[Prishtina-E] NYT, letters to the Editor: Oct 12, 2000.

[Daqki at aol.com]

NEW YORK TIMES

Letters 
October 12, 2000
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 To the Editor:

Re "European Union Greets Yugoslav Government" (news article, Oct. 10): 

The European Union embraced the new government in Belgrade with euphoria. The 
unconditional pledge of billions of dollars and rushing of European foreign 
ministers to Belgrade is wrong and counterproductive. Pushing aside demands 
for the extradition of Slobodan Milosevic and for the release of thousands of 
Kosovar political prisoners is too big a concession.

Europe's embrace of the new power in Belgrade can be viewed in Bosnia and 
Kosovo as a premature and de facto reward to Serbian nationalism for years of 
war, "ethnic cleansing" and genocide in the territories of the former 
Yugoslavia. If true, it's a continuation of failed European policy in the 
Balkans. 

  ARBEN SELIMAJ

New York, Oct. 10, 2000


Letters Related Articles 
• The Right Trial for Milosevic(Oct, 10, 2000) 
• European Union Greets Yugoslav Government (Oct 10, 2000)
• Letters Index 

 The New York Times Company Milosevic on Trial? Don't Feed the Fires
 
 
To the Editor:

Re "The Right Trial for Milosevic," by Michael Ignatieff (Op-Ed, Oct. 10): 

Mr. Ignatieff says it is in Serbia's interest to cooperate with the 
international tribunal in The Hague. The important thing now is to allow 
Serbia to integrate into the world community, not to reignite Serbian 
nationalism. The same people who angrily ousted Slobodan Milosevic might also 
be angered by what they perceive as unwarranted external intrusion.

Furthermore, it does not matter if the tribunal is a kangaroo court for the 
victors; it only matters if Serbians perceive it to be. And given the 
civilian deaths caused by NATO, I do not think their perceptions are 
unreasonable. Reigniting nationalist sentiments for the sake of a trial at 
The Hague for Mr. Milosevic is simply not worth the price. 

  CHRISTOPHER SMITH

New Orleans, Oct. 10, 2000