2008 Woodie Awards
Kosovo elections push country toward independence
Kellyn Moran
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: OpEd Page
After nearly a century of control by Serbia, Kosovo seems closer than ever to gaining independence. The autonomous territory held its third election Nov. 17 since coming under United Nations (UN) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) control in 1999. Now as the two rival parties struggle to form a coalition government, the territory faces even more difficult questions with the approaching Dec. 10 deadline by which leaders say they will declare independence unless there is a breakthrough in talks.
Kosovo has been close to independence before. Under Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, a 1974 constitution labeled Kosovo as an autonomous province. Yet after years of chanting for independence and thinking it was within the territory's reach, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic removed the autonomous status and stripped Pristina of its power in the late 1980s.
The reaction at that point was the declaration of independence by Albanians in Kosovo and the formation of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which became notorious for violent persecution of the Serbian population. Milosevic rejected an international peace deal and Serbian forces countered with attacks as brutal as those of the KLA, if not more so. After NATO airstrikes and a UN resolution establishing Kosovo as an UN-administered province within Serbia, the situation was left where it stands today.
The most recent drive for independence was spurred by the announcement of UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari to draft a plan for Kosovo's independence. However, it will still take a lot of convincing to get the territory recognized as an independent state. The U.S. and European Union (EU) backed down in July when Russia adamantly refused to support a resolution promising independence. A new resolution promised a review of the situation if four months of talks between Belgrade and Pristina break down.
Now, as the four months wind to a close, Kosovo's leadership has yet to receive a steady signal from the international community on whether an independent Kosovo will be recognized. The U.S. asked for Kosovar diplomats to give the talks at least a week extension beyond the initial Dec. 10 date set for a declaration of independence, while Russia staunchly holds to its position that Kosovo should not be recognized as independent. The EU rebuffed Hashim Thaci, the most likely candidate to become the next prime minister, after he announced that Kosovo should stick strictly to its earlier announcements of declaring independence Dec. 10.
Kosovo has been close to independence before. Under Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, a 1974 constitution labeled Kosovo as an autonomous province. Yet after years of chanting for independence and thinking it was within the territory's reach, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic removed the autonomous status and stripped Pristina of its power in the late 1980s.
The reaction at that point was the declaration of independence by Albanians in Kosovo and the formation of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which became notorious for violent persecution of the Serbian population. Milosevic rejected an international peace deal and Serbian forces countered with attacks as brutal as those of the KLA, if not more so. After NATO airstrikes and a UN resolution establishing Kosovo as an UN-administered province within Serbia, the situation was left where it stands today.
The most recent drive for independence was spurred by the announcement of UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari to draft a plan for Kosovo's independence. However, it will still take a lot of convincing to get the territory recognized as an independent state. The U.S. and European Union (EU) backed down in July when Russia adamantly refused to support a resolution promising independence. A new resolution promised a review of the situation if four months of talks between Belgrade and Pristina break down.
Now, as the four months wind to a close, Kosovo's leadership has yet to receive a steady signal from the international community on whether an independent Kosovo will be recognized. The U.S. asked for Kosovar diplomats to give the talks at least a week extension beyond the initial Dec. 10 date set for a declaration of independence, while Russia staunchly holds to its position that Kosovo should not be recognized as independent. The EU rebuffed Hashim Thaci, the most likely candidate to become the next prime minister, after he announced that Kosovo should stick strictly to its earlier announcements of declaring independence Dec. 10.
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