Inside Track: Calamity in Kosovo?

With Kosovo’s declaration of independence looming on the horizon, the Center for Preventive Action at the Council on Foreign Relations held a timely, on-the-record discussion, “Independence in Kosovo?: Managing the Consequences.” Moderator Paul B. Stares, director of the Center, invited panelists to discuss the implications of Kosovo’s independence in the Balkan region, the ramifications of its recognition for world politics and measures that might be taken now to prevent major outbreaks of violence and fallouts in international politics. While there was little disagreement that quickly resolving Kosovo’s status will ultimately cause less bloodshed in the Balkans, a lively debate ensued about Russia’s role and how the United States should respond to Moscow’s objection to Kosovo independence without Serbia’s approval. [...]

In analyzing the potential effects of Kosovo’s independence on the greater Balkan region, Janusz Bugajski, director of the New European Democracies Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreed that a quick, decisive, and clear resolution backed by as many countries and multinational institutions as possible is currently the best solution. Recognition of Kosovo’s independence, Bugajski maintained, would help eliminate much of the ambiguity in the Balkans and settle relations with neighboring countries.

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