Guardian: Russia sees Kosovo as payback opportunity

Uh-oh... the bear is back. Watch out! Looks like the Russian are about to crash Kosova's Independence party and if you don't think they can do it.... just watch them! Talk about timing, Serbs here should be kissing their lucky stars.

The question is: What are the European and US governments prepared to do if the Russians use thier veto? As we saw in 1999, the UN was overridden in favor of a NATO imposed solution. This time an EU solution is envisaged. Is the EU prepared to override the UN? At this juncture, I don't think so. Is the US prepared to back (or lead) this EU override of the UN? At this juncture, I don't think so. The bulk of US policy in the Balkans has been predicated on EU takeover. If the EU is not yet ready, I doubt that the US will want to provide a crutch for very much longer, especially with the increased burden of an independent Kosovo.

Economics is the EU's strength and reason for existing.Politics is a messy process and getting 27 countries to agree that 2 million Albanians in Kosovo are more important than 12 million Serbs or 140 million Russians led by the chessmaster himself Vladimir Putin is not an easy sell no matter what some US politicians like Holbrooke advocate!If the EU wants to be taken seriously and present a unified position then it should offer ALL the carrots at its disposal(money and status)RIGHT NOW to all 7 CEFTA countries.30 million more people in a market of an existing 490 million will have NO negative economic consequences for the EU as a whole.The legalist Europeans have backed themselves into a corner by insisting on UNSC authorization for Kosovo's status because Russia at this point in time needs the EU a little less than the EU needs Russia for stability on the European continent and the world for that matter(Iran,North Korea,Nuclear Proliferation)just to name a few.I implore the EU to take BOLD steps and stop this piecemeal approach.Economics first and then politics is the prudent strategy.

Why are people commenting on Kosovo when they haven’t got a clue of its history nor of its people, you cannot comment on Kosovo based on the corrupt media articles. The pro Serbian media manipulates Kosovo as Muslim state. I wonder why? Even if it was a Muslim state, What are the Serbs trying to get across to the world? All Muslims are terrorist? The Serbs speculate their myths going back to 14th century. What the hell was going on before the 14th century in Kosovo? Who are the inhabitants of the Balkans? Why shouldn’t the Albanian get rid of the Serbian historical sites? They got rid of ours back in the day, when our own historical background was destroyed and manipulated to the world. But Albanians look into the future and Serbs are trapped in their myths. Serbs are the same people that committed 4 wars within a decade. Milosevic was single person, what about the rest of the population; they never did anything to stop him.
Kosovo has been established in 1999, in the past 8 years has achieved more then Serbia the past millennium. Everyone is disgusted by Serbs and their failed political policies.

Oh please, give it up. Russia is just playing its role, driven by nostalgia on power it once had. There is absolutely nothing it can do and that is exactly what is going to do, abstein. I don't really think any genuine diplomat believes Russia gives a damn about the Serbs' interests. It only cares for itself and when it attractes enough advantage, it will turn the back and move on to other areas of interest. Stay tuned...

how funnu that some people just do not get it anymore.
in the end of the day Kosovo doesn't need Moskow's approval at all. Kosovo Is de-facto independet, just try to send some Serbian troops in Kosovo for a change and you will understand how independent Kosovo is.
I. Gregory

Russia owes Serbia for the technology that Belgrade passed to Moscow from the shot-down F117 Stealth bomber in 1999.

once again I can only agree with luciano. it seems like he is the only one coming up with arguments here, after blag decided to leave.
yes it´s right, but most of that has been said my several different posters here already weeks ago...if not months...and all the Albanians could bring up was the accusation of being racist or living in myths...

let´s just see what future brings, and who will be the one to make a big party in the end...

once again, nicely written luciano.

12 million Serbs & 140 million Russians vs 2 million Albanians?

Where did you get 12 million Serbs from? And by the way, no one gives a penny about what Russia thinks. Don't put your hopes up.

Don't get your hopes up Serbs, just think of how many times in history that Russia was supposed to come to the aid of Serbia and never came. The Kosovo issue is just leverage for them to gain some other opportunity. Mother Russia has always disappointed and will do so again.

Watch out for Holbrooke's warning. His KLA buddies are very close to his heart. Just watched a movie called "The Brooklyn Connection" that shows Wesley Clarke and Holbrooke at a KLA fundraiser hobnobbing with KLA fighters in New York that raised 500,000 dollars.

The US has its hands full in Afganistan and Iraq, I'm really suprised to see you guys wondering if we will be militarily involved this time. I think not. Holbrook did the last administrations bidding, not this one. G.W. Bush is very different than Clinton & Albright to say the least. If I were a Serb, lucky for me I am not, I would be loath to release Kosovo, as Vojvodina will ask for independence next.

