Why do you have a photograph of Ramzan Khadyrov as your profile picture? The man is a vile mass murderer.

This isn't about liking the European Union or not. Please don't try and steer the debate on to that issue. The reality of the situation is the EU is an organisation which possesses the power to bring about sanctions against Belarus. If we want such to impose sanctions (and I appreciate that I do and you don't) this is one avenue we simply have to pursue in the present political climate. Withdrawing Eastern Partnership membership from Belarus would be a hammer-blow to the regime. You mention George W. Bush's "illegal wars". Quite apart from the fact I would disagree with you that the wars he pursued were "illegal", I have also not suggest we wage "war" on Belarus but rather introduce trade and political sanctions against the Lukashenko regime.

Thanks for this. Please don't misread the comments I have made as being somehow supportive of Thaci or his regime. Indeed, I have written a couple of times on this website alone about the gross human rights abuses that continue to take place against minorities in Kosovo (see http://conservativehome.blogs.com/centreright/2010/06/now-is-not-the-time-to-walk-away-from-kosovo.html and http://conservativehome.blogs.com/centreright/2010/05/europes-shame-the-treatment-of-roma-refugees-in-kosovo-.html) and remain critical of the precedent set by the ICJ's ruling on the legality of the declaration of independence (http://conservativehome.blogs.com/centreright/2010/07/the-international-court-of-justice-has-set-a-dangerous-precedent.html). As much as I enjoy a good bit of EU-bashing, I don't necessarily think this is one you can drag the European Union or Baroness Ashton into. The UK's - and indeed the wider position of European governments - was formulated in conjunction with the United States as opposed to on an EU basis alone. We've made our bed and now it's time to lie in it - regardless of what may have been preferable in the past. On your final point, I entirely agree. There is a strong base for Thaci joining Haradinaj at the war crimes tribunal to account for his actions. Hague should take Dick Marty's report extremely seriously and push for appropriate action. As in so many other Balkan conflicts, it is uncceptable that only Serb war criminals have been prosecuted while, in the case of Kosovo, true acts of barbarism were carried out by the KLA.

In terms of sheer numbers, you are of course correct that recognition of Kosovo remains limited. The countries that *do* recognise Kosovo, however include the United States and every country in Western Europe aside from Spain. It's a reality. For what it's worth, I wish the United Kingdom hadn't been so gung-ho about recognising the declaration of independence, but it's done now. As I've said, we need to move on from arguments about whether or not Kosovo really exists as a state - it does, regardless of if one likes it or not - and to try and find the best way forward. Two starting observations: 1) Kosovo is still *far* too unstable for international troops to leave and 2) a full discussion about Kosovo's future borders should take place at the earliest opportunity.

I think we need to accept the realpolitik of this situation. Regardless of what could or should have happened following the 1998 conflict, the state of Kosovo is now here to stay. The question we have to address is how to draw its borders, especially as the current settlement is so profoundly unworkable. I agree entirely that the status of Kosovo ought to have been determined on the basis of 1244. Still, we need to deal with reality - and an independent Kosovo is an irrevocable reality. Common consent for a solution that satisfies both Belgrade and Pristina is a pipedream.

Congratulations Martin!

Dr Charles Tannock is an excellent MEP. Sure, he's his own man and doesn't always follow as sceptic a line as some in the group - indeed, I disagree with him on a number of issues - but he's been one of the Parliament's leading experts on foreign affairs and is fair to a fault. To suggest he's some kind of rabid Europhile is just ridiculous.