Burns surprised by Russian veto announcement

Ha, yeah Burns is "surprised", just like Bush was "surprised" Iraq wouldn't automatically go his way either, and like Albright was surprised Kosovo wouldn't suddenly become a democratic Switzerland after 1999.

Well, maybe Russia will use its veto on Kosovo's independence but, at the end, we will have a de facto independence

You are correct Mike; the Bush administration seems to be surprised very often. I wonder if the U.S. is surprised that over one hundred Serbian Orthodox Churches have been either completely destroyed or desecrated.

why a surprise? because amerika always think they can control the world. but not anymore...they have strong opponents in north korea, iran, venezuela, afghanistan, iraq, palestine, syria and of course russia and china economically.

Finding a win-win solution acceptable for all of Serbia (including all the peoples of Serbia) will be the objective for the talks in 2007. The Ahtisarri "proposal" will be a good starting point. What Mr. Burns really meant to say was that he had not heard and was surprised that the Russians publicly express their wishes though I am sure he has heard them in private on many occasions - as evidenced by the messages coming out of the Duma.

Roll on 2007 - I do hope the message is getting through that violence by any ethnic group will not be tolerated and will jeopardise certain levels of autonomy seeing as independence is now off the table.

this is such pathetic "spin control" that it is embarrassing. wood and polt are little more than hacks who will now run back home and ask condoleeza to help them. the ambassador was not misquoated. and if anyone is not playing fair... it's the americans. as iraq becomes more and more of a mess... kosovo will become more and more inconsequential to america --leaving europe to decide. the longer serbia stalls... the greater the likelihood that america will disengage.

Russia will change its stance once it sits down for talks with the US and compromises on other issues are made. Whoever thinks that Russia's interests in Serbia/Kosovo are bigger than Russia's interest in good relations with America/EU is a delusional and naive person.

You are totally right Mike !
I do not understand that someone could say that Kosovo/a will be a new state. These people must listen to much of the media they want to listen to.
NO ONE with power or decision authority have EVER stated this. Never.
And also to Mr Burns; "Russia is set to use its veto right at the UN Security Council should Kosovo status solution fail to be acceptable for both Belgrade and Priština". Read it again. IF it fail they will use their veto power. Im am 100% sure that Kosovo/a will not be a win-albanians, lose-serbians. It is very simple.... It is still impossible to take a bit of a sovereign country and suddenly make it independent. Wait and see.

Serbia, just like Russia, has a right to defend their interests. Our interest is peace and not letting terrorist tactics win in forcibly taking our heartland and soul from us.

" ...the citizens of Kosovo."

citizen:
1. national of a state
2. inhabitant of a particular city

Kosovo, a state or a city?

West politicians were always more calm,mature and more diplomatic to the East.Eastern politicians always offer wars,threats,etc.It is very unprofessional statement from the Russian officials.This shows that Russian Strategy will never change,they never cared about human beings.West is not doing better,look what happenned to Afganistan and now Iraq,they don't care about human beings either.What they what to show to the world is that they are still in POWER.That' a shame,this is happenning now and we ordinary people can't do nothing about it.West and East they don't care about Kosovan Albanians or Serbian People.They want to play their game in which both Kosovan Albanians and Serbs are the VICTIMS.This is the reality and poor people have to suffer because someone wants to show how strong they are.Hopefully one day everyone will be in win-win situation like Princip UK wants,or maybe Kosova borders will change so parts with majority with serbs can be with Serbia like Mathew wants,any normal solutions will be welcomed only please no more wars,let people enjoy their life,we only live once you know,why so hatred between us,lets build bridges and lets remember all the people that gave their life for this.Peace and Love.

Nothing to be surprised about, M. Burns. If you read the news you could have know about this POV long before. Let me quote Interfax:
MOSCOW. March 24 (Interfax) - Russia will support Serbia in talks on the status of Kosovo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We are convinced that any decision [on Kosovo's future] should be negotiated and not forced. However, unfortunately, Serbia is not playing a particularly active role in these talks," Lavrov said at a State Duma session devoted to the European Council's convention on the prevention of terrorism on Friday.

