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Kosovo has formally declared its
independence from Serbia and become the
world's newest state in a move opposed by
Serbia and Russia but backed by many western
governments.
Many ethnic Albanians are waving the U.S.
and UK flags, in recognition of NATO's role
in the region.
1 of 4 Lawmakers in the legislature of the
former Serbian province approved the
declaration of independence at an
extraordinary session Sunday afternoon. It
was read out in Albanian, Serbian and
English by prime minister Hashim Thaci
before the approval of state symbols
including Kosovar's new national flag and
anthem.
Thaci said that Kosovo was an "independent
and democratic" state, adding: "From this
day onwards, Kosovo is proud, independent
and free."
CNN's Alessio Vinci, reporting from the
Kosovar capital Pristina, said that
thousands of Kosovo's Albanian population
had braved the freezing wind and cold to
sing, dance, wave flags in the streets and
light firecrackers ahead of the much
anticipated vote. Some revellers were even
said to be firing gunshot into the air.
"It's been like this for several hours now,"
he said.
"It's a day they have been waiting for for
such a long time that many of them are
trying to figure out just how they got to
this day."
President George Bush said Sunday that
Kosovo's status must be resolved before the
Balkans can become stable and that the
United States supports the Ahtisaari plan
which calls for a form of supervised
independence.
The European Union decided Saturday to
launch a mission of about 2,000 police and
judicial officers to replace the United
Nations mission that has been controlling
the province since the end of the war with
Serbia in 1999.
Kosovo has been under U.N. supervision and
patrolled by a NATO-led peacekeeping force
since the end of the three-month war, in
which NATO warplanes pounded Serbia to roll
back a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" of the
province's Albanian population under former
then-President Slobodan Milosevic.
The disputed province is dear to the Serbs,
Orthodox Christians who regard it as Serbian
territory. But it is equally coveted by
Kosovo's ethnic Albanians, Muslims who have
a 90 percent majority, and two years of
talks on its final status ended in failure
last December.
"Its status must be resolved in order for
the Balkans to be stable," President Bush
told reporters during a news conference in
Tanzania Sunday.
Bush said the Ahtisaari plan -- named after
former Finnish President Marti Ahtisaari --
is the best option. The proposal would give
Kosovo limited statehood under international
supervision.
President Bush added that "it's in Serbia's
interest to be aligned with Europe and the
Serbian people can know that they have a
friend in America." Watch the changing
political climate in the Balkans »
"We are heartened by the fact that the
Kosovo government has clearly proclaimed its
willingness and its desire to support
Serbian rights in Kosovo," Bush said.
Thaci said Thursday he would establish a new
government office for minorities and it
would protect the rights of minorities after
the province declares independence.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has
promised his country will refrain from using
force against Kosovo after independence,
though he has warned that Serbia will take
punitive diplomatic, political, and economic
measures against the province.
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Russia -- Serbia's historic ally -- has
remained opposed to Kosovo's independence.
Russia, which has fought two wars against
separatist rebels in its southwestern
republic of Chechnya, has said that U.S. and
European support for Kosovo's independence
could lead to an "uncontrollable crisis" in
the Balkans.
The EU said Saturday that "around 1,900
international police officers, judges,
prosecutors and customs officials and
approximately 1,100 local staff will be
based in headquarters in Pristina or located
throughout the judicial and police system in
Kosovo."
The EU mission's objective is "to support
the Kosovo authorities by monitoring,
mentoring and advising on all areas related
to the rule of law, in particular in the
police, judiciary, customs and correctional
services," it said. |
