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EUROPE

Another Failed State?

Kosovo's declaration of independence isn't likely to solve its many problems—or defuse tensions in the troubled Balkans

Newsweek Web Exclusive
Feb 17, 2008 | Updated: 3:09  p.m. ET Feb 17, 2008

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  • Posted By: proudserbian @ 08/12/2008 2:00:40 PM

    Comment: ofcourse its not going o salve any problems acnt u people see look what happened to georgia she lost 45% of her teritory and how many people were killed. it is only going to make new problems and not to mention tht Kosovo is a holy place of serbia. that is the place where the battle of Kosovo in 1389 happened and we serbs were the ones u saved your european heads. if we dint stoped the Ottomans they would have reach venice and who knows what else. also Kosovo is a stronghold of serbian churchys . and i dont know how u can suport people like albanians who now populate kosovo. people like them are on the level with huns or vandals purely barbaric. and now look at kosovo it has an economy that is the lowest in europe is that tyhe goalo? to make pour countrys think about it.....

  • Posted By: akrasniqi @ 07/10/2008 3:31:07 PM

    Comment: I find this article a bit offensive for the lack of facts. The only time there were clashes between the ethnic Albanians and the Serb minority in Kosovo was in March 2004 which was mostly a result of confusion and bad media reporting. You are talking about possible future massacres?!

    It is clear that the article is written without actually being in Kosovo and taking a closer look at how the people are living and how sick everyone is from violence.

    All what everyone here wants is a better life and this goal is what brings together all the ethnic groups living in Kosovo.

    Kosovo was never intended to be a new Albanian country, it's a multiethnic country open to everyone that wants to live here. It happens that currently the Albanians are the majority but it doesn't mean that it's always going to be that way.
    The reason for Kosovo parting from Serbia is not that the ethnic Albanians had anything against the Serb population, it's because there were official discriminations from the Serb government.

    Yes, there have been mutual killings during the 98-99 conflicts but now we are still living together. I'm an ethnic Albanian living in Kosovo and still work with many Serbs here and neither our identity nor our past has ever interfered in our relations.

    The tension here stops when you stop fueling it.

  • Posted By: deride @ 02/29/2008 4:46:51 PM

    Comment: How about free Kurdistan too..

  • Posted By: srb-aus @ 02/28/2008 2:14:39 AM

    Comment: Give Texas back to Mexico :P

  • Posted By: texas @ 02/27/2008 8:14:16 PM

    Comment: USA SHOULD NUKE YOU ALL

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/27/2008 3:44:16 PM

    Comment: It is a wrong assumption that the Serbian Kingdom stopped to exist under the Ottoman Empire. Russia was under the Tatar-Mongols from 1238 until 1480 when Russia defeated the Mongols and completely liberated itself from the Mongols' yoke. Russia never stopped to exist. The Balkans and Greece were under the Turks for about 500. They still managed to keep their identity and preserve Orthodoxy(even though some converted into Islam), even though their complexion became darker and the most got brown eyes. This is still what reminds the Balkans of the Turkish oppression. Many Russians (including me) until now have the Mongols' high-boned cheeks. My ideal is to forget about conquests and genocide of the previous 21 centuries and enter into the 3d millennium with a renewed thinking of cooperation regardless of our ethnicity, religion, historic experiences, based on mutul respect of every nation's cultural heritage.

  • Posted By: british historian @ 02/27/2008 9:38:47 AM

    Comment: History, for the Serbs, started in the early 7th century, when they settled in the Balkans. Their power base was outside Kosovo, which they fully conquered in the early 13th, so the claim that Kosovo was the "cradle" of the Serbs is untrue.
    What is true is that they ruled Kosovo for about 250 years, until the final Ottoman takeover in the mid-15th century. Churches and monasteries remain from that period, but there is no more continuity between the medieval Serbian state and today's Serbia than there is between the Byzantine Empire and Greece.
    Kosovo remained Ottoman territory until it was conquered by Serbian forces in 1912. Serbs would say "liberated"; but even their own estimates put the Orthodox Serb population at less than 25%. The majority population was Albanian, and did not welcome Serb rule, so "conquered" seems the right word.
    But legally, Kosovo was not incorporated into the Serbian kingdom in 1912; it remained occupied territory until some time after 1918. Then, finally, it was incorporated, not into a Serbian state, but into a Yugoslav one. And with one big interruption (the second world war) it remained part of some sort of Yugoslav state until June 2006.
    Until the destruction of the old federal Yugoslavia by Milosevic, Kosovo had a dual status. It was called a part of Serbia; but it was also called a unit of the federation. In all practical ways, the latter sense prevailed: Kosovo had its own parliament and government, and was directly represented at the federal level, alongside Serbia. It was, in fact, one of the eight units of the federal system.
    Almost all the other units have now become independent states. Historically, the independence of Kosovo just completes that process. Therefore, Kosovo has become an ex-Yugoslav state, as any historian could tell you.

    • Posted By: Luty @ 02/29/2008 4:16:15 AM

      Comment: Oops, sorry to see you dropped out. Had to do some research myself. Please, check out these links:
      The US Foreign Area Officers Association: http://www.faoa.org/journal/yugo0700.html
      The Mideast Outpost http://mideastoutpost.com/archives/2007_03.html (scroll down for Ruth King's article) or their editorial at http://mideastoutpost.com/ Rael Jean Isaac
      Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1203343699593
      Here's what Philadelphian Bulletin writes: http://www.thebulletin.us/site/news.cfm?newsid=18289122&BRD=2737&PAG=461&dept_id=576361&rfi=6
      That's some history of the native troops operational in the area during the One Big Interruption http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_Waffen_Mountain_Division_of_the_SS_Skanderbeg_(1st_Albanian) and http://panf.info/upload/showthread.php?t=893
      An interesting testimony about activities of Skanderbeg div. found on the website of Albanian Students in Hamburg http://www.kulturserver-hamburg.de/home/illyria/i.php3?p=2004_01_09_fisher_jews_in_albania&s=e
      So much for tolerance in the new country: http://www.kelebekler.com/reska/index.html and http://www.kelebekler.com/kosovo-gb.htm

    • Posted By: Luty @ 02/28/2008 2:43:30 AM

      Comment: Thank you, old chap!
      Pray, could you also please recommend a couple of reliable studies (if such are avilable online) on the history of Shqiptarë immigration from the prehistoric Illyricum (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/ClassicalBalkans1849.jpg) to other regions (to Greece [Epirus], UK, FYRO Macedonia, Italy (Calabria, Apulia, Sardinia], Turkey, Switzerland, Serbia [Kosmet, Presevo], Germany, US, Montenegro, Canada (mostly Toronto), Ukraine and Russia [where they were invited in 1775 during the rule of Catherine the Great to settle in the newly conquered costal lands along with other ethnical groups that fled the Ottoman oppressions, collectively known under the name of 'arnauts']) after 1500, the WWII and after 1991?

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/27/2008 12:06:01 AM

    Comment: About Russia to educate you, Alba.destiny, from my first hand experience:
    I have been amazed and for ever impressed with the progress in all spheres of live in Russia, with the content and the feeling of security that all people have. The opposition leaders like Boris Nemtsov (the former governor of Nighny Novgorod) are not wanted because they used their power to pamper and enrich themselves. His, for example, favorite way of resting was to relax with "girls" in the Russian bathhouse (!!!). Do Russians want this kind of immorality? What about Russian oligarchs who deserved to be put behind the bars like Hodorkovsky, a former Soviet engineer who enriched himself by stealing and selling Russian oil, not reporting his gains and killing hundreds (with the hands of his aids) of his competitors (my old university friend was on the team investigating Hodorkovsky's crimes) . All those who are unhappy now and who say that opposition was suppressed are those who wanted to enrich themselves at the expense of Russian people and failed because they were caught doing it and were stopped.
    Fortunately, I have a lot of relatives in Russia (St.Petesrburg, Siberia, the Urals) and all of them are happy and think that Vladimir Puitin has done an incredible job of raising Russia from the ashes,providing Russians with what they need - stability and security.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/27/2008 12:04:17 AM