Serbia's stance "could have been firmer and were it to become so we would support it," he said.

And another one:
Russia supports Serbian integrity - Putin

SOCHI. August 28 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Russia's support of the territorial integrity of Serbia. in a meeting with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic on Monday,

The president confirmed Russia's support of Serbia's territorial integrity, but noted that much depended on Serbia itself, presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko told reporters after the meeting.

Putin asked Djukanovic's opinion of the Kosovo situation and his assessment of the prospects for Serbian-Montenegrin relations, the aide said.

Putin repeated an earlier statement that Russia had taken a cautious position on the creation of new states due to the potential weakening of these states, Prikhodko said.

"We have not talked to Alekseyev about the situation yet"
Pathetic. Is Ambassador Polt paid $50.000 per month only for going to cocktails?

"We wish to work together with Russia..."

Good news! It's time.
Lunov Agency

I think he is surprised that Russians are choosing their own defeat along with Serbs.

Honestly, what is Russia going to do with that veto? Veto the will of 90% percent population that is not Slavic.

For an action of that sort they'll be rewarded with another 70 years of embargo. Let's see if Serbs alone can buy their oil.

As far as Serbia is concerned, it will need a miracle to get a win-win situation after a crushing defeat of 1999.

Kosovo will be independent with or without veto! Only some numbskulls may still believe that it might not happen.

I can't believe that Mr. Burns was surprised with Russian anouncement to use veto on Kosovo issue. Doesn't anybody do any reserach or look back in past relations between Russia and Serbia. They have strong ties. During Kosovo bombing Russia was the greatest critic of the NATO, and greatest supporter of Serbia.

Russia is sinking in poverty, and their claim to use veto is just another political way to seek for financial aid. In the end Albanians will buy Russias veto, sooner or later.

Like i said everyone was counting the chickens before they hatched. So i guess we must negoitied now instead of just saying we are independent.

"Russia is sinking in poverty" somebody said here...jeez,i guess you guys live on Mars or what?Learn some facts before you post here such funny comments:Russia has more then 200 billion $ reservs from oil and gas only,they earn now about 600 million $ EVERY DAY from oil&gas export,Moscow is the most expensive city in the world now with biggest number of billioners,almost entire Europe is dependent on their gas etc,etc.Seems you can't understand that Yeltsin's Russia is gone forever,when West could blackmail them with IMF loans!Albanezo you said Albanians gonna "buy" them...LOL,you can't afford to buy them,trust me:-)They can buy entire Kosovo instead if they want and for them it would be like when i give tip to waiter in the bar.

the arguments of the proponents of independence are really very, very weak. it is fairly apparent that the entire dream seems to be based on what some in the US said that they will do for it. behind that there are some weak positions that say it is already independent... and behind those the notions of civil or violent disobedience. and behind that are american threats.

all are really weak positions and increasingly shrill. i am very surprised that there is not more there.

the US superpower has done what it has wanted for 15 years straight -- but the party is now over. the US not risk worsening their Russian relations for Kosovo. nor does it have the political capital to do so. Iraq is a disaster and no one believes or trusts american foreign policy for the foreseeable future. the proponents of independence will be abandoned by the administration. serbia has donea wonderful diplomatic job.

Supporters for independence have to be in complete denial if they don't see that their dream is slowly crumbling before their very eyes. What Serbia and its allies have accomplished in the past year was UNIMAGINABLE a few years ago... my how the tables have turned.

Blag,
I do not wish to upset you, only help you deal with the shock of an Independent Kosova. As you probably have read, the Int'l Red Cross has made contingent plans for an exodus of 50,000 Serbs once Independence is declared. Don't you think they have been informed by the UN to get ready. Although, Albanians wish the Serbs to stay in Kosova and share a better life with Albanians rather than be treated as outcasts in Serbia. As long as there is no blood on the hands of those Serbs that wish to remain in Kosova, they are more than welcome to stay. Of course, they must obey the laws of an Independent Kosova.That is the only win-win situation for the Serbs of Kosova. Diplomats from around the world have been saying this quite some time. Wake up and smell the cafe!

