American Council for Kosovo - News from the American Council for Kosovo http://www.savekosovo.org American Council for Kosovo - News from the American Council for Kosovo 6.10.2008. en 2006-2008 American Council for Kosovo Kosovo prelude to Georgia? http://www.savekosovo.org/default.asp?p=9&leader=0&sp=517 In anticipation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, President Bush said "Georgia's territorial integrity and borders must command the same respect as every other nation's."

Critics of Russia's action include Sens. Barack Obama, Joseph Biden and Joseph Lieberman; Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; former United Nations Ambassador Richard Holbrooke; and many others in the bipartisan establishment.

Among the specific criticisms are Russia's violation of the sovereign territory of Georgia, a fledgling democracy and a member of the United Nations; a disproportionate response to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili's attempt to settle South Ossetia's status by force, including Russian military operations well outside of South Ossetia; and Moscow's tardiness in withdrawing its forces under a deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Evidently irony is not much appreciated in Washington. It seems critics have forgotten President Bush's recognition of the independence of Kosovo, a province of democratic, U.N. member Serbia. President Bush's reference to "every other nation" whose "territorial integrity and borders must command the same respect" apparently has at least this one exception. If he can violate the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Final Act, which guarantee sovereign borders, what right does he have to accuse others of doing the same?

If Moscow stepped over the line in its crushing military response to Mr. Saakashvili's offensive, what do we call 78 straight days of NATO's bombing throughout Serbia, destroying most of that country's civilian infrastructure? If Russia is to be faulted for imperfect implementation of the Sarkozy agreement, what can be said about Washington's violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244, which ended the 1999 Kosovo war and reaffirms Serbian sovereignty in the province?

The standard reasons cited for making Serbia an exception to the rule we demand in Georgia is that NATO intervened to stop genocide of Kosovo's Albanians and that they will never again accept being part of Serbia. But after the war actual casualties among all ethnic groups - whether by military action, atrocities committed by both Serbs and Albanians, and the toll of NATO's bombing - proved to be far fewer than those cited in justification for the war. Compared to South Ossetia's much smaller population, mutual accusations of genocide against South Ossetians and Georgians, respectively, are proportionally larger than those at issue in Kosovo. And are South Ossetians and Abkhazians less adamant that they will not submit to Tbilisi's rule than Kosovo's Albanians are with respect to Belgrade?

It also should be kept in mind that Kosovo's legal status is very different from that of entities in the former Soviet Union. Under the Yugoslav constitution - the same authority that justified the secession of Croatia, Slovenia, etc. - Kosovo, part of Serbia since before Yugoslavia was formed, has no legal claim to independence. In contrast, the 1990 Soviet law on secession - which was the legal basis of the independence of Union Republics such as Georgia - required that autonomous entities within their borders be allowed, via referenda, to remain in the Soviet Union, and by extension its successor, Russia.

Thus, while Kosovo's status as part of Serbia is unquestionable, South Ossetia and Abkhazia can make a good case they were part of Soviet Georgia but never the current independent state of Georgia. (The same would apply to Transdniestria with respect to Moldova and Nagorno-Karabakh with respect to Azerbaijan. When will they follow suit?)

By trashing the accepted international "rules of the road" on Kosovo, Washington has created what amounts to the rules of the jungle. Each power acts as it will, either to suppress restive minorities or to compromise other countries' borders: The United States tries to force Serbia to accept Kosovo's independence and pressures other countries (without much success) to recognize it; Georgia tries to subdue the Ossetians and the Abkhazians and fails; Russia moves to establish the Ossetians' and Abkhazians' independence and now also will try to secure wider recognition. In turn, the U.S.-supported separatist Kosovo Albanian administration itself threatens a miniature version of Mr. Saakashvili's South Ossetia offensive to subdue Serbian enclaves, where the remaining one-third of the province's prewar community finds refuge. Where does the logic of "big fish eat little fish" end?

In Kosovo, Washington sowed the wind, and now Georgia has reaped the whirlwind. Only a return to the negotiating table to address comprehensively Kosovo, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and similar trouble spots elsewhere can prevent this malignant precedent from spinning further out of control with incalculable consequences for global peace and security. With each step down this road it will be harder to put the genie of might-makes-right back in the bottle.

