Kosovo was “gambled away”

Great comments! Serbs need to hear and listen to the truth; the truth might be unpleasant, but is the only way to construct and reconstruct the country.

Very good coment.
Kosova was gambled away and Fücks had a point when he said that Kosova can not be runed by Belgrade after white they vdone.

The truth Amy, is that the international community gave a soverign nation's land away to initially a terrorist organization and now as a result of that Serbs cannot return to their homes. It's really starting to make me sick how blind Westerners are to what actually happened in Kosovo. Albanians killed just as many, if not more Serbs than Serbs did Albanians. It was just convenient for your president to do something useful at that time. Speaking of which, maybe we should punish the US for it's wrongs, tell its ppl to face the truth and just start taking bids on your states.

The only truth is that the international community will be breaching international law and Kosovo will eventually become a hotbed for crime, trafficking and terrorist organizations. I was there for several months and I saw how terrified the serbian population is, every single day for their lives, and the amount of crime going on is unacceptable.

Victoria, I don't know from what country you come from, but i can tell you something about crime; Chance that you will get robbed are much greater in New York city and many other Western cities that in Kosovo/a.Please don't tell me about crime. As far as Serbs living in fear, you have got to blame Belgrade becasue they are the ones instilling fear in Kosovar Serbs. Also, you are very wrong by saying that Albanians killed more Serbs, where in the world did you get that information. I beleive you have grossly misinformed and/or you have been blinded by your personal feelings towards Serbs.The headlines on the article are correct. Cheers.

It's so good to read such news. It's so bad to read about how people imagine Kosovo.
I've been reading news a lot on B92, I can assure victoria that there's more crime, trafficking and mafia in Serbia rather than Kosovo. Maybe you believe what some serbian media write about crimes and living conditions in Kosovo. It's really true that you're actually been living on crimed society for more than a decade and it's unbeliavable for you to imagine a place where democratic institutions elected by the will of people function and even sometimes later you'll learn something from them. Just as you'll have to learn from Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro.

And where do you get your statistics M.Shanks? Its interesting that you mock any arguement that supports the truth that non-Albanians are oppressed (not just Serbs which rather destroys your theory that anyone who criticises the Albanians is automatically pro-Serb) but never give an impartial source for the alleged Albanian casualties. It was thousands in 1999 but that figure has been brushed under the carpet and no one seems to be brave enough to give a figure. I wonder why?

Victoria is right to assert that Kosovo and Metohija was given away by the west. It was given to a terrorist organisation who were denounced by the UN in 1998. You'd also have to be provide evidence for the contrary to accusations that this terrorist group was funded (and theres little evidence to show any change) by drugs, prostitution, people trafficking amongst other illegal dealings.

It shows an average intellect to say that, in effect, that 7 years of oppression is just desserts for non-Albanians... or is it just Serbs who deserve to be oppressed? What of the Roma etc?

The facts are stark. Regardless of any other arguements. Since 1999 non-Albanians have been oppressed. Since 1999 the government in Kosovo has shown itself to be powerless and unwilling to turn Kosovo into a productive, inclusive member of Europe. It is run like a lawless medieval fiefdom. Crime is rife, the economy is a joke, Western nations are backtracking on their peddling of false dreams of Independence. What has Mr Tony Blair said in the last couple of years regarding independence? He met Ceku recently and no press release? No, the reason why... he has seen what a lawless group runs Kosovo.

M. Shanks - What planet are you on? Belgrade is responsible for the Serbian grandmother in Pristina who needs to have armed soldiers around her so that she can go and buy some food without getting killed?? Get real. The west needs to wake up with what is really going on in Kosovo. What is going on is pure ethnic cleansing by Albanians. At this rate there will be no Serbs left in Kosovo in a few years.

The serbian Goverment is using the kosovar serbs for their own political reason , I absolutley think the serbian goverment does not give a damn about serbs in Kosovo how they live what they do ect ect , How manny serbs have visited Kosovo ever even before the war in 1990's ? Many of the serbian people only know Kosovo from TV or Maps in school , most the serbian population have no idea how Kosovo looks like or where actually ist , as far as Kostunica i8s the same as Milosevic using Kosovo to get reelected otherwise he knows he is out of Politics

Victoria,
Your comments about Kosovo are absolutely correct. Albanians have been killing and terrorizing Serbs in Kosovo since world war II when Hitler gave it to them, in reward for Albania's allegience to the Axis Powers, and participation in the Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia. It is a well known fact that prior to WWII Serbs were a majority in Kosovo of nearly 70%, and that these demographics began to drastically change as a direct result of the genocide and deportations (of serbs)that occurred during the Nazi/Albanian occupation of Kosovo.
Following the genocide of WWII, Serbs in Kosovo were a minority of less than 40%.
Albanians in Kosovo continued to terrorize Serbs in Kosovo after WWII. Albanian terrorism in Kosovo is well documented and dates back to the mid 1960's. As a direct result of the terror and violence that Kosovo Albanians inflicted them, Serbs continued to flee Kosovo. The communist government of Tito was well aware of what was going on, yet did nothing to stop it, since Tito considered a powerful Serb nation to be the biggest threat to his regime. In fact, Tito further facilated the terrorization of Serbs by granting Albanians autonomy in Kosovo in the 1974 constitution. By giving political power to them, Tito effectively legitimized the Albanian violence against Serbs in Kosovo, in their eyes at least. This also helped facilitate the boom of illegal immigrants that came from Albania during the 1980's. By 1990 Kosovo Serbs accounted for only 15% of Kosovo's population. After Nato bombed Serbia and occupied
Kosovo, 2/3 of the remaining serb civillians as well as much of the Roma population fled Kosovo under fire from the KLA.

The fact is that Albanians have been killing Serbs in Kosovo for over 60 years. In the span of 6 decades Albanians have almost completely cleared Kosovo of it's indigineous (serb) inhabitants. And when they started running out of people to attack, Kosovo Albanians started burning down churches, historical monuments, and every other trace of Kosovo's true heritage and culture...the philosophy behind this being: if it isn't Albanian, it doesn't deserve to exist.
In this respect, Albanians in Kosovo behave exactly as the Taliban did in Afghanistan.

Bearing the facts in mind, it's obvious that Albanians have killed far more Serbs in Kosovo than vice versa. Anyone who claims differently is either completely ignorant of the facts regarding Kosovo, or is deliberately trying to distort the truth. I suspect most of the pro-albanian posters are doing the latter, when they post
such information.

By the way, if Kosovo is so safe (as some here have claimed) then why is it that over 11% of Kosovo's population are war refugees, 7 years after the war ended?

Over 226,000 non-albanian refugees are currently in Serbia and Montenegro. Even the UN knows that Kosovo isn't safe for them, that's why 7 years has passed and these poor people still can't go back to their homes.

Hey Rod, I think you got your cables mixed up. Can you back your claim that before WW2 serbs were a majority in Kosova (I was born and raised in Kosova and I know the truth, I don't know if you ever been in kosova.How can you say that Albaninans from Albania flooded Kosova after 1980, what a farce. I really can go on and on regarding your comments but it is not worth it. Wake up guy, I think you are daydreaming. Sorry if I offended you.
PS. If Kosovars are like Talibans, what is your plan to keep the land but not the people or you got second plan in making, to eleminate all Kosovar Albanians?

If you follow the logic of what Fucks says, then why are German soldiers today in Bosnia and Kosovo province considering what the Germans did there in 1941-5? Surely the Germans, a citizen like him, have "gambled away" the right to opinionate on other people's countries? Also, when will we see the Serb troops back in Kosovo to protect the Serb villagers living in ghettos and the children whose whole lives are growning up in apartment blocks while fearing to go and play on the streets. Under the 1999 UN Resolution, there is a limited amount allowed, but this has not yet happened. It is obvious that NATO won't do the job that they said they would do.

"b/c it was gambled away during the Milošević era"

This is propaganda.

This is not a LEGAL strategy for independence.

Let them say what they will. Kostunica is correct. Show me the LEGAL mechanism. If there is no LEGAL mechanism... I dare you to set the LEGAL precedent.

What the west has created in Kosovo today will only lead to further bloodshed in the future. The next serious war will see more genocide in the region. It is sad but its the truth. The Serbs have never given up their land without a fight and Kosovo is SERBIAN. Should USA give back its land to the Natives or to the Blacks because it commited crimes? The answer is NO and this should also apply to Serbia. Should Texas become Mexican where Mexican flags are flying instead of American? The answer is no. Anyone promoting independence from USA would be consitered a terrorist and would be sent to Guantanamo Bay for torture. There has to be a better solution then independence if Albanians in Kosovo trully want peace and prosperity. Independence will deffinately lead to instability in the Balkans now and in the future. Imediate impact would be a Kosovo run by KLA and would make Kosovo very suitable for Muslim fanatics, Serbs and Roma would be ethnically cleansed form Kosovo and the economy of Kosovo would be the worst in Europe. Future impact will be ruther genocide.

Shanks,

When were you in Kosovo? Based on your comments, never. You are unqualified to make your comments!

Crime in Kosovo has never been higher. The main trades in Kosovo now are: drugs, prostitution and people trafficking.

New York has civil service laws, Kosovo doesn't thanks to the NATO intervention which now they realize and don't know what to do. Stale mate, it's called!

As far as what Fücks writes. Why would anybody care what Fücks writes?

It seems as the Albanian agenda for independence is dying out and trying things out of desperation.

Peace and prosperity can be achieved only by indepedence. Albanians will never except to live under Belgrade again. They will never except to live with sons of war-criminals.

There is a large number of Kosovo Albanians living together with sons of war criminals, namely in Germany. These people are there voluntarily, in the country of war criminals, and their sons and daughters. Isn't it strange?

"...it was gambled away during the Milošević era".
Why use of passive here? To suggest it was the whole of Serbs who gambled? As if all Germans were nazis?
I think we all know that wasn't the case.

Remember also, that those who gambled, didn't own Kosovo. They played with other people's money.

And: it takes two to tango.

Wonder what kind of sanctions are laid on countries that breach UN resolution 1244?

