Pandora's Box? A Southeast European Taiwan? or a path to Freedom?

The deadline on Kosovo unilateral proclamation on Independence is fast approaching. By February 17th, it is thought that the small landlocked region will declare itself a nation, and be recognized by the US and most of the EU.  Not everyone is happy about this, however.  The Russians call it "Pandora's Box." Cyprus has refused to recognize any unilateral decision. Many fear an ethnic fracturing, not only of Kosovo, but of Serbia (in the Albanian populated south, near where I lived) as well as Bosnia.  What will be the most likely future of Kosovo?

There are three ways to look at a unilaterally independent Kosovo, the "Pandora's Box," a Southeastern European Taiwan, or a path to freedom.

As previously mentioned, Kosovo has the power to tear the region apart. After nearly a decade of working through the UN Security Council to obtain freedom (which has always been threatened by Russian Veto - another reason why permanent vetoes for the UNSC trouble me), Kosovo is tired of rule by proxy. The UN has managed the region with the help of KFOR, a massive military endeavour through NATO.  But if Kosovo breaks free, what of the Serb minority who remain in Kosovo? Kosovo is not 100% Albanian In fact there are approximately 800 people known as "Gorani" who are Serb, yet Muslim.  Neither the Albanians (mostly Muslim) or Serbs (mostly Orthodox) care for them much. What happens to them in an independent Kosovo?  

Also, there are Albanians in the south of Serbia who have already made a ploy to join Kosovo a few years ago.  What will they do if Kosovo is independent? And what of Bosnia, particularly the Serb region known as the Republik of Srpsk? Some has suggested they break from Bosnia should Kosovo break from Serbia.  Such a move invalidates the Dayton Accords, which ended the bloodiest European conflict since World War II.  

Or perhaps a unilateral independent Kosovo is a bit like Taiwan - Not recognized by some, trading partner with others. Kosovo does have massive coal deposits and could provide electricity for the region, except that Serbia refuses to trade with an independent Kosovo.  There goes most of your borders and most of your imports/exports.

Or perhaps Kosovo may be a model for independence.  The Kosovo leadership has held off unilateralism for years, waiting until all other options have failed.  They still wish to follow the plan laid out by the UN for independence.  It's a longshot, but perhaps there is a way for an economically stable, independent Kosovo to avoid bloodshed.

Ahh Serbia...

You may not be able to form a government,  Kosovo is set to declare independence any day now, and EU membership is dangling in front of you just out of reach, but you've still have the funniest Health Ministry EVER.

BELGRADE (Reuters) - A ban on grumpiness, gossiping, mini-skirts and rudeness is what the doctor orders to improve patient care in Serbia's hospitals, according to new rules issued by the country's Health Ministry.

The rules, posted on the ministry's Web site, say staff are not allowed to criticize their hospital or their superiors, and should not accept gifts for their services.

Hospital staff are often bribed with cash or gifts for attention or better treatment.

"There needs to be ground rules for decency," a ministry spokesman said.

Serbia's public health system crumbled during the conflicts of the 1990s, with patients' relatives having to provide everything from bandages and antibiotics to food.

Funding improved as stability returned but bribery, often involving hundreds of euros, is still widespread.

December 10th has come and gone

And still the same situation remains in Kosovo.  The status talks ended with Serbia still making outreaches toward Kosovo but remaining firm on witholding independence, while Kosovo will settle for nothing less.  America is still working for Kosovo independence, Russia is still trying to block it.  Latest news:

United States said Monday it will move forward with a UN plan granting Kosovo independence from Serbia after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement about the status of the small province. A US State Department spokesman, Gonzalo Gallegos, said the United States will back the plan drawn up by special UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari that would give Kosovo independence under international supervision. 

"We continue to believe that implementation of the Ahtisaari plan will promote stability in the region and enable both Serbia and Kosovo to move forward on the Euro-Atlantic path," Gallegos said. 

The deadline for negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo's ethnic majority Albanian leadership expired on Monday without a deal, meaning the United States and European Union could proceed with the Ahtisaari plan. Russia, Serbia's traditional ally, has threatened to block the plan on the Security Council. 

"Over the next few weeks the United States will work closely with our international partners to resolve this issue," Gallegos said. "The people of Kosovo and the region urgently need clarity about their future."

The United States, European Union and Russia had been mediating between the two sides and "explored every realistic option for an agreement," Gallegos said. 

The European Union was attempting Monday to find a unified stance on the Kosovo situation.

RUSSIA CALLS ON UN TO ANNUL ANY UNILATERAL KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION
16:43 Tue 11 Dec 2007 - Elitsa Savova
 

Russia will demand from the United Nations Security Council to annul any unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo, Russia's envoy to Kosovo independence talks, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko said.

“Russia will of course demand the annulment of such a decision. We will demand a meeting of the Security Council because it would be a violation of a Council resolution,” he said as quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Russia, along with the EU and US, is holding negotiations with Kosovo and Serbia on the future status of Kosovo. Russia was a traditional alley of Serbia and opposed Kosovo's independence, insisting on negotiations to be prolonged, AFP said.

