Russian deputy FM: Ahtisaari plan will not pass

I would gladly welcome a plan from Russia , which will be backed by both sides(Albanians and serbs).Talk is cheap, come up with solutions and not empty talk. I also notice that this article is according to Interfax russian agency. I will not be suorised to see an article 2-3 days later saying that russian FM denies everything.hahahahah, I am having a lot of fun lately.

The UK ambassador made a very correct statement: there are two possible solttions, supervised and controlled indpendence, or unsupervised and uncontrolled independence.

For Kosovan albanians and K. serbs the former is better, and it will be more stable solution and quicker economical development due to quicker recognition by international organistation.

Russia's veto will me the independence process a bit more difficult, and it will definetly increase tensions, slow the econimcal process, and overall prolong the suffering of Kosovan residents.

However, either way, one thing is for sure: Serbia will have no control whatsoever on Kosovo which will be independent.

To all those that think Kosovo will remain within serbia, try entering Kosovo without a Visa after the summer.

Now that you know that what Richard Hollbrooke and Madeline Albright promised you, independence, will not happen, what will you Albanians do?

"We need to find answers to some very simple questions, for example, why 40,000 Serbs are unable to return to Pristina and live a normal life there," he said.

Mr Kostunica is a funny man. He does not know why the Albanians don't want Serbs in the province!? Many of the Serbs who fled did it because they had tyhemselves participated in the killing of 12 000 Albanians. Why Kostunica is making such statements and asking such questions?

Wow,the plan will not pass...so,when will "poor,opressed,peace loving,frustrated,blah,blah" Albanians start their violence??:-)

The truth is albanians are not in a position to do anything. If they start violence they will lose all international support and not even autonomy will they get in the end. The only thing they can do now is to threat and blackmail the international community.

Victor!
Please stop lying. Approx 3 000 albanians, mainly KLA, lost their lives in the conflict. Lying about figures like you do help no one. Stick to the facts!

Things are more clear now, Russia will veto, and probably China. What next ?
Albanians I think will not be laughing anymore. Party is over..wait another 20 - 30 years unless you loose patience and blow up everything once and for all.
In few years you will be talking about partition, but still this will not happen so easily. You gave Serbia no chance and you wanted the whole pie just for you. Very naughty.
At least concetrate to improve you day to day lives and fight unemployment which is sky hight. Politics do not fill stamachs, are just big fat talk.

The years of the drunken Eltsin are over. Russia will fight for the interests of its allies. USA will need get used to this. Letting know American partners before they come up with ridiculous proposal regarding Serbian Kosovo is a good move. Veto IS the reason why they don't have the nerve to present the plan to the Security Council. That much should be clear to everyone by now.

in one side is USA, UK, Germany, France and so on, and in the other side is only Russia who who actually is kind of in both sides because Russia says that both sides have to agree on.
I really feel sorry that serbs are still falling victims of some careless statements of some underminister of Russia who just few days ago said that " veto is a big thing" and says the different one.
You have to understand that the ones who will make the decision about Kosova are the ones that freed it and they are USA, UK, France, Germany and so on.
The winners make the decisions, not the loosers and remember that you the serbs are the loosers and the albanians with USA, UK france and Germany are the winners.

Victor,

You have put your finger on precisely half of the problem. A few Serbs did some horrible things. Most of those Serbs are either in prison or are fearful.

However, the Albanians who did some equally horrible things have not been brought to justice. Until ethinic Albanians begin to face their own failings and continue to oppress ethnic minorities in the same way they were oppressed, the West will have a tough job selling independence.

You guys had your chance and you let it go. Now you're reaping what you sowed. If Albanians stop pointing the finger at everyone else while allowing their own to commit crimes and start being what they claim to want, they will have independence.

Until that time comes, I know I won't support it.

For you Serbian fellas that are dreaming, let me give you a quick note. There are half a dozen political parties in Serbia that are saying that Serbia has lost Kosovo forever. Find just one political party in Kosovo, that does not have ties with extremists in Serbia, that doesn't support the Independence of Kosovo. We are not worried anymore whether Kosovo will gain its indep. or not. Now we are worried about our economy. We don't dream, and even if we dream, we have our friend, the USA, that fullfills our dreams. While you Serbs even if you dream have nobody to help you with it, except the fact that you have Russia that encourages you to dream even more to eternity.

Wake up people.

