The events played out in Kosovo seem to be the handiwork of two master puppeteers, one the US and the west; the other Russia. One might say that it is a local Serbian problem. True, but Serbia and Kosovan Serbs would not become so emboldened as to attack UN policemen without the tacit backing of Russia. After the riots on Monday, Slobodan Samardzic, Serbia’s minister for Kosovo told the Serb protesters that “we will protect you just like we protect the Serbs in Serbia”. One suspects Russia has given its full backing to Serbia.

Why? Firstly, because Russia is becoming aware of its growing clout and strongly resents the west knocking at its door step, namely Kosovo. Secondly, it views the repeated dismemberment of Serbia with growing alarm. Russia has many restive nationalities within its border. If there are unrests there, it fears the US would support them too.

Coming back to the violence in Kosovo; one feels the Serb Kosovans are justified in protesting against the independence of Kosovo. Agreed that the ethnic Albanians wanted a free Kosovo, but what about the aspirations of the Kosovans of Serb descent? Their voices have not been heard by the west.

There is a growing fear in western capitals that Kosovo might be partitioned. What is wrong in that? If the various constituents of the former Yugoslavia were allowed to break free in the name of self-determination, why can’t the similar demand of the Serbian Kosovans be met? The stand of the west on the issue of Kosovo reeks of hypocrisy. Repressing the restive Serbs in the Kosovan town of Mitrovica is not going to solve anything.

BBC202310