Obama win means “greater focus on Balkans”

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. However, the former U.S. ambassador to Serbia said that Washington’s interest in the region may increase. Obama win means “greater focus on Balkans” Montgomery told B92 that there was already a widespread consensus in the U.S. on Balkan policy, on Kosovo independence, the arrest of Hague fugitives, and the EU integration of countries in the region. He said, however, that more attention would be paid to the Balkans because of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s interest in the region. Montgomery said this could lead to more of a focus being placed on the Balkans, unlike the Bush administration, which wanted to get out of the region and focus on other issues. He said that there would be more interest in regional issues, and that the U.S. would not lie back and let the EU deal with all the problems in the Balkans. Montgomery did not want to speculate as to the identity of Obama’s closest advisers, stating that those names would be known in the coming fortnight. 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. “That is an important step for America in the sense of internal racial issues, but what is most important is that the policies of the Bush administration are no more, the American people said that they want positive change and to improve the U.S.’s image in the world, to improve cooperation with its allies,” said the former ambassador. He compared Obama’s victory to the election of John Kennedy because America had felt the passing of the torch from one generation to the next. “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. “Secondly, Obama is a symbol of the American dream, with a black father and white mother, his name is Barack Hussein Obama, and as such, he has become the U.S. president out of nothing practically, and that is the definition of the American dream,” Montgomery said. Obama and the Democrat-dominated Congress now have an opportunity to make changes, he said. “His problem will be what he inherited from the Bush administration, which is a tough assignment because he will find it difficult to implement his own program while dealing simultaneously with inherited problems, especially given the difficult economic situation,” Montgomery pointed out. The former ambassador added that Obama would also be facing difficult issues like global warming, gas and oil shortages, and the issue of torture of prisoners. “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. “His election is a beacon of hope, but implementing these changes will take a long time. Obama’s honeymoon will end quickly,” Montgomery stressed.

Obama win means “greater focus on Balkans”

Montgomery told B92 that there was already a widespread consensus in the U.S. on Balkan policy, on Kosovo independence, the arrest of Hague fugitives, and the EU integration of countries in the region.

He said, however, that more attention would be paid to the Balkans because of Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s interest in the region.

Montgomery said this could lead to more of a focus being placed on the Balkans, unlike the Bush administration, which wanted to get out of the region and focus on other issues.

He said that there would be more interest in regional issues, and that the U.S. would not lie back and let the EU deal with all the problems in the Balkans.

Montgomery did not want to speculate as to the identity of Obama’s closest advisers, stating that those names would be known in the coming fortnight.

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.

“That is an important step for America in the sense of internal racial issues, but what is most important is that the policies of the Bush administration are no more, the American people said that they want positive change and to improve the U.S.’s image in the world, to improve cooperation with its allies,” said the former ambassador.

He compared Obama’s victory to the election of John Kennedy because America had felt the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.

“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.

“Secondly, Obama is a symbol of the American dream, with a black father and white mother, his name is Barack Hussein Obama, and as such, he has become the U.S. president out of nothing practically, and that is the definition of the American dream,” Montgomery said.

Obama and the Democrat-dominated Congress now have an opportunity to make changes, he said.

“His problem will be what he inherited from the Bush administration, which is a tough assignment because he will find it difficult to implement his own program while dealing simultaneously with inherited problems, especially given the difficult economic situation,” Montgomery pointed out.

The former ambassador added that Obama would also be facing difficult issues like global warming, gas and oil shortages, and the issue of torture of prisoners.

“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.

“His election is a beacon of hope, but implementing these changes will take a long time. Obama’s honeymoon will end quickly,” Montgomery stressed.