Ben

40,000 Serbs fled themselves because if they didnt they would have been killed, forced out by Albanians, or forced to live in the Serbian ghettos. The Russians have not once changed their stance on Serbia's province of Kosovo, and that is why the Albanians are so nervous!

So? We will declare independence without UN security council resoultion, and get immediately recognized by the major Western powers. Then what are Serbia and Russia going to do? The end result will be the same...no occupying Serbs in Kosovar ground, guaranteed by the USA!

Victor - your statement is sickening. The people who remained but have now fled from Kosovo were farmers, the elderly and people who were certainly not involved.
It was innocent civilians who were kidnapped, beaten and/ or murdered. 2,000 of them since June 1999 (UN figures). These weren't all Serbs, but also Albanians and Roma who were considered to have been traitors of one kind or another. Perhaps because they were brave enough to try and help their own neighbours or refuse to do whatever the thugs in the KLA told them to do.
Not many people in the modern world live by this backward medievel code of conduct - thank goodness.
And what of the KLA link to human smuggling and other sickening activities? There were terrible reports of what is being done to people in Kosovo even today, so don't speak in such a righteous tone.

Victor,

Even if every Serb in Kosovo were guilty of the crimes you refer to, they still have the right to their homes, properties and to live in Kosovo safely. You are not very familiar to democracy and human rights, are you..?

Milan said drunken Eltsin !
Well Milan as I am not Prorussian as you are even I could not talk about dead man,that way you do!
Show little respect, He was the president of that your Russia!

Ben!

No it is you that should wake up. Please tell me what parties in Serbia you are talking about? Facts please.

The truth is only US and UK are big supporters of ripping Serbia apart, not because of albanians in Kosovo, but because of their own interests in the region. Wake up Ben!

Legally and morally, Serbia holds the initiative. In recent years this would have meant nothing to the US, NATO and their cronies in the EU. Russia's honourable stance suddenly restores balance (and fairness)to the world. Threats of violence and ugly words from the Kosovo Albanians, and their diminishing circle of friends in the west, should be treated with contempt. Now is the time for dialogue and democracy to move the situation forward. Only a solution acceptable to both sides will provide a lasting solution.

Ben, can you name these half dozen political parties in Serbia which are "saying that Serbia has lost Kosovo forever." ?

I do know that the LDP has said this but they only got 5.31% in the recent election.

To all Russian Politicians:Can you make up your minds please.Either say we will use veto or not.You are becoming a joke!!!
You should come up in the open about your plans regarding Kosova/o.Same time you should respect the will of people from Kosova/o,no matter of nationality or religion.
Now to the rest of commentators.
As much as Kosovan Serbs have a right for Kosova/o,same goes for Kosovan Albanians.
Kosovan Albanians were in Kosova/o for centuries together with Kosovan Serbs and other nationalities.The problem is that Serbs are not used to be ruled by Albanians nor they want to get used to.
This is the biggest problem and will be in the future if all people of Kosova/o won't work together.
I am not saying that all Kosovan Albanians are angels,but you should give them the a chance if all democratic countries in the world are saying so.If Kosovan Albanians will manage to run the show,it will be better for Serbs as well.
Don't take in to account what some individuals are saying in here,try to understand why they are saying this and show them more respect.Try to understand how is to be in their shoes,ask them about the so much hate between two nations,by doing that you will listen to real problems and not acting like some spoiled teenagers,I am talking about both sides.What we are doing here is just provoking each other rather then helping the situation!
Kosova/o under Serbia won't be the perfect solution same as Kosova/o without the Serbs won't be a perfect solution.
Only people of Kosova/o know what is the perfect solution and nobody is asking them,what a shame!!!

"So? We will declare independence without UN security council resoultion, and get immediately recognized by the major Western powers. Then what are Serbia and Russia going to do? The end result will be the same...no occupying Serbs in Kosovar ground, guaranteed by the USA!
(Sidi, Tuesday, 24 April, 2007, 16:07)"
No Sidi, that would only result in partition. Russia could easily recognize those areas which Serbia would like to hold onto.
Then we'd have a big mess while Serbia tries to hold onto their religious sites, and Presevo tries to join with Kosovo.
Its better to come to an agreement peacefully then through violence. The "Unilateral Recognition" game cuts both ways and it’s a messy violent way to approach the situation, and I personally condemn the use of force to settle the issue.
We must have a UN resolution acceptable to both sides. Get realistic, declaring indepedence on your own is a big gamble, and the only thing that will be sure to be a result of it is more violence, and extermists on both sides will jump for joy.

