Independence of Kosovo can't be taken hostage to Cyprus problem

[Makedonia25]

Dont u love the arrogance of this guy??? One day he is the leader of an ILLEGAL militia, now is he going to be a leader of a country???

‘Independence of Kosovo can't be taken hostage to Cyprus problem’

New Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has said the independence of Kosovo will come within days, while refusing to give an exact date. The former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army ( UÇK) expressed hope that Turkey would be one of the first countries to recognize his country's independence and stressed that he was "very happy" with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's stance on Kosovo.

In an exclusive interview with Today's Zaman in Brussels, Thaci ducked all the questions regarding a possible date for the declaration of independence. While stressing several times during the interview that nothing will stop the independence, the Kosovo leader said he expected the US, strong members of the EU and the Islamic world to recognize Kosovo quite soon.

Thaci met with Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, EU high representative Javier Solana and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer during his stay in Brussels. The EU foreign ministers will cover the issue of Kosovo's independence at their meeting Monday.

The following are excerpts from the interview:

Independence: Everybody wants to finish this job of independence as soon as possible. Kosovo is ready and unified and looking forward to the declaration. Kosovo has a constitution and every state symbol and mechanism she needs. We will declare independence in the coming days. We will have a qualitative recognition of independence from the US and the EU. Everything is on track.

Further delays: Various elections in the EU countries will never stop. They will always continue to be held. I have been to Spain and Spain shares the same view as Brussels. As for the second round of presidential elections in Serbia on Feb. 3, I want to underline that the elections in Serbia and developments in Kosovo have no connection whatsoever. Each country has its own path and the elections in Serbia are for the people of Serbia. Under no circumstances will the election of a moderate or a nationalist leader in Serbia affect our decision. The names of the leaders in Serbia do not interest us.

Russia: One should never say "never" in politics. Kosovo will become a member of the UN, the EU and NATO. You will also witness her becoming a member of all international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. We will not allow anything to further delay our independence. Independence will be declared in the coming days.

Kosovo as a precedent: You cannot compare Kosovo either to the Republic of Srpska or Macedonia. Kosovo is a sui-generis case which cannot be compared to other regions of the world.

Recognition: The strong members of the EU will be the first to recognize Kosovo. I hope the Islamic world will be very quick to recognize Kosovo as well.

Cyprus: We understand the concerns of Cyprus regarding the independence of Kosovo. We can wait a bit longer for them to recognize our independence but we will make our decision soon. Our independence cannot be taken hostage by the problems of Cyprus or any other country.

Turkey: I am very happy with Mr. Erdoğan's policy on Kosovo in particular and the region in general. I believe Turkey will be one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo.

Turkish minority: I am very proud of the Turkish minority in Kosovo and they are part of our government. We are very closely cooperating with them and believe that this will continue.

[Tsontos]

It would be the first government led by Al-Queda men since the Taliban!

[TirAlb]

yeah and "the boggey man",will be its next president!

[Tsontos]

Albanians have been blessed that the Western press has never focused on the KLA's Al-Queda connections!

[TirAlb]

Originally Posted by Tsontos

Albanians have been blessed that the Western press has never focused on the KLA's Al-Queda connections!

How can they focus,on an inexistent thing?
I can't understand why the orthodoxs(you and slavs) feel the need to have allways some "saint" war to fight.It reminds me of your similar(by mentality) moslem,counterpart in southeast,and ofcourse of don Kischote.

[Tsontos]

I aint a Christian mate, dont beleive in god.

The KLA's connections to Al-Queda are part of history. For god's sake recently in AUstralia we had an Al-Queda recruit and Muslim convert named David Hicks, who had fought in Kosovo return home from Guantanamo bay.

In the late 1990s the U.S told the KLA to end all its connections to Al-Queda if it wanted its support and it did. The KLA was removed from the terrorist blacklist. Thats why the U.S bombed Serbia and thats why you are in this advantageous position.

I understand that secular albanians like you (the "my religion is being albanian") types are ashamed of your islamic past and your "less enlightened", more Muslim, Albanian countrymen in Kosovo who but there are some things you just cant deny.

Just be happy that soon this Kosovo thing will end and you are odds on to get independence that you and Osama dreamed of

[TirAlb]

???????

[Makedonia25]

Originally Posted by TirAlb

???????

Yes, and the only reason why the US is supporting Albanians on this (is NOT because they actually believe that you WERE the majority in Kosovo.. NOW you are, ONLY because 800,000 Serbs were driven out by the KLA during the bombing of Serbia by NATO (US)..) is because they want to have an islamic state in Europe that they have total control over in order to keep sh*t-stirring trouble in the Balkans..

[TirAlb]

Originally Posted by Makedonia25

Yes, and the only reason why the US is supporting Albanians on this (is NOT because they actually believe that you WERE the majority in Kosovo.. NOW you are, ONLY because 800,000 Serbs were driven out by the KLA during the bombing of Serbia by NATO (US)..) is because they want to have an islamic state in Europe that they have total control over in order to keep sh*t-stirring trouble in the Balkans..

check out the numbers!It was 800'000 albanians.Again,im sorry for your islamophobia,but honestly we don't give a damn about religion,whatever you may think.

[olvios]

The Albanians that "left" kosovo were forced to leave by the KLA meaning by the albanians themselves.