Kosovo and the Press

Counterpunch - http://www.counterpunch.org -

http://www.counterpunch.org/averko03042008.html

March 4, 2008

Punishing the Serbs

Kosovo and the Press

By MIKE AVERKO

As a whole, 70 per cent of Albanians are of Muslim background. Another 20 per cent are of Orthodox Christian heritage. The Orthodox Christian Albanians tend to reside in the southern part of Albania, away from Kosovo. The remaining 10 per cent of Albanians are Roman Catholic. Mother Teresa was an Albanian Catholic from Skopje. In Kosovo, at least 90 per cent of Albanians are said to be of Muslim origin. Most Kosovo Albanians appear secular. It does not take many religious extremists to cause mayhem. With Adolph Hitler as an extreme example, some of the most passionately violent of nationalists are secular. Kosovo's Albanian community has traces of religious extremism and secular nationalism.

Tariq Ali's CounterPunch interview and the non-recognition of Kosovo's independence by several Organization of the Islamic Conference nations show how exaggerated are claims of an anti-Serb position in the Muslim world. The other examples relate to Russia's support for Serbia and its wars in predominately Muslim Chechnya. Despite these two instances, Russia is on relatively good terms with the Muslim world. For some, the rights to defend territorial sovereignty and combat terrorism are greater than a pan-religious sympathy. To further underscore this point, note how Turkey is the only country to recognize the mostly Muslim inhabited "Turkish Cypriot Republic".

Kosovo's demography is often mentioned as a basis for supporting the province's independence. Overlooked in this advocacy is how the Albanians replaced the Serbs as the majority in Kosovo within the last hundred years--ethnic cleansing campaigns against non-Albanians (overwhelmingly Serbs), migration from Albania into Kosovo (much of it illegal) and the comparatively high Albanian birthrate.

The G word (genocide) continues to be used against the Serbs. Compiled research data indicates that within the year to year and a half of Kosovo fighting before the NATO bombing, there were about 2,000 fatalities out of the province's 2 million population. About 500 of the 2,000 casualties were Serbs, who at the time were said to make up 10% of the population. Per capita wise, Serbs suffered considerably more. A good number of the Albanian casualties included those who showed a willingness to work within the existing government framework. I was forwarded statistical data confirming that Washington DC has had greater annual murder rates than what has been referenced to Kosovo. Regarding the stated pre-NATO bombing Kosovo conflict death toll, feel free to forward any well established documentation to the contrary.

There have been rhetorical exchanges on what act constitutes the greater violation of sovereignty: the disrespecting of Serb territory, or the follow-up vandalizing of Belgrade-situated foreign embassies--whose countries support Kosovo's independence. There is an overwhelming Serb consensus of non-support for both acts. When comparing acts which violate sovereignty, recall the stated reason for why Russia did not beef up its somewhat clumsily implemented military presence in Kosovo, following the 1999 NATO bombing campaign. Russia was denied clearance from NATO member countries whose air space it would have utilized. In other words, the air space of a country (Yugoslavia) could be violated with bombs, unlike the instance of Russia flying in peacekeepers.

A commonly repeated thought claims that Serbia lost the right to govern Kosovo because of past wrongs. Repeating an opinion over and over again, in an effort to have it become legitimate is common. This process can succeed when there is no opposition to it. United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1244 says NOTHING about Serbia losing sovereignty over Kosovo because of past actions. Turkey and Iraq are not expected to lose territory in retribution for their brutal actions against the Kurds. UNSCR 1244 recognizes Kosovo as a continued part of Serbia and calls for a return of Serb military and non-military government personnel to that land. The way some interpret UNSCR 1244 is along the lines of: the rules are there are no rules. In conjunction with UNSCR 1244: as long as Serbia, two UNSC permanent members (Russia and China) and others oppose Kosovo's independence, the recognition of that independence is indicative of how some go against basic principles of international law.

This of course sits well with the pro-Kosovo independence "humanitarian intervention" types--the same people who were not gung ho to bomb
Turkey for the way that NATO country was going after the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) from 1975-2000. A matter that has not completely dissipated. Not to be outdone are some of the Russia friendly folks who give credence to the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia (Serbia & Montenegro) in 1999. Would they support bombing Russia at anytime during the last decade's two wars against Chechen separatists? Heck, why not advocate a coalition of nations to bomb the US for some faulty American policies which have contributed to the deaths of so many?

