TIRANA -- Albania's foreign minister said Tirana doesn't plan to unify with Kosovo.
Source: UPI, Tanjug
Close the entire text of the article here
Mustafaj said his government won't form a "greater Albania" but Tirana wants to build permanent and intensive cooperation between Albania and Kosovo, Tanjug said quoting the Austrian daily Kurier of Vienna.
A UN plan giving Kosovo internationally supervised independence was submitted to the UN Security Council for consideration last week. Serbia rejects the plan, while Albanian leaders in Kosovo insist on independence.
I wonder how the US & UK would read the same statement with a few changes
"Drašković said his government won't form a "greater Serbia" but Belgrade wants to build permanent and intensive cooperation between Serbia and Republika Srpska"
- & the US & UK "genuinly" believe Ahtisaari plan will not be a precedence - I can't imagine it being further from the truth - that said it is clear that the proposed plan has lttle support and is starting to sink more rapidly as the days & weeks roll on!
(Princip, UK, 10 April 2007 11:14)
I disagree Princip, apart from Russia there is noone else that is doing anything. Will indonesia, south africa etc defy US, EU? I doubt it. ANd Russia in the end will be forced to go against everyone in security council, and I doubt they will do that.
(Daniel, 10 April 2007 12:13)
In many ways you are right South Africa, Indonesia and while we are at it Slovakia, Italy, Peru, Pamama, Ghana, DR Congo & Qatar will not defy the US or EU but neither do they need to promote the dismemberment of a fellow UN recognised state - abstain is all that is required !!!! It will be upto the US & UK to promote the dismemberment of a fellow UN recognised state in order to obtain the 9 affirmatives to get a new resolution and surely even you Daniel must realise the enourmous diplomatic struggle that this would require form a divided EU and a tied up US what with Iraq, Iran and other more pressing issues.
If there is one ounce of doubt in either direction then all of these UN recognised states will neither defy nor promote but the end result will remain that such a one sided solution cannot be imposed - no veto required !
"Futile & conterproductive" - sounds very apt again!!!
(Princip, UK, 10 April 2007 12:49)
Daniel - it is the very fact that these countries are not expected to protest which may make them do just that!
Many nations are tired of being treated with such disrespect and disregard. The US has created an Empire and seems to expect everyone to just fall in line.
(..., 10 April 2007 13:02)
Also, Daniel consider that China has said it will vote in union with Russia in relation to Kosovo & Metohija - a double veto again in a year
[link] - now that would be a statement that the world is no longer US Uni-polar. I can imagine there are many in Russia & China who would want such a statement not in Serbia's interetst but in their own interest and will wish this to be the outcome especially during May when the US were chairing the UN SC!!!
Please note that this is not a precedent that relates just to Bosnian Serbs but read the following analogy for Los Angeles
"Dissolution Through Immigration"
[link]
It would seem that even Americans are starting to realise the same precedent would have future implications on the US - another reason to doubt the folly of this imposed one sided plan - if US citzens can play out such a scenario what then of the 10 non-permanent members - surely they will be doubtful of their own borders by affirming such an imposition as the dismemberment of a fellow UN recognised state.
(Princip, UK, 10 April 2007 13:27)
It would be wrong if any Albanian-Albanian polititian stated anything else other than what Mr Mustafaj said about the future strong cooperation between Albania-Kosova. It is in the interest of the same people living in two countries.
Let's assume (hope!) that all those that have written previous comments believe that creating a vacuum-wall between Albania-Kosova (that is between Albanians) as it was between 45-91 is wrong.
Albania has, and it will probably have even stronger cooperation and links with Kosova, such as cultural, education, business, etc, simply because Albanians live in both sides of the border. When I cross the border between Albania-Kosova and the other way round, I don't feel like I am going to another country, this border is formal.
(luledielli, Prishtina, 10 April 2007 14:53)
Let's face reality here! Albania will join with Kosovo if it is given independence. What is being said now is just lip service to appease the fear of greater Albania. That has been their goal all along, and it won't stop with Kosovo. Next is "East Kosovo" Presevo valley, Montenegro and don't forget Macidonia & Greece. It's just a matter of time!
(Zoran, 10 April 2007 15:59)
Zoran, you couldn't be more wrong.
Albanian's do not believe in a Greater Albania; it is only a select few, and those select few are not represented in the Albanian government. Make sure you distinguish between Serbia's ultra-nationalist and radical government and Albania's liberal government.
(Art, 10 April 2007 17:49)
They don't need to join together. All that is needed is a free-trade agreement, an open borders agreement and a reciprocal defense treaty and hey presto! A de facto confederation of Albanian states.
(Jack, 10 April 2007 18:27)
you're right Zoran
just like Serbs aimed for Greater Serbia (to Tokyo) but failed miserably at it
at least someone is successful in creating something greater
(adam, 10 April 2007 19:08)
finally a Serb who has Albanians best interest in mind. :)
However, what you say is too far fetched. The political class in both countries (Kosovo and Albania) must die first before there is any unification between the two Albanias.
Hence, it is no surprise to me that Albania's foreign minister said what he said. He is a good soldier.
(Kreshnik, 10 April 2007 19:14)
Kosovo,Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, Kroatia will all join EU one day, possibly jointly. In the EU they'll both enjoy their greater ideas both Serbs and Albanians.
(Dragan, 10 April 2007 21:34)
Zoran, the goal is simple and not opposable; the people wants to be united! This is natural and one in the world can tell us not to do it. That simply wouldn't be right. I don't understand wich is your fear and mostly I don't understand WHY? Remember Zoran that being united is not a threat for the others, or you just mis the point because you reason like your politicians???
(Rovena, 10 April 2007 21:44)
Zoran, Albania does not have the power to carve borders around the Balkans. Give me a break, this is something you (Serbs) created by treating Albanians the way you did. Now you have to live with the consequences of your actions, so stop complaining.
(Tirons, 10 April 2007 22:06)
So you Princip and some others think that Serbia is in better shape then Kosova when it comes to diplomatic victory today?
THis is a good dream of some serbs but its only a dream that will lead nowhere.
Remember, the vast majority of Europe is Pro independnce, except some useless countries like Slovakia who herself was seperated from Check Republic even that the Checks didnt really do anything bad to slovaks and today Slovakia complains about Kosovo. Come on serbs, do you really thinks that Slovakia can do anything to stop Kosova become independent? USA is of course pro independence and is the leader of the world.
As for Russia and CHina, they do not really care at all for Serbia and this could be seen in 199 when they didnt even spend a bomb to help Serbia so forget about them helping you. Whenever Kosova is mentioned, Russians mention the Abhkazia problem, so this shows that Russians will only use the Kosova case for their favor there in the baltic area and not for Serbia at all. Remember, Russia is tricking you serbs once again with the help of the out of date and reality primeminister Kostunica.
Get the reality people, Kosova is a lost cafe for Serbia, everything is in kosova's favor today.
I would like to mention one think to PRINCIP and some others who hope too much on Russia. The russian parliament was built by a very rich albanian businessman and he has great connections with the russian government even today and of course this albanian businessman assured that Russia will not use its veto against Kosova but it will probably abstain. I will not mention his name but i hope PRINCIP will do some research to see who rebuilt the Russian parliament.
(Afrim Hoxha, 11 April 2007 04:44)