New Yugoslav Leader

Watching the reaction of the world’s leaders to the election of the new leader in Yugoslavia, Vojislav Kostunica, reminds me of how political world events can be. Before we are so fast to commend Yugoslavia’s people, we should remember why we sent our boys over there in the first place. I haven’t heard one statement or even speculation on how Kostunica will handle the issue of Kosovo. So far, we have every reason to believe that he will be a nationalist, as he has admitted, which could mean no change on policies and rights for Kosovars.

So here go Bill Clinton and Tony Blair championing the victory and [the possibility of releasing] IMF funds to the same people who were pulling the triggers and spreading hatred throughout the Balkans. One day we are bombing and the next apologizing with money. Sure looks like a political victory, but what about the lives of the innocent?

ROBERT NOLFE

Los Angeles

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* If their archenemy Slobodan Milosevic has really been thrown out of power for good by his own people, we should firmly demand that the Kosovar ethnic Albanians finally give up their so-called “revenge” attacks on Kosovo’s small remaining Serbian community. What’s fair to stop one ethnic cleansing is fair to stop another.

HARVEY PEARSON

Los Angeles