Second, the Clinton campaign seems completely tone-deaf to the coming showdown with Russia, China, and Serbia: This is a historic step that will allow the people of Kosova to finally live in their own democratic state. It will allow Kosova and Serbia to finally put a difficult chapter in their history behind them and to move forward. This simplistic argument does nothing to help the West's case against Russia, which has argued that Kosovo's independence sets a new precedent for a potentially explosive series of other pro-Russian areas of the Caucusus to declare independence, such as Transdniestr from Moldova, or South-Ossetia and Abkhazia from Georgia. Compare this to the carefully worded statement from the Obama campaign, which pointedly declares Kosovo's independence as "a unique situation" and as the direct result of the 1998 war: Today’s announcement of independence by the leadership of Kosovo ends a chain of events that began with the bloody break-up of the former Yugoslavia. Kosovo’s independence is a unique situation resulting from the irreparable rupture Slobodan Milosevic’s actions caused; it is in no way a precedent for anyone else in the region or around the world. The rupture is blamed not on Serbia but directly on Slobodan Milosevic. Serbia, after all, had a public break with Milosevic's regime some five years ago, and pro-Western, pro-reform politicians have since been hard at work, holding on despite a sense of betrayal with the West over Kosovo. Clinton makes no menton of Milosevic, no mention of pro-Western Serbian President Boris Tadic's recent re-election as a positive sign, and offers nothing to Serbia in return. In contrast, Obama's statement strikes me as far more even-handed. It praises recent developments in Serbia, cites the suffering of the Serbian people, and recognizes Serbia as a genuine part of the West and thus whose rightful place is as a full member of the EU: Serbia and its people have also suffered terribly over the past two decades. Serbs deserve a more peaceful, prosperous, and hopeful future. This month’s re-election of President Boris Tadic was a critical step in moving Serbia closer to the goal of full integration into the democratic West, including membership in Euro-Atlantic institutions that can help bring more stability and prosperity to the people of Serbia. Serbia ultimately belongs in the European Union. The EU and Serbia should rapidly deepen their ties, a move that would help demonstrate to the Serb people that they are indeed genuinely part of the West. Unlike the Clinton statement, Obama seems to be keenly aware that he is speaking to an international audience. He speaks directly to Serbia in a way Clinton never comes close. And Obama even comes close to admonishing Kosovo for slow progress and insufficient protection of minorities: Kosovo’s independence carries with it important responsibilities. The international community has devoted enormous resources to Kosovo’s political, economic and social development for nearly a decade, with results not always meeting expectations. I hope that Kosovo’s government and people act with urgency to ensure that Kosovo becomes a positive example of democratic governance and the rule of law. All the people of Kosovo, be they of Albanian, Serb or other origin, must be able to live in a free, tolerant and prosperous society where minority rights and religious sites are fully protected, and the people of Kosovo have a stake in one another’s success.
This kind of statement won't be enough to appease Serbia, but it demonstrates a level of sensitivity, diplomacy, and eloquence that just isn't there in Clinton's statement. And if there is to be a beginning towards reconciliation in the Balkans, it starts with this kind of honest acknowledgement of the challenges and suffering both sides have faced. I do wonder if we see here, in miniature, how the two candidates might treat these kinds of crises once in office. |
