AJC Urges Stepped-Up U.S. Effort And Swift And Decisive Action To End Kosovo Violence

American Jewish Committee
Sunday, 11 October 1998

In a letter to President Clinton, the American Jewish Committee today urged "a new and expanded American commitment, including the possible use of military force," to end continuing violence by Yugoslav army and police forces that has victimized thousands of civilians in the province of Kosovo.

"Unless a negotiated agreement is immediately reached, a pullback of Yugoslav forces implemented, and the profound abuses of human rights in Kosovo brought to an end," AJC President Bruce M. Ramer wrote, "we call upon you to take swift and decisive action — in concert with NATO allies and others in the international community, of possible; alone, if not — to demonstrate to Yugoslav authorities that the savagery committed by that nation's army and police forces offends the conscience of the world and must be, and will be, stopped."

The text of the AJC letter to the President follows:

Dear Mr. President:

The American Jewish Committee urges a new and expanded American commitment, including the possible use of military force, to end the violence in Kosovo that has victimized thousands of civilians, inflamed longstanding ethnic and national antagonisms, and brought further instability to the already tense Balkan region.

Outside intervention to halt a conflict within the borders of a sovereign state is a drastic step, one which we do not urge lightly. We recognize the potential implications of outside actions that may be perceived, erroneously, as supporting separatist or secessionist movements in a region with multiple ethnic and national identities. And we are keenly aware of the gravity of any course of action that may put American forces in harm's way.

But the brutality committed in Kosovo is so horrific and widespread, the behavior of Yugoslav authorities so chillingly unresponsive, and the international community's reaction so halting, that people of conscience — and a nation of principles — have no alternative but to act.

We commend you for your Administration's diplomatic efforts to end the tragedy of Kosovo. But we know that even as these efforts have been undertaken, Yugoslav officials have committed and sanctioned new atrocities against Kosovo's civilian population and attempted to hide their crimes by denying diplomats, relief workers and human rights monitors access to detention centers and other areas of concern. These actions by Belgrade have, until now, made negotiations seem no more than a sideshow to slaughter.

Unless a negotiated agreement is immediately reached, a pullback of Yugoslav forces implemented, and the profound abuses of human rights in Kosovo brought to an end, we call upon you to take swift and decisive action — in concert with NATO allies and others in the international community, if possible; alone, if not — to demonstrate to Yugoslav authorities that the savagery committed by that nation's army and police forces offends the conscience of the world and must be, and will be, stopped.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org