Kosovo MPs proclaim independence
Well, they've done it - Kosovo declared independence this afternoon. The game is on. From the BBC Kosovo MPs proclaim independence Kosovo's parliament has unanimously endorsed a declaration of independence from Serbia, in an historic session. The declaration, read by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, said Kosovo would be a democratic country that respected the rights of all ethnic communities. The US and a number of EU countries are expected to recognise Kosovo on Monday. Serbia's PM denounced the US for helping create a "false state". Serbia's ally, Russia, called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting. Correspondents say the potential for trouble between Kosovo's Serbs and ethnic Albanians is enormous. Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica blamed the US which he said was "ready to violate the international order for its own military interests". "Today, this policy of force thinks that it has triumphed by establishing a false state," Mr Kostunica said. "Kosovo is Serbia," Mr Kostunica said, repeating a well-known nationalist Serb saying. Search for equality The declaration was approved with a show of hands. No-one opposed it. "We have waited for this day for a very long time," Mr Thaci told parliament before reading the text, paying tribute to those who had died on the road to independence. KOSOVO PROFILE Population about two million Majority ethnic Albanian; 10% Serb Under UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 1999 2,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independence Nato to stay to provide security "The independence of Kosovo marks the end of the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia," the prime minister said - Kosovo was a unique case that should not set a precedent. He said it would be built in accordance with the UN plan drawn by former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari - at the end of negotiations which did not produce a deal. The international military and civilian presence - also envisaged by the Ahtisaari plan - was welcome, he added. There should be no fear of discrimination in new Kosovo, he said, vowing to eradicate any such practices - and conveying a similar message in Serbian. President Fatmir Sejdiu had a similar pledge - also addressed in Serbian. The declaration was then signed by all the MPs present. Kosovo's top leaders are due to go to a sports hall later where the Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra is expected to play Beethoven's Ode to Joy. They are also due to sign their names on giant iron letters spelling out the word "newborn" which was to be displayed in Pristina. Fireworks and street celebrations will follow. Thousands of people have poured onto the streets. Some ethnic Albanians, who make up the majority of Kosovo's population, earlier laid flowers on the graves of family members killed by Serbian security forces during years of conflict and division. The BBC's Nick Thorpe in the flashpoint town of Mitrovica says local and UN police, as well as the Nato troops, are maintaining a high profile to reassure all the citizens of Kosovo that they have nothing to fear. Limitations The declaration approved by Kosovo's parliament contains limitations on Kosovan independence as outlined in Mr Ahtisaari's plan. Kosovo, or part of it, cannot join any other country. It will be supervised by an international presence. Its armed forces will be limited and it will make strong provisions for Serb minority protection. Recognition by a number of EU states, including the UK and other major countries, will come on Monday after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, says the BBC's Paul Reynolds. The US is also expected to announce its recognition on Monday. Three EU states - Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia - have told other EU governments that they will not recognise Kosovo, says our correspondent. Russia's foreign ministry has indicated that Western recognition of an independent Kosovo could have implications for the Georgian breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign in 1999 drove out Serb forces.

There's nothing like giving succour to any group which has managed to colonise an area of someone else's country... Leicester and Bradford next then!

The expected Serbian backlash has begun with attacks on EU and US buildings in both Kosovo and Belgrade, but it remains to be seen how sustained and serious it is.

The Serb backlash seems to be building momentum. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/19/kosovo.serbia2

Things are getting serious. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/20/kosovo.serbia

What did they expect? Did the Americans and the EU think that by merely recognising the existance of a new 'country' (i.e. completely artifical construct - less 'real' than 'Belgium') that the Serbs would just roll over and take it? This looks like huge miscalculation and shows, yet again, how shallow and useless our government is by going along with this nonsense. Yet again, IT'S ALL ABOUT OIL. New oil and gas pipelines are due to run from Northern Albania, through Kosovo to Bulgaria. If it wasn't for that, the Yanks wouldn't be involved there at all.

How long before the Jocks follow suit, and proclaim independance. The milliburn was one of the first to recognise the new country, well done David, the scots will throw that back at you.

And don't forget Ulster! Http://www.civilliberty.org.uk/resources/ulster_nationalism.html

This is an interesting point i.e. what constitutes a 'country'? Many of these tiny nations would be unsustainable if left to fend for themselves but have been given confidence to achieve independence by being part of something much larger, like the EU. Kosovo would be unsustainable, a basket-case in fact, if it wasn't being propped up by the USA and the EU. Some EU countries like Spain and Cyprus have been extremly cautious to recognise Kosovo as a 'country' because of their own problems with independence movements (NOT the UK though - now THAT is very curious when you think about it...). However, I suspect that the EU itself wouldn't be too bothered if some states disintegrated into smaller units. I suspect that it could make its job easier.

suspect that it could make its job easier. It would certainly increase EU power as it would dilute the influence that the French and Germans have, as well as further sidelining Britain. Just imagine the prospect of Britain losing even more rights through QMV on a tight vote carried against us by Kosovo! The enlargement of the EU is all about emasculation and subjugation. The more members there are, the less power and control over our own country we have. We don't have any influence, we never have had and never will do, that is the biggest lie of the last 100 years.

Interesting demo in London today. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7260848.stm

"The majority of people in London aren't English, but we can't take London away from England. Because it is England. That's exactly how we feel about our country. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales etc. etc. The government is being very short-sighted in being so quick to recognise Kosovo as an independent state. Meanwhile, the Serbs seem to be hatching plans to make Northern Kosovo independent! From the BBC: Just The Beginning

The Serbs have been meeting the Russians in Belgrade. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7262134.stm

Well, if I had to give an example of something totally inadequate, lame and inane it would be this comment from the article: Although its focus is mainly economic, the visit is seen as a sign of support for Serbia's view on Kosovo, the BBC's Bethany Bell in Belgrade says. Kosovo's declaration of independence sparked pro-*test*-('")s in Serbia last week. The last sentence really does belong in a "No shit, Sherlock!" category. Can we have one please? Serbia's VIEW on Kosovo? You mean on part of their country being stolen from them without a "by your leave"? What a stupid donkey! The Russians may well be portrayed as typically backing the 'enemies of the West' but in this instance I have to go along with them. More should have been done to evict the Albanians from Kosovo, not bombing the Serbs to pieces.