"I agree the Independence issue is a position the US would not like to take sides on. Relations between NATO and the Serbs has improved a great deal."
******Yes the relations has improved. However, the U.S. has a strong lobbying group for the Independence of Kosovo.
In the meantime.....
Military to join peacekeeping missions | 12:43 January 18 | B92
BELGRADE -- Wednesday – The Serbia-Montenegro Executive Council has decided to offer the services of the Serbia-Montenegro military’s professional soldiers in peacekeeping operations around the world.
The Serbia-Montenegro soldiers will be participating in a United Nations-led peacekeeping mission in Sudan and will also be helping out international security forces in Afghanistan.
The Federal Parliament has also delivered a proposal for immediate consideration to have Serbia-Montenegro soldiers participate in other UN operations in Liberia, the Ivory Coast and Congo, and both Serbian and Montenegrin Parliaments have expressed support for the proposal.
Military analysts Zoran Dragisic and Aleksandar Radic are not surprised by the decision, since Belgrade is expected to take care of all of its international obligations related to the security systems.
Dragisic said that all UN member countries, as well as Serbia-Montenegro, have the obligation to participate in peacekeeping operations, and that Serbia-Montenegro’s professional soldiers can bring a lot of experience and know-how to help ease the conflicts in these areas of the world.
Radic said that preparations have already begun for sending the soldiers to their assigned destinations.
“Several actions have fallen through thus far, some because of the disinterest of the political elite, others because of money problems. Now we are talking about two realistic missions that require a smaller contingent of militarz personnel, which is a good opportunity to begin our cooperation with the rest of the world. The only problem is that we must wait until the procedure is completed and the mission is accepted, so that we can apply to international missions for funds that will help finance our objectives.” Radic said.