Dear Editor,
After the disintegration of Yugoslavia, only Montenegro remained united with Serbia. But Kosovo, an autonomous province within the Yugoslav Republic was yoked with Serbia by force. All the republics of the former Yugoslavia are today independent, but when Kosovo declared independence in 1999, Serbia went to war with the territory. This led to UN and NATO invasion to protect the ethnic Albanians who are the majority in the province, and in 1999, Kosovo became a United Nations protectorate. For this reason, the question of the Republic of Kosovo’s declaration of independence is unique. It can’t be compared to other scenarios. Yugoslavia no longer exists and the world must quickly recognize Kosovo. I urge the government of Guyana to recognise the Republic of Kosovo.
When Kosovo was part of Yugoslavia, the butcher of Belgrade, Slobodan Milosevic, closed Albanian schools, abrogated Kosovo’s Parliament, and fired 100,000 workers. The autonomy of Kosovo was dissolved and Belgrade launched a military assault on the defenceless province. More than 90 percent of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians were driven from their homes, and 500 residential areas, including 300 villages, were destroyed during Slobodan Milosevic’s ethnic cleansing campaign in the province, according to a report released May 10, 1999, by the US State Department. “In 1999, while Europe watched impotently, Milosevic’s forces killed 13,000 Albanians Kosovars , blew up mosques, gang-raped Muslim women, burned Albanian villages and drove one million Albanian Kosovars into frigid winter fields where they would have died of exposure without outside help. The United States again rescued the Kosovars by launching a short air war on the Serbs.” (Khaleejtimes).
Kosovars left in droves in search of food and to escape extermination.
Thousands of Kosovars were killed and dumped in mass graves in Serbian controlled land. The world witnessed the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo while the EU stood aside like it did when the Bosnians were being massacred by Slobodan Milosevic. US President Bill Clinton took the initiative to punish the aggressor and launched an attack on Serbia.
It’s inconceivable that these two peoples can live together, and the world should recognize the independence of Kosovo because Yugoslavia no longer exists. China and Russia are blocking Kosovo’s membership in the UN because these latter two countries are facing secessionist movements in Chechnya, Kashgar and Tibet. India itself is afraid of recognising Kosovo because of its own domestic baggage. Kosovo is a unique case and Guyana must quickly recognise this new Balkan nation. Already it is recognised by the United States and European powers, France, Britain Italy, Ireland, Belgium, and Germany.
Kosovars, the original inhabitants of the Kosova valley were Illyrians – ancestors of today’s Albanians, are determined to survive. They have inhabited that region long before the Serbian invasion of their land in the 6th Century AD. Their spirit is exceptional. They have defied Serbian pogroms to wipe them off the map. Today, they wish to live in freedom. They deserve the sympathy and support from Guyana and Caricom.
Yours faithfully,
R Chickerie