Stevo, I pretty sure that Serb troops will be entering Mitrovica with Kfor observers to secure this area since Serbs are majority in the north. The Europeans and the Serbian goverment have been planning this for a while. Kosovo will have independence, but the 5 sections with Serb majority will be under the protection of Serb troops and kfor. The Albanians will have their independence and will be under their own rule for the exception of Mitrovica which will be connected to Belgrade.

The West (NATO), spearheaded by Pres. Clinton and SOS Albright, made a horrific blunder in the Balkans. They are now so knee deep into this mistake, that they know of no way out, but to bend to the Albaniacs. I am positive that they do not want to, but to do anything else, would be to admit their grave mistakes. And that they will never do. Instead of concentrating on securing the well-being and safety of their own citizens, they have interferred and ruined the lives of countless families in the Balkans.

Agim, I think it is you who have your cables mixed up.
You've clearly misinterpretted what I said, whether this was intentional or not, I don't know. There are numerous Historical records from the former Yugoslavia that support what I've said regarding the changing demographics of Kosovo before and after WWII.

Furthermore, I never said that Albanians came to Kosovo only after 1980, but it is a well known fact that Albania's economy collapsed during the 1980's, after that government invested heavily in a pyramid scheme that went belly up. The result was a massive influx of illegal immigration into Kosovo from Albania. I understand why they(albanians) came to kosovo, as everyone needs to eat, and Kosovo offered far more oppurtunities than those that were available in Albania at that time. One would think that these Albanians would've been grateful to Serbia for the opportunities that were given to them there, but as we all know, this wasn't the case. Instead the Albanians terrorized Serb civillians, burned down their churches, and monuments, and tried to take their land.

As for your other comment about "My plan to keep the land, but not the people", this is not my position or
that of Serbia's government.
Serbia is making every effort to compromise with Kosovo Albanians, including offering them full political, economic, educational,lingual, and cultural autonomy in Kosovo. Serbs want very much to keep Kosovo in tact
with ALL of it's people. To the contrary, Albanians in Kosovo (there is no such thing as a "Kosovar") want to keep Kosovo only for themselves. This is evident by the fact that 11% of Kosovo's population (all non Albanians)are still prevented from returning to their homes (by albanians), 7 years after the war ended.
The remaining non-albanians in Kosovo live in isolated ghettos, which they cannot leave without nato escort,
because Albanians will attack them! Furthermore hundreds of Orthodox Churches and shrines have been destroyed by Albanians over the past 7 years, in their efforts to erase anything indictative of Kosovo's TRUE history and heritage (which is definitely NOT Albanian).
This is indeed very similar to what the Taliban did in Afghanistan.

These facts clearly indicate that it is Albanians who seek to keep the land, and not Kosovo's people.

My eyes are wide open Agim, it is you who is clearly daydreaming.

The principle of self-determination is prominently embodied in Article I of the Charter of the United Nations. Earlier it was explicitly embraced by US President Woodrow Wilson, by Lenin and others, and became the guiding principle for the reconstruction of Europe following World War I. The principle was incorporated into the 1941 Atlantic Charter and the Dumbarton Oaks proposals which evolved into the United Nations Charter. Its inclusion in the UN Charter marks the universal recognition of the principle as fundamental to the maintenance of friendly relations and peace among states. It is recognized as a right of all peoples in the first article common to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which both entered into force in 1976. 1 Paragraph 1 of this Article provides:

All peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Let me remind you folks something important here. I have visted Serbia and Kosovo 8 times. Let me emphasize the map of Kosovo and its territory. Coming from the northern Serbia, making a few pit stops around serbian cities, my last destination ended at the Serbian border patrol in the Kosovo-Serbian border. After the document check procedure, we entered the neutral zone, then to Kosovo border patrol in Kosovo. As far as I understand the international politics and territory policies, this was my first impression, and I believe of every individual who had the oppertunity to visit these countries, would assurely state they are passing an internationl border. I am sad from hearing some of your nationalistic delusions by deceiving yourselves that Kosovo will be returned to Serbia or controled by serbia, at the least the serbian populated areas. Erroneous! Kosovo will be an independent country with an internationally recognized sovereignty by UN, an army and Civil Constitution observed by the EU commissioner for Kosovo. Nevertheless, a few powers will be highly influenced by the internationl community such as Refugee, Migration and Judicial issues that have to do with settling various civil, criminal and administrative disputes on a few specific cases or individuals.

That man's (Fucks) argument does not stand up to scrutiny, logic or anything else. I can prove this. Using his logic, Italy should have lost Trieste after being Nazi allies in WWII. However, when the Partizan invaded Trieste, the United States and England said get the hell out! Italy got rid of Mussolini, its fascist dictator, and all was forgiven. Italy did not lose Trieste because of the crimes committed by Mussolini and his fascist followers. Therefore, Serbia should not lose Kosovo because of Milosevic and his communist followers. It is the same thing! If the Italian people were not punished for crimes committed by the Mussolini regime, then the Serbian people should not be punished for crimes committed by the Milosevic regime. My argument is based on logic and reason! I still have not heard any credible argument by the Albanian side. Message to all Albanians: Try to refute my argument with credible logic and reason.

These are only two opinions from Germany regarding the situation Serbia is on today.What I don't understand is the reactions of some readers here. We are all an outsiders here otherwise we would go there and not be sitting pretty in London, Manchester,N.Y.C,etc. Instead of starting to communicate with each other or compliment someone for a fair comment we are acting like some spoiled teenagers. Lets forget the past and lets try to communicate like human beings. I know all of us are speaking with emotions and for that our heads are not clear. About statistics I think we shouldn't write to much as sometimes we are confusing ourselves. I would really like this to end so Kosovan people can start to live again and to have a right to live the way they think is the best. As far as us concerned I would like to discuss more with you about anything I know so we can start creating a small bridge between two nations. I will start by saying hello to the guy from Manchester who is so enthusiastic about his half country which I don't blame him but same time I think he is still young to write all these comments as he was born in UK and he never had a chance to meet a Kosovan Albanian. Well I live in London and if he wants to have a chat we can do that without getting upset. Cheers.

ProudJew,
thanks for this objective perspective. Most people that talk about Kosovo, don't even have an idea about the situation. They hear the word 'Muslim' and they associate it with Islamic fundamentalists from the Middle East. That is so wrong.

Kosovo was in fact gambled away. Milosevic went for all or nothing when he tried to kill/deport/expel Kosovo Albanians. He lost!

Hi,
This article which brought up the fundamental issue on Kosovo raised some rational realistic comments, and non-surprisingly some hysterical response showing how disillusioned some Serbian or pro Serbian circles are.

There are a few comments suggesting that Kosovo was taken away from and given to. None of these is the truth. Kosovo belongs to the people living there. It cannot be taken from its own people nor be given to its own people. It simply belongs to them. Milosevic did not gamble Kosovo, he gambled Serbia’s and Serbian people’s future.

Some say Serbs in Kosovo are afraid and scared because “Albanians will kill them.” I wonder who is inflicting this fear on them. I have visited Kosovo in the last two years and have spoken to many Albanians there. I did not see a reason why ordinary Serbs should fear. Belgrade should stop inflicting fear in non-Albanians. It is immoral to mentally terrorise ordinary people for the sake of own political gain. On the other side those who have reasons to fear, should fear. Modern world does not reward criminals. It prosecutes them.

Reading the comments above one rather commonly comes across the notions and prostitution and drugs. Does not Serbia face the same issue? Don’t other neighbouring countries try to fight the same problem? These are a common diseases which need to be fought and eliminated. However, exaggerations are used by liars, children or political lunatics.

Someone made a very ignorant comment on American “natives or blacks” in the USA. Natives have their own country called USA. That country has undergone some not very brilliant ages but today it looks after its own people. And I do not understand why “African American” would want to create their own country. Does any one see the US Secretary of State wishing to create a “black” country. Would it be called Africa 2.

It is true that economy in Kosovo is in a stall mate situation, and this is a reason why it should be RECOGNISED (not given) its independence. Recognition of independence will create conditions for a more efficient governance of the country. Economic prosperity for Kosovo would mean building good relationship with neighbours and all together moving towards prosperity and peace.

If only Serbia had the political strength and the intellectual wisdom to make an apology to Kosovars and its own people in Serbia for all the sufferings caused in the past. An apology extended to the rest of the world perhaps. Apologise and show that Serbs have had their eyes open and they wish to move on.. This would secure them a step towards improving its reputation in the world. Following Milosevic’s stream of thought is not helpful for Serbs.

I would like to see Serbia (the governmet) return the bodies of Albanian civilians that they have admitted exist in Serbia.

Return all of them at once and not one by one. Second, if as a government they are so interested in keeping Kosovo/a and everyone in it they should publicly apologize for what happened and actually acknowledge the casualities.

Mr. Fuck's comment is actually exactly what happened. Mr. Milosevic indeed gambled away Kosovo with his barbaric actions.

And now Kostunica's government is confirming it by continuing with similiar constitution.

Thank you Mr. Fucks! Hey, man wonderful name for political headlines!

Xhafer,

To Victoria,

For 60 years Albanians have been killing Serbs! Give me a break! During these 60 years, in Kosovo most of the security agencies such as: The police, Military, the former comunist secret police, have been run by Serbia and Titos comunists. Rankovic and Milosevic were ones of them. So, if really happened what you say, then those agencies must have been asleep for sixty year or did hell of a bad job.

I say Serbians left Kosovo for a better opportunity in Belgrade and elsewhere.

However, is very fashionable nowdays in Serbia to blame Albanians for every problem that might pop up!

Xhafer,

Rod, you're quite wrong when U affirm that many albanians went to kosovo in 1997 (never heard it even from the Serb propaganda of Milosevic).

The border in 1997 was guarded by the Serbian Army, who shot at anything that moved by. The Albanians left mainly for Italy and Greece, many Serbs left then too for W-Europe to escape from the military service. There has never been emigration from Albania to Kosovo in the past century.

Dragisic, better don't speak of Trieste. Perhaps you know, Tito's Yugoslavia got from the beaten Italy the cities of Zara (Zadar) and Fiume (Rijeka), and nearly the whole Istria, territories mainly populated by Italians (the crimes of the fascists against the Slav population were the argument of Tito to get Istria to Yugoslavia, you know that).
And you know what happened to the Italians who lived there: the luckiest were driven out, the others killed and thrown down to the foibe around Trieste and elsewhere. It seems that the the concept of ethnical cleansing was not allien even to the Tito's communists.

