Wow, go away for two weeks and all sorts of things start to happen. There are so many news links that I wish I would have been posting to keep up on things that have been happening that I am only getting now that I'm back in Pristina. This place is not on the top of the CNN news desk as it once was, so you have to do a bit of digging to find Kosovo in the headlines. With what is going on here, though, there is a good chance some of the blows might catch some international attention,
Last week, the UN Special Envoy here in Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, presented a "plan" for the future status of Kosovo that people around here have been waiting for. In classic diplomatic fashion, he unvelied a plan that moves Kosovo closer to independence, yet nowhere uses the word "independence" and includes more delays and postpnements of any real decision being made.
And, of course, even this watered-down decision sets off both the Albanians and the Serbs into demonstrating and protesting. For the latter it's too close to independence and they openly refuse at all costs to allow a Kosovo independence. For the former, there is a group of extremests that will settle for nothing less. An Albanian independence movement called "Self-Determination" had the entire city of Pristina under lock-down yesterday because of a protest rally they were holding. In the past, when this group gathers, UN cars and HQ buildings become targets of rock and paint ball battering (Photo is from a rally held in November, 2006). A couple of us that live in the city center went up the hill to a friend's house to get ourselves away from the action. Just like every UN employee around here, she had a special radio that periodically announced updates in street closings and advisories of no movement in the center of town. Blood was shed, tear gas was used and ambulances were called throughout the day that ended in two deaths. This hard-line movement is small, but definitely loud with their view of NO NEGOTIATION which they graffiti on buildings, traffic lights and bill boards all over the city.
The Serbs here in Kosovo aren't ofetn heard. There aren't enough of them and they are surrounded by too many Albanians that will knowk their dorrs down if they say too much. But those in northern Kosovo and Belgrade make it known that the word "independence" is the match to light the fuse. There is NO WAY they will accept a copletely independent state of Kosovo. Ahtisaari's latest decision gives Kosovo "statehood" allowing them seats in international communities, a constitution, a flag and some other symbols of "independence" yet refused to use the word. Under this statehood, the Serb communities in Kosovo - ammounding to about 30% of the territory's area - will still be under the finger of Serbia. This is a compromise that might appease Belgrade, but also one that seems to not help these people much at all. Just seems to almost imprison them in a government that refuses to allow them to integrate in any way so as to continue to isolate them from their Albanian neighbors which could potentially welcome them, if I dare say that.
Then there is the issue of what implications independence might have on the rest of the region. Russia in particular is very much against the UN declaring any sort of kosovo independence,
http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/565
Putin, who has been the one voice among the "Big Six" involved in Kosovo negociations that does not support independence for the reasons of the precidence is will give for other territories in the state of flux in Europe/Euroasia, believes that no decision can be imposed, on either side. He feels if either Albanians or Serbs aren't happy with decisions made by the UN/EU communities, they should not be inforced. He sees it as playing God in the lives of the people here and that they should come to a conclusion on their own Well, good luck with that Mr. Putin. These people haven't been able to agree on the refreshment tray during their meetings for at least the past 8 years. We will all be long gone to greener pastures before any agreement is made between Serbia and Albanian Kosovo. No one is going to be happy at the end of these negotiations finally arrives, which means the reality of an end is not in sight.
On Monday I'm going to see my students for the first time in a month. After the holidays and all of these status commotion going on, do I dare ask them, "So what's been going on since I saw you last?" The US Office fears that status negotiations could rock the boat too much with these classes and we might lose some students. It's going to be a touchy point for quite a whiel actually. This is not going to go away and I'm not sure how long they will go without having words to say about it.
One more link of many recent news articles about what is happening here. Two have died now, which I fear is a taste of what is to come.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/11/AR2007021100283.html
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