Kosovo Independent Prishtina Kosova Independece

The Prime Minister of Kosova, Hashim Thaçi said that by the beginning of the next week Kosova will have its constitution, state symbols and that it will be ready for the declaration of the independence, adding that he knows the date of the independence but that he will reveal it in the coming days.

The Kosovars' much-awaited day of independence seems to be threatened, over fears that their aspiration for self-determination goes down the drain. But observers warn that playing with the ethnic Albanians' dream of independence may lead to resurgence of violence that would afflict the Balkan region.
The latest report by the United Nations special envoy for future status process for Kosova, Martti Ahtisaari, strongly recommended an independent state of Kosova under European Union (EU) and international supervision.

But Russia's stance that vehemently opposes any UN declaration granting independence to Kosova has led to a new round of 120-day negotiations on the future status of the province.

The negotiations led by the US, Russia, and the Kosovo Contact Group will have the final say on the province's destiny, and will determine whether or not Kosovar Albanians have the right to independence.

IslamOnline.net (IOL) recently conducted this interview with Professor Ferid Agani to highlight the heated debate on Kosova's future status that will be a turning point in the history of the Muslim-majority province.




Kosovar Prof. Ferid Agani is a 48-year-old physician who has been a member of parliament since 2004. (IOL photo)
Agani is a Kosovar member of parliament and an active player inside Kosova's political scene. He represents the Justice Party, established in 1999, and is one of its founders. In addition, he is a physician specialized in neurological psychiatrics and is the current chairman of the Strategic Management Department of Kosova's Health Ministry.

“Kosova independent by summer”


By Daily Jutarnji List
Published: April 17, 2007

ZAGREB -- Ahtisaari’s deputy Albert Rohan says Kosova will be granted supervised independence, while Russia will not use its veto at the UN.

Rohan told Zagreb daily Jutarnji List he did not wish to speculate on whether Serbian and Russian efforts to delay the United Nations Security Council decision on Kosova’s future status would lead to incidents escalating into violence, creating “negative press” for the province’s Albanians.
However, Rohan told the newspaper he agreed the situation in Kosova, although currently stable, was so volatile any incident could spark off more serious violence.
“The sooner we have a decision, the better. We oppose unreasonable delays,” Rohan said.
Rohan explained he expected negotiations over a new Kosova resolution to take place during May, while the resolution itsel! ! f would be adopted at the end of that month.
“In any case, Kosova should be independent before the summer,” he added.

Rohan told the daily Ahtisaari’s proposal “had no alternative”, as well as that after eight years of uncertainty Kosova’s status needed to be resolved.
“Miloševiæ is the one who lost Kosova, everybody knows this. The fault is not with the current Serbian leadership and this fact needs to be faced at last,” Rohan said.
Rohan also said he did not believe Russia would reach for its veto in a council session discussing a new Kosova resolution.
“Permanent Security Council member states have been responsible in the past, rarely using their veto powers,” Rohan explained.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --Burns said: "USA will support a declaration of independence by the people of Kosova"
By Associated Press
Published: April 17, 2007
In a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, the Undersecretary of State said that the U.S. considers independence “the only option for the province,” the Associated Press reports.
Letting go of Kosova would allow Belgrade to move toward greater integration with Western Europe and beyond troubled relations with Washington, Burns said, while gesturing toward Ivan Vujaèiæ, Serbia's ambassador, who was sitting in the front row.
Burns said that the United States hoped that a plan proposed by chief United Nations envoy for Kosova, Martti Ahtisaari granting the province supervised statehood would be debated by the UN Security Council within weeks.
Under the proposal, Kosova would have interim period of international supervision with its own army, flag, anthem and constitution, before achieving full statehood.
"We are on the verge of a major development with the looming independence of Kosova as a new state in the international system," Burns said.
"It is very clear to the United States that the future of Kosova should be one of independence and we will lead the way as authors of a resolution that would allow that to happen."
Serbia has rejected the proposal and has been supported by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council with veto power.
During a question period following Monday's speech, Ambassador Vujaèiæ (serb-origine) asked Burns, why the U.S. would not consider Serbia's proposals for extensive autonomy for Kosova.
"There is every reason to believe that that solution put forward by Russia, put forward by the Serb government itself, would lead to more violence, rather than less," Burns replied.
"You put forward the proposal of autonomy. We think that is 10 to 12 years too late," Burns said.
Vujaèiæ also asked Burns whether the United States would rule out unilateral recognition of Kosova.
The question is sensitive because some have suggested that if Russia carries out threats that it has made to veto a resolution on the Ahtisaari plan, other countries, including the United States, should recognize Kosova's independence anyway.
"We will support a declaration of independence by the people of Kosova," Burns said.
But he made clear that the United States expected that UN resolution would pass and that recognition would follow.

