Kosovo: News, Politics & Issues

[osiris]

recognize them as kosovo the former province of the former yugoslav republic of serbia.

[Risto the Great]

Do nothing.
Why deal with a drug cartel?
... unless you can get cheaper drugs.

[malenka]

Yes, as Former Jugoslav Province of Kosovo and Metohia

[Six Guns]

Macedonia should recognise Kosovo only if it benefits from it e.g. giving it a better chance in getting into the EU and only if they recognise Macedonia by it's constitutional name.

p.s Hi by the way, I'm Six Guns! =)

[Coolski]

In two words Pelister, NO WAY!


Kosovo is an illegal state which has broken off from Serbia. THe moment Macedonia recognises an illegal breakaway ethnic Albanian state, you know what precedent has been set.

There are several levels of "NO WAY" which can be argued.

1. Kosovo is demanding (not asking) for Macedonia to recognise them
2. Kosovo has shown no interest in recognising the Republic of Macedonia
3. Kosovo is an illegal state formed under illegal conditions for the support of a particular entity.
4. Macedonia is not a part of NATO, nor is there any indication that Macedonia will be allowed to join (because of Greece). Recognising Kosovo while Macedonia remains without decent security is worse than waiting for NATO entry.
4. Kosovo is not part of a natural alliance with Macedonia. In fact, its people have shown themselves to be very anti-Macedonian since their refugees entered Macedonia in the 1999 conflict. The same ethnic Albanian people call for a breakaway region of Iliria from Macedonia.

5. Russia has asked Macedonia to recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazian independence. They too are technically illegal states. Setting a precedent with Kosovo and not recognising South Ossetia and Abkhazia will create problems for Macedonia's eastern relations.

6. Recognition of Kosovo will kill Macedonia's relations with Serbia, both economic and cultural. Like it or not, they are one of Macedonia's closer friends in the Balkans.

So, my answer? "NO WAY".

My solution? Macedonia should recognise Kosovo only as an autonomous territory (which it is), and offer similar recognition to South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

It is one thing to satisfy super-powers, but when both satisfactions involve recognising a precedent for separatists in your own country, it is an absolute death sentence.

[Volk]

Serbia is our biggest trading partner, an embargo by them as a response to recognition will put us on our knees.

This is why recognition is so difficult

[Rogi]

A quick plan...

1. Talk to Russia and tell them now that there are multiple cases (Kosovo and Georgia), the precedent has been created and eventually you intend to recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia - but you need strong Russian support in the name dispute. Also, ask Russia if they can send a mission (troops) to Macedonia to help guard the border with Kosovo. (The announcements alone would be enough to play the pro-Russian influence card here, symbolic for pushing EU/NATO into action for Macedonia).

2. Talk to USA and tell them you're close to recognizing Kosovo, but to persuade the Macedonian people into accepting it, you need to see America in Action for Macedonia - that is, forcing Greece's hand for NATO and pushing EU for visa-liberalisation and a date for accession talks.

3. Talk to Serbia and tell them that since their Russian Allies did the same thing in Georgia, you are under heavy International pressure from both sides to recognise the precedent set by both examples and thus recognize Kosovo and that you don't really want to - find out what Serbia can offer as a sweetener for delaying the inevitable - find out also what their reaction would be. They'd principally pull out their Ambassador for a few weeks, that's as far as they'd take it. They are now landlocked and need their access to Solun via Macedonia for their trade - an embargo by them can be returned by us and that would not be in anyone's interest so they wouldn't do it.

4. Talk to China and discuss Taiwan and that you are under heavy pressure to recognize Kosovo and the precedent it sets - what can China offer Macedonia to help alleviate some of the International pressure, how can China help with the name dispute?

5. Talk to Spain and discuss Catalonia and the Basque country, tell the Spaniards that you are under heavy pressure to recognize Kosovo and the precedent it sets and as the immediate neighbouring country to Kosovo, your recognition is significant. Discuss what Spain can do to lobby for an EU-accession date, as a sweetener to help alleviate the pressure (the pressure mostly being EU/NATO related) on Macedonia and help Macedonia delay or avoid recognition.

6. Talk to Albania and let them know that you'd like to recognize Kosovo but are weary of the potential backlash amongst the Macedonian people and the re-action of the Albanians in Macedonia to that backlash. Ask for some strong statements from Albania's leadership about strong Macedonian-Albanian relations and some strong public statements about the success of Macedonia's human and minority rights, etc. Enough to have something very strong on record to be used for PR Blitz when/if needed in future.

