Most of the EU member states have reached an agreement as to the proper settlement of Kosovo’s formal independence, leaving aside the rancorous and heinous south Cypriot irredentist president. This means that the European Union is by now closer to the position of the United States, the key supporter of Kosovo. Can there be an agreement with Russia in this regard?
One should identify correctly the real motivations of the Russian pro-Serbianism in the case of Kosovo. In fact, and despite the prevailing erroneous idea that the Russian policy is due to a supposed ‘traditional Russian – Serbian alliance’, the Russian position is mainly due to other reasons.
First, there has always been a Russian – Albanian animosity, which is a very complicated subject and dates back in the Ottoman times, the Russian anti-Ottoman policies, and the division of the Albanians into Muslim and Christian Orthodox, and the perverse and immoral use of the Christian Orthodox Albanians by the Tsarist anti-Islamic diplomacy. Referring to this vast subject, we have however to clarify that we do not locate it in the area of today’s Albania, but mostly in the South Balkan peripheries of modern Greece where before 1820 were living large Christian Orthodox Albanian populations who later become all of a sudden “Greek”.
Russia and Albania have had a most troublesome relationship that was only highlighted by Tirana’s resolute rejection of Moscow and predilection for Beijing as the true capital of international communism in the second half of the 20th century. As post-Communist Albania was met with European – particularly French – animosity, the liberal Albanians turned to Turkey, Italy and the US for allies, and progressively the Albanians become the most pro-American country in Europe. As a matter of fact, Russia has nothing to win by supporting the Albanians.
Exasperated by the anti-Russian biases of Paris and London, Moscow is bound to generate a multitude of issues, energy, security, Kaliningrad enclave, Kosovo, Belarus, Transnistria, Abkhazia, and above all a Turkish – Russian rapprochement, in order to demonstrate to Europe the limits of the Anglo-French biases.
However, in the case of Kosovo, Russia pursuing its pro-Serbian impasse policy, just destroys its Islam friendly image that Putin tried hard to develop, despite Chechnya, mainly working things out with Turkey and Iran.
Is there a way out of the Russian impasse? Yes. The solution lies in EU – Russian negotiations for simultaneous recognition of Kosovo and Transnistria.
To express a bilateral commitment to détente and peaceful solution of problems, the European Union and Russia could agree on reciprocal compromise on two critical occasions, namely Kosovo and Transnistria. Russia does not support the formal recognition of Kosovo, whereas the European Union - misled by Romania - is pursuing a disastrous and anti-democratic policy in the case of Transnistria, the small democratic state that declared 'de facto' independence in 1990, seceding from Moldova. Today it is also known as the "Luxembourg of Eastern Europe", as it is of similarly tiny dimensions.
Europe has long been in favor of Romania’s protégé, the impoverished and undemocratic Moldova. That explains why they rejected the perspective of a formal independence of Transnistria. On the other hand, Europe would like to proceed with the formal independence of Kosovo, and advance with the integration of West Balkans, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and Serbia that are all small and therefore easily absorbable states. But the fear of further deterioration of the already bad relations between EU and Russia became the cause of undeserved and undemocratic postponements.
Russia, on the other hand, rejects the formal independence of Kosovo, mainly to keep Europe busy with various issues as long as the Anglo-French control over Brussels generates unacceptable anti-Russian schemes. Russia would like to link Kosovo with Abkhazia, but it would look far more efficient for Russia to link it with Transnistria.
Then, Europe getting Russia’s agreement for Kosovo’s formal recognition, should consent to Transnistria’s formal independence.
The reciprocal compromise would help calm down the recently risen tensions between Russia and the European Union. The compromise would have a positive impact on Balkans, and would help ease tensions in Ukraine where stability is not yet fully acquired, and democracy is not yet completely embedded in the division-stricken society.
A EU – Russian compromise over Kosovo and Transnistria would definitely contribute to further diffusion of democratic ideals, promote respect for Human Rights, and strengthen the local free market economies.
A EU – Russian compromise over Kosovo and Transnistria would also inaugurate a new era of Euro-Russian mutual understanding and problem solving. And it would convince everyone that the lessons from Europe’s past divisions and hardships have been properly learned in all parts of the continent.
Such a EU – Russian compromise over Kosovo and Transnistria could happen quickly; there would not be much to deliberate and agree on beyond the double recognition. For a year of divisions and angst, a EU – Russian last minute compromise involving both Kosovo and Transnistria would be a wonderful season’s present of freedom, and a great way to end the year.
Also by Prof. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis:
» We are all Scots today! [1]
» A tale of three Europes [2]
» Europe's 50 Years of Manichaeism [3]
» Europe 2007: 27 members, but no clear perspective [4]
» Independent Kosovo now [5]