8.2.2008 by Lupo.

No Legal Basis for EU Mission
Swiss Expert: Absolutely No Legal Basis for the EU Mission in Serbian Province
Director of the Swiss Institute of Federalism Thomas Fleiner says that the valid UN resolution on Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija gives no legal basis to EU’s mission plans.

Fleiner, who is a Swiss constitutional law professor and federalism expert, as well as the President of the International Association of Constitutional Law, dismissed in a statement to Tanjug the argument of some European diplomats that the legal basis for sending a EU mission to Kosovo could be found in article 10 of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

“Article 10 authorizes the UN secretary-general to establish, along with relevant international organizations, an international civilian presence in Kosovo so as to secure a transitional administration, with which the people of Kosovo could enjoy essential autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,” he explained.

Fleiner added that Article 10 calls for essential autonomy of the Serbian province of Kosovo within Yugoslavia—now its legal successor Serbia—and that Serbian Kosovo province, if it declares independence, “will by so doing reject Resolution 1244 because it does not want essential autonomy.”

UN SC Resolution 1244 Allows Only Autonomy
According to the Swiss legal expert, that means that every international mission in southern Serbian province has to be linked to essential autonomy of the province, and “in no way to possible or even likely declaration of independence.”

“The EU has made it cleat that it is sending a mission as part of preparations for the independence of Kosovo, which would constitute a violation of Resolution 1244 article 10,” said Fleiner, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Freiburg.

The Swiss expert pointed out that Resolution 1244 also requires “the full cooperation of FRY in its implementation,” or that “one of the partner parties responsible for implementing the solution prescribed by the resolution is FRY, or its legal successor Serbia.”

“That means that all matters relating to the implementation of the resolution have to be done in cooperation with the chief partner—Serbia. Once Kosovo province becomes an illegal independent state, states that are supposed to cooperate in the implementation of the resolution will no longer have a partner with whom they can cooperate,” Fleiner concluded.

OSCE head in Kosovo to keep job despite comments
07/02/2008

Tim Guldimann
PRISTINA, Kosovo, Serbia — UNMIK officials announced on Wednesday (February 6th) that the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Tim Guldimann, has not been asked to resign due to his views on Kosovo. Guldimann, a Swiss diplomat who accepted the post in October, has been telling different Swiss dailies that Kosovo should not be allowed to declare independence because it could pose a serious precedent for other breakaway territories.

The OSCE said on Wednesday that Guldimann has been reproached by UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker, who reiterated that Guldimann’s views do not represent those of UNMIK. A report in the Pristina-based Express says he has been banned from issuing any further statements on the future of the breakaway province. (Kosovalive, RTK, Telegrafi, Balkaninsight - 06/02/0

Der Schweizer OSCE Chef ist wohl etwas vorlaut gewesen, das er der Schweizer Presse erzählt, das man keine Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo erlauben wird. Und von Rückers wurde er gerügt, weil diese keine offizielle Erklärung der UNMIK sei! Was wohl sowieso klar ist.
OSCE head in Kosovo to keep job despite comments
07/02/2008

PRISTINA, Kosovo, Serbia — UNMIK officials announced on Wednesday (February 6th) that the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Tim Guldimann, has not been asked to resign due to his views on Kosovo. Guldimann, a Swiss diplomat who accepted the post in October, has been telling different Swiss dailies that Kosovo should not be allowed to declare independence because it could pose a serious precedent for other breakaway territories.

The OSCE said on Wednesday that Guldimann has been reproached by UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker, who reiterated that Guldimann’s views do not represent those of UNMIK. A report in the Pristina-based Express says he has been banned from issuing any further statements on the future of the breakaway province. (Kosovalive, RTK, Telegrafi, Balkaninsight - 06/02/08)

Der Schweizer OSCE Chef ist wohl etwas vorlaut gewesen, das er der Schweizer Presse erzählt, das man keine Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo erlauben wird. Und von Rückers wurde er gerügt, weil diese keine offizielle Erklärung der UNMIK sei! Was wohl sowieso klar ist.OSCE head in Kosovo to keep job despite comments
07/02/2008

PRISTINA, Kosovo, Serbia — UNMIK officials announced on Wednesday (February 6th) that the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, Tim Guldimann, has not been asked to resign due to his views on Kosovo. Guldimann, a Swiss diplomat who accepted the post in October, has been telling different Swiss dailies that Kosovo should not be allowed to declare independence because it could pose a serious precedent for other breakaway territories.

