Committee: 1st Main Committee
Topic: Maintaining Stability in South East Europe
Country: Republic of Serbia
School: Waterford Union High School
Delegate: Courtney Klima
The key threat to stability in South East Europe is the situation in Kosovo. True stability
cannot possibly be achieved before the crisis in Kosovo is resolved. Serbia refuses to grant full
independence to the ethnic Albanians who occupy Kosovo since Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica
has stated, “Politically, historically, and legally Kosovo-Metohija is and will always be part of
Serbia. And for Serbia all our peoples in Kosovo-Metohija live exclusively within the state of
Serbia, and it will be so”. Kostunica has also said, “For Serbia, Kosovo-Metohija is an unalienable
and integral part of this country, and it will always be so”. Serbia “…resolutely rejects any attempt
to snatch away 15% of its territory” according to the Prime Minister.
Serbia has several crucial motives for its intense desire to retain the Kosovo Province. This
area has great cultural and historical significance to Serbia, as it is an area considered “most
precious” by Kostunica. Many consider this region to be the birthplace of Serbia, plus it is a center
for the Serbian Orthodox Church. In addition to losing an important area, Serbia would lose a great
deal of its diverse ethnicity. Besides possessing cultural value, Kosovo is very important since it
composes approximately 15% of Serbian land. A loss of such proportions would devastate Serbian
economy, and it would only increase tensions in South East Europe. Another reason why Serbia
cannot turn Kosovo into a sovereign nation is that this action “…would be a most brutal violation
of international law”, as Prime Minister Kostunica states. The UN Charter is the law that would be
disregarded if Kosovo becomes an independent nation. This document states, “…the right to selfdetermination is enjoyed only by constitutive peoples and not by national minorities”, and ethnic
Albanians are a minority in Serbia. Also, the document protects the existing borders of all nations.
Kostunica will not allow Serbia to be “…the only country in the world whose borders can be
changed at will and whose territory can be seized”. Serbia cannot verify Kosovo’s independence
since they are committed to international law. The final reason is that Kosovo’s independence has
dangerous worldwide implications. “The attempt… to make another Albanian country…on the
territory of Serbia is one of the most dangerous and destructive ideas in Europe today”, the Prime
Minister says. By allowing the Albanians to succeed, Serbia will give the idea that violence is an
acceptable method of achieving independence. Kosovo will set an example for all other minority
groups who want to break away from their nations, which will lead to an increase in violence. This
action will also reveal a weakness in international law. Serbia cannot grant independence to
Kosovo since world stability, international law, and the state of Serbia must be preserved.
Serbia is willing to compromise with these ethnic Albanians in a “supervised
independence”. Prime Minister Kostunica is willing to give the Albanians the highest degree of
independence possible within Serbian boundaries, so Kosovo will be considered a province of
Serbia. Kosovo will have its own president and executive branch along with its own legislative and
judicial branches. Separate elections would choose the Kosovo Parliament members, and the
Parliament can make its own rulings independent of Serbia except for issues focusing on mainly
Serbs. Serbia will permit Kosovo to interact with other countries as long as these interactions do
not interfere with Serbian interests; Kosovo will not have an army, UN recognition, or a head of
foreign affairs. Also, Kosovo cannot govern Serbian borders. Sandra Raskovic-Ivic, the Head of
the Coordination center for Kosovo and Metohija, says, “…Kosovo Albanians will retain all levels
of power they have now, meaning a president, a government, a parliament and judicial authority.
These institutions…would become permanent”. Serbia refuses to grant Kosovo its sovereignty, but
they are willing to compromise by allowing Kosovo to be a semi-independent province.