Minister: We warn states against recognizing Kosovo

And what serious consequences would those be MR. Popovic? I hardly beleive Serbia is in any position to threaten ANYNONE, let alone the NATO countries. And why is the "science" minister involved in this? Would that be Serbian science? The kind that designs ethnic cleansing?

Sidi,

Why do you take a militarist's skewed attitude to statements such as these? The consequences lie in the 30 or so separatist movements around the globe. Cool down, will you?

The ethnic albanians are already taking care of the ethnic cleansing, sidi.

The politicians in Beograd are really playing with the voters. Popovic must talk instead what will happen in March 2007. Not what has happened three days ago. Exactly, piliticians in Belgrade do not do real politics. They just speak words.

It's so silly! When you hear a science Minister warning, threatening, and blackmailing individual countries in favor of Kosovo Independence!

"Don't you have other things to do Mr. Minister?"

Agnes Bertrand,

I say let Kosovo stay in Serbia. Why? Becuase the Albanians can then reclaim the morava valley from which they were expelled in 1879 and again in 1912. Kosovo is to small for the growing population which will require more land and a greater economic market. The only problem is the Serbs don't want the people of Kosovo just the land. Well you can't have your cake and eat it too. So which is it? 2+ million Albanians and keeping Kosovo or loose Kosovo and the populations that come with it. It is obviously a case of grand standing. Serbia wants to loose Kosovo but no one wants to take the blaim. Well why don't Serbs rewrite their nationalist myths and make a battle they actually won the epicenter of their ideology instead of losses and defeats. I know! Make Vojvodina the center of Nationalist Serbian myth. It fits the bill- 1) originally not Serbian territoty 2) annexed by agression 3) ethnic expulsion and cleansing (germans & hungarians) 4) Borders former parent state (hungary)

*sigh*
Just when i thought the Serbian gov't had threatened just about everyone on the planet ,it appears they haven't ,i think they are running out of people to threaten now ,except maybe aliens from another planet *shesh* ?
Like the poster said earlier what are the ramifications if nations recognise Kosovo ,it's not like Serbia is important trading bloc partner ,it's virtually isolated from the rest of Europe if anything we should be "warning" them to stop threatening other states if they "dare" to recognise Kosovo .
Nowe that elections are so close it's unfortunate that the Serbian people will have to listen to this grabage instead of addressing real issues and concerns ,like the standard of living ,the economy ,umemployment ,EU membership ,and when Serbia calls itself a "democratic nation" that is a total oxymoron ,look at the latest referendum on thier constitution they cliam Kosovo is thier's but wouldn't allow any of the 2 million Kosovar Albanians to vote on that ,that is a disgrace ,so in other words the Serbian gov't says "Kosovo is ours and the people there have no say" ,if the 2 million Albanians did have the chance to vote the referendum would fail indeed .
Serbia is just like Russia threatening everyone around them when things don't go there way ?
The Serbs can Kosovo back when Russia returns stolen territory to Finland ,why should over half a million Karelians be kicked out there homeland accept it ,but the Serbs can't ,a double standard if you ask me ?

Serbia should also ask herself wether it would want to join in Union with countries that bombarded Serbia and illegally took Kosovo. People, remember, there are other options besides contributing to NATO dominance. You saw what they did in 1999? Should we really help them expand around the world (and Russia) or stop them?

Science minister trying to scare countries from individually recognizing Kosovo!

Boy! This can happen only in Serbia!

"Why don't you invent some new Yugo car engine Mr. Scientist? Like that, the economy can take off!

Xhafer,

Well, if US, Great Britain, and many friend countries of US decide to recognise Kosovo, What is the science minister going to do?

It's very humorous to see someone from his position make such statements!

Well,

Times when serbia tried to implement its threats are long time gone (1999), milion people moved out of Kosovo came back within 2 months. These people are loughing at such and similar sarcastic statements, of course when they are able and want to hear those.

