Kosovo: independence ahead

The former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, Hashim Thaci, has been glad-handing voters across the province ahead of Saturday's elections, which should transfer real power to Kosovo's Albanians for the first time since 1999.  His campaign song? Swedish glam-rock band Europe's inspirational 1986 hit, 'The Final Countdown'.

Expectations are high that, soon after December 10, the deadline for negotiations with Belgrade on the province's constitutional position, Pristina will finally and unilaterally declare independence from Serbia, with US and EU backing. 

So far, Pristina has shared power with the UN's Interim Administration.  Divided responsibilities are (at least partly) to blame for Kosovo's current parlous state.  There is 60% unemployment, a massive trade imbalance (last year it imported goods worth 1.3 billion euros versus exports of 70 million), electricity blackouts, widespread tax evasion and endemic corruption. 

The EU will probably 'supervise' Kosovo's newfound independence.  With Kosovo's problems, it is not surprising that many EU capitals are uneasy, but it is in their own interest if the province can at last stand on its own feet.