U.S. Policy in Croatia
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns Press Availability during SEECP Summit
Zagreb, Croatia
May 11, 2007
PRESS AVAILABILITY - REGIONAL TV
Q: You were talking about Kosovo a lot in yesterday's (inaudible) but I'd like to ask about your commentary about Bosnia as security threat in the region, especially about Wahabism issue.
UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: I told the President of Croatia as well as the Prime Minister this morning when Ambassador Bradtke and I met him that we wish to work very closely with Croatia so that both of us can argue for the maintenance, independence and sovereignty and unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we hope for a greater commitment by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina for constitutional reform. And we have told, we will pass this message to Prime Minister Soladas when he visits Washington. We will never ever support any move by the Republika Srpska to leave, or to separate itself, and we are a friend to the unity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And I think in that respect we have a great wish to cooperate with the Croatian Government to both of us give good advice, and to promote reform and unity, so I'm pleased to say that.
Q: And what about Wahabism issue in Bosnia because Wahabism issue is a huge security threat in the region?
UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Well, again, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been a success in the last 12 years now, and there is peace there, and I think we have to give the people of the country some time to complete reform, but we are supporting that country.
Q: How do you assess the prospect of Macedonia getting a NATO invitation?
UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: I had a very good meeting with the President of Macedonia last evening, and we're great friends with Macedonia, and we hope very much that Macedonia and Albania can make the necessary reforms. We hope they can make the reforms, but they need to make greater reforms in future to warrant NATO membership. We're friends, we want to see this process continue, but more needs to be done by Macedonia and Albania. I think Croatia has earned NATO membership and Croatia has our support for NATO membership.
Q: (inaudible) …plan of Ahtisaari in the Security Council?
UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: We strongly support the Ahtisaari plan and in just a few hours the us and European countries will be circulating a resolution to support the Ahtisaari plan that we hope will lead to the independence of Kosovo. And we are open to views of all countries that might strengthen the Ahtisaari plan and strengthen the process, but we think this needs to be done very quickly. We expect the resolution to pass, by a strong majority, we expect it to pass this month, and we expect Kosovo to be independent in a matter of weeks. We hope, that is our hope. We are strong supporters of President Sediju, Prime minister Ceku . He was here today, he's a friend of ours, and we want Kosovo to become independent very soon.
Q: Are you afraid of the Serbian response?
UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: No. We have great respect for Serbia. We're friends with PM Kostunica, we're friends with President Tadic, I have talked with both of them this week and said that we welcome their views. Of course. This concerns their country fundamentally. Kosovo will become independent in our judgment. But also we want to have friendship between Serbia and the United States after this, and I think we can manage that. Thank you very much.
Q: There has been criticism about Article 98 signature, if Montenegrin Parliament refuses that, could we count on NATO membership?
UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Well we're friends with Montenegro, we're just beginning our relationship, we're grateful for the Article 98 agreement, and we want to work with Montenegro towards the Euro-Atlantic future
Q: Do you expect that the Parliament will adopt it as well?
UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: We hope so, it's up to the parliament, of course.