NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4996358.stm

so is this gonig to be the final end of Yugoslavia? I think so but do you thing the montenegrans should stay in union with Serbia or break away?



A huge pro-independence rally has been held in Podgorica, Montenegro's capital, ahead of Sunday's referendum on whether to break away from Serbia.

Thousands of people gathered in the main square to listen to traditional Montenegrin songs and speeches from pro-independence politicians.

Red and gold flags with the Montenegrin royal crest were waved from balconies and trees surrounding the square.

Montenegro currently forms part of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.

The two peoples have very close religious and cultural links and this has left Montenegro's people deeply divided as to whether to sever ties with Serbia.

'Test of maturity'

If Montenegro does vote for independence in Sunday's referendum, it will be a landmark in the history of the Balkans and the final act in the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia.


About 50,000 people turned out to hear speeches in the run-up to Sunday's referendum when Montenegrins will be asked whether they want to break away from the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Messages of support were read out from sports people and others in public life.

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic who has led the independence campaign, said the nation's destiny was in their hands.

He said the whole world was focused on Montenegro. He said the country was facing a test of its maturity and that it would pass that test.

Montenegro, with less than 700,000 people, was the smallest republic of the former Yugoslavia.

It's nearly 90 years since Montenegro was last an independent state.

Well then who will be the Basketball World Champions?

theres a basketball world championship????

The vote is a travesty to the sovereign right of every nation. I wonder how, say, the States would feel if the Union had to hold secession votes.

Montenegro was only really recognised as a separate autonomy after World War II - justifiably so really, but the dismemberment of Yugoslavia is one of the greatest stains on American foreign policy ever. Now, Croatia is a reactionary state with active neo-nazi groups. Bosnia is a haven for Islamic fundamentalists. Macedonia is being overrun by Albanians. The only ex-republic to do reasonably well is Slovenia.

The way things seem to be going, I get the impression the West will not stop until what used to be a Russian leaning stable federal state is no more than a bunch of unstable, poor city states. The rest is just bullshit.

The vote is a travesty to the sovereign right of every nation. I wonder how, say, the States would feel if the Union had to hold secession votes.

Montenegro was only really recognised as a separate autonomy after World War II - justifiably so really, but the dismemberment of Yugoslavia is one of the greatest stains on American foreign policy ever. Now, Croatia is a reactionary state with active neo-nazi groups. Bosnia is a haven for Islamic fundamentalists. Macedonia is being overrun by Albanians. The only ex-republic to do reasonably well is Slovenia.

The way things seem to be going, I get the impression the West will not stop until what used to be a Russian leaning stable federal state is no more than a bunch of unstable, poor city states. The rest is just bullshit.

Montenegrins and Serbians are different people, though. All Americans from all states have somewhat different cultures, but a same basic identity. Not so in Europe. S&M is just as artificial as the Soviet Union, and was bound to fail.

It is not easy to find a good source on the ethnic make up of Montenegro, so I had to turn to Wikipedia for now, will try later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegro

Many Montenegrins are said to be of mixed Serb and Montenegrin descent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montenegrins

I have to go for now and be President for life of my 41 NS Nations, LOL.

All with diffrent economic, political and social views, economic, political and social rankings, and diffrent types of governments.

I'm all for weakening Yugoslavia, particurally Serbia. Although they have made tremendous strides toward human rights, I doubt that if left to their own devices those in power would continue that trend.

That being said any legal and moral movement to weaken a state which is still too close to totalitarianism, such as the independence of Montenegro, will have my support.

Plus I like the name!