Recognizing Kosovo has no bearing on Quebec, Harper says

[daleo]

LONDON, Ont. — Canada's recognition of Kosovo as an independent state should have no bearing on Quebec, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday.

While some Quebec nationalists are pointing to Kosovo's new independence as a sign they should push for their own state, Harper said the Kosovo situation is not in any way comparable to Quebec.

"I think the situation there is very unique, and I would remind you when you talk about Quebec — I think Quebeckers have been very clear — they're not interested in more referendums and more debate about separation," Mr. Harper said.

"They want to get on with building a strong Quebec within a strong Canada, and that's what our government is dedicated to doing, as is the government of Quebec."
...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080319.wcankosov0319/BNStory/National/home
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Every situation is unique. I don't know if you can cherry-pick stuff like this.

[HuffleClaw]

1. funny

leave it up to the separatists to glom onto that one.

[Ravachol]

2. Every situation is unique... but...

That doesn't mean he's right. Kosovo and Quebec share a lot of resemblances in respect to their minority status. Quebec is massively french, while Kosovo is massively albanian, by similar proportions. I'm not saying there was a genocide or anything approaching that in Quebec but there sure was and is some discrimination going on and a lot of resentment from a fair share of the population.

The last referendum was 49.4% to 51.6%. Everybody knows there will be another one, sooner or later. Support for independence still is averaging 43-44% and we're not even in "referendum times".

Since all Quebec's parties recognize it as a nation, as so does Harper, I wonder how he can cherry-pick like this, without sounding like a giant hypocrite.