Prague makes no Kosovo decision

In Czechia, the whole opposition (social democrats plus communists) are against the independence, much like the president, the Christian Democratic Party, most of the base of the Green Party, and one half of the main ruling Civic Democratic Party. I've listed all parliamentary parties.

The prime minister, foreign minister, and the European affairs minister (Topolanek, Schwarzenberg, Vondra) are mildly pro-independence but they are realists and they don't hide that their main reason is that it is "more tactical" to be aligned with the majority of the Western powers.

In Czechia and Slovakia, the declaration of Kosovo independence is moreover viewed as a modern analogy of the Munich Betrayal, a treaty signed in 1938 by Hitler, Mussolini, and their British and French collaborators that has given 1/3 of the Czech lands to the Third Reich based on the irrational and hysterical screams of Czechoslovakia's German minority.

Combined with traditional pan-Slavonic feelings, old friendship with Yugoslavia and Serbia (they didn't betray us in 1938 or 1968) and worries that we would help to radicalize Hungarians in Slovakia and many other (potentially) separatist groups across the world, you can't be surprised that Czechs and Slovaks are far from being enthusiastic about the independence of the new, unviable, failed state created by illegal immigrants and by organized crime.

Amazing how many countries that should not have the capacity to resist Washington are resisting. Many are clearly waiting for policy fatigue or actual regime change in Washington. Be patient Serbia, the US has been through this drill many times, and well before Saigon; since at least Reconstruction (for those not familiar with US history look up what happened once the Union armies left the South.)

Sergei, you are totally missing the point. Czech Rep is a developed, democratic & souvereign country and behaves as such. Maybe it's not easy for you to understand that countries that are allied to the US are also free to make their own decisions. Of course when we were under Russian influence that was not the case - guess why?:). The Czech government will recognize independent Kosovo as it is an EU neighbour & this is the only way the West can respond to the situation. Serbia do you want to lag even further behind the mainstream Europe? Then follow your DSS leaders (mainly Kostunica) in joining your Russian friends in an effective self-isolation. I hope it will not happen, but it is YOUR choice...

Mirek,

Do you truly believe that Washington is not putting tremendous (if fleeting) political and economic pressure on its “allies”/clients to recognize Kosovo, or that it’s doing it for humanitarian reasons? Check who is assisting Bush in Iraq, only those who do not have the standing to say no, and England. Rehashing cold war paradigms is useless; the US track record in Latin America is no better than the USSR’s in Eastern Europe, and anyway the latter country does not even exist. The monolithic “West” you refer to is faced with modern economic realities (read oil/gas) which are quickly eroding last century’s dinosaurs such as NATO, which at this point is no more than an arms manufacturing trust. All of Europe will eventually appreciate where its interest diverge with those of the US in the Balkans, as it has in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so on. All Serbia needs is time

The time of recognition will come. There is no rush. We do understand the differences and when the time is right Checks will join the Europian decision.

Sergei and Mirek

Of course we live in another times and fortunately we are not under the strict Russian command anymore. On the other hand, Mirek your words sounds me a bell in my ears. I have feeling I read article of some active SSM functionary (you will know)just the Word sides are switched. Even Stalin tougt us about "Bloody dog Tito" and the way of western regarding of Serbs today and the way you mirror it (not look left no look right, no look to the history, no look at the friends carry on following the only truth) reminds it a lot. Of course the huge majority of the people here is against recognition and I thank to those ministers who expressed their no today.

Serbia could learn a lot from Czech Republic and Slovak Republic - and it will have to respect the decisions of these states concerning Kosovos' UDI as soon as these are done.

The only reason why the DOI has only been recognized YET by 37 countries is because of pressure from RUSSIA and/or internal conflicts (Basque, Romania, etc). In the end Czech Rep. will recognize Kosova whether you like it or not. Kosova has only united the world as Europe countries which resist to the idea of independence now have to recognize to keep away Russian politicking into European Affairs. Castro resigned, Cyprus has begun talks of unification, Albania and Croatia in NATO, etc.

