“No chance at all. In fact, it’s expressly forbidden by the EU, UN and by the Kosovars themselves. It was part of the Ahtisaari Plann iirc. Besides, although both Albanian, they now have very different national experiences and Kosovars would most likely not want to merge but to be free to rule themselves. That’s what its all about”

Kosovo may have a new, UN-inspired flag (blue, yellow and plenty of stars… remind anyone of Bosnia?), but I think it’s pertinent to look at the people on the ground in these situations. Is this really Kosovar nationalism, based on a geographical region subject to specific circumstances, or is it a more familiar nationalism, based on ethnic affiliation?

I am reminded of Austria and Germany, which have had a comparatively long history of separate statehood. This separation has been vindicated in the long run, but until fairly recently (this past century) this has been in dispute, especially among the kinds of nationalists who go around declaring new countries. Personally, I would be very cautious in trying to predict what course these states will take.

Logically, the northern Serb area of Kosovo around Mitrovica should remain attached to Serbia. Likewise the Serbian province of Bosnia should be attached to Serbia proper.

A territorially equivalent chunk of Serbia proper to Kosovo’s east is majority Kosovar/Albanian. A land-swap would be possible, but currently Serbia does not think there is any state to swap with, so you need to get over that hurdle first.

Besides, although both Albanian, they now have very different national experiences and Kosovars would most likely not want to merge but to be free to rule themselves. That’s what its all about

Read the full text of their independence

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/17/news/Kosovo-Independence-Text.php

“Now Serbia is a little land locked country with little comparative advantages.” As it was before independence of Kosovo, no?

“I would like to see the people supporting this support Tibet, Xinjiang and a whole lot of other stuff.” Well, I think we support them all, for what it’s worth. But political and territorial independence for small ethnic minorities in larger states only comes after either genocide or breakdown of authority on behalf of that ruling state. China has a long way to go before it approaches that.

Zuru: why??

Chirol: see any chance of Albania and Kosovo merging into a single state??

On top of that, the real issue not being discussed is the inability and dysfunction of the UN. Both the UN and Contact group agreed unanimously on the Ahtisaari plan for supervised independence for Kosovo after years of fruitless negotiations. In the end, the UN had to be avoided because of the broken Security Council system.

The only people this may help is the Kosovars, the Kosovar Albanians to be exact.

So now when will the Republika Srpska to declare independence from Bosnia? Or the Serb population breaking off fro Kosovo.

ahhhh the Multiculturalism…..

Chirol is probably better placed to answer this than I am. However, if you want fair – not objective, but just fair – info on this, serb expats are not the ideal people to get information from. I did follow the conflict at the time and have no doubt that the Kosovars had a real grievance. What is more I cannot imagine how they could have been kept in some union with Serbia without even more brutal repression.

Of course, the EU will have its work cut out now. Lots of hard work.