[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15870]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN SUPPORT OF A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THE FUTURE POLITICAL 
                            STATUS OF KOSOVO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 25, 2006

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, for the first time in many years, 
two high-ranking delegations--one representing Serbia, the other the 
Serbian province of Kosovo--met in Vienna, Austria to discuss the 
future political status of Kosovo, which has been administered by the 
United Nations since 1999. The Vienna meeting was the first time that 
the Serbian President and Prime Minister met with their political 
counterparts from Kosovo.
  Both sides presented and explained their position on Kosovo's future 
political status. The Serbian delegation presented a practical plan for 
the highest possible autonomy for Kosovo inside Serbia's borders, while 
Kosovo's leaders presented their plan for independence.
  Although the parties reached no agreement, the Vienna meeting was 
very positive, and I believe it should be commended. It allowed both 
sides to present their platforms in a constructive and diplomatic 
manner, and provided the international community with strong assurances 
that events in the Balkans can be solved in a peaceful and civilized 
way.
  Serbia proved once again that is ready to seek a final solution for 
Kosovo based on the tenets of territorial integrity, international law 
and regional stability. Serbia's position highlighted the necessity to 
broker a final agreement that will keep democracy and reform in Serbia 
intact.
  An imposed solution for Kosovo would be a dangerous precedent and may 
serve as the fatal blow for the economic and political processes in 
Serbia. There is a slim but very real possibility that radical elements 
in Serbian politics would seize power in Belgrade if Kosovo is granted 
independence from the UN, without ironclad-guarantees for Kosovo's Serb 
population and the firm commitment to protect Serbian historical, 
cultural and religious sites in Kosovo.
  Serbia is a new country with new leadership. It is a country led by 
reformers, like President Boris Tadic, who helped topple Slobodan 
Milosevic from power and had the fortitude to transfer him to the Hague 
Tribunal to answer for his crimes against humanity.
  This new Serbia is a thriving, free market democracy, based on 
transparency, the rule of law and the protection of human rights. 
Serbia is a member of international organizations, and it is on the 
path toward membership in the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization.
  The Serbia of today is working with the United States to spread 
democracy and freedom and now the United States has the unique 
opportunity to stand with its democratic allies in Serbia, and to work 
to advance a mutually acceptable solution to the future political 
status of Kosovo; one which won't leave Serbia and its fragile 
democracy in tatters,
  The mishandling of Kosovo's final political status might reverse 
these advances in Serbia and endanger a region just recovering from 
dictatorship, ethnic strife, isolation and war.

                          ____________________