United Nations Peacekeeping in Kosovo

Our Bill Kellogg UNA-BC Discussion Series met on Friday, February 20, from 1:00–2:30 p.m. in the Boulder Creek Room of the Main Branch of the Boulder Public Library. The discussion, "United Nations Peacekeeping in Kosovo," was led by Steve Janko.

Steve Janko, a resident of Colorado Springs and a retired attorney specializing in international law, shared his unique experiences serving with a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. While still a university student, Steve took the fall 2000 semester away from his international law studies at the University of Miami to volunteer with the UN peacekeeping effort that helped refugees return to their homes following the Kosovo conflict.

Serving as an Army reservist and peacekeeper, Steve helped protect churches from sabotage, searched vehicles for weapons, and promoted peace through interviews on Kosovo radio programs. He also played an important role in supporting Kosovo's 2000 elections by helping plan the transportation of election ballots and ensuring that the 80 polling sites in the American sector remained safe for voters. Following his service in Kosovo, Steve completed his international law studies and went on to serve for nearly twenty years as an active-duty military attorney with assignments around the world.

During his presentation, Steve reaffirmed his longstanding support for the United Nations, international law, and multilateral cooperation. He discussed the importance of adhering to the UN Charter and securing authorization through a United Nations Security Council resolution before the use of military force in conflicts such as those in Bosnia and Kosovo. He also examined the legal and operational challenges that arose when military interventions occurred without Security Council authorization, citing examples including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Steve explained how the peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo demonstrated the value of clearly defined humanitarian objectives under UN leadership. These missions established safe zones for vulnerable ethnic communities, supported economic and political stabilization, and assisted temporary administrations through the expertise of UN agencies and experienced non-governmental organizations. He contrasted these efforts with unilateral military interventions, noting that operations lacking UN Security Council authorization often suffered from limited international legitimacy, unclear missions, and the absence of coordinated international expertise.

Following his presentation, Steve engaged attendees in a lively question-and-answer session, discussing the current challenges facing the United Nations, the future of multilateralism, and the importance of strengthening the international rule of law.