And To the Serbs and the their friends: better cool it down ant take it easy. The (conditioned) independence of Kosovo is absolutely sure by now. If U still keep thinking that K-Albanians should be Serbian citizens then try to explain them why, and convince them with concrete proposals (e.g. President of Serbia Serb, Prime Minister of Serbia K-Albanian, or sth. similar and put that in your Constitution) instead of calling them always criminals and drug/sex dealers.

No wonder that they pay you back at the same way. Wake up people! After all Kosovo is always there: build good relations with the Kosovars and the future international border between Serbia and Kosovo will be as easy to pass through as a Schengen border. I hope most Serbs understand this.

Something I don't understand is why the 8 million people of Serbia want to rule over the 2 million people of Kosovo. There can't be any good reasons other than conquest. Certainly having a large angry minority in your country that hates you and will do everything possible to bring you down can't be good for the society.

Some say it's to protect the 200,000 Serbians still living there. That the Kosovars will rob and kill them. I can't see how some Serbians can even begin to make an argument like that after having started four Balkan Wars in the last 20 years and killing hundreds of thousands. And in terms of minority rights - Serbia killed and drove out 500,000 ethnic Germans living in Yugoslavia after WWII.

I'm guessing that that was for retribution. And now some Serbians are surprised that the Albanians of Kosovo might not appreciate what's been done to them over the last 100 years.

Smart Serbians are looking forward and not backward. It's time to make peace with your neighbors. To show some contrition and atone for your actions. The Germans did. Now it's Serbia's turn.

"Some say Serbs in Kosovo are afraid and scared because “Albanians will kill them.” I wonder who is inflicting this fear on them. I have visited Kosovo in the last two years and have spoken to many Albanians there. I did not see a reason why ordinary Serbs should fear.

(Qemajl Murati, 24 October 2006, 23:33)"

Obviously Qemajl Murati was not in Kosovo in March 2004

It seems strange to mee that Serbia claim their right to Kosovo becouse they fought a war against turks for 700 yers ago where there was at least as many Albanians in that battle. "there is evidence"

The second reason I hear is becouse of the birth of the serbian orthodox church in the city of Pej wich is regarded as the heart of the Serbian religion.

But why will Serbia gladely accept a division of Kosovo where they would recive a part of northern Kosovo in wich nor the 1339 fight neither the ortodox church is located.

Strange:

Or. Maybe they just want the future supply of energy from Kosovas minerals and dont give a dam in the orthodox church or the Balkan - Turkish fight where the battle was lost.

WHO said Albanian pyramid scheme happened in 1980's is just ill-informed.

ALB. Pyramid Scheme happened in 1997. Big Difference there buddie!!! Dont try to distort even the most basic things. How can we take you serious Rod?

Do you know that the albanians since 1878 payed bullets for executions wich are maded from serb oficers, it's enough, serbs start many wars and they lose it do you know why? because the war was for occupying.

Around 1.5 mil albanians from south of serbia (including Nish), Kosova and now called FRY Macedonia are deported to the Turkey systematicly since 1878 and before (Based on serb and Turkish archives).

Now is time for serbs in Kosova to understand the reallity , albaninas are ready to forget past 150 years but are the serbs ready to accept future (and the future is clear ,governance will be at the kosovars hands this is only way for stbility in this region), prety long period 150000 serb citizens rule 2000000 albanians , now is time for justice.
It's time for world to improve a mistakes from past wich are maded in Berlin and Wiena one/half age ago when they give Kosova to Serbia, this is a essence of problem

Victoria, your comments are so sad and fulfilled with ignorance. Since I've been working in Kosovo for the last eight years, I've seen what remained from the Milosevic era: children without parents, wives without husbands and raped women who seeked deliverance from their fate by suicide.

The new constitution makes it clear that the serbian attitude towards the albanian population has not changed and indeed won't change.

I'm sorry for all the Serbians who haven't been able so far to see what happened on their behalf in Kosovo. Sometimes we just can't believe that the majority of a whole nation won't see the truth.
What's the matter with you? Wake up, see what happened an realize that all this happens because you nation wanted too much - simply too much.

just a remark:

Obviously, the Serbs cannot live with the Albanians, right? So as far as I am concerned, people in Serbia has cultivated the prejudice that Albanians were apes, sencond class people, uneducated and just dump...actually persona non grata.

Supposing Kosovo would not get independet. How would the Serbs then live with a folk they actually hate? Continuing the Milosevic-political way? Well, the new constitution is just on this way.

You cannot call a whole nation terrorists,since they just want their freedom. Honestly, the party acting in a terroristic way were the Serbs.

The fact is that the majority of the Serbs has never been to Kosovo and has acutally never seen a glimse of this country. They are just fulfilled with a blind hate and racism.

And the fact is that you don't want a Kosovo with Albanians, but rather an empty country be be proud of.

Seriously, as long as the Serbs don't understand that the whole world can't be wrong (when saying that the Serbs has been on the wrong path for years), nothing will change neither in their brains nor in their attitude.

Rod, pyramid schemes didn't happened in 1980 but 17 years later: it was march of 1997-what a mistake!!?. Also, to clerify there were no penetration of immigrants from Albania but penetration of weapons that we used to liberate Kosovo. After the war that we have 7 years ago we are ready to accept the only solution that for what we fought. It's unclear for me what Talibans have to do with us Albanians? Maybe you don't like us because of muslim religion? If yes, my answer is : we don't care for that-so what you are going to do?
Behar

I cannot fathom that people can believe the "State of Fear" propoganda being spewed by Victoria and Dragan.
Serbs in Kosovo are walking the streets and visiting shopping areas every day. Albanians and Serbs are beginning to greet one another as friends and neighbors again. As long as the truth is told peace in Kosovo will return. Nationalist Serbs are afraid of this and spread their false stories every day through their press. Remember that Albanians are no longer beaten for going to school. Albanians are no longer jailed for going to work. Meanwhile the nationalists continue to threaten Basketball coaches and players for playing against other teams. Serbian men and women are threatened for seeking work as Police Officers in Kosovo. Nationalist Serbs refuse to face the truth that they did gamble Kosovo away with murder, rape, torture and economic blackmail. And for this, they have lost Kosovo, just like they lost Slovania, Croatia and Montenegro. You cannot stop the TRUTH.

People you are all sick … you should forget the past once and forever …
YES, we are aware that Kosovo will become state … so what.

As displaced person we know better challenges we have to reach the end of the month, and both governments are to be blamed for (either we don’t have so many job opportunities or we are stopped by Beograd).

What we need to do, is to try find new ways of mutual cooperation and not challenge or fight each other. More important for all of us is what kind of Kosmet (or Kosovo) we want in the end of this road … in either way Serbia lost its call.

You are right Srbine. Fianlly one Serb to understand the reallity. If at least 50% of your nation would follow your thoughts, Serbia would very fast enter in EU, NATO and other international bodies, together with Kosova, as newest state in the region. I am looking forward to reading similar comments from other Serbs, in or out of Kosova.

I find it amusing that it is only Albanians who keep reiterating that Belgrade is imposing fear and that it is not at all imposed by the general attitude in Kosovo. I speak both Albanian and Serbian and I can tell you that I was threatened several times when I openly spoke Serbian in PRISTINA; I can only guess what Serbs in smaller towns feel.

The stats put forward by many people on this website are false and I don't think that the two sides will ever agree to a set of historical facts or statistics. However, there is great debate in academic circles about whether Albanians actually stem from Illirians. This is something that many Albanians on this website claim, and there is simply no proof to it. Think about the 1970s when there were several failed attempts at excavating sites and finding nothing that revealed the Albanian link to Illyrians. Also, the Nazi regime (as discussed by others so i won't go into it) as well as the Tito regime resulted in the displacement and yes, KILLING of many Serbs.

I find it very discouraging that the Albanian population seems very adept at having the rest of the world feel pity for them and constantly citing US support for thier positions. If you do gain your own country you will eventually have to stand up on your own feet, rely on yourselves and you'll realize that it may be difficult when the international community isn't supporting you economically or politically. Keep in mind that you have not had your own country for the past seven years - you have been taken care of by UNMIK politically and the international presence economically. Before UNMIK you were supported by Belgrade.

As for the comments made by what i presume to be non-albanian names you represent what many expats in Kosovo represent. Most have done little research about the area, fell into the propaganda provided by media and likely their organizations and are convinced of the fact that the Albanians are the true victims. Don't get me wrong- both sides committed horrible attrocities, the Serb side being more organized as a result of thier side being the army and not just a paramillitary group. But for nearly a century now, the Kosovar Albanians have been living off of the backs of those from Serbia proper, providing them with institutions, jobs, land. Tito worked very well for the Kosovar Albanian population and I even remember Kosovar Albanians being sent for FREE to Belgrade universities.To this day there are Albanians coming from Albania proper to study in Kosovo because the Albanian government evidently has an inability to do anything efficient - this goes back to your flawed communist system, one of the worst in Europe. In the end, I don't blame the Serbs for being upset. There must be an extent to minority rights and this is a typical example of what was once (prior to Tito) a slight majority being pushed out of of thier homes and displaced and we now have an artificial majority. I have met many Belgraders who cry when they talk about thier homes in Kosovo - homes that have been taken away from they (although 'official' policy would never make it appear that way).

I really hope that Kosovar Albanians will stop feeling sorry for themselves and constantly expect non-albanians to pity them. I was there, i lived the reality of a serb when i choose to and i can tell you that it isn't pleasant. Don't bother writing that it is fine for Serbs and that Belgrade is imposing the fear because it was not Belgrade that told me to stop speaking Serbian or I would be killed. If you want to see what it means NOT to be discriminated against walk down the streets of belgrade speaking Albanian and no one will pay any attention. Get on a buss going from Belgrade to Pristina and the large majority is Albanian. The Serbs have been incredibly open, patient and accepting.

For all the expats in kosovo, I would truly recommend getting the most out of your experience and thereby helping those who need it most by acutally researching proper history and stop indulging in the propaganda that was so brilliantly spoon-fed to you before your arrival. You aren't martyrs and you aren't helping anyone by believing lies.

