NY Times: Partition best solution

To concerned:

Waters, Timothy William "Indeterminate Claims: New Challenges to Self-Determination Doctrine in Yugoslavia"
What are the terms by which the international community could evaluate autonomy for Vojvodina--or for any other distinct territory or population within a state? Would it be an issue of self-determination? In the classical theory of self-determination as it developed during the period of decolonization of Vojvodina, the multi-ethnic nature of a territory, its history, and its level of internal democratic participation I did not affect a claim. It is unlikely that Vojvodina could meet the classical standard of Self-Determination Doctrine.

Serbs wont ahve to partition KOCOBO because we will retain the whole province as according to international law! The law cannot be broken and bent at will

Wrong move.

Remember Albania warned that if Kosovo was to be partitioned, it wouldn't object puruing territorial claims over Kosovo, Preveso, and Macedonia.

gotta love those western guys.

first of all: kosovo IS partitioned and not totaly occupied! you can´t decide about land that you don´t control.

secondly, now that it is clear that there won´t be indiependence by un or bypassing un, there is the generous offer of partitioning (there are also a few think tanks talking about it for weeks, couse they first realized that there won´t be indiependence and otherwise such new thinking wouldn´t make it into western media).

no, thank you, it´s still just autonomy! but it´s also a globalized world! everybody who can´t stand living in serbia can pack his bag and try his luck somewhere else! good luck!

RE: There is nothing magic or moral about Kosovo’s borders. They are an artifact of Tito’s Yugoslavia,concludes Waters.


Finally! Someone actually knows what they are talking about, a surpise coming from the NY Times.

Tito' borders are artificial and have contributed to the eventualy break up of Yugoslavia. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was created after WWI based on "Banovonia's" which more closely related to ethnic make up. Therefore, when countries such as Germany who pushed for the early recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia they failed to take this in account.

Some of these Banovina's included the Vardar Region, Istria, Dalmacia etc which each has it's own unique history and ethnic composition.

It was far from perfect but a much better represenation of the South slav country.

Slovenia is the only region which more or less fit the orginal Banovina's.

Bingo. The Solution will exclude two words but pretty much mean both in the whole context: independence and partition. The goal now is to get both Serbia to sign off on independence and Russia not to veto the UN resolution. By offering partition, Serbia stands to be in a much better position of writing off the Albanian-dominated parts and retaining the Serb enclaves. While I'm a BIG fan of multi-ethnic cooperation, it may be better in both the long and short runs if both communities govern their own affairs because I can already predict the Serb enclaves will be to the K-Albanians what the K-Albanians are to the Serbian state.

In fact, I'd even go so far as to offer Kosovo a solution similar to Montenegro: place it under EU Mandate for a period of time, say 3-6 years while the region develops. After the mandate period, offer each municipality the chance of vote on whether they wish to join a fully independent Kosovo, or go back to Serbia. Serbs will undoutedly vote to remain in Serbia and Albanians will undoutedly vote for full sovereign independence. Democracy is performed, and both sides can live better together as neighbors.

To raso: I agree with you, who doesn't like to live in Srbija he could try Kosova, there is freedom for all, no matter witch nationality you are. Al least if you decide to don't listen to serbian propaganda.

To Timothy Waters: Partitioning Kosova is the thing Serb politicians want, specially the north. There are Trepca mines there. One of the richest part of formal YU, Of course Serbija would be pleased to partition kosova. There is no truth in propaganda about history and all of the souls and harts of serbians in Kosova, truth are natural resources in the north of Kosova. Thats what they are looking for.
Kosova is and will stay free and independent with or whithout the serbian recognition.Try to accept it and go further with your lives. Live and let live.

Having thoroughly educated myself with the whole Yugoslav concept I would like to point out the irony that it was actually SLOVENIAN and to a lesser extent Croatian and some Serbian intellectuals who in the late 1800s and early 1900s were calling for the creation of a South Slavic country.An objective observer may have cautioned against unitying people who lived centuries under Western European influence from those who lived for centuries under Ottoman oppression but nevertheless the Kingdom of Serbs,Croats and Slovenes was created.At this point there was no Ustasha/Croatian hatred of Serbs.The Slavic Muslims were a much smaller group than they are now and were just considered Serbs or Croats who adopted the Islamic religion for economic/social benefits under the Ottomans yet today they claim a superficial Bosniac identity.For all practical purposes they were actually mostly Serbs because have you ever tried to get a Croat to give up his Roman Catholic identity?After WW1 Serbia encompassed what are present day Macedonia and Kosovo and Bosnia and Montenegro without the eventual demarcation of these regions by the Tito/Communist regime that occured later as separate political entities.Where in Bulgaria or Greece is Macedonia or the Macedonian people and language recognized as a separate distinct political or even linguistic entity within the borders of those 2 countries?Furthermore, Greece and Bulgaria have hundreds of thousands of Muslims but they do not claim a totally separate identity.So what happened from 1917 and the creation of the Kingdom to the 1930s when the winds of war were blowing again across Europe?Obviously the rivalry between Serb domination and Croat aspirations led many Croats to see their future not as one of union with Serbs but as a distinct Croat identity and solo existence. This manifested itself in the Croats engaging in separatist activities often of a violent nature.It is obvious that the Serbs did not see others in the Kingdom as their equals considering the fact that they overall had the largest population and were not inclined to political compromise if it meant a dilution of their interests and power.Slovenes have always been a westward looking people and their work ethic and calmer rationality supports this.The change of name from the Kingdom of Serbs,Croats and Slovenes to Yugoslavia in order to give a more encompassing identity to those people who did not identify with the 3 groups named in the Kingdom was a small effort on the part of the monarchy to encourage more unity among all the people and this seems to have worked to a limited extent over the decades.The opposing forces in Europe during the 30s and 40s s(Fascism-Communism-Democracy-Monarchy)sought to divide and conquer people who were living together for the most part in peace as neighbors.It is these ideological forces at war with each other coupled with Balkan irrationality that brought Croat Fascist extremists in the form of the Ustasha regime to power and enabled it to commit inhuman crimes against others.The eventual establishment of a Communist regime post WW2 sought to bury fresh memories into the distant past and promote the theme of Brotherhood and Unity among people who were not inclined to forget ANYTHING.Tito was a shrewd tactician and sought to dilute the numerical supremacy of Serbs in the country by splitting up the Serb people into various so called republics and provinces.The demarcation of the republics and provinces and the Communist era Constitutions was never meant to deal with the ACTUAL break-up of the federal state.Does anybody here have any doubt that Tito would have sent separatists/secessionists to the gulag if any of them pressed for the break up of the federation? With the death of Tito no other single politicain had the legitimacy and power to keep all these different groups pacified and so the break-up of Yugosalvia started unfolding in a barbaric manner before the eyes of the world.Slovenian aspirations for Yugoslavia to join the EU-Croat animosity to the continuation of a strong federal state-Albanian aspirations to the erection of an Albanian republic in the Serbian province of Kosovo-Muslim aspirations to a distinct identity and power in Bosnia-Serb insistence on the continuation of a strong federal state as the best protector of all Serbs within the borders of Yugosalvia were all opposing forces drawing people in different directions and the break-up of Yugoslavia was all but guaranteed.The only question was how violent is this break-up going to be?The US and the rest of Europe should have asked thenselves a simple question.If the Serbs and Croats and Muslims did not wish to live together is the state of Yugoslavia why do we expect them to live together in the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina?If the Serbs were not prepared to make Kosovo a republic in Yugosalvia why would be expect them to live together in Serbia,Macedonia and Montenegro?The demarcation of republic and provincial borders by the Communists have NO relevance for 2007.A much more just and lasting solution is to go back to the drawing board and start from scratch.When you take a look at the 7 CEFTA countries what do you see?In Moldova a separatist movement of Russians in the Transdniester region.In Bosnia a separatist movement of Serbs in RS and a Croat separatist movement in Herzegovina.In Serbia an Albanian separatist movement in Kosovo.In Macedonia an Albanina separatist movement in the west.In Montenegro an Albanian separatist movement in the south.Croatia successfully ethnically cleansed its Serbian residents who were inclined to separate and still has not complied with its repatriation obligations.Albania is the only country that does not have a visible separatist movement but its political system is so immature that they can't even agree on a simple election date.It seems the best solution would be to make all 7 of these countries EU dependencies for the next 50 years until enough time passes for a generation to emerge who is not haunted by the ghosts of war and hatred.

