“ICJ ruling – chance for reconciliation”

Even though the UN ruling was correct, I still feel a sense of "I don't care." I can't take serious an institution which is primarily run by the West. And yet, this same system would never hold trials against Israelis, Americans, Brits, or all others who participated in Iraq, or in the recent combat between Israel and Lebanon. In other words, what does it matter what the court ruled when the same system would never put men like Bush on trial for war crimes. When you look at it, the UN courts are simply biased and are tools of the current Empire. It was this way back before WW1, when the Germans and Austrians, who were the dominate force in the region, were able to influence things in their benefit. There was no UN then, but now the UN is nothing more than a system which is not fair across the board.

It's nice to see that the West is attempting to butter up the Serbs and ease some of the pain as they try to carve out our heart (Kosovo), but this is too little. The UN ruling is nice, but it really means very little in my eyes. It would have more significance if I could see a fair, impartial court system which prosecutes ALL people, regardless of citizenship.

Kosovo your heart? Haha. 99 % of the Serbs in the world have never been in Kosovo and it is ridiculous to say Kosovo is your heart.

I am born in Kosovo and therefore Kosovo (together with the country I live in) is my heart and the heart of everyone born there.

If the courts in Serbia and ICTY were impartial then they would have sentenced one Bosnjac/Croatian or Albanian for every 99. Serb. This is the truth and I know it hurts but it is 100 % truth and everyone knows who committed the most horrible massacres (since yesterday we can use genocide) in Balkans. ( Serbs in case you did not know it).

I would like to see Serb readers comment the massacre of Bosnjacs in Strpci. I do not think they will do it because denying is a part of their strategy, and by denying everything they can commit such inhuman crimes again.

If Serbia continues to have Kostunica and other nationalists as prime ministers I think Kosovo should sue Serbia for what they have done against Albanians. It is much easier for us to win since Milutinovic, president of Serbia is at Haag.

Let’s not place all the blame on international courts. For the sake of accuracy - the ruling was issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ currently consists of 15 judges, only 4 of whom are from western Europe or the U.S. The ICJ has heard dozens of cases brought by, between, or against western countries such as the U.K., the U.S., France, etc. In fact, in a rather famous ruling, the ICJ ruled that the U.S. violated international law by supporting the Contras during the conflict in Nicaragua. However, what happened next is the U.S. refused to abide by the ICJ’s decision. The ICJ is a court, not a police force, and therefore could do little to enforce its judgement.

In my opinion, individual countries from ALL parts of the world are guilty of lacking the political will to further human rights. Individual countries always act in their best interest, and repeatedly fail to see the benefit of encouraging universal rule of law and human rights standards when the conflict in question does not involve their own national, ethnic, religious or strategic interests.

International courts do what they can, however they were created by an international community willing only to grant them authority to adjudicate, but not to give them any teeth.

Crni,
maybe you should feel more confident of a "civilised" tribunal managed by Kim Il Sung, Castro, Chavez, Putin, Mugabe, communist China...

Crni, typical serbian rhetoric. What you say can be summed up in one sentence: «We have done nothing bad or worse than what the USA, France or Great Bretain have done!»

The Court tells you as a Serb that your nation is responsible, and your only intelligent answer is: the court in a western institution! You focus on Israel's crimes instead of looking in your own yard!

Reconciliation with Serbs like you is impossible!

«This is the truth and I know it hurts but it is 100 % truth and everyone knows who committed the most horrible massacres».

Finaly a witness who say the same thing as me. For years, I told the Serbs that they are the ones responsible for most of the atrocities, the crimes, the rapes, committed without measure and with demesure, against children, women, infants, children, men... And they are still looking over their shoulder, pointing at the Croats and Muslis who were barely trying to defend themselves to stay alive!

Reconciliation with the Serbs will be a long and dolorous path!

I thought that the Dutch UN troops were the ones who did nothing to prevent the genocide in Srebrenica. Why did the ICJ not castigate them for this, rather than passing the blame to Serbia?