"best option Martti Ahtisaari has at this time is to step down and let an impartial and objective international mediator take over".
Oh popovic i have a quastion for you, Who is good for you ?!,UK,USA,Germany, Italy ,France, Suisse,Austria ,and many other western countries support independence for Kosova ,and who ever is gonna come will have the same aproach .None of the administrators were good enough for you,now Atisari is not good, If you are expecting that Putin will mediate the negotiations ,you are wrong.When it comes to threats ha ha ,Albanians are ready to do worse than what croations did to serbians .My adivice to all serbians and popovic is ,look how you deal with sanxhak,vllahi, Hungariens ,and don't spend time and effort to think about Kosova,which de facto and de jure is independent country since 1991,and then the war took place you lost it now ...

To Sidi,
Serbia isn't threatening military action, only Russia can afford the privilege, instead Vojislav Kostunica is simply warning on cutting diplomatic ties with any anti-Serb country that is biased like yourself. Don't jump to conclusions especially biased ones.

I agree with Sidi and on top of that - why does Serbia feel that they can still threaten anybody?That time is over, move on, live and let live

Com'on people, not jet understand that Kosovo is already independent. And if US and EU recognise Kosovo, what Serbia can do ????? What have you done against NATO in 1999 ??? And just to remember Kosovo citizens do not use and document that recognise them as people of Serbia (no Serbia ID, Passport or Driving License).

Serbia is entitled to use whatever means it has to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, and to protect its citizens who are under direct threat. In this case, the Serbs in Kosovo. It is no secret that the albanians have every intention to drive out all the remaining Serbs left in Kosovo. The past 7 years is proof enough of that.
Does anyone seriously expect for Serbia to just lay back and let Kosovo be ripped away and handed over to seperatists?? Dismissing the Serbs argument as 'nationailists rhetoric' etc etc. is a sign of how weak the actual argument for independance really is.

The fact is, the albanians do not have a positive argument or approach, they rely on negative politics and counter any Serb arguments, or other, with the usual "you lost Kosovo in 1999 . . do you expect 2 million albanians to live under the rule of 100,000 Serbs'. These are not valid reasons whichever way you look at it.

So far the Serbs have used dialogue and political means to argue and voice their cause, whilst the albanians have issued ultimatums and threats of further violence. This is a good picture of the situation, and also to the approach the two sides have taken.

It is quite obvious people are starting to see the real picture of the situation in Kosovo, hence this delay.
Every day that passes, more truths are being revealed and more lies are being exposed. Unfortunately for the albanian seperatists, the party could soon be over

The Serbs threatened back in 1999, and can you believe NATO was so scared of these threats that they started shelling bombs to self protectc .
Just think what will you get now with those
"science type" of threats.......

Hey MAX you are out of touch with reality. Nothing is over until fat lady sings. Actually these delay is nail in the coffin for Serbia. As is Radicals have at least 40% after elections they will gain even more and that is enough for the world to see how democratic is Serbia, as well as this will proove that majority of Serbs alined with Milosevic's policy to exterminate Kosovar Albanians.

Agim Elshani, isn't democracy all about choice, and freedom of expression?

Mister Popovic! Please leave away these old fashioned serbian rethorics! Look forward and think about your people, because they are those who suffer by your politics.

JeJu

Ask B92 what the freedom of expression means! you have only to use a sophisticated language to avoid being censured from B92. Possibly they'll omit some of the words again. A leopard cannot change His spots.

Max,

Serbia is not in a position to threaten anyone.

Kosovo is essentially independent and most Serbs know this. They will be granted official independence
in a very short time.

Ahtisaari has already written his report and the UN has READ and ACCEPTED it.

Serbia doesn't want its nose bloodied again. They may pretend to threaten any country that recognizes Kosovo but, they will ultimately accept Kosovo INDEPENDENCE, just as Russia will!

Mr. Popovic the "serious consequences" you mention can be serious only to Serbia. If Serbia stops diplomatic relationships with US and other European countries who would really get hurt?

RE: Bill Rankin

Do you really think that Ahtisaari would not have made public to seperate Kosovo-yes, the problem is Russia will not break the UN Charter and will veto any such agreement.

