WAR IN THE BALKANS: QUOTES

"The significance [of the G8 deal] is that this is the first time the Russians have said they support an international security as well as civilian force in Kosovo." President Bill Clinton

"We cannot accept an occupational force, not under a Nato or a UN flag ... We can't accept anything that looks like an occupation."

Slobodan Milosevic

"We now need to take up negotiations. It is premature to talk of a breakthrough, but we can speak of a move forward."

Igor Ivanov,

Russian Foreign Minister

"Refugees are not going to return unless there is credible protection and that will have to be a military force..."

Robin Cook

Foreign Secretary

"It is very unlikely any refugee will return unless Serbian forces withdraw and international armed forces are deployed"

Sadako Ogata, head of

UN refugee agency

"I must warn against the idea of a breakthrough in a matter of hours or days. There is still a lot of work to do."

Wolfgang Ischinger, German Deputy Foreign Minister