Prominent Scholar Says Independent Kosovo Would be Failed State

voanews.com ^ | 08 Jan 2003, 23:41 UTC | Barry Wood

[Destro]

Prominent Scholar Says Independent Kosovo Would be Failed State

Barry Wood
Washington

08 Jan 2003, 23:41 UTC

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A prominent U.S. scholar on the Balkans Wednesday argued that independence for Kosovo, the key objective of that territory's ethnic Albanian majority, would have destabilizing effects throughout the southern Balkans.

Peter Liotta, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College in Pennsylvania, says in the Balkans, where ethnic groups coexist uneasily and often without reference to national borders, what happens in one country has immediate spill over effects. In that context, he said, independence for ethnic Albanians in Kosovo must be addressed with caution. It would take a miracle, said Professor Liotta, for Kosovo to become a viable country.

"Kosovo would not succeed," he said. "It would be a failed state immediately economically unless it would find integration with the immediate neighbors in the community and in the larger European context."

Mr. Liotta believes that regional integration is the way forward for the Balkans as a whole. He says the region wants and needs to be connected to western Europe.

"There has to be a kind of Europeanization across borders. I think that process is slowly occurring," he said. "And the answer is going to be the number one answer for reconciliation. The notion that, 'I can not survive economically without you. Even though for centuries we have had differences in some regards.'"

Professor Liotta believes the European Union and not the United States will take the lead in promoting reconciliation in the region. It was extremely positive, he said, that European heads of state last month formally invited several east European nations to join the economic union. Mr. Liotta said with the Balkan wars hopefully at an end, it is time to stress investment instead of intervention. Regional cooperation, he said, is promoted by cross boundary infrastructure projects like roads and pipelines.

Nikola Dimitrov, Macedonia's ambassador to Washington, agrees that transportation links are vital. "Ultimately, it will be in the interests of all interested parties to have both the east-west and north-south [Highway No. 10] corridors built. Because the region will gain in stability and importance," he said.

Both the planned east-west and north-south highways pass through Macedonia. Professor Liotta regards a multi-ethnic Macedonia as the region's best hope. He is also optimistic about post-Milosevic Serbia.

[Destro]

The new semi-ocfficial Bush policy on Kosovo in the guise of a news story. Thank you and God bless you Mr. President.

[Destro]

The new semi-official Bush policy on Kosovo in the guise of a news story. Thank you and God bless you Mr. President.

[dirtboy]

A prominent U.S. scholar on the Balkans Wednesday argued that independence for Kosovo, the key objective of that territory's ethnic Albanian majority, would have destabilizing effects throughout the southern Balkans...It would take a miracle, said Professor Liotta, for Kosovo to become a viable country.

Actually, the biggest problem for regional stability is the map of Greater Albania envisioned by the ethnic Albanians in the region.

[cloud8]

So, what does it take to become a "viable country?" Other European mini-states seem to have achieved a critical mass, like x-Yugo Slovenia and Croatia, Slovakia and the Baltics. But x-Yugo Kosovo cannot, apparently. Well, the author correctly perceives it as a European problem, and I'll be glad when we get the heck out of there.

[FireWall]

So, what does it take to become a "viable country?"

Well for starters, respect for the law and you won't be getting that anytime soon with these KLA thugs.

[Angelus Errare]

Given that large portions of Albania arguably qualify as a "failed state" (unless you consider drug dealing and the sex trade to be a sign of national success), this isn't too surprising.

If Kosovo ever did become independent, it'd likely either devolve into what Lebanon became back in the 1980s, assuming a civil war didn't immediately break out between the al-Qaeda KLA (who have been using it as a base from which to invade Macedonia) and the Serb Orthodox inhabitants. The recent string of bombings and assassinations of Serb officials and Muslims who weren't extreme enough to tow the KLA's line would seem to indicate that this process has already begun.

[DTA]

>>>>>But x-Yugo Kosovo cannot<<<<

Kosovo is not x-Yugo, it is Yugoslavian territory under UN mandate, according to UNSEC resolution 1244.

Speaking of X, it would be better that X-philander in chief never deployed US servicemen there, but since he did, ask anyone who was deployed there what Kosovo is really like. If you want undiluteed story, find someone from 82nd Airborne.

