the day of the first - More coherent message/ops analysis/to be more strate- incident of civilian collateral damage). The only honest gic/need MSF specific information - Italy, Germ answer to the pressing questions is that a true picture will emerge, but a lot more work needs to be done. At this In my opinion, there are at the moment two issues were stage, we have registered only one rape victim (though we (MSF Global) should focus on, and for which we need this of course could only be the tip of the iceberg). communication strategies to be developed: - Epidemics - risk - real or imagined and of what? On the question of the absence of most men of fight- - Inform journalists about basic humanitarian principles - ing age in the camps, it is worth reiterating that, in the they don’t know how a refugee camp should be run absence of a proper registration system, it is very difficult to have a clear idea of which members of a family are 1. ACCESS TO KOSOVO: By all means, through every pos- where, let alone be able to say for sure at this stage that sible entry. Legal/illegal; allowed, prohibited. Why: the men have been systematically separated and shot. So in fate of x00,000 people roaming around in Kosovo will be other words, what we are trying to do is separate facts subject of propaganda from all sides. Credible, indepen- from propaganda. It is more useful to try and deflect the dent witness accounts are crucial here. The Aid organisa- media’s attention from these issues to concentrate on tions will be questioned at one moment in time on their the Montenegro question, where there is a much smaller attempts to fulfil this gap in information. media presence/interest and where the refugees/displaced are in an extremely vulnerable situation. 2. HUMANITARIAN ROLE OF NATO versus UNHCR/NGOs: We have been completely caught in hardball politics between NATO and (the Macedonian) government. UN(HCR) and the NGOs have lost ground. Lots of ground. An impartial, ‘Health and Human Rights – Mental Healthcare independent role of humanitarian actors versus politi- for Refugees from Kosovo: the Experience of cal/military actors is crucial for future credibility of the Médecins Sans Frontières,’ Report, Kaz de humanitarian world. Those two points should get high on Jong, Nathan Ford, and Rolf Kleber of Médecins the priority list for communication strategies. Sans Frontières with the Institute of Psycho Trauma, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, As you know, Christopher Stokes was quoted in the The Lancet, 12:01 GMT, Friday, 7 May 1999 (in Independent newspaper as saying that MSF has at least English). 50 testimonies relating to the existence of mass graves. l checked with Françoise Saulnier today whether we could Extract: draw any firm conclusions from the testimonies that MSF Concerns about advocacy: Many organisations are active in teams have gathered so far from Montenegro, Albania gathering testimonies of refugees from Kosovo. The aim of and Macedonia. AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, WE CANNOT such activities at this stage is to advocate on basic needs COMMENT ON THE GENERAL PICTURE. As Françoise is still and also the levels of assistance and protection given to receive the full info from Macedonia and Albania, it to refugees or deportees by the UN High Commissioner would be irresponsible to draw general conclusions about for Refugees. At a later stage, the accurate reporting of both the circumstances of the expulsion or the system- human rights violations can serve to record the history atic nature of rape incidents before we have collated of events and support international efforts to bring the 154 the info and cross-referenced our sources. MSF will, of perpetrators to justice. The immediate work allows for assistance ofMarie-Rose [Moro,apsychiatrist, managing chologists should comeandaskthequestions.” So,withthe raises ethical problems, and is making people cry. Real psy- account. story, so we could go beyond the eye-catching individual the needtodorigorouswork,buildinguprefugees’full stories, fairlydeliberatelysqualid.So,wereallyinsistedon critical ofthemediabecausetheyonlypublishedindividual either byNATOorthemedia.Attime,wewerevery that istosaygobeyondwhathadalreadybeenreported press purposes.Wewantedtodoseriousandrigorouswork, tion to use individual stories in an isolated fashion, for programmes. only waytoensureacceptanceandsustainabilityofthe come languageandcultural barriers, and are ultimately the of trainednationalstaff.Nationalstaffsarevitaltoover- are implemented in cooperation and with the active input individual andthesurroundingsociety.MSFprogrammes people isamatterofrestoringthebondbetween can helptoalleviatethisburden.Helpingtraumatised ing theemergencyphaseandmentalhealthprogrammes Other medicalprogrammesbecomeoverburdeneddur- and peopleneedtobecomeaware that suchhelpexists. time isrequiredtounderstandthelocalculturalcontext, refugee crisis:localstaffmustbeidentifiedandtrained; mental healthprogrammesduringtheemergencyphaseof at alaterstage.MSFbelievesitisimportanttoinitiate the emergencyphaseorwhetheritshouldbedeveloped agencies astowhethermentalhealthisapriorityduring term perspective.However,divisionsremainamongaid programmes withafocusoncrisiscounsellingandlong- the Children,and Oxfam all have current mental health consider mentalhealthtobeimportant:UNICEF,Save current refugee crisis in the Balkans, many, but not all, Among themainmedicalaidagenciesworkingin Conclusions: to the psychological vulnerability of the individual. aging effect.Suchactivitiesmust,therefore,besensitive sure isputonapersonforinformation,itcanhavedam- counselling sessionsisnotusedforadvocacy.Whenpres- counselling; thespecificinformationobtainedthrough trauma. However, advocacy must not be confused with also helptheindividualtocometermswithhisorher the objectiverecognitionofacollectivetraumaandwill to givingup:“Wecan’t,”they weresaying.“This on thephoneatleastthreetimes. Theywereclose At thebeginning,Ihadmycontacts atMSFBelgium lected. We said clearly that it was out of the ques- immediate useoftheindividualstorymaterialcol- In Albania the press teams began to want to make […], MSFDeputy Legal Advisor (in French).

American report intheSpanishnewspaper ElPaïs, Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), a ‘confidential’ In mid-April1999aninvestigation bytheInternational Tribunal for theFormer Yugoslavia. cases, we had to put them in touch with the International lined upagainstawallandhadallbeenkilled.Inthose along the lines that their nine brothers and sisters had been ing withsomeone.Occasionallyrefugeestoldmestories they spokemoreofthe benefits for the victim from discussing the victims. It had not been presented to me like that: encouraged byMSFtoproceedwithinitialworkondebrief - drafted in conjunction with the psychologist. I was thus, psychological aspectsoftheinterviews,whichshehad killed. MSF’slegaladviserhadsentmeadocumentonthe did not want tohave any documents on thespot. done in the field. Everything circulated by email because we compiled thestatisticsbackatheadquarters.Nothingwas email, alongwiththestories.Weusedthemagainand in therelevantboxesformsandsentthemoffby did notspeaktotheminfrontofeveryone.Theteamsfilled potentially indanger.Andthecaseofthesepeople,we ent category,thatofdirectvictimsorwitnessesandthus such people,butatthatmomenttheycameunderadiffer- were totakethefootoffpedal.Wedidnotabandon tion wasthatwhenwefeltthingsweregoingtoofar, mation thatcouldhaveputpeopleindanger.Theinstruc- same carenormallytakenbyMSF.Wedidnotaskforinfor- ised. Inanycase,theinterpreterswererecruitedwith ’branded’ andespeciallysotheirprotectioncouldbeorgan- to involveUNHCRandtheTribunalsothesepeoplewerenot protection tobegiventhesewitnesses.Therewasaneed together asystemofpassingonthesestoriesandaskingfor Tribunal, whichiscompetent in thesematters, and weput We couldnotsimplyignorethem.So,wecalledtheCriminal massacres ofeighttotenpeople,whosenamestheyknew. were threeorfourcasesofrefugeeswhohadwitnessed gator inMontenegrowhoalertedustothisquestion.There a directvictimorwitnesstomassacre?Itwastheinvesti- aspects. For example, what should be done with the story of needed tomakesomeadjustmentsmoreoperational of eyewitnessaccountsandsentittoMSFBelgium.Wealso small note on the psychological elements of the collection MSF France’s psychological care activities], we drafted a They hadbeentoldtoleaveorelsetheywouldbe physical violence,buttheirhouseshadbeenburned. People had not systematically been subjected to Michaël Neuman, Officer-in-Charge of collecting refugee stories inMontenegro, (in French). Françoise Saulnier, MSFLegal Advisor, (inFrench).

155 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

and accounts from refugees in Macedonia, Albania and fleeing Serb terror, many stories have emerged of the Montenegro, spoke of massacres and rapes committed disappearance of young women and girls, kidnapped by by the Serb army against Kosovo Albanians. The FIDH armed Serbs in their villages or along the roads. On 9 report concluded that crimes against humanity were April Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Beacon declared: “We being committed in Kosovo. are receiving very disturbing information in which young Kosovar women were gathered together in a Serb army training camp near the town of Djakovica, where they were raped by soldiers and up to 20 of them may have ’ Large-Scale Crimes Against Humanity in Kosovo,’ been killed.” According to FIDH, AFP (France), 13 April 1999 (in French). In the night of Monday to Tuesday the Halime family, from Slatina (near the Pristina airport), entered Albania via the Extract: border post at Morina (in the north) and immediately told “Crimes against humanity have been committed on a of the murder of a young 22 year-old woman. According large scale” in Kosovo and “continue to be committed, to them Shpresa Halime, née Krasniqi, was killed because and may even qualify as genocide,” according to a state- she tried to escape from Serb militia who wanted to make ment in Paris on Tuesday by the International Federation her get off a tractor trailer at the entrance to Djakovica of Human Rights (FIDH). FIDH, which has carried out an (in the south west of Kosovo). Their story, which has investigation among Kosovar refugees who have arrived in been confirmed by witnesses outside the family, who Montenegro, condemns the absence of major international were interviewed by AFP in different places and at dif- humanitarian assistance organisations in this Yugoslav ferent times, has been judged credible by the spokesman republic, whose government opposes the regime in in Kukes for the United Nations High Commissioner for Belgrade. “Notwithstanding the very strong solidarity of Refugees (UNHCR), Jacques Franquin, who said that he Montenegrin institutions and the action of some humani- had “every reason to believe it is true.” tarian organisations, the absence of major institutions and international organisations is striking, and unless there is rapid mobilisation of international assistance the tragedy being suffered by the refugees could descend into ’ More than 3,200 Civilians Assassinated since the absolute chaos,” warned FIDH in a communiqué. End of March in Kosovo, According to a US Report,’ AFP (France), 14 April 1999 (in French). Officials from the organisation went to Ulcinj and Rozaje, near the border with Kosovo, between 8-11 April. The FIDH Extract: estimates that between 1,000 and 1,500 new refugees are Since the end of March, more than 3,200 civilians may arriving each day in Montenegro. Refugee accounts indi- have been assassinated by Serb forces (soldiers, para- cate that “hundreds of thousands of persons in the region military units and police) in Kosovo, reported the Spanish (in Kosovo) are currently surrounded, without being able daily El Païs on Wednesday, quoting an American “confi- to leave.” These stories confirm that the refugees have dential report.” This report, to which the Madrid daily’s “mostly seen their houses pillaged and burned,” or have Brussels correspondent has had access, was compiled even witnessed “the elimination of old people and invalids on the basis of accounts by Kosovar refugees in Albania who had remained behind,” according to FIDH. Persons and Macedonia, reports El Païs, without specifying which responsible for crimes against humanity “must account American organisation wrote it. According to the report, for their crimes before the International Criminal Tribunal compiled on 10 April, at least 3,200 people have been (ICTY),” adds FIDH. assassinated in Kosovo since the end of March and some 200 villages have been torched either partially or totally. FIDH is an international non-governmental organisation “Refugees continue to speak about summary executions in that has consultative status with the United Nations, the province, as well as the existence of mass graves in UNESCO, and the Council of Europe. Drenica, Malisevo and in the Pagarusa Valley,” notes the report quoted by El Païs.

The report sets out in detail, village by village, the crimes ‘Accusations of Rape Multiplying in Kosovo,’ committed by the Serb forces. 270 people appear to have Michel Moutot, AFP, Kukes (Albania), 13 April been killed in Izbica, 200 in Oriate, 112 in Malkrussa, 100 1999 (in French). in Ljubenica, 100 in Dakovica, 100 in Bruznic, etc. […]

Extract: Many of the places attacked by the Serbs have never seen There are increasingly numerous and consistent accounts any activity by the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), notes from ethnic Albanian Kosovar refugees describing kidnap- the report, which also provides figures, by village, of peo- pings, rapes, and the assassination of young women by ple who have been displaced or used as “human shields.” Serb forces in Kosovo. Since the beginning of the exodus The report also expresses concern over the fate of people 156 of Albanians from the province to Albania or Macedonia, who have disappeared inside Kosovo, whose number may on MSF’s relations with UNHCR andNATO. Balkans. HefocusedhispresentationonMontenegroand Council ofEuropeonthehumanitariansituationin On 15April1999,arepresentativefromMSFaddressedthe it notes. centres such as those run by General Jankovic and in Pec, of thousands.”Somethemmaybeinspecialdetention vary between “tens of thousands” and “several hundreds their physical security cannot beguaranteed. why MSFhaschosen nottosettlethedisplaced people- wanting tochallengehumanitarian organisations.Thatis of whomrefugeesareafraid andwhoaregivingsignsof and thearrivalofSerbparamilitaries andspecialforces of increasinginsecurity:there arerumoursofcoupsd’état - Humanitarianassistanceis beingdeliveredinacontext sleeping in the streetorin bus shelters. erect tentsbecausewomen,childrenandoldpeopleare exhausted. We now need to find shelter - provisionally - Reception capacity in Montenegro has now been through mountains where the snow is1.2m deep. deportation andtravelconditions-10to20hourswalking wounded byweapons,etc).Thissituationislinkedto of food,anincreasingnumberpeoplewhohavebeen Montenegro ismoreworrying(respiratoryinfections,lack - Thestateofhealthdisplacedpersonsnowarrivingin like to underline thefollowing points: spoke thismorninghavesomewhatoverlooked.MSFwould deteriorated, inparticularMontenegrowhichthosewho Since 9April,thehumanitariansituationhasgreatly bution ofrelief. receiving humanitarian assistancesloweddownthe distri- - Logisticalandcustomsproblemscreatedbythestates to beexhausted. Macedonia orMontenegro.Thiscapacityisnowstarting persons werecaredforinfamilies,eitherAlbania, - Theoverwhelmingmajorityofrefugeesanddisplaced solely by humanitarianorganisations. Criminal Tribunal,meantthattheycouldnotbehandled ing withinthecompetenceofHagueInternational in themselves qualify as crimes against humanity, com- - Thescaleofthedeportations,whichmayIremindyou provide an appropriate response. currently evaluatingsothatwecanbeinapositionto except for the psychological trauma whose extent we are - Therefugees’medicalsituationwasnotcatastrophic, what some have called the “latehumanitarian ignition.” real humanitariandrama,andseveralfactorscanexplain Up until 9 April, we considered that there had been no Extract: April 1999(in French). Philippe Biberson, President of MSF France, 15 by theMSFdeputylegaladvisor,onbehalfof ’MSF AddresstotheCouncilofEurope,’Speech, international border. But,wealso,ofcourse condemned force, inavery organisedmanner,anddespatched over an because theyhadbeendeported, thatistosaydisplacedby placed personswereinastate ofprofoundshock-precisely probably emphasisedthefact thattherefugeesanddis- widely heldinpublicopinion andinthemedia.Wealso were notactuallyenormous, contrary totheviewthatwas humanitarian needs,inparticularlyonthemedicallevel, speech onhisbehalf.Insubstance,weexplainedthatthe because hehadamediaappointmentandsoImadethe humanity, military logic and humanitarian logic are rights -thatfacedwithwarcrimesandagainst - whoseprimaryresponsibilityisthedefenceofhuman I shouldliketoconcludebyrecallinginthisinstitution all identity papers havebeen destroyed bySerb forces. the verytimethatpeopleareconcernedbyfact result beinganabsenceofidentityandprotectionat third countries,andlackofrefugeeregistration-the such asfamilyseparation,forceddisplacementtowards refugee assistanceandprotectiondealingwithmatters the sideliningofUNHCR,becausethatmeansalack sary toavoidroleconfusion.Wehavebeenworriedby That istosaythatoverthecomingdaysitwillbeneces impartial asrequiredbyinternationalhumanitarianlaw. coordinated byhumanitarianorganisations,neutraland rapidly reverttoacivilianformandthattheybeled However, ourdesireisthathumanitarianoperations 48 hours.Itwouldhavetakenusaboutthreeweeks. in BlacefortheconstructionofcampsMacedonia the assistancethatNATOprovidedfollowingepisode players. MSFshouldnotehowever,thatitappreciates Nations systemandthevariousmilitarypolitical and thatofhumanitarianaction,vis-à-vistheUnited that MSFseeksconstantlytopreserveitsindependence, 2) RelationsbetweenMSF/UNHCR/NATO:Youareaware humanitarian NGOs. its ownreturntoKosovo,andthatofotherimpartial seeking tonegotiatewithBelgradeonthequestionof or shelter.IamveryhappythattheICRCiscurrently hundreds ofthousandspeoplehavenowater,food organisation presentinKosovo,atatimewhenseveral As youknow,thereisnolongeranyhumanitarian Kosovars whohavebeendisplacedwithinKosovoitself. tarian situation by insisting on MSF’sconcernforthe I shouldliketoendthispresentationonthehumani to trythe crimes committedinKosovo. to theICTYbecauseitiscompetentinvestigateand of theCouncilEuropeshouldprovidegreatersupport moment isnotoperationalintheregion.MemberStates Yugoslavia istooabsentfromthiscrisisandforthe not enough.TheCriminalTribunalfortheFormer Assembly hadrunverylate.Philippe had toleave Philippe Biberson. The Council’s Parliamentary I addressedtheCouncilofEuropeonbehalf - -

157 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

military - humanitarian confusion and called on UNHCR to officials had also declared that if NATO carried out its resume its place in organising assistance. threat to bomb Yugoslavia, they would take their revenge and empty Kosovo of its Albanian population. It is obvi- […], Deputy Legal Advisor, (in French). ous from what followed that Serbian officials were simply waiting for NATO to start the bombardment so that they could begin their own ‘barrage’ of attacks on the Kosovo Albanians. When we learned at 09:00 that NATO missiles had been launched at Yugoslav targets, explosions and In Greece, certain journalists and publications spoke shooting had already occurred in Pristina, although no out against prevailing nationalistic and pro-Serbian NATO missile had struck the city. There were flames on positions. The Greek daily Eleftherotypia published an the horizon, where the suburbs were enveloped in thick article by the honorary president of MSF Greece which smoke. During the hours of darkness, we could well imag- denounced both Yugoslavian nationalism and NATO ine the scale of the fighting; but anyone who attempted ‘hypocrisy’. to leave the Grand Hotel at daylight and investigate what had actually taken place was in for a revelation. The Greek media showed what was purported to be a Serbian base that had been struck by a missile and was ‘On Humanitarian Space in Kosovo,’ Email from covering the whole of Pristina in smoke. In reality, it was Jean-Hervé Bradol, MSF France Director of a large warehouse that had been converted for use as a Operations, to Thierry Durand (Director of garage and also housed a small printing works which had Operations MSF Switzerland), MSF Greece and printed the Albanian newspaper Kosovo Today before the President of MSF Greece 23 April 1999 (in publication was banned. Not surprisingly, the whole build- French). ing was Albanian-owned. It was not hard to see how the explosion could only have originated at ground-level. […] Extract: Furthermore, a plan to frighten the foreign journalists, […] The testimony of a Greek journalist (dated 13 April). including the Greek contingent, in the Grand Hotel had Subject: ‘Kosovo: Letter from a Greek journalist’ (Greek already been drawn up and was set in motion during the Helsinki Monitor), 13 April1999. (French translation by night. Some of them tried to take photographs of the blaz- Emmanuelle Rivière): ing warehouse (for that is certainly what it was) from their Letter from Christos Telidis to the Panhellenic Federation rooms. But, as they did so a shot was fired from the police of Journalists’ Unions, 13 April 1999 station directly opposite the hotel. Fortunately, it hit the wall. Several thugs, cronies of the police, then arrived […] I thought it would be useful to inform you about to terrorise the residents of the hotel. The journalists certain facts concerning the role of the journalists who had to return to their rooms on the top floor, although are covering the crucial events of the war in Yugoslavia. these offered no real protection. Armed Serbs forced My account will be of particular interest to those organ- many of them to stand against a wall in the dark with isations which represent Greek journalists. The role of their hands in the air while they were forcibly searched. journalists, especially in the context of the current situ- Meanwhile, others forced their way into journalists’ rooms ation in the region, is extremely important – there are when they were denied access. One Bulgarian working for times when, in an attempt to assess a situation with the the Associated Press was attacked in front of us; he was greatest possible vigilance, we are left with nothing but beaten up then thrown down the corridor. The cameraman our conscience and our sense of responsibility. Because of from the Greek ‘5’ television channel, who was alone in his the importance that each piece of information ‘carries’, it room, was also violently assaulted. The Serbs beat him and should be transmitted accurately, with no personal, politi- smashed the tools of his trade, his cassettes and cameras. cal, social, racial, religious or cultural bias. Journalists should also be aware of the consequences of These assaults on journalists were made public the follow- the information they transmit. I have been reporting the ing day. The representative from Belgrade, the so-called major events that have shaken the Balkans for over ten ‘President of Kosovo’, invited journalists to his headquar- years, and as a result I have acquired a good knowledge ters for breakfast. More than 80 turned up. After a long of the regional participants. On Wednesday 25 March, I wait, the representative appeared and simply told them returned to Pristina, in Kosovo. […] that they were undesirables and should leave immediately. As they returned to the hotel to pack their bags, several We were unable to move into the Albanian house a friend staff from Greek television jostled around the ‘President’, had reserved for us. Moreover, he let us know that he trying to curry favour and extract an ‘exclusive’. But, in was terrified and did not want to meet us. We therefore their eagerness to control and persecute “undesirables,” had to submit to the ‘confinement’ of the Grand Hotel. the Serbian authorities were very selective, even with the Stories about the way the local authorities were treating Greeks. […] The decision to leave was confirmed when the media, especially the major national television chan- somebody threw a Molotov cocktail at a CNN car, endan- nels, had already created a ‘heavy’ atmosphere among the gering the lives of several people and causing a certain 158 hundred or so foreign journalists staying there. Serbian amount of damage. So they had to get out right away. whatever form they may take. responsibility andresisttheinfluenceofpartisanmotives, of crisis,journalists must demonstrate a strong sense of tion, MrPresident,becauseIbelievethatinthesetimes I havetakentheopportunitytoinformyouofsitua - be trusted. Much remains to be said about these events. temptuously replied thataGreek TV channelwasnotto He attemptedtoquestionapassingAlbanian,whocon - building, attributed the damage to […] a NATO missile. ter. Thereporter,doingalivebroadcastinfrontofthe the groundfloorofahouseinethnicAlbanianquar - would have revealed that the explosion had destroyed However, a rather more detailed analysis of the pictures of its target, and showed pictures of considerable damage. a Radio-Televisionstationhadfallen150-200metresshort Greek televisionchannelreportedthatamissileaimedat bardment orKLAsoldiersinPristina.Thefollowingday,a although wehadnotseenanyevidenceofaNATObom- we weretoldthatterroristattackshadrecommenced, had tofleewiththerefugees.Onnightofourescape, who had refused to leave received repeated threats and no otherforeignjournalistsleftinPristina.AnItalian the onlystationstobroadcast’exclusives’,astherewere between thetwocountrieswithouthindrance–thesewere ers fromGreekTVstationsweretravellingbackandforth While we were being subjected to this treatment, report- the General Yankovits’ post. ing writtenconfirmation that wehadcrossedtheborderat as theyare obliged todobylaw,andthus avoided provid- us go.Thecustomsofficials did notstampourpassports, etc. […]Wehadtowaitatleasttwohoursbeforetheylet worthless rollsoffilmandsomefloppydisks,cassettes, what wehadhiddenearlier,theyfinallyconfiscatedafew searched bytenpolicemen,andwhentheycouldnotfind diers thatwewereOrthodox.[…]Wescrupulously several road blocks and were forced to prove to the sol- happen. […] During our journey, we had to get through be verycarefulaswetravelled,becauseanythingcould be confiscatedduringthejourney.Healsowarnedusto film andothermaterialsbecauseeverythingwaslikelyto or threeweeks.Inaddition,headvisedustohideour advised ustogetoutofPristinaandstayawayfortwo photographed. […]Thejournalistmentionedearlieralso forces, who knew what we were doing and what we had also warnedthatwewerebeingfollowedbythesecurity was unawareofwhathadhappened,approachedmeand ger. […]SomeonefromaGreektelevisionstation,who because we werebeing followed – our lives were in dan- in the Grand Hotel, and warned us that we should leave paper A Serb who worked for the anti-government Serbian news- […] Blits […]knewwewerejournalists,havingseenus the politicalframework andreinventitashumanitarianism, and of course Yugoslavia in recent years). When they cancel Kurdistan in 1991 to Somalia; from Zaire to the Gulf War; till now,istochooseso-called humanitariancauses(from governments. Themethod,which hasprovedinfallibleup to bolstersupportforthecatastrophic choicesmadeby tion, itthenbecomesnecessary toinventanother‘cause’ cause underlyingpoliticalchoicesisatriskofpublicrejec has beendiscreditedintheeyesofpublic.Ifreal by militarymeans)showstowhatextentpoliticaldebate political choices(which,tobespecific,aresimplyserved The useofthehumanitarianpretextinordertojustify humanitarian pretext. The hypocrisyofthegreatpowersliesintheiruse goals. The opportunitywas too goodtomiss. vided thirdforceswithanopportunitytopursuetheirown tion. Yetagain,theterrainofthisradicalisationhaspro - Albanians andledtothecreationofamilitaryorganisa - results andmoderatelocalleaders,etc.)radicalisedethnic ment discrimination,non-recognitionoflocalelection Albanian language,theclosingofuniversity,employ- measures thatfollowed(therestrictionsontheuseof culated abolitionofKosovo’sautonomyandtherepressive prolongation of the first. The Yugoslav government’s cal- The secondstageofthecrisis(Kosovo)wasanatural families, populations uprooted. massacres betweenneighboursandevenmixed of thismanufacturedhatredarewellknown:carnage, coexisted forsomanyyearsbeexplained?)Theresults artificial, howelsecanthefactthatthesepopulations istence andensuredtheimpossibility of itsrevival (if not Together, theybrutallydestroyedtheframeworkofcoex- to adopt the same logic and apply it to their own causes. The nationalistleadersofotherpopulationswerequick Kosovo inthe late 1980s. measures such as quashing the autonomous status of (emphasising an‘Islamicthreat’);andalsobydeliberate past ofcertainelementsCroatiansociety)andreligion manipulating thefactsofhistory(recalling‘Ustashi’ the Kosovo Serbs: «They will never hit you again”); by by exploitingthemedia(Milosevic’s1989declarationto objects of fear for the other populations. They did so among the Serbs, and ensured that the Serbs became cultivated anationalistichatredofotherpopulations stage, theleadersofwhatwasthenaunitedYugoslavia scapegoats atevery stage ofthecrisis.Duringinitial the formerYugoslavianFederationhaverepeatedlyerected leads us tothefollowing considerations: the leaders of When examinedthroughthis prism, thecrisisinourregion The Crisis in Yugoslavia. Extract: from Greek into French by Sotiris). Eleftherotypia (Greece)April1999(translation Papaspyropoulos, Vice-PresidentofMSFGreece, ‘Nationalism andScapegoats,’Sotiris - 159 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

governments are seeking to regain the support of their * ‘Humanitarian Aid and Medicines against Bombings’/ peoples by pretending to abandon political ends in order [...] As the Irrational NATO Bombings are Continuing, the to uphold noble humanitarian values. This is evident in the Greek Population is giving a Helpful Hand to the Suffering behaviour of NATO, a criminal enterprise that is practically Populations in Kosovo and Serbia’ (THESSALONIKI). transforming itself through its purported benevolence. * ‘UCK: Politicians or Rebels?’/Political Analysis on the UCK Military Movement (TA NEA). What can be done? 1) It is imperative that the Yugoslav army withdraws l have to notice that although the public opinion is from Kosovo and accepts the existence of a provisional strongly with Serbia (not Milosevic), media are presenting international force, which should include a Russian con- the situation from both sides. The refugees’ drama from tingent. Those who accepted the creation of scapegoats Kosovo-caused by Serbian threats and atrocities-is also a must accept that there is a price to pay. The sooner it is big part of the broadcasts. [...] Mostly speaking about the paid, the cheaper it will be and the fewer the people who MSF activities in Albania, Skopje and Montenegro, doing will have to pay it. interviews and pushing hard our position regarding the 2) NATO should then stop the bombing. The humanitarian need of UNHCR taking [a more] active role. We are having pretext will no longer exist; the public will no longer be every week a press briefing in the MSF offices in Athens deceived. All that remains on the stage will be the attack with journalists from newspapers and they seem that they on a sovereign state, a flagrant violation of international really like all this flow of information from our side. law. 3) Negotiations intended to guarantee the autonomy of Kosovo should then begin.

Greece was in the grip of a pro-Milosevic frenzy: ‘support our Orthodox Serb brothers’ and all that kind of ‘Media Coverage in Greece,’ Email from Sophia stuff. I wrote that article to show that Milosevic was Ioannou, MSF Greece Press Officer, 20 April one thing and the Serbs were another. We should not blame 1999 (in English). the Serbian people for something that was set up by Milosevic and his military machine. The Serbs lived along- Extract: side the Croats and the Kosovo Albanians for decades with- As the past few days - and the recent ones - are more out problems. Milosevic is a nationalist; he does not come than hell for alI press officers l didn’t have the chance to from the people; he manipulated the Communist Party to inform you about media coverage and how Greek media gain power and his game at the moment is to further have been presenting the situation. Have to say that we entrench himself. I wrote the article because I felt I had to. almost had - especially the first days - a ‘media crisis’ Of course I discussed it with the members of the Board due to lack of presence in media. MDM pictures were alI because I was going to sign it ‘Honorary President of MSF.’ through the media and al I our donors but also journal- We concluded that it would be a good thing to get the ists were really worried and posing tough questions about article into print. MSF cannot have a political position, but what MSF is doing... Fortunately, we managed to over- as honorary president I can voice my own opinion. That come the difficulties. Copy some newspaper titles which might make the Greeks think; are we right to have this men- indicate the picture: tality and what is the value of the views held by MSF * ‘Europe is Afraid of the Refugees’ /No Common Political Greece? We told the Greek population that at MSF Greece we Strategy for E.U. Regarding the Refugees (KATHIMERINI) did not adopt a political position but we did think about * ‘The Greek Government Sends Aid and Builds up Camps various things. But, unlike the Greek public, press and all for the Kosovar Refugees’ (KATHlMERINI). the television stations at the time, our position was not * ‘Green Light from USA supporting the Greek Intervention unilateral. ‘Eleftherotypia’ was an exception, a neutral, in Serbia and Kosovo’/The Greek Government Proceeds centre-left paper. It took the risk of publishing opinions. with its Willingness to Open a «Humanitarian Aid Corridor’ But, the rest of the press did not want to know. There were and is the Only Country-Member of NATO which Continues negative reactions from donors. Anyone who had given it the Open Dialogue with Yugoslavia. NATO sees it Positively some thought and may have approved of us did not call us. (EKSOUSIA) * ‘In Belgrade Special Mandate of the Greek Ministry Sotiris Papaspyropoulos, Honorary President, of External Affairs for an Explo Mission before the Aid’ MSF Greece (in French). (EKSOUSIA) * ‘Victims of ‘Humanitarian’ Bombings’/Subtitle: ‘The Humanitarian Aid Towards the Kosovars has Gained a Sponsor: USA!’ At the same time the NATO forces are providing Serbia with Tomahawks. The Balkans has a new From 15 April 1999 the Greek government negotiated sponsor also: USA (ELEFTHEROTYPIA). an agreement with the government of the Yugoslav * ‘New Chernobyl in the Balkans’ /Ecological Approach of Federation and with NATO for Greek NGOs to enter the 160 the Bombings (APOGEVAMTINI). Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to provide humanitarian role. the Greeksectionbutnotnecessarilyinacoordinating mission wasconductedunderthisinitiative,involving informed theotherMSFsectionsandaskedthatan for visa’stheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia.It at thetime,Greeksectionimmediatlyapplied assistance. AccordingtothePresidentofMSFGreece MSF office then ‘appliedagainfor visas’. tance. AccordingtosomeGreekBoardmembers,the to allow Greek NGOs entry into FRY for humanitarian assis- ministry offoreignaffaires,NATOandtheFRYgovernment Official announcementofanagreementbetweentheGreek lot ofmediaattentioninGreece.Between15&19/4(?): 15/4: MDM-GlaunchesamissiontoKosovo.Theyget Extract: The grouphas been abletokeepthreeofficials inPristina to expandits operations inside Kosovo. branch of the organization ‘Doctors of the World’ [MDM] Yugoslav officials.Ontheagenda: permittingtheGreek on Wednesday and has been meeting with high-ranking Foreign MinisterGeorgePapandreou, arrivedinBelgrade with thenewmissionsayAlexRondos,anadvisertoGreek Kosovo withfoodandmedicalsupplies.Sourcesfamiliar rejected introducinggroundforcestofighttheirwayinto have rejectedairdropsastoodangerous.They’vealso displaced ethnicAlbaniansinsideKosovo.NATOofficials might beabletogetaidthehundredsofthousands House expressedhopethatathirdparty,perhapsGreece NATO. On Wednesday, the State Department and the White initiative oftheGreekgovernment.Greeceisamember not opposeit.Butthemissionisdescribedasstrictlyan The NATOalliesareawareoftheGreekmissionanddo convoy will be expanded. coming days.IfthatworksweIl,thesourcessay,truck the MacedoniancapitolofSkopje,perhapsstartingin trucks withmedicalsuppliestodriveintoKosovofrom authorities havetentativelyagreedtopermitseveralGreek Sources familiarwiththemissiontoldCNNthatYugoslav displaced peopleinKosovo,sourcestoldCNNThursday. of a humanitarian medical and food supply operation for A GreekdiplomathasgonetoBelgradeworkoutdetails Extract: English). International Council, 13 June 1999 (in Agreement,’ Greek-Swiss CommonOperational Centre Mission toFRYandtheBreakdownofMSF ’Fact FindingMissionRegardingtheMSFGreece

1999 (inEnglish). to Kosovo,’ ‘Greece WorkingonUrgentHumanitarianEffort CNN.com, Washington,15April Report presentedtotheMSF put in charge ofsecurity by UNHCR. tal methodsusedbytheMacedonianpolice;henceforth in Macedonia worried the refugees who feared the bru- The departureofthelastNATOtroopsfromcamps consideration. inaccurate. Theydidnotevenwishtogiveitanycloser scene. SothepoliticaljudgmentofMSFmovementwas president of Europe. He wasveryopentotheinternational Acropolis in Athens. Sinipis had considerable weight as union andalltheEuropeanleadershadgottogetheron great celebrationtowelcomenewcountriesjoiningthe the EuropeanUnion.Somedaysearlier,therehadbeena tion, IbelievethatatthetimeGreecehadpresidencyof domestically butthatmadesenseinternationally.Inaddi- Greece shouldadoptpositionsthatwerenotverypopular Turkey into the EU; for the first time he accepted that European line;heinitiated the firsttalksonentryof Sinipis, whowaspro-European.Heconsistentlyfollowedthe was concerned.Atthetime,headofgovernment that was not at all the case so far as the Greek government press andpopulationweresympathetictowardsMilosevic, Albanians and Serbs. has beenprovidingmedical assistance todisplacedethnic tional aidorganizationthathasoperatedinsideKosovo.It since thestartofNATOairstrikes-onlyinterna of Kosovarsat thebeginningofApril.On Friday,there for Refugees(UNHCR), followingthefirst massive influx the requestofUnited Nations HighCommissioner troops inMacedonia had set up thisvastcomplex at spokesman inSkopje,Commander EricMongot.TheNATO of the crisis, have now left, according to the NATO Stenkovec-Brazda complex (near Skopje)at the height NATO soldiers, who numbered more than 650 in the mistreated bytheMacedonianpolice.Themajorityof to thedismayofKosovoAlbanianswhofearbeing refugee campinMacedoniahadpulledoutbyFriday, Most oftheNATOtroopswhohadbuiltlargest Extract: Yugoslavia for propaganda purposes. But, if the negotiated with Milosevic to enable Greeks to enter Throughout MSF this was seen as a Greek affair, (in French). Stenkovec-Brazda (Macedonia)16April1999 Distress,’ Deborah Pasmantier, ’NATO SoldiersLeavetheCamps,toRefugees Sotiris Papaspyropoulos, Honorary President, MSF Greece (in French). AFP (France),

161 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

remained only 30 French nationals in the Stenkovec camp (out of 220) and 30 British in Brazda (out of about 450). ’MSF Calls for Protection for Kosovar Refugees The departures, which had been taking place progres- in North-eastern Montenegro,’ Press release, sively since 10 April, should be concluded on Sunday, MSF France, MSF UK 16 April 1999 (in French, after which only small liaison teams will remain, assisted in English). by a hundred or so civilian security personnel that were expected to arrive on Saturday, added M. Mongot. The Having witnessed a serious deterioration of conditions fac- camp will henceforth be managed entirely by UNHCR ing Kosovar displaced people in Montenegro, the interna- and security will be entrusted solely to the Macedonian tional medical aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) police, a fact which terrifies most of the refugees in calls upon the Montenegrin authorities and the UN High Stenkovec-Brazda, who numbered more than 40,000 on Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to protect these peo- Thursday. The Kosovo Albanians have a mental picture of ple. ln particular, MSF asks that these refugees be looked Macedonian police beating and separating families during (after in an area where their security can be guaranteed. the evacuation of the informal camp at Blace (north of For nearly a week, MSF teams working in Rozaje have Skopje) 10 or so days ago. And they compare that with witnessed an increase in the number of people fleeing the the image of NATO soldiers setting up tents and distribut- area of Istok in Kosovo (north-east of Pec). On Wednesday ing food. […] “With NATO I felt safe. Now, as usual, the alone, 4,300 new arrivals were registered at the border. Macedonian police will be trying to create incidents and These people are arriving exhausted and traumatised fol- panic to frighten us and make us leave the camp and leave lowing several days of arduous walking through the moun- Macedonia,” said another refugee, aged about 40, who tains. Once in Rozaje, however, their condition remains preferred not to be named. […] Aware of the problems precarious - there are insufficient facilities for them and that could arise, UNHCR has suggested to the Macedonian the presence of various armed forces and paramilitary government a programme to sensitise the police (who are groups is leading to instability in the area. more used to supervising prisoner camps) towards vulnerable populations. “Although UNHCR has just announced that the Kosovar refugee situation is under control, I can testify to the deteriorating conditions facing displaced people arriving in this area,” emphasised François Calas, MSF’s Head of Mission in Montenegro. “We urgently need UNHCR to strengthen its presence on the ground here.” It is vital MSF INSISTS ON REFUGEE that the displaced people are moved to an area which PROTECTION is safer and has adequate facilities. Due to rising tension in the region, a planned and voluntary evacuation should be organised under the joint auspices of both the Montenegrin authorities and UNHCR. Most importantly, UNHCR must urgently extend its protection mandate to In Montenegro the authorities were resisting the power this group, even if they currently hold the status of inter- of Belgrade and tensions were increasing between the nally displaced persons because they have not crossed Serb federal forces and the Montenegrin forces. The an international border, and thus, are not full-fledged displaced Kosovars were living in a climate of fear and refugees. insecurity, not helped by UNHCR’s thin presence on the ground. On 16 April 1999, MSF France issued a press release, taken up by MSF UK, requesting protection for the Kosovar refugees in Montenegro. MSF put pressure ‘Montenegro,’ Update, MSF France, 19 April on UNHCR to organise the transfer of displaced per- 1999 (in French). sons into Albania and in order to remove them from violence committed by the Yugoslav federal forces and Extract: Serb paramilitaries. Subject to increasing insecurity, General: the team also began a local press programme to make Over the last two days, 200 displaced persons have crossed its action known and thus limit tension with the pro- the border into Montenegro. In preceding days the num- Serb community, which was accusing it of aiding the ber of daily arrivals was more than 3,000. Tension is Kosovars at the expense of the local population. increasing markedly in Rozaje, in northern Montenegro, between federal troops (Serbs) and the Montenegrin forces. Belgrade has publicly announced that the Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister should be arrested. In Rozaje, the police have advised the population not to move about at night. The number of federal reservist soldiers and militia has been increased in the area and checkpoints have been 162 set up around the town on the roads leading to Bac, Boltic ring them to theMontenegrin police. recording certainrefugeeeyewitnessaccountsandrefer- son isnotbasedonsite.Hisworkcurrentlyrestrictedto is only one person in charge of protection, and that per- UNHCR presence in Rozaje isstill quite inadequate. There those whowishtodosoreturnsaferzones.The destroyed bySerbtroopsinKosovo.Itisurgenttoallow fate ofdisplacedpersonswhoseidentitypapershavebeen in Rozaje. The team is particularly concerned about the security norprotectioncanbeguaranteedforrefugees displaced personssettleintheirtown.Today,neither ties in Ulcinje, in the south, seem unwilling to see more always expensiveanddangerous.Moreover,theauthori- go furthersouthortowardsAlbania.But,suchtripsare number ofdisplacedpersonswishtoleavethetownand Following thisnewdeteriorationinsecurity,asignificant The teams[report]ageneralclimateoffearinRozaje. leave thisvillage,whichisanentrypointintoKosovo. prevailed upondisplacedpersonsandevenresidentsto to thesouthofRozajeandinvadedhouses.Theyviolently This weekend, for example, the military visited a village Internal: beatings. women, and there have been arrests, disappearances and buses have been stopped, men have been separated from persons speakaboutviolencecommittedbythemilitary: from movingfurthertothesouthofcountry.Displaced and Berane. These checkpointspreventdisplaced people because ofthe refusaloftheMontenegrinleaders to apply quoted by the Tanjug agency, announced on Thursday that Montenegro. TheYugoslavMinister ofLabourandHealth, […] Belgrade is maintaining constant pressure on without oppositionfromthe army, accordingtowitnesses. eign travellerswereagainauthorised toenterMontenegro humanitarian aidtrucksfrom passing.OnThursday,for- Croatia foreignerswhodidnothavevisasandpreventing at Sutorna,2kmsfromDebeliBrijeg,sendingbackto October. OnTuesday,thearmyestablishedacheckpoint sion takeninmid-Marchtodispensewithvisasupuntil in accordancewiththeMontenegringovernmentdeci - Debeli Brijeg,authorisingforeignerstoenterthecountry had takenuppositionsatthebeginningofweek […] TheMontenegrinpolice,supportedbyspecialunits, close to the Montenegringovernment. according tothedailynewspaperVijesti,quotingsources of thesecondYugoslavarmyasrequiredbyBelgrade, Maras, hasrefusedtoplacehispoliceunderthecommand government. TheMontenegrinInteriorMinister,Vukasin to implementdecisionstakenbythefederalYugoslav the reformistPresident,MiloDjukanovic,whorefuses from BelgradeovertheirsmallRepublic,whichisrunby The leadersinMontenegroarefiercelyopposedtocontrol Extract:

1999 (inFrench). Belgrade,’ BozoMilicic, ’Montenegro FiercelyOpposedtoControlfrom AFP (France),22April France. IwenttoAlbania. At thattimeMSFsaid it wasbestthatIreturnto attempted toidentifypeople.So,Iwasputintothefiles. many photos.Theparamilitariescameacrossthemand got throughornot.”IntheRugovawehadtakenagood MSF BelgiumrefugeereceptioncentresoIcanknowifyou “When yougothroughtheborder,leaveamessageat and theyallwentoverintoAlbania.Ihadsaidtothem: recognised meandaskedtohelpthem.Ihiredabus there lookingforMustapha’swife.Infact,theDrenicaUCK remained theretheywereindanger.Imadeavisitdown it didnotknowwhattodowiththesepeople.But,ifthey outskirts ofRozaje.UNHCRwasveryembarrassedbecause UCK arrivedonthescene.Theywereinalargehall could do.Theanswerwas:nothing.Meanwhile,theDrenica taries. Hehidhereandthere.ItriedtoseewhatUNHCR and wasafraidbecausehewantedbytheparamili- was unabletofindhiswifeandtwokids.Hehadnonews valley hadfledtowardsMontenegro.Mustapha,thedoctor, had killed Selman, the school teacher. The people in the The SerbshadintheendenteredRugova[Valley].They to death by paramilitaries. before I had gone into the Rugova. They had been stoned family thathadprovidedhospitalityformeinMontenegro, the death of one or the other, including that of a whole I knew,withwhomhadworked.Gradually,learnedabout the local Red Cross there were 10 or so persons at least that up. Amongthedisplacedpersonswhocametoregisterwith Fairly quickly, all of my friends in the Rugova Valley turned and careforthewoundedalloverplacearoundRozaje. took theemergencykitandsetoffincivilianvehiclestogo vehicle theysignalledquietlytome;Igotoutofthevehicle, become aKosovar.WhentheKosovarssawmeinanMSF I did not feel myself any longer to be part of MSF. I had what Iwasdoing.caughtup in everythingaround me. from MSFactivities.Theteammembersdidnotknowatall only wishwastoreturnKosovo.VeryquicklyIdrewback the Kosovarsverywell.Iwasafieldcoordinator,butmy commitment. But,IwasalsoabonustoMSFbecauseknew in Montenegro. given thatthefederalcustomsauthoritiesarenotpresent ‘recommendation’ willprobablyhavenoeffect,however, humanitarian aid arriving through the port of Bar. This ‘recommended’ tothe‘competentbodies’thattheydestroy let itinspectthecontentsofcargoandhastherefore the ministry,Montenegrinauthoritiesarerefusingto be used to bring in humanitarian assistance. According to federal law,theMontenegrinportofBarcouldnolonger Laurence Thavaux, MSF Field Coordinator inPristina the programmewereverydubious,becauseofmy MSF toMontenegro,Rozaje.Thoseinchargeof When thestrikesbeganIaskedtogooffagainwith in 1996, Pec fromApril1998 to February1999, nurse inMontenegro in April 1999 (in French).

163 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Kosovo. But, the majority of Montenegrins, represented by the Prime Minister, were more neutral in relation to the Some weeks after its arrival, the team in Montenegro Kosovar Albanians and in relation to the conflict. There was told us that Serb paramilitaries were starting to a very high degree of tension between the federal army, enter the country. Thanks to the individual relation- which was trying to regain control of the borders, and the ship one of our volunteers had with the displaced persons, national army which on the contrary wanted to open them we had confirmation that troops belonging to Arkan, the up. Serb paramilitary leader who had become known for his We never had a visa because they did not want to give us cruelty during the war in Bosnia, were present. Security one. So, we entered illegally, through Croatia. If the federal problems were beginning to emerge both for the MSF team authorities had decided to do so, they could have expelled itself and for the displaced persons. I underline the term us from one day to the next. We needed therefore, to be ‘displaced,’ because it’s more complicated for UNHCR and quite careful about the way we were being seen in the the UN agencies to intervene in situations where people are Serb community. The coordination team was set up in Bar, displaced. So, we had fears concerning assistance or protec- near the sea and near the border with Croatia so it could tion and security for those people. Additionally, the recep- evacuate quickly. Our teams were sometimes subjected tion facilities for displaced persons in Montenegro were to insults and our cars were stoned. But, the busloads of fairly chaotic. People were sleeping in the open. In the refugees leaving from Rozaje, crossing Montenegro and context of his work collecting information, Michaël had entering Albania received much worse treatment. Buses were come across people who had been key witnesses to massa- stopped and some passengers disappeared. These were fairly cres. And, faced with the arrival of Serb paramilitaries in murky waters. We knew that the authorities were more or Montenegro, we had asked UNHCR to evacuate these people less favourable towards us because what they were after was to Albania. We had an extremely complicated discussion clearly support from the European Union. They wanted the with UNHCR head office in Geneva. Their argument was: EU to recognise the efforts being made by Montenegro to “We, as UNHCR, cannot evacuate displaced persons to set itself apart from Belgrade in this affair. The authorities Albania because that amounts to transforming displaced were extremely proper so far as the Albanian population persons into refugees. The UNHCR cannot create a refugee was concerned. But, nevertheless we were in the Yugoslav situation.” It was really a very complicated discussion. In Federation and as it turned out the Minister for Health was the end, they accepted to evacuate these people. not as politically open as some of his colleagues. He felt that his authority and legitimacy were being undermined […], MSF Deputy Legal Advisor, (in French). by humanitarian organisations which, in his view, did not consult him enough before intervening. In addition, when several MSF exploratory missions had left they had made certain promises, but when the team returned to set up towards the end of March it came back At that time we were in conflict with UNHCR, which empty-handed. And, when the medicine and equipment had no mandate in Montenegro. The UNHCR protec- finally arrived, they were destined for the Albanian com- tion officer rather saw me as a threat. We gave them munity. The authorities took this very badly. That explains information. Following that, the legal people got in touch the tension; the Minister for Health was annoyed because with UNHCR to organise moving families who were in dan- the MSF Coordinator and medical coordinator turned up for ger. From the moment my presence became visible; I a meeting not wearing ties. He required that MSF telephone became a sort of MSF protection officer, and was virtually the Ministry every day to obtain permission to work. This identified as such by UNHCR. All of that took place in a Minister wanted someone to talk to. He needed to have it context of extreme tension: the Serb militia - similar to the recognised that he was the boss. To try to improve things I Russian militia in Chechnya - were behaving very violently said to him: “Yes, you are right.” I made our excuses three and creating a reign of fear. Those in charge of the MSF times and I brought the operations director to see him ... team ended up saying to themselves: “Okay, we need to get with a tie on. Things got a little better after that. On the him out of there.” other hand, we refused to play the game of submitting a daily report. Michaël Neuman, Officer-in-Charge of collecting After that the pro-Serbs began a counter-propaganda cam- accounts from refugees in Montenegro (in French). paign. They claimed that the Albanians who were arriving were very dirty, that they reproduced like rabbits and that they had yellow fever. In fact, it was viral hepatitis; but with a bad translation it came across as yellow fever. Tension was rising in the Montenegrin population: “You’re I went to Montenegro to help the Coordinator on the always helping the Albanians, but you never help us …” foreign press relations side of the mission, because To try to cut through that I arranged a meeting between he did not have time to look after it and it was an all of the Montenegrin press, both federal and national, important matter vis-à-vis the pro-Serb community in the and MSF’s Coordinator and medical coordinator. We also country. At that time, in Montenegro, a minority of the wanted to defuse the propaganda and misinformation 164 population was very much in favour of Serb policy in being put out by the Serbs. We described and explained desire to be in thepress. Our approachreflectedgoodsenseandtransparency,nota for authorisationtoproceed.Wesimplyinformedthem. Montenegrin journalist.Wedidn’taskheadquartersinParis decided to organisethis press conference, on theadvice of a peoples’ precarious living conditions. We had, ourselves to them that that was a problem linked to the displaced were some problems with scabies: but we had to explain fact, they gotalot of things mixed up. It istrue that there Kosovars aregoingtobringinayellowfeverepidemic?”In ists. Ontheotherhand,theyaskedus:“Isittruethat independence. But,thatdidnotreallyinterestthejournal- from the European Union. The goal was to demonstrate our from NATOcountriesandthatwewerecompletelyseparate were politicallyindependent;thatwereceivednomoney the objectivesofourprogrammes.Weunderlinedthatwe […] According totheBritishnewspaper TheSunday a democratic Yugoslavia,” he said. Balkans, and in particular in Yugoslavia, if we do not have believe thatitwillbeverydifficult tohavepeaceinthe see SlobodanMilosevicrelinquish powerinBelgrade.“I itly supportedAmericanPresident BillClinton’sdesireto it,” headded.TheNATOSecretary-General alsoimplic- countries belongingtoNATOwillbereadyundertake where (alandinvasion)appearsnecessary, I amsurethat Mr SolanaonBBCtelevision.“But,ifwecometoapoint why wearenotabouttochangestrategynow,”declared intervention [also]believethatitissufficient.That is sufficient-themilitaryauthoritiesinchargeof “At thepresenttime,webelievethatairintervention continued to amass on Saturday at the Albanian border. be ‘necessary’.Meanwhile,thousandsofKosovorefugees envisage alandinvasionofKosovoifthatturnsoutto did notruleoutthattheAlliancemaybeledto On SundaytheSecretary-GeneralofNATO,JavierSolana, Extract: swamped. towards theneighbouringrepublics,whichwerebeing the Kosovarswhocontinuedtofleeinthousands to Serbsources.Fortheirpart,forcesharassed victims amongstthecivilianpopulation,according being made tothis end. Strikes continued and caused in Kosovo. A British newspaper reported preparations statement aboutthepossibilityofalandintervention On 18 April 1999, the NATO Secretary-General made a Virginie Raisson, Deputy Coordinator in Montenegro, April 1999(in French). Kosovo,’ ’NATO Does Not Rule Out a Land Operation in MSF France, April -May 1999 (inFrench). AFP (France), Brussels/Belgrade, 18

public on behalf of Albanian families. MSF Belgiumlaunchedafood driveamongtheBelgian At apressconferenceinBrusselson20April1999, a town close totheborder with Kosovo. of 1,500Kosovars,accordingtotheauthoritiesinRozaje, the Serbprovince,andisswampedbyinfloweachday inhabitants, isalreadysheltering70,000refugeesfrom The smallYugoslavRepublicofMontenegro,with640,000 last fewmonthsinAlbania,MacedoniaandMontenegro. tion, andatotalof775,000refugeesoverallarrivedinthe refugees fledsincethebeginningofAlliedinterven- ing toUNHCRwhichestimatesthatmorethan545,000 - theequivalentofatenthAlbania’spopulationaccord On Saturday,Albaniahadsome340,000Kosovorefugees Kosovo, destined forbothSerbs and Albanians. tribution ofinternationalhumanitarianassistanceinside ’official guarantees’fromBelgradetocommencethedis- Greek sourcetoldAFPonSundaythat Greece hadobtained OSCE spokespersoninTirana,AndreaAngeli.Anofficial from Saturday and Sunday near Morina, announced the killed whentheirvehicleranoveramineinthenight at least22wounded.FiveKosovarsrefugeeswerealso post ofMorina(inthenorth),resultinginonedeathand of refugeeswaitingtopassthroughtheAlbanianborder to SundaySerbforcesfiredamortarshellintotheline for Refugees(UNHCR),duringthenightfromSaturday zone. AccordingtotheUnitedNationsHighCommissioner sands’ ofpeoplearestillontheirwaytowardstheborder Yugoslavia andAlbania.Accordingtotherefugees,‘thou- the borderpostofMorina,mainaccesspointbetween 15,000 exhausted people were registered on Saturday at At thesametime,refugeeswerestillfleeingKosovo.Some young 3year-oldgirl.” No furtherdetailsweregiven.[…] wounded amongstthecivilianpopulation,includinga reported that strikes against Batajnica resulted in “several their part,theTanjugagencyandSerbRTStelevision is amilitaryairport,accordingtothesamesource.For evening duringNATOstrikesinBatajnica,wherethere […] Meanwhile,fivepeoplewerewoundedonSaturday according to Serb sources. girl inanorth-westsuburbofBelgrade,andfivewounded, of targetsinSerbia,resultingonedeath,a3year-old to Sunday,Alliedaircraftcontinuedtheaerialbombing ment onthisinformation.DuringthenightofSaturday by 24June.OnSunday,NATOrefusedtomakeanycom- that themilitarycampaigncanbecompletedatlatest in LondonandWashington,proposalsarebeingstudiedso Again, accordingtoTheObserver,despiterepeateddenials time, during which 280,000 soldiers would be deployed. Kosovo andintherestofYugoslaviasixtoeightweeks’ Observer, NATO is preparing to launch a land operation in 165 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

MSF TV crew to make a film that would show donors: “Here’s what your solidarity was used for.” Alex wanted to do some- Press conference invitation, 20 April 1999 (in thing that would be symbolic of the solidarity between the French). Belgians and the Albanians, and this filled a need, as well. But looking back on it now, it seems an odd kind of action. Extract: Indeed, I don’t think MSF would do it again today. In Albania, MSF and Balkanactie are working side by side to help Kosovar refugees. The Albanian public is also Anouk Delafortrie, Communications Officer, demonstrating strong solidarity with the refugees, with a MSF Belgium (in French). great many families taking them in, despite the poverty that abounds in Albania. As needs are great, Médecins Sans Frontières and Balkanactie are appealing to the Belgian public to collect food parcels. In limiting the collection to food, this drive is intended to supplement other Some responsible for gathering accounts from Kosovar programmes conducted by other organisations. The food refugees were questioning the relevance to MSF in con- drive will take place this Saturday, 24 April 1999 in vari- ducting this kind of survey in refugee host countries, ous locations in Belgium. Médecins Sans Frontières and as it was already being done by human rights organisa- Balkanactie will use this opportunity to bring the public tions. According to them, it was more urgent to focus up to date on the situation and their activities in Albania. on the issue of protecting refugees. The interviewer in Montenegro pointed out the problems with getting the medical team to accept his work.

’More than 20,000 Food Parcels for Kosovar Families and their Albanian Host Families,’ Press release MSF Belgium, Brussels, 26 April Email from Sofi Elg, MSF Information Officer–in- 1999 (in French). Charge of collecting refugees’ accounts in Macedonia to Françoise Saulnier, MSF Legal Extract: Advisor, 19 April 1999 (in English). Brussels, 26 April 1999. This past Saturday, MSF and Balkanactie organised a food drive for Albania in more Extract: than 20 cities in Belgium. The result surpassed expecta- In general, it can be said about the interviews that the tions: the two organisations, whose original goal was most recently arrived do not tell of incidents as horrid 10,000 parcels, collected more than 20,000. [...] The as those who arrived two weeks to one month back. This parcels will leave Brussels for Albania this week. MSF and is probably not due to a more lenient attitude from the Balkanactie will then distribute them to 5,000 families in Serbs but to the way the human mind and memory works. two districts, Lushnje and Lezhë. Interviews in camps therefore, give more general information on round-ups and deportations while interviews in the villages, among people who have had time to ‘melt’ a bit, tell of hand grenades thrown into wells where 20 people were forced to stand and similar types of incidents. Right after the NATO strikes, and the mass exodus The following has come out from interviews with refugees that followed, Alex Parisel, the General Director, told in Macedonia. us: ’we have to carry out an action with the Belgian public.’ Like everyone, he thought it very important to get the Gnjilane and Urosevac are two towns used as assembly Belgian public involved. We worked like maniacs for three or points by the Serbs where people from the surrounding vil- four weeks. The local media were very involved. We arranged lages have been forced to go. When the Serbs enter a vil- collections in Belgium’s main cities all on the same day, lage, they shell it first to break any KLA resistance. Houses specifying, ‘we want you to bring a kilo of sugar, a kilo of are burnt. Most often men and women are separated, men flour, etc.’ There was a pre-set list of products. It was a huge taken into detention and women displaced to the ‘assem- operation, and people actually came with parcels. We esti- bly points’. The men are interrogated on any KLA activities mated that we needed 10,000, and in the end we got twice and released if found innocent. Urosevac area seems to that. I went to Albania with the team that took the parcels. have been emptied following the NATO bombings but in The Kosovar refugees there were hosted either by families or Gnjilane area, the cleansing started before that. Albanian in communal centers. When they arrived, they had nothing quarters in Pristina are continuously being emptied. Police left. Some Albanian families had taken other families com- and paramilitary go street by street and give people up to pletely into their homes. We didn’t think they would stay 2 hours to leave their homes. Students at the university in long, but it has gone on. And the atmosphere became a bit Pristina were told to leave without having time to contact tense, because there wasn’t any aid. So the people were their families living outside the city, and so were sepa- 166 fairly happy with the aid we brought. I went there with an rated from their families. The main hospital in Pristina Criminal Tribunal for the formerYugoslavia. view teamwhotakestestimoniesfortheInternational about events in Kosovo we referthem to the OSCE inter- to knowofviathedoctors.Ifpatientshavealottell on myownandfollowupincidentsinMacedoniaget ings intheinterviews.Idoonlyverysummaryinterviews attached, bywhichwecangivemedicalsupporttofind- have puttogetheramedicalstatisticsformatasperthe twice/week. Ourownimpressionscanthusbeverified.I tion withotherHRagenciesinSkopjeandmeetregularly MSF inMacedoniaareclosecooperationandcoordina- is noreason to believerape has nottaken place. hear ofSerbsoldiersandparamilitaries‘behaviour;there lence, or at least gynaecological problems. From what we to give more information on the occurrence of sexual vio- clinics startworkinginthearea,wewillpossiblybeable as yetonthelevelofsexualviolence.WhenMSFmobile many havecometogether.Wenosureinformation ration isaproblemdoesnotseemtobehugeone, large extent,fromurbancentersandthough family sepa- families. The refugee population in Macedonia is, to a kicked outoftheirbeds.Twowereseparatedfrom MSF hashadtoseethreedialysispatientswhowere last week (14 -15/4). was emptiedofAlbanianpatientsTuesday-Wednesday - Unable to eatordrink during their exodus. - Harassed en route them (even clothing) - Prohibitedfromtakingtheir personalpossessionswith on theroad, or attheborder. burst intotheirhousetochase themout),whenthey’re - Subjectedtoextortionbefore leaving(whentheSerbs transport. their age,health,ormeans(orlackthereof)of - ForcedtoleaveimmediatelyforAlbania,regardlessof houses onfire or occupythem. - Chased out oftheirhomes just beforethe Serbs settheir militaries. - Expelled from their homes by police, soldiers, or para- Albanian Kosovars have been systematically: stories weresimilar;nevertheless,itisclearthatethnic PRISTINA, PRIZRENandDJAKOVregions.Noneofthe years. Refugees[are]fromtheMITROVICA,DRENICA, women and23meninterviewed.Ages:from15to90 Kukes, Morin)betweenApril7and16.Therewere29 are 52 of them, gathered in northern Albania (Kruma, for, from what I hear; it’s not pretty to read…sorry. There Here, finally,arethetestimoniesyou’vebeenclamouring Extract: 1999 (inFrench). Françoise Saulnier,MSFLegalAdvisor,20April gathering refugeeaccountsinAlbania,to Message fromDianePlessia,chargedwith decipher the answers from the following testimonies. the objectivitythatthoseofusherelack,canmanageto stances? Inhowmanydays,weeks...?Maybeyou,having to getout,littlebylittle,buthowmany?Inwhatcircum- trapped inKosovo?Thefeelinghereisthatthey’llmanage that makes about 30% of Kosovars. And, the 70% still to findprecariousasyluminMacedoniaandMontenegro, entered Albania;togetherwiththosewhohavemanaged keep everyoneelseonedge.Sofar,355,000refugeeshave result ofsomeMachiavelliandesiretosowdisorderand day and a massive flood at the border the next seems the nitely planned.Similarly,holdingtherefugeesbackone that theemptyingofcertaintownsandvillageswasdefi- tease outthereason(s)behindexpulsions,butit’sclear sions, takentotheborderbySerbianpolice.It’shard Beaten, killed,orterrorizedbySerbforces;onrareocca- Not systematically, but frequently: license plates). before (IDcards,driverslicenses,passports,automobile - Dispossessedoftheiridentitypapersattheborder,or isations, ifavailable. OtherwiseMSFshould bewillingto further testimonies peoplewillbereferred to otherorgan- place oforigin,familyseparation etc.oftherefugees.For staff intheprojects(camps and villages)willasktrauma, in theTORofHAofficer inMacedonia.Ourmedical in Macedoniaorattheborder. Thisisthemainobjective up onthesituationandprotection needsoftherefugees for MSF. There is however, a need to monitor and follow nies and identify witnesses for the ICTY. No added value in Kosovo,try[ing]toestablishapattern,collecttestimo - the groundtointerviewrefugeesabouttheirexperience organisations (AI,HRW,OSCE,HCHR,ICTY)arepresenton situation inKosovo.Thisduetothefactalotofother officer inMacedoniaisNOTtointerviewrefugeesonthe l explainedthatthefocusofhumanitarianaffairs Françoise is in contact with the Belgians about this. anecdotal matter,asisbeingdonebytheAlbanianoffice. -It is not the objective to use these testimonies in an Humanitarian affairs officers. from boththeAlbania,MontenegroandMacedonian -Françoise willanalysetheinformationshereceives pattern in Kosovo, (Names etc willnot be used) cleansing inKosovo.Francoisewillwriteareporton nies, [to]establishapatternondeportationandethnic The objectiveistobeable,onthebasisoftestimo- […] Objectives of thetestimonies; lowing issues: l discussed this morning with Francoise Saulnier the fol- Extract: 20 April1999(in English). Programme Manager,MSFFrancelegaladvisor, Macedonia team, MSF Holland Kosovo Katrien Coppens,MSFHollandHADto Affairs] AdvisorinMacedonia,’Emailfrom ’Testimonies and Role HA [Humanitarian 167 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

do it. If possible, by the humanitarian affairs officer. Data difficult for the person attending to know what was and to on the places of origin of the refugees, etc., will be send know what to share with me. to Francoise. If she has additional questions, she will get into contact with Sofi to see if this data is available. Positive effects: The fact that we were on the location enabled me to provide training to the international staff directly related to the situation. Certain issues could be explained more ’The Role of the Humanitarian Affairs Officer in in detail that may have facilitated their work or at least an Emergency: Macedonia,’ 6 April - 4 May their understanding of the environment. The post of HAO 1999. Memorandum by Sofi Elg, MSF Holland also worked as an off-load to the rest of the staff in the HAD, 11 May 1999 (in English). field. In particular, the medical staff, which had to listen to many patients’ stories, could pass them on to me for Extract: further action. The MSF presence at the meetings with the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) Terms of Reference. human rights organisations has hopefully left an impres- Katrien Coppens from the Humanitarian Affairs Department sion with them of the importance MSF attaches to the link in Amsterdam was already in Skopje when I arrived there between humanitarian assistance and human rights. and together we wrote the ToR. We discovered that the original objective of the témoignage [testimonies]; to Conclusion and recommendations: draw the attention of the general opinion to human rights The presence of an HAO in an emergency is necessary in violations in Kosovo and to encourage relevant human order to have an assessment made of the humanitarian/ rights agencies and organisations to act, was already human rights issues at stake to decide if and what advo- achieved. Several human rights agencies were already cacy work is necessary. I would suggest that if via the present, e.g. Organisation for Security in Central Europe assessment, it is found that in the emergency situation (OSCE), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch there is a need to take testimonies from a population for (HRW). The work of the Humanitarian Affairs Officer (HAO) advocacy purposes a team of interviewers [could] be sent would concentrate more on the situation of the refugees out to ensure a quantitatively and qualitatively reliable in Macedonia than on the events that had made them material to be provided in as short a time as possible . leave Kosovo. The HAO should also brief international staff on relevant international law and the role of MSF, identify areas of advocacy, and be a spokesperson locally with regard to humanitarian issues. A day at work could ’MSF France, Montenegro Mission, Report on consist of brief interviews with newly arrived refugees at Witnessing, Rozaje, April 1999,’ Michaël the border and in the camps, data collection from the MSF Neuman, 25 April 1999 (in French). clinics on evidence of human rights violations, follow-up on doctor’s reports of violence suffered by refugees in Extract: Macedonia, meetings with HR organisations on events in As far as the testimonies are concerned, the emphasis was, Kosovo and on protection concerns in Macedonia, writing in fact, placed on the expulsions and attacks on Albanian of reports. villages after 24 March 1999. Approximately 25 testimonies were gathered, on an individual basis. A great deal Constraints: of information came out of more informal discussions with There were contradictory expectations from MSF numerous Kosovars (both civilian and KLA). Most of the International, from the team management and from the witness names have been sent, though for security reasons Amsterdam office on the work the HAO was supposed to I got rid of the ones in my possession. Getting people do. MSF (1) requested testimonies; the Country Manager to give their names wasn’t much of a problem, at least put the emphasis on the formal title of the post being once they felt they were safe and could trust us. I don’t Information Officer while the Amsterdam office supported think we should underestimate the witnesses’ capacity for the recently written ToR. Time forced me to set priorities reflection. Though often tired and in shock, to me they that inevitably did not please everyone. The hierarchi- seemed capable of consciously weighing their words. One cal structure in the team was unclear and consequently ICT testimony was sent (to Paris and to UNHCR); another also the position of the post as HAO. Practical logistical couldn’t be for lack of time. A table and map describing concerns due to the emergency situation dominated the (as well as possible, but without absolute certainty) the daily work and reduced the attention paid and importance dates of expulsions and attacks, were drawn up using given to HR issues by the team management. A duplica- Vincent Brown’s Epicentre survey and my own information. tion of work would sometimes occur in my search for information from sources outside MSF while it was in fact Testimony method: available from inside. I did not have access to meetings - I tried to limit the length of interviews as much as where relevant items of information could come up, such possible without, however, losing sight of the emotional as the medical coordinators meetings and the UNHCR dimension the testimony might have. Regrettably, on interagency meetings. Evidently, not all information in occasion, I had to spend a longer time with a witness or 168 these meetings was relevant to my work as HAO but it was a family, and sometimes also see them again. Kosovo iceberg.” Regret,orevenanger,expressed bysome used,” “Montenegro was never more than the tip of the vation behindthemissionthat’s inquestion:“Wewere mission, andthusbad.Beyond that,itisthebasicmoti- a keycomponentofthepolitical aspectoftheMontenegro Témoignage wasviewedbycertain membersoftheteamas 3) Conclusion and personalassessment political, it’s primarily my fault. [...] me thatiftheMSFmissionatRozajeisseenasprimarily type’ nearestathandisme,peoplehavestartedtelling testimonies isnotalwaysrecognised.Sincethe‘political “MSF-Human rights.”Moreover,theaddedvalueof‘my’ be usedformedical,notlegal,purposes.Otherwise,it’s tion on that—that testimonies are basically emotional, to the field.Sosome‘excludeme’fromOravaria - gained throughlogisticalandmedicalwork,reportedby in other words, it’s the accounts of people whose trust is collection oflittleremarks.“Témoignage,that’sduring” tion inRozajegotabithot,Iwastreatedtowhole a log/admin).[...]Intheend,whengeneralsitua- presence inthefield,2)myduties(though some expected except theheadsandLaurence)wereignorant of 1)my it seemsthatmostmembersoftheteam(i.e.everyone [...] Ihavetomakenoteofanincomprehensiblemalaise: counting onthesefacilitiesinorderworkmorediscreetly. in thefieldwasalsoabigproblemforme,sinceI in thespoilsportcamp.Yet,absenceofmedicalteams of doctorsinthesesamecamps.Inecessarilyfoundmyself absence ofmedicalevaluationinthecampsandlack programmes inadequate.Inparticular,theyregrettedthe tors, led by Francis Huot-Marchand, deemed the medical and theso-called‘field’doctorslogisticians.Thedoc- As a result, ‘confrontation’ between the ‘political types’ of certainmembersthemissionquicklyshowed.[…] part oftheteam.Andindeeditwas,ashiddenagenda the team,missionwasseenastoopoliticalbyalarge [...] Asidefromjustthetestimony,andthusmyroleon gathering testimony (e.g., ACF). ground), theFIDH,orotherorganisationsthatare (in spiteofeverything,indirectlywell-establishedonthe - Iregretnotbeingabletogetincontact with theICT Paris. kept separately)andthrownawayoncetheyweresentto - Thetestimonieswererecordedinanotebook(thenames from Peja, and still in Rozaje. was alotofinformation.Thankyou,Artan—23yearsold, gauge people’ssafety,toguidemeplaceswherethere mon experience,toputhimselfinthewitness’shoes, reason or another to ask a question, based on their com- across, tostallifhefeltitnecessary,refuseforone it washe,morethanI,whoabletogetmymessage - Ihaveto stress thecrucial role played by theinterpreter: KLA supervision. were fewerpeople, they hadjustarrived,andwereunder often wenttothemountainsdocollection—there attract acrowd,atleastingeneral.ThisisalsowhyI people. ButIhavetosaythattakingtestimonydidn’t - Ialsolimited,asmuchpossible,thepresenceofother the report, that is, three days. We had big maps with the the report,that is,threedays.Wehadbig mapswiththe arranged region byregion.Inanycase,ittook timetowrite Officer] withpilesoftestimony, dates,andchronologies with theDeputyLegalAdvisor and AnneGuibert[Information was reallydifficult,buthadto bedone.Wewereintheoffice meant workingintensively,day andnight,forthreedays.It We wereinasituationwhere professionalresponsibility to hire an expert to go through the documents. genocide inprogress,wewouldn’thavewaitedthreeweeks an operationalidea.Ifwehadproofthattherewasa And also,weneedtousethemasquicklypossibleget know what’sinthem,thepeoplearepotentiallydanger. accounts mustnothangaroundinthefield.Sincewedon’t viewers tosendbacktheaccountsastheyaregathered.The people arealreadydead[toolate],I’vebadgeredtheinter - unusable. SinceIdon’tlikeitwhenreportsarrivethe incomplete, doneusingadifferentmethodologyandso to sendmetestimonies.Igotfewerthanfifteen,totally for Macedonia,I’vespentthreeweekspleadingsomeone coming inquicklyfromAlbania,andit’sveryinteresting.As quickly getaverypreciseviewofthepopulation.It’salso other team members in question. even attheend,weremypersonalrelationshipswith able workundergoodconditions;thatatnotime,not become apparent.Whichmeansthat,onthewhole,Iwas paramilitaries andsoldiersinthesurroundingvillageshad in myfinaldaysRozaje,thatis,whenthepresenceof difficulties described abovewere only really noticeable témoignage, thanithadtodowithmyownwork.The fact that everyone, or at least some, began to do only I didhaveafewproblems,theyhadmoretodowiththe this time,ofthevitalworkitrepresents.Ithinkthatwhile its usefulness.Westillhavetopersuadeafew,consciously Yet, peopleatMSFhavealready,unconsciously,admitted the addedvalueoftémoignageisnotalwaysrecognised. new MSFteamstocomprehendthesituation.Certainly, Kosovo theselastseveralweeks;italsomadeeasierfor It did, however, shed a crucial light on the events in taken on almostmythic proportions. of theepisodeatRozaje,which,itseemstome,hasnow One ofourlogs,aBelgian,doesnothavegoodmemories reminded ofthepainfulGrandLac[GreatLakes]episodes. etc.). Whenevertémoignagecomesup,we’llalwaysbe favourably disposedtoit(FrançoisCalas,PatricePiolat, Noëlle Rodrigue,andthelogsingeneral),othersmore opponents oftémoignage(FrancisHuot-Marchand,Marie- types andthenon-politicaltypes,betweendiehard back intotheMSFcontextofdebatebetweenpolitical existed. And,ofcourse,allthesethingsneedtobeput participate in the Kosovo meeting, everyone knew they tives ofthemission.And,whileentiremissiondidn’t at notreallyhavingbeeninformedofthe‘true’objec- It’s coming in quickly from Montenegro. We very mation has to come in quickly, so I can get to work. My problemishowtowriteupthework.Theinfor- 169 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

paths, roads, hills, valleys, names of towns. We highlighted it was on April 19 or 20, 1999 the President of MSF the routes, the lengths of time, and then the dates, because Greece - told him, during a telephone conversation, that also allowed us to pin down the time of the attacks, of his section’s decision to launch an exploratory mis- how they had been attacked, surrounded. Their exit routes sion in Kosovo and Serbia. When Thierry refused to were often really bizarre, because they had been used to push assume the operational responsibility, the president other groups of refugees. When a testimony only recounted of MSF Greece offered to make it an ‘observer mission’ the horrors, but without any details, no date or anything, by members of the MSF Greece Board of Directors. The we couldn’t use it. But there weren’t that many of those. following day, Thierry informed him of his decision to It’s always useful for something. First off, for reconstructing give up his responsibilities as Operations Director for the routes and timing. We see when the attacks took place. MSF Greece If they happened first in one region, and then the next day On 21 April 1999, Vincent Faber, Executive Director in another. If the forces were moving or if they attacked of the Swiss section, proposed launching an interna- simultaneously in the same locations. Everything contains tional exploratory mission in Serbia and Kosovo to his a lot of information; it just has to be processed. This was a counterparts in the other sections. He suggested that special situation. It’s rare to have a population, a territory it be carried out by a team from the Swiss section, and completely emptied of its population in not even a week. But, include Greek volunteers. The president of MSF Greece naturally, the route people took, their condition when they claims that he didn’t learn of the COC operations direc- arrived, how long they’d been en route—these are things that tor’s resignation until 22 April 1999. He, with his sec- are always verified in this type of reconstruction. tion, then created an emergency committee that named a new operations director, and began requesting visas Françoise Bouchet - Saulnier, Legal Advisor, for an exploratory mission in Kosovo and Serbia. MSF France (in French). On 22 April 1999, the executive directors of the operational sections decided to launch an international exploratory mission in Kosovo and Serbia. Since MSF Belgium had received an invitation for five people The same day, the general directors of the operational to go to Belgrade, the operations directors from the sections decided to begin documenting the lack of Belgian and Swiss sections decided to get visas using protection for refugees in host countries, and prepare this route. That same day, the general director of MSF a more articulated stand on military control of the Switzerland informed the president of MSF Greece, by camps. Planning for an exploratory mission that would telephone, of the decision to launch the international be run by the Swiss section and include Greek volun- exploratory mission; the latter claims that he did not teers was launched. learn of it until early May.

