Kenneth T.Tellis: Kosovo Independence equals Quebec Independence

VHeadline commentarist Kenneth T.Tellis writes: The Harper Government of Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier stated yesterday that Canada now recognizes Kosovo, by misstating that it was a unique case, when the parallels have been there all along.

Now exactly where was that statement originally made?

Why of course at the White House by U.S. President George W. Bush, and it was echoed by one Condolencia Rice, U.S. Secretary of State a few days later.

Now it seems that even the Harper Government of Canada is repeating the words of U.S. President George W. Bush. Thus Canada has now unwittingly set the stage for Quebec to not only declare its INDEPENDENCE, but to seek INTERNATIONAL recognition of that fact.

Kosovo and Quebec have a lot in common.

In the case of Kosovo the Albanians make up the majority, with a Serbian minority and smaller groups of other ethnic communities. In the case of Quebec, the Quebecois make up the majority, with a Canadian (English-speaking) minority interspersed with smaller groups of ethnic communities.

• There, is as we can see the commonality between Kosovo and Quebec, being undeniable, which we can see and understand.

Now that Canada has opened a can of worms like the U.S. on the recognition of Kosovo, both Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President George W. Bush will shortly be eating it for lunch together. But what boggles the mind is that both of the above leaders were attempting to play word games, by calling the case of Kosovo unique, when in fact no case of such recognition has ever been closer.

It is now up to the Government and people of Quebec to demand equity with Kosovo in recognition of their province as an INDEPENDENT country, and no longer a province of Canada.

But, the issue as far as the U.S. is concerned goes well beyond that, because, both Puerto Rico and Hawai'i have long argued for their INDEPENDENCE from the United States of America and that will now come to head.

Vive le Quebec Libre! The words uttered by French President Charles De Gaulle In Montreal , Quebec, on July 24, 1967 now have meaning for the Quebecois, as they are within arms length of reaching their goal of founding their own NATION, independent from Canada.

Kenneth T. Tellis
kenttellis@rogers.com