Carl,

of course people have right on their homes and properties. You only don't have an information how many of them still have their rights and how many of them loosed that right because they sold their homes and properties in Kosovo. It would be very interesting to have at least approximal figures about it...
Another interesting figures would be how many houses dedicated for Serbs are for a moment empty in Kosovo, although they were not honest in declaring their properties. They sold their properties, bought properties in Serbia and Kosovo Government built houses for them. To many figures are not published yet...
Serbs fled Kosovo because of Kumanovo Agreement which is signed by Serbia and Serbia did right thing to protect them. In 1999 it would be very difficult for a people who losed their children, sisters, wives, brothers, parents in terrible masacres to act reasonable... Again not known figures: how many of Serbs were originaly K-Serbs and how many were as a try to kolonize Kosovo with Serbs from Croatia, Bosnia and another ex-Yu places...

And finaly, if independence will not be now, show must go on, there is only one final act in this play, INDEPENDENCE...

Good luck Kosovo on your own way, with or without Rusia's and Serbia's blessing...

I simply dont see how this is news!! Lavrov has been making general statements such as this for a while now.

Life under Serbia to me personally and to 2 million other Kosovar albanians is meaningless, IT MAKES NO SENSE. Do you really want to confront 2 million albanians do not want to live with you and are actualy willing to DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING, to make sure you are out of Kosovo for good?

I dont think the serbs and serbofiles who post here truly understand the gravity of the situation.

We are at the edge of our patience, and you really do not want to take it further than you already have.

Kate,

My cousin, a civilian who had never held a weapon in his hands, was killed in a village near the town of Viti by a farmer, in the presence of his 14 year old son. If you haven't lived in Kosovo, you can't even begin to imagine what it was like. After 1990, most of my Serb friends/neighbours were given weapons by the authorities. After all the Kosovo Albanian workforce was laid off, many Serbs were installed in positions just because of their ethnicity and their willingness to go along with the government agenda at the time. And, while I accept that not everybody was involved, I know that many were.
Most Kosovo Albanians disagree and condemn retaliation attacks on Serbs and their property. We'd rather see them come back and live with us, and those guilty of crimes punished. I would also like to see Albanians guilty of such crimes punished. Most Kosovars would.
The issue of return is a political one. Albanians (both the government and the ordinary people) are ready to welcome their Serbian neighbours back; it's the Serbian government that doesn't want that.
You talked of KLA crimes, and your compatriots talk of a crime ridden Kosovo where the political elite is involved. While I accept that there is crime and corruption, it is nowhere near as bad as it is in Serbia. You always resort to these below-the-belt tactics. When everything else fails and all the other arguments are exhausted, you talk of crime. It's a bit rich coming from people whose capital in the 90s resembled Chicago during prohibition, whose crime clans control political, military, police and intelligence elites and murder the only hardworking and honest political leader you've had in ages. While I didn't agree with his agenda on Kosovo, I had respect for what he tried to achieve in the post-Milosevic Serbia.
When it comes to crime, Serbs make Kosovars look like little children. So when you accuse us about crime, three words come to my mind: pot, kettle & black!!!

I genuinely wish Serbia and its inhabitants all the best in the future. I hope that in the future we will be good neighbours.

Albanians and Serbians in Kosovo i Metohija should work together to see to it that our foreign 'visitors' leave that land since it does not belong to them.

As for the terrorists in Kosovo, they will not be happy, and I am not afraid of terrorists.

Serbia is a great country and will move forward to unprecendented levels in our history once we settle certian questions regarding Serbians in the Balkans and Kosovo.

Albanians have nothing to worry about, they have mother Russia on their side!

If Serbia was to convince USA, UK, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Austria,Albania, Macedonia, etc etc. to accept autonomy and they drafted up a resolution proposing autonomy, then Russia will veto it since it is not accepted to albanians!

Russia is the only democratic country in the world that stands for international law, human rights and rights of minorities, justice, moral values, etc etc!!

Russia is the great country where:

* jounalist can freely express themselves - as long as they dont criticise the goverment because then they get shot!

* where people can protest freely - as long as its not against the goverment because then you will get beaten up and arrested!

* where politicans can oppose the goverment - though watch what you eat because you might get poisoned, or put in jail!

* where people can move freely - unless of course your an ethnic minority then you are likely to get beaten up or stabbed to death by many racist gang that never get convicted. You are especially in danger of getting stabbed to death if you are a 3-year old Tajik girl!! If you are Georgian well, god help you as well.

