One-sided decisions and violence, unacceptable

What these two diplomats, in cohesion with Mr. Nicholas Wood in Washington, also said (I wonder why B92 does not report this part) is that the status of Kosova will very soon change, because Kosova and its people deserves its freedom. You take that however you like, but I take it as meaning independence.

I think they said they were not going to tolerate violence and no one side decisions would be made so in fact it means more talks. Sidi dont put the wagon before the horse.

for your reference guys>>>UNSC 1244>>> http://www.nato.int/kosovo/docu/u990610a.htm >>>
Annex 1
Statement by the Chairman
on the conclusion of the meeting of the G-8 Foreign Ministers
held at the Petersberg Centre on 6 May 1999
The G-8 Foreign Ministers adopted the following general principles on the political solution to the Kosovo crisis:

Immediate and verifiable end of violence and repression in Kosovo;

Withdrawal from Kosovo of military, police and paramilitary forces;

Deployment in Kosovo of effective international civil and security presences, endorsed and adopted by the United Nations, capable of guaranteeing the achievement of the common objectives;

Establishment of an interim administration for Kosovo to be decided by the Security Council of the United Nations to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants in Kosovo;

The safe and free return of all refugees and displaced persons and unimpeded access to Kosovo by humanitarian aid organizations;

A political process towards the establishment of an interim political framework agreement providing for a substantial self-government for Kosovo, taking full account of the Rambouillet accords and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the other countries of the region, and the demilitarization of the KLA;

Comprehensive approach to the economic development and stabilization of the crisis region. NO INSINUATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAS BEEN MENTIONED HERE.

RAMBOUILLET ACCORDS>>>http://www.kosovo.mod.uk/rambouillet_text.htm>>>
AN IMPORTANT EXCERPT>>>
Article I: Principles of Democratic Self-Government in Kosovo
1. Kosovo shall govern itself democratically through the legislative, executive, judicial, and other organs and institutions specified herein. Organs and institutions of Kosovo shall exercise their authorities consistent with the terms of this Agreement.

2. All authorities in Kosovo shall fully respect human rights, democracy, and the equality of citizens and national communities.

3. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has competence in Kosovo over the following areas, except as specified elsewhere in this Agreement: (a) territorial integrity,

(b) maintaining a common market within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which power shall be exercised in a manner that does not discriminate against Kosovo,

(c) monetary policy, (d) defense, (e) foreign policy,

(f) customs services, (g) federal taxation, (h) federal elections, and (i) other areas specified in this Agreement.

4. The Republic of Serbia shall have competence in Kosovo as specified in this Agreement, including in relation to Republic elections.

5. Citizens in Kosovo-may continue to participate in areas in which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia have competence through their representation in relevant institutions, without prejudice to the exercise of competence by Kosovo authorities set forth in this Agreement.

What I also interpret this article as saying is that the "all or nothing" approaches from Pristina and Belgrade are no longer feasible. I mean looking at the comments on this site, Serbs want the land but not its people, and Albanians only shout independence - even if an article would say "Kosovo to remain part of Serbia", some would still comment of the "imminent independence of Kosova!" It's time for serious compromise and shared responsibility. Gestures of reconciliation by both sides could start the process of cooperation.

Thank you Betty Van Dal.

Hopefully the message for 2007 will be very clear that the UN, Contact Group, EU, and NATO wish that all the peoples of Serbia can learn to be cooperative and understanding of their fellow citizens. This is the true nature of both Rambouillet and UN Resolution 1244 - ensuring that all can live in peace in Serbia.

The win-win solution is an acceptance that there cannot nor never will be a 2nd Albanian state made out of 15% of its neighbouring state of Serbia. Clearly the Albanians in Kosovo need to have political recognition within both the province of Kosovo & Metohija and naturally the rest of Serbia as a whole. This is something that will need to be made acceptable to the polarised fringe of both Serb radicals & ethnic Albanians in the Serbian province of Kosovo & Metohija but a better future for all in Serbia cannot be held hostage by these groups. Violence will not be tolerated by any group. Put the history behind and look to a better future for all in Serbia.

Roll on the talks in 2007 for a win-win solution that is acceptable to all and which allows all of Serbia to progress economically, politically and socially.

That resolution speaks only of the three year interim period. It does not apply to the present time. It clearly left the resoultion of future status open. Sweet dreams Serbia!