Uh-oh... the bear is back. Watch out! Looks like the Russian are about to crash Kosova's Independence party and if you don't think they can do it.... just watch them! Talk about timing, Serbs here should be kissing their lucky stars.

The question is: What are the European and US governments prepared to do if the Russians use thier veto? As we saw in 1999, the UN was overridden in favor of a NATO imposed solution. This time an EU solution is envisaged. Is the EU prepared to override the UN? At this juncture, I don't think so. Is the US prepared to back (or lead) this EU override of the UN? At this juncture, I don't think so. The bulk of US policy in the Balkans has been predicated on EU takeover. If the EU is not yet ready, I doubt that the US will want to provide a crutch for very much longer, especially with the increased burden of an independent Kosovo.

Economics is the EU's strength and reason for existing.Politics is a messy process and getting 27 countries to agree that 2 million Albanians in Kosovo are more important than 12 million Serbs or 140 million Russians led by the chessmaster himself Vladimir Putin is not an easy sell no matter what some US politicians like Holbrooke advocate!If the EU wants to be taken seriously and present a unified position then it should offer ALL the carrots at its disposal(money and status)RIGHT NOW to all 7 CEFTA countries.30 million more people in a market of an existing 490 million will have NO negative economic consequences for the EU as a whole.The legalist Europeans have backed themselves into a corner by insisting on UNSC authorization for Kosovo's status because Russia at this point in time needs the EU a little less than the EU needs Russia for stability on the European continent and the world for that matter(Iran,North Korea,Nuclear Proliferation)just to name a few.I implore the EU to take BOLD steps and stop this piecemeal approach.Economics first and then politics is the prudent strategy.

Why are people commenting on Kosovo when they haven’t got a clue of its history nor of its people, you cannot comment on Kosovo based on the corrupt media articles. The pro Serbian media manipulates Kosovo as Muslim state. I wonder why? Even if it was a Muslim state, What are the Serbs trying to get across to the world? All Muslims are terrorist? The Serbs speculate their myths going back to 14th century. What the hell was going on before the 14th century in Kosovo? Who are the inhabitants of the Balkans? Why shouldn’t the Albanian get rid of the Serbian historical sites? They got rid of ours back in the day, when our own historical background was destroyed and manipulated to the world. But Albanians look into the future and Serbs are trapped in their myths. Serbs are the same people that committed 4 wars within a decade. Milosevic was single person, what about the rest of the population; they never did anything to stop him.
Kosovo has been established in 1999, in the past 8 years has achieved more then Serbia the past millennium. Everyone is disgusted by Serbs and their failed political policies.

Oh please, give it up. Russia is just playing its role, driven by nostalgia on power it once had. There is absolutely nothing it can do and that is exactly what is going to do, abstein. I don't really think any genuine diplomat believes Russia gives a damn about the Serbs' interests. It only cares for itself and when it attractes enough advantage, it will turn the back and move on to other areas of interest. Stay tuned...

how funnu that some people just do not get it anymore.
in the end of the day Kosovo doesn't need Moskow's approval at all. Kosovo Is de-facto independet, just try to send some Serbian troops in Kosovo for a change and you will understand how independent Kosovo is.
I. Gregory

Russia owes Serbia for the technology that Belgrade passed to Moscow from the shot-down F117 Stealth bomber in 1999.

once again I can only agree with luciano. it seems like he is the only one coming up with arguments here, after blag decided to leave.
yes it´s right, but most of that has been said my several different posters here already weeks ago...if not months...and all the Albanians could bring up was the accusation of being racist or living in myths...

let´s just see what future brings, and who will be the one to make a big party in the end...

once again, nicely written luciano.

12 million Serbs & 140 million Russians vs 2 million Albanians?

Where did you get 12 million Serbs from? And by the way, no one gives a penny about what Russia thinks. Don't put your hopes up.

Don't get your hopes up Serbs, just think of how many times in history that Russia was supposed to come to the aid of Serbia and never came. The Kosovo issue is just leverage for them to gain some other opportunity. Mother Russia has always disappointed and will do so again.

Watch out for Holbrooke's warning. His KLA buddies are very close to his heart. Just watched a movie called "The Brooklyn Connection" that shows Wesley Clarke and Holbrooke at a KLA fundraiser hobnobbing with KLA fighters in New York that raised 500,000 dollars.

The US has its hands full in Afganistan and Iraq, I'm really suprised to see you guys wondering if we will be militarily involved this time. I think not. Holbrook did the last administrations bidding, not this one. G.W. Bush is very different than Clinton & Albright to say the least. If I were a Serb, lucky for me I am not, I would be loath to release Kosovo, as Vojvodina will ask for independence next.