the morningside post

Kosovo Declares Independence; Serbs Burn U.S. Embassy, Russia Condemns Kosovo's Status

By Tanya Domi

Tanya Domi is an adjunct professor at SIPA. She also works in the University Office of Public Affairs and Communications. The views expressed here are her own and do not reflect those of Columbia University.

On Sunday, February 17, the week began on a high note in the Kosovo Parliament with a history making vote to unilaterally declare independence from their Serbian oppressors. This was followed by celebrations throughout the small territory symbolically highlighted by Kosovo's Philharmonic orchestra playing Beethoven's soaring Ninth Symphony, "Ode to Joy", a tip of its hat to the European Union (EU) who recognizes the uplifting music as its wordless anthem

However, the week ended on a more sober and cautionary note,

East Central European Insecurities

By Jackie Carpenter
MIA 2008

The East Central Europe’s (ECE) Energy Conference continues today, February 22, 2008, in IAB 1501 with discussants from other ECE countries, including Poland and Ukraine.

In 2004 ten countries in East Central Europe happily entered the European Union, believing that their membership in this elite club of countries secured their continued economic and political development.  On many fronts this has been the case, but on one very pivotal issue – energy security – these new members have been on their own.  The discussion at this evening’s “Energy Security Strategy for East Central Europe” conference hosted by SIPA’s East Central European Center underscored how precarious the positions of these countries have become, and how the sensitive issue of energy security is dividing the EU.