Today.Az » Politics » Kosovo independence, or a precedent of threats and bribery
20 February 2008 [11:32] - Today.Az
Declaration of Kosovo independence caused euphoria among the unrecognized formations on the territory of the former Soviet Union.
This was mainly promoted by the position of Russia, which is considered the main stimulator as well as a direct sponsor of separatists in case of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdnestria. Putin's positive tone, who excluded Nagorno Karabakh separatists from the list of unrecognized countries skillfully,voicing the right of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for international recognition, should be praised.
However, amidst the chaos with Kosovo independence or a "precedent" (this is how Moscow prefers to call it now), people forget an important detail-the declaration of Kosovo independence followed elections in Serbia. It means that the United States and the European Union preserved the chance of Serbian voters to choose between Kosovo and perspective integration with the European Union till the end. Gradually, these were Serbian not Kosovo voters, who made this choice, being aware that Tadich's government will not demonstrate serious resistance to Kosovo's separation.
It should be reminded that a similar choice have recently been introduced on Cyprus by Kofi Anan's plan and on April 24, 2004 Cyprus Creeks also voted for integration with the European Union in exchange for factual separation of Norther Cyprus.Thus, it can be stated from the Cyprus and Kosovo examples that the United States and European Union have successfully tested their new model of solution of separatist conflicts-a free choice between threats and bribery. It seems that Servian voters preferred the Trans-Atlantic model to the Russian variant of threats.
Certainly, to apply the trans-Atlantic model of the Kosovo precedent in the separatist formations of the former USSR, the peoples of Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan must be given a chance to choose between the European Union and loss of a part of their territory. However, this detail, which is not quite comfortable, is absent in the comments of "the supporters of justice" from the former superstate, as it will mean the loss of influence over four neighbors under any development of events.
Surprisingly, the detail was perceived by Armenian Prime Minister Serj Sarkisyan, who noted that though Kosovo and Karabakh conflicts are similar, "Kosovo is not a precedent for us". No doubt that the plebiscite on Karabakh in Azerbaijan will not be suitable for Yerevan, which declares the right of people for self-determination and assures the world of the truthfulness of its own illusion about independence of Nagorno Karabakh.
/Day.Az/
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