The subject of unification between Kosovo and Albania is fascinating. There is certainly a logic to it. But could it ever happen? And will it ever happen? Thoughts and comments below.
I will write words from Ramush Haradinaj ex PM of Kosovo a quote " Kosovo don't have any foreign politic exept what American administration tell us to do".. end of quote
It will happen. Albanians have long dreamed, fought and worked for it. In theory you would think you are right but you need to go and live there for some time to touch the reality. The leaders of Kosovo, and even the people of Kosovo, spend very much of their time in Albania and especially in Tirana. More and more marriages are happening between them, more and more businesses are being built by each in the other country etc. etc. There is love and respect between them as opposed to loathing, hate and fear between Kosovo and Serbia. It should not matter what the UN countries think about the issue, it should only matter what the democratic countries think. Scotland could separate from UK, as Northern Ireland could, as Quebec could separate from Canada etc. etc. just like UK democratically and peacefully left EU. In democracy the will of the people matters most. Even the Serbs in Bosnia have the right to unite with Serbia if they wish to. In my opinion the constitution hurdle is mountable if it is amended and if the Serbian majority territories in Northern Mitrovica are swapped for Presheva/Medvegja/Bujanovc that are inhabited by Albanian majority. The powers screwed up the Balkan borders a century ago and they should help with all they can to make it right now. These countries have values that must be preserved, such as languages/customs/cultures, and that can only be done when each has it's own nation-state living in peace and good neighborly relations respecting each-other.
@@mendjelire8392 Nice story about life and coexistence for now when apsolutly nobody care about minoritys on Kosovo.. but if anytime anybody start to care Kosovo will have to change a lot of things for be acceptable in international politic stage...
I would love to see a real Albania as it belongs united with all stolen parts of us from all around our neighbors and yes but i think it’s a bit complicated. I mean maybe it’s better if there are two countries like Kosovo and Albania are really close to each other and we always act as one but maybe isn’t as bad in both being separated countries. I hope that in the future when they both join EU won’t be a big deal at all .
Thanks. Great suggestion! I agree. I have been meaning to do something on this for ages. It would raise some fascinating questions, not only over Transnistria, but also what would happen with the EU. Could members incorporate new territories in this way? (Germany was arguably a special case.)
I have actually traveled from Belgrade to Pristina a few days ago and I couldn't be more surprised. It was like traveling between two different worlds... Pristina seemed so much more "western-like"... and to the topic - there are so many Albanian flags in the city... even at the official buildings
If by Western like you mean Turkey like or middle East like then you are probably right. But then again, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are important western allies despite being brutal dictatorships that suppress all its ethnic minorities and political dissidents far more than Serbia ever has in its history. Bit that's just western principles again.
@@BubbleDouble Not more important than Turkey, Hungary and Saudi Arabia, very proven and distinct Western allies, so I see no issue with Serbia at all.
Albin Kurti stated it pretty well... he said "is a country truly independent if it cannot choose what it does with it's own independence?" (referencing "kosovo can not join another country")
Very good point. I rather think the same. Put crudely, sovereignty is the right to end that sovereignty if you so want. But it is also understood that constitutional demands also matter. This is why there is an emphasis on this with secession. Interestingly, in Kosovo’s case, an internal route exists to union - albeit unlikely to succeed. It is the external political pressure that would try to stop it.
@@JamesKerLindsay I'm from Kosova, and we should use the unification as you mentioned as a means of pressure to get more attention on our statehood issues. We know it's not the right time to make obvious legal steps like abolishing borders or having one president, we will definitely further integrate economically and in all aspects of life meanwhile we have to gain total independence as a country, only once we have all the legal means on our side, the unification could happen as a natural process (confederation). Kosova (Dardania) has existed as it's own region for at least 2000 years, and most of it under occupations of different empires, We certainly can exist as Albanians even outside of Albania, but joining Albania through EU would be a most welcome scenario and it's only a natural aspiration knowing that we have neighbors that have and threaten to ethnically cleanse the region given the opportunity.
@@JamesKerLindsay I kinda wanted to point out that that line in the constitution feels (and probably is) put there by the powers that be "to hold albanians in check and under control" and that's probably the reason why for the Albanians this is so important. They feel like for too long other countries have divided Albanian lands and now feel like the time has come to choose their own fate. I just wanted to share this small but signifcant viewpoint with you. From an Albanian viewpoint unification isn't that farfetched. Obviously it's something that will take time and isn't solved like that. maybe we get a referendum that'll be a start! :)
I don't really think kosovo is independent for that reason you just mentioned, and also if kosovo was independent there would be no northern part for only serbs, it's like serbia is in within kosovo, they have serbian number plates on their cars etc. Plus if kosovo actually was independent the border line on the map with serbia would be a solid line and not dotted, I think US and the Eu (nato) just tricked us the albanians that we are independent so that we would keep the peace and agree to it. In fact I think we are just a part of serbia but autonomous and self governed. Kosovo's independence is just an illusion especially to us albanians. Why doesn't the kosovo police at the border with serbia put their stamp on our passports but just the serbian side? The kosovo albanians give their stamps "republic of kosovo" in other countries it borders with but just not when it comes to serbia. That means you are entering serbia and not kosovo, and if happen to have a kosovo stamp in your passport good luck getting back into serbia from kosovo, since they do not recognize kosovo's sovereignty they see it as you've entered serbia like "illegally" or just without their knowledge. Just a speculation and my thoughts on Kosovo as a state. Ps. Fuck Serbia
@@JamesKerLindsay I don't really think kosovo is independent for that reason you just mentioned, and also if kosovo was independent there would be no northern part for only serbs, it's like serbia is in within kosovo, they have serbian number plates on their cars etc. Plus if kosovo actually was independent the border line on the map with serbia would be a solid line and not dotted, I think US and the Eu (nato) just tricked us the albanians that we are independent so that we would keep the peace and agree to it. In fact I think we are just a part of serbia but autonomous and self governed. Kosovo's independence is just an illusion especially to us albanians. Why doesn't the kosovo police at the border with serbia put their stamp on our passports but just the serbian side? The kosovo albanians give their stamps "republic of kosovo" in other countries it borders with but just not when it comes to serbia. That means you are entering serbia and not kosovo, and if happen to have a kosovo stamp in your passport good luck getting back into serbia from kosovo, since they do not recognize kosovo's sovereignty they see it as you've entered serbia like "illegally" or just without their knowledge. Just a speculation and my thoughts on Kosovo as a state.
Interesting video, Albania lost in 1913 unjustly more 60% of territority, given to neighbor countries by London Conference, and in those territories ethnic albanians have many years being assimilated, even nowadays, in my personal opinion now its time to make justice for all albanians , a small country but destroyed and stolen many times during history, and still they kept their language (isolated indo-european) and their traditions intact, uninfluenced by occupators.Albanians must gain their rights and stolen territories.
The biggest dream of every albanian isn't revenge cause it will start wars and useless bloodshed but justice, justice for our Country being usurped and destroyed in the very first creation. We want other countries to understand our story and sacrifice 🇦🇱💔
Not even nearly 60%. Even then Albanians were majority only in bigger part of Kosovo and northwest Macedonia. Thats far less from the lands that you claim are yours. You are lucky you even got Albania in London treaty since you didnt even participate in Balkan war and you are not the ones who forced out Ottomans from Albania.
@@biglebowsky6586 chekc history how many wars did Albanians have against Ottomans, and how many got serbs against the ottomans. Thants what I thought, u dont know history.
@@uneti463 No you dont know it. And First Balkan war wasnt one of that wars and thats enough. But even besides that in whole 19th century there is almost no resistance of Albanians against Ottomans.
We not neibors, we ONE blood ! Obviously we have niebours, very bad one's, expanding in our land, becoming big serbia, big greece,big macedonia, big macedonia. Long live Ethnik Albania!
According to the US State Department, "Albania is the mainstay of organised crime worldwide and the main points of drug trafficking, weapons and immigrants in counterfeit goods".
Soon will be called Dardania and name Kosova or Kosovo it's goind to be only on your bullshit history books,,," Kosovooo was the heart of serbia, bla bla blaaaa😂😂😂😂"!
Formal unification might not happen for all reasons you mentioned, but the border and customs between Albania and Kosovo are basically non-existent (people and goods move freely). Majority of Kosovo Albanians possess Albanian passport, so there are no limitations for them
Паметњаковићу кад већ нешто пишеш, што је тачно, онда напиши како је то могуће али само на тим прелазима и границама. ЗАТО ШТО АГРЕСОР НАТО ДОЗВОЉАВА ДА СЕ ТЕРОРИСТИ ШЕТАЈУ ТАМО. СВИ СУ И ДОШЛИ ИЛЕГАЛНО ПРЕКО ТИХ ШУМА ОД ПОСЛЕ ДРУГОГ СВЕТСКОГ РАТА И ПРЕ ТОГА И ПОГОТОВО ОД КАДА КРИМИНАЛНИ НАТО ШТИТИ ТЗВ. ЛАЖНУ ГРАНИЦУ. ДА ТЕ ЖИВОТИЊЕ МОГУ СЛОБОДНО ДА ПРЕЛАЗЕ НИЈЕ ТАЈНА. АЛИ ТО ЈЕ УПРАВО РАЗЛОГ ШТО СУ ПОСТАЛИ ВЕЋИНА НА КОСОВУ И МЕТОХИЈИ, А СВИ СУ ИЛЕГАЛНО ПРЕШЛИ ГРАНИЦУ А НИСУ НИ РОЂЕНИ НИ РЕГИСТРОВАНИ У СРБИЈИ. И ЗАШТО СУ БЕЖАЛИ КУЋИ КАДА ЈЕ МИЛОШЕВИЋ РЕШИО ДА НАПРАВИ РЕДА У СРБИЈИ. ЖВАЛАВИ СРБИ АКО ЗНАТЕ БАР ЕНГЛЕСКИ ОНДА НАПИШИ ДИРЕКТНО КАКО И ЗАШТО ЈЕ ТО МОГУЋЕ ЈЕ САТАНСКИ СВЕТ ЗАПАДНИ ЊИМА ЈЕ СВЕЈЕДНО ЗА СРПСКО КОСОВО И МЕТОХИЈУ. ОНИ НИ СВОЈУ ИСТОРИЈУ НЕ ЗНАЈУ. БИТНО ЈЕ ДА САМО ЖВРЉАТЕ ПО ИНТЕРНЕТУ, КАО ДА ПОКАЖЕТЕ САТАНИСТИМА ДА ЗНАТЕ ЕНГЛЕСКИ. АКО ПИШЕШ ПИШИ СУШТИНУ СТВАРИ А СВИ ЗНАЈУ ДА СЕ МАЈУМУНИ ШЕТАЈУ ТАМО ВАМО! И ШТА ИМАШ ОД ТОГ ШТО СИ УЧИО ЕНГЛЕСКИ КАД ГА НЕ КОРИСТИШ ЗА ПРАВЕ СВРХЕ. ЛУДИ СРБИН~
I find the idea of a joint president and “unification by stealth” to be one of the more interesting ideas proposed. Historically speaking, personal unions (which I’m assuming a joint president would be) are very rare among republics and hasn’t been tried in a western style one since the Orange Free State and Transvaal Republics in 1860.
This is one of the things I really love about doing this channel. The brilliant nuggets of information that come up. I learn so much. I didn’t know that example. Thank you! The only sort of comparable case I could think of was the position of the Queen as head of state across a number of countries, and Andorra, which (half) shares its head of state with France.
joint what with 3 % serbs in the country? Ehhhh, albanians in macedonia are almost 40% and they dont get fuck all special treatment like the serbs do in croatia, bosnia and kosovo, were suppose to treat them as if they are some kind of pandas ? For what reason? The 5% serbs in Kosovo rule us 95% albanians with iron hand from 1945 to 1999 and now were suppose to treat them as an endangered species ? Fuck'em !
@Nikoladin : Serbs came crawling to Balkans from Russia. Now Putin controls Serbia and has his spies installed all over Serbia. Also, China patrols Serbia with its security. Serbia is run by these dictators and serves as their playground.
@@stefandusan9629 : Are these the lies you tell yourself so you can keep living after NATO bombings in ‘99? 😂😂 Serbia is the criminal headquarters of the world, that is a FACT!
@@JamesKerLindsay what do you mean by that ? That albanians in Kosova and Albania are not the same ? Or just tried to do a bad joke that everyone has different blood types and all that bla bla bla?
Israel should of returned the favour much earlier to recognise Kosovo as us Albanians risked our lives by helping them during the holocaust and by saving them from the Germans.
Israel have 2500 years of problem... we albanians real hellenic people have long history with jews. Remember greece was created 1821 Before that there was no greece or greeks just Some white albanians that Got mix with asians and North africans
A lot of greek and serb pressed here let me tell u this it is natyral albania europe is a big B, 1913 in london the big european powers gave land to neighbouring countrys one year after albanian indepedence..
@@bajlozi6873 The ethnic borders were unclear. But not just that, those borders were drawn after First Balkan war and Albanians barely participated in that war. Albanians didnt liberate themselves from Ottomans and some of them even fought in Ottoman army like during the seige of Skhodra. Only a portion of todays Albania was under Albanian control after the war, most of it was under the control of Serbs and Greeks, so they were lucky they were given even this what they now have.
@@biglebowsky6586 The ethnic borders were very clear, we knew where our people lived. You also have to consider everything that happened before the First Ballkan War. We uprised countless times, we fought against the ottomans to finally have the independent state we wanted. We have shed blood. Albanians took up arms themselves to protect albanians in montenegro, even though the Ottoman Empire was going to abandon them. The ones that "fought in the ottoman army" were protecting their families from the advancing montenegrin armies. So what if some territories were under the control of Serbs and Greeks? They were invading us and they had no right to be there.
@@bajlozi6873 And we knew where our people lived. Macedonia and Kosovo were a mosaic of Slavic and Albanian villages, there wasnt a clear ethnic border. You Albanians only look at things through your perspective, never through someone elses. Its true that you rebeled right before 1912 but that didnt gave you independence, you were still part of Ottoman empire. And its a fact that you didnt liberate yourself from Ottomans. It doesnt matter why they fought for Ottomans, it only matters that they fought for them and lost. Now you cant expect to get Grater Albania at expense of everybody and you barely even contributed to fall of Ottomans, not even Serbs got greater Serbia, not even Bulgarians got greater Bulgaria. Serbs and Greeks had right to take everything they could, sorry thats how war works. But still Britain and Austria forced us to retreat and leave you Albania. Thats fair and realy thats the most you could get, you should consider yourself lucky.
@@biglebowsky6586 "What goes around comes around" Mr, you cannot stop what's coming - only pray that history won't be as monstrously harsh on you as it has been on all Albanians in the Illyric peninsula... not that I wish it upon you.
Albania and Kosovo are like brother and sister. But we are living in different houses. One day we will have one house that is called Albania because I;m Kosovan but in my heart im Albanian
Thanks for the great suggestion. I really want to do this. It is high on my list. It raises such an interesting question about unification and EU membership. Would the EU 'allow' it?
@@robertabella1806 Simple Transnistria goes to Ukraine as well as Gaugazia. Inside Romania there's no special status for small comunities. But if Romania gives them a special status that would open the key of Szekely Land to ask for his special status as well. And you know Romania won't let that happen cause they still want to diminish the Hungarian population living there. It's like Romania want to piss off Hungary but they can't cause Hungary is strong so they will hurt Szekely Land People so by that way the can hurt Hungary without any repercussion. @James Ker-Lindsay
@@danielpeter3834 I have thought about that, in origin Transnistria was a part of Ukraine. But I'm sure the last thing Ukraine wants is another pro Russian separatist movement
@Ime Prezime what about the orthodox churches built over the existing ones in Dardania/Kosova?They may be primitive or strange, but you've been taught a lie since 1389 and it wasn't only serbs opposing the turks; if your nation could understand that they were others there before you, it would make a change on the people's mentalities. same in Romania, when Magyars occupied Transylvania; although they had a kingdom and left a lot of traces before 1918, they can't deny that we owned these lands before their conquest. peace out!
If the same peoples, divided in two different stases, want to unite and the world will not accept that, that's not a free world than. Live and let peoples live their lives!
The world is made up of many countries with minority communities. In fact only a handful of countries can be considered homogenous. They fear that if they let one group unite, then what’s to stop their minorities trying the same? That’s the problem. It’s not about Albanians of Kosovo and Albania uniting. It’s about the wider consequences.
@@JamesKerLindsay how is possible that this fear was missed when they wrecked the Berlin wall that divided Germany Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) from East Germany? Peoples, lands and countries has always changed and always will be the same.
@@JamesKerLindsay that’s not the right way to put it Sir. Kosovo is not a minority in its own territory! Kosovo population is 93-95% Albanians and the beautiful comment made by @Stop injorances is in contrast to what you saying for the simple fact that is that same world who divided Albanians and put our nation through the worst Miseries you can imagine by denying everything in brought day light and we still bear the consequences till this day.The same world that divided us is the same world that tells us we not good enough to join EU , we not good enough to join each other, we not good enough...... We are used to be told off but we still here and always be no matter what this Ill bias bigoted world says!
For the sake of argument, if this unification was allowed, there would be absolutely no way not to justify the union of Serbia and Republika Srpska. That again creates problems with the as-is very unstable Dayton agreement holding Bosnia together under a protectorate. This push from some west countries to redraw borders based on mostly ethnic lines and to suit their interests is in mildest terms a certain push into conflicts, a repeat of 1999 with this time a considerably weakened U.S. position is not out of the question, the especially exclusive stance of Germany in this matter not helping matters at all.
look your position is fine and its fair to be concerned about the domino effect but.... the status quo of what's been put in place isn't justifiable. Bosnia is just plainly never going to go anywhere in life. It was created to be a dud failed state. Are we to continue such a mindless existence because of fears of drawing new maps? The west has only done precisely this. The unification of Italy and Germany along with with the Treaty of Versailles and Trianon did exactly this. Are we to say that, due to details concerning problems of borders that we should go back to the days of rampant empire? I am not in favour of this position.
Let's be honest - Bosnia in it's current state is not going to survive as a country. Dayton won't work at all for ever. It has also nothing to do with the Albanian unification anyways. It makes sense giving the albanian part of Kosovo to Albania, and the northern serb part to Serbia. Problem solved! Everything else is not the problem of the Albanians, Bosnia is gonna explode soon either way. And you all know that. Stop acting this will be caused by a possible albanian unification, because those two things aren't connected to each other in any way.
@@gregorsamsa2271 If I would moved into your house and occupied 20 percent of it, even that house has been in your family for generations, your land, things, you even pay me for electricity and all obligations, would you agree after we share that 20 percent of the house,and I stay in the house ... to divide your property lile brothers !into equal parts!..make sense to you?
@@gregorsamsa2271 problem is what about serbs that are not in the north? Even while "kosovo" is not fully recognized as a legitimate country, the serbs are treated poorly by the albanians and what would happen to the chruches? Albanians dont have a particularly good track record with those.
But here’s the problem Israel has a very powerful army , nuclear weapons and has America also has so many governments around the world in their pocket . Kosovo and Albania doesn’t have any of these things .
@@LancesArmorStriking weird comment and based on 2000 years history we have been in war with all our neighbors only because they wanted to expand their territory! But we still here in our mountains and sea and guess what...we are taking back our parts 😊
Thanks. It is so interesting to hear the range of views I’m getting on this video. I agree that if it were to ever happen, it would be far better as a federation with Kosovo and Albania as two parts of the state, than as a unitary state with Kosovo as just another district of Albania.
Clear double standard. The international community, meaning the west, wants to keep the Serbian people apart while supporting the Albanian people to break away and then even unite. An attempt by ethnic Serbs to unite will lead to sanctions and isolation while on the other hand an attempt by ethnic Albanians to unite is understandable and even inevitable. If you can put one and one together this results in destabilizing the region further, meaning it will never amount of accomplishing anything. As the majority of people in the region will be unsatisfied. Meaning mainly the ethnic Serbs. It saddens me to see how stupid we are as people in the region. But simultaneously understandable since the west interests seem to play into some of our favors. At first you will get what you want and then you will have to dance to the tune of the master. Don’t think you will get to keep anything, as you will all work in the western countries and other people will move into your homes. Do you actually think the region will prosper wile your enemy is your neighbor? Be good neighbors and support each other. Countries are something made up but cooperation and a mix of our people is a good thing. Be smart although it’s easy to get emotional.
Great suggestion. I’ve done a couple on Scotland. I’ve also been working on a script looking at Wales. And I really want to do a couple in Ireland. I just try to make sure that I don’t focus too much on one area.
OMG what a political nightmare that whole area is! -Thanks for your great video. It makes feel lucky to be a Portuguese citizen where fortunately no ethnic or religious tensions exists, and let's hope it stays this way forever, but for Kosovo/ Albania and all others involved, whatever the final solution, may peace remain. 🙏
One just cannot dismantle an empire in a nice way. At least not after the invention of nationalism. And in fact the more disfunctional the empire, the more messy the dismantling would be. Balkans were once a part of the Ottoman Empire and although it is not true anymore the legacy remains and is here to stay.
