Rice: Kosovo will never be Serbia’s

It is obvious that there is no need to convince Putin & Russia not to veto. We all know that it's not that Russia (and Russians)love Serbia and its people so much, and because of that, they wanna show it by blocking the SC resolution from passing! Russians think that by acting like this, they can gain power in the world, and compete with Americans and the major EU leaders! What a pity :(
With or without a UNSC resolution, KOSOVA will become independent. Serbia has a clear choice: must turn away from isolation and nationalism – and accept the EU support to move forward, or trap its people in poverty and pessimism, as they always did! I feel sorry that they don't know how to better canalize their nationalistic parities!

As we can see, Washington is clear on this issue, and if I would be serb I would try to to recognize this new reality for the good of our nations. God put our nations to live near each either so we must be good neighbors and this moment is important for a good start. Be brave, do it, face new reality!

Thanks to Secretary Rice for once again confirming that Kosova will be an independent country and that it will NEVER be part of Serbia again.
While the US secretary showed open support for Kosova's independence, the Russian counterpart showed no sign of being in the side of Serbia but rather, Lavrov or Putin didnt even mention Serbia and this shows how much Russia cares for Serbia.

Serbia has nothing to gain from this sad attempt to avoid "loosing" Kosovo. The myth of kosovo is virtual. The history of kosovo is manipulated. The people of Kosovo are completely ignored. Serbia has nothing to offer Kosovo.

Draskovic kept on saying that loosing kosovo is a humiliation for Serbia - but what is really humiliating is trying to hang on every dropped word of Russia to keep something which doesnt want to stay and which can bring Serbia nothing but conflict, disaster and more international sanctions.

Anthony SH. You are wrong about 14 century, but 1912 is the first time serbia occupied/annexed Kosovo/a. Before that Kosovo/a was never part of Serbia. I don't think you have a clue how big Serbia was before 1912(Belgrade with its sorroundings).Also, don't forget that Secretary Rice will keep her word in regard to Kosovo/a's Independence and there is nothing Russia can do about it.

russia is flexing its muscles now against the US and EU alike. and this is based on international law so its very hard for the EU-US to circumvent the law. today is may 16 and nothing concrete has been done in the UNSC. and its getting harder even with the intervention of ms rice. as well as more problems are coming up in gaza, iran, north korea, iraq and afghanistan. MAYDAY MAYDAY...

How wrong she is. Kosovo and Metohija will always be part of Serbia regardless of what happens in the short term. I expect the Ottoman elite thought the same as Rice in the 14th century.... and then in 1912 Serbia proved that Kosovo and Metohija can never be seperated from Serbia.

I would call this: strait in the eye! Everyone, including Russia, knows very well what a pain have Serbia caused to Albanians, but not only to them, but to all the others in the Balkans, therefore no reason could be found to request the SC members to decide otherwise than full independence for Kosova. Instead of swearing US and EU and Albanian people, our neighbors, Serbs, here should actually apologize to what have been done to them (K/Alb)m, and realize the pure reality.
Only people who do not wish to see the K/Serbs prospering could do the opposite. People advocating Kosova as part of Serbia, regardless the fact it will never be, are actually advocating pure Albanian ethnic Kosova, what, regardless what the Serbian regime did in the past 80 years, K/Albanians do not want, not because Albanians have a kind of sympathy towards the Serbs, but for the sake of peace and stability once and forever in the region, moving towards civilization.
I use the opportunity, if this article is going to be published, to call my fellow K/Serb citizens to accept the reality, leave the chauvinistic political leaders, to apologize to their Albanian neighbors, to live in peace and prosperity, even among them. Try once, it is possible, everything is possible, believe me.

RE: Kosovo

Kosovo was liberated in 1912 and King Peter I rode in his high white horse in the centre of Pristina where the streets were full of Albanians and Serbians cheering "Long Live the King!!" "Long Live the King~!"

The Serbians waited 500 years's of Ottoman rule to liberate Kosovo they can wait less time to liberate again even if it falls under the illegitimate and illegal Ahtisarri plan which breaches all international laws and precedents.

