Serbia is a nation whose future lies at a crossroads between European Union membership or further isolation from the international community. The future of Serbia remains inexorably tied to its troubled province of Kosovo, where a 90% Albanian Muslim population yearns for independence. After attending a week of closed sessions regarding Kosovo at the United Nation Security Council, Serbia's Ambassador to the United States, Ivan Vujacic, took a moment to share his perspective on Serbia and the most important issues the country faces. Before assuming the posting in 2002, Vujacic was a Fulbright Scholar, a founding member of his nation's Democratic Party (1990) and a member of the Yugoslav Parliament (1992-1996).

How do you see the Republic of Serbia portrayed in the United States media?

I do not believe that Serbia is portrayed fairly in the United States media. Unfortunately, bad news is news and good news doesn't hit the press most of the time.

Because of this, do you feel is there is a misperception of Serbia and of Serbians among the American public?

I think the most common misperception concerns the wars in the former Yugoslavia. The war is generally thought of as a war between independent states, not as a break up of a unified nation.

Looking from the opposite perspective, how do you feel the citizens of Serbia view the United States government?

It is the general view, and I believe correct, that the United States is not taking a fair stand concerning Kosovo.

Overall, though, how do you see the relationship between the United States government and Serbia?

We have a common vision and support from the United States concerning European Union membership, but there are still issues over [accused war criminal] Ratko Mladic and Kosovo.

For our readers who may be unfamiliar with Kosovo, how would you explain this complex issue?

The province of Kosovo had a humanitarian intervention by NATO in 1999 against what was then Yugoslavia. Since that time, the UN and NATO have been running the province. According to Serbia's interpretation of UN Resolution 1244, Kosovo is a province of Serbia, part of its territory, and Serbia has sovereignty over it.

But if Kosovo unilaterally declares independence, how would Serbia react?

We could not recognize a unilateral move of that nature. There should be a settlement. This is difficult to reach, but negotiations should continue.

Would a unilateral move have a destabilizing effect on Serbia's other autonomous region, Vojvodina, or on the status of the Serb Republic in Bosnia?

I don't think there would be fallout in Vojvodina. In Bosnia, I do not know how it would affect the Serb Republic. It is not the intention of Serbia to add fuel to the fire and stir up emotions there. The whole Kosovo independence issue opens a can of worms in many of the other [former Yugoslav] republics. It is not something Serbia would like to encourage.

With many nations, including the United States, favoring Kosovo's independence and others, such as Russia, opposed, what do you see as the most just solution for the province of Kosovo?

On the ground, Serbia does not exercise any power in Kosovo. Our solution is to grant the broadest possible autonomy. Kosovo would be able run its own affairs and have self-government within the territory of Serbia. We are not there to repress them. The people who are in power now, including myself, were against the Milosevic regime. We did not commit atrocities against them. We want to live with them. Kosovo is definitely a big challenge we have to face. It is the most important issue for Serbia at this point.