Arab analysts view reasons for Islamic world's hesitation to recognize Kosovo

Text of report by Kosovo-Albanian privately-owned newspaper Express, on 24 August

[Report by Besnik Ramadanaj: "Endless Dilemmas"]

Prishtina [Pristina], 21 Aug - Islamic states continue not to recognize the reality created in Kosova [Kosovo] after 17 February [ 2008], provoking a debate on the causes that are forcing the East not to recognize the new state.

On the day of the independence declaration, many in Prishtina believed that the block of member states of the Islamic Conference would immediately recognize the decision of the Kosova Assembly, but given that this did not happen, it was believed that the states would make this decision separately.

But six months after the independence declaration, the hopes for recognition from these states have diminished. And the reasons still seem to be blurred.

Analysts and religious leaders opined that the reason why the Islamic states refuse to recognize the state of Kosova should be sought in Prishtina's Western approach or even the nostalgia that these countries have for Tito's Yugoslavia since the period of the Non-Aligned Movement.

But apparently there are other reasons why the Islamic states refuse to recognize Kosova.

Muhamet Mufak, modern history professor in Al al-Bayt University of Jordan, and Yamal Barout, director of Syria Forum 2025, mentioned other reasons, too. According to them, the main reason is the strategic interests that these countries have with the Russian Federation.

Nevertheless, analyst Muhamet Mufak announced [that there would be] new recognitions, although not in a large number, of the state of Kosova from the Arab world.

"I believe that there could be three or four recognitions, not more, from the Arab world by the end of this year," Mufak told Express on Saturday [ 23 August]. "I have hopes that the recognitions could be expected from Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, or even Jordan."

He is aware that the Kosovars expected much more from these states, mainly because of religion, but he opined that the national interest and the religious one should not be mixed up in this case. "In politics, the recognition cannot be expected to happen because of religion. The interests of the states should also be taken into account."

The analyst from Jordan, who has been invited to the "Kosova and the Arab World" conference, which is organized by "Forum 2015" and will be held in Prishtina on 25 August, said that Kosova's only problem is not the non-recognition of the Arab states, but also of those states from South and Central America.

"The problem should be looked at in a more objective way," Muhamet Mufak said. In this entire situation, he mentioned economic interests, while taking Syria as an example.

"Syria, for instance, has strategic interests with Russia because of armaments. Therefore, it cannot be expected that Syria jeopardize its 50-year interests with Russia over the recognition of Kosova," he said.

But money is not the only factor in the game. There is also Serbian propaganda.

"There are various stances in the Arab world. There is a part that understands very well and very clearly the issue of Kosova, but we also have the other part that is perhaps more a consequence of Russian and Serbian propaganda's influence," Mufak said.

The liberation of Kosova was achieved thanks to the United States, as well as the entire block of Western states. The independence of Kosova is also to the merit of these states.

Nevertheless, analyst Muhamet Mufak advised Prishtina to position itself also towards other countries.

"Perhaps it is because Kosova really needed the West, especially over the last 10 years, but now, following its independence, Kosova should orient itself towards other worlds, such as Latin America, Central Asia, the Arab world."

In the "Kosova and Arab World" conference, which will start in Prishtina on Monday, various analysts, publishers, and professors from the Arab world will be present. One of them will be Syrian analyst Yamal Barout, who is director of Syrian Forum 2025.

Barout opined that, despite the strategic interests that some Arab states have with Russia, there is no risk even if they recognize the state of Kosova.

"The current position of Arab states on the independence of Kosova cannot be isolated from their regional and international relations," Barout told Express on Saturday. "The recognition of Kosova by Arab states does not pose a special risk for the time being." Barout assessed as important the independence of Kosova.

Kosova's affinity towards the West has been outlined several times as a reason for the Islamic states' hesitation to recognize the state of Kosova.

But analyst Barout does not believe that this is delaying the recognition of Kosova by these states. Furthermore, he noted the relations of some Islamic states with the United States. "Many Arab states have good relations and are allied with the United States. But good relations with Russia are influencing these states, such as for instance Syria. But this does not mean that Syria is against the independence of Kosova."

In the meantime, the Syrian analyst said that it is not bad to position itself towards the West, as it is to not position itself towards the East. He advised Kosovars to apply for membership in the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

"Given that Russia is a member of this organization, why should Kosova not be a member, considering that the majority of the people of Kosova are Muslims and have similar cultures," he stated.

The "Kosova and the Arab World" conference, which will be held in Prishtina, is a result of the first same conference held in Jordan's Amman almost two months ago. Many analysts, experts, and various professors from the Arab world are expected to attend this conference. Senior most officials of the state of Kosova will also be present.

Source: Express, Pristina, in Albanian 24 Aug 08 pp 4,5