Mirek, I feel a slight but significant diference between words loyalty and fidelity. While first has something to do with subordinancy, the second is a term for relation between partners. In partnership no of the parties shall be excluded from expressing his specific poins of view. I feel much better as a citizen of the sovereign state than of the loyal entity without autonomous will and historical memory. I apreciate we are able to agree that not the only the pragmatism or ideology are the relevant factors in international politics. Unfortunately once you use word "frienship" your list of our good acts of our friends is more than unballanced. Towards Jugoslavija you can remember just Tito's refusal of invasion. Did you ever heard that T.G.Masaryk and E. Beneš were able to travel around the world and prepare the Czechoslovakia because the friendly Serbian Kingdom issued them its passports? Do you know about our alliance between the wars, about 150.000 voluntaries applying to Czechoslovak army before Munich 1938, huge demonstrations against Munich in Belgrade streets (propably the only ones in the world)simmilar demonstrations one year later against killing of Jan Opletal, closing Czech universities and deportation dozens of Czech students as hostages to the contcentration camp? (also the only protests in Europe)then Jan Zizka partisan brigade fighting nazis under Tito's command, and not only the official refusal of Tito's comunist regime of the invasion of 1968 but also the most friendly reaction of the normal Jugoslavian people to the Czechs and Slovaks after invasion. How would you call this? Bon chance? I am pretty sure that if there is something as frienship between countries, this is the example. To be balanced I have to also mention (without decreasing of US part)that Russians and othe Soviet nations helped us to survive. Sure the following 40. years were hard price for it but without it we would propably not have chance to even start this discussion. Yes, we share the basic values with European countries and USA, no doubt. And we live one of best periods of our national live now, but this doesn't mean we shall blindly follow our friends (just because they are powerfull and in majority)if it means forgettery of another our friend and not to explain to the majority different point of view. To have a courage to support old friend in troubles even against majority, thet's what i call fidelity and this prevails over the loyalty in my mind.

Petr,

Thank you. I certainly hope the Czech government will do what the overwhelming majority of its citizens know is the right thing to do. That is, to not recognize this fake, illegal, and immoral NATO protectorate. Czechs and Serbs have a history of friendship, and this is really no different than Sudetenland. It is pure robbery and theft by outsiders. I hope the Czechs will stay loyal to their true friends, and not bow to imperialist pressure from outside.

Thank you for the history lesson Mirek. When talking about your friends, you might have forgotten the Sudetenland or the role Pan-Slavism played in creating the foundation for an independent Czechoslovakia or Americans cynical real politic in Yalta. Yes, you got caught on the wrong side of the last Great Game, but you still only got invaded once; as opposed to say Nicaragua which was invaded by the US, what, 16 times. Regardless, your argument is based past realities: the US assisted you (although it was pretty much with words only) so you owe them. Understand, in current circumstances they need you more than you need them, and be ready for when they don’t get their way. As for “freedom” and “democracy,” they are nice if you can afford them. Was freedom why you came west?

Petr/Sergei, guys is it really so difficult to understand that there are people who know where their loyalties should lie after what Central & Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, has gone through? After 40 years of enslaving by the Soviet Union (and yes Sergei, today's Russia is still morally responsible for the oppression of the countries it then occupied and never ever appologized for, until it does I can really have no respect for it & 'it's interests' as such) can anyone sensible be really surprised we (friends of the US & those believing in the basic values like freedom & democracy) are greatful for the the US friendship & protection, past & present? Yes, we will stand by the US in Afghanistan, Irag, Kosovo as well as support the AMD (radar, interceptors) in Central Europe because it is a friend to count with, it is a friendship that stood the test of time since the creation of the independent Czechoslovakia in 1918 when mainly based on the US support our T.G.Masaryk & others where able to lay the foundations of the new country. Sorry, but any talk of Pan-Slavism or anything like that is built on sand at best. Cultural & Social ties & real acts of support & friendship is what matters. The fact that Tito did not agree with the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 does not make him a saint (Caucescu did not either, shall we praise him as well??), he was a communist like the others, just lucky not to be subjected to the ruthless Russian rule...and Sergei, since when the West faces even a fraction of the problems Russia & for example Serbia (because of their own acts, not any external power pressure or anything like that) do face? Just face the reality, the truth will prevail and no matter what Serbia & Russia do (in the UN or elsewhere) majority of independent & freedom loving countries WILL recognize the independence of Kosovo eventually...

