Izvestia
December 11, 2007
Russia will not ally with the West on Kosovo
Following the United States, the European Union has
finally made up its mind on the status of Kosovo.
The further course of events is not difficult to
forecast - Pristina will declare its "state
sovereignty" and separation from Serbia.
The U.S., EU and some non-allied Balkan countries will
recognize its sovereignty immediately.
But then Russia will step forward. It is down to
Russia whether or not the UN Security Council endorses
Kosovo's independence, just as it is in the issue of
the rebel province being recognized "in an individual
manner."
All the West's attempts to influence Moscow and
persuade it to join the common viewpoint have failed.
In private conversations, the usually restrained
European diplomats are not hiding their irritation:
what sense is there in resisting when everything is
decided, and Kosovo's independence is a foregone
conclusion?
But these arguments do not embarrass Russia. You have
decided everything for yourselves and are trying to
convince us of your truth. But you cannot, because you
lack arguments.
Why should Russia unreservedly accept the strange
formula saying that Kosovo is a unique case and Serbs
in Bosnia, or Abkhazia, or Transdnestr, or Nagorny
Karabakh not unique?
Why should Russia follow the West in shutting its eyes
to the danger posed by Albanian nationalism to the
region and the whole of Europe.
Today we have Kosovo. Tomorrow it could be
Albanian-populated areas in southern Serbia (Presevo,
Medvedja, or Bujanovac). The day after tomorrow it
could be Macedonia, where the Albanian "liberation
army" has already once brought matters to a civil war.
Montenegro, too, has Albanian pockets - where is the
guarantee that they will never determine to uphold
their "sovereignty" with weapons in their hands?
Why, lastly, is it possible to dismember Serbia and
never Kosovo?
Why not discuss quite a logical option - separation
from the province of the part of Mitrovica populated
by Serbs and adjoining Serbia?
There are too many questions without answers.
You do not want to pause and think? You need not. You
prefer to indulge in illusions? You are welcome.
But do not make Russia rubberstamp resolutions it
considers mistaken and unjust.
Russia need not be courted as an ally. It will not
carry out a 'mercy strike' on Serbia. But nor will it
encourage aggressive separatism.