Special Economic Zone

BERLIN/PRISTINA (Own Report) Berlin's opposition party, the Free Democrats (FDP), introduced a bill in parliament demanding admission of Kosovo to the EU. According to the bill, initiated in the Bundestag (lower house) by FDP member Rainer Stinner, the territory, belonging to Serbia, should be expropriated from Belgrad and left to ,,Europe"as a ,,trust territory". In an interview with the editor, Stinner stated that ,,a European administrator"would be in charge of Kosovo's ,,foreign and defense policies". The Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (foundation), which is close to the FDP, already provides several ,,advisors"to pivotal economic committees of Kosovo's regional parliament.

Literally, Berlin's bill states: ,,the return of Kosovo to Serbian sovereignty is unacceptable to the Albanian majority population of Kosovo": ,,Kosovo's sovereignty must be turned over to the EU."The FDP writes that, as a consequence, all sovereign rights regarding police activities, legal and internal administration, as well as foreign policy would be safeguarded by the foreign ,,trustees". ,,The successive transfer of jurisdiction to the political organs of Kosovo"is to ,,follow intermediately step by step", however the occupation by foreign troops would have to be retained.

Trade and Industry

In addition, parliamentarian Stinner explained to the editor, that the ,,Europeanization"of Kosovo would be ,,the only opportunity, (..) to attract investors"and to achieve economic progress. Stinner prides himself in having advised Kosovo's regional parliament in economic affairs. He was assisted by Klaus Buenger, the former undersecretary in Berlin's economic ministry. Furthermore, the former German economic minister, Lambsdorff, became instrumental in Pristina by bringing in German specialists from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. They were provided to the parliamentary committees of economics and finance, trade and industry and budged. The manager of project ,,Suedosteuropa III"(South Eastern Europe III) of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation disclosed that the German advisors also arrange ,,contacts"with ,,responsible specific ministers"of Kosovo.

Extraterritorial Integration

Subordination of conquered territories and appointment of dependent regional administrations is not a recent German policy. Imperial Berlin, during her belated conquests, imitated the colonial practices of the competition and passed itself off as the protector of the occupied. Compared to open annexation, administration as a trust offers the advantage of imposing obligations on the occupied territory while legal rights must be granted by the conqueror. This condition is especially well suited for the establishment of ,,special economic zones", in which the occupying power can take advantage of exclusive trade privileges and can subjugate the trust territory to ,,extra-territorial integration".

See also earlier article Model


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