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EMBASSY MAGAZINE (CANADA) February 27th, 2008 Despite Pressure, Tories Won't Make a Kosovo Decision Canada has yet to either support or oppose Kosovo's independence, a decision foreign diplomats and the opposition hope to sway one way or the other. By Jeff Davis A week after Kosovo declared its independence, the Canadian government is being heavily lobbied by competing diplomatic, political and civil society groups to take a stand on the issue. While a number of nations have made their stance clear, the Conservative government is taking a very cautious approach, keeping quiet about whether it will recognize the newborn state or not. Kevin Sorenson, the Conservative chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, gave no hints Monday as to whether the government will recognize Kosovo. "We're just going to take our time on this, and not jump into anything," he said in an interview. "Other countries have jumped in, but we're going to take our time on this." Without elaborating, Mr. Sorenson added that the government has been lobbied "on all sides." The former Serbian province declared its independence Feb. 17. The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and Albania have all recognized the overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian enclave, while others-most notably Serbia, Russia, and Spain-have said they will not. Both the Serbian and Albanian envoys to Canada have been making their respective cases since the declaration. Serbian Ambassador Dusan Batakovic said he has been in contact with the Prime Minister's Office, and has met with Mr. Sorensen, NDP MP Peggy Nash and Liberal International Trade critic Navdeep Bains. Mr. Batakovic said he has also been distributing a letter, penned by Serbian President Boris Tadic, urging Canada not to recognize Kosovo. The letter, which he has given to Gov.-Gen. Michaëlle Jean and others, "has been sent to almost every country," he said. Mr. Batakovic said he has also met with DFAIT assistant deputy minister for bilateral relations James Fox. The ambassador said he expects Canada will not recognize Kosovo. "I don't think Canada will recognize Kosovo after she realizes what is the human rights record in Kosovo," he said, adding that since 1999, thousands of Serb Kosovars have been killed or chased out of the area. Serbia has recalled its ambassadors from a number of countries that have recognized the independence of Kosovo. 'Separatism is Dangerous Anywhere' Meanwhile, Albanian Ambassador Besnik Konçi has been mounting a diplomatic offensive of his own. He said he has been in contact with Parliamentarians and officials at DFAIT "on a daily basis." Mr. Konçi said Albanian efforts to secure Canadian recognition of Kosovo began months ago. These efforts included visits from the Albanian prime minister, defence minister and speaker of the Parliament. Mr. Konçi added that some 21 countries have now recognized Kosovo, and he expected more countries, including Canada, to follow suit. "For the time being, Canada remains in a standby position," he said. "But I think Canada is going to recognize Kosovo at the end of the day." Both ambassadors have become frequent commentators on network news channels. A senior diplomat told Embassy that diplomats from the German, Italian, French and American embassies have also been lobbying the Canadian government to recognize Kosovo. The most outspoken of the Ottawa-based diplomats has been Russian Ambassador Georgiy Mamedov, who issued a stern and public warning last week. "We conveyed it to Canadian government that they will think twice before accepting unilateral independence from Kosovo," Mr. Mamedov told reporters in Montreal on Thursday. "Separatism is as dangerous as it is in Russia as it is in Spain or France or anywhere else," he said. Serbian and Albanian Canadians have also made their opinions clear, mobilizing grassroots support for their side. Serbian Canadians held protest rallies across the country last week in Montreal, Toronto, Kitchener, Vancouver and elsewhere, often congregating around American consulates. Bob Travica, a Serbian-Canadian and University of Manitoba professor, was among the organizers of a rally in Winnipeg. He said that in addition to rallies, the Serbian community has been circulating petitions and writing letters to local Conservative MPs Steven Fletcher, Brian Pallister and others. Similar efforts are being made by Albanian and Kosovar Canadians, said Albert Xhaferri, a filmmaker and organizer of a pro-independence rally in Toronto on Feb. 17. In addition to rallies, he said, Toronto's Albanian community has sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier and House Speaker Peter Milliken urging the government to recognize the newborn state of Kosovo. Footage of both pro-Kosovo and pro-Serbia rallies was quickly posted on the popular video sharing website YouTube. Opposition Unanimous for Kosovo While the government remains mum on its position, the opposition parties are united in their support for recognition. Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe was unequivocal in his support of Kosovo's independence during an interview Monday. "We think the government should recognize Kosovo like most of the European countries did, and the U.S. also," he said. "I don't understand why they don't recognize Kosovo." Days after Kosovo's independence, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion indicated his support for recognition. He told reporters in Quebec City that the Kosovars have "been victims of very, very serious negative attacks from the former government of Serbia," and pointed out that the Kosovars voted overwhelming to succeed from Serbia. "What is important for Canada is to note that most European countries and most of our allies are ready to recognize it," he said. "So Canada should be ready to say it is prepared to recognize it as well, to work with our European allies." The NDP is also in support of recognition. NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar told Embassy on Monday his party "believes the people of Kosovo have the right to determine their own future." Mr. Dewar added that, ultimately, Kosovo's declaration of independence was made by an elected parliament. Experts Split on Recognition While officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs have declined to comment, members of the Canadian diplomatic and political establishment have issued warnings that recognition could have ramifications here at home. Responding to questions after receiving the Order of Canada at Rideau Hall last week, former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien described the situation as "delicate." He warned that Kosovo's independence could factor into Canada's own internal struggle with separatism. "Canada has to be careful because people want to separate from Canada," he said. James Bissett, a former Canadian ambassador to Belgrade, said Kosovo's independence sets a "terrible precedent" that "endangers the structure of peace and security in the world." Mr. Bissett warned that, besides inspiring separatists around the world to follow suit, recognizing Kosovo weakens the concept of territorial integrity in international law. "The recognition of the Albanians in Kosovo takes away 15 per cent of Serbia's territory," he said. "That's a violation of the principle of territorial integrity which has [governed the] relationships between states for hundreds of year and is enshrined in UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Accords." Not all diplomats agree, however. Paul Heinbecker, former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, said Canada should recognize Kosovo. Mr. Heinbecker said he would lay the greater onus of responsibility for creating the whole situation on the Serbs, whom he said initiated the 1999 war "as part of their effort to attain a greater Serbia." He said, however, that the government is right to use caution, as Canada also has separatist troubles. He added, however, that aside from the existence of separatists in both places, the Canadian and Kosovar situations bear virtually no similarities. [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:jdavis%40embassymag.ca>
