Kosovo is poised to declare it’s independence from Serbia in the next few days. Although the United States and several European Union countries are likely to support the move, Russia and Serbia have said any such declaration would be illegitimate and have urged the United Nations Security Council to take swift action against it.
Tonight we want to hear from you if you are in Kosovo, is independence the right move for you? And what are the rules for any state that wants to become independent? If your country has recently declared its independence we want to hear from you, how has your life changed?
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BBC World Have Your Say 
I don’t live in Kosovo, but I have this question for the Kosovans who are in favor of independence: If the Serbs in Northern Kosovo want to remain in Serbia then why won’t they have the right to declare independence from Kosovo and join Serbia after Kosovo declares independence?
Whether an area becomes independent or not is the right of the entity. In fact, taking into account the current situation in America; many entities want independence and are taking steps towards it such as Vermont, Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, Hawaii, Alaska, and Michigan. If needed, I would gladly supply the BBC WHYS with the websites. Before leaving, the Sioux Nation of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming have declared their independence as the Nation of Lakota Oyate. The USA does not want to recognize their independence.
Today there is a trend towards globalisation. Countries need economic and political rapprochement for continuous progress. Around the world, especially in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, there are peoples asking for independence. In Spain, there is ETA which relentlessly struggling to get independence for the Basques region. In Turkey there are the Kurds seeking to form an independent country Kurdistan. In Asia there are the Tamil rebels seeking cession from Sri Lanka.
But the independence of a region in the world is mainly decided by international support. When a (n) (emerging) independent country can be advantageous for one part of the international community, it can be seen suspiciously by the other part. In the case of Kosovo becoming independent, this means the sphere of Russian influence in this region of Europe will be reduced as a new Kosovo is surely to form a strong alliance with the USA and the EU.
It seems that cultural and racial differences are the causes of tensions in multiracial and cultural societies, especially when one section has predominance over key areas and marginalising the rest.
The principal rules for a state to become independent are to get international support and to have the means to survive itself from. History has shown that independent states don’t come into being without marathon struggles and negotiations. This can take decades before being fulfilled or remaining just projects on the diplomatic agenda. In the Middle East, there is still the continuous struggle for an independent Palestinian state. The project has been shelved on many occasions because the criteria for a state haven’t been agreed upon by all sides.
In this age of globalisations, states with various ethnic and religious groups should endeavour for a federal system instead of falling into civil wars and disintegration. Independence can just perpetuate the animosity between the newly independent state and the country from which it has seceded. Currently there is the case of Russia and the former soviet republics, especially Georgia and the Baltic states.
Independence itself can be disappointing for the locals as currently many peoples are disenchanted by the performance of their leaders. The day of independence can be a euphoric moment as it is portrayed as a new dawn. Failure to implement the ideals behind independence can turn the country in a long dark night or simply a satellite turning around giant ones. Perhaps the world doesn’t need more independent countries. It needs existing ones to be homogeneous internally and with effective unity with those on their borders for peaceful and fruitful coexistence. This is easier said than done, as existing countries are members of international organisations like the UN as there are regional organisations and countless bilateral agreement. And yet the goals they have set aren’t completely attained. So states seeking independence will be just new countries fit in an old system that is unlikely to change overnight.
There are numerous secessionist movements in the world that could see Kosovo independence as a source of hope. But this is not a major issue. The issue is more regional, and what is the cascade effect on the neighbourhood?
Supervised independence and supervised transition – total rubbish (a similar programme clearly failed in Bosnia with the Dayton Agreement).
Economic self-sufficiency in Kosovo will never happen (look at Albania and in a more extreme example Afghanistan).
Albanians are tribal, patriarchal and I a great deal of cases whole families (up to 4th degree cousins) are sustained by one successful person, who could very often be doing illicit and criminal work abroad, like drugs and people trafficking etc. This gives them a place for money laundering on top of Albania and other corrupt countries in this region.
I don’t like the Serbs either and what they were doing in the Former Yugoslavia in the nineties was wrong, but throughout the history Kosovo Albanians were given all the opportunities to develop legitimate businesses, have a great education, and even have media production in their own language.
Not many people know that vast numbers Kosovo Albanians settled in Kosovo illegally during the last 100 years. They were given amnesty several times during the Tito regime and allowed to join the peoples of the Former Yugoslavia, and the border between Yugoslavia and Albania was a hotspot since 1945.
This is just plain wrong, and it will cause Europe problems on many unconsidered levels for many years to come.
Why not just admit the rest of Balkans into the EU and then resolve the devolution of power through the internal democratic processes?
