US will increase aid to Serb people, Polt

[Judi Lynn]

UZICE-US-AMABSSADOR
US will increase aid to Serb people, Polt
16:14 UZICE , Jan 21 (Tanjug) – US Ambassador to Belgrade Michael Polt said in Uzice Friday that his country does not intend to reduce aid to local communities in Serbia, regardless of the fact that it failed to approve ten-mllion dollars aid to the government for its non-cooperation with the tribunal in The Hague.

This year, the US aid to the people of Serbia will even be increased to have a positive effect on the quality of the life of the citizens, Polt set out.
(end)

http://www.tanjug.co.yu/EYugWor.htm#US%20will%20increase%20aid%20to%20Serb%20people,%20Polt

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When are sanctions not sanctions? | 14:51 January 20 | B92

BELGRADE -- Thursday – The US Administration’s decision to freeze aid to Serbia should not be seen as foreign pressure on the state, Washington’s ambassador to Belgrade said today.

“By deciding to cut aid to the Serbian Government because of non-cooperation with the Hague Court, the US was not introducing sanctions against Belgrade, but taking action in harmony with its own interests and its own laws,” explained Michael Polt.

The US is neither happy nor satisfied about the decision, he added.

“We wanted to send a message that we’re not happy about the lack of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. But these are not sanctions. The US simply has the right to decide who it will give assistance to and under what conditions,” said Polt. As far as possible, he added, Washington would alleviate the effect of the aid cuts on the people of Serbia.
(snip/...)

http://www.b92.net/english/news/index.php?&nav_category=&nav_id=31128&order=priority&style=headlines

[mordarlar]

1. This part is my favorite...

>>>“Serbia can do what it likes, depending on where it wants to go. But if it wants to be part of the Euro-Atlantic community, and according to surveys a great majority of the public want that, then it must respect the rules of the club it wants to join.

“There are no special rules for anyone, including Serbia. The rules are the same for all and if you want to be in that club you have to respect them. But you can’t come onto the tennis court and try to play golf,” he said. <<

Bush is not held to these standards. Shouldn't he be booted from the "club"?