[ALBSA-Info] Chronology of Milosevic Rule in Yugoslavia

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

Chronology of Milosevic Rule in Yugoslavia

LONDON, Sept 26 (Reuters) -  Opponents and supporters of President Slobodan 
Milosevic both claimed victory after Sunday's crucial elections, but European 
political leaders made clear on Monday they believed the Yugoslav strongman 
had lost. 

Here is a chronology of events in troubled Yugoslavia since Milosevic became 
Serbian party leader in 1986. 

1986: 

May 15 - Milosevic becomes Serbian regional Communist Party President. 

1987: 

Apr 24 - First major Serb protest in Kosovo over alleged persecution by 
majority Albanians. Milosevic's star rises in Serbia as he defends protesters 
from being beaten by predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo police. 

Oct - Milosevic purges Serbian Communist Party and media. 

1988: 

Jan - Milosevic's wing in Serbian party ousts Serbian state President Ivan 
Stambolic. 

1989: 

June 28 - Milosevic addresses a million Serbs at Kosovo Polje on 600th 
anniversary of defeat of mediaeval Serb kingdom by Turks, foreshadows 
Yugoslavia's violent disintegration. 

Nov - Milosevic elected president of Serbia. 

1990: 

Dec 9 - Milosevic, defying anti-communist trend in Yugoslavia, re-elected 
Serbian president. 

1991: 

June 25 - Croatia and Slovenia proclaim independence. 

June - Yugoslav tanks try but fail to crush Slovenian independence. Fighting 
begins in Croatia between Croats and ethnic Serbs. 

Dec 16 - EU agrees to recognise any Yugoslav republic that meets conditions 
on human rights, democracy and ethnic minorities. 

Dec 19 - Rebel Serbs declare independence in Krajina region which makes up 
almost a third of Croatia. 

Dec - In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the most ethnically mixed Yugoslav republic, 
Serb minority holds unofficial referendum opposing separation from 
Yugoslavia. Local Serb leaders proclaim new republic separate from Bosnia. 

1992: 

March 3 - Bosnia's Moslems and Croats vote for independence in referendum 
boycotted by Serbs. 

April 6 - European Union recognises Bosnia's independence; war breaks out 
between Bosnian government and local Serbs, who lay siege to capital Sarajevo.
 

May - U.N. sanctions slapped on Serbia for backing rebel Serbs in Croatia and 
Bosnia. 

1993: 

Jan - Bosnia peace efforts fail, war breaks out between Moslems and Croats, 
previously allies against Serbs. 

1995: 

Nov 21 - Following NATO air strikes against Bosnian Serbs, Milosevic joins 
presidents of Bosnia, Croatia in reaching peace agreement at U.S.-sponsored 
talks at Dayton, Ohio. 

1996: 

Nov 30 - At least 100,000 Serbian opposition supporters accusing government 
of election fraud march in Belgrade as part of a campaign to try to oust 
Milosevic, who eventually backs down by recognising opposition gains in local 
polls. 

1997: 

July 23 - Milosevic sworn in as Yugoslav president, stepping down as Serbia's 
leader after serving two terms. 

Oct 21 - Reformist Milo Djukanovic wins presidency of Montenegro, defeats 
Milosevic ally Momir Bulatovic. 

1998: 

Mar - Milosevic rejects calls for international action to end violence in 
Kosovo. Invites ethnic Albanian separatist leader Ibrahim Rugova for peace 
talks. 

Sep 24 - NATO issues ultimatum to Milosevic to stop violence in Kosovo or 
face air strikes. 

Oct 13 - Yugoslavia and U.S. Balkans envoy Richard Holbrooke outline deal to 
avert air strikes. NATO gives Milosevic four days to end offensive against 
ethnic Albanians. 

Oct 27 - Serbian security forces withdraw from Kosovo. NATO says will be no 
immediate air strikes but maintains threat of military action. 

1999: 

Mar 10 - Holbrooke fails to persuade Milosevic in eight hours of talks to 
accept Kosovo peace deal. 

Mar 18 - Kosovo Albanians sign peace deal in France but Yugoslavs boycott and 
Russia refuses to sign as witness. Peace talks break up in failure on March 
19. 

Mar 24 - NATO war planes begin air campaign against military targets 
throughout Yugoslavia. 

May 27 - U.N. war crimes tribunal confirms it has indicted Milosevic as war 
criminal. 

June 10 - Serb forces start withdrawal from Kosovo and NATO halts air war. 

2000: 

Apr 14 - At least 100,000 Serbs pack central Belgrade to hear opposition 
leaders call for early general elections. 

July 27 - Milosevic sets presidential, parliamentary and local elections for 
September 24. 

Sept 24 - Huge turnout reported across Serbia as voting carried out. 

Sept 25 - Opponents and supporters of Milosevic both claim victory but 
European political leaders make clear they believe he has lost.