Number of results to display per page
Search Results
22. Negotiating the final status of Kosovo
- Author:
- Marc Weller
- Publication Date:
- 12-2008
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- European Union Institute for Security Studies
- Abstract:
- When two express trains race towards one another on a single-track line, there is not much room for compromise. Either one side gives up and selects reverse gear in a hurry, or there is an almighty crash. This is how self-determination conflicts outside of the colonial context have traditionally been resolved. The secessionist entity either renounces its claim to independence, or a violent conflict ensues. The conflict will continue, often for decades, until those invoking the right to self-determination have been crushed or have given up.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Political Violence, NATO, and International Cooperation
- Political Geography:
- Kosovo and Balkans
23. SLOVAKIA AND HUNGARY: WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THE WESTERN BALKANS?
- Author:
- Imre Szilágyi
- Publication Date:
- 03-2008
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- International Issues: Slovak Foreign Policy Affairs
- Institution:
- Slovak Foreign Policy Association
- Abstract:
- The author argues that during the period of the second Gyurcsánygovernment Hungary continued its previous policies vis-à-vis the Western Balkans and managed to preserve good relations with all of the countries of the region. He reflects on the government's policies with respect to the entire Western Balkans – more precisely the countries of the former Yugoslavia, except Slovenia – as well as its guiding principles and activities supporting the Euro-Atlantic integration of the region; policies vis-à-vis the individual countries; efforts to improve the situation of the minorities and the enhancement of the Hungarian economic role in the region. He concludes that due to the fact that the greatest aspiration of Western Balkan countries is to join the Euro-Atlantic integration processes and because Hungary – as an EU and NATO member state – is an important partner country in regional relations will ostensibly become more dynamic in the years to come.
- Topic:
- NATO
- Political Geography:
- Yugoslavia, Balkans, Hungary, and Slovenia
24. Kosovo: What Can Go Wrong?
- Author:
- Daniel Serwer and Yll Bajraktari
- Publication Date:
- 03-2007
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- United States Institute of Peace
- Abstract:
- At the end of the NATO/Yugoslavia war almost eight years ago, the Albanian-majority Serbian province of Kosovo was removed from Serbia's governance and placed temporarily under a United Nations protectorate, administered by the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Last summer, UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari was tasked by the Security Council with resolving the question of Kosovo's future status, with support from U.S. and European Union envoys (Frank Wisner and Stefan Lehne respectively). Ahtisaari's effort is now drawing to a close. He has delivered to both Pristina and Belgrade a plan that explicitly allows a great deal of protection for Serbs and their religious monuments in Kosovo but implicitly ends Belgrade's sovereignty. His plan opens the prospect of a sovereign and independent Kosovo under continuing international supervision. It is anticipated that Ahtisaari will take his plan, with some revisions, to the UN Security Council this month. This USIPeace Briefing discusses potential drivers of conflict in Kosovo during the status decision and in the period thereafter. These drivers of conflict arise from the international community, the Kosovo Albanians, Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs. They have the potential not only to make Kosovo dysfunctional but also to destabilize the region.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, NATO, Ethnic Conflict, United Nations, and War
- Political Geography:
- Kosovo, Yugoslavia, Serbia, and Balkans
25. Approaching or Avoiding Cooperative Security? The Western Balkans in the Aftermath of the Kosovo Settlement Proposal and the Riga Summit 14thWorkshop of the Study Group „Regional Stability in South East Europe”
- Author:
- Dennis J.D. Sandole, Predrag Jureković, Ernst M. Felberbauer, Franz-Lothar Altmann, Jolyon Naegele, Amadeo Watkins, Sandro Knezović, Plamen Pantev, Dušan Janjić, Matthew Rhodes, Sonja Biserko, Nina Dobrković, John F. Erath, Dragana Klincov, Lulzim Peci, Denisa Saraljić-Maglić, Heinz Vetschera, and Frederic Labarre
- Publication Date:
- 09-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Austrian National Defence Academy
- Abstract:
- In this article, I examine the prospects and challenges for co-operative security in the Balkans in the wake of recommendations for Kosovo's final status offered recently to the UN Security Council by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. On the assumption that Ahtisaari's proposals represent a zero-sum gain for the Kosovar Albanians and corresponding loss for the Serbs, I recommend a reframing of his plan that may be more likely to lead to sustainable peace, security, and stability in the Balkans, with implications for similar conflicts elsewhere.
