Kosovo's Parliament Declares Indepence.

http://voanews.com/english/2008-02-17-voa7.cfm]Link

The whole Kosovo mess leaves me confused and angry. The US has basically enabled the dismantling of Yugoslavia. Which is fine. It was an artificial conglomerate state anyway. But on the other side of Turkey, they remain fully committed to a federal, unitary Iraq.

Thing is, the way Serbia has reacted to this plus the way these things go down in Balkan history suggests to me that there will be another war fought over Kosovo sometime in the next 20 years.

(Is it a rule that new countries have to go to war several times over before they are 100?)

Anyway, it is also the heart of historic Serbia. As far as Serbia's concerned, the Albanians living there are ethnic usurpers and symbols of a humiliating pass.

Thoughts?

 

Russia is not going to accept this in the UN, and will make an Independent Kosovo's existence miserable, it will either fall apart or just be another fake eastern democracy that is corrupt to the bone.

 

So what if Russia doesnt accept it ?
USA will. So will EU( besides Romania ) and its candidates.
What if theres another fake eastern democracy ? It wouldnt be better if Kosovo stayed with Serbia. Atleast now Kosovari have their own country. There would be fake democracy even if Kosovo stayed within Serbia.

 

Tis a shame that the independence of Kosovo has to be viewed through
the glass of Russian power projection and alignmennt of nations.

Contrast Serbia with Spain who seems to have placated its minority nations of Basques and Cantalonians.

 

The more the Serbs protest and attack foreign embassies, the more they tarnish their global image. And, the more they tarnish their world image, the lower they sink, and the deeper they dig their own grave. They are burning German, Turkish, Croatian, British, American, embassies, smashing McDonalds' windows, looting Nike stores and trashing everything that even remotely resembles American.

' The anger is understandable but the rampage, distruction and vandalism is unacceptable,' said the speaker of the White House. The Serbian demise is inevitable. In Former-Yugoslavia during Tito's regime, Serbs used to sing a song Albanians, Croatians, and some other ethnic groups, could not stand to listen to it. It lacerated emotions and there was nothing to be done.

" KOSOVO RADI, BEOGRAD SE GRADI!
( KOSOVA WORKS, BELGRADE IS BEING BUILT! )

But that was a Serbian song of yesteryear, and yesteryear is long time gone.Serbs are singing no more.
Today,... " KOSOVA IS SINGING, BELGRADE IS BURNING! "
I guess it's true when they say," WHAT GOES UP, MUST COME DOWN!"

Serbs started the trouble and the world blames them fear and square. In this Balkan war you have winners and loosers. Serbs lost. Albanians won. There is an Albanians euphoria allover the world and the party has just begun.

'Happy Kosova Independence Day!' cheered Albanian-Americans in NY Times Square, Sunday, February 18, 2008.

'Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow will come. Today is The Big Day and it is Albanian Victory Day!' screamed another.

' I am one out of many, 'E pluribus unum.' And there are more where I come from. One for all and all for one: Health, Harmony, Peace and Prosperity!' said his buddy holding two flags: One Albanian, one American!

Rightfully so. If it wasn't for the US that lead NATO to bomb the hell out of Serbia for 78 days,Europeans would have never been able to solve the conflict. Albanians would have never been able to celebrate their eternal dream of statehood. Instead, they would have all ended up in a mass-grave. Evidently Europeans could not lead and KLA (UÇK) was no match for the Serbian regular army which had all the weapons stolen from Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) wearhouses.

Here comes NATO and the US and A., and GOD BLESS AMERICA!
The leader of the free world. The greatest democracy.
The most succesful superpower it ever existed. ( Just ask Rush Limbaugh. )

Therefore, as an Albanian-American, it feels incumbent upon me to say, again and again: I thank you America! Albanians are eternally greatful to you.
And they know that. And we all appreciate that.

O.K. Kosova is home free. Enough about that. Done. Finished. Case closed. CIAO! Good-bye! Adios! Sayonara!

However, let's switch gears for a moment and start talking about somthing else. Just a thought.Just an idea.
Something the 'Hip Forum Fans' to ponder about....

Hear me on this one: Kosova is 90% Albanians, and, 90% of that 90% are MUSLIM ALBANIANS!

Now, my question is: Do you think it was such a good idea to create a new muslim state in Europe?
Yes. No. Maybe so. What is your response?

" This is Dr. Fraiser Crane, and...I'm listening!"
( A line from ' Fraiser' the TV Show.)

 

It was a good idea. Cause you see, these Muslim Albanians are no extremists.

 

You are absolutely right! I agree with you.Albanians are moderate muslims. They are not talibans or radical islamists.

 

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I think this letter will shed some light.

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" Dear A - I am writing this because some of my best friends are Serbs, and because of the historical links between Serbs and Jews. Some of my best friends are also Kosovar Albanians, and as Jews, who have been stateless for such a long time, many of us understand and support their quest for self-determination and independence.

This is a crucial time for Serbia, and it appears that because of a fixation on the past - revered and sacred as it may be - Serbia may be forfeiting its chance of future association with the European Union, to which by history and culture your country certainly belongs.

Let us first start with the incontrovertible facts of the present: 90% of the population of Kosovo is ethnic Albanian, and they will never willingly revert to Serbian rule, which after the annexation of Kosovo to Serbia in 1913 has been to them a continuous history of exclusion, discrimination and eventual ethnic cleansing. Nor will the democratic West accept a return of Serbian rule.

Does it mean that the Kosovar Albanians are blameless? Of course not. In ethnic conflict no side is totally right or totally wrong.

