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[[Phoebe Yeh]], spokesperson for the [[Republic of China|Republic of China's]] (Taiwan) (a state not recognised by the UN) Foreign Ministry stated that, "We congratulate the Kosovo people on their winning independence and hope they enjoy the fruits of democracy and freedom. [...] Democracy and self-determination are the rights endorsed by the United Nations. The Republic of China always supports sovereign countries' seeking democracy, sovereignty and independence through peaceful means."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/news/article_1391616.php/Taiwan_congratulates_Kosovo_on_independence|title=Taiwan congratulates Kosovo on independence|date=[[2008-02-17]]|accessdate=2008-02-17}}</ref> Taiwan's political rival, the [[People's Republic of China]], responded quickly, saying that "Taiwan, as a part of China, has no right and qualification at all to make the so-called recognition"<ref>http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/18/content_7625025.htm</ref>.
[[Phoebe Yeh]], spokesperson for the [[Republic of China|Republic of China's]] (Taiwan) (a state not recognised by the UN) Foreign Ministry stated that, "We congratulate the Kosovo people on their winning independence and hope they enjoy the fruits of democracy and freedom. [...] Democracy and self-determination are the rights endorsed by the United Nations. The Republic of China always supports sovereign countries' seeking democracy, sovereignty and independence through peaceful means."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/news/article_1391616.php/Taiwan_congratulates_Kosovo_on_independence|title=Taiwan congratulates Kosovo on independence|date=[[2008-02-17]]|accessdate=2008-02-17}}</ref> Taiwan's political rival, the [[People's Republic of China]], responded quickly, saying that "Taiwan, as a part of China, has no right and qualification at all to make the so-called recognition"<ref>http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/18/content_7625025.htm</ref>.


Amongst [[Southeast Asia]]n countries where Muslim separatist movements were active in at least three states, [[Indonesia]], with the world's largest Muslim population, deferred recognition of an independent Kosovo<ref>http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20080218113450&irec=18</ref><ref>http://www.nationmultimedia.com/worldhotnews/read.php?newsid=30065701</ref>, while the [[Philippines]] declared it will not oppose, but nor will it support Kosovo's independence. Both countries face pressures from Muslim separatist movements within their territories, notably [[Aceh]] and southern [[Mindanao]] respectively<ref>http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20080219125657&irec=4</ref>. [[Vietnam]] expressed opposition<ref>http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20080219125657&irec=4</ref>, while [[Singapore]] reported that it was still studying the situation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/329558/1/.html|title=S'pore studying Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia|date=[[2008-02-18]]|accessdate=2008-02-18|publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]}}</ref>
Amongst [[Southeast Asia]]n countries where Muslim separatist movements were active in at least three states, [[Indonesia]], with the world's largest Muslim population, deferred recognition of an independent Kosovo<ref>http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20080218113450&irec=18</ref><ref>http://www.nationmultimedia.com/worldhotnews/read.php?newsid=30065701</ref>, while the [[Philippines]] declared it will not oppose, but nor will it support Kosovo's independence.<ref name="Philippine Daily Inquirer">{{cite news|title=RP: Seek negotiated settlement to Kosovo independence row|publisher=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]]|url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080219-119821/RP-Seek-negotiated-settlement-to-Kosovo-independence-row|date=[[2008-02-19]]|accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref><ref name="Philippine Star">{{cite news|title=RP prefers negotiated settlement to Kosovo's independence declaration|publisher=[[Philippine Star]]|url=http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Local%20News&p=54&type=2&sec=2&aid=2008021929|date=[[2008-02-19]]|accessdate=2008-02-19}}</ref>. Both countries face pressures from Muslim separatist movements within their territories, notably [[Aceh]] and southern [[Mindanao]] respectively<ref>http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20080219125657&irec=4</ref>. [[Vietnam]] expressed opposition<ref>http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20080219125657&irec=4</ref>, while [[Singapore]] reported that it was still studying the situation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/329558/1/.html|title=S'pore studying Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia|date=[[2008-02-18]]|accessdate=2008-02-18|publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]}}</ref>


