Having emerged from the darkest reign of a Stalinist dictatorship combining brutality with ferocious stupidity and militant atheism, Albania was an outcast even in the communist world. The former Enver Hoxha regime courted Mao’s China but goaded the Russians, and taunted the Yugoslavs. Though Albania’s totalitarian system collapsed in rubble, and the land of 3.5 million gained freedom, underdevelopment from the Marxist era serves as a millstone to progress. How things have changed! Air Force One touched down at Mother Teresa International Airport, the gateway named for the world famous Albanian-born nun. Then the American President rode into the capital Tirana which was festooned with American flags to see throngs of citizens wearing Uncle Sam hats!
Though a mostly Muslim though stubbornly secular land, Albania has unapologetically stood by the USA in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Units of the Albanian military serve in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Yet Bush’s political epiphany in tiny Albania belies much wider issues — Albania’s desire to hook its star to the USA and the country’s wish that Washington backs its aspirations to join NATO and resolve the long-simmering issue of ethnic Albanians in neighboring Kosovo in their bid for freedom from Serbia. The aspirations run high and the U.S. is seen as the guarantor of freedom for their ethnic kin in Kosovo.
The U.S. President brings the weight of American power, prestige and standing to a small land largely overlooked in the political bouillabaisse of the Balkans. As recently as 1999, Bill Clinton unleashed massive NATO air power against Serbia after the Milosevic regime began its ethnic cleansing against Kosovo’s Albanian majority. Kosovo has since been a ward of the United Nations awaiting its final status to be determined. A plan allowing for formal independence from Serbia has floundered inside the Security Council where Russia has foot dragged and threatened.
President Bush in the meantime stated, “At some point sooner than later, you’ve got to say Enough is enough — Kosovo is independent.” Bush said clearly, “ The question is whether or not there is going to be endless dialogue on a subject that we have made up our minds about…We believe Kosovo ought to be independent.”
While logically the only way to proceed, Kosovo’s future has become entwined in the UN Security Council process where Russia has strongly suggested that it would veto any draft resolution with a big Nyet! This naturally opens the possibility that Washington and some European capitals, likely London and Paris would then support Kosovo independence outside the confines of the UN plan. But besides Britain, the Europeans are nervous to go this to route without the benediction of the Security Council. Either way, this could signal renewed political turbulence in the Balkans.
Importantly the UN wants to phase down its peace building and security operation which last year cost $260 million. Kosovo’s status remains in a political limbo and largely fears a veto from Serbia’s historic protector Russia. Beyond its moral support for Belgrade, Moscow feels that independence for a “breakaway province” of Serbia could lend legitimacy to restive regions in Russia’s southern flank including and beyond Chechnya. Equally China, views the Kosovo case with nervous trepidation given that this could embolden equally restive ethnic regions such as Tibet and the Islamic areas of the Mainland.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who earlier served as the UN representative in the disputed province should make a convincing case for Kosovo freedom on the political, humanitarian, and philosophical side. Thus Kosovo would emerge as a separate sovereign state from Albania. Resolving this issue sooner than later would clearly have a positive regional effect.
Thus democratic Albania views America with great expectations — as the country which can and will bring miracles. One hopes we don’t disappoint them.