Setting a dangerous precedent

Canada has a duty to support Serbia

Jesse Beach, Volunteer Staff

Violence rocked the hills of northern Kosovo early last week, signalling the first of what promises to be a continuing wave of atrocities. Serbs, protesting the breakaway province’s declaration of independence, have been setting off bombs and burning border stations and embassies in violent demonstrations of political defiance. The violence culminated when a Serbian government-sponsored mob burnt down the American embassy, injuring over 100 people and leaving one person dead. The rising action has prompted police officials to request aid from the 16,000 NATO troops stationed in the country as part of the military alliance’s peacekeeping force. The Serbian attacks were brutal, unjustified, and completely avoidable.

Kosovo’s self-declaration as “an independent, sovereign and democratic state” was met with quick approval worldwide from the United States, Britain, France and Germany all recognizing Kosovo as an independent country. However, though a “fight-for-the-little-guy” mentality may reside in all Western powers that have had their own historic battles for rights and independence, not all countries have been so quick to identify with the so-called Kosovo state. Russia and China, both veto-wielding UN Security Council members, have strongly opposed letting the territory break away from Serbia. Canada has also voiced reservations, still uncommitted and sitting on the fence. Ethnic Serbs have angrily denounced the offending countries that have recognized Kosovo, urging Russia to help Serbia hold on to the territory that Serbs consider to be the birthplace of their civilization.

Dusan Batakovic, Serbia’s ambassador to Canada, objects on more prosaic grounds. He has issued a letter imploring Canadians not to overlook important facts that are being ignored in most news reports. The ambassador has revealed that the UN Security Council resolution that entrusted Kosovo under UN control since 1999 included the reaffirmation of “the territorial integrity of Serbia, of which Kosovo is a part.” This means that the NATO forces that have occupied and controlled Kosovo for the past eight years have done so under the UN-sanctioned condition that they maintain the borders of Serbia. Without approval from Serbia or the UN Security Council — where Russia and China hold the power of veto — Kosovo’s declaration is illegal under international law. Serbian President Boris Tadic has confirmed this fact, calling the act of separation an annulment of “international law, tramp[ling] upon justice and enthrone[ing] injustice.”

The foreign ministers of the European Union that support Kosovo have stressed that Kosovo should be an exemption to the international rule that national borders may be changed only if all parties agree. None of these nations supporting the independence of Kosovo seem to realize the dangerous precedent that they are hell-bent on advocating. A precedent of separation without UN approval could be devastating for countries like Russia and China that are also plagued with separatist political factions. The violence currently rocking Kosovo’s borders would be merely a weak preview to the horror that could potentially reign down on territories like China and Russia with secessionist movements. If Canada does not want to directly contribute to these outbreaks of violence and revolt, it is our moral responsibility to block these kinds of illegal separation.

Tomislav Nikolic, the head of the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party, is imploring nations of the world to understand that America and the European Union are quite literally stealing Kosovo from Serbia. Though this theory may be easily dismissed as a radical exaggeration, there is actually some truth to the notion of national theft. To place this in perspective, imagine if Quebec announced itself as an independent state, separate from Canada rather than just a “nation within a united Canada.” The Canadian government would, quite naturally, resist the attempt. However, what if major international powers, such as the United States and members of the European Union, supported Quebec’s sovereignty? Now suppose that Western relations between such countries were not entirely stable. Suddenly, rival nations have an ally within our own nation’s borders, an ally that is now predisposed to be unfriendly towards the nation that did not support its independence. Serbian nationalists may be taking the appearance of the international “bad guys” in this conflict but, far from wanting to endanger anyone, they are trying to preserve the security of their nation’s borders and the safety of their nation’s people. It is now Canada’s duty, as a peace-loving nation, to stand up to the United States and Britain by opposing the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo. It is our responsibility to remove this dangerous precedent of separation, maintain the sovereignty of international bodies, and prevent the outbreak of violence and revolt throughout the world. We are the only ones left who can.

Jesse Beach is a fourth-year English student.





