Bold steps to Europe

Bold steps to Europe

Vuk Jeremic

March 28, 2008 11:30 AM

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/vuk_jeremic/2008/03/vuk_jeremic_serbia_kosovo.html

Five weeks ago, the provincial authorities in the Serbian province of Kosovo unilaterally and illegally declared their independence. Around 30 countries have recognised this illegitimate and destabilising act, setting back the region's European membership perspective.



The vast majority of UN member states are not following suit,
uncomfortable with a precedent that is making the international system
unstable. International law has been grossly violated, and a revival of
the global debate about the legitimacy of internationally recognised
borders has been triggered. This needs to be addressed, not wished
away. For there are clearly dozens of Kosovos throughout the world,
happy that an attempt has been made to legitimise unilateral secession
in the international system - and pleased to have been provided with a
detailed plan on how to achieve success. Accordingly, many existing
conflicts may escalate and new ones could be instigated. Already the
recognition of Kosovo has increased the danger that the doctrine of
imposing solutions to ethnic conflicts will be legitimised, that the
right to self-determination will be transformed into an avowed right to
independence.



Recent events
in Kosovo, triggered by Pristina's unilateral declaration of
independence, suggest that the situation is dangerously close to
escalating beyond control. It is important to realise that we are all
in this together, and that we must find a way forward together.

The first step requires talking to one another honestly and
respectfully. We have to address the real life concerns of the
province's most vulnerable, and we have to pay attention to the human
cost of our actions. The alternative is a frozen conflict solidified by
entrenched, maximalist positions that only perpetuate the continuation
of defensive, self-preservationist moves that drive us further apart.
We must therefore work to instil the confidence necessary for all the
western Balkans to once again take bold, historic steps to full EU
membership.



This brings me to the second step. Serbia's president, Boris Tadic,
spoke recently of his willingness to sign the stabilisation and
association agreement
with the EU immediately. Were that to happen, Serbia and the rest of
the region would be put back on the EU membership fast-track, justly
gaining entry into one of the world's greatest political projects.

The third step involves the tricky question of the future status of
Kosovo. Sooner or later, responsible stakeholders will realise that it
cannot achieve sustainable prosperity without Belgrade. Once this sinks
in, an opportunity will be created in which, perhaps for the first
time, a true negotiation can take place between the parties - one that
leads to a mutually acceptable compromise.



This will not be easy. But the alternative is for Kosovo to remain in
limbo, unattractive to foreign investment, unresponsive to the rule of
law and unable to control its freefall into failure.



The formula for success revolves around finding a way to satisfy the
right of Kosovo's Albanian community to substantial self-governance
while remaining under a common sovereign roof with Serbia. Anything
less than that constitutes a fundamental threat to our democratic
development, the European future of southeast Europe and the legitimacy
of the international system that has brought unprecedented prosperity
to the world since 1945.



Serbia is ready to take all three of these steps, because we believe
that Serbs and Albanians must find the courage to act in wisdom and in
conscience, propelled by a hope that beckons us on in this time of
trial. To build on this hope is a bold and solemn purpose. It requires
men and women confident in their strength, compassionate in their
hearts, clear in their minds and steady in their vision. The time is
ripe for daring.