Kosovo action awaits Cook’s visit

Date: 05/03/1998

AS UK Foreign Minister Robin Cook this week prepared to try to defuse the spiralling crisis in the Albanian-dominated Yugoslav province of Kosovo, EU policy-makers were uncertain how to proceed if things got worse.

Although political directors accepted that more needed to be done to end the violence, they agreed to wait until after Cook's visit to Belgrade before deciding what action to take.

The Union has already excluded the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) from trade benefits, so it has little leverage on Belgrade. Many European countries are profoundly wary of sanctions, which they feel may only harden opinion in the FRY and undermine Kosovo's moderate leadership.

“Under the circumstances, they are now looking for carrots rather than sticks to defuse the situation,” said a diplomat.

EU foreign ministers will discuss the crisis next week in Edinburgh.