Superpower Divide Over Kosovo Widens

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

(02-18) 14:52 PST BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) --

The U.S. and the European Union's biggest powers quickly recognized Kosovo as an independent nation Monday, widening a split with Russia, China and some EU members strongly opposed to letting the territory break away from Serbia.

The rift was on view for a second day at the U.N. Security Council, which was holding an emergency session to discuss the declaration of independence issued Sunday by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority.

Ethnic Serbs rallying in northern Kosovo angrily denounced the United States and urged Russia to help Serbia hold on to the territory that Serbs consider the birthplace of their civilization. Protesters also marched in Serbia's capital, and that nation recalled its ambassador to the U.S. to protest American recognition for an independent Kosovo.

Despite clamoring of Serbs to retake Kosovo, Serbia's government has ruled out a military response.

But the dispute is likely to worsen already strained relations between the West and Russia, which is a traditional ally of Serbia and seeks to restore its influence in former Soviet bloc states. The Kremlin could become less likely to help in international efforts important to the U.S. and its allies, such as pressuring Iran to rein in its nuclear program.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/02/18/international/i130821S91.DTL

[provis99]

1. I see the British gov't supported Kosovar independence

Does that mean the British will finally respect the rights of the Irish people and recognize the right of the Northern Irish to reunite with their Irish Republican brothers to the south? No? Hypocritical Limey bastards.

[BestCenter]

2. Uh, yeah, I'm sure the Ulstermen really would like that.

Wouldn't uniting Northern Ireland with the rest of the island be kind of like having Kosovo stay in Serbia? Your analogy seems flawed.

[robcon]

3. Super power? Russia?

U.S. GDP $13 trillion
China GDP $10 Trillion
Russia GDP $1.75 trillion

[Tempest]

4. It's not GDP alone

It's the influence they hold.

And Russia is a big player in the world.

[Winterblues]

5. How many nukes do they have

That's what makes them a Power not GDP. Plus their natural resources. They have untapped wealth and military might to boot.

[martymar64]

6. It gives our own secessionist movements some comfort

Freedom for California, Cascadia and Texas! Break the yokes of federal oppression!

[unkachuck]

7. "The US....

....and the European Union's biggest powers quickly recognized Kosovo as an independent nation..."


....do you think Russia and China will recognize our Native Americans as independent nations?

[jasmine621]

8. Serbian Archduke Ferdinand: remember him?

Here we go again. This could be bigger stuff than we want to admit to.