Bolton: U.S. Kosovo policy "all wrong"

"That would, of course, be a mistake and I’m not yet sure whether it’s inevitable," emphasized the minister. "

Which is why there needs to be total clarity coming out of the US on the issue. If they publically stated that a solution between Belgrade and Pristina I think we would find a compromise quite rapidly. This would be a difficult challenge for all but the best way of poviding reconcilation, economic development and building a better future for all in Serbia - Such way forward could enhance the whole regions advancement into Europe where there will be freedom of movement within and high protections for all.

It is a sad reality that people like Bolton can not be honest when in positions of responsibility but as soon as they are no longer in post come out with the true story.

Albans
In his opinion, the fact that "the Europeans are predominantly against a recognition of Kosovo independence without a Security Council resolution, could have a bearing on the U.S.’s position."

Europeans are predominately against Kosovo independence without a UN resolution.

Meaning to a logical mind, and to a sane mind. There will never be an independent Kosovo.

Just keep hearing more and more support from US for the Serbs. Despite the government policies. Thank God for some sanity.

CCCC

These comments are very interesting. Back in 2003 Charles Crawford, the then UK Ambasador in Belgrade, told me something very similar. He said that the UK politicians paid no attention whatsoever to what the diplomats on the ground tell them. The diplomats do the rounds of meeting the local Serbian politicians and gather a considered picture of what is going on, but back home it is the 15 second sound bite on CNN that forms policy. It looks like the UK and USA tax payers are perhaps wasting their money having embassies here !

This is very interesting, but not the first time Bolton has said this. He made similar comments earlier this year.

As far as his comments about the State Department are concerned, the single greatest problem for Belgrade is Nicholas Burns. He is anti-Serbian to the core and has effective control over US decision-making on Kosovo.

Mr. Bolton has 20/20 vision on security and anti-terrorism issues. Sadly, he does not fit into the Department Of State's climate of catering to Saudi and Haliburton interests and that's why he is Ambassador no more.

Jim, as of American rabid anti-Serbian policy, the problem is not limited to Nicholas Burns. The problem are many who owe their advancement to spinning tall tales of "Serbian attrocities" and planting fabrications in official documents. Many careers were built on that. Searching through DoS web site provides many examples. They will never admit their fabrications, because their comfortable retirement is more important than the truth or long-range American interests.

The root of that racist attitude and action has to be investigated and understood before any attempt to mend the bridges.

It seems as if though B92 and other Serbian media are hunting for ex-ambassadors and ex-diplomats that have different views then their current Governments.

James (Rubin),
What crimes against humanity are you referrint to? The 2004 pogrom of Serbs? Less than 2000 people died in the entire Kosovo War, on ALL sides. The '100,000 massacred' that were claimed, as well as bodies being thrown into Trepca mine, were proven lies once investigations were done. So please stop spreading your misinformation. No matter how many times you repeat a lie, it will never become the truth. The only crime against humanity was the 78 day bombing of civilian targets itself, (remember the RTS building James?), for which the entire Clinton administration is guilty and should be tried for at the Hague.
http://www.balkanpeace.org/index.php?index=article&articleid=7427

James, Democrat Senators were against Bolton's nomination in 2004, as were so many self-styled "Progressives".
However, "The Senate panel's examination of Bolton's fitness to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has uncovered nothing to disqualify him, Chairman Richard Lugar of Indiana said after the hearing began."
Bush used recess appointment and hoped Democrats will change opinion by 2006 and when did not happen, Bolton was out.

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2006/12/04/bush_bolton/index.html

It had nothing to do with Bolton being linked to Saudis or Halliburton.
It has to do with something else:

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/12/1344218

It seems that your distorted view of events in the Balkans is matched with an equally badly distorted view of American politics. Linking Bolton to Saudis is worthy of MAD coverage of the topic. Neither Salon nor Democratic Underground come even close. Your ad nauseam repetition of alleged Serbian guilt and accusations are so pathetic. I bet it does not even pay well as it used to do.

Milosevic's only mistake was that he believed Russia was able to provide us with support in 99 that it is providing today. Had Russia had this much cash and influence back then, it is hard to believe NATO would have illegally bombed Serbia.

