euro|topics - The Kosovo deadlock

Main focus of Tuesday, June 12, 2007

The Kosovo deadlock

Washington would like the United Nations to swiftly pronounce a decision on the status of the Serbian province of Kosovo, which it would like to see gain independence. Opposed to this, Russia is threatening to wield its veto. The European press analyses this complex diplomatic situation and ponders the possible consequences of Kosovo's independence.

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

Marc Hoch believes that further negotiations on the Kosovo statute would be "pointless". "They would only serve to delay the urgent process of finding a solution to the Kosovo problem. The Ahtisaari plan proposes conditional independence, but the Russians have brushed it aside with the argument that it would set a precedent that would encourage the thousands of separatists on this earth to seek independence from their mother countries. But what do they mean by precedent? Nowhere else are conditions the same as in Kosovo, which since 1999 has been under UN administration and has been de facto independent for a long time now. There are two million Albanians with their own language, culture and government there, compared to 100,000 Serbs. But the Albanians have no ties with Serbia because for most of the 20th century Serbia, with its unjust policies, prevented the Albanians from expressing their culture and exercising their human rights. Kosovo is a unique case." (12/06/2007)

ABC - Spain

"When the Atlantic Alliance, in the name of the international community, bombed Serbia in 1999 as a reprisal for attacks on Kosovo's Albanian community, nobody said the bombs would lead the way to independence", explains the daily. "And yet, eight years later, we have reached a point where independence is presented as the only possible option in an irresolvable situation. ... It is not however clear whether independence will be the best or worst option. It would automatically trigger the 'ethnic cleansing' of the Serbian minority who would have no hope of being defended by those who opted in favour of the Albanian-Kosovar community. Independence, especially if unilaterally proclaimed, may well clash with international law, for the United Nations have never authorized part of a territory to secede against the will of an internationally recognised sovereign State." (12/06/2007)

Le Monde - France

The daily questions the sustainability of the "exchange of good intentions" that the French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed to Russia, outside of the actual G8 summit. "Vladimir Putin will recognise that the independence of Kosovo is an 'ineluctable process'. In exchange, the declaration of independence will be postponed for another six months. Meanwhile, the Kosovars and Serbs will be incited to discuss the possibility of an agreement on a 'better' status. All things considered, the French proposition can only make sense if Russia withdraws its objections to the independence of Kosovo. If this fails to happen, it is very likely that time will not be of any help, since for months Serbs and Kosovars have already been going round in circles speaking at cross purposes under the supervision of Mr. Ahtisaari. Up until now, Russia has supported Belgrade's stringency. It will only change its mind if the Serbs themselves are prepared to sacrifice historical myths on the altar of EU accession." (12/06/2007)

Népszabadság - Hungary

The government in Kosovo was disappointed by the failure of the G8 states to agree on a joint stance on the Kosovo problem at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm. According to Endre Aczél the outlook is bleak: "Russia insists on a resolution from the UN Security Council although Putin is perfectly aware that in the long-term the Kosovo-Albanians' struggle for independence will succeed. The reasons behind Russia's obstinacy are partly to do with domestic politics - the separatist movement in Chechnya - and partly do with strategic considerations: President Bush discussed the possibility of NATO membership for several Balkan countries with Albanian, Macedonian and Croat politicians in Tirana. Moscow interpreted this as evidence that the military and political ring around Russia created by the increasing number of NATO countries, US military bases on the Black Sea and the planned missile defence system is growing tighter and tighter." (12/06/2007)

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, June 12, 2007

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