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Fri, Feb 10 2012
Joe Biden says independence of Kosovo ‘irreversible’
INTERLOCUTORS: US vice president Joe Biden and Serbian president Boris Tadic speak to journalists after meeting in Belgrade on May 20 2009.
Ahead of his May 21 2009 visit to Kosovo, United States vice president Joe Biden described the independence of the breakaway former Serbian province as "irreversible".
Kosovo and international media reports quoted Biden as saying in Sarajevo that while he did not expect Serbia to recognise Kosovo as independent – Belgrade is vehemently opposed to the unilateral declaration of independence issued in Pristina in February 2008 – he did expect Serbia to co-operate with the European Union and other international players in regard to Kosovo.
Biden said that the independence of Kosovo was of critical importance to the stability of the Balkans.
"This independence, while young, is irreversible, and critically important to this region's stability and progress," Biden said, telling Bosnia’s central parliament that the US would maintain its support for Kosovo.
He made the remarks a day before arriving in Serbia, where his task is to do what he can to heal ties between Washington and Belgrade, most recently soured by the US taking the lead in recognising Kosovo as independent. Biden’s trip is meant to underline president Barack Obama’s interest in the US strengthening its engagement in the Balkans.
Kosovo daily Koha Ditore quoted UK analyst Tim Judah as saying that Biden’s visit to the region was showing that the US was including the Balkans in its foreign policy priorities.
Judah said that he expected that Biden will issue criticisms of Kosovo’s leaders for failing to be decisive in taking responsibility for the fate of the country.
On May 19, the EU’s General Affairs and External Relations Council concluded a meeting with a statement that included a formal welcome for the declaration of full operational capability for the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX KOSOVO) on April 6 2009.
The Council said that it commended the mission's efforts to ensure a successful deployment of all components throughout Kosovo.
The Council "noted with satisfaction" the initial results achieved by EULEX KOSOVO in assisting the Kosovo authorities in consolidating the rule of law and in contributing to a safe and secure environment for all inhabitants, regardless of their ethnic origins, the statement said.
"The implementation of the EULEX KOSOVO mandate will play an important role in strengthening the stability of the region, in line with its European perspective," according to the statement.
Kosovo and international media reports quoted Biden as saying in Sarajevo that while he did not expect Serbia to recognise Kosovo as independent – Belgrade is vehemently opposed to the unilateral declaration of independence issued in Pristina in February 2008 – he did expect Serbia to co-operate with the European Union and other international players in regard to Kosovo.
Biden said that the independence of Kosovo was of critical importance to the stability of the Balkans.
"This independence, while young, is irreversible, and critically important to this region's stability and progress," Biden said, telling Bosnia’s central parliament that the US would maintain its support for Kosovo.
He made the remarks a day before arriving in Serbia, where his task is to do what he can to heal ties between Washington and Belgrade, most recently soured by the US taking the lead in recognising Kosovo as independent. Biden’s trip is meant to underline president Barack Obama’s interest in the US strengthening its engagement in the Balkans.
Kosovo daily Koha Ditore quoted UK analyst Tim Judah as saying that Biden’s visit to the region was showing that the US was including the Balkans in its foreign policy priorities.
Judah said that he expected that Biden will issue criticisms of Kosovo’s leaders for failing to be decisive in taking responsibility for the fate of the country.
On May 19, the EU’s General Affairs and External Relations Council concluded a meeting with a statement that included a formal welcome for the declaration of full operational capability for the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX KOSOVO) on April 6 2009.
The Council said that it commended the mission's efforts to ensure a successful deployment of all components throughout Kosovo.
The Council "noted with satisfaction" the initial results achieved by EULEX KOSOVO in assisting the Kosovo authorities in consolidating the rule of law and in contributing to a safe and secure environment for all inhabitants, regardless of their ethnic origins, the statement said.
"The implementation of the EULEX KOSOVO mandate will play an important role in strengthening the stability of the region, in line with its European perspective," according to the statement.
