<http://europe.courrierinternational.com/eurotopics/sommaire.asp?langue=uk&publication=05/10/2007> 05/10/2007
http://europe.courrierinternational.com/img/espaceur.gif <http://europe.courrierinternational.com/eurotopics/article.asp?langue=uk&publication=05/10/2007&cat=DOSSIER> http://europe.courrierinternational.com/img/pict_imprim_t.gif print <http://europe.courrierinternational.com/eurotopics/article.asp?langue=uk&publication=05/10/2007&cat=DOSSIER> DOSSIER Kosovo, a threat to European peace http://europe.courrierinternational.com/img/espaceur.gif Direct discussions between Serbs and Kosovar's in New York last week did not make much progress on the status of the province. For his part, the Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica presented himself before the Council of Europe on Tuesday, October 2nd, in order to plead against the independence of Kosovo. European commentators consider the resolution of this crisis is taking too long and endangering pace in the Balkans. http://europe.courrierinternational.com/img/espaceur.gif <http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,[Е-ПОШТА ЗАШТИЋЕНА],36-962903,0.html> Le Monde (France) The European affairs columnist Thomas Ferenczi considers that among the difficulties that the EU is confronted with in the Balkans, "The most delicate question remains that of Kosovo. The European future of Kosovo, explains a public official has explained, is 'hostage' to the future status of the province. The outcome, say the negotiators, is 'crucial' for the stability and security of the Balkans ... Sixteen years after the beginning o the wars that drenched former Yugoslavia in blood, the consequences continue to weigh upon the Balkans. Europeans, who failed to prevent these tragedies, are right to consider that the only way to respond correctly to the various forms of nationalism is to offer the states of the region the perspective of [EU] accession. ... Brussels should not let the situation degenerate. Status quo would be worst possible solutions." http://europe.courrierinternational.com/img/espaceur.gif <http://www.delo.si> Delo (Slovenia) Drago Flis, an expert on Albania and Kosovo, calls for a speedy solution to the question of Kosovo's status: "There are no longer any grounds ... for postponing the decision about independence. ... However we must bear in mind that the international recognition of new states always takes time. Should Kosovo be recognised as an independent state by the US and the majority of EU member states, this would only speed up the process of the isolation of Kosovo." http://europe.courrierinternational.com/img/espaceur.gif <http://www.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-04-10-2007/abc/Opinion/kosovo-el-peor-error-posible_1641052552678.html> ABC (Spain) "In the Balkans, the war has been won, the genocide launched by Milosevitch has been stopped and an opportunity has been given to Serbia to follow the path of civilisation and democracy leading to Europe", comments Hermann Tertsch. "But what has happened in Iraq and in Afghanistan shows that in the Balkans too, it is possible to lose peace after winning a war, even 18 years on. European history is full of examples of such periods of wavering that prove to be mere truces preceding the resumption of conflict. This scenario seems all the more probable in Kosovo in the light of the fear generated by the possibility of independence illustrated by growing resistance to the plan drawn up by former Finnish president, Marti Ahtisaari." http://europe.courrierinternational.com/img/espaceur.gif <http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/conflicts/reimagining_yugoslavia/serbia_kosovo_claim> Open Democracy (United Kingdom) The sociologist Eric Gordy notes that "the Serbian government's rhetoric on Kosovo has been escalating over the past several weeks", but considers this "is not about influencing the outcome of the negotiations. It is not about protecting the remaining Serbs living in Kosovo either: if the government was concerned about them, it would have any number of topics to discuss with the negotiators from Kosovo, ranging from the protection of religious and cultural-heritage sites, the freedom of movement and the right of return, the resolution of conflicts over property, the assurance of minority representation in local government, and the prevention of periodic outbursts of violence against the Serb population. Although the government has shown much willingness to use these issues for rhetorical purposes, it has done little about addressing any of them in detail." http://europe.courrierinternational.com/eurotopics/article.asp?langue=uk&publication=05/10/2007&cat=DOSSIER [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
