18 February 2008: The world’s newest nation was born on Sunday, February 17, 2008, as Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci stood before parliament in Pristina, proclaiming a Kosovo that would be “proud, independent, and free.”

Though it may seem the final chapter of a long, bitter struggle toward independence, Sunday’s declaration may be little more than an exordium to issues still in need of resolution. Serbia and Russia heavily oppose Kosovo's independence, and as such are committed to reversing any solidification of Kosovo’s declaration.

Kosovo has been under the aegis of the United Nations since 1999, after NATO intervened to halt Milosevic’s bloody repression of Kosovo’s Albanians, who constitute 90% of the region. In the 1980s, Milosevic came to power by using Serbian lamentation that their ancestral heartland had come to be dominated by Muslim Albanians. He abolished Kosovo’s long-held autonomy in 1989, suppressing Albanian language, culture, and education. In April 2007, crucial steps were made toward independence after a UN envoy recommended that Kosovo be granted internationally supervised independence. Since then, talks between Serbia and Kosovo failed, with Kosovo unwilling to accept Serbia’s offer of autonomy under Serbian governance.

Several weeks ago, however, incumbent Boris Tadic’s victory in Serbia’s presidential runoff gave new hope to Kosovo independence. Tadic has repeatedly stated that he wishes to bring Serbia closer to the EU. With great EU support for Kosovo independence, Kosovar leaders concluded that the timing was appropriate for a declaration of independence.

As Kosovar leaders handwrote the declaration on parchment, Kosovo’s Albanian population danced in the street and lit 80 tons of fireworks. There was a 24-hour street party in Pristina, with free cake and beer being offered by stalls in the center of town. Many held the Albanian flag, a symbol of resistance in the late 1990s, as opposed to Kosovo’s new flag, a golden map of the country on a blue background with six white stars.

Not all of the region was rejoicing, however, as Serbia and Serbian enclaves in northern Kosovo saw disorder and protest against the declaration. Nearly 2,000 Serbs united in Belgrade at the United States embassy, throwing stones and smashing windows. Grenades exploded near UN buildings in Mitrovica and Zvecan, cities with high Serbian populations.

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica did nothing to calm the uproar, even provoking it. Having repeatedly vowed that Serbia would never recognize an independent Kosovo, he addressed the nation on television Sunday, saying that Kosovo was propped up unlawfully by the U.S. and that its declaration was a “humiliation” for the EU. Kostunica has called for “sabotage plans,” having ordered all government ministries to concentrate on blocking energy and water supplies from Serbia to Kosovo. Kostunica is also attempting to downgrade diplomatic relationships with any government that officially recognizes Kosovo.

“Kosovo is Serbia and that is how it will always be,” Kostunica said.

Kostunica’s hardline stance, however, is not without opposition in the government. President Tadic’s pro-Western amicabilities and desire to obtain EU membership for Serbia may have a positive impact on Serbia’s response to independence. In the short term, however, Tadic maintained his own hardline stance, saying in a nationally-televised address that Serbia will do whatever it need to do in order to annul Kosovo’s declaration. Tadic called the new nation the “fake country of Kosovo.”

However, Tadic also called for “restraint and peace” from citizens several times in his address, stating that the lives and property of people were of the utmost importance at this moment. He urged international forces to protect Kosovo Serbs from possible outbreaks of violence.

President George W. Bush recognized Kosovo’s declaration of independence early Monday morning, saying simply, “The Kosovars are now independent.” Much of Europe echoed this support, with Britain, France, Italy, and Belgium expected to extend diplomatic relations to Kosovo. Germany remained uncommitted as of Monday. Grappling with its own separatist movement, Spain refused to recognize Kosovo, claiming its unilateral declaration went against international law. Slovakia, Greece, and Cyprus also refused recognition, echoing Spain’s sentiments about setting a precedent for their own ethnic minority groups.

Britain and France have tried to alleviate this concern, claiming that Kosovo represents a unique case and therefore doesn’t set a precedent. Russia, Serbia’s main proponent, is exploiting international dithering over independence in an attempt to undermine EU unity. As a result, EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels on Monday to attempt concluding upon a joint position on Kosovo’s independence.

EU’s support of Kosovo has been called by some as its most ambitious state-building exercise yet. Much pressure is on the EU as a result, as it seeks to coalesce the divisive responses to Kosovo independence. After a UN mandate was blocked by Russia in the UN Security Council, the European Union has decided to fill the vacuum, taking over what many have seen as a lackluster UN state-building mission in Kosovo. A 1,800-strong force will be composed of police, judges, lawyers, and administrators. The operation, entitled Eulex, will aim at laying Kosovo’s foundation on the rule of law. Having already spent nearly €2 billion in Kosovo already, the EU plans to spend €330 million more by 2010, making it the largest per capita recipient of EU aid.

Many are worried that EU ambition and good intention will not be enough to overcome the internal problems and external pressures of Kosovo. Not only are logistics a concern, but the legality of Europe’s mandate is also an issue. Furthermore, many are worried that Kosovo’s Albanians will conversely alienate their Serbian population, provoking unrest in the region. The European plan hopes to preempt this, as it contains far-reaching decentralization and autonomy for Kosovo’s Serbian minority. Many are keen to integrate the Serb minority into Kosovo’s governance and institutions. Despite European intentions, however, Belgrade is ordering Kosovo Serbs to boycott the new nation and pursue an informal partition, which would mean entrenching parallel institutions set up as a rejection of Kosovo Albanian rule.

Much is yet to be concluded on Kosovo’s independence, but ethnic Albanians and their leaders remain hopeful. While the world seems divided, many still hope that a unified, peaceful existence for the tiny Balkan region can come to fruition.