[Fusion]

If you had observed former Senator Bob Dole and Mr D huddled together at the US Chamber of Commerce affair Tuesday night in Washington, DC, you might be a little more hip to what the administration's official policy toward Kosovo is rapidly evolving into. Both of these fine Americans strong proponents of Kosovo independence and de facto recognition of Albanianism as the critical driving force in the region today from a US foreign policy perspective.

On another thread Wraith with an excellent look at the KLA-FARK struggle and proper understanding of the continued shaky political platform Dr Rugova remains perched upon. The current back channel dialogues between DC and the KLA leadership assuring US support for Kosovo independence all that is keeping K-6 from wiping out the FARK revisionists once and for all.

It is said Mr D wrote extensively a few years back of his experiences observing KLA operators neutralising FARK cadres in Tirana during the war. Those night time raids usually resulted in Dr Rugova's henchmen floating in the canal the next morning (and in one grisly instance hanging from a tree off Skanderbeg square.) Scores of FARK traitors remain on the officially sanctioned K-6 target list -- it only takes a nod from the top to see this progressive neutralisation programme re-engineered.

Kosovo will be granted full independence within the next few years or the Balkans will once more know the ringing gunfire of Albanian minutemen fighting off the tyranny of United Nations and Slavic apologists. Greater Albania remains the dominant force in the Balkans today and for centuries to come. US foreign policy strongly favours escalation of pro-Western Albanianism -- this perspective much solidified with the new congress sworn in on Tuesday.

The forces of freedom on the move. Europe trembles.

[Destro]

Well it seems old Limpy is out of the loopy when it comes to Kosovo.

[Gael]

Doubtful. The stalking horse didn’t ride too far last go ‘round. We’ll see how it does this year.

Please tell Mr. D to check that he still has his wallet after consorting with Viagra Bob.

[Wraith]

You must remember something Fusion, the Kosovar Albanian population whose majority support Rugova and the LDK, silently endure the presence of the UCK who are just terrorists calling themselves politicians these days.

A lot of Kosovar Albanians put aside their political differences in order to fight the Serbs during the war but now another line has been drawn in the sand within kosovo. Albanain against Albanian and it would be interesting to see to what extent the KLA will wage war on its own population.

Anyone oppressed has a breaking point and at this stage the KLA are to cocky, thinking they represent the population of which they rule through fear. Tides can turn and remember there is a lot of Kosovar Albanian money controlled by Bukoshi in Germany and Switzerland. You remember him the former LDK Prime Minster who does not care for Rugova but hates Thaci. Bukoshi has millions that sits waiting to be used and what better cause but true independence from the KLA who know nothing but murder in order to solve their problems. Would their be better stability with Thaci and the KLA forced out by his own people?

After all I have seen it first hand looking at the body of big bad Besim Mala, the so called KLA hero who was shot through the head by a local Kosovar Albanina he was trying to rip off. Mala thought that hiding behind the viel of fear that the KLA represented made him invincible but as it turned out he was nothing more than another stiff on the slab in Pristina.

So Fusion do you not think that the KLA have a limit as to how far a population can be silenced and intimidated under the gun? They had better think again because you never know who maybe now standing behind the FARK. You know how the game works i.e. as an opportunity opens and the chance for a better position/ advantage comes up, it may turn out that it is the KLA who are the ones now being hunted. Wonder what NATO partner will be in there like a dirty shirt? I know.

Fusion in one day 10,000 sympathetic Kosovar Albanian people came out to pay respects. I believe that was the number of KLA at the high point of the war with the Serbs. Fusion The KLA are now looking over their shoulders and I can’t help but wonder what the over confident KLA fighter Besim Mala was thinking before that bullet shut down his brain? Maybe a quick reflection on stupidity?

[cloud8]

Kosovo is not x-Yugo, it is Yugoslavian territory under UN mandate...

Thanx for clarifying that.

Speaking of X, it would be better that X-philander in chief never deployed US servicemen there...

Agreed.

If you want undiluted story, find someone from 82nd Airborne.

I'll bet it isn't pretty. I read recently that the world could devolve into hundreds of tin-pot republics. I'm in general for self-determination, but what worries me is that these 5th rate entities could fall into the hands of thugs a la the Kosovoons or perhaps wind up under the umbrella of the U.N., i.e., socialist Eurotrash and Coffee Anans of this world.

[branicap]

#11

A nice and correct prediction,Wraith.

