Two letters today in The Washington Times. One pro, one con. Stella
[EMAIL PROTECTED] The Washington Times Letters to the editor 23 August 2007 A plan for Kosovo Rep. Dan Burton provides a much-needed dose of common sense in his Monday Op-Ed column on Kosovo independence, "Negotiating for peace in Kosovo." Anyone who believes Kosovo fulfills any of the criteria for a functioning state, which range from economic viability to the rule of law and respect for human rights, is either sympathetic to the cause or oblivious to prevailing local realities. Further, as was evidenced by the dramatic recent jailbreak of seven criminals, including one Wahhabi Muslim extremist who in 2005 led violent attempts to overthrow the moderate Muslim minority leadership in neighboring Macedonia, Kosovo's security infrastructure is still unable or unwilling to control its extremist elements. This is occurring just as regional intelligence reports indicate increased movements of ex-mujahedeen from Bosnia into Kosovo. Because an independent Kosovo also would be free of international security oversight, it is more than likely that it would remain a sanctuary for criminally connected foreign Islamist radicals. CHRISTOPHER DELISO Skopje, Macedonia • In his Monday Commentary column, "Negotiating for peace in Kosovo," Rep. Dan Burton suggests a solution that is consistent with accepted international principles, including guarantees of both the territorial integrity of states as well as of human rights and self-determination. Noble as this is, one cannot help but get the impression that Mr. Burton is not well informed about the issue at stake and parties involved in this conflict. Furthermore, it comes as a surprise at a time when Serbian officials, from the prime minister down to various cabinet ministers and advisers, have openly threatened NATO, European Union and U.S. interests in the region. Additionally, Mr. Burton needs to be reminded that Albania is one of the staunchest U.S. allies in the war against radical Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world while actively participating in various combat operations. Furthermore, the government in Albania has agreed to extend asylum to Guantanamo prisoners released by the United States. Therefore, in submitting to the intransigence of Serbia, a country backed by ever-assertive Russia, the United States would reward politics of genocide. Current U.S. support for the plan of U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari is the right policy (while providing conditions for a supervised independence under EU auspices and the greatest possible rights for Kosovo's minorities) and provides the best compromise, in which neither side gets the maximum of its demands. ARDIAN HALITI New York City
