The United Nations is getting closer to developing full independence for Kosovo from Serbia. The New York Timesreports that a U.N. vote might happen within a few months to create an independent Kosovo of nearly 2 million Albanian Muslims.
Hopefully UN Security Council will finally realize that Kosovo independence is a single possible solution to keep stability in the Balkan. Supervised independence as a transitional modality towards full Kosovo independence is reasonable approach that will ensure international community and help those concerned understand that Kosovo is heading towards real democratic state where all citizens will have equal rights and live peacefully. At least, there is clear political will – to do so.
With the support of NATO and new EU Mission presence, good political will of Kosovans can easily become e reality. But, the opposite might happen if Kosovo future status is not clearly articulated and if the time table is not set. People need to know when transitional modalities named “Supervised independence” will end, or at least they need to know under which conditions Kosovo will become fully sovereign and independent state.
UN should not fear Serbia and it must distinguish Kosovo Serbs from Serbia as a state. Serbia as a state is not anymore legitimate actor to be asked about the future of the people it has suppressed so badly in the past. In other hand, the Kosovo Serbs are a different story. It is Kosovo itself that must ensure that their rights are equal with those of others and that they have not reasons to fear of being citizens of newest European state. How things are going right now, Kosovo institutions has already put in place legal and institutional mechanisms to ensure full Serbs participation and representation in Kosovo central and local government. In many aspects the rules of positive discrimination have been applied. So opportunities are there and now it is the time to work in building the confidence of the people, being they Serbs, Turks, Roma or Albanians that Kosovo must move ahead towards real, substantial and functional democratic state.
Until now, Kosovo government did not oppose further International Community presence, because it is aware that it’s biggest concern is the Kosovo Serb minority – still influenced largely by Belgrade policy; than the rule and law as well as stability in the region. Hand in hand with Kosovo government, new EU mission and NATO will oversee processes regarding this issue and will make sure that things will not go in wrong direction. It has been huge psychological, physical and financial effort to let Kosovo fail at this point.
The worse scenario would be if Kosovo independence will be questioned still by UN or whoever else. Kosovo was quite a long time a hostage of Serbia and Belgrade reactions! The loss was huge, but that is the past. Today, Kosovo has to move ahead: to think of strengthening democracy, development, and sustainable economy. Meanwhile international community should change the approach. When deciding for Kosovo it should not use Serbia as a point of reference. The world was many years present in Kosovo to realize that it has its own path, completely independent from one that Serbia has. They will one day meet somewhere in EU Parliament seats, alongside with other neighbor states…Kosovo on that time will not be like a women kept hostage because the divorce will belong to the history – possibly marked as June 1-st, 2007.
It’s on UN to do the final cut with new Resolution on the place. Independence will help Kosovo people to concentrate on development that has been left aside for many years because of all what happened in the past.
Kosovo is part of Serbia. The Serbs got a raw deal. The Serbians have all their historic sites in Kosovo and it is the birthplace of the Serbian people.
The Kosovar Albanians should stop persecuting Serbian Christians.
Rollie
January 30, 2007 at 6:15 am
(3) Johnny says:
Hi Evliana, nice articulation on Kosovo’s road to independence. As for Rollie, go back to your drunken days in the bar rooms of the UK -your pathetic fool! Wish Kosovo and all its people a happy future. Word of advice – watch the corruption of your government or independence will mean nothing.
God Bless!
January 31, 2007 at 10:32 am
(4) ejup says:
Dear Rollie Kenmore
Montenegro was part of serbia as well. Where it is now?
January 31, 2007 at 8:23 pm
(5) Lirika says:
I don’t know why are the people relating everything to the past? Who cares about the religion or what has happen hundred of centuries ago! We all should focus on what’s in out best interests right now. Live and let live.
February 2, 2007 at 11:26 am
(6) Akis says:
Just to inform Mr. Ejup, Montenegro has never been a part of Serbia, than a part of one STATE COMMUNITY as Scotland and England are in the UK. Scotland is not a part of England, isn t it??
February 2, 2007 at 5:59 pm
(7) SSpin says:
I live in Serbia…
@ejup
Like Akis says, Montenegro never was part of Serbia!
Kosovo is part of Serbia, and always was that. Serbian people die for that teritory…
Only insane man, will say that ( now ) it need to be indepedent country.
February 3, 2007 at 12:22 pm
(8) Jackie says:
Ok, this is outrageous. First of all, you cannot put history apart even though people would like so, but the independence of Kosovo will only create more danger to the region meaning Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo itself, for it has always been Serbia and the serbs were FORCED to leave because of the albanian nationalist and terrorist activites backedup by their relatives from abroad. Second this is just an outreach towards the dream of albanians for their Great Albania, were they want to join Albania with western Macedonia, part of Monetengro and Kosovo (everybody knows about this!!!)that they have already constructed in the past a long time ago, and are active through their terrorist organizatons such as ONA, ANA, UCK ect. People who DO NOT or have not lived in that region i think SHOULD not comment for they have no idea how their strategy works. Thirdly, Kosovo and the whole region needs to go a long way in terms of democracy and not to mention the economic strengh that lacks in Kosovo, due to the fact that the economy is based on illegal trafficking of all sorts, black market ect. Most of the industries and mining also have been ruined and it doesn’t have a solid basis for economic independence.
UN, NATO and EU, are only interested in creating countries that they can profit from!
February 6, 2007 at 3:26 pm
(9) Misho says:
Hi. I’m from Bulgaria, a country near by. I think the independence of Kosovo is silly… How could UN, NATO and EU support such madness. Albanians could claim everything, but asking for independence – what’s the point of having another small and economically backword country on the penninsula? Most of all of people who don’t go to school and prefer suaside bombing missions to peaceful discussion?
I can’t imagine a situation where Indians want part of UK, Algerians part of France… It’s not right to divide Serbia, just because “Great Nations” don’t mind. Unfortunately they can do that, as they did with Bulgaria in 1878.
February 7, 2007 at 5:51 pm
(10) veronika says:
Dear all,
Kosovo will be independent country. It is true that Serbia use to run this place… by force.
To remind you:
a) Albanians consist of three religions: muslim, catholic & orthodox
b)they outnumber the Serbs in Kosovo (9 to 1)and that was always the case
c) during 1998/1999 only – more than 13 thousand Albanians where killed, most of them civilians, children & women
Misha, to refresh your memory, they were killed by dictatorial Milosevic regime. To increase your knowledge: 97 percent of the Kosovo youth are included in secondary school, most of them are well educated and multilingual. I can ensure you that none of them would mix up such a basic things such as “indians and UK” or “Algerians and France”. Poor Misha, I hope that you will have a chance sometimes to pass exam of history. With this level of the knowledge in Kosovo you would be – a lost case. And by the way: why are you so nervous and since when you became expert on economy!!
God forgive those who hate, they don’t know what they are doing. Remind them that we are all the same, that “No nation – is terrorist nation” , that human blidnees cost us many lives and that no one can deprive the rest of choosing with who and how they want to live. Albanians where suppressed so many years .If nothing they finally learned a lesson that supression does not go with the same response. This is why they are trying to go ahead and to forget the past. They already accepted that minorities in independent Kosovo will never face what Albanians faced in the past. Thanks god that Kosovo has only few “Misha” who can hate blindly and with no reason somebody who they don’t know or no nothing about them.