    Comment: Here are the examples which the USA should follow: In St.Petersburg (as in all Russian cities) there are district mental asylums where mentally get free medical treatment. My relative, after two severe head injuries caused by car accidents, received medical and psychiatric treatment in two free mental clinics. Unfortunately he developed a severe form of paranoid psychosis. I personally visited him and can witness and excellent free medical treatment including three meals a day that all the patients receive there free in mental asylums in St.Petesrburg!!! My brother also got a free medical treatment in the Hospital of the First Aid (after an accident) in St.Petersburg where he stayed for the whole month getting all the nursing and medical doctor's care FREE. Everybody in the USA would have gone bancrupt in the first place, becasue one overnight medical treatment here costs thousands of dollars, second this long treatment in the hospitals in the USA is unthinkable. The hospitals in Russia differ in comforts and interior decorations.Some of them are very modest inside,but the care is very good. There is a choice of superb private hospitals as well there the price of medicaltreatment is very high and usually a regular Russian can notafford it.
    My parents who are 77 and 81 have a social worker who comes and cleans and cooks FREE of charge twice a week, because my parents qualify for this help for their age and health conditions. My nephew studies in a regular St.Petersburg school in the 4th grade where there is a swimming pool and he uses it everyday FREE of charge. Secondary education program are so impressive that it will take a book to describe what wonderful education Russian children receive: free textbooks, physical education, sports classes, art and music, humanities, allkinds ofclubsfor children to develop their creativity. Public schools as a rule provide subsidized hot school meals, there is a cook and a canteen in the most Russian public schools where children can get their nutritious meals. In the USA we have not ever even seen anything like this at our schools. In schooldistricts there are children's clubs which provide free afterschool education: sports, art education with trips to art museums, children's choirs, etc.
    In Russia I witnessed a wide public campaign in which they speak about the harm of computer games and video games.
    There are free Psychiatric Centers where one can get a treatment for computer/video addicts.Computer/video addiction is considered a serious psychiatric condition.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/27/2008 12:03:48 AM

    Comment: The food markets and stores everywhere I have been ,in St.Petersburg, Moscow, Novgorod, Sochi and other cities on the Black Sea coast, are abundant with the choice of food and products. Russian manufacturers produce shoes,clothing which surpasses that of the west in the beauty of style. There is a lot done to encourage the development of machine industries and agriculture. The recent Agricultural Laws provide state subsidies for loans to develop private farms. Agricultural development is the main program in Russia now. Russian abundant natural resources are under state control now because the 90s privatization showed that the few immensely enriched themselves at the expense of the country, its natural resources development. The most money in the 90s went to private bank accounts like Hodorkovsky's, the ex oil magnate. This year Russia has passed the corruption law that holds corrupted official highly responsible for corruption sentecing them tomany years in prison. I fully support the Russian domestic policy regarding natural resources, that are all state owned now, because natural resources should be used to benefit the country and not the few whi manage them.

    Russia does not need the "free media" like that of the 90s when female news anchors (of the 90s) delivered news on TV topless. I found Russian media content is much richer and objective than here in the USA. I found that Russia is building an Orthodox Christian Democracy where democracy is based on the spiritual values represented in Bible and not on individual values of so called "democrats". Putin is an Orthodox Christian (his spiritual father is a widely respected Russian Orthodox Priest in Moscow) and as such directly represents the interests of his people! As a Inclusive Christian democracy (because Russian Orthodox Church is all inclusive) Russia will flourish. Its Russian Orthodox Christian leaders like Vladimir Putin know that they are responsible only to God for the happiness and wellbeing of all the peoples who populate Russia (about 100 nations, nationalities, ethnic groups).
    Knowing that with boundless resources' and 143 000 000 people populating Russia, Russia is capable to raise the level of life of every Russian citizen to keep everyone happy, well fed and cared for.
    Russia, its leaders, are willing to share its resources with reasonable partners and help the world to achieve political stability. Russia is an honest and resourceful partner that respects integrity and honesty in relations.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/27/2008 12:01:23 AM

    Comment: as far as Russia concerned withing the last 8 years(having gone though the pain of the economic crisis of the 90s), Russia has become one of the most powerful nations in the world. I wish the same economic success to Serbia and autonomous Kosovo, and I am positive it is possible with cooperation and successful development of the resources, both natural and human. Ethnic, separatist conflicts only take the attention and energy away from really important matters, the most constructive is to live in peace and cooperate with the neighbor. .

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/26/2008 11:49:13 PM

    Comment: The UN has not recognized Kosovo and without its recognition such international organizations as the World Bank and International Currency Fund will not work in Kosovo. Both the World Bank and International Currency Fund are part of the UN's organization. Consequently the EU will have to finance Kosovo's "independence" and with over 60% unemployment in Kosovo where will the Kosovo Albanians go to look for jobs? In Europe the Albanian organized crime is notoriously well know, as well as the fact that about 90% of all European drug trafficking passes through Kosovo. Corruption in Kosovo is rampant! Europe is aware of all its problems in addition to the back-breaking financial burden the EU can put on one's shoulders.
    Kosovo can be successful as part of Serbia without ethnic conflicts. Kosovo can have a strong economic development according to a clever program the corner stone of which will be cooperation, development of natural resources, local industries and agriculture.
    Looking for a helper from the EU or the USA will only bring the disaster because Westerners will be interested in enriching themselves in the first place without benefiting Kosovo in the first place. Remember what happened with Cuba? What caused it outrage and brought to the political and etc crisis? The main reason was that Cuba became the backyard (playground) for Americans who were not interested in benefiting Cuba,but enriched themselves.
    As an autonomy of a strong independent state Serbia Kosovo will achieve success. Hashim Thaci is like any separatist is interested in enriching himself and his associates. That's all Kosovo's "independence" about

  • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/26/2008 10:11:31 PM

    Comment: To historian2008. Can you please stop copy-paste from Serbian websites, go to western country libraries and get, real history books. If Serbs, don???t accept Kosova independence they will have to unite with Russia, does any one think it will be in their interest, or they want to unite with Russia? I don???t think so. After WW2 so many countries chose to go with Soviet Union, it took them over half the centuries to brake away from them. Tito was president of Yugoslavia from 1945-1981; he did good move in 1948 and got out of Soviet Union. Yugoslavia did very well after braking from Soviet Union, especially Serbs, which they promised Tito to behaved good, they even gave up their cetnik leaders, if two provinces Kosova and Vojvodin get under Serbian republic in federation of Yugoslavia. Since creation of so called big Serbia with two provinces, Serbs never stopped working and preparing, for what they did in 80s and 90s in former Yugoslavia in order to create so called graeter Serbian ( they got it , what they asked for Serbia???s pashaluk, hahahah).
    Russia is not accepting Kosova independence, because even people with different last name in Russia will stand up, and ask for independence. Get real, people in Russia are starving, they like Putin same as much as I do, I just hate Putin as for who is he, Russians hate him for what is he doing to them, but since they elected him then they deserve him.

  • Posted By: vangeli @ 02/26/2008 10:11:36 AM

    Comment: TO HISTORIAN 2008...ACCORDING TO YOU THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE SHOULD HAVE STAYED WHERE IT WAS FOR MORE THATN 500 YEARS???....I DO NOT THINK SO...PEOPLE AND NATIONS GOT THEIR COUNTRIES BACK...
    OR THE SAME WITH THE ROMAN EMPIRE...OR THE GREAT ALEXANDER??? THE HISTORY CAN REPEAT IT'S OWN...YOU NEVER KNOW...

