This entry, and others like it, originally appeared before Independence Day at Kosovo Travelogue  

Status was used as shorthand for “the unresolved question of Kosovo’s legal status.” Status meant that nothing was resolved. It had been the headline in local papers every single day since the war. Even those who spoke no English knew the meaning of this one word. Conferences were held with world powers, and impasses were reached. Status was a question for the international community: Kosovo simply waited for the answer. For a while. Then Pristina began setting deadlines, in consultation with those world powers that supported independence. Deadlines that moved.

Everything was blamed on status. Kosovo, as a non-state, could not engage in the kind of international commercial relationships necessary for a strong economy. Because of status, there were no trade relations. Because of status, no investor would take the risk. And so, because of status, there was poverty, energy and water rationing, unemployment. There were other reasons for these things, of course, but status was the bogeyman. Status was said to cause depression. A member of the supreme court declared that high levels of domestic violence were the result of widespread frustration over status.

Many of my friends in the States asked me what our status was. They asked, “What’s goin’ on over there?” They asked this because they do not know, because Kosovo is rarely in the American papers, because they really know nothing about it. In December I told them that status was supposed to be resolved soon. December came and went. Promises and demands were exchanged regarding January. Now, as January passes, the headlines read that status is coming… in February. Or maybe March.

My friends in the States do not know that “UDI” stands for “Unilateral Declaration of Independence.” When we talk, I don’t bother outlining the Ahtisaari Plan, and it wouldn’t interest them if I did. For my friends in the States, I offered the following very general overview of status: Belgrade proposed substantial autonomy for Kosovo, but was steadfastly against independence. Kosovo’s Albanian leadership was unwilling to accept anything less. Many western nations, led by the U.S. and E.U., had signaled support for independence. Russia stood, however, in its longtime position as a Serbian ally, in opposition to this resolution of status. Talks between all key players failed. Because of Russia’s role on the Security Council and within the world community, consensus was unachievable regarding status. Instead, status was declared unilaterally, suddenly, behind closed doors, and it will come with diplomatic and financial costs.

None of which tells my friends anything about status, because status is not a statement about where Kosovo is, but rather a statement about where Kosovo is not, and right now--even with independence--status remains undetermined.

"Blackbird" is an American blogger based in Mitrovica, Kosovo.  

Comments (2)

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Kos said:

	... Kos in Albanian means yoghurt, and vo means eggs..seems like our ancestors liked to eat eggs and followed by yoghurt as a drink. Are you aware that you are living in an Albanian land? but of course . Greetings to meaningful commentators, not like Vjekoslav-types.Thanks,
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March 12, 2008
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Vjekoslav said:

	... Kosovo is a serbian word. Serbian word Kos means Black Bird, its a name for a blackbird. Kosovo means the Black Birds Field. Are you aware that you are living in a serbian land?!
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February 26, 2008
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