Serbs should understand that it is all finished with Kosovan independence. Kosovars justly deserved indepedence from serbs, especially after the Serbs proved this with the cruelity they showed towards the Kosovars a few years ago...

Ebrahim, Ardebil , Iran

I am so glad we FINALLY have our independance, after many years of being under the control of serbs. If serbs were so brilliant why have they had issues with most countries. If they want Kosovo so bad then we'll just swap countires we just dont want to be part of them anymore....we want PEACE! We have been treated like slaves and i know many people who have horific memories and experiences because of the way serbs treated them and they have to live with this. I dont know why they are so shocked that we wanted indpendance someone please remind them of the years 1998-1999. Serbia let it go.

rina, london,

<h1> <title> Why does Kosovo not set a Precedent </title></h1>

From the history that I was taught, in the times of the Roman Empire what we now call Albania was inhabited by what where then called illirians which stretched across the Adriatic sea. There was no mentioning of any other population in that region besides the Greeks and Macedonians.

Then at some point the great Slavic emigration occurred which took up much of what used to be Albania to form Serbia, Bulgeria, Romania and so on.

Around 1200 Albania was divided in principats, much as the Italy of that time. Skenderbeg united the Principats around 1400 and resisted the Ottoman empire occupation. Albania was eventually occupied.

Around 1912 when Albania declared independence it stretched from what is now Kosovo, to half of the current Macedonia, to much of Montenegro and to Janin in the south. The great western nations of that time partitioned Albania to what it currently is, giving more then half of Albania away.

The History of Albania in a Nutshell, England,

First of all Kosova today is a matter of regional political domination, the US&UK are known with the fact that the Serbian government is strongly influenced from the Russian policy. But it is also a strong historical fact that Albanians 500 years ago were with Roman Catholic faith and they defended Europe from Islamisation. There are strong historical facts that Albanians were massacred and tortured from the Islamic Ottoman Empire just because they were with Roman Catholic faith. And what did Europe to support them in that time, when Islamic Ottoman Army had reached Vienna?? Read about the legacy of George Castrioti Scanderbeg. "Had the Greek Emperors acted like Scanderbeg, the empire of the East might still have been preserved." Voltaire, 1762, Works, Vol 3. So don’t accuse Albanian for being with Islamic faith now, they paid 500 years ago the price in the name of the Roman Catholic faith that Europe stands today with Catholic faith.
So God Bless the US&UK they know better the facts

Labinot Marku, Skopje, Macedonia

Kosovo belongs to Serbia, nothing and nobody will take it with the help of God, we will stay strong and fight to the end. United States needs to stop playing a role of undifited and free country, forgeting that their own people are starving,dieing because there is no medical insurance, and worst of all americas money is their God. Us, Americans forgot the principals that this country was based on. How many US solders have to give their lives for the Gov. happines and propaganda. US is looking for world war3 and I think they will find it. Americans are good people but the US Gov. there is not a word that can describe them. God Bless America

Branislava, Sussex, NJ

I was wondering how the United States can recognize a country that harbours terrorists and is comprised of mostly illegal aliens. The people who inhabit this region
were given asylum by Tito when they were fleeing their oppressive Albanian dictator. They were taken in with open arms and welcomed as potential citizens.
Secession is how they repay their gracious hosts.
The United States needs to learn from this. Like Yugoslavia
they welcomed immigrants legal and illegal alike and eventually the aliens will dominate certain region ie:
California, New Mexico, Texas and Florida. Will history repeat itself?

Zlatko, Toronto, Canada

Albanians have never attacked or occupied another country or trying to wipe out ethnic groups, in their entire history. Rumors of great Albania are only spread by serbs, at a time when neither Albania or Kosovo have shown any remote sign of it.
Albanian aggression?!! When one does not know the history of people, better not make quick judgments. Serbs have shown their 'democracy' with all the other countries that split from ex-Yugoslavia.
Democratic countries could not look away any more and had to stop a genocide, ethnic cleansing, which was occurring at the beginning of 21st century, in the middle of Europe!!

Andrea, Philadelphia, USA

The U.S. is setting a bad precedent. What will we do when southern Florida wants autonomy and independence?

Loukas, New York, NY

I think it's great that the US supports the sessation Kosovo. I've always liked the option of sessesion and think Texas and California should try it. I wonder if the international community would support them? Hmmmmmm....

Tom , Portage,

I can never understand why some people are so horrified when another group wants to declare independence. What difference does it make it an area of land is a city within a country, or a separate country? How does it make any difference to the every day lives of the average person?

If an an area / group of people want to say they are a new and separate country, why not? Just let them get on with it.

Edward, London,

Now let's give South Tyrol back to the Austrians - after all, a culturally and geographically homogenous ethnic and linguistic group was forcibly split merely to "reward" Italy for its role in the Great War. Time to rectify that outrage.