As the fear of a genocide verdict was one of the reasons not to extradite Mladic and Karadzic (who wants to help his adversaries?), it may now be time to get them to The Hague and to let them explain what they did in Srebrenica.

«... individual countries from ALL parts of the world are guilty of lacking the political will to further human rights.»

Even this Court did not have the courage to tell clearly to the world and to the Serbs that what Milosevic and Karadzic have done, through this 'joint criminal enterprise' as called by the ICTY, was clearly a genocide.

It needs courage to be honest, and unfortunately justice was not done to the victims.

To the resounding blow holes from Victor to Sidi...as your hate continues to flow through you with no end in sight, your audacious comments which not only suggest the impossibility of reconciliation, but continued polarization of the entire matter. I'm not sure why your selective hearing and eyesight distorts the obvious fact, however, in no uncertain terms, Serbs throughout the region as well as beyond the shores of Europe have attempted to reconcile and assume responsibility for the actions of a few...for that is what truly happened...Unfortunately, your blanket assumptions of collective guilt demonstrates the inability to compromise, yet alone forgive. Serbs, along with Bosnians, Croatians, and Albanian, all suffered...Why is it that the suffering of Serbian mothers for the death, murder and rape of their children any less significant than others? From the lessons of history...it is clear that the Balkans have been a region of front line nations, from Islam, Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox rites.. The 20th century alone is a time period of unspeakable carnage and blood letting...I'm not going to bore the readers AGAIN..with the millions of lost lives, but as historians will clearly demonstrate, and not just Serbian historians, acknowledge that the Serbian nation suffered unimaginable hatred from it's neighbors for centuries. Unfortunately, all surrounding neighbors have also suffered via the lessons of their historical MASTERS...from the Austrians, Germans and Turks...their lessons of brutality and death have polluted this region with unending conflict, distrust and suffering. Yes, Milosovic was a criminal...yes Tudjman was a criminal...yes Izabegovic was a criminal..yes crimes were committed, yes Serbians suffered, yes Croatians, Bosnians, and Albanians have suffered... Only an absolute idiot would say they have not...However, in order for true reconciliation to occur, like in any relationship, for takes TWO 2 TANGO and it takes two sides to make amends. Isn't this obvious...hasn't the region had enough of this garbage and blame game? Here is an opportunity for Serbians, Albanians, Bosnians, and Croatians to reconcile finally, to take responsibility for their actions here and NOW! Let's us remove the shackles of foreign domination and superiority..and allow our children and proceeding generations to live in a viable peace. Are you up for the Challenge Victor? Can you envision it...or will you remain stuck in the past...consumed by rage and anger...which is clearly obvious based on hundreds of your comments.

How could the ICJ return any other verdict? If Srebrenica 1995 was genocide then the 3,500 Serbs massacred by Naser Oric and his brutal militia in the villages surrounding Srebrenica in 1992 must have been genocide aswell. Imagine the horror around the world to discover Serbian victims in Bosnia.

I hate to break the news to you ?????? but you were actually born in someone else's country. That's not base nationalism. It is part of a sovereign nation in Serbia and has never been independent. You live in a romantic world based on myths and half truths. It must hurt.... but you were born in a province of SERBIA... not Albania, not an independent Albanian run Kosovo, but a province of the UN acknowledged soveriegn state of Serbia. I was born in Manchester which is in the province of Lancashire. That means despite my Anglo-Serb origin i was born in a province of England... you see how it works?

RECONCILE with your fellow man for life is too short to live with hate in your hearts.And if love is not possible then at least try tolerance and acceptance.ALL peoples deserve to live with dignity.I know the power of hate can seem overwhelming but in the end it only tears away at the true meaning of life and makes for a life less worth living.Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall inherit the Earth.

"I would like to see Serb readers comment the massacre of Bosnjacs in Strpci"

I'll comment. They were Muslim males from the Sandzak - all except one were Muslim males of military age - who were going to fight in the Bosnian war.

