U.S. Secretary of State arrives in Moscow

Lets see what Rice says after her visit! If there is little said regarding Kosovo & Metohija you can bet yoyur bottom dollar the US will have been told that pushing such folly through the UN SC will still be "futile & counterproductive" - get the message - Veto!!!

Veto will of course be the worts case scenario for the US as it is inevitable that they will have lost credibility and be facing a self closing trap of their own making!!! I guess Putin is sniggering at the mess the US have got themselves into and I suppose he could kindly suggest that the best way out is Russia's proposed resolution or another alternative making the rounds is Ahtisaari lite i.e. Ahtisaari plan minus the status!!!

Deteriorating relations can be avoided if the U.S. starts treating Russia as an equal instead of their lap dog!

Washington made clear their stance about Kosova "Kosova will be independent with or without resolution", so this trip to Moscow is just to make Russia feel that they are in board, and international community is taking them in consideration. Kosova is a major interest for USA (I don't know why), so don't dream my serbian frends and especially you Princip.

I know what Secretary RICE is going to do in Russia. It's time for arm-twisting and offer Russia a carrot, otherwise they will be told that no matter what we will recognize Kosovo/a 's Independence.

sukri my dear, we all know that the one who is in need is the one who will approach, in this case, US is in need of Russia's "yes" for kosovo which I think would be very hard to get. it is clear that ms. rice wants to court moscow. lets see what happens. but for russia she will surely stand by her word, i bet.

Most recently the US has advised the Kosovo Government not to declare independence unilaterally. That does not sound like blind support to me.
It's all just words and bluster - the US knows that if Russia does veto they will be totally stuck. Recognising self declarations of independence would be very very dangerous globally.
I agree with Princip that the proposal will go through but minus the line about supervised independence.
To M Miller and Shukri - the fact is that if Serbia does not recognise and consent to the independence of its own province there is no legal status. Therefore any external recognition would be illegal.

Even if there is a veto by Russians, Kosovo will be independent or at least a part of Albania(in this scenario minus Leposavic and Z.Potok). Or maybe status quo will go longer for a period, but later on again one of two options mentioned above.
There no other solution just because of the fact that there is no sovereignty for a country without presence of army and police. Is Serbia ready to bring back it's armed forces in Kosovo? How Albanians will react in a such scenario?

Valdet - Do you honestly think that Nato would allow you to add part of Serbia to Albania?? Come on, now. Perhaps there will be a division of Kosovo, but nothing will be joined with Albania.
Just because there are a bunch of fluff heads fronting a lot of Western politics at the moment, there is plenty of intelligence behind the scenes, especially after the recent fiascos which threaten to discredit the UN completely.

I have just had a look at the verbatim report of last weeks SC meeting which discussed the mission report from Mr Verbeke - Ambassadors gave their views on a new resolution which I think explains the new Russian threat of veto: US, UK,France, Belgium, Italy, Slovakia, peru, qatar, panama and Ghana all support a resolution based on Ahtisaari's proposals. Indonesia could also go along, but is non-committal. South AFrica and Congo didnt speak, and predictably RF and China are against. So, without a veto the US/EU resolution will pass. What is Condi going to give SErgey in exchange for abstaining?

As an American economist who loves his country I urge my Secretary of State who serves me not to beat a dead horse on this Kosovo issue.Anybody who thinks that Condoleeza or George is in a position to twist the arm of Vladimir Putin is not living in the real world.Russia is potentially America's most important strategic partner in the crucial areas affecting my country's peace and securiy such as worldwide nuclear non-proliferation, the ongoing fight against Islamic extremists in America and all over the globe and of course energy policy.I urge my present leaders to do simple math.150 million Russians with thousands of nuclear warheads and TRILLIONS of dollars worth of oil along with 12 million Serbs living in the heart of Europe versus the aspirations of 6 million Albanians.You do not need a PHD in Economics to do a cost/benefit analysis and come up with the right policy.A kindergarten kid can do it so I hope Condoleeza takes a break from her piano playing and actually starts thinking about the interests of America as a whole and not only the small pro- Albanian lobby which is using dirty money to bribe some of our politicians into a nonsensical position in the Balkans.

Tatiana.
I don't know what source of information you refer, but I just want to remember you that 1999 NATO air strikes is considered to cost about 16 billion $, and USA has the biggest military base in Europe in Sojevo near Ferizaj. So prepare to live with Kosova as good neighbors and prepare your passport when you came to Merdare.

