Security Council ends Kosovo consultations

What no resolution!!!???

Russia's stance does not make any sense. There will never be an agreement that is acceptable to both sides!

What they mean is an agreement that is acceptable to Serbia. Let's say hypotheticaly that Ahtisaari proposed autonomy for Kosovo, and albanians overwhemly rejected it, would Russia say ' We will not accept this proposal since its not acceptable to Prishtina' and veto it? I don't think so!

Nikshala,
but it was not Russia who decided to illegally side with one ethnic group in Serbia's internal issues. So why should Russia not suggets that any new resolution to replace an existing resolution (1244) that stopped the illegal bombardment of Serbia is founded upon genuine compromise?

Who has commited atrocities since the resolution 1244 in 1999 and why are there over 240,000 displaced non-albanians who are unable to return ???

Russia's stance has been evident for many months did the US and UK think that the rest of the UNSC would be deceived by their one sided opinions when it came to a problem that they have created and have done little to resolve since ???

I have always felt that the West is wrong to summarily reject partition. It is the only way in which both sides can get the basics of they want: K-Albanians can be independent and K-Serbs get their wish to remain with Serbia. Multiethnicism can be saved for the future when both sides enter the EU community of nationalities, although I personally do not think EU membership is such a big deal!

Nikshala - Pristina is not the government of a recognised country. It is the admin for a UN run province which is still legally part of Serbia. Therefore, you can't compare the two in terms of governments.

princip, don't you worry because I will have the last laugh. Russia is making waves just to tell serbia look I am trying evrything for you, but in the end they will give up to US pressure because they will have no choice in the matter.

No Resolution!!!!
Princip it is not an SPO,or SPS meeting to make such quick decisions!
Just wate and see!
Take it easy!
It will be an Resolution that will make you sober!

To be honest, I personally do not believe that UNSC will ever approve any resolution recognizing the independent state of Kosova. This did not happen for the other former Yugoslav republics (that are independent today) and it will not happen for Kosova. In two months time we witness Kosova's parliament declaring the independent state and US, EU and Arabic countries recognizing it within the first week, together with the most of neighboring countries, and more time will be needed to convince others to recognize it. But, there is no other hope that Serbia will ever again rule in Kosova does not matter hw hard Russians try to make it happen. I guess they need to stop killings in Chechnya and other discrimination at their home first and then tell the others what they should do. Only then they might have an impact in this world, otherwise their impact will be equal to zero.

Ahmet,

the US are caught up with Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran so I don't think they will be too bothered by no new resolution - veto not required since no chance of 9 affirmatives! Even Holbrooke has admitted as much by trying to blame Russia! The US have lost credibility in a major way on the International standing order and other nations are suspecious of anything it states as fact - sorry but cry wolf does not work anymore!!!

Had you not noticed there was no new resolution? What do you think the US & UK can change in plan A-htisaari that will allow it to be passed? Maybe Wisner hinted at the compromise i.e. "obligation to 1244". Lets hope your still laughing at that point!

Dear All, the Kosovo final status should be the easiest decision relying on the very basic principle of United Nations: the respect of the people's swill.
The Kosovo people's will is very clear. If we want to verify it the UN should take care of organising a referendum.

I see a very positive move on tuesday. For the first time in the history in UNSC is mentioned Independence of Kosova.

This is just the beginning. This was just to measure the pulse of the some country representatives at the UN SC, with the intention to in meantime work in that direction, in order to, when the Mr. Ahtisari’s proposal is to be voted, have enough support to be adopted. Of course, Why risking? If this is considered as Serbian success, then I am really not surprised any more and understand the Serbia’s diplomatic immatureness. Everyone knows that at the end will be as US, UK and EU wants, regardless of the other factors.

2007 AD,

where were you in 1999,2000,01,02,03,04,05,06?

I think you will find that it is the US & UK who had a false hope in haste and I wonder what you will be suggesting in May, June...?There is no haste is exactly what I am stating so keep waiting beyond 2007,08,09,10 etc etc...

Status Quo never had so many come backs!!!

Only 3 of 15 members of the security council are for this plan.

Britain, France and the U.S are the only real supporters of Kosovo independence and for breaking up and dividing a souverign state in sharp violation of international law.

Princip!
In all those years you counted, I Was Here, and I'm still here,but where are you?
I am age 50 and for all this years i've been participant on all events that brought to this stage.
I remember when Kosova was named on documents as Kosmet,and was an autonomous province,even there it was part of YU,not Serbia,I was part of life when 1968 demonstrations(on which nobody I repeat nobody asked for Independence,nobody dared that), pull some rights for Albanians and Kosmet turned to SAP Kosova!
I was here in 1974!
I was here in 1981!
I Was here in 1988,89,90.
I was here all the time from my birthday till Now!
I was not here from 28.03.1999 untill 18.06.1999.
And you knew wery well where was I, for those three months.
I Was here from 18.06.1999
and I survived "Changing of Guards" dressed in robes of
Special Envoies of UN SG.
And for All this time things changed from resolution 1244 to supervised indipendence!
and that suppervised is temporarily!
"Times they are a'changing" Bob Dyllan would sing!
And they change in progress they goes forward!So do we Albanians.By the way Forget times when we used to cut woods and discharge coal in the streets of Belgrade!
I think you Serbs are nostalgick for those times.
What a Pity!!

Nah...there will not be any independence for Kosovo..
I have followed this for years now and to tell you the truth, even if some will say different, Kosovo has never been this far from independence. Even if I dont support one or the other side in this, Serbia has clearly a full hand on their cards. US is for, EU is very splitted, and the east are against. So if UNSC says no, then Kosovo will themself declare independence with US. I say good luck. No UN seat, no investments, no visas, blocked by Serbias borders. You might have a party down there by yourself. The hangover the day after will hurt.

"Koštunica also reminded that the Security Council Resolution 1244 was binding on the governments of all UN member states.

“No state may violate this Resolution, or take a unilateral position on the future status of the Province. Any unilateral recognition of Kosovo’s independence would constitute flagrant and - I stress - double violation of UN norms. Both the UN Charter and Resolution 1244 would be violated, and any state that decides to act in such an unlawful manner would directly call into question the authority of the UN,” Koštunica said. "

i.e. no new resolution also means no ILLEGAL unilateral declaration - as Holbrroke said "probably" - he knows only too well what was signed in 99 meant that there will never be an independent entity in Southern Serbia !!!

If there are to be new discussions in the UN SC Ahtisaari will need to explain on what basis he feels it is important to create a precedence of dismembering a UN member state - I wonder if he has even considered and answer yet or is this why he is dissapearing to Africa for a few months!

I see the same story in cyprus for the last 45 years. still the so called northern cyprus did not gain independence. the reason is that the legitimate state must agree, i.e. republic of cyprus. the same will apply for kosovo, as long as the serbian state does not agree, there will be no recognition to independence. the albanian parmliament can proclaim independence but without a un resolution, no game !

wait another 20 years and a few more resolution attempts.

Justice Veritas
Apparently you had a spy inside the SC meeting! Where did you learn that only 3 SC members supported the Ahtisri’s plan.
This is, actually, what Serbian people keeps deaf and blind = watching and listening only their politicians, who actually, in order to get “people’s support” to lead the government. Read some other news agencies and you will see how some journalists catches Kostunica, simply, not telling the truth (not saying “lying”) that Ahtisari’s plan has been rejected by SC.

well, this is just the beginning and it wont be easy for Russia to prove it to Serbia that they did the best they could to stop Kosovo from gaining Independence ,but failed at the end under US and EU pressure.
Princip,
no matter how hard you try with your comments, you wrong, you have to be very naive or hard nationalist type of Sesel or Kostunica to believe that Russia will hold Kosovo back. If not the resolution then there is a plan B that you want so much to happen, Kosovo declaring Independence and be recognized by most countries , except Russia and Serbia or any other not that important states. So, Resolution or not Kosovo will soon be an Independent recognized state. cheers to ones that truly believe in democratic and prosperous world!!!!

