Background ¦ Your reaction ¦ Listen to the debate

The Background:

Albania and Macedonia have called for urgent international assistance to deal with the flow of refugees from Kosovo. Is Nato playing into Milosevic's hands as Kosovan Albanians stream across the border? Or are the airstrikes bringing the Serbian leader closer to the negotiating table?

A spokesman for the Nato alliance, Jamie Shea, described the situation as the worst Europe had seen for more than 50 years:

"We have to recognise that we are now on the brink of a major humanitarian disaster ... the likes of which we have not seen in Europe since the closing days of World War II," he said.

But the Serbian Government refugee commissioner, Bratislava Morina, who is of ethnic Albanian origin herself, has dismissed reports of a refugee crisis in Kosovo.

"There is no humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo whatsoever," she said in a television interview.

Who is to be believed?

The UK prime minister has denied Nato's bombing of Serbia led to violence against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

In a statement in the House of Commons, Tony Blair said such an interpretation was "simply absurd".

Russia, a traditionally ally of the Serbs, has been one of the strongest critics of the air strikes, accusing Nato of genocide. But Moscow has so far ruled out any military role in the Kosovo crisis.

Background ¦ Your reaction ¦ Listen to the debate

Your Reaction:

The Serbs are certainly guilty of genocide as the Germans were half a century before. It makes no sense to talk with such people. The only way to go is to massively bomb Serbia and to support the secession of Kosovo. Then, apprehend the mass murderers, punish them as their former colleagues in the Reichstag were, and place Serbia under military occupation as a Nato protectorate.
Catalin, Romania

I read in a Dutch newspaper this morning that Nato has used almost all of its cruise missiles. Only a handful of missiles are left. Seems to me that there is only one winner in this terrible war: The weapon industry.
Marko Jelicic, The Netherlands

Nato is claiming no civil victims, but schools, hospitals and other purely civilian objects are destroyed. Who will build them again?
Zoran Lovric, Yugoslavia

It is alright for us at home to say that the war should continue because we are not involved. We are all excellent armchair strategists, for sure. But this question more particularly applies to the people of the Balkans who are innocent of any wrong-doing. The children and their mothers, for example. The present mass exodus of Albanians from Kosovo is even more likely to be related to their fear of the Nato bombing than 'so-called' ethnic cleansing by a devil they know, after all, only too well. Negotiation has got to be, always, a far better alternative to violence in any war. As Milosevic has demonstrated at least a willingness to talk, there is no excuse not to try again. In fact we might regret it later if we don't.
Simon Cameron, UK

We shouldn't talk, we should start to listen. In the last nine years western policy towards Yugoslavia has been a total disaster, from the day we all of a sudden recognised Croatia. Our involvement has only made things worse. It can never be proven, but I've got the strong suspicion that if it hadn't been for the Clintons of this world peace might have returned to the Balkans a long time ago.
Maarten Krips, The Netherlands

A lot of reasonable arguments are said nowadays both pro and contra for the Nato intervention; but when I heard an American military person on TV telling something like "We're the technological superpower and we have to win this conflict no mater what it takes", well that sure scared me down to my bones!
Marianne Filip, Germany

It is a huge mistake to be sure that Nato's bombs can stop Serbs in Kosovo. As soon as European countries will start to receive coffins from there the all of you will finally understand that this is true. The only winner in this story will be USA which is rather far from the place of conflict turning down the EURO and European economy at all. It is a big regret that almost no-one in Europe cannot understand this reality.
Konstantin, Ukraine

Nato's strategy would be most successful if the top target of its attacks were Milosevic himself.
Roberta Bardellotto, Italy

I think the Serbs deserve punishment. There have not been falling enough bombs on Serbia. The Serbs are complaining now that innocent civilians are bombed. But what about the Albanians? Thousands of Albanians have been killed and driven from their homes. Most of these people were innocent civilians who had nothing to do with the KLA. Where were the Serbian protest or outcries when these people were killed. They themselves don't want to be killed but if they kill others this doesn't matter to them. For this attitude they deserve even more punishment. Go ahead Nato and drop more bombs. If the Serbs want to live in peace then they must stop the killing and the ethnic cleansing. Nato should either send ground troops into Kosovo or arm the KLA.
Manolis, Germany