If borders are not important then why limit it to only Kosova's northern border?

Raso:

I like your comment, and some how proves what I provided in some other comment, Serbs want Territory not the People.
Well Serbia's last chance to have Territory not the People has passed, now the Territory blongs to its people.

Those who suggest partition of Kosovo, are either ignorant or have no idea of situation in Western Balkans.

1. Autonomy - Kosovo tried that once
2. People moving from here - Kosovo also tried this once, but its people felt uncomftable living as refugees.
3. Partitition - don't know, too risky for stability in the region.
4. Status quo - Kosovo was in such status since 1990.

KiM will stay serbian. there is no need to give presents to the Albanians.
nobody can take it away from Serbia.
they know it.

and the european union won´t be starting it´s "take over" with a legal fraud.
Serbia is simply too important for the southeastern european integration, and ...if they want Serbia as a partner, they will have to respect its sovereignty, since there are no one-way partnerships.

the Albanians will calm down the moment they realize, that their threats with violence do not work.
if they should really turn to violence, it would be their greatest mistake ever.

autonomy withing Serbia, is the best they can get. it´s that simple...

Partition is clearly worth discussing as I've been saying for months.

The main issue of course is what to do with those areas that represent Serbian history and culture yet have an Albanian majority.

Clearly, the option to swap areas like Presevo for those areas would be a true win-win for everyone. Generous compensation for those who wish to move should also be offered, as well as the option for the Albanian portion to join with Albania proper.

I personally do not think that Albanians would be satisfied with just automony. They'd accept it only as a temporary delay on the road to independence. Leading to possible violence if independence is not attained eventually. It only takes a small number of people to cause serious trouble.

Automony does not give us Serbs anything either. Our culture and religious sites would still be in danger and our population would still live in fear.

The winds have shifted. We do need to make a serious effort at negotiation. Both sides have put more effort into delaying tactics then actually thinking about the situation. The idea that giving the other side something it wants or needs is the same as losing has got to stop.

In reality, it really won't matter once the region has joined the EU anyways. We Serbs will have the right to live and work in Kosovo at that time, and already our goods are sold in shops throughout Kosovo. Wars are fought economically nowdays, and we will have the option to buy as much property there as we like. Those of us in the Diaspora are in the best position to help with such an effort. To start we should all buy summer homes next to those areas that are most sacred to us. I imagine at this time, property is fairly cheap. If anyone can point out a good real estate agent in Kosovo, I would happily buy a vacation home there. If the Jews could do it after 2,000 years, we can do it too.

I personally do not support an economic blockade, I think we are much better off buying everything in sight and thus having defacto control. Improving the economy of Kosovo would have the added benefit of making the Kosovars happy and content and less likely to engage in violence. Even if Kosovo is to get independence, it does not mean we lose, it only means we must change direction and use Western methods for getting what we need.

Art, Albania has no dog in this hunt. They do not want to hurt there chances of joining NATO and the EU. They want access to the EU coffers and it means distancing themselves from Kosovo they will do it.

"Wrong move.

Remember Albania warned that if Kosovo was to be partitioned, it wouldn't object pursuing territorial claims over Kosovo, Preveso, and Macedonia.
(Art, 1 February 2007, 18:58)"

I wouldn't do that if I were Tirana. Because that would make Albania a trouble maker in the eyes of the world. It would become a pariah state and can forget about joining Nato or EU.

Partitition of Kosova means new war in all over the region of Balkans that noone can predict when it will end.

The best solution is the Independence for Kosova, with strong international guarantees for the rights of Serbian minority who lives there.