The parties had to come up with a decision that would be acceptable to all by December 10 2007.

Meanwhile, Kosovo's main political parties announced that they would begin negotiations on a coalition government to lead the province to a declaration of independence from Serbia in early 2008, Reuters reported.

“The Democratic Party of Kosovo of prime minister-apparent Hashim Thaci invited the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) to set aside their bitter rivalry since the 1998-99 war and discuss the formation of a ‘grand coalition’,” Reuters said.

Thaci’s party won the parliamentary election in Kosovo on November 17, but had been waited until the failure of the negotiations, to invite LDK for participation in a coalition. LDK representative told Reuters that the party agreed on the talks.

We take a short break from global events posting..

To bring you this musical update - Yesterday marked the third time in 2 weeks that I played the piano for a reception at the school. Nothing major, just for fun, couple neat songs here and there.  What makes it cool is the first two times were at the Gov's mansion, which prompted the Dean of my school to ask me to play at the Clinton Executive Suite on top of the library (aka Bill's house.)  So I did.  Not only that, but I got to see the "Green Roof" that they installed, complete with many native plants in an herb garden on one side (with a raised boardwalk weaving through it) and the putting green on the other (for those 4 AM put-put practice.  The windmill and clown was not installed yet, however :-P)

So yeah, not a bad way to end off the year, eh?  Graduation is in 1 week, so I'll be wrapped up in that soon.  Will try and post an update primer guide on what's going on with Kosovo on monday (since it is the official deadline for end of talks between Serbia and Kosovo...)

Blogging will resume...

Watch this space.. New updates and site redesign coming soon - Thoughts on Kosovo's desire for Independence, what it means for the region, and how it relates to Iraq....

Brief Time-Out

I'll be at my sister's wedding this weekend, which will take up a great deal of my time (as the countless hours I've sunk into assisting with the preparations demonstrate.) I'll try and give a more detailed post afterwards, but for now, just a small bit of reflection:

I've been shocked at how much louder everything is here, and not just in NYC. Everywhere I go there is a cacophony of sound assaulting my ear - blaring horns, loud cell phone talkers, loudspeakers, you name it, its loud. I guess since I'm used to more people walking it is just hitting me now.

Also, on the health update: I'm regaining some of the weight I lost (thank goodness - Myself and some individuals were slightly concerned when I could fit back into my old 32's from High School again..), but I'm still having a tough time dealing with A/C. Going from hot to cold to hot again is giving me a headache. Just will take time I figure. Hopefully, once this incessant traveling ceases for a bit I'll get back into the swing of things. I'm definitely putting the mileage on, from the Balkans to Italy to NJ to NYC back to NJ to NC to MO to AR... Looking forward to just putting my feet up on my table in my own place again...

Serbia Recap - Part 1

Still processing all of my thoughts on this summer, so decided to update in parts rather than go for too long without posting. So this part will focus mostly on things that I've started to experience upon arriving back home.

First of all, I never realised how well people drive in America. No, seriously, stop laughing. After 9 weeks of watching motorbikes cut around trucks, people disregarding the lines in the road, and generally just having to deal with angry drivers, it was incredible to see people driving correctly on the roads.

That said, I got used to walking everywhere. Now when I walk, people look at me like my car has broken down.

Supermarkets freak me out now. The first day back we stopped to get some milk and other foodstuff, and I decided to get cereal. I ended up walking up and down the aisle, in shock of how much food was there, and that this one small area had more food in it than the store I used to shop at while in Vranje. I'm sure that people must have thought I was crazy as I held my box of PB Cruch against my chest like it was Linus' security blanket. Same feeling of awe when I opened my parent's refrigerator and saw how much food was in there, fresh food.

Understanding what everyone says is a bit odd, too. I entered into this zen mindset while in Serbia, listening to the rise and fall of conversation rather than the words, like listening to instrumental classical music or Italian Opera. Now I am hearing what people are saying, and most of the time I'm just shocked at what I hear, especially when people are on the cell phones. How I long for days past when, even if people were talking about Britney Lohan, I didn't understand them.

Sleep, that's another thing that's been a major part of my life again. I still only sleep 4-6 hours a night, but I've been forcing myself to take naps too, just to catch up and such. Been also eating more, now that I have access to more fresh food such as meat and eggs.

Overall, I think the biggest impact my time in Serbia has had is teaching me humility and that the things most people in Western Europe and in America take for granted really are boons and we should be thankful for them. Yeah, I know, it sounds trite, but I've never really thought about how lucky I am that I can buy all my food at one store, and that it will all be fresh and stay fresh for days. I still remember the first day that I bought Orange Juice that had expired, and I dumped it out. 5 weeks later, when I bought Orange Juice that had been opened, I just drank it. Now that I'm back in the US, I know I probably will never encounter either when I go to Pathmark and Kroger.

That's all I have for now, but I'll be posting more reflections as they come to me. After a week of no internet access followed by a few days of straight sleeping, I've finally started to get back into the habit of writing. Which is good, since classes are starting soon...