March 11, 1999

The Honorable Madeleine Albright,
Secretary of State,
Department of State,
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Madam Secretary:

On March 10 the House National Security Caucus Foundation organized a briefing on Kosovo in which Chairman Gordon of the Senate Foreign Relations European Subcommittee and Chairman Sonny Callahan of the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee were speakers. I participated as a speaker on behalf of the Serbian Unity Congress.

In his presentation Senator Smith stated that his principle guideline for U.S. foreign policy were the rule of law and the enhancement of democracy.

This is right on target. But I much regret that these principle have been grossly violated in the ruling on Brcko and the removal of the democratically elected President Nikola Poplasen from office. I am writing to protest these actions and to request that you review both decisions.

The ruling on Brcko is a sad vitiation of legal procedure. Inst4ead of being a legally anchored award in accordance with the Dayton Accords, it is shot through with political judgments. For example on pages 9 and 10 there are wholly inappropriate arguments in connection with elected officials in Republic Srpska. These are not germane to the issue and should not have played any part in the decision.

Further, the arguments holding Serbs responsible for the slow pace of refugee return are nowhere matched by criticism of the Federation authorities for obstruction of refugee return. In fact, as is well known Serbs have found it impossible to return to their former ancestral homes. Some, for example in Drvar where Serbs were in an overwhelming majority before being driven out during the war, have lost their lives in attempting to do so at the hands of local murderers.

This arbitration ruling is therefore a legal and political travesty. I urge you to overturn it.

The removal of Mr. Poplasen is also an affront to democracy. The U.S. and international community operates in Bosnia on the grounds of so- called universal principles of democracy. Yet when elections produce a result they dislike they do not hesitate to stoop to anti-democratic arrogance. This send precisely the wrong message about our policy. We are pro-democracy when it suits us and totalitarian when it does not.

The practical effect of both these decisions will be to raise tensions in Bosnia and thus further complicate the creation of a stable society there. There is bound to be a spillover effect on Kosovo. They will also confirm the deep feeling of most Serbs that whatever they do, the U.S. and international community is determined to disadvantage them. This is unacceptable. For both moral and pragmatic reasons, both these decision need to be reversed urgently. I ask that you take this action.

Sincerely,

Vojin Joksimovich
Vice-President and Director for Foreign Affairs

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