U.S. stance on Kosovo is against intl. law

[December]

U.S. stance on Kosovo is against intl. law
13/ 12/ 2007

- Washington's insistence on granting Kosovo independence is at odds with international law and could provoke separatist tendencies throughout the world, a Russian senator said on Thursday.

At a UN Security Council session on Wednesday, the United States rejected Russia's proposal to continue talks over the future status of Serbia's predominantly Albanian province.

Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the Federation Council's international affairs committee, told RIA Novosti: "Washington has repeatedly highlighted the unique nature of the Kosovo case, but no one has bothered to explain exactly what that means. What sets Kosovo apart from Northern Cyprus, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Northern Ireland, and many other ethnic and religious enclaves scattered throughout the world?"

The senator said there will be nothing to prevent these regions from demanding independence according to the Kosovo scenario.

"Evidently, American diplomacy forgets that with Washington's support and connivance, Pristina is blocking all initiatives by the international community," Margelov said.

The UN official deadline for an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina on Kosovo ran out Monday, and the province's leaders have said they intend to unilaterally declare independence early in 2008. The United States and leading EU powers have said they will recognize Kosovo's independence when a declaration is made.

However, Russia has warned of a chain reaction if the province breaks away from Serbia, causing other separatist regions, including those in the former Soviet Union, to follow suit.

The Contact Group's troika of mediators - Russia, the United States and the European Union - submitted to the UN Security Council and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon a report on December 10 saying that the parties had failed to reach an agreement after "120 days of intensive negotiations."

At the latest talks in Austria in late November, Pristina continued to insist on full independence, while Belgrade was only willing to offer the province wide autonomy.

Kosovo has been a UN protectorate since 1999, when NATO's bombing of the former Yugoslavia ended a war between Serb forces and ethnic Albanians.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071213/92335940.html

http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/special/kosovo/maps/kosovomap.gif

[December]

26/ 12/ 2007

Serb army ready to protect Kosovo Serbs - President Tadic

BELGRADE, December 26 (RIA Novosti) - Serbia's Army is ready to assist in protecting Kosovo Serbs if Kosovo peacekeepers fail to halt violence in the province, the president said on Wednesday.

"If matters in Kosovo reach a violent stage, and if the international KFOR peacekeeping force is unable to adequately protect Serbs, the Serb Army is ready at any time to provide assistance in protecting the population from danger, with the approval of international organizations and in line with international law," pro-western Boris Tadic said.

The country's parliament is debating a resolution proposed by the government outlining key areas for the administration's activities, including reviewing diplomatic relations with those countries that recognize Kosovo's independence.

The UN Security Council failed last Wednesday to bridge divisions over the future of Kosovo. The province's drive for independence has been backed by the West and firmly opposed by Serbia. The European Union and NATO assumed responsibility for determining Kosovo's status.

Tadic said Serbia would continue to protect its territorial integrity without giving up its European ambitions.

In his speech, Tadic referred to "Russia's support and initiatives," as well as a communique published after a recent meeting of foreign ministers from Greece, Romania and Bulgaria. The document reads that all possibilities for reaching a compromise have been exhausted.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pledged last Friday that the country would veto a United Nations resolution granting independence to Kosovo.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20071226/94262923.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/440000/images/_441694_serbs300.jpg

[Scorpion]

Russia has no business criticizing Kosovo's independence. After all Russian troops have been butchering Chechnyan woman and children in the name of nationalism. Russia is despised by its republics because of its cruelty and inhumanity. Instead of the Russian bear the symbol of Russia should be the pig.

Russia should keep its mouth shut and tend to its own failings. They might start by deposing that Stalinist puppet Putin.

The US has no interest in what some Russian politician has to say.

[PatrickHenry]

Then let Uncle Sam turn Hawaii loose.

The US is the world's greatest hypocrite nation.

[Elrathin]

Then let Uncle Sam turn Hawaii loose.

The US is the world's greatest hypocrite nation.


PH I could see a time when Hawaii would want to be separated from the U.S., but out of curiosity where are the majority of Hawaiians wanting to be separated from the U.S. now?

[PatrickHenry]

Then let Uncle Sam turn Hawaii loose.

The US is the world's greatest hypocrite nation.


PH I could see a time when Hawaii would want to be separated from the U.S., but out of curiosity where are the majority of Hawaiians wanting to be separated from the U.S. now?

I guess I don't understand your question, Elrathin.

Could you clarify?

[December]

Then let Uncle Sam turn Hawaii loose.

The US is the world's greatest hypocrite nation.


That's right, PatrickHenry.
The USA need to get its story (policy) straigt...

