U.S. recognition of Kosovo values self-determination higher than territorial integrity

Karl Volker, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, says his country will recognize Kosovo's independence no matter what

PRISTINA (Tiraspol Times) - True to Woodrow Wilson's high principles of self-determination for all peoples, the right of the people of Kosovo to democratically choose their own future is more important than the territorial integrity of an existing country. That is what analysts conclude after a statement by a U.S. State Department official that Washington stands ready to recognize a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, overriding both Serb objections and concern by a number of members of the international community.

The position has been clarified by State Department official Karl Volker even as talks are underway between Kosovo and Serbia to find alternative solutions to their territorial- and self-determination differences.

In Washington, U.S. State Department representative Kurt Volker told journalists that "if Kosovo unilaterally declares independence, the United States will recognize that independence."

This, say analysts in Brussels and Washington, means that no matter what the United Nations or the international community says, the United States will go ahead and recognize Kosovo as a sovereign country when it declares independence unilaterally.

According to news service France Press, it is the first time a U.S. official has publicly confirmed this position in the Kosovo status crisis, which was, according to the agency, so far only mentioned in an unofficial context.

Serbia wants UN protection

Serbia sees the U.S. threat as an attack on its country's territorial integrity, while diplomats at the United Nations are worried at the apparent American disregard for international law.

" - Our country is faced with a direct threat from the U.S. that it will in an illegal way recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence," Serbia's Prime Minister Voijslav Kostunica said in a statement.

" - Using a policy of force, the United States is openly threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia which is an internationally recognized state and a member of the United Nations," he said.

He called on the UN Security Council to take necessary measures to protect Serbia from the U.S. policy of force. Opposition politicians in Belgrade who are normally critical of the country's leadership are, in this case, supporting the government's stand.

" - It is now clear the U.S. never wanted to see any negotiations, compromise or respect for international law," said Aleksandar Vučić, a Belgrade politician.

Transdniester needs no UN approval, but Kosovo does

Others now feel that if the United States has already made up its mind, then what is the point of even negotiating?

" - Such statements encourage extremism and take the meaning out of efforts of the negotiations," a party spokeswoman for Serbia's Democratic Party said Saturday. The Democratic Party (DS) is made up of pro-European moderates - the kind that would otherwise be natural allies of the United States - and is the party of current Serb President Boris Tadic.

In Tiraspol, government officials from Transdniestria watch the latest developments with interest. Transdniestria - officially named the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica, or Pridnestrovie for short - declared independence in 1990 and has since ruled itself with no outside interference. It has every attribute of a sovereign country except diplomatic recognition by the outside world.

Unlike Transdniester, Kosovo is not currently a "de facto" independent state. It does not have self-rule but is run as a United Nations Protectorate which was established in 1999 after NATO, on behalf of ethnic Albanians, undertook a 78 day bombing war against Serbia.

According to the United Nations and the UN Security Council resolution which established the current Kosovo protectorate status, Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia's national territory.

" - The integrity of the UN Security Council's role in the system of international law is at stake here," says a Western diplomat in New York Sunday, speaking off the record. The diplomat, who holds the rank of Ambassador, also explained that it will take a new Security Council resolution before any change in Kosovo's status can be considered legally binding. This is because the current government structures in Kosovo, unlike those currently in Transdniestria, were established under a UN Security Council mandate.

" - In your case, it will be different," he noted, referring to Transdniester. "Whether Transdniestria is a country or not is up for debate, but it is not a UN Security Council debate. Transdniestria was not established by the UN, and any change in its current status does not require UN approval."

Disregarding the finer points of international law, Kosovo has said that it will declare independence if no agreement is reached by 10 December 2007 when the current talks are set to end. The imposition of an artificial deadline is seen by some as counterproductive. Talks over other territorial claims in the world, from Palestine to Transdniestria and others in between, are ongoing with no imposed deadlines. (With information from Xinhua, AFP)

See also:
» Kosovo prepares unilateral independence declaration
» Kosovo double standards lead to criticism; new Transdniestria comparisons
» "Transnistria independence before Kosovo" says top Washington expert