Wednesday, 05.11.2008.
12:51
William Montgomery says that there will be no great upheavals in U.S. policy on the Balkans following the election of Barack Obama as president.
Izvor: B92
pre 15 godina
"..more attention would be paid to the Balkans because of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s interest in the region."
Joe, we don't need your superfficial interest in the region.
Futhermore, I'd wish Joe looses his interest promptly and irretrievably.
pre 15 godina
The USA is the best country in the world because a minority can be the president of a country.
Will a Serbian ever be a president of Croatia or an Albanian in Bosnia? No way!!
Way to go USA!
The Balkans should learn a little for the history making day in the USA!
pre 15 godina
>> "who has made no bones about controlling anything outside the Serb sectors, and even here, be willing to give self-rule to the K-Serbs under their own government.
Tadic is no Milosevic. He's no Kostunica."
and that is the problem. Rep Sprska is threatening a division because of self-rule. How can you divide Kosova in 50 small places with a different government ruling 5% of the population spread over Kosova?
How will the Serb police move in and out?
If a Serb commits a crime in Gracanica, how do you deal with it? Serbian or Kosova laws?
What if Serbs are 2% in 100 years, how do we deal with it?
Will Serbia provide the same for Presheva? The best solution is to exchange them and no one has to deal with each other.
What rights does Serbia have inside Kosovo?
Otherwise, all these are a setup for the next step, a separation and conflict, so it isn't as simple. If Tadic will not do it, another Kostunica 15 years from now will. Once they say this is "Serbian section" and a border is drawn within the border, it's official, that's why there is a mistrust
pre 15 godina
I'm Albanian but I agree with Mike that Serbians shouldn't be stigmatized. On this point, Serbians also hopefully make an effort to get closer to the West and the US. If they want to move beyond and transcend the past, good for us, believe it or not. It could be a viscious cycle for us Albanians if we stay in the hatred game.
As for Obama, I don't like him because he is dangerous, inexperienced, full of hot air, and self centered. I see potential for disaster in greater world issues than the Balkans. Here they will just work more toward stabilization, id est "more money" and improved image for the region. Good for us again. Either McCain or Obama wanted a quiet Balkans, so it doesn't really matter in my view who won in this respect.
What upsets me is that Americans voted emotively and were scammed by a propaganda machine. It's a sad day for democracy, freedom and capitalism. I am distraught. A socialist+fascist Us, especially in these times when we needed competent people up there, oh no. Goodbye American Dream.
pre 15 godina
He said that Obama’s victory was without a doubt a historic day for America and sent a message to the whole world that the U.S. had returned as a constructive force for positive change.
“The U.S. has drawn hate and anger on itself with various factors in the world over the last eight years and that course has now changed,” he said.
Yeaahhh, that's why if the Swiss population had to vote, 83 % would have voted for Obama....
If really his words are followd by deeds, The UN will have a serious work in unwiding the mess created by the bushes and co...., let's hope for it, justice should prevail for all equally.....
pre 15 godina
Pavaresi,
I you could cease being a raging nationalist for 5 minutes and read over my comments again, you'll see that my critique is rather well placed. Washington has a bad history of looking at parts of the world through historical prisms of their choosing. Instead of viewing Serbian efforts at reasserting leverage over Kosovo as some folley in mythological grandeur or authoritarian legacy, they should see that they've never had as good a potential partner as Tadic, who has made no bones about controlling anything outside the Serb sectors, and even here, be willing to give self-rule to the K-Serbs under their own government.
Tadic is no Milosevic. He's no Kostunica. He's not even a Saakashvili. I can easily see Obama working with someone like him. If you can't see that, that's your own narrow-mindedness.
pre 15 godina
Obama, holbrooke and the rest of the DoS...
US does not want to be friends...
Obama will fuel foreign policy against russia, china and all other non US alligned countries...serbia, you're one of the countries and your history with the west will repeat...
Be firm from the falling the Roman Empire!
US UK Policy is to break the Serbs...we are the nazi's, it was us who funded Hitler. Wake up (Gjuma)
pre 15 godina
Those of us who have been appalled and sickened by the actions of the Bush administration can only rejoice in the election of Barack Obama. Let us also congratulate the American people who gave him such a resounding victory. As regards his policy towards Serbia and Kosovo we will have to wait and see but at the very least it should be a more considered one than that pursued by Bush.
pre 15 godina
'To listen to Serbs when they say they are not Milosevic."
Are you suggesting that Milosevic alone is responsible for Bosnia, Croatia and Kosova??? How come the "new Serbia" hasn't apologized or admitted what they have done? It's 10 years later.
pre 15 godina
The only change to US policy in Balkans I really want to see is the ability and willingness to listen. To listen to leaders on the ground, and especially in Belgrade. To listen to Serbs when they say they are not Milosevic. To listen to Serbian insterests in Kosovo and be willing to cut a deal with Belgrade over what is a seemingly easy obstacle.
