Serbia And Russia Step Up Kosovo Warnings

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

BELGRADE (AFP) - Serbia and Russia stepped up warnings on Thursday that they would not accept the independence of Kosovo ahead of a UN Security Council emergency meeting on the breakaway province.

The Serbian government annulled in advance any move by the province's Albanian-majority to "proclaim unilateral independence, because they violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia."

Saying its claim to Kosovo was guaranteed by the United Nations and international law, the government said: "These acts and actions represent the violent and unilateral secession of a part of the territory of Serbia and are therefore null and void."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his support for Serbia, stressing that any "unilateral declaration of independence would be immoral and illegal."

"The territorial integrity of states is enshrined in the principles of international law," Putin told an annual press conference in the Kremlin.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080214/wl_afp/kosovoserbiagovernment_080214161508

[rockymountaindem]

1. Russia is sending all kinds of warnings

Some of their spokesmen have hinted that if Kosovo gets independence, then Russia will flex more muscle in breakaway regions of Georgia. *That* would really irk the west. Lavrov says that won't happen, but some lower-level people have mentioned it. The Kremlin's also said that they would block any attempt by an independent Kosovo to join the UN.

[Malmo Blue]

2. You just read my mind.

It's funny that Russia are so staunchly opposed to Kosovo's independence, yet have no trouble aiding separatist movements in Georgia or Moldova. And with Putin threatening to nuke the Ukraine the other day, he is officially adopting a Bush-style foreign policy.

With the exception that Putin ain't dumb as a doorknob.

[rockymountaindem]

3. Putin may be smarter than Bush

but he might also be more paranoid, if you can imagine that.

I presume you're posting from Sweden? If so, I hope your time around here will indicate that American democracy is vibrant and competitive, if nothing else :)