In explaining why his government supports Kosovo's independence, a Polish official said that two peoples clearly not liking each other should be kept separate. Note how pro-Kosovo independence enthusiasts tend to advocate a multi-ethnic state in Bosnia, where there has been fierce ethnic division. It is fair to say that Albanian-Serb differences are probably greater than those among the Slavic Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs. It is also reasonable to state that Serbia minus Kosovo is more multi-ethnically tolerant and democratic than Albanian-dominated Kosovo. The Serbs are being punished despite having the better democratic and multi-ethnic outlook.

An acquaintance inquired about the alleged organized crime activity of Kosovo Albanian leader Hashim Thaci. The American Council for Kosovo web site has a page with plenty of information about the Kosovo Albanian leadership. A Google search of: German BND Hashim Thaci--provides many results suggesting that the organized crime claims on Thaci are true (the BND or Bundesnachrichtendienst, is
Germany's government intelligence service). In comparison, one is hard pressed to find firm denials to the contrary. Mark Almond's July 26, 1999 National Review article "Our Gang--Kosovo Liberation Army" writes that the Thaci led Kosovo Liberation Army (repackaged as a non-army political bloc after the 1999 NATO bombing campaign) and Kurdish PKK have elements which "have been fighting to control the drug and prostitution rackets of many big West European cities". The pro-Thaci spin says that such activity is exaggerated and that as a now "accepted" leader (at least by some powerful forces) Thaci is changing for the better.

Michael Averko is a New York based independent foreign policy analyst and media critic. He can be reached at mikeaverko@msn.com

The global game that is Kosovo & Metohija

http://www.analyst-network.com/article.php?art_id=1800

INTERNATIONAL ANALYST NETWORK

The global game that is Kosovo & Metohija
Ioannis Michaletos

03 Mar 2008

The latest developments on the 17th of February proved once more that the
world political environment passes yet another milestone, albeit going
backwards towards the era of Empires and feudalism, rather than progressing
into an era of peace and security.

Europe in particular fought tens of bitter wars and conflicts in order to
become the harbor of stability in Eurasia. Starting from the Treaty of
Augsburg in 1555 (cuius regio cius religio) and the Treaty of Westphalia in
1648, Europe managed finally in 1945 through the signing of the UN Chapter
and the Helsinki Final Act in 1975; to confirm the sovereignty of the nation
state and the absolute denial for border changes. As it can well be
understood this no longer holds, and the International Law becomes a peace
of paper on which anyone can interpret what he wishes for, leading the world
closer to another war that will ultimately lead to the destruction of the
human life as we know it.

The reasons for such a dramatic decision of historical proportions, is not
really known, even though the most logical assumption seems to be around the
USA-Russian rivalry. Moreover the sentimental approach of many aspects of
the international relations by certain members of the State Dept. elite
might have played its role. It would not be improbable to predict that the
humankind's historical path correlates with the pessimistic approach by the
great German philosopher and historian Oswald Spengler. In his famous work
"The decline of the West", published in 1918 he outlines his version of the
future that has an outstanding value judging by the present situation. The
prediction towards a feudal conflict-driven world community of the 21st
century is a revealing one, along with the end of the West as a moral and
cultural authority. By year 2100 the planet will resemble more of the Mad
Max film, rather than a highly advanced technological global village. In
that sense 2008 might well be a standing point on which we might look back
in time to know when everything "Officially" started.

The current government of the still-illegally declared independent Kosovo is
heavily influenced by the organized crime groups, maintained links with the
global Jihadi movement and strives to administer a small land which is
actually controlled by the UN, NATO, EU and the individual interests lead by
the strongest countries. On top of that, a high level of poverty coupled
with unemployment and a high birth rate, provides a wider angle of what will
probably happen in Pristina in a few years from now.

The secessionist movements all over the planet are not going to accept the
suis generic approach that has been hasty declared by the Washington
officials. International politics are not a fixed term bank bond, but a
fluid contradictory reality that interprets each event according to the
interests of its own members. Since International Law and its basis the
sovereignty of the nation state no longer exists, everything is possible in
the short & long-term.

