PRISTINA, Kosovo — The U.S. general in charge of Task Force Falcon kicked up a
diplomatic furor last week after he was quoted as saying he would send U.S. troops to
protect Kosovar Albanians who farm a disputed border region claimed by Macedonia.
At stake is about 2,500 acres of farmland near Vitina, about five miles southeast of
Camp Bondsteel. U.S. troops regularly patrol near the area.
In February 2001, Macedonia and Yugoslavia signed an agreement settling several land
disputes along their mutual border, including lands in Kosovo. As part of the agreement,
the disputed 2,500 acres was turned over to Macedonia, which was part of the Yugoslav
federation until it declared independence in 1991. At the time the United Nations, NATO
and the European Union praised the agreement.
Then last week, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Keith Huber reportedly told the Macedonian news
media the agreement was illegal because Yugoslavian President Vojislav Kostunica lacked
authority to make deals regarding Kosovo.
The Yugoslav province has been run as a U.N. protectorate since the summer of 1999. A
spokeswoman for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo supported Huber’s statement.
His comments earned criticism in both Belgrade and Skopje.
Some Macedonians viewed the statement as tacit support for Albanian rebels in Macedonia
who would like to break away, according to analysts for the London-based Institute for War
and Peace Reporting.
Shortly after the agreement was signed last year, a rash of border disputes in and
around the area broke out. At one point, a company of U.S. troops with the 82nd Airborne
Division, which already was in Kosovo, deployed to the border to move ethnic Albanian
rebels off the line. A brief gunfire ensued in the town of Mijak on March 7.
Eventually, the border battle in that area subsided, but fresh fighting broke out to
the west along the border, especially around the city of Tetovo.
News media in Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Kosovo have been buzzing with news of the
dispute for almost a week. The Kosovo newspaper Zeri quoted a Macedonian army spokesman as
saying his troops would shoot any settlers or KFOR soldiers who trespassed.
A Task Force Falcon spokesman said Huber will issue a statement on the matter later,
but could offer no comment at this time
"It’s a very hot issue," said French navy Col. Vincent Campredon, chief
spokesman for KFOR headquarters in Pristina.
Late last week, the matter landed on the desk of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. His
office issued a statement supporting the Yugoslav/Macedonian treaty.
"[T]he Security Council emphasized that the demarcation agreement must be
respected by all," the statement said. "Accordingly, the United Nations respects
it."
On Monday, NATO Secretary-General George Robertson’s office issued similar
comments.
"NATO also emphasizes its unchanged respect for the border as agreed by
[Macedonia] and [Yugoslavia] in February 2001," the statement said. "We look
forward to building on the already close working relationship in the border area."
Campredon said KFOR will follow the agreement and won’t send patrols into the area
the international community now agrees belongs to Macedonia. At a press conference Monday
in Pristina, he and UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel refused to discuss the matter further
and referred reporters to the U.N. and NATO statements.
"That’s the last word on this issue," Manuel said.
