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A brief history of Kosovo. Part II: 1989-1999 | 26 comments (26 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: A brief history of Kosovo. Part II: 1989-1999 (none / 1)
Thanks. I have tried to navigate this minefield without falling prey to too many myths and lies from either side, but as you say, it's hard.

The mentality you describe is why I suspect it's a bit  shortsighted of the EU/US to ignore the Serbian interest in retaining at least part of Kosovo. Even though it's my understanding that young people in Serbia today are less preoccupied with Kosovo than the oldies, these things wax and wane.

There may be no adequate solution. But one possibility that noone in the West wants to consider is partition, whereby the north and west with Serbian majorities and most of the monasteries remain in Serbia and the rest of Kosovo either goes indepedent or joins Albania, as decided by referendum.

Noone will love this solution, but in the long run it may be far more stabilizing than full secession of the entire province, which satisfies the Kosovo Albanians now but provides enduring grist for the mill of Serbian revengism.


The world's northernmost desert wind.

by Sirocco (sirocco2005ATgmail.com) on Thu Jun 29th, 2006 at 09:23:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: A brief history of Kosovo. Part II: 1989-1999 (none / 1)
Quote:
Even though it's my understanding that young people in Serbia today are less preoccupied with Kosovo than the oldies, these things wax and wane.
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I wouldn't bet on that. They temporarily lost their interest because it's obvious nothing can be done at the moment. Milosevic was stupid enough to bet on a losing card but generally Serbs are not. That's why people were so divided about him and his approach. I'll tell you, most of the young Serbs never have visited Kosovo and wouldn't care to live there but will be ready to die for it. It's very hard to explain...strange sort of people we are...they'll wait for right moment. They are used to waiting during history...How do you think they managed to make Yugoslavia (to the hell with it!)? Unfortunately the price they paid was always too high and paid by blood.

Quote:
But one possibility that no one in the West wants to consider is partition,
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At one point I used to believe that would be solution...I don't really know...but as you said it's not on the table at this point.
Serbs are at hard place generally nowadays everywhere but things tend to change drastically during history... empires come and go...people are still there. Neither Serbs or Albanians or Croats or others will go anywhere...This is not a first time for us to have drastically changed borders...Most of the people there has been born in one state and died in another...There is no such a thing as last battle on Balkan...

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Thu Jun 29th, 2006 at 11:03:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: A brief history of Kosovo. Part II: 1989-1999 (none / 0)
I am reminded of a compatriot who, in conversation with Serbs, mentioned the areas of Jemtland and Herjedalen which Norway lost to Sweden in 1645, after the Danish king then ruling Norway had lost a war (as Danes always do).

"And what are you planning to do about that?" asked the Serbs.

The world's northernmost desert wind.

by Sirocco (sirocco2005ATgmail.com) on Thu Jun 29th, 2006 at 03:25:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: A brief history of Kosovo. Part II: 1989-1999 (none / 0)
Hahaha...that's exactly kind of mind frame I am talking about. We never forget...all though we also do not forget good things that others have done for us during history and we are ready to endure a lot of bad when it comes from someone who we consider a "friend"...

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein
by vbo on Thu Jun 29th, 2006 at 09:02:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: A brief history of Kosovo. Part II: 1989-1999 (none / 0)
I would agree with that.

"When the abyss stares at me, it wets its pants." Brian Hopkins
by EricC on Thu Jun 29th, 2006 at 07:45:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: A brief history of Kosovo. Part II: 1989-1999 (none / 0)
Oh and by the way, this was an exceptionally balanced and accurate description of the Kosovo issue. Possibly one of the best available anywhere... Impressive, Sirroco, bravo!

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake
by talos (mihalis at gmail dot com) on Fri Jun 30th, 2006 at 10:34:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: A brief history of Kosovo. Part II: 1989-1999 (none / 0)
Oops! The above was misplaced threadwise... Sorry!

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake
by talos (mihalis at gmail dot com) on Fri Jun 30th, 2006 at 10:37:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I am humbled by your praise. (none / 0)


The world's northernmost desert wind.
by Sirocco (sirocco2005ATgmail.com) on Fri Jun 30th, 2006 at 11:22:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

A brief history of Kosovo. Part II: 1989-1999 | 26 comments (26 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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