|
Although the United States and Germany have said that they
will recognize Kosovo if it does declare itself a sovereign
nation, the move toward independence has sparked strong resistance
from Russia and several other European Union countries.
A rocky past
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The United States and Germany announced that they will
recognize an independent Kosovo. |
|
|
Kosovo, an area populated
by 2 million people, most of whom are ethnic Albanians, was
thrown into turmoil in 1999, when NATO forces, including American
troops, launched a 78-day bombing campaign to stop Serbian forces
from killing Albanians.
Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic, who died in 2004 while
on trial for war crimes, brought the Albanian province under
tighter Serbian control in 1989, removing its autonomy. Less
than ten years later, Serbian and Kosovar Albanian military
forces were openly fighting each other, according to NATO's
Web site.
In 2004, violence broke out again, and ethnic clashes and
riots killed 22 people and wounded 500 others, according to
CNN.
A shaky future
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
NATO sent more peacekeeping troops into Kosovo after an
eruption of violence there in 2004. |
|
|
Since 2000, Kosovo has
been administered by the United Nations. After a Dec. 10, 2007,
deadline passed without a resolution for a negotiated independence
agreement, Kosovo is expected to declare its independence after
a second round of Serbian elections on Feb. 3.
The failure to negotiate an agreement, with Serbia and Russia
pushing for Kosovo to remain under Serbian control, could
spell trouble for the region.
"The United States and most of the European Union (led
by Britain, France and Germany) will recognize Kosovo quickly.
Russia and its allies will not. Kosovo's eight-year run as
the biggest-ever U.N. project will end with great tension
and a threat of violence that could spread to Bosnia,"
wrote former Clinton administration diplomat Richard Holbrooke
in the Washington Post.
Serbian election
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Incumbent Serbian President Boris Tadic faces a strong
challenge from nationalist Tomislave Nikolic. |
|
|
As the Kosovo situation
simmers, Serbia is holding a presidential election that could
help determine the future of relations among a complex web of
European countries.
A close Jan. 20 election for a new Serbian president will
go to a runoff vote on Feb. 3, with the Serbian people facing
a choice between a leader with strong ties to Russia, or a
Western-friendly incumbent.
Tomislave Nikolic, the Russian ally who is challenging pro-Western
incumbent President Boris Tadic, won the first round of polling
with 40 percent of the vote, Reuters reported.
"Serbs will have to choose between two concepts, for
Europe or against it," Tadic said on Monday, according
to Reuters. "There is no third way."
Just days earlier, on Jan. 10, Kosovo's parliament elected
a former rebel leader, Hashim Thaci, to the office of prime
minister. Thaci promised to officially break Kosovo from Serbia.
''It's an issue of weeks, and Kosovo will be an independent,
sovereign and democratic country,'' Thaci told the Associated
Press. ''Independence is everything for us. We have sacrificed.
We deserve it.''
Putin stands firm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Russian President Vladimir Putin is opposed to Kosovo
becoming an independent nation. |
|
|
Despite support from powerful
European nations and the United States, Russian President Vladimir
Putin continues to stand firm on his opposition to Kosovo's
imminent break from Serbia.
Russia has used its clout with the United Nations to block
any formal independence resolution.
According to the Economist, Russia could be concerned that
a successful Kosovo break could encourage other former Soviet
territories to break away from Russia as well. "If people
believe that Kosovo can be granted full independence, why
then should we deny it to Abkhazia and South Ossetia (areas
south of Russia)?" Putin said, according to the news
magazine.
|
The comments we teenagers make today could be traced for years to come on the Internet.