Volume 95 Issue 22	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	Febuary 27, 2008

Home About Us Advertising Rates Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Volunteer Online Classifieds St. Vincent's Academy Diaries	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly Setting a dangerous precedent Canada has a duty to support Serbia Jesse Beach, Volunteer Staff Violence rocked the hills of northern Kosovo early last week, signalling the first of what promises to be a continuing wave of atrocities. Serbs, protesting the breakaway province’s declaration of independence, have been setting off bombs and burning border stations and embassies in violent demonstrations of political defiance. The violence culminated when a Serbian government-sponsored mob burnt down the American embassy, injuring over 100 people and leaving one person dead. The rising action has prompted police officials to request aid from the 16,000 NATO troops stationed in the country as part of the military alliance’s peacekeeping force. The Serbian attacks were brutal, unjustified, and completely avoidable. Kosovo’s self-declaration as “an independent, sovereign and democratic state” was met with quick approval worldwide from the United States, Britain, France and Germany all recognizing Kosovo as an independent country. However, though a “fight-for-the-little-guy” mentality may reside in all Western powers that have had their own historic battles for rights and independence, not all countries have been so quick to identify with the so-called Kosovo state. Russia and China, both veto-wielding UN Security Council members, have strongly opposed letting the territory break away from Serbia. Canada has also voiced reservations, still uncommitted and sitting on the fence. Ethnic Serbs have angrily denounced the offending countries that have recognized Kosovo, urging Russia to help Serbia hold on to the territory that Serbs consider to be the birthplace of their civilization. Dusan Batakovic, Serbia’s ambassador to Canada, objects on more prosaic grounds. He has issued a letter imploring Canadians not to overlook important facts that are being ignored in most news reports. The ambassador has revealed that the UN Security Council resolution that entrusted Kosovo under UN control since 1999 included the reaffirmation of “the territorial integrity of Serbia, of which Kosovo is a part.” This means that the NATO forces that have occupied and controlled Kosovo for the past eight years have done so under the UN-sanctioned condition that they maintain the borders of Serbia. Without approval from Serbia or the UN Security Council — where Russia and China hold the power of veto — Kosovo’s declaration is illegal under international law. Serbian President Boris Tadic has confirmed this fact, calling the act of separation an annulment of “international law, tramp[ling] upon justice and enthrone[ing] injustice.” The foreign ministers of the European Union that support Kosovo have stressed that Kosovo should be an exemption to the international rule that national borders may be changed only if all parties agree. None of these nations supporting the independence of Kosovo seem to realize the dangerous precedent that they are hell-bent on advocating. A precedent of separation without UN approval could be devastating for countries like Russia and China that are also plagued with separatist political factions. The violence currently rocking Kosovo’s borders would be merely a weak preview to the horror that could potentially reign down on territories like China and Russia with secessionist movements. If Canada does not want to directly contribute to these outbreaks of violence and revolt, it is our moral responsibility to block these kinds of illegal separation. Tomislav Nikolic, the head of the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party, is imploring nations of the world to understand that America and the European Union are quite literally stealing Kosovo from Serbia. Though this theory may be easily dismissed as a radical exaggeration, there is actually some truth to the notion of national theft. To place this in perspective, imagine if Quebec announced itself as an independent state, separate from Canada rather than just a “nation within a united Canada.” The Canadian government would, quite naturally, resist the attempt. However, what if major international powers, such as the United States and members of the European Union, supported Quebec’s sovereignty? Now suppose that Western relations between such countries were not entirely stable. Suddenly, rival nations have an ally within our own nation’s borders, an ally that is now predisposed to be unfriendly towards the nation that did not support its independence. Serbian nationalists may be taking the appearance of the international “bad guys” in this conflict but, far from wanting to endanger anyone, they are trying to preserve the security of their nation’s borders and the safety of their nation’s people. It is now Canada’s duty, as a peace-loving nation, to stand up to the United States and Britain by opposing the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo. It is our responsibility to remove this dangerous precedent of separation, maintain the sovereignty of international bodies, and prevent the outbreak of violence and revolt throughout the world. We are the only ones left who can. Jesse Beach is a fourth-year English student.


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