United Nations headquarters in New York NY USA
______________________________
Political leaders and the media alike have, for quite a few days now, been discussing the proclamation of Kosovar sovereignty and the breakneck speed at which Washington and allies of Washington scrambled to recognise the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo. Their focusing on Kosovo is understandable; they’re concentrating attention on a really important event. However, hard as I try, I can find no mention of the biggest result of what’s happened and what will tell on the fate of the self-proclaimed republic and many other things in detailed Western, including American, comments on turns of developments in Kosovo. The problem of Kosovo is a threat to what has taken decades of painstaking efforts to build, the existing world order and global stability. What is happening reminds me that World War II began when Nazi Germany decided it was free to ignore international and domestic law. The illegitimate Anschluss of sovereign Austria, the brazen violation of the sovereign rights of Czechoslovakia, and, finally, the invasion of Poland were the opening pages in one of the biggest tragedies in the history of the human race. Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland were destined to foot the bill for the criminal disregard and gross violation of international law.
The difficult lesson of history was not taught in vain. The victorious Allied nations were quick to form an Organisation of the United Nations and wrote the UN Charter in September 1945. The UN Charter laid the groundwork for decades of concerted efforts to keep law and order on this planet. The most representative international organisation, the UN, turned into the best tool for the coordination of national efforts. In 1975, 35 countries of Europe, the USA, and Canada signed what is known as the Helsinki Act. That document finalises the national borders in post-war Europe and confirms the inviolable sovereignty of all countries of that continent. The post-war system of international agreements insured stability; it enabled mankind to move away from the brink of the nuclear abyss. Nevertheless, one day, Washington became disenchanted with the UN Charter. About six years ago, the Bush Administration outlined a new strategy for national security, which has since become known as the Bush doctrine. That unparalleled political document demands that the foreign strategies of the United States rest on the supporting pillars of military superiority, preventive warfare, and the ability to launch unilateral efforts. The concept of preventive warfare allows military action in circumstances that, according to Washington, call for this kind of action; the ability to launch unilateral efforts comes in handy when Washington fails to get other nations to protect American interests. It goes without saying that the Bush doctrine fails to be in consonance with the UN Charter and that there’s no room for it in the legal foundation for the existing world order.
Europe saw its first armed conflict of the post-war years in March 1999. It was based on a decision made on the banks of the Potomac and approved without delay by an obedient Brussels, in defiance of international law and the UN, that thousands of bombs were dropped on sovereign Yugoslavia and thousands of missiles were fired into that country. Impunity led to military action under the new Bush Doctrine. Without permission from the United Nations and in brazen violation of the UN Charter, the USA invaded sovereign Iraq. The American political ignoramuses learned no lesson from the unexpected and unwelcome aftermath of that illegitimate military adventure.
Repercussions of their moves are the last thing they thought of in their recent efforts to encourage and, that done, uphold the proclamation of Kosovar sovereignty which defies one of the basic principles of international law, that of the inviolability of national borders. Taken out of context, the American strategy for Kosovo does little save spotlight its disregard of international law. Yet, as a matter of fact, it puts a question mark over a century of painstaking efforts to lay a legal foundation for international relations, deals a heavy blow to the fundamental ideas of the UN, and reduces the effectiveness of the UN’s efforts to promote peace and global security.
Wrong are those who imagine they can feel safe while planning and playing this foul and dangerous political game. This world of ours is indivisible. However, the law of the jungle, which puts military might above all legal rules and regulations, turns it into a paradise for terrorists. It’s a threat to each and every member of the international community. Future generations of American leaders and the inadmissibly near-sighted supporters of today’s policy-makers will have to pay… pay a dear price, I’d say!… for the American failure to see that.
