Belgrade drops efforts to challenge breakaway region's declaration of independence, but says it will never accept split. Last Modified: 10 Sep 2010 03:40 GMT
Serbia toned down the language in its resolution for fear of losing out on EU membership [GALLO/GETTY]
The Serbian government has given up its bid to challenge Kosovo's independence at the UN general assembly meeting, after reaching a compromise with the European Union (EU).
The UN general assembly on Thursday adopted a watered-down resolution without a formal vote, which "acknowledges" an international court ruling that Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia was legal.
The landmark resolution called for dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.
"Dialogue in itself would be a factor for peace, security and stability in the region," the joint Serbia-EU resolution read.
But Serbia maintained it would never accept the split. Boris Tadic, the Serbian president, said there will be no official recognition of Kosovo's independence.
Status quo
The start of the UN debate on Thursday was held up for two-and-a-half hours when Vuk Jeremic, the Serbian foreign minister, insisted the Kosovo representative leave the hall.
Ali Treki, the UN general assembly president, said the representative from Pristina was present as the guest of a delegation of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Jeremic later introduced the resolution, noting that is was co-sponsored by Serbia and all 27 EU members, some of which support Kosovo's independence and some of which continue to respect Serbia's territorial integrity.
"Nonetheless, common ground has been reached by ensuring that the resolution is fundamentally a status-neutral document", which makes no judgment on Kosovo's status, he said.
Reiterating Serbia's stand to never recognise Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, Jeremic said he hoped the resolution "would help create an atmosphere conducive to the establishment of a comprehensive compact of peace between Serbs and Albanians, achieved through a good faith dialogue".
Unacceptable split
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008, after being under UN administration since the 1998-99 war by Serbian forces against ethnic Albanian separatists.
Since then nearly 70 countries have recognised Kosovo's independence, including the United States and many in the European Union, which Serbia hopes to join.
Serbia called Kosovo's unilateral secession "unacceptable", and declared "that unilateral secession is not a way to achieve statehood or to resolve territorial disputes".
It went to the International Court of Justice seeking to invalidate Kosovo's split, but the UN's highest court ruled in July that the independence declaration did not break international law.
Serbia maintains that the UN court did not endorse Kosovo's claim to statehood, its right of secession from Serbia, or any right to self-determination for Kosovo's ethnic Albanians.
The Serbian government has been under pressure from the EU to withdraw language that called Kosovo's unilateral secession "unacceptable".
No recognition
Al Jazeera's Cath Turner reporting from the UN said despite Thursday's discussions, the Serbian government has made it clear it will never accept Kosovo's independence.
"Serbia has made that clear right from the start … saying that is a line they will never cross.
"The Serbian foreign minister said the text of the current resolution passed at the assembly today does not recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence," our correspondent said.
"The text was very much watered-down … downgraded a lot. There were no calls for a challenge to the declaration and no calls for fresh talks to determine Kosovo's status, which was in the original draft resolution tabled on July 28."
Kosovo came under UN and Nato administration after a 1999 NATO-led air war halted a crackdown by Slobodan Milosevic, the former Yugoslav leader, on ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo.
But the Security Council resolution that established the interim UN administration left Kosovo's final status in question.
Kosovo Albanians make up 90 per cent of the country's population, with a Serb minority mostly in the northern areas bordering Serbia.
"The split within: Two years on since Kosovo declared independence"
Recent protests in Pristina shook Kosovo's capital and forced the sacking of a government minister. Soon their effects may also be felt as far away as Brussels as talks to normalize Kosovar-Serbian relations resume.
As Kosovo and Serbia resume EU-mediated talks on normalizing relations on Monday, the demonstrations in Pristina, the most significant unrest since the former province of Serbia declared independence in 2008, indicate that Kosovars' growing impatience may present a new hurdle to the dialogue.
