Crossfire War – PRISTINA – TIRANA – TEHRAN WATCH – Southeast Europe Theatre: Pristina – Tehran – Tirana/(Vienna – Warsaw)/Kosovska Mitrovica – Belgrade – Athens – Brussels; Kosovo Albanian Leaders Embark on “Crisis of Trust” Diplomatic Offensive to Brussels – Berlin – In Search of Recognition
Night Watch: PRISTINA – The Albanian leadership in Kosovo is about to embark on an angry “Crisis of Trust” diplomatic offensive to two of the centers of European decision-making; Berlin-Brussels. Due to arrive in Berlin on Friday are Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu and opposition leader Hashim Thaci. They will be confronting German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier over the obvious issue of continued lack of official recognition of Kosovo’s independence when it seemed so certain, less than a month ago; NATO and the European Union were so close to recognizing the province as an independent country no longer part of Serbia. At least that was the impression Kosovo was given publicly and I assume also privately. [SERBIANNA]
Next week a second wave of diplomatic “crisis of trust” offensives will be conducted again by Sejdiu and Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku in Brussels where they will assault the indifference and aloof postures of European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. It was Ceku who first used the phrase “crisis of trust” in case official recognition is not given immediately and if not then the war resumes. Despite Kosovo being the main flashpoint on the European continent both Solana and Rehn have at times given the impression, quite proudly, that the issue is a joke and very much beneath them. One that can hardly compare with their grandiose visions of European enlargement. Solana is actually on record as saying he never took the negotiations in Vienna, between Serbian and Kosovo leaders seriously. Perhaps because they were conducted through the offices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, instead of in Brussels where he is based.
I suspect that, though the Kosovo diplomats may not be given short shrift, but instead will be forced to listen to long excuses as to why the recognition of Kosovo independence, which was promised more than a year ago, has not happened. The explanation will revolve around this central theme: NATO-EU are not in the mood for another war with Belgrade and the re-armed Serbian military with major assistance from Moscow, not to mention the security agreement Belgrade signed with Tehran in January 2006. That will give Sejdiu-Thaci-Ceku no other choice but to respond with threats to not only declare independence on their own but they may also mention there are governments in and out of the region willing to support them militarily. Which of course means Tirana and Tehran, since this diplomatic offensive is being conducted just one week after Tehran has been meeting with Albania’s government.
Crossfirewar.com has mentioned constantly that Iran does not care how the fighting in the Balkans resumes or even who wins just as long as it will keep NATO busy and Tehran can use the war in this theatre to silence Vienna and end the UN investigation into Iran’s nuclear weapons program by the UN agency based there. In the meantime, someone else who is acutely aware as to the explosiveness of the situation is UNMIK Chief Joakim Ruecker. The newspaper Koha Ditore mentioned an alarming letter Ruecker wrote admitting the “situation is getting out of control.” The article stated, “The UNMIK Chief called on the international diplomats to help the international administration because according to its observation the situation can potentially spiral out of control.” This is an honest, frightened admission from an official on the frontline of Albanian hatred. [B92]
The UNMIK is the United Nations Interim Administration Mission for Kosovo and when Albanians began to demonstrate violently, late last year, buildings of the UNMIK in Pristina were attacked. The attackers mostly uses stones but next time grenades will be used, because I suspect after this diplomatic offensive is over Kosovo Albanian leaders will declare their independence knowing they will have to secure it through war and that it will spread beyond Kosovo.
www.crossfirewar.com