I forgot to mention - I would recommend watching a documentary by Boris Mitic entitled "UNMIK Titanic" It is a true representation of the quality of life of the very few Serbs left living in Pristina. It comes from thier mouths, not from expats' or K-Albanians so maybe it's a bit more believable.

Victoria wrote:"and If you do gain your own country you will eventually have to stand up on your own feet,
supporting you economically or politically…you have been taken care of by UNMIK politically and the international presence economically. Before UNMIK you were supported by Belgrade."
Victoria we will stand up in our feets and that doesn't have to concern you. In worst scenario (not able to stand in our feet) we will join Albania and not to Serbia. After the war of 1998-99 and the crimes that serbian army and police comited on albanians, Belgrade only can dream on the stYle "once upon a time" or "o tempora o mores"
KOSOVO WILL BE RULED BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVES IN KOSOVO AND WHO CARES FOR IT, NO MATTER OF NATIONALITY AND RELIGION.

Bravo Victoria! Well said. You are one of the few here who makes sense and have definitely put those clueless expat do-gooders in their place. The truth is slowly coming out about the REAL situation in Kosovo, which is a slow genocide of the Serb population. Once these expats realize that they are in fact supporting genocide of Serbs in Kosovo, perhaps they will change their tune.

Victoria, what really constitutes propaganda? Do you think that what you have been fed is any different?We can all sit here and argue history, but it will not do anyone any good.

Just like you, I was in Kosove for a while and what I found strange was that the albanians would speak to their serbian neighbors in their language, but the serbians would not bother to learn "Good Morning" in albanian. The resistance to compromise was one sided in this case. The issues here are deeper than presented and so are the wounds.

Dragan,

"Slow genocide of Serbs." You must be kidding us! Name one Serb, where Albanians have taken over his property. The current price Albanians are paying for Serbian land in Kosovo is 8000 euros per 100 square metres. Genocide! Buying a worthless piece of land that you can't even grow cucumbres for that price! If someone offered me a good price for my land as we do to Serbs, I wouldn't care if you call it genocide.

We are practically buying our land, that you Serbs stole it from us when you forcefully moved in Ballkans from Russia o wherever you came from.

Xhafer,

The comments in the section raise many important issues existing on both sides of the Kosovo debate. One element that has not yet been raised is the question of whether or not the Albanian majority in Kosovo is prepared to govern a sovereign Kosovo in a responsible manner. As this new state, if it is created, will have been brought into existence by Western liberal democratic states, it will be critical that the Albanian governance of Kosovo comport with Western liberal democratic values and standards. In 2002, the UN and all of the members of the Contact Group proposed a measure of “standards before status,” that is that specific democratic standards had be to met before the status issue could be discussed.

Any clear-eyed reading of the Fall 2005 UN report shows that none of the standards have been met, but for political reasons the process must move forward. I’d suggest that some of the commentators here read the Ombudspersons Annual Reports on Kosovo, especially the one from 2005.

http://www.ombudspersonkosovo.org/

Look at the OSCE reports on the nonfunctioning court system and the problems with the media. Read the reports about the problems with the police force. Read the 2005 UN report that advocated beginning status negotiations.

The Western powers want out of Kosovo as quickly as possible, and they broke with the “standards before status” approach in March 2004. Comments about Serbia having “gambled Kosovo away” do little to help us understand the current context and what the future of the region will be. The West is currently in the process of abandoning its commitments in Kosovo – and that is shameful.

Mark A. Wolfgram

Xhafer, by putting those land price numbers, you are actually admitting that Albanians aim is to kick Serbs out of Kosovo in one way or another.

Do you think that you can wipe out an entire history of a nation with money?

I know that all Albanians do not think this way. I can see it from various comments here. In fact, a lot of them seem very inviting towards Serbs to join the Institutions and life in Kosovo.

I hope Kosovo still remains part of Serbia. But if it doesn't, I won't shed a tear for it watsoever!

And I'm gonna tell you why!

It's factual projection, that Albanians will grow to 10 million in less than 40 years.

If that happens, they would truly take back Ilirian lands as often talked about here in this site.

So, if Serbs really want a land to be called Serbia in the future, then, simply forget about Kosovo and take care of the rest of Serbia.

So, losing Kosovo may be the best for Serbia after all.

Albanians will be our closest neighbors whether we like it or not.

After all, all the history that you feel so proud of, will remain in Kosovo after the status.

So, it is in our interest to halt with this kind of animosity.

Boris Petrovich,

Suela,

Coming from the West, i was of course, fed the same propaganda. The difference as i have stated is that i actually took time out to look at different sides and not just accept what was fed to me. As the Western media was quite anti-Serb I obviously did not feed into the lies. However, there were some brilliant journalists including Daniel Pearl who really bothered to visit Kosovo and learn the truth.

If you would like to talk about compromise being one sided I would strongly recommend that you learn more about Albin Kurti's "Jo Negociata, Vetvendosje" movement, which opposes UNMIK presence as well as ANY negotiations with Serbia. This was obviously something that you choose not to see (although I don't see how you couldn't have) while you were there.

In terms of the language, since the Albanians were educated in Serb-funded institutions, they learned Serbian. I live in Canada and I can tell you that most English-speaking people speak only English to French-Canadians not because they are unwilling to compromise but because it is the more commonly used language. Serbian was the formal language used in Kosovarian institutions and therefore it became the acceptable language amongst neighbours. As a sidenote however, I know many Serbs who can speak Albanian.

The issues and wounds are deeper, but I find it tragic that it is only one side's suffering that many expats recognize. When this happens YOU are becoming unwilling to compromise and learn anything about Serb suffering. Please remember that being surrounded by mostly albanians in kosovo you were exposed to one side of the story. I'm assuming that you didn't take the time out to visit any serb enclaves and talk to them about thier 'wounds'. Does it then surprise you that you think the way you do?

Ignorance can simply be defined as knowing only one side and believing it without any question or regard for the opposing side. Make a judgement only when you have listened to both angles.

Boris Petrovich, that's a very rational and realistic point of view. I can fully understand what you feel and hope about Kosovo, even if I feel and hope exactly the opposite of you, but I fully agree with you. After all Kosovo and Serbia will be neighbours forever, no more animosity or hate is needed, it harms both of them.

Victoria, I can understand your (opposite) point of view. But please, don't compare Canada with Serbia and Kosovo. As far as I'm concerned, there has never been war or attempted ethnical cleansing between English- and French-speakers in Canda. Neither has anyone pretended, the other's land is it's historical or cultural craddle or else. (And some yrs. ago Quebec was nearly to break away from Canada, the YES-vote was just 1% short - You see how delicate can be this kind of things even in one of the most devloped and completely peaceful lands of this planet). It's true, now it's still difficult for some Serbs in Kosovo, and I suppose you know why. The solution is a responsible state of the citizens of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnical origin (the reintegration in Serbia is no more a solution, you should know that better than me. This is why that kind of conditioned, or controlled/assisted independence is needed. After all one thing is true, people in Kosovo and Serbia need to start a new page.

Genc,

Good points, but on a historical note, the French and the English have a LONG history of battle and war generally and yes, that does extend also to Canada.

They haven't argued over it being each other's 'cradles' because they simply know that it is not. It is instead land that is historically property of Aboriginal peoples. There is a huge difference and I didn't mean to compare the two countries in any way except for language b.c the circumstances are completely different.

I'm just making the point that when ppl form relationships with each other they become accustomed to speaking normally one language. In the majority of Serb-Albanian relationships (neighbours, etc..) Serbian has just become the norm language amongst themselves.

Victoria, You are so wrong. I was in Pristina this summer and I stayed at the Serbian Quarters. Unfortunately there very little Serbs there, but in the court yard there were children playing soccer and having fun both Serb and Albanians. Most of you should learn to live together from these children. Coming back to your comment “ If you want to see what it means NOT to be discriminated against walk down the streets of Belgrade speaking Albanian and no one will pay any attention.” I walked the streets of Pristina and my friends’ spoke a little Serbian on the street and some Albanian did gave us dirty looks. But in Belgrade a few years ago, I read in this lovely News site that an Arvanites was bit up for speaking Arvaniteian (An ancient Greek Language similar to Albanian) thinking he was an Albanian!!! You should read the comment again from Srbin; hem being a displaced person is the only thing that counts. It isn’t Belgrade nor Pristina it is the economy and racist people that are holding back all the Kosovar (Albanian and Serb) from living to gather in peace! One other think Victoria, just for the record Albanians contain over 70% Illyrian DNA.
Ron, to your comment “There are numerous Historical records from the former Yugoslavia that support what I've said regarding the changing demographics of Kosovo before and after WWII.” If you look at pre-World War I Serbian population Maps you will see that Albanians are put into two groups Albanian and Serb-Albanian! That is all Historical and we should all look at resent History and see that Kosovo was gambled away during the Milosevic era but Milosevic did keep Vojvodina.

I went to the main PTK building in Pristina a few weeks ago to take care of some business. Not being from Kosovo and not being Albanian, I don't speak the language. I asked one of the employees for help in Croatian language. While he was extremely helpful, everyone else in the room including the security guard, threatened to 'slit my throat as my people did to theirs'. Again, I was only visiting and am not Serbian. Everyone from former Yugoslavia can tell the difference between Serbian and Croatian language, and I speak the latter.
I decided to go to the Police and report the incident, but what a surprise, most of them refused to speak to me claiming they do not speak my language. Quite oddly, based on their reactions, I could see that they understood every word I said.
Finally, I contacted the UNMIK and was advised to let the issue go and not use my language while in the province.
Needless to say, I will not be returning to Kosovo. I am sure that there are nice people there, but for me it is not worth the trouble. If my life is in danger simply for not being Albanian, then I have no business being there.

Pride, it is unfortunate that you and others have faced such situations in Pristina (or in Belgrade). I have been luckier and faced the opposite - I have been in Pristina with my Serbian friends speaking Serbian, and shop owners, waiters, people on the street all responded to us in Serbian. Restaurants even had Serbian-language menus to offer us. I have also been in Belgrade with my Kosovo Albanian friends and noone paid any attention to them speaking Albanian. I'm not naive enough to think this is always the case now, but I am optimistic enough to think that one day it can be the normal way we live our lives in the Balkans.

