Canada's CBC on Kosovo
A CBC journalist goes back to Kosovo to visit a doctor she had met during the war. The story makes for a very good quick background for those uninitiated on the country.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Frost Over The World - Vuk 2.0
The very bright and young Serbian foreign minister gets a free ride on Al Jazeera. He withdraws Serbia's threat to Kosovo from a few days before the show and then throws in a doomsday scenario for all the Balkans. Admittedly, he's not sure of its intensity...as of yet.
Serbia once again worried for the Balkans?! It breaks my heart.
Seriously now. When will we see a Kosovo-Serbia status smackdown on TV? I now it won't happen on RTK or RTS. Al Jazeera perhaps? How about Jeta of BIRN?
Sarkozy for NY Times
If you’ll allow me to continue with Kosovo, when we’re talking about Kosovo it seems very likely that Russia will stick by its decision to veto any United Nations Security Council resolution. The United States regards this issue as a test of the European Union’s determination with respect to Moscow. Is Europe ready to see Moscow dictate it its foreign policy or is it going to endorse the decision?
First, Kosovo’s independence is inevitable in the long term. Second, that Russia should want to regain its full place seems to me legitimate, and even desirable. Third, France wants excellent relations with Russia, but Russia cannot expect the rights of a big power without taking on the duties. Fourth, on the question of Kosovo, Europe has to remain united. It is all together that we must in the end back independence for Kosovo. And if I’ve said it is not a question of months or weeks, it’s because I wanted to preserve that unity. And Mr. [Vladimir V.] Putin [President of Russia] must understand that no one wants to humiliate him, that everyone understands efforts he is making to restore Russia to its standing, and no one can criticize him for this. But at the same time he must understand that his interlocutors have convictions every bit as much as he does, regarding human rights, respect for minorities, the rule of law, and democracy. It is called a frank dialogue.
Source: Excerpts From Interview With Nicolas Sarkozy - New York Times
U.S. and EU are ready to recognize Kosovo independence - International Herald Tribune
"The game plan is set," said a senior European diplomat who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. "The talks end on Dec. 10. If there is no sense then that Serbia and Kosovo can agree on the province's future, then Kosovo will make a unilateral declaration of independence. The U.S. will recognize that independence, and the Europeans, as far as they can remain united, will follow, too," he said.
Source: U.S. and EU are ready to recognize Kosovo independence - International Herald Tribune
FREE KOLA DEDVUKAJ
One year has passed since the arrest of a group of Albanians on made up charges of terrorism by the Montenegrin government. Kola Dedvukaj, 59, is one of those tortured for three days in Montenegrin jails and still being held there. This video is a plea by his family members to free him. Free Malësia covers the fate of Albanians in Montenegro and the fate of those arrested more in depth.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Kosovo: Going Round in Circles
Gabriel Partos of BIRN has a roundup of the developments in the last month or so regarding status. Pay attention to the part where he explains the movements done by the two sides towards the still elusive compromise. Yes, compromise (as defined in Belgrade) is impossible, but some movement is possible. And on that, Serbia has given us PR stunts to buy time while Kosovo has come up with some really good proposals. For example, Belgrade will come up with plans which it will disclose only to Russia for about two months and then reveal nothing but disappointment. This is one sure way to extend the conflict forever, as is the goal.
A slap in the face for Kosovo came when at the latest meeting in New York a historic compromise was proposed by our negotiators, which would have established normal relations between two sovereign countries and leave hostilities behind. The assaulter snubbed at the extended hand of the victim. Serbs have surely gotten cocky, and that's the worse damnation you could wish to your enemies.
