Posted on 01/03/2007 5:32:21 AM PST by kronos77
Years of hand-wringing and chest-thumping over the future status of Kosovo may finally be drawing to a close. In the next few months, adroit diplomacy to secure Kosovo’s independence could yield a victory for Muslim democracy, a better future for south-east Europe and validation for the judicious use of American power.
But along with the potential for triumph in Kosovo, there is a growing risk that Serbia and Russia will conspire to seize defeat from the jaws of victory. Extremists in Belgrade and Moscow are – for very different reasons – hoping to use Russia’s United Nations Security Council veto to quash Kosovo’s bid for independence. If they succeed, the Balkans will emerge as another source of bad news in a world already crowded with crises.
During the seven years since Nato ended Slobodan Milosevic’s reign of terror in Kosovo, a UN-backed administration has largely succeeded in bringing stability to the province. However, Kosovo’s people are justifiably tired of a status quo marked by uncertainty and economic privation. These two intertwined problems will continue so long as the debate over the province’s future remains unresolved. Its ambiguous status is also leading to stagnation in Serbia.
Nationalist politicians in Belgrade have embraced the fight against Kosovo’s independence to divert public attention from their own failures and Serbia’s stalled bid for European Union membership. The actions of Vojislav Kostunica, Serbia’s prime minister, have been particularly disappointing. In addition to refusing international requests to call for the arrest of war crimes fugitives Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, Mr Kostunica has rejected every attempt at compromise on Kosovo.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
Who did Biden plagiarize this piece from?
Boris, I can see that happening.
Here's the skinny on Biden almost 5 years ago. How little change in him from then to now!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/681577/posts
The speech was held at a meeting organized by the Albanian-American Council, and it also included the message that the U.S. and the international community are not ready to talk about the eventual independence of the Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohia.
"Before that happens, Kosovars have to prove to the world that they are capable of maintaining real democracy, including the human and civil rights for the Serbs and all other minorities. If that is achieved within the next couple of years, there will be a possibility of self-determination" - Biden said.
Since the genocidal "Kosovars" can never prove to the world that they are capable of maintaining real democracy, including the human and civil rights for the Serbs and all other minorities, there should never be a possibility of self-determination".
Lawyers do not have obligation to disclose where the money is coming from.
Highly interesting charts.
Joe Biden is against soft money but it seems that he has nothing against heroin money.
Thanks for the barf alert. My desk could have gotten really messy otherwise...
Any word how the Greek-American Congressional delegation is coming down on this?
"Any word how the Greek-American Congressional delegation is coming down on this?"
No idea. I'll have to ask one of them when I see her. Given the Church's position and the overwhelmingly pro Serb position of the Greek American community, I think I can anticipate what their position is/will be.
Seems like Lantos was the big campaign donation winner for the Albanians in 2006 : http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.asp?strID=C00278689&Cycle=2006 But a disproprtionate amount were also Republicans.
Joeseph Biden-laden makes me mad enough to eat books.
Check this out: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1758330/posts Biden is running for president! And next month he becomes chair of the Foreign Relations Committee.
The gall of Biden to completely fail mentioning the KLA, so called "Afghans" infiltrated into Kosovo, and of course, all the drug trafficking. What a scumbag.
I don't think that's the cause to be banned. He is, after all, only a public servant (or so they like to present themselves), not Caesar. We are his customers and customer is always right, right? So, screw you Sen. Biden, and the horse you rode on! (add a little Scottish flavor to this)
Seriously, he is frustrated because the Serbs have conducted a clever policy of appeasing the west and at the same time sticking to their guns, and international law. No country has the thing to change another country's borders by taking away 15% of its territory. Serbia put Kosovo as its inalienable territory in the Constitution and will forever have the right to claim it and take it back, if necessary. When Biden is long gone and forgotten, the Serbs will still be there.
You are right, Kosta, re Biden's frustration..
But re Biden & his ilk, "Too many idiots, too little time!"
Idiots are dangerous to begin with. They become real dangerous when they are in position of power. I think we see this every day.
Or maybe Hoplite is HIS user name here?
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