Great Power Meddling in Kosovo By DIANA JOHNSTONE
After nearly eight years of uneasy occupation of the province of Kosovo that NATO wrested from Serbian control by 78 days of bombing in 1999, the U.S.-led "International Community" is eager to shift responsibility for the intractable situation to someone else. This may be done by imposing a false "solution" that provokes either Serbs or Albanians, or both, into reacting in ways that can be blamed for the impending disaster. The "International Community", the contemporary equivalent of the nineteenth century Great Powers that carved up the Balkans in ways that led to World War I, appointed former Finnish president Marrti Ahtisaari to be "special envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the future status process for Kosovo". Ahtisaari's task was to come up with something that would sound good to Western media and human rights NGOs. Neither international law nor mere reality on the ground were serious considerations. Ahtisaari's "Kosovo Status Settlement" defines the future Kosovo according to the IC wish list. Kosovo, it announces, "shall be a multi-ethnic society, governing itself democratically and with full respect for the rule of law, the highest level of internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, and which promotes the peaceful and prosperous existence of all its inhabitants."_Kosovo "shall be..." Not is. Because that description is about the exact opposite of what Kosovo is now: a poverty-stricken cauldron of discontent characterized by violent ethnic hatred, a political system manipulated by armed clans, a corrupt judicial system, and terrified minorities (notably Serbs and Roma) deprived of the most basic freedoms, such as being able to venture out of their besieged homes in order to shop, go to school or work their fields. Not to mention broken down public services, an economy totally dependent on foreign aid and criminal trafficking (drugs and sex slaves), and massive unemployment affecting a youthful population easily aroused to violence. Turning water into wine is nothing compared to transforming this failed province into a model democratic multi-ethnic State. But that is the miracle Ahtisaari is announcing. And how is this miracle to be achieved?_Albanian separatists seem to be convinced that total independence is all that is needed to turn their ramshackle province into a second Luxembourg. But total independence is not exactly what Ahtisaari is proposing. Kosovo is to have the trappings of independence -- things to play with like "its own distinct flag, seal and anthem" (on the condition that they reflect the "multiethnic" nature of the place). It can join the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank -- not exactly the key criteria of independence. But according to the Status Settlement plan, Kosovo will remain under strict international supervision. Control will be exercised by an international <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158367084X/counterpunchmaga> <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158367084X/counterpunchmaga> http://www.counterpunch.org/johnstone.jpg <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158367084X/counterpunchmaga> bureaucracy run by the European Union and a military presence led by NATO, in three parts: 1. An "International Civilian Representative (ICR), double-hatted as the EU Special Representative", appointed by an "International Steering Group (ISG) comprising key international stakeholders", will have the power to "ensure successful implementation of the Settlement", to "annul decisions or laws adopted by Kosovo authorities and sanction or remove public officials whose actions are determined by the ICR to be inconsistent with the letter or spirit of the Settlement". So much for political "independence". These "key international stakeholders" are, incidentally, self-appointed and do not include the country with the greatest stake in Kosovo: Serbia. Rather, they are a reincarnation of the nineteenth century Great Powers. 2. "A European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) Mission will monitor, mentor and advise on all areas related to the rule of law." 3. A "NATO-led International Military Presence will provide a safe and secure environment throughout Kosovo" until Kosovo's institutions are able to do so -- which could conceivably be many years, or 24 hours, depending on how the "key stakeholders" choose to interpret events. With some name changes, this is the same sort of international supervision that has so far failed to combat crime, provide real security to minorities or develop the economy. Bureaucracy in the New World Order CONTINUED… http://www.counterpunch.org/johnstone06022007.html
<<image001.jpg>>
