Kosovo declares independence from Serbia

[Teri B.]

Kosovo declares independence from Serbia

U.S., EU are expected to recognize new state; Serbia, ally Russia will not
PRISTINA, Kosovo (CNN) -- Kosovo has formally declared its independence from Serbia and become the world's newest state in a move opposed by Serbia and Russia but backed by many western governments.

Lawmakers in the legislature of the former Serbian province approved the declaration of independence at an extraordinary session Sunday afternoon. It was read out in Albanian, Serbian and English by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci before the approval of state symbols including Kosovo's new national flag and anthem.

Thaci said that Kosovo was an "independent and democratic" state, adding: "From this day onwards, Kosovo is proud, independent and free."

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica promptly denounced the move.

"Citizens of Serbia, we have to come together and show the world that we do not acknowledge the creation of a false state on our territory," Kostunica said. "We will do our utmost to bring the province of Kosovo to where it rightfully belongs." He added, "As long as there are Serbian people, Kosovo is Serbian."

CNN's Alessio Vinci, reporting from Kosovo's capital of Pristina, said that thousands of Kosovar Albanians had braved the freezing wind and cold to sing, dance, wave flags in the streets and light firecrackers ahead of the much anticipated vote. Some revelers were even said to be firing guns skyward. "It's been like this for several hours now," he said. Watch celebrations in the streets of Pristina »

"It's a day they have been waiting for for such a long time that many of them are trying to figure out just how they got to this day."

In Belgrade, Serbia's capital, riot police used flares and tear gas Sunday evening to disperse several hundred people protesting outside the U.S Embassy, said Time magazine's Dejan Anastajevic. Some of the protestors carried Serbian flags, and some threw things at the embassy, Anastajevic reported. Video from the scene also showed some demonstrators throwing things at police.

Video also showed one apparently injured police officer being taken to an ambulance.

President Bush said Sunday that Kosovo's status must be resolved before the Balkans can become stable and that the United States supports the Ahtisaari plan, which calls for a form of supervised independence.

The United Nations Security Council said it would hold an emergency session Sunday to discuss Kosovo's declaration, at Russia's request. Russia has also called for an open Security Council meeting on Monday so that Serbian President Boris Tadic can attend, Russia's ambassador to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, said. He said that the Council was expecting a briefing from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday.

Russia -- Serbia's historic ally -- has remained opposed to Kosovo's independence. Russia, which has fought two wars against separatist rebels in its southwestern republic of Chechnya, has said that U.S. and European support for Kosovo's independence could lead to an "uncontrollable crisis" in the Balkans.

The European Union decided Saturday to launch a mission of about 2,000 police and judicial officers to replace the United Nations mission that has been controlling the province since the end of the war with Serbia in 1999.

Kosovo has been under U.N. supervision and patrolled by a NATO-led peacekeeping force since the end of the three-month war, in which NATO warplanes pounded Serbia to roll back a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" of the province's Albanian population under former President Slobodan Milosevic.

The disputed province is dear to the Serbs -- Orthodox Christians who regard it as Serbian territory. But it is equally coveted by Kosovo's ethnic Albanians -- Muslims who have a 90 percent majority. Two years of talks on its final status ended in failure last December.

"Its status must be resolved in order for the Balkans to be stable," Bush told reporters Sunday during a news conference in Tanzania.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States was reviewing the situation.

Bush said the Ahtisaari plan -- named for former Finnish President Marti Ahtisaari -- is the best option. The proposal would give Kosovo limited statehood under international supervision.

Bush added that "it's in Serbia's interest to be aligned with Europe and the Serbian people can know that they have a friend in America."

"We are heartened by the fact that the Kosovo government has clearly proclaimed its willingness and its desire to support Serbian rights in Kosovo," Bush said.

Thaci said Thursday he would establish a new government office for minorities and it would protect the rights of minorities after the province declares independence.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has promised his country will refrain from using force against Kosovo after independence, though he has warned that Serbia will take punitive diplomatic, political, and economic measures against the province.

The EU said Saturday that "around 1,900 international police officers, judges, prosecutors and customs officials and approximately 1,100 local staff will be based in headquarters in Pristina or located throughout the judicial and police system in Kosovo."

The EU mission's objective is "to support the Kosovo authorities by monitoring, mentoring and advising on all areas related to the rule of law, in particular in the police, judiciary, customs and correctional services," it said.

From cnn.com

It will be interesting to see how Russia reacts to this in the UN . . . and otherwise.

 

[cbi0090]

Russia will do everyhthing they can to interfere and stop them from joining the EU as well as generally create mayhem.

 

[Gurdari]

We should pick a date next year and say all people who want to declare independence do so. Then we can re-draw the maps and all get along.

 

[Larkinn]

Russia has no control over whether Kosovo will get into the EU.

However, they won't. No chance that Spain will let them.

 

[onedomino]

Russia has no control over whether Kosovo will get into the EU.

However, they won't. No chance that Spain will let them.

Spain? Why single out the Spaniards? Spain just reconfirmed a very pro EU government over the weekend. Why not expand the EU? Because the Beneficent Collective hates Albanians? You are right, in general. The ethnic Albanians in Kosovo will wait approximately as long as Turkey to get into the EU, i.e., a very long time.

 

[Larkinn]

Spain? Why single out the Spaniards? Spain just reconfirmed a very pro EU government over the weekend. Why not expand the EU? Because the Beneficent Collective hates Albanians? You are right, in general. The ethnic Albanians in Kosovo will wait approximately as long as Turkey to get into the EU, i.e., a very long time.

This has nothing to do with pro-EU or anti-EU governments. It has to do with recognizing the legitimacy of independence movements. Spain really really doesn't want to recognize a new state that just sort of broke off and declared independence. Not because they care about Kosovo, they don't. But they don't want the Basques to do the same thing.

