Independent Kosovo and Citizens Interests

27 February 2008

Creation of political independence starts with the declaration. Ideally, if all relations and interests in a given geographic area are harmonised, or solved, the start of independence gets its logical continuation in the UN, where that status of independent state is made formal. Obviously, Kosovo not exactly in that ideal position and it needs much more than just political independence.

It is quite natural when something can�t go on without problems, for people to do everything to push it through even with those problems. Maturity, however, is measured with the ability to compare the amount of problems with the ultimate goal to ensure that the latter doesn�t suffer because of the former. If one is intelligent, he or she will do it quickly. Since Kosovo itself lacks elements of personality, which would be the most desired for Serbia at this moment, its future is decided by its current majority leadership and its current major mentors. The mentors estimate that the problems brought about by the fight for independence will be much lesser then its positive outcomes. (The people have been devoid of power everywhere, and all that is done on its behalf is packed and presented as its own wish, anyway).

Did anyone make proper calculations, considerations and deliberations in this particular case? Serbian state tried in vain to prove that it does want to take care of that part of its territory, all the while disregarding fully the fact that the area is, in fact, populated. The problem is augmented by the fact that the huge (ethnic) majority of its population didn�t want to live in a state called Serbia anymore. Serbian officials showed they care only about the part of the population that called itself Serbs, justifying that approach to the wish of the majority not to cooperated with Serbian authorities.

Legally, however, the people that don�t care much about the country they live in are still its citizens, and the state is obligated to treat them equally. If nothing else, to provide them with opportunity, equally to loyal citizens, to fulfil their rights and obligations, and if possible, its assistance. Serbia, on the other hand, did export surplus electricity while one part of its population couldn�t cover 20% of its needs. The authorities, normally, provided good justification. Responsibility, still, doesn�t mean that one should find excuses, but solutions, which were necessary at all levels of responsibility.

The politicians failed to act responsibly in part because of the irresponsibility of their constituencies, who found the truth that their Kosovo, the ancient cradle of the nation, is now inhabited by huge Albanian majority, quite unbearable to take. To the voters, it was the Albanians that were responsible for everything that went wrong in Kosovo over the past several decades. Their language is so foreign to them that they believe that anything said in Albanian has little meaning, is backward oriented and of suspect intellectual value. The TV told us so, as did the numerous jokes.

Few people ever asked the question, what would it really mean to keep Kosovo in Serbia and provide development opportunities for its population, under the same conditions as in the rest of the country? It couldn�t mean, in any way or manner, that Serbia could continue calling the shots in Kosovo, but to truly transfer governance to local level and share it on national level. In that case, Albanian political parties would hold about one quarter of the Parliament seats by default. Was it what Serbian tax-payers wanted? In all fairness, they didn�t. They�d rather keep Kosovo in Serbia with full, legal and international ignorance of the fact that it is a populated area. A minority of people, a few of them here and there may have had other ideas, but that percentage is far below the necessary levels to introduce some changes. Still, their numbers are much bigger than those who decided to live in Kosovo, against the popular mainstream opinion. That is the only difference existing between the two totally separated societies.

Serbian state invoked international law, conventions, history, the lunches and drinks it paid to all statesmen and women it thought carried the weight to influence the final outcome. Not really bade diplomacy, but not suited well to this day and age. International law was created, in the first place, to protect the big. Serbia is not among them, in spite of historical facts and contemporary aspirations that may claim otherwise. The judge, in this case, is a multifunctional personality and stands in for the jury, too.

Then again, history is written, not memorized, and lasts far longer than our memories. Also, we know who writes it. The question is only where it is writen � is it Washington, Moscow, Brussels, an association web-site, or wherever. Besides, lunch and drinks can be too expensive for a poor man in a world capital. He or she could do it, but it could be the last thing he or she ever did.

Uncertainties of Independence

On the other hand, or the same hand for that matter, Prishtina`s moves were equally intelligent and successful, but not more successful. Why? Well, the idea of independent Kosovo did not appear among local Albanians in 1998 (we doubt that even the authors of the idea know the exact date of origin), nor was the idea direct consequence of Milosevic`s oppression. In all fairness, the idea has been around for quite some time, together with the former plans to create Greater Albania, but Milosevic contributed to it possibly more than the people that invented it. The brutality he employed to prevent it actually pushed it forward. He managed to convince all that were against it, those who were neutral, that the idea is justified, in a manner that would have shamed any local or international campaigning and lobbying group or company. So, the proponents of independence got moral justification for their illegal claims and, for this case crucial, full and unambiguous support. It is difficult not to act with such support. In Kosovo, the inaction could actually be dangerous. Suddenly, the citizens of Kosovo got their universal culprit, Serbia, which was to blame for the lack of jobs, lack of money apart from the payments sent by the diaspora, the fact that the mob rules rampant, the corruption, basically everything.

