May 22 2006
Yugoslavia Is Now History
The ‘country’ of Yugoslavia is now gone as Montenegro has voted independance from Serbia:
With nearly all ballots counted, 55.4 percent of voters chose to dissolve Montenegro’s 88-year union with its much larger and sometimes overbearing Balkan neighbor. That is just over the 55 percent threshold needed to validate Sunday’s referendum under rules set by the European Union.
…
In Belgrade, the Serbian capital, officials urged calm. Ethnic Serbs make up 30 percent of the population and many strongly oppose separation from Serbia. Serbia did not want separation, but has said it will respect the decision.
The Serbia-Montenegro union is the last shred of the federation of Yugoslavia that began its blood-drenched breakup in the early 1990s. Both former Yugoslav republics are largely Orthodox Christian, and share the same language and traditions.
The Serbians were the ruthless leaders of Yugoslavia, and their attempt to later reign in the Balkan states that wanted independence is one of the ugliest events of human history. The civil war that erupted there along religious and ethnic lines was predicted by many to be repeated in Iraq. It seems not everyone feels obliged to repeat the Serbian mistakes.
Congratulations to Montenegro. Hopefully the region can rebuild now peacefully.
amen
AJ
I am still scratching my head trying to figure out if the last election in Palestine is a pox on your house revolution or the last gasp tantrum of a child before it reaches puberty.
Hopefully this rerun of the Hatfields and the McCoys is about over.
Just another prime example that children shouldn’t be allowed to play with sharp toys without proper adult supervision.