Polt: Kosovo hinders EU accession for Serbia

how sad, yet again just another rather naive attempt to "buy" a serbian approval.
Mr.Polt, you should have noticed that some things are not available for purchase.

it seems like Mr.Polt still has the wrong advisors, since his or let´s say their approach to the balkan poeples is so terribly naive.

do you really think, that throwing a few carrots will be the right thing to get to a serious solution?

the rest of the balkans will join the EU anyway, so, please do not degrade yourself.

political spin. full of sound and fury and signifying nothing. disingenuous. double-sided.

Sure, give Kosovo independence if you want. The it can join the EU. Then why should Serbia join the EU?

IF the EU had to choose, would it want a nation of 10 million souls who's stability will bring political and economic stability to tens of millions more people in the Balkans, OR,

2 million people which most have no jobs, in a territory that cannot sustain itself economically (you can't eat independence) and is the black hole of the whole of Europe?

Or, as the real question is but the EU is afraid to ask it and the US pretends it doesn't exist, "who will pay for independence now, and forever more?".

Or, the only way to not fundamentally break international law and undermine a fundamental pillar of the modern sovereign state, the EU is trying to blackmail Serbia into voluntarily giving up Kosovo.

There can be no special 'exceptions'. Just as Woodrow Wilson's concept of 'right to self-determination' changed the world, forcing the division of a state will have the same effect and will boomerang back to Europe and affect the whole world.

It seems that a lot of those advocating the forced division of Serbia (i.e. 'independence') simply cannot grasp the enormity of such an event

Why even try to link EU membership to Kosovo. Is joining the EU even worth the headache? I don't understand this mess that is brewing. I guess they think that Serbia will sell there souls to gain EU membership and that is NOT a gurantee either. Go along give up Kosovo to get some BS excuse from the Kings of Europe saying you cannot join for some lame excuse. See what happen to Turkey!!!!!

Let me put it this way:

Kosovo (the woman) was forced to married Serbia (the man). Soon after the marriage Kosovo was marginalised, beaten, tortured and controlled. Kosovo told Serbia that she could not accept such barbarism and wanted divorce something the mad man could not accept since he was very old fashioned and thought that he could force someone to love him. The society helped Kosovo to escape her husband and she got separation. Serbia continued to beg Kosovo marry him again, but Kosovo after what she experienced during the marriage said "No, thanks. I can not give up the freedom I gained after that I escaped from you. I was born free and want to be free. This is my life and I do as I want". Almost 8 years after the separation, divorce was granted. Kosovo was independent again.

Kosovo is not a black hole even if it has economical problems which are a direct result of the unsolved status.

Remember my friends that foreign companies are coming to Serbia because labourforce is cheap. In 5 years I believe that wages in Serbia more than will double and these companies will begin to ESCAPE Serbia and find another country with cheap labour. This is how it works.

Most important line here:

"When asked to comment the speculation that the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo independence without Serbia’s consent would set a historical precedent, Polt retorted that any human action is a precedent."

No one is affraid of precedents. Serbia has no allies in this world after the mayhem it caused in the Balkans in the 1990's. Uncle Sam supports Kosovo's immediate indepoendence, and that is all that matters. Pretty soon serbs from Serbia will need to get a Visa at the Kosovo embassy in Hungary to enter Kosova.

'Kosovo has become one of a kind....' wishful thinking Mr Polt, actions speak louder than words. I doubt the US can afford any more foreign policy mistakes and giving Kosovo Indepedence would be a gross error of judgement. It would send out a universal message to others aspiring to Independence.

finally... "????" makes a good point. terrific analysis! labor costs and potential to export are key to kosovo's future. but i don't think the period is 5 yrs. serbia has a very big head start & won't give up it's FDI so easily -- it'll keep a cap on wages for as long as possible.

Well to continue ????'s metaphor, Kosovo (the woman) fooled around with lots of other men during the marrage (Hitler, then Hoxha), so Serbia (Tito) saw it as unfaithful and cheating and had to hire extra help to watch it to make sure it wouldn't cheat again (enter Rankovic). Rather than being the victim of an abusive marriage, it was dysfunctional and unfaithful almost as soon as the marriage ceremony ended.

