A few days ago I was in the back of my dad’s car, on my journey back home from school. It was the conversation that we had, that was after a frustrating day, that intrigued me. I had had an annoying day at school where I felt that my friends and my teachers have mistreated me and given me one too many detentions. But my father, like any father, tried just to make me feel better but in doing so he was teaching a moral story, one I’d like to share with you:
‘In was the winter of 1992, I was on my way to school, my second year of uni, something I was very passionate about (my education). The war happening in the Balkan still raging on but suddenly it became real as the gate of my uni were closed with no further notice. So there I stood, with my future wife and brother left with nothing but our dignity. I had return home only to find that my parents were there. Their building too, closed down. It was at that moment I knew that my future wife, brother and I must leave the country and east Europe. We must leave for our safety and in hope of a better land out there. It never occurred to me then that maybe my parents couldn’t fend for themselves. I’m lucky not to have lived that regret’
It was this story that aroused my curiosity for my country and its people and I concluded to this question: Should Kosovo be recognised universally?
Kosovo, a country recently independent in 2008 with 52% of the EU recognising, now at 65%. With its 1.9 million people free from economic struggles and greed of what once was Yugoslavia. Now people like my father are free to show passion and pride in where they are from without fearing their safety. But still countries like Serbia and Romania still believe that Kosovo is a ‘fake country’ and that Kosovo should join back with Serbia as Kosovo has formed the heart of the state of Serbia since medieval times. However, many Kosovans and I believe that the barbaric acts of atrocities and ethnic cleansing in the 90s showed the world why Kosovo’s case must be brought forth. As well as this, 90% of Kosovo’s people are non-Serbs and should be allowed to determine their own fate and not be a part another countries plans without a choice.
But this is besides the point, our main agenda is not that countries like Serbia and Romania that do not accept Kosovo as an independent country, It is countries like Russia and Spain that are the big problem. Political problems in the Balkans are a very sensitive matter but for now is stable. Big countries that are in the EU are the main reason for Kosovo’s unfulfilled acceptance. These countries however need to be address and their arguments need to brought forth to the table.
From what I’ve researched, Spain do not want Kosovo to be an independent country as it sets a dangerous precedent for other parts of the world where rebels want to break free. This seems like a valid point and we must accept their opinion but, as Ibrahim Rugova once said ‘I want to emphasize the fact that the independence of Kosovo should and will be recognized.’ These times of struggle for Kosovo and all the Balkan countries in which communist Yugoslavia has crumbled, has lasted far too long. This is the last push towards a new beginning, there is no other way to look at it. The mistreatment and breaking of Yugoslavia has lasted 17 years too long. And this is where I ask you, plead you, to end this suffering, to end this feud, to end this mistreatment. Let us give Kosovo what they need, what the Balkans need; a fresh start. This act will be the end of enclosure and mistreatment, the end to a new beginning. As famous poet A.P.J Abdul Kalam said:
‘All wars signify the failure of conflict resolution mechanisms, and they need post-war rebuilding of faith, trust and confidence.’
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