Opinion <http://en.rian.ru/analysis/> & analysis
Serbia accepts watered-down U.N. Kosovo resolution <http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20100910/160549247.html> Topic: <http://en.rian.ru/trend/kosovoind/> Kosovo declares independence Kosovo celebrates the Independence Day on 17 February 2010 17:43 10/09/2010 © RIA Novosti. Natalia Grebenyuk Serbia has finally been persuaded to compromise over Kosovo. On the eve of a vote on the UN General Assembly resolution on Kosovo, Serbia (which had been calling for Kosovo's status to be reconsidered) threw its weight behind the EU initiative. The resolution now goes forward as a joint EU-Serbian initiative. The resolution passed by an overwhelming majority of the 192-nation assembly on September 9 contains no mention of the illegality of Kosovo's independence, or the fact that Belgrade will never accept it, nor does it call for fresh talks on Kosovo's status. EU diplomats did a good job editing the document, which in legal terms is considered a letter of intent. Despite Serbia's fierce rebuttal of any such suggestion, the resolution highlights Belgrade's changing position. The document mentions unresolved problems, takes into consideration the July 2010 ruling of the International Court of Justice that Kosovo's declaration of independence did not contravene international law and also initiates economic dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina under EU auspices. Now that clauses referring to the illegality of Kosovo's independence have been omitted, several EU countries refusing to recognize Kosovo (Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Slovakia) can now take part in this dialogue. Seventy states have recognized Kosovo to date, while another 60, including Russia and China, refuse to do so. Kosovo is unable to join the UN because, as permanent UN Security Council members, Moscow and Beijing have the right to veto all decisions. All other countries have either delayed recognition of Pristina's independence or have assumed a wait-and-see attitude. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said Belgrade would never accept the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence and delayed the General Assembly session by almost three hours. After spotting the Kosovo delegation in the General Assembly hall, Jeremic demanded that it leave the premises since it is not a member. It took two-and-a-half hours to clarify the delegation's status, and finally its members were listed as "guests" of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the United States. We can continue to debate whether the Serbian government is doing the right thing, whether it is pro-Western, pro-Slavic, pro-Serbian or a traitor. Setting all emotions aside, the incumbent Serbian president and government simply had no alternative. Both had proclaimed a pro-European policy during their election campaigns, but their stubborn stance on the Kosovo issue prevented them from joining the EU. Considering Serbia's beleaguered economy, seriously affected by the 1999 NATO air strikes, Belgrade does not have much hope without EU assistance. Serbia's future would be bleak, indeed, unless it opts for the "European alternative." In fact, the country would become a political and economic rogue state among the other former Yugoslav republics which have either joined the EU and NATO or are on the verge of doing so. Serbia has no one to rely on. The "Kosovo syndrome" is likely to cause a splitting headache on almost every continent but will hardly have any major impact on Old Europe, namely, the United Kingdom, France or Belgium. Although Scottish, Irish, Corsican or Flemish nationalists are quite restless, they remain rational. But the situation in other countries is far more serious. China faces problems in Tibet. India's Punjab region wants to become an independent state of Khalistan. Turkey, Iraq and Iran have to deal with Kurdish separatists. Indonesia also had to quell separatism in East Timor, while Sri Lanka fought a protracted war against the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). There are more countries suffering from long-neglected problems of separatism than is desirable. Cambridge University estimates their number at over 100. Russia has done everything possible to resolve the Kosovo conflict in line with international law. Whether this objective could have been accomplished against concerted opposition is another matter. Most likely, it would have been impossible. At the same time, Moscow has received a hard-earned trump card, namely the "Kosovo precedent," which it can use in any game, whatever the circumstances and against any partner. Although Russia has lost Serbia to Europe, there is nothing else one can do when principles must be upheld. RIA Novosti political commentator Andrei Fedyashin The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti. http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20100910/160549247.html _______________________________________________ News mailing list [email protected] http://lists.antic.org/mailman/listinfo/news
