Biden to receive hero welcome in Pristina, opposition charges in Belgrade
U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden is assured of a hero welcome among Kosovo Albanians in Pristina next week, while in Belgrade, the Serbian opposition has slammed his visit.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Friday, May 15, 2009
In Pristina, Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said that Biden has always been "a friend of Kosovo, supporter of Kosovo as a an independent and sovereign country, therefore he disserves to be welcomed with a heroes welcome".
In Belgrade, the state secretary at Serbia's Ministry for Kosovo, Oliver Ivanovic said in an interview given to Politika that there should not be many discussions on Kosovo with Biden because the U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter already said that "we do not agree on Kosovo."
Serbia's opposition is, however, much harsher.
Ahead of the visit, representatives of the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) have presented to the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs a document called "Never into NATO", including a series of Biden's speeches and statements in the past.
"We are convinced that Biden's statement and policy have been against Serb interests ... it is his policy which brought the bombing of Serbia and a support for the secession and independence of a false state of Kosovo", DSS official Jovica Palalic said.
He said Biden's visit will more than likely present new pressure against Serbia.
"This meeting will more than likely result in new threats against our country, in favor of establishing goodneighbourly relations with the false state of Kosovo and in favor of joining NATO", Palalic said.
