"Separatism in Europe, conflict in Balkans"

Separatism is good, is it not? -

It is the greatest thing...With about 200 non-resolved 'frozen' conflicts around the world!

Who cares, let the Pentagon establish a few more 'occupied' states...Let go a few Nuclear bombs,throw in a lasers, biological weapons, bird flus' and enjoy the 'heady' mixture!!

Enjoy...

"We believe that separatism in Europe has received an additional boost. This can reflect on the western European nations too, on the post-Yugoslav area and the frozen conflicts in the Community of Independent States," he warned.

Why warn? Separatism is good, is it not? Why is unity so good? Why is having some remote government ruling over a local area a good thing? Why is so many countries against separatism and independence? What are they are afraid if? Of loosing power? Why should I care about them loosing power if I gain freedom and independence?

"....remains opposed to violent methods". Judging by russia recent history in dealing with separatists in its own country and encouraging the cleansing of georgians from abkhazia and south ossetia it hardly has any credibility. Its treatment of not only citizens of other ethnicities during the cold war, but its OWN citizens is proof that Russia has no credibility at all. It has a long history of constant break of international laws on human rights and it thinks it is a protector of international law? One thing is for sure, russians are looking to escape to west and not the other way around. Serbs should ask the polish and the ukranianians at how Russia treats its "friends".

There is a rearrangement in world politics going on due to disproportinate power in the world...it happened with the dismemberment of League of Nations and it is happening again.

Jan,

“… Separatism is good, is it not?...”

If separatism is good thing, then most powerful and rich nations such as US, Germany, France… would dissolve themselves immediately in the many little pieces, but they are not doing it, on the contrary, they are preserving it very forcefully if needed.

For example,Foreign Legion base in Corsica is rather handy localized if Corsican separatists try something again, don’t you think?

Separatism is something that big powers usually recommend to other, weaker states on which they laid their crosshairs. Smaller state is much easier to conquer and control then the big one.

“…Why is so many countries against separatism and independence?... “

It makes them weaker, easier pray.

“ … Why should I care about them loosing power if I gain freedom and independence?... “

Freedom and independence have to be won, preserved and defended. All difficult to do if your nation is small and weak.

Will, Istref,

As for the comparing of the human rights record between Russia versus Western world, your impressions, (clearly formed on the official western propaganda), are very wrong. Actually, Western record, especially American is the worst. Even in this relatively peaceful period after the WWII, period without major conflicts, they managed to kill millions of innocent civilians all over the (third) world.

Russia is not paranoid at all. After the ending of the Cold war Russia showed outmost flexibility, good will, and readiness for great sacrifices in order to achieve long term peace and cooperation with the Western world. But instead of peace, West misused temporary Russian weakness to set in motion first phase of already made plans for the total destruction of Russia. Russia is aware of that and now reacting adequately.
As for our relations with a Russia, don’t you worry Will about our friendship. We don’t have to ask anyone about it, we have our own long experience. Our friendship is very old and in a big part based on deep understanding between our nations as we have much in common and understand each other very well. As for the Russian relations with the Ukraine and Poland, that is long and complicated story, not very relevant for Serb – Russian relations.

Well maybe it's time to defrose some of those conflicts because those people who live in frozen regions live without a freedom and under tyrany. We all know what Rusia been through and what Rusia done in the past, we know how much they respected and respect the human rights. And today they want to protect the international law!!!! they are frighten from their shade, they dont trust anything or anybody, they are paranoid. Thanks to the USA for keeping balanc in the world.

The various nationalist and separatist movements within the European Union--in Scotland, in Catalonia and the Basque Country, et cetera--existed before Kosovo gained independence.

Assuming Kosovo will trigger a wave of secessions is a bit silly. Back in the early 1990s, when the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, _and_ Yugoslavia broke up, did western and central Europe--did the entire world--shatter? Of course not. Kosovo may inspire some secessions in European areas with similar histories (Transnistria, Abkhazia, et cetera) but it won't be that big.

What kind of separatizem !? mr rusia . Kosovo has to suffer because other places they are or whant freedom for they right, why no one say people has to live free in peace whithout pressure and discrimination of people not only in europe but all over the world....

“The unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence violates the sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the UN Charter, UN Resolution 1244, the Final Helsinki Act principles, Kosovo's constitutional framework and high level agreements within the Contact Group," the Russian diplomat told the Greek daily Kathimerini.”

“We believe that separatism in Europe has received an additional boost. This can reflect on the western European nations too, on the post-Yugoslav area and the frozen conflicts in the Community of Independent States”

That’s the old Russian talk… Russia would want to annex its military protectorates of Transnistria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia even if Kosovo remained part of Serbia; it is just using this happening to achieve its political goals in Europe and in Serbia.

Thanks for replying Stevan.

I agree that small countries are weaker and are easy targets for political pressure (or outright conquest). Which is why a small country like Denmark is a long time member of NATO and EU. But in the end, the decision to be small (and weak) is something that should rest with the people in that little country, and (IMO) something that we should all support, whether it be on Corsica or in Kosovo. That is, as long as the separatist agree to make the area a free and democratic country with protection of all the minorities whether they be ethnic, religious or any other kind of minority.

