New Kosova Report

NAAC Hails Independence of Kosova!

Saturday, 23 February 2008

NAAC

WASHINGTON - NAAC hails the will of the Albanian people of Kosova for having earned the right to declare itself free and independent! We greatly honor your courage, honor and dignity!
On Sunday, February 17, 2008, the newly elected government of the Republic of Kosova declared its independence, in full compliance with internationally accepted economic, political and social laws; and subsequently has been recognized by the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and a daily growing list of countries from Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Near and Far Asia.

On Thursday, February 21, 2008, Serbian authorities organized a rally in the Serbian capital of Belgrade in opposition to Kosova's independence, having declared all schools closed, and offering free bus and train services to interested demonstrators. A few hours after Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica addressed the crowd, the embassies of the United States, Britain, Germany, Slovenia, and Turkey, were attacked by Serbian mobs, and an unidentified charred body was found inside the United States Embassy. By international Conventions, each Embassy is the legal property of the guest country and the host country is legally obligated to provide necessary protection. The United States, having already removed from its Embassy all personnel deemed non-essential, and along with other states, has notified the Serbian authorities that they are being directly held responsible for the damages.

Now the Serbian authorities are attempting to incite riots in the northern city of Mitrovica, to spread panic and fear to the Serbs living below the city, so that they will flee across the Ibar river which runs across the middle of the city, to try to partition Kosova. The international community, NATO forces and international police have already made clear that they will not allow that to happen. NAAC calls upon the Serbs from Kosova to distance themselves from those using hatred and violence, tools of the past to create animosity. The politicians of Serbia must now accept what even their own people already know -- that Kosova is already independent!

The Kosova politicians have endorsed the broadest minority rights possible in Europe, and have agreed to provide protection of all ethnic cultural and religious institutions for all its inhabitants; and further agreed to collaborate with a European Union approved monitoring institution, EULEX, comprised mainly of judges and police, to guarantee implementation.

The Albanian people of Kosova have demonstrated, again and again, through their cultural, spiritual and moral adherence, that they want to live in an independent and free Kosova, which will a multiethnic and multicultural society.

The National Albanian American Council is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for Albanians and promoting peace and economic development in the Balkans by fostering democratic policy, promoting respect for human rights, and conducting educational and developmental programs. For more information on the National Albanian American Council visit us on the web at http://www.naac.org/.

DATASOURCE: National Albanian American Council

CONTACT: Amelda Beluli of the National Albanian American Council,

+1-202-466-6900

Web Site: http://www.naac.org/