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The arguments for quick and total independence are not credible Relevant background links for this series here. While the ICG, the International Crisis Group, and other pro-Albanian lobby groups argue that the independence of Kosovo is a means or necessity in order to avoid another "March 2004" and general chaos, the counterargument would be this: wouldn’t the granting of full independence to Kosovo be a reward for years of policies of ethno-nationalism and ethnic cleansing led by Albanian extremists? Would it not mean rewarding violent struggle by the KLA and punishment of the largest non-violent movement in ex-Yugoslavia – that of the Kosovo-Albanians before KLA became the dominating force? Would it not mean rewarding the two aggressions that to a large extent was instigated by factors in Kosovo, namely that in Southern Serbia and that in the 8 months war in Macedonia? When the Hague war crime indictee and Kosovo’s...

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The UN in Kosovo praises potential war criminal – why? Danish diplomat, Søren Jessen-Petersen is the highest authority in Kosovo and SRSG, Special Representative of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, there. In spite of that, his unconditional embrace of Mr. Ramush Haradinaj, a former leader of the illegal Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and former prime minister in the non-independent Kosovo and now indicted for war crimes by the Hague Tribunal seems to raise no eyebrows in any capital, media or at the UN in New York. All relevant links here. See also the TFF Kosovo Solution Series beginning here. Mr. Søren Jessen-Petersen’s embrace of Haradinaj In a statement on Haradinaj’s resignation Jessen-Petersen praises him for his "dynamic leadership, strong commitment and vision" and says that thanks to that "Kosovo is today closer than ever before to achieving its aspirations in settling its future status." He calls him his "close partner and...

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In Pursuit of Peace July, 2004 Violence has become an every day component of life, whether we are subjected to it directly or observe it from a distance. If we are to have any chance of replacing violence with a ‘culture of peace’, it is essential to find ways of extending our sense of belonging, beyond family, race and nation to include our identification as a member of the one humanity. How can we say that there is peace in the world whilst 80% of the human race is living in poverty, whilst we are polluting the planet beyond its capacity to regenerate and whilst we continue to spend disproportionate sums of money on weapons that bring pain and even total annihilation? If humankind is brought to the point where a large enough number of persons are able to sense and acknowledge an overriding identity with humanity, however, we will...

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Hvad der taler for sanktioner mod Israel Gerald Kaufman skrev dette i The Guardian 12. juli 2004 Bombeangrebet i Tel Aviv i går belyser det desperate behov for at opnå en fredsløsning. Det belyser også formålsløsheden i den mur, Israel bygger på palæstinensisk land, en mur, der blev fordømt af den Internationale Domstol sidste fredag, en mur hvis linieføring fordømtes af Israels højesteret sidste måned. Hvad skal der til for at få en afslutning på denne dødsdans? Da den Internationale Domstol forlangte at få muren fjernet, svarede den israelske regering, at den har en "moralsk pligt" til at forsvare sine borgere. Ganske bortset fra, at denne regering – den mest højreorienterede og krigeriske i Israels 56-årige historie – ikke ville kunne kende en moralsk pligt, hvis den blev slået i ansigtet med den, så er forsvaret af borgerne den pligt, som den først og fremmest svigter. Siden den anden intifada...

Til FNs Generalsekretær, Kofi Annan Brev fra befolkningen i Fallujah Fallujah den 14. oktober 2004 Brev fra befolkningen i Fallujah med bøn om afslutning af bombardementet og forhindring af det forestående angreb Hans Excellence, Hr. Kofi Annan, generalsekretær for De forenede Nationer, New York Deres Excellence. Det står helt klart, at de amerikanske styrker begår folkemord hver eneste dag i Iraq. Nu, mens vi skriver til Deres Excellence, begår de amerikanske styrker disse forbrydelser i byen Fallujah. De amerikanske krigsfly kaster deres kraftigste bomber mod de civile i byen og dræber og sårer herved hundredvis af uskyldige mennesker. Samtidig angriber deres tanks byen med tungt artilleri. Som De ved, er der intet militær i byen. Fallujahs modstandsbevægelse har ikke haft nogen aktioner gennem de sidste uger på grund af forhandlingerne mellem byens repræsentanter og regeringen, som gik godt. I den atmosfære får vi USAs nye bombardement, mens borgerne i Fallujah...

Lidt om bogen Bogens indhold Bestil bogen her Anmeldelser Siden den kolde krigs afslutning har dansk udenrigs- og sikkerhedspolitik bevæget sig langt ind i en politisk og moralsk blindgyde. Men det tjener hverken os eller verden at Danmark er blevet en krigs- og besættelsesmagt, viser den internationalt respekterede danske freds- og fremtidsforsker, Jan Øberg i denne bog. Tværtimod mindsker det vores og andres sikkerhed og bidrager til at øge, snarere end at mindske, terrortruslen. Forudsigelig fiasko – der udkommer 4. juni 2004 – sætter fokus på det irakiske samfund og Vestens måde at betragte og behandle Irak på. Jan Øberg kombinerer konkret konfliktanalyse med et personligt engagement, og underbygger overbevisende og konsekvent det synspunkt, at Vestens mangelfulde konfliktforståelse og ukyndige konflikthåndtering måtte ende med den ulykkelige krig. Det er en krig, som efter forfatterens opfattelse hverken kan fremme ædle motiver – etablere et demokratisk Irak – eller økonomisk-kulturelle interesser, men...

“TFF’s team were privileged to meet Margaret Hassan for hours during its fact-finding missions to Baghdad in both 2002 and 2003. Few – if any – we met were so knowledgeable, so committed to the welfare of the Iraqi people, so concerned about its fate should war come – and so generous with her time as Margaret was. We at TFF are deeply saddened to learn that she was taken hostage on her way to work on October 19, 2004. The kidnappers are working against the interests of the Iraqi people. Under no circumstance must their activity be considered legitimate or otherwise acceptable, also not as an expression of resistance to the unjust war and occupation. Powerless as we feel, we condemn such actions and hope that she will be released unharmed.” Jan Oberg, TFF director CNN – November 17, 2004 Tributes to Iraq’s Mother Teresa Heartbreak over Margaret Hassan’s...