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Kosovo's 'independence lite'
Written by: Nina Brenjo
Kosovo is back in the news and, as is often the case with the Balkans, it's not good news. Then again, it's not entirely bad news either. The same could be said of a proposal presented today to the six-nation Contact Group responsible for setting policies for the province The plan submitted by Martti Ahtisaari, U.N. envoy for Kosovo, is expected to fall short of granting full independence, but it should allow Kosovo more control over its own affairs and open it to membership of institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The general feeling among global media is that the plan is neither here nor there. It "will satisfy neither the region's ethnic Albanian majority nor the Serbs who are loath to let it go free", the Irish Times declares. So, what brought on this "western spinelessness", asks Jonathan Steels in Britain's Guardian. After all, NATO countries readily went to war with Serbia in 1999 over the issue of Kosovo and now the same countries are wavering over Kosovo's independence. There are three reasons for this, according to Steele. First is Western "post-bombing guilt" that made the West "(woo) Serbia on all fronts". Second is a desire to appease the supposed pro-European forces within Serbia. And third, there's the need to show Russia the West is willing to compromise. The sooner Kosovo gets its independence, the better, The Wall Street Journal argues. Ultimately, what Athisaari is doing is prolonging the "Bosniaisation of Kosovo", it says. This means bankrolling "another ethnically riven Balkan dependency for the next decade or more". The paper admits that the province suffers from "common Balkan ailments such as crime and poverty", that its politicians haven't helped by "badly mismanaging the few areas of self-rule granted them by the U.N." and that it failed to create a safe environment for the minority Serbian population. But it brushes these issues aside and concludes that Kosovo has great potential because of its many young, entrepreneurial people. When it comes to naming which country is to blame for Europe's dithering over Kosovo's outright independence, The Guardian's Steele isn't alone in singling out Russia, which may view Kosovo's independence as a precedent for the secession of Chechnya. Indeed, Kosovo, together with Iran, tops the list of issues that could turn into a crisis, dividing Russia and its Western counterparts as a result, warns The Financial Times. Some believe Russia's refusal to support Kosovo's sovereignty is simply not genuine. "Russia wants the Kosovo process to be a precedent for Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria - all territories where Russia wants separation from Georgia and Moldova respectively," Simon Tisdall, columnist for Britain's Guardian, quotes a European analyst as saying. Is there anyone in the media crowd who thinks independence for Kosovo is a bad idea? Not really, but some newspapers do think going slowly is the right thing to do. Forget about deadlines and take as long as necessary to round up European support and offer incentives to Serbia for giving up Kosovo, says The Baltimore Sun, adding that the softly-softly approach would certainly be worth it to "stave off a Balkan breakdown". Belgrade should be "coaxed into accepting reality" before Kosovo is granted official independence, although de facto independence is already in place, says Britain's Times. The paper also believes this to be the best way to avoid more violence in "an historically volatile region". Flawed and temporary, "independence lite" for Kosovo is the only solution for now and "NATO members will just have to get used to sticking around", argues The Los Angeles Times. So if media voices are to be believed, independence for Kosovo is just a matter of time, even if it doesn't come as soon as Kosovars have hoped. But could a tiny, impoverished country with its infrastructure in ruins actually survive? "Mr Ahtisaari can say what he likes today", answers the Irish Times, but "uncertainty will linger over Kosovo for years to come".
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12 responses to “Kosovo's 'independence lite'”
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27 Jan 2007 00:06:13 GMT
I think the best solution to "kill two birds with one stone" is actually granting Kosovo the independence. Remember, nationalists in both, Serbia and Kosovo use Kosovo unsettled situation to gain political point from farmers and less educated population and allways playing on that nationalist card. Serbian elections showed that the majority of seats by a single party have been won by ultranatioanlist radical serbs, just because of Kosovo, and to a less ICTY cooperation. Once Kosovo is settled, there is no more credibility for ultranationalists, and they would finally become a marginilised group, therefore making the whole region safer and proseperous, since they would be focused on immediate needs of the region and first and foremost the poor economies.
28 Jan 2007 22:17:39 GMT
I don't think there is a ready solution to the Kosovo mess at all, and just cutting it loose, as an independent nation, sets a very dangerous precedent. Especially since both sides have very strong emotional ties to the region (Kossovo was where the Serbs first fought for independence from the Ottoman Turks in the 14th century).
