The claim that Albanians are "newcomers" in Kosovo and the Balkans is truly the mark of a someone who has fallen prey to misinformed media that simply need to fill the lines of their articles. Albanians, as direct descendants of Illyrians, were there before Serbs even started to move into the area from Asia. The best way to learn about history is to read history books. Read for example Noel Malcolm, one of the most respected historians out there, and learn about the history of the Balkans from a trusted source.

AldoPlepi, New York, NY, US

well, well, well. Albanians are new to the region? Albanians came there during Tito's time? You guys need to read some history--unless I got it wrong and Tito was born some 2500 years ago. .

Albanian, NYC, USA

''Some damn fool thing in the Balkans'',as Otto von Bismarck observed. This new ''damn fool thing''comes in the guise of the rackateer KLA,which will usher in jihadism and thus create a demonstrable European beachhead,no differant than that suffered by Russia and its breakaway Chechen ''republic''.
What we see is merely more Albanian Lebensraum,moving into Kosovo,then eyeing designs on Macedonia and Montenegro. Not for nothing do Greece and Russia remain anxious. The western democracies,as usual,will do nothing until Edward Greys [to use another WWI-era metaphor], ''lamps begin going out all over Europe''. These ''lamps''will be the victims of jihadist repression and terrorism itself. Kosovo will become a haven for the angry Muslim streetfighter,now trying out his capabilities in Denmark and France as we speak,and it will become no mean stretch to elevate rocktossing and automobile torching into the bombings that will kill hundreds and thousands. All for ''allah''.

Lee Holmes, Elko, Nevada,USA

Kosovo has been part of Serbia for centuries.
How would we in the US feel if 30 years from now, California, with a likely Latino majority by then decides to declare its independence from the USA, or decides to re-join itself to Mexico?

As an American, I find my country's cheerleading for Kosovo independence really offensive. This is none of our business!

Daniel, Potomac,

I am wondering why would EU create such a radical state in their own R-se... I constantly hear about Albanian criminals in the UK, they should definitely know what those ppl are like.
BTW, how about providing Northern Ireland with independence? I can't see this precedent any different than many other cases of separatism around the world.

* both world wars started in Balkans

Albert, Vancouver,

The basic problem is of one people swamping the population of another. After their population has been swamped any appeal to a democratic decision becomes impossible.

Examples include:
Russian immigration into the Baltic States during the Soviet Union.
Turkish immigration into Northern Cyprus after the invasion.
Albanian immigration into Kosavo (?)
European immigration into what is the USA, Australia etc in colonial times.
English immigration into their last colonies in Wales, Cornwall & Scotland

And many, many more back into ancient history.

Are we starting to do the same thing with the 5 million leaving the UK for Spain, Greece etc ? Problems for the future.

How can the original population have any democratic say when they become a small minority by such swamping.

Brian Vallance, Corfu, Greece

The Pandora's box is open. Now we'll see who claims it's for good.
Maintaining the status quo based on the territorial integrity of states has been a cornerstone of international politics since the Helsinki Accords. I think it doesn't matter how many times the words "exception to the rule" would be repeated, anyhow the concerned actors would see there "violation of the rule" with the all possible consequences.

Finamrus, N.Novgorod, Russia

The former Yugoslavia is full of peoples who have waged bloody merciless war on each other yet all claim to be peace-loving and cuddly earthly angels!

Obviously Serbia contains many kind and gentle human beings, but its political history tells a different story. The violent demonstrations in Belgrade spoke volumes about this arrogant colonial attitude where all of Greater Serbia is there to be possessed; all non-Serbians are there to be oppressed.

Serbia cannot simply claim dictatorial rights simply because a piece of land plays a large part in their folklore any more than Cardiff can claim hegemony over England and the right to slaughter Englishmen just because Celts were in Britain before the Angles and Saxons arrived centuries ago.

Serbians must grow up and learn to live in a world with other peoples and recognise their rights to a civilised and peaceful life. They have not done so yet. Their hands are still red with blood.

Sam, Shrewsbury, England

The Albanians are new to the region, they should be paid to move somewhere else, or transport arranged to Albainia. Wherever.

David From Australia, Mudgee, Australia

Welcome to the World's latest Toy-Town republic, this one an unashameded satrapy of the EU, with Big Daddy - the USA - lurking in the background. That it represents the victory of a conscious policy of ethnic displacement - whereby a particular alien ethno-religious group (Albanians) has, over the years, displaced the original inhabitants (Serbs) from their historical homeland - is never remarked by the press.

Robert Dewar, High Wycombe,

As a Serbian i totaly disagree with everything in this article. Unfortunatly, no one knows and no one is willin' to know the real facts and truth about Kosovo and what Kosovo means for Serbia.
And again, thanks to you journalists, Serbs are again aggressive-nationalistic nation. Sorry, we're not. Simply, we only defended what belongs to us since Albanians came to Kosovo during Tito time and they were first who took over military action against Serbs. And now with this "independence" we have two Albanian countries in Europe. How is that possible? Do we have two French states in Europe? Are the Serbs really violent, criminal and aggressive people? The answer is clear: No!
For all of you who think in the other way i strongly recomend you to come to visit Serbia and to see how friendly people we are, specialy for west Europeans and Americans as well.
This is democratic country, Albanins on Kosovo will only unstable situations in other countries in surrounding.

Kristian, Belgrade, Serbia