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/26/2008 6:27:49 AM

    Comment: Byzantium used to cover the lands occupied by Turkey now and the rest of the world around the Mediterranean Sea. Istanbul used to be the most magnificent city in the world, Constantinople, populated with over 1 000 000 people. This historic fact does not give any right to Greece to claim back any of its historic lands that belong to Turkey or Istanbul now! As well as Germany Will never claim Eastern part of Poland that and Kaliningrad , the Russian territory in the west, that use to be Prussia and part of German Empire.
    When Albanians have the right to be proud of their heritage they have no legal rights to claim the territories that have belonged to Serbia for over 1000 years and belong to Serbian according to its Constitution! Like the Turkish Kurds, who have waged a guerrilla war for over 20 years will never get their independence from Turkey however much they declare it (already for 20 years!) Constitutionally they are part of Turkey and will always be. Turkey will never allow separatism!!! Serbia will not allow separatism according to its Constitution and by International law. Russia blocked U.N. recognition of Kosovo's "independence" in the UN Security Council, putting Kosovo's declaration of "independence" into an illegal status. Albanians' Kosovo separatism is doomed as well as the Turkish Kurds' separatism is doomed. Any separatism anywhere in any corner of the world is doomed. Russia WILL make sure that it will never happen again.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/26/2008 6:23:24 AM

    Comment: Comment: Byzantium used to cover the lands occupied by Turkey now and the rest of the world around the Mediterranean Sea. Istanbul used to be the most magnificent city in the world, Konstantinopol, populated with over 1 000 000 people. This historic fact does not give any right to Greece to claim back any of its historic laComment: Byzantium used to cover the lands occupied by Turkey now and the rest of the world around the Mediterranean Sea. Istanbul used to be the most magnificent city in the world, Constantinople, populated with over 1 000 000 people. This historic fact does not give any right to Greece to claim back any of its historic lands that belong to Turkey or Istanbul now! As well as Germany Will never claim Eastern part of Poland that and Kaliningrad , the Russian territory in the west, that use to be Prussia and part of German Empire.
    When Albanians have the right to be proud of their heritage they have no legal rights to claim the territories that have belonged to Serbia for over 1000 years and belong to Serbian according to its Constitution! Like the Turkish Kurds, who have waged a guerrilla war for over 20 years will never get their independence from Turkey however much they declare it (already for 20 years!) Constitutionally they are part of Turkey and will always be. Turkey will never allow separatism!!! Serbia will not allow separatism according to its Constitution and by International law. Russia blocked U.N. recognition of Kosovo's "independence" in the UN Security Council, putting Kosovo's declaration of "independence" into an illegal status. Albanians' Kosovo separatism is doomed as well as the Turkish Kurds' separatism is doomed. Any separatism anywhere in any corner of the world is doomed. Russia WILL make sure that it will never happen again.nds that belong to Turkey or Istanbul now! As well as Germany Will never claim Eastern part of Poland that and Kaliningrad , the Russian territory in the west, that use to be Prussia and part of German Empire.
    When Albanians h ave the right to be proud of their heritage they have no legal rights to claim the territories that have belonged to Serbia for over 1000 years and belong to Serbian according to its Constitution! Like the Turkish Kurds, who have wage a guerrilla was for over 20 years will never get their independence from Turkey however much they declare it (already for 20 years!) Constitutionally they are part of Turkey and will alhere in any corner of the world is doomed. Russia WILL make sure that it will never happen again.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/26/2008 6:16:46 AM

    Comment: Byzantium used to cover the lands occupied by Turkey now and the rest of the world around the Mediterranean Sea. Istanbul used to be the most magnificent city in the world, Konstantinopol, populated with over 1 000 000 people. This historic fact does not give any right to Greece to claim back any of its historic lands that belong to Turkey or Istanbul now! As well as Germany Will never claim Eastern part of Poland that and Kaliningrad , the Russian territory in the west, that use to be Prussia and part of German Empire.
    When Albanians h ave the right to be proud of their heritage they have no legal rights to claim the territories that have belonged to Serbia for over 1000 years and belong to Serbian according to its Constitution! Like the Turkish Kurds, who have wage a guerrilla was for over 20 years will never get their independence from Turkey however much they declare it (already for 20 years!) Constitutionally they are part of Turkey and will always be. Turkey will never allow separatism!!! Serbia will not allow separatism according to its Constitution and by International law AlbaniansBLOCKED U.N. recognition of Kosovo in the UN Security Council, putting Kosovo's declaration of independence into an ilegal status. Albanians's Kosovo separatism is doomed as well as the Turkish Kurds' separatism is doomed. Any separatism anywhere in any corner of the world is doomed. Russia WILL make sure that it will never happen again.

  • Posted By: british historian @ 02/25/2008 6:49:19 PM

    Comment: Data drawn from history and from linguistic, archaeological, and anthropological studies have led to the conclusion that Albanians are the direct descendants of the ancient Illyrians and that the latter were natives of the lands they inhabited.

    • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/25/2008 8:46:51 PM

      Comment: Thank you

  • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/24/2008 8:13:08 PM

    Comment: Forget about Serbs being able to maintain their weapons stolen from former Yugoslavia, soon Serbian weapons same as Russia???s will rust, they will not even have enough to eat without stilling Kosovas natural resources. Kosova is going to get own army, then Serbs are welcome anytime, we forgive them so many times, but never ever anymore. Serbs all they know is, how to fight with unarmed, women, kids and elderly. Read history but not from Kosovo.com (anyway this site was forced to shut down for spreading disinformation), .ru or .yu sites, how Serbs made surrendered Albanian men, which were fighting against Serbian psycho army. By killing their kids, women and elderly Serbs were saying they would stop all killing as soon as Albanian man surrender, but they lied and in the end they killed them all. We don???t want a war, but Serbs cannot be trusted same as Russia or Greece. By the way USA will stay in Kosova for so long and in meantime Serbs will starve if they don???t accept Kosovas independence and integrate into EU. Don???t tell me anything about Russia or China, you see no one is asking them anything; When NATO bombed Belgrade, they blow up Chinese embassy too and just apologized. NATO said their maps where out dated, so do you think NATO can have out dated maps? It was just to tell China and Russia, NATO can bomb whomever they want and no one can say anything. So you think Putin is going to take any steps ever? That???s why Putin is supplying Middle Eastern countries with uranium so they can build Nuke and use it against USA and EU. Putin is evil, sick and psycho, but still has no guts; just barks like a dog, or maybe his nukes have rusted already. As for now , at least Putin can sell something to Iran and feed his Slavic animals. HAHAHAHAH.

    • Posted By: Luty @ 02/24/2008 9:57:33 PM

      Comment: Hello, dear Alba.destiny
      I would like to express my admiration for your active involvement in the discussion here, without it this discussion would have been too academic. However, there is one request that I would like to put forward - before finishing your post, could you please display some patience, lean back, and remember what that old German E.Kant reflected in his moral imperative - "do not do to the others what you don't want to be done to you" (sorry for simplification). I am very well aware that this resource here is a good place to blow off some steam, so that one can go on living, truly. However my lowly person here, for instance, would normally refrain from using the vocabulary you fairly often resorted to here. Granted, we do not know much about each other, but intelligent guesswork suggests that you should be a young person, and because of your age and probably level of education quite frequently unable to resist the temptation of sacrificing your good manners in the heat of a debate. Pray, try to resist this temptation in the future, however strong your position is. The language of facts is quite often more frequent more persuasive than mere allegations. It is your born right to make your beliefs know, for instance - that "Greeks, Serbs and Russians can not be trusted" collectively, as nations (the same goes for "Slavic animals", I am afraid). However in this case your ethnical prejudices do not stand you in good stand, because if we attempt to analyse the utterances of this style we would come very close to a conclusion that they border on intolerance, moreover - intolerance towards whole ethnical groups, thus invalidating your own arguments.
      Please read this article once more, it is quite a balanced view on the situation in that troubled part of former Communist bloc, and remember that this forum here is for leaving your opinion on what the newspaper people wrote, and not publicizing your private frustrations about some bad nations that unfortunately still exist on the face of our little green Globe.
      Thank you, alba

      • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/25/2008 12:56:03 AM

        Comment: I do apologize for my behavior. I would appreciate if historian2008 is mortified by his comments and his own opinion about Albanian people, which have suffered so much for centuries. So many of his comments are not true and it will raise temper of anyone by reading it. All we Albanians want freedom, for which we were waiting so long, this day has come, we want to enjoy it, and leave all the passed behind, even though it is very hard. If the Serbs don???t stop teasing us, then how do you think we may go in Europe together? I know that, borders are not going to make any sense in the future, but what I have seen on TV this passed couple of days, is making me wonder, can we ever leave side by side with Serbs without borders. Again, I do apologize for using words, which were inappropriate, and I am sorry for offense it may have caused.

