Every village should have its independence

What could be the link between Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzgovina these days? Something different than war? The answer is independence.

If Kosovo is going to proclaim independence on December 10th, some regions in the north of the newly independent country with a Serb majority would also do this. And there is even more. Some fear that the Republika Srpska (RS) in Bosnia-Herzegovina could also do this. The RS is the northern part of Bosnia-Herzegovina, with a Serb majority. Officially autonomous, but backed by Serbia and more with a tendance to Serbia, this is considered somewhat as one of the poorest regions of the Balkans.

So, the move of independence of Kosovo would cause much more than expected. First of all, if the RS in Bosnia-Herzegovina would also declare independence, it would create a mayor problem for the poor state-structure of Bosnia-Herzegovina. What would the Bosniak-Croat federation in Bosnia do? I think that the ghost of the Dayton peace agreements is fleeing from this place. The independence of the RS would also mean that Bosniaks (muslims) wouldn't be able anymore to move to their places of origin in the RS. After the civil-war, Bosniaks fled from the Serb-occupied territories, or were simply killed. Dayton meant that there was a right to go back to their region. I don't think an independent RS would be keen on proceeding this law...

Normally, the US would back an independence of Kosovo. Not immediatly, but somewhere in January 2008. Some 20 of the 27 member states of the EU would also do this. Greece, Spain, Slovakia and some other countries are protesting against the future independence of Kosovo. And of course, Russia, that has more historical ties with Serbia, remains against independence. One thing is to take literally: the independence of Kosovo could mean new conflicts in the region. Although maybe not violent, Kosovo could cause a big shock in international diplomacy and in diplomatic relations, and not only between members of the EU or transatlantic countries...

There is much to do...there is less to remain...I hope that decisions of any kind will be taken with much respect and knowledge. There are made too many mistakes in the past in this region.

Image of a country that isn't yet officially a country...

Last Saturday, November 17th, elections were held in Kosovo. Although they passed very democratically, the big issues about Kosovo remain. Will they declare independence or will they not? Virtually all Kosovans are very much in favour of this independence, which they believe, is backed by the EU. But there is a snake in the hole: not all countries of the EU are in favour of quick independence. And of course, you have the Russian government, who will not allow a break-up of a region they consider as a historical part of Serbia. Maybe this is the mayor problem; stating that Kosovo is a legal part of Serbia, or that it is...how shall I state it...an independent country that isn't really independent. The issue remains difficult and unsolved. But for how long?

I will not choose a side before my article is written. I want to keep all options open and considerable for publication. My main business, when visiting Kosovo next month, will be the (economic) livability of this tiny region. But as you may expect, economy is very tightly linked to politics, society, journalism, ethnicity and much more issues. Kosovo is a densily connected network of different parameters. I will have lots of work to investigate and to take a closer look to this country...that isn't yet officially a country.

Christophe

Kosova, II

Hi all,

Almost definitive: from the 22nd of December until the 29th I will be in Kosova. After some days of planning and looking after bus services and possible hotels, I think I've created a good travel plan.

The 22nd I will leave Brussels by bus with destination Belgrade, Serbia. Normally, I will reach Belgrade the next day close to noon.
A next step will mean; looking for a bus to Kosovska Mitrovica (for the specialists; the diveded city where one half of the river shore is Serbian and the other Albanian, the two linked by a guarded bridge...) and drive another 6 hours to reach it. Approximate hour of arrival in Mitrovica: 7PM.
Then it is just a one-hour drive to Prishtina. Hopefully I can do this by bus, otherwise I have to look after a taxi. Possibly I have to go from the Serbian part of town to the Albanian to catch another bus to Prishtina. But that are problems for later...
Hopefully I can stay in the Velania area in the capital Prishtina. It would be a good 'basecamp' to start some travels in the country.

Skopje

Maybe this will be too difficult, so I have to travel via Skopje. Maybe this would be easier, because I know that there are at least two trains a day to Prishtina from here and different buses. And I know Skopje a little (see 'September 2007'). BUT, travelling to Skopje by bus is more expensive, and it means that I have to change buses in Frankfurt. By expercience, I know that changing Eurolines-buses can be a rather tricky situation.
We'll see. I will get there, of that I'm sure.
The next problem will be language...I don't speak Albanian, only a few words, and I think that two or three sessions won't be enough to learn it. I hope the knowledge of English in Pristhina -at least in Prishtina- will be good enough. I've heard that this can't be a problem.

I will stay in contact, probably one of these plans can still change.

Christophe

Belgian crisis

Hi all,

Although it wasn't the purpose when I started this blog, I now feel I have to write about the political crisis in my home country.

Within two hours, we will have 150 days of post-election governement talks. 150 Days trying to create a new governement in this country, that I have never seen this divided. Flemish, Walloon...

Belgium has always been a difficult country for governing, hosting two (three, but the voice of the German-speaking Belgians isn't heard these days) major language groups; Dutch and French. The last 30 years this country has been an experiment of two different ethnic language groops to form a common built federal state. Nowadays, it seems that this experiment is starting to fail.

I call myself a Dutch-speaking Belgian. Officially also Flemish, I have no problems with that name, but I have more problems with politicians from my language group who try to label me as more Flemish than Belgian, or who try to label me anyway. I feel Belgian because that's the way I've always felt it.

Both sides made huge mistakes during these governement-forming talks. You can't deny a certain way of old-fashioned arrogance coming from French-speaking politicians. It is a given fact that in this country, French speaking citizens are known for their relatively bad knowledge of Dutch, my language and the major language in Belgium. Not almost relatively bad knowledge, but also the lack of willingness to learn it. The last decade however, I have a feeling of things changing. Dutch is getting more popular in the southern part of this country (French-speaking Wallonia).

I have no affenity with hard-nosed Flemish politicians too. I have always learned of a Belgium of tolerance, and of Dutch-speakers who used to be ignored in our capital Brussels, trying to speak Dutch in a mainly French-speaking city. Like I 've said, this also is changing.
So this tolerance is inside me since I was young. I feel no use to be agressive against French-speaking citizens of this country, but more to stimulate them to learn Dutch. With hard words, you can' reach anything in Belgium.

I am not a politician, but a future journalist. I want to say that I'd like to have that job in a federal Belgium, with more power for the Flemish and Walloon regions if necessary, but still in a federal country. A country that can still exist as a beautiful experiment of living together.

Christophe

Blogging around, November 3rd

Hi all,

Did some work for my Kosova project. Sending e-mails, writing a 'business plan', thinking and dreaming about that strange world I am going to work with. It's just the intention.

Luckily I have some good contacts and people behind me who support me and believe in what I am doing.

Working on Kosova is one of the biggest challenges I am facing now. Ever in my life. But hell yeah, let's do this! At least no one can say I haven't tried...

Christophe

Back to the Balkans...Galicica national park, Macedonia

Kosova

Hi,

I have great news! I am going to write an article (some sort of thesis for my Journalism study) about the independence of Kosova. This means that the posts on this blog are to be multiplied ;-)
No, serious now. I will probably go to Kosova at the end of december; and there is much work to do. As you may expect, doing something like this isn't an easy job for a student without newspaper-based funds or official press legitimation. This however, is not a big problem, for it seems more like an extra boost to me. (Ask me my opinion on this in december or January, this may change I think ;-) )
So, the world knows it now. If you people have interesting contacts that are more or less specialists in Kosova-related information, professional journalists, lay-outers, economists or whatever, let me know. I could use some help.

Thanks for your interest, regards

Christophe