U.S.-Russia Kosovo Agreement Text
 

By The Associated Press, Friday, June 18, 1999; 6:49 p.m. EDT

 
U.S.-Russia Kosovo Agreement Text

By The Associated Press
Friday, June 18, 1999; 6:49 p.m. EDT

Text of Kosovo peacekeeping agreement between Russia and the United States:

It is agreed by the Secretary of Defense of the United States and the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation:

To accept the Agreed Principles attached as the basis for Russian participation in the international peacekeeping force (KFOR) in full compliance with UNSC Resolution 1244.

To provide for participation of one to two Russian battalions operating in Kosovoska Kamenica in the U.S. sector according to the attached command and control model. A Russian officer will serve as the representative to the sector commander for Russian forces.

Additionally, the U.S. will recommend that NATO agree that Russian forces also participate in the KFOR forces deployed in the German and French sectors, also according to the command and control model attached., specifically that Russia provide one to two battalions to be part of the KFOR force in the German sector, to operate in the area near Malisevo, and one battalion to the KFOR force in the French sector, to operate in the area near Lausa, both areas as shown on the attached map. A German company and a French company will also operate in the Malisevo and Lausa areas respectively. Russian officers will serve as representatives for Russian forces to the sector commanders in the German and French sectors respectively.

The total Russian deployment in Kosovo will not exceed five battalions with a total strength not exceeding 2850 troops, plus up to 750 troops for the airfield and logistics base operations combined, plus 16 liaison officers. The level of Russian participation will be reduced in proportion to reductions in the overall size of KFOR.

To resolve the Pristina airfield issue on the basis of the allocation of responsibilities described in attachments, all KFOR participants will have access to the airfield, under procedures to be established by KFOR. Details to be determined by Commander, KFOR in consultation with Russian representatives.

That Russia will have the right to establish a logistics base with an appropriate site security force in the vicinity of the town of Kosovo Polje, as agreed with COMKFOR, to support the Russian forces in KFOR.

To send a Russian military representative to SHAPE and to augment his staff and expand his responsibilities to include Russian participation in KFOR, and to establish liaison and planning cells at AFSOUTH and KFOR as rapidly as possible in accordance with attachment.

To convene consultations as soon as possible to develop details for implementation of these agreements.

That these points, including determination on which sector the Russians will participate in, will be confirmed by the NAC for NATO and by the government of the Russian Federation. The scheme of deployment of the Russian contingents of KFOR may be reviewed and adjusted in light of the prevailing circumstances by mutual agreement of the confirming parties, keeping in mind all aspects of a continued, appropriate Russian presence.

All command arrangements will preserve the principle of unity of command. It is understood that the Russian contingent in Kosovo will be under the political and military control of the Russian Command:
 
Agreed Principles for Russian Participation in the International Security Force(KFOR) for Kosovo

Subject to political review and approval by NATO and Russian authorities the following principles are accepted as the basis for Russian participation in a military effective peace enforcement operation in Kosovo.

1. Common Mission/Purpose: Under the mandate of UNSCR 1244 taken under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and according to the principles therein, and within the framework of the Military Technical Agreement between KFOR and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, KFOR will deploy to establish a secure environment for the return of refugees and Internally Dispatched Persons and to monitor, and if necessary, enforce, compliance with the Military Technical Agreement and the demilitarization of the KLA. The participation of all national contingents in KFOR will be based on OPLAN 10413, Operation Joint Guardian.

2. Common Rules of Engagement: All contingents of KFOR will accept and operate under common rules of engagement to be applied impartially in all areas toward all parties without exception.

3. Unity of command: All command arrangements will preserve the principle of unity of command. This presumes that the Russian side exercises full political and military control over the Russian contingent.

4. Single Airspace Management: All contingents if KFOR will operate under KFOR-established airspace and airfield management controls in accordance with agreements.

5. Single Systems of Ground Movement Control: All ground movement will be conducted under the KFOR movement control procedures in accordance with agreements. To this end, a Russian liaison group will be created for communication and coordination, in accordance with the attached Liaison Arrangements fro Russian Forces in KFOR.

6. Intelligence Sharing and Exchange: Conducted as under IFOR and SFOR. Public information messages will be coordinated and public information products exchanged.

7. Coordinated Public Information Process: Conducted as under IFOR and SFOR. Public information messages will be coordinated and public information products exchanged.

8. Single System to Coordinate National Logistics and KFOR Base Support: KFOR may assist in coordinating national logistics operations among national contingents. All contingents of KFOR are responsible for their financial and logistics commitments.

9. KFOR Freedom of Maneuver and Operation: In the case where a sector commander, or the commander of a national contingent within a sector, declines to accept an order from the KFOR commander, COMKFOR will have full authority to order other KFOR forces, from that sector, or any other sector, to carry out the mission, and those other forces will have full freedom of maneuver and operation throughout the sector in question, including the zone of responsibility of the sector commander or national contingent commander, who declined to accept order.

10. Command Structure: The command structure depicted on the attached chart (Russian Participation in KFOR) will be the command structure for Russian participation in KFOR.

© Copyright 1999 The Associated Press

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