Serbian foreign minister flays Kosovo UDI
By Vuk Jeremic
[Vuk Jeremic, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Photo:AP-David Karp, via Yahoo! News]
THE international system that has brought unprecedented prosperity to the world since 1945 is based on rules that apply without exception. This system is supposed to protect the basic, legitimate national interests of every country, whether rich or poor, strong or weak. Its binding principles include the sovereign equality of states, the respect for the territorial integrity and the inviolability of internationally recognized borders.
Yet on Feb. 17, the Serbian province of Kosovo, which has been under United Nations administration since 1999, unilaterally declared independence from my country. This illegal act has, unfortunately, been recognized by the Bush administration and some European countries including Britain, France and Germany. Others in Europe-including Greece, Romania and Spain-have withheld recognition, as have most other leading global and regional players, including Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Russia and South Africa.
As things stand, the number of countries that will recognize an independent Kosovo will plateau at around 40, leaving it unrecognized by a vast majority of the close to 200 members of the United Nations. This includes, of course, the Republic of Serbia.
A peaceful demonstration of close to half a million people in Belgrade last week condemned this act of illegal secession. Unfortunately, a few hundred hooligans attacked several embassies, including that of the United States, and looted stores; they even attacked my ministry. Our government has condemned these acts, and will prosecute the offenders.
The case against recognition is based not only on the Security Council’s 1999 resolution reaffirming Serbia’s sovereignty over Kosovo, but also founded on the view that the international system has, as a result of this hostile act by the Kosovo Albanians, become more unstable, more insecure and more unpredictable.
Here’s why. Recognizing the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence from Serbia legitimizes the doctrine of imposing solutions to ethnic conflicts. It legitimizes the act of unilateral secession by a provincial or other non-state actor. It transforms the right to self-determination into an avowed right to independence. It legitimizes the forced partition of internationally recognized, sovereign states.
It violates the commitment to the peaceful and consensual resolution of disputes in Europe. It supplies any ethnic or religious group that has a grievance against its capital with a playbook on how to achieve its ends. It even resurrects the discredited cold-war doctrine of limited sovereignty.
A historical injustice is being imposed on a European country that has overcome more obstacles since we democratically overthrew Slobodan Milosevic in October 2000 than most other nations have in a much longer time. Recognizing Kosovo means saying, in effect, that Serbian democracy must be punished because a tyrant-one who committed heinous deeds against the Kosovo Albanians in the 1990s-was left unpunished. Such misplaced revenge may make some feel better, but it will make the international system feel much worse.
To act out of a false moral imperative to right a supposed historical wrong will contribute neither to international security nor to the region’s prospects of European Union membership. It is time to take a step back and examine the damage done.
If we can find a creative way to step back from the abyss that is Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, we could not only salvage the credibility of the international system, but even strengthen it through a re-commitment to its basic principles. Some will say that it’s too late to put the genie back in the bottle. I don’t believe that’s true, because it’s never too late to forge a prosperous future for all stakeholders to share.
What is absolutely certain is that trust needs to be rebuilt and values must be reaffirmed. The way forward lies in coming together and securing an agreement between the two parties: a negotiated, compromise solution to Kosovo’s future status that addresses the legitimate right to broad self-governance for Kosovo’s Albanians, while preserving a democratic Serbia that is whole and free, integrated into Europe, and engaged with a world set aright through prudent statecraft.
The legitimacy of the international system hangs in the balance.
[Vuk Jeremic is the foreign minister of Serbia]
Dayan said,
February 28, 2008 @ 6:09 am
The foreign Minister of Serbia said ” 40 countries out of the 192 independant states in the UN accept the Kosovan UDI. In his opinion, that is not a good number of countries to recognise the Kosovan Independence.
In my opinion, the people of countries who oppose the UDI will also accept the freedom of Kosovo.
