[Hunden]

The only reason anyone still doubts that the Albanians descend from the Illyrians is that such a truth refutes the claims of two powerful, local imperialisms.

— That of the Serbs, who sometimes have the gall to say that they were the first inhabitants of Kosovo whereas they are only its third known invaders.

— That of the Romanians, who know that their language is related to Albanian, and want to claim as their ancestors the Dacians, a Thracian tribe north of the Danube, notably to bolster their territorial claims on Transylvania.

You didn't mention the Thracian thesis, dear to 19th century balkanologist Gustav Weigand, but it is the only alternative to the claim that the Albanians are indeed the descendants of the Illyrians. Or used to be, since it is now established that the Bessi, the only Thracian tribe which had retained its language in the 6th century, were exposed to Christianity in their own language, whereas it is obvious that the proto-Albanians received it in Latin.

There is much more evidence, notably archaeologic, that the Illyrians were indeed the ancestors of the Albanians, and those who deny it now are acting in bad faith.

Now if you consider first ownership to be irrelevant to the issue of legitimate property, it only proves that you are a bad political philosopher as well as an ignorant in Balkan history. The fact that I am not does not make me a propagandist: it only enables me to refute you without using any documentation. To paraphrase your arrogant formula: take your incompetence elsewhere. What is wrong about knowing what one is talking about?

[palmer]

Now if you consider first ownership to be irrelevant to the issue of legitimate property, it only proves that you are a bad political philosopher as well as an ignorant in Balkan history.

I admit I am not well versed in ancient Balkan history which is why I provided you with a link. Here it is again: http://lamar.colostate.edu/~grjan/kosovohistory.html There are many other similarly unbiased sources available.

take your incompetence elsewhere

I don't need to be competent to recognize propaganda and I will continue to point it out when you post it. If you choose to debate this topic (which I advise against since you seem to be thoroughly biased), please do so in a more respectful manner rather than labelling people you disagree with as ignorant. Not just me in this thread, but others in other threads. I await your apology.