Kosovo

[Bashiku]

I started this thread to see your opinion about situation of Kosovo and Serbia. As you might and might not know I am from Serbia and I remember that Kosovo was a part of our country since I was born. Actually it was ours for about 900 years, being a vital part of our culture and Christian faith.
Also I don't see what do the Usa and whole Europe have a problem with us... we were just minding our own business when someone tried to take over our country and we tried to defend it... why did they have to meddle?
I know that we Serbs are now pictured as vandals, beasts, murderers etc, but please know that we suffered much too.
I hope to get some constructive answers... thanks in advance...

 

[Camel26]

I honestly don't know enough about the conflict...but what happens to Serbia if Kosovo is independent?

 

[Bashiku]

Well most of our resources are there, most of our monastery are there and there are around 30% (Yeah after all the terror they went through there are only 30% Serbs left down there) of our countrymen there...
And it is not a question if... unfortunately it is already decided by big forces... America voted for independent Kosovo, Germany is neutral, Russia is against etc...

 

[duck171]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080218/ap_on_re_eu/kosovo_independence

Here is the story for those who may not be familiar with recent news.
I do not understand much if this political language so would you explain to me what is going on since you are seeing it first hand? I do not fully trust the media to give me correct and accurate information. It seems like the people of Kosovo want their independance and the Serbs don't want this to happen. This is very understandable and I don't blame the Serbs for this. So what happens when Kosovo gains independance? How will this affect Serbia?

 

[Bashiku]

Well Kosovo wants independence now because it is over run with Albanian emigrates. Like I said in previous reply it is vital strategic and economic part of Serbian, not to speak about cultural. Also most likely situation now is that we won't recognize Kosovo as a state and that we will be under pressure or like last we will be bombarded...
How cheerful thought...

 

[Duke Diablo]

What happened was a conquest by colonization. Albanians migrated into Kosovo and created pressure by numbers, being that at one point their number outgrew Serbian (well, not only migrations matter, but Albanians do have more children in average than other countries on Balkan). Then, after the Kosovo crisis back in 1999-2000, many Serbs were driven out, making Albanians into even greater majority. Then, their claim for independence started, backed up by USA, who wanted to use Kosovo as a foothold in Balkans (being that Serbia is on good terms with Russia). However, if we put politics aside, it would be as if China emigrated 300 million people into one American state, and then laid claim to it (I have nothing against Chinese people, I just said so because they are numerous). As a Croat (Croatia and Serbia are neighbors), I had access to informations about that, being that our reporters are covering these stories very well, and I find it kind of disgusting.

 

[Bashiku]

Good point there duke... thanks for support

 

[duck171]

This is why I don't necessarily trust the media. They give only one side to the story. I don't really know enough about American policy in Kosovo to make an intelligent discussion. I however, even though I am very conservative and a Republican, do not agree with many of America's decisions regarding this area as well as others. Like I said though, I do not fully understand the reasons behind this support. I don't see what America will gain from this.

 

[Bashiku]

Strategic position in Europe, only mine with uranium in Europe, one of biggest coal mines, one of biggest steel mines etc... it is purely economic and military desire...

 

[Duke Diablo]

Strategic position in Europe, only mine with uranium in Europe, one of biggest coal mines, one of biggest steel mines etc... it is purely economic and military desire...

Let's not forget it's closeness to Black Sea, borders with many countries, all of which could be controlled by placing a few bases in Kosovo 'for protection and securing the stabilization of the region'.

 

[duck171]

Thanks Duke and Bashiku for clearing this up for me. I like to get both sides to the story.

 

[Bashiku]

I also like to analyze after hearing both sides of stories, but unfortunately I can't be passive on this event... that is why I ask you for opinion...

 

[IrishTickle1]

Well it's not like the Serbs are poor victims in the whole affair. I don't think I have to post the pictures of the mass graves to point that out. Both sides have commited horrific crimes at the expense of the other. And considering hte hatred both sides feel for each other, I can't see anything but bloodshed in it's future. It's the same with all civil conflicts.

External forces will want to look like their helping, but will only be making it worse. For the US and Russia, there's the defensive factors of Serbia. And with the US, they want to appear as being pro-democracy and freedom, while Russia is terrified more of it's members will declare independence. With so much posturing, you can be sure that neither side will back down.

 

[Weedly]

Freedom: If the people truely want it, then the people must fight for it.

thats my view

 

[august spies]

I started this thread to see your opinion about situation of Kosovo and Serbia. As you might and might not know I am from Serbia and I remember that Kosovo was a part of our country since I was born. Actually it was ours for about 900 years, being a vital part of our culture and Christian faith.
Also I don't see what do the Usa and whole Europe have a problem with us... we were just minding our own business when someone tried to take over our country and we tried to defend it... why did they have to meddle?
I know that we Serbs are now pictured as vandals, beasts, murderers etc, but please know that we suffered much too.
I hope to get some constructive answers... thanks in advance...

http://balkan-anarchist.blogspot.com/2008/02/serious-points-about-kosovos-self.html

 

[Bashiku]

By the punks link it seems we serbs are at fault... and why is that? Cause we love our country? or cause we defend what was ours for past 500 years... now please...

 

[IrishTickle1]

It's a blog. It's someones personal opinion. It's as biased as your opinion, just from another angle. It's the middle ground that both sides have to reach for.

 

[Interrogator]

Coming from England I'd like to think my position on these matters is relatively unbiased. I'm a first year politics and IR student so I have studied this and other such situations very briefly. As I understand it, the move by Kosovo to declare independence is illegal under international law. However America has supported this, as mentioned previously, to gain a source of influence in this region. The majority of Western Europe has followed suite claiming to support a democratic movement, Spain being an exception as it does not want to give the Basque campaign for independence any more fuel. Russia supports Serbia almost by default so no suprises there. As for Kosovo, it seeks independence for the same reason the Punjab does in India, the majority of people living there want it, they do not trust or associate with the rest of the country at large, and there are significant economic benefits for doing so as the region they live in is a comparitively wealthy one. Serbia,as mentioned before, does not want to lose such a large section of its economy and population. An interesting comparison could be with the situation in Siberia and other parts in Eastern Russia, where there have been calls for the expulsion of Chinese immigrants for fear they will form the majority and China will annexe it.
Any comments or corrections of inaccurate information or assumptions welcome

 

[august spies]

By the punks link it seems we serbs are at fault... and why is that? Cause we love our country? or cause we defend what was ours for past 500 years... now please...

no, sometimes right wing nationalism is not the best solution to anything, ever.