Serbs open up your eyes, can't you see how the above sounds so ridicuolous?

Blerimi

When you try to compare Serbian and Albanian organised crime you make me laugh. Yes there is organised crime and criminals in Serbia but to say that they by far outstrip anything the Albanians do is ridiculous. For reference please follow the link to the FBI database file on Balkan organised crime.

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/orgcrime/balkan.htm

You will see that the file talks exclusively about Albanian Mafia.

Nick,

"I dont think the serbs and serbofiles who post here truly understand the gravity of the situation.

We are at the edge of our patience, and you really do not want to take it further than you already have."

I dont think you understand the gravity of the situation if you attempt to gain independence by force... you will lose...

Then someone else quoted... "So? We will declare independence without UN security council resoultion, and get immediately recognized by the major Western powers."

I truly have to ask... how will this Independence be declared? By a riot involving sticks and stones? UNMIK Police will have no problem settling that matter as they had in the past... By actual firearms and other weappons? That may last a day or two before KFOR steps in and puts a quick end to it! That also includes American KFOR. Trust me, they are fully aware that Albanians had attacked American Civpol in the past and this time around if deadly force by firearms is used against American Civpol then you can bet that the Albanians just lost their "allie." Trust me... Albanians do NOT want to start something they cant finish... So NICK, it would be wise of you to rephrase your statement in reference to your technique of gaining independence... you cant afford to lose your patience ... you WILL lose without the UN's support...

I think that what most albanians are failing to see is that the Serbs only fought against KLA targets before the bombing, and that the bombing hurt the albanians as it resulted in the easily predictable serbian retaliation against all albanians. The overwhelming majority of what happened in Kosovo happened after the bombing as was a result of the bombing.

Jack

The link you sent refers to the Balkan Organised Crime in general and Albanians are mentioned in the article as an illustration of the overall phenomenon imported to the US.

Had you bothered to read the FBI bulletins, you would have noticed that they regularly use the term YACS - Yugoslavian/Albanian/Croatian/Serbian and they even have a 'YACS Crime Group initiative'. But, of course, you - rather selectively - decided to mention only the Albanians in your post.
Furthermore, the article does not refer specifically to the Albanians - 'Within the Balkans, organized crime groups infiltrated the new democratic institutions, further expanding their profit opportunities'.

I don't deny that Albanian crime syndicates do 'well' around the world! It’s not a fact we Albanians are proud of. We’re doing all we can to rid our society of these cancerous elements. Kosovo Police has in the last couple of years made significant arrests and successfully prosecuted a number of criminals. A couple of months ago they (plus Kosovo customs) relayed information to the Macedonian police that resulted in the capture of half a ton of pure cocaine on the way to Europe, smuggled by a Serbian businesswoman.

What I was saying in my previous article is that the Serbian crime clans are much more infiltrated and influential within the Serbian state structures than Albanian crime will ever be in Kosovo's state structures. ‘Yours’ killed your PM for god's sake!!! With some help from his political adversaries! High government officials met the killer(s) informally inside the Ministry of the Interior and all the records of ins and outs (for the night/s in question) from the Ministry's reception have mysteriously disappeared!!!

My point is that in an attempt to depict yourselves as ‘the real victims’ you twist facts, misinform and exaggerate everything starting from the historical facts to the current situation. You resort to insults such as ‘backwards society organised in clans’; ‘criminals and savages and democracy stands no chance...’. I read comments like those on BBC forums about the Montenegrins when they voted for their independence. Ever wondered why no one wants to be in the same country as you? Is everyone around you evil and wrong?

Best wishes

Anyway, anyone for a pint? D'you think we'll beat Chelsea tonight?

nikshala- you have nailed this issue with Russia on the head.
Now is the time for the international law abiding once to comment on that. Just to refresh you international law memory before you jump up and down. Human rights are an international law (absolute rights).

the Blerimi´s and Nicks here fail to see what is going on, actually...

seems like the train never left the station. gooood morning Kosovooooooo.....

Jovane, Jovane

I never mentioned any trains or predicted any outcomes in my previous posts. I was just comparing Serbian and Kosovo realities and expressing hopes.

But now that you mentioned it, not only has the train left the station, it has powered ahead full steam and the train tannoy system is now announcing that it is entering the platform of the desired destination: 'The next station is - INDEPENDENCE. Please make sure you've got your brand new state symbols ready and at hand. Thank you for travelling with us and we hope you had a pleasant journey'.

