Koreans Protest U.S. Beef imports
Currently, many Koreans have been protesting US beef imports, because of the fear that they may contain Mad Cow Disease. The beef Korea is importing is 30 months old, and is not being probably regulated, neither by the Koreans nor the Americans. Efforts to create some sort of Korean FDA have been stalled. During the protests, of which accurate numbers are hard to obtain, many have so far been jailed, and at least one dead.
Time for another war over Kosovo?
Serbia’s recent history has been very turbulent. Over the past 16 years, it has not only lost its territories of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro, but also its access to the sea. Its economy still suffers from the long wars it fought over some of these territories. The ultra-nationalist (and thus also pro-war) Serbian Radical Party won the election back in January of 2007, but lacked enough votes to form a majority, and needed to form a coalition government. The compromise was Vojislav Kostunica, a Pro-EU, but still Anti-independent Kosovo, prime minister. He was seen as the preferred candidate, as he was far more moderate than some of his opponents. A sigh of relief came from the “Western Powers” with his win.
But that didn’t last too long. Recently, Kosovo held an election. The winner appears to be (as votes need to be verified by the U.N.) a man by the name of Hashim Thaci. He ran on a platform, saying that at the earliest possible moment, he will declare the complete independence of Kosovo. He also, during the 90’s, formed a group called the “Drenica-Group”. This group was involved in an estimated 10%-15% of all crime related activity in Kosovo, as well as attacking Serbian police forces on several occasions. This man was also sentenced to be kicked out of the country for 10 years. His past speaks for itself.
The magic day is going to be December 10th. This is the day Thaci said he will declare independence for Kosovo. This is also the day that the U.N. writes a report on the recommendations it has for Kosovo. Everyone is asking for more time, and to make the process slower. Will Thaci budge?
Now heres the set-up. Serbia will not recognize Kosovo’s independence, but wants to grant it more autonomy. Kosovo wants independence. Kosovo’s population is 90% ethnic Albanian, and 10% ethnic Serbian, with a tiny part of the north being the Serb part, and the southern part being Albanian. Serbs claim to fear that if Kosovo becomes independent, it will destabilize the whole region because it will encourage other secessionist Albanian movements in other countries. Macedonia has a moderate Albanian population that Serbia believes will also attempt to break away with Kosovo and form a “Greater Albania”. An interesting thing about Kosovo is that the older generation see themselves as Albanian, but the younger generation (such as students) see themselves as Kosovar, as thats a reference of being from Kosovo. They acknowledge they speak Albanian and have a similar history, but they also have a Kosovar identity. Is that joining up with Albania even desired?
As for the major powers, the U.S. wants an independent Kosovo, the U.N. and E.U. want more debates, and Russia sides with Serbia and will not support an independent Kosovo. Vojislav Kostunica, prime minister of Serbia says “These negotiations have lasted for two years. The way they started is the way they must end — in the Security Council.” Sounds reasonable right? Letting the U.N. decide? Well, the security council is split because of the U.S. and Russia. Kostunica is a clever man by trying to sound reasonable and patient, but really he knows there is no way Russia will back an independent Kosovo.
Or who knows? maybe what the great powers do won’t even matter. Various paramilitary groups on both sides are threatening to cause trouble, no matter what the U.N., Kosovo, or Serbia decides.
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