Rambouillet

[The First Casualty]

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London Magazine Branch

The Rambouillet (Dis-) Agreement

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NATO and the British media makes frequent reference to the Rambouillet Agreement, and President Milosovic's refusal to sign it as if it were merely a framework for discussing human rights in Kosovo.
We are rarely treated to any of the details, or an explanation of why Milosovic refused to agree to specific parts of it. You can read the whole text of Rambouillet here.

The explanation for why Milosovic refused to sign (and why probably no Yugoslav leader could sign short of unconditional surrender after a war) lies largely in the following three articles:

Rambouillet Agreement, Chapter 7 (Implementation II)
Article VIII Operations and Authority of the KFOR [Kosovo Force]
Clause d.
The KFOR shall have complete and unimpeded freedom of movement by ground, air, and water into and throughout Kosovo. It shall in Kosovo have the right to bivouac, manoeuvre, billet, and utilise any areas or facilities to carry out its responsibilities as required for its support, training, and operations, with such advance notice as may be practicable. Neither the KFOR nor any of its personnel shall be liable for any damages to public or private property that they may cause in the course of duties related to the implementation of this Chapter. Roadblocks, checkpoints, or other impediments to KFOR freedom of movement shall constitute a breach of this Chapter and the violating Party shall be subject to military action by the KFOR, including the use of necessary force to ensure compliance with this Chapter.

Appendix B, Section (i) 6. a.
NATO shall be immune from all legal process, whether civil, administrative, or criminal. b. NATO personnel, under all circumstances and at all times, shall be immune from the Parties, jurisdiction in respect of any civil, administrative, criminal, or disciplinary offences which may be committed by them in the FRY [Former Republic of Yugoslavia]. The Parties shall assist States participating in the operation in the exercise of their jurisdiction over their own nationals.

Appendix B, Section (i) 8
NATO personnel shall enjoy, together with their vehicles, vessels, aircraft, and equipment, free and unrestricted passage and unimpeded access throughout the FRY including associated airspace and territorial waters. This shall include, but not be limited to, the right of bivouac, manoeuvre, billet, and utilisation of any areas or facilities as required for support, training, and operations.

One other clause is of great interest. Even though the Yugoslav negotiators at Rambouillet accepted it, the clause continues to trouble a number of the war's supporters and outrage many of its opponents.
John Pilger has been excoriated in the Guardian by pro-war journalists for quoting this clause. He has even been accused of making it up. So, this is the clause that does not exist, and has nothing to do with NATO war aims:

Chapter 4a, economic issues, Clause 1
The economy of Kosovo shall function in accordance with free market principles.

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