Yugoslavia arms embargo plea

Putin voiced concerns about Balkan security to Kostunica

UNITED NATIONS -- Yugoslavia has asked the United Nations Security Council to lift a three-year arms embargo on the country.

Yugoslavia says the move would encourage it as it tries to work with the international community to bring stability to the region.

The embargo was imposed during the Yugoslav crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo when Slobodan Milosevic was in power.

The appeal was made during a visit to Kosovo by a Security Council delegation which is looking at preparations for provincial elections planned for November.

Yugoslav Ambassador Dejan Sahovic wrote to the Security Council saying that his nation has undergone a major leadership change and was complying with the U.N. resolutions, Associated Press reported.

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The letter noted that international peacekeepers now in Kosovo work to prevent illegal arms shipments to the province and said Yugoslavia will do the same "in compliance with assumed international obligations."

There was no indication of when or how the Security Council would respond to the request.

The arms embargo was imposed in March 1998, almost a year before NATO began 78 days of bombing to end Milosevic's crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and drive his forces from the province.

It banned the sale and supply of arms and established a committee to monitor the embargo.

The U.S. and European nations imposed their own economic sanctions against Yugoslavia but began to lift those once Milosevic was voted out of power in October elections.

Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, the Security Council president and leader of the delegation to Kosovo, said the U.N. was working hard to reduce violence in the province.

"The security situation continues to be difficult. I think additional efforts are needed to improve the security situation," he said.

"We believe the security situation should improve so there will be a greater return of Kosovo Serb refugees and internally displaced persons, we believe that will also facilitate their participation in the election."

Russian President Vladimir Putin added his criticism to concerns from NATO and other Western powers that Yugoslavia had not done enough to increase security in Kosovo.

During his recent visit to Belgrade, where he met President Vojislav Kostunica, and Kosovo, Putin proposed a Balkan summit with the aim of reaffirming the current borders in the region, and pinpointed ethnic Albanian rebels as the source of instability.