"Washington has repeatedly highlighted the unique nature of the Kosovo case, but no one has bothered to explain exactly what that means. What sets Kosovo apart from Northern Cyprus, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Northern Ireland, and many other ethnic and religious enclaves scattered throughout the world?"

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20071213/92335940.html[hr]
I guess I don't understand your question, Elrathin.

Could you clarify?


Quote - this user (Elrathin) uses his stupidity as a weapon.

http://www.democracyforums.com/reputation.php?uid=183

[December]

Kosovo will not declare independence before March 10 - paper

11/ 01/ 2008

BELGRADE, January 11 (RIA Novosti) - Kosovo will not declare unilateral independence before March 10, a Pristina-based newspaper said, citing sources in the Kosovo delegation negotiating the province's status.

The Express daily referred in particular to an agreement between Spain and other European Union states that Kosovo authorities would not proclaim independence until after parliamentary elections in Spain, due on March 9.

The paper said Madrid believes that the events in Kosovo could affect the outcome of the Spanish elections and strengthen separatist sentiment in the country.

According to Kosovo's newly elected prime minister, Hasim Taci, the breakaway province of Serbia will unilaterally declare its independence in a few weeks.

"I assure you that we will declare independence in a few weeks. It's already an accomplished fact - we only need to declare it," said Taci, who was sworn in by parliament on Wednesday.

Taci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK) has formed a governing coalition with President Fatmir Seidiu's Democratic Alliance of Kosovo.

Russia warned on Thursday that it will block any resolution on Kosovo's status at the UN Security Council until both parties have found a mutually acceptable settlement.

Throughout long-running talks aimed at finding a solution to the status of Serbia's breakaway province, Russia has backed Belgrade in opposing Kosovo's sovereignty, warning it would have a knock on effect for other secessionist areas, such as Transdnestr in Moldova, South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia and Nagorny Karabakh in Azerbaijan, so-called frozen conflicts since the 1990s.

The Albanian-dominated Serbian province has been a UN protectorate since the NATO bombing of the former Yugoslavia ended a conflict between Albanian and Serb forces in 1999.

Most Western states have backed the volatile area's drive for independence, and said recently that Kosovo's status would now be determined by the European Union and NATO. Russia is insisting that Belgrade and Pristina continue to try to reach a compromise.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20080111/96281979.html

[December]

http://kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img157573.jpg

January 22, 2008
THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW.

President Putin with the 2007 winners of the Public International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations. From left to right: Crown Prince of Serbia and Yugoslavia Alexander Karageorgevich II, Partriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Aleksei II, Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina, wife of the Crown Prince of Serbia and Yugoslavia, Bishop Athanasius Kirinskii, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitrii Medvedev and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW.President Vladimir Putin met with Partriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Aleksei II and the winners of the Public International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations.
First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitrii Medvedev also took part in the meeting.
Partriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Aleksei II presented bouquets of flowers with the portraits and biographies of the prize winners to the head of state and first Deputy Prime Minister.
The Public International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations (IFUOCN) was established in 1995 and acts with priorities in revival and strengthening ties of spiritual brotherhood of nations confessing Orthodoxy, in activating their efforts in cultural and social cooperation.

http://kremlin.ru/images/photo_logo_eng.gif

http://kremlin.ru/eng/sdocs/news.shtml#158652

[December]

I have a question for all of you, guys...
Do you think Russia will make the same move as it did in 2000 in case of Kosovo independence?

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

[December]

04/ 02/ 2008

Russia vows to block intl. recognition of Kosovo independence

http://img.rian.ru/images/6744/70/67447041.jpg

MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will try and block Kosovo's independence at an international level, if the Serb province announces its sovereignty, a senior Russian MP said on Monday.

"Russia should use every opportunity at its disposal to block Kosovo's admission to the UN as an independent state," said Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the international affairs committee at the lower house of Russia's parliament. "As for the OSCE, it operates on the basis of consensus, so Russia will also be able to block a decision on Kosovo's admission to the OSCE."

Asked whether the problem of Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence could be considered at the European Council, he said: "Hypothetically, such a decision could be made, but I suppose that would be extremely deplorable for the Council of Europe, since it would be taking a political stance, which is inappropriate for this organization."

He also said Russia would review the principles of its relations with other self-proclaimed republics should Kosovo declare independence.

"If Kosovo proclaims its independence - and there is little doubt it will - this will influence Russia's approach toward developing relations with other self-proclaimed republics," the MP said.

He said responsibility for the development of the situation around Kosovo "is entirely and completely borne by the U.S. and EU," suggesting that the decision on the province's independence would be made in Washington and Brussels, not in Pristina.

Serbia's pro-Western incumbent Boris Tadic was narrowly re-elected as president Sunday in a vote seen as a key test of the country's relations with Europe.

