http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/022008/02262008/359037
FREDRICKSBURG FREE LANCE-STAR (USA) OPINION Kosovo causes policy concern February 26, 2008 12:15 am IT IS A long-established fact that, when dealing with diplomacy in the Balkans, irrationality reigns supreme. The southernmost region of Europe, renowned for being the "powder keg" that ignited World War I and for, during the 1990s, being home to the deadliest European genocide since the Holocaust, has once again been in the news due to Kosovo's recent declaration of independence from Serbia. This latest development is the inevitable culmination of the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. What was once a singular nation encompassing ethnic Albanians, Serbs, Bosnians and Croats, has now finally fractured into separate enclaves for each of its ethnic groups with a declaration of independence from the oppressed Albanian minority living in Serbia. The new Kosovar republic formed by these individuals represents the latest challenge that American foreign policy "gurus" (to use the term lightly) have to face in the midst of numerous other international issues. One might wonder why events in the Balkans should involve America at all. The reason is that America was forced to intervene as part of NATO and United Nations' efforts to mediate the crises that literally tore the region apart during the 1990s. The background of the situation in the Balkans is much too difficult to describe in a newspaper column; basically, it involves four or five unique ethnic groups--each with their own religious, cultural and governmental customs--battling for sovereignty in a region that serves as home to all of them equally. In the 2005 Nicolas Cage movie "Lord of War," the protagonist, arms dealer Yuri Orlov, describes the situation best, perhaps, while discussing a shipment of arms destined for a war-torn region that had recently declared a truce: "Forget it! I'll reroute the shipment to the Balkans," he says. "When they say they're going to have a war, they keep their word." Naturally, when one of the smallest and most subjugated groups, ethnic Albanians living in Serbia (a nation notoriously hostile toward other ethnic groups in the region), voiced their desire for independence, the United States decided to support them. After all, what is more American than supporting an oppressed minority in its sovereignty and freedom? On paper, it seemed to be a win-win situation. With American support, the people of Kosovo would finally gain their long-desired independence. And with Kosovo's independence, the United States would reaffirm its image as a savior of the oppressed, and would gain another much needed foreign ally. If one should know only a single thing about the Balkans, however, it is that events there rarely turn out as expected. Thus, when Kosovo finally got around to declaring its independence last week, several unfortunate events subsequently occurred. The first issue was the refusal of several important nations, including Spain, Russia and China, to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign nation. The reasoning behind their decisions is simple: All three of those nations, and others who refused to recognize Kosovo, are currently dealing with their own separatist movements. They are legitimately concerned that an independent Kosovo could inspire new pushes for independence from other minorities around the world. The other immediate issue involves Serbians, who have been extremely antagonistic toward both the United States and Kosovo in the wake of the declaration of independence. Lost in the midst of celebration from liberated Albanians in Kosovo is the fact that 10 percent of the new country's population comprises ethnic Serbs. Gangs of Serbs from inside and outside of Kosovo have already threatened numerous areas, and have forced military intervention from NATO and UN forces. A mob in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, expressed its displeasure with America by setting fire to portions of the U.S. embassy there. While the independence of Kosovo isn't likely to bring about the end of the world (we'll leave that to the Middle East turmoil), it does raise some disturbing questions about the foreign policies of nations around the world, and it further complicates matters of international relations for America--something that the country hardly needs at this point in time. Matt Cameron is a junior at James Monroe High School.