February 9, 2007 at 5:55 pm
(11) Daniel says:
Dear Veronika, kosovo will not be independent you should read articles about this on the internet. The Russians will put in their VETO unless UN will be able to provide a solution that is ok both for Belgrade and Pristina.The fact that the albanians outnumber serbs in kosovo has nothing to do with it, in some areas in usa the hispanic outnumber the caucasian americans in some areas the chinese outnumber them, does it mean that they have the right to form an independent country?The albanians outnumber the serbs due to years and years of torturing,killing and forcing serbians to leave their homes until Milosevic put an end to it 1998 remember what he told the serbs at his speech at kosovo polje, niko nesme da vas bije (no one has the right to hit you)because that was exactly what was happening to the serbs in kosovo.Another reason is that most of the albanian familys consists of more than 20 members it is very usual that albanians have 14-15 children. Kosovo has never been a part of albania thats a fact it has always belonged to serbia thats another fact and least but not last the un resolution 1244 states that no sovereign state should be forced to give up a part of its territory nor to change its borders.
February 10, 2007 at 9:36 pm
(12) Rollie Kenmore says:
Why should the Albanians in Kosovo be rewarded? Should they be rewarded for kicking out thousands of Serbs? Burning Serbian monasteries? Destroying Serbian churches? Being allied with Arab jihadis?
I say that Serbia should retain Kosovo. Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia and Albanians should never control it.
Don’t reward bad behavior.
Rollie
February 10, 2007 at 9:42 pm
(13) Rollie Kenmore says:
Veronika:
Do you think it is right for some Albanian brigands to kick out thousands of Serbs from Kosovo? Kosovo is the birthplace of the Serb nation.
You cannot uproot a people. Kosovo is a multinational state. It seems when Serbs are uprooted, as they were by the Fascist Tudjman in the Krajina in 1994, that was acceptable. It seems when thousands of Serbs are uprooted in Kosovo, that is acceptable.
Kosovo should be divided, in my opinion. All the Serbs who were kicked out of Kosovo should be allowed to return.
Rollie
February 18, 2007 at 8:40 am
(14) Dr.K says:
When a group od mad people starts wiping out a religion or ethnic minority and whole world accept this act as genocide then how can a senceable person think that the same people will not do such cruel act again.Kosovo must be given independence i think.
February 18, 2007 at 8:40 am
(15) Dr.K says:
When a group of mad people starts wiping out a religion or ethnic minority and whole world accept this act as genocide then how can a senceable person think that the same people will not do such cruel act again.Kosovo must be given independence i think.
February 18, 2007 at 5:24 pm
(16) Laurana says:
Destinies of thousands of people are decided between a few very powerful people in some private rooms with the best food and drinks displayed on the tables,beeing entertained by preety women in seductive dresses satisfying their basic instintcs,far away from the problems.
Serbian mistake was the trust in Milosevics,so called nationalisam.What he really did was complete distruction and humiliation of his own people.
Albanians,Croats,Bosnians should actually celebrate him as a hero because during his reign Serbs actually had to leave their lands,properties,lives in every single area cought by war,and thats what every of those nations wanted.They played dirty and Serbs counted on their history and understanding of it’s allies and positive role they had in every war.
I trully hope so that Kosovo won’t be completely separated from Serbia for one siple reason,and that’s just to piss albanians off.History is something that’s not of use in todays world,it’s completely irrelevant to the Map makers.
I would like to express my admiration to the strength and pride of a few Serbs who dcided to stay on Kosovo and who still believe and fight for something that even “mighty” Belgrade had given up long time ago.
The world knows who albanians really are and I hope justice will come out before another misery strikes Balkans.
If I was of any influence,thank God i’m not,albanians wouldn’t even have country called albania simply because they didn’t desirve it.
And people please don’t trust Russians.They also said that they will put VETO on bombing 1999!!!They’ll do whatever is in their interest at that moment and I’m affraid that Serbs won’t benefit from it.
Serbs have to realise that this is modern world and that battles needs to be won on the telly not at the battelfield,unfortunately.
February 22, 2007 at 4:54 pm
(17) Ajla says:
ALL OF YOU THAT ARE SAYING THAT KOSOVO SHOULD NOT BE INDEPENDENT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT… DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW EVIL THE SERBIAN PEOPLE TREATED NOT ONLY ALBANIANS, BUT CROATIANS AND MOST OF ALL BOSNIANS SERBIAN PEOPLE SLAUGHTERED PEOPLE LIKE ANIMALS FOR YEARS.. FOR WHAT REASON? JUST BECAUSE OF RELIGION AND THEIR GREED FOR TERRITORY…ITS UNBELIEVEABLE THAT ANYONE WOULD EXPECT KOSOVO TO HAVE TO BE CALLED SERBIA WHEN SERBIA KILLED THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE THERE.. KOSOVO DESERVES INDEPENDENCE AND THATS IT. I AM A 100 PERCENT SURE THAT IT WILL GET IT SOON!
February 27, 2007 at 8:16 am
(18) Daniel says:
To Ajla. I dont understan how u can claim that kosovo should be independent, first, kosovo has never been albanian territory nor has it ever belonged to Albania it has always been serbian territory.The kosovo albanians tortured and killed thousands of serbs before milosevic 1998 said enough is enough and started to bring vengeance, hundreds of churches and anciend monasteries were burned to the ground by the albanians.The only reason that the albanians are a majority in kosovo is that they breed like rabbits, most of the albanian families has 25 or more members it is very common that the albanians have at least 10 children.The whole world knows that the albanians are the worst criminals they are the biggest heroin suppliers to the rest of europe, enormous amounts of drugs flow into europe and the albanians are the ones that are most responsible for it, in every country wherever they live in europe they are known as drug dealers, murderers and criminals while other people from the former yugoslavia are known as honorable, hard working people.If kosovo gets independence we will see a neverending flow of drugs and weapons in to the rest of europe, is that what we really need?You dont have any right to comment about the war in yugoslavia, first you should know that it was the bosnian serbs that fought in bosnia not serbian serbs and second atrocities were committed by all sides, actually the worst war crimes were committed by muslim mujahedeens that came from arab countries to help alija, why do you think that fikret abdics muslim army fought their own people?Read a little bit more before you make stupid comments like that.The war had nothing to do nor with religion or with greed for territory like u mention I was born in jugoslavija and I have lived here all my life I know much more about the war than you do.Serbs in bosnia defended their people and their territory cause the muslims wanted to create an islamic country in the heart of europe, recall Alija Izetbegovics book “the islamic declaration”that the wrote way back in the 70`s and you will learn something, as for the croats, well we all know about the 2nd world war and the massacres at jasenovac where more than 750 000 serbs were brutally murdered and tortured by the croats at jasenovac.
February 28, 2007 at 6:29 pm
(19) Laurana says:
Message for Daniel:
Compliments to your english,it’s better than most of the english people.Don’t spend your knowledge on stupid and illiterate people.They didn’t desirve that people like yourself are even reacting at their egsistance.
A woman told me once,justice is slow but it always comes.You probably heard that Serbia was aquited from the genocide charges in Bosnia.Why’s that so,after being demonised in the eyes of the world?!Because justice is coming.Take care.
Message for allia:
It would be better for you if you limit your pathetic little life on breeding.That’s what you albanians are good at.You’ve got no brains for anything else.
February 28, 2007 at 6:39 pm
(20) Laurana says:
Message for Rollie:
Your one of the few who plays for the Serbian team among the general public opinion.Thanks a lot!
Planning to celebrate St Patrick somewhere?!
