17th Dec, Hindu editorial

This editorial deals with Kosovo election and the problem in the region

KOSOVO ELECTIONS

• Kosovo unilaterally declared independence (UDI) from Serbia in 2008
• International court of justice in July 2010 declared UDI as NOT unlawful
• Major parties

• Democratic party of Kosovo lead by Hashim Thaci(Incumbent PM)
• League of Kosovo lead by Isa Mustafa
• Self determination party lead by Albin Kurti

• Demography

• Total population 1.8 million
• 88% Albanians
• 7% Serbs mostly inhabiting northern Kosovo

• Kosovo is one the poorest EU nations with

• Unemployment of 48%
• Annual Per Capita income: 2750 $

• ELECTION RESULTS

• Hashim Thaci claims victory
• In northern Kosovo most of polling stations were boycotted and there were minor skirmishes
• Serbia president Boris Tadic called for a boycott of election in northern kosovo

• The problem

• Serbia is planning to annex northern Kosovo
• Ruling party is accused of corruption. Citing corruption the self determination party calls for unification of Kosovo with Albania
• Meanwhile Serbia is seeking membership in EU. Now EU doesn’t accept divided nations. So this move is seen as an attempt by Serbia to nullify Kosovo partition
• The whole problem is due to EU’s vacillation
• There is an absence of leadership in EU