Partition of Kosova is off the table! However, Presheva valley is really part of Kosova and WILL be negotiated.
Where is Blag?

no no arben, the situation in presevo is cleared. they had to take the hard way, but know they know better!

hadn´t you seen them voting? contrary to the "kosovars" they see their future in serbia

It is too bad that partition has become a taboo. Partition policy has been to a large extent rightfully criticized by Sambanis and Hoeffler because it leaves disenchanted minorities behind. Nevertheless, partition could be the solution to many conflicts if it is 1. carried out consensually by the original state and seceding parties, and 2. makes sure that it will protect minority rights and not produce irredentist behavior. Looking at northern kosovo today, it is pretty clear where a future boundary would lie. Some points of the Ahtissari well address the rights of minorities in Kosovo and would put a cap on further secessionist movements in its neighbors. If it were based on a consensual agreement, it could also serve as a precedent for the resolution of other frozen conflicts since it would make them realize that asking for secession would naturally involve giving up some territory of their own.

To Raso, K-Albanians control Albanians in Valley and in Macedonia. We told them to vote. NO PARTITION, PERIOD. To all HERE KOSOVA will be independent like it or not.

Naz

From WASHINGTON POST: "Kosovo's Albanian-led government could declare independence and would win quick recognition from the United States and most European countries. Serbia could object but not stop the new arrangement"


Naz.

The only valid argument I've heard against partition is the issue with the mines, which is valid. However, since ownership of the mines has already been sold to foreign interests and the international community pocketed the money it might not be the issue it appears to be. However, regardless of that, I would support Kosovo maintaining ownership, they will need a viable economy and that would be important to the regions stability.

It seems to me that many of the posters here are against partition because they want to spite the Serbs.

We have exactly the same reasons for not wanting to live under the "Albanian Boot" as Albanians feel about living under the "Serbian Boot".

The fact that Serbs have a higher per capita of missing and killed supports this argument. Threatening violence and instability if partition is considered just shows that the person making such threats is not ready to join the modern world. I say, go ahead and engage in violence, its only going to hurt your cause. If Albanians would like support in their quest for the Right to Self Determination in all countries in which they live, I say, let us work together. Serbs have the same issues. If we could both tell the International Community that we need a regional solution, they would be more likely to listen. Its silly for us to be at each other's throats. Divided we are weak, together we would be a serious force to deal with in the region. Start thinking about the future and not the past. Our future is in a multi-ethnic EU and unless we can really focus, those stronger countries are going to own us.

This is all such utter nonsense...

Timothy William Waters op-ed piece on Kosovo makes a good point about partioning Kosovo. Why would it be right to please Albanians by partioning Serbia but it is wrong to partition Kosovo to protect Serbs? Serbs should not be left in a Kosovo that is run by former rebel Kosovo Liberation Army anti-Serbs like Prime Minister Agim Ceku. Russia wouldn't obeject and a lot of Serbian polticians would support that proposal as the international community would recognize Serbia's long connection to Kosovo.

Why is it only the albanians who are threatening war? Don't they have any confidence in their negotiating skill, or are they afraid that the US will stab them in the back?

The only reason the US supports the kosovo albanians is to show their oil producing allies that they are not anti-moslem.

The same was true with Bosnia. The US had filled the vacuum left by the Soviet Union in the Gulf and the Middle East, having just liberated 'democratic' Kuwait from Iraq (none of this paranoid oil argument please), and wanting to build on this, threw Bosnia in to the pot. Cheap and easy.

...Pity they chose to back that islamic fundamentalist Izetbegovic. An even greater pity that Fikret Abdic stood down as president of the SDA despite beating Izetbegovic hansomely in the vote. There wouldn't have been a war if he was in charge, but he's in a sarajevo prison for... fighting Izetbegovic's mujahedeen. But then again, who knows, and who cares to recall the fight between the two bosnian moslem entities, Sarajevo/Bihac v. Velika Kladusa?

The West celebrated the end of the Cold War by throwing out every international norm it could. And now it will come back to damn them.

("The only reason the US supports the kosovo albanians is to show their oil producing allies that they are not anti-moslem."- Aleks, 2 February 2007, 19:46)
Any educated person knows that such propagandistic argument does not withstand water. US intervened in Kosova to help cease crimes against humanity. Serbian terror has been no stranger to the Balkans, need you be reminded of the wars in places like Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and lastly Kosova? Ask yourself… who caused all of these wars? We should hope the US continues to intervene anywhere where the basic right to life is violated, as was the case in the Balkans. It is a moral obligation for a great country like the United States of America to help fight injustice everywhere. May God Bless the US for helping make this world democratic and civilized for all of us to live in.