So as the Turkish foreigh Pasha's fought to control Kosovo, so does foreign US interests, but Kosovo cannot be stolen.

Here we go again:

"1912 is the first time serbia occupied/annexed Kosovo/a. Before that Kosovo/a was never part of Serbia. I don't think you have a clue how big Serbia was before 1912(Belgrade with its sorroundings)."

Did the devil plant the 700+ hundred year old churches and monastaries all throughout Kosovo...what's left of them, anyway, after they were vandalaised?

Considering that the US Government has just said that there will be no unilateral recognition of Kosovo i Metohija's independance and also because Russia will definately veto the curernt plan, i honestly don't see how Kosovo i Metohija could be anyone else's but Serbia's. Please don't tell me that it was only Serbia's since 1912. That's blantant Albanian (pigeon) propaganda.

Mrs.Rice is once again talking a lot, but did she convince Mr.Putin?
don´t think so.
and without russian and chinese approval... I don´t think it´s necessary to say it, right?

Mrs.Rice will have to face reality, and should eventually take a good look on the remaining Albanians in the New Jersey area, since the WTC-attack was finally successful in the 2nd try. don´t give them another chance.

i loved her shocked face yesterday, when "ngo´s" told her in the us-embassy that putin will quite sure split georgia (but bosnia too) on the same day the us recognizes kosovo.

i think the message is now clear, as long as she doesn´t make mistakes, she can talk whatever she wants day in and day out!

I see that some Serbian people are preparing themselves for the next turmoil decade in the Balkans.
What a pity that Serbia and some of its neighbours (Bosnia and maybe Kosovo, even if I am not sure for the latter) will not be part of the developed world for many years to come.

So Ms Rice where does that leave resolution 1244?

People here is a transcript of Mrs. Rice interview gave Ekho Moskvy http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/may/84931.htm
You can read it especially the line where she answers about unilateral recognation of Kosova as a state.

As of this writing, nothing has happened. She is returning home with little to show. Sometimes it works to bluff. But not when everybody knows you have a weak hand. The only leverage she ever had on the RF was the financial dependence in the late 1980s and in the 1990s. That is gone. RF now is more assertive of their own interests and less compliant.

Predictor - it takes two to tango. maybe you albanians should apologise first for the war crimes you committed in WWII with the SS to show your goodwill first. maybe then we can talk.

Rice is being ridiculous. Does she also think the Albanians in Presevo should be given independence. Of course Albanians can live in Serbia.

No matter what Putin says, or Bush, or Rice, Kosovo is no longer a part of Serbia! Unfortunately for the Serbs, Milosevic has done the irreparable. Albanians were deprived of all rights for a decade, expulsed from their homes, killed by the 1000s... After what has been accomplished in Kosovo, have accomplished in Kosovo, Albanians want their independance from Serbia and this is what the USA want and many other nations.

Brian.
Perhaps, she's right about that. We all knew that Serbs can no longer live in Croatia.
And they don't live in Croatia.

Ms. Rice says that Kosovo will not lead to a precedent because it is a problem specific to the Balkans. So, unilateral recognition is the worst case scenario.

This is an absolute shambles. Will granting an independant Kosovo even guarentee the safety of Serbian people and stop Albanians from migrating further north and occupying more Serbian land and/or displacing Serbian citizens. I don't think so, and Im sure if that ever did happen the Albanians will scream discrimination and claim that Serbs never lived in those areas either.

US kept his words when attacked Serbia in 1999. Russia couldnt do anything on that time. US will keep its words again. On the other hand it is very weird that dictatorial countries like Russia are asked to decide if a people is to be free or not considering that itself is doing the same to its own population like serbia to its neibgours.

Russian's are trying to prove that they are still a force to be messed with, eventhough they alone in the game. They have quite a bit of work to do in their own country and then worry about the rest of the world. The world understands this and is only playing fair for now, but when decision time comes - we will see who will flex their muslces and who will try to find the best 'diplomatic excuse'. Russia is losing big points by opposing the EU and the US in their decision making - and so is Serbia alongside.

