Post by julius on Mar 30, 2008 16:53:19 GMT -5
Albania, Kosova, Macedonia: the Triple Alliance for Balkan Stability
Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
An earlier article about what a successful foreign policy for Kosova should be was published at a moment the political conjuncture in Kosova suggested rather a focus on domestic affairs. It is only normal that many Kosovars and Albanians wrote to me to thank me for the approach, and to underscore their present worries.
While suggesting to think big, I did not mean that Kosova should undermine the pernicious Serbian policies that have ceaselessly been assumed under the stamp of an extreme nationalism, perilous chauvinism and unadulterated racism that consist in an amalgamation of concepts and ideas that are far worse than Hitler´s Nazism and Mussolini´s Fascism.
Neither should Kosovar diplomats, cadres, politicians and statesmen forget Russia´s desperate attempts to create problems and frictions between Europe and America or among the EU member states. All these Russian endeavours pertain to a most unsuccessful effort to maintain influence in the Balkans and to destabilize Europe up to the point of eventually making it dependant on Russian energy and political choices. Due to lack of earlier study, proper analysis and adequate comprehension, the Russian policy is predestined to doom.
In fact, the Serbian plot of Russia is a matter of concern for both America and Europe. They will have to outmaneuver it, and the policy tools needed for this are already in place. NATO placed the Kosovo town of Mitrovica under de facto military law on Tuesday after riots by a Serb population caused the death of an Ukrainian UN policeman, and forced the withdrawal of UN personnel. Consequently, the NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR and the United Nations mission ordered all local Kosovo Serb police officers to park their patrol cars and suspend normal duties.
The further escalation will be prejudicial only to Serbia, which will face extra dismemberment, with the oppressed Muslims, Albanians, Hungarians and Romanians (of Sandak and Voivodina) taking to the streets and manifesting their rejection of the Neo-Nazi Serb police state.
Balkans oscillating between Oppression and Mistrust
Yet, this is not the end of the colonial involvement in the Balkans. Dangers exist for various peoples; historical truth and political experience make our conclusion clear. Due to the long date Anglo-French, Russian and Austrian colonial involvement, post-Ottoman Balkans have been characterized by a binary situation that is bound to leave a long shadow.
For decades, the Balkans, divided into meaningless states and partitioned by disqualifying borders, lived between oppression and mistrust. If there was no oppression, there was certainly mistrust; if several forms of oppression took an end, the mistrust survives. It would therefore be momentous to set up the structures and to implement the policies needed so that mutual trust be built.
Of course, it will be inconsequential to expect several states that pursue divisive and revengeful, chauvinistic policies to cooperate; only humanist approaches and good intentions consist in real evidence of a political will to build mutual trust. Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro may be willing to engage in an effort to eliminate the ghosts of the past.
Arrest and Incarcerate the Criminal Gangster Vuk Jeremic!
Serbia is still plunged in a necrolatrous, nationalistic paroxysm; nothing can be expected from them, as long as they fail to realize that all peoples, all nations, all historical and cultural heritages are equal and equally important and valuable.
Suffice it that you read a sentence articulated earlier today by Vuk Jerevic, the Serb minister of foreign affairs, and you realize that the guy reverberates the worst moments of Hitler and Stalin combined; quite shamelessly, Jerevic "asserted" that "every country that will recognize the illegal state of Kosova breaches the international law".
It did not occur to this criminal gangster to imagine that no one appointed him as the World´s Supreme Erudite, Foremost Judge, and Law Interpreter, and that his idea is rejected as fallacious explanation by the world´s most democratic and most educated political establishments.
The dangerous terrorist Jerevic, by deliberately threatening other countries, simply inflicted further damages to his country, as the answer to his Neo-Nazi paroxysm was Croatia´s and Hungary´s formal recognition of Kosova. As he fails to understand that his values are not values and his ideas are not ideas, he reveals his total incapacity to share civil life with others who disagree with him. This is the essence of Neo-Nazi totalitarian criminals, who view their opinion as the only allowed in the world.
With further parts of Serbia detached (namely Sanjaq and Voicvodina) in the years ahead, the Serbs will have one more opportunity to get a more illuminated inward vision of their incredible failure. Every nationalism is indeed a flagrant case of insensitivity and egoism; and as such, it should be denounced.
