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                     Supervised Independence Ends in Kosovo

   by Keida Kostreci

   Fewer than five years after becoming a country, Kosovo marks a
   milestone by bringing to a close a period of "supervised independence,"
   which saw international representatives having governing duties
   alongside local authorities.
   The plan for this interim period was the brainchild of a former special
   U.N. envoy and provided a framework for independence with some
   conditions. But one of the main goals set forth by the plan remains
   elusive.

   As international and local authorities marked the end of the
   "supervised" portion of Kosovo's independence - the ceremony put the
   country's government largely in charge of its own affairs..

   Daniel Serwer, at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced
   International Studies, says people govern best when they are held
   responsible. "I don't think there is any advantage any longer in not
   having the elected authorities clearly responsible and accountable for
   how Kosovo is governed," he said.

   Still, the European Union's rule of law mission will remain in the
   country and so will NATO peacekeeping troops.
   Kurt Volker, of Arizona State University's McCain Institute for
   International Leadership, says this latest step should not be seen as a
   major change.

   "It would be a shame and it would be risky for any particular party in
   Kosovo to try to take advantage of the ending of the international
   supervision, to press their particular view, or their particular
   interest right away in Kosovo," he said.

   One main feature of the international plan for Kosovo was
   decentralization - to insure garanteeing the rights of minorities,
   especially in the Serbian-populated north.
   Daniel Serwer says this challenge remains unresolved. "The north is
   controlled by Belgrade, not by Pristina, so that's not
   decentralization.  It's de facto partition, and that's something I
   don't want to see. That's something I don't think Europe wants to see,
   I don't think the American government wants to see," he said.

   Serwer says the issue should be resolved through negotiations with
   Serbia.  Volker, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO, agrees.

   "In the long run, northern Kosovo needs to be integrated as a part of
   Kosovo, part of one country and it needs to have as much local
   independence as possible to respond to the concerns and the people who
   live there," he said.

   Talks between Belgrade and Pristina were disrupted last year after
   tensions in Kosovo's border with Serbia.  They are expected to resume
   in the coming months.  About 90 out of 195 nations have recognized
   Kosovo as a country so far.  Both Kosovo and Serbia want to enter the
   European Union - but Serbia's chances are marred by a lack of progress
   in its relationship with Kosovo, and five EU members have yet to
   recognize Kosovo.

   "The EU itself has to convince those five that the time has come for
   them to recognize Kosovo within its self-accepted borders and that will
   help to improve the relationship between Kosovo and the EU," said
   Serwer.

   Serwer says that while Serbia's hurdles are mostly political, Kosovo
   has both political and technical challenges.  With the end of
   "supervised independence," it is up to Kosovo authorities to address
   problems such as corruption and high unemployment.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/supervised-independence-ends-in-kosov
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/supervised-independence-ends-in-kosovo/1505339.html