A SUCCESFUL FAILURE
Let us be honest. The negotiating process has failed. Before blaming Putin for everything, let us see if the Unity Team has done or not done something to lose the advantage it was enjoying a year ago. After all, independence means, most of all, a responsibility. Independent as it aims to be, Kosovo/a i.e. its leaders should take the responsibility for failures as well as successes.I was going through some old documents and found an old report from Belgrade during last year’s election campaign in Serbia. The report had the following quote by the Serbian President, Boris Tadic: “Chances are that Kosovo will be independent” and “every citizen knows that”.
This brought back that period better known as “waiting for Ahtisaari”. At that time everything seemed ready for the report of the international mediator. And everyone, the Serbian President included, was expecting that independence would be the key word in that proposal. Indeed the report was delayed due the elections in Serbia offering additional evidence to support such expectations. Otherwise, why indeed delay the proposal?
A year later Kosovo’s future looks more uncertain.
The parties who spent the whole last year in intensive negotiations under international mediation are now meeting for extended discussions or non-discussions. The only thing to have really changed is Ahtisaari’s position. Three other international mediators have now replaced him. Satirists will be forgiven if they conclude that the only problem in Kosovo seem to have been Ahtisaari.
Satire aside, many are asking what happened during this year to have pushed the process almost back to the beginning? Why is it that the plan that was so eagerly expected and widely endorsed now looks like an unwanted child? The principles on which the international envoy was authorised by the Contact Group to find a solution now look if not torn apart then certainly highly vulnerable. No-partition, no return to pre 1999 and no joining with other countries have now been replaced with a single “compromise”. For a moment that “compromise” even looked to be meaningo exactly the opposite of the declared international position when partition became a main subject and remained so for a good couple of weeks. Not only the Ahtisaari plan but also the whole authority of the international community has been over-shadowed by that "compromise”. After all was not Ahtisaari’s plan a compromise which Kosovar leaders only reluctantly accepted it while many ordinary citizens are still to make their mind up. That is if anyone asks them. What compromise could the Troika now be thinking of? If that compromise means whatever Kostunica accepts or demands, why then a year of lengthy and intensive talks? After all, Kostunica came to power in 2000. Would it not have been much more practical for this “compromise” to have been reached then?
With this in mind, it is clear that the blame does not lie with the international community and their lack of interest for a just and lasting solution. To think otherwise would be to defy reason.
Something else must have happened during this year. But what? Yes, yes, Russia, but neither Russia nor Putin were "born" during this year were they?
Could there be something else that would explain this deadlock. Something or someone much closer that Russia and Putin who could shed some light on it. Not in order to blame someone so that the rest of us can enjoy talking criticising them in the coffee shops and restaurants. On the contrary this is important to understand in order to move forward with confidence. After all the status is not a goal in itself after which no one needs to do anything any more. It is rather a means to a goal; it is a road toward a better future not only for Kosovar citizens (Albanians, Serbs, Romas or none of the above) but also citizens of Serbia. “Without a doubt” a Serbian analyst told me when I asked him if the status of Kosova was hindering the democratic process in Serbia. “As long as there is the status question to be solved, there will be no time for real economic and social reforms”. Hence the calls by the Serbian delegation for no deadline to the talks sound absurd indeed. Nonetheless, having made a process a goal, the Serbian government can so far claim to be more than happy with the way the talks have developed. Which leaves the Kosovar delegation alone on the stage.
Of course, it is always easier to obstruct a process then find a solution. But this is only a part of the answer. How has the Unity Team contrived to lose the advantage that enjoyed this time last year? What have they been doing during this year? Have they done enough to show to the international community that the supervision proposed by Ahtisari will indeed be a simple matter? To demonstrate not only that they have fulfilled all the standards but also have a long list of ideas plans and achievements that will make those international leaders proud to have been involved in the process. Much prouder that to have some boulevards named after them, that they are unlikely to see it in person ever again. Independence requires originality and self-initiative. Could this be (part) of the answer for this failure so far? For, let us be honest, whatever the final outcome, this is a failure. A British analyst recently refused to comment on this new extension calling it “a bitter joke”. Others can hardly hide their disappointment with the current uncertainty. Many, especially Albanians are asking if the Unity Team is wasting much-needed time on fruitless talks. Could they not at least share the responsibility for travel and rather then all travelling to New York, London or Vienna, some could visit say Moscow, Bratislava or Athens. After all, the Serbian government continues to talk directly to Washington, London or any other country supporting independence. So, before we hold Putin responsible for everything, let us see if there is something that the Unity Team has done or has not done. After all, independence means first of all, a responsibility. Independent as it aims to be, Kosova i.e. her leaders should take responsibility for failures as well as successes.
Kim Bytyci
posted by Euro-Korrespondent @ 9:51 AM
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