Recognized independence - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Jocke · 02-18-2008, 09:56 AM

Now when Kosovo has declared its independence, I wonder when it will be a recognized state kinda. Do all countries have to recognize it? Have all countries recognized Sweden? Is it automatically in the UN?

Mojo_PeiPei · 02-18-2008, 10:21 AM

Countries are free to recognize whom they see fit really, note how Israel has never been recognized by several Arab states in its 60 years existence.

This seems like an interesting situation because many states such as Russia and Spain are afraid because they have their own separatist movements that to worry about; so much like many other historical instances state recognition is contigent on political expedience.

Serbia is going to do its best to block recognition in the UN, they were "ok" with granting autonomy, but this seems like too much for them... I would imagine that Russia would be the biggest road block as it actually carries clout in the security council, although I have no idea how the SC relates (if at all) to a situation like this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080218/...af/bush_kosovo

Quote:

ARUSHA, Tanzania - President Bush on Monday hailed Kosovo's bold and historic bid for statehood, saying "The Kosovars are now independent."
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Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership announced its independence from Serbia over the weekend, and suspense gripped the province on Monday as its citizens awaited key backing from the United States and key European powers.

"It's something that I've advocated along with my government," Bush said in an interview on NBC's "Today."

By appealing directly to the U.S. and other nations for recognition, Kosovo's independence set up a showdown with Serbia — outraged at the imminent loss of its territory — and Russia.

In Washington Monday, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement: "The United States is reviewing this issue and discussing it with its European partners. ... The United States calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any provocative act."

The department said it planned an additional statement later Monday.

McCormack said he welcomed the Kosovo government's commitment to protect ethnic minorities.

"The U.S. has long believed ... supervised independence was the best way to promote regional stability," the spokesman said.

Kosovo had formally remained a part of Serbia even though it has been administered by the U.N. and NATO since 1999, when NATO airstrikes ended former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic's crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists, which killed 10,000 people.

In April 2007, U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari recommended that Kosovo be granted internationally supervised independence. But talks that followed failed to yield an agreement between the ethnic Albanian leadership, which pushed for full statehood, and Serbia, which was willing to offer only autonomy.

"The Ahtisaari plan is our blueprint forward," Bush said. "We'll watch to see how the events unfold today. The Kosovars are now independent."

Serbia made clear it would never accept Kosovo's statehood. On Monday, Serbia said it would seek to block Kosovo from gaining diplomatic recognition and membership in the U.N. and other international organizations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has argued that independence without U.N. approval would set a dangerous precedent for "frozen conflicts" across the former Soviet Union, where separatists in Chechnya and Georgia are agitating for independence.

European Union nations have stood deeply divided over whether to recognize Kosovo's independence as their foreign ministers gathered in Brussels, Belgium, to try to forge a common stance. Britain, France, Germany and Ireland indicated they would push ahead with recognition. But Spain, which has struggled with its own separatist movement in the Basque region, called Kosovo's declaration illegal.

On Sunday, Bush said the U.S. will work to prevent violent clashes following the historic announcement.

"The United States will continue to work with our allies to do the very best we can to make sure there's no violence," Bush said several hours before Kosovo's parliament approved the declaration.

Cynthetiq · 02-18-2008, 10:35 AM

C'mon you should know by now that you're supposed to spur the discussion by including your own opinion in the opening thread.

Please ask any staff member to reopen your thread.

02-18-2008, 09:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jocke Tilted Location: Sweden	Recognized independence Now when Kosovo has declared its independence, I wonder when it will be a recognized state kinda. Do all countries have to recognize it? Have all countries recognized Sweden? Is it automatically in the UN?

02-18-2008, 10:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	C'mon you should know by now that you're supposed to spur the discussion by including your own opinion in the opening thread. Please ask any staff member to reopen your thread. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!