There's rumblings Obama may appoint Holbrook as Secretary of State. I certainly hope not. If anything, last night's win was a repudiation of US pigheadedness in the world. It's perfectly fine to present US interests in the Balkans, as anywhere, but it's something quite different to push those interests to plow over everything and anything else.
pre 15 godina
“Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey—that part of the world is in such chaos, and resolving these problems will be a huge challenge, the bulk of the start of his mandate will be spent sorting out these things,” he said.
Lets add Kosovo to the above and then ask the question 'Why are all these places in such chaos'?....Answer...American Foreign Policy.
If they sorted out their own backyard instead of playing in other peoples the world would be a much safer place.
pre 15 godina
"He said, however, that more attention would be paid to the Balkans because of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s interest in the region."
Maybe not the kind of attention you want. Remember, this is the guy who said Serbs should be put in Nazi-style concentration camps. Just one of the reasons that I voted for McCain. I figured at least McCain wouldn't make it worse.....
pre 15 godina
No doubt you're right about that malcolm x (great name btw). However, it is difficult to not feel the spirit of the moment, when an african-american can finally become president in a country founded on slavery and run by jim crow utilrecent times. I expect the expectations of his support base will be big and will put some pressure on him to make some kind of change, though I tend to agree that ultimately it will be minimal. at least we can say interesting times ahead, and good that the crazed right-wing mob aled the republican party were tossed out.
pre 15 godina
american people have voted for change. what they (and the world) will get is the change of image and not much else.
pre 15 godina
“Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey—that part of the world is in such chaos, and resolving these problems will be a huge challenge, the bulk of the start of his mandate will be spent sorting out these things,” he said.
Lets add Kosovo to the above and then ask the question 'Why are all these places in such chaos'?....Answer...American Foreign Policy.
If they sorted out their own backyard instead of playing in other peoples the world would be a much safer place.
pre 15 godina
The only change to US policy in Balkans I really want to see is the ability and willingness to listen. To listen to leaders on the ground, and especially in Belgrade. To listen to Serbs when they say they are not Milosevic. To listen to Serbian insterests in Kosovo and be willing to cut a deal with Belgrade over what is a seemingly easy obstacle.
There's rumblings Obama may appoint Holbrook as Secretary of State. I certainly hope not. If anything, last night's win was a repudiation of US pigheadedness in the world. It's perfectly fine to present US interests in the Balkans, as anywhere, but it's something quite different to push those interests to plow over everything and anything else.
pre 15 godina
american people have voted for change. what they (and the world) will get is the change of image and not much else.
pre 15 godina
"He said, however, that more attention would be paid to the Balkans because of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s interest in the region."
Maybe not the kind of attention you want. Remember, this is the guy who said Serbs should be put in Nazi-style concentration camps. Just one of the reasons that I voted for McCain. I figured at least McCain wouldn't make it worse.....
pre 15 godina
'To listen to Serbs when they say they are not Milosevic."
Are you suggesting that Milosevic alone is responsible for Bosnia, Croatia and Kosova??? How come the "new Serbia" hasn't apologized or admitted what they have done? It's 10 years later.
pre 15 godina
Those of us who have been appalled and sickened by the actions of the Bush administration can only rejoice in the election of Barack Obama. Let us also congratulate the American people who gave him such a resounding victory. As regards his policy towards Serbia and Kosovo we will have to wait and see but at the very least it should be a more considered one than that pursued by Bush.
pre 15 godina
Pavaresi,
I you could cease being a raging nationalist for 5 minutes and read over my comments again, you'll see that my critique is rather well placed. Washington has a bad history of looking at parts of the world through historical prisms of their choosing. Instead of viewing Serbian efforts at reasserting leverage over Kosovo as some folley in mythological grandeur or authoritarian legacy, they should see that they've never had as good a potential partner as Tadic, who has made no bones about controlling anything outside the Serb sectors, and even here, be willing to give self-rule to the K-Serbs under their own government.
Tadic is no Milosevic. He's no Kostunica. He's not even a Saakashvili. I can easily see Obama working with someone like him. If you can't see that, that's your own narrow-mindedness.
pre 15 godina
He said that Obama’s victory was without a doubt a historic day for America and sent a message to the whole world that the U.S. had returned as a constructive force for positive change.
“The U.S. has drawn hate and anger on itself with various factors in the world over the last eight years and that course has now changed,” he said.
Yeaahhh, that's why if the Swiss population had to vote, 83 % would have voted for Obama....