Great comments! Serbs need to hear and listen to the truth; the truth might be unpleasant, but is the only way to construct and reconstruct the country.

Very good coment.
Kosova was gambled away and Fücks had a point when he said that Kosova can not be runed by Belgrade after white they vdone.

The truth Amy, is that the international community gave a soverign nation's land away to initially a terrorist organization and now as a result of that Serbs cannot return to their homes. It's really starting to make me sick how blind Westerners are to what actually happened in Kosovo. Albanians killed just as many, if not more Serbs than Serbs did Albanians. It was just convenient for your president to do something useful at that time. Speaking of which, maybe we should punish the US for it's wrongs, tell its ppl to face the truth and just start taking bids on your states.

The only truth is that the international community will be breaching international law and Kosovo will eventually become a hotbed for crime, trafficking and terrorist organizations. I was there for several months and I saw how terrified the serbian population is, every single day for their lives, and the amount of crime going on is unacceptable.

Victoria, I don't know from what country you come from, but i can tell you something about crime; Chance that you will get robbed are much greater in New York city and many other Western cities that in Kosovo/a.Please don't tell me about crime. As far as Serbs living in fear, you have got to blame Belgrade becasue they are the ones instilling fear in Kosovar Serbs. Also, you are very wrong by saying that Albanians killed more Serbs, where in the world did you get that information. I beleive you have grossly misinformed and/or you have been blinded by your personal feelings towards Serbs.The headlines on the article are correct. Cheers.

It's so good to read such news. It's so bad to read about how people imagine Kosovo.
I've been reading news a lot on B92, I can assure victoria that there's more crime, trafficking and mafia in Serbia rather than Kosovo. Maybe you believe what some serbian media write about crimes and living conditions in Kosovo. It's really true that you're actually been living on crimed society for more than a decade and it's unbeliavable for you to imagine a place where democratic institutions elected by the will of people function and even sometimes later you'll learn something from them. Just as you'll have to learn from Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro.

And where do you get your statistics M.Shanks? Its interesting that you mock any arguement that supports the truth that non-Albanians are oppressed (not just Serbs which rather destroys your theory that anyone who criticises the Albanians is automatically pro-Serb) but never give an impartial source for the alleged Albanian casualties. It was thousands in 1999 but that figure has been brushed under the carpet and no one seems to be brave enough to give a figure. I wonder why?

Victoria is right to assert that Kosovo and Metohija was given away by the west. It was given to a terrorist organisation who were denounced by the UN in 1998. You'd also have to be provide evidence for the contrary to accusations that this terrorist group was funded (and theres little evidence to show any change) by drugs, prostitution, people trafficking amongst other illegal dealings.

It shows an average intellect to say that, in effect, that 7 years of oppression is just desserts for non-Albanians... or is it just Serbs who deserve to be oppressed? What of the Roma etc?

The facts are stark. Regardless of any other arguements. Since 1999 non-Albanians have been oppressed. Since 1999 the government in Kosovo has shown itself to be powerless and unwilling to turn Kosovo into a productive, inclusive member of Europe. It is run like a lawless medieval fiefdom. Crime is rife, the economy is a joke, Western nations are backtracking on their peddling of false dreams of Independence. What has Mr Tony Blair said in the last couple of years regarding independence? He met Ceku recently and no press release? No, the reason why... he has seen what a lawless group runs Kosovo.

M. Shanks - What planet are you on? Belgrade is responsible for the Serbian grandmother in Pristina who needs to have armed soldiers around her so that she can go and buy some food without getting killed?? Get real. The west needs to wake up with what is really going on in Kosovo. What is going on is pure ethnic cleansing by Albanians. At this rate there will be no Serbs left in Kosovo in a few years.

The serbian Goverment is using the kosovar serbs for their own political reason , I absolutley think the serbian goverment does not give a damn about serbs in Kosovo how they live what they do ect ect , How manny serbs have visited Kosovo ever even before the war in 1990's ? Many of the serbian people only know Kosovo from TV or Maps in school , most the serbian population have no idea how Kosovo looks like or where actually ist , as far as Kostunica i8s the same as Milosevic using Kosovo to get reelected otherwise he knows he is out of Politics

Victoria,
Your comments about Kosovo are absolutely correct. Albanians have been killing and terrorizing Serbs in Kosovo since world war II when Hitler gave it to them, in reward for Albania's allegience to the Axis Powers, and participation in the Nazi invasion of Yugoslavia. It is a well known fact that prior to WWII Serbs were a majority in Kosovo of nearly 70%, and that these demographics began to drastically change as a direct result of the genocide and deportations (of serbs)that occurred during the Nazi/Albanian occupation of Kosovo.
Following the genocide of WWII, Serbs in Kosovo were a minority of less than 40%.
Albanians in Kosovo continued to terrorize Serbs in Kosovo after WWII. Albanian terrorism in Kosovo is well documented and dates back to the mid 1960's. As a direct result of the terror and violence that Kosovo Albanians inflicted them, Serbs continued to flee Kosovo. The communist government of Tito was well aware of what was going on, yet did nothing to stop it, since Tito considered a powerful Serb nation to be the biggest threat to his regime. In fact, Tito further facilated the terrorization of Serbs by granting Albanians autonomy in Kosovo in the 1974 constitution. By giving political power to them, Tito effectively legitimized the Albanian violence against Serbs in Kosovo, in their eyes at least. This also helped facilitate the boom of illegal immigrants that came from Albania during the 1980's. By 1990 Kosovo Serbs accounted for only 15% of Kosovo's population. After Nato bombed Serbia and occupied
Kosovo, 2/3 of the remaining serb civillians as well as much of the Roma population fled Kosovo under fire from the KLA.

The fact is that Albanians have been killing Serbs in Kosovo for over 60 years. In the span of 6 decades Albanians have almost completely cleared Kosovo of it's indigineous (serb) inhabitants. And when they started running out of people to attack, Kosovo Albanians started burning down churches, historical monuments, and every other trace of Kosovo's true heritage and culture...the philosophy behind this being: if it isn't Albanian, it doesn't deserve to exist.
In this respect, Albanians in Kosovo behave exactly as the Taliban did in Afghanistan.

Bearing the facts in mind, it's obvious that Albanians have killed far more Serbs in Kosovo than vice versa. Anyone who claims differently is either completely ignorant of the facts regarding Kosovo, or is deliberately trying to distort the truth. I suspect most of the pro-albanian posters are doing the latter, when they post
such information.

By the way, if Kosovo is so safe (as some here have claimed) then why is it that over 11% of Kosovo's population are war refugees, 7 years after the war ended?

Over 226,000 non-albanian refugees are currently in Serbia and Montenegro. Even the UN knows that Kosovo isn't safe for them, that's why 7 years has passed and these poor people still can't go back to their homes.

Hey Rod, I think you got your cables mixed up. Can you back your claim that before WW2 serbs were a majority in Kosova (I was born and raised in Kosova and I know the truth, I don't know if you ever been in kosova.How can you say that Albaninans from Albania flooded Kosova after 1980, what a farce. I really can go on and on regarding your comments but it is not worth it. Wake up guy, I think you are daydreaming. Sorry if I offended you.
PS. If Kosovars are like Talibans, what is your plan to keep the land but not the people or you got second plan in making, to eleminate all Kosovar Albanians?

If you follow the logic of what Fucks says, then why are German soldiers today in Bosnia and Kosovo province considering what the Germans did there in 1941-5? Surely the Germans, a citizen like him, have "gambled away" the right to opinionate on other people's countries? Also, when will we see the Serb troops back in Kosovo to protect the Serb villagers living in ghettos and the children whose whole lives are growning up in apartment blocks while fearing to go and play on the streets. Under the 1999 UN Resolution, there is a limited amount allowed, but this has not yet happened. It is obvious that NATO won't do the job that they said they would do.

"b/c it was gambled away during the Milošević era"

This is propaganda.

This is not a LEGAL strategy for independence.

Let them say what they will. Kostunica is correct. Show me the LEGAL mechanism. If there is no LEGAL mechanism... I dare you to set the LEGAL precedent.

What the west has created in Kosovo today will only lead to further bloodshed in the future. The next serious war will see more genocide in the region. It is sad but its the truth. The Serbs have never given up their land without a fight and Kosovo is SERBIAN. Should USA give back its land to the Natives or to the Blacks because it commited crimes? The answer is NO and this should also apply to Serbia. Should Texas become Mexican where Mexican flags are flying instead of American? The answer is no. Anyone promoting independence from USA would be consitered a terrorist and would be sent to Guantanamo Bay for torture. There has to be a better solution then independence if Albanians in Kosovo trully want peace and prosperity. Independence will deffinately lead to instability in the Balkans now and in the future. Imediate impact would be a Kosovo run by KLA and would make Kosovo very suitable for Muslim fanatics, Serbs and Roma would be ethnically cleansed form Kosovo and the economy of Kosovo would be the worst in Europe. Future impact will be ruther genocide.

Shanks,

When were you in Kosovo? Based on your comments, never. You are unqualified to make your comments!

Crime in Kosovo has never been higher. The main trades in Kosovo now are: drugs, prostitution and people trafficking.

New York has civil service laws, Kosovo doesn't thanks to the NATO intervention which now they realize and don't know what to do. Stale mate, it's called!

As far as what Fücks writes. Why would anybody care what Fücks writes?

It seems as the Albanian agenda for independence is dying out and trying things out of desperation.

Peace and prosperity can be achieved only by indepedence. Albanians will never except to live under Belgrade again. They will never except to live with sons of war-criminals.

There is a large number of Kosovo Albanians living together with sons of war criminals, namely in Germany. These people are there voluntarily, in the country of war criminals, and their sons and daughters. Isn't it strange?

"...it was gambled away during the Milošević era".
Why use of passive here? To suggest it was the whole of Serbs who gambled? As if all Germans were nazis?
I think we all know that wasn't the case.

Remember also, that those who gambled, didn't own Kosovo. They played with other people's money.

And: it takes two to tango.

Wonder what kind of sanctions are laid on countries that breach UN resolution 1244?

