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Sun, Nov 22 2009
Joe Biden’s Western Balkans agenda
US vice president Joe Biden
United States vice president Joe Biden begins a short tour of the Western Balkans on May 20 2009 with a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina before heading on to Serbia and Kosovo.
News agencies quoted White House sources as saying ahead of the Biden tour that the vice-president’s trip signalled that Barack Obama administration was willing to do more to help the Euro-Atlantic integration of the region.
Media reports on May 18 said that former Bosnian Serb soldiers intended protesting against Biden's visit and calling for the US to stay out of Bosnian affairs.
Of special interest during the tour will be Biden’s statements and actions in Serbia and Kosovo.
The US left Belgrade’s nose out of joint when Washington took the lead in recognising Kosovo as an independent state after the February 2008 announcement in Pristina of a unilateral declaration of independence.
Biden will go to Serbia first, in what Washington apparently hopes will be the start of a new state in relations between the US and Serbia.
Serbian news agency Tanjug, quoting Belgrade-based daily Politika, US ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter portrayed Biden’s visit as representing continuance of American policy, "commitment to progress of not only Serbia but the entire region - its EU integration and co-operation in military and investment issues".
Munter said in reply to a question that he foresaw no change to the legal status of Kosovo.
He said that he presumed that, "because of its history, because of 1999 and the difficulties it has experienced for the past 20 years, Serbia will sooner join the EU than Nato".
In Serbia, Biden will meet Serbian president Boris Tadic, and then with the defence minister and chief of staff of the Serbian armed forces.
On May 15, Kosovo newspaper Zeri said that Serbia’s minister for Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic, said in an interview with Politika that there should be little discussion on
Kosovo with Biden because Munter already had said that "we do not agree on Kosovo".
Ivanovic said that the Western Balkans was not a priority for the US and that there was an incorrect perception that, on waking every morning, Obama thought first about what was going on in the Western Balkans.
"I believe that Biden will convey the message that the EU should take over responsibility for ex-Yugoslav countries," Ivanovic said.
Serbian agency Beta said that Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci said that a "magnificient welcome" was being planned for Biden, "a friend of our people".
"He is acquainted with the issue of our liberation fight, the process of democratic transition and Kosovo's independence, and now with the processes of Kosovo's integration into NATO and the EU. He is a friend and a supporter of Kosovo and we will give him a welcome he deserves," Thaci said.
In Kosovo, Biden will meet leaders including the president, prime minister, foreign minister and speaker of the parliament. Biden will address the Kosovo parliament and visit US military base Camp Bondsteel.
In an opinion piece published on May 18 in Kosovo daily Koha Ditore, Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj said that the message from Kosovo president Sejdiu and prime minister Thaci to Biden should be to redouble his efforts to get more countries to recognise Kosovo as independent.
"If it weren’t for you, the United States of America, even Albania would not recognise our independence. Please continue your efforts for the stabilisation of the north, against the division of Kosovo, because only you can do this," Palokaj’s article said.
News agencies quoted White House sources as saying ahead of the Biden tour that the vice-president’s trip signalled that Barack Obama administration was willing to do more to help the Euro-Atlantic integration of the region.
Media reports on May 18 said that former Bosnian Serb soldiers intended protesting against Biden's visit and calling for the US to stay out of Bosnian affairs.
Of special interest during the tour will be Biden’s statements and actions in Serbia and Kosovo.
The US left Belgrade’s nose out of joint when Washington took the lead in recognising Kosovo as an independent state after the February 2008 announcement in Pristina of a unilateral declaration of independence.
Biden will go to Serbia first, in what Washington apparently hopes will be the start of a new state in relations between the US and Serbia.
Serbian news agency Tanjug, quoting Belgrade-based daily Politika, US ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter portrayed Biden’s visit as representing continuance of American policy, "commitment to progress of not only Serbia but the entire region - its EU integration and co-operation in military and investment issues".
Munter said in reply to a question that he foresaw no change to the legal status of Kosovo.
He said that he presumed that, "because of its history, because of 1999 and the difficulties it has experienced for the past 20 years, Serbia will sooner join the EU than Nato".
In Serbia, Biden will meet Serbian president Boris Tadic, and then with the defence minister and chief of staff of the Serbian armed forces.
On May 15, Kosovo newspaper Zeri said that Serbia’s minister for Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic, said in an interview with Politika that there should be little discussion on
Kosovo with Biden because Munter already had said that "we do not agree on Kosovo".
Ivanovic said that the Western Balkans was not a priority for the US and that there was an incorrect perception that, on waking every morning, Obama thought first about what was going on in the Western Balkans.
"I believe that Biden will convey the message that the EU should take over responsibility for ex-Yugoslav countries," Ivanovic said.
Serbian agency Beta said that Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci said that a "magnificient welcome" was being planned for Biden, "a friend of our people".
"He is acquainted with the issue of our liberation fight, the process of democratic transition and Kosovo's independence, and now with the processes of Kosovo's integration into NATO and the EU. He is a friend and a supporter of Kosovo and we will give him a welcome he deserves," Thaci said.
In Kosovo, Biden will meet leaders including the president, prime minister, foreign minister and speaker of the parliament. Biden will address the Kosovo parliament and visit US military base Camp Bondsteel.