Independence should be decided by the free will of the group who feels that they can no longer be a part of a confederation or whatsoever you may want to term it . I personally think that this comes about as a result of cultural , political, social, religious, etc. differences.
If the people of Kosovo feel that they are no longer secure by being a part of Serbia, then they must be allowed to determine their own destiny. Serbia will never peace be in peace as long as Kosovo is not given her independence because the deep division and fragmentation is already at its peak.
Hello All
Independence is a myth; interdependence is a fact. The Kosovo Albanians want independence and the Serbians wish them not to have it because they didn’t play nicely together in the past. The answer must be: Learn to play nicely together. Each political entity needs more, not fewer, interdependent and productive people. “Global” makes “tiny” unworkable.
later,
g
ps. Big countries of the world take note: This applies also to you.
Hi All,
I do believe that the people of Kosovo has the right of self-determination and independence. As we are all aware the Balkan region of Europe is the least stable (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in comparison to others and what is the possible cause? [My opinion ] It is due to discrepancies within boarders, ethnic tensions, secessionist or irredentist ideas.
Yes there has been positive signs of stability and economic prosperity for over a decade in the Balkans such as Slovenia and Croatia but what is the main cause?
The right of self-determination, secession or independence.
the problem with kosovo’s desire for separation from serbia is that it will accelarate similar ethnic independence movements around the world. russia does have legitimate concerns about nato’s creep into russia’s sphere of influence. russia has already voiced that they will now press for similar indepence for the pro-russian georgian enclaves of abkazhia and south ossetia. however, russia will now feel the pressure from their own disparate ethnic minorities who inhabit the more than 100 republics on their own territory.
Who on earth is Independant?
We have all been colonised by (mostly American) global commercial enterprises -just as Asia and Africa were colonised originaly by European commercial global enterprises.
The next step in the process of colonisation by Europe was the physical invasion to clear up the mess caused by the commercial companies (perhaps Iraq is the first stage of this).
Why does the BBC support Flickr and other such commercial systems?
Why is the BBC World service only available via broadband internet and not by radio in many places.
Why do the BBC “technology” reporters support trivial commercial products instead of seriously investigating the role technology is playing in support of the refeudalisation of the world?
What does it matter who runs the government of Kosovo, or anywhere when a handful of undemocratic commercial companies actually run what’s left of the planet?
The choice is between free people or “sacred borders.” If we lived in a just world there would be plebiscites everywhere, so people could vote on what nation state they want to be part of. Unfortunately, the big powers use self-determination for their own nefarious purposes.
History and circumstances decide whether independence is merited and, just as importantly, whether it is feasible.
The Serbs are not the most sympathetic of nations (with their record of thuggery, torture, rape, aggression and murder against their Balkan neighbours), but in the case of Kossovo history is firmly on their side.
Kossovo is an integral part of Serbia. It was not invaded and seized from previous occupiers. It has been Serbian land for as long as there has been a Serbia. The Serbs describe it as the cultural heartland of their nation, being the site of multiple events that have gone into making Serb identity and nationhood. Its value to the Serbs is unique. The Albanians are not indigenous to the province, as their very name testifies. A significant proportion of them, as one poster has already noted, are interlopers who arrived over the past 100 years. The rest came as invaders, camp followers of the Ottoman Turks in their conquest of Serbia centuries ago. In any case, how can a nation lose the right to any part of its territory because a foreign element has seized control of it through a demographic quirk of fate (one doesn’t even need to look at official statisitcs to know that the Albanians have persisitently had higher birth rates than the Serbs in Kossovo)? What is proposed is a monstrous violation of a nation’s sovereignty, though the Serbs have, with their past behaviour, set themselves up for this. It is difficult to see how any nation or group of nations can take it upon themselves to decree that any country should lose an historic part of its sovereign territory. By what right?
The Albanians have always had the option of returning to their homeland if they don’t want to live under Serb rule in Serbian territory. They are not a stateless people so what is the justification for giving them a second homeland, which will in all probability subsequently choose to merge with Albania. When Latinos become a majority in Texas and California (which demographic forecasts predict will happen a few decades), will the US governement hold referenda to give them the opportunity of voting to return those territories to Mexico? But the same US government is pushing for the Albanians who – unlike Mexico re the US southwest – have no historic claim on Kossovo to go their separate way. The Bush administration’s behaviour is nothing more than impudence supported by hypocrisy. The EU’s is no better.
