[Mohoender]

On March 12, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Ukraine join NATO and, two weeks later, the organization launches air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, attacking a sovereign State for the first time in its history. The proclaimed goal of the NATO operation is summed up by its spokesman as "Serbs out, peacekeepers in, refugees back" but this action doesn’t have the backing of the UN. China and USSR even appear extremely hostile and People in some circles are fearful of a China or USSR direct intervention on behalf of Yugoslavia. By mid-April, however, it has become obvious that neither of them plan such action.

China, also not militarily involved, only grants technical support to Yugoslavia and helps Belgrade in his effort to lower the effect of NATO bombings. Then, more and more military supplies are shipped through Bulgaria to Belgrade, allowing for a higher level of readiness among Serbian forces. Consequently, NATO losses increase slightly. Serbian resistance is, in many ways, outstanding but the situation proves increasingly difficult nonetheless.

The situation evolves further, on May 7, after NATO bombing of the PRC embassy in Belgrade, triggering the second Sino-Western Crisis. Three PRC citizens are killed, Beijing is outraged and popular demonstrations take place in front of U.S. ambassy in Beijing and U.S. consulates in other cities. Two days later, throughout USSR volunteer militias are raised to be sent in Serbia while the amount of supplies sent through Bulgaria increase. This galvanize the Serbs and large demonstrations are now held in Beograd and throughout the country in support of the government. As a result, on June 12, Serbia rejects a peace proposal and it becomes obvious to NATO that this war cannot end without a ground offensive. However, as this option slowly starts to be discussed among NATO members, antoher wave of demonstration takes place, this time in Beijing, Moscow and several cities of the Shanghai Pact. It now becomes obvious that a ground offensive might bring the world to a global conflict and the Western world is not ready for it. Finally, NATO bombings end on July 18, and a ceasefire is signed with Yugoslavia on July 22. Meanwhile, evidences of UçK exactions toward the Serb population are realeased and, when the Serbs launch their fall offensive, the wolrd doesn’t react anymore. As a result the UçK is largely defeated by November 11 and peace negociations starts with NATO. It is signed on November 15 but further negociations on financial repair turn short as the organization refuses responsibility in the conflict. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia joins the Shanghai Pact on November 20.

As the conflict ends, USSR achieves the modernization of the last two Kiev-class which have become true carriers (One of which had been delivered to Beijing last year)and new equipments are issued to the Army (BMP-T, BTR-T, BMD-4, BPM-97, Gaz-3937 “Vodnik” and Gaz-2975 “Tigr”). Modernization is well underway when, hundreds of Chechen enter Dagestan and trigger the Second Chechen Crisis. Within days, Soviet military units are moving in, reinforced by MVD troops and KGB agents. They progress quickly pushing Dudayev’s partisans further to the mountain. In Western Europe, the Euro is established and introduced to the world financial markets as an accounting currency.

China is facing unrest in the Xinjiang province after the arrest of several muslim ouïghours, two of them being executed on january 28. Following this, demonstrations are taking place in the regional capital of Urümqi and in several other cities but the PLA quickly moves in. The repression is bloody and by early june the international community account for 300 people killed and at least 5000 arrested. Moreover, on May 8, Rebiya Kadeer is arrested at Urümqi under the charge of “releasing state’s secret informations”. Following her arrest, her husband, Sidik Hadji Rouzi, is received at the White House while Canada, EU and US grant him a large support and push toward the formation of the “East Turkestan Government in Exile”. This trigger the third Sino-Western crisis as CSTO members call for the respect of PRC sovereingty.

In May, the Kargil War errupts between India and Pakistan. Fighting are heavy and the world grow fearfull of a nuclear war. Finally, President Clinton pressures Pakistan to retreat and the conflict end in July. Tensions will revive a month later when a Pakistani aircraft is shot down in India. Following it, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attempts to dismiss Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf but fails and Musharraf stages a coup and takes control of the government. Over the next months, the military takes full control of civilian administrations in Pakistan.