Posted on 09/26/2007 7:49:20 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Only independent Kosovo can stabilize Balkans: Rice
By Paul Taylor
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Only independence for Kosovo can bring stability in the Balkans, and Europe should join the United States in backing statehood for the breakaway Serbian province, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday.
In an interview with Reuters, she said talks brokered by the European Union, Russia and the United States had some chance of achieving an "amicable outcome" even if Kosovo and Serbia did not agree on the final status of the territory.
"But there's going to be an independent Kosovo. We're dedicated to that. It's the only solution that is potentially stabilizing for the Balkans rather than destabilizing for the Balkans," Rice said.
The U.S.-led NATO alliance waged an air war in 1999 to drive Serbian forces out of Kosovo and end ethnic cleansing of the 2 million ethnic Albanians who make up 90 percent of the province's population.
Representatives of Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanians hold the first direct talks in New York on Friday since major powers agreed in July to allow another 120 days to try to negotiate an agreed solution.
That period expires on December 10, when the mediators are to report to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
SHARED CONCERNS
Rice said she had shared concerns that neither side would negotiate seriously because Serbia felt assured of a Russian veto of any U.N. resolution granting Kosovo independence, and the Kosovo Albanians felt they could count on U.S. recognition of a unilateral declaration of independence.
"We've told the Kosovars that we don't think a unilateral declaration of independence is a very good idea," she said, although lower-ranking U.S. officials have suggested Washington would recognize such a declaration.
Asked how she expected Kosovo's final status to be determined, Rice said: "I think it will take the United States and Europe together on this.
"The Europeans ... know the Balkans is ultimately much closer to Europe than to the United States, and if they need a stable Balkans, they're going to have to take the tough decisions and do the right thing," she said.
The European Union is divided on independence for Kosovo, with a small group of countries with their own minority or regional separatist concerns reluctant to recognize the territory's sovereignty without a U.N. resolution.
Those countries include Slovakia, Romania, Cyprus, Greece and to a lesser extent Spain.
But EU foreign ministers agreed on September 6 to stay united and work for a common position on Kosovo, declaring the credibility of their common foreign policy is at stake.
We shouldn’t be involved in Kosovo, or any other dispute in Europe for that matter. Not militarily at any rate.
Stabilize and ENSLAVE!!!
I thought she was smart...
The Balkans have been unstable continuously for over four thousand years. If only they had had Condi millennia ago.
Do we want to set a precedent for when the Mexicans lay claim to Aztlan?
Clinton bombed the wrong side. It is unconscionable that we are continuing his policies.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
It is utter folly to support the creation of an Islamic outpost and terror training center in Eastern Europe. She wants to set up a springboard for Eurocentric terrorism. It is no secret that al-Qaida put down roots in the Balkans in the early 1990s, and has flourishing movement going there at this point. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? Would we turn, say, Indiana over to a militant Islamic regime?
Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. She is setting Europe up for a situation in which they — and we — will have to refight the Battle of Vienna.
“there’s going to be an independent Kosovo”
What arrogance: as if we can dictate the property of a foreign government without their approval..?
NOPE:
THERE WILL NOT BE AN independent Kosovo.
not if Russia and the Serbians do not agree to it!
SHE is only stating US government policy-I won’t for a moment, think that these are only her views.
This administration is actually being very consistent here. Many of the "neo-conservatives" in this administration were quite vocal in their support of the Clinton administration with regard to Kosovo/Serbia in 1999.
At some point I hope we all realize that this administration is filled with the same kind of big-government globalists who polluted the last one.
next there will be an idependent Chechnya to stabilise the Caucusus...then an independent Kashmir to stabilise the subcontinent....then an independent Arab state stretching from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean,which will stabilise the Middle East......
then probably an independent Homeland for Muslims who used to live in the United States of America,with it’s capital,preferrably in Washington DC.
Exactly!
First of all, there are no such things as "Kosovars". The term was concocted to create false impression that Kosovo Albanians are an distinct ethnic group (i.e. people) and not a Albanian minority living in Serbia. Albanians have a home country, it is called Albania. In Serbia, they are hostile minority who wants to steal a chunk of land for themselves with American help.
Any English speaker who use the term "Kosovars" expose himself/herself as propagandist for Albanian cause.
.
Second, EU are not the only Europeans, and "Europeans" can not be used instead of EU. For example, Norway, Switzerland and Russia are in Europe, but not part of EU.
Condi must be aware of both facts. The careless use may be a signal that it has nothing to do with her.
And it is messy. EU is not united in support to American folly, Kouchner told Condi that couple of days ago. China, Russia openly opose this, as many other countries.
The question is: why The United States supported and contiunues to support creation of terrorist narcostate in the soft belly of Europe?
That is the question Political Science professor tries to skip by playing being uninformed.
Yep the Condi for President gang here must be having second thoughts about her now
On the contrary, an Albania take over will lead to more instability! Once the Albanians take Kosovo, they will concentrate on their takeovers in Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece and additional areas in Serbia.
Some stability!
I said it before and I’ll say it again:
The Kosovo Albanians are primitives with a clan-based culture, and live by the code of the blood-feud. They are not competent to run a state. No competence, no stability.
And given their muslim orientation, added to their lack of competence, an independent “Kosova” will be another pre-2001 Afghanistan, in the heart of Europe.
I am sure that Condi, as well as the other neo-cons and their opposite globalist counterparts, the Third Way, are smart and knowledgeable enough to be aware of these things. So they must have another reason for backing “Kosova”. Since that other reason is undoubtedly in support of globalism, I am against it!!!!
Every great power sought to control the area since time immemorial. Foreign meddling / divide et impera is the prime cause of instability there.
Rice has jumped the shark.
First she could not even get an op-ed published and she is now being ignored by the media except where she is making a situation worse.
The fact is Kosovo is a foot hold situation for the moslems invading Europe again.
The Saudis funded the moslems in their genocide and elimination of churches. Every time rice visits the saudis she comes up with their stupid statements.
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