Kosovo's future - Divided Rule

AmusedToDeath · #1 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 08:53 AM

Kosovo's future - Divided rule

May 29th 2008 | PRISTINA
From The Economist print edition

Quote:

The European Union runs into roadblocks in its plans for Kosovo

WHEN the Austro-Hungarian empire declared war on Serbia in July 1914, few could have imagined that the result would be the demise not only of the Habsburg empire, but also of the Russian and Ottoman ones. Nobody believes that Serbia's challenge to the European Union over Kosovo will be anything like as dramatic; most Serbs want to join the EU, not destroy it. Yet 100 days after Kosovo declared independence, Serbia has done a lot better than anybody expected in thwarting the EU's plans for it.

Serbia still regards Kosovo as a province, but the ethnic Albanians, who constitute over 90% of its 2m people, declared its independence in February. So far 41 countries have recognised Kosovo, including America and 20 of the EU's 27 members. But five of these are microstates like Nauru and the Marshall Islands. And such big hitters as Brazil, China, India and Russia have not recognised the new country. Nor have Spain, Egypt or even most Muslim countries.

Since the end of the war in 1999, Kosovo has come under the jurisdiction of the United Nations. Legally the last word in its government accordingly lies with the head of the UN mission in Pristina. When Kosovo declared its independence, the EU authorised the establishment of a big new police and justice mission named EULEX. With the Americans and others, it also set up the office of the international civilian representative (ICR), investing him with sweeping powers.

On June 15th Kosovo's new constitution is due to come into force. It foresees no role at all for the UN. But legal and technical problems mean that the EULEX mission has been postponed. As for the ICR, whose (Dutch) head, Pieter Feith, is also the EU's special representative in Kosovo, one UN official scoffs, “He and his team are here as tourists. What are they doing? They can't take over the role they were assigned, as we are still here.”

Since independence the Belgrade government has consolidated its grip on Serbian areas of Kosovo, including almost all of the region north of Mitrovica. It even held local elections, condemned as illegal by the UN, the EU and the ICR. EULEX and the ICR will be unable to operate in these areas. De facto, Kosovo is thus divided not only into Serb and ethnic-Albanian areas, but also into places where the UN will keep operating and the ethnic-Albanian areas where EULEX and the ICR will probably take over. For the EU, says one diplomat, “It is a face-saving operation now. Their plan has been derailed.”

As the June 15th deadline nears, meeting after meeting is taking place to try to resolve the impasse. The UN's future role is now utterly unclear because, as the joke has it, everyone is “waiting for Ban”. Under pressure from all sides, the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, has done little beyond prohibiting the transfer of cars, buildings and equipment to EULEX and the ICR. The Russians recently warned him that any notion that he might try to resolve the problem without the approval of the UN Security Council (and thus of Russia) was “out of the question”.

Attempts are now being made to square the circle by seeing if EULEX could somehow come under the UN's legal authority, but so far no progress towards a deal has been made. What is becoming distressingly obvious to Kosovo's Albanians is that, despite declaring independence, their future is still tied to Serbia's. Keen to gain more recognition, they are making little fuss. But Mr Feith says “they need to be given some comfort that their interests are being taken care of.” If they don't get it, he sees trouble ahead.

http://www.economist.com/world/europ...ry_id=11460102

AmusedToDeath · #2 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 08:57 AM

As I've said numerous times before to my Albanian counterparts: don't open champaign before the game is over.

They expected 40 countries to recognize Kosovo within the first week after the declaration,still after 3.5 moths only 41 countries did that.

Considering the world - Kosovo is still Serbia.

Kiwi · #3 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 02:57 PM

Personally, I don't think the Albanians in Kosovo will ever accept being a region in Serbia. Just as the Serbians won't accept complete independence.

Hmm, I know that it's hard to find middle-ground...

What if Kosovo was partitioned, with the ethnic Albanians and Serbians exchanging North Mitrovica with the Presevo valley?

AmusedToDeath · #4 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi

Personally, I don't think the Albanians in Kosovo will ever accept being a region in Serbia. Just as the Serbians won't accept complete independence.

Hmm, I know that it's hard to find middle-ground...

What if Kosovo was partitioned, with the ethnic Albanians and Serbians exchanging North Mitrovica with the Presevo valley?

That would be acceptable. But Kosovo is Serbian province considering Serbian constitution. Therefore, the constitution would have to be changed.

Serbia can only accept partitioning of Kosovo if Republic of Srpska is granted independence and united with Serbia.

Adriano · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmusedToDeath

That would be acceptable. But Kosovo is Serbian province considering Serbian constitution. Therefore, the constitution would have to be changed.

Serbia can only accept partitioning of Kosovo if Republic of Srpska is granted independence and united with Serbia.

Dont talk about your serbian constitution man, serbs change it more often than pimps change prostitutes. Last time it changed, the referendum did not involve kosovo at all. So the fairy tales continue mate.

And what's with the"Serbia can only accept" You got nothing mate, "it started with yugoslavia is serb than it became Kosovo is serb than out of nowhere northern kosovo is serb. If you follow the trend you will be another refuge in Russia.

And why only stop with republic of serbsca? why not incorporate the Sorboi from East germany? Why not the barbarian caucasian? why not the abused iran?

You got given a gift that u did not deserve, once from the bizintines once from the russians and in ww1 by the great powers, how do you repay that? By killing the biting hand.

Enjoy your fairytale. <<<mod edit: We are not translators.>>>

AmusedToDeath · #6 (**permalink**) 06-06-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriano

Dont talk about your serbian constitution man, serbs change it more often than pimps change prostitutes. Last time it changed, the referendum did not involve kosovo at all. So the fairy tales continue mate.

And what's with the"Serbia can only accept" You got nothing mate, "it started with yugoslavia is serb than it became Kosovo is serb than out of nowhere northern kosovo is serb. If you follow the trend you will be another refuge in Russia.

And why only stop with republic of serbsca? why not incorporate the Sorboi from East germany? Why not the barbarian caucasian? why not the abused iran?

You got given a gift that u did not deserve, once from the bizintines once from the russians and in ww1 by the great powers, how do you repay that? By killing the biting hand.

Enjoy your fairytale. <<<mod edit: We are not translators.>>>

Serbs live in Republic of Srpska (not Germans or Iranians), a bordering country to Serbia. It is so natural for the two Serbian lands to unite.

Kiwi · #7 (**permalink**) 06-06-2008, 04:51 PM

What do Bosniaks think about the Republic of Srpska?

drama · #8 (**permalink**) 06-06-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi

What do Bosniaks think about the Republic of Srpska?

Basically they HATE each other, they fought and killed each other and now Bosniaks are basically FORCING Serbs to live in the same country together again. Go figure...
Serbs do not want to and want separation. Bosnians are basically holding them back.

AmusedToDeath · #9 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drama

Basically they HATE each other, they fought and killed each other and now Bosniaks are basically FORCING Serbs to live in the same country together again. Go figure...
Serbs do not want to and want separation. Bosnians are basically holding them back.

Well, to be honest, Bosniaks could not do a darn thing to stop the Serbs from uniting with the motherland. It is the West that is afraid of a powerful Serbian state and therefore - it doesn't allow the process of uniting to commence.

For now.

Illyrian Princess · #10 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmusedToDeath

Well, to be honest, Bosniaks could not do a darn thing to stop the Serbs from uniting with the motherland. It is the West that is afraid of a powerful Serbian state and therefore - it doesn't allow the process of uniting to commence.

For now.

Who? Babin or Alijin?

Anyways, they are one of same to me. Prove it otherwise. Iekavski, Ijekavski, Ekavski? I could be wrong.

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