• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Clinton Ends Balkan Tour With Call For Dialogue In Kosovo

October 13, 2010
By RFE/RL

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received a warm welcome from cheering and flag-waving crowds today as she arrived in Kosovo's capital, Pristina.

Correspondents say thousands of people lined the route of her motorcade from the airport to the parliament building.

On the way, her car stopped and she emerged to inspect the 3-meter-high bronze statue of her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Bill Clinton is immensely popular in Kosovo because he ordered U.S. forces in 1999 to lead the NATO bombing campaign against the Serbian authorities, which eventually led to independence for the breakaway province.

On arrival at the parliament, she immediately went into talks with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and urged the Kosovars to open a direct dialogue with Belgrade soon. Pristina wants to delay such a dialogue until a new president is elected early next year.

"Some matters, like the status, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Kosovo, are not up for discussion," Clinton told journalists after meeting Thaci.

"But the leaders of both countries [Serbia and Kosovo] must approach the dialogue in good faith and with respect for each other's concerns."

'Mutually Beneficial Goals'

Clinton delivered the same message today as she gave on October 12 to Serbian President Boris Tadic in Belgrade.

"These [Serbia-Kosovo] talks represent an opportunity to address immediate and practical needs while making progress toward mutually beneficial goals, for example, increasing travel and trade," she continued.

Belgrade in September signaled its readiness to engage in dialogue with Kosovo, but Tadic told Clinton that Serbia would never recognize Kosovo's independence.

The United States and most European Union countries have recognized Kosovo's independence since it seceded from Serbia in 2008. In July, the International Court of Justice ruled that its declaration of independence did not violate international law.

Today, Thaci expressed optimism about the eventual outcome of a dialogue with the Serbs, saying it would "result in the integration of Kosovo and Serbia within NATO and EU structures."

Tensions High

Clinton's trip to Kosovo comes as tensions are high between the Serbian minority and ethnic Albanians in the north of the country, where most of the Serbs live.

There have been a number of violent incidents in the north in recent weeks, which led the commander of NATO peacekeepers, German General Erhard Buehler, to increase security measures to tackle what he called the "challenging situation."

Further tension is likely to be stoked by the October 12 verdict of a Serbian appeals court confirming the acquittals of three former Serbian police officers tried for one of the worst massacres of the Kosovo war.

Serbia's war crimes court convicted and sentenced four ex-policemen last year to up to 20 years in prison, but acquitted three others of killing 48 ethnic Albanians in March 1999 in the Kosovar village of Suva Reka.

The appeals court also ordered a retrial of one of the four convicted men.

RFE/RL's Balkan Service contributed to this report. With news agency material

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Clinton_Ends_Balkan_Tour_With_Call_For_Dialogue_In_Kosovo/2189315.html

Copyright (c) 2010. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.