Events in Kosovo are proving the adage that those who make peaceful revolutions
impossible make violent ones inevitable. Kosovo is a region of Serbia where a tiny Serbian
minority has governed the Albanian majority in brutal apartheid style since Slobodan
Milosevic revoked the region's autonomy in 1989. Recently some Albanians, frustrated
that politics is getting them nowhere, have turned to attacks on police stations and other
symbols of Serbian power. Serbian authorities respond with indiscriminate repression. To
keep the peace in Kosovo, the United States and its European allies must do more to help
restore the rights of the Albanians there. A peaceful Kosovo is crucial because violence
could spread to neighboring areas.
     Belgrade politics is one reason for the new violence. The extremist Vojislav Seselj, a
Milosevic creation who would now be president of Serbia if low turnout had not annulled
recent elections, said a few divisions of Serbian fighters would take care of Kosovo, which
Serbs hold as the cradle of their history. His nationalism has pushed even moderate
Serbian politicians into inflammatory statements.
     The leader of Kosovo's Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, has called for Kosovo's
independence but has been a tame, ineffective opponent of Mr. Milosevic. Mr. Rugova's
moderation pleases Washington, which favors only restoration of Kosovo's autonomy
inside what is left of Yugoslavia. But his inability to improve life in Kosovo has inadvertently
encouraged Albanians to try violence.
     Washington, which has promised to keep economic sanctions on Serbia until Kosovo's
rights are restored, has done the most to help, but it is no longer enough.
     A year ago Mr. Milosevic agreed to education reforms that would allow teaching in
Albanian.
     Nothing has happened. Washington must increase its pressure on Belgrade to carry
out this and other reforms, especially ending arbitrary jailings and beatings. There is
virtually no foreign presence in Kosovo. Monitors are needed, and an American special
envoy to Kosovo.
     There is some hope. In a rare instance of dialogue, Kosovo and Belgrade students met
for the first time last week. Politicians have also held talks, but Mr. Milosevic's party
boycotted them. Kosovo's misery will end only when real democracy, free of Mr.
Milosevic's control, comes to Serbia.

Copyright 1997 The New York Times