[ENG]
The 182nd Executive Committee of Liberal International, convening in Vancouver, Canada on 1st-3rd May 2009, considering that:
The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence, based on the plan of former President of Finland Maarti Ahtisaari, was an act of the Assembly of Kosovo and the only democratic solution for peace, stability and integration of Kosovo and this part of Western Balkan’s into European and international structures. Since 17th February 2008, when the Assembly of Kosovo unanimously declared independence, 56 countries in Europe and around the world including the USA, the UK, Canada and 22 EU member states have already recognized the independence of Kosovo which is the key factor for peace and stability in this part of Europe;
After the process of reconfiguration of the United Nation Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) which is at the end of its mandate, and the establishment of the EU-LEX Mission in the Republic of Kosovo which together with NATO troops (KFOR) and democratic institutions of Kosovo have to guarantee the territorial sovereignty, rule of law, human and ethnic rights, equality, democracy and integration of Kosovo in all international institutions;
182nd Executive Committee of Liberal International in Vancouver calls for:
For all LI member parties to recommend to EU member governments and all democratic countries of the world to continue with the process of recognition of the independence of Kosovo;
Liberal International to open the debate about the process of visa liberalisation for citizens of Kosovo and all Western Balkan’s countries;
Liberal International to open the debate and dialog about membership of Kosovo and all Western Balkan’s countries into UN, EU, NATO and all international institutions;
Liberal International and its member parties to cooperate more closer with liberal democratic parties of Kosovo and Western Balkan’s knowing that liberal democrats are the best future for this part of Europe;
[FR]
Le 182ieme Comité Exécutif de l’Internationale Libérale, convoquant à Vancouver, Canada du 1-3 Mai 2009, observant que :
La 2008 déclaration de l’indépendance de Kosovo, fondée sur le projet de l’ancien Président Finlandais Maarti Ahtisaari, était un acte de l’Assemblée de Kosovo et la seule solution démocratique pour la paix, la stabilité et l’intégration de Kosovo et cette partie de Balkan de l’ouest dans Européen et les structures internationales. Depuis le 17 février 2008, après que l’Assemblée de Kosovo a déclaré à l’unanimité l’indépendance, 56 pays comme les Etats-Unis, le Royaume-Uni, le Canada et 22 états de membre d’UE ont déjà reconnu l’indépendance de Kosovo qui est le facteur clé pour la paix et la stabilité dans cette partie d’Europe;
Après que le processus de reconfiguration de la Mission des Nations Unies Kosovo (UNMIK) qui est sur la fin de son mandat et d’établissement de Mission d’UE LEX dans la République de Kosovo qui la mission ensemble avec les troupes d’OTAN (KFOR) et les institutions démocratiques de Kosovo doivent la garantie la souveraineté territoriale, la règle de niveau bas, l’humain et les droits ethniques, l’égalité, la démocratie et l’intégration de Kosovo dans toutes institutions internationales;
Le 182ieme Comité Exécutif de l’Internationale Libérale appelle que:
Tous ces membres pour recommander les gouvernements des membres d’UE et tous pays démocratiques du monde pour continuer avec le processus de reconnaissance de l’indépendance de Kosovo;
L’Internationale Libérale pour ouvrir le débat du processus de libéralisation de visa pour les citoyens de Kosovo et tous pays Balkan de l’ouest;
L’Internationale Libérale pour ouvrir le débat et le dialogue de l’adhésion de Kosova et tous pays Balkan de l’ouest dans ONU, UE, OTAN et toutes institutions internationales ;
L’Internationale Libérale et ses membres pour coopérer plus près avec les partis démocratiques libéraux de Kosovo et le Balkan de l’ouest savant que démocrates libéraux sont le meilleur avenir pour cette partie d’Europe;
In March 2004, Kosovo experienced its worst inter-ethnic violence since the Kosovo War. The unrest in 2004 was sparked by a series of minor events that soon cascaded into large-scale riots. International negotiations began in 2006 to determine the final status of Kosovo, as envisaged under UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The UN backed talks, led by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, began in February 2006. Whilst progress was made on technical matters, both parties remained diametrically opposed
on the question of status itself.
In February 2007, Ahtisaari delivered a draft status settlement proposal to leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, the basis for a draft UN Security Council Resolution which proposes ‘supervised independence’ for the province. A draft resolution, backed by the
United States, the United Kingdom and other European members of the Security Council, was presented and rewritten four times to try to accommodate Russian concerns that such a resolution would undermine the principle of state sovereignty.
Russia, which holds a veto in the Security Council as one of five permanent members,had stated that it would not support any resolution which was not acceptable to both Belgrade and Kosovo Albanians.
After many weeks of discussions at the UN, the United States, United Kingdom and other European members of the Security Council formally ‘discarded’ a draft resolution backing Ahtisaari’s proposal on 20 July 2007, having failed to secure Russian backing.
Beginning in August, a “Troika” consisting of negotiators from the European Union, the United States and Russia launched a new effort to reach a status outcome acceptable to both Belgrade and Pristina. Despite Russian disapproval, the U.S., the United Kingdom, and France appeared likely to recognise Kosovar independence. A declaration of independence by Kosovar Albanian leaders was postponed until the end of the Serbian presidential elections (4 February 2008).
The Assembly of Kosovo approved a declaration of independence on 17 February 2008. Over the following days, several states (the United States, Turkey, Albania, Austria, Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Republic of China (Taiwan), Australia and others) announced their recognition, despite protests by Russia and others in the UN.
Currently, 57 UN states recognise the independence of Kosovo.
The European Union has no official position towards Kosovo’s status, but has decided to deploy the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo to ensure a continuation of international civil presence in Kosovo. As of April 2008, most of the member-countries of NATO, EU, WEU and OECD have recognised Kosovo as independent.
As of 9 October 2008, all of Kosovo’s immediate neighbour states except Serbia have
recognised the declaration of independence. Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia announced their recognition of Kosovo on 9 October 2008. Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary have also recognised the independence of Kosovo.
The Serb minority of Kosovo, which largely opposes the declaration of independence, has formed the Community Assembly of Kosovo and Metohija in response. The creation of the assembly was condemned by Kosovo’s president Fatmir Sejdiu, while UNMIK has
said the assembly is not a serious issue because it will not have an operative role.
