Kosovo is now more than a month into its sovereignty and statehood, many wonder what has the independence declaration meant to the world's other sovereignty seekers? As a result, de-facto independent entities such as Republika Srpska, Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as others, actually, have not subsequently declared their own independence (or rather been internationally recognized). I was careful here not to mention Transnistria (Pridnestrovie), Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, not because they have been internationally recognized, but only because Russia has already taken governmental measures to recognize these "countries".

So as Russia begins de-stabilizing the former Soviet Union and neighboring Georgia, its historical ally, Serbia, is working on its own Pandora's Box of a precedent in the Balkans. Russia, which has been campaigning in defense of international law, is actually countering its own principles in going ahead with the recognition of its neighboring secessionist states. A true ally indeed, especially in terms of de-stabilization, Serbia, is now openly pushing for the ethnic partition of Kosovo (more specifically, partitioning northern Mitrovica). An article from the New York-based American-Albanian newspaper, Illyria, headlined an article with "Serbia removes their masks: want the partition of Kosova". Undeniably, Serbia is now going ahead with "Plan B" as annulment of Kosovo's independence has been realized as an impossible feat.

So post-independent Kosovo has had violence, as feared, leading to the death of a Ukrainian police officer, yet this violence was most likely sponsored by Serbia. This goes along with the indirect "sponsorship" of attacks on the U.S. along with other foreign embassies in Belgrade which occurred right after Kosovo's independence. Looking back, we see that, besides wearing diplomatic masks, Serbia also had state sponsored paramilitary militias wearing their own types of masks during the massacres of innocent civilians in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. Should the world fear Kosovo's precedent, or have we found the real culprit in Serbia?

Kosovo is going through with implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan, which includes wide-ranging minority rights, as well as many other provisions which are impressive for any state to accept and embark on. Kosovo faces the reality of northern Mitrovica, which is considered by some as de-facto separate, an issue it intends to deal with in as peaceful of a manner as it, NATO and UNMIK can. Kosovo and its institutions realize that Serbia is definitely not a good example for a country dealing with a similar issue. In similar situations, Serbia attempted to "solve" its ethnographical statistics with thinking can be summed by former Serbian governor of Kosovo, stating, "All we want is to reduce the Albanian population to a manageable level."

Nonetheless, Kosovo and Europe are actually still striving to work together with Serbia, rightfully so. Instead of punishment for its atrocities in the wars of Yugoslavia, and Serbia's lack of understanding with Kosovo, Europe and Kosovo are still extending a hand for collaboration. The hope is that Serbia will wise up, and realize that beginning ethnic partition of Kosovo would only create a real "domino effect" in the Balkans. Ethno-nationalist segments throughout the region would create a serious blow to the progress and majority acceptance of European integration, instead, heading down a road which could only precede more violence and war. Kosovo needs to develop and strengthen its own institutions to be ready for the near future, where the only type of precedent neighboring Serbia continues to serve as, is a negative one.