by Edward Currie

Created on: June 17, 2008   Last Updated: June 18, 2008

With Kosova now notionally independent but still causing concern it would be interesting to know whether the negotiators re-visited the provisions within the Treaty of San Stefano and the subsequent Treaty of Berlin (1878) before they allowed Kosovo to declare unilateral independence from Serbia. The parallels with the Bulgarian situation vis a vis Turkey in the late 19th century are quite interesting, in that for all intents and purposes those treaties gave Bulgaria de facto independence from the Ottoman Empire whilst allowing Turkey a very loose suzerainty. Complete independence was gained after ties were finally relinquished by Turkey in 1908 following an announcement by Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria (Declaration of Tornova) that Turkish suzerainty would no longer be recognized. The intervening 30 years had allowed passions to cool and although warlike preparations were made by both sides there was no war, and the central argument between the two countries became the amount of the Ottoman national debt that would be transferred to Bulgaria. Thus Bulgaria achieved not just de facto independence but also de jure. Perhaps if this solution had not been considered it still may not be too late. Such a solution might be acceptable to both sides in the present situation, allowing time for both Serbia and Kosova, with Kosova still part of Serbia, to be integrated into the European Union. As in 1878 the agreement could be guaranteed by the Great Powers', the modern equivalent being the European Union with Russia with a proviso to re-visit the issue in say 10 years. This partnership of guaranteeing states, especially the states of the European Union would allow the Kosovans the knowledge that full independence would be achieved during the medium term but for all intents and purposes would exist in the present and the presence of Russia would be a reassurance to the Serbs. This arrangement because of the Treaty of Berlin also has the benefit of being a precedent for the solution of a previous, not dissimilar, problem in the same region. If this solution had not been considered and put forward by those that undertook the negotiations it would be worthwhile asking the question why' and that it may still not be too late. The precedent having already been set in the 19th century encompassed the concept of supervised independence' which Kosovo now has but which is causing problems with recognition by other states especially those states with their own minority populations. The present situation is also a destabilising one inviting reciprocal recognition of other breakaway territories by friendly governments. This solution, had it been proposed, may well have been accepted by the Serbian government and would surely have lessened the grievance felt by the Serbian people.

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