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Kosovo receives recognition boost
The governments of Montenegro and Macedonia have formally recognised Kosovo as independent following its secession from Serbia in February. The move leaves Bosnia-Hercegovina as the only component republic of former Yugoslavia withholding recognition.
Serbia reacted angrily to Montenegro's decision saying it jeopardised regional stability, and announced it was expelling the Montenegrin ambassador. Nearly 50 countries have recognised Kosovo's independence so far. Macedonia's Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said his government approved the move after parliament adopted a resolution by an overwhelming majority to make the recommendation. Montenegro and Serbia made up a single state until a referendum in 2006. Montenegro hopes to become a future member of the EU and Nato; its foreign minister said the decision was guided by his county's national interests and that an independent Kosovo was a reality.
The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Pristina says that recognition by its neighbours brings both psychological and practical trading benefits for Kosovo.
The small country of only two million inhabitants, of which 90% are Albanian, has often appeared isolated in the western Balkans, our correspondent says.
Serbian's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic described the decision to eject Montenegro's ambassador from the country as "proportionate". He told the state news agency, Tanjug, that "regional countries have special responsibility in preserving peace and stability in the Balkans".
Earlier, Serbia said it was reinstating its ambassadors to the US and other Western nations that had angered it by recognising Kosovo's independence. Serbia recalled many of its ambassadors in February from countries that backed Kosovo's unilateral declaration - a move that Serbia has condemned as illegal. In a statement, the Serb government said the decision was made because of "continued diplomatic activity to preserve Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty". It comes amid a week of both defeats and victories for Kosovan diplomacy.
On Wednesday, a substantial majority at the UN General Assembly agreed to allow Serbia to challenge the legality of Kosovan independence at the International Court of Justice. It followed an earlier announcement by Portugal that it had recognised Pristina. The governments of Montenegro and Macedonia have formally recognised Kosovo as independent following its secession from Serbia in Febr... more -
No moderate, no realist, McCain the neocon
Matt Welch, of Reason.com, provides a history of McCain and his move to the militant neocons. Part 4
See Part 1 at: http://current.com/items/89269364_palin_a_bold_move_or_...
See Part 2 at: http://current.com/items/89274547_mccain_and_the_indepe...
See Part 3 at: http://current.com/items/89276276_the_myth_of_mccain Matt Welch, of Reason.com, provides a history of McCain and his move to the militant neocons. Part 4 ... more -
Kosovo Serbs launch new assembly
Serbs in Kosovo have inaugurated their own assembly set up in defiance of the majority ethnic Albanian government and the United Nations.
The gathering was held in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica. Forty-five members were elected in May during Serbia's general and municipal elections - a ballot which the UN and Kosovo's government said was illegal.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanians declared independence from Serbia in February, despite Serb and Russian opposition.
Kosovo has been recognised by 43 states, including the United States and most European Union nations - but Belgrade and Moscow say the move was illegal under international law. Serbs in Kosovo have inaugurated their own assembly set up in defiance of the majority ethnic Albanian government and the United Natio... more -
UN hands over running of Kosovo
A new constitution has come into force in Kosovo, after the territory declared independence from Serbia in February.
Majority ethnic Albanian authorities will take over much of the running of the disputed territory from the UN.
The EU is to take on a supervisory role replacing the UN mission, but Russia has blocked the formal handover saying the move is illegal.
Security is high in the divided town of Mitrovica after a gunman attacked a police station on Saturday. The unidentified attacker was wounded along with a policeman in the incident, police said. It was not immediately clear in which part of the town the shooting took place.
Under the new constitution, which came into force at midnight on Sunday, Kosovo's government assumes many of the powers held up until now by the UN. A new constitution has come into force in Kosovo, after the territory declared independence from Serbia in February. ... more -
Armed attack at Kosovo PM's home
Security guards at the home of Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci have exchanged fire with at least one intruder, police in Pristina say.
Police said one person was seen trying to enter the house and shooting broke out when the intruder was challenged. Mr Thaci was not at home at the time, but his wife and son were present but unhurt.
