Growing up in isolation from one another, young Serbs and Albanians born in Kosovo and Serbia have little opportunity, and often little desire, to interact with each other and with peers from other ethnic communities. Factors that brought their parents together when the countries were part of Yugoslavia – common language, economic opportunities and a lack of borders – no longer exist and have been replaced with misperceptions, fear, and disrespect.

The importance of assisting developing democracies at the legislative level was among topics discussed by Representatives David Price (D-N.C.) and David Dreier (R-Calif.) of the House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) during a Feb. 10 panel discussion with Kenneth Wollack and Lorne Craner – the presidents of the National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute.

Vice President Joe Biden, in a speech on Feb. 7 to the 45th Munich Conference on Security Policy, reaffirmed the commitment of the United States government to the peaceful support of democratic values worldwide. Mr. Biden delivered the speech as part of his first overseas excursion since assuming the vice presidency on Jan. 20 .

During his remarks, Biden said:

The resounding victories of pro-Europe reformers in Serbian presidential and parliamentary elections last year emphatically confirmed citizens’ desire to begin the process of accession to the European Union.  But passage of necessary legislation for EU membership has been obstructed by lingering anti-European factions within the Serbian parliament, and only nine of the 75 items of legislation necessary for accession have been passed.