‘Executive Committee Meeting,’ Minutes, ‘CH-GR Explo in Yugo?,’ Email from Vincent Brussels, 20 April 1999 (in English). Faber, Executive Director of MSF Switzerland, to the executive directors of MSF Belgium, MSF Extract: Spain, MSF France, and MSF Holland, 21 April Documentation on the lack of protection of refugees in 1999 (in French). the regional host countries and especially in Albania is going to be undertaken from now on: lack of refugee Extract: status, of registration, risks of rapes, human traffick- Yet an entire region, at the very heart of the crisis, is still ing, forced recruitment in KLA, etc. Meanwhile MSF will in total blackout - Serbia and, especially, Kosovo itself. provide information on these concerns to the refugees Of course, there are many reasons for this, and we know locally. These concrete evidences of the lack of protection them well: will be highlighted instead of systematically and simply * Inaccessibility, first of all, and the quite prosaic impos- denouncing UNHCR. A more articulated statement on the sibility of sending expats, the vast majority of whom come unacceptable military control and management of refugee from countries that are NATO members—or sympathisers. camps should be developed (at least internally), express- * Second, the opinion, fairly universal within the move- ing the differences between security and protection; it is ment, that the humanitarian space is non-existent - par- also necessary to recall that the reasons for the conflict ticularly in Kosovo - and that the risk of becoming an are not humanitarian. instrument of the Milosevic regime is still such that we cannot tolerate.

Personally, I am of the opinion that we can’t just ignore our essential humanitarian duty to ‘go see’. I am obviously According to Thierry Durand, Operations Director for aware of the above-mentioned risks, but I am still con- 170 the Greek-Swiss common operational center (COC), vinced that we cannot prejudge the lack of a humanitarian project in a coherentMSFwhole. from you,butmoretoaffirmtheintegrationofsucha consent. Notsomuchto get some kind of‘authorisation’ cuss itwithyoufirstand,ifpossible,togetyourprior preferable, however—giventhepoliticalstakes—todis - an assessmentmissiononitsowninitiative.Ithinkit seems thatMSFCHisnowinapositiontoquicklylaunch apparently, some‘guarantees’ofaccesstoKosovo.It foreign aid mission has just returned from Belgrade with, owing toSwitzerland’sspecialstatus,andbecauseaSwiss Swiss—the firstforthereasonsweallknow,second that cango to Serbiarightnow are theGreeks and the Moreover, on a purely tactical level, the only nationalities of course - inorderto protect ourselves from such risks. like ittoberunbyGeneva-withAthens’participation, situations isnotnegligible.Soifthereanexplo,Iwould a wholebeingdraggedintoquestionableandundesirable Odysseas’s analysisofthecrisis),andriskMSFas is toobiased(andIpersonallydisagreecompletelywith on thismission;theirpoliticalreadingofthesituation worst). Asforme,Idon’twantMSFGreeceto‘goitalone’ best), or an international crisis within the movement (at we’re trying tobuildbetweenAthens and Geneva (at opinion, evenatthecostofdestroyingpartnership the Greekswilldecidetointervenedespiteeveryoneelse’s Kosovo isextremelystrongnow.There’sarealriskthat pressure from Greece foranMSFoperationinSerbiaand common operationalcentrebecause—asyouknow—the won’t hidefromyouthefactthatI’vealsomentioned tify it. But if there is one, we can’t not try to occupy it. I operationalising insuchacase,andwecouldeasilyjus- In whichcase,dulynoted;Ihavenoproblemwithnot could evolve. It may turn out that there is no such space. and acceptability of a humanitarian space, in which we common operationalcentre,toanalysetheexistence explo missiontotheregion,underaegisofGeneva I would like, therefore, to clearly propose sending an and oversight, and ability to speakout(even minimally). unlimited accesstopopulations,independenceofaction principles, aslongafewsimplecriteriaareguaranteed: it’s impossibletooperatethereinaccordancewithour ing thatwewon’tgobecausethink,intheory, real humanitarianspace,ratherthandeliberatelydeclar- because we have actually run up against the absence of a when we chooseto withdraw from a humanitarian field We haveathousandtimesmoreimpactandcredibility to perceivedviewpoints,orevencommonlyheldnotions. own eyes, experienced personally, and not just according on arealityanalysedconcretebases,seenwithour space, nomatterhowlimited.Ourpositionmustbebased Vincent Warmly, weekend, everyone probably, atthe beginning ofnextweek.Have a good I thoughtitimportanttotellyouaboutallthis.Moreinfo, passion thatbecameevidentinthismorning’sdiscussion, to nothing,wewouldtakeupthetorchagain.Given the immediatefuture.ShouldBrussels’visarequestscome initiative foranexploinSerbiaandKosovoonhold now completelychanged.Sowe’regoingtoputanySwiss the situation as I presented them to you this morning are pose toomanyproblems.It’sclear,then,thatthefactsof Belgrade, whichinprinciple(youneverknow…)shouldn’t invitation - the visas needed for these people to go to B isthereforegoingtotryobtain-thanksthis a requestintroducedbyBrusselsseveralweeksago.MSF enough -AlexPariselhimself.Thisinvitationfollowsupon (one isthepresidentofMSF-Sweden)and-surprisingly tion names 5 people: 1 Russian, 1 Ukrainian, 2 Swedes Belgrade from the Serbian Ministry of Health. This invita- Today MSFBelgiumreceivedaformalinvitationfrom Dear all, come ofthemission. TheBrusselsoperational centrewill there isnohumanitarian spaceincaseof this likelyout- exploratory mission). MSF will be ready to explain that ning ofamissionordistribution (noequipmentforthe Swiss andGreekvolunteers, andwillnotbethebegin- the Genevaoperationalcentre. Thismissionwillinclude An exploratorymissionwilltry togoinsideKosovounder Extract of theminutes: operational centresandnot20aswrittenintheminutes). 22/4: ExecutiveCommittee (Ex-Com) meeting (GD of the 5 mittee that he nolongeris O.D. ofMSF G. 21/4: T.DurandannouncesattheGenevaDirectorscom - decision of resigning asO.D.of Athens. [...] 20-21/4: T.DurandrecallsannouncingtoO.Boudourishis Board. ‘an observatorymission’donebymembersoftheGreek As T.Durandrefusesthisoption,O.Boudourisproposes who toldhimoftheGreekBoarddecisiontogoKosovo. T. Durandrecalls talking onthephonewithO.Boudouris 18-19/4 (?):AfterO.Boudourisreturnof[from]Albania: Extract: Directors, 23 April1999(inFrench). members ofMSFSwitzerland’sBoard Executive DirectorofMSFSwitzerland,tothe ‘Kosovo Explo,’EmailfromVincentFaber, English). International Council11-13June1999(in Agreement,’ Greek-Swiss Common Operational Centre Mission toFRYandtheBreakdownofMSF ’Fact FindingMissionRegardingtheMSFGreece Report presentedtotheMSF 171 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

try to return to Belgrade with the objective of: renewing development, of foreign operations by Athens does not contacts with the Serb society, in order not to isolate the in itself represent a plus or an added value for Médecins Serb population which could lead to more nationalism and Sans Frontières operations as a whole. At best, it might radicalisation; getting a better understanding of the situ- fit some internal institutional need or strategy for the ation; possibly have operation for Serb population (not organisation; nevertheless, the additional constraints and of great magnitude) in Serbia; monitor events in Kosovo. problems encountered in making this a successful exercise [...] The Geneva/Greek partnership is in a bad way, as seem clearly out of proportion to the real benefit we can T. Durand has resigned from his position as Operations expect to MSF operations. Director of Athens. This will be discussed apart and will be transmitted to the I.C.

22/4 18h30: V. Faber (from Brussels airport) calls O. Letter from MSF Greece President, to Thierry Boudouris to inform him of the Ex-Com decision concern- Durand, MSF Switzerland Operations Director, ing an explo mission to Kosovo. 26 April 1999 (in French). 22/4 Evening: O. Boudouris recalls calling T. Durand about the Programme Manager position in Athens. It’s during Extract: this discussion that he recalls being told by T. Durand of Hello Thierry, his resignation. I received your letter resigning your functions with regard to the Greek section, and I’m taking official note of it. I carefully read the three reasons you give for your resignation. I don’t, however, find in your letter reasons that ’Resignation as Operations Director for Athens,’ explain: Letter from Thierry Durand, MSF Switzerland 1) The timing (the reasons you give are chronic), Operations Director, to the presidents of the 2) The immediate nature of your resignation, particularly Swiss and Greek sections, 23 April 1999 (in in a context of humanitarian crisis (Kosovo) and internal French). transition (Panos’s resignation following your letter, with no response from you). Extract: Please clarify whether the three reasons you give justify, After a long and difficult deliberation - informed by a year’s in your eyes, the timing and the immediate nature of your work—on the feasibility of locating part of the operations resignation, or whether there are, in fact, other reasons. for which I’m assuming responsibility - in Athens, I owe it to both myself and Médecins Sans Frontières to admit that the mission is impossible, and immediately relinquish the responsibilities entrusted to me. The various reasons that ‘General Directors’ Teleconference,’ Email from have led me to this conclusion are as follows: Vincent Faber MSF Switzerland Executive -The role and responsibilities of an operations director in Director to MSF executive directors, 26 April the orientation and management of MSF missions require 1999 (in English). working, on a daily basis, within a team of managers who implement the programmes. I am now convinced that Dear all, trust, tacit agreement, sharing, and decision-making— I would like to suggest a teleconference ASAP (this eve- which are crucial to the conduct of operations—can only ning, or tomorrow morning, pending on your availability) develop with the anchoring that daily contact provides. to discuss 2 issues: I cannot provide this anchoring, long-distance, with 1) as agreed during our meeting of last Thursday, to Athens. discuss the communication strategy over the témoignage -The role of programme manager is, to me, absolutely that has now been compiled and formalised essential to the conduct of operations. It is a difficult 2) MSF-Greece: you all know now that Thierry has for- position to hold, and there are few likely to take on the mally resigned, with immediate effect, from his duties as attendant responsibilities. It turned out to be extremely Operations Director for Athens. This move puts, indeed, difficult to ‘graft’ non-Greek speakers potentially able the common operational centre under heavy constraints to assume the programme manager’s functions to the (I personally believe the end of our partnership is near), Athens organisation. It seems to me, after many searches and the fact is that there is no more ‘legal’ (in the internal and consultations, that there is no one from within MSF sense of the word) frame to Athen’s operationality, unless Greece that meets the requirements for this key position, some transitional alternative is defined. Due to the sensi- and to whom I could delegate my responsibilities - such tive period of the Kosovo crisis, needless to say there are delegation being necessarily greater owing to the location currently undeniable risks of a unwished initiative from of the position. I cannot and don’t want to be forced to the Greeks. I believe therefore there is a real need to dis- choose someone for this position by default; it would not cuss together urgently this topic. Waiting for your reply, be responsible of me. Amicalement - More generally, I’ve become convinced over the course Vincent 172 of this past year that the maintenance, or even structural the Greekswould play.FortheGreeks,itwas amessageof threw inthetowel. Hegaveupwithoutdeciding whatrole the Montenegrin police and customs officials let it operate. life in Montenegro.It wasn’t easy. The team was lucky that being manipulated. We weren’t fools. We were experiencing could evengetthere,wewouldhaverealizedthatwere have tried.Then,undoubtedlyinPristina,assumingwe about going there. If we had had visas, maybe we would ing anythingatall.Inanycase,weweren’trealcrazy question peoplelikethat,youendupnotaccomplish- that? What guarantees do you have?” When you constantly with the bastards!Did you really pay attention to this or of mutualdistrust:“Careful,you’regoingtocollaborate ably theBelgian-Frenchdispute,buttherewasalsoalot cities. Wewereallwatchingeachother.Therewasprob- Montenegro embassiesinParis,Brussels,Genevaandother had beentryingtogetvisasfromFederationofSerbiaand intentions clear,toshowhistrueface.Formonths,we tion basedonmyarguments.Hewasforcedtomakehis opportunity tousemecalculate,fabricateaposi- the peoplearoundhim.Byresigning,Itookawayhis The presidentofMSFGreecechosestrategiesbasedon down a bit butthey still went ahead. should havecoveredfor them. Myresignationdidslowthem started. Atleastiftheyweresettingitinmotion,noone down andrevealthisindependentprocessthattheyhad guy! Infact,withthisresignation,Iwastryingtoslow had toldme.ThepresidentofMSFGreeceisaveryshrewd these [asdescribedabove]becauseIcouldn’tprovewhathe next day,Ireluctantlyresigned;givingreasonsotherthan Switzerland andamemberoftheBoardDirectors.The about it.ItalkedtoDorisformerPresident of MSF port! Itoldhimthatitwasn’tpossible,hadtothink They hadliedtomeandnowtheywereaskingformysup- over thepasteightortendays.Thatwascompletelycrazy. me aboutanumberofstepsthattheyhadsecretlytaken told methattheyhadmetwiththem.Thatevening,he him iftheyhadcontactswiththeYugoslavembassyandhe the SerbianRedCross–viaGreekgovernment.Iasked Red Cross–atthetimeMilosevic’swifewaspresidentof contacts viatheGreekOrthodoxChurchandwithSerbian vision oftheoperationsdirector.’Hetoldmethattheyhad and notanoperationsdepartmentmissionunderthesuper- to organisethisoperationasaBoardofDirectorsmission have anyproblems,tocircumventthecriteria,we’regoing Switzerland/MSF Greece Operational Centre (in French). shortly afterward,hehanded inhisresignation.He Durand buthewasalreadycompletely depressedand I didn’tfollowindetailwhat happened withThierry and wedecidedtogoPristina.Sothatyouwon’t and said:’theBoardofDirectorshadadiscussion The presidentofMSFGreececalledmeoneevening Thierry Durand, Director of Operations,MSF

way and they developed their own mission. refusal. Sofromthatpointon,theydecidedtogotheirown Balkans. government fundstofinancetheiroperationsinthe to announce publicly that they are no longer using presentation ofMSFaccounts.Thesectionscontinue would resultseveralyearslaterintheconsolidated for thecrisis.Thiswasanewstageinprocessthat dinate allinformationonthevarioussections’funding April, hemadethisdecisionpublic.MSFbegantocoor- the KosovocrisistoNorwegiangovernment.On26 returned thefundinggrantedforoperationsrelatedto announced tohiscolleaguesthatsectionhad On 22April1999,theexecutivedirectorofMSFNorway of MSF Greece. Instead, he cleared a path for him. He didn’tneedtoresignavoidsupportingThePresident All thismadefor someinterestingdiscussions whichwere NATO governments, is a proofofdouble morality. ing moneyfromUNHCR,which isalmostfullyfundedby act -interestingperspective)! Theyalsothoughtaccept- (they consider the return of the money as a non-neutral consider NATOasanaggressor, andtheSerbsasvictims ties with is to see how our position does not imply that we how wewillfundouroperations.Whattheyhaddifficul - went into a discussion on why MSF returns the money, and money back;theyonlywantmoreallthetime.Wethen are theresultofjointdiscussions.Nobodyevergave gives themoney,NGO’sexecutes,andobjectives between governmentandNGO’s,wherethe ‘unique Norwegianmodel’isoneofcloseco-operation Kosovo funding.Theywerecompletelysurprised,asthe officially wehadtoaskthem-thatwouldreturnthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs where we informed them - well MSF Norwayyesterday,hadameetingwiththeNorwegian Dear all, took intoconsiderationthefactthathewasfedup. He completelymissedthelargerpicture.only Thierry’s decisiontoresigncameataverybadtime. Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, MSF directors 22 April1999(inEnglish). MSF NorwayExecutiveDirectortoexecutive Money,’ ‘Norwegian Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations,MSF Email fromKurtPeleman, International (in French). Belgium (inFrench). 173 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

held in a very open atmosphere. In the end, I think we less of political, military and strategic considerations. made ourselves pretty well understood, they respected our In addition to the work that is taking place in Albania, position, but they regretted it because they consider MSF Macedonia and Montenegro, MSF is trying to get back into as a privileged and very well-respected partner. The meet- Kosovo and Serbia to help people there. Because of this, it ing took another turn - and an unexpected one - when we is especially important to be able to say that we are oper- informed them that we wanted to go public with our posi- ating independent of NATO, says Rostrup. The work with tion: as a move for transparency toward potential donors, the refugees will not be harmed by the decision to not as an opening of an interesting debate - this completely source NATO funds. MSF will continue the work in Albania; lacks within the ‘unique Norwegian model’ - and because Montenegro and Macedonia with private funds from aIl we need more private funds, now (in Norway we have been over the world, explains Rostrup. This again shows the swept aside by the big Norwegian organisation). Here, the importance of private donations for humanitarian work, Ministry did clearly not appreciate such an initiative, as he says. they think the resulting debate would be too complicated for the public. They were especially sensitive about us mentioning that we are returning the Norwegian funding. This would be seen as a clear criticism of the Norwegian ‘MSF Belgium Board of Directors Meeting government policy. They said that such a move could Minutes,’ April 1999 (in French). lead to the situation that MSF would be considered as a less reliable partner for the government and this could Extract: then - maybe, who knows - lead to a re-assessment of the In terms of funding, MSF has decided not to request gov- attitude of the Ministry towards MSF. With 9 million USD ernment funding from countries involved in the Kosovo in [19]98, this could be an expensive reassessment. By crisis (NATO). This decision was taken at the international saying this, they extended the whole issue into a discus- level. However, MSF B, which was the only section to have sion on to which degree MSF is going to adapt its com- already received a commitment from a government donor munication policy to the sensitivities of a donor. As you which is a NATO member country (Norwegian govern- see: even a small PS [partner section] can get involved ment), decided to refuse the funds ($6 million). The rea- in interesting MSF policy decisions!!! We continued the son for this decision was to avoid giving the image of an discussions after that, and we came to the conclusion that NGO linked to NATO funds. However, Alex emphasized that we will communicate our position, while trying to find a we have not gained anything from this principle in terms wording which will not provoke the Ministry more than we of concrete operations or recognition in the field. The need to make our point. You will get a copy of this press Yugoslav authorities reproach us for conducting surveys statement later this week. on the Serbian border but they absolutely do not highlight Regards. the fact that we are independent. In addition, donors Kurt understand our position, but this position handicaps us in the sense that we’re not UNHCR’s preferred partners for the same reasons of neutrality. Alex therefore believes that we probably went too far in complying with certain ‘MSF Independent of NATO Funds on the principles or that at least we haven’t managed to use this Balkans – Do Not Want Support from the position to the best effect. Warring Parties,’ Press release, MSF Norway, Oslo, 26 April 1999 (in English). James recalled, however, that MSF has never accepted money from countries taking part in a conflict. Extract: Furthermore, we can generate the necessary funds within MSF had decided to work without support from the NATO the movement. But, he agrees that we haven’t succeeded countries as long as the war goes on in the Balkans. in capitalising on the fact that we’ve remained indepen- The reason is that the organisation does not wish to be dent. Pascal described MSF B’s reaction to this decision financially dependent on one of the warring parties. The to James: access to government donors has never been a decision means that proposals will be withdrawn and that handicap for us. And, this decision to refuse government funds already received will be returned. For MSF impartial- funds only seems to have disadvantages because we no ity is the basis of humanitarian action, says President of longer have access to the support of our preferred part- MSF Norway, Doctor Morten Rostrup. As the situation is ners. With this decision, we probably hoped to be opera- right now in the Balkans, we consider it of utmost impor- tional in Serbia, because we’re independent from Kosovo, tance to operate totally independent of NATO. This does but that didn’t work out. According to James, this can still not mean that we take a stand for or against the NATO be used in the negotiations with Serbia. bombing of Yugoslavia, simply that we do not wish to receive funds we have received from one of the warring parties, he explains. As a humanitarian organisation, MSF has a mandate to assist all sides of the conflict, regardless of political affiliation, religion or ethnicity. Practically 174 this means assisting on the basis of needs alone, regard- nevertheless. These willonlybeballparkfiguresbutshoulduseful 4. Government funds, cated toKosovo 3. Privatenon-earmarkeddonormonies voluntarily allo- 2..Private donor Kosovoearmarked monies tional centres] only) 1. OperationalexpensesforKosovocrisis(OCs[opera- D. Everything after 1/1/2000 C. Asof end ofDecember B. Asof end ofJune A. Asof end ofApril the 19sectionswewouldliketoknow,inmillionsofEuros: of Mitch).Wewilltrytokeepthingssimple.Foreach in privateandinstitutionalfundraising(toavoidarepeat to give usall some guidance as to what we should be doing and communicate therequired information. The purpose is national office,weinParis,volunteertoseekout,collate, wide overview of this crisis. In agreement with theinter to suggesttryingputtogetherafinancialmovement- doing inthefield.Despitetheseunknowns,wewouldlike long thewarinKosovowilllastandastowhatMSFbe all agreethatthereisstillmuchuncertaintyastohow As discussedduringlastweek’sexecutivecommittee,we Dear all, Extract: as UNHCR.’ ner andwiththe coordinationoflegitimate bodiessuch provide humanitarianassistance freeofanymilitaryban- Stobbaerts, DirectorGeneral ofMSF.‘Ourobjectiveisto humanitarian activityandmilitary action,’explainsEric cially nowthatthereisso muchambiguitybetween of impartiality and neutrality in humanitarian aid, espe- ‘It isadecisionwhichclaimstodefendtheprinciples which are not involvedin the Balkanconflict. bers andco-workersaswelldonationsfrominstitutions Macedonia andMontenegrousingprivatefundsfrommem - ceasefire. MSFwillfinanceallitsprogrammesinAlbania, This renunciationwillapplyaslongthereisnoeffective if this comes from governments involved in the conflict. any institutionalassistancedestinedfortheBalkancrisis Médecins SansFrontières(MSF),hasdecidedtoforego The internationalmedicalassistanceorganisation, English). France FinancialDirector,27April1999(in ‘Kosovo Finances,’EmailfromBruceMahin,MSF

Spanish). MSF Spain,Barcelona,14May1999(in Funds for the Balkan Crisis,’ Press release , ’Médecins SansFrontièresRejectsGovernment - dated accounts andtodevelopanemergency fundmanage cies. Itwasat that pointwebeganto setupconsoli ly learnedthatthere’senough money duringcertainemergen ently servedausefulpurpose in theaftermath.Weultimate tively positive conclusion fromitto the extent that itappar cost of 1,200 pesetas. ple, whichtheSpanisharmyisbuildinginHamallajaata contrasts with the cost of the refugee camp for 5,000 3,200 people atacostof40millionpesetas.Thisfigure Tirana, MSFisbuildingarefugeecampwithcapacityfor For example,inFier,acity140kilometressouthof drainage material. rial, nutritious BP5 biscuits, tents, blankets and water and has sentmorethan342tonsofmedicines,medicalmate- health by way of psychological support. The organisation vaccination campaigns,curativeactivitiesandmental Medical activityfocusesonpreventiveactivitiessuchas Albanian Kosovarsinrefugeecampsandgroupcentres. als areworkingwithMSFintheBalkansareatoassist Over 100overseasvolunteersand200localprofession- 100,000 plus members of the organisation. donations, as well as regular contributions from the MSF in Spain has received 150 million pesetas in private depending onaccesstotheinteriorofKosovo.Untilnow, of theyearthisfigurecouldmultiplyfour-orfivefold, of April was 750 million pesetas. From then until the end gees inAlbania,MacedoniaandMontenegrountiltheend The costofMSF’soperationsprovidingassistancetorefu- in their homes. refugees, whereas65%areshelteredbyAlbanianfamilies the refugee camps thatshelteronly10% oftheKosovo most media-friendly aspect of humanitarian work…i.e. funds insofarastheBelgiangovernmenttakescareof In addition,wewillhavecompletefreedomtousethese troops inthisregiononbehalfoftheirpoliticalpriorities. NATO members,whichneedtolegitimisethepresenceof explains: “Ourhumanitarianagendadiffersfromthatof behalf of Kosovo. Alex Parisel, General Director of MSF, ment totheaccountofNGOconsortiumworkingon tions out of the $100 million paid by the federal govern- Médecins SansFrontières’srefusaltofinanceitsopera- Of specialnoteamongthehumanitarianorganisationsis DIFFERENT PRIORITIES Extract: tional managementofanemergency. Idrawarela especially concerningourapproach andtheinterna I’m convincedthatthisepisodewasaturningpoint, Libre Belgique(Belgium),June1 Dangerous Alliance?’GenevièveDelaunoy,La ’ French). Humanitarian-Military Organisations: A st 1999(in peo------175 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

ment policy. That was fine, but it didn’t always resolve our basic problems. In fact, in times of emergency, we’re no longer forced to take government funds because from now on ‘50,000 Children to be Vaccinated in Northern we have enough of our own funds. But outside of emergen- Albania,’ Tirana, MSF Belgium Press release, cies, even if there is enough money in the movement, we 24 April 1999 (in English). have no guarantee that this money will be available for us. Extract: Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, - Starting from Friday April 23rd a vaccination campaign MSF Belgium (in French). has been launched to reach all children in the region of Kukes and Krume in Northern Albania. The objective is to vaccinate up to 50,000 children aged from 6 months to 12 years in a period of just 5 days. Yesterday, 1,740 children were vaccinated by the team of Médecins Sans Frontières In Albania, while waiting for NATO-managed camps to (MSF) in Kukes. MSF is one of the three organisations taking be turned over to the UNHCR, the MSF team is mak- part in the campaign. The vaccination campaign, approved ing every effort to position itself amid the jumble of by Albanian health authorities, has been prepared in close humanitarian organisations. On 24 April 1999, MSF collaboration with the Albanian Ministry of Health. The vac- issued a press release announcing that it was launch- cinations will be carried out by local health staff supervised ing a vaccination campaign for 50,000 children in the by medical staff from MSF and two other organisations. northern part of the country.

’Albania: Humanitarian Crisis or a Crisis for ‘Nine Things You Need to Know About the Humanitarian Organisations,’ Memo from Albanian Humanitarian Crisis,’ Memo from Christopher Stokes, MSF Belgium Coordinator in Christopher Stokes, MSF Belgium Coordinator in Albania, 28 April 1999 (in French). Albania, 24 April 1999 (in English). Extract: Extract: OUTLOOK 4) THE MEDICAL CONDITION OF THE REFUGEES IS NOT Land invasion in preparation. Massive influx of refugees CATASTROPHIC from Montenegro and Kosovo; possible case load > 1 mil- We have not seen any malnutrition and mortality is not lion. The camps/collective sites to receive this new wave preoccupying (always less than 0.5/10.000/day even in do not yet exist, but are on the drawing board. worst sites). The most urgent medical need is for psy- CURRENT SITUATION chological assistance and MSF has started a psychological The major players: support programme in Kukes. MSF has already started 1. The government. Objective: in order to avoid the distributing family hygiene kits both for refugees in the socioeconomic destabilisation of Albania, have the inter- warehouses and those hosted by families, the target is national community take responsibility for the refugees. 18,000 kits. [...] Their ideal solution: camps created by NATO member governments, reassuring foreign presence, one-stop camps, 8) ALBANIA IS ENTERING INTO THE SECOND PHASE OF THE according to the deputy prime minister (all services REFUGEE CRISIS provided by the state in charge). The government there- Local capacity is reaching saturation (collective centres fore, views unfavourably the UNHCR/NGO handover of the are becoming scarce, families overstretched). NATO troops Italian camp near Kukes, but cannot reverse the trend. are arriving, in theory to ‘support/assist UNHCR’ (window- Political objective: security at its northern border through dressing?). NATO will effectively build 50/60,000 new tent military, and possibly political, integration in Europe. capacity across the south of the country in order to clear 2. NATO, the newcomer on the Albanian ‘humanitarian the north (ease military operations into Kosovo)? WE ARE scene’. Simultaneous implementation of a humanitarian NOW TRULY ENTERING INTO THE LARGE MILITARY CAMP and military structure, both with the same objectives. PHASE. OSCE + bilaterals are very active although uncoor- Military objective: preparation for a land offensive?? (elite dinated (most armies are not yet under NATO command). units and heavy offensive vehicles). NATO has a shallow, UNHCR remains disorganised, overtaken by events. There narrow front about 60 km wide, with two related humani- are over a hundred NGOs (latest estimate, and counting). tarian objectives: a) relieve congestion in the north in This is a fantastic mess that has to be seen to be believed. order to remove the refugees from a possible theatre of military operations and b) increase the shelter capacity in 9) The MSF movement as a whole has to recognise that the the southern part of the country. future of non-governmental independent aid is at stake in 3. Governments or bilaterals are gradually subordinating this crisis. We will have to remain true to our values while their humanitarian and media efforts to NATO’s more vital not leaving the refugees in the hands of NATO which has objectives. In theory, they should pass under NATO’s com- 176 served them so poorly up to now. mand. over a land invasion. nation byintensifying airstrikes,butremain divided regime. ThememberStates are renewingtheirdetermi- bombings havenotmanaged toswaytheMilosevic the occasionof50th anniversaryofNATO,the armed forces and paramilitary militias in Kosovo. On ing thescopeofatrocities committedbytheSerbian On 23April1999,theOSCEpublishedareportreveal - the country. selling) forrefugeesinthecentralandsouthernpartsof - Improvelivingconditions(includingpsychologicalcoun - points of entry - Strengthen our capacity to receive refugees at the three guidelines: our teams.Webasedecisions,however,ontwomain in thecountryside)dependingonareasidentifiedby near Kukes,transitcentreKorcé,collectivecentres (medical stationnearthebordertownofSkodra,camps on aesthetics.Asaresult,projectsvaryfromsiteto stance (withregardtoform, not content). We don’tfocus therefore, havetotakeanaggressiveandopportunistic way inthisverywell-intentionedhumanitariancrowd.We contractors, ifthemuddlecontinues.Wehavetofindour threat ofatakeoverbyNATOand/oreventuallyprivate necessarily providingappropriateservices,thehovering future. ProfusionofNGOsthatoccupytheareawithout tarian breakdown.Symbolismwillbeimportantforthe MSF: Corrosive operational environment; whiff ofhumani- that hedidn’t have thepower to doso. duration ofthecrisis. The primeministertold the OSCE that wouldallowittoallocateland for thecamps Albania, off the record, to declare a state of emergency armed, whichdoesn’thelpmatters.TheOSCEhasasked communist country, and thefact that ALL Albanians are of arealStateinAlbania,thepropertyissuethispost- that preventtheconstructionoflargecampsarelack ment ofthehumanitarianoperation.[…]Theelements humanitarian leadership and demilitarising the manage- vision, agameplan,tohaverealchanceofreclaiming poses aproblem.TheUNHCRmustdevelopanoverall verge forthetimebeing,butdistributionofroles The operational objectives of the UNHCR and NATO con- peace –and the ICRCinKosovo? military operation,todivideuptasks:IFRCinAlbania–at decided tokeeptheirdistancefromthehumanitarian- 5. TheICRCisextremelylow-profileinAlbania.Havethey ity andtransfer the refugees from Kukes tothesouth. effective presenceontheground,increasesheltercapac- UNHCR’s statedobjectives:registration,establishan record statementbyMcNamaraonavisittoTirana). aging theAlbanianstomarginaliseUNHCR(off-the- including thelargestdonorstoUNHCR,areencour- at leastgivetheimpressionofdoingso.Thebilaterals, to putitselfatthecentreofhumanitarianoperationsor 4. The ghostly UNHCR is searchingfor a role. It’s trying Urosevac. from the regions of Mitrovica, Pristina, Gnjilane and […] TherefugeesinterviewedbytheKVMmainlycome Albanian population”inKosovo,accordingtothereport. the ruleoflawandalmost no formof protection forthe “Their testimonyconveysanimageofatotal absence of International CriminalCourtinTheHague,saidGrunnet. send theinformationithascollectedfromrefugeesto Kosovar refugees.TheVerificationMissionisreadyto country that is currently sheltering more than 140,000 eral refugeecampsandinseveralcitiesMacedonia,a Verification Mission’s tents, which are set up in sev- […] Refugeeswishingtotestifycomevoluntarilythe according to the document. often beexecutedinfrontoffamilymembers or villagers,” reported casesofcorpsesbeingmutilated.“Peoplewould groups ofwomen.”TherefugeesquestionedbytheOSCE number ofclaimssexualassault,includingrapes refugees fromKosovo,theOSCEnotes“anincreasein a reportbasedoninterviewsconductedwith250Albanian scope ofoperations”carriedoutbytheSerbsinKosovo.In (KVM), toldtheAFP.“Everyoneisverysurprisedby Spokesperson fortheOSCE’sKosovoVerificationMission have imaginedanythingonthisscale,”JoergenGrunnet, in Europe)officialstatedFridaySkopje.“Noonecould tions, anOSCE(OrganisationforSecurityandCooperation dents ofrape,torture,mutilationsandsummaryexecu- are beyond what “anyone could have imagined,” with inci- – ThelevelofatrocitiescommittedbytheSerbsinKosovo Extract: nature of the democracies comprising NATO have led to refugees into neighbouring countries,and thevarying Washington, thedailyreality ofthewar,influx was officiallytheorderof dayduringthesummitin ticipation inapoliticalsettlement. Eventhoughunity deployment ofaforeignpeacekeeping force,andpar- withdrawal ofSerbiantroops, thereturnofrefugees, demands, whichincludeanendtoviolenceinKosovo, the Yugoslavpresidenthasnotyieldedtointernational sion ofKosovo.Aftermorethanonemonthbombings, achieved andwhethertheywillbeabletoavoidaninva - surrender, withoutknowingwhenthisobjectivemightbe their determinationtobring about Slobodan Milosevic’s ments of19NATOmembercountrieshavebeenexpressing – Overthepastthreedays,headsofstateandgovern - Extract:

(France), 25 April1999(inFrench). Knowing When and How,’ Philippe Rater, ‘ NATO SeeksMilosevic’sSurrenderWithout 23 April1999 (in French). in Kosovo,’SeanSmith,AFP(France),Skopje, ’OSCE ReportsUnimaginableScaleofAtrocities AFP 177 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

differences. For example, the idea of a sea blockade, urged by Washington, ran up against the reservations of France, which considers UN approval essential. ’Balkans Témoignage,’ Email from MSF Deputy Legal Advisor, to the executive director, opera- During its 50-year history, the military alliance, which tions director, Programme Manager and com- on Saturday adopted a new strategic concept formally munications coordinators, MSF France, 27 April authorising it to ‘manage crises’, finds itself in a difficult 1999 (in French). position. It is playing its first war against a sovereign country by air and it underestimated the country’s resis- Extract: tance. […] The allies, that have begun to discuss the A brief review of the document for all of us within MSF, first post-war period with a German-initiated plan for provid- of all, then for JHB before the teleconference. ing aid to the Balkan countries, have avoided speculating 1) For the first time since the beginning of the crisis, MSF publicly about a land invasion. Such an invasion, however, has appropriate and independent information about the is considered essential by many Western experts, even acts of violence committed in Kosovo. What we’re saying though it would be difficult to implement and very risky. in the document isn’t new, but it’s MSF, an independent According to NATO, up to 200,000 troops equipped with humanitarian organisation that’s saying it. You all know tanks and artillery would be necessary to defeat 40,000 that during a period of conflict, the source of information Serbian soldiers and 300 tanks in Kosovo and surround- is as important, if not more important, than the informa- ing areas. The idea of an invasion is on everyone’s mind, tion itself. but not all the allies are on the same wavelength. The 2) For the moment, no NGO has publicly released a com- Americans seem increasingly resigned to an invasion, prehensive and serious document on the acts of violence in while the Europeans have not yet reached that point. […] Kosovo. We’ve only read gory anecdotes like the following, For lack of anything better, the allies have decided once “we met a woman who was raped by 15 men and whose again to intensify their air campaign. While required to throat was then cut.” These anecdotes did not cover the limit losses among the civilian population and the ranks entire province of Kosovo and did not convey the patterns of allied pilots, the soldiers have complete “flexibility” of crimes committed. during air strikes, according to NATO. 3) MSF has the responsibility, in one way or another (print press, radio, internet, etc.) to publicly report on the fate of deportees from Kosovo. It’s MSF’s identity; it’s témoignage. It’s also a way for us to say that humanitarian work has its limits. In light of these deportations, the humanitarian response is insufficient and absurd. PUBLICATION OF THE MSF REPORT: 4) Concerning the time it took to produce the document. I ”KOSOVO-ACOUNTS recall that we waited more than 10 days for témoignage from Albania and Macedonia that had already been collected. We OF A DEPORTATION” only received these documents last Thursday and with great difficulty. The quality of the six or seven refugee accounts from Macedonia was very poor. It took us only about a day and a half to put together a 640-piece puzzle. We finished as best On 27 April 1999, the first version of the document, we could Friday night around 23:00. We decided not to send “Kosovo Accounts of a Deportation,” based on the it in its current state so that we could edit it with a fresh eye Epicentre epidemiological study and the personal over the weekend. We were certain that ’nothing was better accounts collected from Kosovar refugees in Albania, than just anything’ (the sin of pride perhaps). Macedonia and Montenegro was circulated for approval within the MSF movement. The general directors decided to release it to the press in order to support the charge of crimes against humanity and to stress that ‘Kosovo Report,’ Email from James Ross, MSF the Kosovar refugees urgently require protection and Holland HAD, 27 April 1999 (in English). recognition of their status. There were no plans to ask NATO to stop the bombings or send in ground troops. Extract: Below are the comments sent by Katrien’s and James to Francoise on the recommendations in the 27 April draft of the Kosovo report (latest version). Many greetings, until Thursday 12.00, Wilna 1. Our greatest concern is the relationship between the text and the recommendations. The text focuses on atrocities committed against Kosovars - that is, the situation inside Serbia - yet the recommendations deal with refugee protection issues. The only recommendation that seems to follow 178 from the text concerns the confiscation of documents and nated strategy. asked togetcontact quicklyinordertodefine acoordi stopping NATO bombing. Communication Directors are potential interviews,notto ask forgroundtroopsor ing atthelatestbyParis.It wasalsoagreedduringthe methodology willbeforwarded tonightortomorrowmorn version withthenecessarycorrections andtheexplained two alreadytransmittedreportsweremixed,arevisedfinal Montenegro, andMacedonia. As the methodologies of the MSF, throughinterviewsofpeoplewhowereinAlbania, This istheoutcomeofasurveymadeindependentlyby their identityanddignity. tection andrecognitionoftheirstatus,inordertorecover that theyneed,asapriority,nowandinthefuture,pro tion of the very identity and dignity of these people implies can bequalifiedasacrimeagainsthumanity.Thisdenega planned andorganisedprocessofforceddeportation,which message: People inKosovo have sufferedofasystematic, lic quickly(bytheendofthisweek)withfollowingcore court justmuddlesthings. for humanitarianassistanceandprotection.Mentioningthe that thequalificationofrightsviolationshasconsequences national criminalcourtinthiscontext.Noonedisputes 3. Itisnotcleartouswhyyouwantmentiontheinter deportation’. but wewouldsay‘unlawfuldeportation’andnot’criminal and notrefugees.)Perhapsthisisonlyatranslationmatter, those who have fled to Montenegro, who of course are IDPs come offforcefully.(Therealsoneedstobeadiscussionof directly. InourreadingofyourFrenchthepointdoesnot agree, butfeelthatthepointshouldbemadeclearlyand deported andareentitledtoprimafacierefugeestatus.We to besayingthattheKosovarsincampshavebeen 2. In the first paragraph of the recommendations, youseem secours...” [limittheinstrumentalisationofaid] in thesentencebeginning“limiterl’instrumentalisationdes mendation isveryweak.Also,itunclearwhatyoumean discussion of whatis taking place on the ground,our recom of courseanimportantconcern,butagain,withoutafull separation ofthemilitaryfromhumanitarianassistanceis differences inMacedonia,AlbaniaandMontenegro.The first describingtheprocessandwhathasoccurred, be making recommendations about registration without factual basisforourconcern.Forinstance,weshouldnot are extremelyreluctanttoraisethemwithoutpresentinga with someofyourprotection-relatedrecommendations,we recommendations that follow from the text. While we agree the problemsitcausesthosedeported.Wewouldliketosee Directors teleconference. There is an agreement to go pub Here isaquicksummaryoftoday’sGeneral[Executive] Extract: Switzerland. 28 April 1999 (in English). Switzerland. 28April1999(inEnglish). Spain, MSF France, MSF Holland and MSF directors andpresidentsofMSFBelgium, General ofMSFInternational,totheexecutive Email from Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary ------time. after thefact—Idon’trememberitcausingproblemsat cation ofdeportation—which was questionedandcriticised shouting matchesormajordisagreements.Eventhequalifi- document wasquitewell-received.Idon’trememberany time ithadbeenanightmare.WhatIrememberisthatthe international experiences with issues like these, and each that atall,becausemyinitialexperiencesMSFhadbeen approved wasquiteeasy.Tobehonest,Ididn’texpect the otherMSFsections.Overall,gettingdocument it as quickly aspossible. tially terrifyingfuture.Sowewantedtotelleveryoneabout tity papers,iftheyweren’tregisteredfacedapoten- Kosovo bytheAlbanians.Sincepeoplenolongerhadiden- tially beabigmess:forcedenlistment,thereinvasionof ately by the UNHCR, in order to avoid what could poten- regarding theneedforrefugeestoberegisteredimmedi- mortality andstuff likethat;abitoftechnical discussion. sarily based by the outcome of the survey, more phrasing of miological survey.Ifeltsome conclusionswerenotneces- There weresomediscussionsor interpretationsoftheepide- ing abit of time. too closetoNATO.Idorememberadiscussiononthattak - MSF Belgiumwaswarythatthetémoignage would bringus this isn’tthedivisionyou’dexpectintermsofpositioning. we weren’tcriticalenough of NATO.Itwas strange, because Alex Parisel[GeneralDirectorofMSFBelgium]thoughtthat phone withPhilippeBiberson[PresidentofMSFFrance]. Best regards. Jean-Marie. to theoperationsdirectorsandgeneralof gramme managersandtheoperationsdirector,then First thedraftwassubmittedtoParis,pro- information onviolenceanddeportation.Particularly document waspublic,becauseitcontainedessential It seemed obvious to me from that moment that the document; onissuingit…Wediscusseditbytele- reticence fromBelgiumondoingthedeportation I don’trememberanybigfights.Therewassome [...], MSF DeputyLegal Advisor, (inFrench). Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, Legal Advisor, MSF International (in French). MSF France (in French).

179 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

But we were engaged in it, we collected all the information, that journalists be briefed on the following three points: it was not like revealing, not claiming anything shocking. - The report represents the first systematic and synthe- Already during the process, we felt it was a good initiative sised work undertaken on the policy of deportation. The at the time. Based on what I remember, the report as such report qualifies this policy as a “crime against humanity;” was not widely debated as it was felt not to contain a lot of - MSF does not intend to take any position - as this is not new, controversial information. It didn’t feel as [if it was] the association’s role - on NATO’s strategy. pointing [out new] issues, [or] changing the humanitarian - Our humanitarian mission continues among the popula- debate. It was more a statement of facts. tions in danger, including those situated in the TFY. 4°) We are waiting for further results of scientific enqui- Katrien Coppens, Humanitarian Affairs Department, ries in Albania and Macedonia in order to eventually take MSF Holland (in English). public initiative next week (press release?). 5°) In France, we are meeting press demands by providing the report to Libération (publication Friday morning), Le Monde (Friday evening), and Le Figaro. Regards On 29 April 1999, the MSF France communications department distributed the report to the entire MSF network. On 30 April, it was sent out to the press, accompanied by a press release, by all MSF sections. ‘Kosovo - Accounts of a Deportation, Report com- The document detailed the policy of terror created by piled by Médecins Sans Frontières Using Witness the Serbian government to deport the Kosovars, and Accounts Collected in Albania, Macedonia, called on UNHCR to register the deportees right away. Montenegro among Deported Kosovars and an It made the front page of the French daily Libération, Epidemiological Survey Carried Out on the Kosovar which presented it as ‘the humanitarian report’. From Displaced Population in Rozaje,’ Montenegro, there, it was picked up by other media outlets, and led April 1999 (in English). to more interviews. V3 Extract: In order to evaluate the situation and needs of the Kosovar population deported en masse to the neighbour- ‘Urgent Urgent English Version [of the Report ing countries of Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro, MSF “Accounts of a Deportation”],’ Email from Denis has taken two initiatives: Pingaud, MSF France Director of Communications 1 - An epidemiological survey was carried out mid April to MSF communication network, 29 April 1999, amongst the displaced population arriving in Rozaje 18:31 (in English). (Montenegro). 2 - The collection of deportee witness accounts was under- Extract: taken in Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro to complete Dear all, the epidemiological data with a qualitative approach. Sorry for the delay, we had technical problems. Please Method find herewith FINALLY the English version of the report The epidemiological study was carried out on a population entitled ‘Accounts of a Deportation’ that will be made of 1,537 people (201 families), considered as representa- public today, as the DGs and Dircoms have agreed. As was tive of the 25,000 refugees who had arrived in Rozaje agreed during the Dircoms’s teleconference, the document (Montenegro). It covers the events that occurred in more will be utilised in the following manner: than 50 villages, as well as in Pec and Istok, between 1°) The individual testimonies concerning exactions com- March 24th and April 15th 1999. The aim of this study mitted against Kosovar refugees are not fundamentally was to investigate the demographic characteristics of this new, but they represent the first synthesis that properly population, the impact of the exactions committed on documents the policy of deportation being followed in them and to evaluate their most urgent vital needs. Kosovo. The report is based on both qualitative and The witness accounts collected by MSF in Albania, quantitative approaches: the organisation and classifica- Macedonia and Montenegro retrace the recent events of tion of testimonies collected in Montenegro, Macedonia 639 people in 43 cities or villages in Kosovo between and Albania (qualitative); and the epidemiological study March 25th and April 16th 1999. These people answered a undertaken by Epicentre in Montenegro (quantitative). standardised MSF questionnaire regarding the conditions 2°) The principle news is contained in the Epicentre surrounding their personal departure and the fate of mem- Study, which concluded notably that: 46% of refugees bers of their family. By comparing the witness accounts in Montenegro no longer have their papers of identity; and dates this method has been used to reconstitute the 91% fled under the constraint of direct threats or attacks; events in the villages and towns. By taking into account 13% of men between the ages of 15 and 55 years old are direct information, it also limits rumours which are rife missing; 28% of families left at least one member behind in such situations. They concern 8 regions of Kosovo: in Kosovo. Dakovica, Drenica, Mitrovica, Orahovac, Klina and north of 180 3°) In distributing this report to the press, it is important Klina, Prizren and south of Prizren, Istok and Pec, Pristina. the male/female ratioisunbalanced.There is13%lackof demiological survey carriedoutinMontenegro showsthat deaths, injuredandmissing within eachfamily,theepi- Although therearenoreliable figuresonthenumberof 6. The injured, missing, and dead: destroy identity papers: 5. Thepoliceandarmysystematically confiscateand in thevillage of Vrela on the27thofMarch. ness reportsfromtheregionofPecandIstok,particularly • ThepresenceofArkantroopsisdescribedincertainwit - identified if they arelocals from the region. these policeorparamilitarywearmaskssoasnotobe Serb neighboursorlocalpolice.Itseemsthatsomeof witnesses reporthavingrecognised,amongsttheseforces, lence ofthepoliceandmaskedparamilitarygroups.Some • Nearlyeveryaccountmentionsthepresenceandvio - disagreement reported between these troops. forces actincollaborationwitheachother,thereisno omnipresent inallthewitnessaccounts.Thesedifferent The police,paramilitarygroups,andthefederalarmyare 4. es, the more theviolence on thepopulation increased. refuse toobeytheevacuationorders.Themoretimepass- the methodusedtospreadterrororpunishthosewho Violence andselectivemurderformanintegralpartof 3. executed in front oftheothers. taries; amongst those who cannotpay, certain people are extortion by the different groups of police and paramili- killing ofcattle.Thedeportedpopulationarevictims The witnessaccountsreporttheburningofbuildingsand 2. neighbourhoods and villages are to befound. border, groupsofdisplacedrepresentingentirefamilies, are emptiedby force andterror. On theothersideof deport theentirepopulationofagivenarea.Thevillages In thevastmajorityofcases,militaryobjectiveisto forced toleavetheirhomes(directthreats,orattacks). the displacedpeopleinRozaje,Montenegro,havebeen of death.Theepidemiological survey shows that 91% of are forcedtoleavetheircityorvillageunderthethreat The populationisnotfleeingarmedconfrontations:they 1. accounts highlight the following: The epidemiologicalsurveyandtheindividualwitness humanity. crimes committedqualifyaswarandagainst and objectivescanonlyhavebeenpre-planned.The tematic policyinwhichthemodusoperandi,participants reveal thedeportationsfrom Kosovo werepartofasys- The coherenceandsimilaritiesofthewitnessaccounts Main conclusions medical context. question ofrape.Sexualviolencehasbeendiscussedina For ethicalreasons,thequestionnairedidnotraise the deportation are always the same: Those groupsreportedtoberesponsibleforenforcing almost identical everywhere: The methodsappliedtoenforcethedeportationsis tion of all thepopulations’ belongings: The deportationisaccompaniedbylootinganddestruc- tion: The maincauseofpopulationmovementsisdeporta-

INTRODUCTION Epicentre, Rozaje 27April1999(in English). Refugees atRozaje,Montenegro,’ VincentBrown,MSF/ ’Mass ExpulsionfromKosovo –ASurveyoftheKosovar - - should besought. It isalso necessary soas to: the clearseparationofmilitaryandhumanitarianactions • So as not to hinder the relief and protection activities, • Allrelocations should be voluntary. – – nary to all assistance for thesedeported individuals. in alltheneighbouringcountriesisstillmainprelimi- deportees undertheinternational authority oftheUNHCR • Thequick,systematic,individualregistrationofthe crimes on individuals. aim atlimitingthemostperverseconsequencesofthese of thelegalidentityindividuals,reliefactionsshould context ofcriminaldeportation,lootinganddestruction should influencethequalityofreliefaidprovided.In The nature of the violence inflicted on the populations Recommendations ing general terror. some accountsofmurdersaspartthepolicyspread- to robthemoftheirmoneyandidentitypapers.Thereare attacks. Inmostcases,theaimistomakementalk, in theaccounts.Itoftenoccursatbeginningof The separationofmenandwomenisfrequentlymentioned 7. Separation of menandwomen: – – – – the following: high levelofviolence.Theaccountsrepeatedlydescribe Given themethodadopted,thisrepresentsanextremely murders thatwerecommittedundervariousconditions. in Kosovo. More than half the witness accounts describe of familieshaveleftatleastonememberthefamily males inthe15-55agegroup.Thestudyshowsthat28% enrolment and financialsupport of military operations. To limitthepressureondeporteesintermsof actions in and aroundKosovo; Limit aidbeingusedasaninstrumentinthemilitary misappropriation of humanitarian aid. a balanceddistributionofaidandtolimittherisk This registrationwillbetheessentialreference to ensure insecurity which therefugees may bethe victims of. countries against risks related to tension and internal essary to protectthe individuals in the neighbouring This independent,internationalregistrationisalsonec- of deportees and executed. All alongtheroute,menwerepickedoutofconvoy quickly enough, orif they resistedthe expulsion order. fire intothecrowdifpopulationdidnotobey Women, childrenandmenkilledorinjuredwhenpolice others. any moremoneytogive,areexecutedinfrontofthe money orcarquicklyenough,thosewhodonothave of thepopulation.Thosewhodonothandovertheir People killedandinjuredduringthepillagelooting nade attacks on theirhouses Men, womenandchildrenkilledorinjuredduringgre-

181 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

[…]At the request of Médecins Sans Frontières, a sur- current situation is characterised by issues of security and vey was carried out among Kosovar refugees in Rozaje, sanitary priorities. The NGOs are unable to deal with these Montenegro. It is intended to describe the situation of problems alone. In as much as this situation is likely to the refugees and to evaluate their urgent needs. The refu- continue, the international community, in agreement with gee population living with residents in Rozaje has been the local national government, ought to seek medium estimated at over 15,000. This population and a further term solutions for the Kosovar refugees. population of refugees housed in the mosques do not feature in the survey.

SURVEY OBJECTIVES ‘Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Issues Report 1. To establish demographic data on the refugee popula- on Deportation of Albanian Population of tion (and the history of the exodus). Kosovo,’ Press release, MSF USA, New York/ 2. To evaluate the impact of exactions on the civilian Paris, 30 April 1999 (in English). population. Extract: 3. To evaluate the refugees’ most urgent needs. The ongoing forced deportation of the Albanian popula- 4. To envision immediate plans for the future. tion of Kosovo is planned, systematic, and constitutes a crime against humanity, according to a report issued today METHOD by the international medical relief agency Doctors Without A sample was established by drawing at random in the Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).The report is three factories [sites of refuge for those who fled], Kristal, based on witness’ accounts collected from 639 Kosovar Liego-Biele, and Dekor. These sites are located in the deportees in Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro and most eastern part of Rozaje. They were chosen with the an epidemiological study carried out on 1,537 Kosovars intention of evaluating the situation of the population (201 families) who arrived in Rozaje, Montenegro, on or which is considered to be “the most in need.” From the before April 15, 1999. Teams of MSF epidemiological and outset, it was decided that the survey would focus on a legal experts investigated the characteristics of refugee random sample of 150 to 200 families. The proportional families, the conditions surrounding their departures, and distribution of the refugees between the three factories the fate of their family members in order to evaluate the was taken into account in establishing the sample. In most urgent humanitarian needs of the Kosovar deportees. order for the sample to be as representative as possible, each of the three factories was divided into ten sections The epidemiological survey shows that 91% of the dis- (or rooms). The population of each of the 10 rooms was placed Kosovars in Rozaje, Montenegro, were forced to estimated before the draw was made. When randomly leave their homes after direct threats or attacks by Serb selecting families from each room, the four teams con- military, or paramilitary forces. In the majority of cases, ducting the survey (each team was made up of one MSF threats and physical violence have been used to empty member and one translator speaking Albanian) followed entire villages and towns, destroy or steal deportee homes the same procedure. The team stood in the centre of the and possessions, and confiscate identity papers. The room and chose one family at random and then proceeded epidemiological survey also found that the male/female with every second family counting from this initial choice. ratio among refugees in Montenegro is unbalanced with a A “family” was defined as “all of the members of a closely 13% lack of males in the 15-55 age-group, and that 28% knit group living under the same roof in Kosovo (in an of families have left at least one member of the family apartment, or in a house).” in Kosovo. “The witness’ accounts reflect a high degree of physical threats and violence against men, women, RESULTS and children in Kosovo. Refugees we interviewed are A total of 201 families, in all 1,537 people were chosen to clearly victims of a well-organised and carefully orches- participate in the survey. All of the families responded to trated forced deportation,” said Joelle Tanguy, Executive the questions on the individual questionnaire. Number of Director of MSF. people per family = 7.6 Based on the findings in this report, MSF strongly recom- CONCLUSION mends that relief efforts take into account the violence The survey has allowed to describe the drama suffered by already inflicted upon the deported Kosovar population. Kosovar refugees since 24 March. It also sheds light on In the context of the criminal deportation of the popula- the particular difficulties the refugees face in Montenegro, tion of Kosovo, the international community must seek to particularly in the Rozaje municipal area. When the refu- mitigate the most harmful consequences of crimes already gees are asked about their immediate plans (see survey), perpetrated on deportees by properly and systematically only a small percentage of families envision leaving registering all deportees under the international authority Rozaje for another Montenegrin town (e.g. Ulcinj) or to of the UNHCR, and by carrying out only voluntary reloca- move on to another country (Albania). One of the main tions of deportees. reasons for this is that the refugee population living in the factories (and also in the mosques and under tents) 182 has very limited finances or no finances whatsoever. The “clear separation of military and humanitarian actions.” ority. Italsorequests,intheinterestofeffectiveness, Nations HighCommissiononRefugees(UNHCR)atoppri- registration ofdeporteesundertheauthorityUnited papers. Theorganisationconsiderssystematic,individual Thus, 45.8%ofrefugeesinRozajehavelosttheiridentity disrupt thepossiblereunificationofseparatedfamilies. of theefforttodestroyindividuals‘veryidentityand “confiscate anddestroyidentitypapers,”whichispart present inallthewitnessaccounts”andsystematically paramilitary groupsandtheYugoslavfederalarmy,“omni- MSF details the terror methods, put in place by the police, quarter ofthefamilieslostatleastonepersoninKosovo. lack ofmeninthe15and55agegroup,morethana and people.AccordingtoMSF,inthecampsthereisa13% is accompaniedbyplunderinganddestructionofproperty threat ofdeath’.Thisdeportation,thereportcontinues, ians beingforcedto‘leavetheircityorvillageunderthe fundamental causeofpopulationmovementswascivil- this way,theorganisationwasabletoestablishthat bining individualaccountsandsystematicanalysisin using asampleof1,537people(201families).Bycom- the KosovarrefugeepopulationinRozaje(Montenegro), MSF also provided an epidemiological study, carried out on the tactics of theYugoslav armed forces. particularly chaoticindividualevacuationroutesrevealing Macedonia and Montenegro, which allow the retracing of report presentswitness’accountscollectedinAlbania, pre-planned,” claims thesixty-oddpagedocument. The operandi, participantsandobjectivescanonlyhavebeen tions are“partofasystematicpolicyinwhichthemodus by the accounts of numerous witnesses. These deporta- nature ofthedeportationsinKosovo,aclaimsupported (MSF) emphasised,inareportFriday,the‘systematic’ The humanitarianorganisationMédecinssansFrontières Extract: 30 April 1999 (inFrench). Deportations inKosovo,’ ’MSF Emphasises the ”Systematic”Natureof May 1999(in French). Marc Sémo,Libération(France),30April-2 Survey ontheDeportationofKosovarAlbanians,’ on theTestimonyofHundredsRefugees– ’Médecins SansFrontièresIssuesaReportFriday AFP (France)(Paris), under thethreat ofdeath.Theepidemiological survey tions: they are being forced to leave their city or village genocide. “Thepopulationis notfleeingarmedconfronta- nic cleansing’or‘ethnicpurification’ ortospeak,yet,of MSF, whichrefusestoemploy thelegally fuzzy terms‘eth- qualify aswarcrimesand againsthumanity,”adds can onlyhavebeenpre-planned. Thecrimescommitted which themodusoperandi,participantsandobjectives general andplannednatureofanexpulsionpolicy“in “coherence andsimilaritiesofthewitnessaccounts,” War crimes:MSF’sreportshows;basedprimarilyonthe Istok. [...] and 15Aprilfromabout50villagestownsinPec (Montenegro). Theyhadbeenexpelledbetween24March of 1,537individuals(201families)arrivinginRozaje it isanepidemiologicalstudyconductedonasample the resultofatwo-foldinvestigation.Ononehand, The scopeofexactions;‘AccountsaDeportation’is tion of the collective trauma suffered.” Hence thestudy. this population“withoutanunderstandingandrecogni- deals primarilywithmedicalcare,itisimpossibletotreat tremendously behind schedule.”And while MSFadmittedly to make “a special effort to get them registered; this is humanitarian organisationsthatreceivetherefugeesneed who emphasisedthatthisuniquesituationmeansthe to comeback,”saidPhilippeBiberson,PresidentofMSF, they arenolongerfromKosovo,neverwereand homes, the Serbian forces are clearly telling them that status andtitletoproperty.Byforcingthemoutoftheir stripped of documents establishingtheiridentity, civil from Kosovo are not only deported, but also systematically “It isaplannedprocesstoextinguishpeople.Albanians ment policy was coherent and systematic. is thefirstsurveytodemonstratethatSerbiangovern- Friday by Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) is important: it stories, ‘AccountsofaDeportation’,thereportreleased of Libérationandelsewhere.Beyondthetragicpersonal by numerouswitnessaccountsappearinginthepages the firstNATOairstrikes,hasalreadybeenillustrated by theBelgradegovernmentandsetinmotion,with from Kosovobyterror,plannedforweeks,ifnotmonths, Médecins SansFrontières.ThemassexpulsionofAlbanians title toproperty…”[said]PhilippeBiberson,Presidentof of documentsestablishingtheiridentity,civilstatusand are notonlydeported,butalsosystematicallystripped process toextinguishapeople.AlbaniansfromKosovo gees –Kosovo.Thehumanitariansurvey:“itisaplanned MSF hascollectedhundredsofwitnessaccountsfromrefu- Extract : Spanish). El Periodico(Barcelona),30April1999(in the ResultofaPremeditatedPlan,’MarcSemo, Frontières ReportShowsthatKosovarExodusis ’Accounts ofaDeportation – MédecinsSans 183 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

shows that 91% of the displaced Kosovars in Rozaje, yesterday published an independent report on atrocities Montenegro, have been forced to leave their homes after in Kosovo which it said “amounted to war crimes and direct threats or attacks,” the document stresses, show- crimes against humanity.” The charity questioned more ing that, in the vast majority of cases, the sole military than 2,200 refugees in camps in Montenegro, Albania objective of Serb forces in a given area “is to deport the and Macedonia. The organisation’s chairman, Philippe entire population.” Biberson, said aid workers were convinced that the refugees were victims of a “longstanding and well-prepared The missing men: The conditions of the expulsion toward plan to wipe out an entire people.” the borders demonstrate its enforced character. “Soldiers, Apart from journalists’ accounts, the charity’s report is the police, and armed paramilitary control the convoy of first published independent attempt to decide whether deportees all along the route. These people are forced to the mass departure from Kosovo was due to Serbian policy take a particular route… they cannot stray from the route or allied bombing. “The people are not fleeing from armed without risk.” The length of the deportation journey is confrontation but are being forced to leave their villages variable. It lasted less than five days for 53.2% of families under pain of death,” Mr Biberson said. “Our inquiry at the surveyed in Rozaje, and between eleven and twenty-three Rozaje camp in Montenegro showed that 91% of the 1,537 days for another 34.3%. Conditions are often chaotic. people questioned had left the country only because they Deported families, given contradictory orders, were told were under attack or being threatened. They had been to “return to their homes, where they were attacked or expelled from about 50 villages around Pec and Istok.” chased out once again.” The deportation methods were The report said ethnic Albanians in Kosovo were subjected more or less the same everywhere. “Violence and selective to body searches by Serb forces and systematically robbed murder form an integral part of the method used to spread of all their identity documents, including marriage certifi- terror and punish those who refuse to obey evacuation cates and property deeds - an indication that the Serbian orders,” emphasized the report. The village is attacked, or forces intended they should never come back. the Serb forces go house to house, “killing cattle, throwing grenades and burning the homes.” At the moment of The organisation released several accounts to back up its departure, the residents are assembled and the men often claim that violence and murders were part of an integrated separated from the women. “They are interrogated and plan to spread terror or punish people who refused to obey searched, and money and identity papers are taken from deportation orders. Serb forces were described moving them. Some men can rejoin the group later.” It is difficult from house to house, killing cattle, throwing grenades and to assess the proportion, in the absence of “reliable fig- burning homes. Estimating that about 13% of all males ures on the number of deaths, injured and missing within between 15 and 55 were missing, Médecins sans Frontières each family.” The systematic study conducted amongst said half of all accounts from refugees in camps referred the refugees in Rozaje shows a “13% lack of males in to murders, including shooting at refugee columns and the 15-55 age group” that is, men of fighting age. Some the execution of old and crippled deportees who held up joined the resistance or fled into the mountains. Others marches. Among the many witness accounts was a report are probably prisoners, or were killed. of a Serbian attack on the village of Kladernica on April 12 which started with troops lobbing grenades. A thousand “More than half the witness accounts describe murders people took refuge in a school where the men and women that were committed under various conditions, indicating were separated. an extremely high level of violence,” stressed the report. Some people were killed as the villages were being evacuated, others when the Serbs fired on convoys of refugees that didn’t obey orders quickly enough. All along the ‘Minutes from the MSF France Board of Directors departure route, men were pulled out of the stream of Meeting,’ 30 April 1999 (in French). refugees and executed. Those who slowed the deportations, the elderly or disabled, were executed or left behind Extract: in the burning villages. Only one of the witness accounts KOSOVO (Graziella Godain, Stephan Oberreit, Jean-Hervé “specifically reports two young women having been Bradol) taken away by the paramilitary.” In a traditional society, P. Biberson introduces the presentation by recalling such things are not easily talked about. The most recent that, on the day of the last BD meeting, the first NATO accounts collected were from two weeks ago. Since then, air strikes had just begun. Everything that has hap- the situation inside of Kosovo has gotten much worse. pened in the past five weeks is significant, dramatic and hard to summarise. The deportation of hundreds of thousands of Kosovo residents is no doubt the most important, on the human level, and just today MSF ‘Charity Lists Reports of Atrocities,’ Paul Webster, released a report of personal accounts collected from The Guardian (UK) 1 May 1999 (in English). Kosovar refugees and an epidemiological survey describing the deportation process. Extracts: 184 The French doctors’ charity, Médecins Sans Frontières, Jeroen [Janssen], absent from tonight’s meeting, sent a and apeople represents; tome, that’s the main message. emphasis isonwhatthelossofidentityindividuals tional, andthere’smoretodothangetindignant.The C. Vollaire:Theworkisimpeccable;itfarfromemo- a deportation that really shows theteams’ involvement. through collectedwitnessaccounts,itrelatesthestoryof page ofLibérationandwaswidelypickedupbythemedia; today webroughtoutabigstorythatmadethefront superiority complex—I’mworriedaboutthat,too.But P. Biberson:I’msensitivetothecriticismofasupposed sively (document attached). […] message insistingthattheterm“deportee”beusedexclu- abuses. Bernard KouchnerandEmmaBonino, amongst covers upthemost gruesomeanddespicable humanrights degree justifiesthepresentpolitical inertia.Meanwhile,it to intervene.Refusingspeak ofdeporteestoacertain obligation onthesideof internationalcommunity refugee crisis.Deportation invokes amoralandlegal tation of90%theKosovo populace ratherthananother ently onceconfrontedwiththemassmurderand/ordepor - nerve. We, and (our) politicians feel, think and act differ- Kosovo, whichtouchesadifferentemotionalandrational It ispreciselythisnotionofchoice,presentlyabsentin whereas deporteesarebluntlyorderedandsentaway. The termrefugeeimpliesamoreorlessindividualchoice and deportation.Andarefugeedoesnotequaldeportee. events. Ethniccleansingisanotherwordformassmurder misleading. Itdisguisestherealnatureandscopeof context, the words ‘ethnic cleansing’ and ‘refugees’ are deportees are welcomed as refugees. In the Kosovo ones reachsafetyinneighbouringcountrieswherethe This process is called ethnic cleansing. The ‘fortunate’ and crimes against humanity. killings, rape,physicalmutilationandotherwarcrimes exhausted. Theyreportoutrightatrocitiessuchas(mass) Montenegro. Some have walked for weeks and are totally borders into Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and region after region. By thousands, the expulsed cross the house afterhouse,villagevillage,valleyvalley, feared theyhavebeenmurdered.Thispolicyrepeatsitself on fire.Thefateofthemenremainsunknownbutitis who areorderedtoleaveinstantly.Theirhousesput Young menareseparatedfromthewomenandchildren, documents aresystematicallytakenfromthepeople. to leavetheirhousesandfarms.Identitypapersother diers andpolicemenknockondoorsorderthepeople Kosovarans aresystematicallybeingdeported.Serbsol- the entire population of 1.8 million persons. Albanian Since weekswewitnesstheexpulsionfromKosovoof Deportees from Kosovo Extract: 1999 (inEnglish). Member toMSFFranceboardmembers,20April Letter fromJeroenJansen,MSFFranceBoard epidemiology is somethingyoucan’targue with. It’sdone whole epidemiological study.Likemostpeople, hethinks to him. He’s very interested in the quantitative side of the of 1May.Thenumber of personalaccountsareimportant It cameoutontheFriday, just beforethelongweekend something would be given prominence the following week. happen attheweek-end.So hecouldn’tguaranteethat vince hiseditoronthatday,butnotatallsurewhatwould away attheweekend.Semotwassuretobeablecon - when themediaareallpresent,becausepeoplehavegone page. It’salwaysbettertopublishnewsduringtheweek, with him,andthenextdayreportwasonfront brought outareallygoodreport.”Hiseditorswentalong the editorialofficeinafternoonsaying:“MSFhasjust weight on the subject of Kosovo. And when he went back to Eastern Europe. He’s thepersonon paperwhocarries He’s oneofLibération’sgenuineexpertsontheBalkansand very quicklytoldusthathewouldgiveitaprominentspace. staff onthegroundtodoasthoroughaninvestigation.He other thanNATOheadquarters,andthathedidn’thavethe a whilehehadbeenlookingforinformationfromsources cussed someverypracticalquestions.Hetoldusthatfor and the Head of Operations, and on that occasion we dis- On Thursday morning, I met Marc Semo with the President willingness on thepart of LeMonde. this reportprominence.Andwedidn’tsensethatsortof 1999.” ItwasalsobecauseMarcSemosaidhewouldgive with LeMondein1998,sowe’lldoitLibération ter ofgrandstrategy.Itwasabitlikesaying:“Wedidit whether totalkLeMondeorLibération.Itwasn’tamat- time MSFtookasignificantpublicposition,wedecided But it could just as well have been Le Monde. In fact, each felt itwasthesamewithKosovo.Soweworkedthem. quite stronglinkswiththemthatgobacktoBosnia,andwe they wereveryinterestedinpublishingthisreport.Wehad ing basicallywithLeMondeandLibération. of choiceamongdailynewspapersinFrance.Wewerework- talk aboutpublishingthisreport.”Thereisn’tagreatdeal complete report, I’ll call him again, to say: “Now we can Graziella askedmetokeephiminformed.WhenIhavethe ting fromthearea?Wecan’tgetaclearpictureofthings.” already calledGraziellaandasked:“Whatnewsareyouget- tics, wasverykeenonusingindependentsources.Hehad because MarcSemo,whowasresponsibleforforeignpoli- links formed themselves more naturally with Libération, tion than ‘ordinary’ refugees. even moredrasticandfar-reachingassistanceprotec- are deportees.Fromamoralpointofview,deporteesneed [witness] sticktothefacts.ThoseexpulsedfromKosovo fuelling the confusing political rhetoric and, as a ‘témoin’ should also pay attention to the context. MSF must stop deportee status. Next to the humanitarian efforts, MSF others, havealreadybeenmorehonestbyproclaiming to tellthemthatareportwasbeingwritten.Infact, area, andwewerebeginningtocallsomejournalists We werefollowingcloselythenewscomingfrom the Libération said 185 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

by scientists, so it’s serious. That can’t always be said of The same day, at his daily press conference, the humanitarian organisations, who publish testimonies here, spokesman for NATO drew journalists’ attention to the there and everywhere. But once it has a bit of medical and MSF report, which he said demonstrated the organised scientific know-how behind it, that immediately gives it nature of the deportation of the Kosovars. Within MSF, importance. Semo was practically able to reprint the three criticism began to be expressed about the relevance introductory pages of the report. I’ve worked on several of publishing the report: it would add no new infor- other MSF reports. Each time, what has really been thought mation, in particular on the facts about ‘deportation’, through is the analysis. It can usually be reprinted as an which everyone probably knows about. In addition, editorial. That particular report was extensively worked it would help to justify NATO’s intervention. The MSF on by the team, who did a good job of being concise and team in Montenegro also referred to problems of writing well. Semot was interested in our conclusions and security. The heads of communication at MSF USA and recommendations. In fact, he constructed his story on simi- MSF UK expressed reservations about the ways reports lar lines to the MSF report; in his opening section, he bor- are published. rows many terms from MSF’s analysis, and then illustrates them with a dozen testimonies selected from the report. Libération puts the emphasis on the source, in other words, on MSF, which they see as a source that in general is pretty reliable. It was neither a military nor a journalistic source, ‘NATO’s Role in Kosovo,’ Press conference by Dr neither Kosovar nor Serb, but a humanitarian organisation Jamie Shea and Brigadier General Giuseppe that produced that report it was called ‘the humanitarians’ Marani, 30 April 1999 (in English). report.’ Extract: Bénédicte Jeannerod, Communications Now today there has been a very important report that Officer MSF France (in French). has appeared in Paris of Médecins Sans Frontières, and I would like to draw your attention to this report because it is probably the most systematic analysis of what has been happening to the people displaced inside Kosovo. It is not only based on a number of accounts and testimonies At the time, I thought this was the first well-struc- of refugees, but represents the first systematic analysis of tured confirmation to date of a whole series hypoth- one single Kosovar community from the village of Rozaje eses about this war, and its consequences for civil- that are now primarily in Montenegro, and Médecins Sans ians. That was its only interest. Previously, I’d only picked Frontières have been interviewing these people, 1,537 of up fragmentary pieces of stories, interviews conducted here them that represent 201 families. And from the report and there by journalists. I don’t in any way regret that this that is being published in Paris today it appears that piece of work has been done, because it seems to me that 13% of the men aged between 15 - 55 are missing. All this account is better structured, and more rigorous. So I’m of the refugees, virtually without exception, report terror convinced of the value of the information, its solidity and and intimidation at the hands of the Serb forces. 45.8% the way it’s organised, in comparison with what’s being of these refugees from the same village have had their produced elsewhere. I’m also convinced that these conclu- identity papers confiscated, which is not only something sions are so unoriginal that they’re not going to interest which destroys their identities as individuals, but also many people. In fact, at that time, everyone was saying makes the task of the international relief organisations people had been deported. At last we’re saying what jour- that much more complicated in trying to reunite families nalists had been saying over and over for several weeks. But at a later stage. Bénédicte assures us: “Yes, yes! Libération was hugely interested in it, precisely because everyone had said a whole lot And it also appears from this report, again a mixture of of things without anyone knowing if they had any founda- first-hand stories and systematic analysis, that a lot of tion, and the journalist at Libération is very glad to see this was part of a pre-arranged plan, that the pattern of information that seems reliable. He’s interested in publish- intimidation, of looting of homes, of being forced to leave ing it.” At the time, it seemed to me a good opportunity, at the point of a gun is the cause directly of why these and I pushed for it to be published in Libération as soon as people have moved in the first place. possible. Libération seized on it to fill its own gaps. They were looking for something to say. So the report came in handy.

Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, ‘Release of Witness Account Report,’ Email from MSF France (in French). Kris Torgesson, MSF USA Press Officer, 3 May 1999 (in English).

Extract: 186 While I really congratulate MSF F for putting together and it for press andadvocacy work for quite sometime. producing thisreport.Ithinkthatwewillbeabletouse certainly doappreciateallofthehardworkthatwentinto formulating a careful release strategy. This all said, we to havethe maximum media and advocacy impact by aren’t releasedbyMSFeveryday;thereforeweshouldseek advocate. Reportsofthisimportanceandpotentialimpact guide thewaytheyreportmessageweareseekingto time toreadtheentirereportanditisalsoawayhelp mendations inaquickformat.Notalljournalistshave us) thekeypoints,statistics,conclusions,andrecom- as acoversheetforthereport.Thisgivesjournalists(and 2. Include an international press release that can be used distribute to all journalists interested until Monday. delivery. Wewerenotabletocleanitup,print,copy,and are indifferentcitiesandrequireovernightexpressmail to journalists.IntheUS,manyofourkeyjournalists the releasedate.A40-pagedocumentcannotbefaxed for ourofficetohavethetimeissueitwidelyhereon it wasfirstmadeavailableinEnglish,therenoway in ParisandgiventoFrenchjournalistsonthesamedate more widelywouldhavebeengreater.Asitwasissued & theabilitytouse the documentforadvocacymuch delay of one or two days more would have mattered much more extensivereportingonthereport.Idon’tthinka editorial writerstimetoread,dointerviews,andcarryout and distribute to journalists. It also gives journalists and at least parts of it) into local language/style and to alert give timeforall19MSFofficestotranslatethereport(or French &English.Forareportofthislength,itwould one or two days after the report is actually available in 1. Includeapressembargodate(inGMT)thatisatleast effectively internationally next time: for howsuchavaluablereportmightbereleasedmore English versionoutsoquickly,Ihavesomesuggestions releasing ‘Accounts of a Deportation’ and for getting the Polly and Nathan work that went into producing thisuseful report. Of course,wealsoagreewith Krisinappreciatingthehard 2) Itbecame yesterday’s news forall other journalists. 1) Wewere quoted as‘the French doctors’charity MSF report, but inaddition: it almost half a page which reflects the importance of the attended theParispressconferenceonFriday.Theygave was pickedupbyonejournalistfromtheGuardianwho ment thatcouldhavehadgreaterimpact.Overhereit We agreewithKrisonallpoints.Itwasagreatdocu - Extract: Press officers, 3 May 1999 (inEnglish). from Nathan Ford, Polly Markandia MSF UK ‘Re: Release of Witness Account Report,’ Email fact, verystrangely, publicationofthisreport strengthened added value,we werewrongaboutthedisadvantages. In disadvantages veryclearly... We weren’twrongaboutthe value ofthisreport,andon theotherhand,wesaw We sente-mailssayingthatwe didn’tunderstandtheadded tended toseeonlydisadvantages inpublishingthereport. reaction hadalreadystarted. So,forallthesereasons,we was happeninginKosovo,inasmuchastheinternational understanding MSF’s logic in wishing to testify to what we weredoingwas‘followingthecrowd.’Wehaddifficulty the reportgavestatistics,butaddednothing,thatall was knownaboutinEuropeandtheUnitedStates,that we hadtheimpressionthatwhatwashappeninginKosovo that they wouldn’t take it very well. In addition to that, already inadelicatepositionthisaffair.Therewasrisk against Milosevic, at a time when they themselves were this report we were using their territory to make propaganda we notassistingtheirpopulationbutontopofthat,with decide totakeoverpowerinMontenegro.Andnotonlywere thus takingrisks,inparticularthatthefederalarmymight The Montenegrinauthoritieswerewillingtotolerateus, Montenegro wasalsosubjecttointernationalsanctions. What’s more, as a member of the Yugoslav Federation, to our hospitals...” Albanians! Youdon’twanttosupplymedicineorequipment real risks,andallyou’reinterestedinishelpingthe authorities whilethearmyisinourterritory,we’retaking “It’s unfair. We have the courage to oppose the federal behalf oftheKosovarsandthatnobodywashelpingthem: Montenegrins, who said that they were taking risks on was quitealotofresentmentonthepart to trygetasenseoftheclimateopinion.Infact,there meet politicians,partyleaders,intellectualsandacademics, We readwhatwaswritteninthepro-Serbpress.Iwentto we were running. Our grasp of the context was rather poor. ities weresupportingus.Sowedidn’treallyknowwhatrisks people really feltaboutMSF, since theMontenegrin author- under a blanket oflead. But wehadno sense ofwhat it wasextremelytense.Wefeltasthoughwewereliving atmosphere waselectric.Weweregoingthroughareaswhere kill Albaniansandthosewhowerehelpingthem,too.The pro-Serbs inthenorthofcountrymighteasilydecideto munities couldveryeasilyriseuponeagainstanother.The One sparkandeverythingcouldblowup.Thedifferentcom- Allies, sowehadmajorproblemsaboutsafetyandsecurity. And aboveall,wewereinenemyterritory,butwiththe Montenegro wewereintouchwiththeissueofMontenegro. we hadabsolutelynooverallviewofthecrisis.In what washappeninginAlbaniawiththeothersections.So about anythingoutsideMontenegro.Weknewnothingof story, what theywere saying in the papers. We didn’t know whole. WehadnoideaofthemoodinFranceaboutthis François, theCoordinator,andmewereagainstit,on Then Graziellatoldusthereportwastobepublished. it with him. I pointed out to him some gaps in this research. thought thatwasinteresting.Irememberdiscussing epidemiological researchinMontenegro,andI Vincent Brown[Epicentre]hadcarriedoutapieceof 187 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

our position vis-à-vis the authorities. The Montenegrin authorities did not take offence because we hadn’t informed them of its publication in advance. The day it came out, the What game are we playing, and whose case are we Albanians applauded us in the streets, and we didn’t’ have supporting when we speak? For good reasons, the any particular problem. And when he visited, the director search for evidence to prove Yugoslav aggression was of operations met the prime minister, and the minister of so intense that such evidence was not in short supply. That health, who said: “Congratulations! We would be very glad does not diminish the value of the report, but it poses ques- to make a report of that kind.” tions: Where should we concentrate our efforts? Was it really useful to write this report? What did it add to the Virginie Raisson, Deputy Coordinator in Montenegro, general picture? I don’t agree with the assertion that depor- MSF France, April May 1999 (in French). tations were not described as such. There was inevitably huge press coverage. During that period, one of my friends was working for a British television channel on all the films about Kosovo and he was at the borders all the time. They made two films that won awards. What they proved was When the report came out, with its main argument precisely that: the systematic nature of the deportations. ‘these people are deportees.’ I said: “I could have told They put the crimes and killings in the foreground, showing you that from day one. I think people are starting to that a policy of terror was being used to drive people into play games.” I very much want to do a review of press cover- exile. What I’m saying is extremely subjective, because my age before the report came out. People were already talking friends never stopped talking about it. It took almost a about deportees; the word was being used... An Italian priest month for those two films to appear. They had a big impact in southern Albania said to me: ‘Those people aren’t refugees, in Britain. The question of the nature of the repression they’re deportees.” In any case, not even this semantic cor- wasn’t even raised. The gung-ho brigade said a lot of people rection was of any interest. Frankly, what did people believe? were being killed, but in the House of Commons many That the Kosovars were fleeing air strikes? […] We had made voices were raised to inject a little reason into the subject propaganda for NATO rather than for Milosevic! by saying: “We don’t have evidence.” Looking at it from the UK, it didn’t appear to me that it was of crucial importance Eric Dachy, Programme Manager, MSF Belgium to take that position. I am sure we published that press (in French). release, but I don’t believe it had a very great impact.

Anne-Marie Huby, Executive Director MSF United Kingdom (in French).

We had been caught in a trap with our investigations, and everything we were saying, which proved to be grist to the mill for those who wanted to say there were abuses, and to multiply them by a hundred. After Maybe again we underestimated the possible politi- the report came out, I would hear on the radio or read in the cal abuse of the word deportation. Still you can be French papers: “MSF is talking about hundreds of thousands aware of it; this is not a reason to call it deporta- of dead.” And that wasn’t what we were saying. But that’s tion. I interviewed people; they wanted to talk to me, so the impression that stuck. In the end, there wasn’t a very that the world knows. At the moment you start this, you high number of dead, contrary to what some people feared... have an obligation to the refugees or the victims to use it. The word deportation didn’t create a huge amount of debate, And not calling it deportation because it might be used by given its connotations. We didn’t speak of ‘evacuation’ or NATO... It can be used by the other side to say: “You see it ’expulsion,’ or ‘purges,’ but of ’deportation.’ We didn’t expect is not deportation...” it to make the front page of the next day’s papers, and to reinforce what the politicians were saying about humanitar- Katrien Coppens, Humanitarian Affairs Department, ian war. We can say with hindsight that we didn’t distance MSF Holland (in English). ourselves sufficiently from NATO. Did we go about it the wrong way? Did we handle it badly? In any case, there was no room for manoeuvring. With our famous wish for independence, which was later given even more emphasis, how did it come about that we didn’t manage to distance ourselves I was going away on holiday. On the plane they sufficiently? We asked ourselves that in real time, when we handed out copies of Libération and I saw MSF on published the document on deportations, and in the end we the front page. I recall that my first feeling was one didn’t answer it in the way we wished: by showing that we of incomprehension. What was that report doing in the were neutral as between the parties in the conflict. public domain? But my incomprehension was mixed with satisfaction at seeing MSF under fire from the media. It was Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, some sort of combination of satisfaction at seeing the pub- 188 MSF International (in French). licity, and something else. But I didn’t see any special times asmany as wedid.Itthereforeseemed importantto obtain personal testimoniesofthatkind–they collectedten old grannydrivenoutofherhome. Buttheycouldalleasily analysis. They justwanted us totellthestory of thelittle views. Onmostoccasions,the journalistsdidn’t pick upour After thereportcameout,we gaveahugenumberofinter- I sawinBosniaandChechnya. Theyhadthesametraining. otherwise we kill three of you.” It was the same method as together, andyoutellthem:“You’vegotanhourtoleave, to leave, you come to the village, you assemble them all militaries, andthatwasit.Orelse,inordertoforcepeople they cameback,weretakenbysurprisethepara - been ordered to go, and had hidden in the forests. When given, orwhentheyhadlefttheirhomesbecause lence whenpeoplerefusedtoleavethefirstorderwas very wellinshowingthisthedocument.Therewasvio - ated bymassacresandotheractsofviolence.Wesucceeded emergency mortalityrateis2.Itwasadeportationpunctu - huge: 1.2isapre-emergencymortalityratewhereasan Bosnia-Herzegovina. Theretrospectivedeath-ratewasnot not verymanydead,incomparisonwithsomevillages Tribunal forFormerYugoslavia[ICTY]isproof;therewere number ofbodiessubsequentlyfoundbytheCriminal denly became critical. thing weoughttobeablerepeat.Atthatpoint,Isud- heard thisreportpresentedasapositiveexample,some- long after.ItbecameahotissuebecauseatmeetingI breath, not acause for scandal. The slinging-matches came Publishing thatreportsimplyseemedtomeawasteof whether wewereplayingintoNATO’shands,orMilosevic’s. unlike someothers,Iattachednoimportancewhateverto out in public. That was the only problem. Apart from that, and ifyousaytoomuch,weakentheforceofspeaking be sparing in what you say, in order to give it its full value, talk aboutitinpublic?”Mycriticismwasthatyouhaveto The questionthisproblemposedformewas:“Whydidwe You justhavetoacceptit.That’stheriskingoingpublic. risk thatsomeonewillpickupwhatyou’vesaidanduseit. for thecourse.Ifyoupublishsomething,alwaysrun Shea usedorissaidtohavetheMSFreport.That’spar I gotbackitwasoveranddonewith.recallthatJamie didn’t seeascandalinthemaking.Isimplydisagreed.When I was on holiday, a long way away. The thing was done. I also helpstoexplainwhyIdidn’tseetheslightesturgency. ‘labelled’ inthefuture,that’sdifferent),soawaythat MSF’s positionvis-à-visNATO,ortheUnitedStatesmightbe politically, yes,butwithoutcausingimmediatedanger(that of viewrisks,orsecurity.Ithoughtitcouldbeused problems ofexpression,orMSF’sposition,fromthepoint immediate danger. Idon’tbelievethateverthoughtabout ethnic cleansing.Thiswasn’tThe ing aboutpeoplebeingdeported.Theytalked At thetime,therewerenoarticlesinpresstalk- MSF France Foundation (inFrench). Rony Brauman, Director of studies,

chés seized on the report and turned it to their own ends. propaganda outofit.Soobviouslytheirarmypressatta- versary, andtheyweremakingatremendousamountof which showedthetruth,atlast.ItwasNATO’s50thanni- Jamie Shea said that NATO was pleased with MSF F’s report, next dayortheafter,athisdailypressconference, beyond the journalists’ wild talk. And also, I think it was the include awordaboutthefactsonwhatwashappening, Françoise [Saulnier,MSFF’sLegalAdvisor]andtome, report. account ofthefacts.Ithinkthat’saddedvalue there arenosourcesofinformationbasedonameticulous strengthened theconvictionstheyalreadyhad.Buttodate strong intuitionofwhatthisprocesswas,andourreport houses. Andsojournalistsworkingontheregionhadavery documents, separatingmenandwomen,destroying Kosovo ofitsAlbanianpopulationbydestroyingidentity from theirhomes,andthattherewasanintentiontoempty one hadyetmentionedthefactthatpeoplebeendriven massive removalsofpopulationweretakingplace.Butno- until thepublicationof the report, it was being said that accord, butbecauseofthepolicyforcedremovals.Up analysis, andtoshowthatpeopledidnotleaveoftheirown is happeningonthegroundthatwe’reabletomakethis nomenon. Itisonthebasisofameticulousaccountwhat what thereportaddsispreciselydefinitionofphe- of thousandspeoplearrivingfromKosovo.Tomymind, home what we see all day long on television: the hundreds time said this report adds nothing, that it simply drives not clarifythat issue.Andsowithhindsight, Ithinkits stances inwhich wecarriedoutourinvestigation, wecould about thenumberofrapes. We wrotethatinthecircum- the figurethatwaslaterconfirmed. Wewereverycautious report showed even then, an estimate that was very close to controversies about thenumberofdeaths,youseethatour propaganda. Nevertheless,when youstudyallthepost-war this report,whichbyandlargefallsinlinewithNATO’s propaganda onhumanitarianwar,we’repushingthrough statement asweshouldhaveatUNHCR,andcountering the conceptofhumanitarian war. Andinstead ofmakingour nal debate.Thedirectorofcommunicationsatthe received widemediaattentiontosparkoffaninter- In fact,it’snotunusualforapublicationthathas of concern: the role of NATO in providing aid, and to guardourselvesagainst.Wehaveanothersource With thisreportwefellintotheveryerrorwished Bénédicte Jeannerod, Communications Officer, Graziella Godain, Deputy Programme Manager, MSF France (in French). MSF France (in French)

189 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

value as information is even clearer. But in relation to ques- MSF. For an organisation that is extremely protective of its tions that we had to field in terms of taking a position, we independence, almost obsessive in its determination to limit gave priority to that one at the time, and I think it was a as far as possible the way it is used by others, this event bad choice. It would have been better to deal correctly with probably helped it to realise that every one of its public the other two and to say to ourselves that in the case of statements could be hijacked by one of the parties to the that one, because it did not make very much difference to conflict. I don’t remember exactly when the criticism began people’s perception of the event, it was by no means vital to come, but I remember that it focused on two things. for it to have as much public exposure. And on that point I First of all, it referred to the used of the word deportation, am self-critical; I made a poor judgment about priorities in which had not been questioned or criticised or challenged terms of our taking a position. I think we might not have when the draft report was presented to senior operations succeeded, but we could have tried to say things differently, staff, directors of operations and directors general. And to have paid greater attention to the political dimension. the second kind of criticism related to NATO’s utilisation of But that’s not easy; it’s the difficult aspect of our work. On the document. On the question of utilisation, my personal Kosovo, I experienced our public relations performance as a feeling is that, from the moment you speak publicly, you failure, overall. But I learned lessons from it. After 1999, it can be used. That’s one of the inherent risks in MSF’s public played a major part in my hostility to the ’human rights’ statements. The idea of ‘zero utilisation’ is quite impossible, approach in crisis of this kind. I certainly expressed it clum- because in that case, we’d have to stop speaking altogether. sily, I’m happy to admit that, but that hostility was based We’d be condemning ourselves to total silence. on an experience of that kind. It was one of the elements The debate on definitions is a much more relevant one. that made us slip. The year after the Kosovo crisis, we had Should MSF give legal definitions to situations of violence? a debate in the General Assembly during which I defended In the case of Kosovo, if we had to do things over again, adherence to the principle of neutrality. But I also learned I would use the definition of deportation again. In fact, it not to use neutrality as a benchmark from which to argue. seems to me that the legal definition made it possible to clarify and illuminate the political situation. And we said Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, clearly that these movements of people were not the result MSF France (in French). of combat, but were in fact the real military objective of the Serbian armed forces, and thus of the Yugoslav army, the police and the paramilitary forces. It was truly an example in which a legal definition made it possible to throw light on the nature of a conflict and the acts of violence it involved. That was the first time that a rigorous report docu- The word ‘deportation’ carries a symbolic charge connected menting acts of violence had been produced by an with the genocide of Europe’s Jews. But the international independent civilian organisation. At the time, we legal definition of deportation came after that genocide, were all completely restricted to the information coming since it was defined in 1949 in the Geneva Conventions and from NATO. By then no other organisation was present thus in humanitarian law, and later, in the Treaty of Rome inside Kosovo, and the media were not at all rigorous. I on the International Convention. There is no reason why have no memory of reading any really detailed information international law should be held hostage by the genocide written by leading reporters or war correspondents that were of Europe’s Jews. In my view, we should have agreed to in Kosovo at the time of the bombing. In fact, the media overcome this symbolic charge. But I’m much less clear-cut used to relay NATO’s communiqués on the violence, albeit or absolute about the relevance and the necessity of giving sometimes distancing themselves from it and taking a criti- situations of violence a legal definition. In some cases it cal stance. At the time, we were working in an entirely is necessary. It offers an opportunity to shake up political military environment and an atmosphere of total propa- leaders at the national and international level. And in other ganda, and that report was the first space, the first opening cases it is probably much more appropriate to use simple towards a fairer kind of information about what was going words and everyday language that makes it possible to on. The impact of the document in the media also made us describe in detail the acts of violence, the burned villages, tend to forget that in spite of everything, what was and the rapes. described in it fell far short of what NATO had described up to that point. It was very serious, of course. We were talking [...], MSF Deputy Legal Advisor, (in French). about deportation; we explained that some people had been executed. But all in all, what the MSF document described was much less than the acts of violence reported by NATO. The possibility that the document might be used for public purposes could be seen very clearly beforehand. Everyone I don’t recall any criticism at the time. Not at all. It had been kept informed, and nobody objected. We in no way came two years later. I’m very happy with the way imagined that the document we were going to make public we positioned ourselves, on the basis of a report like would have that impact in the media. It was the first item that. I’m actually quite proud of it. We were experiencing a on the 13:00 and 20:00 news bulletins on a national chan- period in MSF when we were trying to define a lot of things. nel. I believe that the following day or the day after, at his There had been the genocide in Rwanda, and the activities 190 daily briefing session, the NATO spokesman explicitly quoted of the research centres, and the Foundation. At the same of situations.Since thecrisisinGreat Lakes regionof two yearssince MSFhadtaken a publicstance on anumber something new,andinthiscase,ithadtobedone. sive anddescribedwhatwastrulyadeportation.Weadded people. Thesedatawereinourhands;theycomprehen - had writtenahistory,thehistoryofdeportation there hadonlybeenanecdotesandwe,ontheotherhand, publication ofhighquality,becauseit’struethatpreviously with allthosearguments.Attheendofday,itwasa it’s asynthesisthathasn’tbeenmadesofar.”Ifullyagreed ownership ofit,butallthesame,thisisahistoricalfact,and said: “Toobad,wehavethisinformation,don’t age topublishit,weevenovercamethatreservation.We people. It’snotatrivialmatter.Thisisn’tsimpleconflict. how you’regoingtobehaveinthatplace,andwiththose careful aboutthewayyoudecidetoworkornotwork,and cide. Whensomethinglikethatishappening,youhavetobe regime ledbyamanwhowascommittinganactofgeno- as if weweregoing to negotiate and agree to work with a moment. Withoutputtingthingsonthesamelevel,itwas with a regime that was committing abuses at that very a bigdifferenceforus,andourwayofbehavinginplace tation, andthereforeacrimeagainsthumanity.Thatmade term deportation.Iwasveryhappyforittobecalleddepor- ulated. It was all this, taken together, that led us to use the day, thesameplace.Youcouldnotsaywehadbeenmanip- ent countriestoldthesamestories,referringto other, across three countries. People who had fled todiffer- and manyofthose.Thetwocategoriesconfirmedeach experienced whentheyfled,withcollectionsoftestimonies, tion fromtheepicentre,ontypesofviolencepeople tific rigour,whichcombinedan‘epidemiological’investiga- written inallseriousness,withthegreatestpossiblescien- talking about allegations by journalists, this was a report of deportations,theuseterm.Wewerenolonger impression onme.Itinfluencedmedeeplythequestion ments, asawayofdenyingpeople’sidentity,madebig round-ups onthetrains,destructionofidentitydocu- on trainscomingfromPristinatoSkopje,describingthe institution ofthelaw.TheinterviewswithKosovarsarriving time, MSFisavoluntaryorganisation,notcourt,oran Switzerland/MSF Greece Operational Centre (in French). Philippe Biberson, President MSF France (inFrench). We didaverygoodjobofbringingtogethertheinfor- publication ofthisreportbecause atthetimeitwas table. Butinmyview,therewas adebateafterthe It wasentirelylegitimatetoput thisdebateonthe it wouldserveNATO’spurpose,butwehadthecour- mation we had gathered. At that time we knew that Thierry Durand, Director of Operations,MSF got hold of atruth, we donot hide it. the only one we impose on ourselves, is that when we have weaken NATO.NATOdoesn’tneedus,tobestrong!Ourrule, people reallyweredeportedisn’tgoingtostrengthenor put intoaction,thefactthatwepublishareportsaying ion, because given the propaganda machine that NATO has qualms aboutthose questions, or even about public opin- extent fallsinlinewithwhatNATO’ssaying.Ihaveno grounds thatwe’regoingtosaysomethingsome We shouldn’tpreventourselvesfromspeakingonthe to sayiswhatwe’resureof,evenifitservesNATO’spurpose. following idea:whetherwe’reusedofornot,whatwehave something happenedatlast!Atthattime,Idefendedthe Africa, theorganisationhadreallybeen‘flatlining.’So ence between its position and that of NATO. should haveissuedastatementsettingoutthediffer- After theevent,somepeopleevenwonderedifMSF participants in it. tor, or not? Nobody is in a position to know. But we were certainly used part of what we said. Was that a critical fac- favour of war, and what’s more, for humanitarian reasons, things afterwards.Wecansaythatthepeoplewhowerein it. Wetalkaboutitatthetime.Andwearerighttolook how themessageisgoingtobeinterpretedoncewe’vesent interpreted? Soit’snottruethatwepaynoattentionto ing itwealwaysaskthequestion,howwillmessagebe munication onceithasbeenpublished,butbeforepublish- We’re notsayingthatwedon’thavecontroloverthecom- issue a disclaimer?” But disclaimers are never followed up. tion Ialwaysaskmyselfinsuchcasesis:“Shouldwenot cussion. Then, perhaps, we could polish it up. That’s desir- in whichthese reportsandthesepositionswere upfordis- domain, the mostwecoulddo was takepartin the debates with thosewords.Fromthe moment itwasinthepublic but wewouldalsohavetosupply themeaningthatgoes of takingapublicstance:not onlydowesupplythewords, Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, MSF LegalAdvisor MSF it’s usedbythispersonandtheother.Theonlyques- it hadcontributed.Asalwayswhenyouspeakout, Quite simply,ourresponsibilitywastolookatwhat have madenosense.That’sa totalitarian conception the contentsofreportwereinvalid.Thatwould To haveissuedadisclaimerwouldmeantthat Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General MSF International (in French). (in French). 191 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

able anyway, and that’s also the way we express ourselves protection as they are in the middle of delicate negotia- in public. But if NATO takes credit for our reports, or uses tions to meet Milosevic and that this could affect the them for its own ends – just as anybody can use them, just outcome negatively. […] as far-left anti-globalists can use our statements on medi- • Albania cines or the multinational chemical industry – that’s of no Main concerns importance. It may annoy us in some ways, but that should – Protection: the protection of the refugees is cause of never be a consideration. The exactitude and rigour of what concern from the beginning (no registration = no rights) we say, the reason why we say it in public, are the only till now without improvement. The North (Kukes) with considerations. After that, either we decide definitively to less security and the willingness of different parties speak in nothing but purely operational ten-line communi- (gvt, UN, NATO..) to move refugees from the place qués, in which case we will actually never be quoted, and – Assistance: the refugees living in hosting families (see therefore never made use of, or else we make the choice of William Perea’s report) expressing ourselves in public from time to time. And that’s – More and more assistance delivered directly by govern- not only unavoidable but desirable. ment: political agenda, limitation in skills (small NGO), under the cover of humanitarian aid. This to add to Rony Brauman, Director of studies NATO involvement. MSF France Foundation (in French). William Perea’s report: William described briefly his impressions after having carried out a survey on the refugees in host families in Kukes. In general, the relief aid is extremely disorganised. The refugees in host families receive prac- The operations directors and Kosovo programme man- tically no aid and have no information on the assistance agers from the various MSF sections decided to con- that could be available to them. They have still not been tinue gathering statements from refugees. They wanted registered - everyone has a vague reason for why not hav- to be able to use the statements to alert UNHCR and ing implemented it: William feels this is outrageous seeing NATO regarding the lack of protection for refugees in as this is the preliminary to all assistance, and the condi- Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. This involved sup- tions to carry it out are not difficult. Large volumes of aid plementing the data in the report, ‘Kosovo: Histoires are being poured into Kukes, why are these not receiving d’une Déportation’ (Kosovo: Stories of a Deportation). it? It is important to analyse why the aid is not getting to The report’s conclusions and recommendations had them, who is responsible; but in the meantime nothing is already emphasised the dangers refugees faced from being done. It is time to act now, not wait until the analy- NATO’s taking control of humanitarian aid. ses have been done or until the people have nothing left and are forced to move to the south in desperation. […]

Decisions taken 1. MSF Barcelona will start up a mission in Albania to Minutes of the ‘Meeting of the Directors of follow. The mission will have its own head of mission in Operations on Kosovo – Wednesday 5th May Tirana. 1999,’ (in English). 2. MSF will ask to meet regularly [with] UNHCR concerning the delivery of protection and assistance to refugees Extract: in Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania. Each head of • Montenegro mission has to document the improvement of different Main Concerns recommendations, edited [noted] by MSF as well as new – The border has now been closed and there are only or continuous lack of assistance. This will be compiled and 20-25 refugees/day coming through. serve as base of discussion with HCR. – Protection: the refugees have not been registered and 3. MSF has to contact NATO representatives to inform therefore do not have any status. The only protection them about the delivery of assistance to refugees and for the refugees comes from the Montenegrin police who the limits we give ourselves on collaboration with them. have posted staff outside each collective centre and the Contacts have to be done either on field level or in head- MSF dispensary. quarters level. – There are no permanent UNHCR protection officers in the 4. MSF will only intervene in Serbia if it can work accord- field. No registration by UNHCR. There is no focus on ing to its principles. individual protection - only monitoring of the general 5. To continue recording interviews with refugees - but situation. not necessarily with someone full time on it. Two main – The ICRC does not ensure the protection of direct war objectives: 1- continuing describing plight in Kosovo. 2 affected patients either referred to the hospital or host- - Describing living conditions and rights in host country. ed in private place. Some patients who were referred 6. Through the different sections to document the situ- to the hospital (men with bullet wounds) have been ations of Kosovar refugees in other European countries. interrogated, others have disappeared. The ICRC say Note some recommendations issued from MSF past experi- 192 that they are not willing to take up the responsibility of ences (refugees from Kalovac, Srebrenica). Kosovo. and operationalprevisionincaseofreturnrefugeesto 8. TodiscusstothenextODmeeting(May14th):position Seems all agree. information withinMSF(seecomplainfromSamantha). 7. Vincentproposedanewframeworktodispatchthe excluded from humanitarian aid in the camps? - Are there refugee groups under specific pressure or goods? - IstheKLApressuringrefugees toturnovermoneyor (numbers, circumstances)? - Istherepressurefromthe KLAtoenlistyoungmen - Has a KLA presencebeen noted inthecamps? - Are there family reunification programmes? - Whosupervises the moves and evacuations? etc.)? to thirdcountries(consent,protectionoffamilyunits, to southernAlbania/evacuatingrefugeesfromMacedonia - Whatarethecriteriaformovingrefugeesfromnorth - Are refugees registered in thesecamps? By whom? For example: traditional standards of protection? 2) DotheNATOandnationalcontingentcampsobserve Who isresponsible for leadership? - Arethereentitiescoordinatingthehumanitarianaid? the refugee camps? - WhatisthenatureoffundingforNGOsworkingin included inthe overall budget? tingents’ militaryandhumanitarianactivitiesorarethey - ArethereseparatebudgetsfortheNATO/nationalcon humanitarian activity. - Generalvolumeof aid provided by the armed forces for * Incenters * Infamilies * Inthe camps - Percentage of refugees: families? only inthecampsoralsoforrefugeeshousedwithhost - DoNATOandnationalcontingentsprovideassistance contingents (number ofrefugees affected) gents: ListingofcampsmanagedbyNATOornational - NumberofcampsmanagedbyNATO/nationalcontin The following information would beimportant: 1) General information the HCR and refugee protection? is itsnegativeimpactintermsofcost,marginalisation impact intermsofeffectiveness,speedandsecurity?What forces onbehalfoftheKosovorefugees.Whatisitspositive tarian activityundertakenbyNATOandnationalmilitary The purpose of this compilation is to document the humani- 1999 (inFrench). Contingents (assistanceandprotection),’May Humanitarian ActivitiesofNATOandNational ‘ Information paperCompiledonthe these camps.That’s notacceptableinthese kindsofsitua- humanitarian activities or refugee protection efforts in and allkindsofcriminalactivity. Noonewasmanagingthe enlistments, particularlyinAlbania, alongwithprostitution underway! Thereweremajor problems with KLAforced didn’t wanttohaveanydeaths whenalandoffensivegets you turnrefugeesovertoabelligerent party,giventhatit take a rocket scientist to know what would happen when we wereleavingtheminthatsituation.However,itdoesn’t their arrival,noonecouldhavebeenmorevulnerable.And by pushingtherefugees.Giventheirstateattimeof a land offensive, it wouldn’t be led by Western soldiers but sures tomountafifthcolumn.Weknewthatiftherewere and therewereobviousrisksofforcedenlistmentpres - tected insidethecamps.Thesecampswererunbysoldiers needed to be registered to ensure that they would be pro- nerable therefugeeswere,howtheyhadnodocumentsand report -alsoamongitsconclusionswastoshowhowvul - the refugees.Oneofgoalsspeakingoutthroughthis tions underwhichtheNATOsoldiersweretakingchargeof camps.” MSFstillhadsomething to sayabout the condi- also say:“Here’swhat’sgoingonintheNATO-managed psychological trauma? - Havespecificmedicalactionsbeentakentoaddress to sexual violence inKosovo? aecological andmaternal-childhealthcareneedsrelated - Arespecificmedicalactivitiesunderwaytoaddressgyn - Have anti-epidemic measures been taken? major childhood illnesses? - Havechildrenunder5beenvaccinatedagainstthefive illnesses, diabetes, etc.)? - Arechronically-illpatientsreceivingtreatment(cardiac - Isbasic care provided? b) Access to medicalcare ing, etc.)? - Arenon-foodneedsbeingmet(blankets,clothing,heat soap, etc.)? - Aresanitaryfacilitiesadequate(onelatrine/20people, - Isthere enough food(atleast 2,300 kcal/person)? - Isthere enough water (one tap/250people)? of space)? - Istherecrowding(doeseachpersonhaveatleast3mÇ a) Living conditions to the refugees? - Ifthereisnolistofbeneficiaries,howaiddistributed - Whodraws up thislist and whocontrols it? refugees? - Whatbeneficiarylistisusedtodistributeaidthe camps? 3) Are traditional standards of aid observed in these selves? - Are young women being pressured to prostitute them- that didn’tmeantwoweekslater,wecouldn’t deportations,” andwhatwesaidmighthelpNATO, Just becausewesaidinthisreport:“Yes,therewere 193 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

tions. In the weeks that followed; we decided to conduct an prostitution in the camps in Albania. Overall, the NATO evaluation of what the soldiers were really doing inside the member countries had short-circuited the entire UN system camps. The proposal to set up this information-gathering in favour of bilateral action, which allowed them to conduct effort came from Samantha Bolton and Anne-Marie Huby, a large-scale PR effort to influence public opinion. This from the London office. We found people to do the survey. approach basically wiped out the two fundamental princi- But in the end, the project was torpedoed by people in the ples of humanitarian action: the principle of impartiality field. The explanation was that they were too busy with (that aid must be organised based on refugees’ needs, not operations and didn’t have time to pull the information based on the 10 o’clock news, the military’s public relations together. So, for the rest of the war, our public communica- or its psy-ops) and the principle of humanity (that the only tions focused on the fact that we didn’t want to work in goal of humanitarian activity is to relieve human suffering, camps run by soldiers. This came across as a position based not to address political or military objectives). The question- on principle, not one backed by facts, because unfortu- naire we wrote had been discussed and sent to all the nately, we couldn’t manage to document it. Even if every- operations departments of the various sections. But we thing we said might have been manipulated, the important really didn’t get any feedback except for some information thing was to speak out on a regular basis, over time, and from Samantha Bolton [Communications Coordinator for the say what we had to say. The awful thing for me about this international movement]. She was in the region and really report is that we only spoke out once. If there had been a shared the goal of a substantive and concrete communica- land offensive, we would have been involved in a very dan- tions programme, beyond just interviews and speeches— gerous situation. It would’ve been very serious for a human- well put-together, of course, but somewhat theoretical and itarian organisation - for MSF - not to speak out to protect detached from MSF in terms of the importance of civilian a population in grave danger. I think I would’ve resigned. and independent humanitarian aid. That line didn’t work. There was such a high level of propaganda and mobilisation Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, Legal Advisor, around the military that all the media could do was follow MSF France (in French). that line. The information that Samantha had sent was extremely concrete and showed, quite effectively, the extent to which the notion that military humanitarian activity was more effective than NGOs’ was, completely false, at least with respect to this crisis. But we never managed to kill this We had put together a second questionnaire that idea that had taken hold in public opinion. would illustrate the concrete impacts of the militarisation of aid and, NATO’s and national military [...], MSF Deputy Legal Advisor, (in French). contingents’ control of the aid system. We wanted to provide the public with concrete examples - sort of a collection of NATO’s major blunders in the camps. At that time, the public was coming to believe that NGOs were completely incapable of managing aid and so wasn’t it lucky that the sol- It seemed to me that in these statements, we were diers were there. But in reality, in the field, the situation in a position of psychological catch-up, as if we were was very different. Based on our information, the militarisa- trying to straighten a bar that we had twisted a tion of aid had led to camps and assistance programmes little bit in NATO’s direction and that was pushing us to that completely failed to meet minimum standards of refu- move in the other direction. And in practical terms, I gee assistance and protection in terms of maintaining the thought it was both unimportant and unjustified. In any civilian and humanitarian nature of the camps, refugee event, the entire region was under NATO-US-Allied domina- registration and family grouping. Many families had been tion, then UNHCR, not UNHCR - it was really a whole series separated with people moving around so much. Some men of complicated, meaningless arguments. Basically, I thought had even been executed. Our criticism of the military- MSF was being totally anti-pragmatic - focused entirely on humanitarian confusion was not at all an ideological posi- theoretical issues. We were spending our time arguing about tion. At the time, the issue was the possibility of a NATO completely minor issues. But on a practical level, it was ground intervention. NATO had literally run some NGOs out obvious that no matter who at MSF was calling for NATO’s of the camps they were managing in northern Albania so removal from the camps and its replacement by the UNHCR, that it could set up military and even intelligence structures. if that person had been a refugee himself, he would have Information was circulating about KLA forces on the ground, preferred that NATO remain. NATO was conducting this war. which were using the camps as a rear base in Albania to These refugees were displaced and wanted to stay for a support the NATO aerial operation. But providing security to couple of weeks. You didn’t need a professional strategy to the refugees and assistance to the population meant restor- understand - it was obvious that Milosevic’s militias couldn’t ing the civilian nature of the camps and the aid. We hold out for very long in the face of NATO. The 900,000 insisted on the need to register the refugees, explaining that refugees weren’t going to move into Albania for the dura- that would provide a count and a way to monitor if the aid tion. They were there for a couple of weeks - just enough was meeting the needs and if the principle of impartiality time for the air strikes to stop, the war to be won and then was being observed. Protection against possible violence or - off they’d go, back home. During that period, it made no 194 sexual abuses was also necessary. There were rumors about difference whether it was the UNHCR or NATO who protected the geographic regions where the problems arose. cult totellthedifferencebetween refugeesandsoldiersin in truth,theywerebombingsoldiers.Becauseitwasdiffi - camps, theycouldhavesaid-withplentyofevidencethat tion because if the Serbs had ever bombed the refugee tions. Itwasdefinitelynecessarytotrymakethatdistinc - potential securityissuesfacingthehumanitarianopera - the twosomewhatinnameofrefugeesafetyand you needtoplaythelawyerabitanddistinguishbetween diers whoprovideaidtotherefugees.Inthatcase,Ithink refugee camps are completely interconnected. It’s the sol- the border.Roughlyspeaking,militarybasesand Albanian and Macedonian contexts. The camps are right on tary offensive?Idon’tthinkthatnotionworkedInthe ian populationsatthesametimethey’reconductingamili- do it throughtheir military, mixing soldiers in with the civil- and, besides, they are often askedto do so.Butshouldthey out the violence. What can MSFsay about that? Nothing. contrary. Theyweregratefultowardsthosewhohadcarried natural? Andtherewasnohostility-farfromit.Quitethe and thedifferentpoliticalforces,butwhatcouldbemore course, theyworkedittotheiradvantage,hadtheKLA ported NATO’smovinginandtheysupportedtheprocess.Of moved into Kosovo, the Kosovars were grateful. They sup- - they’regrateful.What’smore,later,whenNATOforces they don’tholditagainstthebomberpilots.Oncontrary posed tobecarriedout.Duringthattime,peoplefleebut It necessarilyreachesbeyondtheboundarywhereit’ssup- lence andthatviolencecan’tbecompletelydiscriminating. refugees because for a short period, their liberators use vio- bombs thatwereintendedtofreethem.Peoplebecome from oppressionandconquest.Refugeeswerefleeingthe you’ve beenwoundedbythebombs,freedomisdifferent up inyourface.Thatviolencealsohasameaning.Evenif have a completely ’technical’ view of a bomb that blows can, evenifthebombsblewupintheirfaces.Youshouldn’t Normandy? Thatdidn’tstoppeoplefrombeingpro-Ameri- or tens of thousands, died when theAmericans bombed weren’t protesting the bombings. How many thousands, Some oftherefugeeshadfledNATObombing. So? They do was congratulate them. ties to the conflicts were protecting civilians, all we could argument wasinappropriate.Ingeneral,ifthevariouspar- be protectedfromthewar-that’sit.Ithoughtthat them and helped them. What was important was that they Jean-Hervé Bradol, Director of Operations, MSF France activities andacceptrefugees.It’salsoagoodidea tries havetherighttoconducthumanitarianaid Theoretically, the ideais not wrong.Ofcoursecoun- MSF France Foundation (inFrench). Rony Brauman, Director of studies, (in French).

ing medical aid that the section could provide. sions withthedirectorofPristinahospitalregard- the presidentofMSFGreecebegantelephonediscus- regions affected by the NATO air strikes. On 26 April, - wronglyasamongtheGreekNGOsworkingin Serbia. TheGreekprimeministerevenmentionedMSF under theauspicesofGreekgovernmententered On 25 April 1999, a humanitarian aid convoy organised officials arrived from Belgrade toaccompany the convoy. were notallowedtoproceeduntilSundaymorning.Greek on theMacedonian-YugoslavborderSaturday,but Sunday, Montenegrinradioreported.Sixtrucksarrived medicines forKosovoenteredSerbiafromMacedoniaon humanitarian aidconvoycarrying74tonnesoffoodand Greek aid convoy enters Serbia via Macedonia. A Greek Extract: in setting up refugeecamps. affected regions,andassistance fromGreekarmedforces Médecins duMondeand SansFrontières)inthe Serbia, thepresenceofGreek NGOs(church,RedCross, to AlbaniaandSkopje,aid to Kosovo,Montenegroand Greek aidincludeseconomicandhumanitarianassistance Balkan nationstobeheldinAthens.Simitisaddedthat region andishelpingtoorganiseasummitmeetingofthe and humanitarianaidforrefugeespeopleinthe The country haspursuedinitiativesin support of peace lems,” the government leader stated. find a peaceful, political solution to the region’s prob- country mustserveasapositiveforceineveryeffortto PASOK, therulingSocialistpartyheleads.“Rather,our not becomeinvolved,”headdedinanopenletterfrom current problemsandthecrisisinBalkansmust inserts intheGreekpress.“Greeceisnotinvolved said. HiscommentswerepublishedinspecialSunday Kosovo andYugoslavia,”PrimeMinisterCostasSimitis it “willnotparticipate”inmilitarygroundoperations“in Greece has“clearlyannouncedtotheworldatlarge”that Extract: MSF GREECEGOESITALONE April 1999(in English). Radio MontenegroviaBBCMonitoring,25 ‘Greek AidConvoyEntersSerbiaviaMacedonia,’

April 1999(in French). Ground Operations,’ ’Simitis SaysThatGreeceWillnotParticipatein AFP (France),Athens,25 195 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

population. Indeed, they didn’t offer any such protection. If you really wanted to protect the Kosovar Albanians, ‘MSF Greece Exploratory Mission in Kosovo and there were more effective ways to do so than by blowing Serbia,’ Sitrep 21/5/99 Kosovo, 21 May 1999 up bridges in Belgrade. And there are other ways to pro- (in English). tect Pristina’s residents than wiping the place off the map. These bombings seek to weaken a country by devastating it Extract: without regard for its inhabitants. This crime differs little Pristina Central Hospital: The team arrived in Pristina from the one committed by Serb authorities when they Central Hospital and spoke with the director, who had displaced a population. In both cases, the goals of war accepted our aid 13 days ago. He was very satisfied with are pursued at the expense of civilian populations. That the content of our aid, since it included exactly what is a crime and is not a response to the crime of ethnic he had asked for in our telephone conversations (since cleansing. Rather, the former is the latter’s most effective 26/4/99 and on). ally because it leaves the field free, reduces all future possibility of coexistence, strengthens the process of mutual hatred and compromises any chance of a lasting peace. The concrete result of this escalation is that, today, between 600,000 and one million Kosovars are fleeing under horrific In late April, they’d decided to carry out the explor- conditions, as shown by the statements we have gathered. atory mission. I’d been traveling between Skopje and Athens for a month. MSF Greece had a pharmacy The ‘MSF question’ we must ask now is whether we should warehouse in Athens. They decided to find a truck and fill it take a position and if so, what it should be. Everyone with all the medicine, or almost all. You needed to get visas understands that our approach is ‘humanitarian’, not to go to Kosovo. They’d tried in Athens but it was impossible. ‘political’. But we know that while these two approaches I went to the Yugoslav consulate in Salonika to obtain visas. may differ, the distinction between the humanitarian and I got them but then the Yugoslavs phoned to tell me that the political is increasingly unclear. MSF has not hesitated they’d expired and that I shouldn’t try to go to the border to take “political” positions, supported by its humanitar- because we wouldn’t get through. The visas had been can- ian approach. We thus condemn any action that strikes celled for Athens and Salonika and in the discussions with massively and harshly against any population and we all Odysséas and others, I said: “We need to raise a stink on agree that the violent and massive displacements carried Greek TV. What’s this about some little NGO from some little out by the Serb government in Kosovo should be con- village that can get visas, but MSF Greece can’t? Why not?” demned. Depriving a population of its country is a serious They’d unloaded the truck twice because of these visas. It criminal act that no war imperative can justify, regardless was ready, we were going to leave the next morning, and the of the fact that violent population displacements have phone call from Athens came: “No, you have no visa.” I went always been a war tactic. Similarly, then, we must clearly to Salonika and we loaded up again. No! Again! I was ready condemn the massive bombing of an entire country. to just give up. In the end, we went back to the embassy in Devastating a country (which also deprives a popula- Athens and they told us: “You can leave tomorrow.” tion of its country), destroying its means of survival and terrorising its population are also serious criminal acts Antonis Rigas, Logistician, MSF Greece (in French). that no war imperative can justify, regardless of the fact that strikes against a population and an entire country’s economy have always been a war tactic.

I’ve heard some people say that we must limit our con- Writing in MSF Switzerland’s internal publication, the demnation to the Serb regime because it bears ‘primary’ president of MSF Greece criticised both what he called responsibility. Perhaps, although it’s not clear to me how the Serb regime’s ‘crimes’ and NATO’s ‘crimes’. He one party can bear ‘primary’ responsibility in an esca- called on MSF to publicly condemn the NATO bombing lating, expanding conflict? Isn’t this a typically politi- and the abuses of Serb forces. The section’s executive cal form of analysis and process? Are certain deaths of director questioned that approach, as well as the MSF innocents ‘legitimate’ because one party bears ‘primary movement’s lack of a clear position. responsibility’, while others are to be condemned because of a ’secondary responsibility’? Let’s leave the political analyses aside and take the side of the victims--all the victims. If a humanitarian organisation like MSF, coming ‘No To All the “Sorcerers” Apprentices,’ Odysséas from countries that are party to a conflict (and almost all Boudouris, MSF Greece President, Moustiques MSF sections are from NATO belligerent countries), ‘for- (MSF Switzerland’s internal publication), 26 gets’ the victims from one party to the conflict because April 1999 (in French). they are unlucky enough to be from the ‘wrong’ side, we will have sent the entire world a terrible message about Extract: the kind of humanitarian work that we want to perform. 196 The goal of the bombings was not to protect the Kosovar until the end ofthe crisis. Republic werestillunsuccessful.Theywouldremainso movement toobtainvisasentertheYugoslavFederal In lateApril1999,effortsbytheinternationalMSF each individual. humanitarian ideals,itinvolvesthesimplehumanity of bloody barbariansinpowerSerbiatoday.Beyondour humanitarian responsibilityshouldnotblindustothe victims, allcertainly,buttheawarenessofour of theNATOintervention.[...]Letusstandwith not acondemnationoftheprincipal,fundamentalaspects once again,thisisanobjectiontothechosenstrategy, so-called humanitarian dimension of itsintervention. But action and that it insidiously continued to confuse the anticipate thehumanitarianandpoliticalimpactsofits And ifIcriticiseNATOforanything,itisthatdidnot resulting chaostojustifyhisfiercenationalism:Milosevic. to escalatethesituationandthentakeadvantageof for thissituationonthepersonwhodeliberatelychose within theYugoslavFederation.ButIplaceresponsibility there isnomorehopeforapeaceful,multi-ethnicKosovo I am also amongthosewho think that, unfortunately, exists todirectinterventioninKosovostopthekilling. On a purely personal note, I think that no other alternative exists when dialogue anddiplomacy lead nowhere. […] Bosnian genocide?Andlast,nootheralternativetoforce -even implicitly--otherthananinterventiontostopthe to denounce its passivity. What were we demanding then- take clearandstrongactionduringtheBosniancrisis were thefirsttodemandthatinternationalcommunity reaching acompromise.Anddon’tforget,either,thatwe action followsyearsofunsuccessfuldiplomaticeffortsat cal programmecannotbedenied.Don’tforgetthatNATO’s bloody barbarismthattodayconstitutesBelgrade’spoliti- political andmilitarydimension-simplybecausethe of theinternationalcommunity’saction-limitedtoits conscience. Butonecannotchallengethelegitimacy without a universal answer; a matter for each person’s the end,questionofjustwarremainsadilemma is another,particularlysomewhenseeitascriminal.In thing, but condemning the intrinsic nature of its action Questioning thevalidityofNATO’smilitarystrategyisone Extract:

tions), 26 April 1999(inFrench). Moustiques (MSFSwitzerland internal publica- Crisis,’ VincentFaber,MSFSwitzerland, ’Somber HumanityintheFaceofBalkans ties startingfrom thedifferentneighbouring countries directors looking forthefeasibilityofcross-border activi- - FromthelatestDirOpsmeeting therewasamajorityof The options to goback: the ICRC mission. with theauthorities,solet’s checkalreadytheresultsof negotiating apparentlyanoperational returntoKosovo bring alongcertainrisks(seebelow).AtpresentICRCis Pristina is,assuch,notgoingtohelpusalotandmight soon as possible; having a quick and partial peep into to workinanadequatehumanitarianspaceKosovoas (Greek) journalists; lets be clear that we are all interested out offrustrationseeingthe‘scoops’MDMorsome - There is some internal MSF pressure to rush to Kosovo Milosevic and hismilitia. that think in a more nuanced (and interesting way) then ing on the message that there are also moderate Serbs to respond to real needs, disregarding politics; also work- the needs? It is along humanitarian lines which we want our aidequallyonbothsidesofthefrontline,disregarding lines (àlaICRC)to‘show’ourimpartialitybybalancing consider torespondthosethenisitnotonpolitical also displacementsandneedsontheSerbianside;ifwe - Weimaginethattheglobalwarmusthaveprovoked (cross-border even less feasible thenbefore?). Serbian authoritiesstand,toourfeeling,littlechance sure oftheoutput,butoptions(atpresent)thatexclude this isgoingthroughSerbianauthorities;notthatweare in Brusselswefeelthatthemostconcreteapproachto real humanitarianspaceinKosovoshouldbetriedout; ian issueisinKosovo;soalloptionstobeableregain - Wekeeponstatingthatthemostimportanthumanitar correcting for apremature departure. in theendwedidnotgopublic,sogoingbackisassuch, this wouldexposeNATO-nationalsintheteamtobigrisks; strong publicstatementsagainsttheSerbsandwefeltlike - WeleftBelgradebecausethemovementannounced The reasons for goingtoBelgrade: the organisation as awhole. simple securityrisks, both fortheindividual MSFer andfor without importantrisksforpoliticalrepercussionsor being toworktowardsrealandusefulhumanitarianspace are goingtoworkinBelgrade.Themainlineofcourse for formalisingabitalongwhichlines(TOR?)we(asMSF) While preparing the mission for Irena, I feel like the need Introduction Vincent you give me yourfeedback? tional referenceforBelgradeoperations.Wediscussitor Internal discussiondocument;shouldresultinaninterna- Extract: (in English). to MSFdirectorsofoperations,28April1999 Janssens, MSFBelgiumDirectorofOperations ‘Going toBelgrade,’EmailfromVincent 197 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

and regions. I understand that that feasibility so far has ation and that we have sufficient operational margin to almost shrunk to zero? respond to what we find. [...] Personally I feel like that - The latest GD-meeting gave green light to an autono- through this we are basically preparing a capacity of mous explo-mission to Kosovo, via Belgrade, managed by intervention in Kosovo for the potential ‘peace-window’ MSF Switzerland (to be negotiated through the Serbian that could result from Russian talks: between the moment Embassy in Geneva - team including Swiss and Greek such an agreement would be signed and the moment expatriates); this option may become less relevant in the that international troops could actually provide security, light of the third one I think that there will be an opportunity to get in if we - Brussels in close contact with the national team in are ready; I seriously doubt that we’ll gather significant Belgrade have been working on a transparent and official humanitarian space if the war goes as presently; then operational agreement for MSF (international) in Serbia; again I don’t think NATO can go on like this: the price of what we have at present is an official invitation of MSF- war will become high; unity will be lost; so NATO will have Belgrade, formally ‘acted’ by the Serbian MOH, to bring to change rapidly: either by sending ground troops, either in officially, expats to discuss and plan MSF’s opera- by reaching an agreement tionality in Serbia. Johan Von Schreeb, Eric Strobbaert, Sergei Kornyak and Alex Parisel have a personal invita- Risks: tion through which they should be able to get visas soon - Individual expats are for the moment under a greater (which Serbian Embassies are still open in Europe?); Irena risk (emotional reactions population) if NATO-nationality; Johanson (former Kosovo team) has still a valid visa and unclear if that risk is smaller for non-NATO-expats other is planning to go in by Wednesday; others can join as soon then Greek; this risk is for the moment considered as rea- as visa available. We are preparing a new list of people sonable to take; to replace or complete team according to needs: we are - MSF wants to be accepted as an international humani- looking for Greek candidates, and we have already Lex W. tarian organisation by the authorities; as such, scenario’s and possibly Geoff P. that use individual or national favouritism (or even governmental facilitation) are considered as ‘tricky’ and Objectives: therefore as a risk (of political repercussions we’ve been 1. Be there: trying to avoid by not taking any government funding). - Assess the atmosphere (without spying!) in terms of - MSF as an organisation should clearly beware of Serbian expat security, feelings/opinions of population, media- repercussions (see media); so we carefully have to analyse trends, context evolution... and discuss different moves; - Reinforce national MSF team: second opinion on certain issues, options, pressures Expectations: - Check about needs and operational options and agree- - We should also be able to resist the internal pressures ments with other humanitarian interveners (UNHCR, ICRC, to go for quick mediatised moves that we cant manage SDR...) afterwards; don’t go public on the first info you get. - Set a formal security plan and internal rules for new - It is very difficult to project the operational output at expats working in this context and see about further visa the moment; as such we have not set a timeframe; maybe procedures (neutral nationalities?) later. PS 1: Irena was refused at the border: old multiple-entry 2. Sit with the MOH: visa are not valid anymore; she’s working on a new one in - Assist to the official meetings going on Budapest and then we’ll try again (if our public statements - Check what kind of relation can be built up, what kind don’t add other obstacles in the meantime...). of needs they present thus far PS 2: Can I re-insist that people stop calling our local - See what margin there is (and negotiate a wider margin) team in Belgrade, particularly now: to assess in an independent and correct way the needs; - Brussels does not request people to contact Belgrade for see what agreements and conditions can be negotiated; visa purposes, we are organising nominal invitations for set criteria for an operational intervention you - it creates confusion (triangle) - It actually can expose our local team 3. Re-establish a transparent impartiality for MSF: Thank you - MSF has been impartial thus far but under the present circumstances, by the nationalities of its expats and through the departure, it is probable that we are not seen as impartial; I feel like we gradually will have to have to ‘Re(2): Visa Tales from Belgrade,’ Email from address this image problem (not only at MOH level) Alex Parisel, MSF Belgium Executive Director, - MSF does not want to ‘buy its impartiality’; re-establish- 27 May 1999 (in French). ing this image has to go through talking and consequent response to real needs. Extract: 4. Prospect needs in: Alex-FYI - Serbia, starting Belgrade area Hi, Vincent, 198 - Kosovo, on condition that we can make a serious evalu- Frankly, the news regarding visas for Yugo is bad. Knezevic email tothepresident oftheinternational movement On 5 May 1999, the president of MSF Greece sent an OR NEGATIVE - SINCE. to BudapestforIrène.NOMOREINFORMATION-POSITIVE by Alex, sent to MSF Stockholm (request for Johan) and will gotoBelgradeonthismission.Theletterwassigned been decidedthatJohan[…]andIreneJohansson dated 18 May to explain what Belgrade is asking for. It’s activities. They’reaskingforaletterfromMSF,Eric, visa tonegotiateits presence, explain thenature of its isations aresupposedlygoingtoprovideMSFashort-term Affairs Ministry+chargéd’affairesforhumanitarianorgan - 17 May:MESSAGEFROMTHEBELGRADETEAM:TheForeign Eric’s fax explaining MSF’s departure from Kosovo. 6 May:SAMELISTSENTTOCATHERINEHARPERMSFUSA+ above except ANDREIIA SLAVUCK). TO NEGOTIATEVISAS.LISTFAXEDXAVIER(individuals 4 May:MSFSPAINVISITTOYUGOEMBASSYINMADRID 11 May. 6 May,senttoBarcelona7submittedembassy - XXX Argentine nationality: Invitation letter received 11 May. 6 May,senttoBarcelona7submittedembassy - XXX Swiss nationality: Invitation letter received Letter submitted toembassy in Amsterdam??? 6 May, sent toAmsterdam 7 May. - XXX Dutch nationality: Invitation letter received Invitation letter resubmitted in Madrid11May. sent to MSF Spain5Maywithout explanation. 22 April.LettersubmittedinMadrid,negativeresponse - XXX Swiss nationality: Invitation letter received Andreiia was no longeravailable. Received 22April,apparentlyneversubmittedbecause - XXX Lithuanian nationality: Invitation letter 22 April, never submitted to embassy. - XXX Belgian nationality: Invitation letter received Budapest late April. on stand-byinBudapest.Invitationlettersubmittedto rejected at the Hungarian-Yugo border late April. Irène is - XXXSwedishnationality:VisaforBelgradeinpassport Submitted in Stockholm23 April - XXX Swedish nationality: Invitation letter Submitted to theBudapestembassy 13 April - XXX Ukrainian nationality: Invitation letter Visa requests for: SUMMARY: Eric Dachy tomorrow, Friday. Can we decideonthis morning? […] fromBelgradethis morning and Irène can get a plane dinate acampinAlbania.Iamstillgoingtoreceivean that we release Irène from Budapest and send her to coor- us andhasnointentionofprovidingthevisas.Isuggest us regularly.Thelocalteamthinkshe’splayinggameswith but it’snotatallclearwhyhewouldneedthem.Heavoids claims thathehasn’treceivedlettersfromtheembassies expulsion from themovement. the harshestsanctions,includingpossibilityof mission in Kosovowould expose the Greek section to MSF Greecepresidentthatcarryingoutanexploratory within themovementbereconsidered.Hewarned MSF Switzerlandorthatitsoperationalopportunities that theGreeksectionworkunderauspicesof referred totheinternationalagreementsandproposed atory mission in Kosovo.Theinternational president requesting thelatter’ssupportforGreekexplor- responsibilities? Thanks and we’llbein touch soon. we candevoteourselvesfullytooururgenthumanitarian us getpasttheproceduralandpartisanquarrelssothat in touchwiththeotheroperationalsections.Canyouhelp asked our new operations director, Dimitris Richter, to get of interventionisnarrowandthesituationpressing.I so incoordinationwiththeothersections.The‘window’ told ThierryandVincentseveraltimes,wewouldliketodo we aretheonlyoneswhocanensurethataccess.ButasI the situationinKosovoandrestofSerbia.Atthistime, Executive Committee,wethinkthatneedtoevaluate placed usinadifficultsituation.Inagreementwiththe hensible departureandVincent’sintransigentattitudehave the Kosovocrisis.However,Thierry’ssuddenandincompre and theSerbs,MSFGreecefindsitselfonfrontlinesof the GreekMinistryofForeignAffairshasreachedwithNATO As a result of its unusual positionandtheagreements that to the airport’ withoutspecifying his destination. the MSFGreece president,whosaidthathe was‘enroute sion inKosovo.VariousMSF executivestriedtocontact director andthatperson’sproposal foranexploratorymis- Greek section’sunilateralappointment ofanewoperations The executivedirectorofthe Swisssectionrejectedthe Very best wishes, James Orbinsky Please calI me ASAPat32477774328. and unacceptable. tion channelsforyourunilateralactions.Thesearewrong, issue. I will not facilitate any procedural or communica- beyond the scopeof existing IC resolutions governing this an operationsdirectorinGreeceareunacceptable,and ing anexploratorymissiontoKosovoandinappointing an alternateforThierryisfound.Youractionsinlaunch - assume responsibilityofoperationsinMSFGreeceuntil means that the general director of MSF Switzerland must MSF Switzerland.TheresignationofThierryDurandsimply is thatMSFGreecemustmaintainitsintegrationwith me. Ispokewithyoulastweekaboutmyposition,which The commentsyoumakeinyourletterareunacceptableto Dear Odysséas: Regards, Odysséas Dear James, English). International President,5–6May1999(in Greece PresidentandJamesOrbinskyMSF ‘MSF GreeceExploMission,’EmailbetweenMSF - 199 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

temporary basis for Greek operations (which assumes a clear responsibility for operational choices) but Athens ‘MSF Greece Operationality,’ Email from Nikos objected. Thus, the message below. It is obvious to me Kemos, MSF Greece Executive Director to MSF that I can no longer be responsible for the operational executive directors, 6 May 1999 (in English). decisions that Athens will likely make very soon, specifi- ’MSF Greece,’ Email from Vincent Faber, MSF cally with regard to Kosovo. The Swiss board will take a Switzerland Executive Director to MSF executive formal position within 48 hours and will probably call an directors, 5 May 1999 (in English). emergency meeting or conference call of the International Council’s Executive Committee on this issue. I will ask JMK Dear all, to organise an executive directors’ conference call on this I would like to inform you that after Thierry Durand issue. resigned, Dr Dimitris Richter (member of our CA [Board]) Regards, Vincent will be our new Director of Operations. It’s the second time that Dr Richter is taking the responsibility to lead Copy of message to Odysséas the operations department of MSF GR (period 94-95), Dear Odysséas, and has already been on the field several times. You can [...] I want to notify you that the issue of the legitimacy contact him at MSF GR, at his mobile 094 508089 or at of the Greek section’s operationality is not as settled - and his e-mail address due to a problem certainly not unanimously - as you might like to think, at his ccmail address. (I’m speaking from experience given the various interna- Best regards, tional meetings and proceedings I’ve participated in so Nikos Kemos far.) Simply denying the problem outright will certainly not help clarify matters. Rather, it can only lead to a pain- Dear all, ful awakening on the day when you have to accept reality As a matter of clarification, the appointment of a self- as it is and not as you perceive it. The only legitimate proclaimed operational director in Athens is clearly and operational authority you enjoy is that which falls under explicitly opposed by Geneva, as it is de facto a uni- the framework of the joint center. lateral breach in the resolutions taken in 1998 by the Now that the Greek board has rejected my (temporary) International Council defining the common operational proposal, I think that day is very near. Clearly, I cannot centre. It is no secret that the common operational centre agree with the very biased reasons you cite to reject this is going through a severe crisis. Geneva has made a clear proposal. Let me summarise the immediate issue; if we proposal to MSF Greece to try to solve the situation and to want the joint operational centre to be something more maintain the existence of the C.O.C. It will be up to MSF than a purely theoretical notion, MSF Greece operations Greece to accept or refuse the proposal. In the latter case, must fall under the framework defined at the interna- MSF’s international bodies will have to make a decision. tional level and someone must be accountable to the In the meantime, we in MSF CH cannot and do not accept International Council and the movement as a whole. the unilateral decisions of MSF Greece, and we deny any Without being pretentious, at this point I think I am the legitimacy to the role given to Dimitris Richter. We hope only person with the ability and legitimacy (in the move- that the whole movement will refrain from accepting ment’s eyes) to assume this role (working, of course, with the validity of this appointment until the situation is an excellent team in Athens) of managing the existing clarified. Needless to say that this has nothing to do with programmes. That was the meaning of my proposal. Dimitris’s personality. I take note of - in any event, that’s all I can do - your Best regards, decision to appoint Dimitris as operations director. But Vincent for me, this means (the Swiss board will have to take a position) that there is no further hope of an operational partnership - even in revised form - and that Athens has explicitly and deliberately chosen to withdraw from ‘Operationality: MSF Greece,’ Email from the framework defined by the international council and Vincent Faber, Executive Director, MSF accepted by Geneva. That represents a shot across the Switzerland, to MSF Greece President, 5 May bow. Regarding Geneva, I cannot accept your choices 1999 (in English). ‘MSF Greece,’ Email from and I will notify the Executive Committee that I cannot Vincent Faber, Executive Director, MSF assume any responsibility whatsoever for your opera- Switzerland, to the Executive Directors of MSF tional decisions. Neither can I respond positively to your Belgium, MSF Spain, MSF France, MSF Holland proposal that I serve as MSF Greece’s ‘representative’ on and the president of MSF Switzerland, 5 May the Executive Committee. How would it make sense for 1999 (in French). me - other than to provide you with an alibi - to be the spokesperson for a choice and an operational position that Extract: I cannot agree with? I am surprised that you would even Please find below a message that I just sent to Odysséas make such an inane proposal. after Athens’ unilateral decision to appoint an operations 200 director. I proposed to take personal responsibility on a In any event, and because I find your decision to consti- ment communications officers were notified. Holland teamexpresseditsopposition.AllMSFmove- exploratory missiontoPristinaandBelgrade.TheMSF a convoyofsurgicalandmedicalsupplies,foran Greece teamwasreadytoleavefromSkopje,with Macedonia alertedhisprogrammemanagerthataMSF On 6May1999,theMSFHollandcoordinatorin he was already on his way. that therewasnoproblem,heinAthens,butobviously, morning, butIthinkhe’dsaidclearlytoVincentorThierry the airporttoenterSerbia.Ihadn’taskedquestionthat later andthesecretarytoldmethathewasonhiswayto that hewasintheoperatingroom.Icalledbackalittle the fieldormovement’soverallresponsetothiscrisis. tion to the problems you raise about your absence from MSF Greece,strictlyspeaking,isnotnecessarilythesolu- Greece firmlywithinGreeksociety.Thus,anoperational terms ofcommunications,speakingoutandrootingMSF the field.Youcancertainlycapitaliseontheirpresencein and that MSF Greece thus has an important presence in expatriates working with sections operating in the area I wouldalsoliketoremindyouthattherearemanyGreek and Ibelievethattheotheroperationalsectionswill, too. ously, to Kosovo. I will strongly oppose any such decisions any unilateraloperationaldecisions-Iamreferring,obvi situation. Inconclusion,Imustwarnyouagainstmaking be frozenuntiltheboardcantakeformalactionon support (HR,medicalandlogistical)toyourprogrammes tute arealprovocation,Ihaveaskedthatalloperational Explo humanitarian/medical toPristina/Belgrade. Assess Purpose of Mission Hofman, onafternoonof6.5.99 fromteamMSFGreece. This informationgatheredby MSF-HollandHoM,Michel KOSOVO/SERBIA INTERNAL ONLY:UPDATEON MSF-GREECEMISSIONTO Extract: wasn’t available.Ireactedlikeadoctor-figured talk toOdysséas.IcalledhisofficeinAthensbuthe We knew that things were happening. I wanted to May 1999(in English). Holland pressofficertoMSFofficers,6 6 May1999(inEnglish).EmailfromMSF gramme managertoMSFHollandpressofficer, Email fromWouterKok,MSFHollandpro- MSF GreeceMission/Kosovo/Serbia–Update,’ Olivier Dechevrens, President, MSF Switzerland (in French). leaving forKosovo, Odysséastoldmethatthe NATOsoldiers avoid thebombings andsowecouldgetto Pristina. Before time inanother,etc.Wehad aschedulesothatwewould saying whattimeweshouldbe inacertainvillage,atwhat NATO agreementwasonlyfor Kosovo.Wehadadocument minister, whohadaskedNATO’s permissionbutIthinkthe MSFs. I wasn’t the person in contact with the Greek defense phone withthecoordinators. We tried to contacttheother a translator.WegottoSkopjeandOdysséaswasstillonthe Regards, MSF Holland Field team andDesk. being approached by media. network toassureasimilarlineofcommunicationwhen sat number.Pleasespreadthismessagethroughoutthe of theAthensdeskwillbegiventomedia,butnot immediate intention to set up an operation. The number the purpose is a humanitarian/medical explo, with no MSF Hollandwillclarifythatthisismissionand PR postponed till after the safe returnof the mission. the explo.Therefore,anydiscussiononthisactionwillbe MSF Hollandisthesafetyofpeopleparticipatingin es aresolelytheirs.Inthemeantime,firstpriorityfor with theapproachchosenbyMSFGreece.Theconsequenc- Holland hasmadeitclearthatdisagreescompletely to carryoutmedivacfromMacedonia.Furthermore,MSF can bemade,buthasclarifiedthatitwouldprepared MSF Hollandhasmadeitclearthatnorescueattempts Security Greek Ministry ofForeign affairs Other information: Mission apparently organised through Sofia IoannouPress Officer 99 3015200500 301 5200520 Tzanetos Antypas - mobile 99 3094 472704 Operations 99 Athens Desk responsible +871 761913327 +871 761913324 Team sat-phone numbers Exit through Sofia 4 nights Belgrade 2 nights Pristina 0.800 Friday 7th Mayset off Itinerary 1 xGreek truck driver Aristides (translator) Antonis Moras (medical surgical) Odysseas (medical/explo) Antonis Rigas (log/security) Team vehicles. All clearly marked Hospital anddentalitemsforBelgrade.2whiteNiva 1 truckcontaining18tonnesofsurgicalitemsforPristina Convoy Composition humanitarian space. Assess needs ofhealthauthorities. teer GreekdoctorwhogothisdegreeinPristinaand surgeon andVice-PresidentofMSFGreece,avolun- I left with Odysséas, another man named Antonis, a 201 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

had changed their plan. They had said that we needed to MSF Greece stated that he was not the person who bore paint the Greek flag on the roofs of the two 4x4s and the responsibility for halting the exploratory mission. The truck, otherwise we wouldn’t get through, and so we painted MSF Switzerland executive director then asked the new the Greek flag over the MSF logos. We stayed in Skopje for MSF Greece operations director to suspend the mission. a night and at 6 a.m. the next morning, we left for the The latter responded that he could no longer do so. He border. When we got to Skopje, we knew that the other sec- proposed that when the MSF Greece team returned, an tions weren’t going to agree with what we were going to do. international exploratory mission be organised, based Odysséas told me that he was talking to Thierry Durand, and on the information that the mission, currently under- the president of MSF Switzerland, who I didn’t know. way, would collect. Early on the morning of 7 May 1999, This was my first mission with MSF Greece. I’d done all my the MSF Greece exploratory team entered Kosovo. The previous ones with MSF France. I didn’t know anyone at MSF International secretary general asked the commu- MSF Greece anymore except the real old-timers, Sotiris and nications managers to keep a ‘low profile’ on the issue. Odysséas. But I’d always said, openly: “We can’t just do nothing because the Swiss or someone else tells us we can’t do this, can’t do that. We are MSF Greece. We’ve got to get out from under; otherwise we’ll always be the other sec- ‘MSF Greece Explo,’ Letter from James Orbinsky, tions ‘little brother’ and I can’t go along with that.” I was MSF International President to Odysséas convinced that we absolutely had to carry out that explor- Boudouris and Nikos Kemos, MSF Greece atory mission. We knew that Kosovo was empty - empty of President and Executive director, 6 May 1999 international NGOs. (in English).

