Montenegro votes on secession

[Serb]

Don't worry, something is comming.

[Fidel]

Originally posted by Oerdin
More changes will be afoot shortly. The final status of Kosovo is to be decided in the next year with something like 85-90% wanting independence, 8% (basically the remaining Serbs) wanting to stay part of Serbia, and so where between 1%-3% wanting union with Albania.

Then we have the Hungarians of Vojvodina to consider.

It is always funny to read ignorant posters pretending to know something about certain topic.

Montenegro has been funcitoning as independent state for at least 5 years. Its leader, Djukanovic, has been Milosevic crony for years, they collaborated very well during war time and they fell apart around 97. By that time Djukanovic was already a leader of institutional organized crime in Montenegro, implicated (together with his brother) as ringleader of cigarette smuggling and people trafficking. However, being very smart he played trump card that he is 'anti-Milosevic' and succeeded dodging Italian criminal investigations and interpolo inquieries. He almost helped save Milosevic in power in 2000, ordering his supporters NOT to vote in federal elections. Anyway, he changed about 4 ideologies, which finally brought him Armani suits, Pascha Rolex and good ties with Russian 'businessmen'.

Serbia was about to let them go, but Solana intervened and forced us to stay in hodge-podge union. Djukanovic feverishly worked for those two years towards independence, which would turn Montenegro into sovereign state and, therefore, vest him immunity of prosecution as a head of state (so he cannot be arrested while on visit to Italy).

Referendum was a typically Montenegrin affair, a lot of grandstanding. You have to realize that Montenegrins are uber-Serbs, they are twice as mythomanic and delusional, so it was quite fun to watch them reenact 1990 in a sort of populist stand-off and show off. Independists needed 55 percent to win and they scraped with 55,5% . Djukanovic is a shrewd operator and he basically managed to win by pressure and coercion in several key areas. If you want to know how this is done, just ask, but I guess that Vetlegion would be able to attest that there are unique ways of pressure to be exerted in Montenegro.

Most of the Serbs welcomed this, since this really shortens the agony of the 'joint state'. Up to now, we shared e.g. diplomatic posts and ministerial posts half-half, while Montenegro contributed 5% to the federal budget. Besides, constant moaning of 'Serbian exploitation' were ridiculous. Most of our company directors and power people are Montenegrins - very well connected and cronying each other on the ladders of power. Similar to people from Herzegovina in Croatia.

Anyway, Serbia will not feel this at all and will get rid of ridiculous federal superstructure. Djukanovic will get a state where 45% of the people feel alienated and want his head, while one third of his supporters are Muslim and Albanian who want to secede at the first whisper from abroad. But that is now his problem.

Finally, Kosovo will become independent. Vojvodina has about 18% of Hungarians and 60% of Serbs, so I guess that referendum will not be a close call. Thanks to all who wished us all the worst, but Serbs are nowadays preoccupied with the coming World Cup. We will kick your asses in Germany.

[Barnabas]

Arent you in the same group as Argentina, the Netherlands and Ivory coast.....

You are underdog

[Fidel]

exactly. bring it on, LOL

[VetLegion]

Hi there LaRusso

Yeah, I know about Djukanovic being supposedly involved in cigarette smuggling, but I didn't want to mention it since I don't know much about it. I saw him once on "Nedjeljom u 2" talk show and he seemed very confident. Stankovic, the talk show host is usually very agressive but Djukanovic completely dominated the show, mafioso style. Talk slowly and carry a big gun

BTW., I'm glad Montenegrians seceded peacefully, since we in Croatia were pretty worried what would happen to Dubrovnik tourism if some sort of shooting started.

BTW., I'm a bit surprised that you've accepted Kosovo's independence. I mean it certainly is going that way (it's independent defacto) but it's far from done deal. Serbia can stall it on legal grounds for years and years and then take it back the moment world is busy making war on China or something

[Colonâ„¢]

And after Kosovo it's all over right? No more people in a struggle for a homeland, huh? If Macedonia gets into a hissy fit again we'll just nuke it from orbit and let Markos repopulate it.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by LaRusso
Djukanovic will get a state where 45% of the people feel alienated and want his head, while one third of his supporters are Muslim and Albanian who want to secede at the first whisper from abroad. But that is now his problem.

Presumably the Albanians who have backed Djukanovic will now switch to their own leaders, so he might find his electoral power-base is a lot smaller once he gets his goal.

I wonder if the UCK will run one of their cross-border campaigns into Montenegro, like they did in FYROM? I expect it depends on whether they get the external support like they did in '01.

... Serbs are nowadays preoccupied with the coming World Cup.

Take your revenge if you will against Holland for what they did to you in Euro 2000 (IIRC), and please crush Argentina! I look forward to seeing if your defence is as good as it was in the qualifiers. Greece won a major tournament by having the best defence. Is your very tall striker playing? (Sorry - forgot his name) My club (Arsenal) were interested, but we already have Adebayor as a tall front-man.

Ivory Coast have some good players too - especially Kolo Toure . You are in the hardest group, so good luck, if you are to equal the '98 achievements of your neighbours.

[Geronimo]

Do all of these countries aspire for admitance into the EU? If so won't the impacts of these various splits of existing states end up being mostly neutralized in the long run?

Does a landlocked country in the EU truly retain any negative consequences from being landlocked?

[Colonâ„¢]

Probably not, due to the common market. Austria doesn't seem very adversely affected either for instance. I doubt either is going to join the EU any time soon though.

[PLATO]

Congratulations to the independence minded Montenegro!







...now...if we could just get the U.S. South a vote please!

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by PLATO
Congratulations to the independence minded Montenegro!







...now...if we could just get the U.S. South a vote please!

I seriously doubt you'd like the outcome of the vote.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by PLATO
Congratulations to the independence minded Montenegro!







...now...if we could just get the U.S. South a vote please!

The irony is that the red states, the same states in which the majority of voters seem to have an irrational, knee-jerk fear of ANY kind of increased government authority, receive more money from the federal government through various programs and pork, than many of the blue states. So if you guys really insist on independence, kiss that money goodbye.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by MrFun


The irony is that the red states, the same states in which the majority of voters seem to have an irrational, knee-jerk fear of ANY kind of increased government authority, receive more money from the federal government through various programs and pork, than many of the blue states. So if you guys really insist on independence, kiss that money goodbye.

Cheap at the price.

[Arrian]

Fine. Good riddance.

-Arrian

[Cort Haus]

So what will the two entities of the post-secession USA be called then?