Kosova, soon to be Europe's newest state

I write this in Pristina, where I am for three days on a mission to talk about civic nationalism and to find out the mechanics of how to declare independence. I would not usually cut and paste a press release onto the blog but the connection here is a bit ropey so this at least says what I'm up to. The buzz here is fantastic, real upbeat excitement and it looks increasingly likely that Kosova will be independent by the end of the month.

Clearly, with the right to self determination comes the responsibility to treat minorities with respect, but the politicians I have met so far on all sides seem to accept the logic of civic nationalism.

Kosova is Kosova and Scotland is Scotland, and it is always risky to draw conclusions from one pace and apply them to another. But the more I see, the more I am convinced that the EU influence within our borders on Scotland, the Basque Country and Catalunya (and without on countries like Montenegro and Kosova) make independence a necessity. I'll dust off an article I have half written and post it on here when I get back, but meantime I'll get this posted and get to bed I have been up since 4 and have 11 meetings tomorrow!


For immediate use Friday 1 February

Attention: Newsdesks, International, Feature Correspondents

SCOTS MEP IN HIGH LEVEL KOSOVA MISSION

“EU emphasis on peaceful democratic self determination crucial to stability”

SNP MEP Alyn Smith is to travel to Kosova on Monday for a three day fact finding and observation mission. Mr Smith will meet with the European Commission and United Nations missions in Pristina, as well as a range of Kosovan politicians from across the political spectrum, the two Deputy Prime Ministers and Kosovan civil society.

Mr Smith’s European Commission organised visit comes the day after the run-off Serbian Presidential election and the victor in that contest will be announced as Mr Smith leaves Scotland for Pristina. Experts in Brussels predict that Kosova may declare independence while Mr Smith is in town. Mr Smith will take an explicit message to the Kosovan politicians that EU support is entirely contingent upon respect for minorities and a peaceful transition to independence.

This declaration of independence will be supported by many EU member states and supported by the European Commission with financial support to ensure stability and other technical assistance. The EU member states have also decided to send a major force of civilian policemen and judicial officials to ensure governmental transparency.

Speaking from Edinburgh before his trip Mr Smith said:

“I’m not one for junketing but after trips to the Zambian Bush to see international development in action, to Gaza and the West Bank to see humanitarian projects I’m excited about this trip to see, perhaps, the Independence Day of a new European state.

“Clearly, the SNP wants to see an independent Scotland, and I have taken great heart from the Montenegrin experience. But we in Scotland are blessed with an utterly peaceful, democratic and progressive civic nationalism which has achieved massive constitutional change without so much as a bloody nose, others are not so lucky.

“In Kosova there is an unhappier history, but they may be about to turn the corner. The EU and the UN have at every turn supported the Kosovan moves to independence, but it is vital that this process is peaceful and that the rights of minorities, the Serbian minority in particular, are respected.

”It underlines that constitutional change is in the air, and as the EU’s common framework of peace, stability and the rule of law becomes more prominent it becomes increasingly clear that independence is a prerequisite to take part in that framework."

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS
Highlights of Mr Smith’s provisional programme, which will be subject to change, is below.

Meeting with the Head of European Commission Liaison Office to Kosovo
Meeting with the Assembly of Kosovo
Meeting with the Head of Office of Political Affairs at UNMIK
Meeting with the Head of British Office
Meeting with the representative of a serb political party
Lunch with AAK party member
Meeting with Prime Minister's Office
Meeting with Deputy Prme Minister for European Affairs (PDK)
Meeting with Prime Minister's Office, EU integration
Meeting with Kosovo Civil Society Foundation
Meeting with Community Development Fund
Dinner AKR Party member
Meeting with the Head of the EU Planning Team for Kosovo
Meeting with the Head of the ICO/EUSR Preparation Team
Meeting with the Institute for Democracy and Interethnic Relations
Lunch with LDK Party member
Meeting Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development