High level talks in Vienna

The United States is justifying Isreal's invasion of Lebanon, saying that Isreali soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah troops, who are officially listed by the U.S. as a terrorist organization. When Serbian border guards were "killed," not kidnapped by the KLA, who were also listed as a terrrorist organization by the U.S., the Serbs got bombed for doing the exact same thing that Israel is doing now. This is such an obvious double standard that one would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to see it.

I really think Koshtunica should read the editorial from Washington Post. It is a wake up call to reality.

its strange that the west is wasting its time and money for this issue when it is evident from the beginning that no compromise could be reached. why not focus their attention to AFRICA and MIDDLE EAST either where the needed help is very much clearly sought. Kosovo is well above the living standards of conflict ridden parts of AFRICA, ASIA and MID EAST.

At least they met to talk. No one reasonable and wise in the ways of the Balkans really expected a solution today. Serbia should admit their irreversible political and historical error of "Great Serbia" and Kosov@ shouldn't believe that the "Status of Independence" is a guarantee for independence. It's dependence on the international community - including Serbia - as economical and political partners should prevent an arrogant approach to Belgrade.
The negotiations are there to talk. And talk they should as - although the final status of Kosovo seems obviously far from undecided - both sides will loose even more than they already have lost..
..seems like the avarage Mitrovica inhabitant understands this need for cooperation more than far away Belgrade or Prishtina as there is already tade and cooperation going on.

Well said Dieter, I'm not surprised an impasse remains at these status talks either, and it doesn't look like a breakthrough is going to be reached anytime soon. It seems to me at least each side wants an all or nothing solution, but as long as the mindset of "the only way for me to win is for you to lose" continues, "Kosov@" will be stuck in limbo. I do think however that the Serb-camp is actually the more negotiable since they are really making a sacrifice in giving Kosovo, a land of incredible emotional and historical importance, near-complete autonomy, in effect severing its claim to the land. Yet at the same time, if such autonomy is allowed, Albanians argue, why not just give full independence? I don't live in the area so I don't have as emotional attachment to the situation as others, but if Lebanon and Iraq serve as examples of nascent democratically-elected governments, it tells me that free elections and independence do not automatically guarantee the quick-fix solution to everyone's immediate problems. I don't have a solution either.

The United States is justifying Isreal's invasion of Lebanon, saying that Isreali soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah troops, who are officially listed by the U.S. as a terrorist organization. When Serbian border guards were "killed," not kidnapped by the KLA, who were also listed as a terrrorist organization by the U.S., the Serbs got bombed for doing the exact same thing that Israel is doing now. This is such an obvious double standard that one would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to see it.

I really think Koshtunica should read the editorial from Washington Post. It is a wake up call to reality.

its strange that the west is wasting its time and money for this issue when it is evident from the beginning that no compromise could be reached. why not focus their attention to AFRICA and MIDDLE EAST either where the needed help is very much clearly sought. Kosovo is well above the living standards of conflict ridden parts of AFRICA, ASIA and MID EAST.

At least they met to talk. No one reasonable and wise in the ways of the Balkans really expected a solution today. Serbia should admit their irreversible political and historical error of "Great Serbia" and Kosov@ shouldn't believe that the "Status of Independence" is a guarantee for independence. It's dependence on the international community - including Serbia - as economical and political partners should prevent an arrogant approach to Belgrade.
The negotiations are there to talk. And talk they should as - although the final status of Kosovo seems obviously far from undecided - both sides will loose even more than they already have lost..
..seems like the avarage Mitrovica inhabitant understands this need for cooperation more than far away Belgrade or Prishtina as there is already tade and cooperation going on.

Well said Dieter, I'm not surprised an impasse remains at these status talks either, and it doesn't look like a breakthrough is going to be reached anytime soon. It seems to me at least each side wants an all or nothing solution, but as long as the mindset of "the only way for me to win is for you to lose" continues, "Kosov@" will be stuck in limbo. I do think however that the Serb-camp is actually the more negotiable since they are really making a sacrifice in giving Kosovo, a land of incredible emotional and historical importance, near-complete autonomy, in effect severing its claim to the land. Yet at the same time, if such autonomy is allowed, Albanians argue, why not just give full independence? I don't live in the area so I don't have as emotional attachment to the situation as others, but if Lebanon and Iraq serve as examples of nascent democratically-elected governments, it tells me that free elections and independence do not automatically guarantee the quick-fix solution to everyone's immediate problems. I don't have a solution either.