        • Posted By: Luty @ 02/25/2008 8:14:07 AM

          Comment: thus thinking that what you dad told you and what you saw on CNN or EuroNews, (or what you read in that book which all leaders of EU and USA read) justifies your chauvinistic (please, do not write my nickname on a dartboard for using that word - if you would ask me, I would happily email you my full-size picture for throwing darts at), again chauvinistic comments about Greeks, Chinks (who cares if NATO kills a couple of Chinaman to see how outdated their maps are, or bombs a Greek train by a sheer mistake), Slavs, Circassins and other tribes (sorry, we did not talk about Circassins/Adygeans yet, oops), and the Gypsy country of Roumania...
          That repetitious introduction of mine would seem redundant but I was simply trying to defuse possible allegations of myself as of a negative serb-siding self, and, once again my heart was filled with joy when I saw that you paused to read my post, though your response bore some resemblance to an excuse uttered by a kindergarden kid - I broke your toy because you broke mine - though to my great regret it's no longer a kindergarden for you, kid, sad, but true, it's time to grow up...
          Maybe I sound too much like a mentor, but that is why my nickname in the college was "Professor", and this preaching streak is still part of myself.
          There was an old jewish lady in my neighborhood who would say about bad people - "I wish I had moneys, then I would buy rockets, and throw those rockets on those characters' heads".
          Well, my dear fellow alba, after this post of mine you would probably wish to have enough funds for purchasing these projectiles so that they could be targeted at your humble friend's cranium here, however pacifictic I may appear on the surface
          Thank you

        • Posted By: Luty @ 02/25/2008 8:13:23 AM

          Comment: My dear fellow human being alba
          I truly appreciate the understanding your displayed in response to my recent remark. That is a positive sign, that we not only are capable of declaring that we are civilized people, but also of being civilized per se. Although in you previous posts you were elemental (please, do not think of this word as a way to abuse you), again, elemental enough to qualify your humble servant here as a "liar, thief, arrogant, not trustable and nonhuman (no mercy in my heart), better said a garbage of the Europe, and animal" (sorry for a lengthy quote, but since you magnanimously applied these qualifiers to all Slavs and Greeks, and with my old folks coming from the South-Eastern Europe, I boldly pressuposed that my rather washed-out ethnical background confers to me a right for these titles as well), this does not in any way undermine the respect I would normally feel towards you (just like towards any fellow earthman, and please, check my comments to your posts below), quite hopeful that you would generously put some degree of faith in this assurance of mine - I am a 30yrs old, Caucasian, married, read only one book by Vuk Draskovic (I like Ivo Andric and Erich M. Remarque better), never was to the Army though have a proud rank of a Private (ret.), travel around a lot because of my job (but not to Europe, though - I was there this summer, my first time in almost 10 years), a middle-class citizen who does not respond with an AKM salvo to a greeting made in a foreign tongue but knows plenty of ethnical jokes. And, I also watch the TV but normally do not read newspapers (the web-based media are more to my liking) but try to make my own assessment of what I saw and read, rather than trusting the pre-cut view of media people. As a doctor from the novel "The Dog's Heart" said (you never read that book, but studied many others, I feel positive about that) - "never read the newspapers before breakfast unless you want to ruin your stomach". For some reason (and I am not quite able to produce a bullet-proof explanation - why) from your style of speech and other uncertain evidences I feel rather inclined to infer that you should be in your mid- or early twenties, probably female, a nice enthusiatic girl (or maybe yet - a boy), full of expectations, confident of the fact that you know is right and what you don't know doesn't matter,

  • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/24/2008 8:12:45 PM

    Comment: To historian2008: Blablablabla, You are sick or blind, Russia is the best ally of Middle East countries (Islamic countries), and very happy to give Iran everything possible to build nuke in order to destroy Israel, EU and USA. I am Albanian and have nothing against any religion; by talking about religion I may heart Albanian Muslims, Catholics or Orthodox, so I don???t want to comment on it. Albanians of all religions fought side by side against Turkish Ottoman Empire. Your comment about religion has nothing to do with Albanians or Kosova independence; all western countries recognize us, and none of Middle Eastern countries as per now. Serbs tried to make Albanian Muslims as radicals but it didn???t work, then they proclaimed us as nationalists in order to kill us the way they planned. The truth is, Middle Eastern countries and Russia, are no different at all. I believe, Middle East is much better if controlled by USA and EU, anyway they are brainwashed by small percent of Sheiks and Princes which use all natural resources for getting wealthier, at same time people is starving. Don???t you think since people of Middle East are not getting anything from their natural resources, would they be much better under USA and EU, even if some of the OIL will be taken from them? Is it anything wrong with Kuwait, controlled by USA where the people are having decent life? Trust me genocide in the world is going to be stopped from Kosova by USA and EU forces, if needed even to Russia they will go. Kosova is independent, that???s what I care; Russia is like a dog that barks but never bites. You can dream about Serbs ever stepping in Kosovas soil, EVER. Serbs, if they dont have heavy weapons they hide in their mothers pans. .

  • Posted By: srb-aus @ 02/24/2008 7:58:16 PM

    Comment: Kosovos economy......bakljave,sladoljed,koljaci...prc.

  • Posted By: srb-aus @ 02/24/2008 6:40:24 PM

    Comment: FREE condoms for Albanians!

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/24/2008 5:53:47 PM

    Comment: Here is a reponse from another site that expresses the opinion of the majority of reasonable people in the USA and the world that has suffered so much from islamic extremism:
    Comment: Considering that the world has more than enough insane islamic states, the so-called independent Kosovo is just the latest of the too many BONEHEADED BUSH BUNGLING!

    We should be seeking to DECREASE insane islamic states in the world, not increase them.
    The world should be seeking to remove ALL signs and symbols of islam; so that future generations are not brainwashed with the mental poison of islamic lessons in violence, vengeance and barbarism.

    Insane islam DOES NOT belong in the Balkans. Insane islam IS the root of the present problems in the Balkans; and ALL its signs and symbols should be eradicated, or shipped to the Arabian Peninsula.
    So creating one more sign of insane islam, independent Kosovo, is only another source of problems for the people of the Balkans.

    Kosovo, a place of a mere 2 million inhabitants CANNOT stand on its own apart from Serbia, without outside assistance.
    As soon as the nonsensical NATO forces leave, the Serbs will RIGHTLY overturn the silly independence.

    Also, why foolishly antagonize a nation with numerous nukes, the Russians (Serbia's close ally)?

    US & EU should be seeking to ally themselves with the Russians and Chinese to tamp down on the insanity of maniac muslims

  • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/24/2008 5:26:37 PM

    Comment: To historiane2008: If you stop copy-paste from Serbian websites, like kosovo.com or .net (which were shut down by USA and EU a couple days ago for showing the lies) and other .ru or .yu sites, then I am not going to talk about true face of Serbian or all Slavic people. Anyway, the world knows the truth, but I just cant stand you lying, I know you are nothing different from the other Slavic liars and thieves including Greeks that stole Albanian history. I want to let the past go if you start talking the truth. I just want to mention one good gesture of the Greece. The Greek minister of Culture Mihalis Liapis while returning two very old icons dating 2 centuries ago that represented Illyrian Gods Artemis and Apollos, and which were stolen in 1991 from Museum of Butrinit to Albanian authorities, said: By this move we are giving example to others around the world to follow the same gesture in representing the truth about history. There are so many God icons to be return to Albanians now after independence of Kosova. Greek Gods that they represent their history, are in many fact Illyrians, that???s why Slavic people including Greeks tried for centuries to not accept Albanians as Illyrians not let them get educated because all lie about who the Slavic and Greeks are will come out. All I have to say that we blame our leaders for everything, why after WW2 they made people take the side with Russia and not western powers. Imagine where would Albanians be today if we chose to go with West after WW2, but still it is not too late, in a very short period of time we would look at Slavic people as animals in the yard.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/24/2008 3:04:22 PM

    Comment: Texas, then you???re the dummies person I have ever seen..
    All Slavic people including Greeks are liars, thieves, arrogant, not trustable and nonhumans..
    Slavic disgusting animals ..
    under stinky Slavic evil,..
    there is no animal in humans, except in Slavic people,..
    All these racist rhetoric indicates that you need to be removed from this list and never be able to present your opinion which is biased and sick.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/24/2008 3:04:06 PM

    Comment: Texas, then you???re the dummies person I have ever seen..
    All Slavic people including Greeks are liars, thieves, arrogant, not trustable and nonhumans..
    Slavic disgusting animals ..
    under stinky Slavic evil,..
    there is no animal in humans, except in Slavic people,..
    All these racist rhetoric indicates that you need to be removed from this list and never be able to present your opinion which is biased and sick.

  • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/24/2008 12:28:03 PM

    Comment: To TEXAS: If you???re from Texas, then you???re the dummies person I have ever seen. If you are Serb or Russian, then good you finally realized, that there is no chance to have any control over Kosova never ever anymore in the history of humans. Albania got independence in 1912 now Kosova in 2008, so I believe things will work much faster in the future and other parts populated with Albanians will get freedom from Serb evil. We Albanians knew why the USA and EU helped us. A question comes: why these western countries, didn't trust Serbs or any other Slavic people, including Greeks? All Slavic people including Greeks are liars, thieves, arrogant, not trustable and nonhumans (no mercy in their heart), better said they are garbage of the Europe, DID YOU SEE PROTEST OF ANIMAL GREEKS IN ATHENA? THEY BURNED USA AND EU FLAG. GREECE DIDN???T EVEN HAVE FOOD TO EAT AFTER WW2 WHEN USA AND EUROPE HELPED THEM, SO THAT???S HOW YOU APRICIATE THE ONES THAT FEED YOU? PLEASE FACE THE TRUTH EUROPEANS DOESN???T WANT SLAVIC PEOPLE IN EUROPE, THEY WILL DESTROY HUMAN CULTURE, PERIODDDDD. The truth is that the USA and EU figured out by liberating Albanians will gain trust to us and we will accept their need to have Army base in our country. After all this help, for sure we will never bother them, in many fact we will help them in order to keep Slavic disgusting animals out of getting into Europe. Anyway, Serbs used and misused everything in Kosova, so what we Albanians loose? We gained from all this, we will be free to go to school, use our natural sources and have freedom by being integrated in Europe. Hundreds of years under stinky Slavic evil, history has shown that there is no animal in humans, except in Slavic people, that???s why even Europe doesn???t want them. I guess I don???t have words to describe the true face of Slavic people. No matter what USA and EU will do to us Albanians for sure cant be worst then what nonhuman Slavic???s did.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/24/2008 12:21:17 AM

    Comment: The history of Serbia (and Kosovo ) may be found at http://kosovo.net/default3.html The same website also documents some of the fruits of the Albanian 'liberation' by NATO:
    For example, along with the images from the war in 1999, (NATO operation 'Merciful Angel') the link http://kosovo.net/default2.html shows examples of destruction of the Serbian cultural heritage (mainly monasteries and churches). You can see the atrocities of the Albanian extremists in the pictures provided: Serbs are brutally killed, mutulated.
    Kosovoand Metohija have been the spiritual heart of the Serbia for over 1000 years.
    Before the military actions of the 90s there were 1800 Orthodox
    cathedrals and monasteries, 200 of which date back to the times before
    the 14th century when the Serbian Patriarchate was established in 1346. Kosovo and Metohija is sprinkled with castles where Serbian kings resided and the most important events of Serbian history took place.
    Read the enlosed site to learn the truth.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 11:52:42 PM

    Comment: For ninoo: There is no need to beat your head around the BUSH. Separatists never made history and law always prevailed in the end. Kosovo and Metohija have been are and will legally be part of sovereign Serbia. Kosovo has an autonomy in Serbia that is legal and will remain according to Serbian constitution. The truth is that this conflict showed the sharp devisions among countries, but nothing legally more. Albanians from Serbia (Kosovo) have the legal right to immigrate to Albania. There will never be another Albanian state legally. The UN has not approved the separatist move.and I am sure WILL NOT. Every reasonable member of the UN realizes that the"recognition"of Kosovo will untie the hands of the terrorists and separatists all over the world and will push the world to WWIII.

    • Posted By: ninoo @ 02/24/2008 5:54:27 PM

      Comment: To historian: I have to say there is one sentence I do agree with you from the earlier posting /comment directed to me, ???History and law always prevails in the end??????.. well as you can see, it did in Kosovo???s case. We got our freedom and KOSOVO is INDEPENDENT.

  • Posted By: vangeli @ 02/23/2008 11:24:08 PM

    Comment: TO TEXAS...HEY TEXAS GUY...YOU MUST BE THE HEAD OF CIA OR FBI...
    YOU SOUND SO PRECISE...
    WE WAITED SO LONG FOR A REALLY WORD OF WISDOM AND FINALY YOU JUST ARRIVED....!!!! I BET YOU 1 MILLION DOLLARS THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE ALBANIA OR SERBIA IS...THANKS

    • Posted By: texas @ 02/27/2008 8:11:19 PM

      Comment: I do know where serbia and kosovo are. Lived in Croatia for 3 years.

  • Posted By: ninoo @ 02/23/2008 9:00:15 PM

    Comment: hisrory = history.........Sorry for this typing error.

  • Posted By: texas @ 02/23/2008 8:55:30 PM

    Comment: I live in Texas and have been reading these comments and can't belive either side .
    US doesn't give a *** about Serbs or Albanians .
    US goverment just need a military base in The Balkans.

  • Posted By: ninoo @ 02/23/2008 8:53:36 PM

    Comment: for historian 2008: This is hisrory......
    Officially Recognized

    Gracias!!!
    Costa Rica
    Recognition text (February 17, 2008 Local Time)
    Thank You!!!
    United States
    Recognition text (February 18, 2008)
    Merci!!!
    France
    Recognition text (February 18, 2008)
    Tashakkur! Merci!!!
    Afghanistan
    Recognition text (February 18, 2008)
    Faleminderit!!!
    Albania
    Recognition text (February 18, 2008)
    Tesekkürler!!!
    Turkey
    Recognition text (February 18, 2008)
    Thank You!!!
    United Kingdom
    Recognition text (February 18, 2008)
    Thank You!!!
    Australia
    Recognition text (February 19, 2008)
    Merci! Jërëjëf!!!
    Senegal
    Recognition text (February 19, 2008)
    Terima kasih!!!
    Malaysia
    Recognition text (February 20, 2008)
    Danke!!!
    Germany
    Recognition text (February 20, 2008)
    Paldies!!!
    Latvia
    Recognition text (February 20, 2008)
    Tak!!!
    Denmark
    Recognition text (February 21, 2008)
    Tänan!!!
    Estonia
    Recognition text (February 21, 2008)
    Grazie Mille!!!
    Italy
    Recognition text (February 21, 2008)
    Merci! Danke!!!
    Luxembourg
    Recognition text (February 21, 2008)
    Gracias!!!
    Peru
    Recognition text (February 22, 2008)

    Recognized but yet to be formalized

    Dank u! Merci! !!!
    Belgium
    Kiitos!!!
    Finland
    Informal recognition text
    Labai achiu!!!
    Lithuania
    Informal recognition text
    Danke schön!!!
    Austria
    Informal recognition text
    Tusen takk!!!
    Norway
    Informal recognition text



    Countries that will recognize Kosova...
    29 out of the remaining 170 United Nation members are ready to recognize Republic of Kosova

    Bulgaria Announcement
    Canada
    Cote d'Ivoire
    Croatia
    Czech Republic
    Fiji
    Hungary Announcement
    Iceland
    Ireland
    Israel
    Japan
    Kuwait
    Macedonia
    Malta
    Mauritania
    Monaco
    Montenegro
    Morocco
    Netherlands
    Pakistan
    Poland Announcement
    Portugal
    Saudi Arabia
    Slovenia
    Sweden
    Switzerland Announcement
    Tonga
    Tunisia
    Tuvalu

  • Posted By: vangeli @ 02/23/2008 5:35:43 PM

    Comment: To Histrsian 2008....According to your thinking you know the history of Vatican better than Pope himself???...Since when do you think you know the history of Albania better than an Albanian himself??? I agree that you might know some but not in full or in the measure than an albanian historian himself...
    Since you are talking about respecting this and that and law etc...etc....i wander why those people from Kosovo want to be independent ...and...since Serbians treated the Kosovo people with respect, love, righteousness, law, dignity...I really wander why a people treated with all this kindness from serbians wants to be indipendent??? Maybe you can answer this...
    Thanks