Kate you keep forgetting East Timor among many other countries around the world that are UN members as we speak, which did not receive the consent from their colonizers and are Independence states. Kosovo/a was never part of serbian land and the facts rest with Colesium in Rome.Any Serb should take a trip and look at those walls and clearly you will see the maps engraved on said walls , which will show you the boundyries of Serbian Kingdom and Kosovo/a is nowher near in site of those boundyries.

@Valdet

you are the first Albanian to pose a good question here!

yes, the serbian state IS ready to send it´s security forces if necessary. but it won´t be necessary, since the internationals have the obligation to protect the souvereignty of the Republic of Serbia, a recognized member of the international community, since they have taken over this duty by signing the Kumanovo "agreement". so, if the Albanians choose to start violent acts, it will be their biggest mistake to bite the hand that feeds them.
better be smart and get the best possible - broad autonomy within Serbia.
otherwise you lose.

Please read Willaim Montgoery's Viewpoint Coloumn. It really hits the nail on the head. i.e., the small fish are used as bait by the large ones. what else is new?

To those who would like to bet in Russia veto, it will not make any massive difference you will see. Check how many times has Russia has used the veto in history of the United Nations and what have been the consequences. If they use the veto in Kosova issue that would be another humiliation for them. With Russia's approval or disapproval Kosova will be internationally newest state in the world. When the people of Kosova speak for their own future the others should be silent. It is people's power....

Princip honestly where are you from and from what ethnicity do you derive from?

The US (my country) is fully backing Albanian support whether in Kosova, Albanian, Macedonia or anywhere in the world because we are people who have always suffered (from serbs) just like Americans towards the British.

Condy Rice is in Russia to calm down the tensions since Russia is throwing fits for no apparent reason. If Russia decides to veto than you can be sure that America will be the first one to recognize Republic of Kosova's Independence.

Now tell me, what did the Greeks say when Macedonia wanted to be known as Macedonia and not as a Former etc etc..America recognized it and the Greeks can't do anything about it.

Good Day

Jovan, Kate:
Serbia is not ready to send back it's forces in Kosovo in now days circumstances.
Remember the Jashari family attack on March 1998: a single house in which were barricaded three males able for war. Armed with rifles(automatic, maybe any sniper) with no possibility to escape. In this house were present also 24 children’s and women’s members of heroic Jashari family. What was the solution that Serbian police applied there: bringing up the cannons and start to shell the house. Only one member(female children) of this heroic family survived the massacre. Twenty three children’s and women’s were killed by Serbs(your compatriots).
What you think for the option: isolate them, secure the area, take the perimeter out of the shooting range, cut the water supply and wait. This is what democratic police forces will do. Solution like Serbian forces applied there and elsewhere in Kosov are not allowed.
A girl in my neighborhood of age 16 in Vushtrri (April 1999) was raped, wrapped with carpet, put the gasoline and burned alive. My two uncles civilians and my mothers in sister were killed by Mitrovica Serbian police officers. All of them civilians age 63-66.
Remember Studime in Vushtrri 103 civilians executed. What about Izbica, Suva Reka case of Berisha family, Krusha etc.
Jovan, Kate:
1.Do you believe that such actions are allowed?
2. If Serbian forces back in Kosovo in the area with 1.8 milion Albanians, of course that Albanians will attack them as never before: snipers, ambushes on the towns, roadside bombs etc.
3. Is Serbia ready to face such losses on men’s and means?
3. In such urban, clandestine and guerrilla combats(at least, imagine Albania war potential) , will Serbian forces succeed to restore Serbian order without punishing the civilians as on 1998-99 in Kosovo, 1992-95 in Bosnia and 1991 in Croatia?
No. So forget Kosovo, and take care of yourself. We will get independence or unification with Albania(maybe in this scenario minus Leposavic and Zubin Potok).

IF YOU ARE UNAQUAINTED WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW PLEASE READ THIS!
1)Unilateral secession is not in accordance with any instrument of international law- please read Supreme Court of Canada opinion in the case of Quebec
2) International law does not recognize right to self-determination to minorities, Albanians are minority in Serbia, as Kosovo is integral part of it(G.A. Res.1244)-please read EC Commission opinion No 2 on ex-YU
3) If an entity wishes to be independent it has to engage in negotiations with the country they are departing from-read about Quebec
4) East Timor was according to ICJ entitled to secession due to the fact that it was treated as colonial entity, therefore no reference to Kosovo can be made- read ICJ judgment

U.S. Secretary of State will not ask the Russian side to support Ahtisaari's proposal for Kosovo's status, but to abstain from using its veto.

In my opinion I don't get why Russia in the first place is involved when it's not financing nor contributing to peace for that matter.

If let's say riots or the the worst-case scenario "war" will erupt, what will the Russia side then say?