]]> "Positive ICJ ruling will deter recognition" http://www.savekosovo.org/default.asp?p=9&leader=0&sp=513 BELGRADE -- If the ICJ rules Kosovo declared independence illegally it will deter other states from recognition, says an expert.

Such a decision could also encourage other states to reconsider their decision, says Jim Jatras, director of the Squire Sanders agency, which represents Serbian interests in the U.S.

In an interview with daily Novosti, Jatras says that withdrawals of recognition, even by only one or two countries, would be very significant, depending on which countries are concerned.

'Western countries are exerting pressure on Serbia to reduce diplomatic efforts ahead of the vote in the General Assembly, where the initiative to consult the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the legality of Kosovo's independence declaration will be considered, as these 'friends' of Serbia know fine well that their position is illegal, and that they will most probably lose that vote,' says Jatras.

At the same time, he says that even if the ICJ ruling is positive, it will be very difficult to renew talks on Kosovo's status--something which has been mooted in Belgrade recently--as the long-term aim of Serbian policy.

'In spite of the U.S.'s failures in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now in Georgia, U.S. policy creators clearly do not like to admit that they are ever in the wrong. Renewing talks would, de facto, mean admitting a U.S. mistake,' says Jatras.

'However, if a consequence of the Hague court's verdict was a full cessation of the Kosovo recognition process, as could very easily happen, the impression in the global community would be that Kosovo was not a state and that some other solution had to be found,' he says, and that in that event, talks would resume, although not necessarily in the first couple of years.

]]> Bishop ARTEMIJE of Kosovo Protests Bush Meeting with 'Terrorist, War Criminal, and Racketeer' Hashim Thaci http://www.savekosovo.org/default.asp?p=9&leader=0&sp=511 GRACANICA, Serbia, July 17 -- The following statement was issued today by His Grace ARTEMIJE, Bishop of Ras and Prizren, and pastor of Orthodox Christians in the Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija:

"On July 21, President George W. Bush is scheduled to meet with Hashim Thaci, styled by some 'Prime Minister' of the separatist Albanian Muslim administration in the Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija. As pastor of the Orthodox Christian people of Kosovo, I protest to the fullest possible degree the fact that President Bush would bring dishonor on his office and sully the good name of the American nation by receiving such an infamous terrorist, war criminal, and organized crime chieftain.

"Such a meeting is particularly disturbing in light of President Bush's aspiration to leadership in the struggle of decent people everywhere against global jihad terrorism. In another context, he likened association with terrorists to seeking accord with the Nazis before World War II. Has he now changed his mind?

"Mr. Thaci's criminal record is well-known. Under his alias 'the Snake,' Mr. Thaci is one of the three principal kingpins in the Albanian Mafia, which is based in Kosovo and operates drug, sexual slavery, and weapons rackets across Europe. According to the German intelligence service BND, he meets regularly in Pristina's Grand Hotel with his chief accomplices, Ramush Haradinaj and Agim Ceku, to manage their joint criminal enterprises. To protect his criminal 'turf,' Mr. Thaci has not hesitated to eliminate rivals through physical means. As stated by one Albanian former leader in Kosovo, 'Cadavers have never been an obstacle to Thaci's career.'

"His record as a terrorist and war criminal is no less notorious. As a former commander of the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA),' Mr. Thaci bears primary responsibility for the terror campaign that has killed thousands of my flock and forced a quarter of a million to flee their homes in the province. Thousands of Serbian houses have been burned or forcibly taken over by Albanians, many of them illegal immigrants from Albania. Mr. Thaci's henchmen have demolished or desecrated over 150 of the churches and monasteries in my diocese. Particularly targeted for destruction have been crosses and icons of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the saints, giving proof to the Islamic jihad ferocity that motivates these attacks.

