Programs : Kosovo Today
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Kosovo Lecture Synopsis |
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In the late 1980’s, a growing sense of Albanian nationalism became the catalyst for the Kosovo separatist movement, which strove to extricate Kosovo from the greater Yugoslavia. When Slobodan Milosevic refused to give Kosovo autonomy, the tension between Serbians and Albanians led to a devastating civil war. More than a decade after the conflict, modern Europe is still holding war crime trials and seeking the arrest of many involved in the conflict. Mr. Pettifer, an expert on the controversial topic, offered his unique expertise on the subject and the region. |
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Mr. Pettifer cited the recent Russian invasion of Georgia as a show of reassertion after years of being overshadowed by other world powers after the breakup of the Soviet Union. He pointed out the mistake of labeling the Russians as aggressors, given the recent events in the Balkans as well as Russia’s new position as a World leader. Mr. Pettifer showed concern with United States-Russian relations, and emphasized the use of soft power in dealing with the situation. Because of the precarious position in Kosovo, he stressed the importance to a deeper understanding of the nature of relations between the countries involved. After the talk was completed, there was a lively session of questions and answers. Program was held onThursday, September 11th, 2008 |
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