Lobby update

Why the Republican Bush administration can't call it quits on Kosovo before the coming midterm elections in November:

The main priority of the Bush Administration and the Republican Party in 2006 has to be to maintain control of Congress. Given the number of seats at risk in states with significant numbers of Serbian American voters, and the comparatively small gains possible from courting the Albanian American vote, odds are that the Administration will be mindful of the costs of the timing of any final resolution on Kosovo. An early announcement on independence for Kosovo is a political risk for the Administration.

Albanian lobby on the Serb lobby:

An intensive Serb lobbying effort over the past three months peaked in mid July with a round of consultations and public appearances in Washington and New York by Serbia Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. Looking at both the extreme tactics of the American Council for Kosovo and the “high road” approach subsequently taken by Prime Minister Kostunica, the Kosovo Notes and Comment assessment is that the Serb lobbying effort to date has been a failure in the United States. Serb efforts may impact timing of a final solution for Kosovo (see U.S. Elections article, above) but appear to be unable to stop eventual independence.

Check out the whole thing here Kosovo Notes and Comment Issue 11 - it's much richer than usual.