Kosovo Enters a New Year on Shaky Ground
Cold War Style Politics Add to Problems with Serbia
Dec 27, 2008
Kosovo´s Foreign Ministry announced on December 26, 2008, that it will launch a new proactive international diplomatic effort starting in January, 2009. Kosovo controversially and unilaterally declared independence from Serbia after almost nine years as a United Nations protectorate, and has been formally recognized as a state by only 53 countries. Kosovo has already opened its first embassies in Washington, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Brussels, Ankara, Vienna, Bern, and Tirana. However, Serbia has vowed to never accept Kosovo´s independence and has serious concerns for the safety of the ethnic Serbian population there.
President Fatmir Sejdiu of Kosovo recently told Voice of America that he is always open to meeting with Serbian officials in order to discuss issues of mutual interest as long as they respect Kosovo´s independence. He stated that: “I am always ready to meet with Belgrade to discuss issues that are in the interest of two sovereign states”. Kosovo´s Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, told Voice of America that in his opinion Serbia’s future recognition of Kosovo was unavoidable. He stated that “It is unavoidable, the recognition of Kosovo as a state by Serbia, and Belgrade authorities are very aware of this fact”. However, popular sentiment in Serbia is firmly set against any recognition of, or dealings with, the new state.
Russia and the United States
Kosovo has become a focal point for the dispute between Russia and the United States over which one of the two will exert the greatest political, military, and economic influence in Europe. Russia considers Serbia to be a traditional and natural ally; in fact, Russia entered into WWI on the rhetoric of defending Serbia against Austria. On the other hand, Kosovo is protected by a large segment of the international community, including the United States. Many analysts believe that the power play between the United States and Russia has raised the stakes for Kosovo and Serbia while at the same time deepening the divide between them.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently met with Serbian President Boris Tadic in Moscow, and after this meeting he confirmed to reporters that the Russian policy of not recognizing Kosovo´s independence and supporting Serbia´s position would continue. He also complained that the recognition of Kosovo´s independence by other states had an extremely negative impact on regional and international security. Russia´s President then pointed out that the signing of a new agreement on global European security was especially important now, noting that the agreement would not be aimed at reorganizing European political relationships, but rather at securing European cooperation.
According to the U.S. State Department, the goal of the U.S. government is to help Kosovo become a stable, democratic, and economically viable European country. Several U.S. Government assistance programs have been designed to help achieve this goal by focusing on the development of Kosovo´s democratic system, economic growth, and security. On July 11, 2008, during an international Donors' Conference, the United States pledged around $400 million in aid to the new state. A significant amount of this money is expected to go towards helping relieve the national debt that Kosovo may incur in 2009. The U.S. State Department firmly believes that continued assistance will be crucial to Kosovo’s progress as a peaceful, democratic and economically stable ally.
Peace and Stability
After the collapse of Communist Yugoslavia and the subsequent disintegration of the country, many states and ethnic groups rose up to claim their “rightful” portion of land and statehood. This quest for land and statehood resulted in almost two decades of violence and instability. Many observers and analysts see Kosovo´s declaration of independence as the final battleground in the dissolution of Yugoslavia, and an end to Serbia´s influence in the Balkans. There are many concerns within the international community as to how Serbia and Kosovo will resolve their differences; and if Russia and the United States will be able to balance their political interests with the well being of both Serbia and Kosovo.
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