For example, Russia-- which hates the former Soviet Republic of Georgia-- is pressing for both Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two regions of Georgia in which non-Georgians form the majority, to leave Georgia. If Kosovo breaks off from Serbia, then South Ossetia and Abkhazia will probably be pushed to do the same from Georgia. Furthermore, the Kurds in Turkey would argue very loudly that they deserve the same treatment. While I have a lot of sympathy for the Kurds overall, if the Kurds press for independence-- by the same principle as Kosovo's would-be independence-- then the USA would be forced into an impossible, no-win situation of either supporting the Kurds against our erstwhile Turkish ally, or enraging the Kurds by denying them the same right. For that matter, the same principle could come back to bite the United States very hard. Hawaii is a conquered region of the USA from the late 1800's in which the ethnic Hawaiians have never wanted to be a part-- they could secede under this principle. As could just about the entire Southwest and Florida, reconstituting with a Latino majority-- mainly states annexed during the Mexican War with the Latinos brutally driven out and their property taken. (FWIW this is already happening for real in Britain-- Scotland is leaving the United Kingdom for good, probably soon Northern Ireland and Wales as well.) Maybe it would be justice for this to happen after all, considering the brutality of the Florida wars and the Mexican War and the deception and conquest of Hawaii. But we'd better be prepared for this in any case-- the same principle pushing Kosovo independence would promote the breakup of the USA as well.29 Jan 2007 10:32:52 GMT
American press has no idea what they are asking for. Kosovo is just another idea of the day that is being pushed by these stupid, stupid reporters and politicians. Instead of looking into the truth of the atrocities and the real culprits (German and American politicians) for the breakup of Yugoslavia, they, like the parrakeet's they are repeat the same old untruths that was fed to them. That's called laziness. I would strongly suggest that the American public reexamine it's foreign policy and get rid of the politicians who are taking them down a path of destruction. Why would our Senators and other politicians even care about a place no bigger than a few counties of a state, like Kansas? The Kosovars are a backward thinking society that will not assimilate for another 100 years. Don't let this can of worms be opened in the heart of Europe. MAKE THEM THINK BEFORE THEY ACT.
29 Jan 2007 14:13:51 GMT
To: Alertnet, Reuters
I dont think comments like Stevens (The Kosovars are a backward thinking society that will not assimilate for another 100 years. Don't let this can of worms be opened in the heart of Europe. MAKE THEM THINK BEFORE THEY ACT. )should be posted in your respected web. Being Kosovar myself I find it very insulting. I'm a regular reader of alertnet and comments like this are unaceptable. with kind regards dm29 Jan 2007 14:15:19 GMT
Allow me to say some words about Kosovo.I live in Serbia and therefore I think I got more rights to analysiung situation about Kosovo.Unsettled status of Kosovo is bloody wound in public opoinion here in Serbia.If this topic would'nt erasure from schedule there will be more frustration for Serbs who are "on the edge" of poverty and brutless tranzition.So soon the Contact group with or without Russia give people of Kosovo independnce ,soon we all be relief,including people of Serbia.Scary end is better than horror without end.
29 Jan 2007 16:48:00 GMT
Darlan, What you're talking about is essentially the right of all people to self-determination as guaranteed by international law. And yes, there is speculation that if Kosovo is granted independence, other disputable territories may want to secede and form countries of their own. But it seems not many people understand that the right to self-determination doesn't automatically mean the right to secede under international law. All peoples are entitled to basic human rights, and they should be free to determine their identity, freely use their own language and pursue their cultural and economic development. If these rights are granted within a state to a group of people, then they don't have a legal basis for secession. If these rights are denied to them, only then are they allowed under international law to pursue an independent state, even if that means taking up arms. This is as true for Kosovo as it is for Transdnestria or Abkhazia.
Going back to Kosovo, here is an article that arguably makes one of the best case for Kosovo's independence: http://www.iwpr.net/?p=bcr&s=f&o=242220&apc_state=hbgibcr6c61c06acbe534b4e1245fe0e45ec6cf Instead of focusing on why Kosovars deserve their own country, it explains why Serbia would be better off without its troublesome province. This is certainly a fresh way of looking at the Kosovo problem and the author's arguments may be able to persuade even those most reluctant to let go of Kosovo.30 Jan 2007 06:43:43 GMT
Darlan, No one in Kosovo is opposing to the Serbian Cultural Heritage. Both the Albanians and Serbs need to transfer that energy into economical prosperity and use the history to help each other and connect us not divide us and put us into conflicts. However, more important than Serbian history my concern as an Albanian are my immediate needs to provide for my family, which lives next to one of your "Kosovo Battlefields". And if you think my children need to suffer or denied any rights, or expelled and be killed by some psycho nationalist in Serbia, because he believes whatever he believes than you are wrong, and it just won't happen.