Princip

"Serbia's internal issues" - is that what you call the killing of 10 000 innocent albanin civilians and expulsion by force of 1 million from their homes??

You are right Russia did not interfere or do anything - to stop the crimes that serbs where commiting, and that is way they less say in what happens in Kosovo.

I'm astonished to see how some of our mates in the forum pretend to understand and interpret the international law better than the representatives of the world's oldest democracies and the lawyers in their delegations. Trying to lobby for the Serbian agenda in this forum, I must admit, is very legitimate from the emotional point of view, however, wishful thinking cannot be a legitimate basis for any intellectual debate. I have several times posted as a food for thoughts some generally recognized concepts such as “humanitarian intervention”, but you will always have some Princips and Kates popping up with their groundless Serbian agendas, therefore it is worthless to discuss at an academic level with such individuals. I will only reiterate that all Western democracies permanently represented in the UNSC support the independence for Kosovo. Dos this ring your bell? Also stay assured that the majority of the ad-hoc members share the same view. Last but not least, Kosovo already has the sufficient numbers of votes at the UNSC for the new resolution, based on President Ahtisaari's Proposal, to supersede the UNSC Resolution 1244. By the way, the Albanian Minister of Foreign affairs has confirmed this fact yesterday night.

I dont understand why people talk about the resolution now. This UNSC meeting was not about passing a resolution but was only that Ahtisari proposes his plan to the UN SC members. So therefore PRINCIP and others do not get that happy about it.
During the UNSC, the most important countries are pro Ahtisari plan such USA, UK, France etc... Even Ban Kim Moon the UN S. G. is pro plan that grants Independence. Take it easy serbs, do not get happy based on lies of Kostunica. Arent you used with his lies yet?
Just thing. USA, UK, France, Germany in Kosova's side and nobody openly in Serbia's side not even Russia because they never said they will veto anything and plus the Secret Service of Serbia has got information stating that Russia will not use its veto against Kosova's independence so... WHO IS THE WINNER? Of course the group made up by USA,UK, France and Germany.

AD 2007 - read the comment from MARIOS VASSILIOU and keep waiting - no haste!

to n/a

"Princip, no matter how hard you try with your comments, you wrong"

or Aleksandër Gjoni
"Kosovo already has the sufficient numbers of votes at the UNSC for the new resolution, based on President Ahtisaari's Proposal, to supersede the UNSC Resolution 1244. By the way, the Albanian Minister of Foreign affairs has confirmed this fact yesterday night"

- guess what but I don't think either of you are right - if that was the case then I think you would have seen a resolution not a "discussion" that even the main proponent (Ahtisaari) sees as a long series of discussions "maybe not a marathon but 10,000 metres at least" - but then again I guess you need to retain hopeful - certainly admire your positiveness and faith in Albanian leadership - misplaced as it maybe it is positive.

Even when the 10,000 has been run you still require 9 affirmatives and there has been enough objections raised to ensure that the US & UK will be saddly dissapointed that they did not get their way.

Kostunica has been asked, who are the other countries except Russia that do not support Ahtisaris proposal?-there were no answer. Kostunica has been asked, why you saying it will be vetoed or not voted at all when no voting took place for the resolution only first consultations?-there were no answer from him or escaped answer........So, basically this is just the beginning of the end to an era for Kosovo and its people!!!!!!
By the way n/a its me rex

Slovakia will Support EU in Security Council Debate on Kosovo Status

Slovakia’s representative to the United Nations, Peter Burian EU said during a discussion on Kosovo that started on the Security Council grounds on Tuesday that Slovakia would support the EU’s attitude on setting the future status for the south Serbian province of Kosovo.
In his address Mr. Burian said that Slovakia fully supports efforts of UN envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari and his suggestions and recommendations. Slovakia considers Mr. Ahtisaari's proposal a base for further negotiations about the future of Kosovo. Mr. Burian underscored that it is of utmost importance that any solution of the issue of the Kosovo status is taken as a solution that does not represent a legal precedent especially with regards to territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in Europe or elsewhere but especially where a part of the problem are minority rights issues. Mr. Burian is convinced that the new Security Council resolution should reflect this basic condition.
The UN mediator for Kosovo recommends supervised independence for the breakaway Serbian province. Belgrade and Moscow, however fiercely oppose the plan. In contrast the plan is strongly backed by the United States and European Union. Russian opposition to Kosovo independence could torpedo the UN plan to grant Kosovo independence.

kate or better KATA, you think that Serbia has right to opose the proposal because doesn't like it and kosovo has no rights to oppose any kind of proposals.

Very smart from your side.
Thanks god that politic isn't your field.

Nikshala, well said!
Princip, Kate and a few others are completely incapable of understanding the reality of the matter.

It is clear to be Kostunica’s understanding, that individual countries by supporting independence as endorsed in the ahtisary plan, this on his opinion is unlawful and that it would be violating international law and question the authority of the UN.
These countries have a different opinion from Kostunica.
They see Serbia as a colonial power in Kosovo, and they do not see Kosovo’s annexation by Serbia as a legitimate act.
They do not see Serbia including Kosovo on its national borders, as this myth is what Serbia is calling herself unilaterally unified with Kosovo province, while immorally and unlawfully ignoring the fact that Kosovo is basically telling Serbia “NO”, and a big good bye!
This is Serbia’s double standard, and it is also Russia’s double standard on the issue.
The westerner countries are dealing with this issue in the most civilised, lawful, responsible and appropriate manner!

All you Serbs honestly have to accept that the Kosovars, who are the owners of Kosovo don’t like you. They don’t wish to be a part of Serbia and it will be impossible for you or anybody ales on this planet to force them!
That’s impossible, you have to realise this!

It truly doesn’t matter if there is going to be a new resolution or not, what its clear is that any attempt of a new Serbian invasion will have its corresponding military answer.
Things will get bloody, and there is no return back!

For the Albanians the matter is simple, and it can be expressed in an excretion alone, that is death or freedom!

If you dare to impose your Serbian view in Kosovo where you are rejected, this will mean war, and it is clear that your imperial and colonial policy for Kosovo its unrealistic and impossible to implement.

This is why I keep on repeating myself, you have lost the foreign territory you occupied from the ottoman empire in 1913.

Dear Aleksandër, there is no interpretation of the law. It is clear. 1244 is clear. There is no room for interpretation.

Aleksandër Gjoni!

Can you please tell me what the banditer commision said on this matter?

Can you please tell me what it says in UN resolution 1244?

Can you please tell me what it says in the Helsinki final act from 1975?

Can you please tell me what it says in the charter of the UN regarding territorial integrety of soverign states?

I have, the serbs have, the russians have legal sources and legal foundation and the law to refer to, what DO YOU HAVE?

Stick to the truth or start giving some of those sources you claim to have been posting!

Here goesanother Serb ally
http://news.hnonline.sk/c6-10145900-20827570-k09000_detail-slovakia-will-support-eu-in-security-council-debate-on-kosovo-status
Russia will be next.....

The interesting of this conflit is that it came for vitrine fantasies that was not discussed by its surreal aspects but ever took like final truths. The principle of the international law over all other claims is one, why this? of course law represent the justice no? this is the problem: NO international law TENDS to this but ever and now is full of garbage and mistruth created by the interest of the political power owner of the moment and the historic dynamic. History ever overrides political actualities with anothers and put law, a concept, like guardian of the past or and national interests is at less a misundertanding of precedence: history is above law texts and not tied by them principally when its be only mess came from past, anyway its need continual updates for represent law comceptually instead past historic moments.
Serbia claims is all only imperial dream of land conquest and with no historical political or moral foundations, the great sebia like tried by milosevic and that in its name was perpetrated many and many crimes against the human being. Kosovo is only a piece of the matter and the serbia propaganda try broadcast like a single case of legal sovereignity, forgot the scenario and put all colors in factoids is the serb techinic, the 1244 is treated like the holly of the hollies and not the simple truth: a piece of paper wrote in a surpassed past with no real substance on moment was be conceived, it attended at political interests at expense of real people that had no channel for defense.
Say that cancel the 1244 is disastrous by its "universal" importance is only a laughing piece of joke, all local statements would be disastrous if put in a broad stand far beyond its significance or insignificance like in this case. Lets play with this "universal 1244" if approved. USA belongs to England, jewish people need to be drive to Ur, Australia for the aborigins and so on.. all this demands is far more real because all is sustained by history and not ideologic tales for land conquest.
(SLAVONIA IS A CROATIAN LAND!!! )

Hi Genci
I believe that you are right. The UN SC won't back an independent Kosovo. Too much is at stake here.