Asking the biggest countries to help is good diplomacy and often the only retreat to the small and poor. I may be fully convinced that no government in the world does anything for purely humanist reasons, not for its own people and other nations are totally out of question, I find it hard to detect all individual reasons why Prishtina was assisted by some countries. American support may have been the decisive factor, having in mind American capacity to pressure and blackmail its Euro-Asian partners, even for most despicable actions it took for simple vanity, which is the luxury of the big and powerful, not to mention now when it had Milosevic himself as proof. Dead witness is a witness after all, apart for those countries that could not be blackmailed to overcome the problems that they have within their own borders and can�t solve. Prishtina did make the mistake so common for Belgrade`s actions. It forgot the fact that majority doesn`t mean all. That is dangerous with manipulations that enjoy mass support. One can easily forget that there were people that could not buy that story, for their own diverse reasons and can prove most dangerous for one`s interests later.

Democracy Wins a Scoreless Tie

Kosovo did get some sort of independence. The celebrations on its streets are nothing but tools of the manipulation. The Kosovo Government will get the support of majority, but not all countries. Therefore, there is no true independence and a seat in the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe, which would help it to, at least formally, decide its own place in the world order (which is not the best of situations, but then again...).

Serbia, on the other hand, lost one sixth of its territory to secession. Independence turns into lasting uncertainty. Should we call Serbia Kosovo`s neighbour, we should add dangerous neighbour. A neighbour with longest borders claims the right over 100 percent of the territory. It does not even try to hide that, but claims to regain those lands sooner or later. That is not just unpleasant, that is outright dangerous. Should we wait for some other oil crises, not all that uncertain prospect in fact, for American partners to suffer again, as happened in the past.

If only Belgrade and Prishtina realized that it would be much better if they maintained good relations. Alas!

The EU has no joint policy. More than five countries don`t even consider the possibility to recognize Kosovo, which means no Schengen Visas for its citizens until the dispute is solved once and for all. There can be no discussion of EU accession until the dispute is solved. There is no (fill in the blank) until the dispute is solved.

Serbia refuses and rapprochement with Europe if it has to be done without Kosovo, which means no way until the dispute is solved.

There is no control over territory and affairs of the state, EULEX rules. To expect the day for the power to be transferred to the local population means total blindness to the situation 100 km to the west, in Bosnia, which has had that same situation for 13 years, without any prospects for solution any time soon.

Where will the youth of Kosovo, 60% of the population, direct the energy of its anger, jobless and without much chance to get a job. Will it be directed at the EU which tries to mend the sea and stop it from leaking with 200 million Euros. Well, EU, you had the chance to solve at least part of the problem, not taking the whole burden on your shoulders.

Who will prevent the horrible reign of the mob in Kosovo? By the way, the mob only recognised the true values and used all advantages cooperation with Serbia provides.

I would stop this list right here, only to mention the true winners of the independence. Well, I can� think of anyone at this moment...

I just know that the citizens of Serbia or Kosovo gain nothing. It all comes down to pure political numbers game. Emotional, maybe, but not very smart. In my view, the negotiations were organised as they were just to prevent an agreement. Both sides presented positions totally unacceptable to the other side. Those who never tested their ability to negotiate may be surprised, but mutually acceptable solution is always available. Imagine that the negotiations were aimed not to reach an agreement on the status, but an arrangement where both sides won`t care about the borders and the final status. For example, Belgrade and Pristina officials sit down and agree to join forces and efforts to join EU together. Just imagine the benefits that such an agreement would bring to the citizens of Serbia and Kosovo. The European Union, also. Citizens who are equal in their rights and opportunities would erase the borders in a couple of years, not just the borders between themselves, but all borders all the way to Scandinavia.

Lamentably, such negotiations were not an option, because of the lack of balance that would provide the politicians opportunity to hold the power. Who would present the necessary danger and treats? How would they mask their own incompetence and laziness?