[[Australia|Australian]] [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[Kevin Rudd]] backed Kosovan independence on the morning of [[18 February]], saying "This would appear to be the right course of action. That's why, diplomatically, we would extend recognition at the earliest opportunity."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23231533-29277,00.html|title=Rudd backs independent Kosovo| date=[[2008-02-18]]|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> [[New Zealand]] [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[Helen Clark]] said that New Zealand would neither recognise nor not recognise an independent Kosovo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4406032a6160.html|title=www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23231533-29277,00.html|title=Rudd backs independent Kosovo| date=[[2008-02-18]]|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> Pro-Independence rallies were held by ethnic Albanians in Canada in the days leading up to the declaration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kosovapress.com/ks/index.php?cid=2,2,38777|title=www.kosovapress.com/ks/index.php?cid=2,2,38777<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref>
[[Australia|Australian]] [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[Kevin Rudd]] backed Kosovan independence on the morning of [[18 February]], saying "This would appear to be the right course of action. That's why, diplomatically, we would extend recognition at the earliest opportunity."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23231533-29277,00.html|title=Rudd backs independent Kosovo| date=[[2008-02-18]]|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> [[New Zealand]] [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[Helen Clark]] said that New Zealand would neither recognise nor not recognise an independent Kosovo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4406032a6160.html|title=www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23231533-29277,00.html|title=Rudd backs independent Kosovo| date=[[2008-02-18]]|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> Pro-Independence rallies were held by ethnic Albanians in Canada in the days leading up to the declaration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kosovapress.com/ks/index.php?cid=2,2,38777|title=www.kosovapress.com/ks/index.php?cid=2,2,38777<!--INSERT TITLE-->}}</ref>

Revision as of 12:31, 19 February 2008


Politics of Kosovo
Constitution and law
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Recent elections
Foreign policy

The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence is an act of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government Assembly of Kosovo, adopted on 17 February 2008, which declared Kosovo to be independent from Serbia.[1] It was the second declaration of independence by Kosovo's Albanian-dominated political institutions, the first having been proclaimed on 7 September 1990.[2] Unlike the post-“Anti-bureaucratic revolution” 1990 Kosovo declaration of independence, which only Albania recognised,[3] Kosovo's second declaration of independence is expected to be supported by some foreign states including most European Union member states and Japan.[1] The United States formally recognized Kosovo's independence on 18 February 2008 in a written statement by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.[4] In response, Serbia withdrew its ambassador, and threatened to do so to any other nation who recognized Kosovo.[5]

Kosovo's declaration of independence is controversial. With the disintegration of communism in Europe, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia broke down into their constituent, formally sovereign republics, the last of which (declaring independence) was Montenegro (3 June 2007). The separation of Kosovo is politically of a different nature, as Kosovo did not possess the republic status. It is thus a precedent, affecting other contested territories in Europe and non-European parts of the former Soviet Union, such as Chechnya (which does have republic status).

The newly proclaimed republic has not been seated at the United Nations, as it is generally believed that any application for UN membership would be blocked by Russia.[6] Russia has vowed to oppose Kosovo's independence with a "plan of retaliation" that some have suggested could see Russia recognising the hitherto internationally unrecognised breakaway states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia.[6] Serbia has likewise proactively declared the annulment of Kosovo's independence and vowed to oppose Kosovo's independence with a package of measures intended to discourage the international recognition of the republic.[7]

Overview

Historical background

Main article: History of Kosovo
Location of Kosovo in Europe

Kosovo, which was a territory of the medieval Serbian state, location of the epic 1389 Battle of Kosovo, was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1455. Over the following centuries it developed a very mixed Christian-Muslim population; by the end of the 19th century Albanians had replaced the Serbs as the dominant ethnic group. The loss of Kosovo became a major theme in Serbian national iconography, its myth structuring the basis of the state of Montenegro and later Serbia and its recovery was one of the key goals of the Serbian and Montenegrin states. Serbia & Montenegro regained control of Kosovo in 1912 during the Balkan Wars. The restoration of Serbian rule was opposed by Albania, which instigated a failed invasion attempt of Serbian territory. Serbia lost control of the territory in both of the World Wars, during which many Kosovo Serbs were expelled by armed Albanian groups. During World War II, Kosovo was annexed to Albania, which was at that time a colony of Italy [1]. Serbian control was nonetheless re-established at the end of both wars.

When the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) was established after 1945, with Serbia as one of its six constituent republics, Kosovo was made an autonomous region of Serbia. The extent of its autonomy varied considerably under the communist Yugoslav system, it expanded its territory in the 1950s, gradually advanced to an autonomous province in the 1960s and since 1971 gained a distinct status of a de facto federal unit, able to veto not only federal but also internal Serbian decisions. The gradual development of autonomy was instilled by the growth of Albanian nationalism in the province and growing demands for more autonomy and independence, escalating in during the 1960s riots and in 1981. Since 1982 Albanian immigration had organized preparations to forcefully secede Kosovo from Serbia, followed by outbreaks of Serbian nationalism since 1987, used by the Socalist President Slobodan Milošević in Kosovo to attain power.