7. Finally, talk to Kosovo and tell them that you are prepared to recognize Kosovo and be a great neighbour, including investing heavily in Kosovo and helping it's economy. To do this, they need to recognise Macedonia's Constitutional name and the border demarcation needs to be completed - as well as a number of laws allowing Macedonians to have special privileges in investing in Kosovo, etc (whatever can be arranged) as well as offering easy Kosovo-citizenships to Albanians from Macedonia to stimulate investments in Kosovo. The Government should prepare to take out some loans, sure it's costly, but national interests always are, and employ some 20,000 Albanian-Macedonians, over the following 3-4 years into working in Kosovo (and moving there with families) - with some of the money from those loans, buy those 5,000 houses out - offer them at reduced costs to Macedonians from Diaspora or young Macedonian couples to stimulate ethno-demographic re-balancing in certain areas.


Anything above can be adjusted if I've overseen or missed anything, but what do you think?

[Spartan]

Originally Posted by Rogi

A quick plan...
2. Talk to USA and tell them you're close to recognizing Kosovo, but to persuade the Macedonian people into accepting it, you need to see America in Action for Macedonia - that is, forcing Greece's hand for NATO and pushing EU for visa-liberalisation and a date for accession talks.

Why would you want to join such a racist, and backwards organization such as the EU?

[Rogi]

To ultimately remove the borders between the 3 parts of Macedonia in a Europe without borders, and let all Macedonian people mix freely. That is the national interest.

But that's not the point of my post, let's stick to the topic at hand.

[Risto the Great]

Originally Posted by Rogi

A quick plan...

1. Talk to Russia and tell them now that there are multiple cases (Kosovo and Georgia), the precedent has been created and eventually you intend to recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia - but you need strong Russian support in the name dispute. Also, ask Russia if they can send a mission (troops) to Macedonia to help guard the border with Kosovo. (The announcements alone would be enough to play the pro-Russian influence card here, symbolic for pushing EU/NATO into action for Macedonia).

2. Talk to USA and tell them you're close to recognizing Kosovo, but to persuade the Macedonian people into accepting it, you need to see America in Action for Macedonia - that is, forcing Greece's hand for NATO and pushing EU for visa-liberalisation and a date for accession talks.

3. Talk to Serbia and tell them that since their Russian Allies did the same thing in Georgia, you are under heavy International pressure from both sides to recognise the precedent set by both examples and thus recognize Kosovo and that you don't really want to - find out what Serbia can offer as a sweetener for delaying the inevitable - find out also what their reaction would be. They'd principally pull out their Ambassador for a few weeks, that's as far as they'd take it. They are now landlocked and need their access to Solun via Macedonia for their trade - an embargo by them can be returned by us and that would not be in anyone's interest so they wouldn't do it.

4. Talk to China and discuss Taiwan and that you are under heavy pressure to recognize Kosovo and the precedent it sets - what can China offer Macedonia to help alleviate some of the International pressure, how can China help with the name dispute?

5. Talk to Spain and discuss Catalonia and the Basque country, tell the Spaniards that you are under heavy pressure to recognize Kosovo and the precedent it sets and as the immediate neighbouring country to Kosovo, your recognition is significant. Discuss what Spain can do to lobby for an EU-accession date, as a sweetener to help alleviate the pressure (the pressure mostly being EU/NATO related) on Macedonia and help Macedonia delay or avoid recognition.

6. Talk to Albania and let them know that you'd like to recognize Kosovo but are weary of the potential backlash amongst the Macedonian people and the re-action of the Albanians in Macedonia to that backlash. Ask for some strong statements from Albania's leadership about strong Macedonian-Albanian relations and some strong public statements about the success of Macedonia's human and minority rights, etc. Enough to have something very strong on record to be used for PR Blitz when/if needed in future.

7. Finally, talk to Kosovo and tell them that you are prepared to recognize Kosovo and be a great neighbour, including investing heavily in Kosovo and helping it's economy. To do this, they need to recognise Macedonia's Constitutional name and the border demarcation needs to be completed - as well as a number of laws allowing Macedonians to have special privileges in investing in Kosovo, etc (whatever can be arranged) as well as offering easy Kosovo-citizenships to Albanians from Macedonia to stimulate investments in Kosovo. The Government should prepare to take out some loans, sure it's costly, but national interests always are, and employ some 20,000 Albanian-Macedonians, over the following 3-4 years into working in Kosovo (and moving there with families) - with some of the money from those loans, buy those 5,000 houses out - offer them at reduced costs to Macedonians from Diaspora or young Macedonian couples to stimulate ethno-demographic re-balancing in certain areas.


Anything above can be adjusted if I've overseen or missed anything, but what do you think?

All of the above.

Or else, get better prices negotiated with Kosovo for drugs.