The OSCE said on Wednesday that Guldimann has been reproached by UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker, who reiterated that Guldimann’s views do not represent those of UNMIK. A report in the Pristina-based Express says he has been banned from issuing any further statements on the future of the breakaway province. (Kosovalive, RTK, Telegrafi, Balkaninsight - 06/02/08)

Der Schweizer OSCE Chef ist wohl etwas vorlaut gewesen, das er der Schweizer Presse erzählt, das man keine Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo erlauben wird. Und von Rückers wurde er gerügt, weil diese keine offizielle Erklärung der UNMIK sei! Was wohl sowieso klar ist.

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8.2.2008 by Lupo.

04.02.2008
Warning light on Kosovo
By John Bolton, Lawrence Eagleburger and Peter Rodman
January 31, 2008
The Bush administration has indicated its readiness to recognize a unilateral declaration of independence by ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, a province of the Republic of Serbia that since 1999 has been under United Nations administration and NATO military control.
Such a declaration may take place as early as February. American recognition would be over Serbia’s objections, without a negotiated solution between Serbia and Kosovo’s Albanians, and without modification by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 1244, which reaffirms Serbian sovereignty in Kosovo while providing for the province’s »substantial autonomy.« U.S. recognition may be joined by that of some members of the European Union, which has been under heavy diplomatic pressure from Washington, though several EU states and a number of countries outside Europe have said they would reject such action.
Attempting to impose a settlement on Serbia would be a direct challenge to the Russian Federation, which opposes any Kosovo settlement not accepted by Belgrade.
We believe an imposed settlement of the Kosovo question and seeking to partition Serbia’s sovereign territory without its consent is not in the interest of the United States. The blithe assumption of American policy — that the mere passage of nine years of relative quiet would be enough to lull Serbia and Russia into reversing their positions on a conflict that goes back centuries — has proven to be naive in the extreme.
We believe U.S. policy on Kosovo must be re-examined without delay, and we urge the Bush administration to make it clear that pending the results of such re-examination it would withhold recognition of a Kosovo independence declaration and discourage Kosovo’s Albanians from taking that step.
Current U.S. policy relies on the unconvincing claim that Kosovo is »unique« and would set no precedent for other troublespots. Of course every conflict has unique characteristics. However, ethnic and religious minorities in other countries already are signaling their intention to follow a Kosovo example. This includes sizeable Albanian communities in adjoining areas of southern Serbia, Montenegro, and especially the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as well as the Serbian portion of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Recognition of Kosovo’s independence without Serbia’s consent would set a precedent with far-reaching and unpredictable consequences for many other regions of the world. The Kosovo model already has been cited by supporters of the Basque separatist movement in Spain and the Turkish-controlled area of northern Cyprus. Neither the Security Council nor any other international body has the power or authority to impose a change of any country’s borders.
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the current policy is the dismissive attitude displayed toward Russia’s objections. Whatever disagreements the United States may have with Moscow on other issues, and there are many, the United States should not prompt an unnecessary crisis in U.S.-Russia relations. There are urgent matters regarding which the United States must work with Russia, including Iran’s nuclear intentions and North Korea’s nuclear capability. Such cooperation would be undercut by American action to neutralize Moscow’s legitimate concerns regarding Kosovo.
If the U.S. moves forward with recognizing Kosovo, Moscow’s passivity cannot be taken for granted. It may have been one thing in 1999 for the United States and NATO to take action against Yugoslavia over the objections of a weak Russia.
Today, it would be unwise to dismiss Russia’s willingness and ability to assist Serbia. On an issue of minor importance to the United States, is this a useful expenditure of significant political capital with Russia?
Our Kosovo policy is hardly less problematic for our friends and allies in Europe. While some European countries, notably members of the EU, may feel themselves obligated to join us in recognizing Kosovo’s independence, a number of those countries would do so reluctantly because of Washington’s inflexibility and insistence. No more than the United States, Europe would not benefit from an avoidable confrontation with Russia.
Even if Kosovo declared itself an independent state, it would be a dysfunctional one and a ward of the international community for the indefinite future. Corruption and organized crime are rampant. The economy, aside from international largesse and criminal activities, is nonviable. Law enforcement, integrity of the courts, protection of persons and property, and other prerequisites for statehood are practically nonexistent. While these failures are often blamed on Kosovo’s uncertain status, a unilateral declaration of independence recognized by some countries and rejected by many others would hardly remedy that fact.
The result would be a new »frozen conflict,« with Kosovo’s status still unresolved. The risk of renewed violence would further impede Kosovo’s development. Moreover, heightened tensions might require reinforcing the U.S. presence in Kosovo when we can least afford it due to other commitments.
Serbia has made great strides in democratic development and economic revitalization since the fall of the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. Current policy with respect to Kosovo risks complete reversal of these gains. Faced with a choice between Western partnership and defense of their sovereign territory and constitution, there is little doubt what Serbia would decide.
The current positive trend could falter in the face of political radicalization and possible internal destabilization. Serbia’s relations with countries that had recognized Kosovo would be impaired. Serbia would inevitably move closer to Russia as its only protector.
We do not underestimate the difficulty and complexity of the Kosovo question nor do we suggest the status quo can endure indefinitely. As with thorny questions elsewhere, viable and enduring settlements should result from negotiation and compromise. Such an outcome has been undermined by a U.S. promise to the Kosovo Albanians that their demands will be satisfied if they remain adamant and no agreement is reached with Belgrade. Such a promise cannot be justified by the claim, often heard from proponents of independence, that the Albanians’ »patience« is running out, so independence must be granted without delay. This is nothing less than appeasing a threat of violence.
A reassessment of America’s Kosovo policy is long overdue. We hope a policy that would set a very dangerous international precedent can still be averted if that reassessment begins now. In the meantime, it is imperative that no unwarranted or hasty action be taken that would turn what is now a relatively small problem into a large one.
John Bolton is former permanent U.S. representative to the United Nations. Lawrence Eagleburger is former U.S. secretary of state. Peter Rodman is former assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.
www.washingtontimes.com
Auf Deutsch zusammengefasst:

