Kosova - inspiring and humbling in equal measure

A few days after returning back to Scotland I’m still to decant all my notes and scribbles into a format that is vaguely usable (the team always hate this because it means that they get nothing from me until I have time to sit quietly and unleash a tsunami of things to do in their direction). However, I have a few things clear in my own head about Kosova.

At the other end of Europe, in a couple of weeks time, a small European region with a tragic recent history is going to declare independence. This is the aim of every SNP member, and plenty others as well. Of course, Scotland’s history is different, our claim of right more secure, our neighbours more co-operative, the Kosovans were agape at the advantages we have. But I met politicians and civil society from all sides of the political and ethnic spectrum, and everyone is agreed. Time’s up, no more excuses, the status quo is untenable, we need to build a nation. I hope they manage it.

The independence will be “supervised” by the international community, with thousands of police, judges, civilians and even more troops on standby, because there is a real risk that elements of the population will attack others, and that Serbia will interfere in the fledgling state in who knows what way.

I was there to see how it is going, understand the dynamics and I only scratched the surface. It is clear to me however, that the politicians I spoke to at least understand that with the right to independence comes the obligation to build a state of law, with the rights of minorities being the biggest priority given recent history.

Of course, it is not going to be easy. Russia will block recognition in the UN Security Council by veto, so it cannot go to the General Assembly and only individual states can recognise the declaration. The US and UK are likely to be the first to do so, good on them. But then the hand over starts. In the absence of a Security Council Resolution UNMIK has to be ordered to stand down, which will take a courageous decision by Secretary General Ban Ki Moon but a necessary one. The EU has three missions in place already to take over 120 days after the declaration and act as stabilisers on the new Kosovan state.

The credibility of the EU is at stake. The Common Foreign and Security Policy was born in the aftermath of the EU’s abject failure over the Balkans in 1999, and I’ll confess to a fair bit of scepticism over it myself. But it has to work. Look at a map, EU states ring Kosovo, this is part of the European territory and if the EU means anything we have to help firstly, avoid bloodshed, secondly, ensure minorities feel safe and thirdly build prosperity (and hence a market for our own goods). I met an awful lot of committed hard working people in Pristina and as well as their efforts do think that the EU is committed, and in for the long term.

The smart money appears to be on February 16 as the likely date for declaration, but nobody knows. I picked up a bottle of Raki at the airport, and look forward to opening it for a thoughtful toast to the South East come the day.

"No negotiations - Self Government!" (Actually an anti-UN slogan)