German Left: Independent Kosovo is an attack at identity of Europe
The unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence is a gross violation of international law and a strong attack at the identity of Europe, German parliament's Foreign Policy Committee member Monica Knoche has said.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, July 14, 2008
UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which ended the war, explicitly guarantees Serbia's territorial integrity, said Knoche, a member of the German Left.
She underlined that the recognition of independent Kosovo was an impetus to nationalist movements and ethnic separatism, completely opposed to the idea of europeism in the 21st century.
She said that some states that had not recognised Kosovo had been guided by their own interests, that is by fear from the flaring up of separatism within their own borders.
"The risk of Kosovo becoming a model for such ambitions was recognised by most countries and the fact that just 43 countries in the world have recognised Kosovo's independence confirms to us that we are right in our attitude and action", Knoche said.
She said that her leftist party urged the review of legality of the willfull recognition of Kosovo's independence before the International Court of Justice and that she believed that the solution lay in a wide autonomy without the movement of borders.
"Kosovo must continue to be treated as an integral part of Serbia and Serbia should have the perspective of joining the European Union with Kosovo as its integral part", she said.
Knoche said that the Left had complained to the German Constitutional Court against the engagement of Bundeswehr troops within KFOR in Kosovo. The party believes that UN Resolution 1244 can no longer be used as a justification for the military task which German troops are doing and a that new green light has not been given.
