Kosovo declares independence

[Speedo]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/17/kosovo.independence/index.html

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 Kosovar'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."

CNN's Alessio Vinci, reporting from the Kosovar capital Pristina, said that thousands of Kosovo's Albanian population 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 revellers were even said to be firing gunshot into the air. "It's been like this for several hours now," he said.

"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."

President George 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 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 then-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, and 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," President Bush told reporters during a news conference in Tanzania Sunday.

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

President 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." Watch the changing political climate in the Balkans »

"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.

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 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.

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[gangleri2001]

I can only celebrate this!

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

great news. I hope all goes well for kosovo. Seems to be happening surprisingly effortlessly for the last year or so.

 

[WerBackIII]

Serbia won't stop vomiting territories.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

do you guys think some serbians are going to try to crash the party by using a bit of violence?

 

[Stormrage]

WerBack, there`s nothing left but pure serbian territory in Serbia, nothing more to lose.

There is a saying over there:
Serbia is like Nokia. Gets smaller every year.

I don`t think there will be any violence, but I won`t be surprised if there is.

 

[CurtSibling]

Kosovo declares independence

An excuse for the regional big dogs to carry out some serious back-stabbing and dirty deeds.

For the people, it is just another range of crooks to control their lifes...

...

 

[Cutlass]

It's about time. But it won't be without problems.

 

[C~G]

Step forward and even Bush is with the plan...good.

Sun seems to be shining today.

 

[Dida]

I thought getting independence in fact, but not in name was a pretty good compromise for the region. This move by Kosovo is dumb and selfish.

 

[silver 2039]

Give it back to the Ottomans. At least they could keep the Balkan's in order.

 

[Gabryel Karolin]

Not worth it. We won Kosovo but we may have lost Serbia to the Russians.

What's done is done, I guess. I hope the Albanians get their new country in order and enjoy their freedom and independance.

 

[Trajan12]

This hardly changes anything for Serbia.

Kosovo for the last few years was not administered by Serbia, but by NATO and the UN/EU. Kosovo probably was never going to ever be administered by Serbia ever again anyway.

It was inevitable. Serbia is basically angry over how the atlases will look now. With how horrible it is there I bet no Serb would have ever even set foot in Kosovo.

 

[Gabryel Karolin]

De facto yes, but symbolism matters in cases like this. The Serbs grudgingly could accept that though they were formally in charge of Kosovo various international organizations held the real power. Formal independance is completely different. They had an (they perceive) integral part of their country handed away by the West, the same West they've tried to get friendly with since after Milosovic, if that's what comes from being friends with us I think its very likely they go back to the old friend they know they can trust; Russia.

 

[Nuka-sama]

is this serious?

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Oh great.
I am very confident that the new government will be corrupt and incompetent to the core.
Too bad "the west" will recognise this travesty of a state...

 

[TheLastOne36]

Damnit >.<
------
Also Somebody said (i think it was Winner) that "Kosovo will declare independence soon, in fact they might even declare independence this weekend. He was right!!!!

Also "kosovo" comes up as mispelt when i type it in on word...

just checked on wikipedia! IT'S TRUE!!!!

there flag is a german flag in grey with a question mark:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Oh great.
I am very confident that the new government will be corrupt and incompetent to the core.

Why do you think that?

Too bad "the west" will recognise this travesty of a state...

Again, why do you think this is so horrible?

 

[TheLastOne36]

Why do you think that?



Again, why do you think this is so horrible?

Hell is gonna break loose....

in 3

2

1

HIT THE BUNKERS!!!!!

 

[Samson]

With how horrible it is there I bet no Serb would have ever even set foot in Kosovo.

The problem is that their are a fair few serbs who live in kosavo. Given the history they will not be very comftable right now.

there flag is a german flag in grey with a question mark

I think you will find that is wikis "we need someone to post the national flag here" logo.