Wow, that was fun. Thanks ???? for the creative input :)

Serbia will not sell Kosovo and their culture for EU membership. I thought Mladic was the problem. Now it is Serbia not wanting to be dismembered. It is time to just realise that Kosovo=Serbia.

Serbia is not going to get into the EU until at least 2009, so no point in worrying too much about it now. Might as well keep going down this good road of strengthening our economy independantly, and then we can strengthen ourselves strategically, become the pivotal force in the Balkans once again.

"The EU will not merge in an unresolved conflict."

First, what does Polt have to do with the EU? Secondly, obviously he's not aware of Cyprus...

Where does the US got their diplomates? Oh yea, if you donate over $100,000 you get to party in foreign countries. The least he can do is study the region a little tiny bit...

Marriage? Wow, what an analogy! Kosovo is a ideal picture of equal rights and gender equality. Divorce, I’m surprised that you have not added the finical settlement for the poor lady, exclusive of the 3 or so billion already falsely balancing the economic stand.

I feel this EU blackmail was pre-empted and a few other sucker punches will follow. Personally I can’t wait to get out of Kosovo, the place is the sewer of Europe. I just thought I had many friends over the four years here. Since they have found out I am leaving and that I am of no further use to them, they have all debussed the friendship bus and are busy making new colleges (EU staff). I suppose I did expect that and if I were in the same shoes, I would do the same, NOT!

I feel sorry, but I feel far more sorry for farcical pretence the US has laid on, but this is evident worldwide, economic assassination. Viva US Dictatorship, and Kosovo will drown with it!

I have spent more than 50,000 euros in Kosovo over the last four years, that is more than in my own country. Amazing how evil the UN or Internationals are, plus the huge donations from my country’s tax payers to assist in development and aid. I remember the thank you, and gratitude. Now all I see is ‘go’ and ‘out’ Well I am glad to exit this leach sucking, ungrateful, primitive, parasitical, destructive society and will be happy to aid people that really need help. Unfortunately for the good people in Kosovo I have tarred you with the same brush, then again I am a International here just for the money as a UN volunteer.

Kosovars are grey, and will adopt to whoever and whatever offers more. If its free take it, if it is not take it, if you can take it, threaten it until it is left then take it. They learned form the Albanians and turks. Serbians are bigoted and cold. Hmm this sounds like a perfect marriage. Now the question is what church? Ah another problem, dam this never ends!

BTW - Just in case some misinterpret my comment as alluding to Rankovic being good, or even necessary, I mean to say that the relationship between Serbs and Albanians in the region has been a constant back and forth conflict of interests, antagonisms, and mutual hostilities. I still think the metaphor was good though, ????

Another veiled threat by those who say that they will wait for the Serbian elections, and that Metohija's status is completely unrelated to EU ascension. Rubbish!!

On a lighter note - best comments that I have read on this site. We really do get along - Serbs and Albanians that is. I really wish that we don't fight any longer.

I like this blog because it gives me the chance to talk with Serbs, who never wanted to confront this kind of conversation with me even that I live abroad.
Someone, probably a Serb, mentioned Wilson's 14 points. You got it wrong my friend. Wilson talks how every nation has the right to become independent i.e. Albanians in this case.
Someone said that Serbs don't sell their "holly land." Funny. Serbs sold their "big daddy Milosevic" a few years ago. He died in prison remember.
A few weeks ago Serbia agreed to cooperate with NATO. With who? This is funny: who dropped bombs in Serbia in 1999?
And yes, Polt is just telling Serbia what is coming. Uncle Sam and Uncle Bislim are friends for a long time.

Well, the Gods have spoken yet again to the tone of IMPUNITY and INEPTITUDE.

