SUNDAY-MAY 16, 2021 Miscellaneous 07 What Biden should do about the Balkans Jerusalem, the unfolding tragedy As United States President and that tensions in the ethnically Joe Biden passed his first 100 mixed regions of the north can es- days in office, it appeared that his calate. By pushing for Kosovo’s administration was putting for- NATO integration, the Biden ad- eign policy lower on its agenda of ministration would be sending a priorities to focus on domestic clear signal to Belgrade that Kos- issues. But perhaps the expected ovo will move forward irrespec- receding of the pandemic in the tive of the pace of full normalisa- coming months due to the success tion. It could also help pressure of his vaccination drive could pro- Serbia to fully recognise its neigh- vide space for the president to pay bour and normalise relations. more attention to foreign policy Second, the US should push as well. the EU to provide a clear mem- While Biden seems to have bership prospect for Bosnia and focused on reaching a new deal Kosovo. Bosnia is further ahead with Iran and ending the US’s “for- in the process of joining the EU ever war” in Afghanistan, one re- and awarding it a candidate status gion where he can strike an easy for membership would be crucial foreign policy win is the Balkans. by successive US administrations. eration with the Alliance, includ- to get the country out of its cur- Unlike in Afghanistan and Iraq, Biden’s predecessor Donald ing participation in the US-led rent dysfunction. This would pro- this part of Europe is where Amer- Trump pursued an incoherent for- Defender Europe 2021 exercise. vide Bosnia with valuable momen- ican military intervention in the eign policy that produced no tan- In fact, Bosnia’s decision to tum to undertake political and 1990s is considered a success. gible result. A summit in the White commit to NATO membership is economic reforms that Bosnian Three decades ago, the Bal- House last September with Serbi- part official policy with the sup- politicians would not do and, more kans captured then Senator an and Kosovar leaders failed to port of Bosnian Serb leaders. The importantly, it would gain access Biden’s attention. He was firmly tackle the most pressing issue for country’s recent Foreign Policy to more EU funds to invest in critical of Yugoslav President Slo- the two countries: the recognition Strategy for 2018-2023 reaffirmed much-needed educational, health Israel is a colonial war machine ty, postponing the elections he plucked from another era; not bodan Milosevic’s wars of con- of Kosovo’s independence. that “a continuation of policies and infrastructural projects. that never sleeps. Its mounting feared he would lose. Even more since the end of the Middle Ages quest and actively supported US Biden can correct the conse- related to NATO remains a prior- Progress on EU accession is provocations in Jerusalem in re- ironic is that the Palestinians are had the civilised world witnessed military action in both Bosnia and quences of the neglect and inade- ity for institutions of Bosnia.” also very important for Kosovo. cent weeks have predictably driv- rebelling the most in areas where the wholesale appropriation of the Kosovo. For this reason, Biden’s quate policies of his predecessors The Biden administration Serbia is far ahead of its neigh- en Palestinians to the streets in Abbas commands no security con- sacred sites of a defeated religious election last November was wide- by taking decisive action on Kos- should push for fast-tracking Bos- bour in the negotiations process protest. trol or coordination with Israel. community by members of the ly celebrated in both countries and ovo and Bosnia, where the US nia and Kosovo’s accession to and if it joins soon, it could block Hence, the short answer to the Meanwhile, Netanyahu has victorious one. It’s true that plac- brought high expectations for re- largely enjoys positive percep- NATO. This would give both Kosovo’s membership bid. The question, “why?”, is simply, jumped on the threats by the Is- es of worship in many countries newed positive US involvement tion. countries a sense of a brighter fu- American push to step up EU in- “why not?”, considering that ev- lamist movement Hamas to retal- have been vandalised – even re- in the region. There are two policy avenues ture and help anchor them firmly centives for Kosovo in the form ery new Israeli day brings along iate against Israel, if it continued cently – from the bombing of While other states of former that he should pursue. First, Biden within the Atlantic Alliance. The of a candidate status would help more Palestinian dismay. its siege on Al-Aqsa compound, mosques in Sarajevo in the 1990s Yugoslavia have moved forward can push for finalising the pro- American political, military