[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SERBIAN MINISTRY OF INTERIOR SUPPORT FOR CRIMINALS IN KOSOVO

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, the International Crisis Group, ICG, 
recently issued a report on the instability and unrest in Mitrovica 
caused, in part, by the Serbian Ministry of Interior's, MUP, support of 
parallel security and administrative structures in northern Kosovo.
  According to the report, Serbian officials have publicly admitted to 
providing salaries to over 29,800 people in Kosovo, including Serb 
``bridgewatchers'' over the river Ibar who were responsible for 
injuring 26 United Nations Missions in Kosovo, UNMIK, police officers 
in a shootout 2 months ago.
  Five Americans serving with UNMIK were injured in that incident. 
While my thoughts and prayers are with the policemen as they recover, I 
find it completely unacceptable that Serbian government-backed goons 
have committed destabilizing acts of violence with virtual impunity. 
The bridgewatchers and other criminals in northern Kosovo must be 
brought to justice--a job perhaps best handled by UNMIK police officers 
backed by NATO-led KFOR troops.
  Now is not the time for a change in U.S. policy toward Kosovo. 
America must publicly and forcefully condemn any covert or overt 
efforts to partition Mitrovica from the rest of Kosovo.
  I encourage the State Department to find its voice on this issue, and 
to publicly condemn the actions of the bridgewatchers and their 
supporters in Belgrade. This issue should not be left to the gentle 
massage of quiet diplomacy--this is a cancer that must be treated in an 
aggressive and forthright manner.
  It seems clear to me that if Serbia has 50,000,000 Euro to support 
the partition of Kosovo, the U.S. Congress should consider reducing 
future foreign assistance to Serbia by an equivalent amount.
  The reformers in Serbia know they have my full support and 
encouragement. However, Serbia would be wise to invest its revenues in 
its own political, economic, legal, and social reforms rather than 
fomenting and sponsoring regional unrest.

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