So far through the holidays, north Kosovo has been peaceful and cold. The barricades remain with mostly just a few people "standing guard." But there have been two noteworthy occurrences over the past few days: the travel agreement reached earlier this year between Pristina and Belgrade has gone into effect and the northern Kosovo Serbs have announced a referendum for February 15. Both point to an opening to resolve pressing Kosovo issues through dialogue rather than conflict.
The agreement on travel seems rather complicated but is a compromise that should allow travel to resume "normally" despite the competing political agendas of Serbia and Kosovo. Basically, anyone using the former KS plates issued by UNMIK or the new Serbian plates can enter and travel through both territories after paying an insurance fee. Vehicles with the new RKS plates of Kosovo will need to receive temporary plates at the boundary before entering Serbia. Travelers will be able to use their respective ID cards by receiving temporary entry and exit documents. The agreement will apply, for now, only at the southern Kosovo crossings.
The agreement has been criticized by both Albanians and Serbs because of the cost of the insurance. Some northern Kosovo Serbs also see it as serving Pristina's political agenda. But the EU has welcomed implementation and Belgrade's chief negotiator has indicated that the insurance fee will disappear when the insurance associations of Kosovo and Serbia reach agreement on reciprocity.
Meanwhile, the mayors of the four northern Kosovo municipalities announced a referendum will be held on February 15 on the question of accepting or not Kosovo institutions. Belgrade officials have criticized the move, calling it political and claiming the opposition is behind it. Of the four northern municipalities, three are held by the opposition. The fourth is controlled by President Tadic' DS party.
In the tense situation created in northern Kosovo by unilateral moves by Pristina and illegal support for them provided by KFOR and EULEX, a call for a northern vote could itself be provocative. But noteworthy is that the northern Kosovo Serbs have not called for a vote on independence or separation from Kosovo. Rather the leaders apparently plan more of a poll to measure the support - or lack of it - for accepting rule from Pristina. Such a poll is unlikely to show much acceptance of Kosovo institutions. But that may be the point, to lay to rest the notion that except for pressure from "criminals" and "radicals" the majority of northern Kosovo Serbs would accept being incorporated into Pristina's "rule of law." Everyone knows this is not true but let an actual poll resolve the issue once and for all.
A poll of northern sentiment on Kosovo independence could help clear the air. It would need to be conducted openly and transparently under some form of observation. Perhaps a neutral NGO or press organization could oversee or even conduct it. Important would be finding a way to counter any reasonable suggestion that the poll itself was rigged.
That Pristina and Belgrade can reach compromises and implement practical solutions to practical matters points to the potential for further such agreements through dialogue. If the northern Kosovo Serbs manifest their opposition to rule from Pristina democratically and transparently, then the use of force to impose political outcomes will be even harder to justify. Both the travel agreement and the referendum reaffirm that the path to peaceful resolution of remaining status issues should be and can be through dialogue and compromise.
The agreement on travel seems rather complicated but is a compromise that should allow travel to resume "normally" despite the competing political agendas of Serbia and Kosovo. Basically, anyone using the former KS plates issued by UNMIK or the new Serbian plates can enter and travel through both territories after paying an insurance fee. Vehicles with the new RKS plates of Kosovo will need to receive temporary plates at the boundary before entering Serbia. Travelers will be able to use their respective ID cards by receiving temporary entry and exit documents. The agreement will apply, for now, only at the southern Kosovo crossings.
The agreement has been criticized by both Albanians and Serbs because of the cost of the insurance. Some northern Kosovo Serbs also see it as serving Pristina's political agenda. But the EU has welcomed implementation and Belgrade's chief negotiator has indicated that the insurance fee will disappear when the insurance associations of Kosovo and Serbia reach agreement on reciprocity.
Meanwhile, the mayors of the four northern Kosovo municipalities announced a referendum will be held on February 15 on the question of accepting or not Kosovo institutions. Belgrade officials have criticized the move, calling it political and claiming the opposition is behind it. Of the four northern municipalities, three are held by the opposition. The fourth is controlled by President Tadic' DS party.
In the tense situation created in northern Kosovo by unilateral moves by Pristina and illegal support for them provided by KFOR and EULEX, a call for a northern vote could itself be provocative. But noteworthy is that the northern Kosovo Serbs have not called for a vote on independence or separation from Kosovo. Rather the leaders apparently plan more of a poll to measure the support - or lack of it - for accepting rule from Pristina. Such a poll is unlikely to show much acceptance of Kosovo institutions. But that may be the point, to lay to rest the notion that except for pressure from "criminals" and "radicals" the majority of northern Kosovo Serbs would accept being incorporated into Pristina's "rule of law." Everyone knows this is not true but let an actual poll resolve the issue once and for all.
A poll of northern sentiment on Kosovo independence could help clear the air. It would need to be conducted openly and transparently under some form of observation. Perhaps a neutral NGO or press organization could oversee or even conduct it. Important would be finding a way to counter any reasonable suggestion that the poll itself was rigged.
That Pristina and Belgrade can reach compromises and implement practical solutions to practical matters points to the potential for further such agreements through dialogue. If the northern Kosovo Serbs manifest their opposition to rule from Pristina democratically and transparently, then the use of force to impose political outcomes will be even harder to justify. Both the travel agreement and the referendum reaffirm that the path to peaceful resolution of remaining status issues should be and can be through dialogue and compromise.
"The agreement has been criticized by both Albanians and Serbs because of the cost of the insurance."
ReplyDeleteThese are Presevo Albanians. I haven't heard the Kosovo Albanians yet.
I see this as a repeat of what happened last summer when just after an agreement the Albanians upped the stakes by trying to occupy the border posts. Once again this is a violation of the agreed principle that no one shall try to change "facts on the grounds" while the negotiations are going on. If the EU thinks they can build trust by encouraging this kind of tricks they have a long way to go.
I agree with you on the referendum.