Hope the US government listens to people like Bolton.

If we overrule the UNSC, if we overrule international law, if we overrule our own promises (1244) ... well, then we REALLY are opening a Pandora's Box!

And what about Cyprus, it is going on for years. Sadly. But no one says: well, there is no solution, let them (North Cyprus) become independent.

Let's talk about Kashmir, Tibet, Taiwain, Darfur, Kurdistan, Basque...

Do you really think all these peoples will ever say that autonomy is enought? Not if Kosovo proves that by not cooperating you will get independende.

STOP IT!

I am from Western Europe. No Serb. I am neutral!

The American State Department cannot get over the fact that they had egg on their face in 1999 when they boasted that the Serbians would surrender in less than a week of bombing. Ever since than their policy has been anti-Serbian regardless of today's Democratic Government. Bolton is right about what he says. It is an incredible that to the USA this is all about pride and nothing more. Its about time that Europe take control of this and tell the Americana's, enough!!!

James,
"I don't want to spoil the party but let me remind you of something that" you said a while back

"Recent deal to let Russia join the WTO is the message many Serbs failed to recognize. That Russia has been brought on board the Kosova Independence speeding bullet train. Excellent mentors, those democratic Americans."
(James, 12 November 2006, 00:09)
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/comments.php?nav_id=37907

- It is clear that your analysis in November was wrong - just as it is today! Quite often when in 'post' you are expeceted to toe the government line and it is only when they have resigned that a more open and truthful perspective is provided.

However, there is one point that you did remind us and that was that Bolton was a Bush shoe in - he was and is still close to Bush. Burns on the other hand is a Clinton left over!

James, you raise an interesting point of Bolton's comment when he was Ambassador. But what makes you think that now that he's out of a job he's touting the line of the Serb lobby? Perhaps he said earlier what he said BECAUSE of his position, and now he'd free to speak his mind.

Do you have his personal contact information? Do you know why he's saying one thing then, and another thing now? If so, please let me know how I can contact him too.

James
I actually see him as someone that is against oppression. This is because he understands that Serbs in Kosovo are being oppressed and are forced to live in enclaves. So I mean would he really want to see u go down a path of US subjugation. This man is trying to save albans from being oppressed themselves. Thats all he is saying to you james.

CCCC

I don't want to spoil the party but let me remind you of something that this same Mr. Bolton said not long ago. Quote from Associated Press as reported by NICK WADHAMS on Tuesday, February 14, 2006; 6:49 PM

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton tacitly rejected Tadic's warning, saying that Kosovo was "a very special case" because of the disintegration of Yugoslavia, ethnic cleansing, and the fact that it had been under U.N. administration for so long.
"We must be realistic about possible outcomes," Bolton said. "Independence is a possible outcome. Any status outcome must be acceptable to the people of Kosovo."

You can find the same on this link as well http://www.usembassy.org.uk/euro337.html

So, now that he is EX UN ambassador (who by the way had to step down since US Senate did no see him fit for that post), and not a government employee, has to make a living somehow. That is where Serb lobby comes to play. You can figure out the rest and conclude why he said what he said now and whether those are true opinions or just an easy way to earn some money. Now we can debate why he changed his mind and now is speaking about supporting a country who committed crimes against humanity in Kosovo and through the rest of Yugoslavia, as he himself put it at UN, but that will be fruitless and beyond the issue at hand, which is finding a solution for the status of Kosovo.

Good news for kate, Princip, cvele and Co. Bolton was discharged from US actual goverment thats why he make such comments.

Bolton is saying things that we know already.

Ofcourse america is anti-Serb, that's nothing new to us.

He shows a lot of wisdom and maturity in his thoughts and approach. I wish his style had been a better match. Compare it to the "statemen" of today and you will see, apparently careful, cordial men in gray hair proposing uncompromising and short-sighted policies in a manner that will cause bitterness for years to come.

It is sad to see the US State Department doing so much to downplay the necessity of a compromise. If is trying to play in a ruthless manner, it should at least try to close chapter on the Milosevic and force a solution that would bring some form compromise where both sides make real concessions.