Deon Irish, Cape Town,

If every minority had its own state, then we would have at least over 10,000 different states in this world. There would be chaos beyong imagination. You cannot keep dividing and dividing nations. The economy suffers. The people suffer. All because of stubborn nationalism. The Balkan nations are already small and poor. Dividing them further only makes it worse. Kosovo has the weakest economy in Europe. It has nothing to export. No industry, no natural resources, very little farmland. It must import almost everything, including food.

Stas, Pensacola, USA/Florida

This is USA and her allies creating another hell on Earth, like Iraq just closer to Europe. Some of Western politicians say Serbia is paying for the crimes of Milosevic. Is that some joke? U are punishing whole nation for one the crimes of the one man. Is this how democracy works? somebody kills a man and u take whole town to jail for that?

Not to mention that Kosovo is the most precious thing that one Serb has. The Kosovo battle (1389.) is a turning point in history of the region and from that u can see that then and now Serbs write history in the Balkans. Before posting all should learn history of this holy Serb place, and if u understand the myth of Kosovo battle then u can begin to understand Serbs and Serbia.

Now we can see that there is no law for small countries. This is a grim day for International community and all free people of the World.

Ivan, Belgrade, Serbia

It's all about Muslim separatism...

Rick, Temecula, CA

Kosovo contains some of Sebia's holiest sites. It is to Sebia what Jeruselem is to Jews. Just because a minority becomes a majority in a state does not give it a right to declare independence. How would the US government react if Texas or California decided to declare independence under the Mexican flag simply because a majority of Mexicans dominated in numbers.

Robert Decell, college station, usa texas

The issue is America has made it evident that they only partake in world affairs where their interest lies. They ignored and defend an illigal act of violating international law that states that the border of a soverign country cannot be moved except with the consent of that country. And why? Their interest will be made known at some point. Serbia has obviously not consented. Furthermore, we are already fighting a war on terrorism and at the same time America is backing the KLA in Kosovo, whom they declared terrorists already. If you believe the Mexicans in southern Texas and California, and the Cubans in southern Florida should rally for their own country because they are the majority, when we opened doors for them here because their own countries have nothing to provide them, then you should back the Kosovo Albanians....regardless of the deep history and bloodshed Serbs fought for in Kosovo leaving hundreds of Orthodox churches behind signifying their struggle.

Lex, Milwaukee, WI

The issues are relatively simple. 92% of Kosovans are ethnic Albanians by descent, making it a majority muslim country. In addition, it has one of the poorest economies in Europe. By declaring independence, Kosovo is hoping to gain control over EU development funds that are currently sent via Serbia.

In addition, by declaring independence, Kosovo is hoping to get access to funds from radical Islamic nations who see it as a stepping stone towards a pan-European Islamic caliphate.

Overall it's just not worth recognizing Kosovo as an independent nation. The first thing they'll likely do on recognition is apply to join the increasingly federal European Union, effectively giving up their sovereignty in return for redevelopment aid.

John Watson, London, UK

And what about Palestina? If Kosovo can by independent under these circumstances, how long will the nations watch almost "online" daily brutal unjust Holocaust of Palestine, daily kiling of innosent people......World should focus on brutal Israel and its illegaly possesed WMD, future conflict will be orchestrated again by Israel Zionists.....

peter, prag, czech republic

Well, Noel, that is what americans did in the XIX century, same place and technique, but part of the actual South US belonged to Mexico, the technique was the one you have explained.

Tony, Toronto, Canada

It seemed to me rather sudden the independence push but from the organized transition - peace keeping support, diplomatic documents, etc - it was very well planned and timed. Reversing the current direction towards Kosovo independence seems unlikely considering the past history of the region and the apparent large investment in ensuring this step successful. The true dynamics of this event are probably even more interesting than they already are....

R.Eddy, New York, New York, U.S.A.

Great Scottland'!!!

Jerry, Edinburgh,

@ Deyary Rakhtawan:

Dear Sir,

please familiarise yourself with history of Kosovo before making such gross generalization. Kosovo became Albanian through demographic invasion (& natality), violence and intimidation. Don't confuse Kurdish and Basque issues with the issue of Kosovo. And besides nearly 40 mil. Kurds don't have a country, whilst Albanians have their homeland - Albania- which is next to Kosovo (from which they emigrated en masse,many ilegally, during the last century). This is the shameful day for international law and justice!

Mike, London,

Serbs attempt of genocide of their "used to be country men" is a clear indication that they cannot live together with the Kosovars. Kosovo's independence is a victory of civilization and is a unique case that has no parallel. Let is stop fretting and accept the inevitable reality.

