The Kosovars have split the world… The members of the UN Security Council have failed to reach a consensus in assessment of the far-reaching event. Six of fifteen UNSC members (the USA, Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium and Croatia) claimed that the declaration of independence by Kosovo “fully complies with the international law”, and the adopted status of the territory is predetermined by “unique concourse of circumstances” and cannot be a precedent in the international practice. A joint statement of these countries also says that the European Union and NATO assume the responsibility for provision of security in Kosovo and its development as a state.
But there is also a different stand. Russia, China and several other countries believe that self-proclamation of independence by Kosovo violates the sovereignty of Serbia, UN Charter, UNSC Resolution #1244, principles of the Helsinki Final Act, Kosovo constitutional framework, top-level arrangements within the contact group at the talks on this problem. It is notable that the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon evaded the question of journalists if he considers the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo legal.
The common stand of the European Union with respect to Kosovo also failed. The EU Foreign Ministers had to give up an almost sacred EU idea to elaborate a common stand with respect to any political problem. Perhaps, it was the first time when the EU members received an opportunity to unilaterally respond to the Pristina declaration of independence. Vice versa the European Union would just fail to keep its word given to Kosovars to recognize independence of Kosovo in any case.
As of today, 17 (of 27) EU countries recognized independence of Kosovo – Albania, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Turkish, Denmark, Luxemburg, Baltic countries, Austria, i.e. the countries that consistently remain in the wake of the US foreign policy. It is clear that the USA was one of the first to recognize independence of Kosovo. It is necessary to emphasize that the process of recognition by the West is rather effective and fast. Great Britain already appointed its first ambassador to Kosovo. It is David Graeme Blunt, a head of the British Office, Pristina.
The sovereignty of Kosovo is completely supported by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). According to Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva (currently the OSCE Chairman) the West is not only ready to recognize independence of Kosovo but will interfere in case of a threat to its security and destabilization of the situation in the region.
On the other side of the barricades – Russia, China, Indonesia, India, Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Cyprus. These countries stated that they are not ready to recognize independence of Kosovo in the near future. Portugal and Malta claim that the future of the province should be solved at the level of the UN Security Council.
By the way, not everybody in the USA agree with the WH decision to recognize independence of Kosovo and establish diplomatic relations with this country. For example, Joseph Gribosky, President of the Washington Institute for Religion and Public Policy, believes that secession of Kosovo from Serbia will destabilize the worldwide situation. The American political analyst is sure that recognition of Kosovo by the world community “will create a dangerous precedent for separatist movements worldwide”.
It is clear that Serbia is the first to disagree with the decision of the Kosovo parliament. The Serbian Government claimed that it is not going to recognize the self-proclaimed status of Kosovo, and called it violent and unilateral fragmentation of its territory performed in violation of all norms of the international law. The Serbian cities published an appeal of Prime Minister Voislav Koshtunitsa to the USA and other countries that recognized the sovereignty of Kosovo, to revoke their signatures under such recognition for the sake of prevention of a new armed conflict in the Balkans. The Serbian authorities now are preparing declarations to the International Court of Justice in the Hague against the countries that recognized independence of Kosovo.
Serbia is flooded with emotions and protest actions. On February 21, a national action of protest against proclamation of independence by Kosovo was held in Belgrade. The leaders of the state and political parties of Serbia took part in the action. This meeting of several thousand people in Belgrade ended with riots. A crowd of demonstrators picketing the US Embassy entered in the territory of the embassy and fired one of the buildings. The embassies of Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Turkish and other countries that recognized independence of Kosovo also were assaulted. Massive protest rallies against secession of Kosovo from Serbia were arranged by Serbian communities in Germany, Hungary and other European countries.
Meanwhile, NATO and EU are taking steps to provide for sovereignty of Kosovo. The NATO troops closed the northern border of the region to isolate Kosovo from Serbia. In turn, the European Union sent a legal mission to Kosovo to establish the rule of law in this unstable region. Two thousand policemen, judges and prosecutors arrived to Kosovo to render assistance to the local authorities to cope with organized criminal activity, corruption and violation of the human rights. Currently, the UNMIK actively transfers its authorities over to the EU Rule of Law Mission (police and justice).