Need I remind everyone on this board that the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 was against NATO's own defensive charter (Greece decided to not provided miliary support and essentially remainted neutral) and also the UN Charter which states that a sovereign recognized country will be be attacked in an agresseive manner. NATO was bamboozled by false Albanian propoganda, and in the end the Albanian and Serbian civilians paid for it with their lives.

Need I remind everyone that UN resolution 1244 guarantees the territorial integrity of Kosovo within Serbia.

Will the so called western "democratic" countries continue to break international law just like Hitler bypassed international law to invade Austria, Czechoslovakia & Poland.

Konstantin Gregovic
Edmonton,AB
Canada

I personally dont believe that the 'West' was merely fooled by the albanians. Albanian propaganda, and PR, played a huge role in securing western support, but the west had their own agenda.

The problem for the governments which initially supported the albanians is that the whole situation has become very messy, and the end solution is not as black and white as first thought.

Their dillemna is that if the albanians resume violence, it will be impossible for these governments to continue to openly support the albanians, but on the same token it will be equally difficult to denounce them because it is these governments that have allowed the independance drive to get this far by turning a blind eye and making excuses for the albanians 'misdemeanours'.ie 2004

The albanians have now been left hanging and their former 'supporters' have been left with egg on their face and are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Max,
The Albanian Kosovars are hardly left hanging because of the delay of announcing independence for Kosova until after the Serb elections on Jan. 21, 2007. The winning of independence for the Albanians will be even sweeter after the Radicals in Serbia win the election, proving once and for all that the Serbs have no right to Kosova.

Jim,

"independence for the Albanians will be even sweeter", "Serbs have no right to Kosova"

Using catchphrases and old cliches are not really valid arguments. I think thats one thing we can agree on

It wouldn't make a lickin difference if martians won the elections Jim, it doesnt change the fact that Kosovo is rightfully Serbian, legally and historically. Elections do not re-write or delete historical, and current facts. They determine what happens to the future of a country, not the past.

Please explain to me how a win for the Radicals would 'prove once and for all Serbs have no right to Kosovo'?? If anything, it would confirm the opposite

And if your only hope of 'winning' independance lies in the fate of an election in which you have no say in, than this is a sorry sign for your cause whichever way you look at it.

And what serious consequences would those be MR. Popovic? I hardly beleive Serbia is in any position to threaten ANYNONE, let alone the NATO countries. And why is the "science" minister involved in this? Would that be Serbian science? The kind that designs ethnic cleansing?

Sidi,

Why do you take a militarist's skewed attitude to statements such as these? The consequences lie in the 30 or so separatist movements around the globe. Cool down, will you?

The ethnic albanians are already taking care of the ethnic cleansing, sidi.

The politicians in Beograd are really playing with the voters. Popovic must talk instead what will happen in March 2007. Not what has happened three days ago. Exactly, piliticians in Belgrade do not do real politics. They just speak words.

It's so silly! When you hear a science Minister warning, threatening, and blackmailing individual countries in favor of Kosovo Independence!

"Don't you have other things to do Mr. Minister?"

Agnes Bertrand,

I say let Kosovo stay in Serbia. Why? Becuase the Albanians can then reclaim the morava valley from which they were expelled in 1879 and again in 1912. Kosovo is to small for the growing population which will require more land and a greater economic market. The only problem is the Serbs don't want the people of Kosovo just the land. Well you can't have your cake and eat it too. So which is it? 2+ million Albanians and keeping Kosovo or loose Kosovo and the populations that come with it. It is obviously a case of grand standing. Serbia wants to loose Kosovo but no one wants to take the blaim. Well why don't Serbs rewrite their nationalist myths and make a battle they actually won the epicenter of their ideology instead of losses and defeats. I know! Make Vojvodina the center of Nationalist Serbian myth. It fits the bill- 1) originally not Serbian territoty 2) annexed by agression 3) ethnic expulsion and cleansing (germans & hungarians) 4) Borders former parent state (hungary)

