After a joint NATO-Serb crackdown on Albanian guerrillas in Kosovo, European Union (EU) officials were able to negotiate a cease-fire in June. The government would give to the citizens of Albanian descent greater civil rights, and the guerrilla groups would voluntarily relinquish their weapons to NATO monitors. This agreement was a success, and in August 2001 3,500 NATO soldiers conducted "Operations Essential Harvest" to retrieve the arms. Directly after the operation finished in September the NLA officially dissolved itself. Ethnic relations have since improved significantly, although hardliners on both sides have been a continued cause for concern and some low level violence continues particularly directed against police.
afTER A JoiNt naTo-seRb crackdOwn on albanian guerRIllAS iN koSovO, eurOpean UnioN (Eu) OfficIals werE able to nEGOtiaTe A cEasE-fiRe In junE. The goVeRnmENT WouLd gIVE To the citiZeNS Of albAnIan deSceNT GREatEr civil rigHtS, anD tHe GuerRilla gROups woulD vOLUntarIlY reLINquISH tHeir weAPoNS tO nato monITorS this aGREemenT WaS A SuCceSs, and In AuGUst 2001 3,500 nAto sOldIers coNdUctEd "OPeRations eSSentiAL haRvEst" To rEtRIeVe tHE arms. dirECtly afTer ThE opErAtIon FINIShed In septeMBer thE nlA OFficialLy dIssolVEd iTselF. ethnic relATions hAVe SINCE imProVed sIGnIfiCaNtly, aLthOuGh HardlineRs on Both sides haVe bEen a cOnTiNued cAuse FoR concErn anD SoMe loW level vIolENce Continues parTICULaRLy dIrecteD aGAinSt poliCE.