Albania-Yugoslav border incident (1999)
Encyclopedia
An Albania-Yugoslav border incident took place in June 1999 when the Yugoslav Army shelled the Albanian border towns around Krumë
, Tropojë
. At those villages were refugees being housed after fleeing the war in Kosovo
by crossing into Albania.
The Yugoslav forces attacked the village Kamenica, but on the Albanian side there were no victims. Mortars can still be found around the village.
for arms transport. The Yugoslavs advanced 8 miles into Albanian territory before being halted by village miltiamen. The Yugoslav units were then fired upon by the militiamen who were defending their villages. After some hours of fighting, the Albanian Army was deployed and started shelling the Yugoslav positions with howitzers, Type 59 tanks
and MLRs. Within 10 minutes the Yugoslav forces were retreating from the village. The Albanian Army continued shelling the Yugoslavs while they were retreating back across the border.
The Albanian Army was led by Kudsi Lama.
decleared that the Serbian Soldiers crossed the border.
, where hundreds of ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosovo war
had been living. The shelling hapenned just before midnight, prompted a mass exodus of the refugees to the town of Kukes, some 10 miles from the Kosovo-Albanian border.
Krumë
Krumë is the capital of the Has, northern Albania. It is a pleasant small town located at the north-west foot of the Bjeshka e Krumes mountain , from which comes a large source of underground water called Vrella with clean and cool water serving the domestic population's needs for fresh water...
, Tropojë
Tropojë
Tropojë is a municipality in the Tropojë District, Kukës County, northern Albania; near the border with Kosovo. It is home to the non-navigable Valbonë River.-Etymology:...
. At those villages were refugees being housed after fleeing the war in Kosovo
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
by crossing into Albania.
The Yugoslav forces attacked the village Kamenica, but on the Albanian side there were no victims. Mortars can still be found around the village.
Background
Yugoslav paratroopers crossed into Albanian territory to close a route used by the Kosovo Liberation ArmyKosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
for arms transport. The Yugoslavs advanced 8 miles into Albanian territory before being halted by village miltiamen. The Yugoslav units were then fired upon by the militiamen who were defending their villages. After some hours of fighting, the Albanian Army was deployed and started shelling the Yugoslav positions with howitzers, Type 59 tanks
Type 59
The Type 59 main battle tank is a Chinese produced version of the Soviet T-54A tank, an improvement over the ubiquitous T-54/55. The first vehicles were produced in 1958 and it was accepted into service in 1959, with serial production beginning in 1963...
and MLRs. Within 10 minutes the Yugoslav forces were retreating from the village. The Albanian Army continued shelling the Yugoslavs while they were retreating back across the border.
The Albanian Army was led by Kudsi Lama.
Reaction
The attack was a very delicate decision, since according to international war rules, Albania could have declared war after the attack of regular troops of another country. While Albania and OSCE confirmed the Serbian Soldiers in Albanian territory, Yugoslavia denies any incursion occurred.Reaction of Albania
The Albanian governement confirmed that Yugoslavian soldiers crossed the border.Reaction of Yugoslavia
In Belgrade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs official denied any attack had occurred Tuesday and accused Albania of harboring terrorists. The ministry decleared that Yugoslavian troops did not enter Albania.Reaction of OSCE
The reaction of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
decleared that the Serbian Soldiers crossed the border.
Yugoslav bombing
Serbian soldiers of the Yugoslav Army dropped at least 10 shells on the town of KrumëKrumë
Krumë is the capital of the Has, northern Albania. It is a pleasant small town located at the north-west foot of the Bjeshka e Krumes mountain , from which comes a large source of underground water called Vrella with clean and cool water serving the domestic population's needs for fresh water...
, where hundreds of ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosovo war
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
had been living. The shelling hapenned just before midnight, prompted a mass exodus of the refugees to the town of Kukes, some 10 miles from the Kosovo-Albanian border.