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A Kosovar Albanian woman waving a flag as she and others celebrate Kosovo's declaration of independence in Pristina on Sunday. (AP)
Last update - 20:34 18/02/2008
U.S. recognizes Kosovo independence as Israel delays taking stance
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters
Tags: independence, serbia, israel 

U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday hailed Kosovo's historic bid for statehood and the U.S. government extended formal recognition to it as
a sovereign and independent state.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement that Bush has responded affirmatively to Kosovo's request to establish diplomatic relations.
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"The establishment of these relations will reaffirm the special ties of
friendship that have linked together the people of the United States and Kosovo," the statement said.

Israel has been following the developments pertaining to Kosovo's declaration of independence Sunday, and will form its position in the future, the Foreign Ministry on Sunday stated in a laconic announcement on the predominantly Muslim region's secession from Serbia earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, the European Union sidestepped differences over recognizing Kosovo's independence on Monday to pledge that the whole Western Balkans would one day join the bloc and vowed to guarantee stability in the region.

The four major EU powers - France, Germany, Britain and Italy - announced their intention to recognise the new state that seceded from Serbia on Sunday, but Spain and several other countries said they would not do so.

Officials in Jerusalem have expressed reservations about recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, citing the fact that the secession is unilateral. Several Israeli diplomats said recognizing the declaration could have implications on the Palestinian issue.

"The Government of Serbia considers this decision, made outside the auspices of the United Nations Security Council, illegal," Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said in a statement on the declaration of independence.

Serbia's leaders pledged peaceful resistance after Kosovo's declaration, but some 2,000 angry protesters gathered at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade to vent their anger at the American backing for the breakaway province. "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia," many chanted.

Meanwhile, Russia tried to block Kosovo's independence during a closed-door emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday, saying it is deeply concerned about the safety of Serbs living in the territory.

The 15-member council is deeply divided on the future of Kosovo. Russia backs its close ally Serbia, while the United States, Britain, France and other European Union members are supporting the Kosovo Albanians.

The council met at the request of Russia, which argues that Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia made earlier Sunday violates a 1999 council resolution.

In a televised address to the nation on Sunday minutes after its mainly
Albanian province declared independence, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said Kosovo was propped up unlawfully by the United States which was "ready to violate the international order for its own military interests".

Serbs vow never to give up the territory, in which their history goes back 1,000 years. But the West supports the demand of Kosovo's 2 million ethnic Albanians for their own state, nine years after NATO went to war to save them from Serbian forces.

