Ariel Rusila's Conflicts [Ex-BalkanPerspective]

E thnic Serbs living in northern Kosovo - municipalities of Zubin Potok, Zvecan, northern Mitrovica and Leposavic - have been voting in a two-day referendum on February 14.-15. The question was simple: Voters were asked simply ''Do you accept the institutions of the so-called 'Republic of Kosovo' established in Pristina?''. Turnout was at 75.28%. Final results will be made known on February 19th - just after the fourth anniversary of Kosovo's independence declaration - but early estimate is that 99.74 % were against Pristina's sovereignty. In Kosovo case the figure probably reflects good the opinion of local Serb population. The result shows that the barricades against EULEX were not just the work of “criminals” and “radicals” but instead have real popular support. One should note that question about northern municipalities of Kosovo is only one - even if a core one - aspect in Kosovo framework. During NATO-bombing and after ethnic cleans...

End Game Approaches on Nuclear Iran End Game Approaches on Nuclear Iran By Ari H Rusila From the start of 2012 the spotlight on Iran and for good reason. Today the entire region is now on tenterhooks for the next move, with US, Iranian and Gulf armies on the highest war alert. Earlier the main scenario was that Israel would make an preventive limited air strike to Iran's nuclear facilities, now it seems that U.S is going to war with Iran. The decision point for applying a military option, before too late, is getting nearer. Ehud Barak, Israel's minister of defense, implied that this critical point would be reached in less than a year, in a recent CNN interview. U.S has changed radically its earlier position, now both the U.S. and Israel say also officially that they have not ruled out military action against Iran. This in case if diplomacy fails to resolve a dispute over the nuclear program, which Tehran says is peaceful but the West believes is a cover for trying to b...

F rom the start of 2012 the spotlight on Iran and for good reason. Today the entire region is now on tenterhooks for the next move, with US, Iranian and Gulf armies on the highest war alert. Earlier the main scenario was that Israel would make an preventive limited air strike to Iran's nuclear facilities, now it seems that U.S is going to war with Iran. The decision point for applying a military option, before too late, is getting nearer. Ehud Barak, Israel’s minister of defense, implied that this critical point would be reached in less than a year, in a recent CNN interview. U.S has changed radically its earlier position, now both t he U.S. and Israel say also officially that they have not ruled out military action against Iran. This in case if diplomacy fails to resolve a dispute over the nuclear program, which Tehran says is peaceful but the West believes is a cover for trying to build atomic bombs. The use of military option is now well on the way. Latest develo...

I n my previous articles ( “Srebrenica: A Town Betrayed” – Finally a Critical Documentary about Srebrenica Tragedy and Media War of Yugoslav Secession continues ) I covered issues which are challenging the “official” picture about Srebrenica massacre. As expected there is a heated debate in different forums about events itself and about right to show the other side of the story e.g in public broadcasting company channels. This debate however is cursorily twirling round persons and deadlock opinions, arguments rarely have some base on facts. Fanatical, narrow minded and many times politically motivated debate is blind alley; many-sided picture about Srebrenica can be illustrated by applying more facts than feelings to discussion. Maybe the best and anyway the most comprehensive source to find not only details and facts but also scientific analysis about them is in my opinion so called NIOD-report. NIOD Report on Srebrenica In November 1996, the NIOD Institute for ...