(ANSA) - NEW YORK, 8 OTT - La Corte Internazionale di Giustizia (Cig), che ha sede a L'Aja, dara' un parere legale sullo status del Kosovo, che lo scorso febbraio ha dichiarato l'indipendenza dalla Serbia. Lo ha deciso oggi l'Assemblea Generale delle Nazioni Unite, approvando una risoluzione proposta dalla Serbia che chiede alla Corte di rispondere alla domanda: ''La dichiarazione unilaterale di indipendenza da parte delle istituzioni provvisorie del governo del Kosovo e' in accordo col diritto internazionale?''. La risoluzione e' stata approvata con 77 voti a favore, 6 contrari e 74 astensioni, tra cui numerosi paesi europei. (ANSA). YY6-RL
08/10/2008 17:41
(ANSA) - NEW YORK, 8 OTT - L'iniziativa della Serbia alle Nazioni Unite era stata osteggiata da alcuni Paesi dell'Unione europea, i quali pero' - dopo diverse consultazioni - si sono presentati al Palazzo di Vetro senza una posizione comune. L'ambasciatore della Gran Bretagna all'Onu John Sawers ha detto che la richiesta di avere un parere della Corte ''e' piu' politica che legale'' e ''serve a rallentare il riconoscimento del Kosovo come stato indipendente''.''L'indipendenza del Kosovo e' e rimarra' una realta' - ha proseguito Sawers - ed e' stata riconosciuta da 22 dei 27 Paesi dell'Unione europea, la stessa organizzazione di cui la Serbia vorrebbe far parte''. L'Europa, pero', si e' presentata al voto divisa: Cipro e Spagna, ad esempio, hanno appoggiato la richiesta serba, perche' - proprio come Belgrado - i rispettivi governi temono che le minoranze separatiste seguano il modello del Kosovo, dichiarando l'indipendenza. L'Italia invece, come la Francia e la Gran Bretagna, si e' astenuta. I giudici della Corte internazionale di giustizia dovrebbero impiegare dai due ai tre anni per preparare il parere legale sullo status dell'ex provincia serba a maggioranza albanese, creando di fatto un prolungato vuoto legale che diversi Paesi avrebbero preferito evitare. La Serbia ha perso il controllo del Kosovo quasi dieci anni or sono, nel 1999, dopo l'intervento della Nato per fermare gli interventi di pulizia etnica di Belgrado contro gli albanesi kosovari [menzogne di stampa, alle quali l'ANSA servile non può rinunciare. AM]. In seguito, la provincia e' stata amministrata dall'Onu per diversi anni e ha dichiarato la sua indipendenza lo scorso febbraio. (ANSA). YY6-RL
08/10/2008 18:06
(ANSA) - SKOPJE, 9 OTT - Il parlamento della repubblica ex jugoslava di Macedonia ha approvato stasera una risoluzione del governo che impegna il Paese a riconoscere l'indipendenza del Kosovo, l'ex provincia serba a maggioranza albanese separatasi unilateralmente da Belgrado il 17 febbraio scorso. La decisione, destinata a rinfocolare l'irritazione di Belgrado, e' stata presa sulla base di un'iniziativa sostenuta da tempo dai partiti della minoranza albanese di Macedonia. Essa segue di poche ore quella identica di un'altra repubblica ex jugoslava stretta fra i vincoli storici con Belgrado e le pressioni degli Usa e di alcuni governi europei, oltre che di una minoranza albanofona interna: il Montenegro. Quello di Skopje rappresenta il riconoscimento numero 50 per Pristina, la cui indipendenza - che Belgrado ha appena ottenuto dall'Asemblea generale delle Nazioni Unite di sottoporre a un parere della Corte di Giustizia dell'Aja - e' stata finora avallata dalla maggioranza dei Paesi occidentali. Ma solo da una minoranza di membri dell'Onu e non dal Consiglio di Sicurezza, blindat dal sostegno di Mosca e Pechino alle ragioni serbe. Fra i Paesi ex jugoslavi, intanto, il sofferto via libera macedone si aggiunge a quelli precocissimi di Slovenia e Croazia, oltre che a quello del Montenegro, lasciando la sola Bosnia-Erzegovina (dove la comunita' serba locale ha di fatto potere di veto) sul fronte avverso. (ANSA). COR-LR 09/10/2008 21:44
