Kosovo: No Matter What Anyone Says, Or Doesn't Say

On August 30, the UN Security Council met on Kosovo without result. UNMIK's acting-SRSG reportedly said that the events of the last month “serve as a stark reminder that the issues underlying these incidents remain unresolved and constitute a serious threat to Kosovo's peace and security.” He called on all sides to refrain from unilateral action “which could escalate tensions.” Russia had circulated a draft statement by the UNSC president that would have called for restraint on use of force, no more unilateral actions and for KFOR and EULEX to strictly adhere to their UN mandate under SCR 1244. But Russia did not bring it to debate due to strong opposition from the US, UK and France.

How did KFOR and EULEX respond? By sending large numbers of police and soldiers into the north purportedly to search for evidence in the death last month of a Kosovo Albanian policeman shot while his squad was apparently engaged in a gunfight in the small Serbian village of Zupce. EULEX said “evidence” was seized including weapons, a vehicle and, reportedly, ammunition of the same caliber that killed the officer. It has arrest warrants for six individuals wanted in connection with the “murder” and billed the op as “a further step in bringing the perpetrators of this crime to justice.” EULEX said investigations continue “in relation to the other violent incidents in the north, including the burning of Gate 1” and asked for local support “to bring those who are responsible for serious crimes, to justice.”

Seem EULEX believes it already has the true story of what happened on July 26 when the officer was shot. So they must have evidence already concerning why the ROSU unit was in Zupce in the first place in the aftermath of ROSU's aborted effort to seize the nearby boundary post. It must have been fully explained to EULEX the legitimate reason these same ROSU officers then went into the Serbian village on the road back to the south. Someone must have described who on the Serb side did the shooting and what car they used and where that car came from and went. They know the caliber of the shot that killed the officer and must have forensic evidence tying it to a specific gun they have seized or expect to seize. One may be allowed to ask from whom the information came, with what evidence and what motive. But without knowing what EULEX must know in order to justify its heavy-handed tactics, one might understand the locals seeing it as simply an effort to intimidate.

KFOR's illegal action to close the boundary to commercial goods from Serbia is part of a political scheme – to force Belgrade to agree on customs issues at the September 2 session of the “dialogue” – masquerading as a “security matter.” So too is EULEX's action more an effort to crack northern resistance to Pristina rather than serious investigation. Prime Minister Thaci may continue trash-talking about taking over the north but it is the internationals that are doing the dirty work. Generalissimo Buhler gave himself a pat on the back during his meeting with a Serbian army counterpart for his “mediation” between Belgrade and Pristina. Apparently the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO agrees with Buhler acting “independently during the recent crisis.” EULEX Chief de Marnhac is much more experienced and sensible. One can only wonder what brought him to now follow Buhler's example.

The Quint agents in Kosovo – KFOR and EULEX – can convince themselves that they are acting simply to bring rule of law into the north. But which rule of law – Serbia, Kosovo or the UN under SCR 1244 – remains the question. KFOR and EULEX are in Kosovo to perform status neutral peacekeeping not to settle political issues through force and intimidation. But it doesn't matter what anyone says or, thanks to the US/UK/France veto in the Security Council, doesn't say: the Quint will do whatever it pleases vis-a-vis Kosovo. This is simply atrocious behavior and sets a precedent even the most despicable regime will be able to use in the future. If the Western elite flouts international law, why not everyone.