FT.com / Kosovo questions

So far this summer, Kosovo's inhabitants have shown patience and forbearance. They will need to continue to do so in the run-up to November elections. In addition, the EU and the US must make every effort to ensure that they do not split over whether to recognise Kosovo as independent without a Security Council resolution. It is all very well for the two sides of the Atlantic to perform a "good cop, bad cop" routine when dealing with Serbia, but they cannot afford this being shown up as more than mere show.

Source: FT.com / Home UK / UK - Kosovo questions

Diplomats to visit Kosovo, seeking new talks - International Herald Tribune

 

"The emancipation of Kosovo is an unstoppable process. If Kosovar Albanians lose hope of independence in the near future, then we will be faced with a crazy security challenge within a week."

Source: Diplomats to visit Kosovo, seeking new talks - International Herald Tribune

Technorati tags: kosova, kosovo

Kosovo Talks Unlikely to Come to Anything

Fresh discussions over the future of Kosovo appear to be little more than a stalling tactic for all involved.
By Tim Judah

Source: BIRN

BBC NEWS | From Manchester with love

 

From Manchester with love

Saranda lost 14 members of her family in the war

Cool school uniform, warm Manchester days and refugee theatre form some of the early impressions of a young orphan rescued from Kosovo, recounted in letters home.

Source: BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | From Manchester with love

A ticking clock on Kosovo's status - The Boston Globe

One helluva good commentary from Chris Patten.  

The bottom line is that Pristina demands nothing short of independence and Belgrade refuses that, so the new troika will end up where Ahtisaari did: stalemate between the parties and the need for the UN Security Council to cast the deciding vote. Given the Kosovo people's overwhelming desire to be free from the state that tried to eliminate them and the lack of any realistic alternative from Belgrade, the international community has little choice but to give Kosovo its independence.

Source: A ticking clock on Kosovo's status - The Boston Globe

Technorati tags: kosovo, kosova

VOA News - Kosovo Status Poses Stability Risks?

This whole article takes a diametrically opposite view on the impact that an unstable Kosovo could have on the US and Europe. A much different perspective from the former US Ambassador to Belgrade viewpoint cited previously here. 

Stephen Szabo of The German Marshall Fund in the United States says Belgrade will have to face a new reality. "The problem with Serbia, right now, is that they've lost a good part of their territory and they will have to learn to live with this. They will have to realize that this has been lost through a reckless, genocidal type of policy and that they will have to come to terms with that. But, I think, the U.S. does see the Serbs eventually having to come along, because Serbia has no future outside of the E.U. and NATO," says Szabo.

Source: VOA News - Kosovo Status Poses Stability Risks?

Technorati tags: kosovo, kosova

Kosovo: Final Status 'Should Be Decided By December' - RADIO FREE EUROPE / RADIO LIBERTY

 

RFE/RL: The UN secretary-general made clear that he expects a report from Contact Group before December 10. Does it mean that Kosovo's status issue will go back to Security Council after that date?

Wisner: We are not yet at December 10 so you’re kind of asking me a very hypothetical question. As far as the United States is concerned this is the final round of negotiations, which ought to bring the matter to the conclusion. We should be able at the end of 120 days to reach a decision on final status.

RFE/RL: Keeping in mind the current positions of the two sides, it is unlikely that an agreement will be reached at the end of the 120 days. Have you thought what next, how you would proceed in such a case?

Wisner: I try to answer that from the point of view of the United States of America. This is the forum for the final review of the Kosovo matter, and then a decision on the final status should be made.

RFE/RL: So after 120 days would you be ready to recognize Kosovo’s independence, a solution that is supported by U.S. President George W. Bush, despite Russia’s opposition?

Wisner: I think, at this stage, let’s get through these 120 days. The position of the United States is clear. President Bush announced it in Tirana, as you noted. That position is not going to change, we stand firmly beside it. But the task immediately ahead is to get the two parties to lay out their final ideas, proposals, and suggestions, and bring this matter to a conclusion before December 10.

Source: Kosovo: Final Status 'Should Be Decided By December' - RADIO FREE EUROPE / RADIO LIBERTY

Technorati tags: kosovo, kosova

Ten inconvenient truths about Kosovo

 

9. The best way to give all the Serbs now living in Kosovo the best possible chance (with no absolute guarantee of success) to have decent lives and maintain their cultural, religious, and ethnic heritage was to fully embrace the Ahtisaari Plan. That opportunity has been lost.  The reality is that the future of most Kosovo Serbs is not bright. This is certainly true for those not in northern Kosovo.