It looks increasingly like the Muslim province of Kosova will gain independence from Serbian authority. Kosova's leaders including recently elected Prime Minister Hashim Thaci vowed this week to declare Kosova independent after nearly 2 years of talks between the EU and Russia, under US mediation, failed to reach agreement. Kosova has been under UN control since 1999 when NATO forces intervened to quell Serbian attacks on the Muslim Albanian majority who make up 90 to 95% of the population of the region. While the Serbs have so far remained steadfast in opposition, expecting Kosova to remain an "autonomous province" of Serbia, the Albanians seek the US/EU designed status of a "supervised independence." Whilst the Russian backed Serbs will not go down without a fight for the resource rich region, which they claim since their infamous and comprehensive loss to the Uthmani Khilafah in the battle of Kosova Field in 1389, it is looking increasingly likely that the US position for Kosova will win through and a form of independence will be declared in the coming weeks. Serbia is being offered the carrot of future membership of the European Union, and the EU will be keen to prise away a key Russian ally and bring them to their table. Muslims should not be fooled into feeling that the war in Kosova of 1999 was to protect them as Tony Blair has consistently argued. The Americans worked diligently not only to establish an enormous military base in the heart of Kosova in (Ferrizaj), but they also worked to weaken Serbia, Russia's natural ally in the region. The recent separation of Montenego from Serbia further reduced Serbian/Russian influence. The glaring inconsistencies over Balkans policy (neglect over Serbian aggression in Bosnia for example) becomes clear when put in the context of the plans to ultimately isolate Serbian influence back to its smallest land locked state, and the division of Muslims throughout the weak states of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzogovina, Macedonia and now Kosova. One of the conditions of the limited statehood the Kosovan Albanian leadership has agreed to, is that they will not seek unification with any of their traditional and historic Muslim neighbours including Macedonia and Albania itself. Like other pseudo western sanctioned "Muslim" states- Palestine comes to mind-an independent Kosova too will not be allowed to have its own military force or a foreign policy; a 16,000 strong NATO force will be permanently stationed in Kosova. Kosova will remain a satellite of the Americans with help from the EU. The supervised independence will extend to economic control of a limited and aid dependent budget, and its supervisors will expect absolute loyalty in return for the removal of the control of its traditional Serbian enemy from Belgrade. The messy mosaic that it is now finally falling into place throughout the Balkans, including the appalling results of the Dayton accords for Bosnia-Herzogovina, managed to sideline Serbian and Muslim strengths. Balkanisation is a well-known geopolitical term that perfectly describes the results of a successful division and weakening of any region. The potential for future conflict remains not only in Bosnia with its Serbian "Republika Srpska" region but also with the strong Serbian enclave in the Northern Kosova region of Mitrovica. This potential future flashpoint will help keep the Albanians in thrall to their western masters.Most Kosovans look forward to the end of Serbian dominance, and many might even have been grateful once for the NATO intervention of 1999. However, the gloss and near euphoria of that time has certainly worn off and the harsh reality of the new regime brought by the US/EU is clear: unemployment is over 60%, industry remains stagnant with the "supervisors" having closed down mining operations, and the dispersal of the youth to find work throughout Europe continues. Although 3,000 took to the streets of capital Prishtina last week to announce that "independence is the only option," the expression of "out of the frying pan and into the fire" seems more appropriate. No state, province or region in the Muslim world will ever taste real independence until the Khilafah is established. Until then, these countries will be either under direct occupation, under colonial ruling by a proxy, or under control by the massive economic and political dominance of external powers. Smaller states and countries will always be slaves to the interests of others, utterly dependent on a regional or global power for its protection; used as pawns in someone elses game. Until that time, the problems for the people of Kosova look set to continue in one shape or form.