Is there anyone out there who has a heart? People do something. I spend my life in fear in a basement. This is Europe...
Nenad, Yugoslavia

No. Nato is killing Yugoslav people: Albanians and Serbs. If Milosevic is a problem, why is Nato destroying the whole country. Kill Milosevic if you think he is the problem. I think that the main problem is Nato.
Vadim, France

In my opinion not only Milosevic and his government alone but the Albanian terrorists and finally the Nato forces are all responsible for one of the biggest human tragedies in history. All of them need to be condemned in strongest words. For a common person either living in Serbia, Kosovo or for that matter somewhere else on the globe, the artificial borders created by some vested persons have little meaning. They are more interested in leading a peaceful life. Nato has made the things much worse by bypassing the United Nations. Why should it think that all its actions are justified? The world body has lost its significance. If the Nato countries were afraid of a Veto either or both from China and Russia in the Security Council, why should they at all give veto powers to a handful of Nations. Why not all the decisions be carried out by a majority vote?
Prem L. Sankhayan, Norway

Nato is a killing machine. They kill a lot of innocent civilians. My house in Pec is 200 years old, and Nato bombers destroyed it yesterday. "Western democracy" takes care of Albanians, but they don't worry about 800,000 Serbian refugees from Croatia and Bosnia. My people want to live in peace with all nations in world.
Dijana, Pec, Kosovo

Nato is causing all the problems. Leave the Serbs in peace.
Giovanni, Italy

The only thing that the Nato succeeded in is to increase the problems in the region and create a much worse situation. If (and only if) Milosevic committed genocide in Kosovo, Nato is committing a bigger one. There are much more refugees, much more destruction and much more terror. You can not stop a war by starting a new one.
Andreas Petridis, Macedonia, Greece

The only thing these bombs can do is to put us together and make us more persistent not to give up Kosovo.
Srdjan Krco, Yugoslavia

I have never liked Mr. Milosevic. I have never voted for him. I have never hurt anyone. I've always wanted to live in democracy. Now, Nato is killing my people and all these politicians from the west are trying to explain me that it is for my own good. Kill yourself if you think that that is the best thing human being can get, and let me live. This is not a world of democracy. This is an interesting game for people who are sitting in their warm houses trying to imagine that they are Gods. But, the real God is above all people. Try to think about it when you bomb our towns. Who lets you act as Gods?
Nevena, Yugoslavia

Glad to hear Alex Salmond speaking out (he'll be getting my vote at the Scottish Parliament Elections, Tony) against the bombing. It seems that, rather than Milosevic and Serbia, the biggest bully here is NATO, revelling in flexing its jingoistic muscles. And while the "popular" press of Britain boasts of the people being right "behind our boys" (just as long as none of them get killed of course), they don't seem to give a toss about the Kosovoans they are supposedly trying to save. Hypocrites.
Jason, Scotland

I don't think air strikes are the solution and Britain should witness this especially because they experienced the German air strike during WWII. Goering said that he would put Britain on their knees with his air forces like Clinton and Blair are saying in this days about Yugoslavia. I can't believe how ignorant about history the Clinton administration and the Labour party are, and that is very bad because they will never understand the Kosovo issue properly. Looking back at the European history all those politicians could find all the answers that they are looking for. I can't make any comment about the Italian government because they are a bunch of puppets on American hands. I just feel sorry for all the people that are suffering now no matter which side.
Caprera Daniele, Italy

Milosevic is committing a systematic genocide. The Serb people stand behind him as one man. Guilty of genocide. Ground troops are urgently needed to stop the massacres. Food and medicine should be parachuted to the encircled population in Drenica now. Western journalists should be sent to those few area still under the control of the armed resistance, to tell the world the truth about the genocide going on right now.
Gorazd Cvetic, Germany

You said: "Albanians flee to borders because Serbs make 'ethnical reengineering'" ... but what if ... "Albanians flee to borders because they are afraid of NATO bombs!" You see ... propaganda is sticky business ... and your propaganda fall in 'live sand' more and more. Start to speak TRUTH! Best wishes to UK 'lion' ... Don't allow to be used by stupid and aggressive 'cowboys'.
Aleksandar Jovicic, Yugoslavia

