Vbo's comments made me wonder what effect the resolution of the Basque Country's national question will have on the status of Kosovo. Is it simplistic to say that if the Basque Country gains independence, Kosovo is more likely to gain independence? Of course, the two situations are different, but they share similarities as well, so...
I'm also curious how the resolution of the issue will affect the EU. Is a possible independence going to make things more difficult for it, in terms of distributing resources and negotiating? The union is already suffering from enlargement fatigue and trying to cope with the ailing economies of the member states. And Bulgaria and Romania are expected to join in a year.
Talks on Kosovo's final status are taking place as we speak, whereas in the Basque case we don't even have a statement from the Spanish government that they have verified the ceasefire [Zapatero said that "naturally there are ways" in which his Government can know these things]. Give it a full election cycle (2009) before things really start rolling. guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
Then maybe the outcome of the Kosovo talks will affect the outcome of the Basque question.
Really, the Basque country looks up to Ireland, and that's it. guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
Vbo's comments made me wonder what effect the resolution of the Basque Country's national question will have on the status of Kosovo.
How is that as a model for Kosovo? Ready to wait another 60 years to see the beginning of the end of the conflict? guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
Something interesting here:
http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Opinion/comm_20010205Lygeros.html Albanian nationalists have never renounced the vision of a "Greater Albania", even though Tirana avoids lending it official support. The West's military intervention and the de facto secession of Kosovo from Yugoslavia have added an aggressiveness to the perspective of the Albanians, who believe it is time to lay claim to as much as possible. American favor allowed the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) to start a rebellion against the Serbs, which gave NATO the opportunity to intervene.
...Sorry I didn't want to highjack your topic
I don't see any spillover effects. Even if the actors in the Basque process have drawn inspiration from the Ulster process leading to Stormont, the similarities end there. Especially because the Stormont agreement pales in comparison with the current (and much vilified by the Nationalist) Basque Autonomy Statute, including the ability of the Central Government in London to suspend the Northern Ireland parliament and government, which would be unthinkable in Spain already. guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