To concerned:

Waters, Timothy William "Indeterminate Claims: New Challenges to Self-Determination Doctrine in Yugoslavia"
What are the terms by which the international community could evaluate autonomy for Vojvodina--or for any other distinct territory or population within a state? Would it be an issue of self-determination? In the classical theory of self-determination as it developed during the period of decolonization of Vojvodina, the multi-ethnic nature of a territory, its history, and its level of internal democratic participation I did not affect a claim. It is unlikely that Vojvodina could meet the classical standard of Self-Determination Doctrine.

Serbs wont ahve to partition KOCOBO because we will retain the whole province as according to international law! The law cannot be broken and bent at will

Wrong move.

Remember Albania warned that if Kosovo was to be partitioned, it wouldn't object puruing territorial claims over Kosovo, Preveso, and Macedonia.

gotta love those western guys.

first of all: kosovo IS partitioned and not totaly occupied! you can´t decide about land that you don´t control.

secondly, now that it is clear that there won´t be indiependence by un or bypassing un, there is the generous offer of partitioning (there are also a few think tanks talking about it for weeks, couse they first realized that there won´t be indiependence and otherwise such new thinking wouldn´t make it into western media).

no, thank you, it´s still just autonomy! but it´s also a globalized world! everybody who can´t stand living in serbia can pack his bag and try his luck somewhere else! good luck!

RE: There is nothing magic or moral about Kosovo’s borders. They are an artifact of Tito’s Yugoslavia,concludes Waters.


Finally! Someone actually knows what they are talking about, a surpise coming from the NY Times.

Tito' borders are artificial and have contributed to the eventualy break up of Yugoslavia. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was created after WWI based on "Banovonia's" which more closely related to ethnic make up. Therefore, when countries such as Germany who pushed for the early recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia they failed to take this in account.

Some of these Banovina's included the Vardar Region, Istria, Dalmacia etc which each has it's own unique history and ethnic composition.

It was far from perfect but a much better represenation of the South slav country.

Slovenia is the only region which more or less fit the orginal Banovina's.

Bingo. The Solution will exclude two words but pretty much mean both in the whole context: independence and partition. The goal now is to get both Serbia to sign off on independence and Russia not to veto the UN resolution. By offering partition, Serbia stands to be in a much better position of writing off the Albanian-dominated parts and retaining the Serb enclaves. While I'm a BIG fan of multi-ethnic cooperation, it may be better in both the long and short runs if both communities govern their own affairs because I can already predict the Serb enclaves will be to the K-Albanians what the K-Albanians are to the Serbian state.

In fact, I'd even go so far as to offer Kosovo a solution similar to Montenegro: place it under EU Mandate for a period of time, say 3-6 years while the region develops. After the mandate period, offer each municipality the chance of vote on whether they wish to join a fully independent Kosovo, or go back to Serbia. Serbs will undoutedly vote to remain in Serbia and Albanians will undoutedly vote for full sovereign independence. Democracy is performed, and both sides can live better together as neighbors.

To raso: I agree with you, who doesn't like to live in Srbija he could try Kosova, there is freedom for all, no matter witch nationality you are. Al least if you decide to don't listen to serbian propaganda.

To Timothy Waters: Partitioning Kosova is the thing Serb politicians want, specially the north. There are Trepca mines there. One of the richest part of formal YU, Of course Serbija would be pleased to partition kosova. There is no truth in propaganda about history and all of the souls and harts of serbians in Kosova, truth are natural resources in the north of Kosova. Thats what they are looking for.
Kosova is and will stay free and independent with or whithout the serbian recognition.Try to accept it and go further with your lives. Live and let live.