Antonis Rigas, Logistician, MSF Greece (in French). Extract: By telephone this afternoon I discussed the issues outlined in this letter with Odysseas, who is in Skopje, We didn’t receive funding, we didn’t have any col- Macedonia. I was informed yesterday that following the laboration with the Greek government, and the only resignation of Thierry Durand, and despite the assumption direct communication was with NATO forces, to reas- of his duties by Vincent Faber, MSF Greece has appointed sure the security of our team. We did not paint the MSF its own operations director. I have also been informed logo, because we didn’t have cars of MSF. We had two jeeps; by email today, from Odysseas, that MSF Greece is mak- the jeep did not have identification of MSF. Therefore, in ing efforts to launch a unilateral exploratory mission (in the beginning we said: “Ok we have Red Cross identification Kosovo). This is without the approval of MSF Switzerland’s on the top of the roof.” But, the flag cannot be identified General Director, Vincent Faber. Both actions are unac- from the air. Then we received a fax from ICRC saying that ceptable on five points. we had to stop using the Red Cross, we have to start [use] other identification. And later on we received another 1) Globally, MSF Greece’s actions contravene the spirit and instruction from NATO forces saying that we have to paint character of the MSF Movement which is central to the our national flag on the top of the roof in order to be iden- cohesion and coherence of the Movement. tified because otherwise we cannot be secured. So, either we 2) MSF Greece’s actions contravene existing MSF got with the identification of the Greek flag or we wouldn’t International Council Resolutions that govern the opera- get in because we didn’t have the green light of NATO. tional activities of MSF Greece. Essentially, these conclude that aIl operational activities of MSF Greece must be under Hereklea Kaltezioti, Human Resources Officer, MSF the responsibility of a Director of Operations of a com- Greece (in English). mon operational centre. In this case, given that Thierry Durand has resigned, this means that responsibility now falls under his immediate superior, the General Director of MSF Switzerland. Any operational actions not under his supervision are not acceptable. During a late afternoon telephone call, the president 3) MSF Greece’s actions defacto create a sixth operational of the MSF international council reminded the presi- centre in the movement. This is not acceptable as the dent of MSF Greece that an exploratory mission outside number of operational centres in the MSF Movement is the operational framework established by MSF in the strictly limited to five. Balkans was unacceptable, from an operational as well 4) MSF Greece, in seeking to unilaterally launch an as political perspective. He warned the MSF Greece exploratory mission of any kind without the approval president that any such step would lead to sanctions. of the operations director, or in this case his superior, He confirmed these statements by email that same day. contravenes the existing framework for management of The MSF Greece president agreed, orally, to suspend operationality for the Greek section. the mission, while waiting for the volunteers from the 5) MSF Greece’s actions in seeking to launch unilaterally rest of the movement to obtain visas to join them. an exploratory mission in Kosovo or surrounding region Telephone and email conversations continued into the has broken the transparent, collaborative and co-operative 202 evening of 6 May 1999. Ultimately, the president of system of operational management between the five the current Balkans crisis. Any insights, on any operational the current Balkans crisis. Any insights, on any operational This isparticularly trueforhumanitarianissues arrisingin in operational issues is recognised as extremely valuable. Movement. Indeed,MSFGreece’s insights andparticipation the MSFGreece section hasmade,andcanmaketotheMSF MSF Movement,asthereare valuablecontributionsthat I dohopethatMSFGreece will choosetoremaininthe Please inform me immediately of your decision. […] outlined above. agreement withthefullpositionandconclusionsIhave of theRestrictedCommitteeexceptOdysseas,arein Restricted Committee,includingOdysseus.Allmembers I havediscussedthisissuewithallmembersofthe by theMSFMovement will havetobe considered. the MSFMovement,andthatmostseverestofsanctions options, thiswillmeanthatitiswalkingfurtherawayfrom atory missions,anddoesnotchooseoneoftheabovetwo If MSFGreecedoesnotimmediatelyceaseunilateralexplor - ests are incorporated into the MSFMovement. revisit themeansbywhichMSFGreece’soperationalinter- Switzerland has prepared. Or it can ask that the IC to the proposalforoperationalmanagementthatMSF In addition,MSFGreecehastwooptions.Itcanaccept Director. now expressly approved by the MSF Switzerland General means inKosovoandanyotherlocationthatisnot cease immediately all unilateral exploratory missions. This To comebacktotheMSFMovement,Greecemust come back. away fromtheMSFMovement.Istronglyurgeyouto In pursuingtheseactions,MSFGreeceisitselfwalking ly [...]andpoliticallyunacceptabletotheMSFMovement. agreed to, and amount to actions that are both structural- actions byMSFGreecebreakexistingrulesthat now beenpursuedopenlyandtransparently.Thesecurrent issue ofMSFGreece’soperationality,andthesehaveuntil the MSFMovementhasmadestrongeffortstoaddress integrate MSFGreece’soperations.MayIremindyouthat sition totheexistingInternationalCouncilresolutions the spiritofMSFMovement,andaredirectlyinoppo- have not been transparent, are directly in opposition to In pursuingthiscourseofaction,MSFGreece’sactions for the Balkan crisis. Movements’ approachto-operationsandcommunications able. ThisframeworkguaranteescoherencetotheMSF this agreedframeworkfortheMSFMovementisunaccept- Committee. Aunilateralexploratorymissionoutsideof statement onthisafterconsultationwiththeExecutive space in Kosovo, and is to be prepared to make a public The missionistoexploretheviabilityofhumanitarian (therefore noequipmentorsuppliesforthemission). of amissionfordistributionhumanitarianassistance Greek andSwissvolunteers,willnotbethebeginning Operational Centre,andthatthismissionwillinclude mission willattemptaccesstoKosovoundertheGeneva Committee decidedonApril20,1999thatanexploratory tional collaboration.Particularly,inKosovo,theExecutive humanitarian issuesarecomplexandrequireclearopera- for Kosovoandsurroundingregion-awhere operational centres.Thissystemhasbeenestablished MSF Greece. volunteers, association membersandboard members of PS: Pleasecirculatethislettertoallofficestaff,field James Orbinski MD,President, MSF International Council transparent spiritof the MSF Movement. Sincerely, However, participationmustbewithintheframeworkand the jointoperationsofMSFSwitzerlandandGreece). of other sections where you have representation, through forra toexpress these (ie:attheIC, at the RC, at the boards or otherissuearealwayswelcome,andthereample considered as valid. sage and the one from James, the latter shall of course be PS. incasethereisanycontradictionbetweenthismes - Vincent these requirements, Best regards Serbia andKosovo.Expectingyourclearagreementon and theacceptabilityofahumanitarianspaceinside 4) Thepurposeofthemissionistoassessexistence • Nomedia/journalists present • Nocommunication around the mission • Nodistribution of materials or equipment ago, low profile: of referencedrawnbytheexecutivecommittee2weeks 3) The projected explo mission will comply with the terms Director of MSF-Switzerland. tre, meaningundermypersonalresponsibilityasGeneral under theresponsibilityofcommonoperationalcen- shall take place as soon as possible. This mission shall be 2) Aninternationalexplomission,includingGreekexpats, row morning be putimmediately on stand-by. border in Macedoniaand supposed to enter Kosovo tomor- 1) WeaskthatthecurrentmissionstandingatKosovo Orbinsky willalsoarriveonyourmailvery shortly. today. AmoredetailedandcircumstantialmailfromJames the positionunanimouslyagreedbyExecutiveCommittee As agreedonthephone,Ishallherewithconfirminwriting Dear Dimitris, Extract: Unfortunately, thathasnotbeenpossible. Thecurrent of the executive committee with the Greek Board of MSF. As agreedbythephoneIwould trytodiscussthedecision Dear Vincent, Extract: 1999, 20:07(in English). Richter, MSFGreeceOperationsDirector,6May MSF SwitzerlandExecutiveDirectortoDimitris ‘Explo inKosovo,’EmailfromVincentFaber, 1999, 14:17 (in English). 1999, 14:17(inEnglish). Faber, MSFSwitzerlandExecutiveDirector,7May MSF GreeceDirectorofOperationstoVincent ‘Re: ExploinKosovo,’EmailfromDimitrisRichter, 203 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

mission is going to be in Kosovo tomorrow morning at appropriate actions that ought to be taken. I also believe 8:00 am. I cannot turn back this mission 12 hours prior that the members of the Executive Committee had made arriving into Kosovo. This would not be correct versus the their own position very clear during our teleconference members of our association. The main target of this mis- yesterday evening. Best regards, sion is to get more information concerning the humani- Vincent tarian needs in Kosovo and Serbia for the benefit of the whole movement and it will last only a few days. I believe it would be wiser at the moment to let this mission be completed and upon the return of the team; we can plan ’Observatory Mission in Kosovo,’ Email from a new international mission. As already mentioned, MSF Dimitris Richter, MSF Greece Director of Gr is willing to put all its efforts to assist an international Operations to MSF directors of operations and mission of MSF to entry into Kosovo. I am sorry not to be programme managers, 7 May 1999, 14:16 (in able to follow your requirement. I believe and hope that English). quick decisions leading MSF to dead end situations would be better to be avoided at the moment. Extract: Best regards Dear all, Dimitris Richter Herewith I inform you that after all night negotiations with all relevant authorities and the final NATO clearance late in the morning, our team has entered Kosovo at 11:25 (local time), destination to Pristina, for an observatory Letter from Odysséas Boudouris, MSF Greece mission. The team is composed by the following experi- President, to Olivier Dechevrens, MSF enced volunteers: Switzerland President, 7 May 1999 (in French). Odysseas Boudouris, surgeon Antonis Rigas- Log Dear Olivier, Antonis Michas - surgeon Due to urgent events, I cannot attend the board meet- Aristedes Mavrikakis - interpreter ing. I am currently on stand-by at the Macedonia-Kosovo We shall be informing you with daily sitreps from now on border. As you know, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs [...] TPLS, contact me for any information needed. has negotiated an agreement between NATO and the Serbs Regards that provides access to Greek NGOs. But the access ‘win- Dimitris Richter [please check the proper spelling of dow’ is narrow. In keeping with the Executive Committee’s Demitris’ name – I have used this version everywhere direction, we wanted to take advantage of this possibility but if it is wrong, just correct all with ‘find’ and ‘replace’ and open this potential humanitarian corridor to the other option – thanks!] sections. Furthermore, we hope to avoid any procedural disputes so that we can take action on our primary goals: assisting all those in danger inside Kosovo and the rest of Serbia. Please forward my message to the board and the Email from Jean-Marie Kindermans, MSF MSF Switzerland office. International Secretary General to MSF press offi- Regards, Odysséas cers, 7 May 1999, 16:09 (in English).

Extract: Dear All, ’Explo MSF Greece,’ Email from Vincent Faber, You may already know that MSF Greece has decided to MSF Switzerland Executive Director to MSF launch a unilateral exploratory mission in Kosovo, and executive directors, 7 May 1999, 10:40 (in they crossed this morning the Macedonian border to get English). into Kosovo. This was made without any approval of the MSF operational decision makers: the MSF Switzerland Dear all, partnership, the Operations Directors or the Executive After having called Dimitris Richter in Athens this morning Committee. The Executive Committee decided on April (Friday) at 10:00, I received confirmation that the Greek 20, 1999 that: “An exploratory mission will try to enter explo to Kosovo is proceeding ahead as planned, although Kosovo under the Geneva operational centre. This mission it was not yet confirmed they had effectively entered will include Swiss and Greek volunteers, and will not be Kosovo yet. The decision to proceed was taken despite the beginning of a mission or distribution (no equip- James’s message sent yesterday, and after I had called ment for the exploratory mission). MSF will be ready to myself Dimitris yesterday (Thursday) evening at 20:00, explain that there is no humanitarian space in case of this explicitly asking Athens to put the mission on stand-by in likely outcome of the mission.” This framework guaranteed order to safeguard all possibilities to prepare an interna- coherence to the MSF Movement’s approach to operations tional mission regarding Kosovo and Serbia and to discuss and communications for the Balkan crisis. further MSF Greece’s status within the movement. I believe 204 it is now up to the International Council to decide on the MSF Greece has been able, due to the particular posi- Jean-Marie Best regards. this issue at thistime. but pleasebeadvisedthatthereisnopubliccommenton inform youifnecessaryofwhateverpositioningistaken conflict insteadofbeingneutralorimpartial.Wewill sion andwhichwewouldregardastakingasideinthe to reactpossiblestrongstatementsmadebythemis- a publicdisputewithMSFGreece,wemightbecompelled Despite ourwishtokeepalowprofileandnotenterin the populations in Kosovo. that thisdoesnotmeanwedowanttotryhelp have toargueinacomplexwayanexternalaudience keep theminternalasfarpossible:otherwise we would We havedecidednottobepubliconthesedifferencesand operations andourpositioningintheregionitreveals. the potentialdangersforoverallcoherenceofour understand thedifferenceofapproachitreveals,and rejection ofourcommonrulesforoperations,youcan kind of positioning they are ready to take. Besides the We donotknowwhatcontactshavebeenmade,orthe tonnes), and5Greekpeoplewhichincludestwosurgeons. the Serb authorities. The mission leaves with material (18 Ministry ofForeignAffairs,togetaVISAforKosovofrom tion ofGreeceandintheframenegotiatedbyGreek management of Greek operations because he felt that he for theGreek-Swiss OCresignedhisresponsibilities for Additionally, ThierryDurand, theOperationsDirector been persistently stalled by theBelgrade authorities. through officialchannelsin Belgrade. Theseeffortshave MSF has and is making ongoing efforts to enter Yugoslavia modify anddeliverhumanitarian assistanceisnotassured. tion, asindependenceandthefreedomtoassess,monitor, able means of achieving humanitarian access in this situa- has operationsinPristina.ForMSF,thisisnotanaccept - Yugoslavia. MDMGreecehasactedonthisagreement,and Yugoslav Government to allow access of Greek NGOs to the Greek Government that has an agreement with the MSF Greece organised the action through its links with not opento manipulation byany party tothe conflict. according to transparent humanitarian principles that are policy thatMSFactions in Kosovoand Yugoslavia mustbe Committee of General Directors. It runs counter to the a doctor.ThisiswithouttheapprovalofExecutive five Greekexpatriateswhichincludestwosurgeonsand with 2trucks,18tonnesofsupplies,andateam and Belgrade.TheyenteredthismorningviaMacedonia announced andlaunchedaunilateralmissiontoPristina last daysinvolvingMSFGreece.YesterdayGreece This letteristoinformyouofdevelopmentsoverthe Extract: 17:46 (inEnglish). Council to MSF section presidents, 7 May 1999, James Orbinsky,PresidentofMSFInternational ’MSF GreecetoallICMembers,’Emailfrom as required. gies fortheregion.Ifthishappens,wewillreactpublicly that are not in accordance with our principles and strate- be confrontedwithstatements from the unilateralmission react publiclyatthistimetoaction.However,wemay ian actionsinKosovoandsurroundingregion.Wewillnot with potentialpoliticalimplicationsforMSF’shumanitar- in June 1999. The second is more immediate, and deals dealt with in the coming days and weeks, and at the IC these events. The first is one of governance and will be At thistimethentherearetwoissuesthatemergefrom clearly the agreement was notrespected. With thelaunchingthismorningofunilateralmission, not guaranteethatouragreementwouldberespected. Greece, notexecutiveresponsibility,andthathecould MSF Greece,andthathehasglobalresponsibilityfor this, thedecisionisnothis,butthatifexecutiveof with Odysseaswhothensaidthatwhileheagrees proceed withfurtheractionsinKosovo).Ispokeagain by theExecutiveCommitteebeforedecidingonhowto and thattheresultsofmissionwouldbeconsidered delivered, thatnomediaattentionwouldbesought, tarian space,thatnohumanitarianassistanceistobe exploratory missiontoexploretheviabilityofhumani- the ExecutiveCommitteeonApril20,[19]99(thatisan the missionwouldbeaccordingtothosedescribedby embassy inGreece,andthatthetermsofreferencefor apply forVisasthesesexpatriatestotheYugoslav added to the team. He also agreed that MSF Greece would on hold, until other MSF international expats could be him thattheunilateralexploratorymissionwouldbeput As well,yesterdayOdysseasagreedinmydiscussionwith day. Odysseas and theGeneral Director of MSFGreece yester- discussions areintheattachedletter,whichIsentto when he was in Skopje, Macedonia. The results if the week andintwolengthydiscussionsyesterdayafternoon, Odysseas Boudouris, the President of MSF Greece, last Committee. Ihavealsodiscussedtheseissueswith discussed thesituationwithmembersofRestricted then launchedthisunilateralexploratory mission. Ihave it has appointed its own apparent OD for operations. It about –MSFGreeceonWednesdayMay6announcedthat at theboardslevels–discussionsIwaskeptinformed lengthy discussionsbetweenMSFSwissandGreece could no longer manage them.This occurred on despite laboration with the Yugoslavian Ministry of Health and be changed- for securityreasons.Finally andaftercol- to enterinKosovoarea, so theoriginalplanningnot that waspresentinPresevo to havethefinalpermission negotiating withseveralauthorities inorderforourteam On the6thofApril1999until 13:00Greektimewewere General Information Extract: Programme Manager, 7May 1999 (inEnglish). ‘Sitrep Kosovo,’AntypasTzanetos,MSFGreece 205 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Yugoslavian Red Cross we got the permission. So, at 12:25 translator returned to Pristina to continue the Kosovo Greek time (11:25 local time) and after having finished all exploratory mission until the end of May. In Greece, the procedures with the customs, we had the green light the mission received particular attention from the from NATO the mission to start. media. Brief Report for the route Presevo-Pristina • Total time of journey 2.5 hours • They met 4-5 police check points on their route, which they passed easily ‘Kosovo Sitrep 8/5/99,’ From MSF Greece • There are not visible damages in the broader area and Exploratory Team to MSF Network, 8 May 1999 no feeling of deserted areas according to our volunteers’ (in English). observation. • They didn’t see destroyed villages, but they noticed Extract: some burnt houses 2. POLITICAL SITUATION-GENERAL INFORMATION • The road was passable. In the direction that the team followed from Presevo to • They didn’t hear or see any plane during their route. Pristina (110Km) they saw a few burnt houses (approxi- 1. GENERAL INFORMATION mately 20). The villages are not deserted. There is a slow • There were not bombardments notified [warned] in the but normal activity. city at present, even though late in the afternoon our The team can not report with exact figures the number team heard some airplanes of the Albanians and Serbians in these areas, but it’s cer- • There are rumors that free shooters [snipers] existing tain that there is an important percentage of Albanians in the city (it was noticed by the costumes [clothing] etc.). The • There is a general feeling of war situation in the city. picture of armed Serbian police moving around from one The two communities are deeply separated due to the war side and Albanian farm workers from the other side going situation to their fields was very characteristic. The situation is • According to local people the situation of the last two complicated. There are signs of violence but also signs of days is not so dramatic. coexistence [relative calm]. Also, in these directions/axes there are not sings of massive bombardments. In Pristina, the ordinary life is normal and there are not basic defi- ciencies. There is a complete partition between Albanians and Serbians (there are not mixed groups of people). Even The Greeks decided to go ahead, though we tried to though the feeling of coexistence of the two parts in the make this a joint international mission in order to city exists. The team met Regis Debray [French writer], get out of this mess and appear as unconnected to who had just returned from Prizren and Pec and Victor NATO as possible, and also do it in a way that would help Loupan, who is journalist of the French journal Figaro. them save face. We told the Greeks that if they went there, They mentioned that the situation for access to Pec and it was the point of no return. I called Odysseas and told him Prizren is completely different. The villages are burnt that I had heard they wanted to go to Kosovo. I told him down, the refugees are moving but none of the refugees’ no. We are trying, all the same, to find an international convoys is being escorted by police or military. According setup where they could possibly put a Greek. We are opening to the above persons there are not indications of massive up a bit. He told me not to worry, no problem. He was actu- exterminations. ally already in the truck, at the border, when he said it. That’s no way to work! You tell the truth, but you don’t say: 3. HEALTH SITUATION “I won’t go” when you’re in the process of leaving! It’s been Pristina hospital operates as peripheral hospital that like this for months. We had the feeling that they were hid- practically covers the needs of entire Kosovo area to the ing everything. It didn’t make us want to try very hard. borders of Albania. Odysseas mentioned that at the time they were in the hospital, admissions took place of heavily Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, MSF wounded persons coming from Kosovo-Albanian borders. International (in French). In this hospital, urgent and war-surgical cases are treated. The surgical treatment (e.g. vascular and orthopaedics surgery) is at a high level. Almost all Albanian staff left the hospital, but according to Serbians they are still coming back to get their basic salary. The admissions had In Pristina, the MSF Greece Kosovo exploratory team a periodical character. Since the beginning of the bom- found the situation ‘complicated, with signs of both bardments 800 surgical operations had taken place, that violence and coexistence’ and reported that the hospi- means 20 operations/per day. There is a preparation plan tal’s needs were covered, despite the fact that all the of the hospital for massive admission of wounded persons. Albanian doctors had left. In Belgrade, they met with It is reported that in the first days of bombardments they Yugoslav health officials, and then split in two: the had until 80 surgical-operations (minor, intermediate and two surgeons, including the president of MSF Greece, severe surgical cases)/per 24 [days] jours. The surgical 206 left for Greece, via Bulgaria. The logistician and the unit of the hospital was organised in a way that 16 sur- tomorrow afternoon. please contactMSFAthensoffice.Nextsitrepwillbesent mentioned inprevioussitreps,ifyouneedfurtherinfos ian aidtotheaffectedpopulations.Aswehavealready and freeaccesstotheseareasforprovisionofhumanitar- Pristina andBelgradeourefforttostabilizeasafe Our press line is stable: assessment of medical needs in not either strict or clear. [...] this isunderfurtherinvestigation,becauseitseemsit’s Cross stryingtomonopolizethedrugdistribution,but financed byGreekGovernment).TheYugoslavianRed such as European Perspective and MDM-Greece that are had beendeliveredfromGreece(governmentandNGOs The onlyhumanitarianaidthathadreachedinPristina chemical and pharmaceutical industrials. convoy attacks)andalsoduetothedamagesof to thedifficultiesoftransportation(demolishedbridges, and medicalsuppliesprovision.Thisproblemexistsdue covered (generatorsexist).Theessentialproblemisdrug electricity black-out’sandwatercuts,thebasicneedsare hospital doesnothavebasicdeficienciesanddespitethe general, thereisnolackofdoctorsandnursingstaff.The Many doctorsarestayinginthehospital24hours.In a matterbasicallyofchildrenandwomen,butmenalso. are Albanians(thiswasconfirmedalsobyourteam).Itis above units.Itismentionedthatthe40%ofpatients The bed-occupancy is estimated between 30-40% in the gynaecological/obstetrician unit and paediatricunit. time. Infullfunctionandpreparationaresurgeryunit, geries can occur in 16 operational theatres at the same what willcome up.Thisisallfornow.I wouldliketo explo. Themedia callsarefilteredbyme. Waiting tosee Have spoken with them giving the basic frame of the interest ontheissueofMSF beingpresentinthecity. *CNN andBBCcorrespondents inBelgradeareshowing rather big. Wearekeeping a lowprofile. teers visitingBelgrade.Asyou canimaginetheinterestis when itcomestoGreekmediaandateamofvolun - response toit.Don’tforgetthisisaverydelicateissue being pro-activewiththismatter,onlydealingmedia being quotedincorrectlyandnotcarriedaway.Weare Belgrade. We are trying to be very careful with media, not bombing. Wearewaitingtoseemorewhenarrivingin hospital. NotbigcoveragebecauseoftheChineseEmbassy *All GreekTVchannelsfilmedthemissionatPristina Tzanetos Antypas-Rp, interviewed on theissue of thismission.[…]*12radiointerviewsweregiven/ extensive articlesregarding–mostlythepurposes beginning of this explo mission. The press here have *Local mediahaveshownspecialinterestrightfromthe Media interest Extract: 9 May1999 (in English). MSF Greece Press Officer to MSFpressofficers, ‘Kosovo 2#Update,’EmailfromSophiaIoannou, changed; thesitrepsthatyoureceiveareforMSFeyesonly. ists. ljustreassuredAnne-Mariethatourpresslinehasnot this could be ‘interpreted’ or ‘misunderstood’ by journal preoccupied onwhatMSFGreecesaystomediaandhow thoroughly withAnne-MariefromSkopjewhosoundedvery the lastMSFteam(onemonthago)leftcity.I’vetalked briefed regardingthegeneralsituationinBelgradesince was importantastheexploteamhadchancetobe tion. TheirmeetingwiththelocalMSFBstaffinoffice health authoritiesinordertoevaluatethe situa these twodaystheyhavebeenhavingmeetingswithlocal is alreadyinBelgradesinceSundayafternoon.During Through thedailysitrepsyouarealIawarethatteam on two basic points: ments fromOdysseas outsidethehospital. He emphasised * CNN’scorrespondentinBelgrade (Tanya...)tookstate- common press line. Belgrade. The statements made, were in the frame of the give interviewsexplainingthe purposeoftheirvisitin CHANNEL, SKYTV,ANTENNA TN,NETTV,STARTN)to they wererequestedbyalIGreekcorrespondents(MEGA scheduled toevaluateandcollectmedicaldata.There Belgrade while meetings with the medical staff where * TodaytheteamvisitedEmergencyCentrein the story, contacted me asking formore details. * - - - - team are the following (9-10 May1999): in theGreeknewspapersafterdepartureofexplo requests whicharefollowingthestory.Themaintitles Media coverage-wearestilldealingwithlocalmedia aid toaffected populations. stabilise safeandfreeaccessforprovisionofhumanitarian obtained freeaccess.Wearepointingoutoureffortto rectly quoted.Wehaveneversaiduptonow,thatwe we say in order to avoid being out of context and incor- On theotherhand,teamisverywellbriefedonwhat Kind regards to youall say to them? ing aboutthis.Whatdidtheywanttoknow?you know ifyouhadanycallsfromyourmediacontactsask- Extract: Appeal for Free andIndependent Evaluation (TA ‘MSF WorriedAboutHumanitarianAccessinKosovo’/ Victims of the War(THESSALONIKI) MSF isMakinganOpenAppealforFreeAccesstoAlI Kosovo’/After theDeteriorationofBombardments ‘MSF: AppealforSafe”HumanitarianCorridor”in (ETHNOS) in Albania,Skopje,MontenegroandtheExploFRY ‘MSF intheFrontline’/PresentationofMSFActivities Assessment in theArea (ELEFTHEROTYPIA). ‘Life MissionfromMSFinPristinaandBelgrade’/Medical AFP correspondentinGreece(Mr.Gounds)haspickedup 11 May1999 (in English). MSF Greece Press Officer to MSF pressofficers, ‘Kosovo 3#Update,’EmailfromSophiaIoannou, NEA) - -

207 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

- Evaluation of medical needs bridge was, of course, destroyed. We found two or three - Effort to explore the viability of humanitarian space in survivors at the hospital, small kids whose whole faces were the country for independent humanitarian action in the burned. In Pristina, we found groups of Greek journalists future for all MSF and a Canadian journalist, Paul Watson, who had hidden. * BBC correspondent in Belgrade (John Simpson) got He was with a Serb translator. We met Régis Debray [a in touch with Odysseas Boudouris (coordinator of the French writer-philosopher]. We talked about many things exploratory). They discussed MSF presence in Albania, during the night. After 6 o’clock we couldn’t leave. We Montenegro and Skopje. Particularly, he wanted to know stayed in the Grand Hotel in Pristina - the only one that more regarding what is the purpose of the explo. Nothing hadn’t been bombed yet. We had a meeting with the hospi- was filmed yet, but probably some statements will be tal director, and we unloaded all the drugs in the hospital’s made on camera. central pharmacy. We talked with the doctors. Odysseas with the surgeons. We spent two or three days in Pristina. Afterwards, we headed for Belgrade via Nis. We saw bridges, houses, the whole infrastructure, tobacco factories ‘Sitrep 16-18/5/1999 – Kosovo/Belgrade MSF destroyed, it was truly a catastrophe. We saw destroyed Greece Exploratory Mission,’ 18 May 1999 (in houses with the family nearby. But if memory serves me, it English). was NATO planes that dropped the bombs. We saw bombings in open country. We also picked up a small piece of Extract: iron from the bridge and had it analysed in Athens to see if MSF EYES ONLY: (16-17/5/99) the bombs contained uranium. They didn’t. Outside of Nis SECURITY: Midnight of 15/5 to 16/5 the military airport we met a Brazilian who was on a mission for the UN. We (which is located 15km away from Belgrade) was bombard- arrived in Belgrade. The same story as in Kosovo; we met the ed. On 17/5/99 there were no bombardments in Belgrade, vice minister of health. We unloaded in the warehouse of but NATO -according to what CNN transmitted - redrew any the Belgrade hospital’s central pharmacy. We talked to the guarantees for the humanitarian NGOs. doctors and then left. There were only two of us left. The PLANNING: The team has planned meetings with plan was to go back to see what was happening in Pristina, Yugoslavian Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to order other drugs from Athens, etc. and Greek Embassy in Belgrade. The scheduled tour of the When we got to the Kosovar-Yugoslavian border, the NGOs with the Yugoslavian Ministry of Health in several Yugoslav soldiers stopped us and asked us where we wanted cities in Serbia, for the assessment of Health Facilities, to go. They said that it was very dangerous, that there were was postponed. The team will follow its own schedule on a lot of snipers, etc. Along this route, there were many Tuesday 18/5/99. burned houses. I have a photo of an entire family, around MEETINGS (18/5/99): a cart, people who were fleeing. I don’t know if they were We meet the Representative of Minister of Foreign Affairs Serbs or Albanians. We got to Pristina, and stayed there a of Yugoslavian Federation, Mr. Dragomir Lavovic. The week. We were at the hospital. We had a satellite telephone. objective of this meeting was to inform the representa- Each day, I got the news. Stéphan Oberreit called me. We tive of ‘who we are’ (MSF charter, our action in Greece and were friends; we had worked together in Burundi. He asked abroad, our founding and donors). It was well mentioned me how things were going. I wasn’t all that happy to be in [stressed] that MSF intends that the aid not be given Pristina with the bombings, and on top of it someone was unilaterally, but to the contrary, to be used in such a way asking me why we did what we did! (Laugh). so the affected civilians of Kosovo and Serbia be covered. At the hotel I met Bernard Guetta, a European journalist We emphasised the bureaucratic difficulties we faced for who was working for la Republica and who had authorisa- issuing visas and at the customs control of the drugs. tion to move about in Kosovo. With him, we hoped to get Also, we concentrated on the particularities and individu- to other towns in Kosovo, Prizren, Pec, etc. to see what was ality of our organisation, that indiscreetly and indepen- happening and contact the doctors. We had no contact with dently require our volunteers themselves to distribute the NATO. The entire region was under total Serbian occupation. humanitarian aid and to be present at throughout the Serb soldiers were hiding in trees to avoid being spotted by process of its transportation, storage and distribution. NATO satellites. When they would see the MSF flag, they Finally, the team suggested a plan of visits in hospitals of would stop us. They were hostile toward us. Up until the different areas (similar to the one of WHO in cooperation point where we told them we were Greek. If they saw Greek with Ministry of Health, but was postponed for security passports, they would start saying: “Yes but you know those reasons. Our team was invited together with ICRC by WHO MSF people etc. We answered that we had permission and in this plan of exploration and of needs). that we wanted to go to Pec, Dakovica, etc. The KLA were in between the towns. Like guerillas, with snipers. They never stopped us. We went to Dakovica with Bernard Guetta. At the hospital, we talked with the authorities. Afterward we went to Pec. The entire Albanian market had been com- On the road to Pristina, we passed where a NATO air pletely burned and razed. Régis Debray had warned us that strike had killed 52 people on a bridge the previous he had seen a lot of burnt houses. At the hospital we talked 208 day. There were clothes scattered about and the with the doctors, who were all against MSF, in general. They Council. he besuspendedasvicepresidentoftheInternational sonal responsibilityofitspresident,andaskedthat of theGreeksection.Somewonderedaboutper- ment felttheycouldnolongertrusttheleadership Most oftheleadership within theinternational move- Albanians, and the KLA. Blace. And I was scared of the snipers, the Yugoslavs, the gerous. I saw a completely burnt-out village, not far from Skopje, allalone,without the translator.Itwasverydan- KLA. AfterwardwewentbacktoPristina.ThenIreturned French MSF-theyonlygavedrugstotheAlbanians, told ushowthingshadgonebefore,withtheBelgianor makes any important decision against them. He thinks least beheard beforebeingexpelled,or beforetheIC consequences. ThenSotiris said thatMSFGRshouldat what itwasdoing,andtoconsider thepossible negative I thoughtthattheBoDwas responsibleenoughtoknow the organisationandGreek BoD.Ialsotoldhimthat to leadMSFGRdownadead-end street,againstthewillof to dissociate themselves from Odysseas, if he continued Greek BoDwantedtoavoidexpulsion,onepossibilitywas opposed totheircurrentactions.Itoldhimthatifthe in thecomingdaysorhours,andthatallsectionswere that expulsionfrom the MSF movement was a possibility Greek BoD[BoardofDirectors].Imadeitcleartohim communicate thegravityofcurrentsituationto MSFGR, and given Odysseas’s absence, he should clearly information. ItoldhimthatasHonoraryPresidentof - IcalledSotirislastnight(6May)togivehimthis Tine him for having drawnour attention tothis. - IcompletelyagreewithMiguel’scomments,andthank Regards. MIGUEL the letter as itis. leaves thedooropen,inaway.Inanycase,Iagreewith of anothersectionandevenasvicepresidenttheIC.It continue onintheinternationalmovementasamember section for the actions of a single person, who will then the Greeksection,wemaybecondemningentire responsibility inthiswholematter.Ifwedecidetoexpel -In my opinion, we have to clarify Odysseas’s personal Extract: Antonis Rigas, Logistician, MSF Greece (inFrench). May 1999(in French). Switzerland President of MSFSwitzerland,6-7 President andOlivierDechevrens,MSF President, Tine Dusauchoit, MSF Belgium Email between MiguelAngelPerez,MSFSpain Olivier mission. no choice but to go ahead with the Kosovo ‘observatory’ pressure andsatisfytheGreekorganisation,theyhave GR arethere,butnotMSF.Hethinksthattorelievethe understand whylesswell-knownGreekNGOslikeMDM see MSF-GR get involved in a concrete way. People don’t Greece, bothfromtheorganisationandpublicopinion,to morning). He also said that there’s enormous pressure in be abletostopit(whichDimitrisRichterconfirmedthis for futureMSFGRactioninKosovo’wastoofaralongto ‘observation andassessment,butnotexploratory,mission I agreewiththatcomment.Thenhetoldmethe the trip,buthedidn’tthinkthatwasenough).Personally, him thatJamesandOdysseashadspokenatlengthabout Odysseas shouldbeallowedtoparticipate.(Ireminded that ifthereisateleconferencebetweenthepresidents, right -this is occupying alI my time with telephone calls, ter lsenttoMSF Greece.Asyoucanimagine -andasis l senttoallMSFsectionpresidents, asweIlthelet- Thanks foryournote.lhaveforwarded acopyoftheletter Pierre Salignon, MSF vice president of theIC... position ofoneMSFmember.And[...] Odysseas isstill ment does not exist anymore for me. But it’s a personal reaction to the MSF G attitude, the International move- the samepositiontoday?It’sclearthatifthereisno movement iftheirconvoycrossestheborder.Doyouhave said yesterdaythatMSFGwillbeexcludedfromthe Kosovo) andunderacommoninternational‘umbrella’.You first, accesstotheAlbanianpopulationdisplacedinside must beunderspecificconditions(freedomofassessment assess thesituationinPristinaandYugoslavia.Butit ethnic cleansingofS.Milosevic.lunderstandthewillto tance to alI Albanian ‘deportees’ because of the policy of neighbouring countriesinwhichMSFisprovidingassis- It couldalsohaveconsequencesonouroperationsin and willputalItheMSFmovementinadifficultposition. tion ontheconflictis‘dangerous’(it’smypointofview) reaction oftheInternationalCouncil.TheOdysseasposi- starting it’sownoperationsinthefieldwithoutaclear movement isgoingifMSFG,inthiskindofcontext, about this.ldon’tunderstandwheretheMSFinternational to Pristina. l would like to know what is your position l learnedfewhoursagothataMSFGconvoyisonitsway Hello James, (I hopeyou will understand). Paris. AndlonlywanttoreacthereasamemberofMSF l hopeyouarefine.I’mnotinchargeofKosovocrisis Extract: 7-10 May 1999 (inEnglish). James Orbinsky,PresidentofMSFInternational, Salignon, MSFFranceprogrammemanagerand ‘MSF Greece,’ Email exchange betweenPierre 209 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

teleconferences, and creating a coherent position in the of the ‘esprit’ of the international movement (I use this movement. l think the letters speak for themselves. l also word because esprit’ goes far beyond agreements, proce- FULLY appreciate the political implications for our human- dures and structures and I consider that what happened is itarian actions in the Balkans (as you point out, and with far more than not respecting agreements and structures). which l agree ENTIRELY). Strategically, we need to try to Considering the possible far reaching consequences for minimize this potential impact. l and others, including the the international movement. After having discussed this General Directors of the Executive Committee, are doing at the board meeting of MSF B last Friday, and having our best to do this. received their full support for this proposal, I call for the James immediate suspension of Odysseas as Vice-President of the IC. The IC should consider at its June meeting what needs to be done further. I would request you to send your approval or rejection of this proposition to James, and if ’Confidential,’ Email from Stephan Oberreit, this proposal is acceptable I suggest James informs all MSF France, to James Orbinsky, President of presidents of the IC of this proposal, which by then has MSF International, 9 May 1999 (in English). become a proposal of the RC [Restricted Council].

Extract: l think we have two major concrete issues to deal with: 1- The breach of MSF general framework and unilateral ‘ Open letter to Tine Dusauchoit and all my decision of MSF-G to become operational (but it is not in Friends on the International Council,’ from Zambia)! Odysseas Boudouris, President of MSF Greece, 2- The breach of the operational framework in the Balkans 17 May 1999 (in French).

These two need to be dealt with separately. As long as Extract: they are still in the movement, pt2 needs to be addressed I have learned, from an email forwarded to me by Sotiris vis a vis what the MSF Greece team will DO & SAY in FRY & (to whom it had been forwarded by Olivier) of Tine’s pro- when they come out. This will to some extent determine posal to relieve me of my position as Vice President of the the attitude we need to take: very firm or ready to talk & IC, effective immediately. I confess that I was hurt and negotiate. The problem is how we can be informed inde- offended by this letter. It hurt me for one reason - the pendently on what they have done, said to Greek media, date of the letter, May 9 - in other words, at a time when To some extent, I regret no one has been to Athens yet to our team was between Pristina and Belgrade, in a danger- talk with the MSF and show how the movement takes this ous area, on a difficult mission. Precisely the mission that seriously and check how much support Odysseas has in Tine’s section has been trying to embark on for weeks, this business. There is still time to do it. Then there is the without success. Has our great international organisation legal aspect of expelling MSF G; we have little to stand on become so dehumanised? Couldn’t it have waited until I and I suspect they will have the right to open a MSF office got back, or at least until you had heard that our team in Greece (govt & judicial will support THEM & not us). In was safe? Have we become adversaries to the point of terms of press, no one will understand anything about our forgetting the brotherhood that constitutes precisely the business, and therefore what’s the point. We may have ‘esprit’ to which Tine refers? Thanks, in any case, to Eric to limit ourselves to damage control. l guess we need to Dachy [Brussels programme manager], who called us with check the Greeks out, will probably end up expelling them only one question: “Is everything alright? Can I help you?” essentially by cutting bridges, but they will remain MSF in Eric, our analysis of the crisis in Kosovo disagrees in many Greece and there will be little we can do about it as long respects. But with you, I feel as though we’re part of the as Odysseas & Sotiris control the association: We’ll have same organisation! The letter offended me, as well. We to support the dissidence and try to regain control of the have a responsibility - particularly a moral one - to the board, but that may take time and never succeed. movement. We are supposed to represent a large organisation that can only function according to democratic rules. Dear IC Friends, are you aware that we must respect the basic rules of democratic procedure? ’Vice–Presidency of the IC,’ Email from Tine Dusauchoit, MSF Belgium President to MSF Tine has appointed herself prosecutor, and accuses me of International Council members, 9 May 1999 (in violating the MSF ‘esprit’. But isn’t the MSF esprit to act English). first and foremost, on behalf of populations in danger? That is what, in all conscience, we are doing. Wasn’t it Extract: necessary to explore the humanitarian needs inside of Considering the events of the last few days. Considering Kosovo and Serbia? Wasn’t it necessary to try to assess especially the lack of openness, transparency of Odysseas the humanitarian space we might find? If Tine thinks not, and of the Greek section (although it is not clear at this she is at odds with her own section and the Executive moment in time to which extent this is a personal or Committee. She’s at odds with what any sincere humani- 210 sectional approach). Considering the obvious non-respect tarian might think, and ultimately with the MSF esprit. of action were met. teria of freedom of assessment of needs and freedom tion inSerbiaandKosovocouldhappenonlyifthecri - Yugoslavia. TheyalsoreaffirmedthatanyMSFinterven - efforts to obtain visas for the Federal Republic of agers fromthevariousMSFsectionsagreedtopursue The Kosovooperationsdirectorsandprogrammeman - to. We were convinced of that. convinced thattheotherMSFsectionsknew,butdidn’twant trusted him.Wethoughteverythingwasfine.Andwewere saying thesamethinginternallyandtooutside.We mouth. Sincehewastheonlypointofreference,wasn’t I thinkthatOdysseaswasspeakingoutofbothsides of his isations alwaysrallyaroundtheirleader.Butontopofthat, all theresponsibility.Intimesofcrisis,countriesandorgan- Sitreps, we were already inside. As President, Odysseas took pli, oncewehadenteredKosovo.Whenbegansending a fewhoursearlier.Wepresentedthemwiththefaitaccom- enter Kosovo,eventhoughhehadtalkedtothembyphone that wehadrequestedvisas,andweregoingto ed toobscurethesituation.Hedidn’ttellothersections the situation of populationsindanger. have amonopolyonoperationality,ourmainconcernwas of offendingthosewhowouldpreferthatthebigsections post without any warning? We didn’t think so. At the risk midst of a crisis, because Thierry Durand abandoned his go along.Shouldwehavestoppedeverything,inthe have continued to inform the concerned parties as things establish operationalcontactwiththeothersections.We went toJamesOrbinskyandJean-MarieKindermansre- Durand, ourDirOp-upuntilhisresignation.Afterthat,we the crisis,weclearlyexpressedourconcernstoThierry procedure. Basedonwhat?Rightfromthebeginningof section ofalacktransparency,andhavingviolated having embodiedthe“MSFesprit.”TineaccusesGreek If shethinksyes,thenshouldcongratulateusfor Appendix –MSF Intervention in Serbia andKosovo Extract: openly. I’velearnedthingsthatshowhewant- sure thatOdysseas,thenPresident,playedthegame There’s ablackspotontransparency.I’mnotatall French). tions directorsforKosovo, 5May1999(in to theminutesofMeetingopera - ‘Intervention inSerbiaandKosovo,’ Appendix Sotiris Papaspyropoulos, Honorary President, MSF Greece (in French).

Pascal [Meus] then asks how Kosovar refugees are man- Extract: tries. the policiesforwelcomingKosovarrefugeesintheircoun - The BelgianandSwissboardsofdirectorswonderedabout populations, histories, needs and suffering. The MSFassessmentshouldtakeintoaccountthevarious of Kosovo, living underNATO air strikes. - Theso-calledSerbian’componentofthepriorpopulation “stuck” in various pockets (KLINA, for example); - TheAlbanianpopulationthathasbeendisplacedand seen part of itscommunity expelled and/or mistreated; lages, restrictedintheirmovementandfreedom,having - TheAlbanianpopulation remaining inthetownsandvil- the FRY the victims are primarily: no questionofstandardisingthevictims.Currently,inside according toeachone’sparticularhistory.InFRYthere’s *Assessment isdoneonacommunity-by-communitybasis, need. or hercommunity,todirectMSFtowardpopulationsin anyone likelytobeinneed,representtheneedsofhis rural areas,therighttomeet,speakwith,andexamine *Access topopulations,withoutdiscrimination;urbanand conditions. free ofadministrativeharassment,acceptablesecurity *Access totheaffectedareas=unhamperedmovement - The unhampered assessment of needs: The necessary means to achieve thisobjective are: aid actors (referring here to MSF). to affectedpopulations. This guarantee is only assured by 3) Thegoaloftheassistanceistodeliveraidimpartially media communication when we’re inside). on whatwesawinsideuponourreturn(conversely,no empty-handed), commitmenttodisseminateinformation armed escort),nodonationsbeforehand(theteamarrives mission throughBelgrade:freedomofmovement(no views on the minimum conditions needed for an explo 2) InApril1999,thegeneraldirectorsexpressedtheir [IC] inFebruary 1997. mouvement MédecinsSansFrontières],putoutbytheIO Sans FrontièresMovement’[Principesderéférencedu 1) Everyoneshould consult the ‘Principals of the Médecins population are well-known and documented. whose crimes against humanity with regard to the Kosovar conflict, withtheYugoslavleadersandSerbmilitary, be met,giventhatwearegoingtoworkinacontextof wary, indeedsuspicious,ofwhetherthesecriteriawill sion. Itisclear,however,thatweshouldbeespecially relief mission in Kosovo. They are the same for every mis- sufficient humanitarianspaceforMSFtocarryoutits There isnothingextraordinaryaboutthecriteriadefininga Directors Meeting,’ April1999 (in French). ‘ Minutes from the MSF Belgium Board of

211 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

aged in Belgium. Vincent [Janssens] emphasised that this effort is run entirely by the Belgian projects and the cell concerned. The common factors are status and protec- *‘ Serb Police Prevent Prizren Residents from tion (registration, status, information). Our action is not Fleeing (Witness Accounts),’ Selim Yassin, AFP intended to help them obtain documents, because this is (France), Morina, Albania, 2 May 1999 (in the mission of other, better equipped NGOs. On the other French). hand, we direct people who don’t have the necessary information. We also monitor the level of protection of Extract: refugees at the Albanian border (Stef De Wolf). Use of this On Sunday, Serb police were choosing which refugees study will depend on how the situation evolves. The cell were allowed to leave Kosovo, preventing those native responsible for the host country monitors the Kosovars to Prizren from fleeing, after having first facilitated their in that country. We should take a position on the situa- departure by making buses available to them, accord- tion of refugees in Albania, and whether we accept that ing to corroborating accounts collected by the AFP at Albania is acting as a waiting room for the refugees, and the Albanian border post of Morina (north). UN High whether we also accept the EU’s host policy. As for the Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representatives on rest, the situations in Kosovo and the host countries other the scene confirmed having collected witness accounts to than Albania are very different. the same effect […] According to the accounts of those arriving, the selection was initially being done at the bus station in Prizren, a city of 50,000 residents in southern Kosovo, where police were said to have attacked residents, ‘ Minutes from the MSF Switzerland Board of rushing to get on buses to leave, using rifle butts. Later, Directors Meeting,’ 7 May 1999 (in French). at a roadblock in Zhur, located 6 km from the Albanian border, the police confiscated the refugees’ identification Extract: papers. Those not allowed to pass the roadblock had to IV. Swiss asylum policy – Kosovars. walk the 20 km back to Prizren; the others also had to The Swiss asylum policy toward Kosovars seems ‘inhu- continue on foot to the Albanian border. [...] mane, parents are separated from children…’ It seems The residents of Prizren - the second largest city in like they’re doing everything they can to make sure the Kosovo - had begun fleeing on Thursday, when Serbian refugees don’t regain their dignity. In addition, by estab- soldiers spread out through the city after NATO bombed lishing strict quotas, the current Swiss policy pushes the one of their barracks. The Kosovars that have arrived since refugees underground. So it is proposed that MSF not Thursday - city-dwellers, for the most part - have made wait to be the ‘fifth wheel’ in order to take action. On the the situation even more difficult in the city and region contrary, the BoD asks that the organisation be proactive of Kukes (population 25,000), already sagging under the on this issue. They would like MSF to get in contact and load of more than 100,000 refugees. Only 25,000 of them establish ties with the various organisations active in were received in camps, according to UNHCR; the others coordinating refugee aid in Switzerland They also want camped under tarpaulins in carts, or were housed in public MSF Switzerland to be able to position itself with other buildings or in people’s homes, not always for free. […] organisations regarding the Swiss asylum policy, if neces- Because the infrastructure in this border region is inad- sary. equate, and for security reasons UNHCR wants to evacuate the refugees from this area.

According to witness accounts gathered by the press ’Athens Opposed to Sending Kosovar Albanians to and the UNHCR, the residents of Prizren, at first forced Southern Albania,’ AFP (France), Athens, 6 May to leave town by Serbian forces, were then being 1999 (in French). forced to stay while it was bombed. The camp at Kukes, in Albania, was getting overcrowded, and the UNHCR Extract: was considering transferring the refugees. The Greek Greece claimed, on Thursday, that it had put an end government was opposed to bringing Kosovar refu- to Albanian government plans to send refugees, from gees to southern Albania, home to a significant Greek Kosovo to southern Albania, home to a significant ethnic minority. Greek minority. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas indicated Thursday in Athens that the OSCE representative in Tirana had been approached for that purpose nearly ten days ago. “Thanks to OSCE intervention, the Greek government has succeeded in blocking the Albanian plan,” declared Mr Reppas. This clarification was made after Dennis McNamara, UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ Special Envoy to the former Yugoslavia, had declared on 212 Wednesday in Skopje, that several thousand Kosovar refu- launched an appeal for funding. tion ofKosovohadbeendrivenfromtheprovince,and declared thatsince25March1999,halfofthepopula- Kosovo. NATOairstrikescontinued,however.UNHCR announced thestartofwithdrawalitstroopsfrom assessment mission on its soil. On 10 May 1999, it ment agreedtoallowaUnitedNationshumanitarian repatriation oftherefugees.TheYugoslavgovern- Kosovo, deploymentofaninternationalforce,and conflict, including withdrawal of Serb forces from adopted seven general principles for solution of the On 6 May 1999, members of the G8 meeting in Bonn; minority,” he emphasised. sible has been done to protect the rights of the Greek were pouring in. “They assuredme that everything pos- southern Albania,whereAlbanianrefugeesfromKosovo reassured himaboutthefateofGreekminorityin to Parliament on 31 March that the Albanian leaders had refugees. GreekPrimeMinisterCostasSimitishaddeclared ridor intendedtorelieveMacedoniaofthelargeinflux eastern Albania),aftertheopeningofahumanitariancor- to leaveinthecomingdaysforKorçaregion(south- gees thathadbeensettledinMacedoniawouldbeable independence - wouldbeaccordedtothe rebel province. sovereignty over Kosovo, and interim autonomy - not borders wouldchange.Serbia wouldnotloseofficial also guarantee-astheRussians havesought-thatno imposed againstthewishes ofasovereignstate,would niqué, besidesprovidingfor peaceplanthatcouldbe The diplomaticendgameforeshadowed inthecommu- States and its Europeanallies. [...] a post-warKosovoalongthelinessoughtbyUnited the council,itwouldprovideinternationallegitimacy for in the conflict. If the proposal is eventually adopted by sions in Kosovo that correspond to NATO’s declared aims Security CouncilresolutiondemandingSerbianconces - Yugoslav President.Instead,itcalledforaUnitedNations ence toagreementorconsentbySlobodanMilosevic,the demands. Significantly,theplandidnotincludeanyrefer - tinuing air war until Belgrade complies with international tries plusJapanandRussia-supportsthealliance’scon - foreign ministersofeightgovernments-sixNATOcoun the war over Kosovo. Implicitly,the accord, announced by as a stepping-stone that could smooth the way to settle Thursday, characterizingtheagreementreachedinBonn Council agreement,”anofficialatNATOheadquarterssaid “Think of the G8 accord as a rehearsal for a Security Extract: (Europe), Paris, 7 May 1999 (in English). (Europe), Paris,7May1999(inEnglish). Joseph Fitchett, Security CouncilGivesLegalFrameworkforDeal,’ ‘ Outline for a Kosovo Peace Accord – Focus on UN Outline foraKosovoPeaceAccord–FocusonUN International Herald Tribune withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo. […] According withdrawal of Serb forcesfromKosovo. […] According Belgrade announced, onMonday,apartial andunverified eighth week;diplomaticnegotiations areintensifying,and Wednesday, 12May,thewar inKosovoisenteringits Extract: but severe, of Serbiansovereignty. Council” -implyingcurtailment,perhapsonlytemporary administration forKosovotobedecidedbytheSecurity point, ithardenedWesternconditionsabout“aninterim Kosovar refugees to risk returning home.[...] On amajor including UStroops,couldprovideenoughreassurancefor to insistthat,inpracticalterms,onlyaNATOforce, Madeleine Albright approached the microphone uninvited Secretary RobinCookofBritainandState - anotherwordnotusedinthestatement.AndForeign of Germany said that the force would have to be “military” In responsetoquestions,ForeignMinisterJoschkaFischer ence inpost-war Kosovo. the coreofwhatwascalled an international security pres- ency, wastheexplicitmentionthatNATOshouldprovide troubling concessionapparentlyfornegotiatingexpedi- substantial politicalmovement.[...]Butinapotentially concessions thatseemedlikelytotemptMr.Milosevicinto In that sense, the Bonn agreement contained no new caused by NATO bombingsince24 March. in thecourseofitsinspection,wouldseedestruction would finditintheirinteresttohaveaUNmissionthat, Kosovo conflict.ThesamesourcesbelievedthatBelgrade on thegeneralprinciplesofapoliticalsolutionto Yugoslav authoritiesfollowingThursday’sG8agreement not necessarilyindicateanewopeninguponthepartof diplomats, Belgrade’sagreementtoallowthemissiondid halt the bombingof Yugoslavia. [...] According to western officials addedthatMr.AnnanhadnotaskedNATOto inform NATOofBelgrade’sdecisiononThursday.Thesame New York,UNSecretaryGeneralKofiAnnanwroteto government’s agreement.[…]Accordingtoofficialsin d’Affaires VladislavJovanovic,whoinformedhimofhis dozen specializedUNagencies,metwithYugoslavChargé lead themissionconsistingofrepresentatives from a affairs, BrazilianSergioVieiradeMello,whoexpectsto quarters thatday,theUNcoordinatorforhumanitarian announced a UN spokesman in New York. At UN head- Nations humanitarianassessmentmissiononitssoil, The YugoslavgovernmentagreedonThursdaytoaUnited Extract:

Monde (France), 12 May1999, (in French). ’Kosovo EmptiedofHalfitsPopulation,’ May 1999(in French). AFP (France), New York (United Nations), 7 ‘Belgrade AgreestoUNHumanitarianMission,’ Le 213 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 900,000 Commissioner for refugees launched an appeal Tuesday Kosovar Albanians - or half the population of Kosovo - has in Geneva to remedy the lack of funding for its efforts to been deported to neighboring countries since 25 March. help the 750,000 Kosovar refugees in surrounding coun- Westerners greeted with skepticism Belgrade’s announce- tries. On Tuesday, UNHCR estimated the total number of ment that it was beginning to withdraw its troops from refugees from Kosovo since the start of the conflict in Kosovo. The commander-in-chief of the Yugoslav army March 1998, at 910,000-740,000 of them since NATO air indicated, in a communiqué, that he had begun to with- strikes began on March 24. draw “some army and police units.” He justified this measure by suggesting that “operations against the so-called KLA [Kosovo Liberation Army] are over.” Without saying whether they were yet in a position to verify that the with- ’Growing Concern Over the Health Situation in drawal was indeed a reality, the allies offered a reminder Refugee Camps,’ Stuart Wallace, AFP (France), that such a gesture would not be enough. They demanded Tirana, 11 May 1999 (in French). a complete withdrawal of Serb forces from the province. Extract: According to officials from humanitarian agencies, numerous refugee camps in Albania, overwhelmed by new arrivals from Kosovo, are faced with serious sanitation problems that could turn disastrous this summer. “The AGAIN, MSF INSISTS ON sanitation problem is one of our main concerns right now, ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION we are overwhelmed,” declared Melita Sunjic, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tirana. “We expect an increase in disease cases during the summer months, some camps are packed, and many of them have only basic sanitation facilities,” she added. Like the other humanitarian organisations, MSF The situation is particularly difficult in refugee camps in expressed to the press its concern over the disastrous northern Albania, where some 15,000 new refugees from health situation in refugee camps in northern Albania. Kosovo arrived last weekend. Although efforts are being UNHCR began to transfer people from these camps, made to relocate the refugees in the southern part of the and those in Macedonia, to southern Albania. The MSF country, where conditions for receiving them are better coordinator in Macedonia insisted on a stronger warn- - UNHCR began a campaign for this purpose Tuesday in ing regarding the dangers faced by Kosovar refugees Kukes - progress to this point has been slow. in NATO-run camps. The MSF USA programme director questioned MSF’s decision not to use UNHCR funds to Pressure on the refugee camps in southern Albania will finance operations for Kosovo refugees. also increase if the transfer of nearly 60,000 refugees currently in neighboring Macedonia takes place as expected. There are currently 423,000 refugees in Albania, 241,000 in Macedonia, 63,000 in Montenegro, and 18,000 in ’With 910,000 Kosovo Refugees, Resources Still Bosnia-Herzegovina. “Water is only available a few hours Inadequate,’ Le Monde (France), 12 May 1999 a day, and in some camps there’s no water at all, or it’s (in French). polluted. We are expecting an increase in skin and eye diseases, typhus, respiratory illnesses, and even chol- Extract: era,” declared Nadine de Lamotte, Medical Coordinator Rejecting China’s demand, backed by Russia, for a halt for Médecins Sans Frontières. Preventive measures have to the bombing, and refusing to give Belgrade - which already been taken: antibiotics and drugs for cholera have announced a partial withdrawal of its troops from Kosovo been sent to the camps, where a vaccination campaign - the slightest benefit of the doubt, on Wednesday, 12 was launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund May the NATO alliance continued its air strikes against (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). These Yugoslavia. NATO indicated that at the moment it had no precautions cannot, however, completely stop diseases evidence of any withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo. and their deadly consequences, according to humanitarian According to NATO, there was no evidence, that the workers. […] According to representatives of humanitar- Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) had been defeated, as ian organisations, the summer heat, which can reach 40°C claimed by Belgrade to explain its “partial withdrawal.” [104°F], added to the already severe sanitation problems The OSCE announced that thirty KLA fighters were wound- (lack of water, insufficient latrines), is going to make the ed at the border between Albania and Kosovo during a situation considerably worse. Yugoslav fighter plane attack.

