<http://www.emportal.rs/en/news/serbia/80345.html> http://www.emportal.rs/en/news/serbia/80345.html
Kosovo- Metohija is still a risky territory... 25. February 2009. | 19:37 19:49 Source: EMportal Author: Nikos D.A. Arvanites, Mira Dimic A year after its independence, Kosovo is further away from Belgrade, and the politics it advocates makes it even more distanced from the values the EU cherishes despite some countries’ interests to see Kosovo as part of OEBS, the International Monetary Fund, the EU and the Partnership for Peace. It’s been a year since the Kosovo declaration of independence and recognition by some 55 countries. Still, the status of the Serbian community has neither improved nor a democratic and multiethnic society developed. Kosovo - Metohija remains a black hole of international organized crime and drug trafficking with no international control in place. A year after the declaration of independence, EULEX took over from UNMIK the responsibility of the rule of law in Kosovo. Its task is to build institutions and establish economic and political order. There are countries among EU members such as Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Slovakia, Romania that are not able to recognize Kosovo for nationality reasons. The EU and the USA are pressuring the countries to do so and join Euro-Atlantic integrations. Kosovo- Metohija is an open problem and a moot point between Serbia, the EU and the US. Serbia cannot accept it as a state. At the same time, Serbia’s economic and social presence in Kosovo- Metohija is not strong enough to protect the interests and existence of the Serbian community in Kosovo- Metohija. Kosovo- Metohija Serbs don’t have their own political strategy to enable their national interests in Kosovo- Metohija to thrive. A year after its independence, Kosovo- Metohija has failed to define the principles of civic and ethnic tolerance and the right for all the citizens of Kosovo- Metohija to move freely in the southern province, to have the right to work and live safely. The green light for the independence of Kosovo- Metohija also came from European parliament and the new administration of US President Barak Obama. During the global economic crisis, Kosovo- Metohija is counting on the EU’s financial support and investments but at the same time it is not doing much to create basic conditions to safeguard foreign investments.This is hindered by the Albanian mafia’s powerful dominance in the public spheres of the life in Kosovo. The government in Kosovo- Metohija and political parties advocate full control of the entire territory of Kosovo- Metohija, primarily in northern Serb-populated areas that are strongly connected with Belgrade’s authorities. The position of the Serbs in other enclaves is very hard. They can hardly endure the situation with no electricity, job opportunities and the chance to start a normal life. The Kosovo- Metohija authorities are trying to put hundreds of monasteries and churches into the possession of the state of Kosovo- Metohija, twisting the national and spiritual history of the Serbs and creating the culture and civilization of Kosovo. They are thinking about blocking the Serbian economy and trade so as to make it even harder for the position and life of the Serbian community. Ethnic extremism remains strong in Kosovo- Metohija and threatens the Serbian community. A year after its independence, Kosovo- Metohija is further away from Belgrade, and the politics it advocates makes it even more distanced from the values the EU cherishes despite some countries’ interests to see Kosovo as part of OEBS, the International Monetary Fund, the EU and the Partnership for Peace. Alongside connections with the EU and the USA, Kosovo has tied its destiny to Albania having strengthened relations with its neighbors, FYRMacedonia and Montenegro in the first place whose recognition of the independence of the Serbian province shook their relationship with Serbia. Kosovo- Metohija is still a risky territory jeopardizing the safety in Europe and the Western Balkans.
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