Post #1

Traci Baron
Sep 6, 2018 · 4 min read

Serbia and its surrounding countries have a turbulent complex relationship stemming from ethnic tension. Leaders from Serbia and Kosovo are considering a territory swap to resolve differences from the regional ethnic Serbs and Kosovar groups. Serbia and Kosovo have had a turbulent relationship ever since Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbian capital, Belgrade, refuses to “acknowledge Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia, which has been recognized by at least 115 countries (Baumgartner and Jovicevic).”

Kosovo today has a 90% Albanian ethnic majority (McLaughlin). Paddy Ashdown, a former EU envoy to Bosnia-Herzegovina says a border change could be dangerous, taking a path “fraught with danger,” to the people themselves and to Russia — which they would use to justify aggression against other Balkan countries. EU representatives Ashdown, Carl Bildt, and Christian Schwarz-Schilling have expressed their concerns with a letter to EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini to not support a border change.

“Moving borders like this will not solve divisions, it will deepen them…and be misused by nationalist politicians to further challenge borders and destabilize other countries in the region.” (from the August 29th letter)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has suggested a plan in which he would like to take control of ethnically Serbian areas in northern Kosovo, at the cost of losing the ethically Albanian Presevo Valley in the south. Vucic claims that altering borders may aid in accepting Kosovo as a sovereign nation. Hashim Thaci, Kosovar President, has indicated he will unveil a plan to discuss border issues when he meets with Vucic in September; he favors bringing the Albanian Presevo valley into Kosovo. However, Ramush Haradinaj, Kosovo Prime Minister has expressed strong feelings saying “It would mean war…If we reopen what has already been agreed, it means reopening the past, and in our region reopening the past means reopening wars. All these borders are the result of tragic wars” (McLaughlin).

Many EU representatives fear that if there are border changes among Kosovo and Serbia that other Balkan states may seek to revise their borders. The ethnically Muslim region of Sandzjak (both Serbia and Montenegro) is posed as a likely candidate of further border changes, as well as the ethnically Hungarian area spanning Hungary and Serbia of Vojvodina.

The influence of these border changes does not stop in the Balkans, Russian President Vladimir Putin, may rationalize his dissatisfaction with the current climate in Ukraine by attempting to annex a region in Ukraine to Russia. This border change would simply establish a precedent for him to justify his actions. Thus far he has been uncharacteristically quiet about the border talks among Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo.

These border changes also have led to some panic amongst the people. Worries of how changing citizenship may impact their work, extended family, and quality of life is always questioned. In particular, devoted Christians are concerned. There have been reports of those opposing border talks on monasteries being attacked and insulted.

Outside governments are open to the idea of border changes if it does not aggravate the situation. John Bolton, US national security adviser, and EU enlargement commissioner, Johannes Hahn, do “not object to such a pact between Serbia and Kosovo if it did not destabilise the region” (McLaughlin).

It is important to note that countries in this region are arming themselves. “Croatia purchased Israeli F-16s, whereas Serbia obtained Russian MiG-29s” (Suljagic). However, if either of these countries intend to enter the EU, a “normalization of relations” is a condition of membership that must be met before being considered.

No matter what these leaders decide these border talks are extremely important and time sensitive. According to Marko Jaksic, a serb councillor in Kosovo “Serbs are dying in silence here now”(McLaughlin).

In the upcoming month, Vucic will meet Putin in Russia, Russian foreign affair representatives will visit Bosnia, and world leaders will gather in New York for the UN General Assembly on September 18th.

Kosovo’s status is still highly contested despite the country having declared its independence 10 years ago

Baumgartner, Pete, and Biljana Jovicevic. “Ash down Sounds Warning Over Proposed Kosovo-Serbia Land Swap.” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, 31 Aug. 2018. https://www.rferl.org/a/ashdown-kosovo-serbia-border-changes-would-please-bosnian-serbs-putin/29464227.html

McLaughlin, Daniel. “Land-Swap Fears Unite Many of Kosovo’s Serbs and Albanians.” The Irish Times , 1 Sept. 2018. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/land-swap-fears-unite-many-of-kosovo-s-serbs-and-albanians-1.3614133

Suljagic, Emir. “Bosnia and Herzegovina Is Andalusia in the Making .” Aljazeera, 1 Sept. 2018. https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/bosnia-herzegovina-andalusia-making-180830130451068.html

Pictures:

https://newsonia.com/reader/report/serbia-accuses-world-of-double-standards-over-catalonia-and-kosovo/

Ethnic Tension Sets Albania and Serbia at Odds
In the Western Balkans, centuries-old grudges and territorial claims on others have led to frequent conflict.worldview.stratfor.com

https://02varvara.wordpress.com/2008/03/09/hundreds-of-ethnic-serbs-protest-in-central-berlin/

Europe at Mizzou

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Traci Baron

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Europe at Mizzou

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