Debate: Kosovo independence

Should Kosovo be independent?

Background and Context of Debate:

Kosovo viability: Would an independent Kosovo be a viable state?

Yes

• Kosovo is capable of governing itself independently - The core of this argument surrounds the premise that Kosovo has developed over the years sound state institutions capable of this task.

No

• An independent Kosovo would be financially costly to its neighbors

• An independent Kosovo might require that it pay impossible debts and compensations to Serbia

Violence? Would Kosovar independence reduce violence in Serbia?

Yes

• Delaying Kosovo independence will escalate violence and instability

• Serbia will be constrained by its public from responding violently to an independent Kosovo

• The potential of violence should not deter a principled move to an independent Kosovo.

• Kosovo Albanians seek a peaceful transition to independence - Their historic pacifism and the presence of international security forces make this likely.

No

Right to independence? Does Kosovo have a right to independence?

Yes

No

• Kosovo is an historic part of Sebia that should not grow independent

• Conditions are good in Kosovo and do not merit secession

International stability: Would independence for Kosovo have destabilizing effects in the region?

Yes

• Granting Kosovo independence could mitigate extremist forces in the region This includes helping settle down the problem of disaffected Muslims in Europe.

No

• Kosovo independence would give cause to other separatist movements around the world

• Kosovo independence would undermine the balance of power in the Balkans

On-the-ground realities: Are on-the-ground realities in Kosovo supportive of independence?

Yes

• An independent Kosovo inevitable and the least bad option now

• Ethnic divisions make an independent Kosovo an appealing resolution

• Kosovo is 90% Kosovar, making independence a definite option.

• Kosovars strongly desire independence

• Kosovo independence will only formalize the autonomy that already exists there

No

• Claim that the "old", nationalistic Serbia aims to maintain Kosovo: Agim Ceku, Prime Minister of Kosovo, "Succeeding in Kosovo", Washington Post, 12/12/06 - "The old, nationalistic Serbia still clutches onto Kosovo. This group has no long-term economic, social or political development plan in store for Kosovo or for Serbia."

Serbian public: Where does the Serbian general public stand?

Yes

Claim the "new" Serbia wants to move away from Kosovo: Agim Ceku, Prime Minister of Kosovo, "Succeeding in Kosovo", Washington Post, 12/12/06 - "There are two Serbias today. The modern Serbia understands that Kosovo is moving on, and has come to terms with this reality. This Serbia is focused on Europe and on reviving Serbia's economic potential and, with it, the well being of Serb citizens."

No

Serbian Government: Where does the Serbian government stand?

Yes

• Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic: According to Charles Kupchan 11/05, "Only one high-ranking Serbian politician, former Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, has publicly endorsed letting Kosovo go."

No

• Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.[1]

• President Tadic.[2]

• The President of Serbia does support an independent Kosovo

Where do the other key players and organizations stand?

Yes

• Charles Kupchan, a Georgetown University international affairs professor and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
• "Independence for Kosovo", Foreign Affairs, Nov/Dec 2005

• Anna Di Lellio, "The Case for Kosovo: Passage to Independence", July 2006

• United Nations envoy to talks on the future of Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari March 22, 2007

No

Present and source here the public positions of other key players and organizations weighing in on this debate.

International Community: where does the international community stand?

Yes

• Western power, according to some sources, all support Kosovo's independences: Tihomir Loza, "Will Kosovo Independence Hurt Stability? 1/31/07 - "The Western powers, all of whom favor independence"

No

• Claim that Russia and China may block Kosovo independence in the UN: Tihomir Loza, "Will Kosovo Independence Hurt Stability? 1/31/07 - "Russia and possibly even China may block any resolution taking Kosovo away from Serbia."

• Claim that the United States opposes dividing states by ethnicity:Daniel Byman, Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation, 2000 - "Under the UN resolution that ended the NATO war, Kosovo remains a part of Serbia. This status accords with U.S. preferences, as Washington has long opposed partition in principle, particularly if it leads to ethnically based states. Embracing the American ideal - that all peoples can live together regardless of racial, ethnic or sectarian divisions - Washington has consistently opposed the deliberate creation of ethnically homogenous states."

Subquestion

Yes

No

References:

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