ASAP
What European leaders don't understand will all the begging for more time to resolve the status is that everything is virtually on hold in Kosovo while this circus is going on. It is the lower strata of society that are having to sacrifice to keep this semblance of peace for the sake of Kosovo's future. Kosovo needs deep political reforms ASAP, but this small, young and vulnerable country can't fight two battles at the same time. As is the case in Kosovo, the price has been paid by the destitute: people like the 2,000 families in the Gjakova region who never had their burnt homes rebuilt but you barely heard of it in the first eight years. See, economy doesn't grow on trees, and it grows even less under circumstances in which Kosovo is now. There is lot of discontent simmering under the surface, waiting to explode once we are relieved of the patriotic cover or before that if the cover stays on for much longer. The longer the status resolution takes, the bigger this after-status explosion will be.
People are full of cynicism, so much so that political discussion is unbearable anymore. It will be interesting to see the level of participation in the forthcoming elections in November and the uphill battle those politicians will be facing with a disillusioned electorate
Whereas the proposed party lists will bring new blood and some genuinely good people to politics, the incoming elected officials will have to prove themselves fast. Reformist Party ORA and even more so PDK have made amazing changes to their ranks. I still have doubts about some of the people representing PDK, but with the open lists Kosovars this time can as well skip the bad apples. New this time is also Behxhet Pacolli, a Swiss-Albanian billionaire whose not-so-impressive-but-likely-to-score party will stand for elections for the first time. LDD of course has split from and weakened LDK, breaking a cesspool into two.
The other issue is the short time allotted to the campaigns to run. So while I am happy of the choices offered, I'm pessimistic that issues will be presented much once again. Luckily, this time status is not one the issues parties can profit on. But then again there is very little time to talk about the myriad of things that plague Kosovo.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
American Experts: Conclusion
It is preferable for the U.S. and EU to act together to bring stability to Kosovo. But waiting longer for a 27-member EU consensus is not a viable option and threatens to unravel the whole final status process. The decision process foreseen in UN Security Council resolution 1244 has been completed. The outcome is the Ahtisaari plan, which needs to be implemented. Neither the Russian veto nor Belgrade’s insistence on delay should be allowed to obstruct the international community’s decision on Kosovo.
December 10 should be the end of the status process, leading directly to a declaration by the U.S. and principal allies of their willingness to recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty provided it implements essential parts of the Ahtisaari plan. Washington, and as many European capitals as possible, need to find the foresight to begin planning for this scenario at the ministerial and head of state level in early this fall and the courage to act decisively in December. The USG should begin discussing alternative arrangements with its principal allies, in order to prevent prolonging, and likely deterioration, of the present unsatisfactory situation.
Source: Kosovo: Breaking the Deadlock by Daniel Serwer: USIPeace Briefing: U.S. Institute of Peace
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Spring Break in Bosnia
The Hunting Party (formerly Spring Break in Bosnia) has been released in the States last week. The movie is based on a true story, though from the trailer it looks quite cheesy. Could it be that the reality is cheesy, too? IMDB.com has a rating of 7.8/10 from 157 voters.
If you believe the latest account by this ICTY official you are led to believe that the two dudes on spring break (the much more descriptive title for the movie) got much closer to getting Karadzic than NATO ever did. Russia, in line with its respect for international law and order, threatened if the arrest happened. US didn't want to disturb Russia. With only France left to fight for international justice. No, no, wait, France had to revenge the blood of its numerous peacekeepers killed thoughtlessly by Karadzic's soldiers.
How can they find the world's most wanted war criminal when the C.I.A. can't? [by actually looking]
Sunday, September 09, 2007
BBC NEWS | The Reporters | Mark Mardell
We are at the point where everyone is threatening something: US, Russia, Kosovo, Serbia and even that "fearmongering" EU. Of these, EU is least worrying.
I'm sure some of the EU members will be surprised (pleasantly?) they were ignored once again on an important backyard issue.
Not that anyone is Kosovo will cry over it. Cyprus and Romania vetoing the fate of 2 million people? Nigga please!
"The more they talk about unity, the more suspicious I am," said a colleague as we left one of the news conferences at the end of this EU foreign ministers' meeting.
Source: BBC NEWS | The Reporters | Mark Mardell
Thursday, September 06, 2007
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