The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 8 of 16)

I quote from that speech, and ask if, even by the most cynical interpretation can these words be described as "playing to Serb nationalism"?

St. Vitus Day address from Kosovo Field, June 28, 1989 as delivered by Slobodan Milosevic and interpreted by U.S. Department of Commerce:

"...Serbia has never had only Serbs living in it. Today, as in the past, members of other nationalities also live in it. This is not a disadvantage for Serbia. I am truly convinced that it is its advantage...After all, our entire country should be set up on the basics of such principles. Yugoslavia is a multinational community and it can survive only under the condition of full equality for all nationalities that live in it."

p>Nevertheless, I must reiterate that I am perplexed as to why you would, at this time, publish an article which contains some truth regarding Kosovo. I imagine it is because of the upcoming status decision. Still, your addressing the truth comes as a jolt. Perhaps Bandow could have asked why, when daily we see stories about incidents in France, Bangladesh, et al., wherein a soul has been slaughtered or succumbed to an accident -- since 1999 -- not one report has shown up in the "mainstream media" about the DAILY killings and property destruction re the minorities in Kosovo. br> -- Gwynne Sykes br> Canada /p>

I am always amazed, when reading articles about Kosovo, that it is assumed that the area has forever been Serbian, and that Albanians are late-coming intruders. In fact, Albanians are the descendants of pre-historic Indo-European invaders, while the Slavic element appeared in the Balkans much later, c. 500 A.D.

Since then the "ownership" of Kosovo has changed hands often, with Turks, Greeks and Serbs all attempting to control it at various times. To assume, as Bandow appears to, that Serbian sovereignty is historically justified is simply false.

p>Regardless of who "ought" to have sovereignty in Kosovo, one thing is certain, however -- we should be doing our best to prevent Muslim terrorists from taking it over. The Europeans appear useless in this regard, and I'm afraid that Dubya's present passivity in foreign affairs holds out little hope for American intervention. br> -- Richard Donley br> New Lyme, Ohio /p>

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