Having thoroughly educated myself with the whole Yugoslav concept I would like to point out the irony that it was actually SLOVENIAN and to a lesser extent Croatian and some Serbian intellectuals who in the late 1800s and early 1900s were calling for the creation of a South Slavic country.An objective observer may have cautioned against unitying people who lived centuries under Western European influence from those who lived for centuries under Ottoman oppression but nevertheless the Kingdom of Serbs,Croats and Slovenes was created.At this point there was no Ustasha/Croatian hatred of Serbs.The Slavic Muslims were a much smaller group than they are now and were just considered Serbs or Croats who adopted the Islamic religion for economic/social benefits under the Ottomans yet today they claim a superficial Bosniac identity.For all practical purposes they were actually mostly Serbs because have you ever tried to get a Croat to give up his Roman Catholic identity?After WW1 Serbia encompassed what are present day Macedonia and Kosovo and Bosnia and Montenegro without the eventual demarcation of these regions by the Tito/Communist regime that occured later as separate political entities.Where in Bulgaria or Greece is Macedonia or the Macedonian people and language recognized as a separate distinct political or even linguistic entity within the borders of those 2 countries?Furthermore, Greece and Bulgaria have hundreds of thousands of Muslims but they do not claim a totally separate identity.So what happened from 1917 and the creation of the Kingdom to the 1930s when the winds of war were blowing again across Europe?Obviously the rivalry between Serb domination and Croat aspirations led many Croats to see their future not as one of union with Serbs but as a distinct Croat identity and solo existence. This manifested itself in the Croats engaging in separatist activities often of a violent nature.It is obvious that the Serbs did not see others in the Kingdom as their equals considering the fact that they overall had the largest population and were not inclined to political compromise if it meant a dilution of their interests and power.Slovenes have always been a westward looking people and their work ethic and calmer rationality supports this.The change of name from the Kingdom of Serbs,Croats and Slovenes to Yugoslavia in order to give a more encompassing identity to those people who did not identify with the 3 groups named in the Kingdom was a small effort on the part of the monarchy to encourage more unity among all the people and this seems to have worked to a limited extent over the decades.The opposing forces in Europe during the 30s and 40s s(Fascism-Communism-Democracy-Monarchy)sought to divide and conquer people who were living together for the most part in peace as neighbors.It is these ideological forces at war with each other coupled with Balkan irrationality that brought Croat Fascist extremists in the form of the Ustasha regime to power and enabled it to commit inhuman crimes against others.The eventual establishment of a Communist regime post WW2 sought to bury fresh memories into the distant past and promote the theme of Brotherhood and Unity among people who were not inclined to forget ANYTHING.Tito was a shrewd tactician and sought to dilute the numerical supremacy of Serbs in the country by splitting up the Serb people into various so called republics and provinces.The demarcation of the republics and provinces and the Communist era Constitutions was never meant to deal with the ACTUAL break-up of the federal state.Does anybody here have any doubt that Tito would have sent separatists/secessionists to the gulag if any of them pressed for the break up of the federation? With the death of Tito no other single politicain had the legitimacy and power to keep all these different groups pacified and so the break-up of Yugosalvia started unfolding in a barbaric manner before the eyes of the world.Slovenian aspirations for Yugoslavia to join the EU-Croat animosity to the continuation of a strong federal state-Albanian aspirations to the erection of an Albanian republic in the Serbian province of Kosovo-Muslim aspirations to a distinct identity and power in Bosnia-Serb insistence on the continuation of a strong federal state as the best protector of all Serbs within the borders of Yugosalvia were all opposing forces drawing people in different directions and the break-up of Yugoslavia was all but guaranteed.The only question was how violent is this break-up going to be?The US and the rest of Europe should have asked thenselves a simple question.If the Serbs and Croats and Muslims did not wish to live together is the state of Yugoslavia why do we expect them to live together in the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina?If the Serbs were not prepared to make Kosovo a republic in Yugosalvia why would be expect them to live together in Serbia,Macedonia and Montenegro?The demarcation of republic and provincial borders by the Communists have NO relevance for 2007.A much more just and lasting solution is to go back to the drawing board and start from scratch.When you take a look at the 7 CEFTA countries what do you see?In Moldova a separatist movement of Russians in the Transdniester region.In Bosnia a separatist movement of Serbs in RS and a Croat separatist movement in Herzegovina.In Serbia an Albanian separatist movement in Kosovo.In Macedonia an Albanina separatist movement in the west.In Montenegro an Albanian separatist movement in the south.Croatia successfully ethnically cleansed its Serbian residents who were inclined to separate and still has not complied with its repatriation obligations.Albania is the only country that does not have a visible separatist movement but its political system is so immature that they can't even agree on a simple election date.It seems the best solution would be to make all 7 of these countries EU dependencies for the next 50 years until enough time passes for a generation to emerge who is not haunted by the ghosts of war and hatred.