Any cause that puts Russia and Serbia in the right really has to stink. Independence for Kossovo is a matter for Serbia and nobody else. The Albanian minority should either accept that they live on Serb territory and submit to Serb rule (though, from past experience, they’d be best advised not to), or else leave Serbia for Albania or any other countries that will take them. Let the US, EU and UN put their effort and resources into supporting the peaceful transfer of population that will finally resolve this latest instance of the impossibility of stable multi-ethnic societies. Granting Kossovo independence is not within their gift.
All what i will be saying in the next lines is by experience.
Independence goes beyond proclamation.To me it is to be able to make major decisions without any external influence.It is much more easier to declare oneself independent and be politically independent than to me self-reliant.This is the problem we face in Africa.
if a state has been formed under international law and treaties and legalised by united nations they are bound by articles and charter of united nations .thus serbia has acquired the sovereign rights as per the state formation under united nations .so serbia has the right to hold refendum for a seperate state even if a particular state within its territory wants independence.here kosovo cant have seperate seccession from the state of serbia and serbia is correct as per the international law in asking united nations security counsil to intervene urgently in nullifying kosovas seperation urge?
the european union is palying the same card of giving readymade democracy to seperatist movements within the state itself .
this is playing like fire as seen in dividing iraqis and kurd eople within a country called iraq. if this kind of seperatist movements gains hold in a federal set up like india if ever a state wants to seperate were does america and european union will stand ?with the policies of a one nation called india within the purview of international law or with the seperatist movements?
Independence should be allowed for all peoples who desire it. But we all in this world have to be mindful of the ripple effect such unhindered process may cause in many different parts of the world. Here in Liberia there are about 16 ethic groups. Should everyone of these have the right, under natural law, to determine whether or not they become nations of there own? Self determination is a right of all peoples, but to what extend it should be allowed unhindered is the dilemma here. Will any of the states in the US be allowed to secede without a fuss? Will the United Kingdom be allowed to breakup? These are fundamental issues that are going to be really difficult to find answers to
Any group that can physically be independant, and wants to, can be. I’m very glad that the U.S. broke away from the UK. I’m very happy, and feel that I’m very free.
-Anthony, LA, CA
Serbia lost the right to include Kosovo by demonstrating its unwillingness to extend the protection of citizenship to Kosovars. If a government will not be responsible to its people, and instead try and remove or kill them, it has forfeited the right to govern.
Membership in larger more powerful states generally affords more protection to individual citizens, but only if the state extends that protection. While there can be no hard and fast rule about this, when a state actively persecutes its people, then the international community may well support independence. Perhaps this is why Putin has views Kosovar independence as an alarming event.
The problem I have is not with Kosovo becoming independent, but with the international community FORCING Serbia to accept it. Why don’t the USA and the UK recognize Northern Ireland as an independent state? This is not done for the benefit of Kosovo Albanians, but as a humiliation of Serbia, to show them who’s boss in Europe. This decision of the EU to accept Kosovo as independent runs completely against the whole idea of a united, borderless Europe.
Good day all,
Who decides who is entitled to independence?
Firstly, the people of the country/region are the ones to decide. This should not be influenced by outsiders (outside of the region/country). This separation should only come about when all attempts at unification fails.
It is apparent the differences between the Serbs and Albanians are irreparable and irreconcilable. They simply have been taught to despise each other. This is so sad and totally unnecessary because if you strip them of the outwards and place a Serb and an Albanian beside each other, no one would know the difference.
The philosophy of divide and rule is really destroying the world. Selfish religionist have caused the separation of Kosovo from Serbia not the Kosovonians. If the muslim extremist and the christian extremist were able to live together in peace Yugoslavia would still be here today also Czechoslova etc.
These pharasaical religionist are a curse to the world. They don’t believe in democracy, that is, the freedom to choose ones own religion and destiny. They are in the business of mind control, they are power hungry meglomaniac!
It is such a pity that the Serbians took their leaders so seriouly and believed their lies, if they had treated them with the contempt they deserved when they first started the divide and rule policy, Serbia would be one whole country today.
I hope the Russians and the Serbians will not cause any further trouble. I hope they will simply allow the Kosovonians to lead peaceful lifes because they cannot stop the process by peaceful means. They can prevent them from declaring indepence but it will cause war and instability. But maybe they want Kosovo to burn because as we have seen in Kenya, the dominant philosophy is “if I can have you, no one will- slash and burn!”
Carlos, Kingston-Jamaica W.I.
Perhaps its a silly example but If Bradford in the Uk was majority Pakistani due to immigration – does that give it the right to then breakaway?
The Kosovans will not be able to cope with independence – Whilst other regions have tried to develop and educate, they failed to do so. Like many other Eurooepan countries, its mafia run and simply cannot cope with statehood.
