Kosovo commentary says EU mission's aim to stop "empowerment" of Albanian factor
BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - March 5, 2008, Wednesday

Text of report by Pristina-based weekly Self-Determination Movement website, on 3 March

[Commentary by Shqiptar Oseku: "EULEX at Dead End"]

The international community is deploying a new mission to Kosova [Kosovo] with a more acceptable name than the previous one. But, the powers of the new mission remain the same as the old one's. EULEX will have the power to replace the president, prime minister, and other more junior officials. It will have the power to appoint key officials, annul laws, and arrest us - each and everyone of us - indefinitely and without justification. These are the "executive powers" of EULEX, which have been described as "softer," "less severe," and "more humane" than those that UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] has. The only difference between UNMIK and EULEX is that the former has to approve every decision made by the domestic institutions, whereas the latter will have the power "only" to annul decisions that it does not like. So, it is out of the question that the new colonial regime will be "softer." On the contrary, it will only be more efficient and efficacious. In some aspects, EULEX will be more brutal than UNMIK. UNMIK at least cannot appoint the chief of the audit office. EULEX has solved this problem from the start with Ahtisaari's [UN special envoy for Kosovo status] undemocratic plan.


Every one of us has the right to ask why Kosova needs this colonial regime. If the objective is to join Europe, they could have helped us without violating our sovereignty. In other words, they could have done it by helping the domestic institutions and by supporting the domestic army. They could do this with advisers, recommendations, equipment, and money - same as in the case of other countries.

Of course, the issue lies elsewhere. EULEX is being deployed here in order to stop the strengthening and empowerment of the Albanian factor. Europe had to take Kosova from the Serbs, first of all thanks to the insistence of the United States. But, it is taking care that the Albanian ethnic community never becomes dominant. The 90 per cent-Albanian majority cannot reflect its identity on the flag, emblem, anthem, or any other aspect of the new state. The new state of Kosova will be called "multiethnic" full stop, even though Kosova is more ethnically homogenous than the majority of the EU countries! This is the sole reason why Kosova will be ruled by EULEX! While the United States are busy on other fronts, this shame is being called a "solution."

Some may not see this as a problem, least of all today. But, the foundations of the state must rest on long-term, not just short-term, interests. This pretend state of Kosova is not in the interest of the Albanian nation. Subsequently, this concept will revive the old ideas about the "Kosovar nation" that Tito and Rankovic [communist leaders of the Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia] tried to promote over 40 years ago. Like them, EULEX, too, is clear that the materialization of this deeply undemocratic idea that challenges the Albanians' national identity requires a broad dictatorial mandate and time. They know history and that this strategy proved successful in the case of the Bulgarians of Macedonia but failed in Kosova. Albanians did not buy into the idea of division into "Kosovars" and "Albanians." But, EULEX still hopes that it can succeed - with the help of money, time, and, paradoxically, cooperation with the Tirana authorities, which are desperate to join the EU.

The outcome of this conflict of interests could be the loss of the Albanian identity in Kosova. But, the opposite could also happen, that is, the ideological emancipation of the EU. This is because the success of EULEX is not at all guaranteed.

The policy of forging the "Kosovar identity" is based on a myth that eulogizes multiethnic societies and sees ethnically homogenous societies with distrust. The former are seen as civilized, urbane, and democratic, whereas the latter as narrow-minded, rural, and anti-democratic. But, a mere glance at the world map shows that the opposite is true. Most of the dictatorships are multiethnic societies. Dictatorships always seek legitimacy through brutal war against secessionist ethnic groups. On the other hand, we can see that the overwhelming majority of longstanding democracies are homogenous societies based on the status quo imposed by the dominant ethnic group.

The influx of the Europeans to Kosova and the deployment of EULEX is a result of their ambition to affirm the multiethnic myth, but it is very likely that they will learn a bitter lesson in Kosova, which will sober them up. The united Europe is not only an ideological but also a pragmatic concept that strives for economic and social progress. And so, a strong, democratic, and deeply pro-Western Albanian nation that dominates unchallenged the oil and energy routes in Southeastern Europe and guarantees security, economic growth, and social wellbeing in the entire Europe is in the long-term interest of the West.

This project is not a distant dream. Its materialization began a long time ago. Albania and its seaport in Vlore are the final destination of a giant oil pipeline, which will transport the Caspian oil from the Caucasus to the West. This project, which is being carried out by the US company, AMBO [Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria Oil], began in 1993 and the final contracts were signed in 2008. According to the US Department of Energy, this is the most important US project in Southeastern Europe in the 21st century.

By all means, Albania and its ally, the United States, do not want troubles to the north in Kosova. Alas, it is very likely that problems will be brewing in Kosova as long as EULEX continues to play its ethnic games. But, one day, the Albanian allies will understand what their interest is. And then, EULEX will pick up its things and leave. Hopefully, not to repeat anywhere else again.

Source: Vetevendosje website, Pristina, in Albanian 3 Mar 08 p 1
Posted for Fair Use only.