30 Jan 2007 11:01:58 GMT
I believe strongly that the official recognition of independent Kosovo is not to be delayed any further. If it is delayed it will have many implications to the future of the region. I worked in many countries like ex soviet countries, iraq, iran, asia, africa and many others and I personnaly believe that Kosovo is and will not be the precedant to other places. Kosovo is a different mater and its name should not be implicated anymore to a people/politicians who were responsible for the genocide in Bosnia and wars in Croatia and Slovenia. These wars were trigered and coordinated by the same political party as the one who just won the majority of the votes in Serbia which gives them the power to control the majority of the parlament. I stronly hope that west sees this and an independce recognition should be finalized ASAP.
30 Jan 2007 16:26:07 GMT
The AlertNet site welcomes robust exchanges on these issues but there are limits to the language we can accept. Steven's comments earlier in this string are pushing the boundaries and I would ask our contributors to maintain a civilised tone, otherwise we will have to refuse to publish their comments.
We are trying to exercise a light editorial touch but it may be helpful for us to suggest some simple guidelines that will prevent misunderstandings. Watch this space....05 Feb 2007 08:35:27 GMT
So, if Kosovo sets the precedent, what will this mean for the European Constitution?
As always, it's nice and easy to believe a 'simple'l solution like giving Kosovo 'independence' would solve all the problems. It's wrong though. Kosovo is not economically sustainable, even with subsidies. Billions of dollars of IMF money spent by Tito did not stop regular demonstrations in the 1960s, '70s & 80s. I should add here that the SFRY had a vibrant small business community (i.e. unlike the Soviet block). The West thought getting rid of Slobodan Milosevi would 'solve the problem', but it didn't. the problem existed long before Milosevic was on the scene and he benefited from promising to protect the Serbs there from Albanian discrimination and intimidation (see the articles written in the early '80s by David Binder of the New York Times). Now the 'international community' (read 'the West') are pushing an equally shallow 'solution' because it is the quickest and easiest that they can think of. It may be quiet for a short while, but it won't last. Recognition of Kosovo will ultimately undermine the EU and rip the guts out of any future 'constitution'. It won't matter what the West says about it being a 'one off', it depends on those who decide to fight for their freedom. If terrorism leads to recognition of a state, then this will set the tone for world history much in the same way President Wilson's 'right to self-determination' did for the 20th century. History will judge us, not (thank god) the Media.03 Apr 2007 13:56:12 GMT
Having lived in western world for the best part of my life, and seen all the troubles and what has gone on in that part of the world in the last 2 decades, it has come to a point where if you tell somebody in western world that you were born there they are going to run away from you. I personally had a feeling that we in former Yougoslavia were somewhat educated people who could sit down and talk, it turns out that I was not only wrong but catastrofically wrong, so first and foremost we all, be it serbs, albanians or any other comunity in former Yougoslavia should be ashamed of ourselves. As for the problem of Kosovos final status, I think the best solution would be if Serbia was the first country to recognise it as an indipendent country, and just put the whole damn thing to bed once and for all so the yanger generatins can grow up in a hopefully peaceful society and have a better future to look forward to.
13 Aug 2008 11:44:42 GMT
Interesting to find this old threat today, after Russia has cited the Kosovo precedent to start a mess in South Ossetia and Georgia. Sounds like the doubters of Kosovo independence were right all along-- it set a dangerous precedent which is coming back to bite us hard. Plus, Kosovo lacks recognition by the vast majority of countries (including democracies such as Brazil and India) and is not viable, sad truth is it's a narcostate.
And yes, this is going to hit the USA hard, not just in Hawaii leaving the union, but Aztlan, the US Southwest, using the same precedent. And they'd have the right. Same as the Lakota Sioux in South Dakota. Best solution is to keep Kosovo as a strongly autonomous part of Serbia, and encourage both sides to work toward economic gain.