It's said, by the Muslims, that they were looking for work - yeah right, in wartime Bosnia there were a lot of job openings - IN THE MILITARY THAT IS.

There's no trace of them or any bodies, no evidence of blood or anything.

I believe they were ambushed in Bosnia when they were near or had crossed the border - ambushed likely by OTHER MUSLIMS. The Muslims were known to ambush vehicles (including buses) from Serbia and Montenegro. In a few cases at least, they mistakenly and hastily attacked buses and killed the passengers carrying other Muslims.

I believe that's what happened, but the crime was covered up and claimed they were abducted by Montenegrins/Serbs.

And so people make up stories with no evidence - no bodies, no blood, or anything.

Victor...

once again, you refuse to see reality.

can you please show the line, where "the court says the serbian nation is responsible"???

I would love to read it, just provide the source!

by writing nonsense, you´re not contributing to a better understanding...

Mike, Antony, Jovan,

i 100% agree with all your statements.

Serbs are south slavs,
speaking/looking/behaving
90% (let politics aside)
like their Bosniaks cousins.

HOW IN THE WORLD CAN THE SERBS
BE THE SATANS AND BOSNIAKS
THE SAINTS???

I cant really see that.

Anyone who had visited BiH
can assure for the kindness
and hospitality of BOTH muslims and serbs and croats too.

I am greek, and my visit to Brcko was an extremely warm and hospital
experience.

Now about albanians,
i dont know about KiM albanians, but surely
the 1,000,000 albanians
from albania who live in Greece
help "launch" the criminality rate at exponential curves.

Dont believe in western politics. Dont listen to Euronews.

It is so sad to see a remote
isolated brave nation , the serbs, being fought by THE WHOLE WORLD LEADERS, (and the
western citizens listening like sheep)....

I was reading the other day,
for a program to deal with
prejudice in serbia against ROMA!!!
Serbia??? Against Roma????
Who are they kidding??
Serbia is the most friendly place for roma, and even they star in movies like KUCA.

The other day i was reading
about a town in Voivodina,
some Serbian citizens of
Hungarian etnicity were complaining about KiM refugees
settling there....

And the rest of the world has the guts to accuse serbs of this and that... and elected
leaders die in their courts and many others.....

I hope there is A GOD up there
looking at what HIS (western) children
are doing.....

Or is it just as simple as that....
"The winners (re)write the history as they wish"

“Serbia has been condemned for its failure to prosecute and punish the genuine perpetrators of wartime massacres, as well as to prevent the act of genocide in Srebrenica”, Dimitrijević said.

Jovan, a Serb lawyer is saying the same thing as me. Serbia failed to STOP the genocide. Milosevic knew everything about it and he did nothing.... Instead he sent arms to the bosnian Serbs, and paramilitaries like Arkan, well paid by Belgrade (1000$US a week ) to the order to 'cleanse' specific territories of non-Serbs. And during the summer of 1992, 50 000 civilians were exterminated. Imagine the massacres of civilians on a daily basis.
Please make an act of contrition, and read more about what happened then and you will see that your nation has participated in a 'CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE' to commit a genocide.

«Anyone who had visited BiH
can assure for the kindness
and hospitality of BOTH muslims and serbs....»

Milosevioc's propaganda is responsible for everything. Days after days, the Serbs were told about what was done to them during the war, accusing the Croats for Jasenovac, the Muslims... and the Serbs were transformed in ferocious devils.

We know the rest!

???? - I see mathematics isn't a strong point for you.

"99 % of the Serbs in the world have never been in Kosovo"

Figures for worldwide total number of Serbs range from 9.5-12 million. Even if you take the higher figure of 12 million, for your assertion to be correct then less than 1% or 120,00 Serbs would have ever had to have visited Kosovo. As the current estimate of Serbs in Kosovo is between 126,000 & 140,000 you assertion is obviously false. Then when you consider that in 1991 there was 194,000 and many more must have visted at least once in their lifetime.

Also how many Serbs travelled to Gazimestan in 1989 to hear Milosevic's speech????