As far as rest of the world in concerned and the concurrent involvement of the US - all I have to say is THANK GOD that we have the US in this world.

Having a degree from University College London in Balkan History (Medieval Serbia being my thesis) actually gives me a sound understanding of the relationship between Kosovo and Metohija and 14th century Serbia.

M.Miller for your information. Dusan ruled an Empire (that ironically didn't include Beograd) until 1355 which stretched from the Danube to the gulf of Corinth. He was crowned in Skpoje as Emperor of both Serbs and Greeks. Kosovo and Metohija was very central to the Serbian state... 2 of his ancestors having their capitals in Prizren and Pristina. Place names, ruined churches, and even the ultra biased Albanian stooge Noel Malcolm admits that in medieval Kosovo and Metohija Albanians were a minority.

I think you're historical myth and oral tradition falls to bits in the face of historic fact. Hoxha told you a load of fairy tales.

And Skanderbeg was as much Serb as he was Albanian. Bet that hurts!

I would like to remind the players about something that has not been reported widely by the media. For obvious reasons:

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - FreeMarketNews.com

A Spanish judge is calling for President Bush and his allies to be tried for war crimes over Iraq. This is the same judge who tried to prosecute Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet for war crimes. Baltasar Garzon made the accusation on the anniversary of the beginning of the war saying that "Breaking every international law, and under the pretext of the war against terror, there has taken place since 2003 a devastating attack on the rule of law and against the very essence of the international community."

Gaston then criticised former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar who supported the war and sent troops to Iraq.

In addition to citing the Chilean dictator, Gaston has said he intends to question Henry Kissinger about events in Chile after documents indicated that Kissinger knew what was happening in Chile.

How wrong she is. Kosovo and Metohija will always be part of Serbia regardless of what happens in the short term. I expect the Ottoman elite thought the same as Rice in the 14th century.... and then in 1912 Serbia proved that Kosovo and Metohija can never be seperated from Serbia.
(Anthony Shelmerdine, Wednesday, 16 May, 2007, 11:24)

Hey Anthony , just to tell you that you are so so wrong check this link :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Illyria.jpg

where the dardans ( today albanians) were in Kosova , I can't tell for sure where the Serbs were .

all the best

hey
serb's can live in an independent kosovo too.

people who live in kosovo will rule it. not belgrade, not moscow, not beijing.

sorry.

i guess the serbs have a choice of how they would like kosovo to see it go. resolution or not

peace

Predictor - it takes two to tango. maybe you albanians should apologise first for the war crimes you committed in WWII with the SS to show your goodwill first. maybe then we can talk.
(PB, Wednesday, 16 May, 2007, 14:39)

PB - so thats why serbs killed innocent albanian civilians 98-99 war, because of what happened in WW2!!! Now it makes sense!!-(regardless of whether what you are saying about WW2 is true or not)

So maybe Isreal should throw a nuclear bomb at Germany , kill a few million there..... I could go on to prove how ridicuolus you 'excuse' for serb crimes sound.

Look we as a group have to make a big decision, or tradeoff, is my view. The reality is that Kosovo or Kosova, or whatever, is not considered to be a part of Serbia by the pragmatically important voices of the world elites.

So, then, our choice is either to let Kosovo go and to focus on enhancing the well-being of Serbian citizens in Serbia, or to fight for Kosovo and have people like massimo laugh at us in the end. It's our choice...

Ally with the West. Have a vital economy, attract influential foreigners to live in Belgrade, and there is a possibility that the US will give Serbia Kosovo in the future.

In 1999 the WEST moved forward without the UNs aproval and that made russia fell humiliated, The West is saying the same again with or without and UN aproval Kosovo will get its indipendence. Now do you really think russia wants too fell humiliated again, THE answer is NO!! so they will not veto in the proposal and they will still go with there heads high. Simple logiks.

