Kosovo, Europas nya stat?

I fallet Montenegro förefaller serben på gatan inte ha brytt sig för fem öre då Montenegro redan var självstyrande i så stor utsträckning, och även de serbiska politikerna gick med på en uppdelning då det trots allt förekommit en demokratisk omröstning, om än med lite sura miner. Det föreligger inte riktigt samma situation i Kosova, moderlandets hjärta med allt från slaget på Trastfältet 1389 till kriget mot NATO.

Author: Veton Surroi, member of the Kosovar delegation for status talks and the Chairman of ORA

Veton Surroi
1.

Independence of Kosova is not a matter of flag, anthem or emblem. It is not a matter of Battle of Kosovo or Illyrian-Dardanian continuity, either. Neither is a matter of isolation from the others. In the 21st century, the independence of Kosova is a matter of management, security and of prospect.

Let us begin with management. This is a territory that after so many conflicts, that culminated with the attempted genocide against the Albanian majority, has reached a stage of maturity that requires it to be managed by its inhabitants. This has been called and is called self-determination; but within the context here, let us name it simply in a business term, management. Of course, one can say that this can be corporative management; thus Kosova can be part of a bigger enterprise, of Serbia and Montenegro, for example, but the answer to this is simple. The big corporation, the socialist Yugoslavia has bankrupted and separate enterprises have derived from it. Some of them, e.g. Slovenia and Croatia, with extraordinary success, while some others, e.g. Bosnia and Herzegovina, still deficient. Serbia and Montenegro is a small corporation on the verge of bankruptcy, and as such not attractive to anyone, not even its constitutive enterprises.

But, there is one other successful corporation, the EU. However, a prerequisite for an enterprise to become a part of this corporation is to be healthy, on the one hand, and to have solved all legal- ownership-issues. Kosova, as a European territory, is interested in becoming a part of the EU, but in order to reach that goal, it has to define its “legal-ownership issues”, first. This simply means that the definition of Kosova’s status as an independent state should be perceived as a priority for the possibility of adherence into EU. So, Kosova is becoming independent though not to be isolated by other European nations and states, but in order to join the other European nations and states, including the Serb in the future.

2.

Why is it a matter of security?

In the 21st century, the experience of the 20th century was understood, and this is experience is that source of insecurity, both on the global and local level, are countries that have failed. Two examples are sufficient: former Yugoslavia, whose failure became a source of the biggest insecurity on the European continent after the World War II, and Afghanistan, which as a failed country had become a training heaven for international terrorism.

Vice versa, functional states represent the source of regional and global security. The only way how Kosovo can guarantee security for its citizens, and at the same be a guarantee for regional security, is through its own functional state. Kosovo in no way can be part of a Serbian state. This has been proven by all means, including even extreme violence, and it has been proven as a failed project, even to the extent that Serbia cannot still become a functional state, suffering the consequences of its own fascism, as a driving ideology for the for annexation of Kosovo in that time.

3.

Finally, it is a matter of prospect. In any segment of life, there is a need for fundamentals upon which the future is to be built.

In economy, for example, it has been proven that the can be no economic development without property being defined. Accordingly, in the overall development of Kosova, there can be forward steps unless the character of the state is defined. As long as there’s duality as far as the nature of state, there will be dual interpretation of its legal order, and duality on the fundamental issues, such as the assurance of the economic investments. We have seen this in Kosova during the six years with UNMIK, where the lack of defined power, and the resulting duality, have in fact brought enormous stagnation in the development of institutions, democracy and economy.. When it is unclear who is responsible in government, the whole chain of responsibility is lost, thus the nature of democracy and the power of the vote of sovereign, the citizen.

Therefore, Kosovo should become independent in order to build a democratic future of a responsible government and a future of economic development.

4.

I am aware that in Serbia, which in fact is the only country opposing Kosovo’s independence, there is a completely different approach, and that other entirely different argument are in play. I know that would bring about voices telling me: ”How would you protect Kosovo Serbs with these three principles of yours?” The answer is very simple: So far, all models that exclude the majority population taking full responsibilities have been used. The result for the Serbs was catastrophic; Milosevic made of them colonial administrators, and this put Kosova Serbs into a specific historical position to be regarded as a fifth colon in their country, new Kosova.

Let us try a model that prevailed in the united Europe, that of the majority population taking responsibility, in a democratic and functional state.

Friday, January 28, 2005
World Bank survey puts Kosovo's mineral resources at 13.5bn euros

Kosova [Kosovo] mine [mineral] resources are worthy of 13.5 billion euros, according to a joint survey conducted by the Directorate for Mines and Minerals and the World Bank [WB].

The director for mines and minerals, Rainer Hengstmann, said in a press conference that those resources could generate 35,000 new jobs and would attract new investments.

Hengstmann said that the wealth of the mine in Sibofc [Sibovac] is estimated at 6.5 billion euros, wealth of Trepca at 3 billion, wealth of Feronikel 2 billion, whereas the wealth of the resources in other parts of Kosova were estimated at 2 billion euros.

He highlighted the need for making of investments in those mines, saying that some 1.8 billion euros of investment is needed.

There are 470 quarries in Kosova which do not possess licences to use mine resources. Hengstmann said that these companies could be licensed and operate legally.

The Independent Commission of Mines and Minerals, whose board would be comprised of three internationals and two locals, will issue licences for exploiting of mine resources in accordance with the rules.

The exploitation of mine resources in Kosova in the past was made by private companies, without clear rules, which often resulted in abuses.

But Adil Januzi, expert for mines, said that natural resources of Kosovo worth much more than Hengstmann presented. "Kosova has 13 billion tonnes of lignite only," he added.

Whereas Lorik Haxhiu, expert on mines and an adviser of the Ministry of Energetic and Mines, said that Kosova has a lot of natural resources, but their price is dependant on a number of factors.

One year ago Trepca's resources were estimated at 1.3 billion euros, but as result of price increase of minerals, now they are estimated at 3 billion euros.

Potential for the Future
The World Bank’s 17 May 2004 Kosovo Economic Memorandum states “Kosovo’s future depends critically on its ability to open its borders and benefit from international trade. Empirical evidence demonstrates that small states can achieve high growth rates when the economy is open, there are no controls on capital flows, the business environment is unencumbered by regulation, and a liberal labor market exists, resulting in a mobile labor force.” The memorandum also praises Kosovo’s extremely liberal trading regimes.

For Kosovo to capitalize on its liberal trading policies and achieve sustainable economic growth, it will need to create a sound, secure financial environment for investors — the kind of environment only a sovereign state can create.

Sectors that hold the greatest potential for economic growth are mining, energy, and agriculture. According to the World Bank (31 July 2005 economic briefing), “Kosovo has abundant resources of lignite, lead and zinc, ferrolnickel, magnesite, and crushed stone, and relatively low transport costs to Western European markets. In particular, utilization of lignite resources (by attracting private investment) holds potential for the energy sector to become an engine of growth rather than a drain on public resources.”