Sam Gibbons: “my colleagues and I have asked the Russian government to work constructively towards a resolution of the Balkans crisis…”

“my colleagues and I have asked the Russian government to work constructively towards a resolution of the Balkans crisis, and I am happy to say that the Russian government has responded in the hopes of achieving a workable solution. Unfortunately, the administration has missed what I and many of my colleagues consider a tremendous opportunity to end this conflict and the bloodshed on both sides. I commend our counterparts in the Russian Duma and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) for their efforts in furthering this option which relies on diplomacy instead of smart bombs. Mr. Speaker, this proposal includes Serbia's compliance with all NATO conditions, an end to ethnic cleansing, deployment of international troops to Kosovo, and all under a United Nations sanctioned monitoring group. As a veteran who understands the horrors of war, I believe that we, as a Nation, would regret not pursuing a peaceful solution to this conflict, a conflict which has already caused a humanitarian disaster and potentially thousands of lives, military and civilian alike. I hope the administration will embrace this effort for peace in the Balkans.”