On the other hand, Bulgaria and Romania are countries characterized by extreme weaknesses, dysfunctional administrations, and several, oppressed, ethnic and religious groups; longer they resist to the implementation of internationally accepted standards of democracy and multiculturalism, stronger they make the case of the secessionists of Transylvania, Pirin Macedonia, and other provinces.
Yet, the main threat for regional peace and stability will not come from these states. The danger may come from artificially created impressions, effectively spread rumors, and astutely insinuated - yet deceptive – dreams.
Three Small but Pivotal States
As the newest neighbor and partner, Kosova certainly must have its own Balkan policy; geared to ensure peace and stability in the Balkans, and allow Kosovars pursue greater visions of foreign policy at the global level, Prishtina´s Balkan policy must evolve around the Triple Alliance: Macedonia, Albania and Kosova.
Prishtina should take an initiative and, immediately after the exchange of ambassadors between Macedonia and Kosova, a great project of a Triple Balkan Alliance should be launched, involving a military treaty of common defense in case of an attack from another state.
Albania and Macedonia would deploy their efforts to convince all their partners to formally recognize Kosova; and Kosova would demonstrate a great commitment to help shape a common vision for all three countries. The three countries should first and foremost agree to offer their citizens premium treatment in terms of cultural, educational, social, economic and political sensitivities.
Working on both levels, educational – cultural and socio-economic – political, Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia should promote fast development, dramatic increase of the Foreign Direct Investment, and infrastructure projects, while at the same time becoming, all three, the Epitome of the Modern Multicultural Society.
The triple Alliance:Albania, Kosova, Macedonia
There are some projects that could promote mutual understanding and respect among the three states. Mutual trust means lack of fear; this presupposes knowledge of the ´Other´. More you know your interlocutors, more comfortable you feel with them. What can build then mutual trust – among Albania, Kosova and Macedonia – faster and better than bilingual schools and universities?
It is clear that the three countries, even if combined, constitute a small market of less than 10 m people; consequently, with the necessary infrastructure built, there will be little to be expected from either agriculture or industry. The triple alliance of Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia for Peace and Stability in the Balkans should mostly focus on Services. Education and Culture, Tourism and ICT may be the stronger sectors to focus on.
Certainly, every Macedonian in Albania and every Albanian in Macedonia must be offered education in their native tongues. Cultural associations and political organizations must be free for all to found, join and develop. However, Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia must go beyond that level.
The three countries must form common cadres and elites, all bilingual, launch common projects, set up diverse partnerships, and in one word view their future as one common perspective of peace and stability. Businessmen originating from one of the allied countries must invest excessively in the other two, and bilateral companies must be launched in order to consolidate the local markets.
Bilingual (Albanian / Macedonian) universities
Bilingual (Albanian / Macedonian) universities will help set up a common approach to the Illyrian and Macedonian heritages that both have been equally and unjustifiably discriminated by the Western academia in the 17th – 19th century elaboration of their erroneous, unbalanced, and fallacious Hellenism, a theory and approach upon which the colonial establishment was based.
The correct revelation of the real identity and the value of the Ancient Civilizations of the Illyrians and the Macedonians is a work that has to be undertaken commonly by today´s Kosovars, Macedonians and Albanians.
In this regard, a fresh approach to the Late Antiquity phenomena of linguistic Greecization and Romanization should help tremendously in dissociating Greco-phony from the Ancient Greeks, and Latino-phony from the Ancient Romans.
The Balkans as Late Antiquity home to Oriental religions, ideologies, philosophies and cultures should be another great project. Balkan Christianity, Balkan Medieval Profane Movements, and Balkan Islam should also be great projects for the bilingual Albanian / Macedonian universities to undertake in order to dismiss forever colonial fallacies that worked against the two Balkan nations.
Positioning themselves at the East – West and Islam – Christianity crossroads, the bilingual universities of the three allied countries could help create a World Hub for Translations that would attract investment and experts from allover the world in view of the translation and the subsequent diffusion of authentic Christian / Western sources among Muslims / Easterners and authentic Islamic / Oriental sources among Christians / Westerners.
Like this, when the three countries will be financially strong enough to join the European Union, they will have formed a very clear identity, and they will have produced a great work at the level of Culture and Education; their contribution will be necessary to transform the present, obsolete European academic class. By methodically acting in the aforementioned direction, Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia have the power to outmaneuver any possible threat, rivalry and opposition to their existence and identity. Without any war taking place in the Balkans!
source: www.americanchronicle.com/articles/55820
Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
An earlier article about what a successful foreign policy for Kosova should be was published at a moment the political conjuncture in Kosova suggested rather a focus on domestic affairs. It is only normal that many Kosovars and Albanians wrote to me to thank me for the approach, and to underscore their present worries.
