http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=22320&cid=67&p=01.02.2008
Voice of Russia
February 1, 2008
G.O.P. QUESTIONS BUSH STRATEGY FOR KOSOVO
A few prominent members of the Republican Party of the
United States have urged the Bush Administration to
drop plans for the recognition of sovereign Kosovo and
renew its efforts to find a negotiated solution to the
Kosovo problem.
Ex-Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, the
ex-Undersecretary of State for arms control and
international security John Bolton, and the
ex-Assistant Secretary of Defense for international
security Peter Rodman have placed an ad in the
Washington Times to warn the Bush Administration of
unpredictable repercussions of its moves in the
Balkans.
They fear that arbitrary recognition of Kosovar
sovereignty will set an example to other troubled
areas.
Already, Basque separatists and Turkish-controled
North Cyprus have started mentioning the Kosovar quest
for sovereignty.
But the White House’s formula for a Kosovo
accommodation affects relations with Russia.
Which is undesirable, the ad in the Washington Times
says, because the outcome of American efforts to
settle other international problems depends on
cooperation with Russia.
In principle, such views are objective enough, though
till recently U.S. politicians abstained from making
public statements on that score.
Till recently the overwhelming majority of American
politicians gave preference to the course towards the
forceful break-up of Serbia.
Yelena Guskova, head of the Centre for Study Modern
Balkan Crisis, says:
The Balkan crisis of the 90s offers proof that this is
a well-thought-out and unilateral policy. The policy
aimed at splitting the multinational [Yugoslav] state.
If we start analyzing the situation, we’ll see that no
support was given to Serbs.
Meaning, first of all, the United States and its
closest partners.
The fact that prominent members of the U.S. Republican
Party begin to voice their disapproval of the Bush
administration policy does not mean that Washington’s
course towards Kosovo will undergo changes.
There are reasons to believe that the current
criticism is aimed at the Serbs.
The second round of the presidential elections will
take place in Serbia this coming Sunday.
And Washington does not conceal its interest in the
pro-Western candidate scoring a victory.
In this context, the publication in The Washington
Times can be regarded as a pre-election move.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
