According to the Southeast European Times, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Volker said that the US would recognize Kosovo if the province declares independence. Volker sees this as “the only stable way forward in the Balkans.”

Really? Comments from Republika Srpska’s prime minister earlier linked the status of Republika Srpska with that of Kosovo. Milorad Dodik’s comments implied that, should Kosovo become independent, there would be a drive to separate Republika Srpska from Bosnia. A note to readers — I detected a strong bias in the article against Bosnian Serbs and Republika Srpska. Really, I expected better from the Washington Post.

It is unclear what Serbia’s response to a unilateral Kosovo declaration of independence will be. Both the US and the EU have asked Serbia to clarify what it will do should Kosovo declare independence. Serbia itself is asking for an explanation from the US over Volker’s comments.

For an interesting viewpoint on the Kosovo issue, check out William Montgomery’s opinion piece over at B92.

Things could get really interesting in the Balkans, and soon.

Back to my master’s thesis.