U.S. analysts paint grim, bright Kosovo picture

WASHINGTON -- Kosovo's declaration of independence will deteriorate the stability of the Balkans, John Bolton says.

U.S. analysts paint grim, bright Kosovo picture

WASHINGTON -- Kosovo's declaration of independence will deteriorate the stability of the Balkans, John Bolton says.

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Bolton, who is now a senior associate at the U.S. Enterprise Institute, believes that a recognition of Kosovo's independence will "only sow the seeds of future conflict in the Balkans, political, and unfortunately, military."

"Kosovo will be a weak state susceptible to radical Islamist influence from outside the region, with the support from some Albanians, in other words, a potential gate for radicalism to enter Europe," he warned.

Unlike the former ambassador, the president of the Project for Democracies in Transition Bruce Jackson said he believed Kosovo's unilateral independence will "help Belgrade and Priština move closer to Europe."

Jackson also told the panel it is "impossible to expect that Kosovo will remain a part of Serbia after attempted ethnic cleansing in 1999, that had Slobodan Milošević's regime behind it."

Both analysts looked at the Russian role in the crisis. Jackson said Moscow's arguments are "not legitimate", while Bolton stressed that the controversial Kosovo status settlement could additionally complicate bilateral relations between Washington and Moscow.