Debate on Kosovo held in U.S. Congress

WASHINGTON The U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a debate on Wednesday "presenting different views on the situation in Serbia and Kosovo," said reports. Jonathan Moore of the U.S. Department of State presented positions of the U.S. administration. Debate on Kosovo held in U.S. Congress The two-hour session dubbed "Kosovo and Serbia: A Pathway to Peace" presented the positions of the members of the Committee, the Department of State and representatives of pro-Albanian NGOs, whereas Serbian stances were introduced by Washington analyst Obrad Kesic. Subcommittee for Europe and Eurasia Chairman Dana Rohrabacher of California and his party colleague from Texas Ted Poe asked Moore to elucidate the administration's stances and future actions regarding Serbia and Kosovo. Rohrabacher was particularly interested in the paragraph from the last week's Brussels agreement by which Kosovo security forces are prohibited from entering northern Kosovo, and he received confirmation that the deal indeed provides this. The California congressman, who supported declaration of Kosovo's independence, said in his opening statement that he had supported it because of "the principle of self-determination" written down in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Rohrabacher asked why northern Kosovo Serbs were being forced to be part of independent Kosovo if they did not want that. “You are talking about a rule of law concept here as a solution for the people who have been fighting each other for centuries. Why not let the problem be solved by letting the Serbs from the north approach Serbia and the Albanians from the Presevo Valley approach Kosovo,” he asked again. Poe, who is the chairman of the Serbian Caucus in the Congress, commended the last week's agreement in Brussels qualifying it as a good beginning, and calling on the European leaders to approve the beginning of the EU accession talks with Serbia. Poe underlined that human rights of Serbs in Kosovo were being violated, adding that over 150 churches and Serbian cemeteries had been destroyed. He also wanted to hear the data of the Department of State about the development of the investigation into the Yellow house and human organ trafficking, asking whether someone had been interrogated or if the investigation would never end. Moore said that the Department of State was following the investigation, adding that the results could be expected next year. Democratic Representative for New York Eliot Engel, who is known for his pro-Kosovo stands, voiced opposite view from Rohrabacher and Poe. Engel said that he did not agree with changing of the Kosovo borders. He also underlined that the EU should offer a clear European pathway to Kosovo and that it should be included in NATO. “According to Gallup pools, Kosovo is the most pro-American country in Europe,” Engel stressed. (Beta/AP, file) Tanjug

Debate on Kosovo held in U.S. Congress

The two-hour session dubbed "Kosovo and Serbia: A Pathway to Peace" presented the positions of the members of the Committee, the Department of State and representatives of pro-Albanian NGOs, whereas Serbian stances were introduced by Washington analyst Obrad Kesić.

Subcommittee for Europe and Eurasia Chairman Dana Rohrabacher of California and his party colleague from Texas Ted Poe asked Moore to elucidate the administration's stances and future actions regarding Serbia and Kosovo.

Rohrabacher was particularly interested in the paragraph from the last week's Brussels agreement by which Kosovo security forces are prohibited from entering northern Kosovo, and he received confirmation that the deal indeed provides this.

The California congressman, who supported declaration of Kosovo's independence, said in his opening statement that he had supported it because of "the principle of self-determination" written down in the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Rohrabacher asked why northern Kosovo Serbs were being forced to be part of independent Kosovo if they did not want that.

“You are talking about a rule of law concept here as a solution for the people who have been fighting each other for centuries. Why not let the problem be solved by letting the Serbs from the north approach Serbia and the Albanians from the Preševo Valley approach Kosovo,” he asked again.

Poe, who is the chairman of the Serbian Caucus in the Congress, commended the last week's agreement in Brussels qualifying it as a good beginning, and calling on the European leaders to approve the beginning of the EU accession talks with Serbia.

Poe underlined that human rights of Serbs in Kosovo were being violated, adding that over 150 churches and Serbian cemeteries had been destroyed.

He also wanted to hear the data of the Department of State about the development of the investigation into the Yellow house and human organ trafficking, asking whether someone had been interrogated or if the investigation would never end.

Moore said that the Department of State was following the investigation, adding that the results could be expected next year.

Democratic Representative for New York Eliot Engel, who is known for his pro-Kosovo stands, voiced opposite view from Rohrabacher and Poe.

Engel said that he did not agree with changing of the Kosovo borders.

He also underlined that the EU should offer a clear European pathway to Kosovo and that it should be included in NATO.

“According to Gallup pools, Kosovo is the most pro-American country in Europe,” Engel stressed.