"It is known that in 1995 Mr. Thaci, together with his crony Mr. Haradinaj, met in Tirana with Osama bin-Laden to plan the jihad against Serbs in Kosovo. Americans should keep in mind that the terrorist reach of the KLA is not confined to Serbia but already has reached American shores with the barely averted plot by jihad terrorists, four of whom are Albanian Muslims from the Kosovo region, to attack Fort Dix in New Jersey and kill American servicemen.

"Perhaps most appalling is Mr. Thaci's role with respect to horrifying reports that organs destined for the illegal trade in organs for transplant were torn from live Serbian prisoners of the KLA. Some of the Serbian victims, after having one kidney cut out, were returned to confinement with fellow captives pending the lethal surgical removal of their other organs, waiting in knowing dread of the fate prepared for them! As documented by U.N. former war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte -- someone who hardly can be accused of having a pro-Serb bias -- these reports are specific and credible and cry out for immediate investigation. The U.S.-based advocacy organization Human Rights Watch has written to Mr. Thaci with their concerns about this matter, which he has dismissed with cavalier indifference. This is hardly surprising, given that these atrocities were committed by his KLA minions, for whose actions he bears command responsibility. Indeed, in light of Mr. Thaci's criminal proclivities, is it not more than likely he himself profited from this gruesome trade?

"This is the man with whom the leader of the world's foremost democracy now intends to meet! In doing so, President Bush would be committing a grave transgression against morality and decency, as well as an offense against any standard of civilized behavior. I call on President Bush, as a professing Christian and as an international leader, to cancel this iniquitous meeting. I call on U.S. authorities to demand that those responsible for the harvesting of organs from live Serbian victims be made to face justice."

+ ARTEMIJE

Gracanica Monastery, Province of Kosovo and Metohija

Serbia

]]> Contact both of your Senators today! http://www.savekosovo.org/default.asp?p=9&leader=0&sp=510

On May 20 President Bush nominated Ms. Tina S. Kaidanow to be “Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Kosovo [sic].”  Currently designated Charge d'Affaires of the American “embassy” in Pristina, Ms. Kaidenow’s confirmation hearing is today in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.  Our information is that she is slated for “fast track” treatment.  Her nomination no doubt will be approved by the Committee and sent to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.


While a vote by the full Senate would be virtually certain to result in Ms. Kaidenow’s confirmation, there exists in the Senate a procedural device little-known to the general public.  Called a “Hold,” it means a Senator – any Senator – can inform the Leadership of his party that he has concerns about a measure that is scheduled for action by the full Senate.  A Senator need not identify himself by placing a Hold, and if there is more than one Hold it is more difficult for advocates of the measure to track them down and ask the Senators to release them.  While not an airtight device for stopping a measure slated for action on the Senate floor, it can result in delaying and, often, derailing of the measure.   The more Holds there are, the more likely a measure can be killed.

That is why the AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR KOSOVO is asking you to contact your two Senators – today! – to ask him or her to place a Hold on the Kaidenow confirmation. 

(See instructions below.)

Please note that while Ms. Kaidenow has been a tireless advocate of the Albanian cause in Kosovo – reflecting U.S. policy – the issue is not primarily one of her personal qualifications for an ambassadorial post.  Rather, the issue is whether the United States should send an ambassador to this illegal pseudo-state at all.  Next to recognition itself, confirmation of a U.S. ambassador would be the most significant American vote of confidence in the criminal Kosovo Liberation Army clique of Hashim Thaci, Ramush Haradinaj, and Agim Ceku.

There is another, even more ominous justification for holding up or killing Ms. Kaidenow’s confirmation.  It is common knowledge that Kosovo’s pretense to statehood is rendered less than credible by the fact that it cannot extend its illegitimate “authority” over the Serbian enclaves.  There is every reason to think they might seek to do so via a replay of “Operation Storm,” which cleared the Serbian Krajinas of their population in 1995.  It should be remembered that Agim Ceku was a commander in the Croatian Army during that inhuman and criminal action.  In addition, in March President Bush authorized U.S. military assistance and training for Kosovo, which, if provided, would facilitate renewed jihad aggression by Albanian Muslims against Christian Serbs. At the very least, the Kaidenow confirmation must be held up until the Bush Administration provides ironclad and binding assurances to the Senate that no such assistance will be given to the criminal and terrorist clique in Pristina.

