Stevanovic: General Jackson did not prevent the exodus of Serbs from Kosovo, but he refused Clark's order to seize Slatina

One of the signatories of the Kumanovo Agreement, retired police general Obrad Stevanovic, says that he remembers former British Army Chief of General Staff, General Mike Jackson, who passed away yesterday at the age of 80, as the head of the international security forces' negotiating team in Kumanovo, dedicated to resolving and understanding the problems they faced. As the first KFOR commander, Stevanovic says, Jackson will be remembered for some good statements and decisions, but also for some unimplemented decisions with serious consequences.

"As the head of the international security forces' negotiating team in Kumanovo, General Mike Jackson was a fair negotiator, dedicated to resolving and understanding the problems they faced and inclined toward compromise solutions," Stevanovic told Kosovo Online.

However, he adds that Jackson was also deeply concerned about the contradictions that awaited him upon his arrival in Kosovo.

"As the first KFOR commander, General Jackson will also be remembered for some good statements and decisions, but also for some unimplemented decisions with serious consequences," Stevanovic notes, pointing out that General Jackson refused to carry out Wesley Clark's order to seize the Slatina airport.

At that time, Stevanovic recalls, Jackson explained his refusal with the now-famous statement: "I’m not going to start World War Three for you." 

"That statement remains important and worthy of respect today. On the other hand, unlike many other commanders, General Jackson was honest toward the end of his mandate when he clearly stated that the task of creating a multiethnic Kosovo, one of KFOR's key objectives, was not achieved during his mandate. He acknowledged that, in his view, Serbs at that time were living in misery and ghettos, and that it was impossible to even talk about Albanian tolerance toward Serbs and others endangered in Kosovo and Metohija," Stevanovic said.

On the other hand, as Stevanovic notes, General Jackson will also be remembered for his inability to implement all the obligations from the Kumanovo Agreement, primarily because he did not prevent the exodus of Serbs and other non-Albanians from Kosovo during his tenure as KFOR commander.

"At that time, and even later up until today, he did not ensure the creation of a secure environment for the normal life of all citizens or for the uninterrupted functioning of all institutions in Kosovo and Metohija. Additionally, during his mandate and up until today, the KLA had not been fully disarmed, which was also part of KFOR's mandate. Many refugees and displaced persons have not returned, in part, in my opinion, because KFOR has not fulfilled its obligations to provide a safe environment," Stevanovic concluded.