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 4:59:32 PM

    Comment: For all the people who are interested in learning the truth about Kosovo supported with documents, photographs, reports please read the following:
    An overview of the historical info about Serbia (and thus about Kosovo too) may be found at http://kosovo.net/default3.html The same website also documents some of the fruits of the Albanian 'liberation' by NATO:
    For example, along with the images from the war in 1999, (NATO operation 'Merciful Angel') the link http://kosovo.net/default2.html shows examples of destruction of the Serbian cultural heritage (mainly monasteries and churches), which occured (long) after the bombing was over.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 4:41:24 PM

    Comment: You, an Albanian, certainly know the history of your country better than any historian in the world, because you grew up with your country folk songs and ballads. They make you strong and love your country.
    But let me give you another example from history (which you surely know). In 1453 Byzantium fell to the Ottoman Empire. What used to be Byzantium was brutally marauded. Myriads of Christians were killed and Orthodox Temples were pillaged, burnt and leveled to the ground. The most precious Christian relics were looted and perished for ever. Byzantium, the stronghold of Eastern Orthodox Church, was utterly destroyed. Constantinople, Byzantium capital, used to proudly stand on the site of what is now Istanbul, what became the capital of Ottoman's Empire and Turkey now. Does it give any right to the Greeks or Orthodox Christians to declare Istanbul the capital of Byzantium again, declare a newly independent state of Byzantium based on the fact of the historic losses? Greece stays in the borders defined by history and law, and respects the law of present day Turkey. Law makes us all one happy world community, and prevents crazy ideas from destroying peace and integrity of every country on earth.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 4:37:32 PM

    Comment: You, an Albanian, certainly know the history of your country better than any historian in the world, because you grew up with your country folk songs and ballads. They make you strong and love your country.
    But let me give you another example from history (which you surely know). In 1453 Byzantium fell to the Ottoman Empire. What used to be Byzantium was brutally marauded. Myriads of Christians were killed and Orthodox Temples were pillaged, burnt and leveled to the ground. The most precious Christian relics were looted and perished for ever. Byzantium, the stronghold of Eastern Orthodox Church, was utterly destroyed. Constantinople, Byzantium capital, used to proudly stand on the site of what is now Istanbul, what became the capital of Ottoman's Empire and Turkey now. Does it give any right to the Greeks or any Orthodox Christians to declare Istanbul the capital of Byzantium again, declare a newly independent state of Byzantium based on the fact of the historic losses? Greece stays in the borders defined by history and law, and respect the law of present day Turkey. Law makes us all one happy world community, and prevents crazy ideas from destroying peace and integrity of every country on earth.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 4:03:28 PM

    Comment: It is wonderful that you are proud of your heritage! Albania has a lot of cultural heritage of the peoples who populated its territory dating back to the the 5th - 6th BC. American Indians populated the Americas for many thousand years before the Spanish and the British came. It does not allow us to cut the map of Americas, move all American Indians from the US reservations and from all the South America into one place and declare an Independent country. We respect the history of the USA and the idea of cutting a new map will not come to the craziest of the minds here. History changes maps and we have to respect the laws. Russia used to be a tiny country and owing to acquisition of lands it became the biggest in the world. The Great Britain have lost the US territories and does it give it the right to demand it back now in the 21st century? NO!!! The same with the Serbs who have populated the territory of the Balkans from the 6th century AD. We must respect present day laws and respect national historic, cultural, spiritual heritage of every country in the world!

  • Posted By: vangeli @ 02/23/2008 12:09:07 PM

    Comment: TO HISTORIAN 2008...NOW I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT A TRUE HISTORIAN...OR KNOW MANY WORDS BUT NOT THE TRUTH ...OR...I AM AFRAID YOU ARE AFRAID OF THE TRUTH....WHY???
    BECAUSE THE ANSWER WAS VERY VERY EASY...AND EVERYONE THAT HAS THE SMALLEST KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HISTORY KNOWS THAT....ALBANIANS ARE BY FAR OLDER THAN SERBIANS ON THE REGION AND MAYBE ALBANIANS ARE THE OLDEST PEOPLE IN EUROPE.....
    HAVING SAID THIS,...I DO NOT BELEIVE YOUR "STORIES" ANY MORE...UNLESS YOU SAY THE TRUTH...
    ALL THE BESTS TO YOU....

  • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/23/2008 11:59:18 AM

    Comment: To historian2008 , For individuals like you, many wars are waged today in the world. If Illyrians gradually disappeared and were replaced by the Bulgars, Serbs, Croats and Bosnians which all are Slavic, then would you tell me where the Albanians came from, which are not Slavic? As a kid, I do remember the answer of a Serb historian, he said the Albanians came from the moon, do you think the same? The Serbian nation is built on self-created history, history is written by the winners, so Albanians were all the time occupied and never had a chance to write their true history. Songs and words of mouth saved most of Albanian history, which were carried from generation to generation. Thanks to today???s archeology, the truth is surfacing, so whatever you say is not making any sense, your words may make influence to some uneducated people, but it doesn't matter, because the highly educated ones already know the truth. I believe all your history came from Serbian, Greek or any other Slavic books, so talking to you will just waist my time. If you think you have proof of what you say, then you are welcome to come to independent Kosova one day and share your knowledge with our historians. I know for sure you???ll change your opinion by hearing the truth about Balkan and Albanian people (Bush, Clinton, Blair, Solana even French government close ally of Serbs, and many others, did change their mind about Albanians, so you???ll do too).

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 2:57:26 AM

    Comment: Some historians consider (opinions differ) Albanians to be the descendents of one Illyrian tribe that was named Albanoi which was located in modern-day Albania. There is no proof that this hypothesis is true and the origins of Albanians has been for some time a matter of dispute among historians.
    The fall of the Western Roman Empire and the age of great migrations in the early Middle Ages brought radical changes to the Balkan Peninsula which was populated by the Illyrian people. Barbarian tribesmen overran many rich Roman cities, destroying the existing social and economic order and leaving the great Roman aqueducts, coliseums, temples, and roads in ruins. The Illyrians gradually disappeared as a distinct people from the Balkans, replaced by the Bulgars, Serbs, Croats, Bosnians and Albanians and their lands were gradually overtaken by them. The first historical mention of Albania and the Albanians as such appears in an account of the resistance by a Byzantine emperor Alexiu I Commenus.
    As far as Kosovo history concerned (should be truly called Metohija which means "the church estate" in Serbian) please read my historic notes which I posted yesterday.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 2:56:44 AM

    Comment: I am not a professor but an educator: a college instructor and a pedagogue.
    My job allows me to extensively travel both to different parts of Russia and Europe. Due to my profession I am an educator in the first place and always find time for a good discussion and for teaching.
    Your mentality is outdated and is still in the last century. You should update yourself on the changes that have taken place since the last millennium. Both hands have fed and cared about me, a Russian hand and an American hand, and I am very grateful to both of them. When I work in Russia I open the eyes of those Russians who are still asleep and have not got out of the cold war mentality (usually they are very old folks). Here in the USA I open the eyes to those who need some help. I am happy that I serve as a bridge and can show and tell the best about both countries and cultures.
    Here are some sites that will acquaint you with some Russian cities, spiritual centers, and you may want to go and visit them. You will be amazed! Here is the website of St.Petersburg, my beloved city,where I come from. You can take a virtual tour around the city as well as around its magnificent environs: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/virtual-tour/
    http://www.saint-petersburg.com/video/index.asp

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 2:56:30 AM

    Comment: Here is the website of the Moscow Patriarchate in English: http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?lng=1
    Here is Valaam, mount Athos of the North (http://valaam.ru/en/), Here is the site with videos of Valaam and http://valaam.ru/en/video/ which show gorgeous Scenes of Valaam, interviews with monks ??? beautiful faces. Here is the website featuring Sochi (http://www.sochi.ru/info/foto.htm), the beautiful resort town on the coast of the Black Sea. The site presents wonderful pictures of the city of Sochi which is the largest city in Europe, 145 kilometers long along the coast of the Black Sea and 80 miles deep into the Caucasus Mountains. The Olympic games of 2014 will be held there.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 2:56:11 AM

