Correct Kosovo- Serbia or “correction of the entire Balkans”

The opening of the border issue was consistently seen as a problem, which was believed not to involve just one or two states, because it was believed to produce chain effects in all neighboring states.

The newest European state, Kosovo, which declared its independence in co-ordination with the West, had determined in its Constitution, which stems from the Ahtisaari Pack, as a comprehensive status agreement, that Kosovo can neither be split nor join another state.

Maintaining this principle, the presidents of Kosovo and Serbia, Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vuciq have issued the political formula under which there is no division and exchange of territory, but there may be border correction.

However, such an idea except to spell out the dilemma of how much can be realized also raises the question of what effects it could have on the countries of the region? Therefore, the idea of border correction has been commented on in Pristina, Belgrade, Skopje and Tirana.

Politologist from Pristina, Ramush Tahiri, says that if the agreement is to be reached voluntarily on both sides, then it may also be acceptable to the international community. And the other issue, he highlights, remains whether that agreement would be taken as a model by other countries with similar problems.

“If a kind of maturity has been achieved for Serbs and Albanians to make a new border, changing the border that is now between Kosovo and Serbia, to be an acceptable border for both sides, which does not bring about population displacement on one side and does not create ethnic states, then it is fair and must peacefully influence other Balkan countries”, Tahiri says.

So there is no reason to influence Macedonia, because there is no interest in national restrictions or the population has expressed it. Also in Bosnia, there have been certain conditions of war, but that Bosnia must become a state of two entities and three nations”, Tahiri points out.

But, in contrast, Edward Joseph, professor at John Hopkins University who has been on international missions in the Balkans during and after the war, has told the Balkans Free Radio Service that the idea for exchange of territories is not new.

But, according to him, people are unable to see the consequences of the eventual realization of such an idea, even if Pristina and Belgrade agree on territory they should exchange.

“Even if Belgrade and Pristina agree on the size of the territory they have to exchange, we should consider the consequences against Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Why would Albanians in Macedonia, who make up 25 per cent of this state's population, not want to join other Albanians in the Albanian state of Albania in case of exchange of territories between Serbia and Kosovo?

According to him, if the international community would allow the exchange of territories and the north of Kosovo joins Serbia, then there is no logic to say that Republika Srpska cannot do that in Bosnia.

On the other hand, Professor Alydin Demiri, former deputates and former Macedonian ambassador to Switzerland, says that correction of the border -- which, according to him, would end in exchange for territories -- would certainly affect the entire region.

He says that in Macedonia's case, not only from Albanians but also from Macedonian politicians circulates the idea of partitioning, unless co-existence can be established between Albanians and Macedonians with one state.

The exchange of territories in Kosovo would be an alarm to have the same happen in Macedonia, which means that western Macedonia -- where the Albanian majority live -- should either declare its independence or have an association with Albania or Kosovo. But, on the other hand, neither Kosovo nor Albania are prepared, nor do they seem to accept this”.

Therefore, this is a problem, as seems distant and early because, even though 20 years from here Serbia does not recognise Kosovo, still as conditions are seen, they are not ripe for such a process of recognition”, Demiri points out.

Demiri also says that border change scenarios can also be very dangerous for peace and stability in the region.

Similarly, Lisen Bashkurti, former representative of Albania in the United Nations Organisation, has told Radio Free Europe that the idea thrown into public opinion about changing or correcting borders, or territorial exchanges is not a realistic idea, especially because the Balkans, he says, is still a very delicate region for security and stability issues.

He sees such an idea as a threat to the region and an opportunity to extend the influence of other international factors in the region.

The countries of the region need to consolidate peace, and peace does not consolidate affect borders. The idea, I would say, is not right from the point of view of law, because here we are dealing with a process of known states, and Kosovo is an independent, internationally recognised state, over 116 states have already recognised”.

So in all views, from the context of internal developments in Kosovo and the delicate conditions that countries in our region have, I think that the idea thrown by Thaci is not realistic”, Bashkurti says.

However, the debate over and against the idea of mending the border between Kosovo and Serbia has extended not only to politicians and publicists in the region but also to numerous political and public figures and personalities from the most influential states in the world today.