In an opinion piece published on May 18 in Kosovo daily Koha Ditore, Brussels-based correspondent Augustin Palokaj said that the message from Kosovo president Sejdiu and prime minister Thaci to Biden should be to redouble his efforts to get more countries to recognise Kosovo as independent.
"If it weren’t for you, the United States of America, even Albania would not recognise our independence. Please continue your efforts for the stabilisation of the north, against the division of Kosovo, because only you can do this," Palokaj’s article said.
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Jorgos, why don't you write under your Albanian name?
You are no more Greek than I am.
Only Albnians, Bosnian Muslims and Croats blame Serbs for the war in the former Yugoslavia. Greeks are with Serbs and would never blame them. So, Jorgos or whatever your Albnian name is, you are not fooling me or most people.
Milan, don't fall for his crap. I have seen Albanians write even under Serbian names only to cause trouble between us and our friends.
Jorgos i am sorry you fell this way especially because i have deep respect for your country and Greek people overall. But i can't help it notice how blinded you are. You think that Serbia should accept Kosovo independence but you don't think your country should do the same? What about Spain? How about Romania? Cyprus? You are blaming Serbian people for everything bad that has happen in this region for past 100 years. You know who else did the same thing only with Jewish people? All those countries you named wasn't occupied by Serbia, they where part of the same country. Milions of Serbs lived there... but yes now these countries are Serb free, ethnic cleansing? You wrote that WWII started because of us which instantly discvalify you as a serious person, but just because you are Greek, nation that we Serbs love so much i wanted to respond to your comment even you don't deserve it.
I think Serbia has now got to accept that Kosovo is an independent country. The longer this argument is carried on by Serbs, the more unstable the region becomes. It is unfair to do this once again for the rest of us that live next door to you as its about time we prospered as a region and not continue living in the dark ages...and no Serb can claim that its not their fault! Think of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro and lately Kosovo. These were all lands that you guys occupied and it was evidently unjust as today they are no longer part of you! History also has it that even WWII started because of you. Dont get me wrong, I'm Greek and I dont like Albanians anymore than Serbs but the 20th centaury Hitler (Milosevic) was not Albanian! We want peace in the region and as much as I dont like saying it, no war in the region was started or finished by Albanians!
This is a perfect example of how ignorant US administration is. Of course Albanians will welcome this murderer, after all he and the rest of his crew gave them something that wasn't theirs in the first place. At this moment my grandfather's house in Kosovo is occupied by Albanian family from Albania (at least they didn't torch the place, although they did brake all tombstones on local graveyard). There's only a handful of Serbs left on Kosovo, mostly old people, but don't get me wrong this is not ethnic cleansing... because Serbs are victims, no it's ahhhh what is the word they told us???? Oh yeah "legit revenge"!!! One day US will abandon this region (reason is not important), and when that day comes...oh boy oh boy i would not wanted to be in Albanins shoes i mean after all we are all bunch of "killers and rapists".
Joseph, I am sorry you feel that way but then you are most likely not a Serb. Serbs were not the bad guys. Everyone had a part in that war and everyone attacked and was attacked.
I wonder who was the bad guy in Medek or who harvested organs from whom. Let me guess, according to you it was the Serbs.
Sure, nobody elese did ethnic cleaninsing but the Serbs.
Please take your anti Serb stance to an Albanian site. It will be welcomed there.
Peggy, I personally think Biden's visit will be really good for Serbia to reconnect our ties with the US but also for the US in trying to establish diplomatic relations with our nation. Albanians, Croats, and Bosnians have a right to be mad at us because we were the aggressors in each war. Its time to move and open a new chapter.
Bokababe, why don't you just plain shut up. You don't have any right to decide who say what and stop calling people names you clearly are, except that you are an Albanian extremist which makes you a supporter of organ harvesting ghouls.
It's funny when Albanians think they can say whatever they like and call people names whenever they like but constantly try to silence the others.
Go away you little worm.
Piggy,
sorry but you a Serbian extremist. Lay off the Serbian "Church" history books for a while. Biden didn't say that all serbs are rapists and baby killers, just plenty of them.
Valon, this is inexcusable in anyone's language.
Then let's all call US administration illiterate child killers and rapists as well because Serbian children died directly as a result of their policies and NATO attack. Many Serbian women were also raped by Croats and Muslims and many Serbian children were murdered by them as well. Can't say it didn't happen. So by your own definition, Tudjman, Izetbegovic and Clinton are all illiterate child killers and rapists too.
No smart politician would sink as low as Biden has and make this sort of a statement. Has any other politician said this or is it just Biden? Think about it.
On the comment by Peggy,
I believe the vice president was referring to Serbian authorities. This was an accurate statement because we knew that it was the Serbian governments policy to ethnically cleans Kosovo of all Albanians at any means. I have heard him clearly state that it is the Serbian government and not the ethnicity as a whole who was committing these acts. And he didn't bring this up to stir up controversy. He said it in an effort to stop genocide. He was successful, That is why he will receive a heroes welcome!
Tadic should not even accept Biden let alone welcome him.
Perhaps another US official, but not Biden because of his statement that Serbs were rapists and child killers.
Until he takes this statement back and apologizes for it, he should not be welcomed in Serbia. For any politican to say something as derogatory as this is an outrage and should not be welcomed anywhere. First thing you should have as a politican is deplomacy. It's like Tadic calling all Americans child killers because of the bombing of Serbia. He would never get away with it, and frankly he has more class than to say that. What does that say about Biden?