- Topic:
- NATO, Democratization, Development, Regional Cooperation, and International Security
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Eastern Europe, United Nations, and Balkans
26. Post Conflict Rehabilitation: Lessons from South East Europe and Strategic Consequences for the Euro-Atlantic Community
- Author:
- Gustav E. Gustenau, Jean-Jacques de Dardel, and Plamen Pantev
- Publication Date:
- 04-2006
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Austrian National Defence Academy
- Abstract:
- The purposeful efforts to explain and define the changes of the Cold War system of international relations continue for a second decade. Certain referent studies stimulate the thinking on these topics, including in the post-9/11 period. Understanding better the transformation of the international system would provide us with a better view on the changes in its regulative sub-system, including the international legal component of the latter.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Conflict Prevention, NATO, Development, Human Rights, and International Cooperation
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Balkans
27. International Peace Plans for the Balkans – A Success? 12thWorkshop of the Study Group „Regional Stability in South East Europe”
- Author:
- Dennis J.D. Sandole, Predrag Jureković, Christian Haupt, Petar Atanasov, Gordana Bujišić, Dušan Janjić, Savo Kentera, Matthew Rhodes, Erwin A. Schmidl, and Wim van Meurs
- Publication Date:
- 09-2006
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Austrian National Defence Academy
- Abstract:
- More than 15 years after the end of the Cold War, it is clearer than ever that the 'New World Order' has failed to bring about eternal peace, and that we are nowhere near the 'end of history'. People are talking about third and even fourth generation peace operations (erroneously, in this author's opinion, by the way). So a historical perspective to this topic may be justified.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Conflict Prevention, Security, NATO, and International Cooperation
- Political Geography:
- Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Balkans
28. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Conference - Expanding and Enhancing the Partnerships: Further Steps after Istanbul
- Author:
- Sean S. Costigan, Ernst M. Felberbauer, and Benedikt Hensellek
- Publication Date:
- 09-2005
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Austrian National Defence Academy
- Abstract:
- The challenge of the 8th Annual Conference of the PfP Consortiumis to further efforts to create an education network and promote interaction among the partners. To this end, Mr. McLane advocated advancing and transforming the NATO alliance, the Partnership for Peace, and the PfP Consortium by expanding and enhancing the minds of future leaders through education. He encouraged partners to create and strengthen networks to leverage what each partner is capable of and possesses in its own individual niche.
- Topic:
- NATO, International Cooperation, Terrorism, and Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Political Geography:
- Europe, South Asia, Balkans, and Istanbul
29. The Western Balkan Candidates for NATO Membership and Partnership
- Author:
- David Greenwood
- Publication Date:
- 12-2005
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Centre for European Security Studies
- Abstract:
- The first and second waves of post-Cold War NATO enlargement by-passed the Western Balkans. Next time, though, it will be different. Three countries of the region – Albania, Croatia and Macedonia – want to join the Organisation as soon as possible and are preparing for accession by taking part in the Membership Action Plan (MAP) process. Indeed, currently they are the only states so engaged. A fourth country, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has membership aspirations also. However this state, or quasi-state, must first meet the conditions set for its admission to NATO's non-members' club – Partnership for Peace (PfP). No less keen to earn the recognition that PfP status confers is Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) which, as one country or two, may seek membership in due course.
- Topic:
- NATO
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Balkans, and Albania
30. Through Economy to Democracy and Security? An Integrated Approach to Stability in South East Europe - 7th Workshop of the Study Group "Regional Stability in South East Europe"
- Author:
- Frederic Labarre
- Publication Date:
- 01-2004
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Austrian National Defence Academy
- Abstract:
- In contrast to the Central European transition countries, the economies of South East Europe (SEE) have been facing complex and interrelated political and economic problems. The dissolution of Yugoslavia combined with market losses, war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, sanctions finally culminating in the Kosovo conflict were the main causes of political and economic instability in the whole region. Taking into account these factors, output recovery has been much slower in SEE than in the Central European countries. Measured in purchasing power standards, Croatia is the best performer in the region, with its GDP at about 38% of the EU average. Next comes Bulgaria (32%), whereas the respective values for Serbia and Montenegro and Albania range between 15-17%. Looking at the economic performance in the 1990-2002 period, Croatia and Romania reached almost 94% of their pre-transitional level in 2002, followed by Bulgaria and Macedonia (about 88% each). Serbia and Montenegro, the worst-affected, reached only about half of what it was in 1990. The cumulative output decline there was one of the largest among all the Central and East European countries.
- Topic:
- NATO, Diplomacy, Economics, Political Economy, and Regional Cooperation
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Balkans, and Romania