"Kosovo: Divisions after independence"

Kosovo will remain a divided nation, and the EU will be sorting out conflict there for decades to come, a daily says. According to influential conservative German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, not only are the Albanians unprepared to live in Serbia, but also Serbia is unable, both politically and economically, to retain sovereignty over Kosovo. "Kosovo: Divisions after independence" "In actual fact, the solution should be simple, as the Albanians don’t wish to belong to the Serbian nation, nor do the Serbs want Albanians to be a part of it," writes the paper, stating the current talks have nothing to do with Kosovo independence from Serbia, since it has already existed for years anyway. The article goes on to say that, "Finally, both Belgrade and Moscow realize that since 1999, Serbia has only had influence over the Serb-dominated north. What these talks should clarify are the questions of an international recognition of independence, and the shaping of Kosovo’s state sovereignty." "Even after the status situation has been resolved, there will still be no shortage of problems, as Kosovo will enter the new era as a divided nation, because regardless of whether the Serbs and Kosovo Albanians agree that no further partition should take place, no-one will be able to stop the Serbs in the north from retaining de facto independence from an independent Kosovo. " "Thus, the EU will spend years managing a frozen conflict on its south-eastern perimeter. However, a frozen conflict is better than a 'hot' one. Apart from the obvious risks, work towards indepence should continue for the good of the region. No-one has ever learnt to swim by studying the dangers of drowning," concludes the newspaper.

"Kosovo: Divisions after independence"

"In actual fact, the solution should be simple, as the Albanians don’t wish to belong to the Serbian nation, nor do the Serbs want Albanians to be a part of it," writes the paper, stating the current talks have nothing to do with Kosovo independence from Serbia, since it has already existed for years anyway.

The article goes on to say that, "Finally, both Belgrade and Moscow realize that since 1999, Serbia has only had influence over the Serb-dominated north. What these talks should clarify are the questions of an international recognition of independence, and the shaping of Kosovo’s state sovereignty."

"Even after the status situation has been resolved, there will still be no shortage of problems, as Kosovo will enter the new era as a divided nation, because regardless of whether the Serbs and Kosovo Albanians agree that no further partition should take place, no-one will be able to stop the Serbs in the north from retaining de facto independence from an independent Kosovo. "

"Thus, the EU will spend years managing a frozen conflict on its south-eastern perimeter. However, a frozen conflict is better than a 'hot' one. Apart from the obvious risks, work towards indepence should continue for the good of the region. No-one has ever learnt to swim by studying the dangers of drowning," concludes the newspaper.