The US commitment to Balkan

01/11/2012 20:00

American Thinker wrote on 2007 that for one day, George Bush understood
what it means to feel like Bill Clinton. It was about the visit of the
former president in our country, and the strong admiration feelings that
he received from here. Feelings that deserved to be compared to what
the Albanians think about the man that played a decisive role in the
Kosovo war, and who became the symbol of the US support for its
independence.

The former American President dedicated a special part to the Bosnian and Kosovo war in his book “My Life”. He said that Washington should be committed to Balkan for as long it’s necessary.

It’s not very difficult to understand the views of his wife, Hillary Clinton, the First Lady of America for eight years, a senator for four years, and State Secretary with the Obama Administration.

Obama confirmed in September 2008 that as President of America, he would help Kosovo recover its economy and that he would support its independence. This declaration was the first public commitment of the former senator of Illinois to directly communicate with the Albanian-American community in the US.

Hs decision to choose Joseph Biden as vice President and put in the key foreign policy roles people who had previously worked with Bill Clinton’s administration, who were involved in the Balkan events during the ’90s, was perceived by experts as a sign that Washington would reengage in the region.

Despite the progress, Western Balkan kept facing large political, economic and administrative challenges, which are a main obstacle for the membership in the EU and NATO. The EU was unable to give the right impulses to the nation. America should regain this region and fade the increasing influence of Russia.

Part of these arguments influenced the Congress that on May 2009 adopted the resolution 171, which was not obligatory and required a special envoy to be sent for the region.

But the most important issues are certainly Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, especially for the facct that the situation in Balkan had no urgencies. This made the region be down below the priority list.

Hillary’s tour brings the guarantee before the presidential elections that their attention is now on Balkans, and that they will have the US support in their path of reforms.

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