Finally, holding up the sending of a U.S. ambassador to Kosovo would contribute to the growing sense of failure of the Pristina administration’s unilateral declaration of independence.  Advocates of Kosovo independence openly have expressed their disappointment and concern that recognitions have not met expectations.  Many of the 40-odd countries that have recognized Kosovo under heavy pressure from the State Department are minor states, like Liberia and Marshall Islands.  Heavy hitters like India, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa have joined Serbia, Russia, and China in taking a stand in opposition to separating Kosovo from Serbia.  There is reason to believe that many of the European countries that were hoodwinked by Washington into recognizing Kosovo to “settle” the issue now regret it and may be reconsidering their position.  A defeat for a U.S. ambassadorial nominee would contribute to the inescapable conclusion that Kosovo is not an independent country and never will be.

So, please, as a constituent, write or email both of your own two Senators immediately!  (And of course, you can both email and call!) A suggested email text and phone script follow below.  You can find your two Senators’ contacts, by state, at the following link:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC   (This page with contact information also appears at the end of this message.)

Under each Senator’s name you will find a phone number and a link (at “Web Form”) to the Senator’s website with email contact information.

Suggested email message:

Dear Senator [Name]

As your constituent I am writing to ask you to place a hold on the confirmation of Ms. Tina Kaidenow to be U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo.  As you may know, the status of Kosovo as a supposedly independent country remains highly controversial, with most of the international community opposing the move.  In addition, the situation there remains volatile, and there is reason to believe the Albanian administration there may seek to use violence to subdue the Serbian community, which does not recognize their authority.  This would result in a terrible violation of human rights and religious freedoms, added to the two-thirds of the Serbian community that already has been terrorized from their homes and 150 of their churches and monasteries destroyed. At the very least, I request that your hold would insist on the condition that the Administration not provide military assistance to Kosovo to help facilitate this terrible outcome.

Thank you for your kind consideration.

With respect,

[Your name and City and State]

Suggested phone script for staffer who will answer the phone:

Hello.  My name is [Name].  I’m a constituent calling from [City, State].

I am calling you to ask Senator [Name] to place a hold on the confirmation of Ms. Tina Kaidenow [pronounced KYE-de-now] to be U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo.  As I am sure the Senator is aware, the status of Kosovo as a supposedly independent country remains highly controversial, with most of the international community opposing the move. 

In addition, the situation there remains highly volatile, and there is reason to believe the Albanian administration there may seek to use violence to subdue the Serbian community, which does not recognize their authority.  This would result in a terrible violation of human rights and religious freedoms, added to the two-thirds of the Serbian community that already has been terrorized from their homes and 150 of their churches and monasteries destroyed.

At the very least, I request that the Senator’s hold would insist on the condition that the Administration not provide military assistance to Kosovo to help facilitate this terrible outcome.

Thank you for passing these concerns onto the Senator.

Senators’ contact information (by state):

Murkowski, Lisa- (R - AK)       Class III      
709 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-6665 
Web Form: murkowski.senate.gov/contact.cfm     
       
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)  Class II       
522 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3004 
Web Form: stevens.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Em... 
       
Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)        Class II       
335 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-4124 
Web Form: sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Constitue... 
       
Shelby, Richard C.- (R - AL)    Class III      
110 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5744 
E-mail: senator@shelby.senate.gov      
       
Lincoln, Blanche L.- (D - AR)   Class III      
355 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-4843 
Web Form: lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html      
       
Pryor, Mark L.- (D - AR)        Class II       
255 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2353 
Web Form: pryor.senate.gov/contact/    
       
Kyl, Jon- (R - AZ)      Class I
730 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4521 
Web Form: kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm   
       
McCain, John- (R - AZ)  Class III      
241 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2235 
Web Form: mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con... 
       
Boxer, Barbara- (D - CA)        Class III      
112 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3553 
Web Form: boxer.senate.gov/contact     
       
Feinstein, Dianne- (D - CA)     Class I
331 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3841 
Web Form: feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactU... 
       