However, I believe that this could trigger a bad chain of events in Kosovo itself. The U.S. may not be inclined to grant Kosovo independence so quickly, neither the U.K. We are nearing an Iran fiasco here...

Politicians in Kosovo are under extreme pressure to win independence and any failure to do so quickly will inevitably lead to internal fights, which, uncontrolled, can errupt into mass protests etc.

We can't ignore the fact that 75% of Kosovo's working population is without a regular job and that most of their hopes hinge on an independent Kosovo, although everyone knows that such a change has never reduced the plight of the poor and uneducated population. It's a long march to a truly liberal democracy. Italy only just arrived there three months ago...

There is just too much potential for violence and both Nato, the US and the UK and the informed EU states are aware of that.

The only thing that could help Serbs and Kosovans come to terms with each other is a shared enemy. That's what has united Kosovans and Croats....

Justice Veritas!

I shall answer to all your questions tomorrow morning. Please check on this topic. Need to go! Cheers.

+/-;

We have no jobs, we have no money, but its not the matter for kosovars. The only thing which is our concern is to show you and your serbia that we will never live together with you. If you plan to return in Kosovo you have to trample our bodies. I know this is no problem for you after 4 wars in last 20 years but this is a big problem for world democraties who stopped serbia's genocide in 1999. As for me you have two choses: 1) Stop now and leave serbian peoples who live in Kosova to establish their lives with theirs neighbors, or continue your arrogant position and make difficult for the serbian people in Kosova to do their live. As for the third question: if Kosova will be independent, i will suggest you to exclude from the group of questions.

Dear +/-,
I do not understand what kind of a common enemy you think about for Kosovars and Serbians.
By the way, for me it is unclear your comment on Italy ("...It's a long march to a truly liberal democracy. Italy only just arrived there three months ago...").
May you clarify your meaning and what nation you belong to?

2007 A.D. - "I remember when Kosova was named on documents as Kosmet,and was an autonomous province,even there it was part of YU,not Serbia"

Kosovo and Vojvodina were automous provinces within Serbia which itself was within the SFRY.

This is mentioned straightaway in the 1974 consitiution http://sl.wikisource.org/wiki/Ustava_Socialisti%C4%8Dne_federativne_republike_Jugoslavije_%281974%29/Socialisti%C4%8Dna_federativna_republika_Jugoslavija

It is ammusing to read Marios' comment! Taking sides, simply because of something modern world would call ancient history. Moreover, taking sides, because (modern) Greeks have territorial interests towards Albanian lands.
Being part of the EU has culturally changed Greece very little. Still the same culture at the cross-roads of Europe and Turkey/Middle East. Greece has a long way to go to even reach Serbia. I have worked in a Western Europe and US, and have met some Serbs during my work as well as Greeks. Despite that memories of the war and animosity between the Serbs and Albanians is still fresh, they have at least been always civilised as not to talk too much politics in my presence as Albanian. They have been careful not to ofend me. And so have I, I treated them with the same respect. Especially kind I have found friends from Belgrade and Novi Sad. They have never said anything offensive about Albanians or Turks in my presence. I am talking here about working environment and parties, that is intellectual presence. I cannot say the same about the Greeks, every oportunity to say something, they don't even realise is offensive, about their neighbours. About the Turks, and they were more harsh about the Albanians. Perhaps because of the threat to their culture which Turkey does not pose!!

luledielli, Prishtine

"the foreign territory you occupied from the ottoman empire in 1913."

This comment is just ridiculous! Those were the Balkans wars! Where Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia cleared out the occupying Turks. Much like Nazi Germany occupied Western Europe for 3 years, the Turks occupied the Balkans for 400.

Even Britain and France assisted the Balkan League in clearing out the last remnants of the Ottomans in the Great war (WW1)

You seem to be the only person still longing for the Caliph to return. Ill bet you are not Armenian.

Hermon, don't be so hasty. I think you will find that the english translation has been misquoted. See the UN press link below on Slovakia's actual stance,

"Slovakian Ambassador Peter Burian confirmed to Inner City Press that his country's position, as adopted by its legislature, is that independence for Kosovo could destabilize the region. So Russia is not alone. Game on, as they say...."

The Slovaks have legislated specifically on Kosovo & Metohija that Independence is not acceptable

http://www.innercitypress.com/dpko040307.html

You would also be wise to consider reading the slovak news in Slovak - www.pravda.sk - is usually very informative!

To Shenkri Gashi
I congratulate you for your clear message to the Serbs..."continue their arrogant position" and life for Serbs in Kosova will be difficult.
You know they were arrogant with other people too in the region, it is in their nature, they will not change overnight. Because of their arrogance and no cooperation I forsee inevitable trouble, violence in the future. As a result more Serbs will leave Kosova for Serbia, the mother country. I would not be surprised to see the serb population of Kosova dwindle in few years to 50-60,000 people.

Read this article and then answer me why if ANY other COUNTRY did this, they would be screaming BLOODY FOUL. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070404/us_nm/usa_flag_burning_dc;_ylt=AlC25f_oiZsgTT4jxmentCcDW7oF

I'd like to hear from my Serbian Albanians here specifically.

P.S.... Don't twist FACTS in your reply like... (Kosovo is not part of Serbia) cause last time i checked... (about 2 min ago, its a province of Serbia recognized by the entire world)

There are many reasons why it is a bad idea to divide a country on the basis that a majority in one corner of it does not identify with the majority population. In the case of Serbia/Kosovo, the fact that George Bush's US and Tony Blair's Britain support the division is reason enough in itself to reject it.

hi, i would like to note the arrogance and racism of some pro-kosovo posters here. it is disheartening to read blatant hate speach and one-sided propoganda... i support the realists who think that kosovo's future is as an atonomous region of serbia. the world today is again multipolar. russia and china are stronger than ever... and they will not let the u.s. impose its unilateral will, which is inherently anti-serb, on the world.

but again back to the hate speech. i suggest that kosovars who think that they are acting patriotic or nationalistic steer clear of hate messages, not just on the internet but also against orthodox churches in kosovo, which have been desecrated these past few years.

on the international stage the kla and the kosovo people are being regarded more and more as the villains.

public perception, which had won kosovo a few points, has come back to byte it.

Well said Tom O'Donoghue. I could not agree with you more. Throughout the past decade the West has proven that they very rarely do something for the good of the world but rather for their own "personal" benefit. The only way that Balkans will be stable is if both sides learn to co-exist as they are. Carving up another state will create long term instability and hatred and thus take Kosovo into complete ruins. Albanians have proven that they cannot govern themselves and are horrible at running a country. Just look at Albania it is still the poorest country in Europe even though it has not fought a war since WW2 in which it did not see much destruction. For all those that claim that Kosovo is occupied it is occupied, occupied by Albanians who have systematically cleansed the Serbs. Just look in Wikipedia at the population density and birth rate in the region and you will see that those statistics are abnormally high in Kosovo compared to even Albania. Finally, Kosovo also is the modern heartland of Serbs however Albanians claim that is was their ancient territory. We cannot look at antiquity to decide borders but rather modern history. Finally Serbs might be arrogant but Albanians make it clear that they do not want to co-exist, even after Serbs have given the Albanian minority more freedoms then any other country in the world would give its minority, the Albanians create conflicts in the region. Just look at the recent news articles on Kosovo and Southern Serbia. You will see one terrorist act after another, always targeting the Serb minority yet no Serb retaliation occurs. Mind you this Albanian aggression has been going on for decades. If Kosovo cannot prove that they can guarantee minority rights even with NATO and UN present then we have only seen the tip of the ice berg should Kosovo gain independence. Serbs and other minorities will always be terrorized in Kosovo, as they have always been. FYI: 10,000 ALBANIANS did not die in the Kosovo conflict but rather 3,000 people from BOTH sides including people that were killed by NATO bombs. This was published in a NATO report which came out in December of 2006 so please do not quote number which were used by Clinton to start the illegal bombing of a sovereign nation.

