- Exclusive WSN-Interview with Bruno Coppieters, Professor of Political Science at the Free University of Brussels, conducted by WSN-Editor Germany Carsten Michels -

"What is special about Kosovo is the degree of external support it receives from external actors."

Carsten Michels: You have studied several separation processes in Europe and Asia. What has been special in the case of Kosovo?

Bruno Coppieters: Several arguments in favour of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence are to be found in other secessionist conflicts. The massive violation of human rights by the central government, for instance, or the lack of feasible alternatives to independence. What is special about Kosovo is the degree of external support it receives from external actors, making the international recognition of its unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) a feasible option. In no other part of the world, external support to a secessionist movement is sufficiently powerful to achieve such a result. External actors have not the capacity to follow this particular Kosovo model. This is also due to past experiences. In the case of Northern Cyprus, its recognition by Turkey in 1983 has only underlined their wider international isolation – both of Turkey and of Northern Cyprus. The same is true for Russia today. It is likewise unable to achieve the integration of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria into the world community through diplomatic recognition.

Carsten Michels: Does that mean that the recognition of Kosovo will remain unique? ...more