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO) Class II       
521 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5941 
Web Form: allard.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home   
       
Salazar, Ken- (D - CO)  Class III      
702 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5852 
Web Form: salazar.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm 
       
Dodd, Christopher J.- (D - CT)  Class III      
448 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2823 
Web Form: dodd.senate.gov/index.php?q=node/3130
       
Lieberman, Joseph I.- (ID - CT) Class I
706 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4041 
Web Form: lieberman.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm?regarding=issue       
       
Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D - DE) Class II       
201 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5042 
Web Form: biden.senate.gov/services/contact/   
       
Carper, Thomas R.- (D - DE)     Class I
513 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-2441 
Web Form: carper.senate.gov/contact/   
       
Martinez, Mel- (R - FL) Class III      
356 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-3041 
Web Form: martinez.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactIn... 
       
Nelson, Bill- (D - FL)  Class I
716 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5274 
Web Form: billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm      
       
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)      Class II       
416 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-3521 
Web Form: chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactU... 
       
Isakson, Johnny- (R - GA)       Class III      
120 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-3643 
Web Form: isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm       
       
Akaka, Daniel K.- (D - HI)      Class I
141 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-6361 
Web Form: akaka.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home    
       
Inouye, Daniel K.- (D - HI)     Class III      
722 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3934 
Web Form: inouye.senate.gov/abtform.html       
       
Grassley, Chuck- (R - IA)       Class III      
135 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3744 
Web Form: grassley.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.H... 
       
Harkin, Tom- (D - IA)   Class II       
731 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3254 
Web Form: harkin.senate.gov/c/ 
       
Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)       Class II       
520 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-2752 
Web Form: craig.senate.gov/email/      
       
Crapo, Mike- (R - ID)   Class III      
239 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-6142 
Web Form: crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm   
       
Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)       Class II       
309 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-2152 
Web Form: durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm
       
Obama, Barack- (D - IL) Class III      
713 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-2854 
Web Form: obama.senate.gov/contact/    
       
Bayh, Evan- (D - IN)    Class III      
131 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5623 
Web Form: bayh.senate.gov/contact/email/       
       
Lugar, Richard G.- (R - IN)     Class I
306 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4814 
E-mail: senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov 
       
Brownback, Sam- (R - KS)        Class III      
303 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-6521 
Web Form: brownback.senate.gov/CMEmailMe.cfm   
       
Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)  Class II       
109 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4774 
Web Form: roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInf... 
       
Bunning, Jim- (R - KY)  Class III      
316 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4343 
Web Form: bunning.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email
       
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)      Class II       
361-A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510       
(202) 224-2541 
Web Form: mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm
       
Landrieu, Mary L.- (D - LA)     Class II       
724 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5824 
Web Form: landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
       
Vitter, David- (R - LA) Class III      
516 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4623 
Web Form: vitter.senate.gov/?module=webformIQV1
       
Kennedy, Edward M.- (D - MA)    Class I
317 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-4543 
Web Form: kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm       
       
Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)        Class II       
304 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2742 
Web Form: kerry.senate.gov/v3/contact/email.html       
       
Cardin, Benjamin L.- (D - MD)   Class I
509 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4524 
Web Form: cardin.senate.gov/contact/   
       
Mikulski, Barbara A.- (D - MD)  Class III      
503 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4654 
Web Form: mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm      
       
Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)     Class II       
413 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2523 
Web Form: collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=Contact... 
       
Snowe, Olympia J.- (R - ME)     Class I
154 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5344 
Web Form: snowe.senate.gov/contact.htm 
       
Levin, Carl- (D - MI)   Class II       
269 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-6221 
Web Form: levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm   
       
Stabenow, Debbie- (D - MI)      Class I
133 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4822 
Web Form: stabenow.senate.gov/email.htm
       
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN) Class II       
320 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5641 
Web Form: coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Co... 
       
