There's a new country on the map this morning!

[Neige]

Kosovo declares independence from Serbia! (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080217/ap_on_re_eu/kosovo_independence;_ylt=AmGbMbS6T51nJ9iwDNFd_Xes0NUE)

[Lilith]

Wow. I remember when one of our Pixies was there not so many years ago.

[gekkogecko]

"If a general European war does break out, it will be because of some damn fool thing in the Balkans".

alledgedly the word of the German Chancellor, Otto von Bismark.

[Oldfart]

These squishy feelgood things happen, but are often followed by carnage.

Timor L'Este in my doorstep is the classic example.

[scotzoidman]

The news is kind of exciting...

...in the way that watching Slim Pickens ride that missle at the end of "Dr Strangelove" was exciting...

[wyndhy]

i hope that sanity, tolerance and calm will prevail but the similarities to another place could well be a glimpse of a much more turbulant future.

happy birthday kososvo and serbia, one made and one remade. here's to chances at new beginnings