 

[Larkinn]

By the way, I find it hilarious that you act as if the EU is socialist somehow. Its a series of governments getting together and creating a federal government, which doesn't have that much power. Remind you of anyone? Except in their case the fed doesn't have that much power, in our case it has a ton of power. I know, I know...the US surely is a beneficient socialist collective.

 

[onedomino]

By the way, I find it hilarious that you act as if the EU is socialist somehow. Its a series of governments getting together and creating a federal government, which doesn't have that much power. Remind you of anyone? Except in their case the fed doesn't have that much power, in our case it has a ton of power. I know, I know...the US surely is a beneficient socialist collective.

Glad you are entertained.

 

[onedomino]

This has nothing to do with pro-EU or anti-EU governments. It has to do with recognizing the legitimacy of independence movements. Spain really really doesn't want to recognize a new state that just sort of broke off and declared independence. Not because they care about Kosovo, they don't. But they don't want the Basques to do the same thing.

What country in the EU, or anywhere for that matter, would recognize the Basques? None, probably not even Kosovo. The reason that countries like Turkey and Kosovo are rejected or put into multi-decade application processes, is that EU countries like France and Spain do not want to absorb the workers. Even worse than Poland, the proletariat in places like Kosovo and Turkey will blow out the wage structure in the Collective. And that's not too popular with the voters. It is why the French rejected the EU Constitution.

 

[Larkinn]

What country in the EU, or anywhere for that matter, would recognize the Basques? None, probably not even Kosovo.

Few right now. However precedent is very important in international law. Wait 20 or 30 years down the line, and it may be different. Regions trying to break off from states have become more common in the last 50 years given decolonization. Quebec, Chechnya, Basque, etc.

The reason that countries like Turkey and Kosovo are rejected or put into multi-decade application processes, is that EU countries like France and Spain do not want to absorb the workers.

Turkey yes, Kosovo, no. The EU was trying to have a united stance to recognize Kosovos independence.

Look at the states who want to recognize Kosovo. Britain, France, the US, Germany, etc. States against it? Cyprus (separatist problem), Spain (Separatist problem), Russia (Separatist problem).

It has nothing to do with the fear of being overrun by the massive population of 2 million Albanians. It has everything to do with countries fears about their own separatist groups. Int'l law matters, and so does saving face. If Spain recognizes Kosovo, what arguments can they give against the Basques?

Even worse than Poland, the proletariat in places like Kosovo and Turkey will blow out the wage structure in the Collective. And that's not too popular with the voters. It is why the French rejected the EU Constitution.

Right which is why they let in Romania (population 22 million), but are staunchly against Kosovo (Population 2 million).

By the way...if thats why France rejected the EU Constitution, why do they support the independence of kosovo?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...ews.html?in_article_id=515296&in_page_id=1811

An article to back up what I am saying.

 

[onedomino]

There's a big difference between recognizing Kosovo independence and allowing them in the EU. There is next to zero chance that the Basques would ever be recognized. How many years has that region been part of Spain? The Russians are adhering to a Serbian alliance that goes back to before WW2. That is why they oppose the creation of Kosovo. Not because they are worried that the US and UK will someday recognize Chechnya. You think that even if just half of Kosovo workers left for jobs in other EU countries it would be insignificant? No, the main issue is economic. And in the case of the Albanians and Turks there are also cultural issues. If Turks, Albanians, Serbs, and Romanians for that matter, show up in big numbers to compliment the "Polish plumbers," then the politicians in Western Europe will be voted out of office.

 

[Larkinn]

There's a big difference between recognizing Kosovo independence and allowing them in the EU.

Not really, no. Obviously those states that don't recognize them won't let them into the EU.

There is next to zero chance that the Basques would ever be recognized. How many years has that region been part of Spain?

Thats nice. How long an area was part of a state isn't a criteria for declaring independence. The ruling case for this is the Quebec case in the Canadian courts, and thats not mentioned.

The Russians are adhering to a Serbian alliance that goes back to before WW2. That is why they oppose the creation of Kosovo. Not because they are worried that the US and UK will someday recognize Chechnya.

The Russians don't give a shit about the Serbs. It has everything to do with Chechnya. Its just a great coincidence that all the countries with separatist movements oppose Kosovo, and all the ones without it are embracing it, right?

You think that even if just half of Kosovo workers left for jobs in other EU countries it would be insignificant?

Pretty much, yes. And there is no reason to think that half would leave Kosovo to go to the EU.

No, the main issue is economic. And in the case of the Albanians and Turks there are also cultural issues. If Turks, Albanians, Serbs, and Romanians for that matter, show up in big numbers to compliment the "Polish plumbers," then the politicians in Western Europe will be voted out of office.

Believe what you want to believe, but pretty much anyone who is involved in Int'l law at any level is saying that its about independence movements.

 

[BrianH]

I'll have to agree with Larkinn on this one...It probably does have something to do with economics because that always plays a role. However, I think it has to do with saving face. Russia & Spain don't want similar problems to deal with. It's kind of like the kid that gets in trouble for smoking weed and he throws back in the parents' face, "Well you did it when you were a kid." I see exactly where you're going with that. They're also holding up their image of non-independence. They didn't want all of those countries to break-off, but the couldn't stop them at the time. The only reason they lost the shatter-zone was because of the Soviet Union collapse. If the Russians could have handled it, all of eastern Europe would still be in their control (which almost still is). They want to show the world and Chechnya that they still mean business when it comes to declaring independence. And the U.S., for that matter, is trying to uphold its reputation of independence. I think this whole conflict is a matter of "saving-face." World War I began over the "saving-face." One guy got killed and the world erupts in chaos.