Betty,

"full account of the Rambouillet accords and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" don't match very good together. Moreover, it's an interim agreement, which will be replaced soon. The core issue is that the overwhelmiong majority of K-citizens would NEVER accept a reintegration into Serbia, and Serbia is not able to rule Kosovo any longer (it's to heavy for it). It's the reality which makes the decisions, not the opposite

Betty van dal:

What is your point!

On 1st message you alluded to a document that was written in May 99, before end of bombing, no way at that time to predict final agreement. Therefore, total speculation at that point in time.

On 2nd message you refer to Rambouillet accord, which Serbs foolishly did not sign.
Therefore, how can a country agree to an accord they refused to sign.

fine, fine Betty Van Serb
shall we go pre 99 era as well, and dont give up Kosova without a war as Slobo followers stated recently.

something with status will definitely change... the question is what? and how much? and when? but most importantly... why QUALIFY the comments with "violence is unacceptable." should one not assume that this comment is intended for the K Albanians not to get pissed off when they don't get what they want? i say they'll get some semblance of what they are looking for... but it will fall far short in many regards. conditions will be set for the next level... but they will prove impossible to achieve... and the hope for independence will slowly evaporate as the years pass... at which point a FINAL DECISION will ultimately be made. The K albanians are being led down the garden path and don't even realize it. the events of the past 45 days have not beenm favorable for K... and america has bigger problems elsewhere. serbia's diplomatic efforts are beginning to bear fruit.... and it hasn't even yet dipped into it's reserve of emergency dealmaking offers.

UNSC 1244 and rambouillet are the basis why the UN and NATO intervened and why they are there in Kosovo until now and as such will be the basis for the final status because it is rightly so.

The comments that Betty Van dal wrote were from the accord which was agreeded up in France. Now there are parties who want to change the wording. If you write something in the comments and it looks like favors the Serbs you automatically branded as Serb. That should not be a decision taken likely. As you can see the status was not brought forth in December 06 and now you have reports of masked gunman setting up check points. What is next another planned riot. Come on people i thought the days of the 90's are past and the past should be left where it belongs in the past. Move forward for not who are here now but for the future of balkans the children, it is going to be there world not ours.

What these two diplomats, in cohesion with Mr. Nicholas Wood in Washington, also said (I wonder why B92 does not report this part) is that the status of Kosova will very soon change, because Kosova and its people deserves its freedom. You take that however you like, but I take it as meaning independence.

I think they said they were not going to tolerate violence and no one side decisions would be made so in fact it means more talks. Sidi dont put the wagon before the horse.

for your reference guys>>>UNSC 1244>>> http://www.nato.int/kosovo/docu/u990610a.htm >>>
Annex 1
Statement by the Chairman
on the conclusion of the meeting of the G-8 Foreign Ministers
held at the Petersberg Centre on 6 May 1999
The G-8 Foreign Ministers adopted the following general principles on the political solution to the Kosovo crisis:

Immediate and verifiable end of violence and repression in Kosovo;

Withdrawal from Kosovo of military, police and paramilitary forces;

Deployment in Kosovo of effective international civil and security presences, endorsed and adopted by the United Nations, capable of guaranteeing the achievement of the common objectives;

Establishment of an interim administration for Kosovo to be decided by the Security Council of the United Nations to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants in Kosovo;

The safe and free return of all refugees and displaced persons and unimpeded access to Kosovo by humanitarian aid organizations;

A political process towards the establishment of an interim political framework agreement providing for a substantial self-government for Kosovo, taking full account of the Rambouillet accords and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the other countries of the region, and the demilitarization of the KLA;

Comprehensive approach to the economic development and stabilization of the crisis region. NO INSINUATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAS BEEN MENTIONED HERE.

RAMBOUILLET ACCORDS>>>http://www.kosovo.mod.uk/rambouillet_text.htm>>>
AN IMPORTANT EXCERPT>>>
Article I: Principles of Democratic Self-Government in Kosovo
1. Kosovo shall govern itself democratically through the legislative, executive, judicial, and other organs and institutions specified herein. Organs and institutions of Kosovo shall exercise their authorities consistent with the terms of this Agreement.

2. All authorities in Kosovo shall fully respect human rights, democracy, and the equality of citizens and national communities.

3. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has competence in Kosovo over the following areas, except as specified elsewhere in this Agreement: (a) territorial integrity,

(b) maintaining a common market within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which power shall be exercised in a manner that does not discriminate against Kosovo,

(c) monetary policy, (d) defense, (e) foreign policy,

(f) customs services, (g) federal taxation, (h) federal elections, and (i) other areas specified in this Agreement.

4. The Republic of Serbia shall have competence in Kosovo as specified in this Agreement, including in relation to Republic elections.

5. Citizens in Kosovo-may continue to participate in areas in which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia have competence through their representation in relevant institutions, without prejudice to the exercise of competence by Kosovo authorities set forth in this Agreement.

What I also interpret this article as saying is that the "all or nothing" approaches from Pristina and Belgrade are no longer feasible. I mean looking at the comments on this site, Serbs want the land but not its people, and Albanians only shout independence - even if an article would say "Kosovo to remain part of Serbia", some would still comment of the "imminent independence of Kosova!" It's time for serious compromise and shared responsibility. Gestures of reconciliation by both sides could start the process of cooperation.

Thank you Betty Van Dal.

Hopefully the message for 2007 will be very clear that the UN, Contact Group, EU, and NATO wish that all the peoples of Serbia can learn to be cooperative and understanding of their fellow citizens. This is the true nature of both Rambouillet and UN Resolution 1244 - ensuring that all can live in peace in Serbia.

The win-win solution is an acceptance that there cannot nor never will be a 2nd Albanian state made out of 15% of its neighbouring state of Serbia. Clearly the Albanians in Kosovo need to have political recognition within both the province of Kosovo & Metohija and naturally the rest of Serbia as a whole. This is something that will need to be made acceptable to the polarised fringe of both Serb radicals & ethnic Albanians in the Serbian province of Kosovo & Metohija but a better future for all in Serbia cannot be held hostage by these groups. Violence will not be tolerated by any group. Put the history behind and look to a better future for all in Serbia.

Roll on the talks in 2007 for a win-win solution that is acceptable to all and which allows all of Serbia to progress economically, politically and socially.

That resolution speaks only of the three year interim period. It does not apply to the present time. It clearly left the resoultion of future status open. Sweet dreams Serbia!

Betty,

"full account of the Rambouillet accords and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" don't match very good together. Moreover, it's an interim agreement, which will be replaced soon. The core issue is that the overwhelmiong majority of K-citizens would NEVER accept a reintegration into Serbia, and Serbia is not able to rule Kosovo any longer (it's to heavy for it). It's the reality which makes the decisions, not the opposite

Betty van dal:

What is your point!

On 1st message you alluded to a document that was written in May 99, before end of bombing, no way at that time to predict final agreement. Therefore, total speculation at that point in time.

On 2nd message you refer to Rambouillet accord, which Serbs foolishly did not sign.
Therefore, how can a country agree to an accord they refused to sign.

fine, fine Betty Van Serb
shall we go pre 99 era as well, and dont give up Kosova without a war as Slobo followers stated recently.

something with status will definitely change... the question is what? and how much? and when? but most importantly... why QUALIFY the comments with "violence is unacceptable." should one not assume that this comment is intended for the K Albanians not to get pissed off when they don't get what they want? i say they'll get some semblance of what they are looking for... but it will fall far short in many regards. conditions will be set for the next level... but they will prove impossible to achieve... and the hope for independence will slowly evaporate as the years pass... at which point a FINAL DECISION will ultimately be made. The K albanians are being led down the garden path and don't even realize it. the events of the past 45 days have not beenm favorable for K... and america has bigger problems elsewhere. serbia's diplomatic efforts are beginning to bear fruit.... and it hasn't even yet dipped into it's reserve of emergency dealmaking offers.

UNSC 1244 and rambouillet are the basis why the UN and NATO intervened and why they are there in Kosovo until now and as such will be the basis for the final status because it is rightly so.

The comments that Betty Van dal wrote were from the accord which was agreeded up in France. Now there are parties who want to change the wording. If you write something in the comments and it looks like favors the Serbs you automatically branded as Serb. That should not be a decision taken likely. As you can see the status was not brought forth in December 06 and now you have reports of masked gunman setting up check points. What is next another planned riot. Come on people i thought the days of the 90's are past and the past should be left where it belongs in the past. Move forward for not who are here now but for the future of balkans the children, it is going to be there world not ours.