Stevo, I pretty sure that Serb troops will be entering Mitrovica with Kfor observers to secure this area since Serbs are majority in the north. The Europeans and the Serbian goverment have been planning this for a while. Kosovo will have independence, but the 5 sections with Serb majority will be under the protection of Serb troops and kfor. The Albanians will have their independence and will be under their own rule for the exception of Mitrovica which will be connected to Belgrade.

The West (NATO), spearheaded by Pres. Clinton and SOS Albright, made a horrific blunder in the Balkans. They are now so knee deep into this mistake, that they know of no way out, but to bend to the Albaniacs. I am positive that they do not want to, but to do anything else, would be to admit their grave mistakes. And that they will never do. Instead of concentrating on securing the well-being and safety of their own citizens, they have interferred and ruined the lives of countless families in the Balkans.

Agim, I think it is you who have your cables mixed up.
You've clearly misinterpretted what I said, whether this was intentional or not, I don't know. There are numerous Historical records from the former Yugoslavia that support what I've said regarding the changing demographics of Kosovo before and after WWII.

Furthermore, I never said that Albanians came to Kosovo only after 1980, but it is a well known fact that Albania's economy collapsed during the 1980's, after that government invested heavily in a pyramid scheme that went belly up. The result was a massive influx of illegal immigration into Kosovo from Albania. I understand why they(albanians) came to kosovo, as everyone needs to eat, and Kosovo offered far more oppurtunities than those that were available in Albania at that time. One would think that these Albanians would've been grateful to Serbia for the opportunities that were given to them there, but as we all know, this wasn't the case. Instead the Albanians terrorized Serb civillians, burned down their churches, and monuments, and tried to take their land.

As for your other comment about "My plan to keep the land, but not the people", this is not my position or
that of Serbia's government.
Serbia is making every effort to compromise with Kosovo Albanians, including offering them full political, economic, educational,lingual, and cultural autonomy in Kosovo. Serbs want very much to keep Kosovo in tact
with ALL of it's people. To the contrary, Albanians in Kosovo (there is no such thing as a "Kosovar") want to keep Kosovo only for themselves. This is evident by the fact that 11% of Kosovo's population (all non Albanians)are still prevented from returning to their homes (by albanians), 7 years after the war ended.
The remaining non-albanians in Kosovo live in isolated ghettos, which they cannot leave without nato escort,
because Albanians will attack them! Furthermore hundreds of Orthodox Churches and shrines have been destroyed by Albanians over the past 7 years, in their efforts to erase anything indictative of Kosovo's TRUE history and heritage (which is definitely NOT Albanian).
This is indeed very similar to what the Taliban did in Afghanistan.

These facts clearly indicate that it is Albanians who seek to keep the land, and not Kosovo's people.

My eyes are wide open Agim, it is you who is clearly daydreaming.

The principle of self-determination is prominently embodied in Article I of the Charter of the United Nations. Earlier it was explicitly embraced by US President Woodrow Wilson, by Lenin and others, and became the guiding principle for the reconstruction of Europe following World War I. The principle was incorporated into the 1941 Atlantic Charter and the Dumbarton Oaks proposals which evolved into the United Nations Charter. Its inclusion in the UN Charter marks the universal recognition of the principle as fundamental to the maintenance of friendly relations and peace among states. It is recognized as a right of all peoples in the first article common to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which both entered into force in 1976. 1 Paragraph 1 of this Article provides:

All peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

Let me remind you folks something important here. I have visted Serbia and Kosovo 8 times. Let me emphasize the map of Kosovo and its territory. Coming from the northern Serbia, making a few pit stops around serbian cities, my last destination ended at the Serbian border patrol in the Kosovo-Serbian border. After the document check procedure, we entered the neutral zone, then to Kosovo border patrol in Kosovo. As far as I understand the international politics and territory policies, this was my first impression, and I believe of every individual who had the oppertunity to visit these countries, would assurely state they are passing an internationl border. I am sad from hearing some of your nationalistic delusions by deceiving yourselves that Kosovo will be returned to Serbia or controled by serbia, at the least the serbian populated areas. Erroneous! Kosovo will be an independent country with an internationally recognized sovereignty by UN, an army and Civil Constitution observed by the EU commissioner for Kosovo. Nevertheless, a few powers will be highly influenced by the internationl community such as Refugee, Migration and Judicial issues that have to do with settling various civil, criminal and administrative disputes on a few specific cases or individuals.

That man's (Fucks) argument does not stand up to scrutiny, logic or anything else. I can prove this. Using his logic, Italy should have lost Trieste after being Nazi allies in WWII. However, when the Partizan invaded Trieste, the United States and England said get the hell out! Italy got rid of Mussolini, its fascist dictator, and all was forgiven. Italy did not lose Trieste because of the crimes committed by Mussolini and his fascist followers. Therefore, Serbia should not lose Kosovo because of Milosevic and his communist followers. It is the same thing! If the Italian people were not punished for crimes committed by the Mussolini regime, then the Serbian people should not be punished for crimes committed by the Milosevic regime. My argument is based on logic and reason! I still have not heard any credible argument by the Albanian side. Message to all Albanians: Try to refute my argument with credible logic and reason.

These are only two opinions from Germany regarding the situation Serbia is on today.What I don't understand is the reactions of some readers here. We are all an outsiders here otherwise we would go there and not be sitting pretty in London, Manchester,N.Y.C,etc. Instead of starting to communicate with each other or compliment someone for a fair comment we are acting like some spoiled teenagers. Lets forget the past and lets try to communicate like human beings. I know all of us are speaking with emotions and for that our heads are not clear. About statistics I think we shouldn't write to much as sometimes we are confusing ourselves. I would really like this to end so Kosovan people can start to live again and to have a right to live the way they think is the best. As far as us concerned I would like to discuss more with you about anything I know so we can start creating a small bridge between two nations. I will start by saying hello to the guy from Manchester who is so enthusiastic about his half country which I don't blame him but same time I think he is still young to write all these comments as he was born in UK and he never had a chance to meet a Kosovan Albanian. Well I live in London and if he wants to have a chat we can do that without getting upset. Cheers.

ProudJew,
thanks for this objective perspective. Most people that talk about Kosovo, don't even have an idea about the situation. They hear the word 'Muslim' and they associate it with Islamic fundamentalists from the Middle East. That is so wrong.

Kosovo was in fact gambled away. Milosevic went for all or nothing when he tried to kill/deport/expel Kosovo Albanians. He lost!

Hi,
This article which brought up the fundamental issue on Kosovo raised some rational realistic comments, and non-surprisingly some hysterical response showing how disillusioned some Serbian or pro Serbian circles are.

There are a few comments suggesting that Kosovo was taken away from and given to. None of these is the truth. Kosovo belongs to the people living there. It cannot be taken from its own people nor be given to its own people. It simply belongs to them. Milosevic did not gamble Kosovo, he gambled Serbia’s and Serbian people’s future.

Some say Serbs in Kosovo are afraid and scared because “Albanians will kill them.” I wonder who is inflicting this fear on them. I have visited Kosovo in the last two years and have spoken to many Albanians there. I did not see a reason why ordinary Serbs should fear. Belgrade should stop inflicting fear in non-Albanians. It is immoral to mentally terrorise ordinary people for the sake of own political gain. On the other side those who have reasons to fear, should fear. Modern world does not reward criminals. It prosecutes them.

Reading the comments above one rather commonly comes across the notions and prostitution and drugs. Does not Serbia face the same issue? Don’t other neighbouring countries try to fight the same problem? These are a common diseases which need to be fought and eliminated. However, exaggerations are used by liars, children or political lunatics.

Someone made a very ignorant comment on American “natives or blacks” in the USA. Natives have their own country called USA. That country has undergone some not very brilliant ages but today it looks after its own people. And I do not understand why “African American” would want to create their own country. Does any one see the US Secretary of State wishing to create a “black” country. Would it be called Africa 2.

It is true that economy in Kosovo is in a stall mate situation, and this is a reason why it should be RECOGNISED (not given) its independence. Recognition of independence will create conditions for a more efficient governance of the country. Economic prosperity for Kosovo would mean building good relationship with neighbours and all together moving towards prosperity and peace.

If only Serbia had the political strength and the intellectual wisdom to make an apology to Kosovars and its own people in Serbia for all the sufferings caused in the past. An apology extended to the rest of the world perhaps. Apologise and show that Serbs have had their eyes open and they wish to move on.. This would secure them a step towards improving its reputation in the world. Following Milosevic’s stream of thought is not helpful for Serbs.

I would like to see Serbia (the governmet) return the bodies of Albanian civilians that they have admitted exist in Serbia.

Return all of them at once and not one by one. Second, if as a government they are so interested in keeping Kosovo/a and everyone in it they should publicly apologize for what happened and actually acknowledge the casualities.

Mr. Fuck's comment is actually exactly what happened. Mr. Milosevic indeed gambled away Kosovo with his barbaric actions.

And now Kostunica's government is confirming it by continuing with similiar constitution.

Thank you Mr. Fucks! Hey, man wonderful name for political headlines!

Xhafer,

To Victoria,

For 60 years Albanians have been killing Serbs! Give me a break! During these 60 years, in Kosovo most of the security agencies such as: The police, Military, the former comunist secret police, have been run by Serbia and Titos comunists. Rankovic and Milosevic were ones of them. So, if really happened what you say, then those agencies must have been asleep for sixty year or did hell of a bad job.

I say Serbians left Kosovo for a better opportunity in Belgrade and elsewhere.

However, is very fashionable nowdays in Serbia to blame Albanians for every problem that might pop up!

Xhafer,

Rod, you're quite wrong when U affirm that many albanians went to kosovo in 1997 (never heard it even from the Serb propaganda of Milosevic).

The border in 1997 was guarded by the Serbian Army, who shot at anything that moved by. The Albanians left mainly for Italy and Greece, many Serbs left then too for W-Europe to escape from the military service. There has never been emigration from Albania to Kosovo in the past century.

Dragisic, better don't speak of Trieste. Perhaps you know, Tito's Yugoslavia got from the beaten Italy the cities of Zara (Zadar) and Fiume (Rijeka), and nearly the whole Istria, territories mainly populated by Italians (the crimes of the fascists against the Slav population were the argument of Tito to get Istria to Yugoslavia, you know that).
And you know what happened to the Italians who lived there: the luckiest were driven out, the others killed and thrown down to the foibe around Trieste and elsewhere. It seems that the the concept of ethnical cleansing was not allien even to the Tito's communists.