More than three thousand Kosovar refugees, including several with gunshot wounds, arrived Monday at the 214 northern Albanian border post of Morina. The UN High xx sb tomorrow to goclarify main issuesof concern etc. Mission Albania are up here so team will be sitting down Vincent Janssen,AlexPariselandChristopherHeadof factory in Schrode-that is allfor now. […] Will send you write up - quotes etc - from tobacco are stillplanningtobeinhereforacouplemoreweeks. for atleastthreeweeksthoughBBC;ItaliansandFrench turn up. Journos trying to leave as many have been here There aremorningUNHCRbriefings,butnotalljournos came roundtotheofficealready-sowillkeepaneyeout. name norwhereshewassaying-althoughteamsay radio reporter though none of the journalists knew her not seenanyGermans-alsoseemsthereisaBelgianRTBF Basically mostly Italians, French, US and UK around - have authorities, etc. rather than bytheUNHCR. […] governments withtheAlbaniangovtandNGOslocal The leadershipinthecampsisbeingtakenmoreby and thelocal authorities as well as all the NGO efforts. as there are bilateral agreements between govts armies The coordinationissueisnotassimpleitcouldbe collective centresorfamilies-etcverysimplequestions. comparable standardtothecamps-willtheybeincamps; - busdepttimeswilltherebearoofovertheirheadsof refugees -typeofaccommodationavailabilitylocation able -noteventoNGOs)aboutwhatishappeningwiththe there isnotenoughclearinformation(simplyavail- South Albaniaonavoluntarybasis,butisconcernedthat Albanian govtdecisiontorelocaterefugeesCentraland going etc.MSFpositionisthatsupports[UN]HCRand are terrible-notenoughbusesnoclaritywherethey really move them all even if they did decide to go - roads not fullon-probablybecausethereisn’tthecapacityto tion campaigntogettherefugeesmovesouth:itwas Just toletyouknowthatUNHCRtodaystarteditsinforma- Dear all; Extract: ing, andwhat may beinthepipelinefor the refugeesin crisis tospend timereflectingonwhathas beenhappen- ing withtheimmediateresponse totheKosovorefugee Over thepastfewweeks, all ofushavebeentoobusydeal- Dear all, Re: Kosovo lobbying/témoignage English). Coordinator inAlbania,11May1999(in Bolton MSF International Communication ‘Refugees Moving?’EmailfromSamantha

(in English). tors ofoperations,allsections,14May1999 dinator toallexecutivedirectorsanddirec- Email fromMichielHofman,MSFHollandcoor- ‘Proposed Strategy–KosovoRefugeeCrisis,’ provider ofsecurity andlogisticalsupport. Operation tiative). NATO isbeingdrawnintotheplan asthemain tion and the refugees’ return to Kosovo (McNamara’s ini- jointly byUNHCR,theEUand OFDAtoplanforwinterisa- Note: Foryourinformation, a taskforceisbeingsetup its independent protection role. meet UNHCR’surgentfinancial needs andallow it tofulfil tiality ofthehumanitarianeffortthatdonorgovernments in Albania?). It is crucial to the effectiveness and impar- providing inappropriateaid-doyouhavesimilarstories (We haveevidenceinMacedoniaofNATOcontingents the appropriatemandateandexpertise,suchasUNHCR. not effectivelycoordinatedbyahumanitarianagencywith effective inmeetingitsstatedhumanitarianaimswhen and elsewhere, but NATO has also proven to be less than impartiality andneutralityofhumanitarianeffortshere parties totheconflict a seriousthreat tothenecessary only doesthehumanitarianroleplayedbyoneof ing forcebehindhumanitarianeffortsintheregion.Not *NATO forceshavebeenwidelyportrayedasthedriv- be usedas an incentivetorelocate. with misinformation on what is available in Albania) will provisions (orsimplyreallyshittyconditions,coupled evidence (atleastinMacedonia)thatthedenialofsuch to adequatestandardsofprotectionandcare.Thereis that therefugeeswhochoosenottomoveareentitled long-term status and rights. What no one has said yet is information abouttheirfuturelivingconditionsand itself) the refugees are not receiving full and accurate transfer (fromMacedoniatoAlbania,andwithinAlbania *In alltheongoingprogrammesofrefugeerelocationand seems to believe itwill be inevitable. extremely worryingandshouldberesisted.EvenUNHCR national acceptanceofa‘pressuredreturn’toKosovois NATO wouldsoonensuretheirsafereturn.Growinginter- *Political promises have been made to the refugees that gees inAlbania (see Epicentrereport). the aid is not reachinga sizeable proportion of the refu- extremely vulnerable. MSF has first-hand evidence that the community,mostofwhomarestillunregistered, within each country, and acrossthe region. Refugees in and protectionbetweendifferentgroupsofrefugees *There areconsiderabledifferencesinaccesstoassistance concerns are: in emphasisbetweenAlbaniaandMacedonia,ouroverall open to NATO alone). Though there are some differences the humanitarianagenda(oratleastnotleavefield could tryandworktogethertoshiftthecurrenttermsof If wecouldagreethatsharethosemajorconcerns, future ‘pressured’ repatriation programme into Kosovo * Whatisacceptableandwhatnotwithregardtothe and what should bedone * Whatthemostimmediatethreatsaretorefugees humanitarian aid what itmayholdinstockforthefutureofindependent * WhatitreallymeanstoworkinNATO’sshadowand minds, among other things: that itisreallyimportantforMSFtoclarifyinourown the months to come. MSF Tirana and we in Skopje think 215 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Glorious Return? (on this, see Joelle Tanguy’s note on her nothing more). The next camp in Fier is for the moment, a meeting with the US State Dpt) MSF camp on private funding with no UNHCR involvement, * The political emphasis on the imminent return of the direct deal between MSF and the local authorities. As from refugees to Kosovo may hold back key preparedness pro- my meetings in Albania, it is not really recommended to grammes in host countries, such as winterisation. take UNHCR money but on the other hand it makes it really difficult for our teams to fight for operational space Next steps since UNHCR is dealing major issues at top level with the 1. For MSF directors to discuss and endorse the concerns Albanian Gvt and NATO. Therefore the only solution for above and clearly brief the whole MSF network. MSF, without UNHCR money (and without a real memo- 2. Document the practical evidence of the issues listed randum of understanding) is to be largely operational and above to support témoignage activities (this evidence to occupy as much space as possible, based on our own exists; it just needs to be written and edited in a suitable strengths. format). 3. Liaise with UNHCR at the highest level to assure them This need of operationality is reinforced by the fact that of MSF’s support. Campaign for support for UNHCR’s pro- Mushu, representing UNHCR in Albania will, if he finds tection and coordination role. the opportunity, stab us in the back, especially if he 4. Put pressure on other NGOs and major donors to discuss feels we are weak. This impression comes from a long the real threats to humanitarian principles posed by the meeting Christopher, Vincent and myself had with him in growing involvement of the military. We have to break the Albania. It seems the anger from the early declarations in myth (widely held within NGOs) that NATO is best because Macedonia is still very much present, even at the level of it has the biggest trucks. We must explain why humanitar- McNamara. On a more local basis, as in Kukes, relations ian aid is worthless if not independent. […] are good, and following a meeting with their representa- 5. Conduct a press campaign on the same issue tive, MSF could at that level, develop a rather coherent 6. Throughout, raise awareness in a systematic way of the partnership... but the global logic will come from Tirana. fact that MSF is not NATO funded, and why (it is still not Alex widely known - so we are just another NGO as far as many governments and media are concerned). Antoine’s reply: - We have been vocal to reinforce the role of UNHCR in Issues for future consideration this crisis, (Coordination and Operations) 1. As MSF Tirana rightly points out, all the refugees one - We would like to see less leadership from Gov., especially speaks to say that the only thing they want to do is go by Humanitarian Gov Agencies (i.e. OFDA) back as soon as possible, so our concerns over ‘pressured - By not taking UNHCR money we are weakening the UN return’ may sound unnecessarily paranoid. However, the agencies and develop the competitive spirit by gaining country they want to return to will have changed beyond camps as the Gov. Humanitarian Agencies are doing. recognition, and there is no guarantee yet that all refu- - Nations like Japan have given the major contribution to gees will be able to return to their former homes, or even UNHCR for the Kosovo Emergency, The Swiss Gov. (Do you their region of origin, in safety. Refugee protection is associate Japan with the NATO strategy?). l don’t see, so there for a reason. far, our logic to ignore UNHCR funds and the same time advocating for more coherence and leadership by UNHCR. 2. MSF Tirana also makes a good tactical point: when mak- We are sending signs here that UNHCR has been used by ing a strong case for civilian leadership of humanitarian the funding countries (NATO and others) as a political tool efforts, we must be aware of the less than perfect record in this crisis. Unfortunately, l have no field perspective of the 125 or so NGOs now swarming around Albania regarding this crisis and l might miss some realities. It achieving very little of substance. might be the reason l have problem to second your posi- Looking forward to your comments. tion. “Therefore the only solution for MSF, without UNHCR All the best, money (and without a real memorandum of understand- Michiel Hofman ing) is to be largely operational and to occupy as much space as possible, based on our own strengths.” Thanks to develop. Antoine ’UNHCR and Congress,’ Email exchange between Alex Parisel, MSF Belgium Executive Director and Antoine Gérard, MSF USA Programme Director, 15 May 1999 (in English). In the United States, MSF was involved in the debate Extract: over the respective roles of politics, the military, I reconfirm there is no UNHCR money involved in opera- and humanitarianism in the Kosovo crisis. An article tions involving the Kosovo refugees. There is indeed a appeared in the weekly Newsweek, stated that NATO camp handed over by UNHCR to MSF (there is a one page alone was in a position to respond to the needs of the 216 document signed between MSF and UNHCR to confirm this, refugees, and that humanitarian organisations, includ- Kosovo. the UnitedNationstonegotiateimmediateaccess MSF USAisamember-issuedpressreleaseasking groups includingInterAction,aUSnetworkofwhich cal and media personalities. Three international NGO a callforgroundtroopswassignedbygroupofpoliti- ing MSF,wereactingmerelyassubcontractors.Further, control whois comingbacktoKosovo.Therefore, itdoes will beinvolved intheprocessofrepatriation andwill papers? Iamafraidthatfor sure the Serbianauthorities lation tocrossbacktheborders withthecorrectUNHCR to giveachanceandthelegal toolsfortherefugeepopu- that TODAYeverythingisbeing donebyUNHCRinorder 2/ Ifanyrepatriationplanis onthetable,canwebesure solved in few months. experience tosaythatsuchadramaticsituationisnot deported byforce).Wehaveenoughexperienceandpast tion today;weshouldnotlietotherefugees(whowere we should not necessary think so much about repatria- present futuremonthsofthisrefugeepopulation?And still terrible,andhowmuchweareworriedaboutthe USAID Administrator that the situation in the camps is 1/ Contrarily,shouldwenotsendthemessageto and remarks: reconstruction) issecondary.Tothatlhavefewcomments US$ fordoingwhatevertheywant(Ref:Bosniaandthe repatriation. The idea that the NGOs, which may receive like tosharewithBrianAtwoodthecriteriaforacorrect the US Department of Defence, my US Colleagues would by thespecificagendaofUSStateDepartmentand Kosovo. ThinkingtobesopowerfulandnotguidedatalI tomorrow the Kosovars are back to their lovely, peaceful convinced thattomorrow’snegotiationsaresetandafter Times andtheWashingtonPostonadailybasis,are My USColleagues,weIl-brainwashedbyreadingtheNY good will is theRepatriation of theKosovars to Kosovo. ried bytheNGOcommunitywithalotofconvictionand which isespeciallyworryingmeand,‘naively’car- are goingtobedebatedbytheUSNGO;oneinparticular (Joelle willgotothatmeetingthisTuesday)..Fewpoints this crisis,hedecidedtomeettheCEOofsomethem ing totheUSNGOsthattheyareheardandimportantin will come.Forgleeningsomeideasandtogivethefeel- some pointitisalsosaidthatthefirstLady(Hillary) Administrator isonhiswaynextweektoMacedonia,at iour ofmyUSNGOcolleagues.BrianAtwood,theUSAID States ofAmericaandspecificallytowardsthebehav- Few thingswhichareworryingmehereintheUnited 1999 (inEnglish). managers andMSFteaminMacedonia,7May directors, operationsprogramme Director toMSFUKandFranceexecutive from Antoine Gérard, MSFUSAProgramme ‘Few IssuesofDebate:BalkanCrisis,’Email first but notheonly. any ideasofgovernmentssupportingNATO;theUSis should beextremely vigilant concerninganyrequestand platform ofunderstandingwiththeSerbianleadership.We the workofWesternnegotiatorstofindaminimum representing theinterestsofKosovars.Itfacilitates the role and the re-vindication of any political parties massive pressureonthenegotiationandwillminimize ria fortheirresettlementwithinKosovo.Itwillcreatea NGOs) havepreparedtheirreturnandsetalistofcrite- NGO staff,willbetotallypleasedtoknowthat‘we’»(US the influenceofNATOandassistedbybrainwashedUS The emotionallyvulnerablepopulationofrefugees,under ‘peace negotiations’. US NGOs and media, about the side effects in the coming ings withthisspecificNGOagenda)andechoedbythe launched bytheUSStateDepartment(settingupmeet- the refugees.Wecanquestionourselvesinthisprocess, in thisinsidiousprocessofspreadingwrongmessagesto much wehavebeenusedandreducedtoapuppetrole) participate (againandagain,thiscrisishasshownhow and bysettingresettlementplanswithinKosovo,wewill the refugeesinKosovocomingweeks(ormonths) By disseminatingthenewsofapossiblefuturereturn 3/ The LAST BUTNOT LEAST sideeffect her) ID papers. refugee whohasbeendeportedandstrippedof his (or tion cardwillnotbesohelpfulinenteringKosovofora tion isessential.lbelievethataNATOrefugeeidentifica- reinforce whatwehavebeensayingbefore;thatregistra- the logisticalcapability andthepoliticalmuscle tobuild Macedonia. Only amilitaryorganisationhad themoney, It wasNATOthattookcareof therefugeesinAlbaniaand been blown to pieces. their desire to be able to move across front lines, had their traditionalnormsofneutrality andimpartiality,like refugee exodus began, the aid agencies found that all soldiers. OncetheshootingstartedinYugoslaviaand Borders andtheInternationalRescueCommitteearenot goes beyondthetruththatgroupslikeDoctorsWithout You havetodoitwithmilitaryforce.”Andtheproblem ethnic fascism of Milosevic’s stripe with humanitarian aid. aid workerinAlbaniatoldmerecently,“youcan’tdefeat the resourcesorpowertodoso.AsoneAmerican to do good. It is another to believe that they have either selves. Itisonethingtoinsistthathumanitarianswant The Kosovocrisisdemonstratesthatwewerekiddingour - Extract: May 1999(in English). Problems,’ DavidRieff,Newsweek(USA),10 Humanitarian Solutionsto Relief WorkersaBitterLesson:ThereareNo ‘The DeathofaGoodIdea-KosovoisTeaching 217 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

camps for hundreds of thousands. If NATO were to with- eras. Even today, more than half of the Kosovar refugees draw from the camps in Macedonia, where the Kosovar have taken shelter in private homes, where only private refuges are hated by the ethnic Macedonian majority, a agencies are reaching them. Most of the world’s current new catastrophe would be all but a certainty. The relief war victims - from Sudan to Sri Lanka - depend on impar- agencies, which seemed so essential only a decade ago, tial humanitarian aid for their survival. have functioned more like subcontractors in this crisis - a trend that is only likely to accelerate as private companies like Brown & Root and Bouygues bid for contracts to build and maintain camps the way they bid for other construc- ‘Only Ground Troops Will End Ethnic Cleansing tions projects. in Kosovo,’ Petition from the Balkan Action Council, 13 May 1999 (in English). Only NATO, and certainly not the relief agencies, can resolve the worsening refuge crisis - one that will Extract: grow worse so long as Kosovo remains in the hands of Dear President Clinton, Milosevic’s thugs. Relief agencies would have to negotiate Mr. President, bombing alone will not stop Slobodan access with the very murders that caused the disaster. The Milosevic’s campaign of murder, rape, plunder and forced bitter lesson of Kosovo is that there are no humanitarian deportation. Milosevic must not be allowed to negotiate a solutions to humanitarian problems. In future disasters “compromise” that rewards his campaign of terror. NATO the central role will be played by private companies that ground troops combined with air strikes are needed to have the expertise and governments that have the power. end the killing of Kosovars, stop the systematic destruction of their homes and towns, prevent the deportation of more refugees, and return peace to south-eastern Europe. Your leadership is crucial for achieving NATO victory. We ‘Letters to the Editor,’ Newsweek, MSF USA, 17 believe the following goals are essential: May 1999 (in English). -Saving the lives of the nearly one million Kosovars now facing death from starvation and murder within Kosovo. ln “The Death of a Good Idea” (May 10, 1999) commen- -Removal of all Serbian forces from Kosovo. tator David Rieff writes, “The bitter lesson of Kosovo is -Return of all refugees to their homes to begin the that there are no humanitarian solutions to humanitarian rebuilding process. problems.” But contrary to Rieff’s assertion that Kosovo is -Establishment of a NATO-safeguarded international pro- teaching aid agencies about the limits of humanitarian- tectorate for Kosovo. ism, Doctors Without Borders has always known that the -Indictment of Milosevic and all other Serbian officials presence of medical aid is not enough to stop the forces responsible for war crimes in Kosovo. of oppression. Solutions to man-made humanitarian crises are always political, never humanitarian. Realizing this nearly 30 years ago, Doctors Without Borders helped usher in an era of witnessing and advocacy combined with the provision of aid. During the war in Bosnia, for example, I remember quite well having argued with David our doctors provided what assistance they could to the Rieff [journalist] when he returned from the victims of the conflict, all the while denouncing the lack Macedonian border, where he had met with James of international protection for those who faced the mas- Orbinsky. He had told him: “Your statements don’t go far sacres. enough, you should say more what you think should be done, etc. The criticism that some, like us, were making Rieff is wrong in concluding that only military powers like was: “MSF speaks out on the violence against villages in NATO can now provide effective humanitarian aid. The Kosovo, but offers no recommendations.” In Anglo-Saxon “humanitarian” goals of NATO’s war on Yugoslavia and culture, this is hard to comprehend: “You come with your subsequent assistance to refugees should not be confused témoignage, so what? What do you think should be done? with the independent human-to-human aid provided by And, MSF always says: we don’t say what should be done. groups like Doctors Without Borders. NATO’s eagerness That’s your responsibility, not ours.”’ And later, if they don’t to provide relief to Kosovar refugees, often to the point do anything, we say to them: “You’re not doing anything. of muscling independent aid agencies to the wayside, The ambiguity of this is that in speaking out, we are encour- must be seen as a part of an insidious trend toward the aging military intervention; somewhere in there we’re talk- involvement of military bodies in humanitarian work. ln ing about protection, intervention. Our discourse is ambigu- embracing the cause of the refugees, NATO is overstep- ous - you won’t find a single press conference where MSF ping its military mandate, and betraying its leaders’ lack clearly says that. But the pressure we exert on governments of political solutions to the original problems facing the is a pressure to intervene. Saying: “This is happening, and Kosovar population. Clinton is doing nothing”’ is the same as saying: “Clinton should send troops.” Contrary to Rieff, aid is working successfully around the Since Somalia, and Kurdistan, we’re still hesitant to talk 218 globe, but usually takes place away from television cam- about intervention, but in reality I think we’re very ambigu- Kosovars as acrime against humanity. of itsownreportqualifyingtheviolenceagainst of ethniccleansing,MSFstillstoodbytheconclusions the Greeksection’sexploratorymissiononreality ment leadersthat,despitethedoubtsexpressedby Secretary of theInternationalOffice reminded move- the MSF Greece doctors were pro-Serbian. The General ing the tormenter and the victim, and claimed that France Foundation, responded that Debray was confus- Libération, RonyBrauman,ResearchDirectoroftheMSF In the15May1999editionofFrenchdaily statements with thedoctors from MSFGreece. attributed toSerbforces.Hesuggestedverifyinghis and expresseddoubtsaboutthescopeofatrocities questioned France’sdecisiontosupportNATObombing, returned fromKosovo,totheFrenchpresident.Init,he the writer-philosopherRégisDebray,whohadjust lowing day,LeMondepublishedanopenletterfrom UNHCR, FIDH,HumanRightsWatchandMSF.Thefol- of Kosovars,basedonwitnessaccountscollectedby Monde published a long article on the mass exodus In its12May1999edition,theFrenchdailyLe when it’s happening. conscious ofhavingcontributedtothat.It’snotsoclear analysis oftheintervention.Butatfirst,wewerenotvery ated process of deportation from Kosovo. That’s my current risk to participants- —we endedupsetting off an acceler- that -asaresultofaninterventiondesignedtolimitthe caused a more acute humanitarian crisis. The reality is important asthefactthattherebeanintervention-have ing clearlythattheparametersofaninterventionareas government intervention in the Kosovo crisis without say- heard assuch.Isaythatwehumanitarians-bydemanding ous. Somewhere,evenifwedon’tsayitexplicitly,is days after the first NATO air raids on Serbia. Since March Albanians from Kosovo began on March 27 and 28, four as ‘crimesagainsthumanity’. […]Themassexodusof They attesttoexecutions,rapes andpracticesthatqualify and destroycivilregistries, land registries,andproperty. tions, confirmtheintention todeportthepopulation for HumanRights[FIDH]and thehumanitarianorganisa- Commissioner forRefugees,theInternationalFederation Their accounts, validated by the United Nations High thousand are still roaming within the country’s borders. ethnic purificationbytheSerbs,andseveralhundred 900,000 AlbanianshavefledKosovosincethestartof Extract: (France) 12 May 1999(inFrench). Mass ExodusinKosovo,’MarieJégo,LeMonde ’Ethnic Purification in Kosovo – SevenWeeks of [...], Executive Director, MSF USA(inFrench). homes where they were attacked once again.” […] At the once, theywere told“togobackandto return totheir to “contradictoryorders,”after havingbeenchasedaway long detoursinsteadoftaking theshortestroute.”Subject to MSF,deporteeconvoyswere sometimes“forcedtomake they cannotstrayfromtheroute withoutrisk.”According route. Thesepeopleareforced totakeaparticularroute… paramilitary controltheconvoyofdeporteesallalong acter ofthedeportations?“Soldiers,police,andarmed and villages are to be found.” Proof of the enforced char- of displacedrepresentingentirefamilies,neighbourhoods by forceandterror.Ontheothersideofbordergroups entire populationofagivenarea.Thevillages are emptied majority ofcases,themilitaryobjectiveistodeport report’s firstconclusion,whichcontinues:“Inthevast cause ofpopulationmovementsisdeportation,”readsthe Pec, Pristina)betweenMarch25andApril16.“Themain Drenica, Mitrovica,Orahovac,Klina,Prizren,Istokand three townsinKosovo(thatis,eightregions:Dakovica, validated theaccounts of 639peopleforcedoutforty- (Montenegro, Albania,andKosovo)havecollected […] MSFteamsoperatinginthethreeadjacentcountries statutes.” against humanity,“asprovidedinArticle5oftheICT a methodicalandsystematicfashion,”qualifyascrimes and persecutions,“planned,considered,conductedin According toFIDH,theseassassinations,deportations, International Criminal Tribunalfor the formerYugoslavia. qualification tothesecrimes-willbesent,inpart,the – especiallythatofFIDH,whichsetsouttogivealegal with MédecinsduMonde–draftedreports.Thesereports Watch, aswelltheOSCEandFIDH–inpartnership radio station.MédecinsSansFrontièresandHumanRights who arefleeing,butalsotheSerbs,”hetoldaSpanish Kosovo thatissuffering.[...]ItnotjusttheAlbanians while inMadridonApril15.Itis“theentirepopulationof Igor Ivanov,theRussianForeignAffairsMinisterhadsaid, place. “WecannotspeakofethnicpurificationinKosovo,” in Belgradeandelsewhere,thatethniccleansingevertook refugee accounts—whichshouldsilence those who deny, recently setouttometiculouslycollectandcomparethe widely publishedbytheworldpress.SeveralNGOshave Macedonia andMontenegro.Theiraccountshavebeen by Milosevic’s soldiers, comes from refugees in Albania, the province, and on the scale of exactions committed […] Infact,theonlyinformationonsituationinside Rozaje, Montenegro,toldMédecins Sans Frontières (MSF). had fledfromIstokwithherfatherandfivechildrento fall of1998]hadbeenburned,”a44-year-oldwomanwho which haddeployed1,400verifiersonthegroundin [Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, sies andthenburneddownbythepolice.TheOSCEhouse western Kosovo].Thehouseshadbeenlootedbythegyp- shot. Iwenttothecitycenter[thiswasinIstok,a us toleave:“Youhaveleaveifyoudon’twantbe March 27,thepoliceshowedupatmyhouseandordered paramilitaries, andtheYugoslavarmy.“OnSaturday, ly executedcampaignofforcedexpulsionsbythepolice, southwest, PecandIstokinthewest–followingacareful- 25, citieshavebeenemptied–PrizrenandDakovicainthe 219 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

moment of expulsion, “the men are often separated from However, certain accounts that I collected, and later the women.” A 28-year-old man from the Klina region checked in the places of origin, turned out to be grossly (emptied of its residents between March 25 and April 12), exaggerated, not to say inaccurate. This changes noth- recounts: “Police entered our house the 28th of March ing, of course, in terms of the disgraceful scandal of and told us to go to Albania. Around 3,000 people were this exodus. […] “The ethnic cleansing continues…” I gathered in the streets. On the road, we were stopped by was outraged by the accumulation of license plates at police and were told to keep our hands in the air for quite the border post across from Albania, and of the identity a long time. The police then separated men over 16 from papers of those leaving. It was out of fear, they told me, the rest of the group. They took us somewhere and then and that the ’terrorists”’would sneak back in, by stealing told us to get undressed and to turn to face the manned them to disguise cars and falsify documents. Many were machine-guns. We stayed there, in the rain, for two hours. able to escape, from the modest amount I observed, but Some snipers targeted several men in the group.” the German Minister of Defense lied, on May 6, when he […] An epidemiological survey conducted by MSF in mid- declared that there were “between 600,000 and 900,000 April among the Kosovar refugees in Rozaje, Montenegro displaced people inside Kosovo.” This would not go unno- to assess the impact of atrocities against the civilian ticed, in a 10,000-square kilometre region, by an observer population showed an overall distribution by person and traveling from east to west and north to south in one by sex that was ‘normal’. However, “the figure for males day. In Pristina, which is still home to tens of thousands in the 15 to 55 age group is under-represented. This may of Kosovars, you can eat in Albanian pizzerias, in the indicate that a proportion [13%, according to the report] company of Albanians. Might not our ministers question of men have stayed on to fight, or are dead,” the sur- cool-headed witnesses over there – Greek doctors from vey concludes. […] While the massacres don’t appear to Médecins Sans Frontières, clerics, or popes? qualify as systematic, men, women and children were killed or injured during grenade attacks on their houses, others were killed as their possessions were being stolen, and still others were victims of police shooting them for not obey- ’Debray Sees What he Believes,’ Rony Brauman, ing quickly enough, or if they resisted the expulsion order. PH, Former president of MSF, Libération Finally, anyone likely to “slow the deportations (the handi- (France), 15-16 May 1999 (in French). capped, elderly, or invalids) were executed or left behind in Kosovo.” In almost all cases, the witness accounts Extract: mention that the violence was committed by police and Régis Debray lays blame for the Kosovar exodus on the KLA, masked paramilitaries, among whom many witnesses say the violence, the generalised fear and - on the same level they recognised “Serb neighbors or local police.” - NATO strikes and Serb militias. Yet we know that every time it has been difficult, or impossible, to go to where atrocities are being committed - like Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, or Ethiopia - it was the validated accounts ’ Letter from a Traveler to the President of the of refugees that gave an accurate picture of the situa- Republic,’ Régis Debray, Le Monde (France), 13 tion. Based on such accounts, reports by Médecins Sans May 1999 (in French). Frontières, FIDH/IFHR (International Federation for Human Rights) and Médecins du Monde have clearly established Extract: the existence and systematic execution of a prepared plan, Having just returned from Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo, a programme of terror and expulsions in Kosovo. We are I feel it’s my duty to share my impressions with you: I’m in a position to demonstrate that this exodus is the result afraid, Mr President, that we’re on the wrong track. […] of a deliberate strategy. Debray doesn’t know of the pro- Don’t think I am biased. I have spent the past week in gramme by Serbian nationalists to take back Kosovo, and Macedonia, witnessed the arrival of the refugees, and pretends not to know that a programme, by its very nature, listened to their stories. Like many others, I was deeply will not be visible. He ‘forgets’ the weight of the frenzied moved by them. I wanted, at all costs, to go see ‘from memory of the Serbs, he forgets Vukovar, Srebrenica, and the other side’ to see how such a crime was possible. As I the bloody events of recent years - committed by Serb sol- distrust Intourist-type trips, or traveling as a journalist by diers and paramilitaries now at work in Kosovo. bus, I asked the Serbian authorities for my own translator, It is not surprising that Debray relies, for his proof, on my own vehicle, and the freedom to go and talk to whom- the Greek MSF doctors who, like the majority of Greeks, ever I pleased. Agreement respected. Was the interpreter are pro-Serbian; their first priority is to bring relief to important? Yes. Because I realized, to my great displea- the Serbs, by the same inversion that Debray now makes sure – but what else can you do? - that in Macedonia and in transforming aggressor into victim. In this way, Régis Albania one can, unwisely, put oneself in the hands of Debray goes from a stimulating critique of ‘droit-de- the locals who, KLA sympathizers or members for the most l’hommisme’ [human rights-ism], as he says, to a sort of part, lend the newly arrived foreigner their viewpoint and oblique apology for Milosevic’s dictatorship. This transi- their network. There are too many accounts of atrocities tion is accomplished primarily by using NATO’s propa- to doubt they have an unquestionable basis in reality. gandistic excesses, the impasses of this quasi-war, and 220 the enormous failures of the allied intervention. Debray return toAthens, thepresidentof Greek section On 14May1999, atapressconference givenonhis because I criticised those who weredemonising him. disagreed withhimwhogavesomemeasuredsupport, the heavens. But I think I was the only one of those who Laden talking!TheGreeksandSerbsinParispraisedhimto a suddenLePen[leaderoftheFrenchfar-right]orBin within theboundsoflegitimacy.It’snotasifitwasall with thefactthatheshouldbeabletoexpresshimself correspond withreality.SoIdisagreehim,butagree washed andsuckedinbyfleetingimpressionsthatdonot makes, is natural. I blame him for letting himself get brain- criticising himforthestupidthingshesays,mistakes of warisoutrageous,inadmissible.Ontheotherhand, plurality, andchoice.SodemonisingDebrayforhisrejection -that it’sopentodebate.”Bydefinition,politicssupposes between good and evil into which the humanitarian pulls us is a political conflict - and not a metaphysical conflict reintroduce politicsbysaying:“Itispreciselybecausethis leading, ‘propagandistic’position,Isawanopportunityto to RégisDebray’sveryquestionable,sometimesevenmis- paradoxal politics.AndIsupportedthispolicy.Inreacting are no humanitarian wars. War is the epitome of politics - the ideathatthiswasahumanitarianwar,becausethere respond, itwasthesubjectofhumanitarianwar.Irefuted the Greekdoctorsinhisarticlethatmotivatedmeto their independence. Algerians intheirtime,theKosovarsarerighttodemand himself goesallthewayandacknowledgesthat,like we should compare the situation with that of Algeria, he Hitler. Ontheotherhand,sinceDebraysuggeststhat the politicalprogrammesaredifferent.Milosevicisnot is stupid–thesufferingcannotbecomparedbecause using theterm‘genocide’.ThecomparisonwithHitlerism Our onlypointofagreementistheinappropriateness anything that resists the US. rejects everything that comes from the US and reveres a heightthathedeniesallhumanrealities,radically One getsthe feeling that he elevates state politics to such thus the United States,is the realthreat to theworld. what hesawbutbelieved-thatNATO,and succumbed topreciselythesamething.Hedidn’tbelieve with information.Well,duringthistripinYugoslavia,he cisely to criticise a sort of ingenuousness when confronted civilisation to“believe(in)oureyes,”hewrotethatpre- himself says,inoneofhisbooks,thatwewerethefirst won himover.Itwasn’tthefactthathementioned told methathedidawholenumbercompletely The GreekdoctorinPristinawasOdysseas.Debray Rony Brauman, Director of studies,MSFFrance Foundation (in French). by NATO on aroad in Serbia. earlier, MDMhadalreadyclaimeditbeenbombed of failingtorespect‘humanitariancorridors’.Aweek traveling on was bombed by NATO, which he accused claimed thattheroadwhichMSFGreece’scarwas ernment involvement, distribution of goods, escort, etc. agreement with the way it was implemented: Greek gov- was fromtheirproper[own] initiative andwewerenotin that wedonotendorsetheir conclusions;theirmission contradictory with the MSF Greecemission, we can answer - Ifitissaidbyjournalists thattheseconclusionsare against humanity. of adeportation,’qualifyingwhathappenedascrime - MSFismaintainingtheconclusionsofitsreport‘story way), we proposetostick to thefollowing position: case you are asked by journalists (and not in a proactive interpretations inthatsensearemadebyjournalists.In was notsuchastatementmadebythemissionopenly,but nic cleansingrealityinKosovo.Asfarasweknow,there Yugoslavia, atleastinFrance,isaquestioningoftheeth - You mightknowthatanoutcomeoftheGreekmissionin Extract: this incident, which hasstill not beenelucidated. Greek governmentdemandedanexplanationregarding on theroadfromMacedonianbordertoPristina.The the organisation’sconvoyshadbeentargetedbybombing ers fromMédecinsduMonde-Greececlaimedthatoneof showed thepressashellfragment.On5May,Greeklead- the fields along the roadway,” added Mr Boudouris, who to Nis,wesaw,50mfromtheroad,signsofbombingin that bombedNisheavily.Whenwecontinuedonourway 14:00. Anhourlaterweheardfiveorsixwavesofplanes 10-15 kmfromNis,andhadtostopatagaragearound painted on the vehicle’s roof as agreed. “We broke down the carwasflyingan of theirroutebytheGreekMinisterForeignAffairs, ence. ThesurgeonaddedthatNATOhadbeeninformed by NATOforces,MrBoudourisstatedatapressconfer- Greece teambacktowastravel,bombed 5 kmfromNis,alongwhichacartransportinganMSF- Wednesday nearNis,inYugoslavia.Asectionoftheroute, to respecthumanitariancorridors”afteranincidenton Boudouris, expresseddoubtsFriday “on NATO’swillingness The PresidentofMédecinsSansFrontières-Greece,Odysseas Extract:

Athens, 14May 1999 (inFrench). Respect “HumanitarianCorridors,’ ’MSF GreeceQuestionsNATO’sWillingnessto 1999 (inEnglish). Secretary GeneraltoMSFDirectors,14May Jean-Marie Kindermans,MSFInternational ’MSF GreeceExploMission,’ MSFflag,andaGreekflaghadbeen Message from AFP (France), 221 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

It is good for you to know also that AFP has released a On 18 May 1999, the Swiss section informed the Greek statement where MSF Greece (Odysseas) says he doubts section that it was ending their collaboration for two of NATO will to respect humanitarian corridors (?), in reasons: its failure to respond to their proposal to Yugoslavia. In his statement, he says that his mission recruit a joint programme manager, and its continua- might have been targeted by NATO planes in its trip back tion of the exploratory mission in Kosovo and Serbia. to Greece (meanwhile there is no evidence of it in the They left it to the International Council to decide how report but we do not have any comment). There might also to respond to MSF Greece’s actions. be a continuation to their explo mission. More on that next week. Best regards. Jean-Marie ‘Partnership Proposal between MSF Switzerland and MSF Greece within the Framework of the Common Operational Centre,’ addressed to the Greek Executive Board by the Swiss Executive We went our separate ways in Belgrade. I headed for Board, on 9 May 1999 (in English). Pristina, Odysseas and Antonis, the surgeon, headed for Nis, then Sofia. They missed a very heavy bomb- Extract: ing raid on Nis. Their car was broken, they had problems. The collaboration between our two sections with the They went to Sofia just to take the plane. I don’t know why Common Operational Centre (COC) has deteriorated in the they didn’t want to take the road from Skopje to Athens, last few days, and it seems to me that a rupture is possible and went via Bulgaria. A week earlier, Médecins du Monde- at very short notice. Like you, the Executive Board of MSF Greece had made a fuss because one of their cars had just Switzerland wishes to go on with our collaboration. Please missed being bombed outside of Pristina, on its way to find below an ultimate and non negotiable proposal to try Blace. I have to say that they took that route without ask- to find terms enabling the continuation of our joint work. ing NATO’s permission. And then they made a fuss! Everyone in Greece saw on TV that MDM had been bombed. First, I think it is necessary to clarify some issues: - The COC is part of a framework which has been defined Antonis Rigas, Logistician, MSF Greece (in French). by the IC during its meeting in 1998 in Amsterdam. The unilateral decision of MSF Greece to appoint an Operations Director for Athens and to undertake an exploratory mission in Kosovo is clearly a violation of this framework. Consequently, our proposal will be cancelled if you main- Odysseas returned to Athens before the others. He tain Dimitris Richter as Operations Director, or if any MSF took a public stand against NATO, accusing it of hav- Greece’s activities in Kosovo is carried on, without the ing bombed MSF Greece’s car. First he claimed: “We formal clearance of the operational centres, following the were bombed,” then he delivered a second - pretty neutral end of your exploratory mission (this exploratory mission - message, to the effect that: “They don’t need clothes; they will be considered over with the return of any of the par- need medicines and sanitation supplies.” Of the two mes- ticipants). sages - “The bombs” and: “Don’t give clothes, give drugs” - it - MSF Switzerland absolutely does not consider withdraw- was the bombs that made headlines. All the newspapers and ing from the desk in Athens the missions in foreign coun- television stations were talking about it. Odysseas was the tries as you seem to fear. [...] man of the hour, the guy who made it through the bombs… - The current situation reflects a serious crisis in our col- He used a humanitarian pretext: “There is a need for medi- laboration and with the whole MSF movement in general. cines,” to promote a political message: ATO isn’t playing its In such a situation, we think that the solutions we intend part, its bombing humanitarians,” etc. Besides, I’m not at adopting will quickly solve the most urgent points. all sure that they were bombed. NATO denied it. In my opinion, if NATO had bombed them, their officials would have In consequence we make you the following proposal: admitted it. They did bomb Serbian television and the 1) To nominate a programme manager for the desk in Chinese embassy, and then they said: “Sorry we did that.” Athens whose qualifications are higher than the average MDM had said the same thing, and had also made the front in order to guarantee not only the quality of work nor- page of the papers. If you say you got bombed in Yugoslavia, mally demanded by the MSF missions, but also to ensure you get donors, the press, and the newspapers. So I think an excellent taking over of the current operations. It is that the story was manipulated. From then on, it was clear necessary, as there is no daily relationship with Geneva. to me that Odysseas was secretly pursuing his own personal The need of such a programme manager is also explained goals within the framework of a political agenda. In my by the difficulties resulting from the geographical remote- opinion, he had a hidden agenda, which explains all the dif- ness, and to a consequently less important involvement of ferent roles he played at the time. the Geneva-based operations director. The structural conditions submitted to the office in Athens will have to be Sotiris Papaspyropoulos, Honorary President, equivalent to the conditions proposed to other operation- 222 MSF Greece (in French). al centres. In order to ensure the most effective recruiting the COC. solution ifwewanttopreserveacertainsubstancewithin that theemergencyofsituationrequiresaradical You willprobablyfindthisproposalisbrutal,butwethink details described above. after theendofexploratorymission,accordingto - IftheactivitiesofMSFGreeceinKosovoarecarriedon director in Athensismaintained - Iftheunilateraldecisiontonominateanoperations posal - If the Executive Board of MSF Greece refuses this pro- lowing reasons. within theCOCandtransmitfiletoICforfol- 6) MSFSwitzerlandwillimmediatelystopthecollaboration Athens. [...] latter isreplacingThierryDurandregardingthedeskin this positionunderVincentFaber’ssupervision as the ing tothenormalprocedure,DimitrisRichtercouldhold NB: Tillthenewprogrammemanagerisidentified,accord- ever, the final decision will betaken by Geneva. simultaneously byMSF-GreeceandMSFSwitzerland;how- proceedings, the recruitment will have to be performed witnesses practical difficulties,whichcould haveprob- our wishtoabandon thecommonoperational centre,but Operations Director,isabsolutely nottheexpressionof unilateral withdrawal.Theresignation ofThierryDurand, against thepresentationaccusing MSFSwitzerlandofa some terms usedbyOdysseas are false, and I am formally MSF Greece to do the same quickly. Finally, l think that bers ofthisdelegationinGenevatodayandwewillask neutral information delegation. We will meet the mem- Until then,wesupportJamesOrbinsky’sproposalofa its next meeting inAmsterdam on 11June. International Counciltotakeastandonthisissueduring on theactivitiesofMSF-GreecewithinMSF,werequest In ordertodeterminetherepercussionsofthesedecisions Council. go beyondtheframeworkdefinedbyInternational in KosovowithoutMSF-Switzerland’sconsentandto - TheGreeksectionhasdecidedtocarryonitsaction telephone calls to Odysseas and Sotiris. posal, notevenanacknowledgementofreceiptdespitemy - Wehavenotreceivedanyanswerfromyoutothispro the more that: We therefore consider that the collaboration is over, all tion withintheGreek-SwissCommonOperationalCentre. addressed toyoulast9Maytrysaveourcollabora- now aflatrefusaloftheultimateproposalwhichhadbeen Executive BoardofMSFSwitzerlandconsidersthatitis Further toOdysseas’smessagereceivedthismorning,the Dear Greek Friends, Extract: 1999 (inFrench). President toMSFGreecePresident,18May Letter fromOlivierDechevrens,MSFSwitzerland

Kosovo deserted. diers. Inresponse,somelocalsoldiersstationedin crackdown onprotestsbythefamiliesofSerbiansol- Montenegro. InsouthernSerbia,therewasasevere denounced thehampering of humanitarian action in ensure security. On 21 May 1999, Médecins du Monde trated thegroupsofrefugees,wasfindingithardto Serb armedforcesandtheKLA,whichhadinfil- strikes. TheMontenegrinpolice,caughtbetweenthe ported theG8decisionsbutaskedforahalttoNATO president, anopponentoftheMilosevicregime,sup- the officialwithdrawalannouncement.Montenegro’s Serb forcesinnorth-western Kosovo that contradicted In Montenegro,therefugees reported offensives by Olivier Dechevrens President On behalf of MSFSwitzerland Sincerely, I look forward tomeeting you inAthens. is nomore trust between our twosections. have nowreachedadeadlockandltonotethatthere turn ofeventsandIamnotopposedtoadialoguebutwe has obviouslynotbeentakenintoaccount.Iregretthe section. In addition, the proposal of the Executive Board ily, aroundthisresignationhasbeenrejectedbytheGreek the general director of MSF Switzerland to get, temporar- Moreover, theproposalwhichhasbeenrapidlymadeby ably beenovercomeaftercorrectionofthesedifficulties. that is).Themen areseparatedfromthe women, beaten belongings and theirpapers(thosethatstill havethem, used inMontenegro:therefugees arestrippedoftheir effective. Oneoftheroutines commoninKosovoisalso ies fromvariouscountries). Butthishelpisnotalways whom thepeopleherecall ‘Frankic’(Serbianmercenar- patrols -especially,theysay, ‘paramilitaries’fromKosovo, Muslims stilllivinginborderhamletshelprefugeesavoid of theobjectivesistoscreencolumnsrefugees. of military supplies and convoys toward Kosovo. One May 10alsocoincidedwiththemovement,inMontenegro, Rozaje. Announcementofthe‘withdrawal’inBelgradeon tral Kosovo,claimsaKosovarjournalisttakingrefugein the former KLA stronghold turned martyred zone incen- then theMokramountainsand,attheirfoot,Drenica - operations intendedtoemptyfirsttheRugovamountains, to withdrawfromKosovo,theyareonceagainlaunching ants intoRozaje.NotonlyaretheSerbsnotbeginning pushed a new influx of families and Kosovar combat- Recent Serb offensives in north-western Kosovo have Extract: 1999 (inFrench). Sophie Shihab,LeMonde(France),16May Irregulars UsetheSameMethodsasinKosovo,’ ’In Rozaje,Montenegro,SerbianSoldiersand 223 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

and led away. This happened Thursday to fifty-four men Robert Breen, a representative of the United Nations High whose wives and children were still waiting, Friday, unsure Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), told le Monde: “There whether they’d ever see them again. […] are rumors that some have been released, but if we are to believe the refugees we talked to, the number of arrests The Kosovars are trying, however, to take advantage of the could be as high as one hundred.” Crying women and chil- confused situation to see who’s in charge in Montenegro. dren were picked up at Tuzi, an ethnic Albanian town near The Belgrade army accuses the Montenegrin police of the border, where the Montenegrin police stopped the fol- pro-Western ‘treachery’. Clashes between them were just lowing buses to prevent them from falling into the hands barely averted thanks to political compromise. And so the of the army. Yet for the ten previous days, the army had police, outnumbered, had little say when the army set up stopped harassing buses coming from Rozaje, the entry roadblocks to search for KLA members. Yet never, confirm point for deportees from Kosovo. It had allowed them to the humanitarian organisations, has a bus been stopped go on unhindered to Albania, even though some of the along the road leading to the only open border between vehicles were transporting only men, who were probably Montenegro and Albania. Could there be a tacit agreement KLA recruits. It was in the interest of the military to see between the police and soldiers to rid Montenegro of ’terrorists’ leaving the FRY so that they would not have to Albanian ‘terrorists’? Very likely. As for the police, they’ve ‘deal with’ them. […] proven themselves powerless in another, minor, case: the robbery of a Médecins Sans Frontières jeep by soldiers, Moreover, a group of Serb ‘paramilitary men’ flexed its who boarded four vehicles in front of the Kristal camp, muscles by staging an incursion into the mountain town at the exact place from which the bus left at dawn. […] of Rozaje, whose population is made up of Muslim Slavs. Dozens of the town’s inhabitants gathered in front of The High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which the police station and asked to be armed so they could has only a handful of representatives here, emphatically protect themselves. At the same time, according to wit- requested on Friday that the government transfer the nesses, truckloads of soldiers arrived in the region. On the refugees to southern Montenegro. But there are still many same day, a thousand soldiers crossed the large mountain obstacles. The refugees themselves are not all convinced, village of Cetinje, the old capital of Montenegro and and it is suspected that the KLA wants to establish a stronghold of the independence movement. No sooner had bridgehead in Rozaje, where access to Kosovo would be they arrived than a thousand police, armed and wearing less heavily mined than on the Albanian side. helmets, deployed right behind them… This confrontation between the police and the army, as well as rumors of a coup, has been a constant feature of life in Montenegro since Milo Djukanovic was elected in 1997, defeating ’ Yugoslav Army Steps Up Pressure in Montenegro,’ Slobodan Milosevic’s protégé. Is the army’s threat more Sophie Shihab, Le Monde (France) 18 May, serious this time? “Nothing is more dangerous than a 1999 (in French). wounded tiger,” say Montenegrins who, like their president, are waiting for the dictator in Belgrade to fall. Extract: With dozens of refugees from Kosovo arrested, border crossings closed, and various troop movements, on Sunday, May 16 the Yugoslav army stepped up the pres- ’MDM Condemns Restrictions on Humanitarian sure it has been exerting off and on since March 24 on Work in Montenegro,’ Paris, AFP (France), 21 Montenegro’s pro-Western government. The protection it May, 1999 (in French). is giving to members of the opposition from Belgrade, and the visits made to Europe by Milo Djukanovic, the Extract: President of this tiny state, a recalcitrant member of the In a press release, MDM drew attention to the fact that Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), have raised the on May 5, Belgrade authorities designated “six border ire of Belgrade and the Montenegrin opposition, which crossings for receiving humanitarian aid, none of which is is demanding the impeachment of the head of state. on the border with Montenegro. As a result, Médecins du Accused of treason for his meetings with ‘the enemy’ in Monde’s humanitarian cargo is still tied up in Dubrovnik, Germany, Austria and France, according to close aides, Mr Croatia. It is now impossible to enter or move around in Djukanovic is nevertheless determined to go to Brussels Montenegro without a federal visa issued by Belgrade,” Monday, where he has been invited to meet with European and this week, an MDM volunteer “with a visa issued in foreign ministers. […] Croatia” was turned back by the federal Yugoslav army near the border between Croatia and Montenegro, “which But the most serious consequences of this harder line highlights the impossibility for MDM to replace its teams were felt on Saturday at the single border crossing to on the ground.” MDM “is concerned about the immedi- Albania. Not only did the army prevent buses transport- ate shortage of emergency products […] but also about ing refugees from Kosovo, in transit to Montenegro, from the protection gap that could be created by an absence passing through the border, but also at least twenty-five of humanitarian workers in Montenegro” and asks “the 224 men were forced off the bus and subsequently arrested. Yugoslav and Montenegrin authorities to do everything accordance with basic humanitarian principles.” organisations withaccesstothecivilianpopulations,in within theirpowerwithoutdelaytoprovidehumanitarian where it is headquartered. was widelyreportedbymediaintheUnitedKingdom, in itsroleasemergencyaidcoordinator.Itsmessage cised NATOanddemandedthatUNHCRbestrengthened in Albania,thehumanitarianorganisationOXFAMcriti- On May 18 1999, while the British Prime Minister was peace movement. from Belgrade-themediahavebeencloselyfollowingthis Federation -whichhasbeenincreasinglydistancingitself Montenegro, Serbia’stinypartnerrepublicintheYugoslav press inBelgradehasbeensilentonthedesertion.But of theircommanders,tohometown.Naturally,the trucks Wednesdaywiththeirweapons,againsttheorders from theregionwhohadbeensenttoKosovoreturnedin in Krusevachadbeenrepressed,nearly1,000soldiers After learningthattheirfamilies’anti-wardemonstrations diers desertedenmasseonWednesday,May19inKosovo. for theYugoslavpresident,firsttime,Serbiansol- Slobodan Milosevic.Andperhapsevenmoredangerously said tobefirmlyunitedbehinditspresident,isdefying the firsttime,Serbianpopulation,whichhadbeen against thewarinKosovocontinuouslyforfourdays.For from theKrusevacregioninsouthernSerbiademonstrated back, butnotincoffins!”Shoutingtheseslogans,people “The deaddon’tneedKosovo!Wewantoursonstocome Extract: In fact,NATO countries were onlytooeagertobypass criticised earlier inthecrisisforfailingto takethelead. need UNHCRtoregaintheleadership. UNHCRwasindeed uncoordinated, withdifferent standardsofquality.We of well-meaningactivities,but mostofthemaretotally «A lotofplayers,includingNATO, areengagedinallsorts Balkans emergency coordinator: interview thismorningwithMarcusThompson,their excellent job.Iquoteextractsfroma‘Today’programme all overtheBritishmediathismorningandhasdonean Thanks fortherelease.Foryourinfo,Oxfamhasbeen in Kukes), Dear BasandSamantha(thanksforforwardingthistoher (France), 21 May,1999(inFrench). War inKosovo,’Jean-BaptisteNaudet,LeMonde ’Families ofSerbianSoldiersProtestAgainstthe Director 18 May1999(inEnglish). Email fromAnne-MarieHuby,MSFUKExecutive ‘Re: Albania:PereaPressReleaseandReport,’ neglected. underlined theextenttowhichrefugeeswerebeing refugees hostedbyfamiliesinAlbania.Apressrelease miological studyconductedbyEpicentrewithKosovar ing refugeestoKosovo.MSFdisseminatedanepide- On May20,UNHCRmadepublicitsplanforreturn- the past 10 days.Plusca change eh,all the best,AM more consistentmessagedespitehoursofdiscussionsover etc. Welldone.Voila.Pitywecouldnotcomeupwitha ment hasbeenverypolitical-raisingdoubtsaboutNATO has missedthesub-text,andcoverageoftheirstate- On therecord,itisverytechnicallyorientated,butnobody (good onethis one -myremark). must acceptthedisciplineofhumanitariancoordination” high-calibre staff to fulfill its independent role. Govts effort. UNHCRneedstobegivenmoneyandtheright take othernationswithhim.NATOshouldnotleadthis today) tochampionUNHCRanditsindependentrole and Macedoniangovts.WewouldlikeTonyBlair(visiting UNHCR to go and do their own deals with the Albanian “dignity and security.“ will seethefirstrefugeesbegin toreturninconditionsof as soonthissecondphase islaunched.Thethirdphase an internationalmilitaryforcewillneedtobedeployed ian aidcanbebroughtintothearea.UNHCRbelievesthat bridges andairportswillneedtobeginsothathumanitar - matized by the war. At the same time, repairs to roads, have beendisplacedandcivilianswhotrau - agencies to provide all basic necessities to people who lishment of activitiesin Kosovo by UNHCR and associated visits toKosovo.Thesecondphasewillbethereestab - […] The first phase of the plan will begin with evaluation the world, mainly in Europe. countries — both neighboring countries and elsewhere in Kosovo andover900,000whohavesoughtrefugeinother around 600,000peoplewhohavebeendisplacedinside minority SerbianKosovars.UNHCRestimatesthatthereare and thetotalreintegrationofmajorityAlbanian phase beforethemassiveresettlement,rehabilitation, plan iscomprisedoffourstages,includingapreparatory had beendisplacedasaresultoftheconflict.The19-page Kosovo approximately1.5millionrefugeesandpeoplewho Refugees (UNHCR) made public, its plan for returning to On Thursday, the UnitedNationsHighCommissionfor Extract: May, 1999 (inFrench). Refugees toKosovo,’ ‘UNHCR MakesPublicitsPlanforReturning AFP (France),Geneva,20 225 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

several months. As time passes by, the needs of the refugees will evolve and the agencies in charge will have to ’Rapid Needs Assessment Among Kosovar adapt their activities to respond to new priorities. The Refugees Hosted by Albanian Families – An following are some elements to be considered at short Assessment Of Human Rights Violations and medium term: Committed in Kosovo - Kukes Town, Albania, • Continue the implementation and strengthening of the 29/04/99,’ William Peréa, Epicentre, 10 May epidemiological surveillance system proposed by the 1999 (in English). Ministry of Health/WHO/French National Public Health Centre. This should be a priority for all agencies imple- Extract: menting health activities, as the potential risk for the Recommendations apparition and rapid extension of infectious disease 1. The following elements should be addressed urgently to outbreaks in Kukes is very high. insure that the basic needs of refugees, old as well as new • Carefully consider the prevalence of chronic health arrivals to Kukes, are appropriately covered. Implement as disorders, and in particular diabetes, when planning soon as possible a simple registration system in order to essential drug supply. insure proper access to relief aid. This basically means to • Implement a mortality surveillance system based on give a registration card to each family arrived or arriving grave counts and hospital deaths. An initiative attempt- in Kukes. ing to count graves was initiated by UNHCR a couple of • Insure systematic weekly distributions of food parcels weeks ago. This initiative needs to be maintained and containing recommended energy and protein daily a systematic data collection system promptly imple- requirements in cold weather (2,300 kcal/person/day). mented. • Distribute a minimum of one blanket per person. • Implement vaccination of measles and polio to all new • Distribute when possible, to each family 2 mattresses as arrivals, and continue the EPI strengthening at local well as clothes for adults and children. health structures. • Insure a regular distribution of hygiene commodi- • Extend the mental health programme initiated in some ties such as soap, tooth-paste and tooth brushes and of the tent camps to cover the population lodging in women’s hygienic items (tissues or pampers for babies the town. would also be required.) • Improve the refugee access of information through leaflets and continuous messages on radio and TV. The identification of a site or a bureau where people could ’ Refugees in Albania: Refugees Living with be advised and oriented according to their needs may Albanian Families Neglected by International Aid help substantially improve the access to key information Agencies According to a Survey by Médecins Sans and make the refugees to participate more actively in Frontières,’ Press release, MSF France, 20 May, the search of solutions of their problems. 1999 (in French). • Elaborate a well defined and ‘transparent’ strategy for the re-deployment further south of refugees currently settled in Kukes. Avoid the use of force, coercion or intimidation before or during the process of re-deploy- ‘MSF Survey Concludes that Refugees Housed ment. with Albanian Families Remain Very Vulnerable: • Document and immediately report any measure that They Pay High Rents, Have Special Needs and violates refugees’ basic human rights. Events like the Must be Registered and Protected,’ Press release forced displacement of tractor camps from Kukes should MSF Kukes, 18 May 1999 (in English). not be allowed and should not occur any more. • Encourage the dialogue with the refugees, such as the one initiated by UNHCR through their ‘Blue River Strategy’15. Those initiatives should be multiplied and ’Humanitarian Aid Not Reaching all Albanian continued until consensual solutions are agreed upon. Kosovar Refugees in Kukës,’ Press release, MSF • Improve the visibility and strengthen the existing pro- Spain, 20 May, 1999 (in Spanish). gramme for the search of missing family members. Extract: The above recommendations apply also to the other cat- International aid is only reaching some of the refugees egories of refugees and particularly those that are still in living with Albanian families. This is the main conclusion the tractor camps. of an epidemiological survey conducted by Médecins Sans Frontières in Kukes, northern Albania. The survey, which 2. A definite solution to the current crisis may still take was carried out in late April, shows that in spite of an unprecedented mobilisation of armies, bilateral assistance, humanitarian organisations and United Nations

15. This strategy consists of taking some Kosovar community leaders to visit camps agencies, a significant number of the refugees living 226 in the South and then to transmit their impressions to the refugee community. with locals are having to rely on their meager savings for KLA; 22% had disappearedduringthe deportation. men betweentheagesof15 and54;32%hadjoinedthe was absent(fromKukës).Over60%ofthosewere families (34%)reportedthatatleastoneofitsmembers higher in the 15-54 age range (62%). One out of three women, butthattheproportionofwomenismarkedly than half(55%)oftherefugeeslivinginregionare by theSerbian police or army. The survey shows that more of thosedeathswereduetoactsviolencecommitted place afterMarch24,duringthedeportationphase.56% the deathsreportedsinceendofFebruary1998took the destructionoftheirpropertyorvillage.43% because theyhadbeensubjectedtoactsofvandalismlike or verballythreatenedbythearmedmilitiaarmy, viewed were forced to leave because they were physically More thantwo-thirds (70%) of the Kosovarfamilies inter- lations werecommittedinsidetheprovinceofKosovo. The surveyalsoconfirmedthatserioushumanrightsvio- of money. is 137dollarspermonth.Today,manyrefugeesareshort have to pay rent to their hosts. The average amount paid people perhouseholdisthirteen.Over60%ofthefamilies Kosovar refugeeslivinginthem.Theaveragenumberof shows that 61% of the apartments or houses in Kukës have the factthattheyhavetopayveryhighrent.Thesurvey Perea said.Theserefugees’situationismadeworseby through thecrackswhenitcomestointernationalaid,” media, itisunacceptablethatsomanyrefugeesarefalling of solidarityandattentionfromallthepoliticians “While Albaniaisbenefitingfromanunprecedentedsurge only 24%ofthefamilieshadreceivedatleastoneblanket. people’s situation remains extremely precarious. Moreover, that timetherehavebeendistributionsoffood,butthese try, and 20% had no access to food rations at all. Since single completefoodrationsincetheyarrivedinthecoun- Thus, 57% of the families interviewed had not received a to survive:completefoodrations,blankets, clothes, etc. that eachfamilyreceivestheminimumtheyneedinorder not beidentified.Consequently,itisimpossibletoensure an efficient system for registering them, the refugees can- document showingthattheyhadrefugeestatus.Without the familiesinterviewedhadaregistrationcardorany When thesurveywascarriedout,notasinglememberof as aresult of theirrefugee status.” tection orassistancethatshouldbeguaranteedtothem camps. Asaresult,theyarenotbenefitingfromthepro- are much more difficult to reach than those living in the Sans Frontièreswhoconductedthestudy.“Thesepeople explains WilliamPerea,the epidemiologist withMédecins Kukës, over50%oftherefugeesarelivingwithlocals,” with families, in local centres, or in ‘tractor camps’. “In in tentscamps;thevastmajorityarestayingeither that inAlbania,only10to15%ofrefugeesareliving survival (i.e. to pay for food, rent, etc.). It is estimated in this particular crisis. more effectivethanthehumanitarian agencies,atleastnot contrary tothewidelyaccepted view, thearmieswereno we wereneverreallyabletogetacrosspublicopinion; in animpartialway.Thereportconfirmedtheanalysisthat met effectivelyorthatqualityassistancewasbeingprovided ity through NGOs, collective centres, or private citizens. through thearmies.AllrestcamefromAlbaniansolidar- not even that - as little as 15% of aid was channeled However, weveryquicklyrealisedthatinfact,20or25%- aid, andthatwastheimpressionpublicleftwith. 22% had”disappeared.” 32% hadjoinedtheKosovoLiberationArmy(KLA)and are menbetweentheagesof15and54.AccordingtoMSF, families onepersonisabsent,and60%ofthoseabsent whom 64%arebetweentheagesof15and54.In34% 55% oftherefugeeslivinginthisregionarewomen, averages 137dollars(123euros).Accordingtothisstudy, these homes,therefugeesarerequiredtopayrent,which with anaverageof13peopleperhome,andin60% ments orhousesinthetownhaverefugeeslivingthem, 57% had received a single food ration. 61% of the apartments toshowthattheyhaverefugeestatus,andonly refugees arelivingincamps. None ofthemhavedocu- survey [sic],statesthatinKukës,only10to15%ofthe UNHCR. Thereport,basedonanepidemiologicaltractor March 1998,nearly400,000areinAlbania,accordingto have leftKosovosincethebeginningofconflictin ern Albania.Amongthemorethan900,000peoplewho based on a survey conducted in late April in Kukës, north- according toareportbyMédecinsSansFrontières(MSF) “have beenabandonedbyinternationalaidagencies,” Refugees from Kosovo stayingwithAlbanian families, Albania didnotmeanthatpeople’sneedswerebeing that therewerealargenumberofplayersworkingin The Epicentrereportclearlyshowedthatthefact that thearmieswereprovidingallemergency ing humanitarianassistance.Themediaweresaying The Albaniastudyshowedwhowasactuallyprovid- (in French). Abandoned,’ ‘MSF: RefugeesStayingwithAlbanianFamilies [...], MSF Deputy Legal Advisor, (inFrench). Eric Stobbaerts, Executive Director, AFP (France),Paris,May20,1999 MSF Spain(in French).

227 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

On the same day, during the UN Secretary General’s overall military activities,” said Tim Pitt, the MSF Head visit to Albania, MSF issued a press release from Kukës of Mission in Macedonia. “In doing so, they have under- and Skopje demanding better aid coordination by the mined UNHCR’s ability to lead and to provide independent United Nations, and highlighting the need to strength- protection and assistance to refugees. Refugees need a en efforts to protect and register the refugees. In the well-funded and politically robust UNHCR that is able to camps in Albania, the refugees were under pressure to protect their rights effectively, now and in the future.” join the KLA, the Kosovar organisation that was pursuing armed resistance against the Yugoslav Federation. NATO forces have been widely portrayed as the driving Five members of MSF’s local medical personnel left to force behind humanitarian efforts in the region. That enlist in the organisation. Also, at the border between one of the parties to the conflict, i.e. NATO, is acting Albania and Kosovo, as a result of fighting between as a humanitarian agency poses a serious threat to the the KLA and the Serbian forces, UNHCR was forced to necessary impartiality and neutrality of humanitarian evacuate 8,000 Kosovar refugees to the interior. efforts in the region and beyond. It is crucial to the effectiveness and impartiality of the humanitarian effort that donor governments allow UNHCR to fulfill its independent humanitarian coordination role. Meanwhile, in ’Press release’ Email from Erwin van’t Land, all the ongoing programmes of refugee relocation and MSF Skopje Press Officer to MSF press officers transfer (from Macedonia to Albania, and within Albania 19 May 1999 (in English). itself) the refugees are not receiving full and accurate information about their future living conditions and their Extract: long-term status and rights. The refugees who choose not Please find below the press statement, which we will hand to move are entitled to adequate standards of protection out to journos [journalists] during Kofi Annan’s briefing. and care, but there is growing evidence that the threat An army of journos are following the Secretary General, of denial of such provisions may be used as an incentive which doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll have a better chance to relocate. Political promises have been made to the to get our message through, but at least we have to give it refugees that NATO would soon ensure their safe return. a try. You may find not much new in the statement. Then MSF stresses that also in the case of repatriation, UNHCR again, we do hint at the conditions in case of a return of should be - and be perceived to be - the leading agency, the refugees to Kosovo (without accusing anyone of hav- and safeguard that international humanitarian law is ing done anything wrong YET in that matter; please stick being adhered to. This includes ensuring that repatriation to the careful phrasing of that point). is on a voluntary basis and that no measures are taken that would result in a pressured return of the refugees to Kosovo. For its aid mission in the Balkans, MSF is declin- ing all funding from governments who have a military ’MSF Calls on Governments to Support Effective involvement in the conflict. and Principled UN Leadership over Kosovo Refugee Relief Effort and Stresses the Need for Registration and Protection,’ Press release, MSF Kukes, 20 May 1999 (in English). ’MSF Demands Improved Coordination of Aid under the Aegis of the UN,’ AFP (France), Kukës, Albania, May 20, 1999 (in French).

‘MSF Calls for Effective and Principled UN Extract: Leadership over Kosovo Refugee Relief Effort,’ «The fact that one of the parties actively involved in the Press release, Skopje 19 May 1999 (in English). conflict, NATO, is also acting as a humanitarian agency, is a serious threat to the neutrality that is essential for Extract: humanitarian operations,” according to a press release The international medical aid agency Médecins Sans issued by MSF on Thursday, before UN Secretary General Frontières (MSF) is deeply concerned about the lack of Kofi Annan’s arrival in Kukës. Some 7,000 NATO soldiers refugee protection and aid coordination in the interna- are deployed in Albania as part of the humanitarian sup- tional response to the Kosovo crisis to date. During a port operation ‘Allied Shelter’, and MSF expressed its con- meeting in Skopje with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, cern about the ‘confusion’ of the roles. “It is crucial that aid agencies working in Macedonia delivered a message the international community support UNHCR (the United of support to the United Nations in general - and the UN Nations High Commission for Refugees) and allows it to High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in particular - in fulfill its role as an independent agency in the coordina- their efforts to set up a more effective, and more prin- tion of aid,” the press release said. cipled, leadership over the humanitarian effort. “This crisis is unique in that western governments, which usually “In this crisis, Western governments chose to involve their support UNHCR financially and otherwise, have wanted to militaries in humanitarian operations […]. This policy 228 take a direct part in humanitarian efforts as part of their results in differences in the treatment of refugees, and families. of whommorethanhalfareinapartmentswithAlbanian area. Some 100,000 Kosovo Albanians are living in Kukës, the refugees,mostofwhomdonotwanttoleave information campaignshavenotsucceededinconvincing safer campsinsouthernAlbania.Buttodate,thevarious would liketherefugeeslivinginKukëstobeevacuated Humanitarian organisationsandAlbanianauthorities long-term status.” complete informationontheirfuturelivingconditionsand to theinteriorofcountry),refugeesdonothave (from Macedonia to Albania, and from the Albanian border programmes havebeenorganisedtotransferrefugees istration oftherefugees,”organisationsaid.“While “priority.” “UNHCRmustoverseetheprotectionandreg- or rights,”MSFlamented,addingthatthisissuewasa to register refugees, which means they have no status after the start of the war, there is still no system in place information provided to the refugees. “Nearly two months taking for the refugees to be registered and the lack of saying. MSFwasalsocriticaloftheamounttimeit Stokes, MSF’sHeadofMissioninAlbania,wasquotedas that allrefugeesreceivethesameprotection,”Christopher diminishes theroleofUNHCRanditscapacitytoensure - MSFinBXLhas giventhegreenlightto work incamps by case basis. tions, tobediscussedwithcoordination Tiranaonacase practical, MSFvisibilitywillbe minimalduringsuchopera- - MSFwilluseNATOlogistics ifotheroptionsarenot Operational lines: taking future stands. [...] damage thecredibilityofourmessageandpreventusfrom be paintedintoacorner,radicalisedinwaythatwill in thefieldmuchmorelow-profile.Theriskisthatwewill voice. ThefeworganisationsthatarevocalinEurope simplify ourposition.MSFisverymuchaloneandsingular more theyseem,fordifferentreasons,keentoalsoover- are unwillingtodoitpublicly(forthebigNGOs):furthe - donor pressureexertedonthemtoundertakeprogrammes, ment inhumanitarianaidprivatelyandcomplainingabout whilst sometimesexpressingconcernatNATO’sinvolve - drive onanyroadrehabilitatedbyNATO.Brilliant.NGOs, going aroundTiranathatMSFinAlbaniaisnotto Kofi’s visit).Onthemorecomicalside,thereisarumour ‘political statements’andquestioningNATO’srole(after (21/05/99) by the Albaniangovernment for making tured asananti-NATOposition.Wehavebeencriticised signs thatourviewsarebeingover-simplified,carica- (on fundingandoperationalindependence)thereare the non-conformiststanceadoptedbyMSFoverKosovo Press linesfromChristopherStokes(HoM).Asaresultof Extract: (in English). ‘Communications updateKukes,’26May1999 organised totally by UNHCR and MSF. since itispossibletoprovidealternativetransport,be standards tobeappliedbyNATO.Thiscanrealised UNHCR andMSFaretheguarantorsofhumanitarian helicopter. TherewillbenodirectdealingswithNATO. who willbeclassifiedasvulnerable,totransportedby depending onthelistofvolunteers,andwilldetermine UNHCR. MSFwilldeterminewhobetransportedwhen, since thecoordinationofoperationwillbedoneby used. Thisisnotcontrarytothepolicydescribedabove, in KukestotheoneFier,NATOtransportationwillbe For themovementofrefugeesfromMSFcamp Movement to MSFcamp Fier fromMSF camp Kukes set-up by MSF andcollective centres. smoke screen+wehavebeenotherwiseworkingincamps avoided thisoptiontodateasUNHCRoftenactsamere effect, MSFdealswith[UN]HCRratherthanNATO.Wehave built byNATOiftheyarehandedovertoUNHCRfirst.In of men between 18 and 26. It is very likely that the KLA truth. However, wehaveheardrumours of recruitment up inuniform,lookingfor‘relatives’, whichcouldbethe comment onothercamps), and onlyoccasionallyshow profile regardingthecamps wherewework(wecannot the refugees.Inpractice,this meansthattheykeepalow officially, theKLAisnotallowed tohaveanycontactwith 2. As far as KLA-involvement in the camps is concerned: of choiceanditendangersthehealthcare for therefugees. rying development, because people shouldhave freedom might havebeenunderpressure.Ifso,wefindthisawor - ing fortheKLAandweheardrumoursthatsomeofthem What we know is that five medical staff left to start work- were takenfromtheirtentstocontinuethegenocide. incomparable towhathappenedinZaire,wherepeople LINE: Sofar,ourlinehasbeenthatthesituationhereis neutral because ofmilitary involvement in thecamps. camps, whereMSFleftbecauseoftheimpossibilitytostay often they try to compare it to the situation in the Zairian clearly somethingofgreatinteresttothejournalists,and the south.TheissueofKLA-involvementincampsis one nurseishiding,anddoctorleftwithhisfamilyto they didthisvoluntarily,butnowwehavereportsthat (Kosovo LiberationArmy,KLA).Atfirst,itseemedthat at theclinicinKukes2,tostartworkingforUCK 1. Lastweek,3nursesandtwodoctorsquittheirjob it might come up. addressed intheNGO-morningmeetingonSaturdayhere, Liberation ArmyandthecampsinKukes.Asthisissuewas Below somelinestouseifquestionedontheKosovo Dear all, Extract: officers, 30 May1999(in English). Tielens, MSFBelgiumPressOfficertopress ‘Press LinesKLAandCamps,’EmailfromBas 229 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

has widespread contacts in the camps. In Kosovo, the try to go to the town hospital, sometimes an NGO brings KLA was a popular movement in a very literal sense, with them to a military hospital. On top of that, UHNCR does every-where village boys ‘on patrol’ with a Kalashnikov, not pay the cost of referral. Refugees pay for surgery, are pretending to be true fighters. discriminated against, while bilateral/military hospitals remain empty. WHO has agreed to refer surgical cases to LINE: If questioned on this, we can say the KLA, like all local hospital even though they don’t have the capacity armed groups, are not welcome in the camps, and that we and there is no way to provide parallel assistance for refu- make that clear to them whenever they do show up. We gees. In addition, refugees are being unofficially charged do not know and cannot control what all the individual for treatment or are not accepted as they have no money. refugees think, but there is no KLA-involvement in the If no flights are possible to transfer the patients to Tirana, management of the camps where we work. The cases of the NGOs accompany the patient to ensure he gets assis- alleged pressure on the refugees have been addresse in tance. MSF ask for a real medical coordination to ensure the NGO-morning meeting on Saturday here, and one the free access to health care without discrimination. other NGO mentioned to have the same experience. UNHCR will relocate any medical person to the south in case this Registration happens again, and take the issue up with the Albanian There are currently 450,000 Kosovo refugees in Albania. authorities. Approximately two thirds of all the refugees are hosted within Albanian families while the rest are scattered throughout Albania in collective centers and refugee camps. Although refugees are being transferred from one ‘Kosovo’s Concerns,’ Email from Bernard camp to another and even from Macedonia to Albania, Lapeyre, MSF Spain Kosovo programme man- none of the refugees in Albania or Macedonia have been ager to MSF operations directors and Kosovo registered. Because they had their identity cards torn programme managers, 8 June 1999 (in English). up at the border, this means that not only do refugees have no rights as official refugees, but they also have no Extract: identification, and do not exist in any records and, are Hi everybody, therefore easy pray for criminal gangs. MSF must lobby for As promised, I send you here attached a document based immediate registration of all the refugees. Nobody in the on the Samantha proposal but reformulated with other field or at the headquarters level is clear about when and elements coming from the field in Durres. We are working how registration is going to take place. on an operational system to be back in Kosovo that we will receive later on. Good readings, Protection Bernard There are currently few UNHCR protection officers in Albania. This is clearly not enough to even keep track of Concerns of MSF in Albania the refugee protection issues. Although an increased num- Lack of humanitarian assistance: ber of protection officers may be of help to the refugees Medical discrimination in families, it is clear that stronger protection is needed Lack of reception or transit center for the refugees in collective centers and tented camps, Lack of water, toilet or showers in many facilities particularly the camps in the south and center. On a day- Sites overcrowded today basis, refugees are also being moved away from the Absence of real organised information centers border for ‘security reasons’, to areas with high levels of Needs of refugees hosted within families running out of criminality and insecurity in south and central Albania money with no protection. There are also potential security risks No registration in the hand-over of the refugee camps from the military No protection to NGO’s/UNHCR. Whereas the Albanian government iden- No security tified and made available collective centers to house refugees, there was no donor attempt to negotiate with the Medical discrimination Albanian govt for a clear agreement on land for setting The medical discrimination is often due to limited and up camps. Because of high priority on ‘quick fix’, and no disorganised system for health care delivery to people liv- money constraints, no clear bilateral land rental agreeing with host families (representing about 70 % or more ments, the military went in with contracting companies of overall refugee population according to the adminis- and undisclosed large sums of money to obtain land. MSF tration). Moreover, the low NGO support to the normal and other NGO’s are concerned for security, protection and Albanian health system doesn’t help the authorities to separation of families of a population of 450,000 refu- improve the situation. The collection of medical data for gees scattered in camps, collective centers and families the actual situation is not set up in a proper way meaning throughout Albania. that the mortality cases are recorded only through the governmental structures without giving an overall pic- Security ture. The referral system for the refugees is not fitted to The refugees in camps in Kukes, north Albania, are only 230 an emergency secondary level of care. Sometimes people 15 km from the Kosovo border. MSF supports the voluntary with Kosovo... camps beingmilitarisedespeciallyclosetotheborders in caseofrefusal.Moreover,ahighriskexiststoseethe threatening refugeeswiththeimpositionofmartiallaw Durres hasbeeninformed.Beforetherecruitment,UCKis town andSpitallearea(MSFexpattestimony).UNHCR to 50yearsoldincollectivecentresandcampsDurres UCK begantodoforcedrecruitmentamongmen18up Military recruitment in thecamps from keeping it inafile. and askthemwhattheyproposetodoaboutthis-apart with the reality of the criminality reports they produce or suspected.MSFshouldconfrontOSCEandEUmonitors record ordealwithanydisappearancesattacksreported there islittleornoprotection,waytoproperly gee sites’). Because the refugees are not registered and ‘black Mercedeswithdarkenedwindowspullingintorefu- threats torefugees(OSCE/EUreportincreasedsightingsof and reportsfrommonitoringgroupsaboutabductions security risk.Thereareincreasingfearsamongrefugees over how much has been promised can end up being a and paymentsunsustainablebyNGOsbutdisagreements the landownersandsecurity.Notonlyarebigbills,rents diers. UNHCR and NGOs are facing problems dealing with feel relativelyprotectedastheKLAisthereandNATOsol- already livinginthecampsdonotwanttomove.They transferred directlytootherareas,manyoftherefugees Albania. Althoughnewarrivalsinthenortharebeing this casemeansrelocatingtocampsinSouthandCentral border (internationallyrecommendeddistance),whichin relocation ofrefugeestoatleast50kmawayfromthe refugee camps inKukës. said Colville.Some 28,000KosovoAlbanians arelivingin evacuated allthecampsin Kukës beforewinterarrives,” people beingevacuatedperday. “Theobjectiveistohave support fromNATObeganlast Tuesday,with300to500 These evacuationsorganized byUNHCRwithlogistical the Kukësrefugeecamps”to central andsouthernAlbania. Helge Eriksen,“butwewillspeeduptheevacuationof ments to be sent to the area,” said NATO press officer days. “TherearenoimmediateplansforNATOreinforce - and Serbforceshasbeenobservedinthearearecent of fightingbetweentheKosovoLiberationArmy(KLA) increased militarisationofthearea.”Arenewedoutbreak border,” hesaid,notingdeteriorationinthesituationand Colville. […]“Thereisnowarealsecurityproblematthe Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Rupert der, accordingtoastatementmadeMondaybyUNHigh interior ofthecountrybecausetensionatbor - Kosovo arecurrentlylivingasdisplacedpersonsinthe Over 8,000 Albanians from villagesnear the border with Extract: 31 May, 1999 (inFrench). Tension (UNHCR),’ ’8,000 Albanians Displaced as a Resultof Border AFP (France),Kukës,Albania, Michiel] thatwere happywithit.Then,wewent tothepress release, checked withMichielandTim [who replaced population. And that was the issues. So Iwrote the press party shouldnotbasethemselves inthemiddleofacivilian were someprincipleissues;that belligerentsasawarring But theydidnotkeepanyrecords andstatistics.Alsothere in themiddleofcamp[was] doinginterestingsurgery. not conceptofpublichealth.TheGermanmilitaryhospital ously very good work on individual patients but they had ent fortworeasons.NATOtroopssethospitalsanddoobvi - hotel. Wehadproblems with the fact thatNATOwassopres- was visitingSkopjeanddoingapressconferenceinbig We decided:okthisisthebestwayofsayingit.KofiAnnan strategy ofcommunicationwasverymuchleadinthefield. camps.” So hesaidIstarttowrite a pressrelease. The the difficulties we have with the role of troops in refugees dependent on the mafia. convinced thatthegovernmentcoulddoanything,wasvery one couldhelpus.Andthepopulation,whichwasn’tvery have muchofanideahowtonegotiatewiththemandno very extensivepower-especiallyinthenorth.Wedidn’t the inside by allthebenefits given toprivate clans thathad in. Theofficiallyrecognisedgovernmentwascorruptedfrom behind it…It’sanidealcountryforthemafiatooperate “I’m goingtosetupaprotection service.” Themafiawas “I’m notresponsible,I’mrentingit.”Andsohewouldsay: people fromtheKLAcamewiththeirthreats,hewouldsay: owner ofthelandbecameresponsibleforsecurity.Sowhen rent outlandforsettingupcamps.Asaresult,legallythe had tonegotiatewithfamilieswhosawanopportunity of thefactthatinAlbania,landisownedbyfamilies.Sowe watch what goes onthere.” It was a major concern. there aremenwhocomenearthewomen’sshowersand very fearful:“TheAlbanianshavenottreateduswell; When wetalkedtothepeopleinSkoderandFier,theywere Albania andKosovo, April toJune 1999, (inFrench) tomorrow, we need to use the occasion to highlight Holland coordinator]toldme:“KofiAnnanishere As soonaswearrived,Michiel[Hofman,MSF there. But,therewerealsoverybasicthingsbecause for returningtoKosovo.Ithinktheywererecruiting The KLAmadesomeuseofthecampsbase being kidnappedandpressuredfromthelocalmafia. were extremelyconcernedabouttheriskofwomen The firstconcernwastherefugees’security.They Christopher Stokes, coordinator MSF Belgiumin Vincent Janssens, Director of Operations, MSF Belgium (in French).