Tadic competed with nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic in Sunday's run-off, and with 99.8% of ballots counted, has garnered 50.57% against Nikolic's 47.71%, according to the Electoral Commission.

The European Union's presidency holder, Slovenia, released a statement welcoming Tadic's re-election, and saying his endorsement would "accelerate its progress toward the EU, including candidate status."

The vote has come at a tense time for the Balkan nation, with its breakaway province of Kosovo set to unilaterally declare its independence within weeks.

The European Union said in late January it would sanction the dispatch of a police force to the province after the country's presidential election.

READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080204/98319651.html

[December]

The latest news...

08/ 02/ 2008

Kosovo president says province on verge of independence

BELGRADE, February 8 (RIA Novosti) - Kosovo's president said on Friday the province is close to independence and its government is closely cooperating with international organizations to alleviate problems that may arise.

"Kosovo is on the threshold of independence and our political institutions will continue close cooperation with UNMIK (United Nations Mission in Kosovo), KFOR (Kosovo Force) and other international organizations in the province during the transition period," Fatmir Sejdiu said after talks with the head of UNMIK.

He did not name a date for the predominantly Albanian province's formal secession from Serbia. However, top European Union diplomats have said they expect independence to be declared on February 17.

Of the 27 EU states, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania have joined Serbia and Russia in opposing independence for Kosovo, saying the move could set a dangerous precedent for other breakaway territories.

Sejdiu rejected suggestions that Kosovo's independence will set a precedent.

"Kosovo is a unique issue. It cannot set a precedent for another region or country," he said.

READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/world/20080208/98787971.html

[December]

Serbia says Kosovo's independence bid illegal

14/ 02/ 2008


BELGRADE, February 14 (RIA Novosti) - The government of Serbia passed a resolution Thursday calling 'illegal' any move by the breakaway province of Kosovo to declare unilateral independence.

The separatist Albanian-dominated province in southern Serbia is expected to unilaterally declare independence on Sunday or Monday a move backed by the United States and most EU countries. Serbia, Russia and some European states oppose the plans, considering any declaration a violation of international law.

"The resolution annuls any act or moves by the provisional authorities in Kosovo and Metohija to unilaterally declare independence as a violation of Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, fixed by the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, the UN Charter, UN Security Council Resolution 1244 as of 1999, other UN Security Council resolutions as well as by international law," the Serbian government said in a statement.

READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/world/20080214/99244712.html

[December]

Russia looks to UN Security Council to annul Kosovo independence

18/ 02/ 2008

http://img.rian.ru/images/9946/63/99466335.jpg

MOSCOW, February 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russia hopes that the UN Security Council will annul as illegitimate Kosovo's unilateral declaration of sovereignty, a Russian official said on Monday.

"We hope that the UN Security Council will determine the situation within the framework of resolution 1244 and assess this act as illegitimate and contradicting the UN Charter and the resolution on Kosovo's status," Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, Russia's envoy on the Kosovo status talks, said.
Britain, Germany, Italy and France have already recognized Kosovo. The U.S. looks set to follow suit shortly. Russia and Serbia, among other states, remain opposed to any unilateral declaration of independence by Pristina.

"It is obvious that we [Russia] are not recognizing Kosovo's independence. We will be seeking the annulment of the declaration by the UN mission in Kosovo," the official said.
Kosovo has been a UN protectorate since the NATO bombing of the former Yugoslavia ended a conflict between Albanian and Serb forces in 1999. Over 200,000 Serbians have left Kosovo since 1999 and some 100,000 are still living in the province, which has a total population of two million.

READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/world/20080218/99530247.html

[December]

Kosovo Serbs burn border points

Kosovo Serbs have set fire to two border crossings to protest against Kosovo's declaration of independence.
The attacks took place at the northern Jarinje and Banja crossings, manned by United Nations and Kosovo police.
In response, Nato-led peacekeepers were deployed at the crossings. There have been no reports of any injuries so far.

This is the most serious incident since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Sunday, the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Kosovo says.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7252874.stm

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44435000/jpg/_44435814_belgrade_b203_afp.jpg

[December]

Russia says Kosovo's new constitution violates UN resolutions

16/ 06/ 2008

MOSCOW, June 16 (RIA Novosti) - Kosovo's new constitution is in violation of a UN Security Council Resolution, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

Kosovo's new constitution came into force on Sunday after nine years of UN administration.

"This act [the entry of the constitution into force] continues a string of measures for the arbitral formalization of the territory's sovereignty and the policy of violating international law, only aggravating the tense situation in Kosovo and isolating the Serb population," the ministry's information and press department said.

The ministry said that Pristina, by declaring its intention to curtail cooperation with the UN mission in Kosovo, "is in gross violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 that assigns the central role in the Kosovo settlement to the United Nations."