And To the Serbs and the their friends: better cool it down ant take it easy. The (conditioned) independence of Kosovo is absolutely sure by now. If U still keep thinking that K-Albanians should be Serbian citizens then try to explain them why, and convince them with concrete proposals (e.g. President of Serbia Serb, Prime Minister of Serbia K-Albanian, or sth. similar and put that in your Constitution) instead of calling them always criminals and drug/sex dealers.

No wonder that they pay you back at the same way. Wake up people! After all Kosovo is always there: build good relations with the Kosovars and the future international border between Serbia and Kosovo will be as easy to pass through as a Schengen border. I hope most Serbs understand this.

Something I don't understand is why the 8 million people of Serbia want to rule over the 2 million people of Kosovo. There can't be any good reasons other than conquest. Certainly having a large angry minority in your country that hates you and will do everything possible to bring you down can't be good for the society.

Some say it's to protect the 200,000 Serbians still living there. That the Kosovars will rob and kill them. I can't see how some Serbians can even begin to make an argument like that after having started four Balkan Wars in the last 20 years and killing hundreds of thousands. And in terms of minority rights - Serbia killed and drove out 500,000 ethnic Germans living in Yugoslavia after WWII.

I'm guessing that that was for retribution. And now some Serbians are surprised that the Albanians of Kosovo might not appreciate what's been done to them over the last 100 years.

Smart Serbians are looking forward and not backward. It's time to make peace with your neighbors. To show some contrition and atone for your actions. The Germans did. Now it's Serbia's turn.

"Some say Serbs in Kosovo are afraid and scared because “Albanians will kill them.” I wonder who is inflicting this fear on them. I have visited Kosovo in the last two years and have spoken to many Albanians there. I did not see a reason why ordinary Serbs should fear.

(Qemajl Murati, 24 October 2006, 23:33)"

Obviously Qemajl Murati was not in Kosovo in March 2004

It seems strange to mee that Serbia claim their right to Kosovo becouse they fought a war against turks for 700 yers ago where there was at least as many Albanians in that battle. "there is evidence"

The second reason I hear is becouse of the birth of the serbian orthodox church in the city of Pej wich is regarded as the heart of the Serbian religion.

But why will Serbia gladely accept a division of Kosovo where they would recive a part of northern Kosovo in wich nor the 1339 fight neither the ortodox church is located.

Strange:

Or. Maybe they just want the future supply of energy from Kosovas minerals and dont give a dam in the orthodox church or the Balkan - Turkish fight where the battle was lost.

WHO said Albanian pyramid scheme happened in 1980's is just ill-informed.

ALB. Pyramid Scheme happened in 1997. Big Difference there buddie!!! Dont try to distort even the most basic things. How can we take you serious Rod?

Do you know that the albanians since 1878 payed bullets for executions wich are maded from serb oficers, it's enough, serbs start many wars and they lose it do you know why? because the war was for occupying.

Around 1.5 mil albanians from south of serbia (including Nish), Kosova and now called FRY Macedonia are deported to the Turkey systematicly since 1878 and before (Based on serb and Turkish archives).

Now is time for serbs in Kosova to understand the reallity , albaninas are ready to forget past 150 years but are the serbs ready to accept future (and the future is clear ,governance will be at the kosovars hands this is only way for stbility in this region), prety long period 150000 serb citizens rule 2000000 albanians , now is time for justice.
It's time for world to improve a mistakes from past wich are maded in Berlin and Wiena one/half age ago when they give Kosova to Serbia, this is a essence of problem

Victoria, your comments are so sad and fulfilled with ignorance. Since I've been working in Kosovo for the last eight years, I've seen what remained from the Milosevic era: children without parents, wives without husbands and raped women who seeked deliverance from their fate by suicide.

The new constitution makes it clear that the serbian attitude towards the albanian population has not changed and indeed won't change.

I'm sorry for all the Serbians who haven't been able so far to see what happened on their behalf in Kosovo. Sometimes we just can't believe that the majority of a whole nation won't see the truth.
What's the matter with you? Wake up, see what happened an realize that all this happens because you nation wanted too much - simply too much.

just a remark:

Obviously, the Serbs cannot live with the Albanians, right? So as far as I am concerned, people in Serbia has cultivated the prejudice that Albanians were apes, sencond class people, uneducated and just dump...actually persona non grata.

Supposing Kosovo would not get independet. How would the Serbs then live with a folk they actually hate? Continuing the Milosevic-political way? Well, the new constitution is just on this way.

You cannot call a whole nation terrorists,since they just want their freedom. Honestly, the party acting in a terroristic way were the Serbs.

The fact is that the majority of the Serbs has never been to Kosovo and has acutally never seen a glimse of this country. They are just fulfilled with a blind hate and racism.

And the fact is that you don't want a Kosovo with Albanians, but rather an empty country be be proud of.

Seriously, as long as the Serbs don't understand that the whole world can't be wrong (when saying that the Serbs has been on the wrong path for years), nothing will change neither in their brains nor in their attitude.

Rod, pyramid schemes didn't happened in 1980 but 17 years later: it was march of 1997-what a mistake!!?. Also, to clerify there were no penetration of immigrants from Albania but penetration of weapons that we used to liberate Kosovo. After the war that we have 7 years ago we are ready to accept the only solution that for what we fought. It's unclear for me what Talibans have to do with us Albanians? Maybe you don't like us because of muslim religion? If yes, my answer is : we don't care for that-so what you are going to do?
Behar

I cannot fathom that people can believe the "State of Fear" propoganda being spewed by Victoria and Dragan.
Serbs in Kosovo are walking the streets and visiting shopping areas every day. Albanians and Serbs are beginning to greet one another as friends and neighbors again. As long as the truth is told peace in Kosovo will return. Nationalist Serbs are afraid of this and spread their false stories every day through their press. Remember that Albanians are no longer beaten for going to school. Albanians are no longer jailed for going to work. Meanwhile the nationalists continue to threaten Basketball coaches and players for playing against other teams. Serbian men and women are threatened for seeking work as Police Officers in Kosovo. Nationalist Serbs refuse to face the truth that they did gamble Kosovo away with murder, rape, torture and economic blackmail. And for this, they have lost Kosovo, just like they lost Slovania, Croatia and Montenegro. You cannot stop the TRUTH.

People you are all sick … you should forget the past once and forever …
YES, we are aware that Kosovo will become state … so what.

As displaced person we know better challenges we have to reach the end of the month, and both governments are to be blamed for (either we don’t have so many job opportunities or we are stopped by Beograd).

What we need to do, is to try find new ways of mutual cooperation and not challenge or fight each other. More important for all of us is what kind of Kosmet (or Kosovo) we want in the end of this road … in either way Serbia lost its call.

You are right Srbine. Fianlly one Serb to understand the reallity. If at least 50% of your nation would follow your thoughts, Serbia would very fast enter in EU, NATO and other international bodies, together with Kosova, as newest state in the region. I am looking forward to reading similar comments from other Serbs, in or out of Kosova.

I find it amusing that it is only Albanians who keep reiterating that Belgrade is imposing fear and that it is not at all imposed by the general attitude in Kosovo. I speak both Albanian and Serbian and I can tell you that I was threatened several times when I openly spoke Serbian in PRISTINA; I can only guess what Serbs in smaller towns feel.

The stats put forward by many people on this website are false and I don't think that the two sides will ever agree to a set of historical facts or statistics. However, there is great debate in academic circles about whether Albanians actually stem from Illirians. This is something that many Albanians on this website claim, and there is simply no proof to it. Think about the 1970s when there were several failed attempts at excavating sites and finding nothing that revealed the Albanian link to Illyrians. Also, the Nazi regime (as discussed by others so i won't go into it) as well as the Tito regime resulted in the displacement and yes, KILLING of many Serbs.

I find it very discouraging that the Albanian population seems very adept at having the rest of the world feel pity for them and constantly citing US support for thier positions. If you do gain your own country you will eventually have to stand up on your own feet, rely on yourselves and you'll realize that it may be difficult when the international community isn't supporting you economically or politically. Keep in mind that you have not had your own country for the past seven years - you have been taken care of by UNMIK politically and the international presence economically. Before UNMIK you were supported by Belgrade.

As for the comments made by what i presume to be non-albanian names you represent what many expats in Kosovo represent. Most have done little research about the area, fell into the propaganda provided by media and likely their organizations and are convinced of the fact that the Albanians are the true victims. Don't get me wrong- both sides committed horrible attrocities, the Serb side being more organized as a result of thier side being the army and not just a paramillitary group. But for nearly a century now, the Kosovar Albanians have been living off of the backs of those from Serbia proper, providing them with institutions, jobs, land. Tito worked very well for the Kosovar Albanian population and I even remember Kosovar Albanians being sent for FREE to Belgrade universities.To this day there are Albanians coming from Albania proper to study in Kosovo because the Albanian government evidently has an inability to do anything efficient - this goes back to your flawed communist system, one of the worst in Europe. In the end, I don't blame the Serbs for being upset. There must be an extent to minority rights and this is a typical example of what was once (prior to Tito) a slight majority being pushed out of of thier homes and displaced and we now have an artificial majority. I have met many Belgraders who cry when they talk about thier homes in Kosovo - homes that have been taken away from they (although 'official' policy would never make it appear that way).

I really hope that Kosovar Albanians will stop feeling sorry for themselves and constantly expect non-albanians to pity them. I was there, i lived the reality of a serb when i choose to and i can tell you that it isn't pleasant. Don't bother writing that it is fine for Serbs and that Belgrade is imposing the fear because it was not Belgrade that told me to stop speaking Serbian or I would be killed. If you want to see what it means NOT to be discriminated against walk down the streets of belgrade speaking Albanian and no one will pay any attention. Get on a buss going from Belgrade to Pristina and the large majority is Albanian. The Serbs have been incredibly open, patient and accepting.

For all the expats in kosovo, I would truly recommend getting the most out of your experience and thereby helping those who need it most by acutally researching proper history and stop indulging in the propaganda that was so brilliantly spoon-fed to you before your arrival. You aren't martyrs and you aren't helping anyone by believing lies.

