Kosovo: Unresolved and left behind

Date: 28/06/03

Kosovo is in limbo, unable even to reintegrate with the rest of the Balkans

WHILE Balkan countries are slowly tightening bonds with the European Union, Kosovo is the odd one out. Though the mainly ethnic-Albanian province is technically part of a new and loose union of Serbia and Montenegro (in fact, all that is left of old Yugoslavia), Kosovo has been a UN protectorate since 1999. But it feels anxious and lonely.

Still, its local leaders hope things are about to change. At last week's summit of EU leaders in Greece, Kosovo was represented not just by its UN proconsul, Michael Steiner, a German, but by Albanians and Serbs too. The Albanians, especially, hope talks between themselves and the Serbian government will start soon, maybe even next month. That alone would be a huge step.

Everyday issues of mutual concern would come first - transport links, energy, the validity of Kosovars' UN-issued documents and number-plates in Serbia, and the return of the 230,000-odd Serb and other refugees from Kosovo now in Serbia and Montenegro. Since 2000, only 7,000 have returned.

With an elected parliament and government, Kosovo has made big strides since war ended four years ago. But its institutions are weak, ethnic divisions almost as sharp as ever, some 57% of Kosovars have no job, and the average month's pay is $220. Bajram Rexhepi, Kosovo's prime minister, complains that the UN keeps too many powers for itself.

Kosovo's ethnic-Albanians hope that once a dialogue with Serbia begins, the place can begin to be woven back into the wider Balkans and will join the queue for the EU. It already has what is known as a “tracking mechanism” whereby it follows the stage-by-stage approach to joining the EU undertaken by other fuller-fledged Balkan countries. But many problems cannot be tackled until Kosovo's final status is clearer.

Full independence, partition or something in-between? Some Serbs have become to contemplate independence, with guaranteed autonomy for the Serb northern bit of Kosovo and special protected status for Serb monasteries further south. In any case, Kosovo's future in Europe must depend ultimately on an agreement with Serbia. But until Serbia and Montenegro finalise their own relationship, Kosovo's own status cannot be settled. Yet the province is probably sliding towards some kind of independence.