I would gladly welcome a plan from Russia , which will be backed by both sides(Albanians and serbs).Talk is cheap, come up with solutions and not empty talk. I also notice that this article is according to Interfax russian agency. I will not be suorised to see an article 2-3 days later saying that russian FM denies everything.hahahahah, I am having a lot of fun lately.

The UK ambassador made a very correct statement: there are two possible solttions, supervised and controlled indpendence, or unsupervised and uncontrolled independence.

For Kosovan albanians and K. serbs the former is better, and it will be more stable solution and quicker economical development due to quicker recognition by international organistation.

Russia's veto will me the independence process a bit more difficult, and it will definetly increase tensions, slow the econimcal process, and overall prolong the suffering of Kosovan residents.

However, either way, one thing is for sure: Serbia will have no control whatsoever on Kosovo which will be independent.

To all those that think Kosovo will remain within serbia, try entering Kosovo without a Visa after the summer.

Now that you know that what Richard Hollbrooke and Madeline Albright promised you, independence, will not happen, what will you Albanians do?

"We need to find answers to some very simple questions, for example, why 40,000 Serbs are unable to return to Pristina and live a normal life there," he said.

Mr Kostunica is a funny man. He does not know why the Albanians don't want Serbs in the province!? Many of the Serbs who fled did it because they had tyhemselves participated in the killing of 12 000 Albanians. Why Kostunica is making such statements and asking such questions?

Wow,the plan will not pass...so,when will "poor,opressed,peace loving,frustrated,blah,blah" Albanians start their violence??:-)

The truth is albanians are not in a position to do anything. If they start violence they will lose all international support and not even autonomy will they get in the end. The only thing they can do now is to threat and blackmail the international community.

Victor!
Please stop lying. Approx 3 000 albanians, mainly KLA, lost their lives in the conflict. Lying about figures like you do help no one. Stick to the facts!

Things are more clear now, Russia will veto, and probably China. What next ?
Albanians I think will not be laughing anymore. Party is over..wait another 20 - 30 years unless you loose patience and blow up everything once and for all.
In few years you will be talking about partition, but still this will not happen so easily. You gave Serbia no chance and you wanted the whole pie just for you. Very naughty.
At least concetrate to improve you day to day lives and fight unemployment which is sky hight. Politics do not fill stamachs, are just big fat talk.

The years of the drunken Eltsin are over. Russia will fight for the interests of its allies. USA will need get used to this. Letting know American partners before they come up with ridiculous proposal regarding Serbian Kosovo is a good move. Veto IS the reason why they don't have the nerve to present the plan to the Security Council. That much should be clear to everyone by now.

in one side is USA, UK, Germany, France and so on, and in the other side is only Russia who who actually is kind of in both sides because Russia says that both sides have to agree on.
I really feel sorry that serbs are still falling victims of some careless statements of some underminister of Russia who just few days ago said that " veto is a big thing" and says the different one.
You have to understand that the ones who will make the decision about Kosova are the ones that freed it and they are USA, UK, France, Germany and so on.
The winners make the decisions, not the loosers and remember that you the serbs are the loosers and the albanians with USA, UK france and Germany are the winners.

Victor,

You have put your finger on precisely half of the problem. A few Serbs did some horrible things. Most of those Serbs are either in prison or are fearful.

However, the Albanians who did some equally horrible things have not been brought to justice. Until ethinic Albanians begin to face their own failings and continue to oppress ethnic minorities in the same way they were oppressed, the West will have a tough job selling independence.

You guys had your chance and you let it go. Now you're reaping what you sowed. If Albanians stop pointing the finger at everyone else while allowing their own to commit crimes and start being what they claim to want, they will have independence.

Until that time comes, I know I won't support it.

For you Serbian fellas that are dreaming, let me give you a quick note. There are half a dozen political parties in Serbia that are saying that Serbia has lost Kosovo forever. Find just one political party in Kosovo, that does not have ties with extremists in Serbia, that doesn't support the Independence of Kosovo. We are not worried anymore whether Kosovo will gain its indep. or not. Now we are worried about our economy. We don't dream, and even if we dream, we have our friend, the USA, that fullfills our dreams. While you Serbs even if you dream have nobody to help you with it, except the fact that you have Russia that encourages you to dream even more to eternity.

Wake up people.

Ben

40,000 Serbs fled themselves because if they didnt they would have been killed, forced out by Albanians, or forced to live in the Serbian ghettos. The Russians have not once changed their stance on Serbia's province of Kosovo, and that is why the Albanians are so nervous!