Dear Ambassador, I find it more appropriate to write to you thru a blog rather than to your office.
As for your conclusion, well, no wonder my brothers in arms are dying in Iraq, when leaders like you can’t even read a situation. “One of a Kind”, you right about that, it is going to be a kind of monumental mess up never imagined, either in the last stages of planning the break up of the Balkans or in the history of Europe as a whole.

I understand the U.S & U.K want a quick solution in order to relieve the headache of Kosovo and the Balkans as a theatre of operation but, unfortunately, you can’t leave, neither can you leave the cleaning up for a future EUFOR ‘K’ and NATO allied countries mission, you’re going to lose allies for future planned conflicts in Persia and Asia or even S.America.

For the people of Kosovo and the future, the peasants will be left in charge and the educated incorruptible folk will gradually disseminate away to other civil societies due to lack of work and progress that educated people of all ethnicities want. Basically, Kosovo’s future is back to what it was prior to the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, a complete lack of order and no vision albeit from a few peasants who consider themselves the Kings of Kosovo.

To that end, a human precedent will unfold from a Kosovo, Independent and I know you leaders understand this – a right to self determination across the Globe, from majority Mexicans in Texas to the borders of Russia. I just want to say well done to the WEU countries who endorsed a continuation of human misery and lack of hope in their own garden.

The message is clear even from the US:

Without Serbia's signature, Kosovo is going nowhere, unilaterlly or not.

Have I missed something is Polt the new EU president - last time I checked he was an American and had little sway in the EU!!!


I suggest the ethnic-Albanian leadership Ceku & Sediju brush up on their negotiation skills ready for the talks that will inevitably take place starting in late March/ early April once a new Serbian (pro democratic) govt is formed. At least the SErbs can be confident of the Serb leaderships Kostunica & Tadic's excellent negotiation skills in getting the Serbs thus far. Of course by March/April Athisarri will have presented his "Draft" and this will be a good starting point

Mike that was really funny.As an American I wish we had a smarter guy representing us than this Polt.He is being disingenous by claiming that Kosovo is a unique case.Does he know how many people Indian forces have killed in Kashmir in order to keep Kashmir part of India even though 100% of Kashmiris want to secede?It is imperative to state your case BUT to use real facts and arguments.I commend both sides who are in favor of a peaceful solution but have little tolerance for so called double speaking diplomats.Polt should not be commenting on what the EU should or should not do because last I heard America is not a member.The EU should separate Serbia's accession from the Kosovo issue or the war crimes indictee issue.We can debate each issue on its own merits but to link them is childish and immature.Cyprus is a member of the EU yet I do not see The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus being recognized as an independent country.Polt should learn his facts about all sides of an issue before he starts overstepping his role as an American DIPLOMAT.

Here is what some residents had to say about Serbia's economy:

"I just wish we finally move on and be a normal country again," said Dubravka Jelisic, a 46-year-old Belgrade teacher. "Even Bulgaria and Romania are ahead of us!" she exclaimed, envious of Serbia's two eastern neighbors, which joined the E.U. on Jan. 1.

Living conditions are much worse in the rural areas where most Serbs live.
One family,who wished to remain anonymous, complained about having no running water in their flat, and said they often had to scavenge for food, sometimes having to resort to "road kill" to feed their family.

Most citizens of serbia believe that their politicians are at fault for Serbia's plight.Many people feel that entry to the EU, which has been blocked by the EU for not capturing Serbia's War Criminals from the Blakan wars of the 1990s, would greatly improve Serbia's weak economy. Another problem for Serbia is its refusal to grant independence to Kosovo, a southern region where 2.2 million Albanians live and are 97% of the population. Most UN officials believe that Kosovo will soon win independence this Spring, when the UN will decide this question.

Mike, your comments are really disturbing. Anyone who supports Rankovic's policies on Kosovo has to be a really mean or a really unifnormed person.

