Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Jovanovic: Kosovo’s independent ‘thinkable’ (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that the Serbian politician Cedomir Jovanovic, said in an interview to “Der Standard” that a condition for Kosovo’s independence is that an agreement that guarantees Kosovo Serbs all civic rights and a normal life and the return of Serb refugees. “It would be catastrophic if Belgrade because of a possible independence for Kosovo to enter again a conflict with the entire world”, Jovanovic is quoted as saying.

2 comments:

Kosovar2006 said...

If Kosovar Serbs could just admit that it will never work under Serbia. Can they not just be equal as Albanian and be Kosovars where no one is more superior then the other all equal.I guess they had it too good before the war and want to be in that position again.

oskar said...

At the moment, Kosovo is not heading for full independence, but rather some kind of limited and conditional independence, at best. Foreign troops will remain and there will be wide ranging international (EU most likely) control of the judiciary and police. Kosovo's constitution will be frame, or at least limited by, the international community. Minority rights will be closely monitored and most likely warrant continous intereference by the international community and by Serbia. Kosovo will be more of an international protectorate than an independent nation.

Wouldn't it be better if the northern slice of the province (say north of Mitrovica) was left in Serbia and any populations on the 'wrong' side of the border resettled. Churches and monasteries in the southern part could be taken down (stone by stone) and reerected in Serbia.

With no minorities left in Kosovo, the country would be truly free to pursue its own politics with no need for further involvement by the international community. This might also be a solution which could be acceptable to Serbia.

If Serbia insists on keeping Kosovo as an autonomous part of Serbia the issue will continue to drag the country down, stopping democratic reform and just be a huge unresolved issue. Likewise, if the Kosovo albanians demand full independence for the whole province, they'll continously have to look over their shoulder (once the Americans leave Serbia could pretty easily take back the province, or at least part of it).

Kosovo and Serbia will have to live as neighbours. For this to work neither can achieve its maximalist goals or you are only laying the foundations for the next war.