The time of recognition will come. There is no rush. We do understand the differences and when the time is right Checks will join the Europian decision.

Sergei, you are totally missing the point. Czech Rep is a developed, democratic & souvereign country and behaves as such. Maybe it's not easy for you to understand that countries that are allied to the US are also free to make their own decisions. Of course when we were under Russian influence that was not the case - guess why?:). The Czech government will recognize independent Kosovo as it is an EU neighbour & this is the only way the West can respond to the situation. Serbia do you want to lag even further behind the mainstream Europe? Then follow your DSS leaders (mainly Kostunica) in joining your Russian friends in an effective self-isolation. I hope it will not happen, but it is YOUR choice...

The only reason why the DOI has only been recognized YET by 37 countries is because of pressure from RUSSIA and/or internal conflicts (Basque, Romania, etc). In the end Czech Rep. will recognize Kosova whether you like it or not. Kosova has only united the world as Europe countries which resist to the idea of independence now have to recognize to keep away Russian politicking into European Affairs. Castro resigned, Cyprus has begun talks of unification, Albania and Croatia in NATO, etc.

Serbia could learn a lot from Czech Republic and Slovak Republic - and it will have to respect the decisions of these states concerning Kosovos' UDI as soon as these are done.

Amazing how many countries that should not have the capacity to resist Washington are resisting. Many are clearly waiting for policy fatigue or actual regime change in Washington. Be patient Serbia, the US has been through this drill many times, and well before Saigon; since at least Reconstruction (for those not familiar with US history look up what happened once the Union armies left the South.)

In Czechia, the whole opposition (social democrats plus communists) are against the independence, much like the president, the Christian Democratic Party, most of the base of the Green Party, and one half of the main ruling Civic Democratic Party. I've listed all parliamentary parties.

The prime minister, foreign minister, and the European affairs minister (Topolanek, Schwarzenberg, Vondra) are mildly pro-independence but they are realists and they don't hide that their main reason is that it is "more tactical" to be aligned with the majority of the Western powers.

In Czechia and Slovakia, the declaration of Kosovo independence is moreover viewed as a modern analogy of the Munich Betrayal, a treaty signed in 1938 by Hitler, Mussolini, and their British and French collaborators that has given 1/3 of the Czech lands to the Third Reich based on the irrational and hysterical screams of Czechoslovakia's German minority.

Combined with traditional pan-Slavonic feelings, old friendship with Yugoslavia and Serbia (they didn't betray us in 1938 or 1968) and worries that we would help to radicalize Hungarians in Slovakia and many other (potentially) separatist groups across the world, you can't be surprised that Czechs and Slovaks are far from being enthusiastic about the independence of the new, unviable, failed state created by illegal immigrants and by organized crime.

Mirek,

Do you truly believe that Washington is not putting tremendous (if fleeting) political and economic pressure on its “allies”/clients to recognize Kosovo, or that it’s doing it for humanitarian reasons? Check who is assisting Bush in Iraq, only those who do not have the standing to say no, and England. Rehashing cold war paradigms is useless; the US track record in Latin America is no better than the USSR’s in Eastern Europe, and anyway the latter country does not even exist. The monolithic “West” you refer to is faced with modern economic realities (read oil/gas) which are quickly eroding last century’s dinosaurs such as NATO, which at this point is no more than an arms manufacturing trust. All of Europe will eventually appreciate where its interest diverge with those of the US in the Balkans, as it has in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so on. All Serbia needs is time

Sergei and Mirek

Of course we live in another times and fortunately we are not under the strict Russian command anymore. On the other hand, Mirek your words sounds me a bell in my ears. I have feeling I read article of some active SSM functionary (you will know)just the Word sides are switched. Even Stalin tougt us about "Bloody dog Tito" and the way of western regarding of Serbs today and the way you mirror it (not look left no look right, no look to the history, no look at the friends carry on following the only truth) reminds it a lot. Of course the huge majority of the people here is against recognition and I thank to those ministers who expressed their no today.

