[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12882-12883]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       ON THE ACTIONS OF THE KOSOVO GOVERNMENT AND BORDER PATROL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 2, 2011

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the recent violence 
in Kosovo and applaud the actions of the Border Patrol of the Kosovar 
government. As a sovereign, independent state, Kosovo deserves the 
right to protect its citizens and patrol its border. I strongly support 
Kosova for maintaining control over its border with Serbia. Since 
Kosovo declared her independence in 2008, Serbia has consistently 
discriminated against Kosovars and prevented the region from accepting 
her legitimacy.
  Recently, Kosovar authorities banned goods coming in from Serbia with 
the intention of countering their northern neighbor's rejection of 
Kosovo's statehood and Serbia's boycott of Kosovo's produce. It is 
vital that the Kosovar government re-establish territorial integrity 
within its borders. With increased uncertainty on her country's 
northern border, Kosovar special police units launched an operation to 
gain complete control over the border crossing with Serbia to prevent 
the continued flow of illegal goods from Serbia. In order for Kosovo to 
continue to join the developed world, it is necessary for them to have 
authority over their own economy. I also rise to express my gratitude 
for NATO peacekeepers that have arrived to maintain peace along the 
border.
  I am proud to represent a large and vibrant community of Kosovar 
Americans in southeast Michigan. Many of my constituents have relatives 
along the Kosovo/Serbia border and I know that they are deeply 
concerned about the security of their loved ones and the prospect for 
Kosovo remaining an independent nation. Recognized by nearly 80 nations 
across the globe, Kosovo deserves to be a player on the world stage and 
I stand with their freedom-loving people who thirst for true 
independence.

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