[AlbClub] WSJ: Kosova Wants Independence

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Kosova Wants Independence

<>By Agim Çeku
The Kosova status process is reaching its natural conclusion. The 
present negotiations come to their appointed end on Dec. 10. This will 
create the atmosphere for a positive and collaborative declaration of 
independence and prompt recognition by the international community.

We are taking very seriously our talks with Serbia and the "troika" of 
international diplomats from the U.S., Europe and Russia. But it is 
clear that discussion of status is a dead end: Serbia can't accept that 
independence is inevitable; we know that independence is nothing but 
inevitable, and can't be compromised on or delayed. Attitudes in Serbia 
and Kosova are not going to change in a month or a year. We must be 
realistic, and we must be forward-looking.

We are open to dialogue with Belgrade on all other issues. More than 
this, we actively want agreement in crucial areas, and have made 
specific proposals for cooperation in a range of policy fields where we 
can only gain by cooperating: freedom of movement across the border for 
people and trade, the environment, regional infrastructure, security, 
and the fight against organized crime. Kosova and Serbia are neighbours 
and our best chance to succeed in our common pursuit of a Euro-Atlantic 
future is through cooperation.

By the same token, any aggressive attempts by Serbia to hinder the 
current international process of resolution-say, by closing the border 
or imposing economic sanctions-will be damaging not just for Kosova but 
also for Serbia and the region. When I met the Serbian team in Vienna 
last week, I said that the compromise we can make is in our attitude. 
Our instinct must be to talk and listen to Serbia, not to fear or 
criticize it. We hope that Serbia can also change its attitude.

Independence is not something that can or will be delayed in return for 
financial incentives, as some people have seemed to suggest; 
independence is not for sale. Independence is simply an option on the 
table or a proposed constitutional model. It is a new fact of history, 
economic, politics and society in the region.

Suggestions of new models of independence or association are empty, 
irrelevant and meaningless. After the suffering of all of the people of 
Kosova in 1990s, we can never have any kind of confederation with 
Serbia. But we can have collaboration. And we will all benefit from 
it-Kosova and Serbia and Europe. There is nothing worse for any of us, 
including Serbia with her European aspirations, than to leave the issue 
of Kosova's status unresolved.

Independence is not a final victory over Serbia. It removes, instead, 
the last obstacle to a mature relationship with our neighbor, Serbia. 
The declaration and recognition of independence will be consistent with 
international law, a success for the European Union, and a positive 
development in international relations. We want to make Serbia and 
Kosova twin successes.

The international community has invested enormous effort into making the 
new state of Kosova work. We have come a long way since 1999. We have a 
government that is representative, democratically elected, multiethnic 
and functioning. We are in the midst of an election campaign right now 
that will, like previous polls, underline the health of our democracy.

Our next government will have a similar agenda to mine-an independent 
Kosova committed to a future working closely with, and perhaps one day 
belonging to the European Union and NATO. I am sure that Kosova's future 
leaders will work to implement the United Nations' Ahtisaari plan, which 
our parliament adopted this year. The Ahtisaari plan, with its 
remarkable guarantees for our minority citizens, is a fair compromise on 
the future governance of Kosova that foresees international supervision, 
incorporating the needs and interests of Serbs and Albanians in Kosova 
and Serbia. It's the best way forward.

The transition of the international presence in Kosova from the U.N. 
Mission in Kosova (UNMIK), which came in 1999, to the International 
Civilian Office (ICO) must go on. UNMIK has done a great deal of good in 
Kosova. Its presence on the ground has made it possible for us to put 
our structures in place and our house in order-as much as we could 
without clarity on our future status. It is now time to move to the next 
phase of development for Kosova and the region. If we remain stuck in 
the present position for too long, UNMIK's good efforts could unravel. 
But the EU-led ICO can help us begin preparing for a future in Europe.

The next Kosova government must continue reaching out to our Serb 
citizens. They are being squeezed unjustly by Belgrade, which is urging 
them not to participate in the political life of Kosova. This is bad 
advice. Kosova Serbs are part of our state. We want to move forward with 
this reconciliation; we would like to do so in partnership with 
Belgrade, but we will push on alone if necessary.

Kosova alone will declare its independence, but in an atmosphere of 
international satisfaction that serious negotiations have been taken as 
far as possible, and of clear commitment from Kosova to reconciliation 
and regional stability. This will be a very multilateral independence.

Mr. Çeku is Prime Minister of Kosova.

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