I get upset when I read comments made by abortive nationalists and revisionists.

I am sure some of those in 1998/99 killed Albanians with their own hands and now try to portrait themselves as victims.

Albanians the most oppressed nation in whole Balkans wants the same freedom as other nations, neither less nor more. But the Serbs who are running the Serbian state right now have been infected of xenophobia, racism and ethnocentrism and believes only Serbs have the right to live.

Serbia for more than one century systematically has tried to ethnically clean Kosovo of Albanians. In the beginning of 20 century they forced hundred thousands to move to Turkey and imported Serbs from other parts of Yugoslavia. They tried again during the 90s when they constructed houses in Kosovo to Croatia and Bosnia Serbs. After failing many times they did what they had done in Bosnia: Killed 10 000 (The Lancet) and forced 1 million to live their homes (me one of them). Failed again and now Kosovo is becoming independent again. Forget about ruling Kosovo again since the majority Albanians (90 %) and other non Serb minorities (5 %) support independence for Kosovo. No one wants to live in country where international war criminals like Mladic and Karadzic are heroes and being protected by nationalistic government and they are considered as second hand citizens.

Some months ago B92/ Focus News had this news: "The survey also shows that Serbs of all minorities have the most negative attitude towards Albanians.
72% of the people say they wouldn’t like Albanians to occupy leading positions in the country.
“The people of Serbia want the territory of Kosovo to remain within Serbia’s composition but not the people that live there. For example, 42% of the Serbs say they do not Albanians to even be citizens of this country,” one of the surveyors said." Another survey shows 82 % of Serbian students would not be in the same room as Albanians. Students, the future of Serbia. This shows that Serbs are going to fulfil what Milosevic did not if they get Kosovo back. Especially with the prime minister they have: Every time he mentions Kosovo something anti Albanian follows. You can not find one Kosovo Albanian in the world who says he want to be part of Serbia.

The Badinter Commission only responded to questions put to it. Nobody asked about Kosovo because at that time Kosovo did not pose any threat to the stability of the region having in mind the peaceful resistance employed by Kosovars. The Badinter template does not necessarily mean that Kosovo could NOT have a right to independence as a constituent part of the SFRY. Mr. Robert Badinter visited the Kosovo Assembly last week and he undoubtedly supported the so called “supervised” independence for Kosovo. The Badinter Commission didn't comment one way or the other. If they had, I think things might have developed differently. We'll never know what the verdict would have been.
The preamble of Resolution 1244 cited the ritual affirmation of the commitment of all member states to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY and the other States of the region, as set out in the Helsinki Final Act and Annex 2 of the Resolution. Crucially, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY was conditioned by the Helsinki Final Act and Annex 2 of the Security Council Resolution. The Helsinki Final act provides for the equal recognition of a state’s right to sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of a minority peoples’ right to self-determination. Annex 2 expressly places the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY within the context of the ‘interim political framework agreement providing for substantial self-government for Kosovo,’ and also noted the necessity of taking full account of the Rambouillet Accords, which provides for the settlement of the final status of Kosovo by taking into account the will of the people.”

Charter of the United Nations, 1945 Chapter 1, ‘Purposes and Principles’, Article 1.2 states that the second purpose of the United Nations are ‘to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples’ (note the difference between Nations and peoples and do not say that the word people applies to sovereign nations only).

You may also wish to note the following instruments and principles of international law:

Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, General Assembly Resolution 1514, 1960 states that ‘all peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966, Article 1, ‘All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.’

Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning friendly relations and cooperation among states, UN General Assembly Resolution 2625, 1970, states that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is a principle of friendly relations between states. ‘By virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the charter’. ‘Every state has the duty to promote, through joint and separate action, realization of the principle of equal rights and self-determination
of peoples.’ This does not authorize ‘action which would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples as described above and thus possessed of a government representing the whole people belonging to the territory without distinction as to race, creed, or color.

To recap, I would like to quote Justice Richard: “The classic nineteenth-century concept of sovereignty, even if it rarely obtained in practice, was a concept of absolute territorial sovereignty. In the twenty-first century, sovereignty is necessarily shared and dependent on agreements with a range of international actors”.

It is so funny seeing the Serbs talk about the international justice and law. Serbs are forgetting that their country is not being able to even become a candidate for EU membership due to the fact that they do not cooperate with the international organisations. Serbs are forgetting that they are the ones that tried to fight against SLovenia, fought against Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo, and they still think that they are the most innocent people on earth.
Also as a reminder to some people who bring history into these debates here. The serbs came up from Russia while the albanians were in the Blakans for thousands of years, so who u think has more right into balkans? serbs the invaders or albanians the inhabitants? and i am not saying this fact based on stories of albanians or serbs but based on the researches done by the international historians and argeologists.
Kosova will be independent no matter what Kostunica has to lie. He has been tricking his own people for so long now that I cant believe how people still believe him. He is the one who is stopping Serbia join the family of EU. Even Nenad Canak said that and remember he isnot an albanian accusing Kostunica.
The advisor of President Tadic said that "in order for us the serbs to call on international laws about Kosova, we should first respect those international laws in such capturing the Hague most wanted criminals" So in order that you serbs call upon international laws, please respect those laws first and show an example on how to respect those laws.
Also, the solution of Kosova is not being solved based on historical events but based on the reality on the ground. Because if it was solved based in history, then all the serbs would have to move back to Russia, so therefore i would suggest to serbs not to use history as a fact because that is against the serbs.
The best solution is to have an independent Kosova, because leaving Kosova within Serbia means that nor Serbia neither Kosova will ever have peace but will always argue for every single thing so therefore independence is the ONLY WAY FORWARD.

Aleksandër Gjoni!

The Banditer commision said a minority in a country never has the right to independence. Only former republics of SFRJ had the right to independence as you well can see as Krajina in Croatia and Republica Srpska in Bosnia couldn't get independence. The former SFRJ republics of Slovenia,, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia were the only republics of SFRJ and the only ones that got independence. The only territory of the former SFRJ republics still occupied is the soverign state of Serbia.

Afrim Hoxa!

Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadic are bosnian serbs if you want to know international law you must ask Bosnia where they are. Further the Hague tribunal is by no means a legal court. Ask any legal advicer you want and you will know why. The only true legal court is the ICC, not the Hague tribunal. Look it up and you will see how the Hague tribunal was created.

Justice Veritas – well, in your opinion Kosovo never has the right to become independent!
Of course not, how can a colonial state like you ever agree with letting it go?!
You consider the Albanians a minority in Serbia, and with ought any trace of shame, choose not to mention that Kosovo was divided from Serbia administratively all the time when under Serb occupation. Do you know what year was its autonomy brutally removed? Kosovo had its own parliament, yes that’s true and Serbia’s parliament had no powers over it! What you did in Kosovo is a nightmare, and it irritates me so bad when you pretend the lamb now!
How dare you talk about none sense and link international law with this tragic story of a tired nation thirsty for its longed freedom!
Who gave Kosovo to you? Didn’t you occupy it by force? Wasn’t all the western powers of the time blessing which allowed you to have it? The Albanians never agreed!
Why do you failed to realize this, it never worked, and it never will. This is why Kosovo under your occupation is no longer an option, and it will go in history as it should. A shameful act of occupation until 1999

What no resolution!!!???

