Yugoslavia at the crossroads: Reforms or disintegration?

In 2000, the drama of former Yugoslavia ended, but several problems remained unsolved. (1) A crisis has been provoked by Albanian extremists active in Kosovo, Macedonia, & southern Serbia. (2) Relations between Serbia & Montenegro remain unclear. The two problems have a common dynamic & one may influence the other. Since Oct 1997, there has been a "cold war" between Podgorica & Belgrade. Under Milosevic, repression in Belgrade has worked in favor of authorities in Podgorica. After the victory of democratic forces in Belgrade, periodic negotiations have taken place between Serbia & Montenegro. In southern Serbia, the new Belgrade administration was able to contain the activities of the Albanian UCPBM, & the Yugoslav army has cooperated with NATO in the Ground Safety Zone. In Bosnia, six years after the Dayton Peace Agreement, the joint organs remain weak, while the international administration has obtained more competencies. In Kosovo, UNMIK & NATO have not confronted the remaining vestiges of UCK & have been unable to stop violence at the local level. The situation in Kosovo remains a long-term source of threats to regional security. Conversely, the breakup of the Yugoslav Federation might cause an escalation of the Kosovo crisis. 11 References. Adapted from the source document.