http://www.serbianna.com/columns/averko/004.shtml
VIEWPOINT
Lantos and Engel Challenge Russia's Position on Kosovo
By Michael Averko
June 26, 2007
A smoother title is "US-Russia Square Off on Kosovo". As an American, I find
that title problematical because the support for Kosovo independence
contradicts American interests. After years of economic sanctions which
included an unjust war against it, Serbia is regrouping itself as a major force
in the Balkans. Why unnecessarily infuriate a nation that has been on
historically good terms with the West and Russia?
The so called "Muslim street" will not likely become more pro-American if the
American led West were to drop its support for an independent "Kosova."
(Albanian pronounced spelling) The 911 tragedy occurred despite the Clinton
administration initiated anti-Serb policies. The Muslim world hasn't distanced
itself from Russia over the wars in Chechnya. Not so long ago, Russian
President Vladimir Putin attended a World Islamic Conference gathering and
indicated a Russian willingness to join that organization. There's nothing
brazenly stopping Serbia from having good relations with the Muslim world.
This past Thursday (June 21), there was a gathering of American and Russian
lawmakers in Washington. The highlight of that CSPAN televised panel dealt with
the matter of disputed former Communist bloc territories. Kosovo was the main
focus of the discussion.
Much has been written about Russia's Slavic Orthodox Christian sympathies for
Serbia. On the other hand, one doesn't find as much written on what encourages
individuals like American Congressmen Tom Lantos (Republican, California) and
Eliot Engel (Democrat, New York) to take their militantly pro-Albanian
nationalist stance. Lantos is the recipient of significant Albanian-American
contributions ($10K in 2006) and Engel has a sizeable Albanian-American
constituency. This reality is what motivates those two to piously tell their
Russian colleagues that Kosovo is "different" from the other disputed former
Communist bloc territories.
The Russian side to that discussion gave a credible performance. As is the
case with such panels, some additional points can be added.
At the end of the panel, Eliot Engel lashed out at Natalia Narochnitskaya (a
charismatic advocate, who doesn't hold back in expressing her well founded
Russocentric views) for portraying the Albanian nationalist side as Islamic.
Time didn't permit for a follow-up, which could've noted how since NATO's
forced 1999 entry into Kosovo, the province has had Serb churches destroyed as
mosques are built with Saudi funding. Something like 90% of Kosovo's Albanian
population are said to be of Muslim origin. Putting aside the Islamic
connection to Albanian nationalism, there's no denying that this movement has
violent and expansionist elements. Narochnitskaya noted the numerous Greater
Albania maps listing Serbia's Presevo region, Kosovo, Albania, parts of
Montenegro, Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as one nation.
Remember all the hoopla about a "Greater Serbia"?
In answer to the Russian side providing a documented appraisal of Albanian
nationalist violence, Engel said it's important to not exaggerate past and
present wrongs. A highpoint of his hypocrisy which wasn't tap danced on.
During the discussion Lantos and Engel staunchly stated their belief that
Kosovo should never be returned to Serbia because of what (in their view)
happened during the Milosevic era.
Iraq and Turkey don't lose Kurdistan for the harsh treatment those two gave the
Kurds. Much worse than what the Serbs could ever be legitimately accused of
doing to the Albanians. The latter instance which wasn't such a one way
street. Minus Kosovo, present day Serbia is more democratic and tolerant than
what one finds in Turkey, Iraq and Kosovo.
Unlike the Albanians, the Kurds lack lobbying clout. Unlike the Turks, the
Serbs aren't NATO members. Factors which relate to the gross hypocrisy.
Lantos and Engel will obviously not budge on this issue. They've too much at
stake to change for the better. The same isn't true with the overwhelming
majority of Americans, as well as some other American lawmakers besides Lantos
and Engel (Texas Congressman Ron Paul being one such example). Reason enough
for having high profile point-counterpoint debates on the subject.
---------------------------------
Michael Averko is a New York based independent foreign policy analyst and
media critic. His commentary has appeared in the Action Ukraine Report,
Eurasian Home, Intelligent.ru, Johnson's Russia List, Russia Blog, The New York
Times and The Tiraspol Times.
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