Russia's stance does not make any sense. There will never be an agreement that is acceptable to both sides!

What they mean is an agreement that is acceptable to Serbia. Let's say hypotheticaly that Ahtisaari proposed autonomy for Kosovo, and albanians overwhemly rejected it, would Russia say ' We will not accept this proposal since its not acceptable to Prishtina' and veto it? I don't think so!

Nikshala,
but it was not Russia who decided to illegally side with one ethnic group in Serbia's internal issues. So why should Russia not suggets that any new resolution to replace an existing resolution (1244) that stopped the illegal bombardment of Serbia is founded upon genuine compromise?

Who has commited atrocities since the resolution 1244 in 1999 and why are there over 240,000 displaced non-albanians who are unable to return ???

Russia's stance has been evident for many months did the US and UK think that the rest of the UNSC would be deceived by their one sided opinions when it came to a problem that they have created and have done little to resolve since ???

I have always felt that the West is wrong to summarily reject partition. It is the only way in which both sides can get the basics of they want: K-Albanians can be independent and K-Serbs get their wish to remain with Serbia. Multiethnicism can be saved for the future when both sides enter the EU community of nationalities, although I personally do not think EU membership is such a big deal!

Nikshala - Pristina is not the government of a recognised country. It is the admin for a UN run province which is still legally part of Serbia. Therefore, you can't compare the two in terms of governments.

princip, don't you worry because I will have the last laugh. Russia is making waves just to tell serbia look I am trying evrything for you, but in the end they will give up to US pressure because they will have no choice in the matter.

No Resolution!!!!
Princip it is not an SPO,or SPS meeting to make such quick decisions!
Just wate and see!
Take it easy!
It will be an Resolution that will make you sober!

To be honest, I personally do not believe that UNSC will ever approve any resolution recognizing the independent state of Kosova. This did not happen for the other former Yugoslav republics (that are independent today) and it will not happen for Kosova. In two months time we witness Kosova's parliament declaring the independent state and US, EU and Arabic countries recognizing it within the first week, together with the most of neighboring countries, and more time will be needed to convince others to recognize it. But, there is no other hope that Serbia will ever again rule in Kosova does not matter hw hard Russians try to make it happen. I guess they need to stop killings in Chechnya and other discrimination at their home first and then tell the others what they should do. Only then they might have an impact in this world, otherwise their impact will be equal to zero.

Ahmet,

the US are caught up with Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran so I don't think they will be too bothered by no new resolution - veto not required since no chance of 9 affirmatives! Even Holbrooke has admitted as much by trying to blame Russia! The US have lost credibility in a major way on the International standing order and other nations are suspecious of anything it states as fact - sorry but cry wolf does not work anymore!!!

Had you not noticed there was no new resolution? What do you think the US & UK can change in plan A-htisaari that will allow it to be passed? Maybe Wisner hinted at the compromise i.e. "obligation to 1244". Lets hope your still laughing at that point!

Dear All, the Kosovo final status should be the easiest decision relying on the very basic principle of United Nations: the respect of the people's swill.
The Kosovo people's will is very clear. If we want to verify it the UN should take care of organising a referendum.

I see a very positive move on tuesday. For the first time in the history in UNSC is mentioned Independence of Kosova.

This is just the beginning. This was just to measure the pulse of the some country representatives at the UN SC, with the intention to in meantime work in that direction, in order to, when the Mr. Ahtisari’s proposal is to be voted, have enough support to be adopted. Of course, Why risking? If this is considered as Serbian success, then I am really not surprised any more and understand the Serbia’s diplomatic immatureness. Everyone knows that at the end will be as US, UK and EU wants, regardless of the other factors.

2007 AD,

where were you in 1999,2000,01,02,03,04,05,06?

I think you will find that it is the US & UK who had a false hope in haste and I wonder what you will be suggesting in May, June...?There is no haste is exactly what I am stating so keep waiting beyond 2007,08,09,10 etc etc...

Status Quo never had so many come backs!!!

Only 3 of 15 members of the security council are for this plan.

Britain, France and the U.S are the only real supporters of Kosovo independence and for breaking up and dividing a souverign state in sharp violation of international law.

Princip!
In all those years you counted, I Was Here, and I'm still here,but where are you?
I am age 50 and for all this years i've been participant on all events that brought to this stage.
I remember when Kosova was named on documents as Kosmet,and was an autonomous province,even there it was part of YU,not Serbia,I was part of life when 1968 demonstrations(on which nobody I repeat nobody asked for Independence,nobody dared that), pull some rights for Albanians and Kosmet turned to SAP Kosova!
I was here in 1974!
I was here in 1981!
I Was here in 1988,89,90.
I was here all the time from my birthday till Now!
I was not here from 28.03.1999 untill 18.06.1999.
And you knew wery well where was I, for those three months.
I Was here from 18.06.1999
and I survived "Changing of Guards" dressed in robes of
Special Envoies of UN SG.
And for All this time things changed from resolution 1244 to supervised indipendence!
and that suppervised is temporarily!
"Times they are a'changing" Bob Dyllan would sing!
And they change in progress they goes forward!So do we Albanians.By the way Forget times when we used to cut woods and discharge coal in the streets of Belgrade!
I think you Serbs are nostalgick for those times.
What a Pity!!

Nah...there will not be any independence for Kosovo..
I have followed this for years now and to tell you the truth, even if some will say different, Kosovo has never been this far from independence. Even if I dont support one or the other side in this, Serbia has clearly a full hand on their cards. US is for, EU is very splitted, and the east are against. So if UNSC says no, then Kosovo will themself declare independence with US. I say good luck. No UN seat, no investments, no visas, blocked by Serbias borders. You might have a party down there by yourself. The hangover the day after will hurt.

"Koštunica also reminded that the Security Council Resolution 1244 was binding on the governments of all UN member states.

“No state may violate this Resolution, or take a unilateral position on the future status of the Province. Any unilateral recognition of Kosovo’s independence would constitute flagrant and - I stress - double violation of UN norms. Both the UN Charter and Resolution 1244 would be violated, and any state that decides to act in such an unlawful manner would directly call into question the authority of the UN,” Koštunica said. "

i.e. no new resolution also means no ILLEGAL unilateral declaration - as Holbrroke said "probably" - he knows only too well what was signed in 99 meant that there will never be an independent entity in Southern Serbia !!!

If there are to be new discussions in the UN SC Ahtisaari will need to explain on what basis he feels it is important to create a precedence of dismembering a UN member state - I wonder if he has even considered and answer yet or is this why he is dissapearing to Africa for a few months!

I see the same story in cyprus for the last 45 years. still the so called northern cyprus did not gain independence. the reason is that the legitimate state must agree, i.e. republic of cyprus. the same will apply for kosovo, as long as the serbian state does not agree, there will be no recognition to independence. the albanian parmliament can proclaim independence but without a un resolution, no game !

wait another 20 years and a few more resolution attempts.

Justice Veritas
Apparently you had a spy inside the SC meeting! Where did you learn that only 3 SC members supported the Ahtisri’s plan.
This is, actually, what Serbian people keeps deaf and blind = watching and listening only their politicians, who actually, in order to get “people’s support” to lead the government. Read some other news agencies and you will see how some journalists catches Kostunica, simply, not telling the truth (not saying “lying”) that Ahtisari’s plan has been rejected by SC.

well, this is just the beginning and it wont be easy for Russia to prove it to Serbia that they did the best they could to stop Kosovo from gaining Independence ,but failed at the end under US and EU pressure.
Princip,
no matter how hard you try with your comments, you wrong, you have to be very naive or hard nationalist type of Sesel or Kostunica to believe that Russia will hold Kosovo back. If not the resolution then there is a plan B that you want so much to happen, Kosovo declaring Independence and be recognized by most countries , except Russia and Serbia or any other not that important states. So, Resolution or not Kosovo will soon be an Independent recognized state. cheers to ones that truly believe in democratic and prosperous world!!!!

