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To the Editor:
Your Editorial "In From the Cold (The N. Y. Times, January 6) qualifies Serbia's application to join the European Union as"...an apt moment to celebrate the turnaround in Serbian politics and attitude under President Tadic". We disagree.
First, Serbia has not apologized for the crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo during the 1998-1999 war against the local Albanian population. It has done so for the crimes committed in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Slovenia. Evidently, Serbia continues to think of the Albanians in Kosovo as "less-than-humans"
Second, it is true that President Tadic is not Slobodan Milosevic, and that he is more "European" than his opponent V.Kostunica. However, as you point out, he shows great disrespect for the international law by almost openly protecting Serbian war criminals, whose place is in the Hague's International Court for War Crimes in Yugoslavia. Only recently, Serbian courts released two Serbian police officers who assassinated three U.S. citizens of Albanian descent (the three Bitici brothers) who had inadvertently entered Serbian territory, were sentenced to 15 days in jail, later released and killed by Serbian Police. The US State Department is still waiting for an answer.
Third, Serbian co-operation with the European-led Mission in Kosovo is done more to avoid any cooperation with the authorities of an independent Kosovo -which Serbia rejects - than by the desire to show good neighborly relations. Serbia may not recognize the independent Kosovo for a long time to please the strong domestic nationalistic feelings. However, this position doesn't show any degree of statesmanship by President Tadic. Ten days ago, on Chritsmas holidays, he visited the Serbian Dechani Monastery in Kosovo, and was protected by, among others, the Kosovo Police Force. President Tadic made no conciliatory statements, and no gestures, to promote peace and cooperation between the two neighboring people, Albanians of Kosovo and Serbs.
As for the recognition of Kosovo's independence, Serbia's action loses its impact with every passing day. The new country has been recognized by 64 nations, including the United States and most of European Union (excluding five countires with unresolved national minority problems, such as Spain. Greece, Cypros, Romania, and Slovakia) and several international organizations. Kosovo is now striving to join the U.N.O. and the European Union, although Serbia may "...try unreasonably bar Kosovo from eventual European Union membership,:" as you rightly point out.
Ridgefiled, CT.
January 7, 2010
Sami Repishti, PhD.
City University of New York (ret.)
former political prisoner in Communist Yugoslavia (1959-60)
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Address:
Dr. Sami Repishti
"Regency"
638 Danbury Road, # 49
Ridgefield, CT. 06877
Phone: 1-203-894.3727
sdrepishti@att.net |
Dine Doraci (932)