If borders are not important then why limit it to only Kosova's northern border?

Raso:

I like your comment, and some how proves what I provided in some other comment, Serbs want Territory not the People.
Well Serbia's last chance to have Territory not the People has passed, now the Territory blongs to its people.

Those who suggest partition of Kosovo, are either ignorant or have no idea of situation in Western Balkans.

1. Autonomy - Kosovo tried that once
2. People moving from here - Kosovo also tried this once, but its people felt uncomftable living as refugees.
3. Partitition - don't know, too risky for stability in the region.
4. Status quo - Kosovo was in such status since 1990.

KiM will stay serbian. there is no need to give presents to the Albanians.
nobody can take it away from Serbia.
they know it.

and the european union won´t be starting it´s "take over" with a legal fraud.
Serbia is simply too important for the southeastern european integration, and ...if they want Serbia as a partner, they will have to respect its sovereignty, since there are no one-way partnerships.

the Albanians will calm down the moment they realize, that their threats with violence do not work.
if they should really turn to violence, it would be their greatest mistake ever.

autonomy withing Serbia, is the best they can get. it´s that simple...

Partition is clearly worth discussing as I've been saying for months.

The main issue of course is what to do with those areas that represent Serbian history and culture yet have an Albanian majority.

Clearly, the option to swap areas like Presevo for those areas would be a true win-win for everyone. Generous compensation for those who wish to move should also be offered, as well as the option for the Albanian portion to join with Albania proper.

I personally do not think that Albanians would be satisfied with just automony. They'd accept it only as a temporary delay on the road to independence. Leading to possible violence if independence is not attained eventually. It only takes a small number of people to cause serious trouble.

Automony does not give us Serbs anything either. Our culture and religious sites would still be in danger and our population would still live in fear.

The winds have shifted. We do need to make a serious effort at negotiation. Both sides have put more effort into delaying tactics then actually thinking about the situation. The idea that giving the other side something it wants or needs is the same as losing has got to stop.

In reality, it really won't matter once the region has joined the EU anyways. We Serbs will have the right to live and work in Kosovo at that time, and already our goods are sold in shops throughout Kosovo. Wars are fought economically nowdays, and we will have the option to buy as much property there as we like. Those of us in the Diaspora are in the best position to help with such an effort. To start we should all buy summer homes next to those areas that are most sacred to us. I imagine at this time, property is fairly cheap. If anyone can point out a good real estate agent in Kosovo, I would happily buy a vacation home there. If the Jews could do it after 2,000 years, we can do it too.

I personally do not support an economic blockade, I think we are much better off buying everything in sight and thus having defacto control. Improving the economy of Kosovo would have the added benefit of making the Kosovars happy and content and less likely to engage in violence. Even if Kosovo is to get independence, it does not mean we lose, it only means we must change direction and use Western methods for getting what we need.

Art, Albania has no dog in this hunt. They do not want to hurt there chances of joining NATO and the EU. They want access to the EU coffers and it means distancing themselves from Kosovo they will do it.

"Wrong move.

Remember Albania warned that if Kosovo was to be partitioned, it wouldn't object pursuing territorial claims over Kosovo, Preveso, and Macedonia.
(Art, 1 February 2007, 18:58)"

I wouldn't do that if I were Tirana. Because that would make Albania a trouble maker in the eyes of the world. It would become a pariah state and can forget about joining Nato or EU.

Partitition of Kosova means new war in all over the region of Balkans that noone can predict when it will end.

The best solution is the Independence for Kosova, with strong international guarantees for the rights of Serbian minority who lives there.

