By Dan Robinson Washington 12 March 2008

Members of the U.S. Congress say the leaders of newly-independent Kosovo, as well as the country's Serbian minority and the government in Serbia, must work to ensure ethnic tolerance and protection. VOA's Dan Robinson has a report.

Lawmakers are concerned both that the Kosovo government follows through with commitments it has made to protect ethnic minorities, and that Serbia pursue a course that will not encourage unrest.

Congressman Howard Berman, the new Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, says the government in Kosovo and the one in Serbia under newly-elected Boris Tadic both share a responsibility.

"The international community, particularly the NATO Kosovo force, should continue to send strong and unambiguous signals that the minority communities can count on their protection. The Serbian minority must be allowed to prosper and participate in the new country. While we recognize the immense pain that the resolution of Kosovo's final status has caused for many Serbs, it was shameful to see the U.S. embassy in Belgrade in flames while Serbian police officers were idle bystanders watching the fire," he said.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said recognition of Kosovo was an exception to the rule of discouraging secession.

He described Kosovo's leadership as focused on building its new country, and committed to protecting Serbian rights. "I can report to you that the Kosovo leaders with whom I met conveyed to me their intention to see that [U.N. special envoy on Kosovo Martti] Ahtissari's provisions, including the rights and privileges for the Serb community in Kosovo, are respected," he said.

Fried said U.S. and international financial support for Kosovo's economy will be crucial adding that ensuring peace in the new country will be, in his words, a long term challenge.

Eliot Engel, a Democrat from New York, said neither U.N. nor Serbian control was a workable alternative to an independent Kosovo, adding that Serbia and its people must make an important decision. "The ball is in Serbia's court. Will they keep looking backwards to alliances to Russia and fight wars of 1389 or 1999 or will they look forward and be part of the European Union and the 21st century?," he said.

"I am concerned and I have been concerned for 28 years as a member of Congress, first about the Kosovar Albanians and the breach of their human rights which occurred systematically, and now the Serbs," said Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican.

On Wednesday, U.N. authorities told Serbia to stop interfering in Serb areas of Kosovo.

February's independence declaration by Kosovo's 90 percent Albanian majority was recognized by more than 30 countries, including the U.S. and 15 European Union states, with others preparing to recognize it. Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Romania and Cyprus refused. U.N. Security Council members Russia and China withheld recognition.

Assistant Secretary Fried said he has no reason to believe that Serbs will engage in what he called the most provocative behaviors, adding the hope that the parliamentary election campaign in Serbia will be about its future in Europe rather than self-isolation.

Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen says the U.S. and key allies must be prepared if trouble comes. "We need to be certain that our European allies will provide additional troops for Kosovo if such troops are needed," she said.

U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, senior member of the Florida Congressional Delegation, was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame at a Tallahassee ceremony on Tuesday.

Ros-Lehtinen and two other women were selected from a list of 10 finalists picked by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.

The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors women who, through their works and lives, have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and for all citizens of the state.

By: Brittany Benner

Tallahassee, Florida -- Three women entered Florida's Hall of Fame, including one Tampa Bay area inductee.

Dr. Pallavi Patel is President and CEO of State Care and Bay Area Primary Care Association. There are five locations across Tampa. She also established a charity hospital in her native country, India.

"This is really exciting, you know we do the work we do without any expectation of recognition," said Patel. "When you see such distinguished women who has been recognized before and inducted into Florida Hall of Fame… to be recognized alongside with them, it's a great honor."

Governor Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, and Attorney General Bill McCollum presented the awards. They also inducted: Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente and US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

The adoring crowds that recently hailed President Bush in Africa did so because the AIDS program he championed five years ago has helped more than 1.4 million people. Those crowds may have more to cheer in another five years, thanks to a compromise bill in Congress that would boost the AIDS-program funding and effectiveness.

All that is needed now is for the House and Senate to pass the bill and send it to the president.

Triple the funding

The bipartisan bill would more than triple the funding of the original President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, as many Africans call the program. It would expand treatment not only for AIDS but also for tuberculosis and malaria, diseases that often attack AIDS patients. PEPFAR would reach additional countries threatened by the epidemic, including in the Caribbean.

Altogether, the bill would authorize $50 billion over the next five years to prevent transmission of HIV, the AIDS virus. It would pay for treatment for people with HIV, training for 140,000 health workers and taking care of children orphaned by the disease. Congress has provided $19 billion in the program's first five years, although it originally authorized only $15 billion. The money has been well spent.

Tough compromises centered on funding for abstinence programs and restrictions on sex workers and family planning, including contraception. Health experts note that infected prostitutes can rapidly spread HIV and shouldn't be ignored. Abstinence programs alone won't stop unprotected sex.

The bill instead requires ''balanced funding'' for abstinence, fidelity and condom programs, three traditional AIDS-prevention strategies. These programs will have to be be proven effective, too. It also allows funding U.S.-supported family-planning programs to do AIDS testing and counseling services. But the policy against sex workers and contraception funds remains. This is what happens in a compromise.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, is the House Foreign Affairs Committee's ranking member. She says the committee's bill maintains core values important to both sides. Neither side gets all that it wants. Overall, the bill would expand and improve an already good AIDS-relief program.