Can you punish a nation for something that people of the same ethnicity do in another country? That’s the question that’s before the European Union today, and it seems to be hotly disputed by both sides.
At issue are the roadblocks in northern Kosovo, set up by Kosovar Serbs to protest the ethnic Albanian dominated government’s efforts (with NATO help) to crush dissent in the north and close the border to all outside trade.
After a bit of haranguing from NATO, Serbian President Boris Tadic has called on the Kosovar Serbs to remove the roadblocks and let NATO close them off from all outside trade. The Kosovar Serbs, who don’t really have any special reason to listen to the president of Serbia, haven’t reacted so far, prompting “deep concern” from NATO officials.
And even though Tadic played ball, his inability to dictate the behavior of other people of the same ethnicity as him has several in the EU, including Germany, looking to impose various punishments on Serbia, including eliminating them as a candidate for EU membership.
France opposed, but not on the grounds that there isn’t collective racial guilt, let alone on the grounds that the protest in Kosovo is mostly a reaction to harsh crackdowns by the Kosovar regime. Instead, their argument is that they want Tadic’s party to win the next election, and they’re worried that the sanctions will hurt his chances.
Excellent writing here! I agree with all the sentiments in it. I did not know Tadic controlled the minds of all Serbs in Kosovo. That is new to me!
"Instead, their argument is that they want Tadic’s party to win the next election, and they’re worried that the sanctions will hurt his chances."
And that is exactly why the NATO/Albright "tribunal" at the former Nazi interrogation centre in the Hague (ICTY) are keeping Vojislav Šešelj, a serbian politician who went voluntarily in 2003 STILL waiting for a "trial" although the NATO stalinist show trial has nothing to pin him on. He is therefore expected to be released but they are currently keeping him for "obstruction" of the "trial" until the election he most likely could win in Serbia is over. The western imposed quisling regime under Tadic "won" the latest election under dubious circumstances….
Resist occupation, defend dignity.
Nazis will be defeated again.
KOSOVAR SERBS? that is insulting to say the least. its SERBS from NORTHERN KOSOVO .
I agree with you. Mr. Ditz just did it again. How about to call Albanians in Kosovo "Serbian Albanians" since the are one occupying the part of the Serbian country by ethnically cleansing the Serbs. The remnant few living behind the wires under protection of UN forces. That reminds us to
concentration camps during WWII.
The question of Boris Tadic is irrelevant since most of Serbs consider him a Quisling as all his government.
The Serbs must always lose. That is the U.S.-NATO policy in one sentence. What was Serbia's crime? It dared to question American hegemony.