Since some seem to have trouble believing Congressman Lantos' truly unbelievable statement regarding creation of Muslim county in Europe, please note that the Congressman's comment appears on page 8 of the attached partial transcript of the April 17 hearing (in PDF format), with relelvant portion concerning Chairman Lantos in blue. (For fair use only)
After opening the attachment, if you want to copy any portion of it, go to the tool bar and click on "select." The cursor will then become an arrow which will allow you to highlight and copy. ============================== 17 APRIL 2007 TUESDAY SECTION: PRESS CONFERENCE OR SPEECH LENGTH: 11065 WORDS; HEADLINE: HEARING OF THE HOUSE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE; SUBJECT: OUTLOOK FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO; CHAIRED BY: REPRESENTATIVE TOM LANTOS (D-CA); WITNESS: NICHOLAS BURNS, UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS LOCATION: 2172 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C., SEN LANTOS: (Sounds gavel.) The committee will be in order. [..Page 8] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. REP. LANTOS: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. Speaking of your testimony, let me say I read your testimony with great care, and I agree with it in its entirety. There isn't a sentence in your testimony that I would not subscribe to. Before I raise some issues, I would like to turn to the distinguished chairman of the Europe subcommittee who came during our opening statements for his opening statement. Mr. Wexler REP. ROBERT WEXLER (D-FL): Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. That's very kind of you. I listened, as did everyone, very carefully to Mr. Burns, and I also subscribe to everything that he has said. It is rare that a diplomat comes before this committee and speaks, I think, as forthrightly as you have spoken this morning. It is a very strong statement. I congratulate you for it. In effect, if I understand what you're saying, we're in the final stretch, that the United States supports the independence of Kosovo for all of the historic reasons and practical reasons that you pointed out today; and that we're also fully committed to bringing Serbia into NATO and into the European Union as soon as possible under the right circumstances. And I think both are extremely important. And I agree with Congressman Engel and many others who for years have fought, along with the chairman, Mr. Lantos, for the independence of Kosovo, and I support their efforts and and join with their efforts and support Mr. Ahtissari's plan. My question to Mr. Burns at the appropriate time, Mr. Chairman, would be the one wrinkle in this plan appears still to be the recalcitrance of Russia and I'd be curious if we could hear what the administration, what Mr. Burns has to say in that regard. REP. LANTOS: Thank you very much. Let me just raise a few items. Mr. Secretary. The first one: just a reminder to the predominantly Muslim-led governments in this world that here is yet another example that the United States leads the way for the creation of a predominantly Muslim country in the very heart of Europe. This should be noted by both responsible leaders of Islamic governments, such as Indonesia, and also for jihadists of all color and hue. The United States' principles are universal, and in this instance, the United States stands foursquare for the creation of an overwhelmingly Muslim country in the very heart of Europe. Now, it seems to me -- and I'd be grateful if you'd comment on my observations, Mr. Secretary -- that the prime beneficiary of the Ahtassari plan is in fact Serbia, relieved of the burden of an entity which, for obvious historic reasons, no longer wishes to be ruled from Belgrade. When the Ahtasaari plan was fully implemented, Serbia will start its path towards membership in the European Union, full membership in NATO, the rebuilding of its economy and taking its proper place as a respected European nation in the family of European nations. So I think it is very important, as we consider this most important -- (audio break). MR. BURNS: (In progress following audio break) -- that would have changed the dynamics. But, as you know, Ahtassari was there for 18 months, had very little buy-in. We've had a marvelous negotiator, Frank Wisner, a former retired American ambassador, very distinguished person -- he's been at this for well over four years, and he's had the same frustrations in trying to get the Serbs to believe in the process, and they have fundamentally rejected this process. REP: Thank you, Congressman. To read the 17 April introductory comments by Nicholas Burns, see: http://www.state.gov/p/us/rm/2007/83120.htm You can also view the video. Stella