29 February 2008
Valentin Zorin
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=23572&cid=170&p=29.02.2008
Voices from Russia 
A View from Moscow by Valentin Zorin… Kosovar Developments Sure to Re-echo Worldwide
Tags: A View from Moscow, Kosovar, Kosovo, Nazi Germany, political commentary, politics, UN, UN Charter, United Nations, United Nations Charter, United States, USA, Washington, World War II
United Nations headquarters in New York NY USA
______________________________
Political leaders and the media alike have, for quite a few days now, been discussing the proclamation of Kosovar sovereignty and the breakneck speed at which Washington and allies of Washington scrambled to recognise the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo. Their focusing on Kosovo is understandable; they’re concentrating attention on a really important event. However, hard as I try, I can find no mention of the biggest result of what’s happened and what will tell on the fate of the self-proclaimed republic and many other things in detailed Western, including American, comments on turns of developments in Kosovo. The problem of Kosovo is a threat to what has taken decades of painstaking efforts to build, the existing world order and global stability. What is happening reminds me that World War II began when Nazi Germany decided it was free to ignore international and domestic law. The illegitimate Anschluss of sovereign Austria, the brazen violation of the sovereign rights of Czechoslovakia, and, finally, the invasion of Poland were the opening pages in one of the biggest tragedies in the history of the human race. Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland were destined to foot the bill for the criminal disregard and gross violation of international law.
The difficult lesson of history was not taught in vain. The victorious Allied nations were quick to form an Organisation of the United Nations and wrote the UN Charter in September 1945. The UN Charter laid the groundwork for decades of concerted efforts to keep law and order on this planet. The most representative international organisation, the UN, turned into the best tool for the coordination of national efforts. In 1975, 35 countries of Europe, the USA, and Canada signed what is known as the Helsinki Act. That document finalises the national borders in post-war Europe and confirms the inviolable sovereignty of all countries of that continent. The post-war system of international agreements insured stability; it enabled mankind to move away from the brink of the nuclear abyss. Nevertheless, one day, Washington became disenchanted with the UN Charter. About six years ago, the Bush Administration outlined a new strategy for national security, which has since become known as the Bush doctrine. That unparalleled political document demands that the foreign strategies of the United States rest on the supporting pillars of military superiority, preventive warfare, and the ability to launch unilateral efforts. The concept of preventive warfare allows military action in circumstances that, according to Washington, call for this kind of action; the ability to launch unilateral efforts comes in handy when Washington fails to get other nations to protect American interests. It goes without saying that the Bush doctrine fails to be in consonance with the UN Charter and that there’s no room for it in the legal foundation for the existing world order.
Europe saw its first armed conflict of the post-war years in March 1999. It was based on a decision made on the banks of the Potomac and approved without delay by an obedient Brussels, in defiance of international law and the UN, that thousands of bombs were dropped on sovereign Yugoslavia and thousands of missiles were fired into that country. Impunity led to military action under the new Bush Doctrine. Without permission from the United Nations and in brazen violation of the UN Charter, the USA invaded sovereign Iraq. The American political ignoramuses learned no lesson from the unexpected and unwelcome aftermath of that illegitimate military adventure.
Repercussions of their moves are the last thing they thought of in their recent efforts to encourage and, that done, uphold the proclamation of Kosovar sovereignty which defies one of the basic principles of international law, that of the inviolability of national borders. Taken out of context, the American strategy for Kosovo does little save spotlight its disregard of international law. Yet, as a matter of fact, it puts a question mark over a century of painstaking efforts to lay a legal foundation for international relations, deals a heavy blow to the fundamental ideas of the UN, and reduces the effectiveness of the UN’s efforts to promote peace and global security.
Wrong are those who imagine they can feel safe while planning and playing this foul and dangerous political game. This world of ours is indivisible. However, the law of the jungle, which puts military might above all legal rules and regulations, turns it into a paradise for terrorists. It’s a threat to each and every member of the international community. Future generations of American leaders and the inadmissibly near-sighted supporters of today’s policy-makers will have to pay… pay a dear price, I’d say!… for the American failure to see that.
29 February 2008
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=23572&cid=170&p=29.02.2008
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