Amjad AbduShakoor, Kansas, USA

Here are the list of new countries:

1. Tibet (from China)
2. Taiwan (from China)
3. Sindh (from Pakistan)
4. Kurdishstan (from Iraq, Turkey and Iran)
5. Boluchistan (from Pakistan)
6. Basque (from Spain and France)
7. Tamil (from Sri Lanka)
8. Palestine (from Jordan)
9. North West Frontier Province (from Pakistan)
10. Western Sahara from Morocco
11. Jawa (from Indonesia)

Joe Kelly, Paris, France

David of Bowie: It all started at the dawn of creation.......
Families were instructed by God to defend their turf to the death.
Tresspassers were dealt with.
Dissin' was rampant.
The slaughtering began.
Fairly common globally. Hatfields & McCoys on steroids.
Each side has claims stretching back centuries.
Ask any Serb.
Now ask any Albanian.
See?

Steve, Dover,

Thanks US&UK for telling Europe to correct the historical mistakes. The Albanians (Ilyric descendent) had saved Europe 500 years ago from the aggression of the Islamic Ottoman Empire in the battle of Vienna. Yes I am talking about the resistance that George Kastrioti Scanderbeg did against the expansion of the Islamic Ottoman Empire.
Voltaire starts his chapter "The Taking of Constantinople" with the phrase:
“ Had the Greek Emperors acted like Scanderbeg, the empire of the East might still have been preserved." ^
^ Voltaire, 1762, Works, Vol 3.

So please be rational what depend to Albanians

^ Voltaire, 1762, Works, Vol 3.

So please be racional what depend to Albanians

Labinot Marku, Skopje, Macedonia

"Every minority deserve to have their own state."

albanians already have their own state - it's called albania!

Katarina, Bratislava,

Soon, Europe will explode in Civil War.
So many hatreds foolishly covered up by the EU and it's predecessors. Tito kept Yugoslavia together by force, a series of nations, Serbia, Croatia and the rest divided by Religion, tribalism and hatred. Now the hatred's are exposed, Europe is divided as to whether to recognise Kosova.
A lot of Europe remembers that Croatia sided with the SS in 1940-45 especially (I think) the Serbs.
Lot's of hate.
Soon Europe will destroy itself and its rash ideas.

Howard, Basildon, England

Albanian flag is not "unofficial symbol of a new Kosovan state", it is and it will always be a constant reminder that Serbian province Kosovo is not inhabited by so called "Kosovans", a non existing ethnicity made up by spin doctors, but by Albanians, which came from Albania and took over part of our country.

Your goverments told us that we should forget about "Greater Serbia" and embrace multiethnic society. When we did just that, betraying our fellow Serbs in Bosnia and Croatia, you gave us monoethnic Greater Albania on our own territory. Do you think we should trust you with anything else?

Mirko Stojkovic, Belgrade, Serbia

Gerhard's opinion = misleading, propaganda.
We live in a world with hundreds if not thousands of historical wrongs, and most of them are created by the USA, UK and friends. This was was needed as a reason for NATO to continue to exist. Please read on the discussion in UK's parliament in the weeks prior to bombing for clues on WHY it happened.

Tony, Toronto, ON, Canada

This seems to be a case of Western Slav-phobia mixed with a Neville Chamberlain style of appeasement toward a non-Christian state. I wonder how long it will take Kosovo to unite with Albania. A similar tactic is being perpetrated by Mexico in the Southern USA. Perhaps in a few decades parts of Texas and California will demand independence and shortly thereafter unite with Mexico.

Noel C., Winnipeg, Canada

its shameful that western powers have allowed this partition happen,what will happen in 5-10 years time when a majority of 90% muslim,hindu,sikh,etc decide to no longer recognise britains laws and declare sharia and a form of self rule,do we as a country say,o.k. thats fine as your a majority in an adopted country.No we wont there will be uproar and revulsion and such an idea will never be allowed,cant really understand why this was allowed to happen in a sovereign state.

trev, bristol, u.k.

The Kosovo independence is a travesty of international law and justice !

Dusica B., New York, 10019

James Vista's opinion = unfair. An historical wrong has been corrected, NATO intervention has proved fruitful, the right of a people to self govenment has been respected, colonisation, discrimination and ethnic oppresion have been attacked. Last but not least new foundations for tolerance and peace have been laid. A well done to Nato notably USA, UK, GER and IT.

Gerhard, London,

Well - basically the world turned a blind eye to Albanian aggression against the Serbs and then when the Serbs responded we feigned outrage and bombed them. Now to add insult to injury we've allowed part of Serbia to secede. An analogy would be if Canada were to help California secede from the US.

James, Vista, US/CA

Kosovo today,
Kurdistan, Catalonia, Scottland, Basque, taiwan and chechnya tomorrow. no one can stop the nations momentum towards independence. Because right of self determination is a human right, states who occupy minorities lands may try to oppress and subject them to majority's role but this cannot go on for ever. Every minority deserve to have their own state.

Deyary Rakhtawan, London, uk

Would somebody please explain the issues involved here.

David Welsh, Bowie, usa/Maryland