Now I have a state! | Kosovo declares independence!

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Kosovo's parliament declared the territory a nation on Sunday, mounting a historic bid to become an "independent and democratic state" backed by the U.S. and European allies but bitterly contested by Serbia and Russia.

Serbia immediately denounced the declaration as illegal, and Russia also rejected it, demanding an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council. President Bush said the U.S. would work to prevent violence after the declaration and the European Union also appealed for calm.

"Kosovo is a republic — an independent, democratic and sovereign state," parliament speaker Jakup Krasniqi said as the chamber burst into applause. Across the capital, Pristina, revelers danced in the streets, fired guns into the air and waved red and black Albanian flags in jubilation at the birth of the world's newest country.

Sunday's declaration was carefully orchestrated with the U.S. and key European powers, and Kosovo was counting on swift international recognition that could come as early as Monday, when EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels, Belgium.

But by sidestepping the U.N. and appealing directly to the U.S. and other nations for recognition, Kosovo set up a showdown with Serbia — outraged at the imminent loss of its territory — and Russia, which warned that it would set a dangerous precedent for separatist groups worldwide.

Ninety percent of Kosovo's 2 million people are ethnic Albanian — most of them secular Muslims — and they see no reason to stay joined to the rest of Christian Orthodox Serbia.

Krasniqi, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and President Fatmir Sejdiu signed the declaration, which was scripted on parchment, before the unveiling of a new national crest and a flag: a bright blue banner featuring a golden map of Kosovo and six stars, one for each of its main ethnic groups.

"From today onwards, Kosovo is proud, independent and free," said Thaci, a former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which battled Serbian troops in a 1998-99 separatist war that claimed 10,000 lives. "We never lost faith in the dream that one day we would stand among the free nations of the world, and today we do."

"Our hopes have never been higher," he told the assembly. "Dreams are infinite, our challenges loom large, but nothing can deter us from moving forward to the greatness that history has reserved for us."

Thaci pledged the new nation would be "a democratic, multiethnic state" — an attempt to reach out to Serbs who consider Kosovo the cradle of their medieval culture and religion.

But he also had stern words for the Serbian government, which last week declared secession illegal and invalid, saying in the Serbian language: "Kosovo will never be ruled by Belgrade again."

The Associated Press: Kosovo Declares Independence From Serbia

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Wooohooooo!

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Kosovo declares independence from Serbia - CNN.com

BBC NEWS | Europe | Kosovo MPs proclaim independence

washingtonpost.com

[azzurri]

Congrats.

What's the relation between Kosovo and Albania?

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Originally Posted by azzurri

What's the relation between Kosovo and Albania?

We're the same nation, just divided in two different countries from injustice.

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Our official flag:



Tomorrow, we expect United Kingdom, France, Germany to officially recognize our independence. On Tuesday, United States and other countries are expected to join the list.

kosovothanksyou , check it, scroll just a little, there's the list of the countries who will recognize us, during the week.

[azzurri]

Originally Posted by Trim

We're the same nation, just divided in two different countries from injustice.

So ppl from Kosovo refer to themselves as Albanians? Also, was Kosovo semi-independent b4 this recent news? (because u have a Prime Minister)

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Originally Posted by azzurri

So ppl from Kosovo refer to themselves as Albanians? Also, was Kosovo semi-independent b4 this recent news? (because u have a Prime Minister)

1. Yes, of course. We're 100% albanians.

2. NATO forces bombed Serbia during the 1999 war, and as a reason of that, Kosovo got freed. Since then, we've been under protection of United Nations. We've had our own institutions and government since 1999, so we've been somehow independent, but not officially.

[z187]

congrats

[Jager]

Originally Posted by azzurri

So ppl from Kosovo refer to themselves as Albanians? Also, was Kosovo semi-independent b4 this recent news? (because u have a Prime Minister)

Kosovo land can be traced to Serbia. There is no denying this. Out of control immigration and higher birth rates, displaced the Serbs, and they became a minority.

It would be like Calabria in Italy being over run by Albanians, then the Albanians become the majority, and they try to seperate from Italy. Obviously, there are some differences, but to a Serb it isn't too far off from that.

Now I'm not on either side, but issues of Kosovo are much more complex than it appears.

I'm also very proud of my own country Italia for making sure that never happens in Italy. We have tough immigration laws, and its very hard to become Italian, you have to earn that right.


For the record, Spain apparently has come out against this, because they have their own separtist movement.