*sigh*
Just when i thought the Serbian gov't had threatened just about everyone on the planet ,it appears they haven't ,i think they are running out of people to threaten now ,except maybe aliens from another planet *shesh* ?
Like the poster said earlier what are the ramifications if nations recognise Kosovo ,it's not like Serbia is important trading bloc partner ,it's virtually isolated from the rest of Europe if anything we should be "warning" them to stop threatening other states if they "dare" to recognise Kosovo .
Nowe that elections are so close it's unfortunate that the Serbian people will have to listen to this grabage instead of addressing real issues and concerns ,like the standard of living ,the economy ,umemployment ,EU membership ,and when Serbia calls itself a "democratic nation" that is a total oxymoron ,look at the latest referendum on thier constitution they cliam Kosovo is thier's but wouldn't allow any of the 2 million Kosovar Albanians to vote on that ,that is a disgrace ,so in other words the Serbian gov't says "Kosovo is ours and the people there have no say" ,if the 2 million Albanians did have the chance to vote the referendum would fail indeed .
Serbia is just like Russia threatening everyone around them when things don't go there way ?
The Serbs can Kosovo back when Russia returns stolen territory to Finland ,why should over half a million Karelians be kicked out there homeland accept it ,but the Serbs can't ,a double standard if you ask me ?

Serbia should also ask herself wether it would want to join in Union with countries that bombarded Serbia and illegally took Kosovo. People, remember, there are other options besides contributing to NATO dominance. You saw what they did in 1999? Should we really help them expand around the world (and Russia) or stop them?

Science minister trying to scare countries from individually recognizing Kosovo!

Boy! This can happen only in Serbia!

"Why don't you invent some new Yugo car engine Mr. Scientist? Like that, the economy can take off!

Xhafer,

Well, if US, Great Britain, and many friend countries of US decide to recognise Kosovo, What is the science minister going to do?

It's very humorous to see someone from his position make such statements!

Well,

Times when serbia tried to implement its threats are long time gone (1999), milion people moved out of Kosovo came back within 2 months. These people are loughing at such and similar sarcastic statements, of course when they are able and want to hear those.

"best option Martti Ahtisaari has at this time is to step down and let an impartial and objective international mediator take over".
Oh popovic i have a quastion for you, Who is good for you ?!,UK,USA,Germany, Italy ,France, Suisse,Austria ,and many other western countries support independence for Kosova ,and who ever is gonna come will have the same aproach .None of the administrators were good enough for you,now Atisari is not good, If you are expecting that Putin will mediate the negotiations ,you are wrong.When it comes to threats ha ha ,Albanians are ready to do worse than what croations did to serbians .My adivice to all serbians and popovic is ,look how you deal with sanxhak,vllahi, Hungariens ,and don't spend time and effort to think about Kosova,which de facto and de jure is independent country since 1991,and then the war took place you lost it now ...

To Sidi,
Serbia isn't threatening military action, only Russia can afford the privilege, instead Vojislav Kostunica is simply warning on cutting diplomatic ties with any anti-Serb country that is biased like yourself. Don't jump to conclusions especially biased ones.

I agree with Sidi and on top of that - why does Serbia feel that they can still threaten anybody?That time is over, move on, live and let live

Com'on people, not jet understand that Kosovo is already independent. And if US and EU recognise Kosovo, what Serbia can do ????? What have you done against NATO in 1999 ??? And just to remember Kosovo citizens do not use and document that recognise them as people of Serbia (no Serbia ID, Passport or Driving License).

Serbia is entitled to use whatever means it has to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, and to protect its citizens who are under direct threat. In this case, the Serbs in Kosovo. It is no secret that the albanians have every intention to drive out all the remaining Serbs left in Kosovo. The past 7 years is proof enough of that.
Does anyone seriously expect for Serbia to just lay back and let Kosovo be ripped away and handed over to seperatists?? Dismissing the Serbs argument as 'nationailists rhetoric' etc etc. is a sign of how weak the actual argument for independance really is.

The fact is, the albanians do not have a positive argument or approach, they rely on negative politics and counter any Serb arguments, or other, with the usual "you lost Kosovo in 1999 . . do you expect 2 million albanians to live under the rule of 100,000 Serbs'. These are not valid reasons whichever way you look at it.

So far the Serbs have used dialogue and political means to argue and voice their cause, whilst the albanians have issued ultimatums and threats of further violence. This is a good picture of the situation, and also to the approach the two sides have taken.

