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Sat, May 26 2012
US urges broader recognition of Kosovo following court ruling
President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Hisashi Owada, centre, Vice President, Judge Peter Tomka, left, and Judge Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, start the court's ruling on Kosovo's unilateral secession from Serbia at the Peace Palace in The Hague, July 22 2010.
Photo: Reuters
The United States Thursday hailed the ruling of the International Court of Justice, the ICJ, that Kosovo's independence declaration did not violate international law. U.S. officials are urging other countries including Serbia to recognize the former Serb province.
The United States was among the first countries to support Kosovo when it declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and it is now calling on those countries which have not yet done so to recognize the majority ethnic-Albanian state.
In a written statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the ICJ ruling "decisively" supported the U.S. view that Kosovo's break with Serbia was legal, and that it is an independent state whose territory is inviolable.
She appealed to both Kosovo and Serbia, which continues to reject the independence of its former province, to put aside their differences and work together constructively.
In anticipation of the ruling, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden telephoned Serbian President Boris Tadic to affirm U.S.-Serbian friendship and support for a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo, which retains a sizable Serb minority.
State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley said the United States knows the historical and emotional aspects of Kosovo's break from Serbia, but hopes Belgrade will take a long-term view and understand that its interests lie with further integration with Europe.
"We hope they will take the long view of this," said P.J. Crowley. "We understand this is difficult, but we think it's in Serbia's interest to work constructively with Kosovo, establish improved relations with Kosovo and others, and [they] will be rewarded if they take those steps."
Vice President Biden met in Washington Wednesday with Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, and reaffirmed U.S. support for the young country, which had been a United Nations protectorate for a decade before independence.
The White House said Biden welcomed progress in Kosovo on reforms to strengthen the rule of law and integrate minority communities, while commending Mr. Thaci's stated willingness to work with all countries including Serbia to advance regional stability.
In an appearance in Congress Thursday, Mr. Thaci said he hoped the ICJ ruling will spur broader diplomatic recognition for his country.
"I call again in the name of the government of Kosovo, the people of Kosovo, please recognize the independence of Kosovo, because it is their right, and this is the right time," said Prime Minister Thaci.
Nearly 70 countries including most European Union member states have recognized Kosovo but holdouts include China, neighboring Serbia, and Belgrade's key diplomatic ally Russia.
Moscow has recognized the self-declared independence of Georgian regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia. But State Department Spokesman Crowley insisted the ICJ ruling does not strengthen the independence claim of those two areas or that of the breakaway Moldovan region of Trans-Dniester.
"Anyone who reads the ruling will see that this was a specific judgment based on facts unique to Kosovo," he said. "We certainly don't think it applies to other circumstances."
Crowley said the court ruling removes all legal uncertainty about Kosovo's status but said it is premature to discuss withdrawing the NATO-led international security force there, KFOR.
Source: VOANews.com
The United States was among the first countries to support Kosovo when it declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and it is now calling on those countries which have not yet done so to recognize the majority ethnic-Albanian state.
In a written statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the ICJ ruling "decisively" supported the U.S. view that Kosovo's break with Serbia was legal, and that it is an independent state whose territory is inviolable.
She appealed to both Kosovo and Serbia, which continues to reject the independence of its former province, to put aside their differences and work together constructively.
In anticipation of the ruling, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden telephoned Serbian President Boris Tadic to affirm U.S.-Serbian friendship and support for a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo, which retains a sizable Serb minority.
State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley said the United States knows the historical and emotional aspects of Kosovo's break from Serbia, but hopes Belgrade will take a long-term view and understand that its interests lie with further integration with Europe.
"We hope they will take the long view of this," said P.J. Crowley. "We understand this is difficult, but we think it's in Serbia's interest to work constructively with Kosovo, establish improved relations with Kosovo and others, and [they] will be rewarded if they take those steps."
Vice President Biden met in Washington Wednesday with Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, and reaffirmed U.S. support for the young country, which had been a United Nations protectorate for a decade before independence.
The White House said Biden welcomed progress in Kosovo on reforms to strengthen the rule of law and integrate minority communities, while commending Mr. Thaci's stated willingness to work with all countries including Serbia to advance regional stability.
In an appearance in Congress Thursday, Mr. Thaci said he hoped the ICJ ruling will spur broader diplomatic recognition for his country.
"I call again in the name of the government of Kosovo, the people of Kosovo, please recognize the independence of Kosovo, because it is their right, and this is the right time," said Prime Minister Thaci.
Nearly 70 countries including most European Union member states have recognized Kosovo but holdouts include China, neighboring Serbia, and Belgrade's key diplomatic ally Russia.
Moscow has recognized the self-declared independence of Georgian regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia. But State Department Spokesman Crowley insisted the ICJ ruling does not strengthen the independence claim of those two areas or that of the breakaway Moldovan region of Trans-Dniester.
"Anyone who reads the ruling will see that this was a specific judgment based on facts unique to Kosovo," he said. "We certainly don't think it applies to other circumstances."
Crowley said the court ruling removes all legal uncertainty about Kosovo's status but said it is premature to discuss withdrawing the NATO-led international security force there, KFOR.