and even out the current situation and The Israeli occupation, re- to further escalate the tension lead- and the blowing up of churches with European Union and NATO cess of NATO enlargement in economic investment in Bosnia guarantee its membership. A can- pression, disruption, discrimina- ing to attacks, counterattacks and, by the Bolsheviks following the integration, Bosnia and Kosovo southeast Europe. Kosovo is ea- and Kosovo over the past two didate status for Kosovo would tion, property confiscation or sadly, scores of mostly Palestin- October Revolution, down to the are lagging behind. Croatia is a ger to join the Alliance while Bos- decades would be secured. similarly provide both EU funds home demolition are a decades- ian casualties, and steering the at- plundering of churches and mon- member of both. North Mace- nia has made some progress, de- Amid the dysfunctional re- for reforms and infrastructure but long daily affair. Likewise, racist tention away from the popular asteries during the French Revo- donia recently joined NATO while spite domestic political road- sponse of Bosnian institutions to also serve to pressure politicians and violent provocations by Is- upheaval in Jerusalem. lution. But to find accurate paral- accession talks with the EU are blocks. The majority in one of its the pandemic, firmly entrenched to undertake more serious steps raeli fanatics are common practice I have no doubt that Netan- lels for the reconsecration of places expected to begin soon. Montene- entities, the Federation of Bosnia ethnic leaders have turned to war- in fighting corruption and eco- in the occupied Palestinian terri- yahu will use the new escalation of worship by a conqueror, one gro also has become a NATO and Herzegovina, is in favour of mongering which serves to draw nomic underdevelopment. tories. to stay in power, whether by de- must go back to Spain or the Byz- member and it is currently in ac- joining NATO, while most polit- public attention away from ram- In sum, the Biden administra- Not surprisingly, Prime Min- nying the opposition the chance antine Empire in the middle of the cession talks with the EU. Serbia ical leaders of the other entity – pant corruption and gross incom- tion is in a unique position to an- ister Benjamin Netanyahu justi- to form a coalition or by insisting late 15th century.” is adamant that it would stay out Republika Srpska – are actively petence and which dangerously chor the Balkans firmly within the fies the Israeli repression of peace- on another national emergency Another such example of rare of NATO, but it is moving for- opposed. incites violence. The hope that Atlantic Alliance and secure peace ful protest and religious worship government. candour came from none other ward with membership negotia- But that was not always the existed over a decade ago that EU in this volatile part of Europe. by portraying it as “a struggle But while he has had a major than Teddy Kollek, who was West tions with the EU. case. Just over a decade ago, then and NATO membership could Both states have small popula- between tolerance and intolerance; role in the ongoing escalation, he Jerusalem’s mayor for almost two This dynamic effectively Serb member of the Bosnian pres- ameliorate some of the tensions tions and their integration within law and order and law breaking is by no means the first, nor it decades, notably after the 1967 leaves Bosnia with no clear path idency Nebojša Radmanovic sent built up in the Dayton Peace Ac- NATO would be cost-effective. and violence”. seems, the last to provoke vio- occupation of the eastern part of to the EU or NATO in the near a letter to NATO expressing Bos- cords has given way to a general Biden also can help speed up their Netanyahu’s carefully articu- lence and war. the city. He revealed Israeli chau- future. Kosovo’s prospect of join- nia’s commitment to becoming a sense of hopelessness. Fast-track- integration into the EU which lated, self-righteous trademark Netanyahu, like his right- and vinism in a telling interview with ing either is currently even more full member of the Alliance. What ing Bosnia’s NATO accession would help with the political and “hasbara” has grown tired, blatant left-wing predecessors, has been Ma’ariv newspaper soon after the remote. Left in limbo, there is a has changed since 2009 is that now could prevent the country economic development of these and ineffective, alienating instead guided by his ideological guru, Al-Aqsa massacre in October concern that Bosnia could descend Bosnian Serb leaders – in the void from becoming another European countries. The opportunity for a of deceiving the allies, and infuri- Ze’ev Jabotinsky, who published 1990: into a dysfunctional state marred left by American diplomatic draw- frozen conflict.