231 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

conference. I had one of our national staff at the entrance conditions. From the time the refugees began to arrive at of the hotel. And at the moment he called me, saying that the end of March, Macedonia, where the majority of the Kofi had entered, I start handling the press release to the population are Slavs, has been worried that their presence journalists so that it was the last thing they got. And the would destabilise the country. second question was: “NATO in the camps...” Almost all the media were there. And Kofi Annan clearly stated there should be no doubt about the fact that humanitarian assistance is always being seen to be the civilian activity. The ’Camps in Macedonia Overcrowded Again, statement of principle we wanted. I think that went quite According to UNHCR,’ AFP (France), Skopje, 27 well. We got on the records. May 1999 (in French).

Erwin Vantland, Communications officer in Extract: Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo MSF International May- SKOPJE, May 27 (AFP) – The camps in Macedonia are “over- June 1999 (in English). crowded again” after 30,000 refugees arrived in the country within four days, UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Ron Redmond said Thursday. The massive influx, which was suddenly halted on Wednesday due to an apparent blockage on the Serbian side of the On May 24, 1999, UNHCR opposed the Macedonian border, has “resulted in the camps becoming overcrowded authorities’ decision to transfer Kosovar refugees from again,” as was the case at the beginning of May, Redmond Macedonia to Albania in the middle of the night. On said at a press conference. […] According to testimony May 27, however, it told the press that the camps in from the latest refugees to arrive in Macedonia, “there are Macedonia were overcrowded again. still thousands of people in eastern Kosovo who want to leave,” Redmond said.

’ New Problem in the Refugee Crisis: Skopje Wants to Expel the Refugees - UNHCR Opposed,’ AFP, Blace, Macedonia, 24 May 1999 (in French). On May 24, 1999, 1000 Kosovar men who had been released from the prison of Mitrovica described the Extract: abuse they had been subjected to while in detention. A new problem arose on Sunday night and early Monday On May 25, a document issued by the United Nations morning between Macedonian authorities and the UN reported numerous rapes committed by Serbian forces High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), with the former against Kosovar women. On May 27, Slobodan Milosevic attempting to forcibly transfer the refugees who arrived in was charged with war crimes and crimes against their territory on Sunday to Albania. This incident reflects humanity by the International Criminal Tribunal for the the noticeable rise in tension in Skopje, with the increas- former Yugoslavia. On May 28, the Yugoslav presidency ing number of refugees arriving each day at the Blace announced that it accepted the ‘principles’ laid out border crossing, the main transit point between Kosovo by the G8. NATO maintained its air strikes while the and Macedonia. Macedonian authorities decided to bus Russian and Finnish emissaries continued to negotiate refugees from Kosovo to Albania. “The authorities want with Milosevic. Three members of the humanitarian to transfer those who arrived today to Albania. UNHCR organisation Care, were found guilty of espionage and wants to stop this, and we are trying to intervene by given severe sentences by a Yugoslav military tribu- negotiating with the police,” UNHCR representative Astrid nal. UNHCR announced a new fundraising campaign to van Genderen Stort told AFP. A few hours later, Dennis finance assistance for the return of the refugees. McNamara, the UNHCR Emissary in the former Yugoslavia dispatched to the Blace border crossing, announced that the refugees would be allowed to remain in Macedonia, at least temporarily. “We were told that they would be put ‘Horrifying Accounts from Former Prisoners in in camps (in Macedonia) tonight; we are sure that will Mitrovica,’ AFP (France), Kukës, Albania, 24 May happen. We hope this was just a misunderstanding and 1999 (in French). we will see over the next few days if these people want to go to Albania,” he told the press. UNHCR opposed the Extract: transfer of these people ‘in the middle of the night’, with- Exhausted, nervous wrecks, the men released Saturday out checking to see if they had relatives in Albania. […] and Sunday from prison in KosovsKa Mitrovica (northern In mid-May, UNHCR had attempted to open a humanitar- Kosovo), gave dramatic testimony on the conditions they ian corridor to encourage refugees from Kosovo to go to had been subjected to during their detention, and the Albania, but this initiative had failed, and virtually all of physical and emotional torture they had endured. Nearly them had refused to go to that very poor country, where a thousand men of all ages crossed the Albanian border 232 they believe they have no future because of economic during the weekend; they had been released with no able to collapse. What they needmostis rest andsleep.” where theyare.Whenarrivedhere,werefinally their familiesandareespeciallyconcernedtofindout all show the same signs of stress. They often talk about stories arefragmentedandsometimesconfused,butthey psychologist withMédecinsSansFrontières(MSF):“Their “very badly traumatised.” According to Christina Moore, a many ofthemhadbeenvictimsabuseandthattheywere ‘USA’. […]Thehumanitarianorganisationsconfirmedthat year-old Elbasan, they were wearing a jacket with the logo they were accused of being terrorists, or because, like 20 beaten becausetheywouldnotgiveanynames, times,” hesaid.Theyalltoldthesamehauntingstory: speak Serbian,andtheyhitmyhandswithastickten people intheKLA(KosovoLiberationArmy).Icouldn’t a rifle.TheyinterrogatedmetofindoutwhetherIknew to theprison in Mitrovica. “I wasbeatenwith the buttof two weeksinanunusedschoolbeforebeingtransferred They pickedoutthemen:“You,you,you,”andwespent Srbica (incentralKosovo),wewerestoppedbythepolice. us,” saidShykri,ayoungmanof20.“Whenwearrivedin “We leftMitrovicainmid-April;therewereover10,000of when they arrived: “What has happened to my family?” Dirty, paleandemaciated,themenhadjustonequestion of Kosovska Mitrovica, after several weeks in detention. explanation fromSmrekovnica,theprisonintown Yugoslav President SlobodanMilosevichas beencharged Extract: between the ages of15and25. themselves byrapingthemostattractivewomen,usually not hidinganyvaluables.Thesoldiersthen‘rewarded’ forcing thewomentoundressmakesuretheywere said. Shealsostatesthatatcheck-points,soldierswere tions, orlocktheminthehouseswheretheylive,”she groups offivetothirtywomenontrucksunknownloca - first rounduptheyoungwomen.“Thesoldierstakeaway reports thatinthevillagesandsmalltowns,soldiers legs wheretheyhadbeenbeaten.MsSerrano-Fitamant who hadbeenreleasedbruisesontheirarmsand raped byseveralmen“sometimesfordays.”Those according toananonymousreport,andsomehavebeen the victimsofrape,kidnapping,detentionandtorture, sive scale”bytheSerbsinKosovo.Thewomenhavebeen origin havebeenvictimsof“sexualviolenceonamas- A UN report issued Tuesday states that women of Albanian Extract: (in French). Humanity,”’ ’ French). UN Report,’ ’Sexual ViolenceonaMassiveScaleinKosovo: Milosevic Chargedwith ”Crimes Against AFP, NewYork,25May1999(in Le Monde (France), 28 May 1999 crisis. tered byMSF,anditspublicstatementsaboutthe was manipulated,theoperationalproblemsencoun- sections reviewed the ways in which the Kosovo crisis At theirannualgeneralmeetings,theFrenchandSwiss with him in anycase. noted Thursdaythattheyhadnointentionofnegotiating Milutinovic as negotiating partners. Western diplomats by theICTYdisqualifySlobodanMilosevicandMilan planned visittoBelgradeThursday.Thechargeslaid Chernomyrdin, however,decidedtogoaheadwithhis the ongoingdiplomaticprocess.RussianEmissaryViktor the ICTY’sdecision,whichhesaidwouldcompromise Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Sergei Lavrov criticised the consequencesofchargesoncrisis in Kosovo. positive; noonewaspreparedtospeculatepubliclyabout army soquickly.EarlyWesternreactionsThursdaywere a charge against the Supreme Commander of the Yugoslav investigations, theywerenotexpectingthemtoresultin by surprise;althoughtheyhadencouragedtheTribunal’s Hague. Theprosecutor’sdecisioncaughtWesternleaders public onThursdayMay27,atapressconferenceinThe Arbour, and confirmed Monday by a judge, was to be made which wassignedSundaybyICTYprosecutorMsLouise other officialshavealsobeencharged.Theindictment, The President of Serbia, Milan Milutinovic, and three (ICTY), for his responsibility for acts committed in Kosovo. International CriminalTribunalfortheformerYugoslavia with warcrimesandagainsthumanitybythe treatment. an anonymity that leavesthemexposedto allkindsofill incomplete; thebulkof refugeesarecondemnedto after thestartofexodus, registrationisstilllargely and countingofrefugeesdid nottakeplace.Twomonths to refugeeswasskipped.The registration,identification, essential stagesinprotection andprovisionofassistance in atemporarycamp.Butwhenthishappened,oneofthe when overcrowded, is better than living out in the open their benefit, of course, for the comfort of a house, even into thepopulationsofhostcountries.Thiswasto to get across very quickly and most of them were absorbed were separated.Atotherborders,therefugeesable sent to other countries without explanation and families had been set up by French and British forces. Some were ‘evacuated’ under deplorable conditions, to camps that of deportees at the border post of Blace. They were then In Macedonia, the state army block-ed tens of thousands A difficult and disturbingmission Extract: President, 29 May1999(inFrench). Assembly,’ PhilippeBiberson,MSFFrance President’s ‘The Annual Report:1999‘General 233 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

The mission was also disturbing because, despite the scale establishing the facts: if these innumerable testimonies, of the exodus and the terrible conditions in which it took all telling the same story, all tragic, had not been linked place, the deportees (at least during the initial period) together, their impact would have been reduced consider- did not require that much medical attention. The standard ably. When assembled in a methodical and scrupulously practices of a large-scale relief operation are not designed objective way, the accounts enabled us to name the crime to cope with elderly people suffering from chronic organ to which the refugees had been subjected: systematic failure or psychological trauma. The rapid dispersal of mass deportation. We now know from the refugees’ stories the refugees to the south and into family homes further that the deportation that plunged them into the unknown complicated the establishment of consistent activities. and exposed them to the most cynical exploitation was Finally, it was disturbing because the context was totally the culmination of a coordinated process, the ethnic dominated by a war in which civilian and international cleansing of the province of Kosovo, a process that was humanitarian action was kept on a tight rein. The refugees announced and largely accomplished. were a circumstance of the war, their number and distribution a circumstance of strategy, and their image a funda- The ‘other side’ mental circumstance for the influencing of public opinion. Of course, it is easy to imagine the serious consequences of NATO’s war for the populations of Kosovo and Serbia. The exploitation of the refugees Médecins Sans Frontières wanted to get involved at the In fact, the issue of refugee rights and the problem of outset but permission to conduct an assessment of needs their reception and exploitation were present from the was never granted. The recent MSF Greece mission could very beginning. At first, the deportees were useful as have been an exploratory mission, but as it was conducted victims of Milosevic, however, as asylum seekers who were in conditions that were open to criticism in terms of owed protection and assistance, they were a great bur- independence, it brought back little useful information. den. Neighbouring countries and other states were more We know little of what is really happening in the province concerned with political risks and the destabilisation of of Kosovo or in Serbia but we do have a lot of recent the Balkans. In Albania, the mass of refugees served as a experience - several years’ worth - in Yugoslavia. We know convenient pretext for armies; it enabled them to provide that the means exist to care for the wounded and other military support under the cloak of humanitarianism. In victims (in the broad sense) of the war, and we have view of the circumstances, could we leave the running reason to believe that they have not been left to fend for of the camps to the troops that had set them up? Could themselves. The situation needed to be assessed, but not we stand by and do nothing when faced, in the midst of in that way. An exploratory mission to Serbia and Kosovo a refugee crisis, with the virtual absence of the United should have reflected our concerted desire to establish Nations High Commission for Refugees? It was not a mat- our ‘truth’ and to make it known. It failed; it was a total ter of criticising colleagues who had allowed themselves failure. Moreover, how could it be regarded as a Médecins to be overwhelmed by such a sudden and massive flood of Sans Frontières mission when it was prepared in secret refugees, but of trying to ensure that a totally abnormal and only granted entry on the condition that it kept its and cynical situation was rectified as soon as possible. distance from the rest of the movement? It could have The lack of registration meant that individuals with no been a tactical move (an exploratory mission conducted identity papers simply became a mass of people that could under the cover of MSF Greece) had it been discussed and be shunted from one place to another, that had to be fed, shared, but it ended up as a repudiation of the other MSF that had no stories to tell, that could only be expressed sections. and represented as victims on the one hand and as objects of concern on the other. What a nightmare! The very fact that Belgrade selected its MSF section illustrates this regime’s contempt for our organisation and its The question of humanitarian needs mission. Leaving aside the Greek section, Médecins Sans Without underestimating the psychological traumas, phys- Frontières now regards itself as banned from any pos- ical injuries and other morbid stresses that afflicted and sibility of action in Serbia. It is beyond doubt that if any continue to afflict the refugees, in terms of their social member of MSF wants to assist the victims of the NATO integrity, of their very existence as individuals, as fami- bombardments, the only way to do so is by pretending to lies and as a people […] it was not a case of wholesale be Greek or by contriving to join the Serbian Red Cross. murder. At least this is the finding that emerged from It is disastrous. Because of the way it was conducted, the the study conducted in Montenegro by Vincent Brown. A mission’s sole achievement was to exempt itself from the classic medical and demographic study, its purpose was to NATO propaganda machine by feeding the Belgrade version clarify the needs of the refugees so that Médecins Sans that portrayed the Serbs as victims. But Médecins Sans Frontières could respond accordingly. Initially, the report Frontières is not indebted to NATO. We disagree with the (entitled ‘Stories of a Deportation’) was simply part of the politics of this war and have demonstrated our position usual information-gathering exercise, which is necessary in a number of ways, including the refusal of institutional if we are to be of use to a population affected by a crisis. funding from NATO member states. We all have our own It became our contribution to the revelation of what had views on this war, on its reasons and its outcomes - some happened to these people. Edited by Françoise Saulnier, even venture their opinions on strategy! But as Médecins 234 it illustrates the necessity in humanitarian action, of Sans Frontières, we cannot say or convey the impression ficult toacquireandcannotfunctionifthereisnodebate. This MédecinsSansFrontières‘subjectivity’is,Iadmit,dif- on thesameplaneandtoretainoursenseofperspective. in aspecific zone inordertoavoid putting ‘allthe victims’ choices whichhavesometimes led ustoabandonourwork of ‘neutralism’.Overtheyears,wehavemadedifficult constructed a‘doctrine’ofactionbasedontherejection Through crisisaftercrisis,MédecinsSansFrontièreshas between victims and executioners. needs arethesame;wecannotthereisnodifference – becauseofcoursetherearevictimsonbothsides-that often ‘stinks,bleeds andhurts’.Inthepresent context,it against this abuse of language and I recall that surgery It isclearthatawarnot‘surgical’. Asadoctor,Istand expressed intheUniversalDeclaration ofHumanRights. way it can bejustifiedisasadefence of theprinciples level. Awarisnever‘humanitarian’; probablytheonly the militaryresponsetothis crimeasbeingonthesame them, wecannotregardaprocessofethniccleansingand with itsgovernment.Althoughitistemptingtocompare assist allthevictims.Apopulationshouldnotbeconfused able toworkindependentlyinSerbiaandKosovo,itwill victims, SerbsaswellKosovoAlbanians.WhenMSFis the matter.Whatshouldbeclearisthattherearecivilian competent tojudgeanditisnotforMSFcommenton best option.Weallhaveourownviewsonthat.Iamnot NATO’s politicalresponse-thebombingmightnotbe perhaps apoint of noreturn. before March; the present events are the crisis point and humanity. Itisobviousthattheexpulsionprocessbegan from theirlandweareconfrontedwithacrimeagainst government ofMrMilosevicexpelstheKosovoAlbanians current situationinthisarea.Toputitbluntly,whenthe not involved in the Balkans I cannot remain silent on the in the movement. […] Finally, although our section is to define the ways in which all the sections participate movement and,morebroadly,totakeimmediatesteps fies theoperationalstatusofGreeksectionwithinour Council, therefore,hastotryfindasolutionthatclari- certainly intheforminitiallyenvisaged.TheInternational context, ledustoconcludethatcollaborationhadfailed, from diverging interpretationsoftheexplosive Balkan energy resultingfromthesedifferences,andespecially day-to-day collaboration.Theexpenditureoftimeand unable toachievetheconditionsnecessaryforeffective application betweenourorganisations-butwewere - thedifferencesinstructure,conceptsandpractical Geneva andAthens.Wetriedtoovercometheobstacles intended tocreateacommonoperationalcentrebetween attempted collaborationwiththeGreeksection,wherewe The principalchallengeofthepastyearhasbeenour Extract: June 1999(in French). Olivier Dechevrens,MSFSwitzerlandPresident, ‘The president’s Annual Report 1998-1999,’

journalists and NGOs to improve its propaganda. the informationwarinKosovoandrecommendedusing report, whichadmittedthattheAlliancewaslosing the Spanish daily death ofciviliansforthethirteenthtime.On31May, On 30May1999,aNATOraidinadvertentlycausedthe intervention force. should wehavetoenterKosovointhewakeofanarmed credibility. Thismaysoonbecomeevenmoreimportant army’ ifwehopetoretainourpresentindependenceand us to distinguish ourselves clearly from the ‘humanitarian principle. Onceagain,ourvisibilityinthefieldobliges ments for money. That is significant; it is a question of to workinAlbaniawithouthavingaskNATOgovern- different sectionsofMSFenabledtheBelgiansection ular crisis,the division of privately donated fundsamong this isveryseriousandwemustreacttoit.Inpartic- governments in conflict. There is a confusion of genres; with parallelreliefactionconductedbythearmiesof action, whichissupposedtobeindependent,confused the trap that will close on us if of our humanitarian avoid fallingintothetrapwhichisloomingeverlarger; is crucialthatMSFandotherhumanitarianorganisations admitted targeting two convoys. claimed itwas tryingtoneutralisemilitary vehiclesand region (south-westKosovo)killing 75people.TheAlliance - 14April:NATObombarded convoysintheDjakovica time and55 people werekilled. southern Serbia.Atrainwas crossingthebridgeat - 12April:Missilesstrucka bridge atGrdelickaKlisurain casualties was providedby NATO orSerbiansources. exchange inPristina,thecapitalofKosovo.Nolist - 9April:Houseswerestruckduringaraidontelephone caused 17fatalities. sile aimedatabarrackscomplexmisseditstargetand Aleksinac, 200kmsouthofBelgrade,alaser-guidedmis - - 5April:DuringaraidontheSerbianminingtownof […] insignificant given theoverall number ofaerial missions. ’errors’ and‘civilianlosses’asinevitablestatistically not beenconfirmedbyNATO.TheAllianceregardsthese ed on24March,accordingtoSerbiansourcesthathave raids havecausedatleast254deathssincethewarstart- their targetsorcausedciviliancasualties.Thesedeadly cy. NATOhasnowconducted13raidswhichhavemissed civilians -11,accordingtotheYugoslavianTanjugagen 160 kmsouthofBelgrade,andregretted the deathsof On Sunday,NATOadmittedbombingabridgeatVarvarin, Extract: ‘ Brussels, 30 May1999(inFrench). or CausedCivilianCasualties,’ Thirteen NATORaidsHaveMissedTheirTargets El Mundo published details of a NATO AFP (France), 235 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

- 28 April: NATO targeted a Yugoslav army barracks at ence to conduct an information campaign in wartime. It Surdulica, 250 kilometres south of Belgrade. It missed recommends the use of all possible channels to improve its target and bombed a residential area, killing at least its communication, especially NGOs, journalists and even twenty civilians. the armed forces. «We should establish which non-gov- - 1 May: the bombing of a bridge on which a bus was trav- ernmental organisations (NGOs) it is possible to use, what elling at Luzane, 20 km north of Pristina in the province roles they seek to develop and what audience they are of Kosovo, resulted in 47 deaths. able to reach.” The report also suggests that NGOs could - 7 May: A NATO daylight raid on the centre of Nis in organise new activities, which could be used to convey south-east Serbia killed at least 15 people and injured 70 NATO points of view. more when a fragmentation bomb deviated from its target. The planes had been aiming at the city airport and a radio relay station. - 8 May: The bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade killed three Chinese journalists and injured twenty people. At the beginning of June, Médecins du Monde and The raid provoked a serious diplomatic crisis with Beijing. the Fédération Internationale des Droits de l’Homme The United States and NATO blamed a faulty map for this (FIDH) published a report which concluded, as had fatal blunder. MSF, that the Kosovo Albanians had been subjected to - 13 May: Serbian sources said 87 Kosovo Albanian civil- a systematic process of deportation. The report named ians were killed in a raid on the village of Korisa in south- those responsible and demanded that they be brought ern Kosovo. NATO claimed it had bombed a ‘legitimate before an international court. Such close links between target’, a military camp, but could not explain the pres- humanitarian aid and the defence of human rights ence of civilians there. aroused debate in the French press. - 20 May: A misdirected bomb from a NATO plane struck the Dragisa Misovic hospital in the Dedinje quarter of Belgrade. Four patients lost their lives. - 21 May: The bombing of a prison in Istok in north-east ‘Justice for the Kosovo Albanians: Report of a Kosovo, regarded by NATO as an ‘assembly zone’ for the First Investigation of War Crimes and Crimes Yugoslavian police and military, killed at least 19 people, Against Humanity Perpetrated in Kosovo,’ FIDH, according to the Serbian information centre. Médecins du Monde, June 1999 (in French). - 22 May: NATO admitted bombing a KLA position at Kosare in Kosovo, near the border with Albania, which Extract: it had mistaken for a Yugoslavian army position. The [...] All work was mandated to this end by the Fédération separatists suffered 7 dead and 15 wounded, according to Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH) informed sources. and Médecins du Monde. These investigative missions - 30 May: The bombing of a bridge in Varvarin, 160 km were not simply a compilation of spontaneous stories but south of Belgrade, killed at least 11 people and wounded were undertaken from a rigorously judicial perspective. 40 others, according to Tanjug, the official Yugoslavian [...] agency. NATO insisted that it was an important communication route and said the civilian deaths had been [...] Soldiers and representatives of special-forces are unintentional. named as the authors or co-authors of assaults conducted with both heavy and light weapons (aerial and ground bombardment, mortar fire, grenade attacks, artillery shelling, etc.) on villages and houses inhabited by totally ‘NATO Fears it is Losing the Information War,’ (El defenceless ethnic Albanians. [...] These acts may be Mundo), AFP (France), Madrid, 31 May 1999 (in described as crimes against humanity of the type defined French). and enumerated in Article 5 of the statute of the ICC, and therefore expose those who committed them as authors, Extract: co-authors or accomplices, and also those who ordered, The Atlantic Alliance is losing the ‘information war’ in encouraged, prepared, incited or aided their commission, Kosovo, claimed the Spanish daily El Mundo, quoting a to legal action and charges on the basis of Article 18 of NATO report that recommends involving NGOs and jour- the statute of the ICC. [...] The responsibility of the lead- nalists to improve its propaganda. The report suggests ers of the Republic of Serbia and of the Federal Republic of that the campaign may ‘last for some time’ and advocates Yugoslavia is clear in several respects. [...] Thus, besides preparing public opinion for three scenarios: a long period the executants, Article 7 of the statute of the ICC applies of aerial bombing, an escalation of air strikes against non- to those who planned, ordered or incited the commission military targets, and a ground attack. of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Serbian military, paramilitary and special-forces in Kosovo. These According to the document, which was produced by the are named as: staff of NATO Secretary General Javier Solana, NATO does - Slobodan Milosevic, President of the Federal Republic of 236 not possess the necessary mechanisms, means, or experi- Yugoslavia Serbia andleader of theWhite Eagles - VojislavSeselj,DeputyPrimeMinisteroftheRepublic force known as the‘Tigers’ - ZeljkoRaznatovic(‘Arkan’),Chiefoftheparamilitary deployed in Kosovo - FrankiSimatovic,Commanderofthespecialunits - Streten Lukic, Chief of SpecialForces in Kosovo forces in Kosovo. - NebojsaPavkovic,CommanderoftheSerbianarmed Republic of Serbia - VladimirDjordevic,HeadofPublicSecurityforthe service. Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and headof the security - JovicaStanisic,SecurityAdvisortothepresidentof victims’ rights andneeds are notthesame.” the victimofaplannedand organiseddeportation.The needs. Thevictimofanaturaldisasterisnotthesameas aid, whichismorethanasimplefocusontheproblemof tims. Thatisoneoftheveryfoundationshumanitarian and describeexactlywhatitisthatturnspeopleintovic - for us,suchactionisonlypossibleifwecanunderstand rights organisation; its field is humanitarian action. But endured bypeople in receiptofaid. “MSF isnotahuman the importanceofdeterminingcausessuffering Saulnier, legalofficerofMédecinsSansFrontières,stressed way forlegalactionandjudgement.»FrançoiseBouchet- ing intheidentificationofthoseresponsible,topave memory. And,moreimportant,itisawayofparticipat- to theconstitutionofanindividual,familialandcollective re-establishment of one’s dignity, and it also contributes able tospeakiscontributeone’sownhealing,the with atherapeuticandlegaldimension.Aboveall,being Albanians. «It endows the words of the patient and victim from the scale of the violence inflicted on the Kosovo evance ofthe‘alliance’betweendoctorandjuristderives [...] MDMandFIDHbelievethatthestrengthrel- what islargely a legal battle. people wonderingwhymedicalNGOsareplunginginto The publication of these two documents may leave some to produceareportthatreachesthesameconclusions. Médecins duMondeandFIDH,whichhavejoinedforces humanity (LeQuotidien,4May).Nowitistheturnof policy andqualifiedaswarcrimesagainst crimes committedinKosovoformedpartofasystematic collection ofwitnesstestimonies.Itconcludedthatthe report whichdrewonanepidemiologicalstudyanda In earlyMay,MédecinssansFrontières(MSF)issueda Extract: (in French). Quotidien duMédecin(France),2June1999 ‘Justice: anIndispensableAspectofTherapy,’ Le drawal of Serbian forces fromKosovo. on thecessationofNATObombingfollowingwith- 1999, SlobodanMilosevicacceptedapeaceplanbased international peacekeepingforceforKosovo.On3June spokesman announcedtheorganisationofKFOR,an lence committedbySerbianforcesinKosovo.ANATO mission hadfoundabundantevidenceofthevio- Kosovo wasamatterofurgency.Heclaimedthathis that deliveringaidtothedisplacedpopulationsinside the UNcommissionerforhumanitarianaffairswarned Following afact-findingmissioninSerbiaandKosovo, Albanians who hadfledtoothercountries wouldonly humanitarian aid. Thehundredsofthousands ofKosovo placed populationsaremore inneedofprotectionthan most urgentneeds.Itappears thattherefugeesanddis- Food, healthcareanddrinking waterwereamongthe “over half a million people” displaced within Kosovo. He stressedthat emergency aid wasnecessary for the inflicted on civilianpopulations.” explain, or justify the extent and intensity of the brutality Belgrade onthegroundsthattheycouldnot“accountfor, 10 April.MrdeMellorejectedtheargumentsadvancedby violence, vendettaandterror”between24March explosion ofmurders,arson,looting,forcibleexpulsion, all the testimony collected by the mission pointed to an urgent independentenquiry,headded.Hestressedthat his statementpublishedbytheUN.Thereshouldbean and permanentdeportation,”accordingtothetextof violence againstcivilians,aimedattheir“displacement futable evidence”ofaplannedandorganisedcampaign the SecurityCouncilthatmissionhadcollected“irre- time sinceNATOstrikesbeganon24March.[...]Hetold Kosovo andenteredotherpartsofYugoslaviaforthefirst humanitarian agencies.InlateMay,itspenttendaysin Mr deMelloledamissioncomposedofdozenUN conditions were “far from ideal.” in termsofthesecurityandcontrolaiddistribution, possible shouldproceedwithoutdelay,butadmittedthat in Kosovo.Headdedthatthedeliveryofasmuchaid the UNSecurityCouncilonhumanitariansituation ready toletusdothat,”hetoldreportersafterbriefing The Yugoslavianauthorities“assuredusthattheywere and wasalsoseekingthemeanstocontrolitsdistribution. would beabletodeliveraidthepopulationsinKosovo, Belgrade’s agreementsothat“regularroadconvoys” Sergio VieiradeMellosaidthathehopedtosecure Extract: AN AWAITED, MEDIACOVERED 2 June1999 (in French). Populations inKosovo,’ ‘ UN toOrganiseAidConvoysforDisplaced RETURN TO KOSOVO AFP (France),NewYork, “

237 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

return under the protection of a “powerful” international - Objective of coverage force, he said. A force responsible for ensuring the return - Collaboration with other interveners - defining priorities of approximately one million refugees is “priority number one,” he told reporters. Differentiate in strategies between IDPs left and refugees coming in - a series of risks to evaluate: - Retaliations UCK - Political agreement not kept ’Thirty-one Countries Commit 50,000 troops to - Defining Kosovar citizenship KFOR,’ Philippe Rater, AFP (France), Brussels, 2 - Mines June 1999 (in French). - Uranium issue - ’False safe-haven’ syndrome Extract: - How to go about mass-grave confrontation - logistics The 19 members of NATO and 12 of its neutral or Eastern - NATO coordination European partners have offered approximately 50,000 troops for a future peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR), What I would like to take up at first amongst these themes NATO spokesman Jamie Shea announced on Wednesday. is the one of coordinating practically amongst us. The These countries have so far committed a total of “47,868 baseline is as from the beginning: soldiers,” he said at a press conference, where he assured For Belgrade: journalists that the troops would soon be ready for That we try from all sides to get expat people in and pros- deployment in the Serbian province. Mr Shea did not pro- pect operational potential; as soon as this is a fact, opera- vide details of individual contributions and NATO declined tional options are in principle open to all sections, but to elaborate on Wednesday. Russia was not one of the 12 we’ll have to make sure from the start about fundamental partners involved in the initial negotiations with NATO coherence by agreeing upon a coordination amongst us; over the composition of KFOR. [...] The planned force is MSF B proposes to assume this in line with the situation called KFOR for Kosovo Force. The operation was baptised before, but there is room to see which kind of formula ‘Joint Guard’. “This force is designed to promote demo- (see the set of 5 schemes in the ET-evaluation report). As cratic values and human rights, not to destroy them as the such we’ll see with our local team what preparations can repressive regime in Belgrade has done,” stressed Mr Shea. already be set up in advance. If by that time there are still “We want it to be unique, with a robust unified command Greeks around, they could be included and rules of engagement (the right to open fire) which will ensure its effectiveness.” He also mentioned the pos- For Kosovo: sibility of assigning zones of responsibility to different We try to get in by crossing all borders and, if there is real nations, as in Bosnia. humanitarian space that we try to set up operations; we feel like that once the opening is made (by agreement) that Kosovo will become a virtual independent Albanian state, militarised but with large needs (enough to keep all sections busy) and probably many interveners; here Officials from different MSF sections began planning again, we think there is no need for geographical split- programmes to deal with an early return of refugees to up be-tween sections, although MSF B would be happy Kosovo. There were fears that the return process would to recuperate the humanitarian space lost in Pristina; it exacerbate the insecurity and poor quality of life the could as such also serve as exchange for circulating infor- refugees were already experiencing. mation; the formula opted for to preserve at this level international coherence again can be looked at (even the modular one ?).

‘Scenarios - Return to Serbia and Kosovo,’ Email from Vincent Janssens, MSF Belgium Directors of Operations to MSF operations ‘More Specifications Going to Kosovo (to comple- directors and Kosovo programme managers, 3 ment to my first message),’ Email from Vincent June 1999 (in English). Janssens, MSF Belgium Director of Operations to MSF operations directors and Kosovo programme Dear all, manager, 7 June 1999 (in English). Now maybe more than before (and if its not today, it’ll be tomorrow) we have to prepare amongst ourselves for a Extract: return both to Belgrade and to Kosovo; at the same time, Based on some new elements from Skopje: (I guess Tim the moment this opportunity will be there we still have Pitt [MSF Holland HOM in Skopje] will send propositions to secure our present activities, particularly the ones in himself, but as we agreed to start shooting ideas and Montenegro for evident reasons. There is a whole series of suggestions to each other, here are some) apparently it aspects to be tackled globally for any MSF going in: seems useful to distinguish two steps in the return process 238 - Criteria for humanitarian space for MSF: bouring countries (be preparedfor the worst). the refugeeswithoutabandoningcapacityinneigh - -We alsohavetoseewhatwecanbringinalongwith available people andbasicmaterials (? sheeting ...) the refugeesandprepositionatborder,leastsome still stayinginKosovo(basedonOCHAreport?)andfor find andhavetoaddressfortheKosovarswhowere -We coulddoasmallprojectionofwhatneedswe’ll of afew criteria toselect operational actions of needsandactors)beforehandtrytosetthisinform tion andouradded-valueinthiscontext(thatwillbefull -We absolutely have to discuss internationally our ambi- actors inKosovobeforethebombingtoseewhattheyplan -Particularly wehavetodiscuss,also,withtheoldclubof to gomodular additional areas can bedefined H inPrizrenandBPristina;ifSEarealsointerested -A regionalrepartitionwouldbepreferable,e.g.FinPec, working in mutual confidence be ‘Burundi-like’, rather light, hoping thatall can keep appropriation; theproposedcoordinationschemewould ferent sectioncomingin,bothforthevolumeand -As mentioned, it seems logic and useful to have a dif- probably all through Kukes; -The heaviestcaseloadofrefugeeswillcomefromAlbania, 2. operational phase: -Communication on observations -Assessment schemes and what to check - security measures Seems useful to haveinternational conversation about: have time flexibility at differentlevelsandwouldthereforerequirestaffsthat -It isevidentthatthismissioncanencounterproblems Eric Goemaere, Christopher Stokes? -Nationalities wouldbelessanissue;MSFBcouldoffer -Team could belarger, eventually more than one 2/ After NATO: security precautions areneeded (blindée [amored]) -Unclear howfaritwouldbeabletoget(Pristina?)-solid and JohanVon Schreeb (Swedish) able toofferJohnFarqueson(Australia),IrenaJohanson -Team shouldbesmall,non-NATOnationals(MSFBseems 1/ Before NATO: different if weconsider stepping in: The compositionandscaleoffeasibleassessmentcouldbe and management; would leavefromSkopjeithavea‘Dutch’backbone -The assessmentteamcouldbe‘international’,butasit starting point forNATO; interference andless‘protected’border(mines);alsothe -Most likelyonlypossiblefromMacedoniaassmallestUCK- 1. assessment phase:

That is it forthemoment. Thanks, Wouter Kok. probably dictate an entry after NATO. -Attempts beingmadetogetinbeforeNATO,realitywill -To be seen asanMSFTeam, not anMSF H team drawn from two sections. issue ofthinking.Consistfournon-NATOnationals, practical preparationsforareturn.Securitybeingthefirst -An assessmentteamisonstand-byinSkopje,making practical matters: functions of logistics and finances to be considered. Some adjustments towardsthetaskofsingleHoM,and gram asproposedbyChristopher/Timisvalid,withsome in firstinstance).Bearingabovemind,theorgani- (MSF Hwilltakeathreemonths-emergency-perspective vices to long term rehabilitation programmes for Kosovo. foreseen. Rangingfromstrictlymedicalemergencyser- Each sectionshoulddefinewhatsortofoperationalityis aspects then témoignage andgeneral representation. impossible fortheoneHoMtorepresentMSFonother to the sort of operationality. This will make it difficult/ 3. Differentsectionsmaygivedifferentinterpretation tion of UNHCR. services isdesignateddistrictsIFunderoverallcoordina- 2. MSFiswillingtoacceptresponsibilityforprovisionof 1. MSFwantstoworkinKosovo,representedbyoneHoM. foreseen teleconf tomorrow at 13:00): tween thesectionsinKosovo.(Thistocontribute some moreideasonapossiblewayofcooperationbe- the field(ChristopherandTim)droppingin,herewith With somecontributionsfromVincentJanssens,and Dear All, the beneficiaries; this means that sending in standardised the beneficiaries; thismeansthatsending in standardised tional needsassessment andguaranteestoaccompany itto concerned withtheconditioning ofanyaidbyaninterna- changes bytheplan.Ontop of this,weremainparticularly conditioning expatsonsuch a plan,neitherbyexpecting visa-negotiations: we feel like this won’t work, neither by time, webelievethisshould not be seen inthecontext of they keptonattendingsincethebeginning.Atsame option inthecomingdays;thisresultsfrommeetings flying inemergency medical materialmight bea realistic We aregettingfeedbackfromourpeopleinBelgradethat Just for info: Extract: 9 June 1999 (in English). 9 June1999(inEnglish). ’Charter toBelgrade,’EmailfromVincentJanssens, English). gramme managerDirector,8June1999(in from WouterKok,MSFHollandEmergencypro- ’Return toKosovo,aDutchPerspective,’Email tions directors and Kosovo programme managers, tions directorsandKosovoprogrammemanagers, MSF BelgiumDirectorofOperationstoopera- 239 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

items now aims only at anticipating probable needs; also in when necessary but will not be coordinated by them!!! trying to increase MSF’s reactivity-capacity. We expect that Intersectional organisation - it’s planned (should be basically all NGOs will receive visas at the same time and decided by ODs on Friday) as follows: that within hours, transport and importation channels will -Geographical division: MSF H PRIZREN zone, MSF B be overwhelmed. As such, we have been giving feedback to PRISTINA zone, MSF F PEC zone. Belgrade that we should try to get in this basic material but -Operational coordination is therefore independent but upon official condition that it can be stored and kept in an one person (a public relations officer, to use international independent MSF-warehouse and kept there until decent jargon) will be responsible for coordination between HOM, international assessment can be made. representation and MSF contact with reps in Pristina after Vincent agreement with HOM. Also representation and establishing press contacts with the different teams. Has no decision making powers concerning operations (who wants the job? Joke!). ‘Return to Kosovo,’ Email from Graziella Godain, MSF France Kosovo programme manager to her colleagues in Macedonia and the headquarters of MSF France, 10 June 1999 (in French). ‘Decisions Made by the Group of ODs,’ Minutes of MSF operational directors meeting, 11 June Extract: 1999 (in English). I’m hunched over my keyboard to give you a brief summary of MSF F positions on returning to Kosovo. There’s a meet- Extract: ing of ODs in Amsterdam tomorrow (Friday) to finalise the 1. Participation convoy: the group of ODs agree to be part return plan. of the UNHCR convoy into Kosovo, ETD from Skopje Sunday 1) But there’s also our own position: morning. Although the UNHCR convoy will fall under NATO -MSF F is interested in taking over the zone of PEC, Istok military control, there is no strong objection for MSF to be and Djakovica (where most of the people we are busy with, part of it; the re-entry into Kosovo falls under the auspi- in Montenegro, came from). Politically, it’s very unstable cious of the UN while cease-fire is in place. MSF will use as it’s the Serbian nationalist stronghold; the zone has this opportunity and use the framework of the UN. MSF seen a lot of confrontations recently and throughout the however is not tied to this UN coordination framework, past year. meaning that MSF will decide for itself, when to use and MSF F envisages the following priorities: not to use the coordination framework, following MSF -Explo and rapid takeover of the IDPs in this zone: (medi- principles and MSF’s security policy in Kosovo. ln case cal, food/nutrition, water and shelter), there are other opportunities to enter Kosovo from one of -Preparing to take charge of the returnees (food and shel- the surrounding ‘republics’ MSF will do so. ter first, followed by sanitation then med soon afterwards) -Activities are centralised more on the peripheries of the 2. Functional Structure: the structure decided upon by the big towns (Pec and Djakovica) because we think the rural group of ODs is for the initial exploratory phase, starting zone is the worst affected, the most fragile in terms of the Sunday (re-entry) lasting approximately one week. During security and protection of the population, the most acces- this week (from Monday on) daily teleconferences will be sible and easier for working closely with the population held amongst the ODs in order to be informed on fact find- and the carers. That doesn’t mean we ignore the towns in ing in Kosovo, decide on MSF strategy and the structure the first phase of the return, but we prioritise activity on once MSF becomes operational. Input from Christopher the periphery in the second phase, when populations and Stokes in the teleconferences is desirable. The group of NGOs return en masse. ODs are in favour of a geographical division of the MSF activities amongst the sections. Both MSF Spain and Swiss 2) I know that some of you (and I’m particularly referring have a strong wish to be part of the explos in regards to to the Macedonia team) are fuming over the business of human resources. MSF Spain will continue its attempt to the intersectional coordination plan in Kosovo: put all enter Kosovo through other channels than the UNHCR that aside, we’ll manage with our friends... convoy. MSF Swiss will examine the possibilities to enter Concentrate on: Serbia (Nis) from Sofia. -Identification of possible entry points. -Preliminary identification of local Albanian staff (north- The structure: the structure will be strongly decentralised west region) willing to work for MSF, with one common MSF representative. The responsibilities -Identification of transport (cars and lorries) to convey of the MSF representative: teams and materials -Focus point for MSF, -Constitution of a team ready to return with reinforce- -Representation to third organisations, authorities etc. ments from Paris to Kosovo; pre-positioning of materials. -Global view of the situation, location of the various -Developing contacts with the KLA as well as with civilian teams and their activities. authorities and local Albanian notables. -The teams in the field will have a witnessing role, the 240 3) MSF F will coordinate with UN, UNHCR, NATO and ECHO teams can communicate externally what they witness, in press release from Tirana. political ormilitaryagenda.MSFSpainissuedasimilar of refugeestoKosovoshouldnotbesubjectedany in Skopjeissuedapressreleasestatingthatthereturn Belgium’s operationsdirector,theMSFHollandteam On 4June1999,despitethereservationsofMSF open forrevision, decision making on GDlevel. Yugoslav army/policefromKosovothisstandpointmaybe and UN mandate in place, and that after the retreat of the feeling that the situation has changed with a cease-fire on thisprinciplestandpoint.AmongsttheODs,thereis the groupofODs.TheODsaskGDstomakeadecision member statesfundingneedstobereviewedaccording earmarked fundsavailable,MSF’spositiontowardsNATO- Apart fromtherealisationthatthereisalargeamountof be consulted. [...] MSF networkasawhole.Oneofthepartnersectionswill in ordertomakeitaccessibleandunderstandableforthe Brussels. Itwillbedoneinamorecommunicativeway will becontinuedfortheMSFnetwork,synthesisedin 3. InternalMSFcommunication(sitreps):dailysitreps next to the MSFrepresentative. -One logcoordinatorandaPRpersonwillbeinPristina ment will have tobeidentified. Pristina forthefirst10days;inmeantimeareplace- -Christopher Stokes will be the MSF representative in and decideaccordingly. tegic issuesthegroupofODswillbeinformedinadvance case theywishtocommunicateonpoliticalandMSFstra- of principleregarding militaryandciviliantasks inrefugee We’ve gotalot ofmileageoutourprevious statements you canrefer to me. light. Anydifficultquestions orrequestsforinterviews same asAmsterdam time) iswhenyouhavethegreen please donotjumpthegun: 11:30ourtime(whichisthe journalists arestaying.Youcanuseitforyourmedia,but and simultaneouslymakeitavail-ableinthehotelswhere deliver the release to a select-ed number of journalists other sections should know about it. We will personally here inclosecollaborationwithAmsterdam.Thedesksat the press release below [above], which has been prepared here in Skopje on Friday, 4 June, at 11:30. You will find moving fastintheBalkans.Wewillissueapressrelease Sorry forthelatenotice,butasyoumayknowthingsare Extract: English). munication departments,4June1999(in Van’tland, PressOfficerMSFSkopjetocom- ’Urgent, PressRelease,’EmailfromErwin the conflict, to maintain its neutrality. […] ing fromgovernmentswhohaveamilitaryinvolvementin work intheBalkans,MSFhasthusfardeclinedanyfund- and employshundredsoflocallyrecruitedstaff.Forits organisation hasover100expatriatestaffintheregion dents in Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia. The mount,” hesays.Currently,MSFassistsrefugeesandresi- internally displacedandtheresidentpopulationarepara- Serbia as soon as possible. “We know that the needs of Mr PittaddsthatMSFwantstogobackintoKosovoand military agendasinhumanitarianaidhastobeavoided. neutrality and impartiality. Interference from political or on the principles of providing aid to those most at risk, lation oftheFormerYugoslavRepublicshouldbebased adhered to.Assistancetorefugeesandtheresidentpopu- should be reflected in all written agreements and rigidly of Refugees,”MrPittadds.AccordingtoMSF,suchclarity remains theresponsibilityofUNHighCommissioner supplies andpeople,thoughcoordinationofthesetasks tarian organisationswithheavylogisticsandairliftsof Macedonia. “Theymayalsobeaskedtosupporthumani- traps,” says Timothy Pitt, the MSF Head of Mission in for generalsecurityandtheclearingofminesbooby refugees returnhome.“Theyshouldtakeresponsibility an internationalmilitaryforceintheeventthatKosovar repatriation of Kosovar refugees. MSF sees four roles for This shouldbeclearlystatedinallagreementsregarding be undercivilian-andnotmilitaryauthority. humanitarian assistanceandtheresettlementofrefugees ing uponallactorsintheBalkansconflicttoensurethat medical aidagencyMédecinsSansFrontières(MSF)iscall- Press release:Skopje,4June1999:Theinternational Erwin mer the message home. Hence thehaste. briefing whichlsentyouearlier.Nowisthetimetoham- aid; itisreflectedinthesummaryofUNHCRpress Vincent Regards, it requires much more explanation tobe well understood a press-releaseisnotthegood mediumtotacklethis,as (although Iknowthisisnot the intention)andlfeelthat tell what Nato’s role could be: it sounds rather pretentious -I feelabituncomfortablewiththeparagraphinwhichwe start as fromtomorrow unrealistic expectationthatareturnissomethingwill is assuch,somehowcontributingtoan(tomyopinion) -All overlfeellikethismessageiscomingtoosoonand, hope youhavebeencross-checkingitwiththemthistime, the UN,UNreaditasstatingthatwasweak, l - Recallingthatlasttimeyoumadeacallforsupportto A small reaction that comes abitlate: 4 June1999(in English). Janssens, MSF BelgiumDirectorof Operations, ‘Re: DraftStatement,’EmailfromVincent 241 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

‘Kosovo: the Return of the Refugees Should ‘UN Hails the End of a “Dark Chapter” in the Take Place Without Political or Military History of the Balkans,’ Afsané Bassir, Le Monde Interference – Médecins Sans Frontières Calls (France), 12 June 1999 (in French). for a Clear Separation of Military and Humanitarian Action,’ Press release MSF Extract: Spain, Tirana/Skopje/Barcelona, 4 June 1999 There were fourteen votes in favour and one abstention (in Spanish). – China: on Thursday 10 June, the UN Security Council adopted the peace plan for Kosovo. Voting took place Extract: shortly after the receipt of written confirmation from the The international humanitarian assistance organisation secretary general of NATO that the allied bombing had Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) calls for a clear distinc- ceased. The adoption of resolution 1244, which authorises tion between the roles and responsibilities of the military the immediate deployment of an international force in and those of humanitarian assistance organisations in the Kosovo and the setting up of a civilian administration, event that refugees decide to return to Kosovo. The UN aroused unprecedented rejoicing at the United Nations. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, declared during his visit to Only 30 of the 185 UN member countries spoke at the Macedonia on May 19th that “humanitarian assistance is formal council meeting, but most of them hailed a “happy a civilian activity.” MSF asks all the parties implicated to day for the United Nations.” respect this principle in the countries sheltering refugees, and that it be reiterated in all international agreements For the overwhelming majority of speakers, the adoption regarding conditions for the return of refugees to Kosovo. of the peace plan, even if it had been largely drawn up “During the first weeks of the crisis there was a lot of con- by the G8, marked the UN’s “return to grace” in interna- fusion about the roles of humanitarian assistance,”said tional affairs and was seen as an “acknowledgement of its Eric Stobbaerts, Executive Director of MSF [Spain]. “At the powers.” They believed the vote confirmed the Security moment, the role of the international military force and Council’s authority because it now had the “prerogative the Yugoslav army is crucial to ensuring security and car- to authorise” the use of force. [...] Many other countries rying out the de-mining process in the zone” continued welcomed the adoption of the peace plan as a “victory for Eric Stobbaerts. “Furthermore humanitarian agencies may humanity.” But some representatives, particularly from need to ask them for logistical help to transport refugees Africa, were under no illusions: “I know that this western and material goods. But it must remain clear that humani- goodwill will never extend to the African continent,” said tarian assistanceorganisations, and particularly UNHCR, one. “But I am nonetheless delighted to have witnessed would be responsible for the coordination and definition the UN finally agree to the first genuine humanitar- of the conditions in which such collaboration would take ian intervention.” [...] The Russian Ambassador, Sergei place,” added Stobbaerts. This clarity should be reflected Lavrov, emphasised that the resolution authorises an in written agreements and guaranteed in the practice of international presence “under UN control.” However, he humanitarian assistance. The protection of the IDP’s and again harshly condemned the “NATO aggression that has resident population’s rights, as well as the cover of basic transformed a humanitarian crisis into a humanitarian necessities, must not be influenced by any military or disaster through-out the entire Balkan region.” political agenda. E.g. the transport or return of refugees must be carried out on the basis of voluntary repatriation, independent of any political or military interests. MSF’s objective is to return to Serbia and Kosovo as soon as possible. “There are clearly extensive medical needs During the night of Friday 11 June 1999, several among the population” explained Eric Stobbaerts. “Every hundred Russian troops began arriving in Pristina, day the situation deteriorates further and can result in the capital of Kosovo. They were the first to do so. the loss of human lives.” MSF teams are currently assisting On 12 June, MSF teams entered the city several hours refugees and the local population in Macedonia, Albania, before the arrival of NATO. That same day, the MSF Montenegro and Bosnia. International Council agreed on the principles, objectives, and strategy to be applied in forthcoming MSF operations in Kosovo.

On 8 June 1999, the foreign ministers of the G8 countries adopted a peace plan that included UN led inter- ‘British and French Troops Enter Kosovo – After national peacekeeping force. On 9 June 1999, NATO the Russians,’ Le Monde (France), 13 June 1999 suspended air strikes as Serbian forces began their (in French). withdrawal from Kosovo. On 10 June, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1244, which authorised the Extract: 242 immediate deployment of KFOR in Kosovo. NATO’s Operation Joint Guard began at 05:25 local time on midday on Saturday. up itsheadquarters.Thetroopswerestillinplacetowards metres fromthecentreofcityinwhichKFORwillset positions overnightnearPristina’sairport,aboutfourkilo- the peacekeepingforce.TheRussiandetachmenttookup continue inMoscowordertoestablishRussia’srole tion andthoughtthat“constructivediscussions”should he was“satisfied”withtheRussianminister’s explana- further instructions.”AWhiteHousespokesmansaid have been ordered to leave Kosovo immediately and await is under investigation,” added Mr Ivanov, “and thetroops and hadnotbeenauthorisedbyMoscow.“Thesituation arrival ofthe[Russian]soldiershadbeen“inadvertent” Minister, Igor Ivanov, told CNN television news that the Commander of Allied Forces in Europe. The Russian Foreign council wasaddressedbyGeneralWesleyClark,Supreme said a NATO official in Brussels, where the permanent tions of Belgrade and Pristina. “There is total confusion,” to KFOR.Thetroopswerewarmlyreceivedbythepopula- had beenreachedonthenatureofRussia’scontribution troops enteredPristinaviaYugoslaviabe-foreagreement The movewastotallyunexpectedfortheBosnia-based within NATO,whichisresponsiblefortroopdeployments. […] TheRussianattitudecausedconsiderableconfusion capital andtookuppositionsinthesuburbsofPristina. on Friday 11 June, reached the Nis region south of the soldiers, part of SFOR in Bosnia, who crossed Belgrade ceded by an unexpected manœuvre involv-ing 500 Russian international peacekeep-ing force for Kosovo, were pre- and Kosovo.ButtheseinitialmovementsbyKFOR,the of Kumanovo, crossed the border between Macedonia and FrenchunitsfromSlupcaneLipkovo,tothenorth Saturday 12June,whenBritishdetachmentsfromBlace constant review. 4. The internal MSF co-ordination structure will be under for our value-added. MSF willadjustitspresence accordingly,alwayslooking 3. Giventhattherewillbealarge numberofNGOspresent, if required and militaryactivities, to bepreparedspeakout, 2. TomonitortherelationshipbetweenhumanitarianUN ethnic Albanians witness thehumanitariansituationofbothSerbsand 1. Providemedicalhumanitarianassistanceifrequired, be present in Kosovoto: Kosovo werebroadlypresented.Atthistime,MSFshould and humanitarianresponse.MSFoperationsatthistimein Security Council resolutionand the internationalsecurity for MSF Holland)and reviewed in light of the recent UN the KosovocrisiswerepresentedbyWilnavanArtsen(OD MSF’s plannedactivitiesintheBalkansregionsurrounding Extract: June 1999(in English). 11, 12June1999:Amsterdam,Holland, ‘MSF InternationalCouncilMeetingMinutes,’ to the unintended negativeconsequences of aid. forces; intermsofconditions ofaccess,andwithregard will notbepreparedtogoin relationswithNATOorother 4. MSFshouldidentify a bottomline,beyondwhich MSF or any other indictedwar criminal. acts, whichmaybestowlegitimacyonPresidentMilosevic be manipulated by a party to the conflict. This includes 3. MSF should avoid undertaking any action, which could under the auspices andprotection of theNATO forces. possible, thereissomeconcernthatthiswasonlypossible conducting an exploratory mission inKosovo as soon as to theFRY.Althoughappreciativeofimportance 2. Allavenuesshouldbeexploredforautonomousaccess identified as soon aspossible. ordinated bythem.Reliablelocalinterlocutorsshouldbe other international and local actors, but avoid being co- for expatriateandlocalstaff.MSFshouldco-ordinatewith tion ofaidcommodities;andobtainsecurityguarantees vulner-able; conduct,monitorandevaluatethedistribu- unhinde-red accesstothepopulation,especiallymost independently assesstheneedsofpopulation;retain the FRY. MSF should ensure that it has the ability to 1. IndependenceofaccessandactioninKosovo summarised below: be preparedtowithdraw.Someissuesconsideredare there maynotbearole for MSF, and inthiscase we must stressed. Aswell,wemustbepreparedtorecognisethat need, and our responsibility to witness if required, were dent role,thescaleofouroperationsinproportionto to bepresentinKosovo,butclarityaroundourindepen- NATO andtheUN.ItwasrecognisedthatMSFwouldlike guard againstbecomingadefactosub-contractorfor As withthepotentialinSomalia[19]92-93,wemust inventoried. funds existwithinthemovement,andthesearebeing is ageneralrecognitionthatmorethanampleprivate stands apartfromtheseconsiderations.However,there tion ofavailabilityprivatefundswithinthemovement fact ofstronginstitutionalfundingasleverage.Theques- pressur-ed humanitarianNGOstoleaveSomalia,usingthe and politicalissuesbecamedominant,theUSgovernment ence ofSomaliain1993wasnoted,wherewhenmilitary to exercise caution in reversing this decision. The experi- reached forKosovo.TheICurgedtheExecutiveCommittee the IC,andistobereviewedafterapeacedealhadbeen because theywereparty to theconflict,wasendorsedby accept institutionalfundingfromNATOmemberstates forms ofindependence.ThepreviousMSFdecisiontonot importance offinancialindependenceasenablingother independence relative to UN and other actors, and the the regionwerediscussed.KeyamongthesewasMSF’s The principlesbywhichMSFwillattempt to operatein though Belgrade continues torefuse MSF’s presence. 5. MSFwillcontinuetotrygainentryintoSerbia, 243 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

extraordinary how hospitable the locals were. They invited us to eat and drink with them. Those first few days were UNHCR had been given or had taken the task of mak- great. And then we had the tidal wave. The Serbian forces ing a schedule of who would be able to go into took almost a week to leave. There was this interim period Kosovo; NATO troops - nobody else - because of between the arrival of NATO and the departure of the Serbs. demining. There was a small representation of the humani- The Serbs had decided to leave, but they took their time and tarian community, all UN, of course, were going to do a first it was very tense. draft assessment. I think we were scheduled for day 3 to be allowed with maybe two people. On that Saturday, when the Christopher Stokes, coordinator MSF Belgium in NATO started moving in, we found two things. One was that Albania and Kosovo, April to June 1999 (in French). the NATO troops would take any good TV friends on their tanks so that this all victory show would be live on television. And, the other thing was that we got a new schedule from UNHCR where we were moved from day 3 to day 4. We had the team ready in Skopje. Christopher [Stokes, MSF When the International Council met on 12 June, rep- Belgium coordinator] had come over, another key staff resentatives of MSF Greece refused to discuss their came over, ready to go. So we said: “How about we take one exploratory mission but offered a written statement. armoured land cruiser and three expat staff, and one Following a discussion based on an assessment by two national staff, drive to the border?” We drove to the border. IC representatives, a resolution was adopted. This gave Much to our surprise, nobody stopped us. There was this one the Greek section until 28 June 1999 to provide a writ- national staff UNHCR at the border completely bored. He ten commitment to terminate its operational activities saw a NATO truck passing by, a NATO car, jeeps, an MSF or face expulsion from the movement. As this request car...”Shit!!” They just kept overtaking this huge file of was ignored, an expulsion procedure was set in motion NATO cars. What I heard later from Christopher was that during the months that followed. However, MSF Greece they arrived in Pristina before the NATO troops. One of the continued its operations in several areas, retained the first vehicles at the end of the afternoon in Pristina. I was MSF name and logo and took the case to the Greek in the car following with Tim [Pitt, coordinator MSF courts. Holland]. We felt like: “Ok we cannot go at this stage without an armoured car.” So that evening, we heard back from Christopher, we decided to assemble a small convoy, about 12 staff, and went early the next morning. So on Sunday we ‘Fact Finding Mission Regarding the MSF Greece drove to Pristina, and I was there before lunch. Mission to the FRY and the Breakdown of the MSF Greek-Swiss Common Operational Centre Erwin Vantland, Communications officer in Agreement,’ Report, Stephan Oberreit and Morten Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo, MSF International May - Rostrup, 3 June 1999 (in English). June 1999 (in English). Extract: REPORT Completed June 3, 1999. Presented to the MSF International Council 11th-13th of June 1999 Team: Stephan Oberreit and Morten Rostrup In fact what really struck me when we returned to Pristina was that we were the first humanitarian Part III: Conclusions 24 workers most people had seen. They were peering at 1. Resume of Findings 24 us from behind the curtains. People started coming out of 2. Outcome of the Crisis, Scenarios and Recommendation their houses as we walked through the streets and up the 24 hill to the hospital. They were talking to their neighbours Annexes 26 and saying: “We saw MSF.” The NATO tanks were not there Annex 1: MSF Greece Board Letter to IC, April 1, 99, and yet; it would take them the best part of 24 hours to get reply of IC President 26 there. It was quite late when we arrived; people were throw- Annex 2: Letter of IC President to MSF Greece, ing flowers at us. The Serbs were still in Pristina, so it didn’t May 6, 99 27 do much for our image of neutrality! We were covered in flowers by the time we got to the hospital. Guards were still PART III: CONCLUSIONS hanging around, great hulking brutes who handled their 1 - Resume of Findings Kalashnikovs like toy pistols. They stared at us – it was The Greek section wanted to carry out this mission to really heavy! And they were still looting the city. They were FRY whatever the conditions and the risks. The reasons still entering houses and coming out with televisions. And are multi-factorial (political positioning, operational there we were in the middle of it all. It was a very, very ambition, Greek society pressure, ‘exclusive’ opportunity weird time. We had this feeling of ‘déjà vu’ because it looked through the Greek government mediation...). They knew like those pictures of the liberation of Europe in 1944. […] they could only do it alone and that no visas would be 244 The population of Pristina was mostly Albanian. It was issued for non-Greeks. So they prepared it in secret and expressed. That lensiscontinually“polished” bydebate principles’ through whichthoseviewscanbe exploredand etal views,butaremeantto bea‘lensofhumanitarian societ-ies, they are not to be a simple reflection of soci- Balkans region.WhileMSFsections arebasedintheircivil the MSFoperationalframework forMSFoperationsinthe forums fordoingso.Italsochose toignoreandover-ride to debate these inside the MSF movement despite ample ferent fromtherestofmovement.MSFGchosenot pretation ofMSFhumanitarianprinciplesareverydif - interpretation oftheKosovocrisisandalsointer - Under pressurefromitsownsociety,theMSFGpolitical MSF movement. the programmesandidentityspecificitiesof and dilutionwouldbemoredangeroustothequality of human resources.Atthisstage,moregrowth,expansion to betterutilisetheexistingcompetenciesandscarce strengthen what already exists, and our priority must be scattered aroundtheworld).Ourgoalistostabiliseand 80 capitalswithMSFcoordinationteams,100’sofmissions organisation (5O.C.,morethan20sections&offices, ed in that MSF needs to optimise its current network and that want to become operational?” This has been answer- another MSFoperationalcentreorisitthestructures ent inrecentyearsis“dothepopulationsdangerneed 2. Aquestionthathasalreadybeenaskedbythemovem- framework. Thus, we will not recommend alternative 1 or ning operationsabroadwithintheMSFinternational In ouropinionMSFGhasproveditselfincapableofrun- ment. 5) MSFGisexcludedfromtheinternationalmove- donors) of the situation. port withallsectionsand2)informingpartners(UN,ICRC, lead to -1) cutting CC-mail and logistical & technical sup- conditions forre-enteringthemovement)whichwould 4) MSFGissuspendedfromthemovement (with clear section of another operational centre. its in-countryprogrammes,butwillfunctionasapartner allowed torunoperationsoutsideGreece.Itcanmaintain 3) MSFGcontinueswithinthemovement,butisnot new common operational centre. 2) MSF G continues within the MSF movement as part of a independent operational centre. 1) MSFGcontinueswithinthemovementasa6th sis. These are: We seefivealternativescenarios as outcomesofthiscri- 4) Lack of transparency. 3) Lack of international co-operation andco-ordination 2) Violation of decisions made by the Executive Committee, 1) Violation of humanitarianoperational principles, due to: The actionsofMSF-Gareinouropinionnotacceptable Outcome of Crisis. Scenarios and Recommendation - Breakdown in trust&communication - Endangering other sectionsaccess - Political impact onthe movement quences in terms of: imposed itonthemovementdisregardingconse-

movement. movement,and thisdeparturewillbeacceptedbytheMSF MSF Greecewillbetakingitsfinalstepawayfromthe 3) Ifeitheroftheseisnotmetwithintheprescribedtime, an MSFOperational Centre within two weeks. by MSF Greece outside of Greece must be handed over to section ofanotheroperationalcentre.Allprogrammesrun its in-countryprogrammes,butwillfunctionasapartner allowed torunoperationsoutsideGreece.Itcanmaintain 2) MSFGcontinueswithinthemovement,butisnot sion insideFRY must bestopped immediately; 1) TheongoingandunilateralMSFGreeceexploratorymis- Therefore, we recommend to theICthat: an international association. transparent way, damaging the trust that is essential to debate totakeplace,andfinally,itdidthisinanon- broke away from the framework that allows this essential tion andapplicationofhumanitarianprinciples. It also - MSFGreecewentitsownwaywithinterpreta tarian principlesinaverycomplexsituation-theBalkans within themovementaroundapplicationofhumani- risks intheirownsocieties.Inchoosingtoavoiddebate within MSF,andshouldstrengtheneachsectionintaking that heheard from JamesOrbinskyorally, what wouldbe of thestatement, whichheemphasised,was proceduralin these. Odysseaswasthenasked todefinethekeyissues then leave the IC meeting but will be available to discuss in theformofawrittensubmission (seeAnnex1),and of MSF Greece will leave a series of questions and remarks tion, anditisnotclearlystated intheagenda.TheBoard participate inthediscussionasthereisnoclearaccusa - will notacceptlossofoperations.MSFGreece should nothaveoperationsoutsideofGreece.MSFGreece report outlines5optionsandfavoursthatMSFGreece the reportofMortonRostrupandStephanOberreit.The which comesfromdiscussionswithJamesOrbinskyand tion ofMSFGreecefromtheinternationalmovement, of MSFGreececonsidersthemainissuetobeisola - According tothestatementgivenbyKostas,Board sibility to participatein the debateat IC. statement, Odysseas was reminded that he hada respon- of MSFGreecetotheIC.BeforeKostasgavehisprepared wanted only Kostas to make a statement from the Board ticipate inthedebatearoundtheseissues,andinstead guest, KostasPapaioannou.Odysseasrefusedtopar- arrived fortheopeningpartofthisdiscussionwitha Michael Schull to chair this item. Odysseas Boudouris he is implicated in these issues, James Orbinsky asked Swiss commonOperationalCentreAgreement.Because Item 3: MSF Greece and the breakdown of the MSF Greek- Extract: June 1999 (in English). 11, 12June1999:Amsterdam,Holland,’ ‘MSF InternationalCouncilMeetingMinutes,’

245 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

debated and has not had time to prepare arguments. This poorly by the IC, and how each successive partnership was countered by James Orbinsky who reminded Odysseas with the French, Spanish and Swiss operational sections/ that he has a responsibility and opportunity to explain the centres since 1990 have failed. actions of his section and offer other options to the IC; 10) The procedure established and followed to deal with that any option, including doing nothing is open to the the unilateral mission of MSF Greece to Kosovo and the IC; and that Odysseas and his Board had been informed breakdown of the Greek-Swiss COC was seen as having by letter on May 6, 1999 of the gravity and consequences been fair at all times, however the timing of Thierry of the situation. This was in addition to numerous phone Durand’s resignation as the Operations Director for the calls from James Orbinsky to Odysseas Boudouris since joint COC was at best, inopportune. This procedure was then and in the Extraordinary General Assembly in Greece also seen as having provided more than adequate space on June 2, 99 by Jean Marie Kindermans, as well as in for discussion and arbitration. MSF Greece has been Board meetings with MSF Switzerland, and at the MSF informed, at an early stage in writing and verbally, of the France General Assembly. Odysseas and Kostas then left risks they incurred with this action, and strong efforts the meeting after Odysseas was again reminded that he were made to discuss and arbitrate around this issue. MSF has a responsibility and is welcome to participate in the Greece itself has knowingly avoided responding to these debate now as it is occurring, and that contrary to his normal and established means of communication. request, he will not be contacted by cellular phone. After carefully considering the best interests of the Morton Rostrup then presented a 15 minutes overview Movement and the desire of the IC for the Greek section of the Fact Finding Mission Report (see attached). He to remain in the movement, the following resolution was emphasised that the options and recommendation were adopted with two abstentions (MSF Switzerland because those of the Fact Finding team (Morton Rostrup and it was not strong enough, and MSF Japan, because Stephan Oberreit), and that the IC would have to make Dominique Leguillier argued that it was not a customary its own determination as to what possible options existed way of resolving an issue in Japan, and he wanted to and what action, if any, to take. Morton emphasised his reflect the spirit of the culture he represents): view that the Greek section wanted to carry out this mission to the FRY whatever the conditions or risks, and that Resolution this was imposed on the MSF Movement as a fait accompli The IC was presented with and accepts the report of without regard for the range of consequences that fol- the fact finding mission of Morton Rostrup and Stephan lowed. (…) Oberreit on “The MSF Greece Mission to the FRY and the Breakdown of the MSF Greek-Swiss Common Operational The report, the options it outlines, and its main recom- Centre Agreement.” The IC deeply deplores the explicit mendations were discussed. (…) decision of MSF Greece not to respond or participate in The five and a half hours of discussion that followed, the debate at the IC meeting of June 12th, 1999, in emphasised the issue of operational principles, and if and Amsterdam. how MSF Greece’s unilateral mission to Kosovo violated these. The main conclusion was that independence and The International Council of MSF resolves that: impartiality were sacrificed, ignored or naively applied. Given: The discussion also emphasised that: 1. The unilateral MSF Greece mission into Kosovo lacked 1) The application of humanitarian principles in a particu- the independence necessary to facilitate an objective lar situation is never easy, as the individual humanitarian evaluation of the needs of the population and that unac- principles can often contradict one another; ceptable conditions of access were agreed to by MSF 2) Therefore there is a need to always nuance these to a Greece which compromised the mission and undermined particular situation where choices as a movement have future attempts by any MSF section to enter into the FRY; always to be made; 2. That the actions of MSF Greece were carried out without 3) It is therefore essential that debate within and across respecting prior decisions of the IC as to how MSF Greece the movement at all levels is central to determining a would carry out field operations; particular application of humanitarian principles. 3. That the actions of MSF Greece were carried out with a 4) That the TOR for an exploratory mission to Kosovo was total lack of transparency, were deliberately misleading to explicitly stated by the Executive Committee on April 20, members of the IC, and deliberately avoided international 1999 that implicitly recognised and prioritised humanitar- debate and co-ordination, and ian principles in this context [must be respected]; 4. That the actions of MSF Greece violated the specific 5) That transparency is central to the MSF movement; decisions taken by the Executive Committee with regard 5) That the minimal structure that exists to manage with the objectives and conditions necessary for a MSF operations across the movement must also be respected; exploratory mission into Kosovo. […] 7) That this was ignored by the MSF Greece section; 8) That MSF Switzerland considers the Common Operational The IC considers that the Common Operational Centre Centre partnership as now over; and between Greece and Switzerland has ceased to exist and 9) The history of MSF Greece in the movement and particu- therefore MSF Greece can no longer carry out operations 246 larly their operationality and how this has been monitored outside of Greece, effective immediately. The IC wishes considered. reappointment forasecondyear,thisissueneednotbe ending 28June1999.Sincehehasdeclinedtostandfor Odysseas’ appointmentasVPoftheICwasfor12months, Item 4: Removal ofOdysseus Boudouris as VP ofMSFIC name “MédecinssansFrontières”inanylanguage.[…] that MSF-Greece ceases all use of the MSF logo and the cease allformalcollaborationwithMSFGreeceanddemand MSF-movement. lnthatcase,theICandallitssectionswill membership intheICandtohaveexcludeditselffrom 1999, theICconsidersMSFGreecetohaveforfeitedtheir refuse tocomplyinwritingwiththisdecisionbyJune28th, with membershipasapartnersection.ShouldMSFGreece as theyaccepttheresponsibilitiesandprivilegesthatgo MSF GreecetoremainwithintheMSF-movement,solong explain thissituation asapartoftheir normal discus- donors inwriting. TheappropriateMSFinterlocutor should information, andforthisreason donotenvisagenotifying tion. Again,wedonotwant to giveahighprofilethis informed bytheappropriate MSF interlocutorateachsec- 6. Whererelevant,nationalgovernment donorsshouldbe tional office. 5. Multilateraldonors will be informed by theinterna- not envisage notifying partners in writing. high profiletothisinformation,andforreason,do office. Jean-Marienotedthatwedonotwanttogivea 4. Majorpartnerswillbenotifiedbytheinternational tinue workingforanNGOthatisnolongerMSFSection. Greece should have a choice as to whether they will con- informed of the situation. Expatriates working with MSF should ensurethattheirexpatriatesarecontactedand tions withnationalexpatriatesworkingMSFGreece the IC decision. Therefore the general directors of all sec- 3.Expatriates workingforMSFGreeceshouldbenotifiedof from all sections. (…) 2.CC mailaccessandnetworking[forMSFG]aretobecut 1. PeoplewithinMSFhavetobeawareofthedecision(…) actions should be taken: myself. InJean-Marie’sletter,henotedthatthefollowing or pointsofclarification, please contact Jean Marie or director or section president has any comments, questions of whatsomesectionshavealreadydone.Ifanygeneral sending myreplytoallsections,includingsomeexamples statement inadvance.Sothatitiscleartoeveryone,lam that time. Therefore, it is not useful to prepare a press will havetorespondthequestionsthatareraisedat Executive Committeeteleconference,andthestatement statement isrequired,thiswillhavetobeprecededbyan try toavoidapublicstatementontheissue.If persons, donorsandagenciesareinformed,butwherewe The approachisalowprofileone,whereappropriate Extract: ‘ presidents, 8 July1999 (in English). President ofMSFInternationalCouncilto Re: MSFGreece,’MessagefromJamesOrbinsky, formerly known as Prince“. 16. Referring toPtice, anAmerican rock star who changed hisname to“The person backup or support from the MSFMovement. receive anyoperational,logistical,securityorfinancial no longerapartofMSF,andthatthisGreekNGOwillnot the ground inform partners and governments that they are attempting tooperate, it isimportant that MSFHOMson Greece. Therefore, in all sites where they are now, or are title touseofthenameinGreece,however,notoutside Frontières” inGreece.TheGreeksectionholdslegal proceedings toretrievethename“MSF/MédecinsSans 8. Theinternationalofficehasalreadystartedlegal they are currently operating. (…) ners. Thesameistrueforotherprojectcountrieswhere if theopportunityarisesintheirdailydealingswithpart- the situation.HOMsforeachMSFsectioncandosame the IC) has been informing relevant partners in Kosovo of I mean MSF Greece.” Morten Rostrup (Vice President of to dissociatefrom“theNGOformerlyknownasPrince 7. InKosovo,andotherprojectcountries,thereisaneed from the MSF Movement. tional, logistical, security or financial backup or support explain thatthisGreekNGOwillnotreceiveanyopera- principles, andoperationalmechanisms.Theyshouldalso because theydonotwanttoobserveourcommonlyagreed should explainthatMSFGreecehasleftthemovement sions withtheirnationaldonorgovernmentagency.They former Greek section of MSF;andthat financial, humanresource, or technicalsupporttothe -MSF willnotbeproviding anylogistical, operational, tion of MSF, asnocollaboration will bepossible; -No MSFsectioncanorwillrepresenttheformerGreeksec - statement of theformer Greek section of MSF; -That theMSFmovementisnotliableforanyinitiativeor the name or logoofMSF; -That theformerGreeksectionofMSFcannolongeruse ber of, or canrepresent the MSFmovement; -That theformerGreeksectionofMSFnolongerisamem - section. This means the following: ceased allformalcollaborationwiththeformerMSFGreece MSF-movement.(…). TheMSFICandallitssectionshave ship intheMSFICandtohaveexcludeditselffrom IC considersMSFGreece to have forfeited its member- istered mailonJune 16, 1999andattached),theMSF 12, 1999 (sent to you by email on June 14 and by reg- 1999 totheMSFInternationalCouncilresolutionofJune Given that you have not replied in writing by June 28, Dear Odysseas and Nikos: Extract: 5 August1999 (in English). Kemos, ExecutiveDirectorofMSFGreece, President of the MSF Greek Board and Nikos International Council to Odysseas Boudouris, Letter fromJames Orbinsky, President MSF 16 ...

