SUC Washington Director Challenges ICG Kosovo Report Serbian Unity Congress February 03, 2005 On January 26, 2005 the director, Kosovo Program, International Crisis Group Alex Anderson, held a briefing on "Kosovo: Toward Final Status." During the briefing, Mr. Anderson admitted that the idea of independence is a difficult choice but the ICG advocates that there are no alternatives. He also argued that the Belgrade plan also is not a viable alternative and the ICG report buffers this argument by revealing the lack of unity in Belgrade over what Serbia desires for Kosovo. Furthermore, Anderson stated that partition of Kosovo is a bad idea citing that this promotes dividing among ethnic lines. Several participants were quick to point out that this could be the same argument why granting independence of Kosovo is the wrong idea. SUC Washington Director Andy Verich commented to the ICG Kosovo Director Alex Anderson that in during this entire briefing, there is no mention of destroyed churches, violence, nor return of refugees who have fled Kosovo due to Albanian violence. Not only does the ICG avoid any real data or statistics, the argument ICG uses for independence of Kosovo is by stating the "Kosovar" Albanians' "feelings" towards living with Serbs and their "feelings" of having their own state. Verich then described statements that were made by U.S. lawmakers in Washington mentioning that Senator Voinovich (R-OH) reiterated several times during the Rice Hearings that over 4,000 Serbs had been and 900 homes and 30 churches burned and destroyed by Albanians during March of 2004. Verich also mentioned a recent meeting he had with Congressman Wexler (D-FL) who recently visited Serbia. Congress Wexler had told Verich that independence of Kosovo now does not create a viable economic unit to develop economically. Verich then argued that reports and calls of independence from groups like the ICG may bring good news for young unemployed Albanians who are idealistic. But what does granting independence to Kosovo do for putting food on tables of ordinary families including the Albanians?
Mr. Anderson responded that he also agrees that refugee returns must be addressed and that these are good points but he disagreed that Kosovo cannot be a viable economic unit separate from Serbia mentioning that some reports from IMF and World Bank seem to indicate likewise http://news.serbianunity.net/bydate/2005/February_03/6.html?w=p Serbian News Network - SNN news@antic.org http://www.antic.org/
