Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Montenegro

Clinton Says Transition From Communism 'Impressive'

Bill Clinton speaking in Prague on 11 November (AFP)

Prague, 12 November 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton says the transition from communism to democracy has been "enormous and immensely impressive" in the Baltic states, central Europe, and even in southeast Europe, RFE/RL reported.

TEXT SIZE - +

November 12, 2005

Clinton spoke in Prague on 11 November on the second day of the annual Club of Madrid conference of former heads of state or government focusing on democracy in the post-communist world.

Clinton said the Serbian province of Kosovo is now going through a "critical period" with talks expected to start soon aimed at settling the future status of the territory. He also said efforts must continue to support development of a genuine democracy in Serbia.

"I supported your freedom and I still do," Clinton told RFE/RL. "And I think it's very important now that we maintain both order in Kosovo and respect for the legitimate rights of all people, including the minorities. What the Serbs did to the Kosovar Albanians was terrible, but the Kosovar Albanians should not now respond in kind. We should all find a way to live together, work together and go forward together."

Clinton also said he was in favor Turkish membership of the European Union because Turkey could become a gateway to the Middle East.

In his remarks at the meeting, former Czech President Vaclav Havel urged the support of pro-democracy movements and dissidents in Cuba, Belarus, Myanmar, and North Korea.

(with material from AP)

"The main impression...after being 15 minutes in her presence is that she is not frightened," a colleague says of Natasa Kandic (above).

The Truth-Teller: Natasa Kandic, Urging Serbs To Face The Past

More than a decade has passed since the end of the Balkan wars, where international observers say ethnic Serb fighters were responsible for the bulk of atrocities in the region, particularly Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. But despite the handover of major war-crimes suspects like Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, Belgrade remains reluctant to face the sins of the past. Lawyer Natasa Kandic has built an unpopular and often dangerous career out of pushing her country to face the truth about its history. More

Zoran Laketa lost his father and brother in the war

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, One Family, Three Armies, And A Lost Generation

Zoran Laketa knows what it's like to fire a gun and wonder if the soldier on the other side of the front line just might be his brother. Or his father. More

Angelina Jolie at the premiere of "In the Land of Blood and Honey" in Los Angeles in December

Jolie Earns Serbian Scorn For War Film

She’s known internationally as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses; she’s won praise from governments and NGOs across the globe for her work as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations; and she’s often reckoned to be the world’s most beautiful woman. But Angelina Jolie has been going by a few other titles lately in the Balkans nation of Serbia, where prominent media outlets have taken to describing her as an American propagandist and all-around "jerk." More