So? We will declare independence without UN security council resoultion, and get immediately recognized by the major Western powers. Then what are Serbia and Russia going to do? The end result will be the same...no occupying Serbs in Kosovar ground, guaranteed by the USA!

Victor - your statement is sickening. The people who remained but have now fled from Kosovo were farmers, the elderly and people who were certainly not involved.
It was innocent civilians who were kidnapped, beaten and/ or murdered. 2,000 of them since June 1999 (UN figures). These weren't all Serbs, but also Albanians and Roma who were considered to have been traitors of one kind or another. Perhaps because they were brave enough to try and help their own neighbours or refuse to do whatever the thugs in the KLA told them to do.
Not many people in the modern world live by this backward medievel code of conduct - thank goodness.
And what of the KLA link to human smuggling and other sickening activities? There were terrible reports of what is being done to people in Kosovo even today, so don't speak in such a righteous tone.

Victor,

Even if every Serb in Kosovo were guilty of the crimes you refer to, they still have the right to their homes, properties and to live in Kosovo safely. You are not very familiar to democracy and human rights, are you..?

Milan said drunken Eltsin !
Well Milan as I am not Prorussian as you are even I could not talk about dead man,that way you do!
Show little respect, He was the president of that your Russia!

Ben!

No it is you that should wake up. Please tell me what parties in Serbia you are talking about? Facts please.

The truth is only US and UK are big supporters of ripping Serbia apart, not because of albanians in Kosovo, but because of their own interests in the region. Wake up Ben!

Legally and morally, Serbia holds the initiative. In recent years this would have meant nothing to the US, NATO and their cronies in the EU. Russia's honourable stance suddenly restores balance (and fairness)to the world. Threats of violence and ugly words from the Kosovo Albanians, and their diminishing circle of friends in the west, should be treated with contempt. Now is the time for dialogue and democracy to move the situation forward. Only a solution acceptable to both sides will provide a lasting solution.

Ben, can you name these half dozen political parties in Serbia which are "saying that Serbia has lost Kosovo forever." ?

I do know that the LDP has said this but they only got 5.31% in the recent election.

To all Russian Politicians:Can you make up your minds please.Either say we will use veto or not.You are becoming a joke!!!
You should come up in the open about your plans regarding Kosova/o.Same time you should respect the will of people from Kosova/o,no matter of nationality or religion.
Now to the rest of commentators.
As much as Kosovan Serbs have a right for Kosova/o,same goes for Kosovan Albanians.
Kosovan Albanians were in Kosova/o for centuries together with Kosovan Serbs and other nationalities.The problem is that Serbs are not used to be ruled by Albanians nor they want to get used to.
This is the biggest problem and will be in the future if all people of Kosova/o won't work together.
I am not saying that all Kosovan Albanians are angels,but you should give them the a chance if all democratic countries in the world are saying so.If Kosovan Albanians will manage to run the show,it will be better for Serbs as well.
Don't take in to account what some individuals are saying in here,try to understand why they are saying this and show them more respect.Try to understand how is to be in their shoes,ask them about the so much hate between two nations,by doing that you will listen to real problems and not acting like some spoiled teenagers,I am talking about both sides.What we are doing here is just provoking each other rather then helping the situation!
Kosova/o under Serbia won't be the perfect solution same as Kosova/o without the Serbs won't be a perfect solution.
Only people of Kosova/o know what is the perfect solution and nobody is asking them,what a shame!!!

"So? We will declare independence without UN security council resoultion, and get immediately recognized by the major Western powers. Then what are Serbia and Russia going to do? The end result will be the same...no occupying Serbs in Kosovar ground, guaranteed by the USA!
(Sidi, Tuesday, 24 April, 2007, 16:07)"
No Sidi, that would only result in partition. Russia could easily recognize those areas which Serbia would like to hold onto.
Then we'd have a big mess while Serbia tries to hold onto their religious sites, and Presevo tries to join with Kosovo.
Its better to come to an agreement peacefully then through violence. The "Unilateral Recognition" game cuts both ways and it’s a messy violent way to approach the situation, and I personally condemn the use of force to settle the issue.
We must have a UN resolution acceptable to both sides. Get realistic, declaring indepedence on your own is a big gamble, and the only thing that will be sure to be a result of it is more violence, and extermists on both sides will jump for joy.

