Kosovo Is Recognized by U.S., France and Britain

[Purveyor]

Source: New York Times

BRUSSELS — The United States formally joined France and Britain in recognizing the independence of Kosovo on Monday, a day after the breakaway province declared itself independent of Serbia.

In a statement, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States “has today formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion.”

Earlier, France and Britain had led European nations in recognizing Kosovo.

In a television interview, President Bush called the people of Kosovo “independent,” although he stopped short of formal recognition. Mr. Bush is due to make a formal, televised statement from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he is on a tour of African states, early on Tuesday morning, or 11:15 p.m. Eastern time on Monday.

“The Kosovars are now independent,” Mr. Bush said in a live interview broadcast on NBC television from Arusha, Tanzania. “It’s something I’ve advocated along with my government.”

Ms. Rice said Mr. Bush had agreed to Kosovo’s request to establish diplomatic relations, and she tried to reassure Serbia about the welfare of Kosovo’s Serbian minority.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/world/europe/19kosovo.html?hp

[russian33]

1. this is going to get interesting

[LynnTheDem]

2. Now they're "independent and sovereign", bushCartel can invade them!

[Xenotime]

3. This won't last.