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| » Former Soldiers of the United States Atlantic Battalion Ready to Defend Kosova Again |
| Postuar mė datėn: 2007-07-18 02:11:58 nga admin4 :: Kategoria: English |
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Tuesday- July 17, 2007
New York
Veterans of the Atlantic Battalion from the US who joined the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) in 1999 that fought alongside US and NATO forces to liberate Kosova and stop the ethnic cleansing by the Serbian forces gathered in New York to express their deep concern with recent developments regarding the resolution of Kosova's status.
The former soldiers of the Atlantic Battalion voiced outrage with the international community's continued delays in recognizing Kosova's independence in the face of Russia's threat of veto in the UN Security Council. Ex- fighters stressed that Russia's intransigence and threat of using a veto to preclude the UN Security Council from recognizing independence of Kosova pose a serious danger for peace, stability and the prospect of democracy in the Balkans.
"Russia is using Kosova as a back door to dictating European policy and gaining leverage with countries that are afraid of Russia to recognize Kosova's inevitable independence,"- said Uk Lushi, spokesperson for the Atlantic Battalion during the Liberation War in 1999. "European countries need to preserve their unity and present a clear platform for an immediate recognition of Kosova's independence, or risk the renewal of conflicts in the Balkans that will render EU's foreign policy and decision making power useless."- Mr. Lushi stated.
Ex- soldiers of Atlantic Battalion voiced unconditional support for the Veterans of KLA Association in Prishtina and their readiness to defend Kosova's independence and freedom at any cost. "We want the world to know that we are prepared to make the same sacrifice a million times over in protection of life, liberty, and democracy for all citizens of Kosova," said Frank Idrizi, commander of the Atlantic Battalion during the Kosova war. "The United States and Kosova Liberation Army stood for the same values and principles
Fighting for the KLA was fighting for human rights, Kosova's freedom and American values. We cherish those privileges under American democracy every day but not for one second do we stop thinking about the struggle of our people to enjoy those freedoms just like Americans." Mr. Idrizi added.
Arber Muriqi, one of the soldiers present at the meeting, emphasized that any return to the negotiating table or denying Kosova's immediate independence under any other framework seeks to throw dust in the eyes of Kosova's citizens who have staged a patient path to promised independence for a very long time. "The international community needs to be well aware that a delayed strategy, renewed negotiations, or any other form of compromise with Serbia would increase the risk for turmoil in the entire Balkans substantially, as that certainly would open Pandora's Box with regard to the future of Albanians in Macedonia, Presheva Valley, Montenegro and Greece,"- Mr. Muriqi added.
Labinot Baraliu, a former KLA soldier who migrated to New York after the war, remarked, "Albanians have made many painful concessions in the interest of peace and stability when accepting an international compromise that forced them to live in significant numbers in six separate, neighboring countries, even after the fall of communism. The international community and especially the EU should not take for granted the assumption that this status quo will remain in place after cheating Kosova out of its right to freedom and self-determination,"-Mr. Baraliu concluded.
A letter was sent to the Parliament of Kosova demanding the representatives of the people proclaim the independence of Kosova without delay. The letter conveyed the commitment of all "Atlantic" soldiers to defend Kosova and its independence.
The attendees of the meeting called upon the United States government to seek a solution outside the United Nations if Russia persists in blocking Security Council and honor the pledge that President Bush gave during a historic visit to Albania June 11 when he said: "At some point in time - sooner rather than later - you've got to say -enough is enough. Kosovo is independent."
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