"No matter how many times you repeat a lie, it will never become the truth"

Looks who is talking about this! It is very good of you to remind us all of this saying but on the other hand it is very sad to see that you dont realize exactly that.

Talk is cheap.
Former US Ambassador to UN, appointed by Bush while Congress was on a break, without Senate confirmation.
It is known widely that personal views of any Administration official, always differ from policy.
It is the same in this case.

He repeated that "there is no doubt that there is a possibility of the U.S. unilaterally recognizing Kosovo independence."

"That would, of course, be a mistake and I’m not yet sure whether it’s inevitable," Bolton concluded.

"Mr. Bolton has 20/20 vision on security and anti-terrorism issues. Sadly, he does not fit into the Department Of State's climate of catering to Saudi and Haliburton interests and that's why he is Ambassador no more. "

If you had any clue of what you are talking about you would have realized that one of the many, many issues that US Senate had with Mr. Bolton becoming a US ambassador was exactly the associations with the above entities that you mention him being against and that helped him to that post in the first place.

Yes, I agree that many careers were build on Serb atrocities committed throughout Balkans and those are careers of Milosevic, Seselj, Milutinovic, Karadzic, Mladic, Plavsic, Sainovic and includes the current political clique who remained silent all along until NATO stepped in at which point todays politicians realized that Serbia was going to become a Belgrade municipality if it did not change its policies in the region. You can deny all the crimes that were committed on the behalf of Serbia and keep on living in a bubble but don't expect the others to deny the same. And eventually for your own good I hope this bubble of yours will burst. Hopefully then you'll see the truth.

As I said earlier it is pointless to talk about various personalities knowing the issue at hand. But I strongly believe that you cannot blame someone else for the mistakes your leaders did.

the way the Albanians react on this article says it all: they are desperate.

and it seems like some other Albanians with more insight are even more desperate, since kaho ditore is coming up with the partition-idea again...

my dear friends, no independence, no partition... autonomy is enough

Bolton is a smart person. He knows his opinions are personal and will not be put to practice. So as long as he was speaking for a serb audience why not make them feel good.But he knows what will exactly will happen.

I wonder whether the Serbs on this site ever stopped for a minute and wondered why the United States turned against them?

As someone who lives in the States, I can tell you few American politicians know or care about small countries, Israel and Taiwan probably being the only exceptions. The only reason the Americans knew the Serbs and Kosovo existed was because of the wars of the nineties. Somehow the Serbs managed to earn the animosity of the States ...

Bolton is a bit of a clown. I mean here is the man who had often advocated the irrelevancy of the U.N. and the need to pursue unilateral action (classical U.S. neo-con) and yet now he's against U.S. unilateral action.

The fact is Serbs and Albanians are simply not interested in compromising. To the ones that claim that Serbia has always been ready to compromise, I say "show me the plan that the Serbian government has drafted to achieve such compromise." Unfortunately there is none. Serbia has decided to trust the resolve of the Russians and the Albanians that of the U.S. This is the reality of the situtation and in that light, Bolton's notion of agreement between Serbia and Kosovo Albanians is just plain dumb.

Ron...
------

It's funny you brought up Cyprus. Now here's an example of the vilest kind of backstabbing in recent EU history.

Let me refresh your memory in case you forgot:

The UN draws up a plan for the re-unification of the island. The Turkish side voted for it. The Greek side let's the EU and the rest of the international community understand that they will vote for it as well, however at the very end, Greek Cypriot nationalist politicians ensure that the referendum fails. As a result, the Greek part of the island joins the EU, while the Turkish side is left in the cold.

If there was decency in this world, the EU and the UN should have made the Greek Cypriots pay for their deception by recognizing the Turkish part of the island as an independent country. Instead, both EU and the UN made a couple of noises and the Greek treachery is simply forgotten.

I suspect that the Albanians and Serbs trust each other even less than the Cypriots and if there's decency in this world, Kosovo should never be subjugated to Serbia again. In the absense of compromise, it sounds like U.S. unilateralism might well set things right in the Balkans for once, whether Russia likes it or not.

Bolton says the US State Department is not distinguishing between 'today's Serbia and Milosevic's Serbia'.

I say there is no difference. Serbia still is pandering to the Russians, has the largest ego in the block, and is quite enamoured to its considerable myths about itself.

It seems as if though B92 and other Serbian media are hunting for ex-ambassadors and ex-diplomats that have different views then their current Governments.

Good news for kate, Princip, cvele and Co. Bolton was discharged from US actual goverment thats why he make such comments.

I don't want to spoil the party but let me remind you of something that this same Mr. Bolton said not long ago. Quote from Associated Press as reported by NICK WADHAMS on Tuesday, February 14, 2006; 6:49 PM

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton tacitly rejected Tadic's warning, saying that Kosovo was "a very special case" because of the disintegration of Yugoslavia, ethnic cleansing, and the fact that it had been under U.N. administration for so long.
"We must be realistic about possible outcomes," Bolton said. "Independence is a possible outcome. Any status outcome must be acceptable to the people of Kosovo."

You can find the same on this link as well http://www.usembassy.org.uk/euro337.html

So, now that he is EX UN ambassador (who by the way had to step down since US Senate did no see him fit for that post), and not a government employee, has to make a living somehow. That is where Serb lobby comes to play. You can figure out the rest and conclude why he said what he said now and whether those are true opinions or just an easy way to earn some money. Now we can debate why he changed his mind and now is speaking about supporting a country who committed crimes against humanity in Kosovo and through the rest of Yugoslavia, as he himself put it at UN, but that will be fruitless and beyond the issue at hand, which is finding a solution for the status of Kosovo.

Bolton is a smart person. He knows his opinions are personal and will not be put to practice. So as long as he was speaking for a serb audience why not make them feel good.But he knows what will exactly will happen.

James
I actually see him as someone that is against oppression. This is because he understands that Serbs in Kosovo are being oppressed and are forced to live in enclaves. So I mean would he really want to see u go down a path of US subjugation. This man is trying to save albans from being oppressed themselves. Thats all he is saying to you james.

CCCC

James,
"I don't want to spoil the party but let me remind you of something that" you said a while back

"Recent deal to let Russia join the WTO is the message many Serbs failed to recognize. That Russia has been brought on board the Kosova Independence speeding bullet train. Excellent mentors, those democratic Americans."
(James, 12 November 2006, 00:09)
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/comments.php?nav_id=37907

- It is clear that your analysis in November was wrong - just as it is today! Quite often when in 'post' you are expeceted to toe the government line and it is only when they have resigned that a more open and truthful perspective is provided.

However, there is one point that you did remind us and that was that Bolton was a Bush shoe in - he was and is still close to Bush. Burns on the other hand is a Clinton left over!

"Mr. Bolton has 20/20 vision on security and anti-terrorism issues. Sadly, he does not fit into the Department Of State's climate of catering to Saudi and Haliburton interests and that's why he is Ambassador no more. "

If you had any clue of what you are talking about you would have realized that one of the many, many issues that US Senate had with Mr. Bolton becoming a US ambassador was exactly the associations with the above entities that you mention him being against and that helped him to that post in the first place.

Yes, I agree that many careers were build on Serb atrocities committed throughout Balkans and those are careers of Milosevic, Seselj, Milutinovic, Karadzic, Mladic, Plavsic, Sainovic and includes the current political clique who remained silent all along until NATO stepped in at which point todays politicians realized that Serbia was going to become a Belgrade municipality if it did not change its policies in the region. You can deny all the crimes that were committed on the behalf of Serbia and keep on living in a bubble but don't expect the others to deny the same. And eventually for your own good I hope this bubble of yours will burst. Hopefully then you'll see the truth.

As I said earlier it is pointless to talk about various personalities knowing the issue at hand. But I strongly believe that you cannot blame someone else for the mistakes your leaders did.

"No matter how many times you repeat a lie, it will never become the truth"

Looks who is talking about this! It is very good of you to remind us all of this saying but on the other hand it is very sad to see that you dont realize exactly that.

This is very interesting, but not the first time Bolton has said this. He made similar comments earlier this year.

As far as his comments about the State Department are concerned, the single greatest problem for Belgrade is Nicholas Burns. He is anti-Serbian to the core and has effective control over US decision-making on Kosovo.

