[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E498-E499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ATTACKS ON ETHNIC SERBS IN KOSOVO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 31, 2004

  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, the values of Western civilization are 
being tested in Kosovo

[[Page E499]]

today. Since Wednesday, March 24, 30 Serbian Orthodox churches and 
monasteries dating as far back as the 12th century have been burned to 
the ground by Kosovar Albanians, as have numerous ethnic Serb villages. 
Dozen of Serbs have been murdered or are missing. Despite the presence 
of 18,000 international troops, tyranny and terror has returned to 
Kosovo.
  These acts of terror are designed to eradicate the remaining physical 
and cultural presence of the Serbian people in Kosovo, and therefore of 
the Christian presence in the region. No other explanation of these 
sickening events is credible. Spontaneous reactions of embittered 
communities never manifest themselves like this.
  Derek Chappell, the U.N.'s Kosovo Mission spokesman said of the 
recent attacks against Serbs, ``It was planned in advance.'' Another 
U.N. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that 
``This is planned, coordinated, one-way violence from the Albanians 
against the Serbs. It is spreading and has been brewing for the past 
week . . . Wherever there is a Serbian population, there is Albanian 
action against them.''
  Recent violent reactions by hooligans in Serbia that resulted in the 
torching of two mosques--one in Belgrade and another in the second 
largest city of Nis--were tragic and cannot be justified. The reaction 
of the Belgrade authorities in condemning these acts and arresting the 
perpetrators was swift and efficient. Hundreds of rioters were arrested 
and the situation is under control. Acting Secretary Armitage also 
praised on March 19 the quick action of Belgrade authorities in 
quelling violence against Muslim religious sites and properties in 
Serbia, and thanked the Serbian Government for effectively 
strengthening measures to protect diplomatic missions and minority 
cultural sites.
  Why are similar measures not being taken in response to the violence 
against the Kosovar Serbs and their Orthodox churches and monasteries?
  Just as we did in Bosnia, we should make aid, assistance, positive 
diplomatic relations, and loan guarantees conditional upon an 
improvement in the human rights situation. In particular, we must make 
it absolutely clear to the leadership of the Kosovar Albanians that we 
expect them to investigate these and previous crimes against Kosovo's 
Serb minority and arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of these 
crimes. Since 1999, not a single homicide against a Kosovar Serb has 
even gone to trial. This cannot stand.
  Additionally, we must double our efforts to create secure conditions 
for the successful and permanent return of a critical mass of Kosovo 
Serbs. We must make it clear to the Albanian leadership that their 
abuse of the U.N.-created interim institutions of Kosovo cannot 
continue. A free people committed to the principles of democracy and 
representative government, human rights standards and the principle of 
religious freedom, cannot translate that into tyranny of the majority.

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