EU to secure Kosovo

by Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

(November 28, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) Kosovo is one of the countries that declared independence from their parent nations but are still waiting for recognition of the UN and other important bodies. The UN Security Council has recently approved a plan to hand over security duties in Kosovo to a European Union force. All 15 members of the Security Council backed Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's plan, which earlier this week won the approval of both Kosovo and Serbia. The 2,000-strong EU mission is due to take over police and customs duties from the UN in December.

Serbia occupied Kosovo in 1912 during the Balkan Wars between the Balkan League (Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, and Bulgaria) against the Ottoman Empire, killed and displaced over 100.000 civilians. The annextion of Kosovo by Serbian rule was opposed by Albania. Serbia lost control of the territory in both of the World Wars. During World War II, Kosovo (except the northern Serbian tip) was given to Albania, which was at that time a "made up"colony of Italy. Serbian control was re-established at the end of both wars.

The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was an act of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government Assembly of Kosovo, adopted on 17 February 2008 by unanimous quorum (109 members present), which declared Kosovo to be independent from Serbia. It was the second declaration of independence by Kosovo's Albanian-majority political institutions, the first having been proclaimed on 7 September 1990. Serbia intends to seek international validation and support for its stance that the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence is "illegal" at the International Court of Justice, after the United Nations General Assembly approved in October 2008 Serbia's proposal to request an ICJ advisory opinion on the matter. However USA and many European powers support the Kosovo freedom move and try to get the recognition of others.

Firm Resolution

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, a move strongly resisted by Belgrade and also opposed by Moscow that has got its own regions struggling for independence form the Kremlin. And while Serbia has agreed to allow the EU to take over the UN's responsibilities, it has not changed its stance on Kosovo, which it regards as part of its territory. Kosovo has refused to accept any provisions which would keep its majority-Serb areas under UN auspices. The government in Pristina, Kosovo's capital, fears this could lead to partition of its fledgling state.

As usual the UN plays tricks with Kosovo too, like Kashmir. The plan approved by the Security Council does not explicitly refer to the issue of independence which gives scope for several interpretations and hopes for Russia and Serbia to take back Kosovo. But Russia is keen to make South Ossetia independent so that that could join the North Ossetia which is in Russia. The politics at issue is that UN has not yet recognized Kosovo's independence, which has been recognized by about 50 nations so far, including most, but not all, EU states. But more than 140 have yet to do so. Kashmir nation, fighting for freedom form arrogant India, is yet to recognize Kosovo.

Kosovo's population is 90% Albanian, with a minority of Serbs, who mainly occupy northern Kosovo, bordering Serbia, and some other areas. Serbia had objected to the EU mission having any role, until the plan was altered to keep the UN in Serb areas. But earlier this week both sides agreed to accept the EU mission, despite their concerns.

Reality

One of the nations supporting Kosovo’s independence is Montenegro that hopes to become a future member of the EU and NATO; its foreign minister said the decision was guided by his county's national interests and that an independent Kosovo was a reality. The governments of Montenegro and Macedonia have formally recognized Kosovo as independent following its secession from Serbia in February. It means that, apart from Serbia, only Bosnia-Hercegovina among ex-Yugoslav republics has yet to recognize Kosovo. Macedonia's Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said his government approved the move after parliament adopted a resolution by an overwhelming majority to make the recommendation. Montenegro and Serbia made up a single state until a referendum in 2006.

Anger Softens

Serbia reacted angrily, expelling the Montenegrin and Macedonian ambassadors and saying their countries had jeopardized regional stability. Serbia reaction was so sharp it showed its anger even by deposing some ambassadors for the recognition of Kosovo by their countries. Serbian's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic described the decision to eject Montenegro's ambassador from the country as "proportionate". He said that "regional countries have special responsibility in preserving peace and stability in the Balkans".

Earlier, Serbia said it was reinstating its ambassadors to the US and other Western nations that had angered it by recognizing Kosovo's independence. Serbia recalled many of its ambassadors in February from countries that backed Kosovo's unilateral declaration - a move that Serbia has condemned as illegal. In a statement, the Serb government said the decision was made because of "continued diplomatic activity to preserve Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty".

Serbian decision comes amid a week of both defeats and victories for Kosovan diplomacy. On 26 November, a substantial majority at the UN General Assembly agreed to allow Serbia to challenge the legality of Kosovan independence at the International Court of Justice. It followed an earlier announcement by Portugal that it had recognized Pristina.

Post-script

Peace and stability of the region depends mainly by the peaceful recognition of Kosovo by the UN and other world bodies without further delay without creating confusion among the world leaders. The recognition by its neighbors brings both psychological and practical trading benefits for Kosovo. The small country of only two million inhabitants, of which most are Albanian, has often appeared isolated in the western Balkans. UN, USA and EU have the leverage to persuade Russia, the main opposition for Kosovo’s independence, to agree for Kosovo’s independence. USA and UN must give up their double—speak on the issue of independence, freedom and democracy and support whole-heartedly the freedom seeking nations, both declared and undeclared. - Sri Lanka Guardian