247 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

-This resolution applies to the organisation of the former UCK came into the light. In Prizren: MSF B team + MSF Greek section, and not to individual Greek volunteers who Spain Team + MSF F team. So too many people and no good may now choose to work with a recognised MSF section. reason for [their presence]. It seems that MSF B is here because they cannot go on the road to Drenica (tense, not The MSF IC demands that the former MSF Greece ceases all clear). Guillaume urged us to clarify the situation between use of the MSF logo and the name “MSF / Médecins sans the different MSF teams. MSF B team has work to start in Frontières” in any language. If this demand is not met, we Pristina. So please could they stay there and be focus on will begin appropriate legal action. Drenica. For MSF Spain, there is work to do. But please inform your team about the instability of the situation. If they want, they can coordinate with Jean-Clement and Guillaume to work on the axis Djacovica/Dejan. Plan Minutes of the MSF France Board meeting, 27 for tomorrow: try the road to Pec again, with material August 1999 (in French). (freight from Skopje was planed to arrive for a different MSF Team). Please check also a second message l sent you Extract: about situation in Montenegro (tense also). A NOTE ON GREECE AFTER THE EXPULSION (J. M. Kindermans, secretary general MSF International). The expulsion of MSF Greece was self-inflicted given the political stance it took on MSF’s role in the Kosovo conflict and the fact that ’Some Information about MSF in Prizren,’ Email its insistence on operational autonomy compromised the from Bernard Lapeyre, MSF Spain Kosovo pro- project for an exploratory mission. gramme manager to MSF directors of operations Jean-Marie Kindermans: MSF Greece is continuing its opera- and Kosovo desks, 15 June 1999 (in English). tions in Armenia, Georgia, Palestine and Kosovo. It was also active in Turkey when the earthquake occurred. It has Extract: issued statements claiming that there is no factual basis Hi everybody, whatsoever for the procedure initiated by the International Some information about MSF in Prizren. Three sections pres- Council. In Armenia, they are at the point of registering ent F/B/Sp. The trip from Morina to Prizren: the road from their own trademark, so we are taking firm measures to pre- Morina to Prizren is not totally controlled by the Germans. vent that happening. We began legal action several weeks In the middle of the way, the team met a group of Serb ago in an attempt to stop them using the name in Greece militaries mixed with civilians at a check point. NATO itself. Our lawyers are optimistic, but by definition, they forces don’t seem to have any contact between the different are always confident. If we win the licence case, that will groups (the Germans have only a map up until Djakovica) still allow them to work with other Greeks again, or to open because after that, the zone is controlled by the Italians. another section. If we lose, we will be forced to proceed There is still “zone grise” [gray zone] in terms of security. on a case-by-case basis. We have not said anything to the Prizren is in the hands of UCK. All the Serbs are going to press because the matter is still confined to the Greek con- move from Pec to Pristina via Prizren meaning that will be text. However, we have warned the United Nations and the very tense. During a meeting this morning, the coordos European Union and they have ‘noted’ the matter, by which decided to share the work meaning: The material brought they mean that it has nothing to do with them. by MSF Sp will be shared by the sections. MSFF and MSF Sp intend to go together to Djakovica. MSF Sp will evaluate Djakovica and MSFF will try to proceed to Pec today. MSF B??? MSF H should come today to Prizren. ’News from Guillaume,’ Email from Pierre-Pascal That’s all folks Vandini, MSF France Deputy Director of Bernard Operations to MSF directors of operations and Kosovo programme managers, 14 June 1999 (in English).

Extract: ’Re: Some Information about MSF in Prizren,’ 22:00 phone call from Guillaume. Monday Guillaume and Email from Eric Dachy, MSF Belgium Kosovo Jean-Clement took the road to Pec. No NATO forces on desk to MSF directors of operations and Kosovo the road. Check points with FRY military and paramilitary. desks, 15 June 1999 (in English). They went through the check point without hostility. On the road, villages seem empty of civilians. Dejan and Extract: Djacovica same; only armed military and paramilitaries. […] and here are some infos from Pristina, Tuesday 15th Houses burning. Tense +++. They visited the local hospital at noon (fortunately consistent with the one sent by in Djakovica and decide to turn back to Prizren. They met Bernard Lapeyre). a journalist from AP who went to Pec. She described the News from Christopher 15/6/99: same situation; houses burning, military troops and few 1. Context: 248 civilians. From place to place and especially in Prizren, Pristina: Ambience a bit tense because today is last day didn’t do enough. tion ofunilateralaction,butweareresponsiblebecause saying thatwecouldhavepreventedtheslipandadop - involved, weshouldhavetriedtoconvincethem.I’mnot before MSF.Soweshouldhavebeenmuchmorealertand Greece, MédecinsduMondehadgonerightofftherails,well should haverealisedthattheyweregoingofftherails.In confront apoliticalsituationthatwasdifficultforthem.We more attentive, far more alertso that itcouldhelp them to the problem. The rest of themovement should have been far cially theSwisssection,hadnotbeensufficientlyalert to become involvedinaBalkanwar.Themovement,andespe- was responsiblebecauseithadallowedaBalkansectionto extremely biased.Ourreportalsonotedthatthemovement view, itwasquitetheopposite.Wethoughttheywere claimed thattheiractionswerecompletelyneutral.Inour had itspoints.Andofcourse,theGreeksectionusedit.They well-reasoned politicalargument.Thisparticularargument course, itisalwayspossibletobreaktherulesiftherea the politicalerrorandlackofrespectforrules.Of the matteroffalsehoods,whichismoreseriousthanboth also stresseditsfailuretorespectthemovement’srulesand So, therewasall thatdesultoryguerrillawarfare goingon, had theseniority torecoverit.Afterwards, it wastoolate. a missionovertheretocheck itout.Atthattime,westill was angrywithmyselffortrusting themandfornotsending wasn’t aproblem.Infactthey hadalreadyregistered it. I Eric Christopher refused it. moment. TheinternationalHoMpostisanemptyshelland International coordination:Norealcoordinationatthe afraid to go tohospital. in Pristina.Somepeopleneedofhospitalcarebuttoo 2. MSFactivities:FirstmobileclinicsetupbyB-H and Pecpossibly later. yesterday butMSFSpandMSF-FtrytoreachDjakovatoday troops present.TheroadtoDjakovawasnotsecuredyet Prizren: ApparentlyUCKtookcontrolofthecity.German south of Pristina: acivilian woman walked on amine. Pristina inthecoming24hours.Mineincidentreported 2,000 and20,000persons in vehicles expected to cross of withdrawalSerbiantroopsfromsector.1.Between political errorscommittedbytheGreeksection.We tried tohighlightboththepoliticalstakesand We putthereporttogetherasquicklypossibleand They told us theywere looking into it but thatthere with the registration of the MSF name in Greece. We askedtheGreeksectionwhatwashappening Council Representative by MSF Switzerland/ MSF Greece, May -June 1999 (inFrench). Stephan Oberreit, MSF International

from its country of origin. section operatedinthepresenceofaKFORcontingent set upprogrammes.Carewastakentoensurethatno sions invariousregionsofKosovoandlaterbeganto MSF operationalsectionslaunchedexploratorymis- became heavilyinvolvedintheresettlementprocess. forces withdrewfromtheregionsofKosovo.UNHCR reasons. TherefugeesreturnedenmassewhenSerbian MSF closed its camp in Kukes, because of security lic vision of the international movement. partner sections.Itwasprobablybecausetheyhadanidyl- card. Butthatwasn’tthecaseatall,especiallywith them wouldkeeptheirdistanceoratleastplaytheneutral were withusrightaway,whereasIthoughtthatalotof as theMSFGreeceteamsetfootinKosovo,allsections one of the most urgent problems at that time. But, as soon the problem.Furthermore,withKosovogoingon,itwasnot movement level,butnobodywasinterested.Theydidn’tsee conduct itsownoperations.Ikeptpressingtheissueat Greece intoanindependentoperationalbodythatwould around himhadonlyoneideaintheirheads:toturnMSF but itdidshowthatOdysseasandsomeofthepeople KFOR contingent at Prizren. refugees togetmoreprecise information fromtheGerman Serbian forces, of the danger of such a return. It advises to gothenorthernKosovo regions,notyetliberatedby with their return. UNHCR warns those refugees who want along theroadfromMorinitoPrizrenhelprefugees aid posts(medicalassistance,drinkingwater,biscuits) they crosstheborder,andhasalsosetuptemporaryfirst- [...] UNHCRregistersrefugees’identitiesfromthemoment face to face withdeparting Serbs, andskirmishes.” own means,refugeescomingback,findingthemselves refugees onWednesday,with“peoplereturningbytheir Ogata, warnedagainst“adisorganisedreturn”forthe Pais, theUNHighCommissionerforRefugees,MrsSadako been completedontheTuesday.InaninterviewwithEl military retreatfromthe‘UN’zone(southofKosovo)has increase wasexpectedonWednesdaywhentheYugoslav from Macedonia and Albania, and that an even greater had seenanincreaseinthenumberofKosovarsreturning its border-post representatives, indicated that Tuesday On WednesdaytheUNHCR, in anupdateonreportsfrom Extract: Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, MSF 1999 (inFrench). is Liberated,’ ’Returns IntensifyastheSouthernKosovoZone AFP (France),Geneva,16June International (in French).

249 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

provision to see them through winter. Practically, this means reopening dispensaries, doing a little emergency ‘News from Albania: MSF Camp Closes’ Email from distribution (plastic tarpaulins, water tanks, food etc.), so MSF Belgium Press Officer in Kukes to MSF press as to help people as soon as they arrive, and supporting officers, 18 June 1999 (in English). the hospital’s reopening, with one or two volunteer place- ments there, especially in emergency and triage. There is, Extract: therefore, no great medical problem, but a need for gen- MSF will close its camp in Kukes this morning. The reason eral support (as the potential number of returning refu- being that security is now a severe problem. Since the gees is estimated at around 200,000). Psychiatry will be Morini border near Kukes opened three days ago, refugees a vital medical area, as the population has been severely have been leaving Kukes, including the MSF camp, in high traumatised (to varying degrees). The group work method, numbers. Till now, approximately 6,000 refugees have left already established in Debar and other refugee camps, the MSF camp, leaving about 500 behind. The departure of seems to create a high level of enthusiasm, and will prob- the refugees from the MSF camp has been accompanied by ably be reused here and exterded. The Serbian populations repeated lootings by Albanian criminals who have entered who sought refuge in Montenegro were rapidly dispersed the camp with Kalashnikovs threatening the refugees and into host families and there is not much chance of MSF looting tents. MSF expats have witnessed the lootings, offering care to them, as there is little need. In Serbia, and have tried to reach an agreement with the Special still no access. Albanian Police Force to protect the camp, but we have not succeeded in these negations. Consequently, the 500 refugees that will not leave for Kosovo today will be moved to Kukes II. Kukes II is an Italian camp protected Minutes Operational Directors Meeting on by Italian soldiers where MSF provides all medical facili- Kosovo Crisis, Brussels, 21 June 1999 (in ties. MSF continues all other activities in Kukes including English). its activities in the Kukes II camp, at the border, and at the central square. Extract: 1. Access to Serbia All attempts to obtain access to Serbia have still not brought in much. MSF presence in Serbia is important/ Minutes of the MSF France Board of Directors necessary and MSF should continue to try to get access, Meeting, 25 June 1999 (in French). although an official authorisation is indispensable in order to ensure the security of the MSF staff (risk to be Extract: accused of “espionage”). Efforts to get into Serbia will be MISSIONS - Kosovo - Latest Developments: continued through the normal way. Besides that, MSF will The Kosovar borders have opened to KFOR and also to present its intentions to Moscow and Romanian authori- NGOs. A plan for the retreat of Serbian forces has been ties and each section will try from its side through the established, with three phases corresponding to three Orthodox Church. geographical lines. This retreat took place quickly, without many problems, but the Serbs left booby traps (“conventional” mines and booby-trapped houses) and during the week of the retreat, there was a final heavy wave of violence. MSF’s positioning in relation to other In the immediate aftermath of the war, we did not organisations, from the UN to KFOR, was not as difficult have to compete with the armed forces in order to as anticipated in that no checks were carried out (either do our work. MSF had a key operational positioning. by the UN or by the army, or even by the UNHCR). MSF We were very numerous on the ground. Everyone wanted to was therefore, able to return to and travel within Kosovo be there, and independently. It was unimaginable for an without having to join convoys. operational section not to be there. Everyone was convinced, as usual, that there was a catastrophe, hellish work MSF Presence: For coordination reasons, MSF France works to be done. So, the distribution of the various NATO troop in Pec and its surroundings, MSF Holland in Prizren, MSF commands determined the distribution of the MSF sections. Spain in Djakovica, MSF Belgium in Pristina and its north- No section was allowed to have its base in the same sector ern region. Guillaume Le Gallais and Jean-Clément Cabrol as a contingent of the army from its home country. For led an exploratory mission to establish contact in the Pec example, MSF Holland did not set up near to the Dutch army region starting from 12 or 13 June, that is to say imme- contingent. There were also questions around potential diately after the (Italian) KFOR first wave. From Pec, an problems where Serb and Albanian-speaking populations exploration was led to all the surrounding villages and a were living together. team established on 16 or 17 June; finally another team arrived to complete the action around 20 June. […] Jean- Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, Operational Objective: Basically, to support the Kosovars MSF International (in French). 250 in re-establishing the healthcare system and in food 17. Referring tothe fact thatthistypeof work was, atfirst, done byBasTielens. Albanian medical staff inthe hospital atPristina. of Kosovo,andaboutthedifficultcoexistenceSerb posed byantipersonnelminestothecivilianpopulation talked publiclyabouttheiractivities,thedanger quite adisorganisedway.Intheweeksthatfollowed,they for coordination,thevarioussectionscommunicatedin used theservicesofapressofficer).Despitedesire of MSFGreece(thePresidentdenieshaving press attaché who was speaking to journalists in the name In Pristina, the MSF team discovered the presence of a sb in Pristina and Skopje. roaming infocollector/commplusmorepermanentperson a flexiblereactivesystemwithinKosovo.Possiblywith IDPs andthenrefugees,MSFmustbepreparedwith military/security butassoonitopensupabitwillbe moment/for next coupleofdays,thestory is verymuch have anexperiencedcommGermanspeaker).[…]Atthe in over the nextcouple of weeks if need be (be useful to Have alsoaskedPetraifshecouldbeonstandbytocome nately, Erwin slammed on thebreaks. Anouk orMarcisreadytogo fromSkopjebut,unfortu- ask forasecondfrancophone pressofficerinPristina. Pristina, KrisandAmaiainPrizren, CecileinPec.Dircoms proactive communication,etc.).Atpresent,it’sErwinin for theinternationalnetwork(gatheringinformation, Prizren andPec)workingunderthecontrolofHoM 1) Atleastonepressofficerineachmission(Pristina, weeks, Op Dircomshave decided thefollowing device: In order to organise good press-work during the next Extract: go intoSkopjetohelpdotheinfocollection(Bas2! Currently helping field recruiting an information officer to days tocarryonandbeavailablegointoPristina. Ops have asked me to go in/replace her in the next few currently coordinating for all from Skopje and DirComms/ dinating regularly on this Kosovo crisis from here. Anouk is rumours about whoisdoing what. The Dir Comms are coor- Quick updateonwhoiswhereasthereseemstobevarious Dear all, Extract: cations, 16 June 1999(inEnglish). Communications toMSFdirectorsofcommuni- Denis Pingaud, MSF France Director of ‘Comms AgreementsforKosovo,’Emailfrom ’ English). Coordinator toMSFnetwork,15June1999(in Bolton, MSFInternationalCommunication Rotation KosovoCom,’EmailfromSamantha 17 ). Best regards, Denis agenda. and suchissueaccordingtoouroperationsthemedia situation andsuggesttoOpstalkingwithmediaonsuch 3) AdailycallconferenceoftheDircomstoanalyse press officers. touch everydaywiththegroupofDircomsandKosovo 2) One coordinator press officer in Skopje who will be in be transported on theground. plane willalsoflytotheregion.Thisequipmentthen for Skopje(Macedonia).Tomorrow,a100-tonnecargo medical andlogisticalequipment,etc.)areleavingtoday many months. 40 tonnes of emergency equipment (food, interior ofKosovo,andwhohavebeendeprivedaidfor ation ofpopulationswhohavebeendisplacedwithinthe also begoingto Pec. Theirpriority is toassessthe situ- regions ofPristinaandPrizren.Anadditionalteamshould also been able to return to the interior of Kosovo in the in theregion.Furthermore,thisweekend,aidteamshave host families.Intotal,over100volunteersareworking is carried out in the camps as well as in the homes of with theKosovardeportees.Medicalandsanitationwork has beenpresentinMontenegro,AlbaniaandMacedonia, Since the start of the conflict,Médecins Sans Frontières the wholeofmedia,butespecially FM radiostations. promotional campaignforthealbum’sreleasecovering humanitarian charitiesCareandOxfam.Therewillbea ly betweenMédecinsSansFrontièresandtheBritish-based the priceof99francs.Allprofitswillbedistributedequal- benefits fromaninternationalreleasedate,willbesoldat Suede, RageAgainstTheMachine,etc.ThisCD,which Jamiroquai, NeilYoung,AlanisMorissette,PearlJam, tion entitled“NoBoundaries”are:Oasis,PeterGabriel, refugees. Someoftheartistsnamedonthiscompila- port the work of Médecins Sans Frontières among Kosovar ously unavailable tracks is being released today to sup- record company(Sony/Epic)analbumofrareandprevi- On theinitiativeof18internationalrockartistsandtheir Extract: equipment destined for the populations of Kosovo. The take offfrom Ostend carrying onboard90tonnes of On Wednesdayafternoon,at 14:00,anAntonov124will Extract: French). Region,’ (Doctors WithoutBorders)intheKosovo Coming TogethertoSupporttheWorkofMSF Boundaries:” theEliteofInternationalRockare ‘A CDforMédecinsSansFrontières–“No Brussels, 15 June1999(inFrench). Aid to Kosovo,’ ’Médecins Sans Frontières Sends 90 Tonnes of Press release,MSF15June1999(in Press release , MSF Belgium, 251 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

plane will be unloaded at Skopje, which is currently the Macedonia and Albania. Although no massive return has supply centre for MSF activities in Kosovo. The 90 tonnes yet been noted, the teams are preparing to deal with sig- will be made up of 53 tonnes of medicines, medical kits, nificant population movements. In particular, in Albania, sanitation and water supply equipment, and blankets, as one of the MSF-run camps in Kukes could become a major well as 37 tonnes of transport vehicles: a bus converted transit camp for people coming back from the south of into a mobile clinic, two lorries to be used for transport- the country towards Kosovo. In Montenegro, where MSF ing equipment on the ground, a tanker truck for water is working, 13,000 people, mainly of Serb origin, have distribution and two 4X4 vehicles. The cost of this equip- entered via the town of Rozaje. ment is 30 million Belgian francs. The transport costs have risen to 4.2 million. MSF can count on the collaboration of the Ukrainian airline company Air-Foyle for this flight. The plane’s transport capacity is usually 110 tonnes, but ‘MSF Resumes Aid Operations in Kosovo,’ Press the load has had to be limited to 90 tonnes (which is still release MSF Skopje, 18 June 1999 (in English). equal to three normal cargo loads) because Skopje airport runway is short. Extract: Teams of the international medical aid agency Médecins On arrival at Skopje, the equipment will be used to supple- Sans Frontières (MSF) have resumed relief operations in ment existing stocks in Skopje which is the supply base Pec, Djakovica, Prizren and Pristina. MSF teams report for MSF activities in Kosovo. An MSF team is currently that Djakovica and Pec have suffered some of the worst present in Pristina, carrying out medical consultations. damage, with up to half of the buildings and infrastruc- Other MSF teams will reinforce the local medical facilities ture destroyed. Teams have described Pec as: “A ghost in the region of Drenica, thanks to mobile clinics. As was town, with only a few hundreds of Serb families left. They the case before the crisis, MSF is collaborating with the are not sure whether to pack their belongings and leave ‘Mother Teresa’ network. This collaboration is all the more or seek protect-ion from KFOR troops. The situation is important as the official health infrastructures have now tense as the other residents are slowly reappearing.” In disappeared. Djakovica, people emerging from three months of forced confinement are reporting past incidents of physical abuse and threats. Residents have said that the local health facilities ran out of medicines and equipment and that ’Médecins Sans Frontières, Present in Two Regions they did not dare to leave their houses - so the wounded of Kosovo: 140 Tonnes of Emergency Equipment and sick were left untreated. In both Djakovica and Pec, Ready to Leave,’ Press release, MSF France, Paris, MSF has begun supplying medicines and equipment to the 15 June 1999 (in French). local health facilities, helping with rehabilitation, and opening new clinics. On Wednesday, MSF teams launched Extract: their first assessment missions outside the towns to iden- Medécins Sans Frontières is once again present in two tify the medical needs of isolated communities. regions of Kosovo, and is today sending 40 tonnes of emergency equipment to help restart aid programmes. At this stage, the teams did not find large numbers of Already in Skopje, Dr Philippe Biberson, the organisation’s displaced in need. They have given emergency treatment President [MSF France], will be participating in this mis- to wounded people and to five mine victims before refer- sion. Present in Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro with ring them to a surgical facility in Pristina. Tense security Kosovar deportees, the Médecins Sans Frontières teams conditions continue to hamper relief operations. However, have been able to return to the interior of Kosovo. From MSF managed to bring medical supplies to several villages this week-end, volunteers have been ready to get down to to date, including Srbica in Zone 3, the last zone to be work in Pristina and in Prizren. A team will also be going cleared by KFOR troops. MSF also expects that mental to Pec, where violent conflicts have taken place. In these health will soon become a major concern. “As most of the three regions, the priority is to assess the situation of people have suffered a great deal of stress, we will be deal- displaced people who have remained inside the province, ing with severe mental health consequences”, said an MSF and to meet their needs urgently. Deprived of any form of aid worker in Djakovica. MSF has 30 international staff in aid, these people have lived for many months in extremely Kosovo at present. The organisation continues to provide precarious conditions. assistance to Kosovar refugees in Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia. Over the last two days, 140 metric tonnes At the same time, as the assessments get under way, of relief goods (including medicines, emergency and sur- emergency equipment is, as of today, being sent to gical kits, food, blankets and sanitation equipment) have Macedonia to be transported to Kosovo. 40 tonnes of been flown into Macedonia for use in Kosovo. medicines, and medical and logistical equipment are leaving today from Médecins Sans Frontières’ logistical base in Bordeaux. Tomorrow a 100-tonne cargo plane will also leave Belgium for Skopje. On top of this, more than 252 one hundred volunteers are still working in Montenegro, high risk areas andorganiserapid demining there. information campaigns,developsystemsforidentifying they havetocoordinatetheirwork,setupcomprehensive account andrespondtoitwithoutdelay.Thismeansthat and mineawareness campaigns take this new reality into strongly urgesthatorganisationsinvolvedindemining not endatthegatesofpeople’sprivateproperties.”MSF and clearanceofthemainroads.Providingsafetyshould return homesafely.This goes beyonddemilitarisation added, “NATOpromisedtomakesurethatrefugeescould consequences couldwellbeseriousandmassive.”Stokes become victimsofboobytraps.Ifwedonotactnow,the and morerefugeesreturn,peoplewill and endedupwithshrapnelallovertheirbody.Asmore they openedtheirfrontdoorforthefirsttimeinmonths then stepped on a mine in their garden. Or, about how days, cleanedthehouse,broughtbacktheirfamilyand They tellushowtheyhadalreadybeenbackhomefor transport themtothehospitalandweheartheirstories. ourselves onthereceivingendeveryday.Wetreatpeople, Christopher Stokes,MSFcoordinatorinPristina:“Wefind or their lives, when they finally get home. there issufficientreasontofearthatmanywillloselimbs, With anincreasingstreamofreturneesinthenearfuture, behind inordertoinflictinjuryuponreturningrefugees. Hospital. Someofthesedevicesweredeliberatelyleft trap victimsinvillagesandtransportedthemtoPristina Over thepastfourdays,MSFteamshavetreatedbooby make clearance of boobytrapsandminesahighpriority. particular, tocoordinatetheireffortsandimmediately demining and mine awareness campaigns, and K-FOR in agencies; non-governmental organisations involvedin go outdoors. Therefore, MSF calls upon United Nations houses andwhonow,forthefirsttimeinmonths,dare There arealsogravedangersforthosewhostayedintheir will increase rapidly over the comingdays and weeks. countries, MSFfearsthatthenumberofsuchincidents returning fromtheirhidingplacesandneighbouring in Kosovo. As the internally displaced and refugees start involving booby traps and mines hidden in private homes Frontières (MSF)isdeeplyconcernedaboutincidents The internationalmedical aid agencyMédecins Sans Extract: Thirty volunteers fromMédecinsSansFrontières arework- Extract: release MSFPristina,19June1999(inEnglish). Booby TrapsandMinesinKosovo,’Press ‘MSF CallsforSwiftandCoordinatedActionon MSF France, Paris, 23June 1999 (inFrench). Borders) areWorkinginKosovo,’ Pressrelease, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without ’Kosovo –PressUpdate-30 Volunteersfrom explosive devices (mines or booby-trappedobjects). provided careforaroundadozenpeopleinjuredby Furthermore, MédecinsSansFrontièreshavealready assured forboththeSerbandAlbanianpopulations. Frontières volunteers ensure that access to care is equally ing water.Throughtheirmissions,theMédecinsSans needed intermsofrehabilitationandaccesstodrink- logisticians, fortheirpart,areworkingtoassesswhatis Kosovo andemergencyequipmentisdistributed.The is alsoprovidedtodisplacedpersonswhoremainedinside priority fortheteams.Duringvisitstovillages,care numbers to the province, restoring medical activities is a into thesurroundingareas.Asrefugeesreturninlarge and medicines.Mobileclinicshavealsobeenintroduced are supportingthemainhealthfacilitieswithpersonnel based inPristina,Pec,PrizrenandDjakovicatoday.They ing inKosovo.TheteamsfromMédecinsSansFrontièresare of demining in Kosovo. KFOR, tocoordinatetheirefforts andspeeduptheprocess to the NGOs responsible for demining, and particularly to of victimstohospitalfacilities. MSFismakinganappeal the roadnetwork’slackofsecurity hinderstransportation psychosocial consequencestothevictims.Furthermore, which wouldbedifficulttohandle,aswellthenega-tive healthcare facilities,giventheirprecariouscircumstances, caused bymineswouldcreateasituationfortheregion’s to be given blood transfusions. An increase in accidents to traumaticamputationsoflimbs.30%victimsneed range from shrapnel wounds in the thorax, limbs and face, amongst thecivilianpopulation.Theinjuriestheycause The antipersonnelminesaredesignedtocausecasualties nel mines will increase considerably.” refugees, thenumberofaccidentscausedbyantiperson- abandoned. Our worry is that with the massive return of that booby-trapshavebeenputinhouseswhichwere “Many roadsandfieldsareminedwehaveevidence Ugarte, HeadofMissiontheMSFprojectinDjakova. the principalmeansofcommunication,”explainsCarlos by explodingmines.Wechosetheradiobecauseitis times a day giving advice on avoiding accidents caused consists ofanannouncement,whichisbroadcastseveral the population of the region of Djakovica. The campaign launched anawareness-raisingradiocampaignaimedat several havesufferedinjuriesandamputations.MSFhas people havediedasaresultofexplodingminesand scattered throughouttheregionofKosovo.Atleasttwo posed tothecivilianpopulationbyantipersonnelmines Frontières (MSF)noteswithconcern,thegravedangers The internationalmedicalaidorganisation,MédecinsSans Extract: ’ Spain, Djacovica 24 June1999(inSpanish). for theCivilianPopulation,’Pressrelease,MSF Antipersonnel MinesRepresentaGraveDanger

253 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

’Difficult Cohabitation between Serbs and ‘Médecins Sans Frontières Provides Medical Aid Albanians in Kosovo – The Hospital; Testing to the First Official UNHCR Refugee Convoy to Ground for Coexistence,’ Thierry Oberlé, Kosovo,’ Press release, MSF Skopje, Macedonia, Le Figaro, 24 June 1999 (in French). June 28th (in English).

Extract: Extract: In the surgical emergency unit, the old guard and the Skopje, Macedonia June 28th - The international medi- handful of returnees glare at each other. The Serb man- cal aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today agement resisted the Albanians’ intrusion for as long as (June 28th) provided emergency medical support for the they could before throwing in the towel. “They’re coming first official convoy for Kosovo-Albanians to returning to back but, really, we don’t need anyone,” exclaims one Pristina. UNHCR who organised the seven bus convoy, surgeon. Just a few days ago, his manager was taking his personally asked MSF for a medical escort. Timothy Pitt, orders by phone from Belgrade. Refugees hit by exploding MSF Head of Mission in Macedonia, who travelled with the antipersonnel mines as they returned home, entered the convoy said, «MSF participated in this convoy to provide operating theatre with legs smashed to a pulp and fear medical support to the refugees who are returning home. in their stomachs. They felt as if they were going to the We are delighted to have taken part and to have been slaughterhouse. The chance discovery by a British military able to provide assistance. However, MSF still remains doctor of an amputated leg thrown into a dustbin had concerned about the overall security situation in Kosovo spread terror. The permanent presence of an anaesthetist and the danger posed by land mines for the returnees.” from Médecins Sans Frontières on the premises should, in theory, reassure the families of victims of the pernicious MSF selected a special medical team to provide emergency delayed-action mini bombs, scattered by the Serbian kits and water for the entire journey between Stenkovec I police and special-forces throughout private houses and (Brazda) refugee camp and Pristina. Prior to departing MSF gardens. medical and mental health workers checked all the coaches to ensure those returning were fit to travel. A total of 250 [...] In gynaecology the atmosphere is tense. Flora, a refugees boarded the buses at 7.30 a.m. (0530 GMT) this nurse in a miniskirt and red coat, leaves her night shift morning. Upon arriving in Pristina, the MSF staff helped aghast. She tells: “I’m putting on my white coat for the the refugees leave the coaches and [they] were given first time since I was fired for ethnic reasons, ten years a final medical check. All the refugees reached Pristina ago. Ten years without working, with just small jobs as safely. MSF, which has strongly advocated voluntary repa- my only income. Last night, the nurse-in-charge ignored triation for all Kosovo refugees in Macedonia, Albania and me, so I stayed in the corridors. I’ll come back tomorrow. Montenegro, welcomed the opportunity to provide medi- I’m holding out.” Seeking revenge, she no longer wants cal assistance to this the first UNHCR sponsored convoy. to hear Serbo-Croatian: “I don’t believe them any more. Approximately 400,000 Albanian refugees have already We’ve suffered too much. They have to go. Albanians need returned home to Kosovo over the last two weeks. Many to take control.” Yesterday, things took a turn for the of those travelling today were returning to Kosovo to be worse. Members of the KLA prevented Serb medical staff reunited with their families. from working. Christopher Stokes, MSF Head of Mission in Pristina, considers the hospital to be in a precarious MSF was the first international medical aid agency to equilibrium. He would like, despite everything, to believe re-enter Kosovo on 12 June. Since then, MSF has been in cohabitation. “Since our return to Kosovo, we are sys- operating four mobile medical clinics to outlying vil- tematically and deliberately transporting victims wounded lages, distributing medicines and non-medical supplies by mines to this hospital,” he says. “The staff is compe- including baby food, soap, washing powder, blankets to tent, and the facility is unique within the province, even both Serbs and Albanian communities, and has provided if, before the war, Albanian Kosovars’ access to care was crucial medical supplies to the main hospitals in Pristina limited. The changeover can happen without a purge.” and Prizren. Working in Pec, Prizren; Djakovica, Mitrovica, The establishment remains the testing-ground for the first Leposavic and Pristina MSF medical teams have started administrative attempt at intercommunity coexistence a mine awareness programme providing information on in-vitro. A committee of four wise men - two Albanians the dangers posed by mines, booby traps and unexploded and two Serbs – supervised by WHO and the international ammunition in Kosovo. civilian administration of the protectorate, are overseeing the pilot scheme. Staff salaries will be paid by WHO in the hope that the chequebook argument will be able to reduce the predictable risks of rejection by the Serb population.

254 dor, onthecarpet, inthemiddleofcameras andwe pensed fairly to theSerb, Albanian andRompopulations. Médecins Sans Frontières can ensure that treatment is dis- children. Throughtheirmissions,thevolunteersfrom among populationsexposedto this problem, especially been trainedsothatthey,inturn,canraiseawareness dents havereachedus:intotal,360peoplealready Kosovo, has been extended to zones where reports of inci- tion campaign organised by Médecins Sans Frontières in To reduce the dangers associatedwithmines, the informa- already received care in theformofgroup therapies. who havebeentraumatisedbyeventstheywitnessed well asforhomevisits.Uptonow,aroundthirtychildren gynaecology/obstetrics, paediatric and psychiatry units as since 4thJuly,therehasbeenadutypsychologistforthe in thehospitalsatPec,PristinaandMitrovica.In chologists havesetupindividualorgroupconsultations violence andtoeyewitnessesofviolentacts.Threepsy- ticular to women who have been the victims of sexual Sans Frontièresisofferingpsychologicalsupport,inpar- the substantialtraumaspeoplehaveundergone,Médecins and identificationofthebodiesbyfamilies.Facedwith our teamstrynottodisrupttheinvestigativeprocesses contaminated watersupplypointsmustbecleaned,but discovery ofvictims’remainsinwellsandrivers.These In thePecregion,ourteamsfaceproblemscausedby working onwatersupplypointpurificationprogrammes. In parallel,MédecinsSansFrontières’logisticiansare plastic shelters, and 210 hygiene kits. food, 1,167tents,13,275blankets,3,680mattresses,273 now thefollowing have been distributed: 12 tonnes of populations inneedthemostaffectedzones:upto provide healthcareandtakeemergencyequipmentto are nowoperationalinthePecregion.Theseteamsalso medical equipmentandmedicines.Thus,18healthcentres ing towns and villages by restoring premises and providing been setupandarereopeningdispensariesinneighbour- in Pec, Pristina and Mitrovica.Mobile teams have also medical andsurgicalemergencyactivitiesinthehospitals and aremanaging,togetherwiththelocalpopulation, are participatingintherestorationofhealthcare facilities been basedinPristina,Pec,PrizrenandDjakovica.They Since 14June,teamsfromMédecinsSansFrontièreshave Extract: booked byjournalists. SowesleptintheCNN corri- the corridor,becauseall rooms hadbeenover- When wecamebacktoPristina, weweresleepingin 1999 (inFrench). Kosovo,’ Médecins SansFrontièresareWorkingin ’Kosovo –PressUpdate50Volunteersfrom Press release,MSFFrance,16July

rough ride over that. the schools,aroundhouses.SowegaveNATOabitof what hesaw.Therewereanenormousnumberofminesin working forus,wentoutabitmorethanusandtold the hospitalinPristina.Rogerphotographer,whowas around lessbutwestillhadquiteafewwoundedarrivingat raise awarenessaboutmines].Duringthisperiod,wemoved with MAG[MinesAdvisoryGroup-anNGOwhoseaimisto the media.Wewerehavingregularmeetings,discussions decided todoitandthenwedidit.Wehaddirectaccess press release about mines that we put out from Pristina, we margin ofmanoeuvrewiththeprogrammemanager.The go back into those zones. At the time, we had a very wide They camewithusintoavillage,sincewewerethefirstto made aspecialprogrammewithMSFliveTomClancy. looked aftertheirequipment.That’swhytheycameand bottle of whisky and ever since we were friends... This is not of whisky.There wasnothing in Pristina. So Igave her a she wassotiredandoneofour logisticiansbroughtabottle I rememberatsomestagethat CNNproducerlateatnight, dream job for me, itcouldn’t be better. hotel, journalistswouldjust walk passandtakenotes.A team debateonthings until verylate. In themiddle of the couple ofdays,welivedinthehotel,andwouldhave it was easy in that sense. The other thing was for the first 90% of the journalists were staying in the same place, so print 400copiesofthatupdateandstartedhandingitout. sit inthehotelwiththreeorfournationalstaffandjust get Christophertoreadit.Then,thefirsttwodaysIwould the endofday,Iwasreadywiththreefactsandwould present thethreefactualupdatesofourinterpretation.At So, whatIstarteddoingfromthedaygotthere,wasto one phone into NGOs for journalists. And, makesurethattheMSFphonenumberwas to use the fact that we were in Pristina before anyone else. visible inthemediaandMSFnotthatmuch.So,Iwanted visibility fromParisbecauseMDMbeforethat,hadbeenvery nalists towardsMSF,partlybecausetherewaspressurefor would be able to do that. I was quite keen to attract jour- come tous.And,whenwehadspecificconcernsraise, the sameday,butbytimetheywerereadyforit,to around wasnotbecauseIassumedtheywantedthestories stories. ThereasonwhyIstartedhandingbusinesscards well. Theywantedtodothefactualstories,military what theneedswere.Thejournalistshadjustarrivedas MSF messages.Wejustgotthereandweneededtofindout we startedworking.Atthatmoment,therewasnotabig open topoliticalmanipulation. But atleastwewereinand hotel. Privately,Ihadsomefrustrationbecauseitwasso moment, anestimated400journalistswerestayinginthe writing businesscards,handingthemout.Atthat or anywherebeforeIhadamobilephone.started I wasdroppedatahotel,anddidn’tknowanyone Christopher Stokes, coordinator MSF Belgiumin Albania andKosovo (in French) 255 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

ethical, but worth it... The first issue that we identified and it was in this period that the things happened which kicked we should speak about was the fact that our teams - every MSF Greece out of the movement. day - brought victims of mines. And, we were bringing the victims into the hospitals. Erwin Vantland, MSF Communications officer People started to return in the mountainous areas. They in Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo May- June 1999 were not waiting for UNHCR to say: “You can come back (in English) home.” And NATO troops had big problems about making Kosovo safe. They were hardly demining anything. So we had contact with NATO, and asking for their policy on demining. They said it was because they were too busy, they only demined roads for transportation. But people started The KFOR troops discovered signs of atrocities commit- to return home. So, we organised a press conference in the ted by the Serbian army and paramilitary forces. The MSF office. There was a mistake; we should have done it latter gradually withdraw, while negotiations by NATO in a hotel. We produced a press release, which was sent to and the Soviets to obtain KLA demilitarisation contin- the offices in Europe as well. And, originally we had the ued. Serbian civilians leave Kosovo en masse. Those agreement from the director of the hospital that we take a who remain are subject to reprisals. patient to the press conference to tell the story. To make very visible what we were talking about. On the morning before the press conference, he changed his mind, and said we couldn’t allow people in the middle of treatment to leave NATO Uncovers New Evidence of Atrocities,’ AFP the hospital. I went to the hospital. At the end of the day, (France), Pristina (Yugoslavia), 17 June 1999 one thing I could get was one camera crew in ten minutes (in French). for one patient. So I came to a producer saying you have exclusivity of hospital but you have to promise that you Extract: make the rushes available for free to everybody who wants British troops deployed in Pristina, the capital of the to use it. We went to BBC, and the deal was done. I think it Kosovo region, have discovered “a torture centre” in a had an impact although NATO didn’t have the capacity to do Serbian police “headquarters,” according to the Foreign all demining that it had to do. But at least, it functioned as Office. Specifically, “knives, batons, baseball bats carved a warning sign for people returning, that they have to stay with Serbian slogans, and a box filled with knuckledust- on the road, be careful entering houses again etc… ers” were found in this five-storey building, by the First The strategy of communication was very much led in the Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. “The most fright- field. We needed to check things with the programme ening thing is that this building does not seem to have managers. But in the field we decided: “Ok this is the best been a special detention centre for the victims of the Serb way of saying it.” Effectively I only reported to heads of forces; it seems to have been no more than an ordinary missions in the field. Because the communication needs police HQ,” according to the British Secretary of State at were crappy. In an extremely hectic situation like this, a lot the Foreign Office, Geoff Hoon. happened. You never know when certain issues that we need to speak out about will arise. It is really key to have people At least 10,000 “innocent” civilians were massacred in in the field who have a lot of trust from headquarters, and Kosovo, he declared, and these estimates “will almost autonomy and allowed them to take the lead also on advo- certainly have to be revised upwards.” “According to our cacy issues, active advocacy... And, a key element when information, some 10,000 people were killed in over a I was in Pristina, is that we didn’t have heavy clearance hundred massacres,” which demonstrates the “savagery procedures; we didn’t need to go back to Paris, Amsterdam, of the Serb forces,” declared the politician. “Not just and Brussels... The fact that we could go like that, espe- every day, but almost hour by hour” KFOR troops discover cially because journalists were there, things happened. The signs of the atrocities committed against the Kosovars of down side of that is that a lot of stuff we did in Pristina is Albanian origin, he said. In Paris, the Army Joint Staff not documented. There were two or three Greek people in announced that French KFOR soldiers had themselves the hotel. And from the corner of my eye, I saw someone, started making “significant discoveries” concerning the a girl in an MSF T-shirt whom I didn’t know. Strange, as I presence of presumed mass graves in several locations didn’t hear anything about new people arriving. So, I went within the Mitrovica zone, in the north of Kosovo. to see her, and introduced myself. She said she was the press officer in Greece. “OK. And who are you, where do At least 33,000 Serb civilians have left the province since you come from?” She said she was there with the doctor for the deployment of the KFOR on Saturday. After the abuses many weeks already. She was part of the explo team. And carried out against the Albanians, the Serbs fear repri- she said she was in touch with media, it was going really sals, as much from refugees, of whom 18,000 returned well. I got Christopher to talk with her and her colleague, within 24 hours from Albania and Macedonia, as from the the Greek doctor. We discussed, and we managed to neutral- Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA/UCK), with whom KFOR is ise them. But she was doing interviews for Polish television, negotiating a demilitarisation agreement which was by Bulgarian radio etc. It was quite emotional for some people Thursday ‘in the pipeline’, according to NATO. […] “We 256 because we had a couple of Greek people in our team and presented a clear timetable to the KLA political leaders, launch an exploratory mission into Serbia. of Operations studiedaproposalfromMSF Hollandto Republic of Yugoslavia. On 23 June 1999, the Directors sation ofbombingoverthe territoryoftheFederal On 20June1999,NATO announced theformalces- week or two it was rather this atmosphere of liberation. the Serbpopulationwasnotsohighonagenda.Fora there weretheSerbs.Atthatmoment,persecutionof through hoursofterriblefear;therehadbeenbombings, feeling ofliberationinsomanyvillages.Theyhadbeen we had found while driving around outside Pristina, and the moment, we were quite overcome by the level of destruction with Loïc,whoreplaced me, aboutMitrovica.Butatthat afraid fortheirsafety.Andso,justbeforeleaving,Italked had becomeimpossibleforthem,thattheybeenvery about it.SoangrythefactthatNATOclearlydenied air onCNN.Threeorfourtimesaday.Shewassoemotional meantime, theyfilmedtheresponse.Andreportwenton asked ifshehadavideoplayer.Sheshowedthetape.In that shedemandedtoseehiscommander.Thecommander tecting theSerbs.And, answer was nothing. So she said They askedaguyattheentrancewhattheyweredoingpro- And, theytookthetapeandwenttonearestNATOpost. They filmed,didinterviewswiththemotheroftwoboys. butchered intheuniversity.Sosheconvincedacrewtogo. morning theygotnewsthattwoSerbboyshadbeenreally as well,ofcourse.ShesaidthatonthedayIleft,in me now. Iwentto see her.Shecriedandcried. was tired she phoned,cryingonthephone,sayingneededtosee went back to Skopje and a day later, she arrived in Skopje, angle from which you can put it on the public agenda...” I Albanians to take revenge on any Serb. So, if there is any that weareworriedaboutisthistendencyforfrustrated demilitarisation,” specified a NATO spokesperson. which anticipatesa30-dayperiodforthefirststageof Albania andKosovo, April toJune 1999 (inFrench). On the day before I left, the CNN producer told me: On thedaybeforeIleft,CNNproducertoldme: bridge. OverthereImetpeoplewhotoldmethatlife realised. IwentontotheSerbsideandcrossed In factitwasonthewaytoMitrovicathatIreally story, but what should it be?” I said: “The one thing story, butwhatshoulditbe?”Isaid:“Theonething “I’m leaving afteryou,ifyou have spaceforonemore Christopher Stokes, coordinator MSF Belgiumin Erwin Vantland, MSF Communications officer in Macedonia, Albania andKosovoMay - June 1999 (in English)

forces from Kosovo had been achieved. firmed shortlybeforehand,thattheretreatofYugoslav The InternationalPeaceForceinKosovo(KFOR)hadcon- Yugoslav authorities,afterthe“capitulation”ofBelgrade. by the military agreement signed between NATO and the the deadlinehavingbeensetforthisSundayat22:00GMT Kosovo wasachievedalittlemorequicklythanexpected, fied MrSolana.TotalwithdrawalofSerbianforcesfrom tatives of the Yugoslav government on 9th June”, speci- by theCommanderofKFORPeaceForceandrepresen- accordance withtheMilitaryTechnicalAgreementsigned all Serbian military and police forces have left Kosovo, in the AlliedForcesinEurope,GeneralWesleyClark,that “I have been informed by the Supreme Commander of 10th June1999,”declaredMrSolanainthisstatement. put an end to the aerial campaign, which I suspended on (Ambassadors), Ihavedecided,withimmediateeffect,to under theauthorityentrustedtomebyNATOCouncil June, announcedtheAllianceinacommuniqué. “Acting paign inYugoslavia,whichhadbeen“suspended”on10th Sunday to formally cease the Atlantic Alliance’s aerial cam- The SecretaryGeneralofNATO,JavierSolana,decidedon Extract: illegal entry,and accusedofespionage(The CARE scenario). A. Thebiggest threat toan explo teamisbeingarrested for and provide relevant feed-back ASAP. I wanttosharethemwithyou all,askingtoreflectonit, want toseefulfilledbefore continuing withthisoption. We havenowformulatedanumber ofconditionsthatwe with the HQ’s inBrussels and A’dam. Pristina to consider this option, and had consultations proceed.” Theteamhaddiscussionsyesterdayeveningin Belgrade. “You are in Yugoslavia already, so you can obstacles shouldtheyhavetheintentiontovisitSerbia/ 3. Theseauthoritiesinformedthemthattherewereno took contact with the Serbian authorities. 2. TheyvisitedtheborderbetweenKosovoandSerbia, (Leposevac). 1. An exploratory team visited North Kosovo yesterday back onthe points mentioned in thismessage. Belgrade. This to inform you, as well as to ask your feed- a POSSIBLEwaytomaterialiseanexploratorymission By meansofthismessage,Iwanttoinformyouabout Extract: Brussels, 20 June1999(inFrench). Aerial CampaigninYugoslavia,’ ’NATO AnnouncestheFormalCessationof English). Kosovo programmemanagers,23June1999(in ager DirectortoMSFdirectorsofoperationsand Kok, MSFHollandEmergencyprogrammeman- ‘Possible ExplotoBelgrade,’EmailfromWouter AFP (France), 257 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

B. The objective of this explo would be to prepare a legal On 2nd July 1999, Bernard Kouchner, one of the ground for MSF to be in Serbia, and access the ‘humanitar- founders of Médecins Sans Frontières, whose image ian space’. remains associated with the organisation even though Pre-conditions: he has not been a member since 1979, is named ‘High 1. The border officials have to stamp the passports, giving Representative of the United Nations for Kosovo’, and the team a legal basis (be it Blace or Leposevac). put in charge of the province’s provisional administra- 2. Obtain an invitation letter from the Yugoslav Red Cross tion. (possible at a small transit camp at the border). 3. The team agrees with the objective being a political rather then a direct humanitarian one: We do not want to sneak around for some hours in Nis, sneaking out again. ‘Annan Appoints French Health Minister to Key We want to go to Belgrade, to make serious contacts to UN Post in Kosovo,’ Colum Lynch, United explore the Serbian side. Nations, The Washington Post (USA) 2 July 4. IF POSSIBLE, the MSF B local staff should be involved. 1999 (in English). Feasibility from a security perspective for the local staff to be estimated from Belgrade/Brussels. Extract: 5. Participants in the explo are initially from Non-NATO UN Secretary General Kofi Annan named French Health citizenship. Minister Bernard Kouchner yesterday as his special repre- 6. This is an MSF undertaking, not an MSF B/Fr/Sp/Sw/ sentative in Kosovo, making him a virtual governor of the Dutch one. Yugoslav province during its occupation by a NATO-led The team is now in Pristina visiting some relevant partners peacekeeping force. The appointment ended an intense in preparation for this mission: ICRC/KFOR-Serb liaison diplomatic competition among European NATO govern- Officer/Journalists/ etc. etc. At the end of the day we ments for one of the most important jobs in the post-war want to come to a conclusion whether or not to pursue reconstruction of Kosovo. It also represented a diplomatic the option. If «yes” it could/should materialise tomorrow. victory for French President Jacques Chirac, who lobbied Related issues: Who should be informed: Yugo embassy in aggressively on Kouchner’s behalf. Skopje? Embassies of the nationals involved in Belgrade, UNHCR, KFOR, etc. etc. Your urgent feedback is highly A resolution passed by the UN Security Council last month, appreciated. authorizing the peacekeeping intervention in Kosovo, Regards, Wouter Kok placed the United Nations in charge of civilian administration of the province as well as a multibillion-dollar aid and reconstruction programme. Annan said that Kouchner’s Re: Possible Explo to Belgrade,’ Email from Thierry Durand, initial priorities would be to ensure the resettlement of MSF Switzerland Director of Operations to MSF operations Kosovo’s refugees before the onset of winter, and to pur- directors and Kosovo programme manager, 23 June 1999 sue the reconciliation of the province’s Serbs and ethnic (in English). Albanians. “We are determined to try and create a multi- ethnic Kosovo”, Annan said after making the announce- Extract: ment. “It’s not going to be easy, but we are going to our Hi Wouter, best.” Kouchner, a veteran humanitarian who co-founded I have no problem with continuing exploring this option the French relief organization Doctors Without Borders, the way you mentioned it. On our side we continue to will have more sweeping authority than many heads of try the Bulgarian possibility in the same manner. And in state, including the power to levy taxes, write new laws Geneva it is now Bastien Vigneau following this subject and form a police force. for MSF CH (Kosovo with MSF B and Serbia options). [...] US officials were privately chilly, but resigned, to the Thanks to putting [add] him on the mails. prospect of the appointment of Kouchner, who is viewed see you by critics as unpredictable and excessively independent. Thierry He was criticized for being a self-promoter in the early 1990s when he posed on a beach in Mogadishu with a ‘Re [2]: Possible Explo to Belgrade,’ Email from Vincent sack of rice during the UN intervention in Somalia. The Janssens, MSF Belgium Director of Operations to MSF Clinton administration favoured the appointment of operations directors and Kosovo programme managers, 23 Martin Ahtisaari, the Finnish President who helped broker June 1999 (in English). the deal ending the NATO air war against Serbia, according I basically agree. Maybe one suggestion is to profit from to senior diplomats. But Ahtisaari dropped out of the run- the official authority of Uniak to get from them the for- ning after Chirac insisted that he must resign as Finland’s mal authorisation/visa to be in Kosovo (which is Serbia) President if he wanted the job. and get this stamped at the border; our team in Belgrade seems to be panicking at the idea of having expats around without minimal paperwork on them. Vincent 258 Yugoslavia (ICTY). it ontotheInternationalCriminalTribunalforex- about this,buttocollecttheinformation,andpass operational. MSFdecidesnottospeakoutpublicly responsible forthisinvestigativeworkarenotyet so justicecanbedone.However,theorganisations constraints againsttheneedtopreserveevidence selves facingadilemma,whichweighspublichealth during theconflict,inKosovarwells.Theyfindthem- presence ofbodiesvictimscrimescommitted During thesummer,MSFteamswerealertedto it wasthought bettertocollectmoreinformation andto speak out was very strong amongst the coordinators but, under-resourced forthetask athand.Theimpulseto or thattheagenciescollecting informationaregrossly the ICTYhasstoppedcollecting information/evidence; to murder sites, which involve 14 bodies or more; or that unconfirmed informationthat theICTYwillonlyattend ing theirtaskstoanacceptablestandard.MSFhasheard the responsibilitytocollectinformationwerenotperform - However, therewasclearagreementthatagencieswith nonetheless? There wasno clear answer on thissubject. current circumstancetoopressingandshouldMSFact information bethrownoutontechnicalgrounds?Isthis MSF be admittedas evidence atthe ICTY? Or would the bagged handsbeforeburial?Wouldsuchactionstakenby circumstance ofdeath,andpreservefingerprintswith Should MSFmake records ourselves about the dead, their debate abouthowMSFshouldrespondtothissituation. There was, within our meeting, a respectful but vigorous murder. ThemostpressingneedforMSFactionishere. documentation ofthedeadandtheircircumstance gation. InPejathepeoplecontinuetowaitforofficial in thefuturetoexhumebodiesforfurtherinvesti- buried thedeadcarefullybearinginmindapossibleneed bands. Theyhavemadearecordasbesttheycould,and ln Djacovathepeoplehavetakenmattersintotheirown identified above. refuse toburytheirdead;thereforeposingthehealthrisks criminal prosecution.Untilarecordistaken,thepeople such informationwill be utilized by theICTY for future It iswidelyanticipatedbythesurvivingrelativesthat an acknowledgmentofthecircumstancestheirdeaths. authority makesomesortoflegalrecordtheirdeadand areas the people insisted on having an international affected bythisissueareDjacovaandPeja[Pec].lnboth mental healthissuesfortheirrelatives.Theareasmost in buryingdeadbodiesmay also raisethepossibilitiesof tended, deadbodiesposeahealthhazard.Furtherdelays MSF. The public health issue for MSF is that, left unat- 2. Deadbodiesareclearlythemostpressingissuefacing Extract: Meeting #2,’Prizren,14July1999(inEnglish). ‘Summary oftheKosovoGeneralCoordinators’ burial - will benecessary. tocol fordealingwiththedead-bothevidenceand responsible inEurope.Itwasalsosuggestedthatapro- a public témoignage message in consultation with MSF this tact, MSF coordinators shall regroup to determine known tothepeople.Ifthereisunsatisfactoryresultson than 14dead,MSFshallimplorethemtomakesuchpoints with evidencecollectionorwillonlyvisitsitesmore highlight theaboveconcerns.Also,ifICTYisfinished have responsibilityforevidencecollectiontheICTYto Tim willalsochaseOSCEandBritishmilitaryofficials who the full pictureup close and directly from her, in Pec. and/or DeputygotoPecandseeGrazielladirectlyget health. Furthermore,TimwillpushthattheICTYHoM then pushtheissue and highlightthepointsofpublic numbers oftheHoMandDeputyICTY;whoshall end, GraziellawillprovidetoTimwiththenamesand push theissuewithrelevantagenciesinPristina.Tothat able as the activityprogresses. Alain LeRoyetc.).Precisenumbersanddatawillbeavail - it means complaining higher up if that doesn’t work (cf. It istheirrole,andeveryone is pushing for this, evenif ieri, whoshouldtakecareofthis,butdonotreallyso. bodies (non-warcrimes)aretobereferredthecarabin - On theotherhand,everyoneisinagreementthatrecent CDHR teams. Likewise for MSFsupportif needed. recorded andburiedina‘cemetery’.Thegravediggersare the corpsesofunidentifiedpeople,whichareallthen etc. etc.).WehaveofficialKFORauthorisationtotransport and the wells, a vehicle, protective equipment, body bags logistical meansforthiswork(1teamthetransport the bodiescollected(dittoforICTY).MSFprovidesall teams andanexpat).CDHRsendsusaweeklyreporton cases where the body is in a well, we get involved (our CDHR forthe‘collectionwork’,ifnot,theydoitalone.In an ICTY investigation or not. If it does, he joins with of bodiestoBarryandus.decidesifitjustifies (Liaison OfficerCaptainBobis).CDHRrefersthepresence (a local organisation), Barry Hogan from ICTY and CIMIC the CouncilforDefenceofHumanRightsandFreedom now workingoncollectingbodiesincoordinationwith 2) DeadBodiesp4.Atlastit’sclear(inchAllah)!Weare Extract: still unmet,despite thefactthatthereis startingtobe have exposed us toothertypesofdemands, whichare Our workwithpopulationsand ourcomingsandgoings Extract: 1999 (inFrench). ‘MSF 27 August1999 (in French). Minutes oftheMSFFranceBoard Meeting, Sitrep 18/07/99 – PecRegion,’ 18 July

259 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

a proliferation of NGOs and international organisations. liferation of acts of vengeance against the minority The population feels an enormous need to be able to tell Serb and Tzigane populations. MSF France‘s Board of foreigners what has happened, in the hope that in this Directors considered making a statement about this way, it gets recorded somewhere. They also want to report but did not. On 9th and 10th September 1999, KFOR disappearances and initiate investigations. Lastly, they do intervened between groups of Serbs and Albanians who not know what to do with bodies, which are discovered. clashed violently in Mitrovica. The Serbian nationalist In response to this need for justice and for points of press associated The UN Administrator in Kosovo with reference, standard forms have been drawn up for medi- MSF and compared the organisation to the Ku Klux cal staff and logisticians. These forms allow information Klan. to be passed on to the ICRC or to ICTY, with whom collaboration is beginning to run smoothly. Thus, in agreement with ICTY and a very active Albanian organisation (properly accredited by ICTY), the team has agreed to ‘MSF Sitrep 18/07/99 Peja/Pec Region,’ become involved in collecting bodies from wells. This is Graziella Godain, Kosovo deputy programme in response to an extremely anxious request from village manager, MSF France, 18 July 1999 (in French). residents, and presents contamination problems (it is estimated that of the region’s 12,000 known wells, 20% Extract: are contaminated by the presence of animal and/or human 2/ Minorities remains. The remaining 80% require cleaning (chlorina- - Village of Zac (gypsy minority, around 250 people, Istog tion) due to the stagnation of water). district): 12/07, a gypsy shot dead and another reported missing following an exchange of fire between gypsy and Albanian minorities. It seems that the missing man’s brother was a paramilitary who committed atrocities against the Albanian population. No news of the Our logisticians were confronted with the problem of missing man since then. This village is now under KFOR contaminated wells and rivers. Therefore, a protocol protection and we make regular visits there as do the was established for the identification of bodies mobile clinics. removed from the wells. Since, over there, identification was - Villages of Dobruska, (Bosnian Muslim minority (Serbo- not performed using jawbones, because the paradental sys- Croatian speaking), around 1,000 people, Istog district): tem was not very advanced, it was absolutely vital that we 15/07, a gypsy family was thrown out of the village and manage to retain the fingerprints, and then carry out left for Montenegro. The Bosnians do not feel too threat- examinations. A Tribunal doctor was due to arrive, but the ened and are receiving police protection organised by the bodies had to be covered with chalk straight away, so as to Istog police chief. However, they only leave their village prevent sanitation problems. They therefore had their hands when they really must (for fear of their cars being stolen). wrapped in plastic gloves, since the fingerprints were of the MSF is still continuing the mobile clinics so as to follow greatest importance. The date and place were noted, and the situation closely. the neighbours were asked if they knew who the bodies - Village of Cerkolez (Serb minority, around 300 people, belonged to. Then they were covered with chalk and put into north east of Istog): they are living under KFOR protec- body bags, and a form detailing the particulars was given to tion. They have an open border with Serbia which allows the Tribunal. An agreement had been made with the them access to provisions. People living in surrounding Tribunal. Before ICTY had effectively had a representative areas accuse them of being responsible for the massacre present in Kosovo, a large number of bodies had already of the inhabitants of Padalista (cf. MSF Report on deporta- been reported. The Tribunal told us that the work had been tion). 19/07, (tomorrow) a doctor and a logistician from of enormous help, as we had identified places, and pre- MSF will visit this village. served the evidence while at the same time meeting our - Village of Gorazdevac (Pec district, Serb minority, public health objectives. […] We did not pass on informa- 360 people): they are under KFOR protection. MSF makes tion about this. It was of no interest because it was just regular visits to the village and gives some basic medi- part of our usual work. It was just a matter of making sure cines to the ambulanta run by a Serbian nurse. The popu- that our work did not obliterate the evidence. lation is very worried and feels completely hemmed in and enclosed. Francoise Saulnier, MSF Legal Advisor, - Zahaq zone (north district of Pec, Bosnian minority, (in French). around 2,500 people spread over several localities): no problem for the moment, regular visits to support the ambulanta. In the village of Zahaq itself, existence of 12 gypsy houses (around 50 people): they have access to food, to equipment distributed by MSF and to medical care All through the summer of 1999, MSF teams operated from the ambulanta. No security issues at the moment, within a tense security situation, caused by the uneven they leave the village and drive around without difficulty. control KFOR had over the whole of the territory, the This list of zones containing minorities is incomplete. It 260 KLA’s regaining administrative control, and the pro- will be completed in a forthcoming Sitrep. These places having to leave Kosovointhe near future? - What other alternative is there for these people than tion to these populations? - ForhowlongwillKFORcontinueprovidingcloseprotec questions remain: in chargeofthematter(HCR,KFOR).However,somevital necessary and to give regular feedback to the authorities to monitorthesituation,domobileconsultationsif are knowntoMSFandweplanningregularvisitsthere acts of ethnic cleansingagainst the Kosovar Serbs? Albanian speakers,havethesame willingnesstodenounce nature ofthecrimedeportationcommittedagainst major partinpubliclyrevealinganddemonstrating the as theSerbsdid.Question:willMSF,whichhasplayeda ating thesamecrimes,whichtriggerresponses sure theynevercomeback.Theyareeffectivelyperpetu - destroyed ordistributedforservicesrendered)andmake be togetridoftheSerbs(theirpossessionshavebeen matter writteninSerbo-Croatian).Theirattitudeseemsto Serbo-Croatian language(andeventhehospital’sprinted run byKFOR.TheKosovarscategoricallyrefusetousethe is, therefore,tobeadmittedoneofthetwohospitals guaranteed inthehospitals.Theironlyremainingsolution the Serbsneedhospitalisation,theirsafetywouldnotbe near Pec,thereisadispensarysupportedbyMSF,butif the followingweeks. In the large village of Gorazdevac All theotherSerbsleftjustbeforeKFOR’sarrival,orin people. of thedistricts,thereremainonlyafewisolatedelderly enclaves, and whose populations are growing. In the rest are 2villagesleft(300-700people)whichsortofSerb what wecanascertainedinthe4districtsofPec.There thing otherthananti-Serbsentiments.Thatiseffectively but it seems to be strongly frowned upon to express any- months andyears.Thisisnotnecessarilyspontaneous, they themselveswerevictimsofduringthepreceding the sameattitudestowardsSerbsandTziganes,which clear thattheAlbanian-speakingKosovarshavedeveloped community (people, symbols and possessions). It is now drawn intotakingrevengeonwhatisleftoftheSerb summary justicenature),theentirepopulationhasbeen feared that,overandabovescore-settling(ofamilitaryor control ofthezonearound15June.Sincethen,itisalso and murdershavebeencarriedoutsincetheKLAtook Extra-judicial executions,thatistosaysettlingscores, tion Development of thesituationconcerning ethnic segrega- Extract: August 1999(in French). Minutes oftheMSFFranceBoardMeeting,27 in Kosovobefore thewaralso had toleave,sincethey are their language, stated the who seekto‘Albanianise’them, andmakethemrelinquish pressure, notablyfromtheKosovo LiberationArmy(KLA), war -leftforTurkey.Thiscommunity isunderincreasing Kosovar community–around 60,000peoplebeforethe UNHCR notesthatanumber ofmembers of theTurkish ing Serbo-Croatian,theyarealsooftheMuslimreligion. as wellbyAlbaniansbecauseinadditiontospeak - created under Tito) are the targets of persecution by Serbs (Muslim Serbs)andtheBosnianMuslims(anationality Italy onboardfragileboats,riskingdrowning.TheGorans and agrowingnumberaredesperatelytryingtoreach regrouped inthecamps,likethatatObilic(5,000people), out ofapre-wartotal20,000.Theothershavebeen Fewer than500remainedinKosovskaMitrovica(north) they are often included in statistics relating to the Serbs. The UNHCRadmitstonotknowinghowmanyfledbecause Albanians and rejected bythe Serbs. (around 45,000in1991),accusedofcollaborationbythe fire ofSerbo-Albanianhatred,inparticular, the Tziganes the UNHCR.Otherminoritieswerecaughtincross- programme ofresettlementintoRomaniaproposedby and Montenegro.Aroundahundredvolunteeredfor decline inthenumberofSerbsthere–fledtowardsSerbia Milosevic tosettleinKosovoanattemptcurbthe had beenencouragedin1995bytheregimeofSlobodan Most of the 6,000 Serbs from Bosnia and Croatia – who asking theinternationalcommunitytoprovideprotection. often hadtohideinSerbenclavesforwhichtheyarenow of atotal40,000.ThosewhowantedtostayinKosovo al ofKFOR.OnlyaboutathousandremainedinPristinaout the bombings and 130,000 in the first days after the arriv- itself and30,000towardsMontenegro).50,000fledduring 180,000 left the province (130,000 heading for Serbia living inKosovobeforetheNATObombingsandsome According totheUNHCR,morethan200,000Serbswere attacks against elderly isolated Serbs. notes the document, citing in particular the case of links withanysupposedcollusion”theSerbforces, seems that these groups are targeted despite having no which cangoasfarmurder,”continuesthetext.“It many arethetargetsofarsonattacksorcriminalthreats stayed behind is extremely tense and unpredictable and (OSCE), andtotheUNHCR.“Thesituationforthosewho the OrganisationforSecurityandCooperationinEurope especially Serbs,fromKosovo,”indicatesareportby and thearrivalofKFORsawanexodusminorities, Serbs. “TheweeksfollowingtheYugoslavforces’retreat affected thenon-Albanianminorities,inparticular Since June,theforceddisplacementsinKosovohave Extract: (France), Pristina,30August1999(inFrench). Population Displacement,’ Isabelle Ligner, ’Post-War KosovoRemainsanAreaofForced AFP. The 5,000 Croats who were AFP 261 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

associated with the Serbs, with whom they share a lan- the Anglo-Saxon occupiers of the Province. The giddy guage which is henceforth banned in Kosovo. Kouchner (who was born that way) maintains that the KKK-like policy of Médecins Sans Frontières can be applied in Kosovo. In keeping with the Médecins’ good tradition, he is now playing the part of the dejected murderer par- ’Violence Continues Between Serbs and Albanians ticipating in the victims’ cortège. He is the town crier for in the North of Kosovo,’ Christophe Chatelot, Le a multi-ethnic Kosovo which, if he goes on in this way, Monde (France) 12 September 1999 (in French). will end up ethnically cleansed. He screams like a town crier and spreads news about the disarmament of Albanian Extract: terrorists, but - in a classical Médecins manner - he is, on Renewed tension in Kosovo, where the last few days have the other hand, preparing the KLA for its transformation seen a dangerous escalation in interethnic violence. On into a Kosovo Guard of Albanians. Thursday 9th and Friday 10th September, the town of Kosovska Mitrovica, a cauldron of ethnic hatreds situated in the French-controlled northern zone, saw at least one hundred and fifty people injured, as KFOR had to intervene between several hundred Serbs and Albanians. […] There is a problem which has been swept under the Security conditions are far from satisfactory throughout carpet a bit: in the wake of all this, the Serbs and the province, where around a dozen people have been the gypsies have left Kosovo. Some have taken ref- killed during the course of the week. Furthermore, on uge in Mitrovica, a town divided in two; to the north of Friday, at the United Nations Headquarters, the UN Kosovo … then many more people went into southern Administrator for Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, requested Serbia. These are the populations we worked with after- twice as many police than the UN had anticipated (three wards. We were able to go to Belgrade with MSF Belgium thousand elements). Before leaving for New York, Mr who had kept on some local staff. And, we worked in south- Kouchner had warned that a “wave of terrorism would not ern Serbia with Serbs and gypsies who had fled Kosovo. be surprising,” the objective of extremists on all sides There were not hundreds of thousands … being to topple the agreement on total demilitarisation and the reorganisation of the KLA planned for 19th Thierry Durand, Director of Operations, September. Mr Kouchner considered that “we must break MSF Switzerland/MSF Greece Operational Centre the spirit of vengeance at the heart of the whole popula- (in French). tion,” adding that the task could not be accomplished “in weeks or months,” but would take years.

