By Justin Duckham-Talk Radio News Service

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) responded Tuesday to the chilly reception from Pakistan toward the Kerry-Lugar aid bill, saying that the committee intends to include a document alongside the $7.5 billion aid bill aimed at assuaging Pakistani concerns.

“[The document] affirms the primary intention of the Enhanced Partnership With Pakistan Act, it demonstrates the American people’s long-term commitment to the people of Pakistan,” said Kerry during a press briefing with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

The Chairman added that the document stresses that the U.S. respects the sovereignty of Pakistan’s government and military.

The bill, which will provide the full $7.5 billion over a five year span, has faced sharp criticism from Pakistan’s parliament, military and civilian population for exerting too much U.S. influence in the country.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the Enhanced Partnership With Pakistan Act will promote civic engagement within Pakistan’s population and should ultimately lead to political moderation (0:37)

 

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The Foreign Relations Senate Committee held a hearing today analyzing the recent independence of Kosovo and the problems being faced in the Balkan region. The hearing was divided into two sections with two different sets of witnesses.

During the first half of the hearing, Daniel Fried, assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, introduced the situation in Kosovo, presenting the American support. He talked about the newly free and independent nation and the problems with Serbia. Serbia is trying to isolate themselves from the rest of Europe, due to the recognition of the latter to the independence of Kosovo. According to Fried, the United State’s strategic interest is, for Serbia to find itself into the European Union, but after all it remains Serbia’s responsibility.
The financial situation of the country is creating some concerns regarding its independence; however Fried explained that 25 percent of the costs will be provided by the U.S., 50 percent from Europe and the remaining from organizations such as The World Bank and United Nations.

Witnesses present in the second half of the hearing were Janusz Bugajski, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Daniel Serwer, vice president for Peace and Stability Operations and lastly Ivan Vejvoda, the executive director of Balkan Trust for Democracy. They gave the European and local perspective of the situation. Serwer especially emphasized on the fact that Serbia is the problem and not Kosovo.