We could have separtist movements all over Europe.

Nor do I think nato or the UN will protect Kosovo forever. Russia backs Serbia, this is far from dead.


Before Trimm jumps all over me for my views, I'm just stating opinions, I have nothing against Albanians or Serbs, it just unfortunate people can't get along, and it had to get to this.

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I don't want to get into history, I'm not in that mood at all.

One thing though Jag, I'm sure you don't know our history.

In 1912, during the Balkan Wars, most of Kosovo was taken by the Kingdom of Serbia, while the region of Dukagjini Valley was taken by the Kingdom of Montenegro. An exodus of the local Albanian population occurred. This was described by Leon Trotsky, who was a reporter for the Pravda newspaper at the time. The Serbian authorities planned a recolonization of Kosovo.[3] Numerous colonist Serb families moved into Kosovo, equalizing the demographic balance between Albanians and Serbs. Many Albanians fled into the mountains and numerous Albanian and Turkish houses were razed. The reconquest of Kosovo was described as retribution for the 1389 Battle of Kossovo. At the Conference of Ambassadors in London in 1912 presided over by Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Secretary, the Kingdoms of Serbia and Montenegro were granted sovereignty over Kosovo.

We are Albanians, and Kosovo was never Serbia's.

As for the protection part, I swear that United States of America will always be on our side.

The recognition of our independence will start from today.

United Kingdom is expected to be the first to recognize us, with France, Japan, Italy and Germany to follow.

For diplomatic reasons, United States of America, Albania and Turkey have said they will recognize us after some days.

Spain, Serbia and Russia can fuck off, for all we care!

[azzurri]

From what Ive read, Serbia's claim on Kosovo dates back long b4 1912.

I'm not taking sides, but after doing a little research, I dont think either has the right to unanimously claim it as there own.

Also, this sets a dangerous precedent. What about the Basque in Spain? The Palestinians? The Kurds in Iraq? The Taiwanese? The Chechens? Tibet? etc.

Also, the American support is hypocritical, since I doubt they will give the Kurds in Iraq their own state, or fully recognize Palestine and Taiwan as independent, etc.

Also, I read that according to UN Resolution 1244, this move is illegal.

Regardless, if this keep's the peace, than I think its irrelevant. Peace should be the ultimate goal. Plus for the attrocities Serbia committed during the 90's, u cant expect ppl to be fair towards u.

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BREAKING NEWS!

Republic of Kosovo is officially recognized by:

Afghanistan, Albania, Belgium, France,
Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Turkey,
United Kingdom, United States of America.

U.S. Recognizes Kosovo as Independent State

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Washington, DC
February 18, 2008

The United States has today formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion.

President Bush has responded affirmatively to a request from Kosovo to establish diplomatic relations between our two countries. The establishment of these relations will reaffirm the special ties of friendship that have linked together the people of the United States and Kosovo.

Nine years ago, the international community, led by NATO, acted to end brutal attacks on the Kosovar Albanian population. This timely international intervention ended the violence, leading to a United Nations Security Council decision to suspend Belgrade’s governance and place Kosovo under interim UN administration. Since that time Kosovo has built its own democratic institutions separate from Belgrade’s control. Last year, UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari developed a plan to build a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo and recommended Kosovo be independent, subject to a period of international supervision. In light of the conflicts of the 1990s, independence is the only viable option to promote stability in the region. The United States supports the Ahtisaari Plan and will work with its international partners to help implement it.

We welcome the commitments Kosovo made in its declaration of independence to implement the Ahtisaari Plan, to embrace multi-ethnicity as a fundamental principle of good governance, and to welcome a period of international supervision.

The unusual combination of factors found in the Kosovo situation -- including the context of Yugoslavia's breakup, the history of ethnic cleansing and crimes against civilians in Kosovo, and the extended period of UN administration -- are not found elsewhere and therefore make Kosovo a special case. Kosovo cannot be seen as a precedent for any other situation in the world today.

The United States takes this opportunity to reaffirm our friendship with Serbia, an ally during two world wars. We invite Serbia's leaders to work together with the United States and our partners to accomplish shared goals, such as the protection of the rights, security, culture and livelihood of the Serb community in Kosovo.

As Kosovo today begins its life as an independent state, the United States pledges to continue to be its close friend and partner.

2008/117

U.S. Recognizes Kosovo as Independent State

[Amuro^Mushashi]

wow thats nice congratz to a new state!!!