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State Department: Serbia-Montenegro - Travel Warning, October 27, 1998
Serbia-Montenegro - Travel Warning
October 27, 1998
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to
Serbia-Montenegro. American citizens in Serbia-Montenegro should consider
their personal security situation and depart the country if they deem it
appropriate. Due to the failure of Belgrade authorities to comply fully
with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1199 and the ongoing
violence perpetrated by security forces against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo,
members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are prepared to
take military action and issued an Activation Order to that effect on
October 13. Implementation of the Activation Order has been held in
abeyance by NATO, to give the Serbia-Montenegro government an opportunity
to demonstrate appropriate and adequate forward movement regarding
compliance with UNSCR 1199. While the government of Serbia-Montenegro has
given assurances no retaliatory actions would be taken against
U.S. citizens, given recent history in the region, the possibility exists
for spontaneous reactions against U.S. citizens.
On October 15, the Department of State terminated ordered departure
status at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer
Mission personnel so that personnel could return to their posts to provide
services necessary to develop and verify the agreements reached between the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia-Montenegro) and the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO. On October 27, due to signs
of substantial compliance with UNHCR 1199, the Department of State allowed
the return to dependents of U.S. Embassy personnel to the country.
Both the police and Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) are active in the
region and each operates numerous checkpoints throughout Kosovo. There
have been incidents at both kinds of checkpoints in which guards have fired
at vehicles whose occupants did not obey their commands. Due to the
potential for violence, the authority of the individuals operating these
checkpoints should not be challenged.
No. 98-056
This supersedes the Travel Warning for
Serbia-Montenegro dated October 17, 1998 to reflect the current
security situation and note the Department of State's decision to allow the
dependents of U.S. Embassy Belgrade personnel to return to
Serbia-Montenegro.
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