August 30, 2007 at 11:40 am
(21) State of Kosova says:
At first, I must confess that as all of the Albanian people inside the Ethnic Albania, and in diaspora too, I also as an inalienable part of one, appraise at high level with respect and devotion all of up to now attempts (political, diplomatic, economical, humanitarian and military) of the United States of America, managed and governed by the state administration of the ex-president Bill Clinton and the actual president George W. Bush in revival, life-saving and universal protection ( moral, humanitarian, democratic, legal etc.) of Albanian people and Kosovo. But, being that this is very important historical moment as well as the last chance to resolve properly the final status Kosovo according to the external self-determination, particularly the United States and the United Nations need to take into account historical right and International Law, not heterogeneous geopolitics, economics and military interests of the Europe which morally and legally is responsible for its unimproved historical and political mistakes toward Albania and Albanians which did twice through The Congress of Berlin (June 13 – July 13, 1878) and The London Conference of Ambassadors 1913, dividing them in two parts, and annexed them to Serbia, Greece and Montenegro.
These indisputable historical facts prove that origins of the conflict between Serbian and Albanians aren’t of the new date from Tito’s Yugoslavia (1945-1989), respectively from Slobodan Milosevic Yugoslavia (Serbia+ Montenegro, 1989-2000), but is very old since 1878; 1912-1913 as we mentioned above. However, by then up to now Albanians never stopped their attempts and struggles against Serbian colonial rule in order to release themselves and bring back their indigenous territories of the ethnic Albania. This our conclusion in favour of the historical and the self- determination of the Albanians and Kosovo witness and follows arguments : (I) Albanian Kosovo has been inhabited by the Illyrians, who are the ancestors of the present day Albanians who constitute over 90% of its inhabitants, and henceforth must be rightly called Albanian Kosovo. (II) Also, in 1878, Kosovo was part of natural Albania because of this fact in the same year (as a counter-replay to anti- Albanian resolutions, adopted by the Congress of Berlin) was founded the Albanian League of Prizren (1878) in sign of the revolt against the Ottomans, but for a short time it was destroyed by the military intervention of Russia and the Ottomans, which led the Great Powers’ Congress of Berlin in 1878 to enable Serbia and Montenegro to steal Albanian lands. That was the Russian intervention in favour of the Serbia and Montenegro which destroyed peaceful coexistence in the Balkans and is still destroying it. (III) Albanian Kosovo was a legal part of the independent of Albania (November 28, 1912). But it was invaded by military Serbia which committed genocide against its indigenous people. The injustice done by severing Albanian Kosovo from its motherland was crowned in the London Conference of Ambassadors (December 1912- August 1913).(IV) In 1918 Albanian Kosovo was inclusive in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes by force and genocide, but it was flagrant act of colonialism, dividing Albanian territories, and giving rise to the Albanian right to the decolonization of Albanian Kosovo. During 1918-1919 Albanian Kosovo’s struggle for independence was crushed through genocide crimes committed for the fourth time by Serbia against its indigenous people, including the importation of Serbian colonists in Kosovo, respectively in Ethnic Albania. According to articles 20 and 22.4 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, the severance of Albanian Kosovo from Ethnic(natural) Albania is declared null and void and its independence from the colonizing Power is provisionally recognized.
In violation of the Covenant of the League of Nations, Albanian Kosovo was colonized in the period 1918-1941 by the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and was officially declared and treated as a colony, through implanting Serbian colonists, expelling hundreds of thousands of the indigenous Albanian people, economic and mental persecution, terror, and liquidation; that is genocide. Turkey took part in that genocide operation be expelling over 300.000 Albanian from Albanian Kosovo to Istanbul, according to the Gentlemen Agreement with Yugoslavia in 1938.
Being that that Albanian Kosovo it’s not a legal property of Serbia and Serbs, Albanian people shouldn’t agree with imposition of the “conditional independence “ of Kosovo because one has never been Serbia’s territory, but Ethnic Albania’s integral natural, historical and geopolitical part. This is the main reason why Albanians shouldn’t give up from their historical and legitimate right of Kosovo. While, Serbian minority of 8% doesn’t have any legal right to call upon that Kosovo is part of Serbia, because one is colonial remnant in Kosovo from 1912 when Serbia by genocide and military force colonized and annexed Kosovo. This our conclusion proves and Serbian historian Dubravka Stojanovic (Professor at Philosophic Faculty of Belgrade University): “For Serbia the First Balkan War was the greatest historical moment, but for Albanians the same war was the biggest trauma because of the Great Powers of Europe adopted their unjust resolution of dividing of Albania in two parts, and Kosovo annexed to Serbia” (RSE, October 22, 2002). Also, as a professor Dubravka Stojanovic was written: “ In 1912, Serbia, very fast, militarily entered and occupied territory of Kosovo, Novi Pazar and a part of Macedonia”. (THB1NL (3 February, 2007 – 15:54).
These historical based facts, expounded by Dubravka Stojanovic that Kosovo was colonized by Serbia, also, are interlaced accurately by Prof. Dr .Robert Jackson : “Kosovo had long been part of the Ottoman Empire when it was conquered by Serbia in 1912. That right of conquest was confirmed by the League of the Nations at the end of the First World War by the inclusion of Kosovo in the new state of Yugoslavia.” (Robert Jackson, The Global Covenant- Human Conduct in a World of States, Oxford University, New York, 2000, p.278).
It’s important to stress the fact that, and during the Second World War the status of Albanians of Kosovo was remained unchanged, even though “in January 2, 1944 was hold the meeting of the National Liberation Movement about Kosovo political status which as known as the Bujan Conference. In this conference was adopted the Bujan Resolution, which defined Albanian Kosovo as a sovereign entity and a part of Albania and expressed its aim remain part of the Albanian state after the end of the Second World War. But the partisan army led by Tito crushed its indigenous people by committing all possible means of genocide against them.” (Noel Malcolm, Kosovo a Short History, Harper Perennial, New York, 1999, p.307-308)
After the end of the war in Yugoslavia (1945) in violation, and contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, according to the Yugoslavia’s Federal Constitution of 1946, Albanian Kosovo and its indigenous Albanian people were annexed by force of the Yugoslavia. According to the international law, this is an act of colonialism because of the fact it was against the will of Albanian people. In the same outlaw manner in 1989 (after Slobodan Milosevic took power in SRFY), Albanian Kosovo was again illegally and by force annexed by the Republic of Serbia, which matter breaks any structural connection between the two entities, and constitutes the obstruction of Albanian Kosovo’s exercise of its independence, statehood and sovereignty. This annexation was by force, and the commission of all forms of total obstruction of the internal self-determination which Albanian Kosovo had according to the constitution of the SFRY in the 1974. As a consequence all of these mentioned Serbia’s condemnable acts according to the Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter, and the international law, in July2, 1990, Kosovo’s parliament adopted the Declaration of independence of Albanian Kosovo; (2) the Constitution of September 7, 1990 (known as Kacanik’s Constitution) declaring Albanian Kosovo a republic ; (3) the Declaration of September 22,1991 as a sovereign independent state with the right of constitutional participation in the league of sovereign republic-states of Yugoslavia;(4) the Declaration of October 19, 1991 of Albanian Kosovo as a sovereign independent republic on the basis of the Referendum held from September 26 through 30, 1991 in the presence of international observers, with 87,01% of the electorate voting, from which 99,87% voted in favour of independence from the SFRY. This Referendum was according to the contemporary international law, and the UN Charter as well as to these resolutions, adopted by the Assembly of the United Nations: (i) Res.637(VII) Dec.16,1952.Right of Peoples and Nations to Self- Determination, (ii) Res.1514(XV) Dec.1960 on granting independence to dependent peoples; (iii) Res.2160 (XXI) Nov.30,1966. Forcible action depriving people of right to self-determination; (iv) Res. 2200(XXI) Dec.16,1966. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Art.1; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Art.1.; (v) Res.(XXV) Nov.30,1970. Emphasizing importance of universal realization of self-determination and condemning denial especially to people of southern Africa and Palestine; (vi) Res.33/44 Dec.13,1978. Decolonization; (vii) Res.34/103 Dec 14,1979. Hegemonism, and so on.
