Russia in the region. The situation in the balkans was a litmus test for european integration. As soon as the situation there escalated, contradictions between eu members immediately surfaced. Although historically kosovo is serbian territory, the belgrade authorities paid insufficient attention to the albanian minority, which escalated the situation in the region. Russia, together with the un, have developed a plan for kosovos gradual transition to autonomy. Later, this proposal formed the basis for the work of the first stage of the International Conference with participation. Representative of the Kosovo Albanians in the suburbs of paris, the discussion was difficult, but gradually an acceptable option emerged, to which they were ready to agree in belgrade. Meanwhile , nato formed its own vision of the development of events. Representatives of the bloc announced the need to deploy 30,000 troops to maintain order in kosovo. On march 18, 1999, the albanian american and british delegat