Special Representative for the EU Peiter Feith (the Netherlands) arrived to Kosovo and proceeded to business. The European diplomat has large powers. He is in position to abolish decisions of the Kosovo leadership, if they create menace to stability, initiate investigation of corruption cases, and take steps against organized criminal activity. According to Feith, the nearest months will be a transitional period, during which the situation in the region will be supervised by the UN Mission and NATO-led KFOR.
The European Union intends also to render economic assistance to Kosovo. It is expected that in the forthcoming years about 300 billion Euros will be provided to this self-proclaimed state. A conference of Kosovo donors is scheduled for June 2008. It is notable that the EU structures prefer to disregard sensitive problems associated with financing of the former Serbian province and unexpected expenses of the European Union. Meanwhile, officials of the Kosovo government already started sharing the expected money.
The NATO KFOR (16,000 troops) received a mandate for security provision in the entire territory of Kosovo. The duration of NATO stay in Kosovo is not limited. Note that the USA established in Kosovo its largest military base in Europe. According to a press-release of the US Department of State, the USA “intends to keep its troops in Kosovo until the NATO mission is over”. On February 22, at the EU Defense Minister meeting Germany and France insisted on early formation of own armed forces of Kosovo that would enable the independent state to assume responsibility for provision of its own security. The armed forces of the self-proclaimed state are formed on the basis of the present Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) that was gradually and silently formed on the basis of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) put on the terrorist organization list by the world community in due time.
So, in spite of the strong opposition of Serbia and Russia since 90s Kosovo with the support of the world powers became an independent state. Nobody doubted that the producer of the Balkan drama is the United States. Speaking on the situation in the region, Serbian Minister for Kosovo Affairs Slobodan Samarzhic said to Belgrade News Agency TANYUG: “The USA is a principal author of all problems that started from the date of declaration of independence by Kosovo”.
The evident fact is that the United States once again succeeded in “overriding” Europe that demonstrated its limpness in the said situation. As a result, America by the hands of Kosovars split the European community into two camps and generated “a slight instability” in the European Union weakening this organization. Thus, it looks like the world was split not by Kosovars but by Americans pursuing their policy “divide and rule”.
Recognition of Kosovo by the West violated such international law principles as “sovereignty” and “inviolability of frontiers”, and degraded the concept of “independence”. Recognition of Kosovo will affect the entire structure of international relations and undermine the authority of the United Nations. Serbian President Tadic stated at the meeting of the UN Security Council that the United Nations Organization proved to be unable to counter the violations of the international law. Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico criticized the position of the United Nations. He said that the UNO demonstrates its weakness because it is unable to protect the principles laid in its foundation. “The world community should support the principles of international law, pursuant to which Kosovo is an organic part of Serbia”, R. Fico said.
Recognition of Kosovo may “defrost” other conflicts worldwide. Kosovo may stimulate other regions to start movements for their independence under the Kosovo scenario: initially, terror against the local population, then provocations to make the government use the force, and finally finding of powerful patrons, convincing them in its own fairness and invitation of NATO troops to “defend democracy”.
Recognition of Kosovo by the EU countries also challenges future membership of Serbia in the European Union. It was confirmed in the speech of Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Yeremic at an emergency session of the European Parliament in Strasburg: “Relations between Serbia and certain EU countries are compromised, and I see no ways to accelerate our efforts towards integration into the EU”.
Today many people ask: “Is Europe on the edge of a new Balkan war due to proclamation of independence by Kosovo?” In the opinion of experts, it is unlikely. Remembering about NATO bombardments in 1999 and subsequent economic sanctions Serbia is likely to limit with diplomatic moves with respect to the countries that recognized Kosovo. But in due course everything will settle, turns full circle, and “club law” will again prevail over all other laws of the civilized world.