Ahtisaari’s plan must be in compliance with international law, and historical right of Albanians to Kosovo & ;nbs p; All of the international actors (USA, UN, EU, NATO, Contact Group) involved in settlement of Kosovo’s status, morally and legally are obliged to take into account valid and objective arguments according to historical and juridical rights of both parts (Serbian and Albanian) in conflict. Really, in this context is prepared and the United Nation plan on Kosovo which in February 2, 2007 was delivered and presented by its envoy, Marti Ahtisaari to Serbian authorities in Belgrade and Albanian government in Pristina. However, Marti Ahtisaari’s plan about Kosovo, official Belgrade at the same day rejects by motivation that one imply independence of Kosovo. Meanwhile, Albanian part accepted it with reluctance and pleasure hoping that the UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari will get in consideration its additional proposals to be completed his plan before submitted it to the Security Council of the United Nations.
Like the Albanian part in Pristina as well as mentioned relevant parts of international community (particularly USA) who invested, and really interested to resolve of Kosovo’s issue needn’t hurried with approving of Martti Ahtisaari’s plane because one “omitted” the external self-determination of Kosovo. This is a main reason why Martti Ahtisaari’s Plan couldn’t be presented to the UN Security Council before being completed with this important and unavoidable legal clause which is in conformity to ” the Declaration Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in Accordance with the Charter of the UN”(See: GA Resolution 1514(XV),14 December 1960; and GA Resolution 2625(XXV),24 October 1970).
These are the main rational and legal reasons why Kosovo must be granted with full-external independence, not only with internal independence such as Martti Ahtisaari’s Plan expected as a first reasonable step. Indeed, Kosovo’s government isn’t in situation to refuse Martti Ahtisaari’s proposed plan, like did Serbia, but morally, historically and legally is obliged to give its additional suggests and proposals which concern to the settlement of the final political status of Kosovo in compliance to recognize the full right of the self-determination of 2 millions Albanian people who are the “hostages” of the colonial Great Serbia from 1912/1913 to June 10, 1999.
In this context, Martti Ahtisaari’s plan must take in consideration and these important historical and juridical reasons and arguments who are directly connected to the granting of full independence of Kosovo. First, historically, Kosovo has never been legal part of Serbian territory, but only genocidal and colonial plunder disjoined from the historical, geopolitical and integral territory of the ethnic natural Albania by the European Great Powers (19113).
Second, Kosovo belongs to the civilization (history, culture and language etc.) of the Western Europe because Albanians are Illyrians descendants, not at all Slaves or Muslims as Serbian quasi-history, politics and propaganda of the Serbian State and Orthodox Church try to sophisticate their history for centuries in the face of the world in order to hide their centennial colonial genocides committed on Albanians and ethnic Albania (1846-1999).
On the contrary of the Serbian invented myth about Kosovo battle 1389, which symbolize ancient history and right of Serbia and Serbs to Kosovo, “Serbia does not have a continuous history on Kosovo. For several hundred years, Kosovo was not part of Serbia, because there was no Serbia to be part of: during most of long Ottoman period, Serbia did not exist as an entity at all. Kosovo was annexed de facto by Serbia within living memory, in 1912; de jure it wasn’t annexed by the Serbian kingdom at all”.(See excellent book, Introduction : Kosovo a Short History by Noel Malcolm, New York, 1999, p.xxxv). Also, Serbia and Serbs haven’t their religious and culture “cradle” in Kosovo because “the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church was not founded in Kosovo; it merely moved there after its original foundation in central Serbia was burnt down. Nor does the Patriarchate have any continuous history as an institution in Kosovo…, but in Rascia(Serbia), an area beyond Kosovo’s north- western border, and most of the important early medieval Serbian monasteries and churches were built outside Kosovo itself.” (Ibidem, p. xxxv).
There’s no dilemma that historically Kosovo was Albanian territory, not Serbian as has written with incontestable arguments Prof. Dr. Noel Malcolm in his mentioned excellent and realistic book about Kosovo. Indeed, that Kosovo has never been Serbian land, but Albanian which in 1371 has been part of the Albanian feudal state of the Balsha’s which was defeated by the Ottomans in 1389.
Third, Kosovo isn’t Serbian minority problem (as official Belgrade and Serbian Orthodox Church are manipulating with 8% of Serbs in Kosovo under the pretext that they are victims of the Albanian majority of 90%. This is falls argument which Serbia, and Serbian Orthodox Church are using to blame Albanians, instead to blame themselves for all their colonial aggressions toward Kosovo- Albania and Albanians ), but ancient colonial problem which must be resolved in accordance with International Positive Law and the United Nations Chart. Fourth, in order to reach definitely political compromise between Serbs and Albanians, Martti Ahtisaari’s plan must include the necessary international juridical clause of the external self- determination which theoretically and practically means full independence of Kosovo, not internal which directly and indirectly Belgrade want to be implied to Kosovo by international community because it will be only “legal way” to keep still its colonial plunder like 100 years ago (1878-2007).
Basically, Martti Ahtisaari’s plan about final status of Kosovo should be accepted by Pristina’s government and Albanian political parties, only if it contains the full external independence of Kosovo, otherwise won’t be changed the status quo of Kosovo, event though Martti Ahtisaari’s plan expect conditional independence of Kosovo under international oversee i.e. the European Union (EU) which (politically) could consider as a first “equilibrate” and “fair” step by the international community, it won’t be a good guaranty in the service of international legality for peace and justice for all.
As the United States as well as the United Nations, European Union, NATO etc. should bear in mind the fact that only way to reach historical compromise between disputed parts, and lasting peace and stability in Balkans is immediately recognition of the external self-determination of Kosovo as a independent, sovereign, democratic and multiethnic state within which will include and respect the rule of law and all human rights to the all ethnic and religious minorities.
November 1, 2007 at 5:16 am
(22) Angeliki says:
I have read many books that carry different points of views but the only thing they have in common is that of Ethnic Albania, including lands of Kosovo, Macedonia and Joanina to my surprise!! We could be very wrong about such a small country as Albania, since it could be that we dont know yet that Albania could be the oldest little country in south europe but since it has been closed in the times of developing science and discovery, therefore we know nothing about it even though we all claim we do. I have heard that they also have buildings like that of PARTHENON (Acropolis) that we have in Athens.