The deputy prime minister condemned the incident as an "attack against the rule of law in Kosovo". The attackers escaped but at least one was believed to have been injured as traces of blood were found.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority declared independence from Serbia in February, but Belgrade, backed by Moscow, has vehemently opposed the move. Relations between ethnic Albanian parties in Kosovo have also been plagued by tensions and rivalry. Security guards at the home of Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci have exchanged fire with at least one intruder, police in Pri... more -
Deadlock Over Kosovo
Ethnic Albanian authorities in Priština say that their new constitution will take effect in the province's entire territory, while the EU intends to deploy its own "EULEX" mission there. However, this mission is highly controversial and not based on any UN Security Council decision. At the same time, there has been no decision to withdraw the current UN mission, UNMIK, while it seems that EULEX will be postponed.
For this reason, warnings have been sent out that such a situation can become very complicated and dangerous, including some kind of a "radical" expression of dissatisfaction, both from the ethnic Albanians who want UNMIK to leave, and the Serbs who are rejecting the self-proclaimed authorities in Priština.
The European Union and the United Nations are very worried, but remain unable to agree on how to act in Kosovo.
How much longer will this take? It's already been 619 years since the original Battle of Kosovo... Ethnic Albanian authorities in Priština say that their new constitution will take effect in the province's entire territory, whil... more -
HandiKOS
ITA e ENG, subtitled
A quick review about Halit Ferizi's job in Kosova through the association he founded to support people with disabilities.
Uno scorcio sul lavoro di Halit Ferizi e della associazione da lui fondata per dare supporto alle persone disabili in Kosovo. ITA e ENG, subtitled ... more -
CORRIDOIO OTTO
VIAGGIO SULLE MONTAGNE ALBANESI AL CONFINE CON IL kOSOVO.
...voglio sapere chi mi separa da una terra impazzita
e che fine faranno la mia Ombra oltre l'acqua
la pioggia che cade nella pioggia
e gli Dèi fra gli alberi
in fila accanto al freddo e al destino
attendo che mi chiamino all'alba dalle pietre
volti pallidi di voci arrochite
il mo nome è una linea che divide
la luce dall'oscurità
il mio corpo misura tra la sabbia e il cielo
(Versi tratti da "Stimmate" del poeta albanese Gezim Haidari) VIAGGIO SULLE MONTAGNE ALBANESI AL CONFINE CON IL kOSOVO. ...voglio sapere chi mi separa da una terra impazzita ... more -
Kosovo: Free at Last
Kosovas Son-in-Law, an American immigrant who has built his new life and family in Kosova, bears witness to the historic events surrounding Kosovas declaration of independence. This is an Albanian perspective on this controversial issue. Kosovas Son-in-Law, an American immigrant who has built his new life and family in Kosova, bears witness to the historic events surro... more
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Kosovan Cadet // Comment Picked for TV
Thanks to NoShow for his comment on "Kosovan Cadet." Check what he has to say then watch the pod here: http://current.com/items/88863313_kosovan_cadet Thanks to NoShow for his comment on "Kosovan Cadet." Check what he has to say then watch the pod here: http://current.com/i... more
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Filling the Void
Amanda Stapp's husband Jason, a National Guardsmen, will soon be deployed to Kosovo. Amanda found out about Flatdaddies.com, where she ordered a cardboard cut-out of her husband to fill the void while he's away. Everything Amanda does with "Flat Jason" is documented in a blog she started, allowing the real Jason to see.
To check out Amanda's blog, go to: http://www.ayeartogetherapart.blogspot.com Amanda Stapp's husband Jason, a National Guardsmen, will soon be deployed to Kosovo. Amanda found out about Flatdaddies.com, wher... more -
Kosovo athletes to compete under national flag
Kosovo looks forward to competing under its own national flag.
Kosovo is cementing its declared independence with plans to play in an international table tennis competition under the name Kosovo.
After only one week of rocky controversial independence from Serbia, a Kosovan men and women's team will attempt to make history by proudly competing in division four of the Table Tennis World Championships under the new Kosovo national flag.
Kosovo has played in five individual and team world championships since 2003 when the sport's governing body, the International Table Tennis Federation, recognized Kosovo as a sporting federation.
Fortunately, Kosovo's team will not face Serbia during the week-long competition, as the estranged party is competing in division one with China and 22 other powerful nations.
*leave a webcam comment!* Kosovo looks forward to competing under its own national flag. ... more -
Serbia: "We'll govern ethnic Serb areas in Kosovo"
It has been reported that Serbia has offered to govern its own 'ethnic areas' in Kosovo, according to a report by senior diplomatic sources in a plan that would effectively partition the newly independent state.
