SERBIAN UNITY CONGRESS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
During a recent visit to Portugal, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated that “we’re committed to an independent Kosovo and we will get there one way or another.”
In the current delicate political juncture, when key international players (including UN Security Council members and EU nations ) involved in helping determine a fair resolution to the Kosovo issue have agreed that a new round of good-faith negotiations between the parties, with no fixed time limits or default solutions, is necessary to move forward from the current stalemate - the present statement amounts to a sabotage that mocks the process and dooms the outcome.
A similar - though less brazen - stance by the State Department at the outset of the 2006 Vienna status talks likewise wiped out any substantive negotiations between the parties and directly led to the current political impasse. With a continuing American responsibility for assisting a just resolution to this political conflict, its ability to act as honest and independent broker is virtually destroyed with such an irresponsible bias towards one particular solution.
Furthemore, the current insistence on this specific outcome compromises US foreign policy on multiple levels. Defying international law by pressing the dismembering of a state that has clearly committed to its territorial integrity is bound to open a Pandora’s box of secessionist claims worldwide, resultant instability and sundry blowback of a kind historically poorly handled by the US. Moreover, the abandonment of the earlier sensible “[human rights] standards before status” policy for the province, in the face of naked threats of violence by a narco-mafia clique with reported Al-Qaeda ties, is certain to bode ill for both our ongoing efforts in the War on Terror and the perceived sincerity of our worldwide human rights agenda.
If there was any question about the effect of the Secretary’s public comments, that was promptly removed when the provincial Prime Minister Agim Ceku stated he will call on the Assembly of Kosovo to have November 28th as the day when the province will unilaterally declare its independence. This plan (called “Plan U” for “Unilateral Independence”) was presented to the Kosovo Albanian delegation in advance of its trip to Washington DC this week, to meet with Secretary Rice.
This is sadly a very predictable outcome of a very irresponsible remark. We now have the Kosovo governmental institutions poised for a declaration of unilateral independence, an outcome feared by all other international factors, but with the explicit support of the United States. While the rest of the International Community is desperatly trying to figure out a sustanable solution and bring lasting peace to the region, the Secretary of State is presenting the United States foreign policy as one where terrorism is not only tolerated, but rewarded.
The Serbian Unity Congress strongly condemns such destructive statements, especially coming from a key player in the ongoing discussions on the future of this province. Furthermore, the Serbian Unity Congress calls on members of Congress and Senate to come out strongly against such acts, exerting their mandated oversight of the State Department, raise the level of scrutiny of the Administration’s policy regarding Kosovo-Metohija, and its implications on US security and national interest.
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This is a great message to Secretary Rice! Let’s hope she reads it at least.
Comment by Marija Jakovich — July 24, 2007 #
Bravo, SUC! This letter was a brave and bold move that was much needed.
It is now up to us — both Serb Americans and all Americans of conscience — to make sure that this message cannot and will not be ignored.
Serbia deserves better from our State Department, and so does America!
Comment by Melana V Pejakovich — July 25, 2007 #
Sec.Rice should be smart enough to know that International law would be broken by turning over the province of Serbia-Kosovo-to an independent,alien Albanian entity.More and more fair-minded Americans are beginning to see through the media lies and distortions and are connecting the dots.Keep up the good work-and all of us should continue to inform our circle of family,friends and aqaintances about the truth.
Comment by Kingsley — July 26, 2007 #
W has to be the worst leader of any nation in the history of mankind. If his last name were not Bush, he couldn’t make assisatant manager of the sporting goods department at his local Walmart.
Furthermore, his cabinet appointees are total buffoons also. Rice had absolutely no credentials to be Secretary of State and is only there because she is a triple minority - black, a woman and mentally handicapped.
Comment by Dushko — July 28, 2007 #
Imagine if all you people put your heads together to solve genuine problems such as hunger, global warming or medical suffering instead of fighting over a field in the south of Europe, what a wonderful world it would be.
Comment by Jorunn — July 31, 2007 #
Imagine what a wonderful world it would be if Islam did not exist.
Comment by Dushko — August 3, 2007 #
The united States is lying either to the hundreds of countries they have signed treaties with or the Kosovo Albanians . Russia and the EU should refuse to allow United States on the negotiation team . Just before the negotations start United States says we will negotate until such and such time. If by than its not settled we will give Kosovo independence . Why negotiate just give them independence right now ? Why did the united States agree to resolution 1244 any way ?
Why didnt you bomb Serbia until you had Serbia agree to unconditional serrender ? instead of a peace agreement you never meant to keep . Serbia was waiting for NATZOs ground troops that never came . Just tons of high priced bombs .
Comment by eric — August 16, 2007 #
Eric, after 78 days of bombing the NATO alliance was about to crack with Greece signaling enough and a possible veto to stop hostilities. UN Resolution 1244 proved that the entire attack was avoidable if the U.S. knew what diplomacy meant at Rambouilett.
Three demands the Serbs sought at Rambouilett, KLA to be disbanded, any international force that would enter Kosovo would be under the authority of the UN and finally that Kosovo would remain a part of Serbia.
Guess what, all 3 were signed on June 10, 1999 within UN Resolution 1244 which makes the entire illegal NATO attack avoidable.
I guess bombing the Serbs into submission would guarentee western corporations access to the lucrative Serbian markets that Milosevich had a stranglehold upon, rich mineral deposits in the south and ofcourse that oil pipeline to be built from Bulgaria to Albania. Not to mention book deals for the Clinton administration and for NATO commanders.
Comment by oxi — August 18, 2007 #
Kosovo and metohija is the crown of the Serbian
people given to them by the Lord God Almighty.
It was said of old that that the Lord God of
Israel would take the Kingdom from the them
and give it to another people.
That people and Kingdom is Serbia.