Daniel, Laurana, and Rollie I am so sorry that your history lessons in Serbia are so full of brain washing that when you talk as if you know anything about albanian history you sound like gorillas that somehow got a hold of a computer. The Serbians came to the balkan in the middle ages and started trying to take over albanian land. The albanians decendets of Illyrains. Illyrains have been in the balkans for over 3000 years I think thats more than 500 right? Shall we do the math? I dont think i need to, i hope your lessons in Serbia werent or are that bad. serbians use the fact that there are serbian churches spread along Kosova as evidence that they its there historical heritage sorry to say those churches are mostly Albanian that were built before the Ottamen Empire came to the Albanian land, before the Ottamen empire came to the Albanian land, Albanians were christians and there still are albanian christains believe or not and they built those churchs. Then the serbs toke over them and now still think that its theres and the land… sad. And by the way we have evidence that dates back 2000-3000 years that we belong in the balkans. Kosova will be independent its just a matter of when.
Comments
Hopefully UN Security Council will finally realize that Kosovo independence is a single possible solution to keep stability in the Balkan. Supervised independence as a transitional modality towards full Kosovo independence is reasonable approach that will ensure international community and help those concerned understand that Kosovo is heading towards real democratic state where all citizens will have equal rights and live peacefully. At least, there is clear political will – to do so.
With the support of NATO and new EU Mission presence, good political will of Kosovans can easily become e reality. But, the opposite might happen if Kosovo future status is not clearly articulated and if the time table is not set. People need to know when transitional modalities named “Supervised independence” will end, or at least they need to know under which conditions Kosovo will become fully sovereign and independent state.
UN should not fear Serbia and it must distinguish Kosovo Serbs from Serbia as a state. Serbia as a state is not anymore legitimate actor to be asked about the future of the people it has suppressed so badly in the past. In other hand, the Kosovo Serbs are a different story. It is Kosovo itself that must ensure that their rights are equal with those of others and that they have not reasons to fear of being citizens of newest European state. How things are going right now, Kosovo institutions has already put in place legal and institutional mechanisms to ensure full Serbs participation and representation in Kosovo central and local government. In many aspects the rules of positive discrimination have been applied. So opportunities are there and now it is the time to work in building the confidence of the people, being they Serbs, Turks, Roma or Albanians that Kosovo must move ahead towards real, substantial and functional democratic state.
Until now, Kosovo government did not oppose further International Community presence, because it is aware that it’s biggest concern is the Kosovo Serb minority – still influenced largely by Belgrade policy; than the rule and law as well as stability in the region. Hand in hand with Kosovo government, new EU mission and NATO will oversee processes regarding this issue and will make sure that things will not go in wrong direction. It has been huge psychological, physical and financial effort to let Kosovo fail at this point.
The worse scenario would be if Kosovo independence will be questioned still by UN or whoever else. Kosovo was quite a long time a hostage of Serbia and Belgrade reactions! The loss was huge, but that is the past. Today, Kosovo has to move ahead: to think of strengthening democracy, development, and sustainable economy. Meanwhile international community should change the approach. When deciding for Kosovo it should not use Serbia as a point of reference. The world was many years present in Kosovo to realize that it has its own path, completely independent from one that Serbia has. They will one day meet somewhere in EU Parliament seats, alongside with other neighbor states…Kosovo on that time will not be like a women kept hostage because the divorce will belong to the history – possibly marked as June 1-st, 2007.
It’s on UN to do the final cut with new Resolution on the place. Independence will help Kosovo people to concentrate on development that has been left aside for many years because of all what happened in the past.
Evliana Berani
evliana@yahoo.com
Kosovo is part of Serbia. The Serbs got a raw deal. The Serbians have all their historic sites in Kosovo and it is the birthplace of the Serbian people.
The Kosovar Albanians should stop persecuting Serbian Christians.
Rollie
Hi Evliana, nice articulation on Kosovo’s road to independence. As for Rollie, go back to your drunken days in the bar rooms of the UK -your pathetic fool! Wish Kosovo and all its people a happy future. Word of advice – watch the corruption of your government or independence will mean nothing.
God Bless!
Dear Rollie Kenmore
Montenegro was part of serbia as well. Where it is now?
I don’t know why are the people relating everything to the past? Who cares about the religion or what has happen hundred of centuries ago! We all should focus on what’s in out best interests right now. Live and let live.
Just to inform Mr. Ejup, Montenegro has never been a part of Serbia, than a part of one STATE COMMUNITY as Scotland and England are in the UK. Scotland is not a part of England, isn t it??
I live in Serbia…
@ejup
Like Akis says, Montenegro never was part of Serbia!
Kosovo is part of Serbia, and always was that. Serbian people die for that teritory…
Only insane man, will say that ( now ) it need to be indepedent country.
Ok, this is outrageous. First of all, you cannot put history apart even though people would like so, but the independence of Kosovo will only create more danger to the region meaning Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo itself, for it has always been Serbia and the serbs were FORCED to leave because of the albanian nationalist and terrorist activites backedup by their relatives from abroad. Second this is just an outreach towards the dream of albanians for their Great Albania, were they want to join Albania with western Macedonia, part of Monetengro and Kosovo (everybody knows about this!!!)that they have already constructed in the past a long time ago, and are active through their terrorist organizatons such as ONA, ANA, UCK ect. People who DO NOT or have not lived in that region i think SHOULD not comment for they have no idea how their strategy works. Thirdly, Kosovo and the whole region needs to go a long way in terms of democracy and not to mention the economic strengh that lacks in Kosovo, due to the fact that the economy is based on illegal trafficking of all sorts, black market ect. Most of the industries and mining also have been ruined and it doesn’t have a solid basis for economic independence.
UN, NATO and EU, are only interested in creating countries that they can profit from!
Hi. I’m from Bulgaria, a country near by. I think the independence of Kosovo is silly… How could UN, NATO and EU support such madness. Albanians could claim everything, but asking for independence – what’s the point of having another small and economically backword country on the penninsula? Most of all of people who don’t go to school and prefer suaside bombing missions to peaceful discussion?
I can’t imagine a situation where Indians want part of UK, Algerians part of France… It’s not right to divide Serbia, just because “Great Nations” don’t mind. Unfortunately they can do that, as they did with Bulgaria in 1878.
Dear all,
Kosovo will be independent country. It is true that Serbia use to run this place… by force.
To remind you:
a) Albanians consist of three religions: muslim, catholic & orthodox
b)they outnumber the Serbs in Kosovo (9 to 1)and that was always the case
c) during 1998/1999 only – more than 13 thousand Albanians where killed, most of them civilians, children & women
Misha, to refresh your memory, they were killed by dictatorial Milosevic regime. To increase your knowledge: 97 percent of the Kosovo youth are included in secondary school, most of them are well educated and multilingual. I can ensure you that none of them would mix up such a basic things such as “indians and UK” or “Algerians and France”. Poor Misha, I hope that you will have a chance sometimes to pass exam of history. With this level of the knowledge in Kosovo you would be – a lost case. And by the way: why are you so nervous and since when you became expert on economy!!
God forgive those who hate, they don’t know what they are doing. Remind them that we are all the same, that “No nation – is terrorist nation” , that human blidnees cost us many lives and that no one can deprive the rest of choosing with who and how they want to live. Albanians where suppressed so many years .If nothing they finally learned a lesson that supression does not go with the same response. This is why they are trying to go ahead and to forget the past. They already accepted that minorities in independent Kosovo will never face what Albanians faced in the past. Thanks god that Kosovo has only few “Misha” who can hate blindly and with no reason somebody who they don’t know or no nothing about them.