???? you have disappointed me again, how can blame the economic problems on status. Can you tell me who wants to invest in Kosovo? Please can you tell me the companies who are lined up who want to invest in Kosovo? I have not read anything saying there are waiting to run into Kosovo to invest there funds? I don't think it will be the mad rush you are thinking sir!!!! Who in there right mind would invest in a place where the power problem is rampant, prone to unrest at a moment notice. No i don't think so. So Please sir don't come in the comment area speaking about companies who are in line to invest. You see what is coming in to Serbia. Please can you show me who is in line for Kosovo? Thank you

John, unfortunately you feel the way you do about Kosovo but remember that it is important for friends to accept that disappointments are a part of the friendship. In your second comment you sound as a Serbs since you say "I really wish that we don't fight any longer.”

The biggest problem is that many aid workers before they come to Kosovo thinks that Kosovo is a African-like country where people are uneducated, totally stupid blah blah blah. And then they come and see that this is not true at all, people do the same as other people in other European countries. The Albanians and the Serbs are not stupid, actually quit rational. We get a gap between the expectations and the reality. So before you go to Kosovo try to learn a bit about the reality there and do not consider the people as a masai-tribe.

What's wrong with the maasai. They are a peaceful, tolerant and sophisticated people. I have had the pleasure to acquiant myself with them in Kenya. You keep assigning yourself these qualities, yet this last remark indicades that in reality they are not your attributes. Why do you think you are any better than the Maasai...

Haylee you misunderstood. I do not have anything Maasai people or any other African tribe but I have to make clear that Albanians or Serbs in Kosovo are not Maasai, and aid workers looking for something exotic should not come to Kosovo.

I am not better than the mainsail but our cultures are different to their nomadic way of life.

Very grateful to volunteers coming to Kosovo and I hope that they are having/had great time. We will never forget your help.

Princip & Blag,

Sorry to inform you of this, but "Negotiations" ended in Nov. 2006. Didn't you hear? Everybody got tired of the Serbs stalling and wasting our precious time. It was clear to the UN that the Serbs had no intention of negotiating. Ahtisaari then dismissed them and sent the Serbs back to belgrade to await this decision. His report is delayed slightly due to a last minute request by Serbs to hold off on the report until after Serb elections next week. (As if that is going to make any difference.} Both Albanians and Serbs will then have sufficiant time to study document and ask for clarifications where neccessary. After that it is "Show Time". Then "all will be left is time for kicking and screaming", as they say in Nursery school. After that everybody will take a little nap and when they awaken, the sun will be shining on an Independent Kosova.
Pleasant dreams!

dear ????,

you wrote:

"[In Kosovo] people do the same as other people in other European countries. The Albanians and the Serbs are not stupid, actually quit rational. We get a gap between the expectations and the reality."

OK, your last sentence makes sense, gives a correct picture. And neither Albanians nor Serbs can or should be defined as stupid. That wouldn't be true.

But... far too many Serbs and Albanians are pretty different than their fellowmen in Central and Northern Europe. Not by intellect, their intellectual potential, but by their attitudes –and by the context in which they live. And they themselves are solely responsible of that context.

Their societies are forcefully negating the right of liberal, free thinking. Both in Serbian and Albanian society individuality stands for the right to grab whatever is in reach, to lie without shame, to corrupt one's surroundings –including one's own family, to use aggression masking the ignorance.
Individuality, by large, isn't portraying the free mind.

Arben,

"Fatmir Sejdiu says Kosovo Albanians are ready to engage in fresh consultations in the process mediated by Martti Ahtisaari." This is from an earlier new article you must have missed or ignored.

Negotiations are not over. Your leaders changed their mind when they realized that they won't get their way with a rubber stamp from the rest of the Contact Group without Russia. After that everybody will take a little nap and when they awaken, the sun will be shining on the autonomous province of Kosovo.

