WAND opposes all military means of addressing the conflict in Kosovo. As a founding member of the National Coalition for Peace in Yugoslavia, WAND supports policies in the Balkans that offer constructive solutions to problems created by conflict, ethnic tensions, and war. Further, WAND is committed to nonviolent means of addressing conflict wherever it may occur in the world.

The war in Kosovo involved the twin horrors of ethnic cleansing on the part of the Serbs, and incessant and indiscriminate bombing on the part of the US and NATO. WAND condemns the unspeakable atrocities perpetuated by the Serbian government, but also NATO's bombing war which increased the violence. Though for now Serbian troops have withdrawn from Kosovo and the bombing has stopped, widespread suffering in Yugoslavia continues as a result of this war:

• Returning Albanian refugees face risks from gunfire and land mines.

• Refugees are returning to destroyed homes, communities, factories, and places of worship.

• Serbian civilians in Kosovo are victims of Albanian retribution and are fleeing their homes, creating a new refugee crisis.

• Families are still torn apart, and thousands grieve family members lost in the conflict. The future of children orphaned by this war remains grim and uncertain.

• Jobs and work are limited, exacerbating reconstruction efforts.

• The infrastructure of Yugoslavia has been shattered. Basic necessities like fresh water, heat and electricity are a luxury.

• Environmental destruction has yet to be calculated and will have drastic effects on regional ecosystems.

The Lessons of Kosovo

The US-NATO war in Kosovo has made clear that:

• The use of force undermines international law, damages the authority and capabilities of the UN, and threatens all disarmament efforts.

• Bombing to stop persecution and ethnic cleansing actually increases it.

• Environmental damage affects surrounding, non-warring countries extensively, as does refugee flight.

Though the need for stability and peace in the region is clear, WAND opposes current peacekeeping arrangements that maintain a NATO military presence in the area for the indefinite future.

WAND recommends that:

• The U. S. obligation to pay for rebuilding Yugoslavia should be proportionate to the destruction it caused in the war. This responsibility should not be dependent on the vagaries of President Slobodan Milosevic's power.

• The affected parties, not outside military forces, should forge peace agreements.

• Those who have caused suffering and death must be brought to justice.

• The protection of non-combatants is paramount.

• NATO's peacekeeping role has no precedent or grounding in international law and should be thoroughly evaluated.

• NATO's role in the current peacekeeping operation in Kosovo was debated only by the Security Council of the United Nations. A full and open debate should occur before the General Assembly of the UN, a body far more representative of international opinion.

Creating an Appropriate Response to Conflict

Wars such as that in Kosovo are preventable. We have far more creative foreign policy solutions at our disposal when addressing conflict in the world than to bomb countries less militarized than our own. Our "big stick" approach to regional or global unrest sends the signal that violence and military might are the only effective foreign policy strategies.

WAND believes there are several fundamental principles that should guide decision-making on the appropriate response to conflict:

• True security and lasting peace are not created by force. Militaristic measures only increase the suffering, particularly among children and women, and drain resources for human needs.

• The true cost of war (in Kosovo, $40 billion estimated for the war; billions more for repair) should be considered when the decision to go to war is made. Funds for warmaking should come from the defense budget, not be robbed from domestic programs.

• Lasting peace agreements must be created with the input of the affected parties. An agreement imposed from the outside and implemented by military force cannot bring a stable peace.

• In all cases, nonviolent efforts to establish a peaceful settlement should be pursued.

• Short-term efforts to secure peace should be weighed against possible long-term consequences.

• Full payment of US dues to the UN is essential for peacekeeping efforts and training to be successful.

• Landmines continue to claim victims long after a conflict ends. The US should not only support the international landmine treaty, but also assist in payment for elimination of landmines worldwide.

See: The Lessons of War in Serbia, by WAND National Board Member Sayre Sheldon
See also Rep. Cynthia McKinney's floor speech opposing the bombing.