New Kosova Report

Serbia: a path of isolation

Friday, 29 February 2008

Kosova

The century long ambition of the Kosovo Albanians has been finally achieved. The festivities of the Albanians and their joy were broadcasted throughout the world.
A post-war period of almost nine years finally ended with the predicted outcome. But the frustration and resentment of the Serbs did not wait long. In the days that followed, protests were organized in Serbia but also amidst the Serbian communities in adjacent countries and the Diaspora. This culminated with the massive protest of Tuesday when what Serbian media has chosen to call ‘hooligans’ attacked a set of foreign embassies, in particular the American one, due to them having recognized the young state.

Since that evening, various rumours have circulated concerning what happened, what triggered the violent turmoil which resulted in one human casualty. American officials have held the Serbian government accountable. Some Serbs have argued that this was instigated by the American intelligent service. Regardless of all this, one can detect a nasty development as to what pertains to Serbian politics. The Serbian minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic, a representative of the Serbian government and people, openly justified the acts of violence conducted by Serbian protesters and military reservists who had attacked and torched two border check-points at Merdare and Janje. He viewed it as legitimate. This is in direct contradiction with the official stance of Boris Tadic who had clarified that Serbia is to use all means available except violence to prevent Kosovo’s independence. This reveals a rather shady tactics that is currently being deployed by the Serbs, but also the Russians. On one hand, a more diplomatic approach is being taken to address the dispute of Kosovo, and on the other hand, indirect threats but also open acts of violence approved by officials are being exercised. In other words, a dangerous game has been initiated in which the stake is none other than the people of Serbia.

What occurred on February 17th was the finalization of a process which had begun far earlier. Kosovo, as a region, had been cut off from Serbia as early as in the days of former Yugoslavia; this in all ways except for the political aspect, meaning it was still officially a part of Serbia. In 1999, the political partition was also made, and the only formality keeping it ‘legally’ within the borders of Serbia was a part of the UN resolution which merely delayed the inevitable. The declaration of independence was a mere conclusion, although a spectacular one and the Serbian protests very delayed. And so, to speak of the territorial sovereignty of Serbia in the same context as Kosovo, a territory which has ceased to be under direct Serbian control for quite some time and whose people never approved Belgrade’s presence, is erroneous. But stuck in their own web of lies and deceit, the Serbian government still proclaims Kosovo as ‘legitimately Serbian’. And so the Serbian government faces the difficult task of retaliating against the West for having rewarded the people of Kosovo its earned freedom after a century of bloodshed. This is being done, as mentioned above, in a suspicious and twofaced manner. Logically, this approach can lead only to two things: the short-term popularity of the Serbian political leaders and the long-term isolation of Serbia in a sea of NATO and EU members. This can be anything but positive for Serbia, its economy and above all its people’s well being.

In all of this, we can find the defenders of the Serbian viewpoint, those who argue that this type of rage is to be expected when you cut off a piece of a country’s territory. In reality, this rage can only be blamed on the Serbian politicians who have deceived their constituents by giving a false picture of the political process which has been going on all this time. It can be blamed on the lingering nationalism which takes a directly fascist approach in regards to Kosovo, a territory which never prospered in any aspect when under the control of Belgrade. And these politicians continue thriving on these lies of mythical Kosovo, a fictitious fabrication of 19th century intellectuals and romantics which has no relation to the modern political unit known as Kosovo. The sooner this is realized by the Serbs themselves, the better. Otherwise, Serbia will find itself in an uneven partnership with Russia as the latter’s exploitable ticket towards re-assertion as a global player in a global arena. This at the cost of integration within the Euro-Atlantic structures towards which all of its neighbours are heading.

The author is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Stockholm.