Wilson's 14 points and international law does not give ethnic groups the right to have as many countries as they want. Albanians have a country-it is called Albania. They Albanians that live in Kosovo do not have a right to independence at all. Kosovo is a part of Serbia. The fact is that unless you want to say that Albanians do not exist is Kosovo and their is a seperate but similar group called Kosovars who are not really Albanians there is absolutely no right to have a second Albanian country. I am tired of this ridiculousness. If it were that simple Kosovo would have been made independent 8 years ago.

how sad, yet again just another rather naive attempt to "buy" a serbian approval.
Mr.Polt, you should have noticed that some things are not available for purchase.

it seems like Mr.Polt still has the wrong advisors, since his or let´s say their approach to the balkan poeples is so terribly naive.

do you really think, that throwing a few carrots will be the right thing to get to a serious solution?

the rest of the balkans will join the EU anyway, so, please do not degrade yourself.

political spin. full of sound and fury and signifying nothing. disingenuous. double-sided.

Sure, give Kosovo independence if you want. The it can join the EU. Then why should Serbia join the EU?

IF the EU had to choose, would it want a nation of 10 million souls who's stability will bring political and economic stability to tens of millions more people in the Balkans, OR,

2 million people which most have no jobs, in a territory that cannot sustain itself economically (you can't eat independence) and is the black hole of the whole of Europe?

Or, as the real question is but the EU is afraid to ask it and the US pretends it doesn't exist, "who will pay for independence now, and forever more?".

Or, the only way to not fundamentally break international law and undermine a fundamental pillar of the modern sovereign state, the EU is trying to blackmail Serbia into voluntarily giving up Kosovo.

There can be no special 'exceptions'. Just as Woodrow Wilson's concept of 'right to self-determination' changed the world, forcing the division of a state will have the same effect and will boomerang back to Europe and affect the whole world.

It seems that a lot of those advocating the forced division of Serbia (i.e. 'independence') simply cannot grasp the enormity of such an event

Why even try to link EU membership to Kosovo. Is joining the EU even worth the headache? I don't understand this mess that is brewing. I guess they think that Serbia will sell there souls to gain EU membership and that is NOT a gurantee either. Go along give up Kosovo to get some BS excuse from the Kings of Europe saying you cannot join for some lame excuse. See what happen to Turkey!!!!!

Let me put it this way:

Kosovo (the woman) was forced to married Serbia (the man). Soon after the marriage Kosovo was marginalised, beaten, tortured and controlled. Kosovo told Serbia that she could not accept such barbarism and wanted divorce something the mad man could not accept since he was very old fashioned and thought that he could force someone to love him. The society helped Kosovo to escape her husband and she got separation. Serbia continued to beg Kosovo marry him again, but Kosovo after what she experienced during the marriage said "No, thanks. I can not give up the freedom I gained after that I escaped from you. I was born free and want to be free. This is my life and I do as I want". Almost 8 years after the separation, divorce was granted. Kosovo was independent again.

Kosovo is not a black hole even if it has economical problems which are a direct result of the unsolved status.

Remember my friends that foreign companies are coming to Serbia because labourforce is cheap. In 5 years I believe that wages in Serbia more than will double and these companies will begin to ESCAPE Serbia and find another country with cheap labour. This is how it works.

Most important line here:

"When asked to comment the speculation that the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo independence without Serbia’s consent would set a historical precedent, Polt retorted that any human action is a precedent."

No one is affraid of precedents. Serbia has no allies in this world after the mayhem it caused in the Balkans in the 1990's. Uncle Sam supports Kosovo's immediate indepoendence, and that is all that matters. Pretty soon serbs from Serbia will need to get a Visa at the Kosovo embassy in Hungary to enter Kosova.

'Kosovo has become one of a kind....' wishful thinking Mr Polt, actions speak louder than words. I doubt the US can afford any more foreign policy mistakes and giving Kosovo Indepedence would be a gross error of judgement. It would send out a universal message to others aspiring to Independence.

finally... "????" makes a good point. terrific analysis! labor costs and potential to export are key to kosovo's future. but i don't think the period is 5 yrs. serbia has a very big head start & won't give up it's FDI so easily -- it'll keep a cap on wages for as long as possible.

Well to continue ????'s metaphor, Kosovo (the woman) fooled around with lots of other men during the marrage (Hitler, then Hoxha), so Serbia (Tito) saw it as unfaithful and cheating and had to hire extra help to watch it to make sure it wouldn't cheat again (enter Rankovic). Rather than being the victim of an abusive marriage, it was dysfunctional and unfaithful almost as soon as the marriage ceremony ended.