85% of people in the world support the freedom of Kosovo regardless of their respective government policies.
ie. How many millions of people in India support the Independence of Kosovo, opposed to the Indian Central Government? This is not a democracy, humans need to change with evolution and break the barriers at any cost. The people of world should come togather to condemn the autocratic governments and change the way the UN functions.
Freedom of humans is more important than the borders.
2ndClassTamil said,
February 28, 2008 @ 9:21 am
Sovereignty seems an elusive concept to define. Many people have interpreted it in different ways. Even we come across concepts like sharing of sovereignty. In democracies it is thought to be held by the citizenry. When a whole collection of people within a goegraphic boundary agree to be governed by a common constitution then I believe sovereignty is born. In essense a common glue, a kind of DNA, has to be there to bind the citizenry together. When these preconditions are challenged, as in the case of Kosovo or Sri Lanka, talking about Serbian or Sri Lankan sovereignty becomes meaningless.
The Sri Lankan issue is interesting because Tamil sovereignty existed for millania prior to colonisation. It was handed over on a platter to the Singlalese on Independence. It underwent ‘disapperance’ with the Sinhala Buddhist consitutions of the 70’s (which were totally rejected by the Tamils who decided in Vaddukoddai to secede). It has now been practically taken over by the Tamil de facto state which only awaits international recognotion. The situation is akin to the sovereignty of Norway or Netherlands during German occupation or Kuwait when occupied by Saddam. Sovereignty of these states were never in question due to occupation. And so, the Tamils seek to continue their sovereignty from where it was stolen from them. It only remains to evict the 100% Sinhala Army, seen as an external aggressor, occcupying the Tamil homeland to deny the sovereignty of the Tamils.
Devinda Fernando said,
February 28, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
Nothing is over yet with Kosovo. I would not be surprised if Military action is taken soon. By Russia, by Serbia or both. This will be another Proxy war fought by Western and Eastern Superpowers.
2nd ClassIdiot,
‘Tamils’ are not seeking sovereignty, most are living side by side with the Sinhalese. Only deluded fools like you are trying to make it look like that to deceive the International community. If you want Tamil Sovereignty you should try Tamil Nadu, that is where it is most likely going to happen for you.
Jey P said,
February 28, 2008 @ 3:14 pm
Reply to comment # 3
As a fellow Sri Lankan I find your manner of addressing #2 unbecoming to say the least. You dont need to agree with someone but show respect (if you are capable of it).
It seems to me that if a nation is incapable of treating its citizens with dignity and respect, then it loses its sovereignty over them. I beleive the sole reason left for keeping this country together maybe the mutual benfit for all its Citizens in a united Sri Lanka. Beyond that I am not sure. we shouldn’t divide the country because it was so many hundreds of years ago. The question we should ask is it beneficial to be one or divided now?
The majority should ask themselves why do they want to keep a minority people united with them when the other wants to seperate? It is because they care so much to protect the minority from the clutches of an alleged Fascist Dictator or is it because they are afraid that they will be eventually overwhelmed by the Minority?
Some of my best friends are Sinhalese, indeed my wife too is Sinhalese and I have lived most of my life in the South. But that does not stop me and numerous others from seeing the inability of the Government to show real maturity in dealing with our greivences. If there is no genuine reason you think that there would be a war a lasting this long? Why do so many leave our Country? Is it just for kicks?
2ndClassTamil said,
February 28, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
Mr Davinda Fernando,
I don’t know whether you realise the damage you are causing to the Sinhalese people by your impetuous comments! But let me assure the world that not all Sinhalese are like you and that they should not take your comments seriously.
Yes, if Tamils have to go to Tamil Nadu, it strikes me that others of the Vijaya’s tribe may have to go even further up north
Dayan Jayatilleka said,
February 28, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
hey, please don’t confuse “Dayan” the writer listed 1 among those who have commented, with me….!
Ilamathy said,
February 28, 2008 @ 8:55 pm
I am happy at least people like Devinda Fernando are reading other people?s comments and ideas.
