Letter: What now for Serbs?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: I have just returned from a conference organised by Freedom House and the New Atlantic Initiative (both concerned with promoting democratic values). The main concern of the participants was the problems of Bosnia and, of course, Kosovo. All those directly affected by the Balkans tragedy, including Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania and Slovenia, are fully supportive of Nato strategy on Kosovo.
I chaired a session at which Milan Panic, the former Prime Minister of Yugoslavia, spoke, together with Muhamed Sacirbey, the permanent representative to the United Nations for Bosnia Hercegovina and special envoy for implementation of the Dayton agreement, and Zsolt Nemeth, the Hungarian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Their major concern was that the Nato allies might lack the resolve to insist on the full implementation of their clearly defined objectives for the conclusion of the Kosovan tragedy.
Unlike the armchair strategists, the peoples of the region will have to live with the awful consequences if we fail to achieve our stated objectives. The various ranks of the retired military, diplomatic and political service, the professional leftists, and heaven help us, the thespians and playwrights who question the continuing prosecution of these aims would do well to dwell on what would have happened if Nato had done nothing. Those closest to the conflict believe it would certainly have created a far worse situation than we presently face.
PETER ROBINSON
Director
Trades Union Committee for European and Transatlantic Understanding
Empingham, Rutland
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments