December
02-17-2008, 06:36 PM
17/ 02/ 2008
PRISTINA, February 17 (RIA Novosti) - Belgrade and Moscow reacted angrily to Kosovo's Western-backed unilateral declaration of independence on Sunday as the region remained braced for clashes between Serbs and ethnic Albanians.
DECLARATION
"We have waited for this day for a very long time," Kosovan Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told a packed parliament at the start of an emergency session called on Sunday afternoon to, as he said, "take decisions on the future of our nation."
He said the new state would be "proud, independent and free."
Both Thaci and Kosovan President Fatmir Sejdiu pledged that the new state would respect the rights of all ethnic groups. Thaci also said that Kosovo was a unique case, and that it should not set a precedent for other secessionist regions.
The vote for independence was unanimously passed with a show of hands.
There were celebrations across Kosovo following the declaration, as thousands of people poured onto the streets of what is now, notwithstanding opposition from Serbia and Belgrade, among others, the world's newest state.
REACTIONS FROM BELGRADE AND MOSCOW
Both Belgrade and Moscow reacted angrily to the declaration of independence by Kosovo.
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said that it "violates international order," and that Kosovo was a "false state."
"Kosovo will forever remain a part of Serbia," he said. "We do not recognize the forceful creation of this false state. We must support our countrymen in Kosovo."
"As long as the Serb people exist, Kosovo will be Serbia," he went on. Belgrade has ruled out the use of force to retake Kosovo, however.
Serbia's main ally, Russia, immediately called for emergency UN Security Council consultations on the issue. Moscow is deeply opposed to the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo. It has said that it contradicts international law, and sets a dangerous precedent for other secessionist regions.
The UN Security Council meeting called by Russia is due to be held at 6:00 p.m. GMT on Sunday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence could lead to new conflicts in the Balkans.
"The decision of the leaders of Kosovo is fraught [with the danger of] an escalation in tensions and ethnic violence in the province, and new conflicts in the Balkans," the ministry announced on its website.
A Kremlin spokesman called the declaration "illegitimate" on Russia's Vesti TV channel.
Russia, which has consistently maintained that independence for Kosovo contradicts UN Resolution 1244 on territorial integrity, also called on the UN and NATO to annul the declaration of sovereignty.
READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/world/20080217/99445340.html
http://www.kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img140330.jpg
June 17, 2001
PRISTINA, KOSOVO.
Putin during welcoming ceremony at the airport.
President Vladimir Putin presented government awards to Russian peacekeepers in Kosovo.
As Mr Putin arrived in Kosovo, a guard of honour of Russian peacekeepers met him at Pristina airport.
The President was then driven to the headquarters of a Russian peacekeeping contingent at the village of Vrelo. Mr Putin presented government awards to six servicemen who had distinguished themselves in the performance of their peacekeeping duties.
Mr Putin also met with top commanders of the Russian military contingent to discuss the military-political situation at Kosovo.
The President said the international community should take measures to isolate armed extremists and terrorists in southern Serbia and Macedonia and eliminate channels for financing militants.
http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/events/chronicle/2001/06/144464.shtml
PRISTINA, February 17 (RIA Novosti) - Belgrade and Moscow reacted angrily to Kosovo's Western-backed unilateral declaration of independence on Sunday as the region remained braced for clashes between Serbs and ethnic Albanians.
DECLARATION
"We have waited for this day for a very long time," Kosovan Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told a packed parliament at the start of an emergency session called on Sunday afternoon to, as he said, "take decisions on the future of our nation."
He said the new state would be "proud, independent and free."
Both Thaci and Kosovan President Fatmir Sejdiu pledged that the new state would respect the rights of all ethnic groups. Thaci also said that Kosovo was a unique case, and that it should not set a precedent for other secessionist regions.
The vote for independence was unanimously passed with a show of hands.
There were celebrations across Kosovo following the declaration, as thousands of people poured onto the streets of what is now, notwithstanding opposition from Serbia and Belgrade, among others, the world's newest state.
REACTIONS FROM BELGRADE AND MOSCOW
Both Belgrade and Moscow reacted angrily to the declaration of independence by Kosovo.
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said that it "violates international order," and that Kosovo was a "false state."
"Kosovo will forever remain a part of Serbia," he said. "We do not recognize the forceful creation of this false state. We must support our countrymen in Kosovo."
"As long as the Serb people exist, Kosovo will be Serbia," he went on. Belgrade has ruled out the use of force to retake Kosovo, however.
Serbia's main ally, Russia, immediately called for emergency UN Security Council consultations on the issue. Moscow is deeply opposed to the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo. It has said that it contradicts international law, and sets a dangerous precedent for other secessionist regions.
The UN Security Council meeting called by Russia is due to be held at 6:00 p.m. GMT on Sunday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence could lead to new conflicts in the Balkans.
"The decision of the leaders of Kosovo is fraught [with the danger of] an escalation in tensions and ethnic violence in the province, and new conflicts in the Balkans," the ministry announced on its website.
A Kremlin spokesman called the declaration "illegitimate" on Russia's Vesti TV channel.
Russia, which has consistently maintained that independence for Kosovo contradicts UN Resolution 1244 on territorial integrity, also called on the UN and NATO to annul the declaration of sovereignty.
READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/world/20080217/99445340.html
http://www.kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img140330.jpg
June 17, 2001
PRISTINA, KOSOVO.
Putin during welcoming ceremony at the airport.
President Vladimir Putin presented government awards to Russian peacekeepers in Kosovo.
As Mr Putin arrived in Kosovo, a guard of honour of Russian peacekeepers met him at Pristina airport.
The President was then driven to the headquarters of a Russian peacekeeping contingent at the village of Vrelo. Mr Putin presented government awards to six servicemen who had distinguished themselves in the performance of their peacekeeping duties.
Mr Putin also met with top commanders of the Russian military contingent to discuss the military-political situation at Kosovo.
The President said the international community should take measures to isolate armed extremists and terrorists in southern Serbia and Macedonia and eliminate channels for financing militants.
http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/events/chronicle/2001/06/144464.shtml