Carl,

of course people have right on their homes and properties. You only don't have an information how many of them still have their rights and how many of them loosed that right because they sold their homes and properties in Kosovo. It would be very interesting to have at least approximal figures about it...
Another interesting figures would be how many houses dedicated for Serbs are for a moment empty in Kosovo, although they were not honest in declaring their properties. They sold their properties, bought properties in Serbia and Kosovo Government built houses for them. To many figures are not published yet...
Serbs fled Kosovo because of Kumanovo Agreement which is signed by Serbia and Serbia did right thing to protect them. In 1999 it would be very difficult for a people who losed their children, sisters, wives, brothers, parents in terrible masacres to act reasonable... Again not known figures: how many of Serbs were originaly K-Serbs and how many were as a try to kolonize Kosovo with Serbs from Croatia, Bosnia and another ex-Yu places...

And finaly, if independence will not be now, show must go on, there is only one final act in this play, INDEPENDENCE...

Good luck Kosovo on your own way, with or without Rusia's and Serbia's blessing...

I simply dont see how this is news!! Lavrov has been making general statements such as this for a while now.

Life under Serbia to me personally and to 2 million other Kosovar albanians is meaningless, IT MAKES NO SENSE. Do you really want to confront 2 million albanians do not want to live with you and are actualy willing to DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING, to make sure you are out of Kosovo for good?

I dont think the serbs and serbofiles who post here truly understand the gravity of the situation.

We are at the edge of our patience, and you really do not want to take it further than you already have.

Kate,

My cousin, a civilian who had never held a weapon in his hands, was killed in a village near the town of Viti by a farmer, in the presence of his 14 year old son. If you haven't lived in Kosovo, you can't even begin to imagine what it was like. After 1990, most of my Serb friends/neighbours were given weapons by the authorities. After all the Kosovo Albanian workforce was laid off, many Serbs were installed in positions just because of their ethnicity and their willingness to go along with the government agenda at the time. And, while I accept that not everybody was involved, I know that many were.
Most Kosovo Albanians disagree and condemn retaliation attacks on Serbs and their property. We'd rather see them come back and live with us, and those guilty of crimes punished. I would also like to see Albanians guilty of such crimes punished. Most Kosovars would.
The issue of return is a political one. Albanians (both the government and the ordinary people) are ready to welcome their Serbian neighbours back; it's the Serbian government that doesn't want that.
You talked of KLA crimes, and your compatriots talk of a crime ridden Kosovo where the political elite is involved. While I accept that there is crime and corruption, it is nowhere near as bad as it is in Serbia. You always resort to these below-the-belt tactics. When everything else fails and all the other arguments are exhausted, you talk of crime. It's a bit rich coming from people whose capital in the 90s resembled Chicago during prohibition, whose crime clans control political, military, police and intelligence elites and murder the only hardworking and honest political leader you've had in ages. While I didn't agree with his agenda on Kosovo, I had respect for what he tried to achieve in the post-Milosevic Serbia.
When it comes to crime, Serbs make Kosovars look like little children. So when you accuse us about crime, three words come to my mind: pot, kettle & black!!!

I genuinely wish Serbia and its inhabitants all the best in the future. I hope that in the future we will be good neighbours.

Albanians and Serbians in Kosovo i Metohija should work together to see to it that our foreign 'visitors' leave that land since it does not belong to them.

As for the terrorists in Kosovo, they will not be happy, and I am not afraid of terrorists.

Serbia is a great country and will move forward to unprecendented levels in our history once we settle certian questions regarding Serbians in the Balkans and Kosovo.

Albanians have nothing to worry about, they have mother Russia on their side!

If Serbia was to convince USA, UK, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Austria,Albania, Macedonia, etc etc. to accept autonomy and they drafted up a resolution proposing autonomy, then Russia will veto it since it is not accepted to albanians!

Russia is the only democratic country in the world that stands for international law, human rights and rights of minorities, justice, moral values, etc etc!!

Russia is the great country where:

* jounalist can freely express themselves - as long as they dont criticise the goverment because then they get shot!

* where people can protest freely - as long as its not against the goverment because then you will get beaten up and arrested!

* where politicans can oppose the goverment - though watch what you eat because you might get poisoned, or put in jail!

* where people can move freely - unless of course your an ethnic minority then you are likely to get beaten up or stabbed to death by many racist gang that never get convicted. You are especially in danger of getting stabbed to death if you are a 3-year old Tajik girl!! If you are Georgian well, god help you as well.