The Serbian nation is the olive tree to which
all the nations have been and continue to be
grafted into, of course this applies only to
those who remain faithful and true.
It is the Serbian Orthodox Church that is the beloved church of revelation and all those who come to her aid shall be spared the trial that coming upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth
The Serbian people dwell in the hand of their God
and who can snatch away?
If God is for them who can be against them!
Kosovo is Serbia! Kosovo is Serbia! Kosovo is Serbia!
Comment by Aleksandar Glisovich — September 7, 2007 #
APEL VLADI I PREDSEDNIKU REPUBLIKE SRBIJE
Apelujemo* na Vladu Srbije, Premijera Srbije i Predsednika Srbije da u Generalnoj skupštini Ujedinjenih nacija predlože Rezoluciju kojom bi se proglasilo suprotnim međunarodnom pravu svako jednostrano ili multilateralno priznanje Kosova kao nezavisnog ili polu-nezavisnog međunarodno-pravnog subjekta. Smatramo da bi svako jednostrano ili multilateralno priznanje Kosova bilo suprotno osnovnim normama i principima međunarodnog prava, a posebno ako bi ovo priznanje nastupilo mimo procesa koji su u toku u Savetu bezbednosti Ujedinjenih nacija. U cilju onemogućavanja da do priznanja Kosova dođe od strane nekih Država-članica Ujedinjenih nacija, predlažemo da tekst sledećeg Nacrta Rezolucije hitno bude upućen u proceduru u Ujedinjenim nacijama:
N A C R T R E Z O L U C I J A
Generalna skupština
Pozivajući se na član 2. Povelje Ujedinjenih nacija,
Pozivajući se na član 24. Povelje Ujedinjenih nacija,
Pozivajući se na član 25. Povelje Ujedinjenih nacija,
Potsećajući na Deklaraciju o principima međunarodnog prava koja se odnosi na prijateljske odnose i saradnju između država saglasno Povelji Ujedinjenih nacija, iz 1970. godine,
Uzimajući u obzir Rezoluciju Saveta bezbednosti 1244. iz1999. godine,
Traži od Država-članica Ujedinjenih nacija da unilateralno ili multilateralno ne priznaju nezavisnost Kosova dok se ne donese Rezolucija Saveta bezbednosti Ujedinjenih nacija u kojoj se utvrđuje konačni status Kosova.
* Tim istraživača Instituta za političke studije u Beogradu kojim koordinira dr Igor Janev, viši naučni saradnik Instituta (postavljeno na sajt 29.9.2007.)
?topic=1&lang=sc ;
http://www.ipsbgd.edu.yu/
Comment by Prof. dr. Igor Janev — October 17, 2007 #
Maybe it would be better to donate that lobyist money to the hungry Serbian children, then to spend it on lost cause. No matter what you do, West will align its self with “traditionaly” Western people, such as Bosnians and Albanians, since they were for some part and still some of are, under patronage of Vatican.
But because of radical softists like these, many Serbian children will see dim future and go to bed hungry and crying every night.
Why can’t you people just for once in your life recognize that you are defeated and let ordinary Serbian people hope for better future in EU!
Comment by Boba — November 7, 2007 #
Westrern countries of Bosnians and Albanians allied with the US . What direction do you face when you pray ?
Comment by eric — November 10, 2007 #
This Bush regime is the most disgraceful administraion in the history of US politics - it flouts international law at will and knows nothing about the history of the countries in which it interferes. Now we know why the US is so hated as it has troops in over 100 countries. The US is the most vile and corrupt country in the world and I pray for economic ammagedon and when you are broke the world will cry crocodile tears on your grave.
Comment by Alexander — January 25, 2008 #
Nato and its allies should be removed from Serbian soil and should be replaced with a united Russsian/Serbian force,and Kosovo would remain as part of Serbia.
Comment by chris — January 30, 2008 #
What does a Presbyterian, black woman from Alabama really know about Kosovo and its meaning to millions of people living on the other side of the world? As long as there are such mentally deficient people in high places, this world will never make a change. And how dare does she even make such a comment, that SHE will get Kosovo independence, one way or another. Excuse my gag reflex!
Comment by Milica — February 13, 2008 #
In fact, the ICJ has never to date refused to give an opinion on discretionary grounds (the refusal in Legality of the Use by a State of Nuclear Weapons in Armed Conflict was a jurisdictional matter - See the Wall opinion, p. 156, para. 44). Still, the Court has frequently said that it still enjoys some discretion as to whether it should give an opinion, but it has also said that, in principle, it should do its job as part of the UN system. When it might refuse to do so has become a very difficult thing to predict. Two points from Eastern Carelia may have survived, though: it may be inappropriate to give an opinion where the question is not actually of any international interest, so that the question appears as an attempt to circumvent the limitations of the Court’s contentious jurisdiction (see the Wall opinion, pp. 158-9, paras. 49-50, and J.A. Frowein and K. Oellers-Frahm, in A. Zimmermann, C. Tomuschat and K. Oellers-Frahm (eds.), The Statute of the International Court of Justice. A Commentary (Oxford: OUP, 2006), Art. 65 MN 36). Another important factor may be the absence of crucial evidence occasioned by the absence of a closely interested State: Eastern Carelia, p. 28; Western Sahara, pp. 28-9 (para. 46); Wall opinion, p. 161 (para. 56); ibid., Declaration of Judge Buergenthal, pp. 240 et seq.; Frowein and Oellers-Frahm, ibid., MN 40-2.
Neither consideration seems relevant with respect to the Kosovo question. It may be that the Court would, possibly even could, invent a new reason of judicial policy to refuse to entertain the question, but I think the Court might be doing itself a disservice if it did so.
Comment by Igor Janev — April 21, 2008 #