Wow, that was fun. Thanks ???? for the creative input :)

Serbia will not sell Kosovo and their culture for EU membership. I thought Mladic was the problem. Now it is Serbia not wanting to be dismembered. It is time to just realise that Kosovo=Serbia.

Serbia is not going to get into the EU until at least 2009, so no point in worrying too much about it now. Might as well keep going down this good road of strengthening our economy independantly, and then we can strengthen ourselves strategically, become the pivotal force in the Balkans once again.

"The EU will not merge in an unresolved conflict."

First, what does Polt have to do with the EU? Secondly, obviously he's not aware of Cyprus...

Where does the US got their diplomates? Oh yea, if you donate over $100,000 you get to party in foreign countries. The least he can do is study the region a little tiny bit...

Marriage? Wow, what an analogy! Kosovo is a ideal picture of equal rights and gender equality. Divorce, I’m surprised that you have not added the finical settlement for the poor lady, exclusive of the 3 or so billion already falsely balancing the economic stand.

I feel this EU blackmail was pre-empted and a few other sucker punches will follow. Personally I can’t wait to get out of Kosovo, the place is the sewer of Europe. I just thought I had many friends over the four years here. Since they have found out I am leaving and that I am of no further use to them, they have all debussed the friendship bus and are busy making new colleges (EU staff). I suppose I did expect that and if I were in the same shoes, I would do the same, NOT!

I feel sorry, but I feel far more sorry for farcical pretence the US has laid on, but this is evident worldwide, economic assassination. Viva US Dictatorship, and Kosovo will drown with it!

I have spent more than 50,000 euros in Kosovo over the last four years, that is more than in my own country. Amazing how evil the UN or Internationals are, plus the huge donations from my country’s tax payers to assist in development and aid. I remember the thank you, and gratitude. Now all I see is ‘go’ and ‘out’ Well I am glad to exit this leach sucking, ungrateful, primitive, parasitical, destructive society and will be happy to aid people that really need help. Unfortunately for the good people in Kosovo I have tarred you with the same brush, then again I am a International here just for the money as a UN volunteer.

Kosovars are grey, and will adopt to whoever and whatever offers more. If its free take it, if it is not take it, if you can take it, threaten it until it is left then take it. They learned form the Albanians and turks. Serbians are bigoted and cold. Hmm this sounds like a perfect marriage. Now the question is what church? Ah another problem, dam this never ends!

BTW - Just in case some misinterpret my comment as alluding to Rankovic being good, or even necessary, I mean to say that the relationship between Serbs and Albanians in the region has been a constant back and forth conflict of interests, antagonisms, and mutual hostilities. I still think the metaphor was good though, ????

Another veiled threat by those who say that they will wait for the Serbian elections, and that Metohija's status is completely unrelated to EU ascension. Rubbish!!

On a lighter note - best comments that I have read on this site. We really do get along - Serbs and Albanians that is. I really wish that we don't fight any longer.

I like this blog because it gives me the chance to talk with Serbs, who never wanted to confront this kind of conversation with me even that I live abroad.
Someone, probably a Serb, mentioned Wilson's 14 points. You got it wrong my friend. Wilson talks how every nation has the right to become independent i.e. Albanians in this case.
Someone said that Serbs don't sell their "holly land." Funny. Serbs sold their "big daddy Milosevic" a few years ago. He died in prison remember.
A few weeks ago Serbia agreed to cooperate with NATO. With who? This is funny: who dropped bombs in Serbia in 1999?
And yes, Polt is just telling Serbia what is coming. Uncle Sam and Uncle Bislim are friends for a long time.

Well, the Gods have spoken yet again to the tone of IMPUNITY and INEPTITUDE.