    Comment: Russia has always been a big friend of Serbia and will always supported its sovereignty. It is time for the world countries to come to solutions only by mutual agreement, on no account unilaterally. As an Albanian you may dream to be independent in Kosovo, but it is unrealistic and impossible, because there is LAW. The disruption of the sovereign country's constitution is an equivalent of the declaration of WAR. According to the Constitution of Serbia Kosovo IS an autonomous region. You are given all the rights to enjoy your autonomy. Nobody cares about what the US President or Russian President think. All abide by the LAW. And the sovereign country's constitution is the first and most important LAW for all the country!!! If you are unhappy as an Albanian in Serbia you can immigrate to Albania. It is also LEGAL.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/23/2008 2:43:40 AM

    Comment: Some historian consider (opinions differ) Albanians to be the descendents of one Illyrian tribe that was named Albanoi which was located in modern-day Albania. There is no proof that this hypothesis is true and the origins of Albanians has been for some time a matter of dispute among historians.
    The fall of the Western Roman Empire and the age of great migrations in the early Middle Ages brought radical changes to the Balkan Peninsula which was populated by the Illyrian people. Barbarian tribesmen overran many rich Roman cities, destroying the existing social and economic order and leaving the great Roman aqueducts, coliseums, temples, and roads in ruins. The Illyrians gradually disappeared as a distinct people from the Balkans, replaced by the Bulgars, Serbs, Croats, Bosnians and Albanians and their lands were gradually overtaken by them. The first historical mention of Albania and the Albanians as such appears in an account of the resistance by a Byzantine emperor Alexiu I Commenus.
    As far as Kosovo history concerned (should be truly called Metohija which means "the church estate" in Serbian) please read my historic notes which I posted yesterday.

  • Posted By: vangeli @ 02/23/2008 1:00:03 AM

    Comment: TO HISTORIAN 2008...I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU ....PLEASE, BE VERY VERY SHORT AND PRECISE ON THE ANSWER SINCE YOU ARE A HISTORIAN...AND PLEASE...JUST SAY ONE OR THE OTHER AND NO MORE EXPLANATION...HERE IT IS THE QUESTION....

    WHICH ONE OF THESE TWO PEOPLE IS THE OLDEST OF THESE TWO IN THE REGION WHERE THEY LIVE THUS FAR...

    1. ALBANIANS....OR 2. SERBIANS...

    PLEASE, BE VERY SHORT NO MORE EXPLANATIONS....THIS OR THAT...
    THANKS

  • Posted By: TonyM @ 02/23/2008 12:03:07 AM

    Comment: to historian2008 :
    You should move to Russia. Just make sure you leave your passport behind. Hope you do not have one. Bit the hand that feeds and cares for you. Go to Russia since they are doing so well. Quite a propaganda, for a country where the standard of living is low, where opposition is harrassed, where free press is killed. America is better off without people like you, since Russia and Serbia have enough Historians, you might be lucky and teach english.
    Law matters? Serbia did not care about law when butchered the bosnians, kosovar albanians and started the wars. MOVE ON, THIS WILL BE THE NEW SERBIA's SONG. And if you want to stay still, dont kill as you
    A real professor does not spend countless hour in this blog, a pseudo professor does.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/22/2008 10:14:44 PM

    Comment: Kosovo will never bee recognized by the UN and by the reasonable world community. The Albanians in Kosovo can (based on the world historic experience) happily have their own autonomy which they have always had. The Albanians can prosper and enjoy freedoms, but without participation of those separatists who want to have personal gains. The fact that the USA and some European countries
    declared their support for Kosovo's independence does not matter at alland does nothave any weight.
    The LAW MATTERS AND MAKES HISTORY. Where there was no law there were wars and losses. The Law, the UN and Serbia supported by the integrity of its Consitution, WILL NEVER recognize Kosovo together with those countries who support peace and integrity of the world community.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/22/2008 10:11:03 PM

    Comment: Comment: As an American of Russian decent I see the advantage for the USA to cooperate with the strongest rising economy in the world. Russia very selectively chooses investments from outside. It has a 100% self sufficient economy. It can provide for its own economy with its both natural and human resources. Overpopulation in China and India does not allow to supply their people with enough. In Russia its rich big land/population ratio
    allows to raise every citizen's standard of living to the highest level and provide for others in the world.
    As a historian I see the mistakes that the whole world has repeatedly made. As soon as we all become reasonable, appreciative and respective of others, the traditions, historic/spiritual legacies of every member of the world community , as soon as we get rid of the biased attitude, prejudices and judgment, as soon as we unconditionally respect each other's autonomy
    and independence, we will all succeed in our relations.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/22/2008 8:57:46 PM

    Comment: As an American of Russian decent I see the advantage for the USA to cooperate with the strongest rising economy in the world. Russia very selectively choses investments from outside.It has a 100% self sufficient economy. It can provide for its own economy with its both natural and human resources. Overpopulation in China and India does not allow to supply their people with enough. In Russia its rich big/population ratio
    allows to raise every citizen's standard of living to the highest level and provide for others in the world. As a historian I see the mistakes that the whole world has repeatedly made. As soon as we all become reasonable, appreciative and respective of others, each the traditions, historic/spiritual legacies of member of the world community , as soon as we get rid of the bias and judgment and respect each other autonomy
    and independence, we will all succeed in our relations.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/22/2008 8:57:31 PM

    Comment: I know, as an American of Russian decent, that Russia wants friendship and cooperation with the USA. Whenever I am in Russia I do no see any bias or prejudices in mass media against the USA. I see objective criticism and appreciation of any reasonable step on the part of the USA towards Russia or other countries. There is still a lot to work on in Russia, but much more to work on in the USA with its tremendous debts and collapsing social security system. In Russia still there is quite efficient public health care including the private one as well.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/22/2008 8:57:05 PM

    Comment: Yes, there is prostitution in Russia as well as here in the USA (on a much lager scale).
    But crime is much less than in the USA. There is corruption but not on the scale of the USA where corruption became part of the internal politics presented under "different kinds of sauces". Being an Orthodox Christian I see that thousands of Orthodox churches, monasteries have been restored and thousands of new churches are being built. At the same time other
    religious denominations, muslims, buddhists, jews, who have always been part of Russia (Russian empire) can attend their temples freely. There have been created some protestant denomination in Russia and they are doing just fine. Russia is an Orthodox Country and historically was before 1917. Having borders with Asia and Far East Russia learned to appreciate and live in peace with the countries which profess different religions. Orthodoxy is all inclusive.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/22/2008 8:56:42 PM

    Comment: In Russia there are autonomous republics where people profess Islam like in the Tatar Autonomous Republic,or Buddhism like the Buryat Autonomous Republic. There are altogether 20 autonomous republics in Russia and all the people live in peace.
    Chechnya has been part of Russia for about 200 years and unfortunately there have been separatists who wanted Chechnya's independence for what sake? To create the problems in the heart of the Russia Caucasus where all other 30 Caucuses islamic people are happy? The truth is that the most Chechen population did not want the war. Separatism always is started by the individuals who pursue their personal gains, personal enrichment, political power, etc.

    Kosovo will never bee recognized by the UN and by the reasonable world community. The Albanians in Kosovo can (based on the world historic experience) happily have their own autonomy which they have always had. The Albanians can prosper and enjoy freedoms, but without participation of those separatists who want to have personal gains. The fact that the USA and some European countries
    declared their support for Kosovo's independence does not matter at alland does nothave any weight.
    The LAW MATTERS AND MAKES HISTORY. Where there was no law there were wars and losses. The Law, the UN and Serbia supported by the integrity of its Consitution, WILL NEVER recognize Kosovo together with those countries who support peace and integrity of the world community.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/22/2008 7:47:41 PM

    Comment: It is useless to teach anything to the people stuck in their really small worlds. I lived in Russia until was in my late twenties and now I am in my late forties. I have not only lots of business partners and friends in Russia (including the Urals and Siberia), but also relatives. The whole world will follow Russian the example of Russian economic, political etc, development. It is the strongest economy in the world now. China is by far behind.

