New and Free Republic of Kosovo Under Fire

By Connect Mason Reporter KT Trotman
Images courtesy of Flickr's "1974caca" and Creative Commons.

With cheerful tears and celebration, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia earlier this week.

The majority Albanian and secular Muslim population separated from the Christian Orthodox Serbia under heated scrutiny and rejection from world powers China and Russia. After years of rule and tyranny, Kosovo declared itself a republic.

UN and NATO forces protected Kosovo in 1999 when former Yugoslavian leader Slobodan Milosevic was attacking Albanians. They eventually handed Kosovo back over to Serbia but its recent independence has been anticipated for years. Today, 16,000 UN peacekeepers are in the country helping maintain order and stability.

President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci displayed Kosovo’s new flag after the declaration, showing a golden emblem of the country and six stars representing the majority ethnic groups held together by a bright blue background.

Bordering Serbia, Albania, Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo is seeking all the allies it can get. Immediately, Thaci sent out 192 letters to world nations asking for their acknowledgement of Kosovo. Many of them, including Indonesia and Spain, rejected his request. However, Kosovo did receive recognition from the United States and Britain.

For the 10 percent minority Serb community, the declaration is the beginning of anxiety and turmoil. Most fear their property and civil rights will be demolished. However, ABC News reported that President Sejdiu seeks a solution for the tension among Serbs in Kosovo.

“I understand today is a fearful day for you all, but your rights and your property will be protected today as it will be always,” said Sejdiu according to ABC News.

Not all Serbs responded with understanding. The serb-majority population, which lies in the northern part of Kosovo, is in a state of mayhem and protests. Over 100,000 of these residents are seeking to terminate the declaration. According to the New York Times, this includes the northern city of Mitrovica, where anti-Albanian and American protests are ongoing.

According to ABC News, President Bush spoke about the situation while on his trip in Africa, in spite of opposition to U.S. recognition of the foundling country.

“We are heartened by the fact that the Kosovo government has clearly proclaimed its willingness and its desire to support Serbian rights in Kosovo.” He later went on to say, “We also believe it's in Serbia's interest to be aligned with Europe and the Serbian people can know that they have a friend in America.”

The independence is still in a newborn stage and international emotions and opinions are brewing about the declaration.

UPDATE:

Ex-Serbian military fighters have attacked the Kosovo border and protestors set fire to the U.S. embassy in Belgrade.