[19980616]96-790F_科索沃与美国政策.pdf

Albanians spell the name of the region as “Kosova.” The Serbian spelling “Kosovo” is used by1U.S. officials, as well as by most U.S. and international media. Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS Web96-790 FUpdated June 16, 1998Kosovo and U.S. PolicySteven WoehrelSpecialist in European AffairsForeign Affairs and National Defense DivisionSummaryKosovo, a region in southern Serbia, has been the focal point of bitter strugglesbetween Serbs and Albanians for centuries. Leaders of the ethnic Albanian majority inKosovo say their people will settle for nothing less than complete independence for theirregion, while almost all Serb political leaders have been adamantly opposed to Kosovosindependence or even a substantial grant of autonomy to Kosovo. Conflict betweenethnic Albanian rebels and Serb police has resulted in over 300 deaths since lateFebruary 1998. The United States has spoken out repeatedly against human rights abusesin Kosovo, but does not support Kosovar demands for independence, only an enhancedstatus within the Serbia-Montenegro (the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) that wouldinclude meaningful self-administratio