Ha, yeah Burns is "surprised", just like Bush was "surprised" Iraq wouldn't automatically go his way either, and like Albright was surprised Kosovo wouldn't suddenly become a democratic Switzerland after 1999.

Well, maybe Russia will use its veto on Kosovo's independence but, at the end, we will have a de facto independence

You are correct Mike; the Bush administration seems to be surprised very often. I wonder if the U.S. is surprised that over one hundred Serbian Orthodox Churches have been either completely destroyed or desecrated.

why a surprise? because amerika always think they can control the world. but not anymore...they have strong opponents in north korea, iran, venezuela, afghanistan, iraq, palestine, syria and of course russia and china economically.

Finding a win-win solution acceptable for all of Serbia (including all the peoples of Serbia) will be the objective for the talks in 2007. The Ahtisarri "proposal" will be a good starting point. What Mr. Burns really meant to say was that he had not heard and was surprised that the Russians publicly express their wishes though I am sure he has heard them in private on many occasions - as evidenced by the messages coming out of the Duma.

Roll on 2007 - I do hope the message is getting through that violence by any ethnic group will not be tolerated and will jeopardise certain levels of autonomy seeing as independence is now off the table.

this is such pathetic "spin control" that it is embarrassing. wood and polt are little more than hacks who will now run back home and ask condoleeza to help them. the ambassador was not misquoated. and if anyone is not playing fair... it's the americans. as iraq becomes more and more of a mess... kosovo will become more and more inconsequential to america --leaving europe to decide. the longer serbia stalls... the greater the likelihood that america will disengage.

Russia will change its stance once it sits down for talks with the US and compromises on other issues are made. Whoever thinks that Russia's interests in Serbia/Kosovo are bigger than Russia's interest in good relations with America/EU is a delusional and naive person.

You are totally right Mike !
I do not understand that someone could say that Kosovo/a will be a new state. These people must listen to much of the media they want to listen to.
NO ONE with power or decision authority have EVER stated this. Never.
And also to Mr Burns; "Russia is set to use its veto right at the UN Security Council should Kosovo status solution fail to be acceptable for both Belgrade and Priština". Read it again. IF it fail they will use their veto power. Im am 100% sure that Kosovo/a will not be a win-albanians, lose-serbians. It is very simple.... It is still impossible to take a bit of a sovereign country and suddenly make it independent. Wait and see.

Serbia, just like Russia, has a right to defend their interests. Our interest is peace and not letting terrorist tactics win in forcibly taking our heartland and soul from us.

" ...the citizens of Kosovo."

citizen:
1. national of a state
2. inhabitant of a particular city

Kosovo, a state or a city?

West politicians were always more calm,mature and more diplomatic to the East.Eastern politicians always offer wars,threats,etc.It is very unprofessional statement from the Russian officials.This shows that Russian Strategy will never change,they never cared about human beings.West is not doing better,look what happenned to Afganistan and now Iraq,they don't care about human beings either.What they what to show to the world is that they are still in POWER.That' a shame,this is happenning now and we ordinary people can't do nothing about it.West and East they don't care about Kosovan Albanians or Serbian People.They want to play their game in which both Kosovan Albanians and Serbs are the VICTIMS.This is the reality and poor people have to suffer because someone wants to show how strong they are.Hopefully one day everyone will be in win-win situation like Princip UK wants,or maybe Kosova borders will change so parts with majority with serbs can be with Serbia like Mathew wants,any normal solutions will be welcomed only please no more wars,let people enjoy their life,we only live once you know,why so hatred between us,lets build bridges and lets remember all the people that gave their life for this.Peace and Love.

Nothing to be surprised about, M. Burns. If you read the news you could have know about this POV long before. Let me quote Interfax:
MOSCOW. March 24 (Interfax) - Russia will support Serbia in talks on the status of Kosovo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"We are convinced that any decision [on Kosovo's future] should be negotiated and not forced. However, unfortunately, Serbia is not playing a particularly active role in these talks," Lavrov said at a State Duma session devoted to the European Council's convention on the prevention of terrorism on Friday.