Even though the UN ruling was correct, I still feel a sense of "I don't care." I can't take serious an institution which is primarily run by the West. And yet, this same system would never hold trials against Israelis, Americans, Brits, or all others who participated in Iraq, or in the recent combat between Israel and Lebanon. In other words, what does it matter what the court ruled when the same system would never put men like Bush on trial for war crimes. When you look at it, the UN courts are simply biased and are tools of the current Empire. It was this way back before WW1, when the Germans and Austrians, who were the dominate force in the region, were able to influence things in their benefit. There was no UN then, but now the UN is nothing more than a system which is not fair across the board.

It's nice to see that the West is attempting to butter up the Serbs and ease some of the pain as they try to carve out our heart (Kosovo), but this is too little. The UN ruling is nice, but it really means very little in my eyes. It would have more significance if I could see a fair, impartial court system which prosecutes ALL people, regardless of citizenship.

Kosovo your heart? Haha. 99 % of the Serbs in the world have never been in Kosovo and it is ridiculous to say Kosovo is your heart.

I am born in Kosovo and therefore Kosovo (together with the country I live in) is my heart and the heart of everyone born there.

If the courts in Serbia and ICTY were impartial then they would have sentenced one Bosnjac/Croatian or Albanian for every 99. Serb. This is the truth and I know it hurts but it is 100 % truth and everyone knows who committed the most horrible massacres (since yesterday we can use genocide) in Balkans. ( Serbs in case you did not know it).

I would like to see Serb readers comment the massacre of Bosnjacs in Strpci. I do not think they will do it because denying is a part of their strategy, and by denying everything they can commit such inhuman crimes again.

If Serbia continues to have Kostunica and other nationalists as prime ministers I think Kosovo should sue Serbia for what they have done against Albanians. It is much easier for us to win since Milutinovic, president of Serbia is at Haag.

Let’s not place all the blame on international courts. For the sake of accuracy - the ruling was issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ currently consists of 15 judges, only 4 of whom are from western Europe or the U.S. The ICJ has heard dozens of cases brought by, between, or against western countries such as the U.K., the U.S., France, etc. In fact, in a rather famous ruling, the ICJ ruled that the U.S. violated international law by supporting the Contras during the conflict in Nicaragua. However, what happened next is the U.S. refused to abide by the ICJ’s decision. The ICJ is a court, not a police force, and therefore could do little to enforce its judgement.

In my opinion, individual countries from ALL parts of the world are guilty of lacking the political will to further human rights. Individual countries always act in their best interest, and repeatedly fail to see the benefit of encouraging universal rule of law and human rights standards when the conflict in question does not involve their own national, ethnic, religious or strategic interests.

International courts do what they can, however they were created by an international community willing only to grant them authority to adjudicate, but not to give them any teeth.

Crni,
maybe you should feel more confident of a "civilised" tribunal managed by Kim Il Sung, Castro, Chavez, Putin, Mugabe, communist China...

Crni, typical serbian rhetoric. What you say can be summed up in one sentence: «We have done nothing bad or worse than what the USA, France or Great Bretain have done!»

The Court tells you as a Serb that your nation is responsible, and your only intelligent answer is: the court in a western institution! You focus on Israel's crimes instead of looking in your own yard!

Reconciliation with Serbs like you is impossible!

«This is the truth and I know it hurts but it is 100 % truth and everyone knows who committed the most horrible massacres».

Finaly a witness who say the same thing as me. For years, I told the Serbs that they are the ones responsible for most of the atrocities, the crimes, the rapes, committed without measure and with demesure, against children, women, infants, children, men... And they are still looking over their shoulder, pointing at the Croats and Muslis who were barely trying to defend themselves to stay alive!

Reconciliation with the Serbs will be a long and dolorous path!

I thought that the Dutch UN troops were the ones who did nothing to prevent the genocide in Srebrenica. Why did the ICJ not castigate them for this, rather than passing the blame to Serbia?

