CPI-M incensed over government's stand on Kosovo

The declaration of independence by Serbia's Kosovo province has become the latest weapon for the Communist Party of India-Marxist to attack the United Progressive Alliance government supported by it.

The Left party is not happy with the 'ambiguous stand' taken by India on the 'breakup' of Serbia and saw in it the influence of the United States.

The CPI-M slammed the government for merely stating that New Delhi was studying the evolving situation in Serbia as there are 'several legal issues' involved in the declaration.

'The UPA government not coming out against the blatant violation of national sovereignty by Kosovo speaks a lot about its predilections. On no major issue of international significance, does the government want to appear to be in dissonance with the United States,' an editorial in the forthcoming issue of party mouthpiece People's Democracy said.

'At least on such a vital issue as the sovereignty of countries with minority populations and the challenges to a basic principle of international law, India should speak up,' it noted.

The article, which claims that the US administration's policies encouraged carving out of 'protectorates', noted that Washington has declared its intention to recognise the new Kosovo state.

The CPI-M's latest jibe at the government comes against the backdrop of its attack on what it called the UPA's 'pro-US' foreign policy in the last four years. The nuclear deal with the US has also come in handy for the Left party to attack the Manmohan Singh administration.

The editorial noted that apart from China and Russia, Asian countries like Indonesia and Sri Lanka, which are also facing separatist demands, have opposed Kosovo's move.

'India, having faced a number of secessionist demands since independence, should have been categorical on this blatant violation of national sovereignty and the brazen use of force to redraw territorial boundaries,' it said.

'India too should have come out with a clear statement against the breakup of Serbia,' the party said and criticised the external affairs ministry's comments that New Delhi was of the view that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be fully respected.

'If that is so, it applies to Serbia too. Then why is the government taking shelter behind studying the serious legal issues,' it asked.

It noted that the US, Britain, France and Germany have declared their intention to recognise the new state while countries like Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania have opposed it.

On Kosovo's move, the editorial said, 'The latest act of imperialist imprudence, the creation of a North American Treaty Organisation protectorate in the Balkans does not augur well for peace and stability in the region'.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia earlier this week in the final fallout from the conflict-strewn breakup of the former Yugoslavia.