The Albanian nation was very much seen by the great powers! without any mercy he divided it and tore it to 6 States of the Western Balkans just to feed the appetites of Russis, Georgia and Serbia. This National Issue needs a quick and peaceful correction.
@@bajlozi6873 One of main characteristics of keyboard warriors is that they like their own comments, just like you. They also have 0 arguments like you, and they dont know propper english like you and the guy above.
Great analysis James. Historically speaking, Albanian has never had aggressive political agendas. Since the creation of the first state of Albania under Skanderbeg, in the 15 Century, Albania has always sought to defend its territories and not expand as it is a rich country when it comes to natural resources. Sadly the contrary can be said about its neighbor states which have always sought expansion upon the territory of Albania. The problem with today's politics, is with the roots in the past. Albania was the first modern state to be "created" in 1912 and recognized (in a modern definition) in 1913. The most important thing to look at that time was the border that was drawn, as the now "modern Albanian border" was with itself. On all border sides, Albanians were the only population living there (majority speaking). They were intentionally left outside the newly recognized country, crippling not only the territory but also the population. That's crazy, but it clearly shows the appetite of the neighbors countries and Europe in general at that time! Unfortunately religion played a great part to that. Correct me if I am wrong, the gist of your analysis stands for the proposition that the unification would be a normal and good thing to do, but it might prove difficult and probably risky. If I understood you correctly, and I greatly appreciate and respect your opinion, to impede the unification for fear of how other countries would react, doesn't seem like a doing "what is right" but more like playing politics with other countries. My best to you!
lol. albanian angels. what did albania while ottoman era? before that you weren`t majority in the lands that you albanians&turks conquered like you dream of. you are talking bad over your neighbour countries, closing your eyes to the wars&killings that you did for centuries
@@JoviZapp before, there were Pelagians, who lived accross the Mediterrian, than Ilyrians, than Arberesh, than Albanian. Before the Slavs and than the Ottomans invaded Albania, the Albanian cities were par to European cities at that Era. I don't now what killings are you referring to and what Era, but Albania has never sought expansion towards its neighbors. If you look at the general papers released by the London conference, they clearly state the desire of Greece, Serbia and Montenegro to maintain the lands they invaded in Albania. They even state that Montenegro did a great job in a short period of time to get rid of the Albanians living in Podgorica. I am not talking badly about my neighbor countries, I am simply stating the facts. If you think that Albania and Otomans were one, you are clearly wrong. During that period Albanians were the only population which was not allowed to practice their religion, forced in becoming Muslims, not learn their language and not have any education. Anyway, dont get me wrong, I love all the neighbors countries. I have visited them all and I have enjoyed my staying each time. Take care
@@Flavor88 i believe the real problem is in the history teaching of our both countries. Serb here. Hi! While i don't know much about Albania a large portion of what many of your countrymen claim online sounds like extreme nationalistic exaggeration. I am sure that this is how we sound to you as well. I've seen documentaries that support your claims and also that support serbian claims. What needs to happen in my opinion is to have scholars from your country and scholars from mine cross-reference their data and determine what is the nearest truth. Firstly we must agree to examine all sources critically , especially the British because they have made so many conflicts in the world so far it looks like sport to them. Lastly, frin what i was able to gather from popular generic maps lately, is that our genetic makeup is pretty much the same. Only a very small portion of people can claim to have different ancestry. We are all the same, and we should all be able to live peacefully. I wish you all the best and i hope these conversations can always be held over a beverage and not in armed conflict. Cheers!
@@cane7232 Hi to you back! I always welcome an open minded individual, especially one who comes with a common will to engage in a fruitful based conversation. My premise, whenever I read something about history, is that history is written and taught by the victorious. Personally, whenever I read a piece of history from an author, I always like to see the citation, whether it is based on an original source, or a translation or the author’s interpretation and conclusions. To me, these make the difference between and objective and subjective view. I truly appreciate all those authors who make it clear to explain what the document they refer speaks, and what they understand by it and how they put it into context. Albania today does not have a problem only with Serbia, but also with Greece, which, we consider has done so much injustice in representing the history. For example, although well regarded primary sources of ancient history, Thucydides, Strabo etc., they refer to the tribes living in Epir(us) as “barbarians” (such as the Chaonians, Molossians and Thesprotians), Greece today maintain that they were “Greek”, despite them being considered barbarians, having different cultures and different political system compared to the ones in Athens for example. What clearer evidence do you need?! Nonetheless, some modern views consider “barbarians” only as un-civilized, not by the meaning that they spoke a different language they could not understand (aka “bar - bar”). There can be different views even on first hand source. A few years ago, the Foreign Minister of Greece made a mistake by declaring in the Greek parliament that Greece invests 53 million Euro/yearly in Albania, to further its political agendas! They considered such statements as secret and protected by the national interest of Greece and was not proceeded further in the questioning. They were a big deal in the media, but you can hardly find traces today. A few years ago, there was a book published by an Albanian author who states that Albanian has 93% loan words from other languages, especially from Serbian! So, as you see, it is clearly a matter of personal interests and far to difficult to find truly objective historians who are not paid by other states. In Albania, many of us completely disregard the official propaganda of the National institute of Albanology, as it is totally corrupted! Nonetheless, they exist, and although they do not represent the official view of the state, they play a major role in disinformation. That’s why, I prefer to relate to foreign authors when it comes to Albanian history. I don’t see how a French, German, Italian or other nationality, would have an interest in Albania in the 14 - 19 century. A great deal of help has been done recently by Albanian historians and translators who have translated works of foreign historians. Among some authors, we still regard them with skepticism, as religion played a great role in the creation of national identity.
Kosovo uniting with Albania? This is new, but it does seem even more unlikely than Kosovo being recognized as a sovereign state. Looks like Kosovo will have to remain in political limbo for the foreseeable future.
@Balsha well the only official documents about kosovo are kumanovo agreement and resolution 1244 bith state that kosovo is a serbian province, but because our western overlords decide, we dont have a say, they talk about destroying republika srpska every day while we honor the dayton agreement.
@Balsha I love how albanians dance around certain points when it doesnt fit them. Serbia is the successor of what was then yugoslavia. In all yugoslavias kosovo was a part of serbia. It was at most an autonomous province of SERBIA and 1244 states that it should remain a southern province. People are so quick to defend "kosovo" but will forget about how albanians tried the same thing with macedonia, but because macedonia is poor the west and US in particular didnt care.
Bro Albania's original territory was from north Nish(now invaded by Serbia) to south Prevreza(now invaded by Greece), and in east was Skopje(now invaded by north Macedonia) to west Podgorica(now invaded by Montenegro) Kosovo was the center of Albania, but then the Europe superpowers frightened by Russsia devided our territory in 6 parts, just to make easy for our neighbours thirsty for territory and power to genocide us and to create their Big Country.
@@blockie9706 bro the original name is Dardania, Kosovo is in serbian, of course that unification will happpen one day but first we must change the name of republic of Kosovo to its original name Republic of Dardania
Interesting idea, but this may set a precedent that cannot be undone once it is started. At least, not in good faith. Though nobody recognizes it besides Russia, South Ossetia would have the same claims (ethnicity) to unify with North Ossetia (in Russia) as the Kosovars do with Albania. This may also inflame issues with Ireland's desire to reunify with Northern Ireland. Is this a Pandora's box?
It is but people are always making exceptions to rules. I am not in favor of it but honestly, powers bend the rules they create all the times and don't look back. But it won't happen with Kosovo because, as you said, people don't want that precedent.
Don’t go into biology and start with the same DNA etc. We know that. The issue here is how to stop evil from committing ethnic genocide and not what their blood is made of because they are not capable of thinking that far.
Another great video! I would agree that this unification is impossible, Russia sees Kosovo as an American version of its own semi-recognized or unrecognized puppet states, and thus for parity’s sake will not let this happen. Serbia may take the chance to strike a deal over the new boundary, but Russia would likely be irate and use its leverage to make Serbia vehemently oppose the unification. I think you are right that Kosovo is trying to leverage the EU, but it seems like given it’s extremely weak international position there’s no way Kosovo is joining anytime soon. However as long as the current situation persists on, some sort of multinational economic union could be formed.
Thanks. Interestingly, I have long argued that Russia’s decision to oppose Kosovo came after it tried to make a pitch to trade international acceptance of Kosovo for international acceptance if the breakaway territories in the further USSR. When this was southern by the US, Russia dug in its heels. In that sense, I agree that sone of the basic dynamics are still in place and Russia might be really unhappy to think that the US and EU had effectively ground Serbia down and got their own way over Kosovo while leaving Russia limbered with its own recognition problems. One gas to wonder if that happened, Moscow might just give up and annexe Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Transnistria might be trickier though. But perhaps Moscow could push them into a deal with Moldova as a bit of ‘goodwill’?
@@JamesKerLindsay That's what I was thinking...Russia could try to trade them accepting Kosovo's independence for the UN accepting Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia as independent opening a path for Russia to freely annex these territories.
Did you read book's 🤣 off course that Albanian lived in Serbia thay are being on austro- hungary and German side in ww1. We not need Rusia to push. We all know that Kosovo is Serbia it's only under ocupation of Nato.👋
As you said Unification between "Kosovo" and Albania, will brake Balkans, nothing stops Serbs from whole peninsula to demand a same treatment, and unification with Serbia , Great.......(insert country name here) is always bad idea, Balkan politicians should stop playing with ideas like that it always lead to war in the past, and not just wars but wars and ethnic cleansings, exoduses and multiple other crimes.
Same intern monologe Same language Same culture Same Dreams Same „Happlo Group of Blood“ More then Brother & sister‘ Kosova&Albania: Steve Wonder & the Darkness 🇽🇰🌀🌀🌀🌀🇦🇱
Perhaps spell out how it would work? What sort of political system do you see in such a union. Would it be a confederation, federation or a unitary state, and what sort of powers would Kosovo retain? Would people from Kosovo be guaranteed a certain number of government positions? It would be interesting to hear how you see this working.
@@JamesKerLindsay the whole political scene should change first. They should fight crime and corruption before it happens. If this changes it can work perfectly as a federation. There should be people in power that put albanians as a nation first and not their personal interests. If such people come in power it could also be a unitary state without any problem.
@@JamesKerLindsay hello. Albanian here. I think the concerns of some albanians living in kosovo regarding kosovo taking a secondary role are valid. I believe that a unification would be better in a federation type so that kosovo can retain its institutions and still have its own autonomy. The details are not very fleshed out but i believe there is overwhelming support for unification in both countries. As for albanians living in montenegro, as long as their rights are respected and they are not treated as secondary citizens then we will enjoy good relations with them and the same goes for macedonia as well.
We, the Albanian youth, have grown up learning the painful and unjust history of our people. I was born in Kosovo after the war and I remember this flag in my childhood 🇦🇱 and not this other one 🇽🇰. We know that we will not have political benefits but we want this union with all our hearts and we want it for the future and we want it to be those people who lived at the time when Albania was united again! We are honestly tired of learning how the lands and our people are separated! Respect for making this video ♥️
What is a "Natural Albanian" and how does that differ from an "ethnic Albanian" and someone of Albanian citizenship. -Noth American with an interest in Albania.
Natural Albania=Ethnic Albania .In 1912 Albania was bigger and everyone in it was Albanian but still in 1913 the London Treaty split that Albania in todays Albania and the rest was given to our neighbours leaving 80%of Albanians outside and 70% of the land too
For me there is a simple answer to all of this, if the majority of a region wants to join whatever other region, then they should be allowed to do so without any third-party approval or whatever. If the people in northern Kosovo would vote to join Serbia then so be it. If Kosovo would like to join Albania or the other way around, then so be it. What does the Serb from northern Serbia has to lose if Kosovo joins Albania? Nothing. Same goes for Kosovars from the south if Northern Kosovo was to join Serbia I never managed to understand this primitive way of thinking on both sides.
@James Ker-Lindsay All is well here, thanks - although we now see many of the new Covid variants appearing, but our vaccination programme is ramping up. I do welcome your videos as a "distraction", reminding one of the fact that there are more challenges in the world than "just" Covid and Brexit, and pointing one to areas that need reading up. 😉 You do look well - I hope that's the case, too.
As an German with albanian roots myself and an absolutely supporter of an unification at least between Kosovo and Albania i want to thank you for this deep and informatic view of this high intenc political problem. Thanks !! In my opinion this thematic is clear, in many points you have showed it: If there is no interest to accept Kosovo as an independent country by international players and the Kosovo-Albanians have to slend and stuck in the limbo as you said it, Then there is no other choise than a unification (not defined in what a form ) with our also albanian neighbor. In all political movements and ambitions for Kosovo there will always be Serbia to block Kosovo in developing in any case. So what a chance Kosovo have? What a chance the population have? Let the youth bleed out just like it is happening right know? Question: how would any other ethnic group would feel theirselfs if for centurys their getting pushed down and shut up by neighbors around and by the own government just like enver hoxha did? How their would feel theirselfs speaking one of the oldest languages and holding one of the oldest culture but in fact being treating like an marionette ?
Thank Adrian. You make some really interesting and important points. I think it is vital to discuss what unification would mean in real terms. As I have pointed out, other groups have sought national unification only to regret it once it happened as one part then found itself in a weaker position. Two cases I always bring up (and I have covered in videos) and South Yemen and Somaliland. Both have found that once they United they were sidelined, but they now have no way to escape from the unions. I am not saying it would not work out. I am just saying it needs to be far better defined than many people realise. Also, I think you’ll find that the Albanian experience is far from unusual. Across the world, there are groups who argue (often correctly) that they have been unfairly divided. Take a look at my video on Western Togoland for one unusual example I covered. This concerns 7 million Ewe who were divided from each other. There are many, many similar examples. In any case, thanks for the comments. I always appreciate good contributions to the debate.
by "ethnic groups that have been pushed for centuries" you we`re not talking about turks&albanians pushing slavs&greeks . typicall albanian one sided view. even albania don`t want to have more ottoman population. i doubt that all albanians in albania want a unification
Great video. I have a question the Republic Of Chameria was declared a couple of years ago do you think it could be a viable state considering worldwide there are 500.000-800.000 Çam albanians.
Thanks so much. Yes, I rather glossed over the Greece element of the topic in the video. The problem I face when doing any of these is to try to provide enough information that it makes sense for someone who doesn't known about a topic, but not overload them with too much. (This is why they might sometimes seem simplistic for people who really know a subject.) I might try to come back to this in a future video. I find the relations between Greece and Albania fascinating in so many ways.
@@JamesKerLindsay also a journalist in albania which does a lot of documentaries about albanians when he was in çameria he wasn’t allowed by authorities to do videos in the public, also he is now a non grata person since he attempted to find the truth about the albanians in çameria
The "Republic of Chameria" is so stupid. How you are going to proclaim an independent republic In a land that your people don't live there any longer. One of my Great-grandfathers was from Northern Epirus (Modern-day Southern Albanian), should I proclaim an Independent Republic of Northern Epirus??? No, because I'm not an ultranationalist idiot. Albanians should stop live in the past and accept that their borders are what they are. No nation in the Balkans got the borders that they liked. Get over it.
I've just discovered your channel and I am pleasantly surprised. I watched a few of your videos and my impression is that you analyze things very objectively and impartially. I am currently writing a master thesis on how the interaction between international organizations and de-facto states affects their actorness ( subjectivity ) in world politics. I saw that you also have several published articles related to this topic that are very interesting. Maybe that could be one of the next topics for a new video lesson? You have my full support for your work, it's really inspiring! :)
Hi Aleksandar, thanks so much for the kind message. I really appreciate it. And I am really delighted that you are looking at de facto and international organisations. And what a brilliant topic to be working on. I have actually done work on this subject. In fact, I co-edited a book on this a couple of years ago: 'The Politics of International Engagement with De Facto States' (Rouledge). You might find it useful if you have a copy available in your library. (Stop me a line if you don't and I might be able to dig up some of the chapters. It had previously appeared as a special issue of Ethnopolitics.) I certainly hope to look at this in a future video. Anyway, good luck with the dissertation! And thanks again for the comments.
@@JamesKerLindsay Thank you very much for your response! I've heard of that edition and I've already checked it out. It would be a great starting point for my research! Looking forward to seeing your next video!
Kosovo is a part of Serbia, and it will always be. Why doesn't EU let Catalonia break away from Spain? You can not interfere with sovereign countries borders. What Nato did was unprecedented, they supported a terrorist organization who killed Serbian policemen,soldiers and civilians and started all of this mess. And now after all of this years EU and NATO don't know how to solve this problem which they created. Justice maybe slow but it will surely be served.
@Edi Ahm First of all I am not even a Serb. But let's just look at the facts. Albanian rebel, terrorists started attacking serbian policemen and civilians, then the military had to respond. You even have KLA listed as a terrorist organization by the USA.That is also a fact. I admit Serbs had done some bad doings but Albanians did also. No one mentions thousands of Serbs who were forced do leave Kosovo, or face being killed, raped etc. I understand you are trying to defend what KLA did but that is just wrong.
@Edi Ahm War is by definition an armed conflict, so it couldn't had started before. You are talking about student demonstrations in 1981, and that is true it has started there.Albanians always wanted to separate but that wasn't possible legally so they started guerilla attacks. That is classified as a armed rebellion and the Serbian response is quite legal. But you are free to think of it as you wish, but there is only one truth, bud.
@Edi Ahm I am focusing on a period after ww2, and a sovereign states rights. My point is you can't make an illegall break off. On that logic Serbs in Kosovo can now proclaim independence from Kosovo?
@Edi Ahm Really? Before war there was 30.000 Serbs in Prizren and today only one. Where are those Serbs? 150.000 Serbs left Kosovo. 2004 year you again attack Serbs, and you attack churches and monasteries, you destroy them and later you claim them lol irony.
What is the point of uniting our countries if no one wants to live there because of the poor work situation? Many people have no work, live in poverty. Most want to flee to another country to find work, to give families a better life. That is the sad reality for all the nations in the Balkans. Governments should work on this. This is what the people of the Balkans need, a sensible job, peace and a better life.
Thanks Gentian. I completely agree! You are absolutely right. A lot if people are posting comments saying it just happen or it will happen. But few are really thinking how this will help the people of Kosovo and Albania. For Kosovo, in particular, it carries a lot of risks. If all the government goes to Albania then this will have a bad effect on jobs there. This needs to be really well thought through.
@@JamesKerLindsay Dear Mr. Ker-Lindsay, politicians in the Balkans often do not have a brain. They do very little or often nothing for the people there. The politicians there only fill their own pockets with the money.
Kosovo cannot grow while being isolated. Uniting with Albania would solve the international isolation, and furthermore it would give great momentum for the development of the Albanian state.
Kosovo is not an independent country. It is a US military base. Kosovars and Albanians are amongst Afghans, Iraqis, Pakistanis and Syrians claiming asylum, as refugees, all over Europe.
Keep up the good work man, like the other commenter said your probably one of the few to take 'great Albania' in context. Also, do you think that the Balkans (West) will be redrawn one final time?
Its not Great Albania, its ETHNIC Albania. There are many differences. If we spoke about Great Albania, Croatia, Bosnia, half of Serbia, N.Macedonia and Slovenia would cease to exist. (Illyria) Meanwhile ethnic Albania is where Albanians live in the balkans rn.
@@gigasigma8373 Illyrians we’re not Albanians. Albanians are not Illyrians. But then again, Greeks called themselves Romans for 600 years before the Greek identity was reinvented so anything is possible if you convince enough people.
@@gigasigma8373 all nations are artificial. They are imagined community. Genetics tells us that East Germans and Poles are more closely related than East Germans and Bavarians. South Albanians and Greeks are more closely related than Kosovo Albanians and south Albanians. There are numerous examples like that. Someone from Prishtina is probably more closely related to someone from Nish or Podgorica than he is to someone from Vlorë.
@@royalhaze4254 I think Kosovo should not be United with any country regardless of Albanian majority, I am Albanian and I love Albania, but I think is time to make peace and live in harmony with neighbours and Kosovo belong to Albanian from Kosovo and Serbians from Kosovo and we should stay as independent state and not listen to Belgrade or Tirana. This is only my opinion I’m sure lots of people don’t agree with me.
@@petritkrasniqi376 What if Kosovo uniting with Albania wouldn’t cause any unrest? Would you be pro it happening? I’d be down for a land exchange between Northern Kosovo and Preshevo so Kosovo could unite with Albania. We would’ve been United in 1913 if the great powers didn’t fuck us.