As the fear of a genocide verdict was one of the reasons not to extradite Mladic and Karadzic (who wants to help his adversaries?), it may now be time to get them to The Hague and to let them explain what they did in Srebrenica.

«... individual countries from ALL parts of the world are guilty of lacking the political will to further human rights.»

Even this Court did not have the courage to tell clearly to the world and to the Serbs that what Milosevic and Karadzic have done, through this 'joint criminal enterprise' as called by the ICTY, was clearly a genocide.

It needs courage to be honest, and unfortunately justice was not done to the victims.

To the resounding blow holes from Victor to Sidi...as your hate continues to flow through you with no end in sight, your audacious comments which not only suggest the impossibility of reconciliation, but continued polarization of the entire matter. I'm not sure why your selective hearing and eyesight distorts the obvious fact, however, in no uncertain terms, Serbs throughout the region as well as beyond the shores of Europe have attempted to reconcile and assume responsibility for the actions of a few...for that is what truly happened...Unfortunately, your blanket assumptions of collective guilt demonstrates the inability to compromise, yet alone forgive. Serbs, along with Bosnians, Croatians, and Albanian, all suffered...Why is it that the suffering of Serbian mothers for the death, murder and rape of their children any less significant than others? From the lessons of history...it is clear that the Balkans have been a region of front line nations, from Islam, Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox rites.. The 20th century alone is a time period of unspeakable carnage and blood letting...I'm not going to bore the readers AGAIN..with the millions of lost lives, but as historians will clearly demonstrate, and not just Serbian historians, acknowledge that the Serbian nation suffered unimaginable hatred from it's neighbors for centuries. Unfortunately, all surrounding neighbors have also suffered via the lessons of their historical MASTERS...from the Austrians, Germans and Turks...their lessons of brutality and death have polluted this region with unending conflict, distrust and suffering. Yes, Milosovic was a criminal...yes Tudjman was a criminal...yes Izabegovic was a criminal..yes crimes were committed, yes Serbians suffered, yes Croatians, Bosnians, and Albanians have suffered... Only an absolute idiot would say they have not...However, in order for true reconciliation to occur, like in any relationship, for takes TWO 2 TANGO and it takes two sides to make amends. Isn't this obvious...hasn't the region had enough of this garbage and blame game? Here is an opportunity for Serbians, Albanians, Bosnians, and Croatians to reconcile finally, to take responsibility for their actions here and NOW! Let's us remove the shackles of foreign domination and superiority..and allow our children and proceeding generations to live in a viable peace. Are you up for the Challenge Victor? Can you envision it...or will you remain stuck in the past...consumed by rage and anger...which is clearly obvious based on hundreds of your comments.

How could the ICJ return any other verdict? If Srebrenica 1995 was genocide then the 3,500 Serbs massacred by Naser Oric and his brutal militia in the villages surrounding Srebrenica in 1992 must have been genocide aswell. Imagine the horror around the world to discover Serbian victims in Bosnia.

I hate to break the news to you ?????? but you were actually born in someone else's country. That's not base nationalism. It is part of a sovereign nation in Serbia and has never been independent. You live in a romantic world based on myths and half truths. It must hurt.... but you were born in a province of SERBIA... not Albania, not an independent Albanian run Kosovo, but a province of the UN acknowledged soveriegn state of Serbia. I was born in Manchester which is in the province of Lancashire. That means despite my Anglo-Serb origin i was born in a province of England... you see how it works?

RECONCILE with your fellow man for life is too short to live with hate in your hearts.And if love is not possible then at least try tolerance and acceptance.ALL peoples deserve to live with dignity.I know the power of hate can seem overwhelming but in the end it only tears away at the true meaning of life and makes for a life less worth living.Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall inherit the Earth.

"I would like to see Serb readers comment the massacre of Bosnjacs in Strpci"

I'll comment. They were Muslim males from the Sandzak - all except one were Muslim males of military age - who were going to fight in the Bosnian war.

