Kosovo: This Week

The north remains quiet – in the northern way – with someone throwing a Molotov cocktail at a Serb-owned vehicle in north Mitrovica on March 14 that injured no one and may have nothing to do with ethnic differences according to police. The northern strategy is still “under study.” Most attention remains on the south, where the focus is corruption, the Kurti trial and Pristina politics. One northern story worth following is the renewed request – this time to the EU – for international support to rebuild a mosque in north Mitrovica. This remains problematic given the continued ethnic differences over status and the north; presumably the competent international authorities will continue to remain cautious about such an initiative. (These and some of the other items noted here can be followed up in the UNMIK local media update. )

Meanwhile:

The northern Serbs held a meeting of their assembly on March 16. They complained of reduced support from Belgrade, rejected the partition of Kosovo and criticized Belgrade’s apparent decision to cut the rail service from Serbia proper to Zvecan. Such a cutoff has long been sought by Pristina, which would like instead to bring the railway in the north under its control. If Belgrade did indeed decide to cut the service, it is a significant political concession to the EU.

The British ambassador to Belgrade made some interesting comments on Serbian relations with Kosovo. He reportedly said that the EU is not asking Belgrade to recognize Kosovo but to establish “some model of cooperation” with Pristina. Best guess is that the cooperation the Ambassador has in mind could be “indirect,” e.g., to work with EULEX and the ICO on implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan including on introducing Kosovo institutions in the north. Any other approach would seem to require actual negotiations between both sides on the forms and specifics of non-recognition cooperation. (For other comments about possible models see: No model right for Kosovo.)

NATO may be fine-tuning its message on the north. The KFOR Commander gave an interview in which he emphasized that the "so-called parallel structures" are "a political issue...[and] political questions can and should be solved by the relevant stakeholders." However, he was not ready to stop chewing the parallel structures bone completely. The General went on to say that "any duplication [or] mirroring of administrative structures is of no value....[and] can...lead to undesirable results or even spoil the effects of both structures." As an example, he noted that without a single court system "legal security or clarity on justice issues cannot be provided" adding that "the political misuse of so-called 'parallel structures', as well as related political agitation, can be a threat to a safe and secure environment and therefore is not tolerated by KFOR." About the northern administrative boundary, the General noted that "control of persons and goods crossing the borders is a police task and does not concern KFOR. How these tasks will be executed along the administrative boundary line will be agreed between the relevant actors as well. KFOR will only get involved if and when the security of the people in Kosovo is jeopardized." Not as belligerent as in the past and not as strident in pushing Kosovo institutions.

The Pristina press (Zëri) reported that EULEX chief de Kermabon said that judges would return to north Mitrovica soon. “We are also working with the municipality to find as pragmatic solution as possible for helping the justice field,” he reportedly said after meeting with the mayor of south Mitrovica. One would expect a pragmatic solution to be discussed as well with officials of north Mitrovica. In any case, Zëri also reported that de Kermabon will be replaced when his term ends in June by another former KFOR Commander, Xavier de Marnhac. Both de Kermabon and de Marnhac commanded NATO forces in the north before becoming KFOR commander. Both are pragmatic persons though still tied to the Quint.

Other pieces worth a read include:

As if someone is tightening hoop on the experience of Kosovo Serbs in the south.

Kosovo Serb mayor looks to a better future an interview with the Kosovo Serb mayor of Strpce who’s home was fired upon last week.

Experts Call for Pollution Probe in North Kosovo on the problems of lead in the Roma camps and the possibility of moving them into a site formerly considered for relocation in south Mitrovica.

Russia’s Balkan plan An interesting piece on Russia’s increased focus on the Balkans.