“There is a real danger, however, that such moves have come too late. …”
The preventive UN politics, excited by western members to avoid genocide and humanitarian collapse in disrupting Yugoslavia had started years ago. Unfortunately, key members of the Security Council, backing Serbian politics of genocide, underground or openly, sabotaged efforts for a peaceful solution. The truth is that Yugoslavian wars never had a strong and effective response from UN.
The Declaration of Independence from Serbia wasn’t result of a prompt decision. As well it is not as a result of the disruption of FRY. It has a long story of genocide and aims for freedom where the closest reference date connected directly with actual situation is The London Conference of Great Powers in 1912 where forcibly from the territory of Albania where left out more than half of it.
The repair of the situation should take into account the JUSTICE. A law which doesn’t serve to the justice will be problematic, and this is valid for UN too. Serbia and it’s supporting countries had many possibilities to fix it’s problems on the matter but rather asking for a peaceful solution it chose to abandon this efforts.
Finally the Kosovo case is a closed issue. This is a good start for UN to adopt new laws which will not take into account the interest of great powers and their supporters. The UN Rule of Law should serve to the Justice and not to the interest of any Power just because it is a power. Developed democracies started a Justice process which should converted in Law. This solution will avoid the genocide will attack again and will support the peaceful solution of many problems around the globe.
It is merely wrong to held western democratic society responsible for ineffectiveness of UN. There is no solution escaping from facing issues and Bosnian case is a good example.