Posted on 06/23/2008 1:48:02 PM PDT by Bokababe
Pristina _ Spain is lobbying against Kosovo's independence in the countries of Latin America, a former British Minister for Europe says.
In a comment in today's Independent newspaper, published in London, Denis Macshane writes that “key European Union nations like Spain, Greece, Romania and Slovakia weaken the unity of Europe by refusing to recognise Kosovo”.
“Greece blocks Macedonia’s EU and NATO ambitions, while Spain lobbies in Latin America against recognition of Kosovo”, writes MacShane, adding that “this bodes ill for the notion that a united EU diplomacy of weight can develop”.
MacShane outlined some of the recent developments that have caused divisions in Europe, such as the Irish “No” to the Lisbon Treaty or Kosovo’s partial recognition and he suggests that Europe needs to speak with one voice.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, after nine years of administration under the United Nations and after two years of internationally-mediated talks with Belgrade, which failed to produce a mutual agreement.
Despite the Russian and Serbian opposition, the new statehood of Kosovo was recognised by the United States and a majority of the EU members, but others refuse or hesitate to take the same step.
Countries like Romania and Slovakia fear that recognition of Kosovo may encourage the separatist moves of ethnic minorities in their countries, whereas Spain is concerned about the implications independence has on the status of Catalonia and its Basque country.
MacShane maintained that the bloc remains divided vis-à-vis Russia on certain issues such as Iran, the Balkans or other energy policies and emphasised the fact that the involvement of the Untied States in many issues has influenced many decisions or occurrences in Europe.
Interesante.
But predictable. Think "the Basques", and you have your answer to why...
the infowarrior
Kosovo should be given back to Serbia, let them deal with it.
“...“this bodes ill for the notion that a united EU diplomacy of weight can develop”.”
Easy solution. Europe can agree to strangle FYROM and that little Mohammedan Caliban Kosovo in their little national cribs.
Interesting article on FRY Macedonia's elections
...."The situation has been made even more delicate by virtue of the declaration of independence in neighboring Kosovo. The Albanians of Macedonia are pushing for rapid recognition of Kosovo, whereas the leaders of the parties of the Macedonian majority are hesitating. Many observers fear that if the Serb-populated northern part of Kosovo declares its independence in turn and the existing de facto partition of the province is thereby consecrated, the Albanian question could return to the agenda in Macedonia as well.
Several young (Albanian) men are standing around a black limousine in front of a DPA-affiliated bar in Tetovo. They have pistols under their t-shirts. Asked if they are for all ethnic Albanians being united within a single state, they shake their heads. Now that Kosovo is independent, they say, that is no longer necessary. "It's much better like this," one of them says: "Now, we have three states."
So they can vote three times in the Eurovision song contest.
Regarding the Spaniards living in the Basque region of Spain, the Spanish Constitution endows them with the right of having a parliament, so they have just to call it and vote for independence -Kosovo style- whenever they want.
But later, don’t be surprised if the six million Muslims in southern France create their own ETA terror group and ask for the same. Sincerely, I wouldn’t mind, I just want to stop contributing to pay the deficit of the Basque branch of the Spanish social security, to stop paying energy giant Iberdrola and banking giant BBVA -both based in the Basque region- and to eliminate the inequality of the Basque region’s taxation system, which leaves the rest of Spaniards as second class citizens; whilst those nationalists and international allies keep complaining about their situation.
.... and in the UN, and in the EU if they ever get there.
"Regarding the Spaniards living in the Basque region of Spain, the Spanish Constitution endows them with the right of having a parliament, so they have just to call it and vote for independence -Kosovo style- whenever they want."
So why haven't they? I'm curious.
Just read the second paragraph.
There is no problem like the “Basque problem”: one of the Spain’s wealthiest regions “struggling” for independence.
Or maybe they simply want to keep a predominant role in Spain, the predominant role that when Franco’s dictatorship ended, was at stake since the census of the Basque region is just two million before the Spain’s 36 million?
So then is it just spin when the MSM says that the reason that Spain won’t recognize Kosovo independence is due to its concerns over “the Basque problem”?
I would consider a move to Catalonia if they ever declared independence and the sh-t hit the fan here in the states. Unfortunately, AC Catalonia is being inundated with Latin America (non-Catalan speaking) immigrants, to say nothing of the descendants of Andalucians and Murcians who migrated there in decades past.
Not just, but mainly. Recognizing Kosovo independence now might strength terror group ETA’s position in a probable negotitation.
On the other hand, Spanish troops are deployed in Kosovo, therefore they are committed in its independence.
It is a two-hand game.
Check that each time the Basque Nationalist Party radicalizes its position, it loses support: their voters want to be special inside Spain, which guarantees them economic privileges, but not independent.
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