The rational European leaders must step forward and prevent US arrogance from dividing Europe .The US is NOT a European country and should not dictate anything.The EU works great as an economic/free trade zone but will be powerless to prevent a political schism on its continent if it does not insist on mutually acceptable solutions to all sides on any given issue.Russia along with Belarus and Serbia can unilaterally recognize Republika Srpska,Transdniester and Ossetia in additon to agitating 30 million Russians living in Ukraine,Estonia,Lithuania Latvia for more autonomy if not outright independence.Russia can station THOUSANDS of its nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad.As far as idiots who talk about Russia needing the EU to sell its oil the fact is that Russia can sell ALL of its oil only to China for the next 100 years and not supply any to Europe.China's 1 billion people and massive economy use more oil than Russia can supply.Oil is black GOLD and can be sold anywhere at world market prices.The US has nothing to offer Europe except a market of 300 million overspending indebted consumers and the oppurtunity for European boys to sacrifice their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.It is time for the 500 million Europeans in the EU to tell 300 million Americans that we are great friends but we do not dictate to each other.

Let me try to understand what is happening. Eastern North Atlantic (ENA) countries, aka Western Europe (WE), want the Kosovo, Serbia (KS) issue to become a European Union (EU) issue by transferring United Nations (UN) resolution 1244 to the EU. Let me further try to understand that when this proposal first surfaced, China’s, Russia’s and the United States of America’s (USA) question mark started to blink like a computer curser. The EU tried to alleviate the USA’s (US) concern by stating the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would remain on the ground in KS; thus, keeping the US in the solution to the KS former-conflict of the twentieth century. Russia being the scholarly statesmen shown their diplomatic light on WE and exposed that all parties in KS were not part of the peaceful solution. Then the US took the side of the Albanian speaking inhabitants of KS. Why would the US do this now? Maybe it’s because if they wait the NATO troops will be replaced by EU troops (EUFOR) then the US will not have a voice, yet they have refugees from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Yugoslavia). Could there be more to this reasoning? Albanian speaking inhabitants of KS threatening violence if their demands are not met? If that is the case, then KS is an international issue and not an EU issue.

All of these “international” conflicts in former Yugoslavia could have been avoided if Yugoslavia’s member status in the UN was respected, rather than preventing Yugoslavia’s attempt to reform into a democracy.

Has the UN/NATO disarmed the Albanian speaking inhabitants of KS?

Čifra, May 16, 2007

For all those Albanians who really feel America has their best interest at heart, think again!

America's interest is in the land of Kosovo not its people. The Americana's don't care about the average Albanian. This struggle over Kosovo has nothing to do with 1.5 Million largely unemployed, under educated, short tempered Albanians whose average age is around 22 years old. The same could be said for Europe, what possible Benefit could the Albanian people bring to Europe? what would there contribution be to Europe be? Besides organized crime.

This whole thing about granting Kosovo independence is because of the untapped rich resources the Provence has. European and American business want to come into the Provence and buy everything up for their own benefit, the Albanian people would at best enjoy minimum paying jobs to carry out this agenda, at least those who would want to work and I know there are some good people there who want to work and be productive.

For the most part of the Slavic History on the Balkans (that began around 600 AD), the area which is now Kosovo was not part of any Serbian state.

In 1400 years, Kosovo was Serbian land for just around 300 years. And it seems like the last time Kosovo was majoritarially Serbian was around the end of the Middle Ages — since then, Kosovo has been multiethnic and since 19th century, predominantely Albanian.

The Battle of Kosovo in 1389 cannot be used as a certificate of property over Kosovo. Borders and states are not defined by what happened in European Dark Ages. Imagine if Germany claim the northern half of Italy just because it was territory of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation around 1300.

As the same way Gdansk will never be German again, Kosovo will never be Serb again. Period.

Just wait and see the serbian political strategy in next few days.Ratko Mladic will be arrested and handed over to ICTY and this will not surprise me even if its same day when UNSC meets to vote the resolution.Thats just another poker game for Serbia and its politicians.But every game has more than one player and in poker you never know what cards are still in play and in other hands.Ratko Mladic is your last card, you will use it in smart way.But we have another two cards to play with.Lets just see what comes next in few weeks time.Hope it will not be 1914.Good luck with your last card.Dont think it will work.....Remember there are two more cards to be shown....

