Should Kosovo Really be independent?? 10 points best answer?

Epi-Usa_777

Kosovo is already independent. 58 countries have recognized it so far, and 20 more are planning to recognize it by the end of the year. It is a slow process that will take 2-3 years to finalize.

If you want more answers about the Kosovo dispute, then I suggest you read this book: "Kosovo - A Short History" by Noel Malcolm. I can summarize the book for you in one paragraph:
The first inhabitants of Kosovo were Dardanians, an ancient Illyrian tribe. The Illyrians were the ancestors of modern Albanians, which would make Albanians the first inhabitants of Kosovo. As Slavs settled in Southeast Europe in the eighth century, the demographics of the Balkans began to change. Kosovo was affected in this demographic shift because the Slavic-Serbs became a majority and Illyric-Albanians a minority. Meanwhile, Kosovo was becoming very important to the medieval Serbian state, especially during the Nemanjas and Stefan Dusan's empire. 1389 (the Turkish victory over Prince Lazar) was a turning point. Serbs began to leave (the precise number is unclear in the book b/c each side has distorted the facts) and Albanians from the highlands moved in. Thus, another demographic shift. As the Ottoman Empire was collapsing, the Treaty of London (1913) handed Kosovo to Serbia but the region at this time had an overwhelming Albanian majority. Malcolm questions the legality of the treaty. From 1913 to the 1950s, the Serbian government applied strong anti-Albanian policies (from basic discrimination to mass murders), which forced the Albanians to leave. Meanwhile, Serbia began a "colonization program" which consisted in giving lands to Serbian peasants, lands that were once owned by Albanians. Most of today's Kosovo Serbs (including the ones who left after the war) are their descendants. The pro-Serbian demographic shift did not work, as the Albanians had the highest birth rate in Europe and soon re-became the major ethnic group. Tito's regime brought peace as Kosovo became an autonomous province. When Milosevic gained power, Albanians made 85% of the total population and enjoyed basic minority rights. Milosevic revoked Kosovo's autonomy, shut down Albanian schools, and arrested the top intellectuals. In 1998, he planned an anti-Albanian ethnic cleansing. A war was inevitable, just like in Bosnia and Croatia. The West interfered and stopped the genocide. Malcolm blames Serbia's political class of the 90s; its goal was to create a Greater Serbia that eventually would include regions inhabited by Albanians, Croats, and Muslim Slavs. Impossible at this time, as we're not living in the 11th century anymore. Malcolm supports Kosovo's independence.

Knowing that the current Serbian politicians are not that different from their predecessors, Kosovo's independence is totally justified because it provides more political stability to the region. Economic growth will come with peace and hard work.

Sorry for the long paragraph, but that was the best I could do. The book is over 500 pages long (text, endnotes, bibliography)...

Andrew W

I was in Kosovo last weekend and I think I saw more Albanian flags than anything else. The Albanians all over the Balkans are extremely independent and refuse to accept any other identity than that of Albanian.

That being said, I think they should be independent. The Serbs lost their legitimacy when they started ethnic cleansing the Albanian minority. They don't speak Serbian, and most of them don't associate with the Serbian Orthodox Church because they are Muslims. Besides, Kosovo is not helping Serbia economically, as it was the poorest part of Yugoslavia and after a decade of war, it hasn't improved much since then.

Sure, it is a big blow to the pride of Serbia, especially since they were the most influential republic within Yugoslavia for so many years, but eventually they will have to accept Kosovar independence in order to ascend to NATO and the EU.

The bigger problem with Kosovo for the whole region is that if the Kosovars can have their own country, then why not others? Many other countries fear ethnically based separatist movements within their own countries such as Macedonia, Bosnia, and even Spain. Examples such as Kosovo only encourage such movements, and creat further instability.

Mr Puma

1.) Try learning to spell or how to use spell check.
2.) Do your own homework.

Joe

As long as the US is around, yes. But, once we ignore that area, Serbia will step in again, and it will turn ugly.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: