Japan recognises Kosovo independence from Serbia
Japan recognised Kosovo's independence on Tuesday, a month after the majority Albanian region declared secession from Serbia with the backing of the United States and most European Union states.
Posted: Tuesday, March 18, 2008, 7:19 (GMT)
Japan recognised Kosovo's independence on Tuesday, a month after the majority Albanian region declared secession from Serbia with the backing of the United States and most European Union states.
"We hope that the independence of Kosovo will contribute to the long-term stability of the region," Japan's Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said in a statement.
Komura also said Japan hopes to maintain positive relations with Belgrade despite Serbia's continued opposition to Kosovo's independence, which was declared on February 17.
"Our country has traditionally been on friendly terms with Serbia, and by this recognition of Kosovo it is not our intention to disturb our relations with Serbia," he said.
Backed by its ally Russia, Serbia has rejected Kosovo's secession as well as its recognition by the United States and a majority of the EU's 27 members, including Italy, France and Germany.
Around 120,000 Serbs remain in Kosovo among 2 million ethnic Albanians. Almost half live in the north, where ethnic Serbs have clashed with United Nations police and NATO peacekeepers this week.
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Added: Friday, March 21, 2008, 17:15 (GMT)
It's about time to recognize the historical right of Kosova (Dardania) to have its destiny fulfilled-That is full independence. Kosova never was a Serbian province. It was there, since the times of birth of European civilization, a very distinct Dardanian/llyrian identity. Always populated by Dardanias who, although under constant pressure of forcefully migration by Serbian shovinism, Tito's Yugoslavia & Milloshevic's Serbia, still make up 92% of the population. They speak ilirian language with the dialect GEGE. Serbs always have been a minority there. We know that Serbs appeared in Balkans (then llyria) only by the 6th Century AD, and they speak a language more similar to Ukrainian then Russian. They have always been a minority and 'the story' of Kosova being the Heartland of Serbia is just a pure Serbian nationalist fantasy. Facts Speak Louder Than Words and Serbian’s Lies Will Collapse by Themselves. Serbs always have been considered as oppressors there, not just by Albanian majority, but also by other ethnic groups too. Serbs just occupied Kosova during the rise of the Serbian nationalism early 20th century from Ottomans, who by then were loosing the Balkans after 500 years of occupation. The borders of Kosova are well established and recognized. Now Kosova should be Free!
I can’t comprehend how a minority of 7% of the population, pretend to take off the land, the language, culture and the life of the rest of Kosova. Kosovars have the right to live free and independent in their land where they are born, generation after generation, live and will die.
Thank You. Japan.
Bluerose799, Wisconsin, USA