Dear Veronika, kosovo will not be independent you should read articles about this on the internet. The Russians will put in their VETO unless UN will be able to provide a solution that is ok both for Belgrade and Pristina.The fact that the albanians outnumber serbs in kosovo has nothing to do with it, in some areas in usa the hispanic outnumber the caucasian americans in some areas the chinese outnumber them, does it mean that they have the right to form an independent country?The albanians outnumber the serbs due to years and years of torturing,killing and forcing serbians to leave their homes until Milosevic put an end to it 1998 remember what he told the serbs at his speech at kosovo polje, niko nesme da vas bije (no one has the right to hit you)because that was exactly what was happening to the serbs in kosovo.Another reason is that most of the albanian familys consists of more than 20 members it is very usual that albanians have 14-15 children. Kosovo has never been a part of albania thats a fact it has always belonged to serbia thats another fact and least but not last the un resolution 1244 states that no sovereign state should be forced to give up a part of its territory nor to change its borders.
Why should the Albanians in Kosovo be rewarded? Should they be rewarded for kicking out thousands of Serbs? Burning Serbian monasteries? Destroying Serbian churches? Being allied with Arab jihadis?
I say that Serbia should retain Kosovo. Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia and Albanians should never control it.
Don’t reward bad behavior.
Rollie
Veronika:
Do you think it is right for some Albanian brigands to kick out thousands of Serbs from Kosovo? Kosovo is the birthplace of the Serb nation.
You cannot uproot a people. Kosovo is a multinational state. It seems when Serbs are uprooted, as they were by the Fascist Tudjman in the Krajina in 1994, that was acceptable. It seems when thousands of Serbs are uprooted in Kosovo, that is acceptable.
Kosovo should be divided, in my opinion. All the Serbs who were kicked out of Kosovo should be allowed to return.
Rollie
When a group od mad people starts wiping out a religion or ethnic minority and whole world accept this act as genocide then how can a senceable person think that the same people will not do such cruel act again.Kosovo must be given independence i think.
When a group of mad people starts wiping out a religion or ethnic minority and whole world accept this act as genocide then how can a senceable person think that the same people will not do such cruel act again.Kosovo must be given independence i think.
Destinies of thousands of people are decided between a few very powerful people in some private rooms with the best food and drinks displayed on the tables,beeing entertained by preety women in seductive dresses satisfying their basic instintcs,far away from the problems.
Serbian mistake was the trust in Milosevics,so called nationalisam.What he really did was complete distruction and humiliation of his own people.
Albanians,Croats,Bosnians should actually celebrate him as a hero because during his reign Serbs actually had to leave their lands,properties,lives in every single area cought by war,and thats what every of those nations wanted.They played dirty and Serbs counted on their history and understanding of it’s allies and positive role they had in every war.
I trully hope so that Kosovo won’t be completely separated from Serbia for one siple reason,and that’s just to piss albanians off.History is something that’s not of use in todays world,it’s completely irrelevant to the Map makers.
I would like to express my admiration to the strength and pride of a few Serbs who dcided to stay on Kosovo and who still believe and fight for something that even “mighty” Belgrade had given up long time ago.
The world knows who albanians really are and I hope justice will come out before another misery strikes Balkans.
If I was of any influence,thank God i’m not,albanians wouldn’t even have country called albania simply because they didn’t desirve it.
And people please don’t trust Russians.They also said that they will put VETO on bombing 1999!!!They’ll do whatever is in their interest at that moment and I’m affraid that Serbs won’t benefit from it.
Serbs have to realise that this is modern world and that battles needs to be won on the telly not at the battelfield,unfortunately.
ALL OF YOU THAT ARE SAYING THAT KOSOVO SHOULD NOT BE INDEPENDENT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT… DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW EVIL THE SERBIAN PEOPLE TREATED NOT ONLY ALBANIANS, BUT CROATIANS AND MOST OF ALL BOSNIANS SERBIAN PEOPLE SLAUGHTERED PEOPLE LIKE ANIMALS FOR YEARS.. FOR WHAT REASON? JUST BECAUSE OF RELIGION AND THEIR GREED FOR TERRITORY…ITS UNBELIEVEABLE THAT ANYONE WOULD EXPECT KOSOVO TO HAVE TO BE CALLED SERBIA WHEN SERBIA KILLED THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE THERE.. KOSOVO DESERVES INDEPENDENCE AND THATS IT. I AM A 100 PERCENT SURE THAT IT WILL GET IT SOON!
To Ajla. I dont understan how u can claim that kosovo should be independent, first, kosovo has never been albanian territory nor has it ever belonged to Albania it has always been serbian territory.The kosovo albanians tortured and killed thousands of serbs before milosevic 1998 said enough is enough and started to bring vengeance, hundreds of churches and anciend monasteries were burned to the ground by the albanians.The only reason that the albanians are a majority in kosovo is that they breed like rabbits, most of the albanian families has 25 or more members it is very common that the albanians have at least 10 children.The whole world knows that the albanians are the worst criminals they are the biggest heroin suppliers to the rest of europe, enormous amounts of drugs flow into europe and the albanians are the ones that are most responsible for it, in every country wherever they live in europe they are known as drug dealers, murderers and criminals while other people from the former yugoslavia are known as honorable, hard working people.If kosovo gets independence we will see a neverending flow of drugs and weapons in to the rest of europe, is that what we really need?You dont have any right to comment about the war in yugoslavia, first you should know that it was the bosnian serbs that fought in bosnia not serbian serbs and second atrocities were committed by all sides, actually the worst war crimes were committed by muslim mujahedeens that came from arab countries to help alija, why do you think that fikret abdics muslim army fought their own people?Read a little bit more before you make stupid comments like that.The war had nothing to do nor with religion or with greed for territory like u mention I was born in jugoslavija and I have lived here all my life I know much more about the war than you do.Serbs in bosnia defended their people and their territory cause the muslims wanted to create an islamic country in the heart of europe, recall Alija Izetbegovics book “the islamic declaration”that the wrote way back in the 70`s and you will learn something, as for the croats, well we all know about the 2nd world war and the massacres at jasenovac where more than 750 000 serbs were brutally murdered and tortured by the croats at jasenovac.
Message for Daniel:
Compliments to your english,it’s better than most of the english people.Don’t spend your knowledge on stupid and illiterate people.They didn’t desirve that people like yourself are even reacting at their egsistance.
A woman told me once,justice is slow but it always comes.You probably heard that Serbia was aquited from the genocide charges in Bosnia.Why’s that so,after being demonised in the eyes of the world?!Because justice is coming.Take care.
Message for allia:
It would be better for you if you limit your pathetic little life on breeding.That’s what you albanians are good at.You’ve got no brains for anything else.
Message for Rollie:
Your one of the few who plays for the Serbian team among the general public opinion.Thanks a lot!
Planning to celebrate St Patrick somewhere?!
At first, I must confess that as all of the Albanian people inside the Ethnic Albania, and in diaspora too, I also as an inalienable part of one, appraise at high level with respect and devotion all of up to now attempts (political, diplomatic, economical, humanitarian and military) of the United States of America, managed and governed by the state administration of the ex-president Bill Clinton and the actual president George W. Bush in revival, life-saving and universal protection ( moral, humanitarian, democratic, legal etc.) of Albanian people and Kosovo. But, being that this is very important historical moment as well as the last chance to resolve properly the final status Kosovo according to the external self-determination, particularly the United States and the United Nations need to take into account historical right and International Law, not heterogeneous geopolitics, economics and military interests of the Europe which morally and legally is responsible for its unimproved historical and political mistakes toward Albania and Albanians which did twice through The Congress of Berlin (June 13 – July 13, 1878) and The London Conference of Ambassadors 1913, dividing them in two parts, and annexed them to Serbia, Greece and Montenegro.