Speaking over the weekend, Serbia's Minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic, put forward the proposal but was rejected by the United Nations administrators of Kosovo which has a 90 percent Albanian majority.
"The proposal's goal seems to be the partition of Kosovo, literally for Serbia to govern in the enclaves," one source told Reuters. Another source in the U.N. mission UNMIK said this would be "a ratification of partition".
Serbia's President, Boris Tadic, explained that Serbia will never agree to Kosovo's independence, and talks are the only way to reach a compromise, but his country will continue its struggle to reclaim Kosovo peacefully. It has been reported that Serbia has offered to govern its own 'ethnic areas' in Kosovo, according to a report by senior dip... more -
UN, NATO forces clash with Serbs in Kosovo
The UN Police and NATO peacekeepers attempted to take back a UN courthouse that has been occupied by Serbs since Friday. The plan ended in failure and the withdrawal of UN police from the vicinity. The town of Mitrovica became the latest flashpoint in conflict over Kosovo’s declaration of independence.
Check out more on this developing story at the associated link. The UN Police and NATO peacekeepers attempted to take back a UN courthouse that has been occupied by Serbs since Friday. The plan ende... more -
International security forced to pull out of Kosovo
Gunfire has been heard in a Kosovo town during riots by Serbs that have forced international security forces to pull out.
The rioting follows a recent raid on a Kosovan courthouse which had been overrun by Serbs protesting over Kosovo's declaration of independence.
http://current.com/items/88869730_kosovo_courthouse_sto... Gunfire has been heard in a Kosovo town during riots by Serbs that have forced international security forces to pull out. ... more -
Kosovo courthouse stormed by UN police
It is being reported that U.N. special police backed by NATO troops have stormed a U.N. courthouse in northern Kosovo, removing Serb demonstrators who have occupied the building since last week in a protest over Kosovo's recent declaration of independence.
According to reports, the Kosovo Serbs took over the U.N. court last Friday amid anger over Kosovo's declaration of independence. Dozens of Serb demonstrators were arrested after groups surrounded the building and hurled stones in the early Monday morning action by about 100 U.N. policemen and NATO troops. It is being reported that U.N. special police backed by NATO troops have stormed a U.N. courthouse in northern Kosovo, removing Serb d... more -
Serbs Storm UN Court in Kosovo
The independence of Kosovo from Serbia is clearly far from behind a resolved issue. Today, hundreds of Serbs stormed the United Nations courthouse in Kosovo and after taking control of the site, raised the Serbian flag.
Read more on this at the associated link above... The independence of Kosovo from Serbia is clearly far from behind a resolved issue. Today, hundreds of Serbs stormed the United Natio... more -
Kosovan Cadet
Now that Kosovo has declared its independence from Serbia to become the Worlds newest country, plans by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari envisage a new Kosovan security force. Cadets are being trained at a new academy based at Kosvos Protection Corps Training Centre. Arbresha Rrahmani, the first female cadet at the academy, tells us about her hopes for Kosovo's future. Now that Kosovo has declared its independence from Serbia to become the Worlds newest country, plans by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari env... more
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Serbia ruling coalition collapses as PM quits
'A government that has no united policy cannot function, of course, and this is the end of the government. That means that we have to give the mandate back to the people'. These were the words of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica today, after dissolving a coalition too divided over the loss of Kosovo to continue to govern.
His cabinet rejected closer ties with the European Union in the wake of Kosovo's declaration of independence. Kostunica said he would recommend an election in May, to allow voters to decide the way forward.
What is this going to mean? 'A government that has no united policy cannot function, of course, and this is the end of the government. That means that we ha... more -
Putin's successor denounces Kosovo as aides warn of war
“With Kosovo now the gun has been cocked and no one knows when and where the shot will ring out,” said Anatoly Safonov, Putin’s envoy for international cooperation in combating terrorism and organized crime.
Russia is letting the world know exactly how they feel about Kosovo’s independence. And they are also making clear their displeasure over it. Read more about this on the associated link, it's very interesting... “With Kosovo now the gun has been cocked and no one knows when and where the shot will ring out,” said Anatoly Safonov, Putin’s envoy ... more
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