Kosovo: Dangerous Thinking

Example: The American Ambassador to Pristina talks of the "amazing results" in the south with some Serbs there voting in last year's local elections and thus taking "their" place in "their" local governments. He suggests that Serbs in the north too will recognize they are "the first victims of the parallel structures" and will eventually do the same when freed from the influence of Belgrade. Does he really mean that we should take as a model process of change one where the dominant powers (Kosovo government, KEK, EULEX, ICO, police) intimidate and bully - through use of force, electricity cuts and neglect - already isolated communities till they submit to that power or face a return to the state of nature? When he claims that the establishment of a new North Mitrovica municipality under Pristina's control "is part of a solution to end wanton abuse of power, systemic corruption, and to ensure that the people of North Mitrovica have a voice in their government," does he really believe that right now there are not local institutions - albeit mostly Serbian ones - that are fully functioning with legitimacy in the eyes of their constituents? Does he really believe that the ICO's "municipal preparation team" for north Mitrovica can actually gain the assent of the local population to "solve the problems people face in daily life" when KEK cut off the power and the Quint and its agents constantly attack the local institutions while refusing to engage with them to in fact improve daily life? Does he really think they will rise to his call to "take their destiny into their own hands, just as people in Gracanica and Strpce did" and accept that they can improve their lives "through participation in Kosovo institutions?" Or is he just speaking for effect, to provide reassurance to the Albanians and continued US cover for an EU policy apparently going nowhere but still letting Washington off the hook?

When the Kosovo Prime Minister suggests that the "decade-long chaos [in the north] must be ended" does he really expect us to take seriously the notion that rule by Pristina equals "no chaos?" When the Prime Minister suggests he is not advocating the use of force in the north but only "expanding presence" of EULEX in the north "along with strengthening the Kosovo police in that part as the main part of the strategy for the north," does he really expect us to overlook that this would mean seeking to pacify the north through the presence of foreign and Albanian police? He says that the strengthening and expansion of the security forces should not be seen as a hostile move because they would be committed to avoiding confrontation. Shall we believe that he is taking about adding to the number of Serb KPS in the north who will with their EULEX colleagues do community policing? Or is he really suggesting sending Albanian KPS members including special units supported by EULEX to "strengthen" rule of law and "empower legally elected local authorities" by imposing Kosovo rule and those elected in Pristina-led elections sure to be boycotted by the local Serbs?

With rejection of the EUSR's northern strategy by the local Serbs and Belgrade, Pristina and its supporters have increased pressure on Belgrade. They have also retreated to use of the language of "law and order" and "democracy" to justify imposition of Kosovo institutions in the north even without the mandate provided by UNSCR 1244. This seems indicative of some degree of desperation and possibly self-delusion. Whatever the case, it is dangerous to think that fundamental differences over status can be resolved through simply ignoring reality or perhaps some "non-confrontational" police action. The southern Serbs have been "convinced" because they had no choice but to act as if they trust the Albanians and internationals to do the right thing and make decentralization work. The northerners are not in the same bind. The only way to peacefully resolve the status of the north is through dialogue with the Serbs on reaching practical accommodations on practical issues or within the context of an overall negotiated agreement on the final status of Kosovo.

http://outsidewalls.blogspot.com/2010/03/kosovo-dangerous-thinking.html