While suggesting to think big, I did not mean that Kosova should undermine the pernicious Serbian policies that have ceaselessly been assumed under the stamp of an extreme nationalism, perilous chauvinism and unadulterated racism that consist in an amalgamation of concepts and ideas that are far worse than Hitler´s Nazism and Mussolini´s Fascism.
Neither should Kosovar diplomats, cadres, politicians and statesmen forget Russia´s desperate attempts to create problems and frictions between Europe and America or among the EU member states. All these Russian endeavours pertain to a most unsuccessful effort to maintain influence in the Balkans and to destabilize Europe up to the point of eventually making it dependant on Russian energy and political choices. Due to lack of earlier study, proper analysis and adequate comprehension, the Russian policy is predestined to doom.
In fact, the Serbian plot of Russia is a matter of concern for both America and Europe. They will have to outmaneuver it, and the policy tools needed for this are already in place. NATO placed the Kosovo town of Mitrovica under de facto military law on Tuesday after riots by a Serb population caused the death of an Ukrainian UN policeman, and forced the withdrawal of UN personnel. Consequently, the NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR and the United Nations mission ordered all local Kosovo Serb police officers to park their patrol cars and suspend normal duties.
The further escalation will be prejudicial only to Serbia, which will face extra dismemberment, with the oppressed Muslims, Albanians, Hungarians and Romanians (of Sandak and Voivodina) taking to the streets and manifesting their rejection of the Neo-Nazi Serb police state.
Balkans oscillating between Oppression and Mistrust
Yet, this is not the end of the colonial involvement in the Balkans. Dangers exist for various peoples; historical truth and political experience make our conclusion clear. Due to the long date Anglo-French, Russian and Austrian colonial involvement, post-Ottoman Balkans have been characterized by a binary situation that is bound to leave a long shadow.
For decades, the Balkans, divided into meaningless states and partitioned by disqualifying borders, lived between oppression and mistrust. If there was no oppression, there was certainly mistrust; if several forms of oppression took an end, the mistrust survives. It would therefore be momentous to set up the structures and to implement the policies needed so that mutual trust be built.
Of course, it will be inconsequential to expect several states that pursue divisive and revengeful, chauvinistic policies to cooperate; only humanist approaches and good intentions consist in real evidence of a political will to build mutual trust. Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro may be willing to engage in an effort to eliminate the ghosts of the past.
Arrest and Incarcerate the Criminal Gangster Vuk Jeremic!
Serbia is still plunged in a necrolatrous, nationalistic paroxysm; nothing can be expected from them, as long as they fail to realize that all peoples, all nations, all historical and cultural heritages are equal and equally important and valuable.
Suffice it that you read a sentence articulated earlier today by Vuk Jerevic, the Serb minister of foreign affairs, and you realize that the guy reverberates the worst moments of Hitler and Stalin combined; quite shamelessly, Jerevic "asserted" that "every country that will recognize the illegal state of Kosova breaches the international law".
It did not occur to this criminal gangster to imagine that no one appointed him as the World´s Supreme Erudite, Foremost Judge, and Law Interpreter, and that his idea is rejected as fallacious explanation by the world´s most democratic and most educated political establishments.
The dangerous terrorist Jerevic, by deliberately threatening other countries, simply inflicted further damages to his country, as the answer to his Neo-Nazi paroxysm was Croatia´s and Hungary´s formal recognition of Kosova. As he fails to understand that his values are not values and his ideas are not ideas, he reveals his total incapacity to share civil life with others who disagree with him. This is the essence of Neo-Nazi totalitarian criminals, who view their opinion as the only allowed in the world.
With further parts of Serbia detached (namely Sanjaq and Voicvodina) in the years ahead, the Serbs will have one more opportunity to get a more illuminated inward vision of their incredible failure. Every nationalism is indeed a flagrant case of insensitivity and egoism; and as such, it should be denounced.
