Jaap de Hoop Scheffe is Loopy on Kosovo

Saying so, does not make it so. Scheffe proclaims that Kosovo is unique, but does not say why. It reminds me of Lord Owen saying that redrawing ethnic boundaries in Bosnia would promote peace because it recognized "facts on the ground". Instead what it did was to inflame the conflict between Croats and Bosniak into a full scale war. Don't get me started on Iraq!


Jaap de Hoop Scheffe: Two words - constructive interaction - must become key in NATO-Russia relations, Interfax:

But he expressed regret that the Russian people have a negative view of NATO and of what it does.

'Regarding NATO's image in Russia, we are still to do a great deal, and Russians must assist us in doing so - perhaps, not only the press, but, above all, the Russian leadership,' Scheffer said.

He also claimed, that the eventual decision on Kosovo's status could not serve as a precedent either for South Ossetia, or Abkhazia, or other entities seeking independence.
'Be it the Republic of Srpska [within Bosnia and Herzegovina], Chechnya, or some other territory within an existing state, they cannot view Kosovo as an example to follow,' de Hoop Scheffer said.

'Kosovo is a unique case. We should all be aware that a decision on Kosovo will have a fundamental significance for European security because we are discussing not something remote but are talking about the Balkans. This region is vital to Europe's stability and security,' he said.

'NATO is not involved in the process of determining Kosovo's status. This issue is for the UN Security Council, in which Russia, among others, plays a decisive role. But all the participants in the process should understand that the determination of Kosovo's status is vital not only for peace"