Posted on 05/23/2006 11:25:00 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Montenegro's independence could open a Pandora's box for other separatist movements in Europe and the former Soviet Union, with some already claiming the right to follow the same path.
Separatists in Spain's Basque and Catalan regions were among the first to welcome Montenegro's independence vote as a positive omen for their aspirations of loosening ties with Madrid.
But Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos stressed the situations in his country and Montenegro were "politically, diplomatically, juridically" incomparable and that making such a comparison would represent a "great irresponsibility".
His view was supported by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who said any such comparisons would be "delirious".
A total of 55,5% of Montenegrin voters who took part in Sunday's referendum opted for independence from the tiny Balkan state's federation with Serbia.
Podgorica's union with Belgrade was the last vestige of the former Yugoslav federation, consisting of six republics that broke apart in a series of wars in the 1990s.
However, after Montenegro the EU has to immediately tackle the issue of the United Nations-administered Serbian province of Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians are the majority. Kosovo Albanians hope to gain independence this year, a demand Belgrade fiercely opposes.
Tim Judah, a Balkans specialist at the Centre for European Reform based in London, said regional stability depended far more on Kosovo -- "the final act in this 15-year drama" -- than on Montenegro.
"Compared to Kosovo, Montenegro is easy," he said, stressing that "Kosovo is a much, much bigger problem".
"Although some refuse to establish a link, possible independence of Kosovo, which would be internationally recognised, would legitimise the ambitions of other separatists who never had their own state," a Western diplomat based in the Croatian capital Zagreb told Agence France-Presse, wishing to remain anonymous.
Bosnian Serbs have already said Montenegro's independence was a good model to be followed by their entity of Republika Srpska, which, along with the Muslim-Croat Federation, has made up post-war Bosnia.
For those fighting for the independence of the Germanic Tyrol region of Italy, and its annexation to Austria, the outcome of Montenegro's referendum inspired dreams to organise a similar vote.
A senior Russian lawmaker estimated that Montenegro's decision to separate from Serbia would spur debate on the status of Kosovo and could set a "heavy" precedent for other countries with separatist minorities.
Konstantin Kosachev, chairperson of the Russian Parliament's foreign-affairs committee, warned of setting a precedent over Kosovo.
"This will create a precedent heavy with consequences for other regions," he said, citing in particular Turkish northern Cyprus and Spain's Basque separatists.
But even in the former Soviet Union, several regions are hoping to follow the lead of Montenegro. They were unilaterally proclaimed during the bloody conflicts that followed its 1991 collapse and supported by Moscow, but not recognised by the international community.
Among them, the breakaway republics of Transdniestr in Moldova and Abkhazia in Georgia, were the first to say the vote serves as a model of "self-determination".
"One can only welcome such a civilised method for gaining self-determination," said the "president" of Abkhazia, Sergei Bagapch, quoted by Interfax.
The "foreign minister" of Transdniestr, Valeri Litskai, said the outcome of Sunday's referendum in the tiny Balkan republic was a day for celebration.
"The chief diplomats of all the unrecognised republics of the former Soviet Union were satisfied" with the referendum result, he said after a meeting with representatives of regional minorities in Moscow. -- AFP
oh well, on to their next point: "well, Montenegro WAS an independent nation for 4 centuries before 1920, so, well, its OK for THEM, but not OK for (fill-in-the-blank)..
But it appears the AFP missed that.
Montenegro is an ancient kingdom with its own history and its own branch of the Orthodox Church. For example, its royal family is related by blood and marriage to most of the other royal families of Europe. Montenegro also fought on the side of the allies in WWI.
Let's not forget Wales, Scotland, Catalonia, Malta, Corsica, & etc.
Malta is an independent country. It has been for over 30 years.
First, the Catalan & Basque separatists were referring to Montenegro, not Kosovo.
Second, the Kosovars are saying almost the same thing: "Why is it OK for Montengego to vote to secede, but not us?" Both Kosovo and Montengro were incorporated into the entity most recently known as Serbia & Montenegro by force of arms ratified by Great Power fiat at the end of WWI. Both fought revolts for years that were brutally suppressed. However, Kosovo voted for independence in 1991 and then suffered through the Serb pogroms against the Albanians culminating in the ethnic cleansing campaigns of 1998-99. From their viewpoint, even more so than Montenegro, they deserve independence yesterday.
Finally the Archduke Franz Ferdinand gets his payback!
Even the USA does not have a fully independent Orthodox Church. Nor does Canada.
This is their own Church affairs and has little or nothing to do with man-made geographical boundries. Best NOT to push the issue since neither YOU nor I, nor the politicans can change one iota of the facts.
Archduke was set up by his own secret police.....plus he was a dirty rotten dog anyway!
LIES!! Kosovo was NEVER separate form Serbia and you know it!! How's your Albanian ISLAMICS MOBSTER pals doing today????
Mark-igit is on board with his USUAL LIES!!
Uh-oh, Kenny, I think you're going to get in trouble for saying that!
Free Saamiland!
That should piss the libruls off :)
Post-monitus pessimus.
Uh, except for the five centuries from the 1400s until Serbia invaded and conquered it in 1912 as part of the First Balkan War. I'm sure there's a library near you. Ask someone where it is. They usually have nice ladies there who will help you look it up.
Wrong
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