(di Alessandro Logroscino) (ANSA) - BELGRADO, 9 OTT - Doppio scacco stasera per la Serbia nella partita a risiko sul riconoscimento della contestata secessione del Kosovo, l'ex provincia a maggioranza albanese separatasi unilateralmente il 17 febbraio scorso. Il Montenegro e la Macedonia, due fra le repubbliche ex jugoslave piu' vicine a Belgrado per vincoli storici e culturali, hanno concesso in rapida successione il via libera all'indipendenza di Pristina, associandosi dopo qualche mese di esitazione alla linea della maggioranza dei Paesi occidentali, a dispetto dei moniti serbi e del rischio di nuove fibrillazioni diplomatiche nei Balcani. Le due decisioni, non inattese, sono giunte uno dopo l'altra a raffreddare l'entusiasmo di Belgrado per il voto con cui ieri l'Assemblea generale dell'Onu aveva approvato la richiesta serba di trasferire il dossier kosovaro alla Corte di Giustizia internazionale dell'Aja per un delicato parere legale sulla legittimita' dello strappo di Pristina. Il primo passo e' stato formalizzato dal piccolo Montenegro, unito alla Serbia in un solo Stato fino due anni e mezzo fa, che ha demandato la faccenda al governo annunciando il riconoscimento del Kosovo per bocca del ministro degli Esteri, Milan Rocen, nonostante la contrarieta' dell'opposizione filoserba interna. La risposta di Belgrado non si e' fatta attendere. Il giovane capo della diplomazia serba, Vuk Jeremic, che aveva paventato nei giorni scorsi una tale svolta come ''una pugnalata alla schiena'', ha invitato seccamente l'ambasciatore montenegrino a lasciare il suo Paese in quanto ''non piu' gradito''. E ha preannunciato il ritiro del proprio ambasciatore da Podgorica, ribadendo che il governo serbo del presidente Boris Tadic - per quanto moderato ed europeista - non rinuncera' a rivendicare il principio dell'integrita' territoriale. Jeremic ha accusato il Montenegro di aver ceduto alle ''pressioni'' di quelle potenze - Usa in testa, ma anche alcuni Paesi Ue - irritate dal ricorso serbo alla Corte di Giustizia. E ha sottolineato ''la speciale responsabilita' dei governi della regione'' sulle prospettive di ''pace e stabilita' a lungo termine nei Balcani''. Parole che promettono una fase difficile nei rapporti con Podgorica, con contraccolpi inevitabili sull'intreccio di scambi di merci e persone che li caratterizza. Ma che non hanno impedito alla Macedonia di accodarsi in tarda serata, con un voto del parlamento espresso dopo una sessione fiume. Voto che ha permesso l'adozione di una risoluzione del governo favorevole all'avvio di relazioni diplomatiche con Pristina anche a costo del prevedibile congelamento di quelle con Belgrado. Paese a maggioranza slavo-ortodossa - come il Montenegro e la Serbia - la Macedonia e' divenuto cosi' il 50/mo Paese a riconoscere il Kosovo indipendente, frutto dell'intervento militare con cui la Nato nel 1999 mise fine alla repressione delle istanze separatiste della regione da parte dell'allora regime di Slobodan Milosevic. Una realta' accettata finora da una minoranza di membri dell'Onu e non certificata dal Consiglio di Sicurezza (dove pesa il sostegno di Russia e Cina alla causa serba), ma benedetta dagli Usa, da 22 dei 27 dei Paesi dell'Ue e, a questo punto, anche da quattro delle sei repubbliche ex jugoslave: tutte tranne la Serbia e la Bosnia. Dietro le decisioni di Podgorica e Skopje fanno capolino del resto ragioni simili. Legate alla necessita' di tenere a freno le inquietudini delle rispettive minoranze albanesi interne - quasi un terzo della popolazione nel caso della Macedonia, teatro a inizio anni 2000 d'un cruento conflitto irredentista precariamente sopito -, ma soprattutto di adeguarsi alle scelte del club euroatlantico, traguardo strategico comune. Come ha notato fra gli altri l'ambasciatore russo a Belgrado, Aleksandr Konuzin, non esitando a bollare come ''ricatti'' i condizionamenti esercitati a suo dire dal campo occidentale. (ANSA). LR 09/10/2008 22:59
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 13 OTT - La Slovacchia ritiene che l'indipendenza unilaterale proclamata dal Kosovo il 17 febbraio sia avvenuta ''in contrasto con il diritto internazionale'' e confida che la Corte di Giustizia internazionale dell'Aja possa sanzionarlo una volta per tutte. Lo ha ribadito oggi a Belgrado il premier del Paese slavo (uno dei membri dell'Ue ostili al riconoscimento della secessione di Pristina), Robert Fico. ''Se esiste un minimo di giustazia nel mondo, la Corte dovra' esprimersi in questo senso'', ha sottolineato Fico dopo un incontro con l'omologo serbo, Mirko Cvetkovic. Parole che confermano il pieno sostegno di Bratislava nei confronti di Belgrado - nel braccio di ferro contro l'indipendenza della ex provincia a maggioranza albanese -, nonche' della recente iniziativa diplomatica serba sfociata nel voto favorevole della maggioranza dei Paesi dell'Assemblea generale dell'Onu alla richiesta di una pronuncia della Corte di Giustizia sulla contestata legittimita' del divorzio di febbraio. ''La Slovacchia resta ferma nel rifiuto di avallare la secessione del Kosovo'', ha assicurato Fico, aggiungendo che il riconoscimento accordato dalla maggioranza dei Paesi dell'Ue non comporta ''alcuna forma di pressione per noi, poiche' abbiamo chiarito fin dall'inizio che non avremmo lasciato spazio a condizionamenti di sorta su questo tema''. Cvetkovic, da parte sua, ha reso noto come la Corte abbia gia' lasciato intendere di voler accogliere come ''urgente'' il ricorso presentato dalla Serbia, cosa che permettera' di giungere a un verdetto ''non in alcuni anni, come nei casi di ordinaria amministrazione, ma fra 6-12 mesi''. (ANSA). LR 13/10/2008 14:54