I don't really think kosovo is independent for the reason it cannot join Albania, and also if kosovo was independent there would be no northern part dedicated for only serbs, it's like serbia is in within kosovo, they have serbian number plates on their cars etc. Plus if kosovo actually was independent the border line on the map with serbia would be a solid line and not dotted, I think US and the Eu (nato) just tricked us the albanians that we are independent so that we would keep the peace and agree to it. In fact I think we are just a part of serbia but autonomous and self governed. Kosovo's independence is just an illusion especially to us albanians. Why doesn't the kosovo police at the border with serbia put their stamp on our passports but just the serbian side? The kosovo albanians give their stamps "republic of kosovo" in other countries it borders with but just not when it comes to serbia. That means you are entering serbia and not kosovo, and if happen to have a kosovo stamp in your passport good luck getting back into serbia from kosovo, since they do not recognize kosovo's sovereignty they see it as you've entered serbia like "illegally" or just without their knowledge. Just a speculation and my thoughts on Kosovo as a state. Ps. Fuck Serbia
An interesting pathway could potentially be a hypothetical future restoration of the Albanian monarchy (which has always had a pan-Albanian character, using the title King of the Albanians rather than King of Albania) and then form a commonwealth-style personal Union and ministerial convergence. Political leaders in both Albania and Kosovo seem to hold a lot of respect for the Albanian Crown Prince Leka II, and he’s been a consistent proponent of unity for years. He also has a strong standing in international circles with a lot of ties to western countries
Thanks so much. That’s a really interesting take on the situation! Something like this could indeed pave the way for some sort of confederation. Having a figure hard above politics could be a really interesting direction. But it would be interesting to know what wider public support for such a move would be.
@@JamesKerLindsay Indeed. As far as I know there isn’t really any polling about support for restoring the monarchy, though in the parliamentary elections earlier this year 2 small monarchist parties both got 1 MP each elected, and I believe a good few members of the Democratic Party of Albania favour a restoration as well. There is also the matter of the 1997 monarchy referendum, which the Albanian government in 2011 admitted had been manipulated in favour of the republic, and that the real result had actually been a pro-monarchy victory
@@LordDim1 It would have been the best case scenario for our country however the mad despots behind the scenes got their way once again. Unfortunately Prince Leka II is not in the same position as his father, in fact he is mostly anonymous and can walk freely the streets of his country without encountering major attention, be it wanted or not. th-cam.com/video/_uYuWKQ8ZwM/w-d-xo.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Albanian_monarchy_referendum
@@McElvis1997 Hopefully the entrance of Legaliteti and the Movement for National Development into parliament last year can start to reverse it. We can only hope the house of Zogu can be restored. Constitutional Democratic monarchy is the way forward for Albania. I mean for gods sake, look at the complete joke the Albanian presidency is
@@LordDim1 Personally I wouldn't be against it, especially considering the state of affairs of the country, however as is the case in most post-communist country there are way too many problems to address: the constitutional process is totally rotten, the bureaucracy is complicit with the those calling the shots, the population is at the mercy of 3rd rate propaganda trash and it only gets worse and worse and of course many, many other issues. Unfortunately I am yet to be impressed by these new movements, unless these well-meaning people have what it takes to confront head on those profiting from all of this they are bound to failure, as our very own history taught us many times, those in power will fight with everything they have and won't stop at anything to maintain the status quo which they profit from. Here you can see what happens when the average citizen dares to raise his voice... th-cam.com/video/NXhw_fG5kLE/w-d-xo.html
Kosovo is not a state. Its a region of Serbia. Half the UN didnt recognize it. Russia and China will always put veto, Serbia will never recognize it. because the country forged by war of terrorist army against one official Yugoslav army and serbian later is not a way to take someone's land. Kosovo was always part of Serbia. Albanians didnt create any state there before. No one mentioned them before 13AD. Every monument there is serbian. Albanians are muslim people and islam came on the Balkan later. With Turks. All that story of Illyrians is ignorant because they dont have any material proof, linguists never found connection except claims of Albanians and last man who spoke that language died in 19 century and his language was roman mixture with greek. How is possible that roman administration never noticed entire nation and they were not romanized and every other tribe was. Simple they were not there yet.
Thanks. I have covered Kosovo in a couple of other videos. You might like to take a look at them On a more general point, I really don’t like the “we were here first” arguments. (And there is a lot from Albanians as well, who argue Slavs are newcomers.) After hundreds of years, both Serbs and Albanians have a right to call the region home and live in peace. They can share the Balkans, alongside Macedonians, Montenegrins, Bosniaks, Croats, Gorani, Vlachs, Roma, etc.
James you sound quite unpersuasive on some key points in your video, i strongly suspect even you understand that you missed the mark by quite a bit, especially on the main question of the video. So allow me to put things into perspective for you: Could Kosovo and Albania unite? Yes. Would that make ethnic and national sense? Yes. Will that happen? Not likely. Why? Several reasons: 1.) As long as resolution 1244. is in place, US has legal justification to maintain its presence in a European country in perpetuity. "Kosovo" is the only "country" whose government can never tell US to pack up and leave. By recognizing unilateral declaration of independence, and maintaining the nominal homage to resolution 1244. US has combined both their own national interest, the image of legalism and (immediate) satisfaction of Kosovo Albanian political elites. 2.) In several waves of government inspired violence directed at Serbs (for example: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_unrest_in_Kosovo ) Kosovo Albanians have managed to expel a significant portion of Serbian population out of Kosovo since 1999, and most of those who remained, have clustered themselves in northern part of Kosovo where Serbs are the 90%+ majority, where they give, excuse my French, 0 fucks about Pristina government or what US says. In case of Kosovo unification with Albania, do you think those people will just sit there calmly and welcome Albanian border guards, police and army? Of course not, you would have a conflict. This isnt 1999. any more. And the last thing Europe needs right now is another wave of refugees. 3.) To avoid making this into an essay (even though i can give you even more points) this is the third and the most important point: US doesnt care that much about Kosovo, or rather its priority in the region is only secondary or tertiary. Its Bosnia where US administration (especially now under Joe Biden whose political career is tied to Bosnia) is focused the most. Now, if you know anything about Balkans, you will know that Bosnia exists today only as a result of sheer American willpower which had forced 3 nations - 1 willing and 2 unwilling - to remain together in a country which is essentially a forced marriage of 3, of which 2 are desperate to escape it by any means possible. So, lets now go back to Kosovo and Albania. If those two can unite, what do you think, how long is it going to take Bosnian Serbs to have referendum for secession from Muslim-Croat federation in Bosnia? How long will it then take Croats to separate from Bosniaks? And there you go, we are back in 1995, war, ethnic cleansing, and 100s of thousands of refugees.
Thanks. But I promise you I do understand Kosovo. I have written extensively on it. In fact, my work has even been published in Serbian. www.knjizara.com/Kosovo-put-ka-osporenoj-drzavnosti-na-Balkanu-Dzejms-Ker-Lindzi-133354
@@JamesKerLindsay I offered a different perspective, and yes i am aware of who you are. Often when Serbian media want to present American view on the subject of Kosovo, but using different source (or mouthpiece), they quote you, or use your tweets which cover a variety of subjects, from Seselj's trial to Kosovo.
You just shortly mentioned repercussions that it can be respectivelly trigerred in the region although this is most important issue, but can you assess consistency of the following principles that was introduced by the west in this region: - Ethnic groups in Yugoslavia have the right for secession from the Yugoslavia in republic borders. - Ethnic groups in this former republics (mostly Serbians in Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro) doesn't have the same right for secession from such republics/new states. - Albanians, at the other hand, have the right for secession from the republic of Serbia. In other words - every ethnic group had the right for secession from the country where they are national minority, except Serbians. Where is the consistency and equal right in that, and how would anyone can explain why Albanians in Serbia (Kosovo) can be independent and/or united with Albania, but Serbians in Bosnia (Republic of Srpska) can't be in the same way independent and/or united with Serbia? Is it possible to justify that? Is this inconsistency and double standard - fair, truthful, adequate, sustainable, and will it lower or increase tensions and quality of life? If no, who and why supports and implements such agenda?
no its just the fact serbs in republic of srpska dont want to unite with you and they arent a independant state. Kosovo is more then 90% albanian and independant and has every right to make a referendum to unite with albania.
@@gigasigma8373 Why Serbs in Northern Kosovo can't unite with Serbia if we follow your logic? You want all land to yourself and expell all the Serbs am i right?
@@endri4316 Those politicians in Kosovo want to remove every Serbian presence from Kosovo. Yeah, people would stay but what about serbian historical and cultural heritage? Who will offer protection for that? And what will stop history revisionist to completely rewrite history of Kosovo and remove every presence of Serbian history?
Dear Mr.James! From my bottom of my heart, thank you very much for this video. I'm Albanian from administrative Albania. I guarantee you that Kosovo and Albania will be one state soon. There are 2 mains problems that is stopping that, first one is that if Albania will hold a referendum for unification EU might postpone the full membership of Albania even longer. Second: the corruption in both states and poverty and weak army.You know poorer you are, more submitted you are. The Albanians politicians are so deeply corrupted that they don't sleep at night thinking what to steal next day. I never met any Albanian that doesn't want to unite so it's the free will of people and everyone knows what happen when people want something. I think it will take less than 10 years before this happen. With huge Respect an Albanian who is ready to die for Kosovo.
According to the US State Department, "Albania is the mainstay of organised crime worldwide and the main points of drug trafficking, weapons and immigrants in counterfeit goods".
Hey James , 1.Do you know what is resolution 1244. ? 2. Do Serbia have the same rights to unite with republika srpska and montenegro? Also claming Macedonia as old historic serbian land, and north Albania as is olf serbian town of Drach?
You know what? For you Serbia was entire Balcan, and to say North Albania was always Serbia just because the army was there for 10 years or something is hilarious. Lie to someone else but we were there before Russia sent you.
@@besimzekiri6165 your state and nation was created by Austro-Hungary. Until the 18th century, you were a tribe, without a common language, and you fought among yourself.I can imagine how is painful when you don,t know who do you belong.When you don't have history.Even your biggest national heroes Skenderbeg was Serbian.And even Albanian history scientist says that.
@@nnnnnn7159 Sad that you talk about history but don't know a single fact. It was common that people like Skanderbeg had relations to Napoli and Serbia, as well to Turkey and Austria-Hungary. But he was born in Dibër, not in Beograd. Secondly, you actually don't know that there was Liga of Lezhe what was independent. Never ever has this part of Balcan been Austrio-Hungarian. You were on Austria-Hungarian land, we'd been in Ottoman Empire then after Skanderbeg died. And, seriously, not a single d*ck said he was Serbian. Shut up idiot.
I am Albanian from North Macedonia bot i love my Mather and Father ALBANIA because for me Albania it's my Country my language my culture we are ONE just Albanian.
mire e ke ti vlla po shikoji cik ato vllezrit e tuj aty rreth qark se jan islamizu krejt me keeq se turqit e se arabt na fulliqen na turperun , shikoj me dhjetra dhjetra vidio te ktyre se mvje zor me i qujt shqiptar ve duart koke
@@ROMAN-qn2ez ata që shef ti Jan mercenare të paguar ose ndonji fe tjetër sepse kan fillu si çdo kund në botë me Financu tetor, Në të vërtetë nuk jemi ashtu në Shpirt edhe janë manipulime nga Fqinjët tanë, Sedi a të ka ndodh Komenton njëri në gjuhën shqipe perfekt shqip fol dezinformata po është Serb nga Maqedonia a e dini ju kët punë, Duhet të kemi parasysh kta gjëra, Tetova është plot Student nga Shqipëria Kosova Serbia e kutadi unë pyetni ata se kush jemi ne. Ske ma njerëz të Ndershëm Human dhe Patriot, Ajo fe e vërtetë nuk është kjo që del nëpër Media, Ajo është tjetër.
@@iljazferadi7095 nuk ka lidhje sponsorizime e gjera tilla ato jane shqiptar tamam me emer mbiemer jane hoxha imam njifen ne komunitet edhe vitet 2000 kam qene tetove disa jave kam jetu edhe qyteti sikur i ndare me thiike midis shqiptarve e maqedonasve, nga krahu maqedonasve kishe qef te shikoje lokale tbukra rini e bukur te veshur pizeria dukeshin qe fytyre te paster te rregullt pasterti ambienti, kaloje anen tjeter booo ftyra te vrame pise vec lokale me gullash me qofte me groshe femra me ferexhe booooo ca ndryshimiii mer bo bo sa turp
@@ROMAN-qn2ez Më vjen keq more vlla nuk du me ofendu më tregu në publik se si shiten me para femrat katolike 🤫 e han Kokainën por mos më detyro pash at zot se më dhimseni ju që sjeni musliman, Ata me ferexhe kur ti përmendësh pak ma kujdes janë tjetër Kalibër të lutem Femrat tona nuk martohen me Serb për 3000 euro sepse ne e nxjerim nga fshati të gjith Familjen po ndodh si në Shqipëri po mos mi nxir fjalët prej Barku, Ke pa ndonji Qebaptore dhe vetëm atë e përmend këtu at Hotelin me 5 yje se përmendet atë Miliarderin më të pasur nga të gjitha trojet shqiptare është nga Tetova pse se permende lërë mos fol ma Shum, Fshati jem ka 100 Milionera e leje mo Tetova mos ke qene nga Maxhupët edhe thu, Të kishte qenë ashtu nuk do vinte Universiteti Europes në Tetovë. Haj kalo bukur.
Thank you for the interesting video. I have two questions. 1. How do you react to the argument concerning the historical demographic changes in Kosovo? Do you think that is related to the discussion? 2. I am wondering if mini shengen can ease the ethnic hatreds. How do you see mini shengen? Can it be related to this topic? Do you think decision makers in Balkan are considering to make a peace in the region? Regards, Koshi
@@MasaKoshi That's absurd. That would be like asking white Americans to leave America because their forefathers took over Native American land. The only reason Serbs would leave Kosovo is because of the terrible economic conditions. Forcing Serbs to leave because they "colonized" the land would be an act of ethnic cleansing.
@@MasaKoshi Stating this as a Kosovar Albanian: Kosovo Serbs do not need to leave Kosovo. The Serbs living in Kosovo are living in their homes. And we should not become what we fought against in the 90s just to get some kind of revenge.
@@SuperSERBDUDE the united states threw 2 atomic bombs to japan and i watch today ..... Both countries have taken their responsibilities to build an unprecedented alliance! We must go forward and work together for peace. unification or not it is enough that all the Balkan countries enter the EU and there are no borders in the EU ............ total unification done !!
If we are going to talk about the demographic changes then why don't we start from the start when it was inhabited by non-Slavs and the Illyrian Dardani that inhabited an area of what is today South-Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia. only later came the Slavs, the Serbs much later in late medieval period. Why don't we talk about these demographic changes which occurred in the entire Balkans if they are so relevant . Because they are not relevant considering these places firstly have changed demographics all the time due to invasions, secondly there lived Albanians there too , some of these registers don't cover all areas and Albanians also had Slavic names. Some of the 15th - 16th century reigsters show Albanians as the main inhabitants in the towns and in Western Kosovo. Most Muslim converts were Albanians. And for the towns we have mainly 16th century registers that show Albanians as the main inhabitants. For some regions such as Has and Opoja we have only 16th century registers and again it show Albanians as the main inhabitants and Muslims. As do 17th sources describe the area as inhabited by Albanians. The East changed entirely into Albanian after they expelled 60,000++ Albanians from todays Southern Serbia. Look up expulsion of the Albanians and you will see, even that area had an Albanian population since the medieval period before people moved there. The demographic changes are nothing but excuses to occupy another people considering they also largely occurred because there was a significant Albanian population in the region and not only physical immigration which mainly sped up later. You can say there was a demographic growth. And they contributed to the change too by expelling people from other areas. So most of the population in Kosovo ended up as Albanian . And it was part of Ottoman Albania, then it was later occupied with Albanian majority. I don't think you can come back 500 years later and occupy another people based on demographic changes, even 16th century registers show Albanians and Muslims as some of the main inhabitants. And Albanians also had Slavic names. You can apply the same logic to Macedonia and other areas that are related. Lets just say, these Slavs that claim to be the original inhabitants are late invaders in Dardania. Would be like someone invading and colonizing Norway or Germany and from there later use it as an excuse to occupy it again based on further changes that occurred later. A lot of the history has been manipulated by these people which I will not touch on now. But thanks for your question. Also Albanians have ancestry from the Slavs and Albanians and Vlachs that lived in Kosovo so it is ironic the Serbs , many who settled in Kosovo in the 18th century and later, claim the medieval people as theirs. In th north of Kosovo most Serbs are Montenigrin settlers
This has opened my eyes understanding that if Albanians were the largest dispersed population more than any other ethnic group in the balcans, it could mean that their territory was taken by other kingdoms. Albanians were composed of a non homogeneous groups which means you find gegs and tosks having distinct features in terms of physicality and language and also traditions. Again Albanians consist the largest diaspora populations living in their own homes but now ruled by foreign governments. To be more precise: Albanians of n. Macedonia consist of about 40% of the whole n. Macedonia. It’s interesting to note that they were never a group of people who emigrated from elsewhere (like from Albania) to n. Macedonia. They always lived in Macedonia since biblical times. By the way, I believe that Macedonians of the Bible and of Alexander the Great were mainly composed of ethnic Albanians. I base this on the simple fact up mentioned above that they never came as refugees to Macedonian land rather they lived there and later ruled by Slav kingdoms. Then Kosovo and Montenegro make the same case.
Albanians did not live in n.macedonia since the biblical times. Before Ottomans camed, albanians pretty much didnt exist, they had no national identity. So during the Ottomans, now mostly muslim albanians, with their privilages of being muslims, started to settle in abandoned homes of christians in modern day N. Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. Ottomans recorded everything
Distinct? Im Albanian and I know this is total BS..yes might have some differences but not more different than a southern Italian with an northern one..for example..that was the "theory" built and cherished by the Albanian's neighbors (i.e. greeks and serbs) to carve as much as possible out of their lands and territories and to deny as strong as possible their statehood.
If a exchange of land (Mitrovica 《》Presheva) happens then a union between Kosovo and Albania would happen, doing so it would encourage the Serbs living in republika srpska to unite with serbia, Albanians in west Northern macedonia would do the same and North Macedonia would cease to exist probably absorbed by Bulgaria.
Thank you very much. You make a really interesting point about united vs reunited. Interestingly, this comes up in other contexts, such as Ireland. While it may be a question of reunification from a national point of view, from a strictly political perspective - which is what I tend to deal with - it should be classed as unification as they were never formally united in an independent state. But often the word used is defined by how you view the situation. It's a really good example of how language is used to describe situations.
Reunited? If you tell mr at what point in history Albania and Kosovo were united I will never ever comment on this channel. If you can not and James can not then it means that you are simply lying and making up. Just like James.
@@JamesKerLindsay When were Kosovo and Albania "united from a national point of view"? What does it mean at all? You know very well that they were never united (and never will be, of course) so you are importing linguistic construction here.
@Agim Skifteraj Yes, as puppet fascist and nazi puppet " Greater Albania". It says enough. And don't tell me to stay quiet. We serbs are not N. Macedonians... Clear?
Thanks for the Video. Albanian in Albania, and Albanians in Kosova or ( Dardania the Ancient name ) it should become naturally back where they belong in each- others arms. This awful separation, was done, after the Ottoman Empire deal with the super powers at a time. Albanians, at a time, we’re not only poor and oppressed by the Ottomans, but they were in a survival mode, so, there power to become together was insignificant and nonexistent at a time. However, I think the only way to become officially together, must be via Brussels, under EU umbrella,which means when they both join EU, if only, EU will open doors for both Countries, as well as for all countries in the balkans. In this way, will be more formal and logical, rather than creating another unnecessary, hot Volcano in the region. Lastly, it will also depend on the people in Albania and Kosova to decide if they want to unite or not. The Internal decision, it is more important than the external, as long as doesn’t damage other neighbouring countries.
Albania was found 1912, Serbia had Kosovo before that so u couldn't own Kosovo if u didn't exist at that time. Kosovo can't be country if Serbia doesn't agree and that will not happen SO, kosovo can be country only in your imagination.
I don‘t understand why the western Powers didn‘t let Albania keep Kosovo. If the Western Powers would have let Kosovo become a part of Albania, this massive Conflict wouldn‘t be so emotional. Either this Land should have been given to Albania or the Serbs should have treated Albanians decently in the first Place. Neither one nor the other happened.
@@JamesKerLindsay Back when the Ottomans were driven out of the Balkans. Immediately, it would have been more logical to give Kosovo to Albania. Back then, it was populated almost only by Albanians and after the Serbs occupied it, it not only led to the Colonization and Serbisation of this Land but also to Hundreds of Thousands of killed Albanians. The empty Albanian Settlements were repopulated by Serbs. Milosevic tried to do the very same Thing with Croatian Serbs after the war in 1995.
