Main focus of Monday, October 30, 2006

Serbia is hanging on to Kosovo

After the referendum held on October 28th and 29th, Serbian voters pronounced themselves by a narrow majority (52 %) in favour of a new constitution assuring Serb sovereignty over Kosovo. Noting the very feeble participation in the elections (under 54 %), the European press considers that Belgrade will not be able to prevent the independence of the Albanian-speaking province.

Le Soir - Belgium

"Ethnocentrism and the syndrome of victimisation that has been weighing upon Serbs for a long time have once again been flung in to the foreground", notes François Delisse, correspondent in Belgrade. "By describing Kosovo as an inalienable part of Serbia, in the run-up to the new Constitution, the Serbian government is in fact encouraging the frustration that will occur the day the province gains independence. An independence that nonetheless is hardly doubted in the country and that will be experienced painfully. This is because the past and mythology, two permanent features of Serbian identity, continue to be shrewdly fostered by those members of society who qualify the notions of territory and ethnicity as models. Thus the departure this year of brother Montenegro and the imminent departure of Kosovo, 'historical cradle of the Serb people', are providing an opportunity for Serbia to return to the forefront standing alone, pitted against the others." (30/10/2006)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » South East Europe, » Serbia

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

In an interview with Marc Hoch, Franz-Lothar Altmann, an expert on the Balkans, says the future status of Kosovo will be decided after the parliamentary and presidential elections in december and by the UN Security Council. According to Altmann, the low turnout in the constitutional referendum is evidence of "the growing understanding among the people of the country that Kosovo has been lost. The Serbs accept the politicians' continual arguments that Kosovo should remain a Serbian province, but this no longer the major political issue for them. For the people of Serbia the important questions now are how to improve their living standards and how to achieve EU membership. Kosovo is more of an obstacle than anything else in resolving these issues." (30/10/2006)

» to the homepage (external link, Süddeutsche Zeitung)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » South East Europe, » Serbia
All available articles from » Marc Hoch, » Franz-Lothar Altmann

Le Temps - Switzerland

The Historian and Balkan specialist Serge Métais wishes that the European Union would defend the independence of Kosovo more actively. "Populated by around 2 million inhabitants, with more than 90 % Albanians, its currency, like in Montenegro is already the Euro. Attached to Serbia in a Yugoslavia that no longer exists, it has, de facto, been a state that has not been dependant on Belgrade for the last seven years. It is democracy with a majority and an opposition, a parliament, a government and a president. Everybody agrees that Kosovo's current status has gone on for too long. It is blocking reforms and has numerous perverse effects. Different views have been exchanged. It is time for the European Union to express its will. It should say that it is prepared to recognise the independence of Kosovo. It should also say that this State is dedicated to join it." (30/10/2006)

» to the homepage (external link, Le Temps)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » South East Europe, » Serbia

» To the complete press review of Monday, October 30, 2006