On 9th September 1999, MSF issued a press release ‘About Kouchner – The Town Crier in Pristina,’ announcing the launch of a programme to provide sup- Vecernje Novosti (Serbia) 16 September 1999 plies for the reconstruction of roofs before winter (in French).

Extract: What the Ku-Klux-Klan racists are to the blacks in America, Press release, MSF France, 9 September 1999 the “Médecins Sans Frontières” are to the Serbs in Europe: (in French). an ethnically exclusive, politically instrumentalised, sin- ister phalanx in the service of the global bluff of “demo- Extract: cratic” imperialism and “humanitarian” hegemony. To Hundreds of thousands of people in Kosovo are cur- be fair to the Ku-Klux-Klan, it has a considerable moral rently taking refuge in simple tents, shelters made out of advantage over the Médecins: its policy is openly racist, plastic tarpaulins, or even in badly damaged houses – a i.e. devoid of prejudice and perfidy. Up to this moment, particularly unsuitable situation for facing the severity throughout the Yugoslav drama, Médecins Sans Frontières of the coming winter. In the Pec region, to the west of - those knights of hypocrisy - have been ‘treating’ people Kosovo, where the war took its heaviest toll, about 60% selectively. Being the army of the arrogant Atlantic ideol- of dwellings have been destroyed. An assessment carried ogy, they have carried the banners of humanity, freedom out by Médecins Sans Frontières has allowed those houses, and democracy. We have been watching them carefully which are still able to support a roof to be identified. On in the Balkans all these years. They ‘cured’ the Arnauts a scale of 1 to 5 for levels of destruction, these houses are in Drenica (Arnauts is an abusive term which refers to classed as “category 4”. To tackle a precarious situation for Albanians as foreigners in the country), but none of the those populations threatened by the winter, Médecins Sans Serbian front-line soldiers were their ‘patients’. Frontières has decided to commit itself to a programme for the distribution of roofing repair supplies. In the coming The founder of Médecins Sans Frontières is Bernard days, MSF will begin to distribute to these populations, 262 Kouchner. It is our ill fate to have him as despot of the supplies they will need for repairing the roofing on up chieflysoastopreventtheriskofrespiratoryinfec aid programme for repairing roofing on houses is being set vulnerable, isthusestimatedataminimumof18,000.This The totalnumberbenefiting,identifiedasamongthemost On 15 is alsopresentinPristina,Prizrenand Djakovica. providing supporttothehealthfacilities.Theorganisation volunteers arecurrentlyworkinginthePecregion,and and grouplivingconditions.21MédecinsSansFrontières children, aswellotherdiseaseslinkedtopoorhygiene tions anddeath,especiallyamongsttheelderlyyoung space ofabout100m 3 familiestobeaccommodatedineachhouse,withina collaboration withthevillageresidents,willallowatleast “Objective: 1,000Roofs for Winter” carried outinclose transported hereby142articulatedlorries.Thisoperation tools, aswellstovesforheating,arecurrentlybeing consisting of wood, corrugated iron sheets, construction 1,000 “category4”dwellingsin60villages.Thesesupplies, during the conflict inKosovo. expelled fromthemovementaftertakingitsownpositions made upof18independentsections.MSFGreecewas Médecins SansFrontièresisaninternationalorganisation Extract: tarian organisations as well! Albanians and Serbs. ‘Collateraldamage’affected humani- The victimsoftheconflict inKosovowerenotonly Extract: appeared in theEuropean press. analysis ofthesituationtojournalists.Severalarticles the message.MSFInternationalthenreleaseditsown damage fromtheKosovarwar.TheGreekpressrelayed release declaringthatMSFisavictimofcollateral extensively coveredinthemedia,launchedapress publicised thenewsofitsexpulsion,nowbeing awarded toMSF.TheGreeksection,whichhadnot AND THE‘COLLATERAL DAMAGE’ th THE NOBELPEACE PRIZE October1999,theNobelPeacePrizewas OF THEKOSOVO CRISIS (France), 17 October1999(inFrench). release, MSFGreece,October1999(in English). ‘MSF VictimsoftheConflict inKosovo,’Press ‘Médecins SansFrontièresinFigures,’ 2 , oronaverage18peopleperhouse. Le Monde -

lacked impartiality” andthatonlytheBelgian section cancel itsproject. Thereasongivenwasthat “theGreeks A great deal of pressure was then put on MSF Greece to informed theothersections asking themtojoinwithus. accepted on4Mayandthe Greek directorofoperations from theSerbConsulateinAthens. Theapplicationswere the operationsdepartmentof MSFGreeceappliedforvisas sections. Thisproposalwasnotfollowedup.Meanwhile be created with coordination ensured by one of these proposed totheothersections that a mixed teamshould French partners of this possibility. The Greek organisation MSF GreeceimmediatelyinformeditsBelgian,Dutchand 26 April. This humanitariancorridorbecameoperationalasfrom ity andintotalindependenceoftheGreekgovernment. using thecorridorwoulddosoontheirownresponsibil - selected bytheNGOs.Thehumanitarianorganisations would beallowedtoenterandmovetowardsdestinations timetable, whiletheSerbauthoritiesagreedthatconvoys warning aboutandwhichfollowedagivenitinerary not tobombhumanitarianconvoyswhichtheyreceived ligerents. According tothis agreement, NATO agreed corridor’ wasestablishedwiththeconsentofbothbel- agreement withtheEuropeanUnion,a‘humanitarian the interventionofGreekgovernmentactingin The situationchangedtowardsmid-Aprilwhen,through return from a mission to Kosovo(annex 2). as wellaninterviewwiththeactingpresidentafterhis regime asbeingmainlyresponsibleforthiswar(annex1) honorary presidentofoursectiondenouncingMilosevic’s For example,attachedtothistextisanarticlebythe but sotoowastheNATObombingofnon-militarytargets. ethnic cleansingbytheBelgraderegimewascondemned, publicly onseveraloccasions.Ineachcasethepolicyof During thisperiodMSFGreecemadeitspositionknown able. However,accesstoSerbiawaspracticallyimpossible. fering thebombingsbecamebothobviousandunaccept- NGOs) andtheirabsencefromamongthepopulationssuf- of NGOsinAlbaniaandMacedonia(atotalover120 Kosovo and Serbia. The contrast between the deployment concern grew for the fate of the populations within As theweekspassedandbombingintensified,our of tons of materialwere sent tothe refugee camps. mobilised to come the aid of the Albanians and dozens happened intheend).DozensofGreekvolunteerswere ritory for the reception of Albanian refugees (which never parallel, MSFGreeceorganisedpreparationsonGreekter- linked theiroperationalpotentialtothisactionplan.In for Montenegro.Othersections,suchasMSFGreece, YFR Macedonia;MSFBelgiumforAlbaniaandFrance the regioninhandsofthreesections:MSFHollandfor Médecins SansFrontièresputoperationalresponsibilityfor number ofhumanitarianorganisationsweremobilised. Yugoslav FederalRepublic(YFR)ofMacedonia,alarge influx ofKosovarAlbanianrefugeesintoAlbaniaandthe From theoutsetofhostilities,andbeforemassive Summary of events

263 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

was authorised to enter Serbia on behalf of MSF. James main concern was to prove that MSF Greece requested visas Orbinsky, President of the International Office (IO), also without informing the other sections. All the documents assured us that visa requests had been made by the in our possession were open to them and they were able Belgian section and that we must wait until this section to meet with everyone available. In return, we asked them received authorisation to enter Serbia. Our response was to let us see their report before it was distributed so that that we could delay our mission by one or two days, but we could contribute our own comments. They did not keep that, given the urgency of the situation, it was ethi- their promise and we were made aware of this report at cally unacceptable to wait longer. Our mission therefore the same time as the other IO sections, barely three days entered Kosovo on 7 May 1999. before the meeting. Of course, this report concluded that MSF-Greece was ‘guilty’ and proposed that the IO should This mission was composed of three doctors (the presi- call on our section to definitively end all our missions in dent of MSF Greece, a second surgeon and a Greek Serb- order to have the ‘privilege’ of remaining with the ‘MSF speaking doctor so that we would not have to depend on movement’ as a ‘partner section’ (i.e. a section without a local translator) and a technician-logistician. Apart from the right to carry out missions, but aiming to raise funds the Serb-speaking Greek doctor, the members of this mis- to finance Belgian, French and Dutch missions). If we did sion already had much experience, acquired mainly with not agree to this, we would not be expelled, but our own the French section of MSF. The mission had been prepared act would lead to ‘self-expulsion!’ by telephone calls, mainly with doctors in Pristina hospital and the emergency hospital in Belgrade. The objective In fact, the expulsion of MSF Greece had not been put on of the mission was, on the one hand, to bring in first aid the agenda. However, it was announced to us orally by the material on the basis of the information available (a total President of the IO the evening before the meeting and of 18 tonnes, i.e. a relatively small quantity) and, on the confirmed at the beginning of the meeting that this issue other hand, to evaluate the situation from the point of would certainly be discussed. In fact, what took place was view of the medical needs and the space for humanitarian the expulsion of MSF Greece, avoiding the normal proce- manoeuvre (i.e. free access to victims). Every movement dure that would have led all the sections to deal with very by our mission was recorded in daily written reports and basic questions. We denounced this procedure as contrary these reports were sent to the other sections. Our mis- to the statutes and, above all, anti-democratic. We stated sion’s activities were covered by independent Greek jour- our refusal to participate in a discussion on our expulsion nalists as well as by Canadian, Italian, French and other in which neither our statutory nor our real rights would journalists. From the outset the Serb authorities asked us be available to us in order to present our defence. On the to hand over our aid to the Yugoslav Red Cross. Our reply other hand, we were willing to participate in any discus- was categorically negative and our material was handed sion on the basic issues. MSF Greece rejected this suicidal over to the doctors in the Pristina and Belgrade hospitals. suggestion and again proposed a dialogue. This proposal Part of our team (a doctor and the technician) remained was not taken up. At the beginning of October we received there until the end of the conflict in order to verify that a letter dated 27 September stating that the IO, in a new this aid was effectively used for hospital patients and the decision of 16 September had voted by 17 voices to 13 wounded, and was not diverted. in favour of our ‘formal expulsion’. We, of course, had not been asked to take part in this meeting, nor had we been After the end of the bombing, the other MSF sections informed that it was taking place. According to some entered Kosovo behind the NATO troops. The Greek volun- information received, this meeting did not physically take teers welcomed the members of these sections to Pristina place, but was limited to an exchange of e-mails. However, and MSF Greece asked to contribute towards their mission. the information was confirmed in an article in Le Monde But this request was not met. However, as an MSF pres- on 17 October, which explicitly mentioned “the expulsion ence was ensured by these sections, MSF Greece judged of the Greek section.” Following this, we in turn made this that it was not longer useful to remain as such in this information known in Greece (it should be noted that we region. It did, however, develop activities in Nis and Novi had made public our divergence from the attitude of the Sad, and continued to send written reports to the other western humanitarian organisations in the Kosovo conflict sections. since the beginning of this internal crisis). (…) The expulsion procedure regarding MSF Greece Behind the facts, the reasons for the conflict The Belgian, French and Dutch sections considered that First of all, note that the expulsion decided on by the IO MSF Greece had committed a serious misdemeanour. The (ultimate sanction) appears disproportionate in regard to President of the IO sent two people to Greece to ‘inquire’ the facts for which we are reproached (exploratory mis- into these misdemeanours and present a report to the sion with 18 tonnes of material). ‘Misdemeanours’ of this International Office meeting planned for 12 June. MSF nature are a frequent grievance that various sections have Greece received these people with open arms and called an blamed others for, but without the same consequences. If Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA - for 2 June) in order a section were to be expelled for an exploratory mission, to hold an in-depth debate on this issue. The two emis- practically all the sections would have had to be expelled saries refused to participate in this EGA and their enquiry several times! In order to understand, the context must 264 thus almost took on the air of a police investigation. Their be recalled. The war in Kosovo was the first international end theanathema andex-communicationprocedures and appeal toall other sectionsandalltheir volunteersto that wehaveunderstoodtheir message.Welaunchan their supportinsuchamoving mannerandassurethem action. We warmly thank all those who have offered us now onindefendingtheideal ofimpartialhumanitarian only tocarryon,butalso intensifyouractionsfrom ous sanction,constitutesacommandingmandate,not society, in reaction to what it considers to be a scandal- spontaneous and massive support of the whole of Greek unteers supportedbyover100,000donorsinGreece.The MSF Greeceisanassociationwithseveralhundredvol - in themovement. therefore continuetolookfordialoguewithalltheactors ciples andethicstowhichweallbelong.MSFGreecewill experienced andbuiltthishistoryand,aboveall,theprin - to whichwearedefinitivelylinked,realpeoplewhohave superstructure. TheMSFmovementhasacommonhistory summed upby(membershipof)some“office”oranyother be amemberoftheMSFmovement,whichcannot outside orinsidetheIO,MSFGreececonsidersitselfto to havethisdecisionannulled.Butinanycase,whether initiated procedureswiththecompetentBelgiancourts International Officeisillegalandillegitimate.Ithas MSF-Greece considers thatits expulsion from the The future of MSF-Greece opportunity to “getridof” MSF Greece. point ofview,theKosovocrisisappearedtobeagood fundraising inordertofinancethesemissions.Fromthis large number of other sections must limit themselves to of large sections must decide about missions while the power.” In linewith this tendency, a restricted number ity’ andwhichisnothingotherthanaconcentrationof principle ofcoherencewronglyreferredtoas‘operational- been takenawaybythelargesectionsinnameofa the participationofdifferentMSF(sections)has of theInternationalOffice:“atinternationallevel, MSF France, who wrote in 1997, when he was president bers, includingPhilippeBiberson,thecurrentPresidentof us alone, but is also that of a large number of MSF mem- number oflargecentres.Thisobservationcomesnotfrom tendency toconcentratedecisionalpowerinarestricted of thesesamesectionshasforyearsbeencultivatinga public opinionandthemedia.Secondly,management tion, even fanaticism that surfaced during the war among sensitive thanthatofotherstotheclimatepolarisa- all, themanagementofsomesectionswasprobablymore There aretwopossibleanswerstothisquestion.Firstof and reflection. Why? authoritarian methods and expulsion instead of dialogue ner. However,theInternationalOfficeofMSFoptedfor able tohandletheirdifferencesinaconsensualman- fered repercussions from this crisis. Most of them were Practically all theinternationalorganisations have suf- This splitdidnotsparethehumanitarianmovement. deep splits between different societies on the continent. war inEuropesincetheSecondWorldWar.Itexposed

and military, to take over (ourrole). face ofthediverseattemptsbyallgovernments,civilian that thehumanitarianmovementismeetingtodayin to discusstogether,withoutdelay,thedifficultchallenges control (toensure thegoodsweredistributed tothemost in Kosovowithout anymeansofpropermonitoring and The formerGreeksectiondistributed tonnesofmaterial negotiations intheregion”said DrJean-MarieKindermans. movement, thuscompromising MSFoperationsand out previousdiscussionsor agreementwiththeMSF unilateral decisiontoenterKosovoandSerbiawith - became unworkableatthistimeastheytookthe governments. “ThesituationwiththeformerGreeksection of thepopulation,independentlyallauthoritiesand access toSerbiaandKosovofreelyassesstheneeds Albania andMacedonia,MSFwasalsotryingtogain NATO governments.WhileMSFwasworkinginMontenegro, In theKosovocrisis,MSFrefusedtoacceptanyfundsfrom dent way.TheserulesapplyinKosovoastheydoSudan. on allsidesoftheconflictinanimpartialandindepen - tices witnessedinthefield.Inconflict,MSFtriestowork speak outaboutcrimesagainsthumanityandotherinjus- double mandatetobringindependentassistanceand MSF isaninternationalhumanitarianorganisationwitha MSF. said DrJean-MarieKindermans,theSecretaryGeneralof the futurewewillbeabletore-establishMSFinGreece” section withintheMSFmovement today andhopethat in in thepast.WearesorrythatthereisnolongeraGreek have receivedfromtheGreekpublicandvolunteers movement. “AtMSFwegreatlyappreciatethesupport made upofallthepresidentssections 24 expel theformerGreeksectionwasfinalisedSeptember expulsion oftheformerGreeksection.Thedecisionto office todaypubliclyissuedastatementreconfirmingthe Médecins SansFrontières(MSF),theinternationalMSF To re-clarifythestatusofformerGreeksection within MSF. General [ofMSF]confirmsthatthereareonly18sections Greek section expelled from MSF movement and Secretary PRESS ADVISORY apply - only inresponse to queries. the pressadvisoryyoureceivedthismorning.Samerules sion whichwentouttocoupleofGreekjournalists-not was saidintheGreekpresstoday-hereisfinalver the GreekMSF’santi-Serbpropaganda.FYI-givenwhat I thinkamoffGreekfoodforawhileaftertodayandall Extract: th bytheInternationalCouncil(IC)ofMSF,whichis MSF pressofficers,21October1999(inEnglish). International CommunicationCoordinatorto Press advisoryfromSamanthaBolton,MSF ‘Greek Saga-SouvlakiandMussaka,’Email+

265 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

in need and in an impartial way). Given the complexity of in humanitarian aid without carrying out a prior evalua- the situation, MSF had previously decided to first assess tion exercise. “It’s clear that our disagreement is ideo- whether it was in fact possible to act impartially and inde- logical,” said Dr James Orbinsky, international director pendently, before any supplies were to be brought into of MSF. He added: “The Greeks have tried to create an Kosovo. The Greek sections’ actions directly contradicted illusion of assistance to victims, whereas in fact they have this decision. In addition to compromising independent assisted the Belgrade regime.” MSF assessments and missions in the field, on a public témoignage/speaking out level the former Greek section ‘An excessive punishment’ did not fully reflect the internationally agreed MSF posi- In Athens, MSF-Greece was bitter following its expulsion. tions on the lack of humanitarian space or on the crimes “Even if we were wrong in what we did, the punishment against humanity in Kosovo. is excessive,” protested Dr Odysseas Boudouris, President of the Greek section. And he counterattacked, accusing Although the IC then gave the former Greek section the the central organisation of being dictatorial, and berating option of remaining within the movement as long as it for wanting only the French, Swiss, Belgian and Dutch they accepted the responsibilities and privileges that go sections to be allowed to operate on the ground, while the along with membership as a partner section (there are 13 rest would be reduced to a fund-raising role. “In that case, partner and 5 operational sections within the movement), why are sections being opened in Japan, the United States the former Greek section refused. The former Greek sec- and Scandinavia,” he wondered. Greece went even further: tion was informed of the IC decision to expel them from “did the Serbs manipulate us? The same could be said the movement at the beginning of July. MSF counterparts of NATO, which manipulated the French, Swiss, Belgian in the field have also been informed that the former MSF and Dutch sections,” was Odysseas Boudouris’ charge. Greece section is no longer part of the MSF movement. “Wrong!” said Dr Orbinsky, “we openly criticised the allied “This has been a difficult decision for MSF, but the vote military action for its violations of humanitarian law, and confirms the resolve of the movement to stand firm on we refused to take funds from NATO member countries to issues of principle and humanitarian practice within MSF” pay for the operations we carried out in the Balkans after said Dr James Orbinsky President of the International the end of the war.” Council. Vincent Faber, Director of MSF Switzerland, who supports the Greek section’s expulsion, believes there is no question but that it has put at risk the image of an organ- ‘ Médecins Sans Frontières Expels its Greek isation respected for its neutrality and independence. Section, which was Seen as Too Pro-Serb,’ Ram He drew attention to the fact that the Serbs generously Etwareea, Le Temps (Switzerland), 13 November issued visas to the Greeks, but refused them to people 1999 (in French). of other nationalities. Dr Orbinsky stated categorically, “MSF and the Greek section have definitively severed their Extract: connection.” “Our expulsion is illegal and unjustified,” Early last May, Médecins sans Frontières Greece, with three retorted Odysseas Boudouris. “We would like to reopen doctors and 18 tonnes of supplies and medicines, arrived dialogue. On the other hand, whatever the outcome of in Pristina, the main city of Kosovo. Operation Joint Guard this crisis, we will continue our humanitarian activities was in full swing. In the wake of the atrocities committed under the MSF banner.” This affair will probably end up in by the Serb paramilitaries, the Atlantic Alliance bombed the courts, as MSF’s international president makes clear: Yugoslavia. The people who remained in the suffering “we will have no hesitation in using all available means to province were left to their own devices, with no food protect the movement’s honour.” or medical supplies. The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that thousands of people who had taken refuge in the forests were facing famine. In mid-April, the Greek government, which had gone its ’Explanatory note on MSF Greece, for the own way within NATO by supporting the Belgrade regime Attention of ECHO,’ by Laure Delcros, MSF in the name of the Orthodox Church, negotiated with International to Ms Moreno, ECHO, 16 November the two warring parties, the opening of a humanitarian 1999 (in French). corridor. On 7 May, a mission from MSF Greece arrived in Pristina. It was precisely on account of that mission that Extract: the Greek section has been expelled from the MSF fam- Médecins Sans Frontières is a private not-for-profit organ- ily, which comprises 19 national sections. Many reasons isation, currently represented by 18 sections across the have been put forward for this step. During the conflict, world (Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Greek section aligned itself with the Serb camp. Denmark, Spain, the United States, France, Holland, Hong In Pristina, it assisted the Serbs more than it did the Kong, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Norway, the United Albanians, allowed it to be manipulated by the Belgrade Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland). MSF’s operational sec- regime, collaborated with the Greek government although tions, namely MSF France, MSF Belgium, MSF Holland, MSF 266 it is a non-governmental organisation and, lastly, brought Spain, MSF Switzerland and MSF Luxembourg have signed a the Serbs(itwas fearedthattheirmedical supplies might within MSFthat theGreekswerenot“impartial” towards who wentaheadalone.This compoundedsuspicions forthcoming), whenBelgrade gavevisastotheGreeks, mission was awaiting visas for Kosovo (which were not expedition boreGreekflags. Furthermore,anotherMSF not onlyhelpedbytheGreek government,butthattheir of Greece.TheyclaimtheircolleaguesinAthenswere the NetherlandsandBelgium)areunitedincondemnation three largestandmostinfluentialsectionsofMSF(France, They see the accusation as “unjust and offensive.” The fundamental principleofindependenceandimpartiality. were deemedtohavecompromisedtheorganisation’s without thego-aheadfromMSFheadquarters.TheGreeks NATO bombingcampaign,launchedinMarchthisyear, of theGreeksectionforhavingenteredKosovoduring The causeofitsriftistheexpulsion200doctors work. Nobel Prize,worth$960,000,isinrecognitionofthis the world,regardlessofrace,religionandpolitics.The nearly three decades to provide medical help throughout private internationalorganisationthathasworkedfor next week’spresentationceremonyinOslo.MSFisa borders, internaldivisionsthreatentocastacloudover Médecins SansFrontières(MSF)knownogeographical Peace Prizefortheirefforts.Butwhilethedoctorsof ever itisneededandtheyhavebeenawardedtheNobel They deliveremergencymedicalaidwhereverandwhen legal document attesting to its expulsion. within afewweekswewillbeabletoprovideyouwith international organisationMédecinsSansFrontières,and operational section.MSFGreeceisnolongerpartofthe suggesting thatitremainwithinourmovementasanon- exclude theGreeksectionofMSF,notwithoutpreviously action. That is why the InternationalCouncil decided to of theprincipleindependenceregardinghumanitarian transparency vis-à-vis the movement, and a total breach eral missionundertheGreekflag,showingatotallackof mon rulewasthesendingtoKosovo,lastspring,aunilat- and lossesofconfidence.Thelatestviolationthiscom- than oncebyourGreeksection,causinginternalcrises action ontheground.Thatdecisionwasviolatedmore a concernfortheconsistencyandeffectivenessofour centres: thosementionedabove.Thisdecisionarosefrom sections ofMSF)thattherewouldbeonlysixoperational Council ofMSF(madeuprepresentativesallthe In 1997,acleardecisionwasmadebytheInternational for ECHO funding. sections ofMSFarenotoperational,theyeligible framework partnership agreement with ECHO. As the other Extract: Zinovieff, ‘Doctors OperatinginaDividedHouse,’Sofka Kingdom) , 4 December1999(inEnglish). The FinancialTimes(United -

Although the Greeks arethefirstmembers tobethrown in.” organisation like ours. Sometimes that means not going an agreementtoabidebythe willofthemajorityinan explained. Therefore“there has tobeaconsensus,and rienced medicsareextremely opentomanipulation,”he violent, foreignenvironments,andyoung,ofteninexpe - groups, enterawarzone,“theyareencounteringdifficult, should befollowed.WheneverMSF,orotherhumanitarian important thaneverthatthe“principlesofimpartiality” surrounding thesituation”inKosovo,anditbecamemore Director ofMSFHolland,“therewasdeepinsecurity supporter). AccordingtoAustenDavis,theBritishGeneral voted themoutoftheorganisation(Japanwastheironly have cutnoicewith17outofthe18MSFsectionswhich in thepresentcircumstances.”ButGreekdoctors’pleas them “fromcarryingouttheirextremelyimportantmission He hopedthattheBelgradeauthoritieswouldnotimpede mentioned theircontributionatseveralpressconferences. Greek doctors,andthealliancespokesmanJamieShea At thetimeofconflict,NATOpraisedwork 15 volunteers went toAlbanian refugees. with fourvolunteers.Morethan50tonsofaidand were sentbythegrouptoSerbianpopulationtogether but theyrefused.Ultimately,about18tonsofsupplies emergency medicalsuppliestotheYugoslavRedCross, Serbian authoritiesaskedthedoctorstohandovertheir not bebombedbyNATOaircraft.OnceinPristina,the stripes, similartotheGreekflag, so thattheywould crosses paintedontopofitsvehicleswithblueandwhite vehicles. ThusMSFGreecewastoldtoreplacethered Serbs were using red crosses on their military transport before theyenteredKosovo,NATOannouncedthatthe of Greekflagswasalso“innocent,”hesaid.Somehours helped toestablisha“humanitariancorridor.”Theuse protection ofitsgovernmentwhich,heclaims,merely Boudouris deniesthatMSFGreecewasactingunderthe focused only on thesuffering of theAlbanians. tions, includingMSF,virtuallyignoredSerbvictims,and non-military targets.Theybelievedwesternaidorganisa- they simultaneouslycondemnedNATObombingfor hitting Serbia’s regimeanditscrimesagainsthumanityinKosovo, Boudouris andhiscolleagueswholeheartedlycondemned Greeks tookadvantageoftheirneutralstatus.Although countries thatwerebombingitspeople,andthe have beenunlikelytogivevisasdoctorsfromNATO conscience isclear.”BoudourisstressesthatSerbiawould under thegazeofmediareportersinKosovoandour the moralobjectivetoofferourcontribution.Weacted distinction betweengoodandbadvictims:thereisonly according to their deeply held beliefs. “For us there is no may havebeendispensedwith,theGreekswereacting is horrifiedbythecharges.Althoughsomeofprotocol Odysseas Boudouris,46-year-oldPresidentofMSFGreece, “transparently”. end upwiththeSerbs),andthattheywerenotacting

267 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

out of MSF since its foundation in 1971, there has been the breach of the principle of independence, for which we a history of quarrels and tension in the world’s largest had two or three key elements, anyway. On top of that, private humanitarian relief organisation. “We are con- there was all the internal dissension, which weighed very stantly bickering,” comments Davis. In the 1980s, the heavily on us. founding French department [section] took the Belgians to court because of internal politics, and in 1979 Médecins Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, du Monde was formed as a breakaway group. This kind of MSF International (in French) behaviour is inevitable “with committed, often militant, people, who are unwilling to compromise,” argues Jean- Marie Kindermans, General Secretary of MSF’s International Bureau. With an international staff of 2,500 in 80 countries, and about 10,000 local staff, there are bound to On 27 and 28 November 1999, the International be disagreements. According to Kindermans, the Kosovo Council of MSF unanimously adopted a resolution episode was really only “the straw that broke the camel’s expelling MSF Greece from the movement for not hav- back.” ing complied with decisions taken at the meeting on 12 June 1999. However, it decided to maintain contact Initially, the Greek doctors were given the option of stay- with the Greek society , in order to promote MSF’s ing in MSF as a non-operational centre, but they chose principles and values. not to comply and were therefore expelled. Speaking for his colleagues in Athens, Boudouris believes they still belong to MSF and that the work of the Greek doctors has contributed to the Nobel Peace Prize. He and his ‘MSF IC Meeting Minutes,’ 27-28 November colleagues therefore intend to be at the awards ceremony 1999, Brussels, Belgium (in English). in Oslo. Geir Lundestad, Director of the Nobel Institute in Oslo, is not concerned that the Greek presence will disrupt Extract: the ceremony: “If the Greek doctors are not on the invi- Item 2: Greek Update, and Formal Vote on the Expulsion tation list from MSF, then we won’t invite them. To get of the Greek Section from the MSF Movement. into Oslo City Hall you need an invitation.” He confirms, The situation regarding the former Greek section was however, that while it is MSF’s long-term record of work reviewed in detail by Jean-Marie Kindermans, and par- across many continents that won them the prize (from ticularly the fact that the issue has been discussed in the among 136 candidates), the work carried out in Kosovo news media in recent months. A distinction between the was also a positive contribution. political decision of the IC made in June 1999 and the legal issues surrounding this was made in the discussion. Meanwhile, perhaps the most conciliatory move towards During discussion, the IC gave a clear indication that an internal peace among the doctors has come from MSF’s ‘end date’ to legal procedures must be defined, so that Austen Davis. He believes that while the Greeks have been the legal issues do not drag on, providing a potentially difficult to work with, part of the credit for the Nobel Prize unnecessary form to the underlying political issues. is undoubtedly theirs. The present separation is “born of a The IC also gave a clear indication that we must not over- passionate conviction of the same ideals.” react to over-dramatised portrayals of our views in the media. During discussion, the IC also gave a clear indication that the political decision of the MSF movement regarding the expulsion of the former Greek section is clear, firm and unequivocal. We must now close a recycling We were very happy not to see the Greek business of this decision that was made clear in the unofficial CC: discussed in the press. That was what I was afraid mail vote held on September 16, 1999, where 17 members of. It all came out in October when the award of the of the IC voted informally to expel the Greek Section from Nobel Prize was announced. The Greeks congratulated them- the MSF Movement. Further discussion emphasised that selves on the prize. And Philippe [Biberson, MSF France a formal vote confirming the informal CC:mail vote of President] said in Le Monde that there was one section less, September 16 was required. Discussion also emphasised and that they had been expelled according to the rules. In that while this political decision is clear in regard to the fact, we had severed all connections, but we hadn’t yet frontier Greek Section of MSF, the MSF Movement is open legally expelled them. I spent half my time issuing state- to re-establishing contact with Greek Society so that the ments about it. Internally, people hadn’t kept up with it, principles and values of the MSF Movement can be pro- and it had to be explained to everybody. That was the first moted and engaged. time that I found the section presidents as a group very happy to off-load this problem. All the journalists were call- The following resolution was put to a vote: November 27, ing Brussels. So I got landed with all the interviews. The 1999 MSF International Council Resolution: Without preju- thing they were most interested in was the disagreement. dice, the members of the current assembly are formally That was difficult to explain, and took a long time, because confirming the informal cc-mail vote of September 16, 268 it’s not a very exciting subject. We put heavy emphasis on 1999, establishing the expulsion of the Greek section of Absolutely none. It was like a pebble in a calm lake. It had Absolutely none. Itwaslikeapebbleincalm lake.Ithad move. Andthat’s justaboutall.Theymade noimpact. sion andputonthespot.That wouldhavebeenareallybad there. Iwouldimmediatelyhave beendrawnintothediscus- MSF wholistenedtowhatthey weresaying.ButIwasn’t But Ithinkthatwasit,essentially. Therewassomebodyin humanitarian front,atleast) thattheyhadmixedsuccess. tion. Itwasprobablyfornotverygoodreasons(onthe and Europeanjournalists,allofwhomwereverypro-interven - mind didn’tgodownwellwithapanelofmainlyScandinavian the restofEurope.That’showIinterpretit.Theirframe badly, anddidn’tproperlybridgethegapbetweenGreece a long time agoresigned from theassociation. Greek sectioninOslo,oftwoformermembersthathad international movement:thechoicetorepresent to whatheconsideredaprovocationonthepartof president ofMSFGreece,hisresponsewasinregards the ceremoniestakingplaceinOslo.Accordingto held a press conference, as a fringe event alongside peace prizewasawardedtoMSF,theGreeksection On 10December1999,thedayonwhich the Nobel The resolution was adopted. The number of absentICmembers: 1 (MSF Australia). The total votes cast: 17 The number of abstentions: 0 The number of votesagainst: 0 The number of votesfor: 17 expressed or implicitconsent.” Trade MarkOfficeinbadfaith,withoutMSFInternational’s Médecins SansFrontières,’whichwasfiledintheGreek required to immediately withdrawthetrademark ‘MSF/ movement generally.Finally,theformerGreeksectionis any waywhatsoever, with MSF International or theMSF any misleadingrepresentationthattheyareaffiliated,in privately inoroutofGreeceandb)refrainfrommaking Frontières’ and ofany related distinctive sign, publicly or whatsoever, of the logo and name of ‘MSF/Médecins Sans mer Greeksectiona)immediatelyceasesuse,inanyway International Councilconsequentlydemandsthatthefor- MSF InternationalCouncilandassociation.The International CouncilexpelstheGreeksectionfrom 1999 MSFInternationalCouncilresolution,the reads: “Becauseofnon-compliancewiththeJune12, The September16,1999MSFICCC:mailResolution June 12, 1999. and resolution passed at the MSF international Council on Médecins SansFrontières,basedontheissuesdiscussed It wasobviouslyatrickysituation.understand- my opinion, our friends in MSF Greece behaved pretty my opinion,ourfriendsinMSFGreecebehavedpretty able thatjournalistswouldbeinterestedinit.But they were verypersistent.The little bandofGreeks… given theimportanceofmatter.SoIsoongaveup,but What’s more,ittookupadisproportionateamountoftime came toseemeathomeonthissubject.Itoverwhelmedme. I also spent endless hours on the telephone. Some of them MSF intheGreekpress.Hesentjournaliststome.And alerted me,andtoldmeaboutthehystericalravingagainst spoke intheGreekpress.anti-nationalistsParishad absolutely noinfluence.Justaftertheawardofprize,I in Groznyy It wasn’tascoop.Weweremoreupsetaboutourexperiences didn’t disruptthepressconference.Everybodyknewaboutit. organisation’. information publiclydescribedMSFasan‘espionage On the20thDecember1999,Yugoslavministerof so itwaschild’splayto them. Theytoldusthatinwriting! other laureates – they’d managed to handle Arafat and Rabin, prize. They told us this was nothing compared with some already knewaboutitwhentheydecidedtoawardusthe We hadwarnedthepeopleonNobelcommittee.They get involvedinadispute.Butthatwasn’tthecaseOslo. a bitoftrouble,peopledidn’tunderstandthis:youmustn’t announcement oftheprizeandceremony.Thatcausedus independence! Thedifficulttimewasthemonthbetween ceremony, theNobelcommitteemadeabigpointofour But thetimingwasbad,becauseinitsspeechataward focused on the same questions: neutrality, support for NATO. that hadcreatedascandal.Anyway,theinterviewsalways journalists fromaGreektelevisionchannel,butIdidn’tthink Oslo. Ididn’tseethem.Intheend,spenttwohourswith Russian army’s intensive and indiscriminate bombardment of the Chechen capital. outside the embassyof the Russian Federation inOslo,demanding ahalt to the 18. The teamrepresenting MSF atthe Nobel prize award ceremony demonstrated Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) of being “an espionage The YugoslavMinisterofInformation, GoranMatic,accused Extract: When theNobelPrizewasawarded,atpresscon- ment, we were asked only one question about it. It ment, wewereaskedonlyonequestionaboutit.It ference giveninOslobytheinternationalMSFmove- 18 Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General, MSF Belgrade, 20 December1999(inFrench). Organisation” -saysBelgrade,’ ’ Médecins SansFrontières-an“Espionage . I believe MSF Greece held a press conference in . I believe MSF Greece held a press conference in Rony Brauman, Director of research, Foundation MSF France (inFrench) International (in French) AFP (France),

269 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

organisation”, at a press conference held in Belgrade 2) Statement by the Greek party: O. Boudouris declared on Monday. Mr Matic also accused the founder of MSF that the report did not reflect reality. He invited mem- and current UN Civilian Administrator in Kosovo, Bernard bers to take note of the memorandum distributed by MSF Kouchner, of smuggling, and again demanded that he be Greece and sent to IC members the previous day by email sacked. “MSF is operating today like an administrative firm (to be found in annex to the present Minutes). (… possessing the most sophisticated communications equip- b) Background ment, a system of codes and anti-bugging devices, and Sotiris used a metaphor to describe the relationship a plan for destroying information in case of evacuation,” between MSF Greece and the rest of the movement (MSF declared Mr Matic. “Does a humanitarian organisation, should be seen as a country with a very small minority on whose work is public, need such equipment?” he asked, its southern frontier, which is MSF Greece - see annex). He declaring that the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to then developed the argument contained in the memoran- MSF “has been given to spies and warmongers.” Mr Matic dum presented by MSF Greece and transmitted by email to showed journalists slides, claiming they involved “reports other members. A copy was distributed during the meet- written in accordance with detailed instructions” by MSF ing. MSF Greece would like to open up an unconditional teams operating in Bosnia at an unspecified date. These dialogue with all subjects open for discussion. But the IC reports, said Mr Matic, “look more like the reports of mem- must make known whether it wishes to exclude the section bers of intelligence services than those of humanitarians.” or whether it wishes an intensive dialogue. If the IC wants MSF, he said, had introduced into ex-Yugoslavia “the an expulsion procedure, it cannot be prevented from this, principle of ‘humanism against totalitarianism,” a concept but the problem will not be resolved; two conditions are supported by funding from the French, Belgian, Dutch, required for this: German, British, American, Danish, Austrian, Swedish and - There must be a serious breach of obligations, not merely Italian governments.” This principle was designed, said a difference of opinion. In the recent history of MSF the Minister, to provide a “legal framework for espionage there have been greater failures of transparency and more activities.” In Kosovo, said Mr Matic, members of MSF serious violations of principles that those for which MSF had provided their employers with information about the Greece is reproached (he gave two examples: the article number of police officers, soldiers and army reservists entitled “J’accuse” in Libération and the fact that 60% or present in the province. “They assisted the strategists of more of MSF Belgium’s funding was institutional); each last spring’s attack on Yugoslavia,” he said. case was resolved by dialogue. - The right of defence must be respected, which is not the case here as MSF Greece has been cut off from cc-mail system for 7 months and therefore cannot make its side of the dispute known. On 26 January 2000, the International Council of MSF Therefore, if the IC opts for expulsion, MSF Greece will voted to formalise the expulsion of the Greek section. contest this on the basis of the two points listed above. A In November 2003, a process of reintegration was procedure must be found to re-launch a dialogue, even if opened, under the operational responsibility of MSF expulsion has to be postponed to a later date. He invited Spain. The Greek section was readmitted to the MSF IC members to read the memorandum distributed to all movement on 15 January 2005. participants.

3) Questions from the floor (…) ‘Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Morten of MSF Norway recalled that the Greek mission International Council’ 26 January 2000 (in had been prepared with a total lack of coordination or English). transparency, and also violated the principle of independence. He stated that Greece wanted to become the sixth Extract: operational centre and that Kosovo was an opportunity [...] 1. Vote on the expulsion of Médecins Sans Frontières- for realising this wish. The proposal offered to MSF Greece Greek section (MSF Greece) for the following reasons: to remain as a partner section had been refused, even - Violation of the resolution passed by the International if this was a ‘suicide operation’ (according to him). MSF Council meeting of 11 and 12 June 1999 calling on MSF decisions are very much more transparent today within the Greece to immediately halt its operations outside Greek framework of the new IC, and this transparency has not territory; been respected. We cannot waste too much energy and - MSF Greece’s violations of the fundamental principles resources on this matter if there is no transparency. of the movement. The said violations are based on the Eric Vreede for MSF UK: it has been clear since 97 that report of Stephan Oberreit and Morten Rostrup of 3 June MSF Greece could not be operational. It had the chance to 1999. [...] become so via the common centre (Greece-Switzerland). V) Summary of discussions The idea of operationality has changed. It is not true MSF 1) Statement by Morten Rostrup: Morten Rostrup present- Greece did not have the chance to defend itself because ed his report, a complete copy of which is to be found the they decided to leave during the IC meeting of June 99 270 annexes of the present Minutes. and have refused give an explanation. Sotiris Papaspyropoulos: theproposalfrom MSFGreeceis according to him, beput to the vote. question about the proposal of MSF Greece, which must, Odysseas BoudourisforMSF Greece:raisedaprocedural VI) Summing up of your operationality. from themovement.However,youhaveoptedinfavour tionality wasnotrespected,MSFGreecewouldbeexpelled IC meetingthatiftheresolutionregardingGreekopera - (…) MortenforMSFNorway:itwasclearattheJune99 with the June IC99resolutions. chance toexplainandmustthereforebereadycomply (…) PascalforMSFBelgium:Greecehashadthe be submitted to avote. Odysseas forMSFGreece:theproposalofGreecemust to hold a dialogue. we are only calling for a working group to be nominated would havethepossibilityofdiscussingallproposalsand (…) Sotiris for MSF Greece: the proposed working group problem, which began8months ago. group nominatedtofindpossiblesolutionstheexisting all legalproceduresshouldbeterminatedandaworking to continueforseveralyearsasMSF.Weproposethat with 5operationalcentres.Ifweareexpelled,wish Greece thereisadesiretofindformulaforcontinuing it hasaresponsibilitytocontinueexist.WithinMSF towards itsdonorsandthepopulationsforwhich sense ofthisexpulsion?MSFGreecehasanobligation therefore notbeexpelledfromit.Whatwouldthe The NobelPrizevindicatesMSF’shistoryandweshould granted toMSFSwitzerland(andperhapsBelgium)? representatives ofMSF.Thisiswhyvisashavenowbeen actions becauseofstatementsmadebysomesenior certain MSFcountriesassupportingNATO’s were notobtained.TheMilosevicregimehadidentified (…)To reply to V. Janssens’ question, in any case, visas regards to MSF Greece. to maintaincommitmentsmadebyMSFInternationalin to integrateourexistingoperationality.Thereisarefusal 5 centres,butweacceptthis.Wejustwanttofindways IC decisions. Today, for historic reasons, there are only - Asregardsthesixoperationalcentres:false,werespect extraordinary Board ofDirectors - In regard to the IC meeting of June ‘99: there was an (…) Replies from MSF Greece (Sotiris Papaspysropoulos) foreseeable.” Why was this foreseeable? did notsucceedinobtainingvisas“whichwasverymuch 4 inthememorandumwhichmentionedthatBelgians Vincent JanssensforMSFHolland:referringtoAccusation condemned the NATO bombings. meeting inJune1999.ItisuntruetosaythatMSFnever on thesituationregardingMSFGreeceduringIC Miguel-Angel forMSFSpain:therewere5hoursofdebate over Kosovo.Odysseasrepliedthathehaddoneso. fore havesentamailtoeverybodyresolvethecrisis Odysseas Boudouris wasVice-President and should there- that theIClackstransparencyisincorrect.Furthermore, Olivier DechevrensforMSFSwitzerland:theaccusation

expressed reservationsregardingthelegalityofthisvote. in favour,1abstention,16against.OdysseasBoudouris this wasnotanothersubjectontheagenda.Voting:2 Objection fromSotirisPapaspyropouloswhosaidthat be thenew3-pointproposalofSotirisPapaspyropoulos. agreed to add a new point to the agenda, which would -> ThePresidentaskedtheInternationalCouncilifit Odysseas Boudouris: refused to vote. agenda. James Orbinsky:thenreformulatedthemotionon - Acommittee to beformed to undertake a dialogue. other to be halted; - All legal or administrative procedures by on side or the - MSF Greece nottobe expelled thisday; should bereformulated Sotiris Papaspyropoulos:proposedthathisproposal on this matter. agenda sotheInternationalCouncilmust,asanAGM,rule or nottheproposalofMSFGreeceiscontainedin points on theagenda. There isdisagreement on whether (…) P.Druylans,lawyerfortheIO:anAGMdecideson by Mr Druylans, lawyer for theInternational Office)? MSF Greece)oranewpointontheagenda(viewpromoted the expulsionprocedure(viewpromotedbylawyersof by MSFGreeceberegardedasanalternativetothevoteon Lawyers debatedovertheprocedure:shouldproposal on before the expulsionitself. an alternativetoexpulsionandmustthereforebevoted Greece thatthe ICgivesusaclearpolitical commitment- us answerall these questions.Itisimportant forMSF- next yearandIhopethatthis transitionperiodwillhelp define suchasdecisionmaking processes,etc.overthe challenge wehaveaheadof us, therearemanythingsto The commitmentisthereon bothsides-itisabig MSF-Greece canbeanadded valuetothemovement. today willbeinintegratingwithanOC-Ibelievethat positively to the conditions set by the IC. Our efforts from theBoardofDirectorsMSF-Greecetorespond full support oftheGreekAGandaunanimous approval As thePresidentofMSF-GreeceIbringwithme the and MSF-Spainfortheworkoverpastthreemonths. becomes possible.WouldliketothankEric,Bernard reached a level of transparency where reintegration with manydiscussions.Webelievethattodaywe’ve out totheinternationalmovement.It’salongprocess process startedwithinMSF-Greeceandthenplaned ing onthedoorofinternationalmovement.The The visionsetoutfromearly2001wastostartknock Greece. The issuewasintroducedbyKostas-PresidentofMSF- VIII. The Former MSF-Greece Extract: 21, 22, 23 November 2003 (in English). 21, 22,23November2003(inEnglish). ‘ of MSF IC meeting in Paris, 29 June & Minutes of MSFICmeeting in Paris,29June& -

271 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

it is important for us, for our association, our donors and be stopped. The final inclusion of the former MSF Greece it will help frame the process until the end of the year. section is foreseen at the IC meeting in November 2004 Reintegration is a critical priority in our agenda. We also dependent on the feasibility and former MSF Greece-s need the IC’s support on the procedure - an agreement by fulfilling the conditions stated by the IC in its November 2 sections on rules is not enough - we need IC leadership 2002 resolution. In the meantime former MSF Greece is on this issue. assigned an observer status in the movement. The IC Emilia Herranz / President of MSF Spain Board has a special responsibility to monitor the integra- There is clear commitment within our associative and tion process and all IC members express their commit- executive to share our operationality with MSF Greece. It ment to support the process in various ways. Unanimously is our only way to grow operationally. To us this is a good approved. opportunity, a challenging opportunity but we are willing to take the risks. We do need the IC’s back-up on this, to help us along on the process. We are accountable to the IC and need your commitment. ‘MSF Greece Reintegrated into the MSF Eric Stobbaerts / GD MSF Spain International Movement,’ Press release, This will mean a lot of work, time, energy and mind-set Athens/Geneva, 9 February 2005 (in English). change but by going this way we also believe that we will be able to propose another way of sharing operationality. Extract: Morten Rostrup / ICP Representatives from the International Office of Médecins This is a historical moment even if this isn’t the final Sans Frontières (MSF) and from MSF Greece have signed an decision. The IC has been clear on the conditions of rein- agreement granting MSF Greece the license to use all MSF tegration - I hope that MSF Greece clearly understands trademarks and related distinctive signs, thus reintegrat- how this decision will impact the control of their opera- ing the Greek section into the International Movement of tions. The pattern of accountability will change and the MSF. As a result, after more than five years, MSF Greece IC must state this very clearly. There must be no ambigu- is back to being one of the 19 sections of the movement, ity; operational responsibility lies with the Operations having agreed to share, with all other sections around the Director in the operational section, which integrates the world, MSF’s humanitarian and operational principles. former MSF Greece. I point this out specifically as it has been part of the reason for the split. I would also like to MSF Greece was expelled from the movement in November say that there have been a lot of changes since this has 1999 after strong disagreement over the operational happened and I feel very positive about this reintegra- implementation of MSF’s principles of independence and tion. I believe in the contribution that can be made by impartiality in Kosovo. This agreement is the result of a MSF Greece…very happy to end this circle with a clear IC process that lasted for more than a year during which MSF commitment towards reintegration. Greece’s operations have been integrated in the support Further comments were made by the IC members structure and aligned with the operational policy of the -MSF Greece’s attitude in Afghanistan & Iraq has dem- organisation. MSF Greece is currently running missions in onstrated their drastic change of positioning. They have Malawi, Zambia, Ethiopia, Armenia and the Palestinian shown ‘in context’ that they are able to clarify the role of Territories. Projects in Serbia are being handed over to humanitarian organisations and this should enable us to other organisations. Ongoing activities include the provi- welcome them back in full confidence. sion of antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS patients, -Re: their acceptance to lose sovereignty: Do not view treatment of sexually transmitted infections and malaria reintegration like this - strongly believe in the idea as well as emergency response to epidemics. The rein- of MSF as an international humanitarian organisation tegration of the Greek section into the international and are willing to pay the price to be part of this. MSF movement comes at a time when all MSF sections Furthermore, MSF is not about sovereignty - it is about are, more than ever, committed to working together at going beyond borders. improving MSF’s response to the needs of populations in -MSF-Luxembourg mentioned that they had gained enor- danger. mously out of joining up with OCB [Operational Centre in BXL] and is more than willing to share their experience with MSF Greece. -Re: the medical agenda: MSF-Greece has been following MSF’s medical agenda closely and has now introduced ARV All I can say is that we wished to expel them. Other in Zambia and Malawi. Believe that MSF is a driving force people went along with us, but without enthusiasm. in the medical field in general. We weren’t even very enthusiastic ourselves. We organised an extraordinary Council meeting in order to expel A resolution was proposed and unanimously approved. them, but it was more form than substance. This episode IC Resolution: The IC states a clear political will to reinte- with MSF Greece raised questions of incorrect behaviour and grate the former MSF Greece section in the international poor organisation, which are to be found in all human MSF movement. MSF Spain is assigned to work on the groups and are of no interest. What was specifically related 272 practical implementation. The pending court trials will to Kosovo was the inability of a group to extricate itself ment. As if it was some form of ‘hazing!’ They were very far what theMilosevic regimewasdoinginKosovo asharass- even wroteitdowninblack and white,whenhedescribed same level:Croats,BosnianMuslims, andtheKLA.Odysseas more thanavengingthemselves. Theyputeveryoneonthe discussion to solve problems between two families. came withsuchresultsthatIdon’tconsideritasawayof guess bothsidesfoundtherewasanopportunity,andthis during thestrikes,theydidn’t.Sothereisanissuehere.I although there was the opportunity for MSF Greece to get in teams thatwereinsideKosovoonsecurityissues,andwhen whom, butcertainlyatthispointwhentheyevacuatedthe all therewasmanipulationbythemedia,Idon’tknow supposed tobecomeoperational.”Ontheotherside, first of in 1991,and enlarged in 1994 withthevetowhen we were didn’t...you justwanttogetridofyourprobleminitiated we are, you have to pay attention tous, all these years you to finditselfwithintheMSFmovementandsay:“Here Kosovo crisiswasanopportunityforMSFGreece,politically, whatever -Iheardalltheserumoursgoingaround.[…]The that wearesonationalistic,Serbianfriendsororthodox Kosovo crisistheyweremanipulated,inaway.Itisnot In addition,IthinkthatMSFcannotadmitduringthe us off coming up and out, going inthere. rid of the situation with MSF Greece: that they had pissed other side,theMSFmovementsawopportunitytoget they were capable of participating in an emergency. On the opportunity toprovethemselvesandthemovementthat think thatpeoplefromMSFGreecesawthiscrisisasthe not somethinglikethat.Theresultwasanexpulsion.I disagreeing, evenforsuchseriousissues,buttheresultwas first timethatwithinMSFmovement,differentsectionswere considered thatlikeapunishment.Secondly,itwasnotthe Switzerland cameoutoflongnegotiations.Sosomeus partners or a non-partner section. Even the merge with MSF exactly knowwhatwewere:operationalornon-operational, movement, therewasalotofgoingsupanddown.Wedidn’t to havebothsides.InthehistoryofMSFGreecein what theAmericanshavedoneinAfghanistan,it’sstriking. from itsownsocialcontext.Ifyoumakeacomparisonwith them, theSerbsandOrthodox Serbsweredoingno Throughout thiscrisis,they have takensides.To MSF GreecerelationshipwiththeBalkansisunique. The intentionwashumanitarian,thatwewouldlike to beimpartial.Theintentionwasnotrebels. We consideredwewerepunishedbecausewanted Jean-Marie Kindermans, Secretary General MSF Hereklea Kaltezioti, Human Resources Officer, International (in French). MSF Greece (in English).

it. That must be what happened in Greece. sented toyoufromaparticularangle,endupbelieving own country,andevery day, formonths,eventsarepre- manipulated, thathegotcaughtinit.Whenyou’reyour didn’t havethesamemind-setasOdysseas.Ithinkhewas a fighter; he hadtakenpart in missionswithMSF France. He from MSFandourwayofdoingthings.Sotiriswasmore operations for strategic and political purposes. ments, whowishedtoretaincontrolofhumanitarian due to its being sidelined by NATO and western govern- suggested thatthisinadequacywas,toagreatextent, Montenegro betweenMarchandJune1999.Thestudy influx ofKosovarrefugeesintoMacedonia,Albaniaand It demonstratesUNHCR’sinadequateresponsetothe by independentexpertswasmadepublicinGeneva. On 11February2000,astudycommissionedbyUNHCR under ourcontrol” duringtheconflict,UNHCR Spokesman factors thatinfluenced UNHCR’sperformance werenot particular) wasrevealedas totallyinadequate.“Many into neighbouringcountries (AlbaniaandMacedoniain of afewweeks850,000ethnic AlbaniansfromKosovo dent experts,whenitsresponse totheinfluxoveraperiod The studywascommissioned by UNHCRfromfourindepen- of the crisis. tarian programme,andtheover-intensemediacoverage politico-military missions,”NATO’sautonomoushumani - the “blurringofboundariesbetweenhumanitarianand made publicbyUNHCRinGenevalast Friday. Itcondemns NATO strikesandthemassiveexodusofKosovars),was in theperiodbetweenMarchandJune1999(theof a scathingattackonthemarginalisationofUNagency Geneva onFriday.Thishighlycriticalstudy,whichmakes ests ofindividualgovernments,saidareportpublishedin in a difficult position vis-à-vis NATO and strategic inter- influx ofrefugeesfromthewarinKosovoandfounditself The UNHighCommissionforRefugeesfailedtoforeseethe Extract: MSF Switzerland/MSF Greece Operational Centre 1999 (inFrench). la Vayssière, Response DuringtheKosovoWar,’Jean-Louisde ’ UNHCR: aReportCondemnsitsIneffectual Thierry Durand, Director of Operations, EPILOGUE AFP (France), Geneva, 11 February (in French).

273 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999 MSF Speaks Out

Redmond acknowledged on Friday, admitting that much of the criticism contained in the report was justified. For example, the report stated that UNHCR had contributed ‘Mr. Brauman (MSF) Rejects Nato’s Use of the only 12% towards the cost of accommodating the refugees Term “Humanitarian War,”’ AFP (France), on some 278 sites in Albania. For its part, NATO organised Geneva, 3 March 2000 (in French). operations whose mission was humanitarian, such as AFOR in Albania. Extract: In addition, governments encouraged their national NGOs In a interview published on Friday by the Swiss newspaper or civilian and military agencies, which was an enormous La Tribune de Genève, Mr. Brauman accused the NATO drain on resources and also created a plethora of actors, military forces of trying, at the time of their intervention and problems of coordination. At the height of the crisis, in Kosovo, “to gain total control” of the refugee camps, approximately 250 NGOs were operating in Albania and and of ”throwing out” the humanitarian organisations, Macedonia, of which only 20% were partners of UNHCR. including the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). “The high stakes impelled governments to look for inde- Mr. Brauman was due to speak on Thursday at a seminar of pendent action. The high visibility of this crisis motivated NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly in Montreux, on the sub- them to wave their national flags on the humanitarian ject of “military participation in civilian and humanitarian front,” the report said. The six principal European contrib- operations.” uting governments gave only 3.5% of their public humani- He was due to give a talk on “the dilemmas posed for tarian aid directly to UNHCR, out of a total of 279 mil- civilian organisations by military support for humanitarian lion dollars. UNHCR also found itself wrong-footed when assistance missions,” but he refused, “because there is no western governments set up a number of ‘de-luxe camps’, place for MSF in such a context.” “To mix war and humani- and evacuated refugees to them, in order to lighten the tarian action,” he said, “is simply mystification.” “When burden on Macedonia. UNHCR, the report repeated, “is not NATO military forces were deployed in Kosovo, there was in favour of differential treatment of refugees.” considerable friction with non-governmental organisations, mainly at the time the refugee camps were set up, While UNHCR supported the unconditional granting of and over their management. In order to gain total control asylum in the first instance by Macedonia, the United of these camps, they threw us out, including UNHCR,” States and Great Britain had particular concerns for said the former director of MSF. “To us, refugee camps the possible destabilisation of that fragile country. The are humanitarian sanctuaries, but the NATO forces used critical moment when thousands of Kosovars were held them as camps in which to hold reservists for the army up in terrible conditions at Blace, between Kosovo and fighting for independence for Kosovo. In return, that army Macedonia, was mentioned. The immediate cause was provided a source of intelligence for the allied bombard- Macedonia’s refusal to admit a flood of refugees unless it ments. MSF is unable to accept that kind of slippage,” received assurances that other countries would contribute he said. The actions of MSF, which was awarded the aid, and a programme of “shared responsibility” was then Nobel Peace Prize, “are motivated solely by the notion of established, the experts recalled. “More than UNHCR, need, and in no case by strategic, diplomatic or political individual governments – the United States in particular – considerations, as is the systematic practice of NATO, took the initiative in these programmes, led by interests which conflates everything,” M. Brauman said. that were as much strategic and political as humanitarian,” they said.

Poor forecasting and instances of structural dysfunction ‘ Jamie Shea, Spokesman for the Secretary General are also cited in the report: inadequate supplies, and of NATO: We Have Established a Norm of emergency staff who arrived too late, or were lacking at Transparency vis-à-vis the Media,’ reported by certain levels, etc. UNHCR was taken to task for having Luc Rosenzweig, Le Monde (France) 25 March anticipated “an ordinary crisis” and for not having fore- 2000 (in French). seen the more tragic alternative of this massive exodus. “The response was too weak, too late” says the report. Extract: To me, it was a question of getting the military to realise the necessity of issuing precise and speedy information, because the war in the media is no less important than the war on the ground. And that holds good even if this In 2000, Rony Brauman, former President of MSF information may be embarrassing to NATO, as in the case France and Director of Research at the Foundation MSF of the notorious ‘collateral damage’. France, refused to speak at a NATO seminar, attacking its propagandist reference to the ‘humanitarian war’ [...] – How do you explain that the information you waged in Kosovo. yourselves published on Serb abuses in Kosovo was not subsequently confirmed by investigations on the ground? – I emphasise the fact that information of this type - on 274 systematic rapes, for example - was always reissued by me the war waged inKosovo from March to June1999. to thedefinition‘humanitarian’,appliedbyNATO president saidMSFhadnotbeensufficientlyopposed In May 2000, in his annual report, the MSF France lack of thought. It’s a hatefulexpression. less propaganda.Ifinditanexpressionfullofcynicism,and me thattheideaofhumanitarianwarisapieceshame- was inMarch,thefirstanniversaryofwar.Itseemsto prominent, and because I felthadbeenusedbyNATO. It very muchpresentintheheadingoftheirmeeting, because I believed that the idea of humanitarian war was in meas an individual,andthat wasn’t healthy...” omniscient. Thejournalistshadinvestedrathertoomuch saw me as a kindof universal source, someone who was journalists, whocouldnotbeonthegroundinKosovo, was slightly embarrassed at being in a situation where the somewhat dependent on a single source of information. I space; thereistherisk that thesejournalistswill be like that, when 400 journalists are all shut up in a closed tions. Isimplywantedtopointoutthat,inasituation – Iwouldn’twishtogeneralise.madenogeneralaccusa- sheep, andthey all copiedfrom each other! Kosovo withNATO.Yousaytheywerelikeabunchof punches with the journalists who covered the war in [...] – was greater than 2,000. I never suggested a figure for summary executions that excessively cautiouswithregardtothefacts.Forexample, the facts,yousaynothingatall...PeopleforgetthatIwas tion ofsayingnothinguntilyouhaveabsoluteproof the accountsgivenbyrefugees.Butifyoutakeposi- with anindicationofitssources,whichwereessentially ment ofhumanitarian organisationsand MSF. Itwasa plexed eye over this war, and especially over the involve- First ofall,atthistimelast year, wewerecastingaper- 1) Kosovo Extract: when Isawtheinvitationcard,saidwouldn’tgo, my nameappearingamongtheparticipants. But I hadallowed NATO toannouncethismeeting, with Today, in your public interventions, you pull no (in French). Biberson, MSFFrancePresident,20May2000 General MeetingofMSFFrance,’Philippe ‘ President’s Annualreport:2000, Rony Brauman, Director of studies, Foundation MSF France (inFrench)

independence andimpartiality. all imagegivenbyMSFwasratherdubiousintermsof on Montenegro,butasIseethisperiodnow,theover- section certainlydidtherightthinginconcentrating entirely to providesupport for the armed offensive. Our deployment in Macedonia and Albania was intended from publicopinion.Theso-calledmilitary-humanitarian from whatemergesthehandlingofrear,and to tryseparatewhatbelongsthearmedoffensive making war, quite simply. During a war, it is mischievous with the military, by reminding people that they were action, andmademuchclearerourrefusaltocooperate we did,NATO’simpostureintalkingabouthumanitarian We shouldhavecondemnedmuchmorestronglythan much more clearly. ambiguous, andweoughttohavemadeourvoiceheard tion, asEuropeansandthuspartiestothiswar,wasinfact a positionindependentofNATOinthisconflict,ourposi- point. Whileinallhonesty I believethatwemaintained forums fordebateinwhichwewereabletomakeour concrete form,hadpracticallynovisibilityoutsideafew the case,thatdeterminationtogiveourindependence won overto the cause of ‘humanitarian war’. Whatever all thisprivatefundingcamefromapublicthathadbeen would nothavebeenascleareverywhere.Theironyisthat vate fundingreceivedfromthenewsectionsdecision sections together,haditnotbeenforthesubstantialpri- independence, butitmustbeadmittedthattakingall Fortunately, wewereabletodemonstrateourfinancial tance for the war. governments -withthesoleaimofwinningpublicaccep ’humanitarian’ labelimposedbyNATO-andtheindividual we were not in a strong enough position in opposing the over. Looking at it from a distance, we must agree that the rolewewouldbeaskedtoplay,oncewarwas ourselves whatwasgoingtohappentherefugeesand tesque ‘lone wolf’ offered to them by Belgrade; we asked the leadersofGreeksectionforacceptinggro- difficult, disconcertingmission,wesaid;condemned

275 Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO’s intervention 1998 - 1999