1)yes….
2)by the looks of things very little or none
3)no…thank goodness the united states has been independent for over 200 years
TOooo much badblood, bloodletting,etc.etc.HORROR. CAN already pic this POSTwhutever wiggedout economy….Weirdporn, lumber, spices to funky goat cheese to….Sure Belgrade will TRY n do the Dam*scus lets mess w/Leb.TYPE routine… Toooo many of THAT ‘mentality’ running around….
This conversation is very frightening to me as I see far too many parallels to what is going on in the United States with our illegal aliens. As far as I know the Albanian economy collapsed after the majority of the population got caught up in some kind of pyramid scheme and many of them went north looking for a better life. Once settled into Kosovo, they didn’t want to integrate, they didn’t want to learn the local language. They used their growing numbers to torment the national government into capitulation with their unreasonable demands.
While I never agreed with the tactics of Milosovich, the underlying issues of how to handle growing minorities who basically act like modern day colonists and undermine a nation’s sovereignty has never been addressed.
As far as I know, the Albanians outnumber all other groups in the Kosovo province now because of NATO’s war and the poor climate for Serbs and other groups.
I hope none of the Mexicans and Mexican-Americans are paying attention to this crisis because the US has to deal with Bush’s wars and other domestic crises and our weakened national position leaves us vulnerable to the same type of tactics currently being used in Kosovo.
Thanks,
:Quartknee Kwatek
(Pronounced like “Courtney”)
in San Francisco
Independence for Kosovo is bad news- this will be a bad example for the world all over- everyone will want a niche for themselves based on relegion color etc
What will happen if the people of N Ireland or Scotland ask for complete independence ?
BAAD NEWS
At a time in our history where we are having wars over ethnicities and religious differences, we need to figure out a way to live together. We need to take lessons from other countries; Canada and America come to mind where all ethnicities and religions live together in peace.
I am from Crete, Greece, and while we are not so angry and determined to achieve independence from the Greeks as the Kosovars are from the Serbs, there have been several cases lately where the flag of the Cretan Republic (1898- 1912) has appeared, and many voices of disgruntled Cretans speaking of doing something to distance ourselves from Greece, maybe by gaining some autonomy and having a bigger say on what goes on in Crete. Since we were never conquered by the Greeks and Crete was united with Greece by a treaty lasting 100 years in 1912, according to that treaty there should be a plebiscite in Crete in 2012 determining whether or not we will remain part of Greece or not. However, it is said that Greece will try to silence this and hold no plebiscite, showing that they are afraid that the Cretans will vote against re-signing the treaty.
Independence?? Why is Russia (and Serbia) having a problem with letting Kosovo becoming independent when there are many new nations as a result of a breakup of the Soviet Union? This movement in the former Yugoslavia seems to be a continuation of this breakup. Serbia and Russia need to recognize the need for these people to become there own country just like Bosnia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia, etc. Serbia and Russia need to stop being the bullies of Europe. Serbia has been a problem state since 1914 if not longer…. let the people of Kosovo go their own way.
Perhaps it’s the proper time for Kosovo to get independence, taking into account that Kosovo Serbs live there in fear and Kosovo’s being part of Serbia serves no purpose rather than making the country look united. But I personally don’t believe that Serbs will ever put up with this decision, because for them Kosovo is like York or Nottingham for the UK.
This was always a bad marriage. history and reality states this. If anyone attemts to kill their spouse I dont imagine any rational person would not agree that granting a divorce is not only appropriate but essential.
Quebec gets countless positives from Canada including past bail-outs, but do nothing but complain about negatives, like the rest of Canada should feel sorry for them. Quebec should leave Canada only if they take responsibility for themselves and take their share of the national debt.
I think the mistake most people make is by assuming that when they attain the so called ‘Independence’, then all their problems will virtually go away, and the Kosovo people will soon realize that. IO have just been reading a commenyary in one of the leading Newspapers here and someone is suggesting that Kenya was better off before ‘Independence’, and he is asking the Queen of England to come back
Good day to everyone,
It’s a pleasure for me to join you in this interesting programme.Well,it is good to protect people from those who want to wrong them,and be firmed in our judgement.Ifeel that,any country has the right to decide its independence.Any country looking for independence,has a good reason for that.If we look at things well,kosovo has the right to look for independence.The answer will come,if we ask them,why they’re looking for independence.It’s advisable that,we shouldn’t try to understand things that are too hard for us,or investigate matters that are above our power to know.
that’s all I’ve for you,I hope to join you some other time for another edition.