If really his words are followd by deeds, The UN will have a serious work in unwiding the mess created by the bushes and co...., let's hope for it, justice should prevail for all equally.....
pre 15 godina
Obama, holbrooke and the rest of the DoS...
US does not want to be friends...
Obama will fuel foreign policy against russia, china and all other non US alligned countries...serbia, you're one of the countries and your history with the west will repeat...
Be firm from the falling the Roman Empire!
US UK Policy is to break the Serbs...we are the nazi's, it was us who funded Hitler. Wake up (Gjuma)
pre 15 godina
No doubt you're right about that malcolm x (great name btw). However, it is difficult to not feel the spirit of the moment, when an african-american can finally become president in a country founded on slavery and run by jim crow utilrecent times. I expect the expectations of his support base will be big and will put some pressure on him to make some kind of change, though I tend to agree that ultimately it will be minimal. at least we can say interesting times ahead, and good that the crazed right-wing mob aled the republican party were tossed out.
pre 15 godina
I'm Albanian but I agree with Mike that Serbians shouldn't be stigmatized. On this point, Serbians also hopefully make an effort to get closer to the West and the US. If they want to move beyond and transcend the past, good for us, believe it or not. It could be a viscious cycle for us Albanians if we stay in the hatred game.
As for Obama, I don't like him because he is dangerous, inexperienced, full of hot air, and self centered. I see potential for disaster in greater world issues than the Balkans. Here they will just work more toward stabilization, id est "more money" and improved image for the region. Good for us again. Either McCain or Obama wanted a quiet Balkans, so it doesn't really matter in my view who won in this respect.
What upsets me is that Americans voted emotively and were scammed by a propaganda machine. It's a sad day for democracy, freedom and capitalism. I am distraught. A socialist+fascist Us, especially in these times when we needed competent people up there, oh no. Goodbye American Dream.
pre 15 godina
>> "who has made no bones about controlling anything outside the Serb sectors, and even here, be willing to give self-rule to the K-Serbs under their own government.
Tadic is no Milosevic. He's no Kostunica."
and that is the problem. Rep Sprska is threatening a division because of self-rule. How can you divide Kosova in 50 small places with a different government ruling 5% of the population spread over Kosova?
How will the Serb police move in and out?
If a Serb commits a crime in Gracanica, how do you deal with it? Serbian or Kosova laws?
What if Serbs are 2% in 100 years, how do we deal with it?
Will Serbia provide the same for Presheva? The best solution is to exchange them and no one has to deal with each other.
What rights does Serbia have inside Kosovo?
Otherwise, all these are a setup for the next step, a separation and conflict, so it isn't as simple. If Tadic will not do it, another Kostunica 15 years from now will. Once they say this is "Serbian section" and a border is drawn within the border, it's official, that's why there is a mistrust
pre 15 godina
The USA is the best country in the world because a minority can be the president of a country.
Will a Serbian ever be a president of Croatia or an Albanian in Bosnia? No way!!
Way to go USA!
The Balkans should learn a little for the history making day in the USA!
pre 15 godina
"..more attention would be paid to the Balkans because of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s interest in the region."
Joe, we don't need your superfficial interest in the region.
Futhermore, I'd wish Joe looses his interest promptly and irretrievably.
pre 15 godina
'To listen to Serbs when they say they are not Milosevic."
Are you suggesting that Milosevic alone is responsible for Bosnia, Croatia and Kosova??? How come the "new Serbia" hasn't apologized or admitted what they have done? It's 10 years later.
pre 15 godina
Pavaresi,
I you could cease being a raging nationalist for 5 minutes and read over my comments again, you'll see that my critique is rather well placed. Washington has a bad history of looking at parts of the world through historical prisms of their choosing. Instead of viewing Serbian efforts at reasserting leverage over Kosovo as some folley in mythological grandeur or authoritarian legacy, they should see that they've never had as good a potential partner as Tadic, who has made no bones about controlling anything outside the Serb sectors, and even here, be willing to give self-rule to the K-Serbs under their own government.
Tadic is no Milosevic. He's no Kostunica. He's not even a Saakashvili. I can easily see Obama working with someone like him. If you can't see that, that's your own narrow-mindedness.
pre 15 godina
>> "who has made no bones about controlling anything outside the Serb sectors, and even here, be willing to give self-rule to the K-Serbs under their own government.
Tadic is no Milosevic. He's no Kostunica."
and that is the problem. Rep Sprska is threatening a division because of self-rule. How can you divide Kosova in 50 small places with a different government ruling 5% of the population spread over Kosova?
How will the Serb police move in and out?
If a Serb commits a crime in Gracanica, how do you deal with it? Serbian or Kosova laws?
What if Serbs are 2% in 100 years, how do we deal with it?