On the other hand, Bulgaria and Romania are countries characterized by extreme weaknesses, dysfunctional administrations, and several, oppressed, ethnic and religious groups; longer they resist to the implementation of internationally accepted standards of democracy and multiculturalism, stronger they make the case of the secessionists of Transylvania, Pirin Macedonia, and other provinces.
Yet, the main threat for regional peace and stability will not come from these states. The danger may come from artificially created impressions, effectively spread rumors, and astutely insinuated - yet deceptive – dreams.
Three Small but Pivotal States
As the newest neighbor and partner, Kosova certainly must have its own Balkan policy; geared to ensure peace and stability in the Balkans, and allow Kosovars pursue greater visions of foreign policy at the global level, Prishtina´s Balkan policy must evolve around the Triple Alliance: Macedonia, Albania and Kosova.
Prishtina should take an initiative and, immediately after the exchange of ambassadors between Macedonia and Kosova, a great project of a Triple Balkan Alliance should be launched, involving a military treaty of common defense in case of an attack from another state.
Albania and Macedonia would deploy their efforts to convince all their partners to formally recognize Kosova; and Kosova would demonstrate a great commitment to help shape a common vision for all three countries. The three countries should first and foremost agree to offer their citizens premium treatment in terms of cultural, educational, social, economic and political sensitivities.
Working on both levels, educational – cultural and socio-economic – political, Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia should promote fast development, dramatic increase of the Foreign Direct Investment, and infrastructure projects, while at the same time becoming, all three, the Epitome of the Modern Multicultural Society.
The triple Alliance:Albania, Kosova, Macedonia
There are some projects that could promote mutual understanding and respect among the three states. Mutual trust means lack of fear; this presupposes knowledge of the ´Other´. More you know your interlocutors, more comfortable you feel with them. What can build then mutual trust – among Albania, Kosova and Macedonia – faster and better than bilingual schools and universities?
It is clear that the three countries, even if combined, constitute a small market of less than 10 m people; consequently, with the necessary infrastructure built, there will be little to be expected from either agriculture or industry. The triple alliance of Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia for Peace and Stability in the Balkans should mostly focus on Services. Education and Culture, Tourism and ICT may be the stronger sectors to focus on.
Certainly, every Macedonian in Albania and every Albanian in Macedonia must be offered education in their native tongues. Cultural associations and political organizations must be free for all to found, join and develop. However, Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia must go beyond that level.
The three countries must form common cadres and elites, all bilingual, launch common projects, set up diverse partnerships, and in one word view their future as one common perspective of peace and stability. Businessmen originating from one of the allied countries must invest excessively in the other two, and bilateral companies must be launched in order to consolidate the local markets.
Bilingual (Albanian / Macedonian) universities
Bilingual (Albanian / Macedonian) universities will help set up a common approach to the Illyrian and Macedonian heritages that both have been equally and unjustifiably discriminated by the Western academia in the 17th – 19th century elaboration of their erroneous, unbalanced, and fallacious Hellenism, a theory and approach upon which the colonial establishment was based.
The correct revelation of the real identity and the value of the Ancient Civilizations of the Illyrians and the Macedonians is a work that has to be undertaken commonly by today´s Kosovars, Macedonians and Albanians.
In this regard, a fresh approach to the Late Antiquity phenomena of linguistic Greecization and Romanization should help tremendously in dissociating Greco-phony from the Ancient Greeks, and Latino-phony from the Ancient Romans.
The Balkans as Late Antiquity home to Oriental religions, ideologies, philosophies and cultures should be another great project. Balkan Christianity, Balkan Medieval Profane Movements, and Balkan Islam should also be great projects for the bilingual Albanian / Macedonian universities to undertake in order to dismiss forever colonial fallacies that worked against the two Balkan nations.
Positioning themselves at the East – West and Islam – Christianity crossroads, the bilingual universities of the three allied countries could help create a World Hub for Translations that would attract investment and experts from allover the world in view of the translation and the subsequent diffusion of authentic Christian / Western sources among Muslims / Easterners and authentic Islamic / Oriental sources among Christians / Westerners.
Like this, when the three countries will be financially strong enough to join the European Union, they will have formed a very clear identity, and they will have produced a great work at the level of Culture and Education; their contribution will be necessary to transform the present, obsolete European academic class. By methodically acting in the aforementioned direction, Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia have the power to outmaneuver any possible threat, rivalry and opposition to their existence and identity. Without any war taking place in the Balkans!
source: www.americanchronicle.com/articles/55820