Nato triggered the refugee catastrophe, not the Serbs. "Our prime aim is to survive" - what brave British pilots! I just wish a couple of them crashed so they recognized this is NOT a computer game!
Yuriy, Russia

Thank God Alex Salmon has had the courage to speak out. Just wish I could vote Scottish Nationalist.
Maureen Eyles, UK

For all those who think ground troops are the only solution, I suggest they should go in but only behind our brave politicians. Isn't it interesting how all the old guys who have actually faced conflict are universally opposed to the bombing?
D Cunningham, UK

I don't know what the aims of NATO's strategy are, so I don't know if it is succeeding. All i can say from reading the news is that it does not seem to be doing any good thus far. The Serbs are still shooting civilians, Kosovo is even more of a mess, and the bombing is hardening Serbian public opinion in favour of Milosevic and against the West. Bombing Iraq has not solved the problem of Saddam. Bombing Cambodia helped the Khmer rouge take over. Also, lets not demonise the Serbs. They are no worse than the rest of us. They may have caused unnecessary "collateral" civilian deaths in their war against their separatists, but most countries are guilty of war atrocities. Think of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the rape of Nanking, Hamburg and Dresden, bombing North Vietnam "back into the stone age", French warships shelling Algerian villages, Turkey oppressing the ethnic Kurds, Rwanda, Indonesia, the Haulacaust, Katyn, the killing fields. War is hell, and sadly, it is part of human nature.
Beng Yong Tang, Singapore

Why does NATO not look at the Kurdish Genocide or the Armenian Genocide?
Evaggelos Matthaiopoulos, Greece

Does NATO expect the British public to buy the story that it is acting in the interests of Albanian Kosovans alone? It seems to me more and more obvious that either NATO is completely incompetant and don't realise the completely contradicatory results of their actions, or that NATO has some other objective on it's mind. Perhaps bored by the prolonged existence of peace in their part of the world they need a little exercise? It worries me that 'democratic' nations can behave in this way. If democracy can't stop the abuse of power, what can?
Danny, UK

Obviously the horrible slaughter that has been inflicted upon all Yugoslavs has galvanized them into supporting the struggle against an imperialistic and barbaric Nato. Bill Clinton has demonstrated that he is just as ruthless as Slobodan Milosevic. As the testosterone levels continue to escalate in Washington there can be no turning back and it should be obvious that Bill Clinton will soon hoodwink Congress into bring ground troops into Kosovo.
Dr. Michael Pravica, USA

It is unlikely that bombing alone will alter the situation. The only chance of significantly altering the Serbian attitude towards the current crisis would be a massive Nato reinforcement of ground troops on all borders of Serbia.
F Dougherty, UK

NATO air strikes MUST be stopped!!! They are killing civilians, destroying hospitals, schools and nurseries. I would like that all of you who are supporting Nato air strikes to think about victims and put yourselves in our position.
Miodrag, Serbia

It's getting really difficult here in Yugoslavia. Most of the time I spend in the basement. NATO didn't bomb only military units and objects.They killed a lot of innocent people, and they destroyed many homes, schools and other civil objects. Albanian terorists are doing ethnic cleansing on Kosovo. NATO supports them. WHY? Serbs are brave and proud people.They shown a great courage in this war.They are only protecting their country from NATO killers and terrorists. There is nothing wrong with that. I hope you'll understand that, and I hope this terrible war will end soon.
Nikola Totic, Serbia

To figure out whether NATO strategy is succeeding you would need to know what their goals are, and I think they are far from clear. If the goal is to stop the Albanians from being killed, it clearly fails, since more of them are being killed. If the goal is to destroy Yugoslav infrastructure, it may succeed. If the goal is simply to occupy Kosovo and separate it from Serbia, it looks unlikely.
P Mohan, UK

How can we possibly judge after only a few days? Milosevic has had years to repress and murder his own countrymen, whereas NATO has had 5 days of action. Personally, I'd like to know how we can show our support for our own troops. It is very frustrating to see hundreds of Serbs, safe in the UK standing outside Downing Street waving placards of protest, but where are the Brits and how can we show our support?
Steve Morton, UK

