August 20th
2003
(Luan
Qorraj & Sputnik Kilambi)
Hello and welcome to UNMIK on Air with Sputnik Kilambi and
Martin Redi
Earlier this week,
Serbian premier Zoran Zhivkovic once again staked Belgrade’s claims to Kosovo –
that the UN run province is an integral part of Serbia and Montenegro, but that
in the future, it would be given ‘substantial autonomy’. Belgrade’s first
comprehensive statement on Kosovo since the ouster of Milosevic, due to be
passed by parliament after the summer recess, was instantly scorned by the K.
Albanian leadership.
It also has little chance
of becoming reality with the international community reiterating that Kosovo’s
future status will be decided in New York and not in Belgrade or Prishtina.
But the declaration has
whipped up a storm of protest and angry reaction in Kosovo – there is even
speculation that the brutal Gorazdevec killings could have been a response to
the Belgrade declaration – and it certainly doesn’t augur well for the much
talked about direct dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade.
So what can be said about
the timing of this declaration? According to veteran Balkan watcher Tim Judah,
it is aimed at deflecting attention from the more crucial internal problems
such as corruption and the dire state of the economy.
Tim Judah: There are two things that are happening. First
of all, clearly there is been increasing violence attacks both within Kosovo
and within Southern Serbia. Those are elements. But I also think that
It just happens to come in very convenient time for the Serbian Government which otherwise would have be dealing with a lot of corruption scandals, especially the very top. It’s politically, much more acceptable to be dealing with states’ statements rather then with this phonies, to deal with Kosovo rather then having to deal with the sort of disuse, corruption.
Some analysts feel that
Zhivkovic is trying to gain points with Serb nationalists at home. There are
elections coming soon and the political climate in Serbia, together with the
overall disappointment of the people in their politicians does not promise good
ratings for any of the Serbian politicians. Boris Dremca from the Belgrade
daily Blic.
Boris Dremca: According to analysts, topics
ahead of elections in Serbia, due to take place next autumn or before, will be
connected to national questions and interests. Kosovo has always been that
critical national word, and all the political fights are being fought for
national interest.
The declaration provides
a good indicator about current political thinking in Serbia, but the
consequences can be very dangerous on the ground. Gaining points with
nationalists at home risks a parallel strengthening of Albanian nationalism,
and warns Migjen Kelmendi, editor of the Prishtina based weekly Jajhve, that
can be explosive given the current security situation:
Migjen Kelmendi: Any sort of action can always
have unpredictable results in Kosovo. In this case a horrible crime of killing
children has happened – I do not wish to connect that in any way with these
statements but, objectively looking at it, the murders happened after actions
taken by Belgrade and Montenegro. It’s a crime that does not require a reason
but sometimes these crimes should be a reminder to all of us and the
politicians, both in Belgrade and Prishtina, of how tense the inter- ethnic
situation is in Kosovo actually.
The feeling in Kosovo is
one of unease. An unpleasant reminder of the fact that the rise of Milosevic
and Serbian nationalism started with a text on Kosovo compiled by the Serbian
academy of sciences, and then reiterated by the Serbian Orthodox church and
then the government. A sense of déjà vu, but at the same time, adds Migjen
Kelmendi, it is obvious that the declaration coincides with the change of
international leadership in Kosovo.
Migjen Kelmendi: Maybe, in a way, this is a move, which is supposed
to create a certain situation within political circles before the arrival of
the new SRSG. I cannot foresee the motives of Belgrade politicians and the
government but what I can say, after the murders that have happened is that
they show how fragile is the inter-ethnic situation in Kosovo and this requires
greater political wisdom by all sides involved in the Kosovo issue.
A part of the blame for
all of this turmoil lies with the UN, says Migjen Kelmendi. When Resolution
12/44 was drafted it had to keep everyone happy, and different people interpret
it differently, according to their convenience.
Migjen Kelmendi: What makes 12/44 imperfect is
precisely its ambivalence, it foresees Kosovo as a part of ex-Yugoslavia, and
at the same time it allows the possibility to the Security council to, after
all standards have been fulfilled, maybe decide on the final status. Therefore
taking into consideration that the resolution itself is ambivalent you can say
that Serbia and Montenegro had a chance to say that, as long as Serbia and
Montenegro are concerned, Kosovo is a part of them.
No one would contest that
a return to the situation before the international intervention in Kosovo is
possible. Even talk of reverting to the status quo of the 1980s before
Milosevic abolished Kosovo’s autonomy, is unacceptable to Kosovo Albanians.
Besides, the Zhivkovic demand presupposes that the loose union of Serbia and
Montenegro will survive, and most analysts view those chances as remote. Tim
Judah again
Tim Judah: I don't think that the UNSC is going to
change its policy towards Kosovo. I mean it's possible that more resources
maybe pored in to, maybe put in to, into the police due to crack down murders
etc. But when we are talking about broad policy of SC, now I don't think that
any changes could be expected.
And given these
realities, concludes Prishtina journalist Migjen Kelmendi, the Serbian
declaration is putting unnecessary obstacles in the way of bi-lateral dialogue.
Migjen Kelmendi:
This way of thinking- “this is mine and that is yours” is nothing but
a continuation of the politics that has lasted for 10 years under Milosevic and
it brought a military conflict amongst the people. The idea is how to avoid
these conflicts and solve the problems rationally and in a way that would be
acceptable for all. It seems to me that the latest acts of the Belgrade
government are not helping but they are only pouring oil on the fire.
That does it for this
edition of UNMIK ON AIR. Thanks for listening.