When a neutral person reads Devinda?s comments could understand what should be the real solution to this burning Sri Lankan issue.
Serbia’s and Milosovitch’s policies helped to carve an independent Kosovo. Like that, policies of the people like Devinda, Mahinda & Bros, JVP and JHU will help a lot to win our freedom.
Thanks Devinda. Keep it up
Sinhalese said,
February 29, 2008 @ 7:17 am
My question is this to the Tamisl who surprisingly happy about Kosovo? You guys misunderstand Western duplicity. If US and UK an use a nation then they support separation and all that. If they don’t they don’t give a damn. That’s why more desrving people – Palastine, Kurdhisthan (10 million people and bordering anAto country Turkey), Abkhazia (Georgia is Western puppet) don’t get support from the west. So let me tell you West is Using India and it’s markets so if India says now it is time to separate Sri Lanka west will jump to support. As far as India says let’s wait West would wait. So it’s not us Sinhalese who relay broke Ealm dream you yoourself by Killing Rajeev. Your choice how much it is difficult is to hand over Prabha and Pottu to India and under new leadership ask India’s help. Then even with fighting, whatever the JVP says we Sinhalse can’t stop seperation of Sri Lanka any way. For me I am a Buddhist and I do not have any clinging or desire to lot of things. When I die I may get a rebirth as a Tamil, kosovan or any one else so I don’t really have a claim to either side here. Ayubovan and vanakkam.
Devinda Fernando said,
February 29, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
*** Serbia’s and Milosovitch’s policies helped to carve an independent Kosovo. Like that, policies of the people like Devinda, Mahinda & Bros, JVP and JHU will help a lot to win our freedom. ***
There is no such thing as a Neutral person. Everything is Biased including the Media. Only Naive Delusional Fools like 2ndClassIdiot and Ilamathy write those comments above.
You don’t know the SHEER IRONY of your statements where you say Tamils Deserve a Racially Pure Homeland but the Sinhalese like me who advocate a United country for Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims or anyone else are called Racists by you!
I only criticize Donkey Diaspora people like you who advocate separation. But you people try to falsely paint me as a Sinhalese Racist but what is Racist about wanting to live together anywhere in Sri Lanka without dividing along Racial lines?? I have said it so many times before and I’ll say it again: You Tamil Separatists are the True Racists. There was a time when Sinhala racism was worse but now times have changed. You Tamil Diaspora are the product of 25 years of Racial Hatemongering by your leaders. Your community runs rife with all the immoral values you have bred into your community. Crime and Murder are all common place and highly Tolerated among Tamils because everything has been justified in the name of Tamil Separatism. This is why you will never see the LTTE for who they are because anyone they kill, any crime they commit is being done in the name of achieving Eelam. Even when the LTTE turned parasitic and started to feed on the very people it is supposedly protecting and fighting for…you continue to look the other way because if someone tells you it is for Eelam then it is OK by you. You people would even sacrifice your own sons and daughters without question if someone told you it would achieve Eelam.
(by the way I’m also not even Buddhist!)
My enemies will never look at me in a favorable light so I will not bother to try explain myself to them.
2ndClassTamil said,
March 1, 2008 @ 10:56 am
As far as I can recollect, no one has called you a racist or anything like that and if any have I deplore that. But on the contrary you have called names on others! For example this is not the first time you wanted to call me 2ndClassIdiot. (I remember correcting you then that a second-class idiot is not as bad an idiot as a 1stClassIdiot and that you should have alluded to me by the latter. Does this not show your limitation to think logically even after being corrected?)
If ‘Crime and Murder’ is tollerated by the Tamils, you should at least start thinking why it is so. It is because they genuinely feel being pushed agaist the wall, and people like you have, indirectly at least, been responsible for that feeling. If you are clamouring for a united SL on egalitarian principles, where is your criticism against the constitution and other socio-economic policies of the present and past govts that do not accommodate the minority-consensus?
Let us keep the debate at a mature level please!