The Perils and Repercussions of Kosovo's Independence

BEIRUT -- Thousands of Kosovars took to the streets last week to celebrate their territory’s second anniversary of independence. But two years after Kosovo stunned the world by unilaterally declaring its autonomy from Serbia, the country’s sovereignty remains as contentious as ever. So much so that the world’s foremost legal body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), was tasked to determine the legality of the move by the UN General Assembly in 2008. Since then, a carrousel of interested nations has paraded in front of judges at the ICJ to defend their opposing positions. Some, like the US, argue that Kosovo’s claim to independence in 2008 was justified under international law, but their vocal opponents – Russia, Iran, and many more – maintain just the opposite.. » read more

David and Goliath: Bosnian Serbs Against the West

July 31, 2009 On June 20th the High Representative for Bosnia, Austrian Valentin Inzko, annulled legislation passed by the Bosnian Serb, Republika Srpska (RS), parliament that would reclaim some of the powers of “semi-autonomy” that were promised to it in the constitution but that have been stripped away incrementally by International Community (IC) High Representatives under the so-called Bonn powers. Inzko, the latest of seven High Representatives under the direction of Javier Solana, was offended that the Bosnian Serbs did not capitulate under the threat of “consequences” and withdraw the legislation on their own. Offering to negotiate and amend some things in the legislation was not satisfactory to High Representative Inzko, who has dictatorial powers over occupied Bosnia. Inzko saw the RS legislation to reclaim some of the constitutional powers stripped away by openly pro-Muslim High Representative Paddy Ashdown ten years after Dayton as “regressive.” Until less than four years ago, the Bosnian Serbs had their own police force, army (even though they were pretty much stripped of armaments), courts, and so forth.. » read more

Kosovo and Systematic Persecution by KLA

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Serbia: Ten Years Later

Wednesday 17 June 2009  Since the end of the U.S.-led war against Serbia, the country is slowly emerging from the wars of the 1990s. Despite lingering problems, Serbs appear to be more optimistic about their country's future than they have for decades. The United States deserves little credit for the positive developments, however, and a fair amount of blame for the country's remaining problems.. » read more

The War on Yugoslavia, Ten Years Later

Monday 06 April 2009  It has been 10 years since the U.S.-led war on Yugoslavia. For many leading Democrats, including some in top positions in the Obama administration, it was a "good" war, in contrast to the Bush administration's "bad" war on Iraq. And though the suffering and instability unleashed by the 1999 NATO military campaign wasn't as horrific as the U.. » read more

NATO's War on Yugoslavia: "Don't mention the war"

April 3, 2009 Imagine if, ten years ago, your country had been bombed in contravention of international law for 78 days and nights, leading to the death or injury of more than 1,500 people, and that the reasons for the attack had subsequently been exposed as fraudulent. You would reasonably expect your government to mark the anniversary with a series of official events, and to issue a strong denunciation of those who launched the aggression. But in Serbia, the pro-western ruling elite seems more concerned about keeping the US embassy onside than with commemorating the Nato bombing of ten years ago in an appropriate fashion. The biggest event to mark the anniversary was an international conference, organised by the Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals, a non-governmental organisation. Delegates from around the world attended, including the former US attorney general Ramsey Clark and the Labour ex-MP Alice Mahon.. » read more

Remembering the 1999 NATO led War on Yugoslavia: Kosovo "Freedom Fighters" Financed by Organized Crime

March 24, 2009 Ten years ago, March 24th 1999, marks the commencement of NATO's  aerial bombardment of Yugoslavia. The bombings which lasted for almost three months, were followed by the military invasion (under a bogus UN mandate) and illegal occupation of  the province of Kosovo.   The following article was written and published in April 1999. Heralded by the global media as a humanitarian peace-keeping mission, NATO's ruthless bombing of Belgrade and Pristina goes far beyond the breach of international law. While Slobodan Milosevic is demonised, portrayed as a remorseless dictator, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) is upheld as a self-respecting nationalist movement struggling for the rights of ethnic Albanians.. » read more

Remembering the 1999 NATO led War on Yugoslavia: Kosovo "Freedom Fighters" Financed by Organized Crime

March 19, 2009 en years ago, March 24th 1999, marks the commencement of NATO aerial bombardment of Yugoslavia. The bombings which lasted for almost three months, were followed by the military invasion (under a bogus UN mandate) and illegal occupation of  the province of Kosovo.   The following article was written and published in April 1999. Heralded by the global media as a humanitarian peace-keeping mission, NATO's ruthless bombing of Belgrade and Pristina goes far beyond the breach of international law. While Slobodan Milosevic is demonised, portrayed as a remorseless dictator, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) is upheld as a self-respecting nationalist movement struggling for the rights of ethnic Albanians.. » read more

Conference: Who are the War Criminals? Ten Years after NATO's Attacks on Serbia

March 24, 2009 The Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG) and Vanier College present HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION CHALLENGED A Public Conference 10 Years After NATO Attacks on Serbia March 24, 2009 Vanier College, Montreal 821 Ste Croix (Auditorium, A-103) A day of commemorative events is organized at Vanier College, with the support of the Centre for Research on Globalization, ten years after the start of the 78-day bombing campaign in Serbia which killed thousands of civilians. This event will draw attention to media disinformation, the nature of war crimes, and the spirit and letter of international law in an effort to remember, to educate and to inspire us in our collective effort against the injustice of war. It will mirror similar events happening worldwide on the same date. Central to the discussion will be the legal and moral precedent set for further 'humanitarian' bombings in Afghanistan and Iraq. Schedule of events and speakers: ► 8:30 “The Decriminalization of Aggression” by Dr.. » read more

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