Open AccessUnited States of America and the problem of Kosovo and Metohija
Author(s) -
Edislav Manetovic,
Brano Miljus
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
međunarodni problemi
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-0690
pISSN - 0025-8555
DOI - 10.2298/medjp1003531m
Subject(s) - compromise , consolidation (business) , political science , democracy , secession , politics , psychological intervention , foreign policy , territorial integrity , international relations , political economy , public administration , law , sociology , sovereignty , business , psychology , accounting , psychiatry
Since the break-up of SFRY, one of the key factors in the development of the Kosovo issue has been the USA. Washington will keep on playing the crucial role in further searching for a solution for this problem. Finding of a compromise solution will require to identify and re-examine relevant national interests and foreign policy objectives. The continuity of American interests in Europe since 1989 and in Serbia since 1999, respectively, points to the fact that in the foreseeable future, Washington will not change its three basic goals and they are as follows: NATO enlargement, consolidation of democratic political systems and legitimisation of humanitarian interventions. The last goal has a priority - the independent Kosovo should contribute to the legitimisation of the principle of humanitarian interventions. Consequently, one can conclude that during the September session of the United Nations General Assembly Washington will endeavour to block opening of the talks on the status of Kosovo, while it will keep on defending the unilateral secession of Pristina as a sui generis case. Initiating of talks between Belgrade and Pristina demands the creation of a striking, but also a specific and feasible idea that would be acceptable for all relevant factors in the process. The frameworks of such an idea are given in the conclusion of the paper.