[8] The KVM's job was to monitor parties' compliance with the agreement, to report any breaches to the OSCE, and to help affected civilians in Kosovo.

Other requirements included: United States diplomat William Walker was appointed head of the mission; he was relatively senior, reflecting the importance that NATO put on a peaceful settlement.

[10] Despite being much larger and more complex than any previous OSCE mission,[10] the KVM was put together relatively quickly; parts of the team arrived in Kosovo a month after the 16 October agreement.

[11] When a KVM team arrived at the scene of the Račak massacre, they found "36 bodies 23 of which were lying in a ditch".

[12][13] An independent Finnish forensic investigation established that the bodies had evidence of ballistic gunshot trauma from a distance and traces of gunpowder residue on their hands, suggesting that they were killed as a result of a skirmish with Yugoslav police force.