The autonomy of Kosovo was drastically returned to the status predating 1963 in 1989 by the government of President Milošević. Self-government by the province's Albanian majority—now estimated to constitute 90% of Kosovo's population—was ended. In response, the Albanian members of the Kosovo Assembly voted on 2 July 1990 to declare Kosovo an independent state, though this was only recognised by Albania. A state of emergency and harsh new security rules were subsequently imposed by Serbia following mass protests by Kosovo's Albanians. The Albanians established an unofficial "parallel state" to provide education and social services while boycotting or being excluded from Serbian-run government institutions.

Kosovo remained largely peaceful through the Yugoslav wars of the early 1990s, although the severity of the Serbian regime in Kosovo was widely criticised by the international community and human rights groups. In 1996, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) began attacking Serbian security forces and civilians whom it regarded as "collaborators". The conflict between Serbian and Yugoslav security forces and the KLA insurgents escalated until Kosovo was on the verge of all-out war by the end of 1998. In January 1999, NATO warned the Yugoslav government that it would intervene militarily if Yugoslavia did not agree to the introduction of an international peacekeeping force and the establishment of a democratic government in Kosovo. Subsequent peace talks failed and from March 24 to June 11, 1999, NATO carried out an extensive bombing campaign against targets in Serbia and Montenegro, including in Kosovo itself. The war ended with Milošević agreeing to allow peacekeepers into Kosovo and hand over its governance to the United Nations.

Political background

Main article: Kosovo status process
Ethnic composition of Kosovo as of 2005

After the end of the Kosovo War in 1999, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1244 to provide a framework for Kosovo's interim status. It placed Kosovo under transitional UN administration, demanded a withdrawal of Serbian security forces from Kosovo and envisioned an eventual UN-facilitated political process to determine Kosovo's status (i.e., whether it would become independent or remain part of Serbia). The resolution also explicitly upheld the existing sovereignty of Yugoslavia, of which Serbia is the legal successor, over Kosovo, "reaffirming the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the other States of the region, as set out in the Helsinki Final Act and annex 2 [referring to status principles agreed at the end of the war]." It also established a requirement that the post-conflict constitutional process must take full account of "the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia".

In February 2007, Martti Ahtisaari delivered a draft status settlement proposal to leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, the basis for a draft UN Security Council Resolution which proposed 'supervised independence' for the province. By early July 2007 a draft resolution, backed by the United States and the European Union members of the Security Council, had been rewritten four times to try to accommodate Russian concerns that such a resolution would undermine the principle of state sovereignty. However, it had still not found agreement.[8] Russia, which holds a veto in the Security Council as one of five permanent members, stated that it would not support any resolution which was not acceptable to both Serbia and the Kosovo Albanians.[9] While most observers had, at the beginning of the talks, anticipated independence as the most likely outcome, others suggested that a rapid resolution might not be preferable.[10]

The talks finally broke down in late 2007 with the two sides remaining far apart, with the minimum demands of each side being more than the other was willing to accept.

At the turn of 2008, the media started reporting that the Kosovo Albanians were determined to proclaim independence. This came at the time when the ten-year anniversary of the Kosovo War was looming (with the five-year anniversary being marked by violent unrest); the U.S. President George W. Bush was in his last year in power and not able to seek re-election; and two nations which had previously seceded from Yugoslavia were in important political positions (Slovenia presiding over the EU and Croatia an elected member of the UN Security Council). The proclamation was widely reported to have been postponed until after the Serbian presidential election, 2008, held on January 20 and February 3, given that Kosovo was an important topic of the election campaign.

Adoption and terms of the declaration of independence

"We, the democratically elected leaders of our people, hereby declare Kosovo to be an independent and sovereign state. This declaration reflects the will of our people and it is in full accordance with the recommendations of UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari and his Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement.

