When I first heard the car horns blaring this morning, I assumed there was a wedding going on. However, after more than an hour of noise, I stuck my head outside the window and saw the Kosovo flag waving proudly from every second car that's driving by. They're pretty happy about it here, which I'm a bit surprised by, as I never new there was such a large Kosovo community in Lausanne.

Are there any celebrations going on anywhere else in the country today?

Heather

yep, got them here too, however you will find it's Kosovans not Serbians heres the flag

Thanks, Polo. I realised my error as soon as I posted it, but you beat my edit.

Heather

I guess independance is kindof like Football, at least as far as how it's celebrated.

This is Pandora's box opened with a wham.

Not only that, but also it is a complete reversal of the "line in the sand" policy adopted by US and Europe prior to the first Gulf War.

I cannot help but wonder what in the world justifies worldwide (read US and EU) support for this "independence".

According the NZZ am Sonntag there are between 120,000 and 200,000 Kosovans in Switzerland out of a total population of 2.2 million. So Kosovo is amusingly referred to as the 27th canton.

Switzerland is uncharacteristically vague about the numbers here as Kosovans are counted with Macedonians (as in The Former Yugoslav Republic of) and Kosovans from Serbia (and probably Montenegro) are statistically counted as Serbs.

So does Kosovo's independence mean that Kosovo Albanians are heading home? No, just the opposite as Switzerland is expecting an influx of refugees from Kosovo but this time from the Kosovo Serbs.

(source)

a weakening or a perceived weakening of Serbia ? Do as we say or no EU entry ?


will be interesting to see what Putin's response will be.

Car horns are blaring nonstop here in St. Gallen.

Been going on all day here too.

Poor Kosovo. They finally get the independence the have longed for only to have it stifled and controlled by the EU. The BBC reported last night that 2,000 EU diplomats, officials and supporting staff are in Kosovo or en route to help the transition towards full complicity with EU laws and directives. Those that are celebrating now seem blissfully unaware of this.

There's a big non-motorized celebration going on in Place Ripone. It seemed pretty fun when I walked by.

I wish everybody honking in front of my house would get out of their cars and walk there.

There seem to be a fair percentage of Kosovan's amongst the population of Baar as well - oh, the joys of a flat on a main thoroughfare...

During the last world cup the police started enforcing a 2 hour limit on celebratory honking. So, what time was it when they declared independence?

I have no idea on what legal basis EU and US gave Kosovo the green light?

I can't understand why the EU supported this. With yet another Balkan state there is now almost zero chance of any non-Balkan country winning Eurovision...

In Basel, the same.

no more car horn here

reaction from Russia

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i...s5DsAD8US90GG0

Some discussion of legal arguments for and against independence.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7244538.stm

Unfortunately Russian attitudes to Albanian's in Kosovo is somewhat 'poor'. When I served there we had to remove Albanian kids from anti personnel mine fields after they had been directed in there by Russian soldiers serving at the Airport. When I questioned the soldier responsible his reply, (via interpeter), was that they were 'Sub-Humans' which he followed up with drawing his finger across his throat.

Both sides, Serb and Albanian, happily comitted atrocities against each other. Whether independance is the answer I don't know but something needs to be done to protect both the Serb minority in Kosovo and the Albanain majority. At the moment the only thing keeping the peace is the UN backed up with NATO forces - If these were to go then without doubt, we would be seeing mass graves being uncovered yet again - containing both Serb and Albanian bodies.