Kosovo Independence

[proactive]

Today the former Serbian province of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence. The US, UK and a number of other EU states have supported the declaration while Serbia and Russia are against it. Interestingly enough other countries such as India and China are also against the declaration mainly because they also have minorities seeking independence. The nations in Europe who are also against it are also ones faced with separatist movements. Spain (basque region), Cyprus (Turkish republic), Romania (Hungarians) etc.

I'm in two minds about the independence. Whilst it gives a massive fillip to other independence movements where if a minority can gain the majority in their state assembly then the precedent is created that the minority can pass a declaration of independence (no wonder India is so against this precedent!) and cite the Kosovo precedent.

The reason why I'm in too minds is because Kosovo is the holy land of the Serbs who have many important monasteries and churches there. They were the majority in that area until the Turks took over and forcibly converted some Serbs and drove others out. They allowed Albanians to settle there and gradually the Albanians became the majority. The above is similar to what Sikhs had to face after partition in that we also lost our holy shrines solely because the Muslims could show a majority in these areas.

What's the Sangat's views on Kosovo?

[chatanga]

albanaian majority came about thru illegal border crossing by the albanaians seeking life in a better country. yugoslavia then wasnt much of a country then economically, but it was much better than albania which was the poorest country in europe. so jus as we now see people crossing borders and even continents now in searh of a better life, in this situation it led to people actually ending up dominating a province.

the 1990s wars in yugoslavia actually started in kosovo. me feel sorry for the serbs as they have lost a great part of their heritage same as the sikhs lost in 1947, when we were forced from west panjab.

[Jeevan]

During Word War II the Moslems took the side of fascism - the Serbs fought against the Axis powers.

Serbs has never forgiven the ethnic Albanians for this act of treason.

[proactive]

The Albanians seem to have done quite a bit of illegal immigrating to most of that area and have a large minority in Macedonia. The relevant point here is that the USA/UK seem to be trying to curry favour with the Muslim world by supporting Kosovan independence AGAINST the ceasefire agreement of 1999 which ended the Kosovan war and where the territorial integrity of Serbia was recognised. This anti-Serb policy is highlighted by the fact that they will allow 2 million Albanians in Kosovo to declare independence but won't all 2 million Serbs in Bosnia and Northern Kosovo to breakaway and join Serbia! They have allowed a multi-ethnic Yugoslavia to be dismantled but do not want to allow a Multi-enthnic Bosnia to break up as well. This is because if the Serbs and Croats breakaway from Bosnia and join Serbia and Croatia respectively then what is left of Bosnia will be unviable.

The fact that Kosovo has been allowed to declare independence sets a great precedent for Punjab and other states where if a separatist party with an independence manifesto, can gain a majority and then unilaterally declare independence then the west would be forced to honour the decision.

[2desi]

What about all the other Kosovos?

By Philip Bowring

Published: February 18, 2008

HONG KONG: The Balkans may be a long way from Asia but the word "Balkanization" is still etched in the minds of many leaders, particularly those who lived through the years of instability that followed decolonization.

Though the issue of Kosovo is not attracting too much public comment in Asia, it is a worry for those who ponder the implications for countries struggling with separatist minorities of their own.

They note that while the original break-up of Yugoslavia resulted from internal forces, the independence of Kosovo was made possible because the United States and the European Union supported this dismemberment of Serbia. Whether this is the result of idealism or is regarded as punishment for Serbia's actions during the Milosevic era does not matter from the point of view of those not directly involved.

Indonesia and Sri Lanka have said that they will not recognize Kosovo's independence. China and Vietnam insist that any solution must not compromise the territorial integrity of Serbia. Most other Asian official reaction is similarly likely to be negative.

There are two issues here from an Asian perspective. The first is how far the principle of self-determination should be taken. Kosovo is a landlocked state of 2 million people, 10 percent of whom are Serbs strongly opposed to its independence.

The second is to ask when and where the process of dismemberment of former empires will end. After all, the very word "Balkanization" derives from the break-up of the Balkan territory of two empires, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian, into 10 states.

It may be that the nature of the European Union can allow many mini-states to exist within a broader political entity, and that Kosovo is as viable as Luxembourg. Just possibly, the EU can be successor to the former Ottoman and Hapsburg empires, embracing all states of the Balkans, big and small.

Possibly. But none of that is much consolation to other regions of the world which do not possess equivalents to the EU. Since 1945, if not earlier, they have mostly lived with two concepts: First, the nation state as accepted by their peers at the United Nations; second, borders defined by their histories as parts of Western empires.

Thus far there have been remarkably few post-colonial formal splits. The major one was the creation of Bangladesh out of an untenable Pakistan divided by a thousand miles and an equally large cultural gap. Singapore's separation from Malaysia was peaceful. Eritrea's from Ethiopia was not.

But African and Asian nations still worry deeply about national integrity. The end of formal Western empires (most recently the Russian one) is still far too close for successor nations to be confident that their borders will survive. So they are particularly sensitive when they find the West instinctively supporting separatist movements, even if only verbally.

Whether the issue is Darfur, West Papua, Nagaland or the Shan states, the old colonial powers are often seen on the side of difficult minorities opposed to the central governments the powers themselves created.

Nor does it appear, at least from a distance, that an independent Kosovo offers even a sensible solution to the problem of linguistic nations divided from their national state. Logic would surely be the partition of Kosovo between Albania and Serbia, rather than the creation of another mini-state with another disgruntled minority.

Many in the rest of the world do not even credit the West with good intentions, noting that some influential voices in Western capitals would be happy to see Iraq divided into three states, Shiite, Sunni and Kurd.

Even if they appreciate that the European Union and the United States are trying to solve problems rather than introduce new divide-and-rule stratagems, they worry.