We declare Kosovo to be a democratic, secular and multiethnic republic, guided by the principles of non-discrimination and equal protection under the law." Full text of the declaration

The declaration of independence was made by members of the Kosovo Assembly meeting in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, on 17 February 2008. It was approved by a show of hands, with no votes of opposition from the 109 members present. Ten Assembly members, including all the Kosovo Serbs, were absent.[11] The terms of the declaration state that Kosovo's independence is limited to the principles outlined by the Ahtisaari plan. It prohibits Kosovo from joining any other country, provides for only a limited military capability, states that Kosovo will be under international supervision and provides for the protection of minority ethnic communities.[1]

Reactions

Kosovo reaction

Kosovo's new flag at declaration of independence.

Most ethnic Albanians in Kosovo greeted the news with celebration.[12][13][14]

The bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo, Artemije, reacted in anger, stating that Kosovo's independence was "a temporary state of occupation", and that "Serbia should buy state of the art weapons from Russia and other countries and call on Russia to send volunteers and establish a military presence in Serbia."[15]

In Northern Kosovo, a UN building housing a courthouse in jail was attacked by a hand grenade, causing slight damage but no casualties. An unexploded grenade was found across the street, near a hotel that houses EU officials.[16]

An explosive device was detonated in Mitrovica, damaging two vehicles. No casualties or injuries were reported.[17]

Serbian reaction

The Prime Minister of Serbia, Vojislav Koštunica, has blamed the United States for being "ready to violate the international order for its own military interests" and stated that "Today, this policy of force thinks that it has triumphed by establishing a false state. [...] As long as the Serb people exist, Kosovo will be Serbia."[18] Slobodan Samardžić, the Serb minister for Kosovo, stated that, "A new country is being established by breach of international law [...] It's better to call it a fake country."[19] However, the Serbian government says they will not respond with violence.[4]

About 2,000 Serbs protested at the United States Embassy in Belgrade, with some throwing stones and firecrackers at the building before being driven back by riot police.[13] Protestors also broke windows of the embassy of Slovenia, the state that controls the EU presidency.[20] In Belgrade and Novi Sad, McDonald's shops were damaged by protestors.[21]

International reaction

See also: International reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
  Kosovo
  States which formally recognize Kosovo as independent.
  States which have stated they intend to formally recognize Kosovo as independent.
  States which have stated they will not recognize Kosovo as independent.
  States which have delayed or have expressed neutrality on recognition of Kosovo's independence.
  States with no reported position at present.

Albanian reaction

In Tirana, the capital of Albania, 'Kosovo Day' was held as a celebration.[22]

Reaction within the European Union

The European Union has sent in a 2,000-member peacekeeping mission to aid Kosovo's independence. Serbia has claimed that this is an occupation and that the EU's move is illegal.[23]

File:Swiss Celebrators in Kosovo.jpg
People celebrating Kosovo's declaration of independence in Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland, with their car holding the Swiss, Albanian, and American flags

Outside of the EU

United States President George W. Bush welcomed the declaration of Kosovar independence, as well as proclaiming friendship with Serbia, stating: "We have strongly supported the Ahtisaari plan [for Kosovan independence] […]. We are heartened by the fact that the Kosovo government has clearly proclaimed its willingness and its desire to support Serbian rights in Kosovo. We also believe it's in Serbia's interests to be aligned with Europe and the Serbian people can know that they have a friend in America.”[24]

Russia reacted with condemnation, stating that they "expect the UN mission and NATO-led forces in Kosovo to take immediate action to carry out their mandate […] including the annulling of the decisions of Pristina's self-governing organs and the taking of tough administrative measures against them.”[24]

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan call Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi this declaration of independence will bring to Balkans peace and stability ”.[25]

Phoebe Yeh, spokesperson for the Republic of China's (Taiwan) (a state not recognised by the UN) Foreign Ministry stated that, "We congratulate the Kosovo people on their winning independence and hope they enjoy the fruits of democracy and freedom. [...] Democracy and self-determination are the rights endorsed by the United Nations. The Republic of China always supports sovereign countries' seeking democracy, sovereignty and independence through peaceful means."[26] Taiwan's political rival, the People's Republic of China, responded quickly, saying that "Taiwan, as a part of China, has no right and qualification at all to make the so-called recognition"[27].