Deutsche Welle
October 9, 2008
UN Refers Kosovo Independence to World Court
In a last ditch effort to maintain sovereignty over
the breakaway republic, Serbia has challenged the
legality of Kosovo's independence in the International
Court of Justice in The Hague.
Serbian newspapers on Thursday, Oct. 9 announced a
"great diplomatic victory" following a UN decision to
seek an advisory legal opinion from the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) on Kosovo's unilateral
declaration of independence.
"Serbia's first diplomatic triumph in New York,"
"Great diplomatic victory" and "Serbia's win: Kosovo
at the Court of Justice," wrote mass-circulation
dailies Blic and Vecernje Novosti.
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday voted 77-6 to
send the request to the ICJ in The Hague, with 74
abstentions. The request read: "Is the unilateral
declaration of independence by the provisional
institutions of self-government of Kosovo in
accordance with international law?"
Serbia insists that Kosovo, with its majority Albanian
population, is its territory and has warned that
dismembering a sovereign state could trigger a wave of
secessions worldwide.
The territory announced its independence in February
and has since been recognized by nearly 50 countries,
including the US and all but five European Union
members. Its promotion in the UN was however blocked
by Serbia's ally Russia.
Germany abstained
Germany abstained from the UN vote Wednesday.
According to news agancy AFP, Chancellor Angela Merkel
said that, while they were convinced the recognition
of Kosovo as an independent nation was the right thing
to do, they "cannot say that the International Court
of Justice is not allowed to decide."
In addition to Germany, 22 other EU nations abstained,
while Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, and Slovakia
voted in favor.
In the debate ahead of the vote, France and Britain,
which have recognized Kosovo, said its case is unique
and therefore is not a threat to Serbia's sovereignty
and territorial integrity. The US voted against
Serbia's initiative.
The outcome of the vote particularly pleased the
Serbs, who feel that the West wanted to carve Kosovo
out of Serbia and that the realization of the plan
started even before the 1999 NATO bombing campaign
which expelled Belgrade's army and police from the
province.
"Is anything more natural than ... somebody's claim
for the rule of law? Can you imagine a situation where
authorities in France, Great Britain or America advise
citizens not to seek justice in court because they
would anyway not heed the court's ruling?" a column in
Blic said.
[One] side of the media was reflected in a huge
headline on the front page of the tabloid daily Press,
which read, "Serbia busts America in UN."
Ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo has been administered
by the United Nations since 1999 when it was wrested
from Belgrade's control in a NATO air war.
Voice of Russia
October 9, 2008
TALKS ABOUT KOSOVO STATUS GET ANOTHER CHANCE
The UN General Assembly has voted in favour of a
hearing by the international Court of the appeal by
Serbia, questioning the legitimacy of the unilateral
declaration of independence of Kosovo.
Serbia has demonstrated to the world its resolve to
defend its territorial integrity by diplomatic methods
only.
That is the reaction by Serbian foreign minister, Vuk
Jeremic, to the General Assembly’s decision.
Seventy seven UN members voted for the Serbian
resolution, 74 abstained and 6 voted against it – a
tiny margin of victory maybe, but a victory all the
same. It is now clear that the international community
wants to get a legal opinion about Kosovo UDI.
Kosovo, historically an integral part of Serbia,
announced its unilateral independence on February 17
of this year, with the encouragement and active
support of America and some EU frontline states, in
violation of UN resolution 1244 recognizing Kosovo an
inseparable part of Serbia.
