The Kosovo Question

admin — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:54:04 +0000

The Serbs and Albanians have been at odds with each other since unmemorable times. The Kosovo War of 1999 became the breaking point as the Serbs systematically begin to ethnically cleanse the Albanians, the Balkan Muslims. Mass graves and missing loves ones became a frightening reality for the Albanians, as Serbian oppression grew bloodier. To call it genocide would be much lighter a term implied to the way the Serbs treated the Albanians. Still even today, some people missing from the war have never been found but still mass graves continue to be unearthed. With the declearation of February 17, 2008 Kosovo is now an independent, sovereign nation. If you thought that the problems have now been resolved, they really have just started.
Violence increased with the independence of Kosovo as Serbs enraged by their secession soon took to the streets. Cars were burned and Serbian voices rang out in anger as Kosovo no longer was a part of Serbia. The most deadly incident of this chaos would have to be the burning of the American Embassy in Belgrade. Now, since when has burning the American Embassy been a good way to demonstrate your beliefs? More accurately since when as burning anything been a good idea? Thankfully the staff and workers were fine as they bunkered down in the “shelter” but this symbolic moment instead of showing the “injustice” of the secession, only proved further Serbian aggression.

Plus, if that wasn’t enough, the world soon felt the need to justify or condemn Kosovo’s actions. On onside you have western countries like the United States recognizing Kosovo as a “victory of freedom”. On the other China, Russia, and Spain condemned the action as illegal and showed concern for the secession. It seems like a two way Cold War – esque split but this is not the case, really I know it’s hard to believe. Most of the countries not recognizing Kosovo consist of the “old guard”; countries dealing with factions and independence movements within like the Chechens of Russia. They just don’t want those ‘radicals’ getting any ideas.
Is the recognition of Kosovo’s independence the new foreign policy move of the moment? Well, it seems to be defining it as the world is once again going into two camps one pro independence movements and one con. Plus, you have to remember Kosovo had been under the jurisdiction of the UN peacekeepers since the Kosovo War. The Serbs had no business there anyway. What ever happened to supporting the people and the struggle of the oppressed? I guess we have all conveniently forgotten the Serbs and Albanians bloody past. Well, at least Afghanistan was sincere in its support of Kosovo.

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The Kosovo Question