A New Balkan State

Kosovo declared independence over the week-end, formalizing its split with Serbia and completing a turbulent break-up of the former Yugoslavia. 90% of Kosovars are ethnic Albanians who are mostly secular Moslems, a complete contrast from the majority Orthodox Serbs in the North. Seceding from Serbia is probably the best solution to the Balkan crisis which culminated in the ethnic cleansing policies of the convicted war criminal Slobodan Milosevic not seen since Hitler's time.

Belgrade is not happy, along with its ally, Moscow, while Washington and major European Union nations like Britain, France and Germany will likely recognize its independence. Countries that are currently battling separatist movements in their backyard, such as Indonesia, China, Spain and Greece and most notably, Russia do not want Kosovo's secession from Serbia to set a precedent to their own rebellious provinces. In China's case, obviously, the Tibet and Taiwan issues resonate forcefully and it is unlikely that Beijing will accord state recognition.

With Russia and China exercising full veto powers in the UN Security Council, it is unlikely that Kosovo will be admitted to the United Nations anytime soon.

The nations are split over Kosovo along Cold War lines: the Americans and Western Europeans on one side and the Russians and the Chinese on the other.

Again, you ask, "What has Kosovo got to do with me?"

I don't know.