e-magazine
The Hot Zone
China's newly announced air defense identification zone over the East China Sea aims to shore up national security
Current Issue
· Table of Contents
· Editor's Desk
· Previous Issues
· Subscribe to Mag
Subscribe Now >>
Expert's View
World
Nation
Business
Finance
Market Watch
Legal-Ease
North American Report
Forum
Government Documents
Expat's Eye
Health
Science/Technology
Lifestyle
Books
Movies
Backgrounders
Special
Photo Gallery
Blogs
Reader's Service
Learning with
'Beijing Review'
E-mail us
RSS Feeds
PDF Edition
Web-magazine
Reader's Letters
Make Beijing Review your homepage
Hot Links

cheap eyeglasses
Market Avenue
eBeijing

World
World
UPDATED: March 14, 2007 NO.12 MAR.22, 2007
A Sovereignty Dilemma
The wrangling of major powers fuels contention over Kosovo's future status
By LI JUN
Share

Given these provisions, the proposal was largely accepted by the Albanians, rejected by the Serbs and welcomed by the EU and the United States. Russia, however, said it would only support a plan or a revised agreement that is accepted by both the Albanians and the Serbs. Ahtisaari was scheduled to finish revising the draft proposal by March 10 and submit it to the UN by the end of the month. Then, Russia's attitude will be crucial. Will it veto the proposal as it has threatened to?

Gareth Evans, President of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG), argued that Russia would abstain from casting its vote, thus allowing the adoption of the proposed resolution. "Even though Vladimir Putin reiterated on several occasions that Russia wouldn't support any solution Serbia disagrees with, numerous observers, ICG included, believe that Russia will eventually abstain from voting. Should Russia make such a move, Ahtisaari's status proposal may be adopted without obstacles," Evans said in an interview with Radio Free Europe.

Some European and U.S. media have asserted that Kosovo's independence is inevitable. Their reasoning is that if Ahtisaari's plan is adopted by the UN Security Council, Kosovo will naturally gain de facto "conditional independence," while if Russia uses its veto, the Kosovo Parliament will declare independence, which is set to be recognized by countries like Britain and the United States.

Kosovo is already in upheaval. Some 3,000 Albanians participated in a demonstration against Ahtisaari's plan in the capital city of Pristina. Believing that the autonomy the plan gives to the Serbs will essentially result in the separation of Kosovo and a possible war, they demanded that the government should immediately declare independence. Protesters clashed with the police. Two Albanians were killed and over 80 were injured. Thousands of Albanians staged a similar demonstration on March 2.

These protests are evidence that even if Kosovo becomes an independent state in conformity with the current proposal, the possibility of violence will not be ruled out, as some Albanians still have grievances. Furthermore, won't Kosovo's independence arouse the nationalist sentiments of the Kosovar Serbs and Serbia? Won't it trigger a chain reaction in Albanian-populated western Macedonia and Bosnia? It seems even if Kosovo gains true independence, it does not necessary bring about peace and stability in the Balkans and Europe at large.

The author is a scholar at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

 

   Previous   1   2   3   4  



 
Top Story
-Protecting Ocean Rights
-Partners in Defense
-Fighting HIV+'s Stigma
-HIV: Privacy VS. Protection
-Setting the Tone
Most Popular
 
About BEIJINGREVIEW | About beijingreview.com | Rss Feeds | Contact us | Advertising | Subscribe & Service | Make Beijing Review your homepage
Copyright Beijing Review All right reserved