Kosovo independence "deepens crisis" - HK editorial
BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - February 19, 2008 Tuesday

Text of report by Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po website on 18 February

[Wen Wei Po Editorial: "Kosovo Independence Deepens Crisis"]

Kosovo announced its independence declaration on the evening of 17 February to unilaterally declare its independence from Serbia. Although Kosovo's independence gained support from the United States and from the EU, Serbia and Russia, however, stressed that Kosovo's independence was invalid. The independence of Kosovo is not an isolated event in parts of an area, it involves the contradictions between Serbs and Albanians and between the Orthodox Eastern Church and Islam, and it even concerns the strategic wrestling between the United States, the EU, and Russia. The independence of Kosovo may not only make the situation in the Balkans even more volatile, but it will probably cause a chain reaction in Europe and other regions in the world, as well as constituting a challenge to the basic norms of international relations.

Kosovo was formerly an autonomous province of the Serbian Republic under the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It became a UN trust territory following the end of the Kosovo War in June 1999. The UN Security Council 1244 Resolution recognized Kosovo as a part of Serbia. Although the Albanians who form more than 90 per cent of the Kosovo population have been calling for the total independence of Kosovo, Serbia has insisted on its sovereignty over Kosovo. Last year, Martti Ahtisaari, former chief UN negotiator on Kosovo, presented a report to the Security Council suggesting Kosovo's independence under international supervision. The United States and the EU expressed support to that suggestion. However, Serbia and Russia were resolutely opposed to that suggestion.

That Russia has been resolutely opposed to Kosovo's independence is not only to maintain the basic norms of international relations, but also to show its dissatisfaction over the advance of influence of the United States and of the European countries. One of the important reasons that most of the EU member countries support the independence of Kosovo is that they want to turn the Balkans into the "backyard" of the West and to suppress Russia's influence. The unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo amplifies and intensifies the international strategic wrestling between Russia and the United States and the EU. Although Russia's military strength has a large gap compared with the West and it can not stop Kosovo from declaring independence, it will intensify struggling with the West due to the stimulation of the Kosovo's independence so as to resist the gradual encroachment of NATO, headed by the United States.

Kosovo independence is like opening a "Pandora's Box," thus setting a bad precedent, which will definitely bring forth endless troubles. Separatist organizations that propose a redrawing of the world map in line with the standards of ethnicity, language, and culture will be greatly encouraged. Some EU member countries that act in collusion with the United States and that support the independence of Kosovo and the dismembering of Serbia will not necessarily be spared from the fallout of the Kosovo's independence. Impacted by the independence of Kosovo, Spain, Belgium, and Britain will face even greater separatist pressure and even face political crises.

Economic and social development remains the greatest problems for Kosovo following its independence. Kosovo has a population of two million and a 45 per cent unemployment rate. Thirty seven per cent of its population live below the poverty line, with a daily income of less than $2US.2. Many towns and cities in Kosovo have only 12 hours of power supply daily. After Kosovo's independence, Serbia could adopt vindictive measures by cutting off the power supply and by imposing a border blockade.

The independence of Kosovo does not signify the resolution of the Kosovo issue; on the contrary, it deepens the crisis. The international community should continue to make positive efforts for the resolution of the Kosovo crisis under the UN framework.

Source: Wen Wei Po website, Hong Kong, in Chinese 18 Feb 08
Posted for Fair Use only.