Das Ende bedenken
Prominente Exaußenpolitiker der USA warnen vor Anerkennung der Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo

Weiter lesen unter folgendem Link:
www.jungewelt.de

Bolton: Kosovo issue not closed
1 March 2009 | 12:34 | Source: Beta
WASHINGTON — The issue of Kosovo has not been closed yet, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton says.

It will remains so, he told VOA’s Serbian language service, until agreement acceptable to all sides has been reached.

“It is still unclear what the Obama administration policy in the Balkans will be, although the new state of Kosovo has been relatively stable since the independence declaration, this issue is not closed, nor have other issues that are the consequence of the disintegration of former Yugoslavia,” the former Bush administration diplomat said.

b92

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8.2.2008 by Lupo.

Olympic mountains in BiH draw more tourists
05/02/2008

According to the latest data from the Bosnia and Herzegovina Department for Statistics, more then 100,000 tourists have visited BiH this winter — a 14% increase from the same period last year.
By Denis Dzidic for Southeast European Times in Sarajevo — 05/02/08

Tourists enjoy the slopes of Mt Jahorina.

After the 1992-1995 conflict, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH) winter tourism facilities were almost completely destroyed. However, they have gradually been restored and are now drawing ever-increasing numbers of tourists.

One sign of BiH’s recovery is that the World Tourism Organisation ranked it one of the top countries in annual tourism growth — with a 10.5% increase annually. According to the Madrid-based organisation, BiH will have the third highest growth rate in the world until 2020.

The BiH Department of Statistics says most tourists are from neighbouring countries — primarily Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia — but a growing number are travelling from Germany, Italy, Turkey, Austria and the United States.

Several new resorts and ski centres have opened recently, helping to increase accommodation capacity by 12.7% from 2006. However, the old tried and true skiing venues have also been drawing crowds. Mt Jahorina — one of the major venues of the 1984 Winter Olympics — has seen a year-on-year increase in guests in recent years, which has been matched by increased accommodation capacity.