Princip

"Serbia's internal issues" - is that what you call the killing of 10 000 innocent albanin civilians and expulsion by force of 1 million from their homes??

You are right Russia did not interfere or do anything - to stop the crimes that serbs where commiting, and that is way they less say in what happens in Kosovo.

I'm astonished to see how some of our mates in the forum pretend to understand and interpret the international law better than the representatives of the world's oldest democracies and the lawyers in their delegations. Trying to lobby for the Serbian agenda in this forum, I must admit, is very legitimate from the emotional point of view, however, wishful thinking cannot be a legitimate basis for any intellectual debate. I have several times posted as a food for thoughts some generally recognized concepts such as “humanitarian intervention”, but you will always have some Princips and Kates popping up with their groundless Serbian agendas, therefore it is worthless to discuss at an academic level with such individuals. I will only reiterate that all Western democracies permanently represented in the UNSC support the independence for Kosovo. Dos this ring your bell? Also stay assured that the majority of the ad-hoc members share the same view. Last but not least, Kosovo already has the sufficient numbers of votes at the UNSC for the new resolution, based on President Ahtisaari's Proposal, to supersede the UNSC Resolution 1244. By the way, the Albanian Minister of Foreign affairs has confirmed this fact yesterday night.

I dont understand why people talk about the resolution now. This UNSC meeting was not about passing a resolution but was only that Ahtisari proposes his plan to the UN SC members. So therefore PRINCIP and others do not get that happy about it.
During the UNSC, the most important countries are pro Ahtisari plan such USA, UK, France etc... Even Ban Kim Moon the UN S. G. is pro plan that grants Independence. Take it easy serbs, do not get happy based on lies of Kostunica. Arent you used with his lies yet?
Just thing. USA, UK, France, Germany in Kosova's side and nobody openly in Serbia's side not even Russia because they never said they will veto anything and plus the Secret Service of Serbia has got information stating that Russia will not use its veto against Kosova's independence so... WHO IS THE WINNER? Of course the group made up by USA,UK, France and Germany.

AD 2007 - read the comment from MARIOS VASSILIOU and keep waiting - no haste!

to n/a

"Princip, no matter how hard you try with your comments, you wrong"

or Aleksandër Gjoni
"Kosovo already has the sufficient numbers of votes at the UNSC for the new resolution, based on President Ahtisaari's Proposal, to supersede the UNSC Resolution 1244. By the way, the Albanian Minister of Foreign affairs has confirmed this fact yesterday night"

- guess what but I don't think either of you are right - if that was the case then I think you would have seen a resolution not a "discussion" that even the main proponent (Ahtisaari) sees as a long series of discussions "maybe not a marathon but 10,000 metres at least" - but then again I guess you need to retain hopeful - certainly admire your positiveness and faith in Albanian leadership - misplaced as it maybe it is positive.

Even when the 10,000 has been run you still require 9 affirmatives and there has been enough objections raised to ensure that the US & UK will be saddly dissapointed that they did not get their way.

Kostunica has been asked, who are the other countries except Russia that do not support Ahtisaris proposal?-there were no answer. Kostunica has been asked, why you saying it will be vetoed or not voted at all when no voting took place for the resolution only first consultations?-there were no answer from him or escaped answer........So, basically this is just the beginning of the end to an era for Kosovo and its people!!!!!!
By the way n/a its me rex

Slovakia will Support EU in Security Council Debate on Kosovo Status

Slovakia’s representative to the United Nations, Peter Burian EU said during a discussion on Kosovo that started on the Security Council grounds on Tuesday that Slovakia would support the EU’s attitude on setting the future status for the south Serbian province of Kosovo.
In his address Mr. Burian said that Slovakia fully supports efforts of UN envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari and his suggestions and recommendations. Slovakia considers Mr. Ahtisaari's proposal a base for further negotiations about the future of Kosovo. Mr. Burian underscored that it is of utmost importance that any solution of the issue of the Kosovo status is taken as a solution that does not represent a legal precedent especially with regards to territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in Europe or elsewhere but especially where a part of the problem are minority rights issues. Mr. Burian is convinced that the new Security Council resolution should reflect this basic condition.
The UN mediator for Kosovo recommends supervised independence for the breakaway Serbian province. Belgrade and Moscow, however fiercely oppose the plan. In contrast the plan is strongly backed by the United States and European Union. Russian opposition to Kosovo independence could torpedo the UN plan to grant Kosovo independence.

kate or better KATA, you think that Serbia has right to opose the proposal because doesn't like it and kosovo has no rights to oppose any kind of proposals.

Very smart from your side.
Thanks god that politic isn't your field.

Nikshala, well said!
Princip, Kate and a few others are completely incapable of understanding the reality of the matter.

It is clear to be Kostunica’s understanding, that individual countries by supporting independence as endorsed in the ahtisary plan, this on his opinion is unlawful and that it would be violating international law and question the authority of the UN.
These countries have a different opinion from Kostunica.
They see Serbia as a colonial power in Kosovo, and they do not see Kosovo’s annexation by Serbia as a legitimate act.
They do not see Serbia including Kosovo on its national borders, as this myth is what Serbia is calling herself unilaterally unified with Kosovo province, while immorally and unlawfully ignoring the fact that Kosovo is basically telling Serbia “NO”, and a big good bye!
This is Serbia’s double standard, and it is also Russia’s double standard on the issue.
The westerner countries are dealing with this issue in the most civilised, lawful, responsible and appropriate manner!

All you Serbs honestly have to accept that the Kosovars, who are the owners of Kosovo don’t like you. They don’t wish to be a part of Serbia and it will be impossible for you or anybody ales on this planet to force them!
That’s impossible, you have to realise this!

It truly doesn’t matter if there is going to be a new resolution or not, what its clear is that any attempt of a new Serbian invasion will have its corresponding military answer.
Things will get bloody, and there is no return back!

For the Albanians the matter is simple, and it can be expressed in an excretion alone, that is death or freedom!

If you dare to impose your Serbian view in Kosovo where you are rejected, this will mean war, and it is clear that your imperial and colonial policy for Kosovo its unrealistic and impossible to implement.

This is why I keep on repeating myself, you have lost the foreign territory you occupied from the ottoman empire in 1913.

Dear Aleksandër, there is no interpretation of the law. It is clear. 1244 is clear. There is no room for interpretation.

Aleksandër Gjoni!

Can you please tell me what the banditer commision said on this matter?

Can you please tell me what it says in UN resolution 1244?

Can you please tell me what it says in the Helsinki final act from 1975?

Can you please tell me what it says in the charter of the UN regarding territorial integrety of soverign states?

I have, the serbs have, the russians have legal sources and legal foundation and the law to refer to, what DO YOU HAVE?

Stick to the truth or start giving some of those sources you claim to have been posting!

Here goesanother Serb ally
http://news.hnonline.sk/c6-10145900-20827570-k09000_detail-slovakia-will-support-eu-in-security-council-debate-on-kosovo-status
Russia will be next.....

The interesting of this conflit is that it came for vitrine fantasies that was not discussed by its surreal aspects but ever took like final truths. The principle of the international law over all other claims is one, why this? of course law represent the justice no? this is the problem: NO international law TENDS to this but ever and now is full of garbage and mistruth created by the interest of the political power owner of the moment and the historic dynamic. History ever overrides political actualities with anothers and put law, a concept, like guardian of the past or and national interests is at less a misundertanding of precedence: history is above law texts and not tied by them principally when its be only mess came from past, anyway its need continual updates for represent law comceptually instead past historic moments.
Serbia claims is all only imperial dream of land conquest and with no historical political or moral foundations, the great sebia like tried by milosevic and that in its name was perpetrated many and many crimes against the human being. Kosovo is only a piece of the matter and the serbia propaganda try broadcast like a single case of legal sovereignity, forgot the scenario and put all colors in factoids is the serb techinic, the 1244 is treated like the holly of the hollies and not the simple truth: a piece of paper wrote in a surpassed past with no real substance on moment was be conceived, it attended at political interests at expense of real people that had no channel for defense.
Say that cancel the 1244 is disastrous by its "universal" importance is only a laughing piece of joke, all local statements would be disastrous if put in a broad stand far beyond its significance or insignificance like in this case. Lets play with this "universal 1244" if approved. USA belongs to England, jewish people need to be drive to Ur, Australia for the aborigins and so on.. all this demands is far more real because all is sustained by history and not ideologic tales for land conquest.
(SLAVONIA IS A CROATIAN LAND!!! )

Hi Genci
I believe that you are right. The UN SC won't back an independent Kosovo. Too much is at stake here.