These indisputable historical facts prove that origins of the conflict between Serbian and Albanians aren’t of the new date from Tito’s Yugoslavia (1945-1989), respectively from Slobodan Milosevic Yugoslavia (Serbia+ Montenegro, 1989-2000), but is very old since 1878; 1912-1913 as we mentioned above. However, by then up to now Albanians never stopped their attempts and struggles against Serbian colonial rule in order to release themselves and bring back their indigenous territories of the ethnic Albania. This our conclusion in favour of the historical and the self- determination of the Albanians and Kosovo witness and follows arguments : (I) Albanian Kosovo has been inhabited by the Illyrians, who are the ancestors of the present day Albanians who constitute over 90% of its inhabitants, and henceforth must be rightly called Albanian Kosovo. (II) Also, in 1878, Kosovo was part of natural Albania because of this fact in the same year (as a counter-replay to anti- Albanian resolutions, adopted by the Congress of Berlin) was founded the Albanian League of Prizren (1878) in sign of the revolt against the Ottomans, but for a short time it was destroyed by the military intervention of Russia and the Ottomans, which led the Great Powers’ Congress of Berlin in 1878 to enable Serbia and Montenegro to steal Albanian lands. That was the Russian intervention in favour of the Serbia and Montenegro which destroyed peaceful coexistence in the Balkans and is still destroying it. (III) Albanian Kosovo was a legal part of the independent of Albania (November 28, 1912). But it was invaded by military Serbia which committed genocide against its indigenous people. The injustice done by severing Albanian Kosovo from its motherland was crowned in the London Conference of Ambassadors (December 1912- August 1913).(IV) In 1918 Albanian Kosovo was inclusive in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes by force and genocide, but it was flagrant act of colonialism, dividing Albanian territories, and giving rise to the Albanian right to the decolonization of Albanian Kosovo. During 1918-1919 Albanian Kosovo’s struggle for independence was crushed through genocide crimes committed for the fourth time by Serbia against its indigenous people, including the importation of Serbian colonists in Kosovo, respectively in Ethnic Albania. According to articles 20 and 22.4 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, the severance of Albanian Kosovo from Ethnic(natural) Albania is declared null and void and its independence from the colonizing Power is provisionally recognized.
In violation of the Covenant of the League of Nations, Albanian Kosovo was colonized in the period 1918-1941 by the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and was officially declared and treated as a colony, through implanting Serbian colonists, expelling hundreds of thousands of the indigenous Albanian people, economic and mental persecution, terror, and liquidation; that is genocide. Turkey took part in that genocide operation be expelling over 300.000 Albanian from Albanian Kosovo to Istanbul, according to the Gentlemen Agreement with Yugoslavia in 1938.
Being that that Albanian Kosovo it’s not a legal property of Serbia and Serbs, Albanian people shouldn’t agree with imposition of the “conditional independence “ of Kosovo because one has never been Serbia’s territory, but Ethnic Albania’s integral natural, historical and geopolitical part. This is the main reason why Albanians shouldn’t give up from their historical and legitimate right of Kosovo. While, Serbian minority of 8% doesn’t have any legal right to call upon that Kosovo is part of Serbia, because one is colonial remnant in Kosovo from 1912 when Serbia by genocide and military force colonized and annexed Kosovo. This our conclusion proves and Serbian historian Dubravka Stojanovic (Professor at Philosophic Faculty of Belgrade University): “For Serbia the First Balkan War was the greatest historical moment, but for Albanians the same war was the biggest trauma because of the Great Powers of Europe adopted their unjust resolution of dividing of Albania in two parts, and Kosovo annexed to Serbia” (RSE, October 22, 2002). Also, as a professor Dubravka Stojanovic was written: “ In 1912, Serbia, very fast, militarily entered and occupied territory of Kosovo, Novi Pazar and a part of Macedonia”. (THB1NL (3 February, 2007 – 15:54).
These historical based facts, expounded by Dubravka Stojanovic that Kosovo was colonized by Serbia, also, are interlaced accurately by Prof. Dr .Robert Jackson : “Kosovo had long been part of the Ottoman Empire when it was conquered by Serbia in 1912. That right of conquest was confirmed by the League of the Nations at the end of the First World War by the inclusion of Kosovo in the new state of Yugoslavia.” (Robert Jackson, The Global Covenant- Human Conduct in a World of States, Oxford University, New York, 2000, p.278).
It’s important to stress the fact that, and during the Second World War the status of Albanians of Kosovo was remained unchanged, even though “in January 2, 1944 was hold the meeting of the National Liberation Movement about Kosovo political status which as known as the Bujan Conference. In this conference was adopted the Bujan Resolution, which defined Albanian Kosovo as a sovereign entity and a part of Albania and expressed its aim remain part of the Albanian state after the end of the Second World War. But the partisan army led by Tito crushed its indigenous people by committing all possible means of genocide against them.” (Noel Malcolm, Kosovo a Short History, Harper Perennial, New York, 1999, p.307-308)
After the end of the war in Yugoslavia (1945) in violation, and contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, according to the Yugoslavia’s Federal Constitution of 1946, Albanian Kosovo and its indigenous Albanian people were annexed by force of the Yugoslavia. According to the international law, this is an act of colonialism because of the fact it was against the will of Albanian people. In the same outlaw manner in 1989 (after Slobodan Milosevic took power in SRFY), Albanian Kosovo was again illegally and by force annexed by the Republic of Serbia, which matter breaks any structural connection between the two entities, and constitutes the obstruction of Albanian Kosovo’s exercise of its independence, statehood and sovereignty. This annexation was by force, and the commission of all forms of total obstruction of the internal self-determination which Albanian Kosovo had according to the constitution of the SFRY in the 1974. As a consequence all of these mentioned Serbia’s condemnable acts according to the Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter, and the international law, in July2, 1990, Kosovo’s parliament adopted the Declaration of independence of Albanian Kosovo; (2) the Constitution of September 7, 1990 (known as Kacanik’s Constitution) declaring Albanian Kosovo a republic ; (3) the Declaration of September 22,1991 as a sovereign independent state with the right of constitutional participation in the league of sovereign republic-states of Yugoslavia;(4) the Declaration of October 19, 1991 of Albanian Kosovo as a sovereign independent republic on the basis of the Referendum held from September 26 through 30, 1991 in the presence of international observers, with 87,01% of the electorate voting, from which 99,87% voted in favour of independence from the SFRY. This Referendum was according to the contemporary international law, and the UN Charter as well as to these resolutions, adopted by the Assembly of the United Nations: (i) Res.637(VII) Dec.16,1952.Right of Peoples and Nations to Self- Determination, (ii) Res.1514(XV) Dec.1960 on granting independence to dependent peoples; (iii) Res.2160 (XXI) Nov.30,1966. Forcible action depriving people of right to self-determination; (iv) Res. 2200(XXI) Dec.16,1966. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Art.1; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Art.1.; (v) Res.(XXV) Nov.30,1970. Emphasizing importance of universal realization of self-determination and condemning denial especially to people of southern Africa and Palestine; (vi) Res.33/44 Dec.13,1978. Decolonization; (vii) Res.34/103 Dec 14,1979. Hegemonism, and so on.