Serbs open up your eyes, can't you see how the above sounds so ridicuolous?

Blerimi

When you try to compare Serbian and Albanian organised crime you make me laugh. Yes there is organised crime and criminals in Serbia but to say that they by far outstrip anything the Albanians do is ridiculous. For reference please follow the link to the FBI database file on Balkan organised crime.

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/orgcrime/balkan.htm

You will see that the file talks exclusively about Albanian Mafia.

Nick,

"I dont think the serbs and serbofiles who post here truly understand the gravity of the situation.

We are at the edge of our patience, and you really do not want to take it further than you already have."

I dont think you understand the gravity of the situation if you attempt to gain independence by force... you will lose...

Then someone else quoted... "So? We will declare independence without UN security council resoultion, and get immediately recognized by the major Western powers."

I truly have to ask... how will this Independence be declared? By a riot involving sticks and stones? UNMIK Police will have no problem settling that matter as they had in the past... By actual firearms and other weappons? That may last a day or two before KFOR steps in and puts a quick end to it! That also includes American KFOR. Trust me, they are fully aware that Albanians had attacked American Civpol in the past and this time around if deadly force by firearms is used against American Civpol then you can bet that the Albanians just lost their "allie." Trust me... Albanians do NOT want to start something they cant finish... So NICK, it would be wise of you to rephrase your statement in reference to your technique of gaining independence... you cant afford to lose your patience ... you WILL lose without the UN's support...

I think that what most albanians are failing to see is that the Serbs only fought against KLA targets before the bombing, and that the bombing hurt the albanians as it resulted in the easily predictable serbian retaliation against all albanians. The overwhelming majority of what happened in Kosovo happened after the bombing as was a result of the bombing.

Jack

The link you sent refers to the Balkan Organised Crime in general and Albanians are mentioned in the article as an illustration of the overall phenomenon imported to the US.

Had you bothered to read the FBI bulletins, you would have noticed that they regularly use the term YACS - Yugoslavian/Albanian/Croatian/Serbian and they even have a 'YACS Crime Group initiative'. But, of course, you - rather selectively - decided to mention only the Albanians in your post.
Furthermore, the article does not refer specifically to the Albanians - 'Within the Balkans, organized crime groups infiltrated the new democratic institutions, further expanding their profit opportunities'.

I don't deny that Albanian crime syndicates do 'well' around the world! It’s not a fact we Albanians are proud of. We’re doing all we can to rid our society of these cancerous elements. Kosovo Police has in the last couple of years made significant arrests and successfully prosecuted a number of criminals. A couple of months ago they (plus Kosovo customs) relayed information to the Macedonian police that resulted in the capture of half a ton of pure cocaine on the way to Europe, smuggled by a Serbian businesswoman.

What I was saying in my previous article is that the Serbian crime clans are much more infiltrated and influential within the Serbian state structures than Albanian crime will ever be in Kosovo's state structures. ‘Yours’ killed your PM for god's sake!!! With some help from his political adversaries! High government officials met the killer(s) informally inside the Ministry of the Interior and all the records of ins and outs (for the night/s in question) from the Ministry's reception have mysteriously disappeared!!!

My point is that in an attempt to depict yourselves as ‘the real victims’ you twist facts, misinform and exaggerate everything starting from the historical facts to the current situation. You resort to insults such as ‘backwards society organised in clans’; ‘criminals and savages and democracy stands no chance...’. I read comments like those on BBC forums about the Montenegrins when they voted for their independence. Ever wondered why no one wants to be in the same country as you? Is everyone around you evil and wrong?

Best wishes

Anyway, anyone for a pint? D'you think we'll beat Chelsea tonight?

nikshala- you have nailed this issue with Russia on the head.
Now is the time for the international law abiding once to comment on that. Just to refresh you international law memory before you jump up and down. Human rights are an international law (absolute rights).

the Blerimi´s and Nicks here fail to see what is going on, actually...

seems like the train never left the station. gooood morning Kosovooooooo.....

Jovane, Jovane

I never mentioned any trains or predicted any outcomes in my previous posts. I was just comparing Serbian and Kosovo realities and expressing hopes.

But now that you mentioned it, not only has the train left the station, it has powered ahead full steam and the train tannoy system is now announcing that it is entering the platform of the desired destination: 'The next station is - INDEPENDENCE. Please make sure you've got your brand new state symbols ready and at hand. Thank you for travelling with us and we hope you had a pleasant journey'.