Partition of Kosova is off the table! However, Presheva valley is really part of Kosova and WILL be negotiated.
Where is Blag?

no no arben, the situation in presevo is cleared. they had to take the hard way, but know they know better!

hadn´t you seen them voting? contrary to the "kosovars" they see their future in serbia

It is too bad that partition has become a taboo. Partition policy has been to a large extent rightfully criticized by Sambanis and Hoeffler because it leaves disenchanted minorities behind. Nevertheless, partition could be the solution to many conflicts if it is 1. carried out consensually by the original state and seceding parties, and 2. makes sure that it will protect minority rights and not produce irredentist behavior. Looking at northern kosovo today, it is pretty clear where a future boundary would lie. Some points of the Ahtissari well address the rights of minorities in Kosovo and would put a cap on further secessionist movements in its neighbors. If it were based on a consensual agreement, it could also serve as a precedent for the resolution of other frozen conflicts since it would make them realize that asking for secession would naturally involve giving up some territory of their own.

To Raso, K-Albanians control Albanians in Valley and in Macedonia. We told them to vote. NO PARTITION, PERIOD. To all HERE KOSOVA will be independent like it or not.

Naz

From WASHINGTON POST: "Kosovo's Albanian-led government could declare independence and would win quick recognition from the United States and most European countries. Serbia could object but not stop the new arrangement"


Naz.

The only valid argument I've heard against partition is the issue with the mines, which is valid. However, since ownership of the mines has already been sold to foreign interests and the international community pocketed the money it might not be the issue it appears to be. However, regardless of that, I would support Kosovo maintaining ownership, they will need a viable economy and that would be important to the regions stability.

It seems to me that many of the posters here are against partition because they want to spite the Serbs.

We have exactly the same reasons for not wanting to live under the "Albanian Boot" as Albanians feel about living under the "Serbian Boot".

The fact that Serbs have a higher per capita of missing and killed supports this argument. Threatening violence and instability if partition is considered just shows that the person making such threats is not ready to join the modern world. I say, go ahead and engage in violence, its only going to hurt your cause. If Albanians would like support in their quest for the Right to Self Determination in all countries in which they live, I say, let us work together. Serbs have the same issues. If we could both tell the International Community that we need a regional solution, they would be more likely to listen. Its silly for us to be at each other's throats. Divided we are weak, together we would be a serious force to deal with in the region. Start thinking about the future and not the past. Our future is in a multi-ethnic EU and unless we can really focus, those stronger countries are going to own us.

This is all such utter nonsense...

Timothy William Waters op-ed piece on Kosovo makes a good point about partioning Kosovo. Why would it be right to please Albanians by partioning Serbia but it is wrong to partition Kosovo to protect Serbs? Serbs should not be left in a Kosovo that is run by former rebel Kosovo Liberation Army anti-Serbs like Prime Minister Agim Ceku. Russia wouldn't obeject and a lot of Serbian polticians would support that proposal as the international community would recognize Serbia's long connection to Kosovo.

Why is it only the albanians who are threatening war? Don't they have any confidence in their negotiating skill, or are they afraid that the US will stab them in the back?

The only reason the US supports the kosovo albanians is to show their oil producing allies that they are not anti-moslem.

The same was true with Bosnia. The US had filled the vacuum left by the Soviet Union in the Gulf and the Middle East, having just liberated 'democratic' Kuwait from Iraq (none of this paranoid oil argument please), and wanting to build on this, threw Bosnia in to the pot. Cheap and easy.

...Pity they chose to back that islamic fundamentalist Izetbegovic. An even greater pity that Fikret Abdic stood down as president of the SDA despite beating Izetbegovic hansomely in the vote. There wouldn't have been a war if he was in charge, but he's in a sarajevo prison for... fighting Izetbegovic's mujahedeen. But then again, who knows, and who cares to recall the fight between the two bosnian moslem entities, Sarajevo/Bihac v. Velika Kladusa?

The West celebrated the end of the Cold War by throwing out every international norm it could. And now it will come back to damn them.

("The only reason the US supports the kosovo albanians is to show their oil producing allies that they are not anti-moslem."- Aleks, 2 February 2007, 19:46)
Any educated person knows that such propagandistic argument does not withstand water. US intervened in Kosova to help cease crimes against humanity. Serbian terror has been no stranger to the Balkans, need you be reminded of the wars in places like Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, and lastly Kosova? Ask yourself… who caused all of these wars? We should hope the US continues to intervene anywhere where the basic right to life is violated, as was the case in the Balkans. It is a moral obligation for a great country like the United States of America to help fight injustice everywhere. May God Bless the US for helping make this world democratic and civilized for all of us to live in.