Holbrook calls for Kosovo independence | 15:42 -> 22:29 March 08 | B92
WASHINGTON -- Tuesday – The former US ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrook, said today that Kosovo must become independent.
Speaking at a conference on international diplomacy and ethnic conflicts, Holbrook said that separation from the mother state is sometimes successful when small ethnic groups in a large community are neglected in employment and economic development, but that separation is not always the best solution.
“Not every ethnic group can become an independent state. In such cases a way must be found for ethnic minorities to leave in peace, without losing their culture and rights,” said Holbrook, adding that there would be an endless number of wars around the world if every ethnic community wanted its own country.
“Yugoslavia, which was united under communist rule, with the fall of communism was divided into five countries and soon will be divided into seven countries. Kosovo must be independent from Serbia-Montenegro because Albanians are predominant in Kosovo and Serbia-Montenegro, I am convinced, will fall apart in twelve or eighteen months,” said Holbrook.
“We must find a way in which minorities can live in states in which they are not ethnically predominant, in a way in which all religious, cultural, political and other rights are protected. The US can’t always through diplomacy encourage separatism, but must help endangered ethnic groups when it is necessary,” he added.
Deçani will not stay calm (Express)
Express carries some vox-populi conducted in Deçan/Decani. They all express
the shock they felt when hearing about the Haradinaj's indictment of by the
ICTY. "You could see it in the faces of the people in town", says the
article.
A youngster who wanted to remain anonymous said 'There will be no calm in
Deçan, forget about it. They are treading on all of us who fought, on
martyrs of the nation. He defended Deçani last year when all Kosovo was in
flames. If he is taken, all of us are treaded on and so is Kosovo'. He went
on to say they are waiting to see what to do. 'We are waiting. Nothing is
known as yet. No comment. Demonstrations do not make any sense now. Whom to
demonstrate against? One thing is clear, there will be no longer calm in
Deçan, and in Kosovo', he said.
Upon hearing the news, the KLA War Veterans from Peja region gathered: the
head of the association, Avdyl Mushkolaj did not say clearly what the
Association is going to do, but he asked all the institutions of Kosovo to
suspend all political activities and to follow the example of the minister
Ahmet Isufi.
'A black cloud has covered Deçani. It remains a question mark what us, the
war veterans will do. This indictment is an insult to the liberation war,
and to Kosovo. We will stay close to Haradinaj's family as we did before.
When this family is touched, the heart of Kosovo is touched. We cannot say
at the moment what we are going to do over the next coming days', said
Mushkolaj.