Will Serbia provide the same for Presheva? The best solution is to exchange them and no one has to deal with each other.
What rights does Serbia have inside Kosovo?
Otherwise, all these are a setup for the next step, a separation and conflict, so it isn't as simple. If Tadic will not do it, another Kostunica 15 years from now will. Once they say this is "Serbian section" and a border is drawn within the border, it's official, that's why there is a mistrust
pre 15 godina
american people have voted for change. what they (and the world) will get is the change of image and not much else.
pre 15 godina
No doubt you're right about that malcolm x (great name btw). However, it is difficult to not feel the spirit of the moment, when an african-american can finally become president in a country founded on slavery and run by jim crow utilrecent times. I expect the expectations of his support base will be big and will put some pressure on him to make some kind of change, though I tend to agree that ultimately it will be minimal. at least we can say interesting times ahead, and good that the crazed right-wing mob aled the republican party were tossed out.
pre 15 godina
“Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey—that part of the world is in such chaos, and resolving these problems will be a huge challenge, the bulk of the start of his mandate will be spent sorting out these things,” he said.
Lets add Kosovo to the above and then ask the question 'Why are all these places in such chaos'?....Answer...American Foreign Policy.
If they sorted out their own backyard instead of playing in other peoples the world would be a much safer place.
pre 15 godina
"He said, however, that more attention would be paid to the Balkans because of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s interest in the region."
Maybe not the kind of attention you want. Remember, this is the guy who said Serbs should be put in Nazi-style concentration camps. Just one of the reasons that I voted for McCain. I figured at least McCain wouldn't make it worse.....
pre 15 godina
The only change to US policy in Balkans I really want to see is the ability and willingness to listen. To listen to leaders on the ground, and especially in Belgrade. To listen to Serbs when they say they are not Milosevic. To listen to Serbian insterests in Kosovo and be willing to cut a deal with Belgrade over what is a seemingly easy obstacle.
There's rumblings Obama may appoint Holbrook as Secretary of State. I certainly hope not. If anything, last night's win was a repudiation of US pigheadedness in the world. It's perfectly fine to present US interests in the Balkans, as anywhere, but it's something quite different to push those interests to plow over everything and anything else.
pre 15 godina
Obama, holbrooke and the rest of the DoS...
US does not want to be friends...
Obama will fuel foreign policy against russia, china and all other non US alligned countries...serbia, you're one of the countries and your history with the west will repeat...
Be firm from the falling the Roman Empire!
US UK Policy is to break the Serbs...we are the nazi's, it was us who funded Hitler. Wake up (Gjuma)
pre 15 godina
Those of us who have been appalled and sickened by the actions of the Bush administration can only rejoice in the election of Barack Obama. Let us also congratulate the American people who gave him such a resounding victory. As regards his policy towards Serbia and Kosovo we will have to wait and see but at the very least it should be a more considered one than that pursued by Bush.
pre 15 godina
He said that Obama’s victory was without a doubt a historic day for America and sent a message to the whole world that the U.S. had returned as a constructive force for positive change.
“The U.S. has drawn hate and anger on itself with various factors in the world over the last eight years and that course has now changed,” he said.
Yeaahhh, that's why if the Swiss population had to vote, 83 % would have voted for Obama....
If really his words are followd by deeds, The UN will have a serious work in unwiding the mess created by the bushes and co...., let's hope for it, justice should prevail for all equally.....
pre 15 godina
I'm Albanian but I agree with Mike that Serbians shouldn't be stigmatized. On this point, Serbians also hopefully make an effort to get closer to the West and the US. If they want to move beyond and transcend the past, good for us, believe it or not. It could be a viscious cycle for us Albanians if we stay in the hatred game.
As for Obama, I don't like him because he is dangerous, inexperienced, full of hot air, and self centered. I see potential for disaster in greater world issues than the Balkans. Here they will just work more toward stabilization, id est "more money" and improved image for the region. Good for us again. Either McCain or Obama wanted a quiet Balkans, so it doesn't really matter in my view who won in this respect.
What upsets me is that Americans voted emotively and were scammed by a propaganda machine. It's a sad day for democracy, freedom and capitalism. I am distraught. A socialist+fascist Us, especially in these times when we needed competent people up there, oh no. Goodbye American Dream.
pre 15 godina
The USA is the best country in the world because a minority can be the president of a country.
Will a Serbian ever be a president of Croatia or an Albanian in Bosnia? No way!!
Way to go USA!
The Balkans should learn a little for the history making day in the USA!
pre 15 godina
"..more attention would be paid to the Balkans because of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s interest in the region."
Joe, we don't need your superfficial interest in the region.
Futhermore, I'd wish Joe looses his interest promptly and irretrievably.
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