Kosovo declares Independence
Kosovo declares Independence,
by Nksagar @ 2008-02-17 - 22:34:09
Tens of thousands of flag waving people in central Pristina erupted in cheers as the Kosovo parliament formally voted to break from Serbia, which has vowed to never recognise the move.
"We are now an independent, free, sovereign and democratic country," announced Kosovo parliament speaker Jakup Krasniqi.
But in a bid to ease tensions with its neighbour, the declaration insisted that the world's newest state of two million people would be "dedicated to peace and stability."
While the United States and European Union are quickly expected to recognise the new state, Serbia has been given strong support by Russia which quickly condemned the move and demanded an urgent UN Security Council meeting today.
Serbia's President Boris Tadic said his country would never accept an independent Kosovo.
"Serbia has reacted and will react with all peaceful, diplomatic and legal means to annul this act committed by Kosovo's institutions," Tadic said in a statement.
Kosovo police had to stop several hundred former Serbian army reservists veterans of the 1998-99 Kosovo war from crossing into the territory ahead of the independence declaration.
The group, dressed in military uniforms, broke through a Serbian police cordon at the Merdare crossing before being held back.
On the eve of the declaration, the NATO-led peacekeeping Kosovo Force with 17,000 troops from 34 nations said it would intervene robustly to prevent any inter-ethnic violence.
Independence brings down the curtain on the long and brutal break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s that followed the demise of communism in Europe and witnessed the continent's worst atrocities since World War II.
About 10,000 people died in the 1998-1999 war as Serb forces tried to put down ethnic Albanian separatists.
A NATO air war against late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic halted the conflict and Kosovo has since been under UN administration.
"We've been waiting for this day for such a long time," said Sherife Bajrami, a Pristina doctor and mother of four.
"We'll celebrate with dignity, with respect for minorities, for all to live happily in the land of Kosovo."
The declaration started a 120-day transition period and the deployment of a 2,000-strong European Union police and judicial team to help the transition.
The European Union is split over independence however. Britain, France, Germany and Italy are expected to officially give recognition on Monday.
Spain said it would not recognise Kosovo because of fears of strengthening independence calls in its Basque region.
Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria also opposed independence for Kosovo.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus warned today Kosovo's independence could unleash a domino affect in Europe.
by Nksagar @ 2008-02-17 - 22:34:09
Tens of thousands of flag waving people in central Pristina erupted in cheers as the Kosovo parliament formally voted to break from Serbia, which has vowed to never recognise the move.
"We are now an independent, free, sovereign and democratic country," announced Kosovo parliament speaker Jakup Krasniqi.
But in a bid to ease tensions with its neighbour, the declaration insisted that the world's newest state of two million people would be "dedicated to peace and stability."
While the United States and European Union are quickly expected to recognise the new state, Serbia has been given strong support by Russia which quickly condemned the move and demanded an urgent UN Security Council meeting today.
Serbia's President Boris Tadic said his country would never accept an independent Kosovo.
"Serbia has reacted and will react with all peaceful, diplomatic and legal means to annul this act committed by Kosovo's institutions," Tadic said in a statement.
Kosovo police had to stop several hundred former Serbian army reservists veterans of the 1998-99 Kosovo war from crossing into the territory ahead of the independence declaration.
The group, dressed in military uniforms, broke through a Serbian police cordon at the Merdare crossing before being held back.
On the eve of the declaration, the NATO-led peacekeeping Kosovo Force with 17,000 troops from 34 nations said it would intervene robustly to prevent any inter-ethnic violence.
Independence brings down the curtain on the long and brutal break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s that followed the demise of communism in Europe and witnessed the continent's worst atrocities since World War II.
About 10,000 people died in the 1998-1999 war as Serb forces tried to put down ethnic Albanian separatists.
A NATO air war against late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic halted the conflict and Kosovo has since been under UN administration.
"We've been waiting for this day for such a long time," said Sherife Bajrami, a Pristina doctor and mother of four.
"We'll celebrate with dignity, with respect for minorities, for all to live happily in the land of Kosovo."
The declaration started a 120-day transition period and the deployment of a 2,000-strong European Union police and judicial team to help the transition.
The European Union is split over independence however. Britain, France, Germany and Italy are expected to officially give recognition on Monday.
Spain said it would not recognise Kosovo because of fears of strengthening independence calls in its Basque region.
Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria also opposed independence for Kosovo.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus warned today Kosovo's independence could unleash a domino affect in Europe.
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