Author: KosovoThanksYou

The Prime Minister of Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, today confirmed that Kosovo has been admitted to the World Bank. With over 100 countries being in favor of Kosovo joining the World Bank the admittance sends a strong message that Kosovo is accepted as a sovreign state by countries and institutions of the world.

The World Bank is made up of two institutions, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). World Bank’s main role is to help governments lead and implement development projects. The World Bank Group includes additional three institutions.

Acceptance into the World Bank is significant for Kosovo because, together with the IMF, it gives it access to both expertise and funds for the development of the Kosovar economy, infrastructure and society.

Source: http://www.kryeministri-ks.net/?page=1,9,661

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on May 25th 2009 passed a resolution on Kosovo. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Kosovo this resolution welcomes the progress made during the first year of independence. The OIC resolution also welcomes the deployment of EULEX, reconfiguration of UNMIK and calls on the international community to continue supporting multilateral efforts in Kosovo. The resolution establishes regular updates to the OIC regarding progress of Kosovo, thus placing Kosovo high on the OIC agenda.

The adoption of this resolution marks a significant step for Kosovo.

Earlier this week the Serbian Foreign Ministry attempted to mark a diplomatic victory by claiming that the resolution has been sidetracked and rejected. A bigger question was brought up when the Serbian Foreign Ministry claimed to have influenced the content of the resolution by bringing forth changes that omitted any call for recognition of Kosovo by OIC member states. Although this claim is yet to be verified, diplomatic sources state that the OIC resolution never contained any call to OIC members to recognize Kosovo.

Recognition of states is not in the jurisdiction of the OIC and is entirely up to each member state of the OIC to recognize Kosovo on its own terms.

During a speech made to the London School of Economics on the 31st of March 2009, the President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, gave positive signs that Indonesia might recognize Kosovo if it becomes clear that Kosovo is a special case. The president also noted that the independence of Kosovo is part of the nation building process resulting from the collapse of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a process that has not yet concluded.

President Yudhoyono said that Indonesia considers two important points in this situation, the sovereignty of countries under international law, and the will of the people of Kosovo to be independent.

President Yudhoyono stated that “for now it is quite possible for Indonesia to accept the independent status of Kosovo after we examine carefully that there is a different situation in Myanmar”, adding that, “after the process of Balkanization you have the independent state of Kosovo.”

The President of Indonesia also added that “we are still following the situation in Kosovo and it is quite possible that some day Indonesia recognizes the independence of Kosovo.”

The 24th of March marks the 10th anniversary of NATO strikes aimed at stoping vioelence and ethnic cleansing on Kosovar Albanians. A whole generation of Kosovars will remember this day for all their lives, and with 10 years behind us we can only focus on the future and for this future to be a bright one. Today Kosovo is independent and recognized by 56 UN member states, and many other friends around the world.

But also to this day, the same ideology that in 1999 attempted to forcefully subdue a peaceful nation and tried for almost a century to destroy its future by closing universities, schools and treating Kosovo as a colony, is continuing its bizare and hard to comprehend campaign. The ideology that sits today in Belgrade has caused too much suffering for everyone in South East Europe and we can only hope that 10 years from now it will be history.

Therefore, 10 years may have passed and most countries in the Balkans might have moved on, but we still await for the rest to catch up. At least so we hope.

We must also not forget the thousands that are missing and whose families await to learn about the fate of their loved ones. 10 years later, forgivness has yet to be sought by those that caused harm.

We may celebrate, but we must also remember.

The guilty verdict by the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at the trial of 5 out of 6 high ranking Serb government figures for the crimes they committed and organized during the Kosovo-Serbia war in 1999 brings some justice to the people of Kosovo. This decision, although welcomed, should be a reminder to the countries around the world that justice is still being demanded by the victims.

Additionally, the guilty verdict of a Former Serbian Prime Minster, top Generals and security decision makers, of the Serbian Republic should speak volumes about the legality of Kosovar independence. Kosovo had and continues to have not only the moral right, but the legal right to protect its people and its independence.

It is important not to forget that many Kosovars are still missing and are presumed dead. Many perpetrators of these crimes are still free and living in Serbia, and some are also active in political life and decision making.

As long as these questions remain unanswered, justice will only be half-done.

The guilty verdict is welcomed, but also serves as a reminder to the world that this is not the end of the story.