Madam, - The recent article on Kosovo "Negotiators prepared to let Kosovo be divided" (The Irish Times, August 17th) might leave readers with the impression that partition was somehow the best and most logical settlement of the long dispute between Albanians and Serbs over Kosovo.
Firstly, we are informed that the "troika" of envoys from Washington, Brussels and Moscow want all the options put on the table - including partition. Secondly, the article mentions the view that if Kosovo becomes independent and the division is not accepted, most of the remaining Serbs will flee to northern Kosovo and de facto partition will ensue.
However, the history of the Balkans has always been more complex than it seemed at first sight. Therefore I think your readers should be informed as to the possible consequences of any partition of Kosovo.
The possible fallout from partition was most clearly highlighted recently by the president of neighbouring Macedonia, Branko Crvenkovski, who repeated on several occasions that Macedonia strongly opposed any division of Kosovo. This is not because of some benevolent Macedonian commitment to the territorial integrity of Kosovo, but stems from an acute awareness of the consequences of partition. If Kosovar Albanians see that Kosovo can be divided by Kosovar Serbs who represent 5 to 10 per cent of the total Kosovar population, they will conclude that Macedonia can also be divided since Albanians represent 30 to 35 per cent of the population there.
I am not quite sure that the "troika" fully appreciates the extent of the Balkan options that might end up on the table if all options, as they claim, are to be considered.
How would Bulgaria and Greece, two neighbouring countries with tacit territorial designs on Macedonia, react to the division of Macedonia? And any redrawing of boundaries there would probably worsen Turkish-Greek relations.
Furthermore, the partition of Kosovo, followed by a possible partition of Macedonia, would open the way for the Serbs in Republika Srpska to separate from Bosnia-Herzegovina and join Serbia. This would see the final legitimation of the genocide committed there, and the only thing that would remain in such a situation would be regret that Milosevic was not alive to see the final triumph of his ideology.
Yes, there are many officials in Serbia who warn increasingly that, if Kosovo becomes independent, all the Kosovar Serbs will move towards northern Kosovo and demand separation. But how do such officials know the reaction of Kosovar Serbs? Or are we faced again Milosevic-style plans to move entire populations, ordered by Belgrade, and aimed at benefiting the ruling elite in Serbia? - Yours, etc,
MENTOR AGANI,
Department of Sociology,
University of Prishtina,
Kosovo.