On February 17, Kosova celebrated the first anniversary of its independence. It has undoubtedly been an important year. Above all, this year proved, against the expectations and warnings of domino theory partisans, that the change in the political map of the Balkans due to the creation of a new state was not accompanied by violence or eruptions of further conflicts.
Following the United States and European powers, the recognition of the new neighbouring state by Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was essential to regional stability.
However, despite the series of successful international recognitions and the acceptance of the new Balkan state by its neighbours, it is still too soon to assert that the risk of destabilisation has been avoided. The process of international recognition has slowed down for at least three reasons. First, UNSC Resolution 1244 is still in force due to the Russian veto in the Security Council. The second is the mere fact that the EULEX Mission of the European Union has been ‘allowed’ in to execute its functions in Kosova under the condition of neutrality towards the status. Thus, rather paradoxically, while Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and other countries have recognised Kosova as an independent state, the European Union, composed of these countries, is to remain neutral towards the status. It is the third reason, however, that is the most important and problematic- and that is Serbia’s stance towards Kosova’s independence. Serbia is opposing Kosova’s independence mainly via diplomatic means. Belgrade is trying to de-legitimise the independence of Kosova by bringing the case in front of the International Court of Justice and by simultaneously engaging in an intensive diplomatic offensive to hamper the process of further recognition.
However, Serbia’s diplomatic offensive is only one side of the coin and for as long as Serbia’s efforts to oppose Kosova’s independence are diplomatic and peaceful, they will not, as such, hold the attention of the International community, the European Union and the United States, the principal sponsors of the independence of Kosova. In fact, the independence of Kosova was not a project, and nor was it a result, of the Albanians alone. Kosova and its independence were and continue to be a Euro-Atlantic matter.
Alongside the diplomatic efforts to oppose Kosova’s independence, Serbia engages in a daily campaign intended to fail the state of Kosova. Through the establishment, encouragement and funding of parallel structures and institutions in Kosova, especially in the north, where Serbia is currently damaging the establishment and well-functioning of the state of Kosova.
Not only is the process of reconciliation not facilitated by the setting up of parallel structures in Kosova, but quite in the contrary, it represents an investment towards the separation of the country, an option that has been objected and remains unacceptable to all.
One year after the declaration of independence, there are plenty of achievements to shed an optimistic light on the future. Nevertheless, this is also the right time for a thorough evaluation of the current situation in Kosova and in the Balkans. Serbia’s efforts to force failure upon the new state of Kosova are also efforts against peace in the region and as such they ought to capture the attention of the European Union and other actors that supported the independence of Kosova.