Source: B92 - Insight - Viewpoint - Ten inconvenient truths about Kosovo

Technorati tags: kosova, kosovo

BIRN #97

 

Kosovo-related articles from:

BALKAN INSIGHT

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network

No.97, August 3, 2007

www.birn.eu.com

Weekly analysis:

Serbia Ponders Reprisals if Kosovo is Recognised
Ivanovic: “Serbia will not become a Soviet republic”
Comment: Russia’s Win-Win Situation in Kosovo
Business Insight: Politics May Aid Russian Bid For Serbia’s Copper Riches
Justice Report: Future of Hague Tribunal Archives Debated

www.birn.eu.com

NEW: Read In BRIEF –  BIRN ‘s  daily news service in the region

Kosovo Police Find Counterfeit Water Bottler
Former Macedonian PM Stripped of Immunity
Taxpayers to Finance Seselj’s defence
Kosovo Police Arrest Arms Smugglers
Kosovo Politician Starts Walking Information Campaign
Two-Thirds in Serbia Back EU Membership
Ischinger Appointment to Kosovo Talks Welcomed
Roma from Serbia Seek Asylum in Romania
Bulgaria Watchdog Says Ban on Carts Hurts Roma
Montenegro Ponders Dual Citizenship
Kosovo Unity Team Reports to Assembly

US mulling US-EU 'coordinated' Kosovo independence

This is how it should work out. 

After pressing for a long time for Kosovo's independence, the United States for more than a month has been threatening to sidestep the United Nations in its quest to free the Albanian-majority province from Serbia.

Now it feels its own support and that of the European Union will grant Kosovo enough legitimacy to declare its independence unilaterally, aides to Rice said.

Source: US mulling US-EU 'coordinated' Kosovo independence - Yahoo! News

Eyeing independence

Normally, it would be Ferik at balkanupdate.com who would have The Economist articles, however it seems that his blog has been defaced by an "Al Ninja" who has posted an anti-US and Israeli message.   

Anyway, here's the Economist article discussing the moves Prishtina might make in the coming months. It's interesting that Ceku and Surroi favor a 2007 deadline, whereas LDK and PDK (the last one normally speaks for the restless KLA veterans) have refused to agree on a deadline.

Whether Washington will give its blessing on this initiative is an important indicator. In times of uncertainty, Kosovo leaders know to get as lost as a deer caught in headlights.

US Ambassador to Belgrade says 2007 will be decisive. Let's see what Secretary Rice will tell Team Unity when they meet her on Monday in Washington. Whatever message they get, they should remember good old Robert Gelbard, who back in 1998 told a scared/pacifist Rugova, "what are you waiting for, Superman?"     

Technorati tags: kosova, kosovo

B92 - “Serbia overrates Kosovo’s importance”

According to the U.S. ambassador, Kosovo would attain supervised independence by the end of the year, adding that even if it would come as a disappointment to Serbian government, he hoped it would be able to accept the fact and turn to the future.

Source: B92 - News - Politics - “Serbia overrates Kosovo’s importance”

Kosovo's long path to autonomy - The Boston Globe

In 1999, the United States was lauded for preventing what happened in Bosnia from happening in Kosovo. Today, the Bush administration can win praise for championing Kosovo's legitimate national aspirations. Supporting Kosovo's independence is not only consistent with America's time-tested promotion of democracy. Doing right by Kosovo's mostly Muslim population is also in America's interest.

Source: Kosovo's long path to autonomy - The Boston Globe

BBC | Kosovo Serb refugees lament fate

 

"Independence might bring a bit of stability. People say Kosovo is Serbian but if it really was, why are we living in this refugee camp?" says Ivan Milic, 24.

Source: BBC NEWS | Europe | Kosovo Serb refugees lament fate

Kosova

 

I am back after a long and well deserved break. There hasn't been much new to say anyway. Russia did say no to the resolution proposal last week, but that was for the fifth time. Russian stance is that whatever Serbia does not accept, neither will Russia. That's when the diplomatic smart asses came up with the idea of Prishtina and Belgrade discussing without a time-frame resolution.

Another smart ass proposed (ahem, didn't propose but would not stand in the way either) ceding northern Kosovo to Serbia in exchange for independence. Little does he know that that route would be an open invitation for reopening a series of other conflicts in the Balkans.

It would be foolish on the side of Russia to think that it can block independence. But it has its own points, and it has made them. One key thing that is missing from the discussion about Russia's motives, though, is  is the original one, that it wants its satellite territories to be able to have a UN recognized independence of its own through some kind of horse trading with the West on Kosovo later on. This would mean Kosovo declaring independence without UN approval, as have the satellite territories already done.

This is where Europe has gotten totally obfuscated. It need not be. It seems that Russia is willing to allow for EUMIK to replace UNMIK. If that's possible, let's get that done so at least the money keeps flowing. Then Prishtina will announce independence according to the plan explained in the video below and the major European powers will recognize that independence. Can we move on now?
        

Technorati tags: kosova, kosovo, status