Monday, February 18, 2008

European powers to formally recognize independent Kosovo

European powers to formally recognize independent Kosovo

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Monday, 18 February 2008

European powers to formally recognize independent Kosovo
European powers to formally recognize independent Kosovo
European powers Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Austria said Monday they would recognize Kosovo's independence but some other EU nations were opposed including Spain.

France has recognized Kosovo independence on Monday, stated French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, after the approval of the joint declaration by the EU’s foreign ministers in Brussels.

Kouchner stated that President Nicolas Sarkozy will send a letter to the President of Kosovo, to notify him with France’s official recognition.

“It’s the end of Balkan troubles. I hope that they are done. Now we need reconciliation, although I know right now that it will take a long time,” said Kouchner at a press conference. Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci was quick to thank France for being first: "We are grateful to France for recognition. This is a crucial issue for new state of Kosovo and its functioning."

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband followed his French colleague. “On behalf of the United Kingdom, I can announce that the British government has decided to recognize Kosovo," Miliband told reporters at the end of EU foreign ministers talks in Brussels.

Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said Italy would proceed to recognize Kosovo, while his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his government would meet to do so on Wednesday. ˝Around seventeen states have decided to react quickly so as to avoid creating a vacuum with indecisive behaviour,˝ Steinmeier said.

Austria announced its intention to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Speaking at the sidelines of the European Union's Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said the country's government will consider the matter in its upcoming meeting on Wednesday and initiate the proper legal proceedings.

U.S. President George W. Bush said earlier in the day from Africa where he is visiting that Kosovars "are now independent," but stopped short of an official declaration of recognition. More information about this issue is expected from the State Department later today.

A "vast majority" of EU nations are likely to recognize Kosovo in "one form or another" over the next month, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Monday. "We will be well within that time frame," he said, referring to Sweden, which under its constitution must make such moves through a royal advisory council.

Finland and Denmark are preparing to recognise Kosovo as an independent state, the Finnish foreign ministry and Danish news reports said Monday. "We are starting preparations" for the recognition of Kosovo, Finnish foreign ministry spokesman Juha Kirstilae told AFP by telephone from Brussels.

Earlier in the day Afghanistan became the first country to extend independent Kosovo recognition. Speaking for the Afghan service of Radio Free Europe, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Sultan Ahmand Bahin said that in “accordance with the United Nations Charter, the right for self-determination and democratic elections of 3 November, 2007, Afghanistan wishes success to Kosovo and offers her cooperation.”

Landlocked and with an economy that has been ignored for decades, Kosovo depends on its European allies to build the budding state.

1 comment:

serbovka said...

More than four IIIyrian Entities compose Albania.
LABEATS, TAULANTS, ALBANS, ENKELEIS, DARASETS and KAONS.
All of them speaks Illyrian language but with different dialects. Three first has a very distinct Illyrian dialect named GEGE and the rest has another Illyrian dialect named TOSKE.
On 1912 they united in one single state and agreed to be named Eagle’s Land. SHQIPERIA.
The foreign “SKOLARS” named Albania based on the name of only one of the Entities.
This was not only Ignorance but also a big mistake of these “very educated Scholars“.
The situation then was so critical for SHQIPETARET, so they accepted any injustice and compromise. This was the big price they pay to gain the independence. Of course many other Illyrian entities was ignored. This has been done in purpose to use Illyrian territories as a trade merchandise to please slavics, which in return were used in two wars. The Slavics paid their price. They lost 56 million people 1908 – 1946. Illyrian paid bigger price. They were spread over 5 different states.
It's about time to recognize the historical right of Kosova (Dardania) to have its destiny fulfilled-That is full independence. Kosova never was a Serbian province. It was there, since the times of birth of European civilization, a very distinct Dardanian/llyrian identity. Always populated by Dardanias who, although under constant pressure of forcefully migration by Serbian shovinism, Tito's Yugoslavia & Milloshevic's Serbia, still make up 92% of the population. They speak ilirian language with the dialect GEGE. Serbs always have been a minority there. We know that Serbs appeared in Balkans (then llyria) only by the 6th Century AD, and they speak a language more similar to Ukrainian then Russian. They have always been a minority and 'the story' of Kosova being the Heartland of Serbia is just a pure Serbian nationalist fantasy. Facts Speak Louder Than Words and Serbian’s Lies Will Collapse by Themselves. Serbs always have been considered as oppressors there, not just by Albanian majority, but also by other ethnic groups too. Serbs just occupied Kosova during the rise of the Serbian nationalism early 20th century from Ottomans, who by then were loosing the Balkans after 500 years of occupation. The borders of Kosova are well established and recognized. Now Kosova should be Free!
To find the answer for the question “do you think Kosovo’s independence will strengthen separatist movements elsewhere”, please refer to:
http://www.acesofww2.com/germany/aces/Hartmann.htm
Erich Hartman – top ace of all the time. German Luftwaffe Bf 109 Pilot.
Near the end of WWII, in early May 1945, Hartmann, then Gruppenkommandeur of famous Jagdgeschwader 52, and his Commodore, Hermann Graf, ground crew, family members, and other civilians, who had joined the squadron, seeking protection approaching Russian army, moved west in direction of territory already occupied by US troops. On May 8th, 1945, the soldiers and civilians surrendered to US troops in the region between Bavaria (German province) and Czech border. But on May 17th, the US Army delivered all of these German troops and civilians to the Red Army. How did the Russian troops treat the civilians? They tortured, raped German woman, children at least 12 years old. Some woman were shot after the rapes. Others were not so lucky. A twelve year old girl whose mother had been raped and shoot being raped by several solders. She died from these acts soon afterward. Then more Russian came, and it began all over again. During the night, entire German families committed suicide with men killing their wives and daughters, then themselves. This is the way the slavics treat the human been, the innocent civilians. This is the way the Serbs treated innocent Croatian, Bosnian and Dardanian civilians. If any entity of human been will be treated like that, then they are in title to ask and gain the independence.

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