It is quite obvious people are starting to see the real picture of the situation in Kosovo, hence this delay.
Every day that passes, more truths are being revealed and more lies are being exposed. Unfortunately for the albanian seperatists, the party could soon be over

The Serbs threatened back in 1999, and can you believe NATO was so scared of these threats that they started shelling bombs to self protectc .
Just think what will you get now with those
"science type" of threats.......

Hey MAX you are out of touch with reality. Nothing is over until fat lady sings. Actually these delay is nail in the coffin for Serbia. As is Radicals have at least 40% after elections they will gain even more and that is enough for the world to see how democratic is Serbia, as well as this will proove that majority of Serbs alined with Milosevic's policy to exterminate Kosovar Albanians.

Agim Elshani, isn't democracy all about choice, and freedom of expression?

Mister Popovic! Please leave away these old fashioned serbian rethorics! Look forward and think about your people, because they are those who suffer by your politics.

JeJu

Ask B92 what the freedom of expression means! you have only to use a sophisticated language to avoid being censured from B92. Possibly they'll omit some of the words again. A leopard cannot change His spots.

Max,

Serbia is not in a position to threaten anyone.

Kosovo is essentially independent and most Serbs know this. They will be granted official independence
in a very short time.

Ahtisaari has already written his report and the UN has READ and ACCEPTED it.

Serbia doesn't want its nose bloodied again. They may pretend to threaten any country that recognizes Kosovo but, they will ultimately accept Kosovo INDEPENDENCE, just as Russia will!

Mr. Popovic the "serious consequences" you mention can be serious only to Serbia. If Serbia stops diplomatic relationships with US and other European countries who would really get hurt?

RE: Bill Rankin

Do you really think that Ahtisaari would not have made public to seperate Kosovo-yes, the problem is Russia will not break the UN Charter and will veto any such agreement.

Need I remind everyone on this board that the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 was against NATO's own defensive charter (Greece decided to not provided miliary support and essentially remainted neutral) and also the UN Charter which states that a sovereign recognized country will be be attacked in an agresseive manner. NATO was bamboozled by false Albanian propoganda, and in the end the Albanian and Serbian civilians paid for it with their lives.

Need I remind everyone that UN resolution 1244 guarantees the territorial integrity of Kosovo within Serbia.

Will the so called western "democratic" countries continue to break international law just like Hitler bypassed international law to invade Austria, Czechoslovakia & Poland.

Konstantin Gregovic
Edmonton,AB
Canada

I personally dont believe that the 'West' was merely fooled by the albanians. Albanian propaganda, and PR, played a huge role in securing western support, but the west had their own agenda.

The problem for the governments which initially supported the albanians is that the whole situation has become very messy, and the end solution is not as black and white as first thought.

Their dillemna is that if the albanians resume violence, it will be impossible for these governments to continue to openly support the albanians, but on the same token it will be equally difficult to denounce them because it is these governments that have allowed the independance drive to get this far by turning a blind eye and making excuses for the albanians 'misdemeanours'.ie 2004

The albanians have now been left hanging and their former 'supporters' have been left with egg on their face and are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Max,
The Albanian Kosovars are hardly left hanging because of the delay of announcing independence for Kosova until after the Serb elections on Jan. 21, 2007. The winning of independence for the Albanians will be even sweeter after the Radicals in Serbia win the election, proving once and for all that the Serbs have no right to Kosova.

Jim,

"independence for the Albanians will be even sweeter", "Serbs have no right to Kosova"

Using catchphrases and old cliches are not really valid arguments. I think thats one thing we can agree on

It wouldn't make a lickin difference if martians won the elections Jim, it doesnt change the fact that Kosovo is rightfully Serbian, legally and historically. Elections do not re-write or delete historical, and current facts. They determine what happens to the future of a country, not the past.

Please explain to me how a win for the Radicals would 'prove once and for all Serbs have no right to Kosovo'?? If anything, it would confirm the opposite

And if your only hope of 'winning' independance lies in the fate of an election in which you have no say in, than this is a sorry sign for your cause whichever way you look at it.