Another aspect that is probably affecting the overall opinion in Albania is the cultural one. If Kosovo were to be integrated into Albania, the demographic effect would be considerable. Albania has traditionally been quite balanced in some aspects, e.g. all the main religious groups being more or less evenly represented; many non-Muslim Albanians predict that an Albania-Kosovo union would make Albania overwhelmingly Muslim and the Albanian ethnos synonymous with the Islamic faith. Kosovar Albanians are also commonly thought to be a lot more conservative and religious, in comparison to the overall more secular and progressive Albanians of Albania, especially those in the South. Maybe those are misconceptions, but it is something that some Albanians bear in mind.
Nah, religion plays a very little role in Albanians. Although is true that Albanians in Kosovo and Macedonia are far more religious and conservatives that those in Albania this has had little pressure on secularism in Albania. In actual fact, the opposite is happening, the Albanians societies in Kosovo and Macedonia are facing pressure from youth to follow Albania example. I'm from the south of Albania and every summer I meet with many young Albanians from Kosovo and Macedonia. They love Albania, the freedom and the lifestye.
My friend from the OSCE says that he "does not endorse, nor critize the contents of this channel" but he does watch it, so make of that what you will ;)
we have the right to unite and will do so, we are a distinct people with different langauage and blood from the slavs, how can 3 slavic countries be independent from serbia that share language and culture and not us albanians? Bosnians, Croats serbs and montenegrins and the slavs in macedonia are basically one and the same, they thrived in 1 state, yugoslavia and they want it back, so let them unite and let us unite. The problem is not the albanians uniting, the problem is the slavs dis-uniting.
I had no idea there was so much interesting stuff happening with Kosovo or that there was any discussion of unification with Albania. I think a great way for Kosovo to proceed is by seeking a confederation type union with open borders and dual citizenship. That I think in theory should let Kosovo citizens bypass the international gridlock while permitting Kosovo to access international organisations and funds via Albania.
@@ClydeAlb Don me punu me serbet ti? Jo ne jemi Shqiptar o vlla ska shans te punojme me armikun kunder nesh mos harro se Dardania asht arsyje e madhe pse shqiperia ende egziston
In Kosovo, the entire cultural heritage is based on Serbian cultural heritage. How is that possible, having in mind that there are almost no Serbs there at the moment? The answer is the holocaust. First the Holocaust of the Albanian National Socialists in World War II, and then the Holocaust of the Yugoslav Communists in cooperation with the Albanian Communists who are trying to persuade the Republic of Albania to join Yugoslavia, sacrificing Serbs from Kosovo and settling Albanians from Albania. The current Albanian policy is nothing but the ideal of the Albanian National Socialists on the re-formation of Albania from the National Socialist regime that was current in Europe during the Second World War.
I'm Kosovo Albanian and I genuinely don't see a reason for unification. The reason is that I don't see exactly what we will gain. A stronger country ? I mean size doesn't exactly mean strong considering that our governments in the Balkan are very corrupt and never really get things done. Would we gain visa free travel ? That's an issues that can be resolved very easily from the Kosovo government if there is enough political muscle behind it. Is it higher wages and a better standard of living? That's again another issue that would be resolved if we finally had a decent government and not corrupt mafia lords like thaqi and haradinaj "leading" the country. Is it a better integration with EU and the USA? Well as you see from the video that would be a horrible move! All in all I believe that the majority of problems Kosovo faces would be solvable if there is a strong enough push internally for fixing issues. Wages wont increase and prosperity wont be reached just because you enter a union with another country which btw has major issues for itself. Albania is not Sweden. It's another Balkan country facing the same problems like every other country in the region. Poverty, crime, corruption, low HDI etc. Unification at this point would be nothing but a PR stunt. It sorta gives me the impression that screaming Kosovo is Albania is as reflex as a Serb screaming Kosovo is Serbia. It's a dogma that is periodically screamed into the ether but doesn't really have any hold in reality neither do things look remotely close that either is the case. Well anyway those are my 2 cents to this topic take it or leave I don't care *shrug*
Thanks you for such an interesting comment. A lot if people are just resorting to slogans saying it can and must happen, but don’t appear to have actually considered why and how it would work. Very often national projects are used to try to take people’s minds off the very real day to day problems of a country. In the case of Kosovo and Albania, and the other countries of the Western Balkans, the priority needs to be on economic development and growth, building skills and employment opportunities for young people, tackling corruption, etc. Unification may sound like a nice idea, and that’s why it’s so powerful, but I’m hearing few concrete suggestions for how it would work and what real benefits it would deliver. So, thanks again for a thoughtful comment. I always appreciate commenters who take the time to write something substantial.
This is the only way for Peace in Balkan countries. For me Kosova and Albania should be one. Serbia and their Serbian in bosnia should be united in peace. Is nothing wrong if All Albanian leaving together and all Serbian together. We dont have to leave like gypsies is all countries. For me when ever is Albanian in balkan be one country. Serbian should unite with their tribes . I think this should be peaceful agreement between Albanian Kosovan and Serbian. And the war should finish forever. Leave in peace and prospective for the futere. 🇦🇱🇽🇰
@El Nino Brown i am Albanian British national living in England. We are the same people i have many friends from Serbia in United Kingdom. And all of as think the same. Should be one united Serbia and one United Albania and finish the story.
@@virtuallifter2438 Yep ulqin and aboth it near the skadar lake we should also get presevo to vranje cause most of its inhabitants are albanians maybe even some of macedonia while serbie gets some of sandzak the serbian bosnian part
Never Bosniaks are strong why won the war. Abd why are ready agains to ficht and to protect The home land of Bosniaks. So you are albanian bad you want that the Serb take land of Bosniaks. Lopa ty je muti. Beliv my why are strong Why won the war why kick the Serb and croat Army...
...do you Albanians really think that Serbia will allow you to take Kosovo without a war? Kosovo belongs to Serbia, Serbia didn't attack Albania, and Serbia do not want any part of Albania, but also will not allow to Albania to occupied and unified with Kosovo
having a close family member of mine in the parliament of kosovo the idea of presheva valley and medvegja joining kosovo and then giving northern kosovo to serbia was proposed so that kosovo afterwards could join albania is what was told to me after a meeting was held between ramush haradinaj, edi rama and hashim thaci and is something only few people know about. reunification of albanian lands is bound to happen as the longer we stay away from each other the more the desire increases to be one.
Thanks a lot. I can well believe it. I had heard the same. I could well see a deal where Serbian MPs vote to change the constitution to allow Kosovo to hold a referendum on unification as part of a comprehensive deal that would involve such land swaps. This might explain the very strong opposition to any talk of territorial transfers in many -though certainly not all - European capitals.
@@JamesKerLindsay yes, the thing is that serbia will never recognise Kosovo as a sovereign state but there is the possibility that they would accept it as a part of albania if they do get nothern kosovo and most likely republika serpska in bosnia. we will have to wait and see but from what i hear every time i do go back to kosovo on visits is the desire to finally be a part of albania
It is so interesting you say this. I have also heard the same. In fact a very senior Serbian political figure told me this. It is easier for Serbia to accept Kosovo as part of Albania than as an independent state - for all sorts of reasons. I thought to discuss this in this video, but decided to leave it out. But I might come back to it. Not many seem to buy into this view, but it certainly makes sense to me. Interesting to hear someone else say it.
@@JamesKerLindsay I feel that the reason why serbia wouldn’t like to see kosovo independent is due to the fact of them not wanting to see kosovo prosper on its own. I feel as if it’s bound to happen one day as i said earlier. It would be better off if kosovo was a part of albania as we are one people the only thing separating us is the border and the accents we have whilst speaking albanian. a unified kosovo and albania would prosper i think due to the investment of the diaspora into the nation and building the infrastructure. tourism is another thing aswell and i feel that there is only good things to come for albanians and the all of the balkans
Why the hell would we swap mitrovica which is and always was inhabited by Albanians and a territory of Albanian which is part of Kosova also rich in natural resources witu presheva Valley which is not rich in natrual resources. Serbs want mitrovica only for that reason. All these territories should be part of Kosova. They're all inhabited by Albanians. Even Mitrovica was until people were being expelled.
That was a great summary. I think the only way the union can happen is by getting the approval of Belgrade. Maybe you should expanded more on the idea of a territorial exchange cause that could eliminate many of the blockers you mentioned.
Thanks a lot. Yes, I might try to come back to this. As I’ve mentioned in several comments to viewers, there is an argument that unification between Albania and Kosovo is actually preferable for Serbia over Kosovo’s independence. And I have long believed that a land deal could make a lot of sense. But it is widely opposed - often for reasons that have nothing to do with Kosovo.
interesting. i've been to albania, but never to kosovo or serbia. would be interesting to see how this develops. any updates on kurdistan lately? been a little quiet and not quite sure what's going on over there
I’ve spent a lot of time in Serbia and Kosovo and have a lot of friends in both places. I genuinely do hope to see a lasting settlement between Belgrade and Pristina. Great point about Kurdistan. I’ll have to take a look at it. It was one of the earliest videos I did. Perhaps time to revisit things.
@@JamesKerLindsay you’re always welcome here James trust me we all want a definitive solution and so we can focus on the future. :) Greetings from the sovereign Republic of Kosovo 🇽🇰 😄✌🏻
@Ime Prezime a couple of destroyed buildings as a reaction for the thousands of lifes taken from albanian children women and men. Old buildings and bricks are replaceable human lifes arent... The fact that your churches even supported the the mistreatment and genocide of the albanians by the serv regime says a lot in its self. Nothing holy in that just an institution used as puppet to spread governments agenda.
@Ime Prezime just what i thought no actual arguments just some more burned buildings 😂 The hypocrisy with you servs is astounding crying about some burned houses when 4 years earlier you did this to over 100‘000 albanians...
@Edi Ahm Sure,Edi. And Albania belongs to all people living there. I do not think they would like someone to take a part of it. I believe progress comes with the respect among people. People on the Balkans are easily pushed in the games of the world big bosses. Pity.
@Edi Ahm There is no wrong in being a nationalist. It is natural thing to love your own people. We should avoid being chauvinists . Hate towards other people does not bring anything good to anyone. Let us hope,Edi, all the best for all people. We should work on that.
This was a really accurate analysis of the situation of our nation🇦🇱🇽🇰 Thank you James! I am really surprised that I didn't see any hate comments from serbs and Greeks.
This alternative way will never happen. The albanians wont just unite again,unless the serbs try and take it with force,which will only raise tensions more and more.
If you look at the truth we lost 5 States in 1912 with ethnic albanians kosova shkupi Qameria Ulqini Nishi Slavic Serbia and Greece stole Albanian land they kick people out of the country they did genocide all over everybody knows that the day will come to be United 🇦🇱🇺🇸🇦🇱🇺🇸🇦🇱🇺🇸🇦🇱
The answer to the question in the video: -No. Kosovo is not independent for any nationalistic or ethnic reasons. I understand why you would not address this certain topic in this video as it is highly controversial but it has to be addressed in order to fully understand the situation there. And that is crime. Kosovo is "independent" because it needs no one to interfere with their internal matters and affairs and also their underground drug and human organ trafficking - not Serbia, and not even Albania. The separation from Serbia is evident but they would not want to unite with Albania because then the top of their political hierarchy would be Tirana not Prishtina which would be extremely more difficult to manage their illegal operations. So being independent is the best way to preserve decentralisation which would allow them authority for such activities. And the worst thing of all is that both Serbian and Albanian individuals are involved in these illegal activities equally. Nationalism and dreams of Greater Albania or returning Kosovo to Serbia are just a mask to the much more pragmatic and sinister affairs. It is all about the profits and dirty money.
@@gracchus7782 The only sources are testimonies and some independent Serbian journalists who are silent for a long time. But if you genuinely think that mainstream or any other media would cover such topics in the Balkans and live to tell the tale, then I don’t know what cave are you living in (no offense). But it is evident that self proclaimed country with tons of war ridden, nationalistic and separatist background is connected to crime in which (even) west has interests.
I take my hat off to you for this video. Great chronological pined point explanation. As a Kosovar Albanian, I would have loved to see Albanians all together in one country if we existed in another universe. But, with the kind of history and politics in the Balkans, I would most likely prefer an Albanian unification under EU.
Thank you so much. I’m glad you liked it. I can understand why people would like to see unification, but as I’ve shown in other videos (such as my one on Yemen) these things don’t always work out as planned. One part often dominates the other. It is a really interesting subject.
as a Kosovar Albanian,I'd rather have the Albania that my forefathers fought,generation after generation we've been struggling to survive on this areas,just to be divided by Europe some 100 yrs ago !! so,you're telling me,that the same Europe that torn my country into 5 pieces,I must join their block now ?! nah man,I'd rather live a poor life,rather than join them! our only ally in the EU is Germany,while in Europe is Great Britain !! the rest hate us to the guts ! so we don't need them at all
As a Serb, I would have loved to see Serbs all together in one country also but USA and EU would not let that happen... I think Kosovo should be Albanian same way as Republika Srpska and Republika Srpska Krajina should be Serbian but we all know how that went...
The subject of unification between Kosovo and Albania is fascinating. There is certainly a logic to it. But could it ever happen? And will it ever happen? Thoughts and comments below.
I will write words from Ramush Haradinaj ex PM of Kosovo a quote " Kosovo don't have any foreign politic exept what American administration tell us to do".. end of quote
It will happen. Albanians have long dreamed, fought and worked for it. In theory you would think you are right but you need to go and live there for some time to touch the reality. The leaders of Kosovo, and even the people of Kosovo, spend very much of their time in Albania and especially in Tirana. More and more marriages are happening between them, more and more businesses are being built by each in the other country etc. etc. There is love and respect between them as opposed to loathing, hate and fear between Kosovo and Serbia.
It should not matter what the UN countries think about the issue, it should only matter what the democratic countries think. Scotland could separate from UK, as Northern Ireland could, as Quebec could separate from Canada etc. etc. just like UK democratically and peacefully left EU. In democracy the will of the people matters most. Even the Serbs in Bosnia have the right to unite with Serbia if they wish to.
In my opinion the constitution hurdle is mountable if it is amended and if the Serbian majority territories in Northern Mitrovica are swapped for Presheva/Medvegja/Bujanovc that are inhabited by Albanian majority.
The powers screwed up the Balkan borders a century ago and they should help with all they can to make it right now. These countries have values that must be preserved, such as languages/customs/cultures, and that can only be done when each has it's own nation-state living in peace and good neighborly relations respecting each-other.
@@mendjelire8392 Nice story about life and coexistence for now when apsolutly nobody care about minoritys on Kosovo.. but if anytime anybody start to care Kosovo will have to change a lot of things for be acceptable in international politic stage...
I would love to see a real Albania as it belongs united with all stolen parts of us from all around our neighbors and yes but i think it’s a bit complicated. I mean maybe it’s better if there are two countries like Kosovo and Albania are really close to each other and we always act as one but maybe isn’t as bad in both being separated countries.
I hope that in the future when they both join EU won’t be a big deal at all .
@@thelastmohican741 sounds like serb propaganda
It would be interesting to see this type of video about the possible unification of Romania and Moldova.
Thanks. Great suggestion! I agree. I have been meaning to do something on this for ages. It would raise some fascinating questions, not only over Transnistria, but also what would happen with the EU. Could members incorporate new territories in this way? (Germany was arguably a special case.)
Moldova and Romania should unite as they are both Romanian and live in Romanian land.
Let's talk about Serbia and Republika Srpska👌
@@artemidadaki3787 ok, what of it?
@@khaybar6108 UNIT
I have actually traveled from Belgrade to Pristina a few days ago and I couldn't be more surprised. It was like traveling between two different worlds... Pristina seemed so much more "western-like"...
and to the topic - there are so many Albanian flags in the city... even at the official buildings
If by Western like you mean Turkey like or middle East like then you are probably right.
But then again, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are important western allies despite being brutal dictatorships that suppress all its ethnic minorities and political dissidents far more than Serbia ever has in its history.
Bit that's just western principles again.
Probably because albanians are pro western, while serbs are pro russian.
@@locybapsi174 Yeah, and Serbia's important eastern partner is Russia...
@@BubbleDouble Not more important than Turkey, Hungary and Saudi Arabia, very proven and distinct Western allies, so I see no issue with Serbia at all.
@@locybapsi174 Russia literally is the main partner of Serbia, one of the only ones.
Albin Kurti stated it pretty well... he said "is a country truly independent if it cannot choose what it does with it's own independence?" (referencing "kosovo can not join another country")
Very good point. I rather think the same. Put crudely, sovereignty is the right to end that sovereignty if you so want. But it is also understood that constitutional demands also matter. This is why there is an emphasis on this with secession. Interestingly, in Kosovo’s case, an internal route exists to union - albeit unlikely to succeed. It is the external political pressure that would try to stop it.
@@JamesKerLindsay I'm from Kosova, and we should use the unification as you mentioned as a means of pressure to get more attention on our statehood issues.
We know it's not the right time to make obvious legal steps like abolishing borders or having one president,
we will definitely further integrate economically and in all aspects of life meanwhile we have to gain total independence as a country,
only once we have all the legal means on our side, the unification could happen as a natural process (confederation).
Kosova (Dardania) has existed as it's own region for at least 2000 years, and most of it under occupations of different empires, We certainly can exist as Albanians even outside of Albania, but joining Albania through EU would be a most welcome scenario and it's only a natural aspiration knowing that we have neighbors that have and threaten to ethnically cleanse the region given the opportunity.
@@JamesKerLindsay I kinda wanted to point out that that line in the constitution feels (and probably is) put there by the powers that be "to hold albanians in check and under control" and that's probably the reason why for the Albanians this is so important. They feel like for too long other countries have divided Albanian lands and now feel like the time has come to choose their own fate.
I just wanted to share this small but signifcant viewpoint with you. From an Albanian viewpoint unification isn't that farfetched. Obviously it's something that will take time and isn't solved like that. maybe we get a referendum that'll be a start! :)
I don't really think kosovo is independent for that reason you just mentioned, and also if kosovo was independent there would be no northern part for only serbs, it's like serbia is in within kosovo, they have serbian number plates on their cars etc. Plus if kosovo actually was independent the border line on the map with serbia would be a solid line and not dotted, I think US and the Eu (nato) just tricked us the albanians that we are independent so that we would keep the peace and agree to it. In fact I think we are just a part of serbia but autonomous and self governed. Kosovo's independence is just an illusion especially to us albanians. Why doesn't the kosovo police at the border with serbia put their stamp on our passports but just the serbian side? The kosovo albanians give their stamps "republic of kosovo" in other countries it borders with but just not when it comes to serbia. That means you are entering serbia and not kosovo, and if happen to have a kosovo stamp in your passport good luck getting back into serbia from kosovo, since they do not recognize kosovo's sovereignty they see it as you've entered serbia like "illegally" or just without their knowledge. Just a speculation and my thoughts on Kosovo as a state. Ps. Fuck Serbia
@@JamesKerLindsay I don't really think kosovo is independent for that reason you just mentioned, and also if kosovo was independent there would be no northern part for only serbs, it's like serbia is in within kosovo, they have serbian number plates on their cars etc. Plus if kosovo actually was independent the border line on the map with serbia would be a solid line and not dotted, I think US and the Eu (nato) just tricked us the albanians that we are independent so that we would keep the peace and agree to it. In fact I think we are just a part of serbia but autonomous and self governed. Kosovo's independence is just an illusion especially to us albanians. Why doesn't the kosovo police at the border with serbia put their stamp on our passports but just the serbian side? The kosovo albanians give their stamps "republic of kosovo" in other countries it borders with but just not when it comes to serbia. That means you are entering serbia and not kosovo, and if happen to have a kosovo stamp in your passport good luck getting back into serbia from kosovo, since they do not recognize kosovo's sovereignty they see it as you've entered serbia like "illegally" or just without their knowledge. Just a speculation and my thoughts on Kosovo as a state.
Interesting video, Albania lost in 1913 unjustly more 60% of territority, given to neighbor countries by London Conference, and in those territories ethnic albanians have many years being assimilated, even nowadays, in my personal opinion now its time to make justice for all albanians , a small country but destroyed and stolen many times during history, and still they kept their language (isolated indo-european) and their traditions intact, uninfluenced by occupators.Albanians must gain their rights and stolen territories.
The biggest dream of every albanian isn't revenge cause it will start wars and useless bloodshed but justice, justice for our Country being usurped and destroyed in the very first creation. We want other countries to understand our story and sacrifice 🇦🇱💔
@@gabrielsulanjaku8885 exactly, not war but justice
Not even nearly 60%. Even then Albanians were majority only in bigger part of Kosovo and northwest Macedonia. Thats far less from the lands that you claim are yours. You are lucky you even got Albania in London treaty since you didnt even participate in Balkan war and you are not the ones who forced out Ottomans from Albania.
@@biglebowsky6586 chekc history how many wars did Albanians have against Ottomans, and how many got serbs against the ottomans. Thants what I thought, u dont know history.
@@uneti463 No you dont know it. And First Balkan war wasnt one of that wars and thats enough.
But even besides that in whole 19th century there is almost no resistance of Albanians against Ottomans.
We not neibors, we ONE blood ! Obviously we have niebours, very bad one's, expanding in our land, becoming big serbia, big greece,big macedonia, big macedonia. Long live Ethnik Albania!
