Michael Totten, doing what I think is the dream job -travel writer -reports from the Balkans: Albanian pro-Americanism resembles that of both Poland and Iraqi Kurdistan. The unspeakably oppressive communist regime pushed Albanians strongly into the U.S.-led Western camp, and the humanitarian rescue of Albanians in Kosovo from Slobodan Milosevic’s tyrannical despotism bolstered that sentiment [...]
Kosovo Declares Independence
I figured I’d do a Kosovo post, because of my experience there. Here’s a roundup of the European press reaction to the unilateral declaration of independence: From the Independent, Optimism! Today, Kosovo becomes only the third new country of the 21st century. Its declaration of independence will be recognised by a majority of the European [...]
Kosovo poised for independence within 10 days
Success (?) PRISTINA, Serbia (AFP) — Kosovo appears set to declare independence in 10 days’ time, just ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, sources in Pristina and observers say. The authorities were “awaiting the green light from the West and consider the weekend before the EU meeting as the most probable date,” according [...]
More Talks on Kosovo
Stick a fork in it. More talk isn’t going to help this situation, only a decision one way or another will. MOSCOW, Dec 17 (Reuters) – Russia called for the creation of a new “road map” for Kosovo on Monday, warning that the future of the breakaway Serbian province risked sparking an “uncontrollable crisis”. Russia, [...]
No Independence for Kosovo Yet
I guess they are standing by to stand by: PRISTINA (Reuters) – Kosovo Albanians said on Monday they would start immediate talks with Western backers about an independence declaration, but Russia said unilateral recognition could trigger a “chain reaction” of problems around the world. “From today, Kosovo begins consultations with key international partners to coordinate [...]
Will Kosovo Declare Independence Tomorrow?
December 10th is the end of the road for negotiations: BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU leaders are expected to agree this week that efforts to reach a negotiated solution to the Kosovo problem are exhausted, and offer to take responsibility for security and justice in the breakaway Serbian province. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said [...]
