Kosovo celebrates of its 4th year of independence

Kosovo on Friday will mark its 4th anniversary of 2008 proclaimed Independence with Serbs inhabited in the un-controlled north. Government now sees the challenge for the extension of state authority in this part of Kosovo.

Pristina, KOSOVO – by Vedat Xhymshiti
| Thursday, February 15, 2012 | DEMOTiX |

Despite this Kosovo’s vice PM. As well as Minister of Justice Mr. Hajredin Kuçi has estimated that within the four years of Independence, Kosovo is competitive with other modern states, calling its country (Kosovo) as the most stable in the region.

However, Serbs in northern Kosovo, who oppose independence declared by majority Albanians in 2008, keep challenging Belgrade and Pristina. Serbs went to the polls on Tuesday and Friday, to vote in a referendum against Pristina institutions, despite warning by the international community and Serbian leaders in Belgrade that the vote would be invalid.

In two days of an unofficial referendum, B92 reported, 99.74 percent of those who voted answered "No" to the question, "Do you accept the institutions of the so-called Republic of Kosovo?" Turnout was about 75 percent.

EU facilitator in the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue Robert Cooper has made up his mind regarding Kosovo’s regional representation. According to the final version, Kosovo will be represented only with its name and a footnote mentioning UN SC Resolution 1244 and the ICJ ruling.

Freedom of PRESS is another serious problem that is facing Kosovo’s society. The press freedom in Kosovo is in a constant violation by its authorities according to journalists as well as to annual report of International renowned Organization for freedom of PRESS RSF (reporters Sans Frontiers). PRESS in Kosovo faced its freedom violation also on Thursday, February 15, 2012, where Kosovo Parliament held a solemn session, where journalists, photographers and cameramen were facing serious harassments and violations of freedom of movement.

The KFOR-led international community is provisionally controlling Kosovo’s sovereignty, while every single political development in Kosovo is dependent on the response of the Serbian authorities based in Belgrade. Critics of the foreign diplomats in Kosovo claim they are working in cahoots with the local politicians and supporting organized crime and political mafia. One critic, on condition of anonymity, said the diplomats from international community are bringing money in Kosovo in the name of donations, while taking them back in their own pocket. “They insist they’re doing this for the sake of cooperation and helping Kosovo, as they claim, “gain its freedom, prosperity, democracy and finally, the most wanted independence,” the source said while declining to give his name on security grounds.
One year ago, Kosovo's prime minister, Hashim Thaçi, has been identified as one of the "biggest fish" in organized crime in the country, according to western military intelligence reports leaked to British Daily ‘The Guardian’.

The NATO documents, which were marked as "Secret", indicated that the US and other Western powers backing Kosovo's government have had extensive knowledge of its criminal connections for several years.

They also identified other senior ruling politicians in Kosovo as having links to the Albanian mafia, stating that they exert considerable control over Thaçi, a former guerrilla leader.

The leaked classified information, marked as "USA KFOR", provides detailed information about organized criminal networks in Kosovo based on reports compiled by Western intelligence agencies and informants.

The geographical spread of Kosovo's criminal gangs is set out, alongside details of alleged familial and business links. The Council of Europe is expected to formally demand an investigation into claims that Thaçi was the head of a "mafia-like" network responsible for smuggling weapons, drugs and human organs during and after the 1998-99 Kosovo war.

Leaks also suggest there are ethnic Albanian Kosovo politicians that run illegal businesses in northern Kosovo, a territory that is increasingly becoming a crime den.

However, former guerilla leader Mr. Thaçi, remains the country's prime minister, supported by the outgoing U.S. ambassador Christopher W. Dell, which according to critics in 2010, Mr. Dell joined the camp of political manipulators, vote thieves, and corruptors of the fragile political system. The U.S. ambassador throughout the year of 2011, has been characterized by the very opposite of what America symbolizes".

A fact-files box that qualifies the U.S. ambassador to Pristina as the disappointment of the year according to Kosovo daily 'Koha Ditore'.

More than 80 countries, including the United States and 22 of the EU's 27 members, have recognized the state, which is the last to emerge from the remains of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. However Russia, Serbia’s old-time ally, has blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution on the country’s independence and emergence as a free state.