.: Kosova celebrates 2nd independence anniversary

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Kosova celebrates 2nd independence anniversary

A total number of 65 countries recognize Kosovo’s independence, including the United States.

Kosovo celebrates the 2nd anniversary of its independence from Serbia. Streets are adorned with flags and the government has announced a two-day official holiday.

The first ceremony was held in Prizren to commemorate martyrs. People has taken to the streets in Kosovo where blood and tears were shed for long years.

The Kosovo Parliament declared independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008.

Declaring the Kosovo’s independence as “illegal”, Serbia intended to seek international validation and filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice.

After the end of the Kosovo War in 1999, the United Nations Security Council placed Kosovo under transitional UN administration and demanded the Serbian forces to withdraw from Kosovo.

Following Martti Ahtisaari’s, a former President of Finland, proposal for a supervised independence in February 2007, the declaration of independence was made by members of the Kosovo Assembly meeting in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, on 17 February 2008. It was approved by unanimous quorum.

Turkey is one of the first states to recognize Kosovo’s independence, and the total number has reached 65, including the United States and majority of EU member states.

The European Union both controls and supports Kosovo’s march for independence.

Turkish Ambassador to Kosovo Metin Hüsrev Ünler expressed his support at the reception given by Kosovan President Fatmir Seydiu.

Great infrastructure and energy projects are underway in Kosovo in an effort to repair damages of the war, while the contry struggles with a high unemployment rate.

Applying for the EU membership, Kosovo is becoming a member of many international finance institutions and carries out reforms along with the help of Turkey.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Abdullah Gül sent a message to his Kosovan counterpart, saying: “On behalf of the Turkish nation, I congratulate 2nd birthday of the Republic of Kosovo with sincere feelings.”

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New York Times article published May 21, 1911

"ALBANIAN JOAN OF ARC: Handsome Heroine Takes Father's Place and Vanquishes Turks" – Cetinja, May 21, 1911 - A young girl, whose first name corresponds to that of the given name of the Maid of Orleans, is now being sung in the songs of the Montenegrin bards in the inns and coffee houses in Podgorica. When at the battle of Vranje last week, her father, the hereditary commander of his clan, fell, she immediately stepped to his place and led the Martinajs to victory against the Turks. Aside from the romantic phase of the affair, for Janitza Martinaj (Tringa e Grudes) is very beautiful, the battle is important as showing that the Montenegrins on the frontier had joined with the Albanians. According to a person who is well acquainted with her, this new Joan of Arc is “a tall, handsome, well-developed young woman. All the Albanian women are brave, and are trained from their girlhood to the use of firearms, and in times of war, as there are no mules, they carry the provisions and ammunition for their soldiers and go into the firing line to distribute them.” “And are sometimes killed?” “Yes, often that happens.” Janitza would probably have carried a Martini rifle; or, as many of the Marininis were collected last year by the Turks, her weapon may perhaps have been one of the old-fashioned Albanian rifles, which are handsomely decorated with silver and have very long, narrow barrels. Shooting is almost the only amusement of the young men and women in Albania. Both boys and girls learn to shoot when they are 12 years old. At weddings the parties amuse themselves by dancing and shooting: at christenings shootings is again the principal amusement – firing at large targets for some little prize – and at festivals there is shooting all day long. It’s one of the great difficulties that Turks have to contend with, for it is part of the national life; the people use their rifles by day and sleep with them by their side by night. The custom has grown up with the prevailing insecurity from vendettas at home and border troubles abroad. Physically, the Albanians are the finest race in Europe. Their women are handsome, with dark hair, though their eyes are sometimes gray. To see them walk is a delight. We like to see the ballet in Servia. The first time I saw the Albanians walk it gave me just the same pleasure. Their movements are so graceful, elegance and strength together. Yes, they are a very fine and very gifted race. They are like the Scots in the 17th century, and they will be by and by the finest race, intellectually as well as physically, in the Balkans. If you go to Constantinople you will find that many of the finest men, not only soldiers but also statesmen are Albanians. Their fault, due to their present degree of civilization, is that they cannot grasp the idea of State. The clan is their highest organization; they are unable to see the importance of combining the clan with the higher organization of making a state. But that will come.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Kosova celebrates 2nd independence anniversary

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