"That would, of course, be a mistake and I’m not yet sure whether it’s inevitable," emphasized the minister. "

Which is why there needs to be total clarity coming out of the US on the issue. If they publically stated that a solution between Belgrade and Pristina I think we would find a compromise quite rapidly. This would be a difficult challenge for all but the best way of poviding reconcilation, economic development and building a better future for all in Serbia - Such way forward could enhance the whole regions advancement into Europe where there will be freedom of movement within and high protections for all.

It is a sad reality that people like Bolton can not be honest when in positions of responsibility but as soon as they are no longer in post come out with the true story.

These comments are very interesting. Back in 2003 Charles Crawford, the then UK Ambasador in Belgrade, told me something very similar. He said that the UK politicians paid no attention whatsoever to what the diplomats on the ground tell them. The diplomats do the rounds of meeting the local Serbian politicians and gather a considered picture of what is going on, but back home it is the 15 second sound bite on CNN that forms policy. It looks like the UK and USA tax payers are perhaps wasting their money having embassies here !

Albans
In his opinion, the fact that "the Europeans are predominantly against a recognition of Kosovo independence without a Security Council resolution, could have a bearing on the U.S.’s position."

Europeans are predominately against Kosovo independence without a UN resolution.

Meaning to a logical mind, and to a sane mind. There will never be an independent Kosovo.

Just keep hearing more and more support from US for the Serbs. Despite the government policies. Thank God for some sanity.

CCCC

Bolton is saying things that we know already.

Ofcourse america is anti-Serb, that's nothing new to us.

Mr. Bolton has 20/20 vision on security and anti-terrorism issues. Sadly, he does not fit into the Department Of State's climate of catering to Saudi and Haliburton interests and that's why he is Ambassador no more.

Jim, as of American rabid anti-Serbian policy, the problem is not limited to Nicholas Burns. The problem are many who owe their advancement to spinning tall tales of "Serbian attrocities" and planting fabrications in official documents. Many careers were built on that. Searching through DoS web site provides many examples. They will never admit their fabrications, because their comfortable retirement is more important than the truth or long-range American interests.

The root of that racist attitude and action has to be investigated and understood before any attempt to mend the bridges.

He shows a lot of wisdom and maturity in his thoughts and approach. I wish his style had been a better match. Compare it to the "statemen" of today and you will see, apparently careful, cordial men in gray hair proposing uncompromising and short-sighted policies in a manner that will cause bitterness for years to come.

It is sad to see the US State Department doing so much to downplay the necessity of a compromise. If is trying to play in a ruthless manner, it should at least try to close chapter on the Milosevic and force a solution that would bring some form compromise where both sides make real concessions.

The American State Department cannot get over the fact that they had egg on their face in 1999 when they boasted that the Serbians would surrender in less than a week of bombing. Ever since than their policy has been anti-Serbian regardless of today's Democratic Government. Bolton is right about what he says. It is an incredible that to the USA this is all about pride and nothing more. Its about time that Europe take control of this and tell the Americana's, enough!!!

Milosevic's only mistake was that he believed Russia was able to provide us with support in 99 that it is providing today. Had Russia had this much cash and influence back then, it is hard to believe NATO would have illegally bombed Serbia.

James (Rubin),
What crimes against humanity are you referrint to? The 2004 pogrom of Serbs? Less than 2000 people died in the entire Kosovo War, on ALL sides. The '100,000 massacred' that were claimed, as well as bodies being thrown into Trepca mine, were proven lies once investigations were done. So please stop spreading your misinformation. No matter how many times you repeat a lie, it will never become the truth. The only crime against humanity was the 78 day bombing of civilian targets itself, (remember the RTS building James?), for which the entire Clinton administration is guilty and should be tried for at the Hague.
http://www.balkanpeace.org/index.php?index=article&articleid=7427

Hope the US government listens to people like Bolton.

If we overrule the UNSC, if we overrule international law, if we overrule our own promises (1244) ... well, then we REALLY are opening a Pandora's Box!

And what about Cyprus, it is going on for years. Sadly. But no one says: well, there is no solution, let them (North Cyprus) become independent.

Let's talk about Kashmir, Tibet, Taiwain, Darfur, Kurdistan, Basque...

Do you really think all these peoples will ever say that autonomy is enought? Not if Kosovo proves that by not cooperating you will get independende.

STOP IT!

I am from Western Europe. No Serb. I am neutral!

James, Democrat Senators were against Bolton's nomination in 2004, as were so many self-styled "Progressives".
However, "The Senate panel's examination of Bolton's fitness to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has uncovered nothing to disqualify him, Chairman Richard Lugar of Indiana said after the hearing began."
Bush used recess appointment and hoped Democrats will change opinion by 2006 and when did not happen, Bolton was out.

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2006/12/04/bush_bolton/index.html

It had nothing to do with Bolton being linked to Saudis or Halliburton.
It has to do with something else:

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/12/1344218

It seems that your distorted view of events in the Balkans is matched with an equally badly distorted view of American politics. Linking Bolton to Saudis is worthy of MAD coverage of the topic. Neither Salon nor Democratic Underground come even close. Your ad nauseam repetition of alleged Serbian guilt and accusations are so pathetic. I bet it does not even pay well as it used to do.

James, you raise an interesting point of Bolton's comment when he was Ambassador. But what makes you think that now that he's out of a job he's touting the line of the Serb lobby? Perhaps he said earlier what he said BECAUSE of his position, and now he'd free to speak his mind.

Do you have his personal contact information? Do you know why he's saying one thing then, and another thing now? If so, please let me know how I can contact him too.

the way the Albanians react on this article says it all: they are desperate.

and it seems like some other Albanians with more insight are even more desperate, since kaho ditore is coming up with the partition-idea again...

my dear friends, no independence, no partition... autonomy is enough

Talk is cheap.
Former US Ambassador to UN, appointed by Bush while Congress was on a break, without Senate confirmation.
It is known widely that personal views of any Administration official, always differ from policy.
It is the same in this case.

He repeated that "there is no doubt that there is a possibility of the U.S. unilaterally recognizing Kosovo independence."

"That would, of course, be a mistake and I’m not yet sure whether it’s inevitable," Bolton concluded.

I wonder whether the Serbs on this site ever stopped for a minute and wondered why the United States turned against them?

As someone who lives in the States, I can tell you few American politicians know or care about small countries, Israel and Taiwan probably being the only exceptions. The only reason the Americans knew the Serbs and Kosovo existed was because of the wars of the nineties. Somehow the Serbs managed to earn the animosity of the States ...

Bolton is a bit of a clown. I mean here is the man who had often advocated the irrelevancy of the U.N. and the need to pursue unilateral action (classical U.S. neo-con) and yet now he's against U.S. unilateral action.

The fact is Serbs and Albanians are simply not interested in compromising. To the ones that claim that Serbia has always been ready to compromise, I say "show me the plan that the Serbian government has drafted to achieve such compromise." Unfortunately there is none. Serbia has decided to trust the resolve of the Russians and the Albanians that of the U.S. This is the reality of the situtation and in that light, Bolton's notion of agreement between Serbia and Kosovo Albanians is just plain dumb.

Ron...
------

It's funny you brought up Cyprus. Now here's an example of the vilest kind of backstabbing in recent EU history.

Let me refresh your memory in case you forgot:

The UN draws up a plan for the re-unification of the island. The Turkish side voted for it. The Greek side let's the EU and the rest of the international community understand that they will vote for it as well, however at the very end, Greek Cypriot nationalist politicians ensure that the referendum fails. As a result, the Greek part of the island joins the EU, while the Turkish side is left in the cold.

If there was decency in this world, the EU and the UN should have made the Greek Cypriots pay for their deception by recognizing the Turkish part of the island as an independent country. Instead, both EU and the UN made a couple of noises and the Greek treachery is simply forgotten.

I suspect that the Albanians and Serbs trust each other even less than the Cypriots and if there's decency in this world, Kosovo should never be subjugated to Serbia again. In the absense of compromise, it sounds like U.S. unilateralism might well set things right in the Balkans for once, whether Russia likes it or not.

Bolton says the US State Department is not distinguishing between 'today's Serbia and Milosevic's Serbia'.

I say there is no difference. Serbia still is pandering to the Russians, has the largest ego in the block, and is quite enamoured to its considerable myths about itself.