Klobuchar, Amy- (D - MN)        Class I
302 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3244 
Web Form: klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm    
       
Bond, Christopher S.- (R - MO)  Class III      
274 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5721 
Web Form: bond.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfm
       
McCaskill, Claire- (D - MO)     Class I
717 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-6154 
Web Form: mccaskill.senate.gov/contact/
       
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS) Class II       
113 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5054 
Web Form: cochran.senate.gov/contact.htm       
       
Wicker, Roger F.- (R - MS)      Class I
487 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-6253 
Web Form: wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactMe.E... 
       
Baucus, Max- (D - MT)   Class II       
511 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-2651 
Web Form: baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue   
       
Tester, Jon- (D - MT)   Class I
204 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2644 
Web Form: tester.senate.gov/Contact/   
       
Burr, Richard- (R - NC) Class III      
217 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-3154 
Web Form: burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home     
       
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)       Class II       
555 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-6342 
Web Form: dole.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInformation.C... 
       
Conrad, Kent- (D - ND)  Class I
530 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-2043 
Web Form: conrad.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm
       
Dorgan, Byron L.- (D - ND)      Class III      
322 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-2551 
E-mail: senator@dorgan.senate.gov      
       
Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)  Class II       
248 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-4224 
Web Form: hagel.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home    
       
Nelson, E. Benjamin- (D - NE)   Class I
720 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-6551 
Web Form: bennelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm       
       
Gregg, Judd- (R - NH)   Class III      
393 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-3324 
Web Form: gregg.senate.gov/sitepages/contact.cfm       
       
Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)       Class II       
111 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2841 
Web Form: www.sununu.senate.gov/webform.html   
       
Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D - NJ)  Class II       
324 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3224 
Web Form: lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/       
       
Menendez, Robert- (D - NJ)      Class I
317 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4744 
Web Form: menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm      
       
Bingaman, Jeff- (D - NM)        Class I
703 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5521 
E-mail: senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov   
       
Domenici, Pete V.- (R - NM)     Class II       
328 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-6621 
Web Form: domenici.senate.gov/contact/contactform.cfm  
       
Ensign, John- (R - NV)  Class I
119 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-6244 
Web Form: ensign.senate.gov/forms/email_form.cfm       
       
Reid, Harry- (D - NV)   Class III      
528 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3542 
Web Form: reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm    
       
Clinton, Hillary Rodham- (D - NY)       Class I
476 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-4451 
Web Form: clinton.senate.gov/contact   
       
Schumer, Charles E.- (D - NY)   Class III      
313 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-6542 
Web Form: schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm
       
Brown, Sherrod- (D - OH)        Class I
455 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2315 
Web Form: brown.senate.gov/contact/    
       
Voinovich, George V.- (R - OH)  Class III      
524 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3353 
Web Form: voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.... 
       
Coburn, Tom- (R - OK)   Class III      
172 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5754 
Web Form: coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSena... 
       
Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)      Class II       
453 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-4721 
Web Form: inhofe.senate.gov/contactus.htm      
       
Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)      Class II       
404 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-3753 
Web Form: gsmith.senate.gov/webform.htm
       
Wyden, Ron- (D - OR)    Class III      
230 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5244 
Web Form: wyden.senate.gov/contact/    
       
Casey, Robert P., Jr.- (D - PA) Class I
383 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-6324 
Web Form: casey.senate.gov/contact/    
       
Specter, Arlen- (R - PA)        Class III      
711 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4254 
Web Form: specter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Co... 
       
Reed, Jack- (D - RI)    Class II       
728 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-4642 
Web Form: reed.senate.gov/contact/contact-share.cfm    
       
Whitehouse, Sheldon- (D - RI)   Class I
502 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-2921 
Web Form: whitehouse.senate.gov/contact.cfm    
       
DeMint, Jim- (R - SC)   Class III      
340 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-6121 
Web Form: demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home   
       
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)       Class II       
290 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5972 
Web Form: lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contact    
       
Johnson, Tim- (D - SD)  Class II       
136 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5842 
Web Form: johnson.senate.gov/contact/  
       
Thune, John- (R - SD)   Class III      
493 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2321 
Web Form: thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email   
       
Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)      Class II       
455 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-4944 
Web Form: alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.... 
       