According to the international law and 1244 UN resolution Kosovo is a part of Serbia. According to the international law status of Kosovo can be changed only with approval of UN Security Council. US an EU tried to provide Kosovo independence through UN,but since they didn’t succeed (because Russia, China, Brazil, Libia and South Africa were against that idea), now US and European Union INVENTED a mechanism to separate Kosovo from Serbia (by sending EULEX mission). UN is the only international organization in charge for changing borders all around the world, so there should be no further questions about that. The main question should be: why US and EU don’t respect the international law? Serbia was also bombed in 1999 without the approval of UN Security Council…. examples of EU an US demonstrating force all around the world are numerous. Is there any justice and law, or the only law that EU and US follow is the law of repressing smaller and weaker countries? That is the main question my friends…
Regards from Serbia!
During the past week’s jubilations in Prishtina, international TV stations have, intriguingly, shown crowds brandishing United States flags as well as Albanian (Republic of Albania) ones.
This is baffling, and I am sure unique, in the annals of “independence” fighting. They have no flag of their own, perhaps waiting for one to be dictated to them – independence, indeed!
What we might watch emerging, thus, is the first self-proclaimed “comprador” state in history. (“Comprador” used in the sense of “one who minds or dispatches the commercial business of others”.)
United States is playing a role of GOD in all this mess. USA has been murdering Native Indians and African Americans for couple of centuries now and taking their land away from them. SHOULD NATIVE INDIANS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS GET INDEPENDENCE???
Somebody needs to start a movement for breaking up the United States into few different countries.
Latinos need to proclaim several states of their own since they are becoming a majority. Those are: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
Now some of these should be divided in 2 between Native Americans and Latinos.
What about that Mr. Bush????????????
Quebec — when will WE be free? Everybody is saying Quebec and Kosovo have nothing in common.
They couldn’t be more wrong.
Kosovo has been oppressed by the larger surrounding ethnic group for centuries; so has Quebec. Kosovo has been punished for using their own language; so has Quebec. Kosovars have been abused for practising their religion; so have Quebeckers.
Over and over we hear our Canadian leaders laud independence movements in the rest of the world, while slapping us Quebeckers down, telling us to keep our mouths shut. This is not unlike the Mom who speaks glowingly of her neighbour’s son, but when her own child opens his mouth to complain, she slaps him and tells him: “That’s different”.
No more. We are not going to buy that argument any longer. It is time we brought back the fervour and passion of Quebec’s “Quiet Revolution” from the 1960s, and this time, carry it all the way. Whatever the outcome.
Vivre le Quebec Libre !
May I be so bold as to edify you with the following scenario?
Latinos, mainly from Cuba, thrive in the US state of Florida. Nativity amongst them is considerably higher than that of Floridans of Jewish, WASP, Afro – not to speak of Native American – stock.
More Cubans and other Latinos move in to people Florida. English-speaking Americans move out, partly because bilingualism is now demanded of them, especially for jobs in the public sector.
Some also move, beacuse groups of “Florida Cuban” youth tend to harrass them.
Soon the state of Florida is overwhelmingly Cuban. Many claim Washington DC will never treat them as bona fide “Americans”. (Countering these complaints, many nationalistic Americans in the District of Columbia – and all over the continent – preach that Florida is part and parcel of the US, not least for having been “saved” by the Union in 1865.)
The scenario continues:
In a matter of years, skirmishes between so-called Anglos and Florida Cubans become normal. The Anglo authorities – as well as “Cubans” – resort to ignominious tactics of violence…
An exile government is formed. Cuba – with others than Castro now holding the reins – floods Florida with weapons.
The World Anti-NATO Coalition (Russia, China and their followers) demands independence for Florida. The White House refuses. A bombing campaign ensues. Anglo installations in Miami are soon in tatters.
Of course, Russia and China proclaim that non-Cuban Floridans will also have international protection in the new state, “Florida”. The masters of the new state, however, are not the “international protectors” but the militant Cubans of guerrilla fame.
Speculations are rife about a future incorporation of Florida into a “Grand Cuba”. (Already, Cuban, Russia, and Chinese banners are brandished all over the state…)
i am glad we finally have our independance after being in control by serbs for so long. i dont know why serbia is shocked we claimed independance someone please remind them of the years 1998-1999. if they want kosovo so bad…fine we’ll swap the countries but all we want is to live in peace. we didnt just want independance for the fun of it, people have horific expereinces with these serbs, if they were so great why have they had so many issues with other countries. Serbia let it go, and leave us alone!!!