187. Memorandum From Paula Dobriansky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Allen)1
SUBJECT
- Weekly Report
Yugoslavia. In the Kosovo region, which is predominantly Albanian, there have been numerous demonstrations. The unrest, thus far, seems to be primarily confined to the Kosovo (in which a curfew and travel restrictions have been imposed) and to its student community, but there are reports that tensions have increased in other universities in Belgrade and Zagreb. Reportedly, the authorities have promised to deal with the students’ economic grievances. There have been unconfirmed rumors that some units of the Yugoslav military have been placed on revolutionary alert. Moreover, speculations abound that this unrest was fomented by foreign interference from Tirana or Moscow. Yet, no evidence has been secured to confirm these speculations. (C)
These Kosovo incidents are the first of public unrest since President Tito died ten months ago. These demonstrations in themselves do not constitute a present major threat to public order throughout Yugoslavia, but the Albanian dilemma appears to be one of Post-Tito Yugoslavia’s most serious long-range problems. (C)
[Omitted here are topics not related to Yugoslavia.]
- Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC: NSC Weekly Reports, 04/03/1981. Secret.↩