Moreover, the international community proceeded from
the point that relationship between Kosovo Serbs and
Albanians should be regulated only through
negotiations, a process that was not carried to its
logical conclusion, resulting in the division of UN
members and violation of existing international laws.
Rulings by the international Court are not binding,
meaning that even if the Serbian case succeeds, it
will only be a moral victory.
But the fact that the case has again hit the headlines
raises a serious question about the wisdom of the
hasty recognition by some states and establishment of
diplomatic relationship with the Pristina separatists.
The tardy and chaotic process of recognition of Kosovo
independence may sooner, rather than later, die a
natural death, believes VOR correspondent, Pavel
Kandel. Tape.
The support by the UN General Assembly of the Serbian
case might put an end to new recognitions of Kosovo
independence, because most of the countries which
voted for the Serbian resolution will refrain from
recognizing Kosovo as an independent state until the
verdict of the International Court.
Undoubtedly, it represents a diplomatic victory for
Serbia, but its significance should not be
exaggerated.
Serbia is not euphoric about the UN decision; rather,
it is cautiously optimistic.
At any rate, there is hope that a dialogue about
Kosovo's status will be restarted under international
law.
Sofia Echo
October 9, 2008
Montenegro and Macedonia recognise Kosovo
Montenegro’s cabinet voted unanimously, and
Macedonia’s parliament by a substantial majority, to
recognise Kosovo as independent. The steps, both taken
on October 9 2008, were expected to set Podgorica and
Skopje on a collision course with Serbia, from which
Kosovo declared independence in February 2008.
The developments came a day after Serbia won a
symbolic victory by winning a vote in the United
Nations General Assembly to refer the question of
Kosovo’s independence to the International Court of
Justice, and on the same day that Serbia’s cabinet
decided to reinstate all its ambassadors to foreign
capitals from which it withdrew them in protest at
their countries’ recognising Kosovo as independent.
With the United States and several European Union
states having taken the lead soon after Pristina
unilaterally seceded from Serbia, the number of states
now deeming Kosovo to be independent is close to 50.
Serbian news agency Beta reported from Podgorica that
the leader of Montenegrin opposition party the Serb
People’s Party, Andrija Mandic, said that the
opposition would now “consult the people” about the
government’s decision.
“We will consult the people and the people will help
us to have its majority will on this issue taken into
account,” Mandic was quoted as saying.
Politicians from Serbia’s opposition parties said that
Belgrade should consider sanctions against Montenegro
and blamed the government for allowing relations with
the neighbouring state that formerly was joined with
Serbia in a post-Yugoslavian “state union”, into
disrepair.
The Macedonian parliament began a debate on the issue
on October 9 after two ethnic Albanian parties, the
Democratic Party of Albanians and the Democratic Union
for Integration, collected MPs’ signatures in support
of a petition for a parliamentary debate.
In debate, some opposition MPs warned that recognition
by Macedonia of Kosovo would prejudice relations
between Belgrade and Kosovo.
....
The moves by Montenegro and Macedonia were widely
reported as being made under pressure from some
influential Western countries, especially because the
two countries aspire to EU membership and see
recognition of Kosovo as a box to be checked along the
way.
News agency Reuters reported Russia’s ambassador to
Serbia, Aleksandr Konuzin, as saying that Montenegro
and Macedonia were “being blackmailed by certain
states which threaten to make problems for their
European integration.
“Montenegro and Macedonia are under the strongest
external pressure which is aimed at forcing these two
countries to recognise the so-called independence of
Kosovo,” Konuzin was quoted as saying.
....
B92/Beta News Agency/FoNet/Tanjug News Agency
October 10, 2008
Macedonian ambassador expelled too
BELGRADE - The Macedonian ambassador has joined his
Montenegrin counterpart on the list of persona non
grata in Serbia, a day after the two countries
recognized Kosovo
Earlier, the Serbian government responded by expelling
Montenegrin Ambassador Anka Vojvodic, and today it has
done likewise to Aleksandar Vasilevski, Beta learns
from the Macedonian embassy.
....
The recognitions come just a day after the UN General
Assembly decided to refer the issue of the legality of
Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In the wake of Podgorica’s decision, the Serbian
government reacted abruptly and expelled the
Montenegrin ambassador. That is the first time that an
ambassador of a country recognizing Kosovo has been
expelled.
Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told B92 that the reason
why Belgrade took that step was “the fact that the
decision of the regime in Podgorica came after the
vote at the General Assembly.”
“Countries that have not thus far recognized Kosovo,
now, after the ICJ has begun to consider that issue,
have absolutely no reason to do so, other than to
prejudice the court’s final verdict,” said Jeremiæ.
