Kosovo and Cyprus

Feb 17, 2008 20:13

A lot of my work involves steady slogging against the prevailing political winds. So when I get not one but two favourable gusts filling my sails on the same day, it is definitely worth noting ( Read more... )

world: kosovo, life: work, world: cyprus

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Comments 10

pgmcc February 17 2008, 21:18:40 UTC
Kosovo has declared independence

Well done for all your work that has in some way moved affairs in this general direction.

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alexmc February 17 2008, 22:30:58 UTC
Thanks for posting this. For personal reasons I dont keep up to date with Cyprus events as much as I might have done in the past.

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anonymous February 18 2008, 11:38:50 UTC
Do you see there being a real possibility of Cyprus having a communist President and this potentially being a positive thing? iirc AKEL have cosied up to DIKO before so it may be easier for Christofias to attract the votes?

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nwhyte February 18 2008, 12:56:06 UTC
The Cyprus communists aren't very Communist! No idea which of them is likely to win - the two-horse race polls in the run-up to this weekend showed Christofias ahead but clearly underestimated Kassoulides' support in general. While Christofias is the former coalition partner, Kassoulides is closer to DIKO on most ideological grounds, so it is tough to call.

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redfiona99 February 18 2008, 16:58:01 UTC
(Please forgive that all my info comes from the BBC and the Kronezeitung) The thing that really interests me, especially regarding the EU countries responses is how those countries who do not have sections that are trying to split off seem to be far fonder of the idea than those countries which do.

Admittedly I'm also amused by the Austrian government's reaction which appears to be mostly trying to keep everyone happy.

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inuitmonster February 19 2008, 21:08:31 UTC
The thing that really interests me, especially regarding the EU countries responses is how those countries who do not have sections that are trying to split off seem to be far fonder of the idea than those countries which do.

Eh, isn't the United Kingdom expected to recognise Kosova soon?

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nwhyte February 19 2008, 21:20:37 UTC
And Turkey was practically the first to recognise!

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smhwpf February 19 2008, 21:39:12 UTC
And congratulations on your role in it ( ... )

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nwhyte February 20 2008, 15:59:48 UTC
Sam,

1) They've been more successful than certain propagandists would like one to think, though still, of course, not successful enough. The word went out from both government and opposition parties after March 2004 that refugees were to be allowed to return without hassle; the slow pace of returns since then is at least as much due to deterrence from official Belgrade as to local obstruction. Having said that, it's an area that the internationals will have to keep an eye on. Having said that, it's not actually been used as a criterion for sovereignty or recognition anywhere else!

2) Yes, but (and I realise that this punts the question a bit) the relevant UN Security Council regulation is different as well. Chris Borgen addresses this issue pretty convincingly.

3) There's already been a referendum in South Ossetia! Not that anyone paid any attention; not that they did either when the Kosovars held one in 1992.

4) I don't recall the Bangladeshis or Eritreans seeking permission from the UN Security Council either.

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smhwpf February 20 2008, 17:27:18 UTC
1) *nods* Somewhat encouraging. No, shouldn't be a precondition for sovereignty, just a rather significant concern ( ... )

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