Breaking free

One of my early political memories was the NATO action in Kosovo in 1999. That was when I, along with many other politically inclined youths, learned the name Slobodan Milosevic and what “ethnic cleansing” meant. We learned the difference between Serbs and Albanians. We learned that sometimes the world community needs to step in to stop a human disaster.\nSunday, the people whose “cleansing” was ended by NATO made the next big step in their journey. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, formerly part of Yugoslavia.\nOn Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice formally recognized Kosovo’s new status, while trying to preserve relations with Serbi, who, along with its ally Russia, maintains that Kosovo is still a part of Serbia.\nThough Kosovo’s independence might lead other breakaway groups, like the Basques in Spain and the Abkhazia in Georgia, the independence attempt is the right move for both the Kosovars and the Bush administration.\nFirst of all, as Rice said, Kosovo has a fairly unique situation. The country from which it split, Serbia, was formerly part of Yugoslavia, which dissolved into several smaller states, therefore establishing a precedent for Kosovo to move for independence. The region’s history of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the Serbs helps contribute to the uniqueness of Kosovo’s situation, as does the fact that the region has been administered by the United Nations for nearly 10 years. These factors all make Kosovo a prime candidate for independence. \nThe independence of Kosovo also, in a circuitous way, bodes well for the future of Iraq after U.S. troops leave. One of the proposed plans for Iraq’s government has been a federal structure, with a central government connecting three states, one each for the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. If Kosovo, which is ethnically 90 percent Albanian, can survive in a similar format, perhaps the federalist plan could actually work for Iraq.\nOf course, the declaration of independence isn’t uncontested. Serbia opposes it, and Serbia is allied with Russia. The two nations have refused to acknowledge Kosovo’s declaration. Of course, the United States has recognized Kosovo. This could lead to a nasty diplomatic situation between the U.S. and Russia if it is not handled properly.\nAlso, it’s well known that the Balkan Peninsula isn’t exactly the most stable region of the world. It’s possible that Kosovo’s independence could make the region unstable once again. \nHowever, it seems that the pros for Kosovar independence outweigh the cons. The region has led a bloody history at the hands of its own government, so it seems only proper that it should be able to secede. Kosovo has a rough road ahead, but it has the right to make the decision to walk that road – and its people deserve our support.