I think that the EU’s invitation to Serbia is deserved, but I do not see Serbia recognizing Kosovo as the EU has asked them to do. As the article mentions, the EU has recognized Serbian effort to democratize and make efforts to capture war criminals and have them stand trial. The capture of former Serbian Army Chief Ratko Mladic made headlines earlier this year when he stood trial. Mladic was responsible for the biggest massacre since World War II. He led the army which was responsible for a ethnic cleansing in Srebrenica in 1995. His army rounded up boy and men from the town and ordered them executed. It estimated 7500 boys and men were murdered and buried in mass graves. The trial of Mladic has been seen as a step towards accountability for the massacres in Bosnia and peace in the Balkans. Although Serbs have cooperated with NATO, I think it would be very unlikely for Serbia to recognize Kosovo in the near future. The conflict is still so recent (1999), its hard to imagine Serbia and Kosovo working out some form of agreement. I traveled to Belgrade, Serbia a couple years ago and was surprised about how the Balkan conflict is still fresh in the minds of Serbs. The military intelligence building had not been rebuilt from the US bombing 10 years earlier and remained standing as a symbol to Serbs for the tragedy that had occurred. A Serb that I befriended, talked about the conflict as if it had happened months rather then years before. He expressed great remorse and embarrassment for the war and what transpired, but was bitter about Kosovo independence. I met some travelers who expressed their interest of traveling to Kosovo but ultimately decided against it, because it was rumored that Serbia would not allow you across the border with a Kosovo stamp in your passport.
As Liz stated, I think Serbia’s recommendation to become part of the EU is well deserved. It has been doing much of the requirements to clear membership but with talks with Kosovo might decades to reach a point that both parties will be happy with. I applaud Serbia’s efforts to cooperate with NATO forces and to bring war criminals to trial. Since the conflict is so recent (although it has been 12 years since it is passed) the mentality involved in recognizing Kosovo will not occur (considering we are still going through Palestine-Israel). The problems in the region are still fresh within the young adults as they were still children when the problems were occurring. I would like to say that hopefully these nations will be able to work out their border disputes without any international pressure. International pressure seems not to help and if anything make things much worse. Since there are also security problems, it seems that the recommendation is mostly a “keep up the effort” from the EU commission. A friend of mine that also recently travelled I the region reiterates what Liz found. The horrids are still fresh in minds. Time has not passed and they will never forget. My friend’s passport does have lots of immigration stamps. To keep track of all the individuals that pass through the borders. The dispute is also something that can potentially be even more harmful as time passes. The best example of that is India and Pakistan and the Kashmir dispute. Maybe Serbia should consider recognizing Kosovo so the region will not become a powder that can ignite another war.
I think that the EU’s invitation to Serbia is deserved, but I do not see Serbia recognizing Kosovo as the EU has asked them to do. As the article mentions, the EU has recognized Serbian effort to democratize and make efforts to capture war criminals and have them stand trial. The capture of former Serbian Army Chief Ratko Mladic made headlines earlier this year when he stood trial. Mladic was responsible for the biggest massacre since World War II. He led the army which was responsible for a ethnic cleansing in Srebrenica in 1995. His army rounded up boy and men from the town and ordered them executed. It estimated 7500 boys and men were murdered and buried in mass graves. The trial of Mladic has been seen as a step towards accountability for the massacres in Bosnia and peace in the Balkans. Although Serbs have cooperated with NATO, I think it would be very unlikely for Serbia to recognize Kosovo in the near future. The conflict is still so recent (1999), its hard to imagine Serbia and Kosovo working out some form of agreement. I traveled to Belgrade, Serbia a couple years ago and was surprised about how the Balkan conflict is still fresh in the minds of Serbs. The military intelligence building had not been rebuilt from the US bombing 10 years earlier and remained standing as a symbol to Serbs for the tragedy that had occurred. A Serb that I befriended, talked about the conflict as if it had happened months rather then years before. He expressed great remorse and embarrassment for the war and what transpired, but was bitter about Kosovo independence. I met some travelers who expressed their interest of traveling to Kosovo but ultimately decided against it, because it was rumored that Serbia would not allow you across the border with a Kosovo stamp in your passport.
ReplyDeleteAs Liz stated, I think Serbia’s recommendation to become part of the EU is well deserved. It has been doing much of the requirements to clear membership but with talks with Kosovo might decades to reach a point that both parties will be happy with. I applaud Serbia’s efforts to cooperate with NATO forces and to bring war criminals to trial. Since the conflict is so recent (although it has been 12 years since it is passed) the mentality involved in recognizing Kosovo will not occur (considering we are still going through Palestine-Israel). The problems in the region are still fresh within the young adults as they were still children when the problems were occurring. I would like to say that hopefully these nations will be able to work out their border disputes without any international pressure. International pressure seems not to help and if anything make things much worse. Since there are also security problems, it seems that the recommendation is mostly a “keep up the effort” from the EU commission.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine that also recently travelled I the region reiterates what Liz found. The horrids are still fresh in minds. Time has not passed and they will never forget. My friend’s passport does have lots of immigration stamps. To keep track of all the individuals that pass through the borders. The dispute is also something that can potentially be even more harmful as time passes. The best example of that is India and Pakistan and the Kashmir dispute. Maybe Serbia should consider recognizing Kosovo so the region will not become a powder that can ignite another war.