However, I believe that this could trigger a bad chain of events in Kosovo itself. The U.S. may not be inclined to grant Kosovo independence so quickly, neither the U.K. We are nearing an Iran fiasco here...

Politicians in Kosovo are under extreme pressure to win independence and any failure to do so quickly will inevitably lead to internal fights, which, uncontrolled, can errupt into mass protests etc.

We can't ignore the fact that 75% of Kosovo's working population is without a regular job and that most of their hopes hinge on an independent Kosovo, although everyone knows that such a change has never reduced the plight of the poor and uneducated population. It's a long march to a truly liberal democracy. Italy only just arrived there three months ago...

There is just too much potential for violence and both Nato, the US and the UK and the informed EU states are aware of that.

The only thing that could help Serbs and Kosovans come to terms with each other is a shared enemy. That's what has united Kosovans and Croats....

Justice Veritas!

I shall answer to all your questions tomorrow morning. Please check on this topic. Need to go! Cheers.

+/-;

We have no jobs, we have no money, but its not the matter for kosovars. The only thing which is our concern is to show you and your serbia that we will never live together with you. If you plan to return in Kosovo you have to trample our bodies. I know this is no problem for you after 4 wars in last 20 years but this is a big problem for world democraties who stopped serbia's genocide in 1999. As for me you have two choses: 1) Stop now and leave serbian peoples who live in Kosova to establish their lives with theirs neighbors, or continue your arrogant position and make difficult for the serbian people in Kosova to do their live. As for the third question: if Kosova will be independent, i will suggest you to exclude from the group of questions.

Dear +/-,
I do not understand what kind of a common enemy you think about for Kosovars and Serbians.
By the way, for me it is unclear your comment on Italy ("...It's a long march to a truly liberal democracy. Italy only just arrived there three months ago...").
May you clarify your meaning and what nation you belong to?

2007 A.D. - "I remember when Kosova was named on documents as Kosmet,and was an autonomous province,even there it was part of YU,not Serbia"

Kosovo and Vojvodina were automous provinces within Serbia which itself was within the SFRY.

This is mentioned straightaway in the 1974 consitiution http://sl.wikisource.org/wiki/Ustava_Socialisti%C4%8Dne_federativne_republike_Jugoslavije_%281974%29/Socialisti%C4%8Dna_federativna_republika_Jugoslavija

It is ammusing to read Marios' comment! Taking sides, simply because of something modern world would call ancient history. Moreover, taking sides, because (modern) Greeks have territorial interests towards Albanian lands.
Being part of the EU has culturally changed Greece very little. Still the same culture at the cross-roads of Europe and Turkey/Middle East. Greece has a long way to go to even reach Serbia. I have worked in a Western Europe and US, and have met some Serbs during my work as well as Greeks. Despite that memories of the war and animosity between the Serbs and Albanians is still fresh, they have at least been always civilised as not to talk too much politics in my presence as Albanian. They have been careful not to ofend me. And so have I, I treated them with the same respect. Especially kind I have found friends from Belgrade and Novi Sad. They have never said anything offensive about Albanians or Turks in my presence. I am talking here about working environment and parties, that is intellectual presence. I cannot say the same about the Greeks, every oportunity to say something, they don't even realise is offensive, about their neighbours. About the Turks, and they were more harsh about the Albanians. Perhaps because of the threat to their culture which Turkey does not pose!!

luledielli, Prishtine

"the foreign territory you occupied from the ottoman empire in 1913."

This comment is just ridiculous! Those were the Balkans wars! Where Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia cleared out the occupying Turks. Much like Nazi Germany occupied Western Europe for 3 years, the Turks occupied the Balkans for 400.

Even Britain and France assisted the Balkan League in clearing out the last remnants of the Ottomans in the Great war (WW1)

You seem to be the only person still longing for the Caliph to return. Ill bet you are not Armenian.

Hermon, don't be so hasty. I think you will find that the english translation has been misquoted. See the UN press link below on Slovakia's actual stance,

"Slovakian Ambassador Peter Burian confirmed to Inner City Press that his country's position, as adopted by its legislature, is that independence for Kosovo could destabilize the region. So Russia is not alone. Game on, as they say...."

The Slovaks have legislated specifically on Kosovo & Metohija that Independence is not acceptable

http://www.innercitypress.com/dpko040307.html

You would also be wise to consider reading the slovak news in Slovak - www.pravda.sk - is usually very informative!

To Shenkri Gashi
I congratulate you for your clear message to the Serbs..."continue their arrogant position" and life for Serbs in Kosova will be difficult.
You know they were arrogant with other people too in the region, it is in their nature, they will not change overnight. Because of their arrogance and no cooperation I forsee inevitable trouble, violence in the future. As a result more Serbs will leave Kosova for Serbia, the mother country. I would not be surprised to see the serb population of Kosova dwindle in few years to 50-60,000 people.

Read this article and then answer me why if ANY other COUNTRY did this, they would be screaming BLOODY FOUL. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070404/us_nm/usa_flag_burning_dc;_ylt=AlC25f_oiZsgTT4jxmentCcDW7oF

I'd like to hear from my Serbian Albanians here specifically.

P.S.... Don't twist FACTS in your reply like... (Kosovo is not part of Serbia) cause last time i checked... (about 2 min ago, its a province of Serbia recognized by the entire world)

There are many reasons why it is a bad idea to divide a country on the basis that a majority in one corner of it does not identify with the majority population. In the case of Serbia/Kosovo, the fact that George Bush's US and Tony Blair's Britain support the division is reason enough in itself to reject it.

hi, i would like to note the arrogance and racism of some pro-kosovo posters here. it is disheartening to read blatant hate speach and one-sided propoganda... i support the realists who think that kosovo's future is as an atonomous region of serbia. the world today is again multipolar. russia and china are stronger than ever... and they will not let the u.s. impose its unilateral will, which is inherently anti-serb, on the world.

but again back to the hate speech. i suggest that kosovars who think that they are acting patriotic or nationalistic steer clear of hate messages, not just on the internet but also against orthodox churches in kosovo, which have been desecrated these past few years.

on the international stage the kla and the kosovo people are being regarded more and more as the villains.

public perception, which had won kosovo a few points, has come back to byte it.

Well said Tom O'Donoghue. I could not agree with you more. Throughout the past decade the West has proven that they very rarely do something for the good of the world but rather for their own "personal" benefit. The only way that Balkans will be stable is if both sides learn to co-exist as they are. Carving up another state will create long term instability and hatred and thus take Kosovo into complete ruins. Albanians have proven that they cannot govern themselves and are horrible at running a country. Just look at Albania it is still the poorest country in Europe even though it has not fought a war since WW2 in which it did not see much destruction. For all those that claim that Kosovo is occupied it is occupied, occupied by Albanians who have systematically cleansed the Serbs. Just look in Wikipedia at the population density and birth rate in the region and you will see that those statistics are abnormally high in Kosovo compared to even Albania. Finally, Kosovo also is the modern heartland of Serbs however Albanians claim that is was their ancient territory. We cannot look at antiquity to decide borders but rather modern history. Finally Serbs might be arrogant but Albanians make it clear that they do not want to co-exist, even after Serbs have given the Albanian minority more freedoms then any other country in the world would give its minority, the Albanians create conflicts in the region. Just look at the recent news articles on Kosovo and Southern Serbia. You will see one terrorist act after another, always targeting the Serb minority yet no Serb retaliation occurs. Mind you this Albanian aggression has been going on for decades. If Kosovo cannot prove that they can guarantee minority rights even with NATO and UN present then we have only seen the tip of the ice berg should Kosovo gain independence. Serbs and other minorities will always be terrorized in Kosovo, as they have always been. FYI: 10,000 ALBANIANS did not die in the Kosovo conflict but rather 3,000 people from BOTH sides including people that were killed by NATO bombs. This was published in a NATO report which came out in December of 2006 so please do not quote number which were used by Clinton to start the illegal bombing of a sovereign nation.