Lets see what Rice says after her visit! If there is little said regarding Kosovo & Metohija you can bet yoyur bottom dollar the US will have been told that pushing such folly through the UN SC will still be "futile & counterproductive" - get the message - Veto!!!

Veto will of course be the worts case scenario for the US as it is inevitable that they will have lost credibility and be facing a self closing trap of their own making!!! I guess Putin is sniggering at the mess the US have got themselves into and I suppose he could kindly suggest that the best way out is Russia's proposed resolution or another alternative making the rounds is Ahtisaari lite i.e. Ahtisaari plan minus the status!!!

Deteriorating relations can be avoided if the U.S. starts treating Russia as an equal instead of their lap dog!

Washington made clear their stance about Kosova "Kosova will be independent with or without resolution", so this trip to Moscow is just to make Russia feel that they are in board, and international community is taking them in consideration. Kosova is a major interest for USA (I don't know why), so don't dream my serbian frends and especially you Princip.

I know what Secretary RICE is going to do in Russia. It's time for arm-twisting and offer Russia a carrot, otherwise they will be told that no matter what we will recognize Kosovo/a 's Independence.

sukri my dear, we all know that the one who is in need is the one who will approach, in this case, US is in need of Russia's "yes" for kosovo which I think would be very hard to get. it is clear that ms. rice wants to court moscow. lets see what happens. but for russia she will surely stand by her word, i bet.

Most recently the US has advised the Kosovo Government not to declare independence unilaterally. That does not sound like blind support to me.
It's all just words and bluster - the US knows that if Russia does veto they will be totally stuck. Recognising self declarations of independence would be very very dangerous globally.
I agree with Princip that the proposal will go through but minus the line about supervised independence.
To M Miller and Shukri - the fact is that if Serbia does not recognise and consent to the independence of its own province there is no legal status. Therefore any external recognition would be illegal.

Even if there is a veto by Russians, Kosovo will be independent or at least a part of Albania(in this scenario minus Leposavic and Z.Potok). Or maybe status quo will go longer for a period, but later on again one of two options mentioned above.
There no other solution just because of the fact that there is no sovereignty for a country without presence of army and police. Is Serbia ready to bring back it's armed forces in Kosovo? How Albanians will react in a such scenario?

Valdet - Do you honestly think that Nato would allow you to add part of Serbia to Albania?? Come on, now. Perhaps there will be a division of Kosovo, but nothing will be joined with Albania.
Just because there are a bunch of fluff heads fronting a lot of Western politics at the moment, there is plenty of intelligence behind the scenes, especially after the recent fiascos which threaten to discredit the UN completely.

I have just had a look at the verbatim report of last weeks SC meeting which discussed the mission report from Mr Verbeke - Ambassadors gave their views on a new resolution which I think explains the new Russian threat of veto: US, UK,France, Belgium, Italy, Slovakia, peru, qatar, panama and Ghana all support a resolution based on Ahtisaari's proposals. Indonesia could also go along, but is non-committal. South AFrica and Congo didnt speak, and predictably RF and China are against. So, without a veto the US/EU resolution will pass. What is Condi going to give SErgey in exchange for abstaining?

As an American economist who loves his country I urge my Secretary of State who serves me not to beat a dead horse on this Kosovo issue.Anybody who thinks that Condoleeza or George is in a position to twist the arm of Vladimir Putin is not living in the real world.Russia is potentially America's most important strategic partner in the crucial areas affecting my country's peace and securiy such as worldwide nuclear non-proliferation, the ongoing fight against Islamic extremists in America and all over the globe and of course energy policy.I urge my present leaders to do simple math.150 million Russians with thousands of nuclear warheads and TRILLIONS of dollars worth of oil along with 12 million Serbs living in the heart of Europe versus the aspirations of 6 million Albanians.You do not need a PHD in Economics to do a cost/benefit analysis and come up with the right policy.A kindergarten kid can do it so I hope Condoleeza takes a break from her piano playing and actually starts thinking about the interests of America as a whole and not only the small pro- Albanian lobby which is using dirty money to bribe some of our politicians into a nonsensical position in the Balkans.

Tatiana.
I don't know what source of information you refer, but I just want to remember you that 1999 NATO air strikes is considered to cost about 16 billion $, and USA has the biggest military base in Europe in Sojevo near Ferizaj. So prepare to live with Kosova as good neighbors and prepare your passport when you came to Merdare.

