United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244

United Nations Security Council resolution 1244, adopted on 10 June 1999, after recalling resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998), 1203 (1998) and 1239 (1999), authorised an international civil and military presence in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and established the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). It followed an agreement by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević to terms proposed by President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari and former Prime Minister of Russia Viktor Chernomyrdin on 8 June, involving withdrawal of all Yugoslav state forces from Kosovo (Annex 2 of the Resolution). Annex 2 also specified that "After withdrawal, an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serbian personnel will be permitted to return to perform the following functions: · Liaison with the international civil mission and the international security presence; · Marking/clearing minefields; · Maintaining a presence at Serb patrimonial sites; · Maintaining a presence at key border crossings."

Resolution 1244 was adopted by 14 votes in favor to none against. China abstained despite being critical of the NATO offensive, particularly the bombing of its embassy. It argued that the conflict should be settled by the Yugoslav government and its people, and was opposed to external intervention. However, as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia accepted the peace proposal, China did not veto the resolution.

Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence in 2008; Serbia and some other UN member states maintain that Resolution 1244 remains legally binding to all parties. In 2010, the International Court of Justice provided an advisory opinion that the declaration of independence did not violate the resolution.