Serbia ready for extreme measures in case of Kosovo independenceJanuary 16, 2008 - 16:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Serbian government has adopted a secret plan to implement "in case of a unilateral declaration of independence" by the Albanian majority of the breakaway Kosovo province, it said on Monday.With Western backing, Kosovo's 90 percent Albanians are preparing to declare independence in coming months despite objections from Serbia, which offers the province autonomy in all matters but rejects any change of borders. The Serbian government said in a statement it adopted the contingency plan at an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Monday. "The document that was adopted is an expression of the state's united policy towards Kosovo," read the statement. Details of the plan were kept secret. But information leaked in the three months since the plan was first drafted point to several measures, including cutting off electricity supplies and blocking power routes for the province, which buys 40 percent of its power from Serbia, as well as a trade and goods embargo. Serbia could also refuse to recognize Kosovo passports and force travelers to make a long detour to get to Western Europe. It might also withdraw its ambassadors from countries that recognize Kosovo as an independent state. A government source said that the plan contained a series of measures for each ministry, including preparations for a possible influx of refugees from the ethnic Serb minority. "This is mostly posturing, a show of determination, it doesn't mean that any of these measures will be implemented," the source said on condition of anonymity, Reuters reports. Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombed to drive out Serb forces and halt the killing of Albanian civilians in a two-year counter-insurgency war. Serbia insists only the U.N. may determine Kosovo's future and has relied on Russia, a veto holder in the Security Council, to block UN recognition. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |