№ 48 - Status of Kosovo
№ 48 - Status of Kosovo

Author(s): Author Not Specified
Subject(s): Constitutional Law, Governance, International relations/trade
Published by: Helsinški odbor za ljudska prava u Srbiji
Keywords: Bataković; Vuk Jeremić; International Court of Justice;
Summary/Abstract: Belgrade has underestimated the international community’s resolve to settle the status of Kosovo and, therefore, inadequately acted in the 2007 negotiations. Ever since the beginning of the Kosovo crisis Belgrade has had an eye on the partition scenario and taken it as the only acceptable solution. In 2004, the book “Kosovo” by Dobrica Cosic was being promoted in all bigger towns in Serbia – that was actually an official announcement of the partition policy. Having mistakenly assessed the attitude of international factors, Belgrade has opted for the strategy of moving the Kosovo question to international arena – be-fore the International Court of Justice. Ist intensive diplomatic campaign secured it support from a certain number of countries, which could face similar problems themselves. As soon as the proceedings before ICJ began, the statements coming from Belgrade indicated what was being expected as an outcome: renewal of Belgrade-Prishtina negotiations and a compromise over partition of Kosovo.In the final stage of closing the Balkan question the international community needs to be fully aware that any reopening of the issue of borders is a Pandora’s Box and disintegrates the security structure built over two decades. A unique and functional Bosnia-Herzegovina is a key to stability in the Balkans. As for Serbia, closing of the issue of borders opens new avenues for necessary changes in the country itself.

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