Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Feb 20 2008

Kosovo independence, or a precedent of threats and bribery

20 February 2008 [11:32] – Today.Az

Declaration of Kosovo independence caused euphoria among the
unrecognized formations on the territory of the former Soviet Union.

This was mainly promoted by the position of Russia, which is
considered the main stimulator as well as a direct sponsor of
separatists in case of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdnestria.
Putin’s positive tone, who excluded Nagorno Karabakh separatists from
the list of unrecognized countries skillfully,voicing the right of
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for international
recognition, should be praised.

However, amidst the chaos with Kosovo independence or a "precedent"
(this is how Moscow prefers to call it now), people forget an
important detail-the declaration of Kosovo independence followed
elections in Serbia. It means that the United States and the European
Union preserved the chance of Serbian voters to choose between Kosovo
and perspective integration with the European Union till the end.
Gradually, these were Serbian not Kosovo voters, who made this
choice, being aware that Tadich’s government will not demonstrate
serious resistance to Kosovo’s separation.

It should be reminded that a similar choice have recently been
introduced on Cyprus by Kofi Anan’s plan and on April 24, 2004 Cyprus
Creeks also voted for integration with the European Union in exchange
for factual separation of Norther Cyprus.Thus, it can be stated from
the Cyprus and Kosovo examples that the United States and European
Union have successfully tested their new model of solution of
separatist conflicts-a free choice between threats and bribery. It
seems that Servian voters preferred the Trans-Atlantic model to the
Russian variant of threats.

Certainly, to apply the trans-Atlantic model of the Kosovo precedent
in the separatist formations of the former USSR, the peoples of
Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan must be given a chance to choose
between the European Union and loss of a part of their territory.
However, this detail, which is not quite comfortable, is absent in
the comments of "the supporters of justice" from the former
superstate, as it will mean the loss of influence over four neighbors
under any development of events.

Surprisingly, the detail was perceived by Armenian Prime Minister
Serj Sarkisyan, who noted that though Kosovo and Karabakh conflicts
are similar, "Kosovo is not a precedent for us". No doubt that the
plebiscite on Karabakh in Azerbaijan will not be suitable for
Yerevan, which declares the right of people for self-determination
and assures the world of the truthfulness of its own illusion about
independence of Nagorno Karabakh.

/Day.Az/

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