Kosovo to declare independence, Serbia claims

[Marcus Marulus]

Stars and Stripes: U.S. forces getting set for events in Kosovo

Kosovo tries to launch independence softly | csmonitor.com

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Ostrogorski

Not a good option. I doubt that there will ever come to partition, and trust me, majority of people in Serbia would consider it a treachery.

Anyway, even in the case of partition, why should we give parts of our land to Macedonia? Their government proved to be very hostile to us by claiming that they'll support the independent Kosovo. Only thing they fail to see, in that case, is that the same thing will happen to them.

It's more logical to deny their right for independence and declare it illegal, because they have no stronghold in international conventions, agreements and law. Only in that case we would have the opportunity to take it back if international relations change. If we accept the partition and sign the papers, we would lose our territories forever.

It's all or nothing really...

And how would we control that land. If you loomk at the maps Strpce and Gora do not border the rest of Serbia.

[Ostrogorski]

Originally Posted by Crvena zvezda

And how would we control that land. If you loomk at the maps Strpce and Gora do not border the rest of Serbia.

Like I said, either we will regain full control there, or the shiptars will illegally declare independence.

Even if they illegally declare independence they won't have any legal instrument to keep those conditions there.

Partition is out of the question.

[Crvena zvezda]

Originally Posted by Ostrogorski

Like I said, either we will regain full control there, or the shiptars will illegally declare independence.

Even if they illegally declare independence they won't have any legal instrument to keep those conditions there.

Partition is out of the question.

My view is. No partition unless Kosovo is used as a precedent in Bosnia and other areas of the world.

[Marcus Marulus]

Serbian president vows fight over Kosovo

President warns against partition | World news | The Guardian

Kosovar PM: Our independent nation will not be Islamic - Haaretz - Israel News

As Kosovo Rebuilds, U.N. Hurries to Return Property - New York Times

[Marcus Marulus]

\'Are we a society of values, or of blood?\' Old questions hang over the new Kosovo | World news | The Guardian

The final amputation, however, is unlikely to bring much tranquillity. Kosovo is only a province, not a republic like the other post-Yugoslav states, and the legal grounds for its secession from Serbia are hotly contested. Belgrade and Moscow have vowed to ensure Kosovo's birth is a painful one and will try to strangle it in its cradle. Serbia has threatened to enforce an embargo and Russia says it will veto Kosovo acquiring a seat at the UN.

[svin]

It's somehow strange for me that Russia is defending Serbia here. I can't say that our government is pro-Serbian (nor it is pro-Russian). I mean, what are the theoretical interests? To show muscles? In theory, Kosovo example would become a useful precedent, because there are similar unrecognized republics in Moldavia and in Northern Caucasus.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by svin

It's somehow strange for me that Russia is defending Serbia here. I can't say that our government is pro-Serbian (nor it is pro-Russian). I mean, what are the theoretical interests? To show muscles? In theory, Kosovo example would become a useful precedent, because there are similar unrecognized republics in Moldavia and in Northern Caucasus.

Geopolitics, I guess...

[svin]

Yes, but from geopolitical view, it's not bad for Russia. Did you know that 99% of Abkhazians have Russian passports and are quite pro-Russian? If they gain official independence, Russia would win (at least, that's how I see it). Independent Abkhazia would create a buffer zone between Russian and NATO forces.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by svin

Yes, but from geopolitical view, it's not bad for Russia. Did you know that 99% of Abkhazians have Russian passports and are quite pro-Russian? If they gain official independence, Russia would win.

Yes, I know that. I know of the case of Southern Ossetia as well. It was just my guess that it is about geopolitics, about squeezing Serbia out of the Western sphere of influence, where it has been since the "democratic revolution" of 2000.

One has to wait and see how much will the official rhetoric be backed up with facts, once Kosovo declares independence. I still don't believe it will be internationally recognized, I won't believe till I see it.

[Marcus Marulus]

Albanian triumph, Serb anger as Kosovo secedes

Nationalists protest Kosovo secession | Herald Sun

BACKGROUND: The EU, the UN and Kosovo: the legal debate

Serbia calls EU decision to send Kosovo mission "shameful"

Situation in Kosovo calm, German general says

BACKGROUND: The EU\'s plans for Kosovo

[Ostrogorski]

Originally Posted by svin

It's somehow strange for me that Russia is defending Serbia here. I can't say that our government is pro-Serbian (nor it is pro-Russian). I mean, what are the theoretical interests? To show muscles? In theory, Kosovo example would become a useful precedent, because there are similar unrecognized republics in Moldavia and in Northern Caucasus.

Actually it isn't. Because Russia protects her own investments in Serbia (Gazprom recently bought Serbian national oil company and is building a gas pipeline over Serbia). Russia would also move the "front line" with NATO from her own borders to Balkans, and if Russia doesn't support Serbia, she'll loose only natural ally she has in the region, and maybe whole of Europe.

On the other hand if Russia recognizes the precedent of new Albanian state in the Balkans, she'll perhaps benefit from the similar processes in Abkhazia and Pridnestrovie in short term, but in long term she would suffer from the permanent separatist threat by many territorial units inside Russian federation.

Putin is not a fool. He chose well...

[Monolith]

Kosovo MPs proclaim independence

Most of western media consider this to be the final act of Yugoslavia's dissolution. In my opinion, that is far from the truth.

It all started there in 1389, and it will end there. But it will not end today, or tomorrow. Region's wick is lit.