Obviously Nato's strategy is not working. Milosevic has not caved in, nor has the alleged killing stopped. In fact, it sounds like it has gotten worse. What is the point of continuing this insanity? More people will die on both sides to no purpose. The US would be wise to listen to Russia's voice of reason in this matter. They are the only ones who are attempting to resolve this problem rather than escalating it.
Mary Ann, USA

I don't think that there is any success in bombing Yugoslavia except that for a week almost 500,000 people are displaced. If it continues for a while, any action will have no meaning. So the bombing has to stop and some other solutions must be searched out.
Nikusev Dimitar, Macedonia

We believe what we are doing is right but there is another war we are not fully fighting and winning. That is the one about why we are doing it and who are we specifically targeting. If all Serbs believe we hate them and blame them all for what is going on, then they are right to be outraged. But we do not think that and are going only for Slobodan Milosovic and those who implement his policies.The military campaign is going as well as can be expected but the fight for the hearts and minds of Serbs and the Russians is one we need to concentrate more on.
David Johnson, England

I am reminded of a saying which goes something like this.."There must be chaos before there can be calm". Bombing is the logical option but troops MUST go in, regardless of personal opinion.
Russell, England

NATO strikes only worsen the situation for everyone in the region. For their own pride and economic interests the west is causing destruction and more pain to the people of Yuguslavia. If they are truely concerned about human rights then let them punish NATO members like Turkey for human rights violations.
Abdul Kamel, USA

You know, it's funny when you look at those "refugees".. I still remember when 450,000 Serbs were banished from Croatia. Of course they weren't being bombed, but the people moving looked so poor and unhealthy. And look at the Albanians! They are dressed up, new clothes, (almost) fat faces.. well OK, perhaps they aren't too fat or not too wealthy in the eyes of a Western man, but I wished that I had one of the refugees jacket.. and also, I noticed a smile on couple of their faces. Are they happy to be thrown out of their home? The other funny thing is that while the "refugees" are moving, you can see snow behind them. Well, there wasn't ANY snow in Kosovo during last week, so unless they were climbing the Himalays I'd say something's wrong around here.. ,
Gajo Csaba, Novi Sad

First in reply to others. Eileen, good point about Indonesia. Don't be naive about it, we're just humanitarian when it's our back yard. Gajo, you're a hard man to say those refugees look happy. I know the West isn't above wild propaganda, but neither do I disbelieve all the reports of genocide. I think most people now agree a NATO ground war to set up a Kosovan UN protectorate is the only way to stop the attacks on the ground. You can't precision strike every machine-gun wielding Serb on the ground, nor can you offer the Serbs protection against the KLA from on high in the sky. Got to be there on the ground to do a serious job. We've started the job clumsily. Got to finish strategically.
Max Von Genscher, UK

Yes, it is succeeding. What is happening now, was happening already, and would have continued anyway. The only difference is, that the Serbs are paying for it. I do believe that Nato should continue with the strikes, and even start putting in ground forces. These forces should even try to capture Milosovic to be able to try him as a war criminal. Only this way, will the whole Balkans be stabilized. Milosovic already has a disgusting record in Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia. He must be stopped, by all means.
Karamanli, The Netherlands

It is a notorious lie that Yugoslav forces kill innocent women and children. They fight against KLA - a terrorist organization (according to CIA) funded by Albanian drug cartels.
Dejan Bojic, Canada

It was good that Nato bombed Yugoslavia, because otherwise the Serb regime would continue killing in Kosovo.
Fehmi Cimili, Finland

In their arrogant belief that they know best, the governments of UK and USA will succeed in destabilising the whole Balkan region. No, its not working and many of us never thought it would. That's why we opposed this bombastic adventure in the first place. Murdering innocents to protect innocents is a no win strategy. If Blair and Cook were so offended by genocide they had a big opportunity to stop Indonesian actions in East Timor by stopping arms supplies, but that wasnt "legally possible" was it? It also wasn't vey macho either. Bombing is so much more satisfying and makes our leaders who missed out on the WW2 glory feel that they are really big men. I'm ashamed that I ever voted for this so-called Labour government which declares war on some country on a monthly basis, but I won't make the same error again!
Eileen George, UK

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