Yesterday, an explosion tore through a house in Kline/Klina injuring four Serbs, three of which were women. This brings the total of explosions in Kosovo to four in the past five days. Over the weekend there were three explosions in Ferizaj and Gjilane targeting Kosovo government officials or their vehicles. The first explosion on Thursday was in Ferizaj, the second explosion in Gjilane on Friday (14th) night and was reportedly aimed at the Minister of Internal Affairs while the third explosion in Gjilane on Sunday night again targeted parked government vehicles.
In other news, the Serbian parliament has approved an amendment to their constitution stating that Kosovo is an integral part of the country. This creates problems for the UN Security Council should they wish to impose a solution for Kosovo as the charter of the UN strictly states that the organization cannot make any decisions that would violate the constitution of any of the member states. The news is full of articles about the final status of Kosovo.
The contact group has requested special envoy Ahtisaari to come up with a draft plan for a solution to the Kosovo problem. Of course, basically everyone knows that the contact group is pushing for Kosovo to be independent so there is little doubt what the plan will contain. The only question now is how with the international community force Serbia to come to their terms? Will they threaten or promise EU membership in exchange? Isolation from the world if they don't cave in? Then the next question is, how will the international community make sure that minority rights are respected and Kosovo does not become a strictly Albanian state? Will they threaten or promise EU membership in exchange for good behavior?
An Albanian member of parliament has stirred up a lot of trouble after making statements that Kosovo should be granted independence or else the citizens would revolt. Following the grenade attack in Klina last night, UN officials are condemning the statement and warning ethnic Albanian leaders to watch their words.
The new SRSG has also stated that it will be part of his mission to ensure that the northern part of Kosovo does not secede from Kosovo. Of course, the northern part can't really secede until Kosovo is independent so the statement seems a bit presumptuous to me but then who am I to question the big guys in suits? :o)
