Kosovo declares independence, sabre rattling in Serbia & Russia...

**PA Rifleman** · February 17th, 2008, 03:55 PM

Here's to hoping we aren't repeating 1913 all over again...

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_7620326.htm

Kosovo's proclaimed independence provokes mixed responses from international community

www.chinaview.cn

2008-02-18 01:58:46

Print
BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Kosovo's official declaration of independence on Sunday has immediately provoked mixed feelings and responses from various countries, especially Serbia and Albania.
Serbian President Boris Tadic said after the declaration that Serbia will never recognize the independence of Kosovo, and will seek legal and diplomatic means to annul the declaration.
"Serbia will never recognize the independence of 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.
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica also condemned Kosovo as a "false state" minutes after its mainly ethnic-Albanian province declared independence.
"As long as the Serb people exist, Kosovo will be Serbia," he said.
Russia condemned Kosovo's proclamation, and demanded an urgent UN Security Council meeting on the issue, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7136233.stm

'Early independence' for Kosovo

Nato troops are stationed around Kosovo to protect Serbian enclaves

Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia "much earlier" than next May, the Kosovo Albanian government says. The statement came as a UN deadline for agreement on the future of the province expired. Months of talks had failed to break the deadlock.
EU nations failed to adopt a joint stance on whether to recognise independence at talks on Monday.
Serbia's president says he wants an international court to decide if the move to independence would be legal.
Boris Tadic said he wanted the UN Security Council to ask the International Court of Justice to examine the case.
Serbia has previously pledged to use all peaceful means to prevent Kosovo declaring independence - and it now seems the legal side of that campaign has begun, says the BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade.

(see URL link for remainder or article)

Kosovars waving US Flags

**phillyd2** · February 17th, 2008, 05:01 PM

Hard to beleive its really 2008. I wish them luck.

**SBonepa** · February 17th, 2008, 05:27 PM

Just when you thought that whole mess was over here we go again. Can you imagine that Florida or Texas or Kalifornia wanted to declare independence because an ethic minority was concentrated there, I don't think that would go over very well here, at least that's what me thinks.

SB

**PA Rifleman** · February 17th, 2008, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by SBonepa

Can you imagine that Florida or Texas or Kalifornia wanted to declare independence because an ethic minority was concentrated there, I don't think that would go over very well here, at least that's what me thinks.

SB

Particularly an Islamic state, which is what Kosovo is. Bush is already supporting their independence.

**SBonepa** · February 17th, 2008, 07:10 PM

That always seems to be conveniently omitted both now and during the war. Just what the world needs, another Islamist state.

SB

**phillyd2** · February 17th, 2008, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by PA Rifleman

Bush is already supporting their independence.

Will the US officially recognize them? If so Putin will have a cow

**SBonepa** · February 17th, 2008, 07:24 PM

We will probably do whatever is not in our best interest.

SB

**PA Rifleman** · February 17th, 2008, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by phillyd2

Will the US officially recognize them? If so Putin will have a cow

Yes, we will probably recognize them.

Yes, Putin is PO'ed, to put it mildly.

I'm curious why the shooting hasn't started yet. KFOR must really have things locked down.