The protests were sparked by comments from an ethnic Serb minister in the Kosovo government and the government's delay of plans to nationalize Kosovo's largest mine after opposition from Serbia. But the large turnout at the protests shows a deep frustration over the lack of progress the Kosovo government has made in the seven years since independence and what many perceive as Serbia's role in stalling that progress. Around 10,000 people protested on January 24, and a smaller but still significant crowd gathered on three days later. Both protests began peacefully but ended in clashes with police that left dozens injured and arrested.
"Kosovo's red line now shows to be very thin. It will be very difficult to push Kosovo to make major new concessions, if at all," said Leon Malozogu, director of the Pristina-based think tank Democracy for Development. Prime Minister Isa Mustafa "will have to be very careful that for each compromise he makes, to make sure it comes with significant rewards," or he may face new protests, said Malozogu.
Spark of the uproar: Minister of Communities Aleksandar Jablanovic refered to ethnic Albanians as "savages"
The demonstrations were organized by opposition parties and other groups after Minister of Communities Alexsandar Jablanovic, an ethnic Serb, used the word "savages" to refer to ethnic Albanian protesters who blocked a group of Serbs on a Christmas pilgrimage in an area that was devastated by fighting during Kosovo's 1998-1999 conflict with Serbia. When Kosovars expressed outrage, he said he didn't know whether Serbian forces had committed war crimes there, though they have been documented. Jablanovic is leader of the Serb List party, which is supported by Belgrade.
'Humiliation' for Kosovars
As calls for Jablanovic's resignation grew, Kosovo's government moved to nationalize the territory's largest mine. Once employing 20,000 people to mine its deposits of lead, zinc, and silver during the days of Yugoslavia, Trepca now languishes at minimum capacity. But Serbia, which also claims partial ownership of the mine, protested the takeover, and Kosovo's government suddenly backed down. To Kosovars, it appeared their government was acquiescing to Serbia's demands.
This was "humiliating" for Kosovars, said Naim Rashiti, the Kosovo project director at the Balkans Policy Research Group. Many people were already upset that despite promises of a bright future from politicians, unemployment, poverty, and corruption are high.
In what many regard as a sign of the desperation, tens of thousands of Kosovars are now leaving their homes, illegally migrating to EU countries to seek jobs and a better future. While politicians sold dialogue with Serbia to citizens as a process that would resolve issues with Belgrade and then focus on jobs and other economic issues, Rashiti said, Kosovars see few tangible improvements after years of negotiations.
'In Brussels' interest'
Besmir Yvejsi is one of them. He participated in the January 24 protest, though he said he didn't agree with the violence that followed it. An editor for a science magazine from the area where protesters blocked Serb pilgrims, he was deeply insulted by Jablanovic's comment. And he believes that dialogue with Serbia focuses on topics "that are more in the interest of the EU than of Kosovars."
Thousands of anti-government protesters clashed with riot police in Kosovo's capital Pristina at the end of January
If many are impatient about negotiations, they also worry about what they see as increasing Serbian influence on Kosovo. A Pristina resident who would only give his name as Arban said Serbia was intent on destabilizing Kosovo and preventing economic progress, and was using Trepca to do it.
"The main issue for us is economic growth and economic stability," he said. "Serbia will never allow Kosovo to breathe freely."
On the eve of a planned February 4 demonstration, the prime minister gave in to protesters' demands and dismissed Jablanovic. Their success may encourage future street action if people, or opposition parties, grow angry or impatient with the government. The protests were a "wake-up call," Rashiti said.
"The government has to understand it has limited time to make changes," he said. "People's patience has run out."
DW recommends
Street clashes in Kosovo, dozens injured
Riot police have clashed with thousands of anti-government protesters in Kosovo's capital Pristina. The protesters demanded a dismissal of a Serb minister and a government takeover of a mine claimed by Serbia. (27.01.2015) http://www.dw.de/street-clashes-in-kosovo-dozens-injured/a-18217742
Kosovo police arrest man suspected of planning terrorist attack
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