Kate you keep forgetting East Timor among many other countries around the world that are UN members as we speak, which did not receive the consent from their colonizers and are Independence states. Kosovo/a was never part of serbian land and the facts rest with Colesium in Rome.Any Serb should take a trip and look at those walls and clearly you will see the maps engraved on said walls , which will show you the boundyries of Serbian Kingdom and Kosovo/a is nowher near in site of those boundyries.

@Valdet

you are the first Albanian to pose a good question here!

yes, the serbian state IS ready to send it´s security forces if necessary. but it won´t be necessary, since the internationals have the obligation to protect the souvereignty of the Republic of Serbia, a recognized member of the international community, since they have taken over this duty by signing the Kumanovo "agreement". so, if the Albanians choose to start violent acts, it will be their biggest mistake to bite the hand that feeds them.
better be smart and get the best possible - broad autonomy within Serbia.
otherwise you lose.

Please read Willaim Montgoery's Viewpoint Coloumn. It really hits the nail on the head. i.e., the small fish are used as bait by the large ones. what else is new?

To those who would like to bet in Russia veto, it will not make any massive difference you will see. Check how many times has Russia has used the veto in history of the United Nations and what have been the consequences. If they use the veto in Kosova issue that would be another humiliation for them. With Russia's approval or disapproval Kosova will be internationally newest state in the world. When the people of Kosova speak for their own future the others should be silent. It is people's power....

Princip honestly where are you from and from what ethnicity do you derive from?

The US (my country) is fully backing Albanian support whether in Kosova, Albanian, Macedonia or anywhere in the world because we are people who have always suffered (from serbs) just like Americans towards the British.

Condy Rice is in Russia to calm down the tensions since Russia is throwing fits for no apparent reason. If Russia decides to veto than you can be sure that America will be the first one to recognize Republic of Kosova's Independence.

Now tell me, what did the Greeks say when Macedonia wanted to be known as Macedonia and not as a Former etc etc..America recognized it and the Greeks can't do anything about it.

Good Day

Jovan, Kate:
Serbia is not ready to send back it's forces in Kosovo in now days circumstances.
Remember the Jashari family attack on March 1998: a single house in which were barricaded three males able for war. Armed with rifles(automatic, maybe any sniper) with no possibility to escape. In this house were present also 24 children’s and women’s members of heroic Jashari family. What was the solution that Serbian police applied there: bringing up the cannons and start to shell the house. Only one member(female children) of this heroic family survived the massacre. Twenty three children’s and women’s were killed by Serbs(your compatriots).
What you think for the option: isolate them, secure the area, take the perimeter out of the shooting range, cut the water supply and wait. This is what democratic police forces will do. Solution like Serbian forces applied there and elsewhere in Kosov are not allowed.
A girl in my neighborhood of age 16 in Vushtrri (April 1999) was raped, wrapped with carpet, put the gasoline and burned alive. My two uncles civilians and my mothers in sister were killed by Mitrovica Serbian police officers. All of them civilians age 63-66.
Remember Studime in Vushtrri 103 civilians executed. What about Izbica, Suva Reka case of Berisha family, Krusha etc.
Jovan, Kate:
1.Do you believe that such actions are allowed?
2. If Serbian forces back in Kosovo in the area with 1.8 milion Albanians, of course that Albanians will attack them as never before: snipers, ambushes on the towns, roadside bombs etc.
3. Is Serbia ready to face such losses on men’s and means?
3. In such urban, clandestine and guerrilla combats(at least, imagine Albania war potential) , will Serbian forces succeed to restore Serbian order without punishing the civilians as on 1998-99 in Kosovo, 1992-95 in Bosnia and 1991 in Croatia?
No. So forget Kosovo, and take care of yourself. We will get independence or unification with Albania(maybe in this scenario minus Leposavic and Zubin Potok).

IF YOU ARE UNAQUAINTED WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW PLEASE READ THIS!
1)Unilateral secession is not in accordance with any instrument of international law- please read Supreme Court of Canada opinion in the case of Quebec
2) International law does not recognize right to self-determination to minorities, Albanians are minority in Serbia, as Kosovo is integral part of it(G.A. Res.1244)-please read EC Commission opinion No 2 on ex-YU
3) If an entity wishes to be independent it has to engage in negotiations with the country they are departing from-read about Quebec
4) East Timor was according to ICJ entitled to secession due to the fact that it was treated as colonial entity, therefore no reference to Kosovo can be made- read ICJ judgment

U.S. Secretary of State will not ask the Russian side to support Ahtisaari's proposal for Kosovo's status, but to abstain from using its veto.

In my opinion I don't get why Russia in the first place is involved when it's not financing nor contributing to peace for that matter.

If let's say riots or the the worst-case scenario "war" will erupt, what will the Russia side then say?