Thaçi confirms Kosovo will proclaim independence on Sunday

AFP via translation | February 16, 2007

[HAL9000]

via translation -

ALERT - Kosovo: Thaçi confirms a proclamation of independence Sunday

PRISTINA (Serbia) - Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi confirmed Saturday that the independence of the province in southern Serbia was proclaimed Sunday, when he said "the will of the citizens of Kosovo" will be executed.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

comparing freedoms in Russia & America. Russians had substantially more.

Any article making such an analysis would be either dishonest or lunatic.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I suspect that any reaction will be economic and not military.

If reaction will not be military, what use would the Russians have for a MILITARY base?

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

And the American public doesn't have the stomach for another war, right now.

All the more reason for the US to use methods sufficient to stop the Russians and not requiring additional troops. One thing is certain, Russia will NOT be allowed to expand its presence to the Mediterranean. A Russian Mediterranean would be considered a threat to the existence of the US, and responded to in the appropriate manner.

[blinachka]

Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi confirmed Saturday that the independence of the province in southern Serbia was proclaimed Sunday, when he said "the will of the citizens of Kosovo" will be executed.

Ugh! This man is a terrorist and murderer. And it is HE that ought to be "executed" (along with Ceku!).

[norton]

It might be a measure of America's attention span.

But there are some really odd history questions and opinions on this thread...

And, while it could just be a side effect of age - ten years does not seem so very long to me.

[GAB-1955]

“What can Serbia do as long as the armed presence of Big Brother is lodged in Kosovo to “protect” them?”

Do what they have in every other case of split up in the former Yugoslavia; have the Serbian majority areas try to secede from the new state. There is a corner of Kosovo in the northeast that is contiguous with the rest of Serbia.

In addition, they can try an economic boycott of Kosovo, refusing to provide power or other key economic goods.

Thirdly, they will downgrade diplomatic ties with each state that recognizes Kosovo.

There are other strategies that are more chancy: calling on Russian forces to protect their remaining corner of Kosovo. This is chancy because now Serbia is landlocked, and neighboring states could deny Russia overflight and ground routes to supply their army. I don’t know if Vladimir Vladmirovich wants to do the “Pristina Airlift” if he can’t get permission from Hungary or Croatia to reach Belgrade.

There are small forces in both Serbia and Kosovo who want to provoke a shooting war. I think the SFOR would squash that.

This is a bad business all around. There could have been diplomatic solutions reaching all the way back to February 1999 in Rambouillet, but one side or another — usually the Serbs, because they felt they had the most to lose — refused to compromise.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Without America bombing the hell out of Serbian elementary schools and hospitals, the Euroweenies will not have the guts to escalate.

The question is, will Jorge the Mexican follow Bubba in destroying the last strong people of Europe?

[Truth29]

"I suspect that any reaction will be economic and not military. If reaction will not be military, what use would the Russians have for a MILITARY base?"

The base could be for "show the flag" support" with no plans for real military action.

[Truth29]

"How would Russia get access to Serbia? The country has been land locked since Montenegro, which provided its only access to the Adriatic Sea, became independent in 2006."

Not all of the surrounding states are in favor of Kosovo independence. Some, like Bulgaria, for instance, might allow transit or overflight of a token Russian force to reach Serbia.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Some, like Bulgaria, for instance, might allow transit or overflight of a token Russian force to reach Serbia.

Bulgaria is a member of NATO and the European Union. Like other members of the EC it is about to lose control over its national sovereignty.

[Truth29]

Russian Mediterranean Naval Build-Up Challenges NATO Sixth Fleet Domination - Defense Update News Analysis.
Address:http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:of7y52hNEwMJ:www.defense-update.com/analysis/analysis_091207_navy.htm+russian+mediterranean+naval+base&hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF-8&strip=1

[E. Cartman]

What can Serbia do as long as the armed presence of Big Brother is lodged in Kosovo to "protect" them?

Russia is in a very good position to deal with European supporters of Kosovo independence. They have only to shut off their natural gas pipeline to Europe, and Putin is looking for an excuse for a showdown.

[E. Cartman]

I am 100% in favor of the Serbs in this matter. This is the rare time when Russia is right and we are wrong.

I've got to agree with you.

[Cold Heat]

Oh Boy......

This is akin to Taiwan declaring independence.

[E. Cartman]

All the more reason for the US to use methods sufficient to stop the Russians and not requiring additional troops. One thing is certain, Russia will NOT be allowed to expand its presence to the Mediterranean. A Russian Mediterranean would be considered a threat to the existence of the US, and responded to in the appropriate manner.

While I would normally agree with you, Russia now flush with petro-dollars [rubles?]is now in a very good position to challenge a United States strapped for cash because of our enlightened "free trade" policies.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

You are correct, the US is certainly wary of all Russian advances in the Mediterranean.

[E. Cartman]

Bulgaria is a member of NATO and the European Union. Like other members of the EC it is about to lose control over its national sovereignty.

I'm sure a rich Russia could easily persuade Bulgaria to have a change of heart. Such things are done all the time.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Europe has far more wealth than Russia, although it also has a dependency on Russian energy supplies. Russia only has oil wealth when it sells it to the EC. No energy for Europe means no wealth for Russia. The US has both more wealth and more military power than Russia. Putin does not have the horses to win militarily. If he tries to bluff his way to victory, he will be making the mistake Hitler made in 1938, and most people on the Earth will be killed.

[Curtis79]

Serbia has no choice, but to accept reality ...Kosovo is gone, at least for now. From the other side looks like Serbian Government is getting ready for long political battle for regaining the lost territory. Simple example of the Government decision to buy premium Internet location kosovo.com and invest in guerrilla marketing tells a lot. It is good news that finally is recognized that fighting with weapons is not productive and does not bring good results.

Curtis

[moonman]

Not so fast! Today's Russia does not have the intrusive government in place it had under Soviet rule. Even then, for instance, if a guy wanted to build a shed in his back yard, who would give him more hoops to jump over, the Soviet or your city government?

More ... How about a guy smoking a cigarette in a public outdoor area? A teacher hugging a student? Telling a ethnic or sexual preference joke? etc...