The conflict in the Kosovo province of the Yugoslav Federal Republic started
at the beginning of 1998 with the armed incidents between the Kosovo
Liberation Army (KLA) and the Yugoslav military and police force. The armed
conflict caused a humanitarian catastrophe which had to be urgently
addressed by a consorted action of the broad international community. From
the very beginning NATO took an active part in the peace campaign as well
as contributing to Kosovo reconstruction process after the conflict has been
terminated with the help of the international community. The medal is
always issued with a bar, inscribed KOSOVO.