Kosovo, with a 90% ethnic-Albanian majority, has been formally recognized as a sovereign state by 43 countries including the U.S. and most EU members since it proclaimed its independence from Serbia on February 17.
Serbian President Boris Tadic said on Sunday that Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's new constitution as its adoption will have negative consequences.

"For Serbia, it [the constitution] has no legal force. Serbia considers Kosovo as its southern territory. Serbia continues to defend its independence and sovereignty by peaceful means, with the help of diplomacy rather than force," Tadic said.
According to Tadic, Belgrade is continuing to insist on further negotiations on the status of Kosovo.

Russia and China back Belgrade's position that Kosovo must remain a part of Serbia.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080616/110727736.html

[PatrickHenry]

If Kosovo can be independent, what stops every other people group from going for it?

All the US Indian nations should tell the US to get their sorry butts out of Indian land.

Hawaii, too...

[December]

If Kosovo can be independent, what stops every other people group from going for it?

All the US Indian nations should tell the US to get their sorry butts out of Indian land.

Hawaii, too...

Did you try to ask this question people at the US Senate?

http://img.rian.ru/images/9980/59/99805967.jpg

Russia praises formation of Kosovo Serbs' parliament

20:57 | 01/ 07/ 2008


MOSCOW, July 1 (RIA Novosti) - The parliament set up by the Serbian community in Kosovo is a logical response to Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Kosovo Serbs gathered last Saturday in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica for a session to inaugurate their own legislative body, calling it the Assembly of the Union of Municipalities of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo, and draft its mandate.
The statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry said the establishment of the Assembly was "a logical reaction to illegal and unilateral declaration of independence of the region and is a reflection of prevailing sentiments among Serbs to resist their forceful integration into the illegal entity of the Kosovo Albanians."

The establishment of the assembly brought negative reactions from many of the countries that backed Kosovo's independence when it was declared five months ago.

"A number of countries have made a hasty assessment of this move [to establish the Assembly] branding it as illegal," the ministry said. "Thus, they have once again shown their biased approach to the situation in Kosovo."

Kosovo - which has been under UN administration since NATO bombings ended a conflict between Serbian troops and Albanian separatists in 1999 - has been recognized by 43 of 192 UN member states, including by the United States and most major European powers.

Moscow has supported its ally Serbia in refusing to recognize the world's 'newest state'.

http://www.en.rian.ru/world/20080701/112744964.html

[ptif219]

This was Clinton's war that he said would be over in 1 year yet 9 years later we still have troops there.

I notice the left never mentions Clinton's war when the speak on war.

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo | The U.S. military, which has been part of a NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo for nine years, views its mission as a model for its presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/jun/13/us-sees-model-for-nation-building/

A French KFOR soldier participates in a maneuver near the border with Serbia. Kosovo is 90 percent Albanian, and relations with the Serbian minority have been generally peaceful for the past nine years, save a few violent incidents, the most recent of which being those following Kosovo's declaration of independence.

The more than 16,000-strong force, known as KFOR, includes more than 1,000 Americans. It has managed to keep Kosovo largely peaceful, because "problems get worked out before they become an issue that results in violence," said Brig. Gen. John E. Davoren, the U.S. commander here


It seems Clinton didn't finsh his one year war.We are still cleaning up his messes.

[PatrickHenry]

This was Clinton's war that he said would be over in 1 year yet 9 years later we still have troops there...Well who's been President for the last eight years?

That Clinton! He messed things up so bad that the US can't get out for 8 years of another guy's Presidency. That's some kind of a record for fucking up isn't it?

[Rage]

This was Clinton's war that he said would be over in 1 year yet 9 years later we still have troops there.


We still have troops in s. korea and germany.

[December]

I think America must be sued for breaking the international law.

[ptif219]

Well who's been President for the last eight years?

That Clinton! He messed things up so bad that the US can't get out for 8 years of another guy's Presidency. That's some kind of a record for fucking up isn't it?

Clinton said one year yet here we are 9 years later still have troops there and the left blaming Bush because Clinton lied and didn't finish it.

[ptif219]

We still have troops in s. korea and germany.

I don't remember a president saying those would be over in a year.

Funny how democrats get us in war and want republicans to clean it up and take the blame.

[Rage]

They didn't quite get us in a war, rather they added fuel to the fire by ignoring those people. I believe that we should not spend time blaming people, but think of creative ways to change and help everyone in situations like this.

This may be off topic, but it is worth stating. I am a libertarian, which by principle I should oppose most of what "obama" stands for. However I have to hand it to the democratic party in wanting change. Sure they may have hidden agenda's, but change is needed in this country (however not by barack).