Post by Fender on Feb 24, 2009 22:09:46 GMT -5
Why Kosovo's declaration of independence has not brought us independence
By Albin Kurti
Monday, 23 February 2009
Kosovo's Declaration of Independence on 17th February 2008 was a step forward, because of the international recognition of independence. However, at the same time, the Declaration took Kosovo three steps back, because it was tied to the implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan, to executive supervision by two international missions on the basis of Resolution 1244, and because it allowed Serbia to expand its control inside Kosovo.
The Ahtisaari Plan: The Declaration committed Kosovo to implement the Ahtisaari Plan, which divides our country on an ethnic basis. It creates inside Kosovo a Serb territorial entity via 'decentralization', which is linked vertically with Belgrade's institutions. The Plan also defines all Orthodox heritage in Kosovo as 'Serb', thus expropriating the culture of our country and dividing us on a religious basis. It denies Kosovo the right to a proper army to defend itself, yet provides mechanisms for Serbia to retain control inside Kosovo. This Plan was meant to be the price for Serbia's recognition of our independence. We are still implementing it, without this recognition.
International supervision and Resolution 1244: The Declaration included an invitation to two international missions to oversee the implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan and to operate a rule of law mission. Neither is here in an advisory role. These missions, the International Civilian Office (ICO) and EULEX have been given executive powers and are unaccountable to the institutions of Kosovo. They are the law by being above the law. Just the EULEX mission alone will cost in its first year approximately 364 million euros. We do not need any more police. Why not use this money instead to transform our education and health systems.
The Declaration also contained a commitment to act in accordance with the principles of Resolution 1244, which recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over Kosovo! As a result, UNMIK is still here and police from countries which oppose the independence of Kosovo, like Romania, are allowed to serve here. EULEX is 'status neutral' and although supposedly here to implement the law, does not officially recognize our Constitution!
Serbia's strategy inside Kosovo: Meanwhile, as the Kosovo institutions were celebrating the declaration and focusing on winning more recognition, Serbia was planning and implementing its strategy which had two objectives:
1. To eliminate the official border between Kosovo and Serbia and to strengthen a new border at the River Ibër. This Serbia has achieved by burning the border posts between Kosovo and Serbia. Since that date, the customs points have only operated 54 km further south near Mitrovica. By ensuring that EULEX is 'status neutral' and operates on the basis of Resolution 1244, this border is still officially described as an administrative boundary' rather than a border. Finally, by organizing violent attacks on Albanians in the northern part of the town of Mitrovica, without suffering any legal penalties, Serbia has demonstrated that the authority of the Kosovo institutions does not stretch beyond the Ibër.
2. To strengthen the institutions and structures of Serbia inside Kosovo in order to create the foundations of an autonomous Serb territorial and institutional entity. Serbia has achieved this by boycotting institutions like the Kosovo Police Service which report to the Kosovo institutions; by occupying other institutions like the railways and the courts; and by electing new parallel structures in Serbia's national and local elections, held inside Kosovo on 11th May. Although UNMIK declared that these new structures would not be recognized, they are now cooperating with them fully.
Serbia has been rewarded for this strategy, with the offer of more negotiations on the basis of the Six Points, which go much further than Ahtisaari and further divide Kosovo ethnically and institutionally. As if this were not enough, Serbia will probably be offered candidate status for the EU shortly.
In order for Kosovo to be sovereign and independent, democratic and with territorial integrity we must have:
- The right to an army
- Control of our own police force
- Control of our own resources and an economic plan for energy and agricultural development
- Governance without interference from executive international missions
- Rejection of the Ahtisaari Plan and the Six Points
- Arrest and removal of Serbia's Parallel Structures inside Kosovo
EULEX: Above the law
Last week newspapers reported that the Deputy Head of the EU Planning Team, Alessio Zuccarini, was involved in a car accident on 25th November in the centre of Prishtina, after which he refused to cooperate with the Kosovo Police who came to the site. Although the case was sent for processing in the Kosovo courts, it was then taken over by EULEX judges, reportedly at the request of Yves de Kermabon because Zuccarini is protected by immunity. Some sources state that he was removed from his position, others that he has remained. Two media outlets state they received threats not to cover the story.
In addition, this week, newspapers report that EULEX is investigating its staff on charges of corruption. Reportedly bribes of 5,000 euros were paid by two local employees to international staff in order to get jobs in EULEX.
EULEX has the same cars, the same headquarters and many of the same staff as UNMIK and it is founded on the same legal basis as UNMIK. Not surprisingly, EULEX's employees are, like UNMIK, already demonstrating they believe they are above the law ' here to implement it for us, but not for themselves.