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  • Kosovar PM: Our independent state will not be Islamic
  • Kosovo independence is imminent - but when?
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      1.   Jews must support Serbians! 04:38  |  libra 18/02/08
      2.   Russia Position and Argument Appears to have More Merit 05:29  |  Joseph . E 18/02/08
      3.   Republic of Kosovo 06:43  |  Russ 18/02/08
      4.   fed up with the hypocracy 07:00  |  bob jones 18/02/08
      5.   If we`re not careful 07:44  |  Nachshon Rothstein 18/02/08
      6.   The cecession of Israel 60 years ago was also unilateral! 07:44  |  Kris 18/02/08
      7.   We don`t need Israel`s help anyway 07:55  |  Kossovar 18/02/08
      8.   Mustn`t give the Palestinians fancy ideas 09:48  |  Clickfool 18/02/08
      9.   Advice for Jews 09:51  |  A Serb 18/02/08
      10.   OF COURSE ISRAEL WON`T 09:56  |  indrajaya 18/02/08
      11.   GOD`S MIRACLE FOR KOSOVO 10:17  |  indrajaya 18/02/08
      12.   This goes to show 10:30  |  Palestinian Prince 18/02/08
      13.   Israelis love to play double agents 10:32  |  Arman 18/02/08
      14.   # 9, A SERB 10:40  |  indrajaya 18/02/08
      15.   Kosovo is Europe`s Gaza. 10:52  |  Michael 18/02/08
      16.   kosovo has the right to be independent but... 11:01  |  Joey 18/02/08
      17.   "Ethnic Albanians" = PC code words for "Muslim" 11:07  |  David Teich 18/02/08
      18.   6: Kris, you`re wrong and avoiding the real comparison 11:10  |  David Teich 18/02/08
      19.   Supportive of the brave Serbian People 11:24  |  CastorTroy 18/02/08
      20.   # 19, CASTOR TROY 12:06  |  indrajaya 18/02/08
      21.   Kosovo 12:31  |  Harry 18/02/08
      22.   kosovo is Serbia, full stop. 12:33  |  chalom 18/02/08
      23.   #20 12:44  |  Joe 18/02/08
      24.   You better line up! 12:45  |  American Trooper 18/02/08
      25.   It is only Serbia under Milosecic... 13:02  |  Anne 18/02/08
      26.   its such a shame... 13:46  |  Nihat 18/02/08
      27.   To 23 /Joe 13:51  |  Anne 18/02/08
      28.   No Going Back 14:18  |  Steven 18/02/08
      29.   "... citing the fact that the secession is unilateral." 14:19  |  Axel 18/02/08
      30.   support Serbia = support slaughtering 14:47  |  Leona 18/02/08
      31.   GOD 15:03  |  JJ 18/02/08
      32.   to recognise or not 15:12  |  SAM EL LLANITO 18/02/08
      33.   And Israeal Has the Chutpah To Claim "Unilateral" 15:15  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/02/08
      34.   14,19 Idrajaya 15:26  |  A Serb 18/02/08
      35.   Exactly JJ, only Serbia nothing more or less! 15:44  |  Billy 18/02/08
      36.   1st (of many) Islamic republic in Europe 16:29  |  Nur al`dajani 18/02/08
      37.   SUPPORT TO SERBIA IS SUPPORT FOR JUSTICE 16:40  |  20x20 18/02/08
      38.   GOD SAVE SERBIA, INCLUDING KOSOVO SERBIA 16:43  |  Like it is 18/02/08
      39.   #7 Yes you do need Israel`s help 16:57  |  Conroy 18/02/08
      40.   Nur al`djani as a Fake with fake Claims 17:19  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/02/08
      41.   #8 Clickfool I hardly think Kosovo will give the Pals.... 17:32  |  Conroy 18/02/08
      42.   #10 You`re putting words in Israel`s mouth Indrajaya 17:36  |  Conroy 18/02/08
      43.   The Palestinians already unilaterly declared independence 17:45  |  Conroy 18/02/08
      44.   america supports 19:16  |  bri 18/02/08
      45.   To A Serb #9 (Advise for Jews) 19:30  |  Isaac 18/02/08
      46.   Yet another disaster from Bush. 19:45  |  Michael 18/02/08
      47.   Laws enacted by the den of thiefs, the 19:57  |  bozhidar balkas 18/02/08
      48.   Balkans: The Spark of World Wars 20:08  |  Jimmie 18/02/08
      49.   Kossovar 20:10  |  JT 18/02/08
      50.   Israel recognizes Independence 20:14  |  Benjamin 18/02/08
      51.   If Kosova Achieves Independence then 20:18  |  JT 18/02/08
      52.   To Benjamin 20:29  |  Joe College 18/02/08
      53.   I can understand Israel taking its time to decide 20:36  |  Conroy 18/02/08
      54.   A victory for demographic warfare 20:46  |  SAD 18/02/08
      55.   The Future of Europe 20:51  |  Euro 18/02/08
      56.   Isaac: It was you who sided with the Nazis not the serbs 20:56  |  MAN 18/02/08
      57.   Who said all Muslims hate The Jew 20:57  |  Chicago Arab 18/02/08
      58.   Israel refuses to allow Palestine to exist, no alb genocide... 20:58  |  POP 18/02/08
      59.   U.S/NATO WAR on Serb Christians. WE BOMBED the WRONG SIDE (1) 21:10  |  Linda Rivera 18/02/08
      60.   U.S/NATO WAR on Christians. WE BOMBED the WRONG SIDE (2) 21:13  |  Linda Rivera 18/02/08
      61.   If they´re Albanians waving her flag, WHY not live in Albania? 21:13  |  AliciaYasmeen 18/02/08
      62.   U.S/NATO WAR on Christians. WE BOMBED the WRONG SIDE (3) 21:14  |  Linda Rivera 18/02/08
      63.   NEXT: an independent Moslem Britain with Union Jack? 21:18  |  AliciaYasmeen 18/02/08
      64.   1999 US/NATO`s WAR on Christians. RETURN to BARBARISM (1) 21:19  |  Linda Rivera 18/02/08
      65.   #46 Michael: this "disaster" caused by Ahtisaari from Finland! 21:23  |  AliciaYasmeen 18/02/08
      66.   US/NATO`s WAR on Christians. RETURN to BARBARISM (2) 21:23  |  Linda Rivera 18/02/08
      67.   US/NATO`s WAR on Christians. RETURN to BARBARISM (3) 21:26  |  Linda Rivera 18/02/08
      68.   today kossovo demain les banlieues de paris 21:40  |  baba lalou 18/02/08
      69.   Israel should support Kosovo 21:42  |  effie 18/02/08
      70.   RECOGNIZE KOSOVO - Israel will and should 22:00  |  B`Galil