BF2S Forums Kosovo Declares Independence

PRISTINA, Kosovo (CNN) -- Kosovo has formally declared its independence from Serbia and become the world's newest state in a move opposed by Serbia and Russia but backed by many western governments.

Lawmakers in the legislature of the former Serbian province approved the declaration of independence at an extraordinary session Sunday afternoon. It was read out in Albanian, Serbian and English by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci before the approval of state symbols including Kosovo's new national flag and anthem.

Thaci said that Kosovo was an "independent and democratic" state, adding: "From this day onwards, Kosovo is proud, independent and free."

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica promptly denounced the move.

"Citizens of Serbia, we have to come together and show the world that we do not acknowledge the creation of a false state on our territory," Kostunica said. "We will do our utmost to bring the province of Kosovo to where it rightfully belongs." He added, "As long as there are Serbian people, Kosovo is Serbian."

CNN's Alessio Vinci, reporting from Kosovo's capital of Pristina, said that thousands of Kosovar Albanians had braved the freezing wind and cold to sing, dance, wave flags in the streets and light firecrackers ahead of the much anticipated vote. Some revelers were even said to be firing guns skyward. "It's been like this for several hours now," he said.

"It's a day they have been waiting for for such a long time that many of them are trying to figure out just how they got to this day."

In Belgrade, Serbia's capital, riot police used flares and tear gas Sunday evening to disperse several hundred people protesting outside the U.S Embassy, said Time magazine's Dejan Anastajevic. Some of the protestors carried Serbian flags, and some threw things at the embassy, Anastajevic reported. Video from the scene also showed some demonstrators throwing things at police.

Video also showed one apparently injured police officer being taken to an ambulance.

President Bush said Sunday that Kosovo's status must be resolved before the Balkans can become stable and that the United States supports the Ahtisaari plan, which calls for a form of supervised independence.

The United Nations Security Council said it would hold an emergency session Sunday to discuss Kosovo's declaration, at Russia's request. Russia has also called for an open Security Council meeting on Monday so that Serbian President Boris Tadic can attend, Russia's ambassador to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, said. He said that the Council was expecting a briefing from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday.

Russia -- Serbia's historic ally -- has remained opposed to Kosovo's independence. Russia, which has fought two wars against separatist rebels in its southwestern republic of Chechnya, has said that U.S. and European support for Kosovo's independence could lead to an "uncontrollable crisis" in the Balkans.

The European Union decided Saturday to launch a mission of about 2,000 police and judicial officers to replace the United Nations mission that has been controlling the province since the end of the war with Serbia in 1999.

Kosovo has been under U.N. supervision and patrolled by a NATO-led peacekeeping force since the end of the three-month war, in which NATO warplanes pounded Serbia to roll back a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" of the province's Albanian population under former President Slobodan Milosevic.

The disputed province is dear to the Serbs -- Orthodox Christians who regard it as Serbian territory. But it is equally coveted by Kosovo's ethnic Albanians -- Muslims who have a 90 percent majority. Two years of talks on its final status ended in failure last December.

"Its status must be resolved in order for the Balkans to be stable," Bush told reporters Sunday during a news conference in Tanzania.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States was reviewing the situation.

Bush said the Ahtisaari plan -- named for former Finnish President Marti Ahtisaari -- is the best option. The proposal would give Kosovo limited statehood under international supervision.

Bush added that "it's in Serbia's interest to be aligned with Europe and the Serbian people can know that they have a friend in America."

"We are heartened by the fact that the Kosovo government has clearly proclaimed its willingness and its desire to support Serbian rights in Kosovo," Bush said.

Thaci said Thursday he would establish a new government office for minorities and it would protect the rights of minorities after the province declares independence.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has promised his country will refrain from using force against Kosovo after independence, though he has warned that Serbia will take punitive diplomatic, political, and economic measures against the province.


The EU said Saturday that "around 1,900 international police officers, judges, prosecutors and customs officials and approximately 1,100 local staff will be based in headquarters in Pristina or located throughout the judicial and police system in Kosovo."

The EU mission's objective is "to support the Kosovo authorities by monitoring, mentoring and advising on all areas related to the rule of law, in particular in the police, judiciary, customs and correctional services," it said.