According to the US State Department, "Albania is the mainstay of organised crime worldwide and the main points of drug trafficking, weapons and immigrants in counterfeit goods".
Yeah according to them we are going to be re united as well,,, cry & smile in a same time!
Soon will be called Dardania and name Kosova or Kosovo it's goind to be only on your bullshit history books,,," Kosovooo was the heart of serbia, bla bla blaaaa😂😂😂😂"!
@@andirrugia1014 it won’t. EU doesn’t want it, US doesn’t want it. Only mafiosi like you want it.
US only uses you to get territory in that area.
@@AntonioSilva-hj8en loser
Formal unification might not happen for all reasons you mentioned, but the border and customs between Albania and Kosovo are basically non-existent (people and goods move freely). Majority of Kosovo Albanians possess Albanian passport, so there are no limitations for them
So in other words it is happening naturally and silently
Паметњаковићу кад већ нешто пишеш, што је тачно, онда напиши како је то могуће али само на тим прелазима и границама. ЗАТО ШТО АГРЕСОР НАТО ДОЗВОЉАВА ДА СЕ ТЕРОРИСТИ ШЕТАЈУ ТАМО. СВИ СУ И ДОШЛИ ИЛЕГАЛНО ПРЕКО ТИХ ШУМА ОД ПОСЛЕ ДРУГОГ СВЕТСКОГ РАТА И ПРЕ ТОГА И ПОГОТОВО ОД КАДА КРИМИНАЛНИ НАТО ШТИТИ ТЗВ. ЛАЖНУ ГРАНИЦУ. ДА ТЕ ЖИВОТИЊЕ МОГУ СЛОБОДНО ДА ПРЕЛАЗЕ НИЈЕ ТАЈНА. АЛИ ТО ЈЕ УПРАВО РАЗЛОГ ШТО СУ ПОСТАЛИ ВЕЋИНА НА КОСОВУ И МЕТОХИЈИ, А СВИ СУ ИЛЕГАЛНО ПРЕШЛИ ГРАНИЦУ А НИСУ НИ РОЂЕНИ НИ РЕГИСТРОВАНИ У СРБИЈИ. И ЗАШТО СУ БЕЖАЛИ КУЋИ КАДА ЈЕ МИЛОШЕВИЋ РЕШИО ДА НАПРАВИ РЕДА У СРБИЈИ. ЖВАЛАВИ СРБИ АКО ЗНАТЕ БАР ЕНГЛЕСКИ ОНДА НАПИШИ ДИРЕКТНО КАКО И ЗАШТО ЈЕ ТО МОГУЋЕ ЈЕ САТАНСКИ СВЕТ ЗАПАДНИ ЊИМА ЈЕ СВЕЈЕДНО ЗА СРПСКО КОСОВО И МЕТОХИЈУ. ОНИ НИ СВОЈУ ИСТОРИЈУ НЕ ЗНАЈУ. БИТНО ЈЕ ДА САМО ЖВРЉАТЕ ПО ИНТЕРНЕТУ, КАО ДА ПОКАЖЕТЕ САТАНИСТИМА ДА ЗНАТЕ ЕНГЛЕСКИ. АКО ПИШЕШ ПИШИ СУШТИНУ СТВАРИ А СВИ ЗНАЈУ ДА СЕ МАЈУМУНИ ШЕТАЈУ ТАМО ВАМО!
И ШТА ИМАШ ОД ТОГ ШТО СИ УЧИО ЕНГЛЕСКИ КАД ГА НЕ КОРИСТИШ ЗА ПРАВЕ СВРХЕ. ЛУДИ СРБИН~
@@jimmyESSEXUKnaturally, when I travel to Kosovo I feel like I just went in a another town of albania, same language, same culture
I find the idea of a joint president and “unification by stealth” to be one of the more interesting ideas proposed. Historically speaking, personal unions (which I’m assuming a joint president would be) are very rare among republics and hasn’t been tried in a western style one since the Orange Free State and Transvaal Republics in 1860.
This is one of the things I really love about doing this channel. The brilliant nuggets of information that come up. I learn so much. I didn’t know that example. Thank you! The only sort of comparable case I could think of was the position of the Queen as head of state across a number of countries, and Andorra, which (half) shares its head of state with France.
If passed via referendum I can see most EU states accepting it, I can see Hungary, Russia and Bulgaria opposing
joint what with 3 % serbs in the country? Ehhhh, albanians in macedonia are almost 40% and they dont get fuck all special treatment like the serbs do in croatia, bosnia and kosovo, were suppose to treat them as if they are some kind of pandas ? For what reason? The 5% serbs in Kosovo rule us 95% albanians with iron hand from 1945 to 1999 and now were suppose to treat them as an endangered species ? Fuck'em !
@@ymarw1684 Bulgaria wont, because Albania and Bulgaria will eventually split macedonia amongst one another.
Romania and Bessarabia in 1918
Kosova and Albania were divided by force. Now it’s time to reunite and form the NATURAL Albania!
Very true.
@Nikoladin : Kosova was NEVER part of Serbia. Serbs are not native to the Balkans. They are refugees from Siberia (Russia).
@Nikoladin : Serbs came crawling to Balkans from Russia. Now Putin controls Serbia and has his spies installed all over Serbia. Also, China patrols Serbia with its security. Serbia is run by these dictators and serves as their playground.
@@HA-mn7si Kosovo is a mafia state filled with crime, this is common knowledge lol
@@stefandusan9629 : Are these the lies you tell yourself so you can keep living after NATO bombings in ‘99? 😂😂 Serbia is the criminal headquarters of the world, that is a FACT!
We are not neighbors , we are brothers , we are more than brothers we are one blood
Not sure a medical professional would agree with that assessment.
@@JamesKerLindsay "medical proffesional" , we have 1 language , the same traditons , culture , rites etc . Yes we are the same blood
@@JamesKerLindsay what do you mean by that ? That albanians in Kosova and Albania are not the same ? Or just tried to do a bad joke that everyone has different blood types and all that bla bla bla?
@@illyrian3415 Albanians and Kosovars who are of Albanian ethnicity are of one people, culture and language.
th-cam.com/video/duLKtsyfDKI/w-d-xo.html
Israel should of returned the favour much earlier to recognise Kosovo as us Albanians risked our lives by helping them during the holocaust and by saving them from the Germans.
Israel have 2500 years of problem... we albanians real hellenic people have long history with jews. Remember greece was created 1821 Before that there was no greece or greeks just Some white albanians that Got mix with asians and North africans
Stop trolling you're gonna do to much trolling and you're gonna get blocked
Albanians in Kosovo were allies of Nazi Germany. www.albanianhistory.net/1944_Schmidhuber/index.htm
@Dottor Cisafrulli If you read my comment properly I said that it should of happened a long time ago.
@@МиланПотић-б9х Should of stayed in school.
A lot of greek and serb pressed here let me tell u this it is natyral albania europe is a big B, 1913 in london the big european powers gave land to neighbouring countrys one year after albanian indepedence..
They didn't draw the borders following ethnic lines, wich was a mistake.
@@bajlozi6873 The ethnic borders were unclear. But not just that, those borders were drawn after First Balkan war and Albanians barely participated in that war. Albanians didnt liberate themselves from Ottomans and some of them even fought in Ottoman army like during the seige of Skhodra. Only a portion of todays Albania was under Albanian control after the war, most of it was under the control of Serbs and Greeks, so they were lucky they were given even this what they now have.
@@biglebowsky6586 The ethnic borders were very clear, we knew where our people lived. You also have to consider everything that happened before the First Ballkan War. We uprised countless times, we fought against the ottomans to finally have the independent state we wanted. We have shed blood. Albanians took up arms themselves to protect albanians in montenegro, even though the Ottoman Empire was going to abandon them. The ones that "fought in the ottoman army" were protecting their families from the advancing montenegrin armies. So what if some territories were under the control of Serbs and Greeks? They were invading us and they had no right to be there.
@@bajlozi6873 And we knew where our people lived. Macedonia and Kosovo were a mosaic of Slavic and Albanian villages, there wasnt a clear ethnic border. You Albanians only look at things through your perspective, never through someone elses.
Its true that you rebeled right before 1912 but that didnt gave you independence, you were still part of Ottoman empire. And its a fact that you didnt liberate yourself from Ottomans. It doesnt matter why they fought for Ottomans, it only matters that they fought for them and lost. Now you cant expect to get Grater Albania at expense of everybody and you barely even contributed to fall of Ottomans, not even Serbs got greater Serbia, not even Bulgarians got greater Bulgaria.
Serbs and Greeks had right to take everything they could, sorry thats how war works. But still Britain and Austria forced us to retreat and leave you Albania. Thats fair and realy thats the most you could get, you should consider yourself lucky.
@@biglebowsky6586 "What goes around comes around" Mr, you cannot stop what's coming - only pray that history won't be as monstrously harsh on you as it has been on all Albanians in the Illyric peninsula... not that I wish it upon you.
I’m Albanian Malësor, from Montenegro and I support my brothers and sisters in Kosovo ..
Një bashkim kombëtar 🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱
not any more hahahahahah
Respect to our brothers in north. 🇦🇱🇦🇱
Ju duam o shqipe edhe juve sju harrojm 🇦🇱🇽🇰❤️💪🏻
Albania and Kosovo are like brother and sister. But we are living in different houses. One day we will have one house that is called Albania because I;m Kosovan but in my heart im Albanian
Maybe u will live in albania after u get kicked from kosovo :D
@@turbo0329 i got kicked on 1999. I was in albania for 2 month i came back and i saw my house burnd and im not going anywhere now
But Kosovoar is technically Albanian, just under (this might change very soon) Serbian house management
@@Head0.25s yes if we became one state will be called Albania i think
@@ioniangaming it will be, or just “Greater Albania”, also I hope Germany unites with Austria to be one German country once again
Please cover the possible unification of Romania and Moldova, it would be interesting
Thanks for the great suggestion. I really want to do this. It is high on my list. It raises such an interesting question about unification and EU membership. Would the EU 'allow' it?
@@JamesKerLindsay the real question is will Russia allow it? and what happens to Transnistria
@@robertabella1806 Simple Transnistria goes to Ukraine as well as Gaugazia.
Inside Romania there's no special status for small comunities.
But if Romania gives them a special status that would open the key of Szekely Land to ask for his special status as well.
And you know Romania won't let that happen cause they still want to diminish the Hungarian population living there.
It's like Romania want to piss off Hungary but they can't cause Hungary is strong so they will hurt Szekely Land People so by that way the can hurt Hungary without any repercussion. @James Ker-Lindsay
@@danielpeter3834 I have thought about that, in origin Transnistria was a part of Ukraine. But I'm sure the last thing Ukraine wants is another pro Russian separatist movement
@Ime Prezime what about the orthodox churches built over the existing ones in Dardania/Kosova?They may be primitive or strange, but you've been taught a lie since 1389 and it wasn't only serbs opposing the turks; if your nation could understand that they were others there before you, it would make a change on the people's mentalities. same in Romania, when Magyars occupied Transylvania; although they had a kingdom and left a lot of traces before 1918, they can't deny that we owned these lands before their conquest. peace out!
If the same peoples, divided in two different stases, want to unite and the world will not accept that, that's not a free world than.
Live and let peoples live their lives!
The world is made up of many countries with minority communities. In fact only a handful of countries can be considered homogenous. They fear that if they let one group unite, then what’s to stop their minorities trying the same? That’s the problem. It’s not about Albanians of Kosovo and Albania uniting. It’s about the wider consequences.
@@JamesKerLindsay how is possible that this fear was missed when they wrecked the Berlin wall that divided Germany Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) from East Germany?
Peoples, lands and countries has always changed and always will be the same.
@@stopinjorancestuaj maybe becouse Germany give 60 Miliard marks to Rusia lets say in form of debt and in 1990 it was good amount for them
@@JamesKerLindsay that’s not the right way to put it Sir.
Kosovo is not a minority in its own territory! Kosovo population is 93-95% Albanians and the beautiful comment made by @Stop injorances is in contrast to what you saying for the simple fact that is that same world who divided Albanians and put our nation through the worst Miseries you can imagine by denying everything in brought day light and we still bear the consequences till this day.The same world that divided us is the same world that tells us we not good enough to join EU , we not good enough to join each other, we not good enough......
We are used to be told off but we still here and always be no matter what this Ill bias bigoted world says!
th-cam.com/video/6aoK0_m3gPg/w-d-xo.html
For the sake of argument, if this unification was allowed, there would be absolutely no way not to justify the union of Serbia and Republika Srpska. That again creates problems with the as-is very unstable Dayton agreement holding Bosnia together under a protectorate. This push from some west countries to redraw borders based on mostly ethnic lines and to suit their interests is in mildest terms a certain push into conflicts, a repeat of 1999 with this time a considerably weakened U.S. position is not out of the question, the especially exclusive stance of Germany in this matter not helping matters at all.
look your position is fine and its fair to be concerned about the domino effect but.... the status quo of what's been put in place isn't justifiable. Bosnia is just plainly never going to go anywhere in life. It was created to be a dud failed state. Are we to continue such a mindless existence because of fears of drawing new maps?
The west has only done precisely this. The unification of Italy and Germany along with with the Treaty of Versailles and Trianon did exactly this. Are we to say that, due to details concerning problems of borders that we should go back to the days of rampant empire? I am not in favour of this position.
Let's be honest - Bosnia in it's current state is not going to survive as a country. Dayton won't work at all for ever. It has also nothing to do with the Albanian unification anyways. It makes sense giving the albanian part of Kosovo to Albania, and the northern serb part to Serbia. Problem solved! Everything else is not the problem of the Albanians, Bosnia is gonna explode soon either way. And you all know that. Stop acting this will be caused by a possible albanian unification, because those two things aren't connected to each other in any way.
@@gregorsamsa2271 If I would moved into your house and occupied 20 percent of it, even that house has been in your family for generations, your land, things, you even pay me for electricity and all obligations, would you agree after we share that 20 percent of the house,and I stay in the house ... to divide your property lile brothers !into equal parts!..make sense to you?
@@milanfenriz4497 If you're helping me with my bills, or cleaning my house, you're more than welcomed 😜😂👍🏻
@@gregorsamsa2271 problem is what about serbs that are not in the north? Even while "kosovo" is not fully recognized as a legitimate country, the serbs are treated poorly by the albanians and what would happen to the chruches? Albanians dont have a particularly good track record with those.
If Israel managed to survive and exist, Kosovo and Albania can unite despite the odds.
But here’s the problem Israel has a very powerful army , nuclear weapons and has America also has so many governments around the world in their pocket . Kosovo and Albania doesn’t have any of these things .
I notice that both countries can only really exist as long as America supports them through military...
@@LancesArmorStriking weird comment and based on 2000 years history we have been in war with all our neighbors only because they wanted to expand their territory! But we still here in our mountains and sea and guess what...we are taking back our parts 😊
As an Albanian from Kosovo, I would prefer an unification of Kosovo with Albania, but only as a state. Like United States of America.
Thanks. It is so interesting to hear the range of views I’m getting on this video. I agree that if it were to ever happen, it would be far better as a federation with Kosovo and Albania as two parts of the state, than as a unitary state with Kosovo as just another district of Albania.
It will happen soon 🇦🇱🦅
@@JamesKerLindsay that will start 3rd ww, better option from balkan is balkan confederation for bih, serbia, montenegro, macedonia and albania.
@@dusankitic5711 This kind of confederation will never happen. If you want this to happen, we have first to settle our conflicts.
@@kastrioti1975 Say me one argument for no i will say you 10 for yes.
I really love your videos, so much love from Kosova/Albania!
Thank you so much. Really appreciated. Best regards from London. :-)
U mean from Serbia? Kosovo is Serbian autonomous province
@Ritchie Coli Nah, he is trippin
You mean from Dardania Albania.
@Rrahim Ritchie Coli Are you Albanian?
People in here obviously never heard about march pogrom of Serbs in Kosovo.
@Vojsava Eleni Qifsha
Clear double standard. The international community, meaning the west, wants to keep the Serbian people apart while supporting the Albanian people to break away and then even unite.
An attempt by ethnic Serbs to unite will lead to sanctions and isolation while on the other hand an attempt by ethnic Albanians to unite is understandable and even inevitable.
If you can put one and one together this results in destabilizing the region further, meaning it will never amount of accomplishing anything. As the majority of people in the region will be unsatisfied. Meaning mainly the ethnic Serbs.
It saddens me to see how stupid we are as people in the region. But simultaneously understandable since the west interests seem to play into some of our favors.
At first you will get what you want and then you will have to dance to the tune of the master.
Don’t think you will get to keep anything, as you will all work in the western countries and other people will move into your homes.
Do you actually think the region will prosper wile your enemy is your neighbor?
Be good neighbors and support each other. Countries are something made up but cooperation and a mix of our people is a good thing.
Be smart although it’s easy to get emotional.
Why don't you make a video if the UK will break up?
Great suggestion. I’ve done a couple on Scotland. I’ve also been working on a script looking at Wales. And I really want to do a couple in Ireland. I just try to make sure that I don’t focus too much on one area.
@@JamesKerLindsay after brexit scotland and north ireland want back to UE and wales stay alone with england no for long time
@@БрусЛи-м3ю Why would you want England to fragment further? There would be nothing positive about that.
OMG what a political nightmare that whole area is! -Thanks for your great video. It makes feel lucky to be a Portuguese citizen where fortunately no ethnic or religious tensions exists, and let's hope it stays this way forever, but for Kosovo/ Albania and all others involved, whatever the final solution, may peace remain. 🙏
One just cannot dismantle an empire in a nice way. At least not after the invention of nationalism. And in fact the more disfunctional the empire, the more messy the dismantling would be. Balkans were once a part of the Ottoman Empire and although it is not true anymore the legacy remains and is here to stay.
Devolve nosso ouro
@@Gustavo_Forbes idota, volta pra escola!!
@@Alfablue227 caminha aí, é só piada...
No Because then Serbia has a full right to unite with the Republika Srpska and there are other states that could claim the same rights
Republika sprspka doesnt have a very accurate terriotry, and is very diverse. But in Kosovo EVERYONE is albanian.
@@Gold26502 and gypsies ,montenegrins ,Serbs and Gorans are albanian too?
@@rajkokolompar7737 they are like 3 percent of the population if they dont like it they can leave.
if serbs try to unit with RS they will be 6 ft under along with their family members
The Albanian nation was very much seen by the great powers! without any mercy he divided it and tore it to 6 States of the Western Balkans just to feed the appetites of Russis, Georgia and Serbia. This National Issue needs a quick and peaceful correction.
@Dozer Mramur Everything he said is true.
@@bajlozi6873 Hahahahab he failed to make a coherent sentence let alone say anything true. But what to ecspect from Albanians.
@@biglebowsky6586 What to expect from serbs keyboard warrioring
@@bajlozi6873 One of main characteristics of keyboard warriors is that they like their own comments, just like you. They also have 0 arguments like you, and they dont know propper english like you and the guy above.
@@biglebowsky6586 I know "propper" english 😂
Im from Bulgaria and I love Albanians. I wish you guys to united with your lands and be victorious.
You are welcome 🇦🇱🇧🇬
We fight with Bulgarians during wars in balkan with serbia. Brother ALBG
Thank you for your nice thoughts.
Ime Prezime why are you sending me this ?
Ime Prezime защо ми изпращаш това видео ?
