Dallas, Texas — The Serbian government on one side and insensible European idealists on the other — including naive Albanians who simply don’t get it — have propagated fundamental misconceptions about northern Kosovo. The list, though not comprehensive, is a warning to those may be deceived by such absurdity.
1. North Kosovo is a proper geographic designation.
Northern Kosovo is an informal political designation for a part of the Kosovar territory, inhabited by an ethnic Serb majority, and under limited control from the legitimate government of the Republic of Kosovo due to the presence of illegal and criminal structures sponsored by Serbia. North Kosovo is semantically a misnomer as it denotes an independent country or at least a separate unit and therefore must not be used in reference to the region within the Republic of Kosovo (e.g. Southern Sudan before independence and South Sudan after July 9).
2. Serbs in northern Kosovo will never accept Prishtina’s authority.
The majority of Kosovar Serbs lives in areas other than northern Kosovo and has successfully integrated in the public life of the country. The refusal to accept Kosovar sovereignty in northern Kosovo is only kept alive by Serbia’s direct involvement, through sponsorship and leadership of illegal and criminal institutions.
3. Autonomy for northern Kosovo is a solution.
Any arrangements that violate the constitution of Kosovo as a unitary state threaten the complex system of government and the principles of decentralization and multi-ethnicity. Furthermore, autonomy does nothing more for northern Kosovo than legitimize the criminal gangs that have been de facto ruling that part of the country. It is also practically and financially infeasible, considering the small number of people that live in the region.
4. Dialogue with Serbia (as is) is necessary.
Diplomacy is indeed a noble tool as far as it prevents conflicts and helps resolve disputes between two parties. But no achievements can be made as long as Serbia does not insist in simultaneously using other means to reach its goals. Belgrade has to prove its commitment to dialogue and recognize Prishtina as an equal partner before the two sides can make progress on the negotiating table. Dialogue is only possible with a new, different Serbia. Even then, the territorial integrity of Kosovo is not up for discussion.
(Initially published on personal blog, Aug. 13, 2011, and transferred here after merger.)
Shkurtegëza për këtë postim: http://pli.si/1PiUd2p
