State Department: Serbia-Montenegro - Travel Warning, August 6, 1999

Serbia-Montenegro - Travel Warning
August 6, 1999

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Serbia- Montenegro. Although the conflict between members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Serbian forces has concluded, Serbian military and security forces remain highly mobilized. Mass protests against the federal and Serbian governments have been taking place throughout Serbia. While state security forces thus far have demonstrated restraint, the potential for violence exists. Other hazards include damaged infrastructure, unexploded ordnance scattered throughout the country, and land mines remaining in some areas of Serbia9s southern province of Kosovo.

The situation in Kosovo remains unsettled. Despite the deployment of NATO troops throughout the province, no clear civil authority has been re-established. Phone, electric and water services are sporadic in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, and outside the city they are almost nonexistent. Incidents of violence in Kosovo continue to be reported. Pristina is the only approved location within Kosovo for official Americans to stay overnight.

The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade suspended operations as of March 23, 1999. There is no U.S. diplomatic presence in Serbia-Montenegro to provide up- to-date security assessments or consular assistance to U.S. citizens.

This replaces the Travel Warning dated April 3, 1999, to update the security situation in Serbia-Montenegro.