The Kosovar Moment

After years of oppression, the people of Kosovo are within weeks, perhaps even days, of declaring independence from Serbia.

Since NATO forces took control of Kosovo in 1999, the world has sought to find a "final status" for the region acceptable to both Serbia and the people of Kosovo. But that route has failed. And Russia says it will veto any attempt by the United Nations Security Council to impose a solution unless it is first agreed to by Serbia.

Kosovo is, therefore, left with little choice but a unilateral declaration of independence. And here we find two deep-seated American values in direct conflict. On one hand, we respect sovereignty which means we take seriously Serbia's right to control its own territory. On the other hand, we respect the right to self-determination which means we respect the understandable desire of the Kosovars to be free of Serb rule.

In the end, the United States has pledged it will recognize and support Kosovo's independence once it is announced. The right to govern, as Thomas Jefferson told us, comes only from the consent of the governed. The Kosovars will soon join the growing number of people around the world who can share in Jefferson's dream.

The reaction of the Serbs, Russians, and the European Union to all of this is little more unpredictable and, perhaps, volatile. And as the International Herald Tribune reports, "...this region's almost nine-year struggle to secede from Serbia might have been the easy part of independence. The hard part for Kosovo, set to declare its freedom soon, will be to stimulate its damaged economy, repair its roads and generate enough electricity to keep the lights on."

More:

• Kosovo Independence Declaration Possible in 10 days, from Reuters
• The Kosovo Decision, from the About Guide to U.S. Foreign Policy
• Final Status Decision on Kosovo Nears, from the About Guide to U.S. Foreign Policy
• Russia Warns U.S. and EU Over Kosovo Independence, from Reuters
• EU Links Membership, Serbian Election, from the International Herald Tribune
• Russia Has Kosovo Plan, from B92 (Serbia)
• Putin's Balkan Mischief, from The Moscow Times