Amongst Southeast Asian countries where Muslim separatist movements were active in at least three states, Indonesia, with the world's largest Muslim population, deferred recognition of an independent Kosovo[28][29], while the Philippines declared it will not oppose, but nor will it support Kosovo's independence.[30][31]. Both countries face pressures from Muslim separatist movements within their territories, notably Aceh and southern Mindanao respectively[32]. Vietnam expressed opposition[33], while Singapore reported that it was still studying the situation.[34]

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd backed Kosovan independence on the morning of 18 February, saying "This would appear to be the right course of action. That's why, diplomatically, we would extend recognition at the earliest opportunity."[35] New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said that New Zealand would neither recognise nor not recognise an independent Kosovo.[36] Pro-Independence rallies were held by ethnic Albanians in Canada in the days leading up to the declaration.[37]

President of Northern Cyprus (a state not recognised by the UN) Mehmet Ali Talat saluted the independence of Kosovo and hopes that the state is respected and assisted, in staunch opposition to the position of the Republic of Cyprus.[38]

United Nations

Following a request from Russia, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session in the afternoon of 17 February .[23] The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement that avoided taking sides and urged all parties "to refrain from any actions of statements that could endanger peace, incite violence or jeopardize security in Kosovo or the region."[39] Speaking on behalf of six western countries - Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy and the United States - the Belgian ambassador expressed regret "that the Security Council cannot agree on the way forward, but this impasse has been clear for many months. Today's events ... represent the conclusion of a status process that has exhausted all avenues in pursuit of a negotiated outcome."[40]

See also

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References

  1. ^ a b c "Kosovo MPs proclaim independence", BBC News Online, 17 February 2008
  2. ^ Howard Clark, Civil Resistance in Kosovo, p. 73. Pluto Press, 2000. ISBN 0745315690
  3. ^ ibid, p. 92
  4. ^ a b U.S. recognizes independent Kosovo, CNN, 18 February 2008
  5. ^ "Serbia recalls ambassador from US". Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  6. ^ a b "Russia's options limited for Kosovo retaliation", San Diego Union-Tribune, February 15, 2008
  7. ^ "Serbian President Vows Fight Over Kosovo", Associated Press, February 15, 2008
  8. ^ "Russia reportedly rejects fourth draft resolution on Kosovo status". SETimes.com.
  9. ^ "UN Security Council remains divided on Kosovo". SETimes.com.
  10. ^ "A long reconciliation process is required". Financial Times.
  11. ^ "Kosovo julistautui itsenäiseksi" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat.
  12. ^ "Kosovo Declares Independence, Seeks U.S., EU Backing". Bloomberg. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ a b "Kosovo declares independence". International Herald Tribune Europe. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Divided EU meets to debate Kosovo". BBC News. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Serbs in for long-haul fight against Kosovo state". Reuters. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Explosion rocks UN building hours after Kosovo declares independence". International Herald Tribune. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "www.kosovapress.com/ks/index.php?cid=2,2,38841".
  18. ^ "Serbia condemns breakaway Kosovo as "false state"". Reuters. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Jubilation and hatred over Kosovo". The Daily Telegraph. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Kosovo declares independence from Serbia; Russia protests, warning it will stir conflict". Charleston Daily Mail. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Serbian president rejects Kosovo independence declaration". Adelaide Now. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=02&dd=17&nav_id=47778".
  23. ^ a b "UN Security Council to meet on Kosovo - diplomat UPDATE". AFX News Limited. Forbes. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  24. ^ a b "In quotes: Kosovo reaction", BBC News Online, 17 February 2008
  25. ^ "Ankara'dan Kosova'ya jest", Zaman Newspaper, 18 February 2008
  26. ^ "Taiwan congratulates Kosovo on independence". 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-02-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/18/content_7625025.htm
  28. ^ http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20080218113450&irec=18
  29. ^ http://www.nationmultimedia.com/worldhotnews/read.php?newsid=30065701
  30. ^ "RP: Seek negotiated settlement to Kosovo independence row". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2008-02-19. Retrieved 2008-02-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "RP prefers negotiated settlement to Kosovo's independence declaration". Philippine Star. 2008-02-19. Retrieved 2008-02-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20080219125657&irec=4
  33. ^ http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailgeneral.asp?fileid=20080219125657&irec=4
  34. ^ "S'pore studying Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia". Channel NewsAsia. 2008-02-18. Retrieved 2008-02-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ "Rudd backs independent Kosovo". 2008-02-18. Retrieved 2008-02-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "Rudd backs independent Kosovo". 2008-02-18. Retrieved 2008-02-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "www.kosovapress.com/ks/index.php?cid=2,2,38777".
  38. ^ Turkish Cypriots salute Kosovo independence, TNA, February 18, 2008.
  39. ^ "Kosovo Declares Its Independence From Serbia", New York Times, 17 February 2008
  40. ^ "Albanian celebrations leave Serbs defiant", The Guardian, 18 February 2008
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