It's said, by the Muslims, that they were looking for work - yeah right, in wartime Bosnia there were a lot of job openings - IN THE MILITARY THAT IS.

There's no trace of them or any bodies, no evidence of blood or anything.

I believe they were ambushed in Bosnia when they were near or had crossed the border - ambushed likely by OTHER MUSLIMS. The Muslims were known to ambush vehicles (including buses) from Serbia and Montenegro. In a few cases at least, they mistakenly and hastily attacked buses and killed the passengers carrying other Muslims.

I believe that's what happened, but the crime was covered up and claimed they were abducted by Montenegrins/Serbs.

And so people make up stories with no evidence - no bodies, no blood, or anything.

Victor...

once again, you refuse to see reality.

can you please show the line, where "the court says the serbian nation is responsible"???

I would love to read it, just provide the source!

by writing nonsense, you´re not contributing to a better understanding...

Mike, Antony, Jovan,

i 100% agree with all your statements.

Serbs are south slavs,
speaking/looking/behaving
90% (let politics aside)
like their Bosniaks cousins.

HOW IN THE WORLD CAN THE SERBS
BE THE SATANS AND BOSNIAKS
THE SAINTS???

I cant really see that.

Anyone who had visited BiH
can assure for the kindness
and hospitality of BOTH muslims and serbs and croats too.

I am greek, and my visit to Brcko was an extremely warm and hospital
experience.

Now about albanians,
i dont know about KiM albanians, but surely
the 1,000,000 albanians
from albania who live in Greece
help "launch" the criminality rate at exponential curves.

Dont believe in western politics. Dont listen to Euronews.

It is so sad to see a remote
isolated brave nation , the serbs, being fought by THE WHOLE WORLD LEADERS, (and the
western citizens listening like sheep)....

I was reading the other day,
for a program to deal with
prejudice in serbia against ROMA!!!
Serbia??? Against Roma????
Who are they kidding??
Serbia is the most friendly place for roma, and even they star in movies like KUCA.

The other day i was reading
about a town in Voivodina,
some Serbian citizens of
Hungarian etnicity were complaining about KiM refugees
settling there....

And the rest of the world has the guts to accuse serbs of this and that... and elected
leaders die in their courts and many others.....

I hope there is A GOD up there
looking at what HIS (western) children
are doing.....

Or is it just as simple as that....
"The winners (re)write the history as they wish"

“Serbia has been condemned for its failure to prosecute and punish the genuine perpetrators of wartime massacres, as well as to prevent the act of genocide in Srebrenica”, Dimitrijević said.

Jovan, a Serb lawyer is saying the same thing as me. Serbia failed to STOP the genocide. Milosevic knew everything about it and he did nothing.... Instead he sent arms to the bosnian Serbs, and paramilitaries like Arkan, well paid by Belgrade (1000$US a week ) to the order to 'cleanse' specific territories of non-Serbs. And during the summer of 1992, 50 000 civilians were exterminated. Imagine the massacres of civilians on a daily basis.
Please make an act of contrition, and read more about what happened then and you will see that your nation has participated in a 'CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE' to commit a genocide.

«Anyone who had visited BiH
can assure for the kindness
and hospitality of BOTH muslims and serbs....»

Milosevioc's propaganda is responsible for everything. Days after days, the Serbs were told about what was done to them during the war, accusing the Croats for Jasenovac, the Muslims... and the Serbs were transformed in ferocious devils.

We know the rest!

???? - I see mathematics isn't a strong point for you.

"99 % of the Serbs in the world have never been in Kosovo"

Figures for worldwide total number of Serbs range from 9.5-12 million. Even if you take the higher figure of 12 million, for your assertion to be correct then less than 1% or 120,00 Serbs would have ever had to have visited Kosovo. As the current estimate of Serbs in Kosovo is between 126,000 & 140,000 you assertion is obviously false. Then when you consider that in 1991 there was 194,000 and many more must have visted at least once in their lifetime.

Also how many Serbs travelled to Gazimestan in 1989 to hear Milosevic's speech????