http://savannahnow.com/node/452085
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS (USA)
Kosovo powder keg
Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 12:30 am
Kosovo's bid for independence could be complicated by low productivity, high
unemployment, and half its population being under 16.
NINE YEARS ago, the United Nations made a deal with Serbia: Hand over
Slobodan Milosevic, stop the persecution of ethnic Albanian Kosovars and
institute certain reforms, and Serbia would be able to maintain its
territorial integrity, including the province of Kosovo.
But by granting immediate recognition of the breakaway Kosovo region after
it announced its independence Sunday, both the U.N. and the United States
have reneged on that deal - even after Serbia held up its end of the
bargain.
In this instance, religion seems to have colored U.S. policy, and most
likely to ill effect.
Kosovo is about half the size of metro Atlanta in both population and
geographic area. The majority of its 2 million people are Muslim. In the
Bush administration's zeal to show the world it supports Muslim democracies,
it too quickly turned its back on Serbia in favor of Kosovo.
Angry Serbs responded Thursday by breaking into the U.S. embassy, burning an
office and an American flag. The attack merits condemnation, and the fact
that Serbian authorities seemed to look the other way while the mob
assembled suggests that officials wanted to send Washington a message.
Although some tiny nations do make a go of it, backing Kosovo's independence
is a decision the United States may regret, considering the region's
internal instability and potential for disaster.
Industry in Kosovo is virtually nonexistent. The gross domestic product per
capita is only $250 a year. Unemployment is at a dreadful 50 percent, and
half the population is under 16. That's a million youths, half of whom are
not likely to find work, and so become discontent.
An angry, young, destitute Muslim populace has too often proved a fertile
recruiting ground for radical Islam. Kosovo's independence should therefore
be met with a healthy dose of unease.
News reports quote former U.S. envoy to the U.N. John Bolton warning, "Its
instability risks attracting Islamic extremists from around the world."
The move could also destabilize Macedonia and Montenegro. Both nations have
regions with significant ethnic Albanian populations that, like Kosovo,
border on Albania.
Besides granting approval of a possible magnet for terrorists within Europe,
recognizing Kosovo also puts the U.S. at odds with allies such as Poland,
Hungary, Romania, Greece, Spain and Israel. It could also mean a further
cooling of relations between the United States and Russia, which opposed the
break-up of Serbia.
Congressman Dan Burton, R-Ind., founding chairman of the Congressional
Serbian Caucus, has urged the Bush administration - as well as Serbia and
Kosovo - to remain at the negotiating table to work toward a mutual
agreement.
"I was deeply disappointed to learn today that Kosovo has decided to walk
away from peaceful efforts to resolve the status of the province by
unilaterally declaring its independence from Serbia," Rep. Burton said in a
statement Sunday.
"This separation has occurred despite concerted efforts on behalf of Serbia
to engage in negotiations to determine a mutually agreed upon solution that
would ensure a peaceful, prosperous future for Serbs and Kosovo Albanians
alike. It is my fear that this unilateral action could spark another round
of violence."
Unfortunately, it seems the powder keg that set off World War I is all too
likely to explode again.
In the Bush administration's zeal to show the world it supports Muslim
democracies, it too quickly turned its back on Serbia in favor of Kosovo.
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS (USA)
Kosovo powder keg
Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 12:30 am
Kosovo's bid for independence could be complicated by low productivity, high
unemployment, and half its population being under 16.
NINE YEARS ago, the United Nations made a deal with Serbia: Hand over
Slobodan Milosevic, stop the persecution of ethnic Albanian Kosovars and
institute certain reforms, and Serbia would be able to maintain its
territorial integrity, including the province of Kosovo.
But by granting immediate recognition of the breakaway Kosovo region after
it announced its independence Sunday, both the U.N. and the United States
have reneged on that deal - even after Serbia held up its end of the
bargain.
In this instance, religion seems to have colored U.S. policy, and most
likely to ill effect.
Kosovo is about half the size of metro Atlanta in both population and
geographic area. The majority of its 2 million people are Muslim. In the
Bush administration's zeal to show the world it supports Muslim democracies,
it too quickly turned its back on Serbia in favor of Kosovo.
Angry Serbs responded Thursday by breaking into the U.S. embassy, burning an
office and an American flag. The attack merits condemnation, and the fact
that Serbian authorities seemed to look the other way while the mob
assembled suggests that officials wanted to send Washington a message.
Although some tiny nations do make a go of it, backing Kosovo's independence
is a decision the United States may regret, considering the region's
internal instability and potential for disaster.
Industry in Kosovo is virtually nonexistent. The gross domestic product per
capita is only $250 a year. Unemployment is at a dreadful 50 percent, and
half the population is under 16. That's a million youths, half of whom are
not likely to find work, and so become discontent.
An angry, young, destitute Muslim populace has too often proved a fertile
recruiting ground for radical Islam. Kosovo's independence should therefore
be met with a healthy dose of unease.
News reports quote former U.S. envoy to the U.N. John Bolton warning, "Its
instability risks attracting Islamic extremists from around the world."
The move could also destabilize Macedonia and Montenegro. Both nations have
regions with significant ethnic Albanian populations that, like Kosovo,
border on Albania.
Besides granting approval of a possible magnet for terrorists within Europe,
recognizing Kosovo also puts the U.S. at odds with allies such as Poland,
Hungary, Romania, Greece, Spain and Israel. It could also mean a further
cooling of relations between the United States and Russia, which opposed the
break-up of Serbia.
Congressman Dan Burton, R-Ind., founding chairman of the Congressional
Serbian Caucus, has urged the Bush administration - as well as Serbia and
Kosovo - to remain at the negotiating table to work toward a mutual
agreement.
"I was deeply disappointed to learn today that Kosovo has decided to walk
away from peaceful efforts to resolve the status of the province by
unilaterally declaring its independence from Serbia," Rep. Burton said in a
statement Sunday.
"This separation has occurred despite concerted efforts on behalf of Serbia
to engage in negotiations to determine a mutually agreed upon solution that
would ensure a peaceful, prosperous future for Serbs and Kosovo Albanians
alike. It is my fear that this unilateral action could spark another round
of violence."
Unfortunately, it seems the powder keg that set off World War I is all too
likely to explode again.
In the Bush administration's zeal to show the world it supports Muslim
democracies, it too quickly turned its back on Serbia in favor of Kosovo.
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