Yet, in the absence of any other possible legal reasoning, the "international community" did rely on the existing Yugoslav Constitution (which described them as "independent and sovereign states") to recognize the independence of the former Yugoslav Republics — with the exception of Serbia and Montenegro, which "agreed" to form a Federation. This article is a useful reminder of the reasons why Kosovo, as an "Autonomous province", enjoyed the same rights as said Republics, and is now independent according to that Constitution.
This post was prompted by the discovery here of a couple of propagandists who are trying to abuse the crucial fight against Islamofascism to push a foreign agenda of anti-Muslim Fascism in the Balkans, as a reminder of the fact that public debates need not ignore the basic facts of the issues, especially as they relate to the principles of democracy and the rule of law.
Some Russian Rodine speech people have also been involved. Beyond fascism and religious identity in common, what's their interest in radical Serb efforts?
"Kosova" is a corruption. The correct spelling is "Kosovo"
The article only starts from 1944, as if the creation of these countries started from then only. It conveniently omits the fact that even Yugoslavia (means Southern Slav) was a continuation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which was established after WWI. Kosovo (and part of Macedonia) was part of the new country. Since the new country is a merge of three kingdoms (Serb, Croatia, and Slovenia), we can tell that Kosovo was considered part of the Serbian Kingdom (as Croatia and Slovenia, being both Catholics, never lay claim on it).
The Western assumption that Serbia enjoys sovereign rights over Kosova, however, is as fictitious as the Serbian myth that Kosova was the cradle of the medieval Serbian state...
Historically, since during the Crusades, Kosovo has been part of Serbian Kingdom for long time.
Culturally, Raska, or Kosovo, region was the place where King Stefan Nemanja (1167-96) reigned. He was the first to proclaim Serbian independence from the Kingdom of Bulgaria, a strong country in the region at the time, and also include Zeta, the other (and older) Serbian-ruled area. Stefan later went to Greece, entering Hilandar Monastery on Mt. Athos. Also important to remember that Stefan's son, prince Rastko Nemanjic, who in young age already decided to become a priest, later became the first Serbian Archbishop, which practically establishing an independent Serbian Orthodox Church. He later became St. Sava, whom until today is considered the Patron of Serbians. The biggest church in Belgrade, St. Sava, is after his name. For this reason, Serbians consider Kosovo the cradle of their civilization.
When the Ottoman invaded the whole region, Serbian fought hard and the biggest battle of all was in fact, in Kosovo, where they lost their prince, Lazar. One by one, the Christian areas in Balkan (at first mostly Orthodox areas) fell to Islamic Ottoman, and by the 16th century, in included Catholic areas of Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary. During this period, migration of the Muslim Albanian to Kosovo, together with conversion of some local Serbs, changed the demographic-religious structure of the region.
By 18th century, the Ottoman started to lose some areas in the region to Hapsburg Empire, including Croatia and Slovenia. In early 19th century, some Serbian rebellions led the Ottoman to grant them an autonomy status, while other parts, such as Bosnia and Kosovo, were still under Ottoman.
After the Second Balkan War, 1913, however, Serbian acquired the Kosovo area, and when the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was established in 1918, Kosovo was included. The new Kingdom gained international recognition under the Versailles Treaty (1919).
This new kingdom, however, was always troubled by internal conflicts, many times because leaders from non-Serbs parts were dissatisfied with Serb-dominated government. Before and during WWII, the conflicts were stronger as the leaders accusing each other of collaborating with the German. Tito brought them together and established communist federation, Yugoslavia, with Vojvodina and Kosovo as autonomous provinces. This part is being used by the article’s author to claim that Serbs doesn’t have any claim whatsoever of Kosovo.
So, I see this article as a piece to confuse readers with claim as if Serbs’ claim over Kosovo is totally unfounded. It's true that the issue is not easy to resolve now, as majority of Kosovo's population today are (Albanian) Muslims. But, to say Serbs’ view of Kosovo as their cradle of civilization is a myth, I think, is a myth.
l8r
What KosovA means in Albanian? Or most of other names in Kosovo?
So what's your agenda? You really think Europe needs another Muslim nation? Meanwhile the Muslims wrecked Lebanon which was a semi Christian nation in the middle East. And they hanker to destroy Israel because these idiots cannot tolerate non Muslim nations in the Middle East
But Muslim stooges in the West act as midwives and promoters for more Muslim nations on European turf. Boggles the mind. Are the Bosnians also getting their own little Muslim nation. Isn't Albania a Muslim nation in Europe? The mind boggles.
Bid a hearty welcome to our latest Soros fluffer as he spreads Islamofascist propaganda on FR.
Give my regards to George!
Magas is a Croatian journalist. In other wors, another Croat continuing the genocide of the Serbian people.
Should be posted here instead.
Debunking all distorted facts, semitruths, malignant omissions and deliberate falsifications would take three times more space than the original article.
This article is total Bravo Sierra.
What a load of crap. Serbia was established in 1878 at the 'Congress of Berlin'.
LOL! If you want to discover another poster with an agenda, look in the mirror!
‘Why do Western governments assume that the wishes of Republic of Srpska’s inhabitants are insufficient grounds for recognizing its independence, and that such a step requires also Sarajevo’s acquiescence?’
The Western assumption that Muslim Bosnia enjoys sovereign rights over Republic of Srpska, however, is as fictitious as the Western myth that democratic, civilized society based on human rights and rule of law can exist.”
Now that is more like it.
Well done, Hunden. Good to see a poster on FreeRepublic with your depth of knowledge on Balkans issues.
It is unfortunate that the modern day Serbia/Montenegro inherited the ill-advised creationed fictitious provinces- Kosovo, BiH, Vojvodina that led to wars and further wars.
You realize that NATO never recognized the Tito-established boundaries of internal Yugoslavia til they found it convenient? Why is it they did not? Due to the non-historicality of those provinces. Those names were of regions and were fictitiously created to usurp the "power away" from the Serbian people. The repositioning of internal borders were structered to further minimize the Serb population powerbase in politics and geo-politics. I can go on and on to refute what you wrote.
It is known to this very day you are Pro-Albanian and a rabid Serb/Jew hater.
You post an article from a propaganda mouthpiece supported by leftwing foundations that publishes Communists like Daniel Cohn-Bendit. Wow...groundbreaking (sarcasm)
Better you should read here:
http://www.serbianna.com/