What was Operation "Horseshoe"? Majko: Milosevic Aimed to Destabilize Albania, Attack Italy with Boats
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| Pandeli Majko (archive) |
Operation "Horseshoe," which served as the catalyst for NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia, aimed at the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians by Serbian police and military forces. According to Pandeli Majko, this was part of a broader plan by Slobodan Milosevic to destabilize Albania and the Balkan region.
In an interview on the show “Debate” on A2 CNN, the former Albanian Prime Minister during the Kosovo War revealed that this operation was not just any ordinary plan. According to Majko, Belgrade intended to create a scenario similar to Bosnia, with an unprecedented wave of refugees causing a humanitarian crisis that would also impact Greece and Italy.
“The so-called Operation 'Horseshoe' was quite sophisticated. The idea was that the influx of Kosovo Albanians into Albania would completely destabilize the situation and leave the country directionless due to mismanagement. The same scenario was expected to happen in Macedonia, which would cause European frustration as it was anticipated that waves of refugees would attack Italy by boat. Italy had a very fragile government, a very delicate coalition, and a minister who was almost vile in relations with Albanians. This would completely destabilize the regional situation, making Milosevic the master of the situation. The expectation was for a semi-Bosnia scenario but much more internationalized, involving Italy and Greece. Some refugees were expected to move from Macedonia to Greece. The number of Kosovo refugees in Albania reached 700,000, and we stated that we were ready to accept up to 1 million. I believe it was the right decision, and we did our duty, to put it bluntly.”
During Operation "Horseshoe," the Yugoslav army and Serbian police in early 1999 "in an organized manner, using significant state resources," conducted a widespread campaign of violence against Albanian civilians to expel them from Kosovo and thus maintain Belgrade's political control over the province.
Majko's recounting underscores the complex and dire circumstances of that period, highlighting the extensive efforts by the Albanian government and the broader international community to manage the crisis and prevent further destabilization in the Balkans. The operation's intent to exploit regional vulnerabilities reveals the strategic depth of Milosevic's plans and the significant challenges faced by neighboring countries during this turbulent period.