Corker, Bob- (R - TN)   Class I
185 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-3344 
Web Form: corker.senate.gov/Contact/index.cfm  
       
Cornyn, John- (R - TX)  Class II       
517 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-2934 
Web Form: cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con... 
       
Hutchison, Kay Bailey- (R - TX) Class I
284 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5922 
Web Form: hutchison.senate.gov/contact.cfm     
       
Bennett, Robert F.- (R - UT)    Class III      
431 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5444 
Web Form: bennett.senate.gov/contact/emailmain.html    
       
Hatch, Orrin G.- (R - UT)       Class I
104 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5251 
Web Form: hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Cont... 
       
Warner, John- (R - VA)  Class II       
225 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2023 
Web Form: warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Con... 
       
Webb, Jim- (D - VA)     Class I
144 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-4024 
Web Form: webb.senate.gov/contact/     
       
Leahy, Patrick J.- (D - VT)     Class III      
433 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-4242 
E-mail: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov 
       
Sanders, Bernard- (I - VT)      Class I
332 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-5141 
Web Form: sanders.senate.gov/comments/ 
       
Cantwell, Maria- (D - WA)       Class I
511 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-3441 
Web Form: cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.html       
       
Murray, Patty- (D - WA) Class III      
173 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-2621 
Web Form: murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm    
       
Feingold, Russell D.- (D - WI)  Class III      
506 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5323 
Web Form: feingold.senate.gov/contact_opinion.html     
       
Kohl, Herb- (D - WI)    Class I
330 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-5653 
Web Form: kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html     
       
Byrd, Robert C.- (D - WV)       Class I
311 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-3954 
Web Form: byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html      
       
Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D - WV)      Class II       
531 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510    
(202) 224-6472 
Web Form: rockefeller.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm     
       
Barrasso, John- (R - WY)        Class I
307 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 
(202) 224-6441 
Web Form: barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs... 
       
Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)      Class II       
379A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3424 
Web Form: enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInform... 
       

]]> No false choice for Serbia http://www.savekosovo.org/default.asp?p=9&leader=0&sp=508 It is inaccurate to portray the recent election in Serbia as a choice between "fervent nationalist and anti-Western" hostility to the European Union, supposedly represented by former Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Radical Party leader Tomislav Nikolic, and a "progressive," pro-Western course in the person of President Boris Tadic ("Serbia's mighty challenge," Editorial, May 16).

Not a single party participating in the election opposes the European Union. As Mr. Nikolic wrote in a recent Op-Ed in The Washington Times ("Serbia goes to the polls," May 9), the real choice before Serbian voters was whether the "rule of law, European integration and economic liberalization [must] go hand-in-hand with Serbia's legitimate national interests," versus choosing "an illusion of faster integration promised by other parties" - such as Mr. Tadic's - "that would undermine Serbia's territorial integrity." Mr. Nikolic and Mr. Kostunica simply insist that European integration must be consistent with international standards affirming the inviolability of Serbia's entire sovereign territory, including the province of Kosovo. This is hardly "ultranationalism."

Claims of ethnic cleansing against Albanians in the 1990s do not justify separating Kosovo from today's democratic Serbia. The terror campaign directed at Kosovo's Christian Serbs both before and after the 1999 war is only the culmination of decades, even centuries, of violence perpetrated by Muslim Albanians under the sponsorship of Ottoman Turks, the Axis powers during World War II, the postwar communist regime of Josip Broz Tito and now NATO. Theresulting preponderance of Albanians in Kosovo resulting from terrorism is neither a legal nor moral justification for secession.

The Times is correct that the status of Kosovo was not resolved by recognition of its supposed independence by the United States and a few of our allies. Rather than futilely trying to force an illegal solution to a complex problem, the Bush administration - or its successor - should heed the recent call by Russia, China and India for resumed negotiations for a settlement consistent with accepted principles of international law.

A coalition among Serbian parties committed to that outcome would not be extremist, just patriotic and principled. If someday our country faces a similar challenge, I hope Americans would feel the same way.

JAMES GEORGE JATRAS

Director

American Council for Kosovo
Washington

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