On The Brink Of History

Friday, May 5, 2006

By Scott Bates, CNP Online

January 1, 2005

There is a saying that you can’t go home again. Coming back to the Kosovo Central Assembly for the first time in three years, I found that this saying is not true. It was good to be back with so many old friends once again.

When the Kosovo Central Assembly was founded in late 2001, I had the great honor and privilege to be in a position to serve the new Members and the institution of the Assembly as the Country Director for the National Democratic Institute in Pristina. Our mission was clear, to ensure that we did everything in our power to strengthen the Assembly, provide support at the request of Members of the Assembly, and all political parties as well.

To be able to return last month at the invitation of NDI’s Country Director Tom Bridle was a chance of a lifetime. I returned to a Kosovo that I believe is on the brink of history.

I noticed that the departure of Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, had not precipitated the violence that so many Balkan “experts” had predicted, but instead stirred peaceful civil protest. Most important of all, the government continued to function. This result is a testament to the wisdom of the Kosovar people and the strength of the political institutions. Both developments are prerequisites for moving forward to final status negotiations and lasting stability. While Kosovo must still meet the test of the “standards” that have been placed before it, perhaps the most important test was passed already in the spring of 2005.

I met with many bright young Kosovars who are working in the Office of the Prime Minister, the government, the Assembly and NGO’s like NDI. They are already assuming leadership roles and the future of Kosovo indeed looks bright if these committed public servants stay in the process. Their confidence has grown tremendously in the years since my arrival and this is, I believe, a very positive development.

I noticed a greatly diminished international presence since my departure in 2002, and this too is, I believe a positive long term development. A partnership between Kosovars and internationals is necessary to ensure a smooth path to a multi-ethnic democracy within Europe continues to be built. It is also important however that Kosovo change from an international dependency to a self sustaining member of the Euro-Atlantic community. I have always believed that success for internationals means working yourself out of a job and judging from the looks of things, this is happening.

After conversations with many friends from all political parties and persuasions, it became clear to me that while the international community worked on developing a common position on Kosovo’s future, the people of Kosovo have been slowly and methodically preparing for the day that is about to arrive.

For Kosovars, it may seem like the road to final status has taken forever. I am sure I would feel the same way if my future had been put on hold. But from my perspective, which is like looking at two snapshots in time, 2002 and 2005, I see great cause for optimism.

Yes there are always challenges and daily events lend an air of crisis to the political situation. But at the end of the day, the fundamentals of Kosovo’s democratic institutions are sound. The government functions, the Central Assembly moves forward and in a peace that was unimaginable just six short years ago.

This year has the potential to deliver peace, stability and prosperity for all the people of Kosovo, to break with the recent tragic history of the Balkans. I hope with all my heart that my old friends at every level of politics and government in Kosovo decide that this year they will choose to overcome the political battles of the day. I hope they decide to be heroes, to make history.

The future is Kosovo’s to win.