Source: VOANews.com
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sorry typos "hazaed" should read "hasard"
Que doit on faire de plus leur lecher le c.. par hazard ?
Anonymous Epaminondas Mon, Aug 09 2010 18:24 CET
The International Court has ruled and decided, Peggy - let us accept the due verdict of the Court. (I'm sure Serbia would have said the same had the verdict gone in its favour !)
====================
Actually they haven't ruled but gave an opinion. They only gave an opinion saying that declaring something is not illegal but the big one, stating whether Albanians had the right to secede, they hand balled that one to the UN where it is going to be [...]
Read the full comment discussed.
So you see, the court itself has said to take it to the UN.
Peggy,
Kosovo was part of the Ottoman realm before it went to Serbia.
It was already majority Albanians back in 1913 when Serbia took over it, while Bulgaria was holding the front against the Turks, as was Macedonia majority Bulgarians.
After the Entante won WWI for Serbia, it was given to her.
All mistakes eventually come home to roost.
The International Court has ruled and decided, Peggy - let us accept the due verdict of the Court. (I'm sure Serbia would have said the same had the verdict gone in its favour !)
Valeri
Sat, Jul 24 2010 18:10 CET
"What am I saying that isn't true?
Sure the Serbs should've never been allow to keep Kosovo"
======================
So who did Kosovo belong to then?
It certainly did not belong to Albania and it was NEVER a country. It was always part of Serbia. Look up any old map and see.
For your second question of what we end up with if we allow everyone to secede is, many, many mico countries unable [...]
Read the full comment to sustain themselves. Totally dependent of a bigger power. That's exactly how the US likes it.
Actually people which have wishes but they don't go over them and start to do analysis have difficulties to understand.
First - Independence of a country is a political process and not just a legal one. To explain that I'm bringing here the example of Georgian case toward Kosova. While Kosova Independence is recognized by 69 countries S.Ossetia and Abkhazia independence is recognized only by 4 countries. The difference is eminent. Everybody knows perfectly that Kosova war was the prelude of the series of wars who dissolved Yugoslavia. Everybody has seen the horrible crimes committed by [...]
Read the full comment Serbian Army and Serbian paramilitary. Everyone was disguised by shocking images they saw. No one could politically support an favorable Serbian position. The outcome was an waste recognition of Kosova Independence.
Second - The reasons who would make a case to be recognized as a genuine one. The recognition of Kosova independence sett a good precedent after neath all countries who apply genocide over one or more ethnic groups in specific circumstances cannot exist within their political borders.
The right to secede!
Kosova had clearly defined borders with Serbia. That was legally recognized. However the secession was not applied by Kosovars. It was applied by international community and legalized with resolution 1244 and signed by all UN permanent members. This resolution dismissed all Yugoslav laws, institutions and authority within Kosova borders. In other words Resolution 1244 secede Kosova from Yugoslavia. For nearly 10 years under this resolution Kosova acted as a free country and Serbian authority wasn't recognized locally and internationally. Seceded by Yugoslavia resolution 1244 didn't avoid Kosova to declare it's Independence legally despite Serb attempts to de-legitimize it.
For Serbs too it's better a bitter truth than a sweet lie.
@DA
Sure, but my point is that every one of the local majorities will have similar case to make - one of foreign domination.
The Serbs were totally over their heads building their mini-empire Yugoslavia, but so are the Turks, so are the Georgians.
I personally find it offensive that Slavic Russians have to live under Georgian rule - why am I wrong and the Albanians right?
There needs to be an international rule of law, besides might, and since law is based in precedent, this ruling just [...]
Read the full comment changed the game.
Why not Mitovica, with majority Serbs be independent from Kosovo?
Where do you stop?
Answer...
2, points
1 KOsovo was never and will never be Serb,
It was Yugoslav, and the pathetic thing from the west back than was to force Europeans under the roof of Slavs.
2, Genocidal butchers still run free in that Slavik place.
NObody likes the Serbs in the balkans, why should Kosovars be in the same boat as ultra parasitic nationalist Serbs???
Let them deal with their own thing.
Perhaps Mitrovica will now secede from Kosova!?
You can add Tibet, Catalonia, Quebec, Kurdistan, Alabama, and so many more. Ok, Alabama is on my wish list to secede. The Kurds are one group who could easily use the ruling.
What am I saying that isn't true?
Sure the Serbs should've never been allow to keep Kosovo (and FYROM) way back when, but what happen how will have much larger impact, no matter how many time the Americans repeat to themselves that it wouldn't ...
If it's good enough for the Albanian majority in Kosovo why not for the Russian majority in Ossetia or Kurdish in Kurdistan?
Give it a rest Valeri.
Kosovo was given to Yugo.
All the fair mongering has not produced nothing from Belgrade.
If they had real points in kosovo, they would have never been 10+ years on their own,
"Anyone who reads the ruling will see that this was a specific judgment based on facts unique to Kosovo," he said. "We certainly don't think it applies to other circumstances."
Wishful thinking... the cat is out of the bag.
Ossetia, Abkhazia, the Basks, the Palestinians, the Kurds, and countless others...