I know you view Kosovo as your Jerusalem, and this argument falls on willing ears in Israel and among Jews generally.

But if the population of Jerusalem would have been 90% Arab, the Israeli claim to it would certainly be very tenuous.

I know you have deep historical associations with Kosovo, which since the emergence of Serbian nationalism in the 19th century has been christened "the cradle of Serbian civilization."

Yet one cannot draw 21st century borders according to historical links which overlook the wishes of the present population. The question is not territory, but people. It is for this reason that most Israelis today are willing to give up claims to the historical regions of Judea and Samaria, even willing to consider Palestinian rule over parts of Jerusalem. History clashes with reality: this may be unfortunate, but one has to confront it.

I KNOW you claim that for centuries Serbia has been a bulwark of Christian Europe against Islam. I leave aside the unpleasant "clash of civilizations," if not racist overtones, of this claim. But - let's again be realistic: after all, you lost the battle of Kosovo in 1389 to the Ottomans, so you were not that successful in defending Europe against Islam (whatever this may mean).

You offer the Kosovo Albanians autonomy, not independence. Put yourself in their shoes. Was "autonomy" under Turkish rule in the 19th century sufficient for the Serbs? What's the difference?

I know all this may be very painful to you; and with some justification you may ask me: How can you call yourself a friend of the Serbs after saying all these things?

For a simple reason: I would like to see Serbia join Europe, just a Slovenia did and Croatia may in the future. Do not exclude yourself because of historical memories, do not be your own worst enemy. Do what modern nations - the French and the Germans, for example - have done after centuries of warfare: emancipate yourself from the shackles of the past, cut you loses (yes, modern nations have to do this too) and shape your future according to the values of self-determination and mutual acceptance.

And those Serbs, who would like to visit the monasteries and other historical sites in Kosovo, could do this - as today ethnic Germans visit their ancestral sites in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, without laying claims to these regions because of their centuries-old associations with them.

Serbia is a nation with a bright future ahead of it. Don't let the past steal it away from you."
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The writer is professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the author of a recently published intellectual biography of Theodor Herzl.

 

I don't know what papers you are reading but Spain hasn't placated anyone. Those independence movements are still alive and well.

 

What in the name?


" Dear Editor,

It has come to my attention 'The Associated Press' wrongfully uses the noun "Kosova" in its articles and press releases. The newly independent European state is called "Kosova", NOT " Kosovo" . The noun should end in the vowel 'A' not letter 'O'.

It is of utmost importance, therefore, I would appreciate if you could make a correction of this egregious error in the future reportings. This may seem a minuscule error and insignificant to unsuspecting eye but imagine how would it sound if we were to write
" Americo " rather than " America " . The spelling of Kosova with a letter 'O' at the end has its origin from the Serbo-Croatian, a Slavic Indo-European language. And, since Albanians are Ilirians in origin and not Slavs, it is important the name of the Republic of Kosova is spelled orthographically correct the way it is spelled and pronounced in Albanian: KOSOVA.

Thank you. "

 

Exactly.
:applause:

 

I Thank You!

 

Oh, for Pete's sake. When will people learn to pick their battles?

It's in English that we post here, isn't it?

 

That was some post my man..

 

Kosovo isn't a country, neither is Tibet and neither is Montenegro.


All these " countries " are jokes.

Canada and other Ex-Colonies are countries because their territory was settled by various ethnic groups and then seperated from the original imperialist power.

But when you have a country that's made up primarily of one race and it's another country, well that's just stupid, Kosovo is primarily Albanian, Albania is a country and ones of the jokes of Europe ( along with Romania ).

Just like Tibet is full of chinks.

Get the point??

So Kosovo getting " independence " is basically an expansion of Albania's territory and that's just idiotic how the fuck does a country like Albania gain territory? It's a loser country, it'd be like Belize gaining territory from Mexico or Guatemala. Sound stupid right?

Anyway Kosovo is only recognized by like 20 countries big whoop

 

It was pretty obvious what was going on when the new "kosovars" celebrated their independence by waving.... the Albanian flag! For some reason it reminded me of the May day protest by the hispanic immigrants in the U.S. a couple years ago. They wanted to show that they are a part of america too, and how did they do it? By marching with the Mexican flag! It's all balkanization...

 

- As of today Kosova is officialy recognized by 55 countries. (Sorry!)
- If Ukraine, Bellaruse, Cyprus,East Germany, West Germany, Austria, etc. can be independent countries, so can Kosova, Montenegro,Romania,Ingushetia, South Ossetia, etc. All you have to do is add one more chair at the United Nations.

It's just my opinion. You have right to disagree.

 

The fact that you compare Ukraine to Kosovo puts a huge damper on your status.

Seriously, Ukraine? Even though I still believe Ukraine's Russia's bitch and I can fluently speak Ukraine, it's much more of a country than Kosovo.

Ukrainian is a RACE! Idiot. East Germany was for political purposes just like North Korea.

Cyprus actually does have a history.

Austria? You gotta be fucking kidding me, go to Austria you dumb piece of shit, that country has such a rich history and it's a race, dumb fucking bastard.

Romanian is a race....a race of losers I never said it wasn't.

 

Come one Max, i know it's frustrating but you can't fight ignorance with belligerence.

 

Tibet was it's own country for most of it's history, even in modern times was it's defacto own country from 1912-1959. And the Tibet automnous area is not full of chinks, it's over 90% Tibetean, one of the main arguments for independence is the fact China is flooding it with Chinese settlers.