Great analysis James. Historically speaking, Albanian has never had aggressive political agendas. Since the creation of the first state of Albania under Skanderbeg, in the 15 Century, Albania has always sought to defend its territories and not expand as it is a rich country when it comes to natural resources. Sadly the contrary can be said about its neighbor states which have always sought expansion upon the territory of Albania. The problem with today's politics, is with the roots in the past. Albania was the first modern state to be "created" in 1912 and recognized (in a modern definition) in 1913. The most important thing to look at that time was the border that was drawn, as the now "modern Albanian border" was with itself. On all border sides, Albanians were the only population living there (majority speaking). They were intentionally left outside the newly recognized country, crippling not only the territory but also the population. That's crazy, but it clearly shows the appetite of the neighbors countries and Europe in general at that time! Unfortunately religion played a great part to that. Correct me if I am wrong, the gist of your analysis stands for the proposition that the unification would be a normal and good thing to do, but it might prove difficult and probably risky. If I understood you correctly, and I greatly appreciate and respect your opinion, to impede the unification for fear of how other countries would react, doesn't seem like a doing "what is right" but more like playing politics with other countries. My best to you!
lol. albanian angels. what did albania while ottoman era? before that you weren`t majority in the lands that you albanians&turks conquered like you dream of. you are talking bad over your neighbour countries, closing your eyes to the wars&killings that you did for centuries
@@JoviZapp before, there were Pelagians, who lived accross the Mediterrian, than Ilyrians, than Arberesh, than Albanian. Before the Slavs and than the Ottomans invaded Albania, the Albanian cities were par to European cities at that Era. I don't now what killings are you referring to and what Era, but Albania has never sought expansion towards its neighbors. If you look at the general papers released by the London conference, they clearly state the desire of Greece, Serbia and Montenegro to maintain the lands they invaded in Albania. They even state that Montenegro did a great job in a short period of time to get rid of the Albanians living in Podgorica. I am not talking badly about my neighbor countries, I am simply stating the facts. If you think that Albania and Otomans were one, you are clearly wrong. During that period Albanians were the only population which was not allowed to practice their religion, forced in becoming Muslims, not learn their language and not have any education. Anyway, dont get me wrong, I love all the neighbors countries. I have visited them all and I have enjoyed my staying each time. Take care
@@Flavor88 based
@@Flavor88 i believe the real problem is in the history teaching of our both countries. Serb here. Hi! While i don't know much about Albania a large portion of what many of your countrymen claim online sounds like extreme nationalistic exaggeration. I am sure that this is how we sound to you as well. I've seen documentaries that support your claims and also that support serbian claims. What needs to happen in my opinion is to have scholars from your country and scholars from mine cross-reference their data and determine what is the nearest truth. Firstly we must agree to examine all sources critically , especially the British because they have made so many conflicts in the world so far it looks like sport to them. Lastly, frin what i was able to gather from popular generic maps lately, is that our genetic makeup is pretty much the same. Only a very small portion of people can claim to have different ancestry. We are all the same, and we should all be able to live peacefully. I wish you all the best and i hope these conversations can always be held over a beverage and not in armed conflict. Cheers!
@@cane7232 Hi to you back! I always welcome an open minded individual, especially one who comes with a common will to engage in a fruitful based conversation. My premise, whenever I read something about history, is that history is written and taught by the victorious.
Personally, whenever I read a piece of history from an author, I always like to see the citation, whether it is based on an original source, or a translation or the author’s interpretation and conclusions. To me, these make the difference between and objective and subjective view. I truly appreciate all those authors who make it clear to explain what the document they refer speaks, and what they understand by it and how they put it into context.
Albania today does not have a problem only with Serbia, but also with Greece, which, we consider has done so much injustice in representing the history. For example, although well regarded primary sources of ancient history, Thucydides, Strabo etc., they refer to the tribes living in Epir(us) as “barbarians” (such as the Chaonians, Molossians and Thesprotians), Greece today maintain that they were “Greek”, despite them being considered barbarians, having different cultures and different political system compared to the ones in Athens for example. What clearer evidence do you need?! Nonetheless, some modern views consider “barbarians” only as un-civilized, not by the meaning that they spoke a different language they could not understand (aka “bar - bar”). There can be different views even on first hand source.
A few years ago, the Foreign Minister of Greece made a mistake by declaring in the Greek parliament that Greece invests 53 million Euro/yearly in Albania, to further its political agendas! They considered such statements as secret and protected by the national interest of Greece and was not proceeded further in the questioning. They were a big deal in the media, but you can hardly find traces today. A few years ago, there was a book published by an Albanian author who states that Albanian has 93% loan words from other languages, especially from Serbian! So, as you see, it is clearly a matter of personal interests and far to difficult to find truly objective historians who are not paid by other states. In Albania, many of us completely disregard the official propaganda of the National institute of Albanology, as it is totally corrupted! Nonetheless, they exist, and although they do not represent the official view of the state, they play a major role in disinformation. That’s why, I prefer to relate to foreign authors when it comes to Albanian history. I don’t see how a French, German, Italian or other nationality, would have an interest in Albania in the 14 - 19 century. A great deal of help has been done recently by Albanian historians and translators who have translated works of foreign historians. Among some authors, we still regard them with skepticism, as religion played a great role in the creation of national identity.
Kosovo uniting with Albania? This is new, but it does seem even more unlikely than Kosovo being recognized as a sovereign state. Looks like Kosovo will have to remain in political limbo for the foreseeable future.
This is New for you
Not for the other people
Why should the albanian people be allowed to be united, but not serbian people? The west is just made up of hypocrites.
@Balsha well the only official documents about kosovo are kumanovo agreement and resolution 1244 bith state that kosovo is a serbian province, but because our western overlords decide, we dont have a say, they talk about destroying republika srpska every day while we honor the dayton agreement.
@Balsha I love how albanians dance around certain points when it doesnt fit them. Serbia is the successor of what was then yugoslavia. In all yugoslavias kosovo was a part of serbia. It was at most an autonomous province of SERBIA and 1244 states that it should remain a southern province. People are so quick to defend "kosovo" but will forget about how albanians tried the same thing with macedonia, but because macedonia is poor the west and US in particular didnt care.
Such great insights. First foreigner I came across who uses the correct term 'Natural Albania'.
Thank you for the content.
Thanks so much. It is such an interesting debate. As I hoped to show, it is a little more complex than many people realise.
He’s very clever and neutral.
A complex topic explained in a comprehensive, yet very understandable way. Thank you!
Thank you very much indeed!
I think is just matter of time. Definitely the broken puzzles will Go back where they belong
Bro Albania's original territory was from north Nish(now invaded by Serbia) to south Prevreza(now invaded by Greece), and in east was Skopje(now invaded by north Macedonia) to west Podgorica(now invaded by Montenegro) Kosovo was the center of Albania, but then the Europe superpowers frightened by Russsia devided our territory in 6 parts, just to make easy for our neighbours thirsty for territory and power to genocide us and to create their Big Country.
@@blockie9706 bro the original name is Dardania, Kosovo is in serbian, of course that unification will happpen one day but first we must change the name of republic of Kosovo to its original name Republic of Dardania
@@blockie9706 HAHAHAHAHAHA you Albanians are to funny! 😂 Догодине у Призрену 🇷🇸
@@lazarzivanovic6643 hahahaha you serbians are to funny , you only want to calim what it’s not yours 😂😂
@@abrahamlincoln856 Што тражите од нас да признамо Косово, ако је независно? 😂 Догодине у Призрену 🇷🇸
Interesting idea, but this may set a precedent that cannot be undone once it is started. At least, not in good faith.
Though nobody recognizes it besides Russia, South Ossetia would have the same claims (ethnicity) to unify with North Ossetia (in Russia) as the Kosovars do with Albania. This may also inflame issues with Ireland's desire to reunify with Northern Ireland.
Is this a Pandora's box?
It is but people are always making exceptions to rules. I am not in favor of it but honestly, powers bend the rules they create all the times and don't look back. But it won't happen with Kosovo because, as you said, people don't want that precedent.
What’s up with the Russian flag you support the Russian genocide in Ukraine?
This is a necessary step for peace and stability
@@alexburke1899 bruh
Thank you and congrats for the video sir!
In our body run the same blood, border No border we still 1.
Love from Tirana
Support from an Israeli-American Jew!
Don’t go into biology and start with the same DNA etc. We know that. The issue here is how to stop evil from committing ethnic genocide and not what their blood is made of because they are not capable of thinking that far.
@@theklorg305 Support from an Albanian much respect to Isreal.🇦🇱🇮🇱
Another great video! I would agree that this unification is impossible, Russia sees Kosovo as an American version of its own semi-recognized or unrecognized puppet states, and thus for parity’s sake will not let this happen. Serbia may take the chance to strike a deal over the new boundary, but Russia would likely be irate and use its leverage to make Serbia vehemently oppose the unification.
I think you are right that Kosovo is trying to leverage the EU, but it seems like given it’s extremely weak international position there’s no way Kosovo is joining anytime soon. However as long as the current situation persists on, some sort of multinational economic union could be formed.
Thanks. Interestingly, I have long argued that Russia’s decision to oppose Kosovo came after it tried to make a pitch to trade international acceptance of Kosovo for international acceptance if the breakaway territories in the further USSR. When this was southern by the US, Russia dug in its heels. In that sense, I agree that sone of the basic dynamics are still in place and Russia might be really unhappy to think that the US and EU had effectively ground Serbia down and got their own way over Kosovo while leaving Russia limbered with its own recognition problems. One gas to wonder if that happened, Moscow might just give up and annexe Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Transnistria might be trickier though. But perhaps Moscow could push them into a deal with Moldova as a bit of ‘goodwill’?
@@JamesKerLindsay That's what I was thinking...Russia could try to trade them accepting Kosovo's independence for the UN accepting Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia as independent opening a path for Russia to freely annex these territories.
Did you read book's 🤣 off course that Albanian lived in Serbia thay are being on austro- hungary and German side in ww1. We not need Rusia to push. We all know that Kosovo is Serbia it's only under ocupation of Nato.👋
Një komb një flamur sa më shpejt🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱
As you said Unification between "Kosovo" and Albania, will brake Balkans, nothing stops Serbs from whole peninsula to demand a same treatment, and unification with Serbia , Great.......(insert country name here) is always bad idea, Balkan politicians should stop playing with ideas like that it always lead to war in the past, and not just wars but wars and ethnic cleansings, exoduses and multiple other crimes.
It wasn’t a problem for other countries to expand why shouldn’t Albania be allowed?
@@albodab1468 But they did not actually. Learn history
@@Tribalpotato why don’t you learn history?
@@albodab1468 why are U gay
@@teamoftheworhist5788 ask your baby sister
Same intern monologe
Same language
Same culture
Same Dreams
Same „Happlo Group of Blood“
More then Brother & sister‘
Kosova&Albania: Steve Wonder & the Darkness 🇽🇰🌀🌀🌀🌀🇦🇱
Perhaps spell out how it would work? What sort of political system do you see in such a union. Would it be a confederation, federation or a unitary state, and what sort of powers would Kosovo retain? Would people from Kosovo be guaranteed a certain number of government positions? It would be interesting to hear how you see this working.
@@JamesKerLindsay the whole political scene should change first. They should fight crime and corruption before it happens. If this changes it can work perfectly as a federation. There should be people in power that put albanians as a nation first and not their personal interests. If such people come in power it could also be a unitary state without any problem.
@@JamesKerLindsay U.S.A Uited State If Albania
@@JamesKerLindsay hello. Albanian here. I think the concerns of some albanians living in kosovo regarding kosovo taking a secondary role are valid. I believe that a unification would be better in a federation type so that kosovo can retain its institutions and still have its own autonomy. The details are not very fleshed out but i believe there is overwhelming support for unification in both countries. As for albanians living in montenegro, as long as their rights are respected and they are not treated as secondary citizens then we will enjoy good relations with them and the same goes for macedonia as well.
...same lies
We, the Albanian youth, have grown up learning the painful and unjust history of our people. I was born in Kosovo after the war and I remember this flag in my childhood 🇦🇱 and not this other one 🇽🇰. We know that we will not have political benefits but we want this union with all our hearts and we want it for the future and we want it to be those people who lived at the time when Albania was united again! We are honestly tired of learning how the lands and our people are separated! Respect for making this video ♥️
What is a "Natural Albanian" and how does that differ from an "ethnic Albanian" and someone of Albanian citizenship.
-Noth American with an interest in Albania.
97-98% of Natural Albaninas are ethnic Albanians, which are native southeastern Europeans, Balkan Mediterraneans.
Natural Albania=Ethnic Albania .In 1912 Albania was bigger and everyone in it was Albanian but still in 1913 the London Treaty split that Albania in todays Albania and the rest was given to our neighbours leaving 80%of Albanians outside and 70% of the land too
Who divide Albania has to unite blame Europe entire world knows Illyrians Dardania
For me there is a simple answer to all of this, if the majority of a region wants to join whatever other region, then they should be allowed to do so without any third-party approval or whatever.
If the people in northern Kosovo would vote to join Serbia then so be it. If Kosovo would like to join Albania or the other way around, then so be it. What does the Serb from northern Serbia has to lose if Kosovo joins Albania? Nothing. Same goes for Kosovars from the south if Northern Kosovo was to join Serbia
I never managed to understand this primitive way of thinking on both sides.
My dog declared independence of my back yard and voted to annex it to my neighbor’s. I hope my cat doesn’t come with similar ideas about the house.
Then you shouldn't call Crimea an annexation but a righteous return to Russia!
Natural resources in mitrovica (northern Kosovo) that neither country wants to give up.
Thaks for this great video respekt 😊🇦🇱
Thanks so much. It is such an interesting situation. I have spent a lot of time in Kosovo and I have always found it a really fascinating place.
Thanks so much, James, for yet another very interesting video summing up many of the complexities that at least I wasn't aware of.
Thanks Dano. Always appreciated. How are things with you? I hope all is well.
@James Ker-Lindsay
All is well here, thanks - although we now see many of the new Covid variants appearing, but our vaccination programme is ramping up.
I do welcome your videos as a "distraction", reminding one of the fact that there are more challenges in the world than "just" Covid and Brexit, and pointing one to areas that need reading up. 😉
You do look well - I hope that's the case, too.
As an German with albanian roots myself and an absolutely supporter of an unification at least between Kosovo and Albania i want to thank you for this deep and informatic view of this high intenc political problem. Thanks !!
In my opinion this thematic is clear, in many points you have showed it:
If there is no interest to accept Kosovo as an independent country by international players and the Kosovo-Albanians have to slend and stuck in the limbo as you said it,
Then there is no other choise than a unification (not defined in what a form )
with our also albanian neighbor. In all political movements and ambitions for Kosovo there will always be Serbia to block Kosovo in developing in any case. So what a chance Kosovo have? What a chance the population have? Let the youth bleed out just like it is happening right know?
Question: how would any other ethnic group would feel theirselfs if for centurys their getting pushed down and shut up by neighbors around and by the own government just like enver hoxha did?
How their would feel theirselfs speaking one of the oldest languages and holding one of the oldest culture but in fact being treating like an marionette ?
Thank Adrian. You make some really interesting and important points.
I think it is vital to discuss what unification would mean in real terms. As I have pointed out, other groups have sought national unification only to regret it once it happened as one part then found itself in a weaker position. Two cases I always bring up (and I have covered in videos) and South Yemen and Somaliland. Both have found that once they United they were sidelined, but they now have no way to escape from the unions. I am not saying it would not work out. I am just saying it needs to be far better defined than many people realise.
Also, I think you’ll find that the Albanian experience is far from unusual. Across the world, there are groups who argue (often correctly) that they have been unfairly divided. Take a look at my video on Western Togoland for one unusual example I covered. This concerns 7 million Ewe who were divided from each other. There are many, many similar examples.
In any case, thanks for the comments. I always appreciate good contributions to the debate.
by "ethnic groups that have been pushed for centuries" you we`re not talking about turks&albanians pushing slavs&greeks . typicall albanian one sided view. even albania don`t want to have more ottoman population. i doubt that all albanians in albania want a unification
And that's why diaspora should not meddle in the affairs of foreign countries.
How can you be Albania and call yourself German lol wtf you are what your ethnicity is fool not where your born and raised
@@JoviZapp that's false, all albanians want the unification .
Great video. I have a question the Republic Of Chameria was declared a couple of years ago do you think it could be a viable state considering worldwide there are 500.000-800.000 Çam albanians.
Thanks so much. Yes, I rather glossed over the Greece element of the topic in the video. The problem I face when doing any of these is to try to provide enough information that it makes sense for someone who doesn't known about a topic, but not overload them with too much. (This is why they might sometimes seem simplistic for people who really know a subject.) I might try to come back to this in a future video. I find the relations between Greece and Albania fascinating in so many ways.
@@JamesKerLindsay its really good topic beacause Greece is still in war with Albania by law even both are part of Nato
@@JamesKerLindsay also a journalist in albania which does a lot of documentaries about albanians when he was in çameria he wasn’t allowed by authorities to do videos in the public, also he is now a non grata person since he attempted to find the truth about the albanians in çameria
@@irza010 they are not in state of war since 1987.
apnews.com/article/50877f835dd70ee26d7e17184f663184
The "Republic of Chameria" is so stupid. How you are going to proclaim an independent republic In a land that your people don't live there any longer. One of my Great-grandfathers was from Northern Epirus (Modern-day Southern Albanian), should I proclaim an Independent Republic of Northern Epirus??? No, because I'm not an ultranationalist idiot. Albanians should stop live in the past and accept that their borders are what they are. No nation in the Balkans got the borders that they liked. Get over it.
I've just discovered your channel and I am pleasantly surprised. I watched a few of your videos and my impression is that you analyze things very objectively and impartially. I am currently writing a master thesis on how the interaction between international organizations and de-facto states affects their actorness ( subjectivity ) in world politics. I saw that you also have several published articles related to this topic that are very interesting. Maybe that could be one of the next topics for a new video lesson?
You have my full support for your work, it's really inspiring! :)
Hi Aleksandar, thanks so much for the kind message. I really appreciate it. And I am really delighted that you are looking at de facto and international organisations. And what a brilliant topic to be working on. I have actually done work on this subject. In fact, I co-edited a book on this a couple of years ago: 'The Politics of International Engagement with De Facto States' (Rouledge). You might find it useful if you have a copy available in your library. (Stop me a line if you don't and I might be able to dig up some of the chapters. It had previously appeared as a special issue of Ethnopolitics.) I certainly hope to look at this in a future video. Anyway, good luck with the dissertation! And thanks again for the comments.
@@JamesKerLindsay Thank you very much for your response! I've heard of that edition and I've already checked it out. It would be a great starting point for my research! Looking forward to seeing your next video!
Kosovo is a part of Serbia, and it will always be. Why doesn't EU let Catalonia break away from Spain?
You can not interfere with sovereign countries borders. What Nato did was unprecedented, they supported a terrorist organization who killed Serbian policemen,soldiers and civilians and started all of this mess.
And now after all of this years EU and NATO don't know how to solve this problem which they created.
Justice maybe slow but it will surely be served.
Catalonia and Kosova are brothers in independence
@Edi Ahm First of all I am not even a Serb. But let's just look at the facts. Albanian rebel, terrorists started attacking serbian policemen and civilians, then the military had to respond.
You even have KLA listed as a terrorist organization by the USA.That is also a fact.
I admit Serbs had done some bad doings but Albanians did also. No one mentions thousands of Serbs who were forced do leave Kosovo, or face being killed, raped etc.
I understand you are trying to defend what KLA did but that is just wrong.
@Edi Ahm War is by definition an armed conflict, so it couldn't had started before. You are talking about student demonstrations in 1981, and that is true it has started there.Albanians always wanted to separate but that wasn't possible legally so they started guerilla attacks. That is classified as a armed rebellion and the Serbian response is quite legal.
But you are free to think of it as you wish, but there is only one truth, bud.
@Edi Ahm I am focusing on a period after ww2, and a sovereign states rights. My point is you can't make an illegall break off.
On that logic Serbs in Kosovo can now proclaim independence from Kosovo?
@Edi Ahm Really? Before war there was 30.000 Serbs in Prizren and today only one. Where are those Serbs? 150.000 Serbs left Kosovo. 2004 year you again attack Serbs, and you attack churches and monasteries, you destroy them and later you claim them lol irony.
What is the point of uniting our countries if no one wants to live there because of the poor work situation? Many people have no work, live in poverty. Most want to flee to another country to find work, to give families a better life.
That is the sad reality for all the nations in the Balkans.
Governments should work on this. This is what the people of the Balkans need, a sensible job, peace and a better life.
Thanks Gentian. I completely agree! You are absolutely right. A lot if people are posting comments saying it just happen or it will happen. But few are really thinking how this will help the people of Kosovo and Albania. For Kosovo, in particular, it carries a lot of risks. If all the government goes to Albania then this will have a bad effect on jobs there. This needs to be really well thought through.
@@JamesKerLindsay
Dear Mr. Ker-Lindsay,
politicians in the Balkans often do not have a brain. They do very little or often nothing for the people there. The politicians there only fill their own pockets with the money.
Kosovo cannot grow while being isolated. Uniting with Albania would solve the international isolation, and furthermore it would give great momentum for the development of the Albanian state.
Kosovo is not an independent country.
It is a US military base.
Kosovars and Albanians are amongst Afghans, Iraqis, Pakistanis and Syrians claiming asylum, as refugees, all over Europe.
Enjoyed the video! Greetings from Serbia (from a Serb).
I am surprised that Serb liked the video.
@@khaybar6108 because the video shows, how unrealistic kosovo actually is.
@Luke Srbin Kosovo je Srbija.
@@kingboymilan5927 in you criminal dream. Little Slobo.
@@kingboymilan5927 Don’t worry Slobo. Well pack your bags for you when you want to return home to Siberia.
Keep up the good work man, like the other commenter said your probably one of the few to take 'great Albania' in context.
Also, do you think that the Balkans (West) will be redrawn one final time?
Its not Great Albania, its ETHNIC Albania.
There are many differences.
If we spoke about Great Albania, Croatia, Bosnia, half of Serbia, N.Macedonia and Slovenia would cease to exist. (Illyria)
Meanwhile ethnic Albania is where Albanians live in the balkans rn.
@@gigasigma8373 Illyrians we’re not Albanians. Albanians are not Illyrians. But then again, Greeks called themselves Romans for 600 years before the Greek identity was reinvented so anything is possible if you convince enough people.
@@alexmood6407 so you think both albanians and greeks are just artifical nations?
You are definetly a slav.
@@gigasigma8373 you’re definitely a fascist obsessing about ethnicity.
@@gigasigma8373 all nations are artificial. They are imagined community. Genetics tells us that East Germans and Poles are more closely related than East Germans and Bavarians. South Albanians and Greeks are more closely related than Kosovo Albanians and south Albanians. There are numerous examples like that. Someone from Prishtina is probably more closely related to someone from Nish or Podgorica than he is to someone from Vlorë.
An absolutely brilliant video.
Thank you so much!
I like the fact that you are being very realistic, very detail and not holding any side’s. Well done and respect from KS Albanian
May I ask you as a Serbian, I am curious to know. What is your personal opinion on this subject? Be honest.
@@royalhaze4254 I think Kosovo should not be United with any country regardless of Albanian majority, I am Albanian and I love Albania, but I think is time to make peace and live in harmony with neighbours and Kosovo belong to Albanian from Kosovo and Serbians from Kosovo and we should stay as independent state and not listen to Belgrade or Tirana. This is only my opinion I’m sure lots of people don’t agree with me.
@@petritkrasniqi376 What if Kosovo uniting with Albania wouldn’t cause any unrest? Would you be pro it happening? I’d be down for a land exchange between Northern Kosovo and Preshevo so Kosovo could unite with Albania. We would’ve been United in 1913 if the great powers didn’t fuck us.
Kosovo and Albania will always be united no matter what
Ishalla behemi bashk :)
Mos fol arabisht. Kuku. Me spres ose spresoj JO "ishallah". 🤦♂️🤦♂️
@@ikebinalbo9747 po ca ka ajo eshte ne fjalorin tone. Pse me ndalon.
@@ikebinalbo9747 nje soj eshte thelbi
Atehere mos thuaj ok,ciao etj.....
Tani ate e kemi futur gjate shekujve
I don't really think kosovo is independent for the reason it cannot join Albania, and also if kosovo was independent there would be no northern part dedicated for only serbs, it's like serbia is in within kosovo, they have serbian number plates on their cars etc. Plus if kosovo actually was independent the border line on the map with serbia would be a solid line and not dotted, I think US and the Eu (nato) just tricked us the albanians that we are independent so that we would keep the peace and agree to it. In fact I think we are just a part of serbia but autonomous and self governed. Kosovo's independence is just an illusion especially to us albanians. Why doesn't the kosovo police at the border with serbia put their stamp on our passports but just the serbian side? The kosovo albanians give their stamps "republic of kosovo" in other countries it borders with but just not when it comes to serbia. That means you are entering serbia and not kosovo, and if happen to have a kosovo stamp in your passport good luck getting back into serbia from kosovo, since they do not recognize kosovo's sovereignty they see it as you've entered serbia like "illegally" or just without their knowledge. Just a speculation and my thoughts on Kosovo as a state. Ps. Fuck Serbia
Kosovo is Serbia 😂😂
Bullshit. Big Bullshit! Cole to kosovo and see yourself. We have own number plates own stamps everything your just talking big time trash!
@@targettheg9197 Shqiptar jem por fakti eshte fakt, ne leter edhe deri sa eshte amerika aty kosova o shtet.
@@II-wn3kz Definitely not, Sandzak is Dardania / kosovo
An interesting pathway could potentially be a hypothetical future restoration of the Albanian monarchy (which has always had a pan-Albanian character, using the title King of the Albanians rather than King of Albania) and then form a commonwealth-style personal Union and ministerial convergence. Political leaders in both Albania and Kosovo seem to hold a lot of respect for the Albanian Crown Prince Leka II, and he’s been a consistent proponent of unity for years. He also has a strong standing in international circles with a lot of ties to western countries
Thanks so much. That’s a really interesting take on the situation! Something like this could indeed pave the way for some sort of confederation. Having a figure hard above politics could be a really interesting direction. But it would be interesting to know what wider public support for such a move would be.
@@JamesKerLindsay Indeed. As far as I know there isn’t really any polling about support for restoring the monarchy, though in the parliamentary elections earlier this year 2 small monarchist parties both got 1 MP each elected, and I believe a good few members of the Democratic Party of Albania favour a restoration as well. There is also the matter of the 1997 monarchy referendum, which the Albanian government in 2011 admitted had been manipulated in favour of the republic, and that the real result had actually been a pro-monarchy victory
@@LordDim1 It would have been the best case scenario for our country however the mad despots behind the scenes got their way once again. Unfortunately Prince Leka II is not in the same position as his father, in fact he is mostly anonymous and can walk freely the streets of his country without encountering major attention, be it wanted or not.
th-cam.com/video/_uYuWKQ8ZwM/w-d-xo.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Albanian_monarchy_referendum
@@McElvis1997 Hopefully the entrance of Legaliteti and the Movement for National Development into parliament last year can start to reverse it. We can only hope the house of Zogu can be restored. Constitutional Democratic monarchy is the way forward for Albania. I mean for gods sake, look at the complete joke the Albanian presidency is
@@LordDim1 Personally I wouldn't be against it, especially considering the state of affairs of the country, however as is the case in most post-communist country there are way too many problems to address: the constitutional process is totally rotten, the bureaucracy is complicit with the those calling the shots, the population is at the mercy of 3rd rate propaganda trash and it only gets worse and worse and of course many, many other issues.
Unfortunately I am yet to be impressed by these new movements, unless these well-meaning people have what it takes to confront head on those profiting from all of this they are bound to failure, as our very own history taught us many times, those in power will fight with everything they have and won't stop at anything to maintain the status quo which they profit from.
Here you can see what happens when the average citizen dares to raise his voice... th-cam.com/video/NXhw_fG5kLE/w-d-xo.html
Kosovo is not a state. Its a region of Serbia. Half the UN didnt recognize it. Russia and China will always put veto, Serbia will never recognize it. because the country forged by war of terrorist army against one official Yugoslav army and serbian later is not a way to take someone's land. Kosovo was always part of Serbia. Albanians didnt create any state there before. No one mentioned them before 13AD. Every monument there is serbian. Albanians are muslim people and islam came on the Balkan later. With Turks. All that story of Illyrians is ignorant because they dont have any material proof, linguists never found connection except claims of Albanians and last man who spoke that language died in 19 century and his language was roman mixture with greek. How is possible that roman administration never noticed entire nation and they were not romanized and every other tribe was. Simple they were not there yet.
Thanks. I have covered Kosovo in a couple of other videos. You might like to take a look at them
On a more general point, I really don’t like the “we were here first” arguments. (And there is a lot from Albanians as well, who argue Slavs are newcomers.) After hundreds of years, both Serbs and Albanians have a right to call the region home and live in peace. They can share the Balkans, alongside Macedonians, Montenegrins, Bosniaks, Croats, Gorani, Vlachs, Roma, etc.
You need some serious help cause your mind has been bainwashed with pseudo servian lies
@@JamesKerLindsay they can live in peace in serbia...
James you sound quite unpersuasive on some key points in your video, i strongly suspect even you understand that you missed the mark by quite a bit, especially on the main question of the video.
So allow me to put things into perspective for you:
Could Kosovo and Albania unite? Yes.
Would that make ethnic and national sense? Yes.
Will that happen? Not likely.
Why?
Several reasons:
1.) As long as resolution 1244. is in place, US has legal justification to maintain its presence in a European country in perpetuity. "Kosovo" is the only "country" whose government can never tell US to pack up and leave. By recognizing unilateral declaration of independence, and maintaining the nominal homage to resolution 1244. US has combined both their own national interest, the image of legalism and (immediate) satisfaction of Kosovo Albanian political elites.
2.) In several waves of government inspired violence directed at Serbs (for example: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_unrest_in_Kosovo ) Kosovo Albanians have managed to expel a significant portion of Serbian population out of Kosovo since 1999, and most of those who remained, have clustered themselves in northern part of Kosovo where Serbs are the 90%+ majority, where they give, excuse my French, 0 fucks about Pristina government or what US says. In case of Kosovo unification with Albania, do you think those people will just sit there calmly and welcome Albanian border guards, police and army? Of course not, you would have a conflict. This isnt 1999. any more. And the last thing Europe needs right now is another wave of refugees.
3.) To avoid making this into an essay (even though i can give you even more points) this is the third and the most important point: US doesnt care that much about Kosovo, or rather its priority in the region is only secondary or tertiary. Its Bosnia where US administration (especially now under Joe Biden whose political career is tied to Bosnia) is focused the most. Now, if you know anything about Balkans, you will know that Bosnia exists today only as a result of sheer American willpower which had forced 3 nations - 1 willing and 2 unwilling - to remain together in a country which is essentially a forced marriage of 3, of which 2 are desperate to escape it by any means possible. So, lets now go back to Kosovo and Albania. If those two can unite, what do you think, how long is it going to take Bosnian Serbs to have referendum for secession from Muslim-Croat federation in Bosnia? How long will it then take Croats to separate from Bosniaks? And there you go, we are back in 1995, war, ethnic cleansing, and 100s of thousands of refugees.
Thanks. But I promise you I do understand Kosovo. I have written extensively on it. In fact, my work has even been published in Serbian. www.knjizara.com/Kosovo-put-ka-osporenoj-drzavnosti-na-Balkanu-Dzejms-Ker-Lindzi-133354
@@JamesKerLindsay I offered a different perspective, and yes i am aware of who you are. Often when Serbian media want to present American view on the subject of Kosovo, but using different source (or mouthpiece), they quote you, or use your tweets which cover a variety of subjects, from Seselj's trial to Kosovo.
You just shortly mentioned repercussions that it can be respectivelly trigerred in the region although this is most important issue, but can you assess consistency of the following principles that was introduced by the west in this region:
- Ethnic groups in Yugoslavia have the right for secession from the Yugoslavia in republic borders.
- Ethnic groups in this former republics (mostly Serbians in Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro) doesn't have the same right for secession from such republics/new states.
- Albanians, at the other hand, have the right for secession from the republic of Serbia.
In other words - every ethnic group had the right for secession from the country where they are national minority, except Serbians. Where is the consistency and equal right in that, and how would anyone can explain why Albanians in Serbia (Kosovo) can be independent and/or united with Albania, but Serbians in Bosnia (Republic of Srpska) can't be in the same way independent and/or united with Serbia? Is it possible to justify that?
Is this inconsistency and double standard - fair, truthful, adequate, sustainable, and will it lower or increase tensions and quality of life?
If no, who and why supports and implements such agenda?
no its just the fact serbs in republic of srpska dont want to unite with you and they arent a independant state. Kosovo is more then 90% albanian and independant and has every right to make a referendum to unite with albania.
@@gigasigma8373 it is the question for James not for you.
@@gigasigma8373 Why Serbs in Northern Kosovo can't unite with Serbia if we follow your logic? You want all land to yourself and expell all the Serbs am i right?
@@BlindManInsane Serbs would still be able to stay in the Federation of Kosovo. No need to exile them.
@@endri4316 Those politicians in Kosovo want to remove every Serbian presence from Kosovo. Yeah, people would stay but what about serbian historical and cultural heritage? Who will offer protection for that? And what will stop history revisionist to completely rewrite history of Kosovo and remove every presence of Serbian history?
Thank you for explaining it so well. Very intresting.
Thank you!
Dear Mr.James! From my bottom of my heart, thank you very much for this video.
I'm Albanian from administrative Albania. I guarantee you that Kosovo and Albania will be one state soon. There are 2 mains problems that is stopping that, first one is that if Albania will hold a referendum for unification EU might postpone the full membership of Albania even longer. Second: the corruption in both states and poverty and weak army.You know poorer you are, more submitted you are. The Albanians politicians are so deeply corrupted that they don't sleep at night thinking what to steal next day. I never met any Albanian that doesn't want to unite so it's the free will of people and everyone knows what happen when people want something. I think it will take less than 10 years before this happen. With huge Respect an Albanian who is ready to die for Kosovo.
According to the US State Department, "Albania is the mainstay of organised crime worldwide and the main points of drug trafficking, weapons and immigrants in counterfeit goods".
@@AntonioSilva-hj8en same as Singapore during 1980...
Hey James , 1.Do you know what is resolution 1244. ? 2. Do Serbia have the same rights to unite with republika srpska and montenegro? Also claming Macedonia as old historic serbian land, and north Albania as is olf serbian town of Drach?
You know what? For you Serbia was entire Balcan, and to say North Albania was always Serbia just because the army was there for 10 years or something is hilarious. Lie to someone else but we were there before Russia sent you.
@@besimzekiri6165 No you did not.You cam with ottomans in balkan.
@@nnnnnn7159 Guess why this little Part at the adriatic/ionian sea was never serbian; just a little hint: It wasn't slavic nor turkic.
@@besimzekiri6165 your state and nation was created by Austro-Hungary. Until the 18th century, you were a tribe, without a common language, and you fought among yourself.I can imagine how is painful when you don,t know who do you belong.When you don't have history.Even your biggest national heroes Skenderbeg was Serbian.And even Albanian history scientist says that.
@@nnnnnn7159 Sad that you talk about history but don't know a single fact. It was common that people like Skanderbeg had relations to Napoli and Serbia, as well to Turkey and Austria-Hungary. But he was born in Dibër, not in Beograd. Secondly, you actually don't know that there was Liga of Lezhe what was independent. Never ever has this part of Balcan been Austrio-Hungarian. You were on Austria-Hungarian land, we'd been in Ottoman Empire then after Skanderbeg died. And, seriously, not a single d*ck said he was Serbian. Shut up idiot.
I am Albanian from North Macedonia bot i love my Mather and Father ALBANIA because for me Albania it's my Country my language my culture we are ONE just Albanian.
mire e ke ti vlla po shikoji cik ato vllezrit e tuj aty rreth qark se jan islamizu krejt me keeq se turqit e se arabt na fulliqen na turperun , shikoj me dhjetra dhjetra vidio te ktyre se mvje zor me i qujt shqiptar ve duart koke
@@ROMAN-qn2ez ata që shef ti Jan mercenare të paguar ose ndonji fe tjetër sepse kan fillu si çdo kund në botë me Financu tetor, Në të vërtetë nuk jemi ashtu në Shpirt edhe janë manipulime nga Fqinjët tanë, Sedi a të ka ndodh Komenton njëri në gjuhën shqipe perfekt shqip fol dezinformata po është Serb nga Maqedonia a e dini ju kët punë, Duhet të kemi parasysh kta gjëra, Tetova është plot Student nga Shqipëria Kosova Serbia e kutadi unë pyetni ata se kush jemi ne. Ske ma njerëz të Ndershëm Human dhe Patriot, Ajo fe e vërtetë nuk është kjo që del nëpër Media, Ajo është tjetër.
Bravo! Much love to you from Dardania, my Albanian brother 🇦🇱
@@iljazferadi7095 nuk ka lidhje sponsorizime e gjera tilla ato jane shqiptar tamam me emer mbiemer jane hoxha imam njifen ne komunitet edhe vitet 2000 kam qene tetove disa jave kam jetu edhe qyteti sikur i ndare me thiike midis shqiptarve e maqedonasve, nga krahu maqedonasve kishe qef te shikoje lokale tbukra rini e bukur te veshur pizeria dukeshin qe fytyre te paster te rregullt pasterti ambienti, kaloje anen tjeter booo ftyra te vrame pise vec lokale me gullash me qofte me groshe femra me ferexhe booooo ca ndryshimiii mer bo bo sa turp
@@ROMAN-qn2ez Më vjen keq more vlla nuk du me ofendu më tregu në publik se si shiten me para femrat katolike 🤫 e han Kokainën por mos më detyro pash at zot se më dhimseni ju që sjeni musliman, Ata me ferexhe kur ti përmendësh pak ma kujdes janë tjetër Kalibër të lutem Femrat tona nuk martohen me Serb për 3000 euro sepse ne e nxjerim nga fshati të gjith Familjen po ndodh si në Shqipëri po mos mi nxir fjalët prej Barku, Ke pa ndonji Qebaptore dhe vetëm atë e përmend këtu at Hotelin me 5 yje se përmendet atë Miliarderin më të pasur nga të gjitha trojet shqiptare është nga Tetova pse se permende lërë mos fol ma Shum, Fshati jem ka 100 Milionera e leje mo Tetova mos ke qene nga Maxhupët edhe thu, Të kishte qenë ashtu nuk do vinte Universiteti Europes në Tetovë. Haj kalo bukur.
Thank you for the interesting video. I have two questions.
1. How do you react to the argument concerning the historical demographic changes in Kosovo? Do you think that is related to the discussion?
2. I am wondering if mini shengen can ease the ethnic hatreds. How do you see mini shengen? Can it be related to this topic? Do you think decision makers in Balkan are considering to make a peace in the region?
Regards,
Koshi
@Beast Do you think Serbs need to leave from Kosovo because they colonized Kosovo or big Albania?
@@MasaKoshi That's absurd. That would be like asking white Americans to leave America because their forefathers took over Native American land. The only reason Serbs would leave Kosovo is because of the terrible economic conditions. Forcing Serbs to leave because they "colonized" the land would be an act of ethnic cleansing.
@@MasaKoshi Stating this as a Kosovar Albanian: Kosovo Serbs do not need to leave Kosovo. The Serbs living in Kosovo are living in their homes. And we should not become what we fought against in the 90s just to get some kind of revenge.
@@SuperSERBDUDE the united states threw 2 atomic bombs to japan and i watch today ..... Both countries have taken their responsibilities to build an unprecedented alliance! We must go forward and work together for peace. unification or not it is enough that all the Balkan countries enter the EU and there are no borders in the EU ............ total unification done !!
If we are going to talk about the demographic changes then why don't we start from the start when it was inhabited by non-Slavs and the Illyrian Dardani that inhabited an area of what is today South-Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia. only later came the Slavs, the Serbs much later in late medieval period. Why don't we talk about these demographic changes which occurred in the entire Balkans if they are so relevant . Because they are not relevant considering these places firstly have changed demographics all the time due to invasions, secondly there lived Albanians there too , some of these registers don't cover all areas and Albanians also had Slavic names. Some of the 15th - 16th century reigsters show Albanians as the main inhabitants in the towns and in Western Kosovo. Most Muslim converts were Albanians. And for the towns we have mainly 16th century registers that show Albanians as the main inhabitants. For some regions such as Has and Opoja we have only 16th century registers and again it show Albanians as the main inhabitants and Muslims. As do 17th sources describe the area as inhabited by Albanians. The East changed entirely into Albanian after they expelled 60,000++ Albanians from todays Southern Serbia. Look up expulsion of the Albanians and you will see, even that area had an Albanian population since the medieval period before people moved there. The demographic changes are nothing but excuses to occupy another people considering they also largely occurred because there was a significant Albanian population in the region and not only physical immigration which mainly sped up later. You can say there was a demographic growth. And they contributed to the change too by expelling people from other areas. So most of the population in Kosovo ended up as Albanian . And it was part of Ottoman Albania, then it was later occupied with Albanian majority. I don't think you can come back 500 years later and occupy another people based on demographic changes, even 16th century registers show Albanians and Muslims as some of the main inhabitants. And Albanians also had Slavic names. You can apply the same logic to Macedonia and other areas that are related. Lets just say, these Slavs that claim to be the original inhabitants are late invaders in Dardania. Would be like someone invading and colonizing Norway or Germany and from there later use it as an excuse to occupy it again based on further changes that occurred later. A lot of the history has been manipulated by these people which I will not touch on now. But thanks for your question. Also Albanians have ancestry from the Slavs and Albanians and Vlachs that lived in Kosovo so it is ironic the Serbs , many who settled in Kosovo in the 18th century and later, claim the medieval people as theirs. In th north of Kosovo most Serbs are Montenigrin settlers
This has opened my eyes understanding that if Albanians were the largest dispersed population more than any other ethnic group in the balcans, it could mean that their territory was taken by other kingdoms. Albanians were composed of a non homogeneous groups which means you find gegs and tosks having distinct features in terms of physicality and language and also traditions. Again Albanians consist the largest diaspora populations living in their own homes but now ruled by foreign governments. To be more precise: Albanians of n. Macedonia consist of about 40% of the whole n. Macedonia. It’s interesting to note that they were never a group of people who emigrated from elsewhere (like from Albania) to n. Macedonia. They always lived in Macedonia since biblical times. By the way, I believe that Macedonians of the Bible and of Alexander the Great were mainly composed of ethnic Albanians. I base this on the simple fact up mentioned above that they never came as refugees to Macedonian land rather they lived there and later ruled by Slav kingdoms. Then Kosovo and Montenegro make the same case.
