Albanian sirens

Kosovo Parliament adopted declaration of independence

Yesterday there was one more self-proclaimed state in the world. The Assembly of Kosovo adopted an act of independence . It declared the Serbian region with a population of about two million people to be an “independent, democratic and sovereign state.” Following this, Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci appealed to the international community to recognize the newborn state. Their speech was accompanied by fireworks, patriotic songs, sirens and car horns on the streets of half a million people in Pristina.

Festive fireworks in Kosovo could become a prelude to the conflagration of a new war. Serbian President Boris Tadic said his country would "never recognize the unilateral and illegal" declaration of the Kosovo authorities and demanded that international organizations "immediately annul the act that violates the fundamental principles of international law." The Serbs fear that these events are a prelude to the creation of a “great Albania” in the Balkans with the inclusion of other territories, including Serbia. On geographical maps distributed in Pristina, the Kosovo region is designated as part of ethnic Albania with its capital in Skopje (Macedonia). Despite this, the United States and leading countries - members of the European Union are ready to recognize Kosovo's independence.

Today the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union meets in Brussels. Kosovo is one of the main topics on his agenda. There will be no surprises. As sources in the EU Council told Vremya Novostey, officially it will only “take note” of Pristina’s declaration of independence. De jure recognition is within the competence of EU member states. The four largest countries of the European Union - Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy - intend to do this today. But six of the 27 EU members do not intend to recognize Kosovo in the near future: these are Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Cyprus. These countries have problems with national minorities, and Cyprus is generally split in half.

A positive reaction from the United States and most EU countries to the decision of the Albanian separatists will further complicate relations between Russia and the West. Moscow called on the UN to declare Pristina's actions illegal and promised to make adjustments to its own policy towards other unrecognized states, in particular Abkhazia and South Ossetia. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, recognition of Kosovo’s independence “involves a revision of generally accepted norms and principles of international law” and “could lead to the undermining of established rules and ethics of interstate communication.” Russia convened an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday for consultations on Kosovo.

However, Kosovo's leaders have already made their choice. “The adoption of the declaration of independence is only the beginning of Kosovo’s movement forward in economic and political development,” Ardjan Gini, Minister of Planning and Environmental Protection in the Kosovo government, told Vremya Novostei. - Our citizens have long been independent in their minds. We are also grateful to Russia, despite its rejection of the idea of ​​Kosovo independence. After all, the principles of democracy and the protection of human rights in Kosovo were developed by the UN with the participation of Moscow.”

Pristina is confident that recognition of Kosovo's independence by Russia could reduce tension in the Serbian-Albanian confrontation, and they expect such a step from Moscow. This was stated yesterday by former Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku. “I think that after other states recognize Kosovo’s independence, Russia will join them,” noted the only leading Kosovo politician who has already visited Moscow. In November 2006, Agim Cheku came to the Russian capital on a parliamentary basis and held meetings in the State Duma and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “In Kosovo, Russia is perceived as one of the leading economic forces and a very influential country in the political sense. We need to improve relations with Russia,” he said.

Moscow does not share the optimism of Kosovo politicians. Russia insists that Pristina's unilateral steps, and especially their support from the West, create a dangerous precedent. “Russia, of course, does not immediately recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Moscow does not need excessive confrontation with Georgia. But Russia will reconsider the format for resolving these conflicts and its attitude towards the status of these republics. The parallels with Kosovo are direct. Abkhazia, South Ossetia, like Kosovo, were autonomies, and after Kosovo received recognition, the Abkhazians and Ossetians will strive even more persistently for independence. Moreover, they border on Russia,” Alexander Karasev, an expert at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Vremya Novostei.

“Despite all the statements by the Kosovo authorities about strengthening democracy, the fate of the Serbs in an independent Kosovo is of great concern,” Alexander Karasev, an expert on the Balkans, continued in an interview with Vremya Novostey. -- Serbs live compactly in the Kosovska-Mitrovica region in the north of the region, where they number about 100 thousand people. They stated that they would remain under the jurisdiction of Belgrade and ask for help from the Serbian government. So it will not be possible to avoid an aggravation of the situation in Kosovo. And although a large-scale military operation on the part of Serbia is hardly possible, there may be armed volunteer forces in the country that can come to the aid of the Kosovo Serbs.” Yesterday, a few hours before Kosovo declared independence, several hundred Serbian reservists had already tried to cross the Kosovo border, but were stopped by the Kosovo police.

It is no coincidence that the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union, meeting today for a meeting in Brussels, confirmed on Saturday, that is, ahead of time, the prepared decision to deploy its civilian police mission in Kosovo “to ensure the rule of law.” It would have been difficult for the six European states that “disagreed” with the region’s independence to vote for sending a mission after yesterday’s events in Pristina - and so the European Union demonstrated the coherence of its foreign policy. Moreover, the word “independence” is not mentioned in these documents.

All EU members will take part in the operation, with the exception of Malta. It will be headed by retired French general Yves de Kermabon. Dutch diplomat Peter Veith has been confirmed as the EU Special Representative for Kosovo. He will play the role of adviser to the Kosovo leadership, coordinate the work of the EU mission and the Kosovo administration, and monitor compliance with human rights and democratic freedoms.

European allies are nervous about the shaky legal framework. Moscow is blocking any resolution in the UN Security Council that would give the European Union a clear mandate to change the UN mission that has governed Kosovo since 1999. The European Union, starting an operation without the approval of the UN Security Council, is “committing an attack on the UN.” This phrase was uttered by one of the diplomats in Brussels, who wished to remain anonymous, in a conversation with VN.

Brussels hoped that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon would find an opportunity to bless the European landing in some form. A month ago in Bratislava, he hinted that sooner or later Europe would have to decide on a “responsible action.” But, according to Russia’s permanent representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, Russian diplomacy hinted to the UN Secretary General about the scope of his mandate. Now, as explained to VN on condition of anonymity at the headquarters of the European Union, the EU mission does not officially plan to replace the UN administration in Kosovo (which requires a Security Council mandate), but “will only help the Kosovo government.”

As for the United States, they have not yet announced the timing of recognition of the independence of the Kosovo region. The day before, a group of American congressmen (including both Republicans and Democrats) sent a letter to George Bush calling on him to immediately reconsider the administration’s position on Kosovo: “Now, more than ever, the United States should try to organize a new round of intensive negotiations regarding the future status of Kosovo without an outcome predetermined by either party.” The authors of the document are convinced that “national and religious minorities in other countries will be encouraged by the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo.”

Alexander MINEEV, Brussels, Petr ISKENDEROV