Petr/Sergei, guys is it really so difficult to understand that there are people who know where their loyalties should lie after what Central & Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, has gone through? After 40 years of enslaving by the Soviet Union (and yes Sergei, today's Russia is still morally responsible for the oppression of the countries it then occupied and never ever appologized for, until it does I can really have no respect for it & 'it's interests' as such) can anyone sensible be really surprised we (friends of the US & those believing in the basic values like freedom & democracy) are greatful for the the US friendship & protection, past & present? Yes, we will stand by the US in Afghanistan, Irag, Kosovo as well as support the AMD (radar, interceptors) in Central Europe because it is a friend to count with, it is a friendship that stood the test of time since the creation of the independent Czechoslovakia in 1918 when mainly based on the US support our T.G.Masaryk & others where able to lay the foundations of the new country. Sorry, but any talk of Pan-Slavism or anything like that is built on sand at best. Cultural & Social ties & real acts of support & friendship is what matters. The fact that Tito did not agree with the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 does not make him a saint (Caucescu did not either, shall we praise him as well??), he was a communist like the others, just lucky not to be subjected to the ruthless Russian rule...and Sergei, since when the West faces even a fraction of the problems Russia & for example Serbia (because of their own acts, not any external power pressure or anything like that) do face? Just face the reality, the truth will prevail and no matter what Serbia & Russia do (in the UN or elsewhere) majority of independent & freedom loving countries WILL recognize the independence of Kosovo eventually...

Thank you for the history lesson Mirek. When talking about your friends, you might have forgotten the Sudetenland or the role Pan-Slavism played in creating the foundation for an independent Czechoslovakia or Americans cynical real politic in Yalta. Yes, you got caught on the wrong side of the last Great Game, but you still only got invaded once; as opposed to say Nicaragua which was invaded by the US, what, 16 times. Regardless, your argument is based past realities: the US assisted you (although it was pretty much with words only) so you owe them. Understand, in current circumstances they need you more than you need them, and be ready for when they don’t get their way. As for “freedom” and “democracy,” they are nice if you can afford them. Was freedom why you came west?

Mirek, I feel a slight but significant diference between words loyalty and fidelity. While first has something to do with subordinancy, the second is a term for relation between partners. In partnership no of the parties shall be excluded from expressing his specific poins of view. I feel much better as a citizen of the sovereign state than of the loyal entity without autonomous will and historical memory. I apreciate we are able to agree that not the only the pragmatism or ideology are the relevant factors in international politics. Unfortunately once you use word "frienship" your list of our good acts of our friends is more than unballanced. Towards Jugoslavija you can remember just Tito's refusal of invasion. Did you ever heard that T.G.Masaryk and E. Beneš were able to travel around the world and prepare the Czechoslovakia because the friendly Serbian Kingdom issued them its passports? Do you know about our alliance between the wars, about 150.000 voluntaries applying to Czechoslovak army before Munich 1938, huge demonstrations against Munich in Belgrade streets (propably the only ones in the world)simmilar demonstrations one year later against killing of Jan Opletal, closing Czech universities and deportation dozens of Czech students as hostages to the contcentration camp? (also the only protests in Europe)then Jan Zizka partisan brigade fighting nazis under Tito's command, and not only the official refusal of Tito's comunist regime of the invasion of 1968 but also the most friendly reaction of the normal Jugoslavian people to the Czechs and Slovaks after invasion. How would you call this? Bon chance? I am pretty sure that if there is something as frienship between countries, this is the example. To be balanced I have to also mention (without decreasing of US part)that Russians and othe Soviet nations helped us to survive. Sure the following 40. years were hard price for it but without it we would propably not have chance to even start this discussion. Yes, we share the basic values with European countries and USA, no doubt. And we live one of best periods of our national live now, but this doesn't mean we shall blindly follow our friends (just because they are powerfull and in majority)if it means forgettery of another our friend and not to explain to the majority different point of view. To have a courage to support old friend in troubles even against majority, thet's what i call fidelity and this prevails over the loyalty in my mind.

Petr,

Thank you. I certainly hope the Czech government will do what the overwhelming majority of its citizens know is the right thing to do. That is, to not recognize this fake, illegal, and immoral NATO protectorate. Czechs and Serbs have a history of friendship, and this is really no different than Sudetenland. It is pure robbery and theft by outsiders. I hope the Czechs will stay loyal to their true friends, and not bow to imperialist pressure from outside.