Albanians did not live in n.macedonia since the biblical times. Before Ottomans camed, albanians pretty much didnt exist, they had no national identity. So during the Ottomans, now mostly muslim albanians, with their privilages of being muslims, started to settle in abandoned homes of christians in modern day N. Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. Ottomans recorded everything
@@GabrielRoguljić you`re right en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Kosovo
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashi-bazouk it`s the opposite of what you say/think it was
Distinct? Im Albanian and I know this is total BS..yes might have some differences but not more different than a southern Italian with an northern one..for example..that was the "theory" built and cherished by the Albanian's neighbors (i.e. greeks and serbs) to carve as much as possible out of their lands and territories and to deny as strong as possible their statehood.
@@glen80elezi46 Maybe Albanians did carve a lot for a long while Ottoman era?
If a exchange of land (Mitrovica 《》Presheva) happens then a union between Kosovo and Albania would happen, doing so it would encourage the Serbs living in republika srpska to unite with serbia, Albanians in west Northern macedonia would do the same and North Macedonia would cease to exist probably absorbed by Bulgaria.
Well even if we don't unite we know that we are brothers and we have the same blood "The Albanian Blood"
i wish we will unite one day ♥
The unification of Albania with Kosovo should look like Switzerland.
Like a federal republic?
@@hoti47 Confederation*
Yes. And soon will be North Macedonia.
Great video, well done 👍. Just one little mistake:: I prefer reunited instead of united. 10/10 thought.
Thank you very much. You make a really interesting point about united vs reunited. Interestingly, this comes up in other contexts, such as Ireland. While it may be a question of reunification from a national point of view, from a strictly political perspective - which is what I tend to deal with - it should be classed as unification as they were never formally united in an independent state. But often the word used is defined by how you view the situation. It's a really good example of how language is used to describe situations.
Reunited? If you tell mr at what point in history Albania and Kosovo were united I will never ever comment on this channel.
If you can not and James can not then it means that you are simply lying and making up. Just like James.
@@JamesKerLindsay When were Kosovo and Albania "united from a national point of view"? What does it mean at all? You know very well that they were never united (and never will be, of course) so you are importing linguistic construction here.
@@AlexA-ls4gc wdym never united, of course they were
@Agim Skifteraj Yes, as puppet fascist and nazi puppet " Greater Albania". It says enough.
And don't tell me to stay quiet. We serbs are not N. Macedonians... Clear?
Thanks for the Video. Albanian in Albania, and Albanians in Kosova or ( Dardania the Ancient name ) it should become naturally back where they belong in each- others arms. This awful separation, was done, after the Ottoman Empire deal with the super powers at a time. Albanians, at a time, we’re not only poor and oppressed by the Ottomans, but they were in a survival mode, so, there power to become together was insignificant and nonexistent at a time.
However, I think the only way to become officially together, must be via Brussels, under EU umbrella,which means when they both join EU, if only, EU will open doors for both Countries, as well as for all countries in the balkans. In this way, will be more formal and logical, rather than creating another unnecessary, hot Volcano in the region. Lastly, it will also depend on the people in Albania and Kosova to decide if they want to unite or not. The Internal decision, it is more important than the external, as long as doesn’t damage other neighbouring countries.
Ottomans did not oppress people in Albanian such lies.
@@finalfrontier001 they took their children and made them soldiers prime example our hero Skenderbeu
We won t, here in Kosovo only uneducated and old people support this, brothers yes but we will remain fully soverein, like Germany and Austria.
@@cuorenerazzurro1661 I'm 20 and I support the unification and so does all my family and friends. Speak for yourself please.
Albania was found 1912, Serbia had Kosovo before that so u couldn't own Kosovo if u didn't exist at that time. Kosovo can't be country if Serbia doesn't agree and that will not happen SO, kosovo can be country only in your imagination.
I don‘t understand why the western Powers didn‘t let Albania keep Kosovo. If the Western Powers would have let Kosovo become a part of Albania, this massive Conflict wouldn‘t be so emotional. Either this Land should have been given to Albania or the Serbs should have treated Albanians decently in the first Place. Neither one nor the other happened.
At what point should it have been given to Albania?
@@JamesKerLindsay
Back when the Ottomans were driven out of the Balkans. Immediately, it would have been more logical to give Kosovo to Albania. Back then, it was populated almost only by Albanians and after the Serbs occupied it, it not only led to the Colonization and Serbisation of this Land but also to Hundreds of Thousands of killed Albanians. The empty Albanian Settlements were repopulated by Serbs. Milosevic tried to do the very same Thing with Croatian Serbs after the war in 1995.
Another aspect that is probably affecting the overall opinion in Albania is the cultural one. If Kosovo were to be integrated into Albania, the demographic effect would be considerable. Albania has traditionally been quite balanced in some aspects, e.g. all the main religious groups being more or less evenly represented; many non-Muslim Albanians predict that an Albania-Kosovo union would make Albania overwhelmingly Muslim and the Albanian ethnos synonymous with the Islamic faith. Kosovar Albanians are also commonly thought to be a lot more conservative and religious, in comparison to the overall more secular and progressive Albanians of Albania, especially those in the South. Maybe those are misconceptions, but it is something that some Albanians bear in mind.
This really will be a problem.
Albanian Orthodox je nga jugu e shqiperise?
Nah, religion plays a very little role in Albanians. Although is true that Albanians in Kosovo and Macedonia are far more religious and conservatives that those in Albania this has had little pressure on secularism in Albania. In actual fact, the opposite is happening, the Albanians societies in Kosovo and Macedonia are facing pressure from youth to follow Albania example. I'm from the south of Albania and every summer I meet with many young Albanians from Kosovo and Macedonia. They love Albania, the freedom and the lifestye.
Thats a huge misconception
@@albanianorthodox8659 no it wouldn’t lol
My friend from the OSCE says that he "does not endorse, nor critize the contents of this channel" but he does watch it, so make of that what you will ;)
Great stuff! Thanks. I’ll happily take that. 😉😀
we have the right to unite and will do so, we are a distinct people with different langauage and blood from the slavs, how can 3 slavic countries be independent from serbia that share language and culture and not us albanians? Bosnians, Croats serbs and montenegrins and the slavs in macedonia are basically one and the same, they thrived in 1 state, yugoslavia and they want it back, so let them unite and let us unite. The problem is not the albanians uniting, the problem is the slavs dis-uniting.
I had no idea there was so much interesting stuff happening with Kosovo or that there was any discussion of unification with Albania. I think a great way for Kosovo to proceed is by seeking a confederation type union with open borders and dual citizenship. That I think in theory should let Kosovo citizens bypass the international gridlock while permitting Kosovo to access international organisations and funds via Albania.
@@ClydeAlb Don me punu me serbet ti? Jo ne jemi Shqiptar o vlla ska shans te punojme me armikun kunder nesh mos harro se Dardania asht arsyje e madhe pse shqiperia ende egziston
KOSOVO IS SERBIA
4EVERE
There are over 7 milion Albanians that live in 5 different neighbor countries
@@tigertunes3189 Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, South Serbia (Preseva Valley), Montenegro, Greece.
@@tigertunes3189 Albania is the only country in the world that is bordered with albanians.
There is like 5-10 million just in Turkey.
True talk Respect for good peopel who speak truth 🇦🇱🇽🇰
And the truth is really spoken. There is no unification between Kosovo and Albania. By the way Kosovo is nice Serbian word. 🇷🇸
@@lightbulbchannel721 By the way kosovo its nice Albanian land
@@gentmeshi5664 Dark times mate, but light is always in the end.😉
@@lightbulbchannel721 Always its light and one day gone come a black day 😜
I m from AZERBAIJAN 🇦🇿and I love Kosovo and Albania💗
@Ashkan Dejagah north part of AZERBAIJAN 🇦🇿👍
Because 40 million Azeri lives there💗
If Kosvo is albania then Nagorno karabach is armenia . And we have even more arguments than you
Much Love to 🇦🇿🇹🇷❤️🇦🇱🇽🇰
In Kosovo, the entire cultural heritage is based on Serbian cultural heritage. How is that possible, having in mind that there are almost no Serbs there at the moment? The answer is the holocaust. First the Holocaust of the Albanian National Socialists in World War II, and then the Holocaust of the Yugoslav Communists in cooperation with the Albanian Communists who are trying to persuade the Republic of Albania to join Yugoslavia, sacrificing Serbs from Kosovo and settling Albanians from Albania. The current Albanian policy is nothing but the ideal of the Albanian National Socialists on the re-formation of Albania from the National Socialist regime that was current in Europe during the Second World War.
I'm Kosovo Albanian and I genuinely don't see a reason for unification. The reason is that I don't see exactly what we will gain. A stronger country ? I mean size doesn't exactly mean strong considering that our governments in the Balkan are very corrupt and never really get things done. Would we gain visa free travel ? That's an issues that can be resolved very easily from the Kosovo government if there is enough political muscle behind it. Is it higher wages and a better standard of living? That's again another issue that would be resolved if we finally had a decent government and not corrupt mafia lords like thaqi and haradinaj "leading" the country. Is it a better integration with EU and the USA? Well as you see from the video that would be a horrible move!
All in all I believe that the majority of problems Kosovo faces would be solvable if there is a strong enough push internally for fixing issues. Wages wont increase and prosperity wont be reached just because you enter a union with another country which btw has major issues for itself. Albania is not Sweden. It's another Balkan country facing the same problems like every other country in the region. Poverty, crime, corruption, low HDI etc.
Unification at this point would be nothing but a PR stunt. It sorta gives me the impression that screaming Kosovo is Albania is as reflex as a Serb screaming Kosovo is Serbia. It's a dogma that is periodically screamed into the ether but doesn't really have any hold in reality neither do things look remotely close that either is the case.
Well anyway those are my 2 cents to this topic take it or leave I don't care *shrug*
Thanks you for such an interesting comment. A lot if people are just resorting to slogans saying it can and must happen, but don’t appear to have actually considered why and how it would work.
Very often national projects are used to try to take people’s minds off the very real day to day problems of a country. In the case of Kosovo and Albania, and the other countries of the Western Balkans, the priority needs to be on economic development and growth, building skills and employment opportunities for young people, tackling corruption, etc. Unification may sound like a nice idea, and that’s why it’s so powerful, but I’m hearing few concrete suggestions for how it would work and what real benefits it would deliver.
So, thanks again for a thoughtful comment. I always appreciate commenters who take the time to write something substantial.
@@auroragashi992 Qka je ka thu haver ?
This is the only way for Peace in Balkan countries. For me Kosova and Albania should be one. Serbia and their Serbian in bosnia should be united in peace.
Is nothing wrong if All Albanian leaving together and all Serbian together. We dont have to leave like gypsies is all countries.
For me when ever is Albanian in balkan be one country.
Serbian should unite with their tribes .
I think this should be peaceful agreement between Albanian Kosovan and Serbian.
And the war should finish forever.
Leave in peace and prospective for the futere.
🇦🇱🇽🇰
@El Nino Brown i am Albanian British national living in England.
We are the same people i have many friends from Serbia in United Kingdom. And all of as think the same. Should be one united Serbia and one United Albania and finish the story.
@@virtuallifter2438 Yep ulqin and aboth it near the skadar lake we should also get presevo to vranje cause most of its inhabitants are albanians maybe even some of macedonia while serbie gets some of sandzak the serbian bosnian part
Never
Bosniaks are strong why won the war.
Abd why are ready agains to ficht and to protect The home land of Bosniaks.
So you are albanian bad you want that the Serb take land of Bosniaks.
Lopa ty je muti.
Beliv my
why are strong
Why won the war
why kick the Serb and croat Army...
@El Nino Brown Vranje to presevo are mainly inhabitant by albanians but were not gonna get it cause you wont get mitrovica
...do you Albanians really think that Serbia will allow you to take Kosovo without a war? Kosovo belongs to Serbia, Serbia didn't attack Albania, and Serbia do not want any part of Albania, but also will not allow to Albania to occupied and unified with Kosovo
having a close family member of mine in the parliament of kosovo the idea of presheva valley and medvegja joining kosovo and then giving northern kosovo to serbia was proposed so that kosovo afterwards could join albania is what was told to me after a meeting was held between ramush haradinaj, edi rama and hashim thaci and is something only few people know about. reunification of albanian lands is bound to happen as the longer we stay away from each other the more the desire increases to be one.
Thanks a lot. I can well believe it. I had heard the same. I could well see a deal where Serbian MPs vote to change the constitution to allow Kosovo to hold a referendum on unification as part of a comprehensive deal that would involve such land swaps. This might explain the very strong opposition to any talk of territorial transfers in many -though certainly not all - European capitals.
@@JamesKerLindsay yes, the thing is that serbia will never recognise Kosovo as a sovereign state but there is the possibility that they would accept it as a part of albania if they do get nothern kosovo and most likely republika serpska in bosnia. we will have to wait and see but from what i hear every time i do go back to kosovo on visits is the desire to finally be a part of albania
It is so interesting you say this. I have also heard the same. In fact a very senior Serbian political figure told me this. It is easier for Serbia to accept Kosovo as part of Albania than as an independent state - for all sorts of reasons. I thought to discuss this in this video, but decided to leave it out. But I might come back to it. Not many seem to buy into this view, but it certainly makes sense to me. Interesting to hear someone else say it.
@@JamesKerLindsay I feel that the reason why serbia wouldn’t like to see kosovo independent is due to the fact of them not wanting to see kosovo prosper on its own. I feel as if it’s bound to happen one day as i said earlier. It would be better off if kosovo was a part of albania as we are one people the only thing separating us is the border and the accents we have whilst speaking albanian. a unified kosovo and albania would prosper i think due to the investment of the diaspora into the nation and building the infrastructure. tourism is another thing aswell and i feel that there is only good things to come for albanians and the all of the balkans
Why the hell would we swap mitrovica which is and always was inhabited by Albanians and a territory of Albanian which is part of Kosova also rich in natural resources witu presheva Valley which is not rich in natrual resources. Serbs want mitrovica only for that reason. All these territories should be part of Kosova. They're all inhabited by Albanians. Even Mitrovica was until people were being expelled.
That was a great summary. I think the only way the union can happen is by getting the approval of Belgrade. Maybe you should expanded more on the idea of a territorial exchange cause that could eliminate many of the blockers you mentioned.
Thanks a lot. Yes, I might try to come back to this. As I’ve mentioned in several comments to viewers, there is an argument that unification between Albania and Kosovo is actually preferable for Serbia over Kosovo’s independence. And I have long believed that a land deal could make a lot of sense. But it is widely opposed - often for reasons that have nothing to do with Kosovo.
interesting. i've been to albania, but never to kosovo or serbia. would be interesting to see how this develops.
any updates on kurdistan lately? been a little quiet and not quite sure what's going on over there
I’ve spent a lot of time in Serbia and Kosovo and have a lot of friends in both places. I genuinely do hope to see a lasting settlement between Belgrade and Pristina.
Great point about Kurdistan. I’ll have to take a look at it. It was one of the earliest videos I did. Perhaps time to revisit things.
If you go to Kosovo, you actually go to Serbia [territory], just with Albanian inhabitants.
@@JamesKerLindsay you’re always welcome here James trust me we all want a definitive solution and so we can focus on the future. :)
Greetings from the sovereign Republic of Kosovo 🇽🇰 😄✌🏻
@Ime Prezime a couple of destroyed buildings as a reaction for the thousands of lifes taken from albanian children women and men.
Old buildings and bricks are replaceable human lifes arent...
The fact that your churches even supported the the mistreatment and genocide of the albanians by the serv regime says a lot in its self.
Nothing holy in that just an institution used as puppet to spread governments agenda.
@Ime Prezime just what i thought no actual arguments just some more burned buildings 😂
The hypocrisy with you servs is astounding crying about some burned houses when 4 years earlier you did this to over 100‘000 albanians...
If Kosovars want to unite with Albania they can freely go there to live. However they cannot take the land not belonging to them. Molon lave!
@Edi Ahm Yes,Edi it belongs to you and all others living there. However,it does not belong to Albania.
@Edi Ahm Sure,Edi. And Albania belongs to all people living there. I do not think they would like someone to take a part of it. I believe progress comes with the respect among people. People on the Balkans are easily pushed in the games of the world big bosses. Pity.
@Edi AhmEdi, It is Pandora s box. It will bring maaaany troubles everywhere and it will not finish well for anyone. History teaches us.
@Edi Ahm There is no wrong in being a nationalist. It is natural thing to love your own people. We should avoid being chauvinists . Hate towards other people does not bring anything good to anyone. Let us hope,Edi, all the best for all people. We should work on that.
This was a really accurate analysis of the situation of our nation🇦🇱🇽🇰 Thank you James! I am really surprised that I didn't see any hate comments from serbs and Greeks.
Thank you very much. Really appreciated!
And there have been a few. :-)
Telling the truth is not hate .
@@Unknown-pi5ll 🇽🇰❤️🇦🇱🦅💪🏼🔥
@@ancientillyrian8228 I have nothing against Kosovo I think Kosovo should be independent but facts don’t care about your feelings .
@@Unknown-pi5ll yeah but all kosova people are Albanians so we want a great Albania that could grow our economy and it would be better at everything
Could you make a video about the unification of Serbia and it's province Kosovo and Metohia? Kind regards.
@Dren Haxhikadrija not sure about that, winds are changing.
This alternative way will never happen. The albanians wont just unite again,unless the serbs try and take it with force,which will only raise tensions more and more.
If you look at the truth we lost 5 States in 1912 with ethnic albanians kosova shkupi Qameria Ulqini Nishi Slavic Serbia and Greece stole Albanian land they kick people out of the country they did genocide all over everybody knows that the day will come to be United 🇦🇱🇺🇸🇦🇱🇺🇸🇦🇱🇺🇸🇦🇱
This was a really good analysis. Subscribed!
Thank you so much, Veton. I am so glad you liked it.
I would die for Big Albania.💪🏻🇽🇰🇦🇱⚔️💣
such a sensitive topic treated in a exemplar way, no facionalism, just perfect!
Thank you so much. It is such an interesting case.
It’s going to happen sooner than you think
Good video btw
InshaAllah 🇦🇱🦅
@@albanian5130 Na jena Shqiptar jo Arab, e kemi gjuhen tone. Thuj "Dashte Zoti". Faleminderit.
@@bletrick3352 Jam musliman nrm që kam me than Inshallah,kshu thojnë gjith se gjysma e ma shumë e Shqiptareve jane muslimanë.Hajt Shnet.
@@albanian5130 E di vllavi jem ama ska lidhje, se besom ka kush thote “Inshallah” ama nese nuk thojm na “Dashte Zoti” kush ka me thane?
@@bletrick3352 un vëlla i dashur kam qef me fol sipas Kur'anit ❤️
Hell no. Until Serbia doesnt recognize Kosovo, it will never be a country. Periodt.
The answer to the question in the video:
-No.
Kosovo is not independent for any nationalistic or ethnic reasons. I understand why you would not address this certain topic in this video as it is highly controversial but it has to be addressed in order to fully understand the situation there. And that is crime. Kosovo is "independent" because it needs no one to interfere with their internal matters and affairs and also their underground drug and human organ trafficking - not Serbia, and not even Albania. The separation from Serbia is evident but they would not want to unite with Albania because then the top of their political hierarchy would be Tirana not Prishtina which would be extremely more difficult to manage their illegal operations. So being independent is the best way to preserve decentralisation which would allow them authority for such activities. And the worst thing of all is that both Serbian and Albanian individuals are involved in these illegal activities equally. Nationalism and dreams of Greater Albania or returning Kosovo to Serbia are just a mask to the much more pragmatic and sinister affairs. It is all about the profits and dirty money.
@@gracchus7782 The only sources are testimonies and some independent Serbian journalists who are silent for a long time. But if you genuinely think that mainstream or any other media would cover such topics in the Balkans and live to tell the tale, then I don’t know what cave are you living in (no offense). But it is evident that self proclaimed country with tons of war ridden, nationalistic and separatist background is connected to crime in which (even) west has interests.
Very good and professional video👍
Thank you very much! Really appreciated.
Agreed
I take my hat off to you for this video.
Great chronological pined point explanation.
As a Kosovar Albanian, I would have loved to see Albanians all together in one country if we existed in another universe. But, with the kind of history and politics in the Balkans, I would most likely prefer an Albanian unification under EU.
Thank you so much. I’m glad you liked it. I can understand why people would like to see unification, but as I’ve shown in other videos (such as my one on Yemen) these things don’t always work out as planned. One part often dominates the other. It is a really interesting subject.
as a Kosovar Albanian,I'd rather have the Albania that my forefathers fought,generation after generation we've been struggling to survive on this areas,just to be divided by Europe some 100 yrs ago !!
so,you're telling me,that the same Europe that torn my country into 5 pieces,I must join their block now ?!
nah man,I'd rather live a poor life,rather than join them!
our only ally in the EU is Germany,while in Europe is Great Britain !!
the rest hate us to the guts !
so we don't need them at all
As a Serb, I would have loved to see Serbs all together in one country also but USA and EU would not let that happen... I think Kosovo should be Albanian same way as Republika Srpska and Republika Srpska Krajina should be Serbian but we all know how that went...
@@kastriotaliu4281you should be ashamed of yourself that's all i have to say