STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR BRIEFING BRIEFER: RICHARD BOUCHER, DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN

Q But -- but -- but since the of the Second World War, America was trying to reverse whatever Hitler did, with the only exception Kosovo. Why?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't think I would characterize U.S. policy as that way.

Q You referred to -- Q Even in -- Q -- you have several times. How would you describe the situation now? Does it require some wrenching change?

MR. BOUCHER: We have had -- Q (Off mike) -- fairly quiet.

MR. BOUCHER: Well, fairly quiet compared to what? I mean, we've seen violence this year -- Q I don't know. Compared to the war?

MR. BOUCHER: -- we've seen uncertainty this year.

Q Compared to the war?

MR. BOUCHER: Compared to the war, yes. But I don't think we'd characterize the situation as stabilized, I don't think we would say that Serbs are finding a future in Kosovo, are able to return to their homes, I don't think we would say that the economic future of Kosovo is on track. There's a lot of things that need to be done there, and a lot of things that, as we achieve the standards, can be aided by proceeding forward to resolve the status issues as well.

Q I imagine a process creates some uncertainty in a nervous area, this process that you say, you know, the of which you're not predicting and nobody's predicting. But don't you -- don't you think that this will trigger all sorts of population shifts and all sorts of -- as we've seen in the Balkans for so many -- you know, for -- what, through the last three administrations. You're rattling the cage. Why are you doing that?

MR. BOUCHER: No. I -- I just don't accept that.

Q Okay.

MR. BOUCHER: The situation is not a stable one or a good one now. We and the U.N. and others have been working to try to create a more stable situation through the achievement of what are called standards of democracy, of good governance, of openness, of welcoming to Serbs and others to move back to their homes. But that process can only go so far without defining the status. People who are involved in that situation want to know in the what they're going to be living in and what they're going to be part of. And we think it's -- if, as we achieve these standards, it's time to start taking up the issues of status as well, we'll see what the review produces this summer and whether that review produces a decision to go forward on some of the status questions as well.

Q Is it your hope that the summer review does give them positive reports so that you can start final status -- MR. BOUCHER: Well, we would hope that the standards, the standards of democracy and multi-ethnic -- multi-ethnicity for Kosovo would be achieved as soon as possible. So -- and if that is achieved, then the outcome of the review would be positive.

So -- and if that is achieved, then the outcome of the review would be positive. So I think the emphasis is on achieving democracy and good governance and multi-ethnicity for Kosovo. If that is done as we want it to be done, as we all are working to have it -- to see it done, then the outcome could be positive in terms of moving on to another stage.

Yeah?