The Serbian Unity Congress Washington Report - The House Foreign Affairs Committee held hearing “The Balkans after the Independence of Kosovo and on the Eve of NATO Enlargement” in Washington on March 12, 2008. Mr. Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State witnessed on the situation in the Balkans and enlargement of NATO (full statement: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/46525.htm).
Members of Congress that were present at the Hearing are Chairman Howard Berman D-CA (full statement: http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/berman031208.htm ), Minority Ranking Member Ileana Ros Lehtinen R-FL, Congressman Dan Burton R-IN, Congressman Eliot Engel D-NY, Congressman Jim Costa D-CA, Congressman Chris Smith R-NJ, Congressman Ted Poe R-TX, Congressman Gus Bilirakis R-FL, Congressman Albio Sires D-NJ, Congresswoman Melissa Bean D-IL, Congressman Steve Chabot, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher R-CA, and Congressman Bob Inglis R-SC.
Co-Chair of the Serbian Congressional Caucus Congressman Burton said that he is concerned with the US forcing independence of Kosovo on Serbia, that Kosovo was part of Serbia before Yugoslavia and that Serbia was US ally in two world wars. Representatives present were concerned with the stability of the region, European allies commitment to providing troops if needed, precedent issue, protection of Serbian heritage in Kosovo, and the future of the Balkans. Co-Chair of the Serbian Congressional Caucus Congresswoman Melissa Bean is concerned with actions of State Department to discourage nationalistic forces in the Bosnia and Herzegovina that are calling for abolishment of the Republic of Srpska. Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried said he is personally strongly discouraging efforts to abolish the Republic of Srpska. Assistant Secretary said US will support European integration of Serbia, but it will depend on Serbian people.
Webcast of the Hearing (VIDEO download): http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/testimony.asp?subnav=close
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