I forgot to mention - I would recommend watching a documentary by Boris Mitic entitled "UNMIK Titanic" It is a true representation of the quality of life of the very few Serbs left living in Pristina. It comes from thier mouths, not from expats' or K-Albanians so maybe it's a bit more believable.

Victoria wrote:"and If you do gain your own country you will eventually have to stand up on your own feet,
supporting you economically or politically…you have been taken care of by UNMIK politically and the international presence economically. Before UNMIK you were supported by Belgrade."
Victoria we will stand up in our feets and that doesn't have to concern you. In worst scenario (not able to stand in our feet) we will join Albania and not to Serbia. After the war of 1998-99 and the crimes that serbian army and police comited on albanians, Belgrade only can dream on the stYle "once upon a time" or "o tempora o mores"
KOSOVO WILL BE RULED BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVES IN KOSOVO AND WHO CARES FOR IT, NO MATTER OF NATIONALITY AND RELIGION.

Bravo Victoria! Well said. You are one of the few here who makes sense and have definitely put those clueless expat do-gooders in their place. The truth is slowly coming out about the REAL situation in Kosovo, which is a slow genocide of the Serb population. Once these expats realize that they are in fact supporting genocide of Serbs in Kosovo, perhaps they will change their tune.

Victoria, what really constitutes propaganda? Do you think that what you have been fed is any different?We can all sit here and argue history, but it will not do anyone any good.

Just like you, I was in Kosove for a while and what I found strange was that the albanians would speak to their serbian neighbors in their language, but the serbians would not bother to learn "Good Morning" in albanian. The resistance to compromise was one sided in this case. The issues here are deeper than presented and so are the wounds.

Dragan,

"Slow genocide of Serbs." You must be kidding us! Name one Serb, where Albanians have taken over his property. The current price Albanians are paying for Serbian land in Kosovo is 8000 euros per 100 square metres. Genocide! Buying a worthless piece of land that you can't even grow cucumbres for that price! If someone offered me a good price for my land as we do to Serbs, I wouldn't care if you call it genocide.

We are practically buying our land, that you Serbs stole it from us when you forcefully moved in Ballkans from Russia o wherever you came from.

Xhafer,

The comments in the section raise many important issues existing on both sides of the Kosovo debate. One element that has not yet been raised is the question of whether or not the Albanian majority in Kosovo is prepared to govern a sovereign Kosovo in a responsible manner. As this new state, if it is created, will have been brought into existence by Western liberal democratic states, it will be critical that the Albanian governance of Kosovo comport with Western liberal democratic values and standards. In 2002, the UN and all of the members of the Contact Group proposed a measure of “standards before status,” that is that specific democratic standards had be to met before the status issue could be discussed.

Any clear-eyed reading of the Fall 2005 UN report shows that none of the standards have been met, but for political reasons the process must move forward. I’d suggest that some of the commentators here read the Ombudspersons Annual Reports on Kosovo, especially the one from 2005.

http://www.ombudspersonkosovo.org/

Look at the OSCE reports on the nonfunctioning court system and the problems with the media. Read the reports about the problems with the police force. Read the 2005 UN report that advocated beginning status negotiations.

The Western powers want out of Kosovo as quickly as possible, and they broke with the “standards before status” approach in March 2004. Comments about Serbia having “gambled Kosovo away” do little to help us understand the current context and what the future of the region will be. The West is currently in the process of abandoning its commitments in Kosovo – and that is shameful.

Mark A. Wolfgram

Xhafer, by putting those land price numbers, you are actually admitting that Albanians aim is to kick Serbs out of Kosovo in one way or another.

Do you think that you can wipe out an entire history of a nation with money?

I know that all Albanians do not think this way. I can see it from various comments here. In fact, a lot of them seem very inviting towards Serbs to join the Institutions and life in Kosovo.

I hope Kosovo still remains part of Serbia. But if it doesn't, I won't shed a tear for it watsoever!

And I'm gonna tell you why!

It's factual projection, that Albanians will grow to 10 million in less than 40 years.

If that happens, they would truly take back Ilirian lands as often talked about here in this site.

So, if Serbs really want a land to be called Serbia in the future, then, simply forget about Kosovo and take care of the rest of Serbia.

So, losing Kosovo may be the best for Serbia after all.

Albanians will be our closest neighbors whether we like it or not.

After all, all the history that you feel so proud of, will remain in Kosovo after the status.

So, it is in our interest to halt with this kind of animosity.

Boris Petrovich,

Suela,

Coming from the West, i was of course, fed the same propaganda. The difference as i have stated is that i actually took time out to look at different sides and not just accept what was fed to me. As the Western media was quite anti-Serb I obviously did not feed into the lies. However, there were some brilliant journalists including Daniel Pearl who really bothered to visit Kosovo and learn the truth.

If you would like to talk about compromise being one sided I would strongly recommend that you learn more about Albin Kurti's "Jo Negociata, Vetvendosje" movement, which opposes UNMIK presence as well as ANY negotiations with Serbia. This was obviously something that you choose not to see (although I don't see how you couldn't have) while you were there.

In terms of the language, since the Albanians were educated in Serb-funded institutions, they learned Serbian. I live in Canada and I can tell you that most English-speaking people speak only English to French-Canadians not because they are unwilling to compromise but because it is the more commonly used language. Serbian was the formal language used in Kosovarian institutions and therefore it became the acceptable language amongst neighbours. As a sidenote however, I know many Serbs who can speak Albanian.

The issues and wounds are deeper, but I find it tragic that it is only one side's suffering that many expats recognize. When this happens YOU are becoming unwilling to compromise and learn anything about Serb suffering. Please remember that being surrounded by mostly albanians in kosovo you were exposed to one side of the story. I'm assuming that you didn't take the time out to visit any serb enclaves and talk to them about thier 'wounds'. Does it then surprise you that you think the way you do?

Ignorance can simply be defined as knowing only one side and believing it without any question or regard for the opposing side. Make a judgement only when you have listened to both angles.

Boris Petrovich, that's a very rational and realistic point of view. I can fully understand what you feel and hope about Kosovo, even if I feel and hope exactly the opposite of you, but I fully agree with you. After all Kosovo and Serbia will be neighbours forever, no more animosity or hate is needed, it harms both of them.

Victoria, I can understand your (opposite) point of view. But please, don't compare Canada with Serbia and Kosovo. As far as I'm concerned, there has never been war or attempted ethnical cleansing between English- and French-speakers in Canda. Neither has anyone pretended, the other's land is it's historical or cultural craddle or else. (And some yrs. ago Quebec was nearly to break away from Canada, the YES-vote was just 1% short - You see how delicate can be this kind of things even in one of the most devloped and completely peaceful lands of this planet). It's true, now it's still difficult for some Serbs in Kosovo, and I suppose you know why. The solution is a responsible state of the citizens of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnical origin (the reintegration in Serbia is no more a solution, you should know that better than me. This is why that kind of conditioned, or controlled/assisted independence is needed. After all one thing is true, people in Kosovo and Serbia need to start a new page.

Genc,

Good points, but on a historical note, the French and the English have a LONG history of battle and war generally and yes, that does extend also to Canada.

They haven't argued over it being each other's 'cradles' because they simply know that it is not. It is instead land that is historically property of Aboriginal peoples. There is a huge difference and I didn't mean to compare the two countries in any way except for language b.c the circumstances are completely different.

I'm just making the point that when ppl form relationships with each other they become accustomed to speaking normally one language. In the majority of Serb-Albanian relationships (neighbours, etc..) Serbian has just become the norm language amongst themselves.

Victoria, You are so wrong. I was in Pristina this summer and I stayed at the Serbian Quarters. Unfortunately there very little Serbs there, but in the court yard there were children playing soccer and having fun both Serb and Albanians. Most of you should learn to live together from these children. Coming back to your comment “ If you want to see what it means NOT to be discriminated against walk down the streets of Belgrade speaking Albanian and no one will pay any attention.” I walked the streets of Pristina and my friends’ spoke a little Serbian on the street and some Albanian did gave us dirty looks. But in Belgrade a few years ago, I read in this lovely News site that an Arvanites was bit up for speaking Arvaniteian (An ancient Greek Language similar to Albanian) thinking he was an Albanian!!! You should read the comment again from Srbin; hem being a displaced person is the only thing that counts. It isn’t Belgrade nor Pristina it is the economy and racist people that are holding back all the Kosovar (Albanian and Serb) from living to gather in peace! One other think Victoria, just for the record Albanians contain over 70% Illyrian DNA.
Ron, to your comment “There are numerous Historical records from the former Yugoslavia that support what I've said regarding the changing demographics of Kosovo before and after WWII.” If you look at pre-World War I Serbian population Maps you will see that Albanians are put into two groups Albanian and Serb-Albanian! That is all Historical and we should all look at resent History and see that Kosovo was gambled away during the Milosevic era but Milosevic did keep Vojvodina.

I went to the main PTK building in Pristina a few weeks ago to take care of some business. Not being from Kosovo and not being Albanian, I don't speak the language. I asked one of the employees for help in Croatian language. While he was extremely helpful, everyone else in the room including the security guard, threatened to 'slit my throat as my people did to theirs'. Again, I was only visiting and am not Serbian. Everyone from former Yugoslavia can tell the difference between Serbian and Croatian language, and I speak the latter.
I decided to go to the Police and report the incident, but what a surprise, most of them refused to speak to me claiming they do not speak my language. Quite oddly, based on their reactions, I could see that they understood every word I said.
Finally, I contacted the UNMIK and was advised to let the issue go and not use my language while in the province.
Needless to say, I will not be returning to Kosovo. I am sure that there are nice people there, but for me it is not worth the trouble. If my life is in danger simply for not being Albanian, then I have no business being there.

Pride, it is unfortunate that you and others have faced such situations in Pristina (or in Belgrade). I have been luckier and faced the opposite - I have been in Pristina with my Serbian friends speaking Serbian, and shop owners, waiters, people on the street all responded to us in Serbian. Restaurants even had Serbian-language menus to offer us. I have also been in Belgrade with my Kosovo Albanian friends and noone paid any attention to them speaking Albanian. I'm not naive enough to think this is always the case now, but I am optimistic enough to think that one day it can be the normal way we live our lives in the Balkans.