Dear Ambassador, I find it more appropriate to write to you thru a blog rather than to your office.
As for your conclusion, well, no wonder my brothers in arms are dying in Iraq, when leaders like you can’t even read a situation. “One of a Kind”, you right about that, it is going to be a kind of monumental mess up never imagined, either in the last stages of planning the break up of the Balkans or in the history of Europe as a whole.

I understand the U.S & U.K want a quick solution in order to relieve the headache of Kosovo and the Balkans as a theatre of operation but, unfortunately, you can’t leave, neither can you leave the cleaning up for a future EUFOR ‘K’ and NATO allied countries mission, you’re going to lose allies for future planned conflicts in Persia and Asia or even S.America.

For the people of Kosovo and the future, the peasants will be left in charge and the educated incorruptible folk will gradually disseminate away to other civil societies due to lack of work and progress that educated people of all ethnicities want. Basically, Kosovo’s future is back to what it was prior to the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, a complete lack of order and no vision albeit from a few peasants who consider themselves the Kings of Kosovo.

To that end, a human precedent will unfold from a Kosovo, Independent and I know you leaders understand this – a right to self determination across the Globe, from majority Mexicans in Texas to the borders of Russia. I just want to say well done to the WEU countries who endorsed a continuation of human misery and lack of hope in their own garden.

The message is clear even from the US:

Without Serbia's signature, Kosovo is going nowhere, unilaterlly or not.

Have I missed something is Polt the new EU president - last time I checked he was an American and had little sway in the EU!!!


I suggest the ethnic-Albanian leadership Ceku & Sediju brush up on their negotiation skills ready for the talks that will inevitably take place starting in late March/ early April once a new Serbian (pro democratic) govt is formed. At least the SErbs can be confident of the Serb leaderships Kostunica & Tadic's excellent negotiation skills in getting the Serbs thus far. Of course by March/April Athisarri will have presented his "Draft" and this will be a good starting point

Mike that was really funny.As an American I wish we had a smarter guy representing us than this Polt.He is being disingenous by claiming that Kosovo is a unique case.Does he know how many people Indian forces have killed in Kashmir in order to keep Kashmir part of India even though 100% of Kashmiris want to secede?It is imperative to state your case BUT to use real facts and arguments.I commend both sides who are in favor of a peaceful solution but have little tolerance for so called double speaking diplomats.Polt should not be commenting on what the EU should or should not do because last I heard America is not a member.The EU should separate Serbia's accession from the Kosovo issue or the war crimes indictee issue.We can debate each issue on its own merits but to link them is childish and immature.Cyprus is a member of the EU yet I do not see The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus being recognized as an independent country.Polt should learn his facts about all sides of an issue before he starts overstepping his role as an American DIPLOMAT.

Here is what some residents had to say about Serbia's economy:

"I just wish we finally move on and be a normal country again," said Dubravka Jelisic, a 46-year-old Belgrade teacher. "Even Bulgaria and Romania are ahead of us!" she exclaimed, envious of Serbia's two eastern neighbors, which joined the E.U. on Jan. 1.

Living conditions are much worse in the rural areas where most Serbs live.
One family,who wished to remain anonymous, complained about having no running water in their flat, and said they often had to scavenge for food, sometimes having to resort to "road kill" to feed their family.

Most citizens of serbia believe that their politicians are at fault for Serbia's plight.Many people feel that entry to the EU, which has been blocked by the EU for not capturing Serbia's War Criminals from the Blakan wars of the 1990s, would greatly improve Serbia's weak economy. Another problem for Serbia is its refusal to grant independence to Kosovo, a southern region where 2.2 million Albanians live and are 97% of the population. Most UN officials believe that Kosovo will soon win independence this Spring, when the UN will decide this question.

Mike, your comments are really disturbing. Anyone who supports Rankovic's policies on Kosovo has to be a really mean or a really unifnormed person.