For instance Turkey, a government that rushed to recognize the illegal
government in Pristina, is also staging a wide range anti-guerilla attack in
its South-Eastern borders against the Kurdish PKK fighters. Apart from the
already well-known phrase "Double Standards", the antitheses of supporting a
notion that can ultimately destroy ones country seems to have escaped from
the mindset of Ankara's military-diplomatic apparatus. In order to gain
short-term negligible political gains, they have mined their own nation
state; since none knows quite exactly what the future holds and how might
global interests in the energy field behave in just a few years from know.
The Kurdish movement strikes a similarity with the Albanian one. Mountaineer
nations both, having minorities in neighboring states, supporting their
actions through a series of contraband activities and becoming often a
strategic tool of grand powers, when meddling in two of the most important
hubs of Eurasia: Balkans & the Middle East.

Cyprus on the other hand, the small sun-soaked island in the midst of the
Eastern Mediterranean, forms its strategy based in principles and norms,
thus saving its face and interests. The division of the island is not quite
the same problem with Kosovo, since it was actually invaded by Turkey; even
though Nicosia behaves in an ideal European way, shaming European capitals
that have become the former only in name.

The issue of "Greater-great Albania" has been thoroughly discussed in
Serbianna, and the predictions made in the past seem to become more of a
mundane reality. Albania as a nation state is weak due to economic & social
problems along with the existence of stronger neighbors all around it. What
is worrying for the future security of the region is the temptation by
inexperienced diplomats residing almost exclusively in the USA, to use the
Albanian minorities as a Trojan horse so as to confront either Russian
influence or interrupt any European (German-French) plans to acquire
stronger economic and political clout in the region. For the time being the
present Bush Administration seems to lack such strategy, assuming rightly
that the main interests of the country are based in the Middle East and the
South East Asia. The next American President whoever (s)he may be, he is
going to be more influenced by the existence of a well-formed Washington
lobby that will push for further American involvement in the Balkans through
the use of Albanian minorities. In such an unfortunate case, the coming
bloodshed in the Balkans will make the Bosnia war look like a skirmish
between street rioters.

The Russian advance in Europe through the Balkans is a probable indicator of
the anxiety that gripped Washington. In a summary the most important points
of Moscow's interest in the region (Or rather the wider Southeastern
European one) is as follows:

In Bulgaria the Russians (AtomstroyExport Company) managed to sign the deals
with the South Stream and the B-A pipelines. Moreover they agreed to
construct a new thermonuclear station in Belene and the country is heavily
depended on Russian energy in general.

In Hungary has acquired many stocks in gas companies and invests substantial
amounts in the real estate.

Montenegro is awash with Russian capital in the estate and tourist sector

Serbia sold its national energy company and participates in the South Stream
project (Northern Axis). The country is also leaning to Moscow due to the
developments in Kosovo as well.

In Slovakia the gas distribution network company SPP (One of the largest in
Europe), belongs to Gazprom (49%)

In Austria Gazprom recently 50% share of a similar distribution network,
thus creating a natural gas web across Central Europe. Note that 35% of the
largest German one belongs to Russian company and the 10% of the EADS
Corporation.

Greece participates in the B-A & South Stream pipelines and made substantial
procurements of Russian weaponry over the past few years. Cyprus is also one
of the prime destinations of Russian investments.

Turkey imports 75% of its natural gas from Gazprom and receives 10% of its
tourists from CIS countries. Large Turkish construction companies invest
heavily in Russia also.

The above is just a small outline of the recent Russian initiatives or
footholds in the market. Probably that is one of the main reasons of the
American response for supporting a hasty Kosovo recognition, even though in
a globalized world it is difficult to pursue political aims without taking
into consideration the economic aspect of it. In a few words, Russia can
easily retaliate in other fronts using its method of linking events, as it
was reported in a recent Stratfor report. Moreover the ability of Moscow to
influence the oil & gas production might have significant negativities
towards Europe and USA apart from other lesser obvious culminations in the
murky world of secret operations and provocations.

In short this is a conflict that no reasonable and good willing individual
or country would like to happen. Kosovo becomes a focal symbolic emblem of a
new age, even though it could well become a bargaining point on which the
major powers would agree on principles and format strategies towards the
issues that inflict the world, starting from the environment to terrorism,
poverty, and the quest for a better future of the humans in and out of this
planet.

The future will certainly tell which direction the Balkans will follow, and
the present day culminations are pessimist enough to leave any space for a
carefree analysis of the events. A trend to watch is for certain the
decadence of the moral respect towards international bodies and the rise of
extremist groups of all kinds in the Balkans. The latest is surely an issue
regularly pointed out and for certain it will remain so, unless a political
miracle equivalent to the Biblical manna solves these problems in the future
and provides progress, peace and security for the traumatized Balkan
Peninsula.