Main focus of Friday, February 22, 2008

Kosovo independence: is it fair?

Kosovo's leaders proclaimed unilateral independence for the Serb province and its Albanian majority, on February 17. Since then, the number of countries adding their names to the list recognising the state has been growing. And the European press is overflowing with contradictory opinions over the moral and legal basis of recognition.

Evenimentul Zilei - Romania

Romanian writer Mircea Cartarescu has reservations about the new state of Kosovo: "Even if there is no legal basis for Kosovo's independence, there could be a moral one. But today's 'good boys' counted to yesterday's powerful as 'bad boys,' and tomorrow it could be the same. True, the Serbians have persecuted Kosovans and carried out cruel ethnic cleansing against them. But the Kosovo Albanians are no saints. The stink of terrorism clings to their militant organizations; they were even obsessed with Osama bin Laden. The wasp's nest of the militant Balkans knows no angels and demons, no victims and executioners, because the polar opposites have become a monstrous blend. If the victim had the chance, he would turn without a second thought into an executioner. The ultra-nationalist motor, the most primitive and reactionary force of all, drives this conflict. So there really is no moral foundation for this state." (22/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Europe, » Romania, » Serbia
All available articles from » Mircea Cărtărescu

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland

Agron Bajrami, editor in chief of the Kosovan newspaper 'Koha Ditore', writes about the independence of Kosovo: "Just like any newborn, Kosovo is a small, delicate and weak creature. It is a country without assets, its population poor and uneducated; it has high unemployment, its economy is underdeveloped, its political institutions unstable; and it has tremendous ethnic tensions and a bad image. On top of that, it was born next to an extremely angry neighbour, Serbia. ... The era of the freedom struggle came to an end last Sunday. On Monday, with western and other states recognizing Kosovo, another struggle began – a struggle for a new Kosovo that represents an independent European nation, not only geographically but also politically, socially and culturally. A state where the past is not forgotten, but forgiven for the sake of the future." (22/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » History, » Serbia
All available articles from » Agron Bajrami

Le Monde - France

"How to cut off the debate between the declarations of independence that deserve the backing of Europeans, and those calling on them their condemnation?," asks writer Thomas Ferenczi. "The massive human rights violations of 1998-1999 created a just cause for Kosovo's independence. The crimes committed were on such a scale that they made Serbia's protests against the attack on its sovereignty null and void, despite the fall of Milosevic and the arrival of democracy ... [But] in the absence of agreement from Serbia and United Nations sanctions, the recognition of independence, is not entirely legitimate. ... Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence does not therefore fill all the criteria for a fair withdrawal, even if the demands seem more legitimate, ... than those of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Turkish part of Cyprus." (22/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Europe, » Serbia
All available articles from » Thomas Ferenczi

Le Jeudi - Luxembourg

David Broman deems it "deeply regrettable that the [recognition of Kosovo's independence] has been rushed through and that it violates international law. ... Europeans are well aware that every violation of international law is a blow to UN authority. It is one thing for the US, privileged by the law of the strongest, to act without the support of international law. But on issues of international politics, Europeans only have (aside from the bait that the promise of EU accession represents), the 'weapon' of respecting the law, and the risks they run by overriding it are high. ... In rushing into declaring Kosovo to be one particular case study, the council of the EU is, in one foul sweep, saying it agrees with China over Tibet and Taiwan, with Israel regarding Palestine, with Russia over Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia and with the US over Iraq...." (21/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Europe, » Serbia
All available articles from » David Broman

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