Setimes

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8.2.2008 by Lupo.

Situation um Kosovo veranlasst Mazedonien, auf schnellen NATO-Beitritt zu drängen
14:35 | 06/ 02/ 2008

BELGRAD, 06. Februar (RIA Novosti). Mazedoniens Präsident Branko Crvenkovski hat am Dienstag an die NATO-Mitgliedsländer ein Schreiben mit der Bitte um den Beitritt des Landes zur Allianz gerichtet. Begründung: Das Kosovo, mit dem Mazedonien eine gemeinsame Grenze hat, will in der nächsten Zeit seine Unabhängigkeit erklären.

Das teilte die Belgrader Nachrichtenagentur Beta mit.

„Mazedonien, das an Serbien und Kosovo angrenzt, wird unbedingt unter den ersten Ländern sein, die die Folgen der Bestimmung des Kosovo-Status, seien es positive oder negative, bewerten werden“, zitiert Beta das Schreiben Crvenkovskis.

Laut dem mazedonischen Präsidenten ist der NATO-Gipfel in der rumänischen Hauptstadt Bukarest im April der optimale Zeitpunkt und der optimale Ort für den Beitritt des Landes zur Allianz.

„Der Prozess der Bestimmung des Kosovo-Status geht seinem Ende zu, und die Risiken, die in diesem Zusammenhang entstehen, dürfen keinesfalls unterschätzt werden“, sagte er.

Die Länge der Grenze zwischen Mazedonien und Serbien (einschließlich des Kosovo) beträgt etwa 220 Kilometer.

Die politische Führung der autonomen serbischen Region Kosovo, die die Abtrennung von Serbien anstrebt, erklärte mehrmals, dass sie die Unabhängigkeit im Februar dieses Jahres proklamieren wolle.

Die Verhandlungen zur Aufnahme Mazedoniens in die NATO werden seit einigen Jahren geführt. Lediglich Griechenland tritt aktiv dagegen auf. Athen, das bei der NAT0 das Vetorecht hat, droht, den Beitritt Mazedoniens zu blockieren. Denn es ist mit der Benennung Republik Mazedonien nicht einverstanden, weil das historische Gebiet Mazedonien in Griechenland liegt.

Crvenkovski brachte in seinem Schreiben die Hoffnung zum Ausdruck, dass die NATO-Mitglieder ein Veto von Griechenland verhindern werden.

Laut Crvenkovski wird der NATO-Beitritt nicht nur Mazedoniens, sondern auch anderer Länder der Region zur Stabilität auf dem Balkan beitragen.

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8.2.2008 by Lupo.

Bolton: US-Regierung diskutiert über Anerkennung des Kosovo
Ex-UNO-Botschafter: “Sicherheitsrat hat keine Befugnis, einen Mitgliedstaat ohne Zustimmung dieses Staates aufzuteilen”
Washington/Wien - Wenige Tage vor der erwarteten Unabhängigkeitserklärung der Kosovo-Albaner tauchen nun offenbar auch in der US-Regierung Zweifel auf, ob eine Eigenstaatlichkeit der südserbischen Provinz tatsächlich unausweichlich ist. Die Administration von US-Präsident George W. Bush habe “die Debatte über den Kosovo-Status wiedereröffnet”, sagte der frühere US-Botschafter bei den Vereinten Nationen, John Bolton, in einem Gespräch mit dem Radiosender “Voice of America” (VOA). Im Laufe dieser Diskussion werden “widersprüchliche Standpunkte, etwa, dass die Unabhängigkeit nicht unausweichlich ist, vorgetragen”, wurde Bolton in serbischen Medien zitiert.

“Demokratisierung Serbiens gefährdet”

Wegen der widersprüchlichen Standpunkte sei es schwer, über den Ausgang dieser Diskussion zu spekulieren, deutete Bolton ein mögliches Abrücken von einer Anerkennung der Unabhängigkeit an. Der frühere enge Vertraute von US-Präsident Bush hatte Ende Jänner in einem gemeinsamen Artikel mit dem früheren US-Außenminister Lawrence Eagleburger in der “Washington Post” vor einer Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo gewarnt, weil dies Russland herausfordern und die Demokratisierung Serbiens gefährden würde.