I get upset when I read comments made by abortive nationalists and revisionists.

I am sure some of those in 1998/99 killed Albanians with their own hands and now try to portrait themselves as victims.

Albanians the most oppressed nation in whole Balkans wants the same freedom as other nations, neither less nor more. But the Serbs who are running the Serbian state right now have been infected of xenophobia, racism and ethnocentrism and believes only Serbs have the right to live.

Serbia for more than one century systematically has tried to ethnically clean Kosovo of Albanians. In the beginning of 20 century they forced hundred thousands to move to Turkey and imported Serbs from other parts of Yugoslavia. They tried again during the 90s when they constructed houses in Kosovo to Croatia and Bosnia Serbs. After failing many times they did what they had done in Bosnia: Killed 10 000 (The Lancet) and forced 1 million to live their homes (me one of them). Failed again and now Kosovo is becoming independent again. Forget about ruling Kosovo again since the majority Albanians (90 %) and other non Serb minorities (5 %) support independence for Kosovo. No one wants to live in country where international war criminals like Mladic and Karadzic are heroes and being protected by nationalistic government and they are considered as second hand citizens.

Some months ago B92/ Focus News had this news: "The survey also shows that Serbs of all minorities have the most negative attitude towards Albanians.
72% of the people say they wouldn’t like Albanians to occupy leading positions in the country.
“The people of Serbia want the territory of Kosovo to remain within Serbia’s composition but not the people that live there. For example, 42% of the Serbs say they do not Albanians to even be citizens of this country,” one of the surveyors said." Another survey shows 82 % of Serbian students would not be in the same room as Albanians. Students, the future of Serbia. This shows that Serbs are going to fulfil what Milosevic did not if they get Kosovo back. Especially with the prime minister they have: Every time he mentions Kosovo something anti Albanian follows. You can not find one Kosovo Albanian in the world who says he want to be part of Serbia.

The Badinter Commission only responded to questions put to it. Nobody asked about Kosovo because at that time Kosovo did not pose any threat to the stability of the region having in mind the peaceful resistance employed by Kosovars. The Badinter template does not necessarily mean that Kosovo could NOT have a right to independence as a constituent part of the SFRY. Mr. Robert Badinter visited the Kosovo Assembly last week and he undoubtedly supported the so called “supervised” independence for Kosovo. The Badinter Commission didn't comment one way or the other. If they had, I think things might have developed differently. We'll never know what the verdict would have been.
The preamble of Resolution 1244 cited the ritual affirmation of the commitment of all member states to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY and the other States of the region, as set out in the Helsinki Final Act and Annex 2 of the Resolution. Crucially, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY was conditioned by the Helsinki Final Act and Annex 2 of the Security Council Resolution. The Helsinki Final act provides for the equal recognition of a state’s right to sovereignty and territorial integrity, and of a minority peoples’ right to self-determination. Annex 2 expressly places the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY within the context of the ‘interim political framework agreement providing for substantial self-government for Kosovo,’ and also noted the necessity of taking full account of the Rambouillet Accords, which provides for the settlement of the final status of Kosovo by taking into account the will of the people.”

Charter of the United Nations, 1945 Chapter 1, ‘Purposes and Principles’, Article 1.2 states that the second purpose of the United Nations are ‘to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples’ (note the difference between Nations and peoples and do not say that the word people applies to sovereign nations only).

You may also wish to note the following instruments and principles of international law:

Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, General Assembly Resolution 1514, 1960 states that ‘all peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966, Article 1, ‘All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.’

Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning friendly relations and cooperation among states, UN General Assembly Resolution 2625, 1970, states that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is a principle of friendly relations between states. ‘By virtue of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, all peoples have the right freely to determine, without external interference, their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and every State has the duty to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the charter’. ‘Every state has the duty to promote, through joint and separate action, realization of the principle of equal rights and self-determination
of peoples.’ This does not authorize ‘action which would dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples as described above and thus possessed of a government representing the whole people belonging to the territory without distinction as to race, creed, or color.

To recap, I would like to quote Justice Richard: “The classic nineteenth-century concept of sovereignty, even if it rarely obtained in practice, was a concept of absolute territorial sovereignty. In the twenty-first century, sovereignty is necessarily shared and dependent on agreements with a range of international actors”.

It is so funny seeing the Serbs talk about the international justice and law. Serbs are forgetting that their country is not being able to even become a candidate for EU membership due to the fact that they do not cooperate with the international organisations. Serbs are forgetting that they are the ones that tried to fight against SLovenia, fought against Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo, and they still think that they are the most innocent people on earth.
Also as a reminder to some people who bring history into these debates here. The serbs came up from Russia while the albanians were in the Blakans for thousands of years, so who u think has more right into balkans? serbs the invaders or albanians the inhabitants? and i am not saying this fact based on stories of albanians or serbs but based on the researches done by the international historians and argeologists.
Kosova will be independent no matter what Kostunica has to lie. He has been tricking his own people for so long now that I cant believe how people still believe him. He is the one who is stopping Serbia join the family of EU. Even Nenad Canak said that and remember he isnot an albanian accusing Kostunica.
The advisor of President Tadic said that "in order for us the serbs to call on international laws about Kosova, we should first respect those international laws in such capturing the Hague most wanted criminals" So in order that you serbs call upon international laws, please respect those laws first and show an example on how to respect those laws.
Also, the solution of Kosova is not being solved based on historical events but based on the reality on the ground. Because if it was solved based in history, then all the serbs would have to move back to Russia, so therefore i would suggest to serbs not to use history as a fact because that is against the serbs.
The best solution is to have an independent Kosova, because leaving Kosova within Serbia means that nor Serbia neither Kosova will ever have peace but will always argue for every single thing so therefore independence is the ONLY WAY FORWARD.

Aleksandër Gjoni!

The Banditer commision said a minority in a country never has the right to independence. Only former republics of SFRJ had the right to independence as you well can see as Krajina in Croatia and Republica Srpska in Bosnia couldn't get independence. The former SFRJ republics of Slovenia,, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia were the only republics of SFRJ and the only ones that got independence. The only territory of the former SFRJ republics still occupied is the soverign state of Serbia.

Afrim Hoxa!

Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadic are bosnian serbs if you want to know international law you must ask Bosnia where they are. Further the Hague tribunal is by no means a legal court. Ask any legal advicer you want and you will know why. The only true legal court is the ICC, not the Hague tribunal. Look it up and you will see how the Hague tribunal was created.

Justice Veritas – well, in your opinion Kosovo never has the right to become independent!
Of course not, how can a colonial state like you ever agree with letting it go?!
You consider the Albanians a minority in Serbia, and with ought any trace of shame, choose not to mention that Kosovo was divided from Serbia administratively all the time when under Serb occupation. Do you know what year was its autonomy brutally removed? Kosovo had its own parliament, yes that’s true and Serbia’s parliament had no powers over it! What you did in Kosovo is a nightmare, and it irritates me so bad when you pretend the lamb now!
How dare you talk about none sense and link international law with this tragic story of a tired nation thirsty for its longed freedom!
Who gave Kosovo to you? Didn’t you occupy it by force? Wasn’t all the western powers of the time blessing which allowed you to have it? The Albanians never agreed!
Why do you failed to realize this, it never worked, and it never will. This is why Kosovo under your occupation is no longer an option, and it will go in history as it should. A shameful act of occupation until 1999