???? you have disappointed me again, how can blame the economic problems on status. Can you tell me who wants to invest in Kosovo? Please can you tell me the companies who are lined up who want to invest in Kosovo? I have not read anything saying there are waiting to run into Kosovo to invest there funds? I don't think it will be the mad rush you are thinking sir!!!! Who in there right mind would invest in a place where the power problem is rampant, prone to unrest at a moment notice. No i don't think so. So Please sir don't come in the comment area speaking about companies who are in line to invest. You see what is coming in to Serbia. Please can you show me who is in line for Kosovo? Thank you

John, unfortunately you feel the way you do about Kosovo but remember that it is important for friends to accept that disappointments are a part of the friendship. In your second comment you sound as a Serbs since you say "I really wish that we don't fight any longer.”

The biggest problem is that many aid workers before they come to Kosovo thinks that Kosovo is a African-like country where people are uneducated, totally stupid blah blah blah. And then they come and see that this is not true at all, people do the same as other people in other European countries. The Albanians and the Serbs are not stupid, actually quit rational. We get a gap between the expectations and the reality. So before you go to Kosovo try to learn a bit about the reality there and do not consider the people as a masai-tribe.

What's wrong with the maasai. They are a peaceful, tolerant and sophisticated people. I have had the pleasure to acquiant myself with them in Kenya. You keep assigning yourself these qualities, yet this last remark indicades that in reality they are not your attributes. Why do you think you are any better than the Maasai...

Haylee you misunderstood. I do not have anything Maasai people or any other African tribe but I have to make clear that Albanians or Serbs in Kosovo are not Maasai, and aid workers looking for something exotic should not come to Kosovo.

I am not better than the mainsail but our cultures are different to their nomadic way of life.

Very grateful to volunteers coming to Kosovo and I hope that they are having/had great time. We will never forget your help.

Princip & Blag,

Sorry to inform you of this, but "Negotiations" ended in Nov. 2006. Didn't you hear? Everybody got tired of the Serbs stalling and wasting our precious time. It was clear to the UN that the Serbs had no intention of negotiating. Ahtisaari then dismissed them and sent the Serbs back to belgrade to await this decision. His report is delayed slightly due to a last minute request by Serbs to hold off on the report until after Serb elections next week. (As if that is going to make any difference.} Both Albanians and Serbs will then have sufficiant time to study document and ask for clarifications where neccessary. After that it is "Show Time". Then "all will be left is time for kicking and screaming", as they say in Nursery school. After that everybody will take a little nap and when they awaken, the sun will be shining on an Independent Kosova.
Pleasant dreams!

dear ????,

you wrote:

"[In Kosovo] people do the same as other people in other European countries. The Albanians and the Serbs are not stupid, actually quit rational. We get a gap between the expectations and the reality."

OK, your last sentence makes sense, gives a correct picture. And neither Albanians nor Serbs can or should be defined as stupid. That wouldn't be true.

But... far too many Serbs and Albanians are pretty different than their fellowmen in Central and Northern Europe. Not by intellect, their intellectual potential, but by their attitudes –and by the context in which they live. And they themselves are solely responsible of that context.

Their societies are forcefully negating the right of liberal, free thinking. Both in Serbian and Albanian society individuality stands for the right to grab whatever is in reach, to lie without shame, to corrupt one's surroundings –including one's own family, to use aggression masking the ignorance.
Individuality, by large, isn't portraying the free mind.

Arben,

"Fatmir Sejdiu says Kosovo Albanians are ready to engage in fresh consultations in the process mediated by Martti Ahtisaari." This is from an earlier new article you must have missed or ignored.

Negotiations are not over. Your leaders changed their mind when they realized that they won't get their way with a rubber stamp from the rest of the Contact Group without Russia. After that everybody will take a little nap and when they awaken, the sun will be shining on the autonomous province of Kosovo.

Wilson's 14 points and international law does not give ethnic groups the right to have as many countries as they want. Albanians have a country-it is called Albania. They Albanians that live in Kosovo do not have a right to independence at all. Kosovo is a part of Serbia. The fact is that unless you want to say that Albanians do not exist is Kosovo and their is a seperate but similar group called Kosovars who are not really Albanians there is absolutely no right to have a second Albanian country. I am tired of this ridiculousness. If it were that simple Kosovo would have been made independent 8 years ago.