Die Kosovo-Politik der Bush-Administration nannten sie “extrem naiv” und forderten eine “unverzügliche Neubewertung”.

………..

Bolton sagte weiter, dass der UNO-Sicherheitsrat laut der Charta der Vereinten Nationen keine Befugnis habe, “einen Mitgliedstaat ohne die Zustimmung dieses Staates aufzuteilen”. Doch im Fall von Kosovo gehe es nicht so sehr um das Völkerrecht als um internationale Politik, so Bolton, der eine Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo in dem Ende Jänner in der “Washington Post” veröffentlichten Artikel als “sehr gefährlichen Präzedenzfall” bezeichnet hatte. “Aus dem amerikanischen Blickwinkel betrachtet, sind in den bilateralen Beziehungen mit Russland andere Dinge viel wichtiger als der Kosovo”, meinte der als Hardliner in der US-Außenpolitiker geltende Diplomat gegenüber “VOA”.

“Einknicken vor der Drohung mit Gewalt”

Das Argument der westlichen Befürworter einer baldigen Unabhängigkeitserklärung, die Albaner verlören andernfalls die “Geduld”, sei - so Bolton und Eagleburger - “nichts anderes, als ein Einknicken vor der Drohung mit Gewalt”. Die Folgen einer willkürlichen Missachtung der Resolution 1244 des UNO-Sicherheitsrats, welche Serbiens Souveränität über Kosovo anerkannte, seien unabsehbar. Bereits jetzt signalisierten albanische Gruppen in Südserbien, in Montenegro, in Mazedonien und in Bosnien-Herzegowina “ihre Absicht, dem Kosovo-Beispiel zu folgen”. Die Bush-Administration täte gut, die russische Position, jegliche über den Kopf Serbiens erzwungene Kosovo-Regelung abzulehnen, zu berücksichtigen.
…….

http://derstandard.at/?id=3215700

Das Ende bedenken
Prominente Exaußenpolitiker der USA warnen vor Anerkennung der Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo
Von Rainer Rupp

http://www.jungewelt.de/2008/02-05/069.php

31.10.2007
John Bolton: Misguided U.S. Policy on Kosovo Continues

Over Fifteen Years of State Department’s Anti-Serbian Policy

Bolton: I think that the State Department has had an anti-Serbian policy for more than 15 years. When Yugoslavia was falling apart and Milosevic conducted his policy, there was some logic to our opposition to such a policy. Unfortunately, this biased policy has continued, even though there’s no logical explanation for it. While Serbia is trying to establish an effective and functional democracy regarding human rights and other issues, the anti-Serbian policy has continued, especially with regard to Kosovo, where a decision in favor of its independence could only create other concerns, and such a decision could impact on the democracy in progress in Serbia, and the possibility that the Security Council would step beyond its authority, which would be very unfortunate. This is one of the numerous examples of behavior by the State Department, which is a problem the next President has to solve.

VOA: In your opinion, what is the most important reason for US support for Kosovo independence?

http://www.byzantinesacredart.com/blog/

Thursday, November 01, 2007
Bolton on Kosovo
Former UN Ambassador John Bolton tells Voice of America:

While Serbia is trying to establish an effective and functional democracy regarding human rights and other issues, the anti-Serbian policy has continued, especially with regard to Kosovo, where a decision in favor of its independence could only create other concerns, and such a decision could impact on the democracy in progress in Serbia, and the possibility that the Security Council would step beyond its authority, which would be very unfortunate. This is one of the numerous examples of behavior by the State Department, which is a problem the next President has to solve.

VOA: In your opinion, what is the most important reason for US support for Kosovo independence?

Bolton: It is an attitude inherited from the 1990s from the policy of the former administration, when some parts of former Yugoslavia, according to legitimate and historic reasons
……………

washingtonrealist.blogspot

Das Fazit dieser klaren Aussage vor allem ist Eines: Man würden den Gewalt Drohungen der kriminellen Clans nachkommen und zugleich jede Art von Völkerrecht und UN Resolutionen brechen, falls der Mafia Staat Kosovo mit Hilfe u.a. krimineller Deutscher Politiker als Berater dort umgesetzt wird.

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