2007年VOA标准英语-Albanian PM Says Independent Kosovo Key to Balk

By Barry Wood
Tirana
08 August 2007

As a new and presumably final round of negotiations¹ aimed at determining the status of Serbia's Kosovo province gets under way, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha says independence is the only solution that will assure regional stability.  VOA's Barry Wood reports from Albania's capital Tirana.

Sali Berisha (file)

Prime Minister Berisha does not oppose the resumed status negotiations that are beginning this week, but he says there are risks to delaying implementation² of the international plan for Kosovo's conditional³ independence.  Mr. Berisha distrusts Russia, which has aligned⁴ itself with Serbia in opposing Kosovo's independence.

"Russia is blocking the U.N. Security Council [resolution of Kosovo] for its own imperial reasons, and no other reason [than that]," he said.

In an interview with VOA, Mr. Berisha said he doubts Russia will change its position, even after the anticipated four additional months of discussions.  The joint⁵ U.S., Russian and European Union negotiating team meets Thursday in London and then travels to the Serbian capital Belgrade and to Pristina, the Kosovo's capital. 

In New York, the U.N. Security Council failed to pass a resolution for Kosovo's conditional independence because of a threatened Russian veto.  Kosovo, whose population is 90 percent ethnic⁶ Albanian, has been administered by the United Nations since 1999 when NATO bombing drove Serb forces out of the province. 

Mr. Berisha is also skeptical⁷ about Belgrade's intentions.  Serbia says it will grant widespread autonomy to Kosovo, but will not accept independence for the land it considers its religious and spiritual heartland. 

Mr. Berisha says by opposing the international plan for a multi-ethnic independent Kosovo, Belgrade is maintaining the discredited⁸ Milosevic-era doctrine⁹ of a greater Serbia, regarded as a principal cause of the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

"Look at Belgrade.  What is it today?  It is the Milosevic doctrine without force," Mr. Berisha said.  "[Prime Minister Vojislav] Kostunica and [President Boris] Tadic are not threatening to use the army, not concentrating on the army.  But they are keeping the same principles in regard to a greater Serbia."

Mr. Berisha warns against the partition of Kosovo, saying a Serb state in the northern part of the territory is no solution for ethnic Serbs.  It is dangerous, he says, to change accepted borders, and would trigger demands for ethnic autonomy elsewhere, even inside Serbia proper.

"I know [for example] there are more Albanians in southern Serbia than Serbs in northern Kosovo," Mr. Berisha said.  "There are more Bosnians in Sanjak [region of Serbia] than Serbs in northern Kosovo.  I think sticking to international borders is the only way."

Mr. Berisha says it is essential for Albanian politicians in Kosovo to reach out to minority Serbs and convince them that they are safe and have a secure future in an independent state.

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

3 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

4 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

7 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

8 discredited   

不足信的，不名誉的

参考例句：

• The reactionary authorities are between two fires and have been discredited. 反动当局弄得进退维谷，不得人心。
• Her honour was discredited in the newspapers. 她的名声被报纸败坏了。

9 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。