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Serbian president Tadic says that Belgrade will not accept recognition of Kosovo as a precondition for EU accession; Sarkozy tells Tadic to work with Kosovo but that no one expects Serbia to recognise it to gain EU membership.
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This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
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Peggy -
Entirely agreed !
(Wrzeszcz - can't be too careful these days.)
Dr. Cornelius, I too have had immitators. It's annoying because they think that they can discredit you by pretending to be you.
Most people can see through this. It's so pathetic to try to impersonate someone just because you don't have constructive arguments.
You're right about Cheney. I believe that politicians are only the front man and there is real power behind them. We've seen how history can be made by manipulation and set ups.
Peggy - a very fair point (but Dick Cheney was so dreadful that he must be a slight exception, especially as he is still trying to influence the policy of the Obama administration "from beyond the grave")
My badge of authenticity is the Polish word "Wrzeszcz", since apparently I have imitators on this site who put forward drastically militaristic views under my name (like "Invade Albania Now" !) God forbid.
Dr, Cornelius, it really doesn't matter whether it is Cheney or Biden because both parties are very similar. It's not the vice president or indeed even the president who makes the ultimate decisions. We all know who the power behind the throne is and it's not the elected ones.
So, Biden, Cheney Rice, Clinton are all unimportant. Even if they were, they don't last long enough to make any permanent impact.
Interests change and so do the allies. Albanians are a flavour of the month at the moment but in a few years they [...]
Read the full comment could become another Afghanistan or Iraq. We've seen America change who they support before.
to Erin - yes, you are right in that it only takes 2 hours to drive right across Kosovo, or indeed Slovenia too, but European countries are much smaller than most US States, and this has been a fact of geography since 1777. (Poland and Germany take rather longer to drive across, as do France and Spain. You can spend 24 hours driving across Spain north-south...probably as much as Minnesota.)
to Aries mon ami and Peggy (egalement mon ami, plus ou moins) - Joe Biden is indeed uninspiring, but think - you could have Dick Cheney [...]
Read the full comment instead !
The only decent US vice-pres. was Lyndon Baines Johnson, who coined the phrase "Better to have them in side pissing out than outside pissing in". Which I suppose is as good a description of Albanian NATO membership as any....
Why is it 'critically important to this region's stability and progress' that Kosovo is independent? It seems to me that having a tiny Muslim country that everyone agrees is responsible for a great amount of Europe's drug problem is only beneficial to one entity, US/NATO. With a small country it is easy to control the government, and therefore put your bases up, and do whatever else they can't pull off elsewhere in Europe.
For OUR stability as people trying to avoid wars, I think it is counterproductive and sends a bad message to the rest of [...]
Read the full comment the world.
I am from Minnesota, but have been to Kosovo. Do you know you can drive across it in less than two hours? This needs it's own state? Give me a break, the U.S. needed an Air Force base and Greece wouldn't let them expand. And as usual the American position is 'to hell with international law.'
It takes about 8 Kosovo's to make a Minnesota and I wouldn't argue that we should have our own country.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained
Aries, I get what you are saying, but he has limited time to make his mark. He is a laughing stock in his own coutnry and a clear liability to Obama.
Serbia has endured Clinton, Bush and will endure Obama as well. The wheel is turning ever so slow for the Americans who are close to financial ruin already. Russia/China alliance is a new reality and it's only a matter of time before the mighty US will have to pull back.
So you see, Biden is not the rule of the world. [...]
Read the full comment He tries to give us the illusion that he is, but we see through the smoke and mirrors and will not be taking any notice of his proclamations.
Biden thinks he can everything!!...and everybody must listen.......go home Biden, don't come anymore to Serbia...!!!!!!!never!!
This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.
Peggy
He was appointed ruler of the world in absence of opposition
I may sound bellicose,but that is true i think, the only nation that can oppose is China but the issue is still remote.
Biden thinks he is the ruler of the world.
thanks soo much Biden,