Listen to this:Some time in December,Agron,my Albanian aquaintance from London was going to Kosovo.So he kept offering to visit my family in Belgrade(he has a Yugoslav passport) and bring anything I want to send them.So,I agreed.He didn`t want to tell me why was he leaving for Prishtina so suddenly.Any way he came back two weeks later ,been to Belgrade,delivered everything,slept at my home(can`t win against my mommy!No,Sir!).Can you imagine,a Kosovo Albanian sleeping in Serbian home in Belgrade and stay alive!?Only joking.He was very depressed.Then,he told me what was he doing in Prishtina:he went there to give the money to his family in order to by a couple of AKs!Why,because his baby brother,age 15 ,is hooked on heroin,supplied by a local KLA dealers!He and his family knows who they are,he claims that they are Tachi`s men.So,his family is going to kill those dealers.It`s OK to sell drugs to others but not to "their boys",of course.Number of junkies in Kosovo is increasing,and ,as you know it,you settle your grievances by gun,over there!And,Agron was deadly serious about murdering these guys!So,what is going to happen now?When,as you said,more and more people turn their guns on KLA bandits?

Besim Mala is just a beggining,I am sure!

Regards!

[Incorrigible]

Intense!

[Incorrigible]

Destro, are you kidding?  This article says the EU is going to bring calm to the Balkans.  The EU members can't stop bickering among themselves!  And that's before admitting the new members!

I applaud any chance to get American GIs out of Kosovo/Bosnia.  In fact it's already happening.  That's the real Bush plan.

Now what happens next?  Like they say about the UK in Northern Ireland, if British forces ever left, the civil war would engulf the entire island and be extraordinarily bloody.  What happens when the Serbs in Kosovo lose whatever protection they have today?  Is Yugo/Serbia neutered?  Will NATO wind up coming back fighting the KLA, our former allies?

Only the handful of America's best know the answers to these questions.  The Colonel, the Congressman, the Correspondent, the Hawk and of course, Mr. D himself.

Forces of crime infestation on the march.  Europe does in fact tremble.

[Wraith]

I know what you mean by deadly serious. During my time in Kosovo I had occasion to learn that a very substantial sum of money is in fact under the car of the former LDK Prime Minister Bukoshi in Switzerland and Germany. Bukoshi refused to hand over the cash which was collected globally from Albanians living abroad to rebuild Kosovo after its liberation from the Serbs. Bukoshi refused to hand over the money to Thaci and guess what, the KLA has to rely on the sale of Afghani heroin controlled by Bin Ladin's bunch which is stockpiled in the Kosovar city of Gjilane a.k.a. heroin central. Smuggled Cigarettes, alcohol, prostitution and of course drugs are the main source of income for the KLA.

Even in 1999/2000 there was a noticeable increase of Kosovar Albanian heroin users in Pristina. Not only are the KLA still murdering the opposition they are killing their own people slowly all because of money and greed. That what fuels the KLA and its leadership not the well being of the population. The KLA have no vision for Kosovo only for their pockets. In time this group of organized criminals will be seen for what they are. Besim Mala was the beginning. I’m sure your friend has heard of him.

[F-117A]

We'll you can put Mr. ED (aka Zog II) on the throne of Albania and send all his loyal subject home for starters!

[Destro]

I will tell you this..all this occupation of Kosovo has done is set up the next Balkan war the minute the big powers lose intrest or are distracted. The glory days of American intervention are long gone especially a multigenerational mission in backwaters (to Americans anyway) like Kosovo. The minute the US/NATO/EU leaves the monstrosity it created in Kosovo, the Albanians will be truely butchered as the Serbs do return, as FYROM is carved up and that draws in Bulgaria with Greece looking to liberate Northern Epirus..How many dead to come from the 21st century's Clinton inspired Balkan War?

[wonders]

Wow. Great and most informative post. Thanks!

Wonder what NATO partner will be in there like a dirty shirt? I know.

Well, I don't know as you do, but I sure can guess what the "made in" label on that dirty shirt would read!

[wonders]

Enlightening. Thanks for sharing this, branicap. Hmm. I seem to remember a report in a Brit paper during "Rambo-Yay" that Thaci was hanging at his heroin-built mansion in Albania to mull over MadCow's deal.

My only question is: what happened to the family's original AKs so that they needed to buy more?