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:
Obama - 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.
Krijoni Kontakt