http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20077-2005Apr1.html
THE WASHINGTON POST (USA)
LETTERS
Serbian Reality
Saturday, April 2, 2005; Page A20
The March 24 editorial "Back to the Balkans" pointed out that Kosovo, a
predominantly ethnic Albanian province of Serbia, has not yet regained
stability. Unfortunately it did not provide a balanced update of the
developments in the U.N.-administered province in the past five years.
Despite international guidance and generous U.S. and Western European aid to
Kosovo, the institutions run by the ethnic Albanian majority have failed to
implement some basic rules of democratic governance. The Albanians did not
prevent the trampling of the rights of the non-Albanians.
Since 1999, some 230,000 Kosovo Serbs have been forced to leave their homes,
more than 150 Serbian churches and monasteries have been destroyed, and many
people have been killed. The remaining Serbs live in enclaves, some of which
are encircled by barbed wire. Only a few months ago, an indicted war
criminal was elected prime minister of Kosovo.
The shameful reality in Kosovo can no longer be blamed on Slobodan
Milosevic, Serbian "nationalism" or the unfulfilled promises of the
international community. Serbia is ruled by the democrats who overthrew Mr.
Milosevic and the international community has so far, if anything, shown
disproportionate patience with the province's terrible human rights record.
Serbia and the international community share the dream of an autonomous,
responsible, multiethnic Kosovo, safe for all citizens. Ignoring reality,
recycling false excuses or appeasing extremists is not the right course of
action.
IVAN VUJACIC
Ambassador
Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro
Washington
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