Albin Kurti leads Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE! movement, which opposes international administration of Kosovo.
By Albin Kurti
Monday, 23 February 2009
Kosovo's Declaration of Independence on 17th February 2008 was a step forward, because of the international recognition of independence. However, at the same time, the Declaration took Kosovo three steps back, because it was tied to the implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan, to executive supervision by two international missions on the basis of Resolution 1244, and because it allowed Serbia to expand its control inside Kosovo.
The Ahtisaari Plan: The Declaration committed Kosovo to implement the Ahtisaari Plan, which divides our country on an ethnic basis. It creates inside Kosovo a Serb territorial entity via 'decentralization', which is linked vertically with Belgrade's institutions. The Plan also defines all Orthodox heritage in Kosovo as 'Serb', thus expropriating the culture of our country and dividing us on a religious basis. It denies Kosovo the right to a proper army to defend itself, yet provides mechanisms for Serbia to retain control inside Kosovo. This Plan was meant to be the price for Serbia's recognition of our independence. We are still implementing it, without this recognition.
International supervision and Resolution 1244: The Declaration included an invitation to two international missions to oversee the implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan and to operate a rule of law mission. Neither is here in an advisory role. These missions, the International Civilian Office (ICO) and EULEX have been given executive powers and are unaccountable to the institutions of Kosovo. They are the law by being above the law. Just the EULEX mission alone will cost in its first year approximately 364 million euros. We do not need any more police. Why not use this money instead to transform our education and health systems.
The Declaration also contained a commitment to act in accordance with the principles of Resolution 1244, which recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over Kosovo! As a result, UNMIK is still here and police from countries which oppose the independence of Kosovo, like Romania, are allowed to serve here. EULEX is 'status neutral' and although supposedly here to implement the law, does not officially recognize our Constitution!
Serbia's strategy inside Kosovo: Meanwhile, as the Kosovo institutions were celebrating the declaration and focusing on winning more recognition, Serbia was planning and implementing its strategy which had two objectives:
1. To eliminate the official border between Kosovo and Serbia and to strengthen a new border at the River Ibër. This Serbia has achieved by burning the border posts between Kosovo and Serbia. Since that date, the customs points have only operated 54 km further south near Mitrovica. By ensuring that EULEX is 'status neutral' and operates on the basis of Resolution 1244, this border is still officially described as an administrative boundary' rather than a border. Finally, by organizing violent attacks on Albanians in the northern part of the town of Mitrovica, without suffering any legal penalties, Serbia has demonstrated that the authority of the Kosovo institutions does not stretch beyond the Ibër.
2. To strengthen the institutions and structures of Serbia inside Kosovo in order to create the foundations of an autonomous Serb territorial and institutional entity. Serbia has achieved this by boycotting institutions like the Kosovo Police Service which report to the Kosovo institutions; by occupying other institutions like the railways and the courts; and by electing new parallel structures in Serbia's national and local elections, held inside Kosovo on 11th May. Although UNMIK declared that these new structures would not be recognized, they are now cooperating with them fully.
Serbia has been rewarded for this strategy, with the offer of more negotiations on the basis of the Six Points, which go much further than Ahtisaari and further divide Kosovo ethnically and institutionally. As if this were not enough, Serbia will probably be offered candidate status for the EU shortly.
In order for Kosovo to be sovereign and independent, democratic and with territorial integrity we must have:
- The right to an army
- Control of our own police force
- Control of our own resources and an economic plan for energy and agricultural development
- Governance without interference from executive international missions
- Rejection of the Ahtisaari Plan and the Six Points
- Arrest and removal of Serbia's Parallel Structures inside Kosovo
EULEX: Above the law
Last week newspapers reported that the Deputy Head of the EU Planning Team, Alessio Zuccarini, was involved in a car accident on 25th November in the centre of Prishtina, after which he refused to cooperate with the Kosovo Police who came to the site. Although the case was sent for processing in the Kosovo courts, it was then taken over by EULEX judges, reportedly at the request of Yves de Kermabon because Zuccarini is protected by immunity. Some sources state that he was removed from his position, others that he has remained. Two media outlets state they received threats not to cover the story.
In addition, this week, newspapers report that EULEX is investigating its staff on charges of corruption. Reportedly bribes of 5,000 euros were paid by two local employees to international staff in order to get jobs in EULEX.
EULEX has the same cars, the same headquarters and many of the same staff as UNMIK and it is founded on the same legal basis as UNMIK. Not surprisingly, EULEX's employees are, like UNMIK, already demonstrating they believe they are above the law ' here to implement it for us, but not for themselves.
Albin Kurti leads Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE! movement, which opposes international administration of Kosovo.