Friday, April 27, 2007

The EU has long lost its leverage in Kosovo: By Aleksandar Mitic


[This article is published in the European Voice 26 April - 2 May 2007]

The EU is facing risks over Kosovo: there is a stalemate in the UN Security Council, a division within the EU and not a slight sign of Serbia accepting Martti Ahtisaari's plan on cutting Kosovo away from it.

The special UN Security Council mission to Kosovo will undoubtedly see what has been largely downplayed in the "pinkish" reports drafted by Pristina-based UN chiefs: only 5 percent of the 220,000 Serbs expelled by Albanian extremists from Kosovo have returned, while Serbs living in the shameful, heavy-guarded enclaves lack freedom of movement and express mostly fear and mistrust.

This could also be a good eye-opener for Brussels. The EU has greatly lost in leverage in the last several months: the Kosovo Albanians look at Washington to lead a diplomatic "blitzkrieg" on their behalf, while Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs have found in Moscow a reliable partner ready to oppose an imposed secession.

One thing is now clear: there will be no UN Security Council resolution based on the core of Ahtisaari's proposal because there is simply no agreement on why Kosovo should be the first case in the 62-year long history of the UN in which the body legitimizes a dismemberment of a member country.

Repeating the senseless mantra about Kosovo's "uniqueness" will not fly, while warning about Kosovo Albanians going ballistic if they do not get what they want only reinforces the argument that they are not ready for self-governance let alone statehood.

Ahtisaari's proposal is unfortunately by no means a compromise, unless your definition of a compromise involves a shameful trade off: human rights for territory.

Respect for international law, for recognized borders of Serbia and for the need of the Kosovo Albanian majority to rule itself would get the UNSC to adopt a resolution, the EU to stay united and take its responsibilities in Kosovo. This will bring Pristina and Belgrade firmly on the road to the EU.

Otherwise, it is back to square one on the thin line.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does Serbia's alliance with Russia imply that Serbia will not continue its pact towards NATO membership?

Anonymous said...

Not necessarily. It is certain that an imposed solution against the will of Serbia or any other forceful solution would definitely block this process, but we're far from that and everyone - including NATO - believes there should be a UN SC resolution. Now, that involves a compromise -- which Ahtisaari's plan is certainly not.

Anonymous said...

Would Serbian succumb if the UN SC adopts a resolution granting Kosovo independence? Would Serbia leave UN membership then?

Anonymous said...

Of course Serbia would not give up their UN membership... it certainly would have no hope of ever joining the EU if it started withdrawing from the international community in such a way.

My personal opinion is that Ahtisaari's plan is the only solution left. Long, drawn-out negotiations have turned up nothing and are not likely to do so even if they continue for an extra 6 months.

If the goal is maintaining peace and stability in the region (and I don't see why it wouldn't be), then the ethnic Albanians must be given some form of independence; a return to pre-1999 circumstances would cause chaos and partition is just as risky a precedent as is granting secession to Kosovo.

Anonymous said...

Hi! Thi Thompson . payday loans

Anonymous said...

toronto payday loans This website is better I enjoyed it quite a lot
AAA Toronto Payday Loans 1172 Bay St #101, Toronto, ON M5S 2B4 (416) 477-2817

Mohamed Ali said...

$$$ URGENT LOAN OFFER WITH LOW INTEREST RATE APPLY NOW $$$
Do you need Loan to pay off your debt and start a new life? You have come to the right place were you can get FUNDED at a very low interest rate. Interested people/company should please contact us via email for more details.

Full name:
Date of birth (yyyy-mm-dd):
Gender:
Marital status:
Amount Needed:
Duration:
Address:
City:
State/province:
Zip/postal code:
Country:
Phone number:
Monthly Income:
Occupation:

E-mail: shadiraaliuloancompany1@gmail.com

Dr Purva Pius said...

Hello Everybody,
My name is Mrs Sharon Sim. I live in Singapore and i am a happy woman today? and i told my self that any lender that rescue my family from our poor situation, i will refer any person that is looking for loan to him, he gave me happiness to me and my family, i was in need of a loan of S$250,000.00 to start my life all over as i am a single mother with 3 kids I met this honest and GOD fearing man loan lender that help me with a loan of S$250,000.00 SG. Dollar, he is a GOD fearing man, if you are in need of loan and you will pay back the loan please contact him tell him that is Mrs Sharon, that refer you to him. contact Dr Purva Pius,via email:(urgentloan22@gmail.com) Thank you.

BORROWERS APPLICATION DETAILS


1. Name Of Applicant in Full:……..
2. Telephone Numbers:……….
3. Address and Location:…….
4. Amount in request………..
5. Repayment Period:………..
6. Purpose Of Loan………….
7. country…………………
8. phone…………………..
9. occupation………………
10.age/sex…………………
11.Monthly Income…………..
12.Email……………..

Regards.
Managements
Email Kindly Contact: urgentloan22@gmail.com

URGENT LOAN said...

$$$ GENUINE LOAN WITH LOW INTEREST RATE APPLY $$$
Do you need finance to start up your own business or expand your business, Do you need funds to pay off your debt? We give out loan to interested individuals and company's who are seeking loan with good faith. Are you seriously in need of an urgent loan contact us.Email: (urgentfastloan@gmail.com)

Mrs Sharon Sim said...

My name is Charles David,I am a Citizen Of USA.Have you been looking for a loan?Do you need an urgent personal or business loan?contact Mr James Eric Finance Home he help me with a loan of $320.000 some days ago after been scammed of $4500 from a woman claiming to been a loan lender but i thank God today that i got my loan worth $320.000.Feel free to contact the company for a genuine financial service. Email:{urgentfastloan@gmail.com}

Alfred M Lampe said...

Dear Sir/Madam
I am a veteran with common wealth of nations humanitarian delivery agency a subsidiary of UN..
Mrs. Sarah Hayes 68 died of covid19. Before her death she left in the sum of (€17,000,000.00) with a Security & Finance Firm in Europe for safe keeping there is an incrustation she revealed that the funds should not be left unclaimed. You are to stand as the beneficiary to late Sarah Hayes.
Respond to me your interest at lampealfredm46@gmail.com,and contact details for all other formalities which is genuine and trustworthy person.
Hoping to have a good deal with you on mutual trust.
Sincerely

McGuire Randy said...

I bring you all the good news... it’s really a testimony for me...I never knew my partner was cheating on me until I came across an online Wizard who help me hack his phone got me access to it without any physical contact with his phone... I could access his chats text messages and all.. from there I know another woman got pregnant for him.. he even got the woman a house where he goes to sleep whenever he told me he’s on night duty... after that I confronted him.. he wanted to lie so I show him all the proof which he can not deny... big thanks to. WIZARD BRIXTON WIZARDBRIXTON AT GMAIL DOT COM tho it wasn’t easy cause it’s heartbreak but I thank god I'm able to know and find out the truth. God bless America..god bless women out here ...contact him for a HACKING JOB: WIZARDBRIXTON AT GMAIL DOT COM, WHAT-APP : (+) 1807234 0428