Take Sri Lanka. Kosovo logic suggests that the Tamils in the north deserve a separate state, an eventuality that would have huge implications for an India which can only exist if its major constituent parts - be they Tamil, Sikh or Bengali - accept an overriding identity and the benefits of diversity and size.

None of this is to argue that minority rights do not matter - that China can suppress Tibet and (Turkic) Xinjiang, that Russia can brutalize Chechnya, thatThailand can submit its Malay/Muslim minority to alien laws and language, and so on.

But for most of Africa and Asia the issue is sustaining states capable of delivering administration and a stable basis for development. As Kenya shows, even in states without overt separatist problems and with some success in economic development, the over-riding problem remains integrating diverse peoples into states.

Kosovo's independence may be the last act in the Balkanization of former empires. But it also looks like a victory for tribalism and creates a principle which can only exacerbate problems in other countries. In place of acceptance of minority autonomy within a single state structure there will be fights to the bitter end between centralism and separatism.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/18/opinion/edbowring.php

[Matheen]

........for Punjab and other states where if a separatist party with an independence manifesto, can gain a majority and then unilaterally declare independence then the west would be forced to honour the decision.

What are the chances of that? Call it brain-washing or blame it on the opportunities that have arisen in India for educated youth due to its economic growth, but the vast majority of people I speak to in Punjab aren't interested in Khalistan, or even willing to think about it - they're comfortable as they are and let's face it, economic success is more important than the state of the Panth to the majority of people in this age.

The only reason people on the street would support a separatist party was if their rights were being trod on as was happening in the 70s and 80s. It still happens, but indirectly and for some reason it's not apparent to the people who live there.

Not saying it can't happen though.....

[lsingh]

The USA and UK have given support to Kosovos Independence, will India?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7252033.stm

Bush salutes Kosovo independence

Kosovo's declaration met protests in Belgrade and in parts of Kosovo

Bush on Kosovo

US President George W Bush has said history will show the independence of Kosovo to be the "correct move".

In a speech in Tanzania, Mr Bush said the US would soon establish full diplomatic relations with Kosovo.

Earlier, Serbia withdrew its envoy to Washington in protest at the US stance. It says Kosovo's move violates international law.

The UN Security Council is divided over how to respond to Monday's declaration, and it has failed to agree any action.

See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown

'Peace'

In his speech, Mr Bush said there was "a disagreement but we believe as many other nations do that history will prove this to be the correct move".

STANCE ON RECOGNITION

For: Germany, Italy, France, UK, Austria, US, Turkey, Albania, Afghanistan

Against: Russia, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus

The president, who was speaking during a tour of Africa, said the US supported Kosovo's independence because "we believe it will bring peace".

Earlier, in a letter to Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu, Mr Bush offered friendship to Kosovo, and said he supported "your embrace of multi-ethnicity as a principle of good governance".

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has threatened to withdraw envoys from other countries which recognised the territory's secession.

KOSOVO PROFILE

Population about two million

Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb

Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999

2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence

Nato to stay to provide security

Full text: Kosovo declaration

In pictures: Celebrations

Anger mounts in Mitrovica

France, the UK, Germany and Italy have all recognised the new state but other states have not.

Both Russia and China supported Serbian President Boris Tadic when he made an impassioned appeal to the UN Security Council at Tuesday's meeting.

At a meeting in Brussels, the European Union set aside differences over the recognition of Kosovo's independence, by stressing that the breakaway Serbian province was not a precedent for separatists elsewhere.

All 27 EU foreign ministers agreed to leave recognition up to each member state.

Spain and several other member states have withheld recognition because of concerns about separatist movements within their own borders.

'False state'

Serbian media report that Belgrade's ambassadors to all states which recognise Kosovo's independence are being ordered home.

The Associated Press news agency quotes the foreign ministry as saying Serbia's envoys to France and Turkey have been withdrawn for "consultation until further notice".

In Belgrade, about 10,000 students marched in protest at the independence declaration, and Serb enclaves inside Kosovo also saw anti-independence rallies.

Serbian security forces were driven out of Kosovo in 1999 after a Nato bombing campaign aimed at halting the violent repression of ethnic Albanian separatists.

The province has been under UN administration and Nato protection since then.

[inspire]

The Albanians seem to have done quite a bit of illegal immigrating to most of that area and have a large minority in Macedonia. The relevant point here is that the USA/UK seem to be trying to curry favour with the Muslim world by supporting Kosovan independence AGAINST the ceasefire agreement of 1999 which ended the Kosovan war and where the territorial integrity of Serbia was recognised. This anti-Serb policy is highlighted by the fact that they will allow 2 million Albanians in Kosovo to declare independence but won't all 2 million Serbs in Bosnia and Northern Kosovo to breakaway and join Serbia! They have allowed a multi-ethnic Yugoslavia to be dismantled but do not want to allow a Multi-enthnic Bosnia to break up as well. This is because if the Serbs and Croats breakaway from Bosnia and join Serbia and Croatia respectively then what is left of Bosnia will be unviable.

The fact that Kosovo has been allowed to declare independence sets a great precedent for Punjab and other states where if a separatist party with an independence manifesto, can gain a majority and then unilaterally declare independence then the west would be forced to honour the decision.

I think a precedent is only set if all the countries of the world recognise Kosovo as a new sovereign state, For example countries like Spain will not recognise Kosovo as it will send a wrong message to Basque separatists (and Eta terrorists) who want to split from Spain.

Remember this region(serbia) has always been very unstable --> One of the causes of WW1 - assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo which , in my view, stated the first world war and these events obviously influenced the second world war in Europe.

[lsingh]

Kosovo a 'toolkit for separatists' says Serbia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7255400.stm

[dalsingh101]

Kosovo - 2 million population

Sikhs in Punjab - Around 20 million