Ahtisaari’s plan must be in compliance with international law, and historical right of Albanians to Kosovo & ;nbs p; All of the international actors (USA, UN, EU, NATO, Contact Group) involved in settlement of Kosovo’s status, morally and legally are obliged to take into account valid and objective arguments according to historical and juridical rights of both parts (Serbian and Albanian) in conflict. Really, in this context is prepared and the United Nation plan on Kosovo which in February 2, 2007 was delivered and presented by its envoy, Marti Ahtisaari to Serbian authorities in Belgrade and Albanian government in Pristina. However, Marti Ahtisaari’s plan about Kosovo, official Belgrade at the same day rejects by motivation that one imply independence of Kosovo. Meanwhile, Albanian part accepted it with reluctance and pleasure hoping that the UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari will get in consideration its additional proposals to be completed his plan before submitted it to the Security Council of the United Nations.
Like the Albanian part in Pristina as well as mentioned relevant parts of international community (particularly USA) who invested, and really interested to resolve of Kosovo’s issue needn’t hurried with approving of Martti Ahtisaari’s plane because one “omitted” the external self-determination of Kosovo. This is a main reason why Martti Ahtisaari’s Plan couldn’t be presented to the UN Security Council before being completed with this important and unavoidable legal clause which is in conformity to ” the Declaration Granting Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in Accordance with the Charter of the UN”(See: GA Resolution 1514(XV),14 December 1960; and GA Resolution 2625(XXV),24 October 1970).
These are the main rational and legal reasons why Kosovo must be granted with full-external independence, not only with internal independence such as Martti Ahtisaari’s Plan expected as a first reasonable step. Indeed, Kosovo’s government isn’t in situation to refuse Martti Ahtisaari’s proposed plan, like did Serbia, but morally, historically and legally is obliged to give its additional suggests and proposals which concern to the settlement of the final political status of Kosovo in compliance to recognize the full right of the self-determination of 2 millions Albanian people who are the “hostages” of the colonial Great Serbia from 1912/1913 to June 10, 1999.
In this context, Martti Ahtisaari’s plan must take in consideration and these important historical and juridical reasons and arguments who are directly connected to the granting of full independence of Kosovo. First, historically, Kosovo has never been legal part of Serbian territory, but only genocidal and colonial plunder disjoined from the historical, geopolitical and integral territory of the ethnic natural Albania by the European Great Powers (19113).
Second, Kosovo belongs to the civilization (history, culture and language etc.) of the Western Europe because Albanians are Illyrians descendants, not at all Slaves or Muslims as Serbian quasi-history, politics and propaganda of the Serbian State and Orthodox Church try to sophisticate their history for centuries in the face of the world in order to hide their centennial colonial genocides committed on Albanians and ethnic Albania (1846-1999).
On the contrary of the Serbian invented myth about Kosovo battle 1389, which symbolize ancient history and right of Serbia and Serbs to Kosovo, “Serbia does not have a continuous history on Kosovo. For several hundred years, Kosovo was not part of Serbia, because there was no Serbia to be part of: during most of long Ottoman period, Serbia did not exist as an entity at all. Kosovo was annexed de facto by Serbia within living memory, in 1912; de jure it wasn’t annexed by the Serbian kingdom at all”.(See excellent book, Introduction : Kosovo a Short History by Noel Malcolm, New York, 1999, p.xxxv). Also, Serbia and Serbs haven’t their religious and culture “cradle” in Kosovo because “the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church was not founded in Kosovo; it merely moved there after its original foundation in central Serbia was burnt down. Nor does the Patriarchate have any continuous history as an institution in Kosovo…, but in Rascia(Serbia), an area beyond Kosovo’s north- western border, and most of the important early medieval Serbian monasteries and churches were built outside Kosovo itself.” (Ibidem, p. xxxv).
There’s no dilemma that historically Kosovo was Albanian territory, not Serbian as has written with incontestable arguments Prof. Dr. Noel Malcolm in his mentioned excellent and realistic book about Kosovo. Indeed, that Kosovo has never been Serbian land, but Albanian which in 1371 has been part of the Albanian feudal state of the Balsha’s which was defeated by the Ottomans in 1389.
Third, Kosovo isn’t Serbian minority problem (as official Belgrade and Serbian Orthodox Church are manipulating with 8% of Serbs in Kosovo under the pretext that they are victims of the Albanian majority of 90%. This is falls argument which Serbia, and Serbian Orthodox Church are using to blame Albanians, instead to blame themselves for all their colonial aggressions toward Kosovo- Albania and Albanians ), but ancient colonial problem which must be resolved in accordance with International Positive Law and the United Nations Chart. Fourth, in order to reach definitely political compromise between Serbs and Albanians, Martti Ahtisaari’s plan must include the necessary international juridical clause of the external self- determination which theoretically and practically means full independence of Kosovo, not internal which directly and indirectly Belgrade want to be implied to Kosovo by international community because it will be only “legal way” to keep still its colonial plunder like 100 years ago (1878-2007).
Basically, Martti Ahtisaari’s plan about final status of Kosovo should be accepted by Pristina’s government and Albanian political parties, only if it contains the full external independence of Kosovo, otherwise won’t be changed the status quo of Kosovo, event though Martti Ahtisaari’s plan expect conditional independence of Kosovo under international oversee i.e. the European Union (EU) which (politically) could consider as a first “equilibrate” and “fair” step by the international community, it won’t be a good guaranty in the service of international legality for peace and justice for all.
As the United States as well as the United Nations, European Union, NATO etc. should bear in mind the fact that only way to reach historical compromise between disputed parts, and lasting peace and stability in Balkans is immediately recognition of the external self-determination of Kosovo as a independent, sovereign, democratic and multiethnic state within which will include and respect the rule of law and all human rights to the all ethnic and religious minorities.
I have read many books that carry different points of views but the only thing they have in common is that of Ethnic Albania, including lands of Kosovo, Macedonia and Joanina to my surprise!! We could be very wrong about such a small country as Albania, since it could be that we dont know yet that Albania could be the oldest little country in south europe but since it has been closed in the times of developing science and discovery, therefore we know nothing about it even though we all claim we do. I have heard that they also have buildings like that of PARTHENON (Acropolis) that we have in Athens.
Peace!
A.A.
The COMMENTARY UNDER NUMBER 21 WAS WRITTEN BY PROF.DR.MEHDI HYSENI WHICH IS PUBLISHED BEFORE IN ENGISH IN: http://WWW.kosovapress.com,www.tamarket.com,www.dervina.com, http://www.shqiperiaebashkuar.org.
My greetings,
Prof.dr.Mehdi Hyseni
USA
Daniel, Laurana, and Rollie I am so sorry that your history lessons in Serbia are so full of brain washing that when you talk as if you know anything about albanian history you sound like gorillas that somehow got a hold of a computer. The Serbians came to the balkan in the middle ages and started trying to take over albanian land. The albanians decendets of Illyrains. Illyrains have been in the balkans for over 3000 years I think thats more than 500 right? Shall we do the math? I dont think i need to, i hope your lessons in Serbia werent or are that bad. serbians use the fact that there are serbian churches spread along Kosova as evidence that they its there historical heritage sorry to say those churches are mostly Albanian that were built before the Ottamen Empire came to the Albanian land, before the Ottamen empire came to the Albanian land, Albanians were christians and there still are albanian christains believe or not and they built those churchs. Then the serbs toke over them and now still think that its theres and the land… sad. And by the way we have evidence that dates back 2000-3000 years that we belong in the balkans. Kosova will be independent its just a matter of when.