"....remains opposed to violent methods". Judging by russia recent history in dealing with separatists in its own country and encouraging the cleansing of georgians from abkhazia and south ossetia it hardly has any credibility. Its treatment of not only citizens of other ethnicities during the cold war, but its OWN citizens is proof that Russia has no credibility at all. It has a long history of constant break of international laws on human rights and it thinks it is a protector of international law? One thing is for sure, russians are looking to escape to west and not the other way around. Serbs should ask the polish and the ukranianians at how Russia treats its "friends".

There is a rearrangement in world politics going on due to disproportinate power in the world...it happened with the dismemberment of League of Nations and it is happening again.

"We believe that separatism in Europe has received an additional boost. This can reflect on the western European nations too, on the post-Yugoslav area and the frozen conflicts in the Community of Independent States," he warned.

Why warn? Separatism is good, is it not? Why is unity so good? Why is having some remote government ruling over a local area a good thing? Why is so many countries against separatism and independence? What are they are afraid if? Of loosing power? Why should I care about them loosing power if I gain freedom and independence?

Well maybe it's time to defrose some of those conflicts because those people who live in frozen regions live without a freedom and under tyrany. We all know what Rusia been through and what Rusia done in the past, we know how much they respected and respect the human rights. And today they want to protect the international law!!!! they are frighten from their shade, they dont trust anything or anybody, they are paranoid. Thanks to the USA for keeping balanc in the world.

Jan,

“… Separatism is good, is it not?...”

If separatism is good thing, then most powerful and rich nations such as US, Germany, France… would dissolve themselves immediately in the many little pieces, but they are not doing it, on the contrary, they are preserving it very forcefully if needed.

For example,Foreign Legion base in Corsica is rather handy localized if Corsican separatists try something again, don’t you think?

Separatism is something that big powers usually recommend to other, weaker states on which they laid their crosshairs. Smaller state is much easier to conquer and control then the big one.

“…Why is so many countries against separatism and independence?... “

It makes them weaker, easier pray.

“ … Why should I care about them loosing power if I gain freedom and independence?... “

Freedom and independence have to be won, preserved and defended. All difficult to do if your nation is small and weak.

Will, Istref,

As for the comparing of the human rights record between Russia versus Western world, your impressions, (clearly formed on the official western propaganda), are very wrong. Actually, Western record, especially American is the worst. Even in this relatively peaceful period after the WWII, period without major conflicts, they managed to kill millions of innocent civilians all over the (third) world.

Russia is not paranoid at all. After the ending of the Cold war Russia showed outmost flexibility, good will, and readiness for great sacrifices in order to achieve long term peace and cooperation with the Western world. But instead of peace, West misused temporary Russian weakness to set in motion first phase of already made plans for the total destruction of Russia. Russia is aware of that and now reacting adequately.
As for our relations with a Russia, don’t you worry Will about our friendship. We don’t have to ask anyone about it, we have our own long experience. Our friendship is very old and in a big part based on deep understanding between our nations as we have much in common and understand each other very well. As for the Russian relations with the Ukraine and Poland, that is long and complicated story, not very relevant for Serb – Russian relations.

Separatism is good, is it not? -

It is the greatest thing...With about 200 non-resolved 'frozen' conflicts around the world!

Who cares, let the Pentagon establish a few more 'occupied' states...Let go a few Nuclear bombs,throw in a lasers, biological weapons, bird flus' and enjoy the 'heady' mixture!!

Enjoy...

The various nationalist and separatist movements within the European Union--in Scotland, in Catalonia and the Basque Country, et cetera--existed before Kosovo gained independence.

Assuming Kosovo will trigger a wave of secessions is a bit silly. Back in the early 1990s, when the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, _and_ Yugoslavia broke up, did western and central Europe--did the entire world--shatter? Of course not. Kosovo may inspire some secessions in European areas with similar histories (Transnistria, Abkhazia, et cetera) but it won't be that big.

What kind of separatizem !? mr rusia . Kosovo has to suffer because other places they are or whant freedom for they right, why no one say people has to live free in peace whithout pressure and discrimination of people not only in europe but all over the world....

“The unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence violates the sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the UN Charter, UN Resolution 1244, the Final Helsinki Act principles, Kosovo's constitutional framework and high level agreements within the Contact Group," the Russian diplomat told the Greek daily Kathimerini.”

“We believe that separatism in Europe has received an additional boost. This can reflect on the western European nations too, on the post-Yugoslav area and the frozen conflicts in the Community of Independent States”

That’s the old Russian talk… Russia would want to annex its military protectorates of Transnistria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia even if Kosovo remained part of Serbia; it is just using this happening to achieve its political goals in Europe and in Serbia.

Thanks for replying Stevan.

I agree that small countries are weaker and are easy targets for political pressure (or outright conquest). Which is why a small country like Denmark is a long time member of NATO and EU. But in the end, the decision to be small (and weak) is something that should rest with the people in that little country, and (IMO) something that we should all support, whether it be on Corsica or in Kosovo. That is, as long as the separatist agree to make the area a free and democratic country with protection of all the minorities whether they be ethnic, religious or any other kind of minority.