Madam, - I wholeheartedly endorse Tony Kinsella's excellent piece on the importance of a Yes vote in the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum in so far as it affects EU membership for countries in the Balkans (World View, January 12th). The goal of EU membership - and its attainment within a reasonable time - is crucial for the political and social transformation of an unstable and traumatised region.
Almost five years have elapsed since the EU summit in Thessalonika in June 2003 promised EU membership to the countries of the west Balkans. Most of the procrastination appears to be due to the EU's continued bowing to pressure from Serbian prime minister Kostunica and his ultra-nationalist supporters.
They have managed so far to obstruct progress for almost the whole west Balkan region by threatening that an even more nationalist party, the Serbian Radical party, will replace them if their agenda is not respected.
Tony Kinsella asks which we would prefer for our futures, Srebrenica or Schengen. Mr Kostunica commented on Srebrenica that it had been "a defensive action by the Serb army" (Norman Cigar: Vojislav Kostunica and Serbia's Future). It is truly depressing to see a whole new generation of young Serbs being drawn into this stifling cycle of denial and retrograde politics. Schengen would still appear to be a long way off for them.
It is imperative, however, that the rest of the region's entry into the EU should not be delayed any longer due to Serbian intransigence. A Yes vote by the Irish in the forthcoming referendum would greatly contribute towards the overdue construction of peace and stability in this troubled region - and thereby strengthen the vision of Schengen over Srebrenica. - Yours, etc,
VALERIE HUGHES, Cabra, Dublin 7.