The minister said that Serbia would continue to apply
harsh measures as it believes that there is no reason
to recognize the province’s independence at a time
when the ICJ is considering the case.
On Thursday night, the Montenegrin ambassador stated
that Serbia’s decision that she should leave the
country within 48 hours “isn’t a clever or good
political move”.
“I’ve been delivered a note, according to which, based
on the provisions of the Vienna Convention, I’ve been
declared a persona non grata, and been given 48 hours
to leave the country,” said Vojvodic.
....
President Boris Tadic told FoNet that the UN’s
decision was a triumph for Serbian foreign policy,
which returned Serbia to the forefront of
international relations.
He said that Serbia had regained friends that she had
once forgotten, first and foremost, from the
Non-Aligned Movement and Third World countries.
MakFax (Macedonia)
October 13, 2008
Protest rally in Podgorica against recognition of Kosovo
Podgorica - A protest rally against the decision of
the Montenegrin government to recognize Kosovo's
independence will be staged in front of parliament
building in Podgorica on Monday.
The opposition parties are organizing the protest
after they agreed last Friday to voice their
discontent with the government's move.
Opposition parties urged the government to withdraw
its decision to recognize Kosovo's unilateral
declaration of independence, arguing that such a
decision does not bear democratic legitimacy expressed
by the majority of citizens' will.
Opposition parties are insisting that the citizens
decide about the matter in a referendum, Montenegrin
media said.
The Association of Families of Kidnapped and Missing
Kosovo Serbs confirmed its presence at the protest
rally.
"We are going to Podgorica. We will bring pictures of
murdered Serbs and Montenegrins and we will seek
responsibility because Montenegro allowed Albanians to
create a second Albanian state in the Balkans although
they are aware that besides Serbs, a number of
Montenegrins had been killed in Kosovo," Association
president Simo Spasic said.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ------
Beta News Agency
October 13, 2008
K. Serb activist arrested ahead of rally
PODGORICA - Montenegrin police this morning arrested
Simo Spasic, who heads the Association of the Families
of the Kidnapped and Murdered Kosovo Serbs.
This association told Beta news agency that Spasic was
arrested as he was entering Podgorica.
The group's members are planning to take part in a
rally this afternoon in the Montenegrin capital,
protesting that country's government's decision to
recognize Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of
independence.
The gathering in front of the government building in
Podgorica is scheduled to start at 18:00 CET, and is
organized by the Serb List, the Socialists People's
Party, the People's Party, and the Democratic Serb
Party.
They will send a request to the authorities to
withdraw their recognition of Kosovo's proclamation,
or call a referendum on the issue and fresh elections.
This rally was preceded by protests in several
Montenegrin cities, organized by drivers circling the
streets in their cars, led by opposition leaders,
which have gone without incidents.
....
Central streets in Podgorica will be closed starting
16:00 CET.
By PREDRAG MILIC - 2 hours ago
PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) - Police fired tear gas at thousands of angry pro-Serb Montenegrins who pelted state buildings and fired flares Monday to protest their government's recognition of Kosovo's independence.
Chanting "Treason! Treason!" and "Kosovo is Serbia!" the protesters condemned last week's decision to recognize the former Serbian province which declared independence in February.
At least 13 protesters and one policeman were injured during the clashes in Podgorica, Montenegro's capital, hospital officials said.
Earlier, some 10,000 protesters gave the country's pro-Western government until Wednesday to withdraw recognition of Kosovo, or face attempts to topple it "by unparliamentary means."
"This is the biggest shame in the Montenegrin history," Andrija Mandic, a leader of the pro-Serbian opposition in the parliament, told a rally in Podgorica.
He and others demanded a referendum on Kosovo's recognition. About 35 percent of Montenegro's population of 650,000 identify themselves as Serbs.
After Montenegro and Macedonia recognized Kosovo on Thursday, Belgrade expelled the two neighboring countries' ambassadors and threatened additional retaliatory measures.
Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia were all part of the former Yugoslavia. Montenegro, considered Serbia's closest ally, did not split from Serbia until 2006.
On Monday, Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic of Montenegro accused Serbia of wanting to continue to influence his small country's policies. Belgrade "is forgetting that we are now a sovereign country which is making the decisions in its own interest," Djukanovic said.
He denied Montenegro has been pressured by the United States and others to recognize Kosovo.
Serbia has not had effective control over Kosovo since 1999, when NATO led airstrikes that halted former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic's crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists. For years, it was administered by both NATO and the U.N.
http://ap.google. com/article/ ALeqM5iue5ekw- rAKovudtmy- SteWxdTQwD93PQ23 01