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A new state emerges in Europe

Mohammad Amjad Hossain
THE unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo possibly ends speculation but the rise in tension in the Balkans. Both Serbia and Russia opposed the declaration while the United States, Great Britain, France and Germany recognized the newly emerged sovereign and independent Kosovo. Balkan countries such as Romania and Bulgaria have not recognised Kosovo. Neither has China. Possibly Slovakia and Cyprus will also not follow the foot print of big countries in recognising Kosovo. Spain has expressed reservation to recognition to 'separatist group’. Spain has been facing similar situation for a long time from its ETA separatist population whose aims has been to win Basque as their homeland and freedom from Spain. This movement began in 1959.
Kosovo was a province of Serbia-Montenegro. But ruthless oppression and suppression of the majority by minority Serbs strengthened their resolve to become independent. The army crack down by President Slobodan Milosevic on Kosovars in 1996 to 1997 was ruthless which caused death of many ethnic Albanians while 300,000 fled Kosovo, particularly to neighbouring Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Germany and many thousands were displaced within Kosovo itself. A study by Lancet, a British medical journal, revealed 12000 deaths while the Red Cross reported 3,368 were missing until 2000. The
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia announced that it had exhumed 2,788 bodies in Kosovo. The effort by Milosevic was seen as ethnic cleansing. Milosevic was put on the dock in the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague for the crime that he committed in Kosovo.
The majority in Kosovo are Albanian ethnics while Serbs are the minority. The army crack down was so ruthless that Germany decided to change their constitution to participate with NATO troops outside of their territory for the first time since the end of World War II. Possibly three reasons dictated Germany's participation. These are: humanitarian impulses, fostering transatlantic relations and regain the initiative in European policy. I was observing the development from Bonn where I was serving at Bangladesh embassy. German Socialist Party in collusion with the Green Party was in power at that time.
NATO launched attack on Kosovo and Belgrade between March and June, 1999 during which Yugoslav targets were attacked while the Kosovo liberation army (KLA) guerrilla continued battle against Yugoslav forces. NATO did not hesitate to bomb Belgrade, capital of Serbia-Montenegro. Yugoslav troops' were finally pulled out of Kosovo. Since June, 1999 Kosovo was under the protection of the United Nations peace keeping forces and NATO.
This unilateral declaration of independence was questioned by Serbia in the Security Council
where the matter is under discussion for a long time. Serbia wanted to declare the call inappropriate and illegal. If this matter is referred to the Security Council it would be vetoed by Russia and China. The same situation arose when NATO decided to attack Yugoslavia in 1999. The resolution of the Security Council was vetoed by Russia. On humanitarian grounds NATO carried out the operations in Kosovo and Belgrade without the backing of the Security Council. The legitimacy of bombing in Kosovo and Belgrade had been the subject of criticism, but the human cleansing of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo was justified to carry out such operation.
Meanwhile, minority Serbs in Kosovo have declared they will not follow the declaration because much of northern part is entirely dominated by Serbs. A Serbian Deputy Minister for Kosovo is reported to have said that all political and diplomatic means will be applied to keep Kosovo within Serbia. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a statement said: we invite Serbia's leaders to work together with the United States and our partners to accomplish shared goals. Serbia has called back its Ambassador from the United States in protest of recognition of Kosovo.
The question now arises whether the tiny state in Europe will survive the onslaught of Serbia, Russia and some others in the international arena.
Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a former
Bangladesh diplomat, writes from Virginia