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/22/2008 7:38:42 PM

    Comment: ROMANS: 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
    unto wrath; for it is written: "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,saith
    the Lord." (King James version)

    ROMANS 19: Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's
    wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[b]says
    the Lord. (New International Version)

  • Posted By: vangeli @ 02/22/2008 6:22:19 PM

    Comment: TO HISTORIAN 2008...YES RUSSIA...RUSSIA.....THAT'S ALL RIGHT....BUT YOU STILLL WRITE IN ENGLISH AND LIVE IN US...AM I WRIGHT???WOULD YOU GO AND LIVE THERE IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE???
    COME ON GUYS....BE REAL....YES , I LOVE RUSSIA, TOO AND RUSSIANS...BUT DO NOT BE SO NEGATIVE ABOUT USA.....USA IS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO BE PRO CHRISTIANITY ON THE WORLD AND THE FIRST ONE TO BE PRO ISRAEL....YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN IF YOU ARE A TRUE CHRISTIAN...
    LET'S THINK OF PEACE MAN.....OF NO BORDERS.....JUST COME TOGETHER AS ONE AND BE STRONG....WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH US....I AM FROM ALBANIA NOT FROM KOSOVO...AND I LOVE ALL BALKANS...NO MATTER WHAT....I LOVE ALL THEM....WE CAN BE STRONG....GREAT....HAVE PEACE AMONG US ...GROW OUR CHILDREN TOGETHER.....ENJOY LIFE....LIFE IS TOO SHORT ....TO WAIST IT WITH PRIDE AND HATE....LOVE IS WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AFTER.....
    PEACE TO ALL THE TRUE CHRISTIANS.....

  • Posted By: srb-aus @ 02/22/2008 6:19:56 PM

    Comment: Down with McDonalds! Lets fight obesity!

  • Posted By: mresyli @ 02/22/2008 5:30:39 PM

    Comment: BRAVO Newsweek!!! You got a special thank you by Serbia for printing such propaganda ... a torched American flag and embassy. I fully believe in free press and writers expressing their opinions, but not when they are written as if they were facts. Your Serbian writer has an obligation to be FAIR and IMPARTIAL when reporting news. If your writers are qualified to make statements to whether a nation can declare independence or not, I wonder why they fall short of giving any alternatives to the situation. Kosova???s situation has been such since the 90???s, where were your writers during the negotiations between Albanians and Serbs? Surely their EXPERTIES would have been very useful during those times. : /
    Kosovas declaration of independence was the will of the people. And since it is our human right to be free, Kosovars did just what any decent man would expect them to do???BE FREE!!! Serbia has failed to allow Albanians to represent themselves for the most part of the century. Moreover, they have repeatedly terrorized Kosovars during that same period. So even if the current regime in Serbia has changed, their feelings towards Albanians has not. And it has been proven so in the past couple of days.
    Almost all western nations have accepted Kosovas independence. Just because certain other countries have problems of their own, does not make it right for Kosovars to struggle under barbaric rule and neither does Vladimir Putin???s Napoleon complex. If Serbia wants to continue their rhetoric, act violent and feel superior to any other nation in the region, they can continue so without Kosova. Those ???hooligans??? that are now burning our embassies and flags should have protested during the time their government was systematically slaughtering people and burning ???their heartland??? during the 90???s. Kosova deserved nothing less than full independence and the free world is behind them!!!

  • Posted By: historian2008 @ 02/22/2008 3:35:55 PM

    Comment: Keep your comments for the lowbrows! We visit Russia almost annually. Last year we went on business trips to Moscow, St.Petersburg, Novgorod and Sochi . Russia's GNP grows by about 10% annually. Russia is not only the biggest, but the richest country in the world. It uses its incredible resources very wisely now. Its success is amazing! The standard of living grows by 16% annually!!! The educational establishments, schools, universities, are very impressive! When you work on the streets of Moscow,st.Petesrburg, Novgorod, Sochi (that offers the best entertainment in Europe besides the beauty of the city its environs and the beautiful beaches!!!. We had a chance to enjoy our free time there!) you see lots ofhappy gaces. The services in the restaurants,hotels surpassed that of Europe and the USA. We enjoyed shopping when we had free time. The business people and educators we met impressed us with their efficiency and smiles. Every year we go to Russia we see its incredible success in all spheres of life: business,education, services etc. Russians have all the freedoms they need: freedom of speech etc. as a matter of fact we were very impressed with the freedoms there. Honesty is based on the fact the Putin is an Orthodox Christian and is interested in his people's happiness. All the coverage of Russia in the USA is biased. It is clear that the SA is not interested in seeing a strong friend in Russia and is losing its friendship which may be of great benefits to the USA. Unlike the USA which is so good at losing friendships Japan is investing advantageously in Russia. It is building a Toyota plant in St.Petersburg and surely the USA has already lost the European market for its cars because Toyota plant in St.Peter burg will be the main supplier of Japanese cars in all Europe.

    • Posted By: JJJJJ @ 02/22/2008 5:14:10 PM

      Comment: "Russians have all the freedoms they need" --- and who decides what the Russian people need? You? Putin?

      Toyota, Honda and Nissan all build cars in America for Americans to drive. So what if Russia got its first Japanese automaker to build a plant in Russia - I guess it's a good first step for an emerging capitalistic economy.

      It's good to hear that you think Russia is doing so well. I am happy for the Russian people - they have had it bad for so long under Communism. That does not mean; however, that it is the "richest" country on the planet. The U.S still holds that title and will for some time. Russia will have to surpase the U.S., U.K., the E.U., India, China and Japan before it is number one.

    • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/22/2008 4:52:36 PM

      Comment: I just would like to say if you so happy with Russia go and teach history in Russia, but first of all you need to insure your organs because they may take them from you and sell them as soon as you get there. If you kind of sick, then going to Russian is your good choice, in middle of the street you can find people without organs and if something left that you need you can take it. I think Putin got something for him self but I am not sure was it cows brain or head. Do you know how Russians make living? By going to school and learning to use computer they stealing peoples money around the world which is called Internet crime. Most of Russians in USA are in welfare and use peoples tax money while sometimes go to Russia and kill for the money, then they come back in USA and spend that money. I heard that so many Russians in USA use benefit cards to purchase food in USA and dress and drive very expensive cars, how is that possible? Dont be stupid we know who and what Russians and Russia is. Serbs are not different either. I guess if you like so much Russia then you are wasting time in USA, keep in mind that in Russia husband is happy that his wife has a job as prostitute, at least they have income to eat. If you do little search you will see that most of the prostitutes of the world make up Slavic woman even underage. Russia is criminal country and it is important to keep it isolated from the rest of the world, all this it matters because it possesses a vast nuclear arsenal, and knows how to build weapons of mass destruction. In addition, Russia borders on regions of great strategic interest to the United States: Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia. Kosova was the gap that would allow Russia to endanger Europe so this was smart move for the Europe and USA to recognize Kosovas independence and make Kosovars number one ally in Balkan, Serbs can never be ally of USA or Europe they are Slavic and will stay strong ally of Russia , world knows all this. I really don???t fill in talking but I have answer for everything you write so just get over with Kosovas independence and have a nice life. Third world war can start and USA and Europe will not let Kosova to Serbs, period.

  • Posted By: JJJJJ @ 02/22/2008 3:18:47 PM

    Comment: Question - if many of you think America is a "propagandist" country with "propaganda news" that pushes "imperialistic" agendas, then why are you all here, reading these "propagandist" news articles and posting comments on this "imperialistic" news site???????? Just curious........

    • Posted By: alba.destiny @ 02/22/2008 5:52:26 PM

      Comment: Dont be surprised, there is saying in Albanian ??? If you threw the brad to the Serb he will return it with the rocks???. By Albanian tradition if you are enemy and come to my home I must help you because you came to my home, but next time I see you out of my home you still my enemy. Serbs misused these Albanian traditions in the past, they came to Albanian houses and asked for overnight sleep as lost walkers in the dark, and then they killed all members of that family including children and woman. There is another saying ???if you have a Serb for overnight sleep have your ax under pillow??? . You have no idea who the Serbs are, we Albanians did forgive them so many times for what they did to us for centuries and as soon as they got little power they became whiled again. I want them to enter EU at least there will be no more but I dont think they will stay to long in EU because the world will see that they dont