 | SELF-PROCLAIMED: Like certain others, Pridnestrovie is merely a "selfproclaimed" state. This fact alone means that it is illegal, some say. [more] |  | | |  | INT'L OBSERVERS oversaw the last election, reporting free and fair conditions and an absence of any vote fraud. They say democratic changes have taken place. [more] |
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Independent Kosovo now
One of Tiraspol Times' regular columnists, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis, wants independence for three new countries in Europe: Kosovo, Pridnestrovie, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Here, he explains why he thinks all three of these entities deserve their own independent statehood. There is no "Right to Independence" to hinge on existing political agendas or a hypothetical need for equilibrium. Either the right to national independence is a full privilege for all or no nation should exist on the planet.
There cannot be nations to which the right to independence is easily accorded, and nations that are told that their independence may cause problems.
Whether the European Union is able to shape one voice or not is not a matter of concern for the Kosovars, and for every righteous person in this world; every nation and every administration will be judged after their policies and the ideals their political choices serve.
As a matter of fact, EU will not achieve unity on this subject. For obvious reasons, Romania and Cyprus will never accept a move that although rightful and fair, will trigger undesired developments. Kosova’s secession from Serbia, on the basis of ethnic and religious difference of the local population, would automatically empower the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Transnistria (Pridnestrovie) to demand similar treatment.
In the case of Transnistria, Romania - standing by Moldova - wants to thwart the international recognition of the small (550,000 people) and oblong country which, inhabited mainly by Russians and Ukrainians, seceded from Moldova in 1990.
Similarly, the chauvinist and racist president of the southern province of Cyprus pursues his suicidal hatred against the Turkish Cypriots, who declared independence and shaped the northern state in the divided island, following the violation of status quo by Cypriot Neo-Nazi elements on July 15, 1974. The Turkish speaking Muslim Cypriots had been terribly persecuted for 14 years, and their nefarious experience under the Makarios regime convinced them that they had to achieve nationhood to ensure peace and concord.
International recognition of Kosova would also herald the rightful entrance of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Transnistria into the international community.
Excepting Romania and South Cyprus, there are several European Union member states that mainly call for consensus. Slovakia is among them. Speaking to journalists after meeting Slovak prime minister Robert Fico on Tuesday 4 December 2007, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "it is my duty to ask all governments of Europe, including the Slovak government to reach a consensus on Kosovo"; and went on to state that: "the Americans have a position, the Russians have a position. I hope that Europeans will have a position as well, if needed”. Premier Fico replied: "I would consider it a huge mistake if the EU got divided over Kosovo. It would make us weak and I have a feeling some superpowers are relaying on this weakness even ahead."
In the same way Goebbels had not realized that for the massacred Jews of Germany, Germany was not “their” country, chauvinist Serb premier Djelic cannot understand that for the outright majority of the Kosovars, Serbia is not “their” country.
Also by Prof. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis:
» We are all Scots today!
» A tale of three Europes
» Europe's 50 Years of Manichaeism
» Europe 2007: 27 members, but no clear perspective
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Let the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia decide their own future in plebiscites conducted by the United Nations or the OSCE. That is the opinion of former White House insider Pat Buchanan who also says that "who rules Abkhazia and South Ossetia is none of our business." . . 