Serbia's stance "could have been firmer and were it to become so we would support it," he said.

And another one:
Russia supports Serbian integrity - Putin

SOCHI. August 28 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated Russia's support of the territorial integrity of Serbia. in a meeting with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic on Monday,

The president confirmed Russia's support of Serbia's territorial integrity, but noted that much depended on Serbia itself, presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko told reporters after the meeting.

Putin asked Djukanovic's opinion of the Kosovo situation and his assessment of the prospects for Serbian-Montenegrin relations, the aide said.

Putin repeated an earlier statement that Russia had taken a cautious position on the creation of new states due to the potential weakening of these states, Prikhodko said.

"We have not talked to Alekseyev about the situation yet"
Pathetic. Is Ambassador Polt paid $50.000 per month only for going to cocktails?

"We wish to work together with Russia..."

Good news! It's time.
Lunov Agency

I think he is surprised that Russians are choosing their own defeat along with Serbs.

Honestly, what is Russia going to do with that veto? Veto the will of 90% percent population that is not Slavic.

For an action of that sort they'll be rewarded with another 70 years of embargo. Let's see if Serbs alone can buy their oil.

As far as Serbia is concerned, it will need a miracle to get a win-win situation after a crushing defeat of 1999.

Kosovo will be independent with or without veto! Only some numbskulls may still believe that it might not happen.

I can't believe that Mr. Burns was surprised with Russian anouncement to use veto on Kosovo issue. Doesn't anybody do any reserach or look back in past relations between Russia and Serbia. They have strong ties. During Kosovo bombing Russia was the greatest critic of the NATO, and greatest supporter of Serbia.

Russia is sinking in poverty, and their claim to use veto is just another political way to seek for financial aid. In the end Albanians will buy Russias veto, sooner or later.

Like i said everyone was counting the chickens before they hatched. So i guess we must negoitied now instead of just saying we are independent.

"Russia is sinking in poverty" somebody said here...jeez,i guess you guys live on Mars or what?Learn some facts before you post here such funny comments:Russia has more then 200 billion $ reservs from oil and gas only,they earn now about 600 million $ EVERY DAY from oil&gas export,Moscow is the most expensive city in the world now with biggest number of billioners,almost entire Europe is dependent on their gas etc,etc.Seems you can't understand that Yeltsin's Russia is gone forever,when West could blackmail them with IMF loans!Albanezo you said Albanians gonna "buy" them...LOL,you can't afford to buy them,trust me:-)They can buy entire Kosovo instead if they want and for them it would be like when i give tip to waiter in the bar.

the arguments of the proponents of independence are really very, very weak. it is fairly apparent that the entire dream seems to be based on what some in the US said that they will do for it. behind that there are some weak positions that say it is already independent... and behind those the notions of civil or violent disobedience. and behind that are american threats.

all are really weak positions and increasingly shrill. i am very surprised that there is not more there.

the US superpower has done what it has wanted for 15 years straight -- but the party is now over. the US not risk worsening their Russian relations for Kosovo. nor does it have the political capital to do so. Iraq is a disaster and no one believes or trusts american foreign policy for the foreseeable future. the proponents of independence will be abandoned by the administration. serbia has donea wonderful diplomatic job.

Supporters for independence have to be in complete denial if they don't see that their dream is slowly crumbling before their very eyes. What Serbia and its allies have accomplished in the past year was UNIMAGINABLE a few years ago... my how the tables have turned.

Blag,
I do not wish to upset you, only help you deal with the shock of an Independent Kosova. As you probably have read, the Int'l Red Cross has made contingent plans for an exodus of 50,000 Serbs once Independence is declared. Don't you think they have been informed by the UN to get ready. Although, Albanians wish the Serbs to stay in Kosova and share a better life with Albanians rather than be treated as outcasts in Serbia. As long as there is no blood on the hands of those Serbs that wish to remain in Kosova, they are more than welcome to stay. Of course, they must obey the laws of an Independent Kosova.That is the only win-win situation for the Serbs of Kosova. Diplomats from around the world have been saying this quite some time. Wake up and smell the cafe!