Instead of insulting Serbians and Russians, the Albanians posting here should put forth logical arguments, not emotional ones. Who cares that Albanians believe they are Illyrians, which the Croats also claimed during their quest for independence during the Austro-Hungarian Empire? And stating over and over again that the US will recognize Kosovo's independence does nothing for Kosovo. Without a UN resolution, the EU won't take over from the UN and the US has already said that it won't act unilaterally. Both sides need to work together to solve this problem and stop insulting each other otherwise Kosovo will be stuck for years to come.

It would be a nice gesture for Ms Rice to offer Albany to the Albanians because the name fits and the Americans are there totally for them.
Kosovo, however, will forever remain Serbian, there needs to be no dispute about this, and the Serbian nation accepts a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious community within its sovereign territory.
The ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo and Metohija need to be conferring on how to govern within the province because they wish to remain isolated.
International law and sovereign territory must be respected, Ms Rice.

Kosovo will remain in Serbia always, Ms. Rice. You are looking to Putin as the fall-guy so you can turn and say to Kosovo,"We did the max for you, but....."
Already, US cautions Kosovars not to declare independence unilaterally.

As of who has more influence Russia or EU and USA is well known. You the serbs do not have to look further than your own new government.
Your new government is formed based on the influence and the wish of USA and EU not of Russia. You even had to change the speaker of the parliament from one that was a pro russian to a one that is pro western.
Also, if you serbs think that Russia is the winner and EU and USA the looser, then why do you want to join the EU instead of joining Russia?
Dont you see that there is some kind of backlash between your actions and your words? dont you see that you are not fitting with the reality?
Again, Ms. Rice said it very well that Kosova will NEVER belong to Serbia again. Like it or not, you have to live with this fact my dear serb neighbors.

Nikshala - i don't condone war crimes by whoever or whenever they perpetrated them, and the perpetrators MUST be punished. What i was saying was that if the Albanians want to build better relations with the Serbs then they should first admit to their role in WWII where many, many more Serbs were killed than Albanians have been in Kosovo (and no, i'm not making light of the thousands of Albanians who died). Serbia is under a completely different regime to Milosevic now which should be the basis for a much more constructive relationship between the albanians and the serbs. the reality is that the entire region has to cooperate so as to ensure a propsperous future and is not helped by the west's and Kosovo albanians demanding independence with no room for manouvre on the serbian side - that isn't a negotiation but a demand. if the defacto situation stays the same it'll be the basis for more trouble in the future, whether it's next week, month, year or 5,10,20,50 years from now.

How wrong she is. Kosovo and Metohija will always be part of Serbia regardless of what happens in the short term. I expect the Ottoman elite thought the same as Rice in the 14th century.... and then in 1912 Serbia proved that Kosovo and Metohija can never be seperated from Serbia.

Mrs.Rice is once again talking a lot, but did she convince Mr.Putin?
don´t think so.
and without russian and chinese approval... I don´t think it´s necessary to say it, right?

Mrs.Rice will have to face reality, and should eventually take a good look on the remaining Albanians in the New Jersey area, since the WTC-attack was finally successful in the 2nd try. don´t give them another chance.

So Ms Rice where does that leave resolution 1244?

As of this writing, nothing has happened. She is returning home with little to show. Sometimes it works to bluff. But not when everybody knows you have a weak hand. The only leverage she ever had on the RF was the financial dependence in the late 1980s and in the 1990s. That is gone. RF now is more assertive of their own interests and less compliant.

russia is flexing its muscles now against the US and EU alike. and this is based on international law so its very hard for the EU-US to circumvent the law. today is may 16 and nothing concrete has been done in the UNSC. and its getting harder even with the intervention of ms rice. as well as more problems are coming up in gaza, iran, north korea, iraq and afghanistan. MAYDAY MAYDAY...

As we can see, Washington is clear on this issue, and if I would be serb I would try to to recognize this new reality for the good of our nations. God put our nations to live near each either so we must be good neighbors and this moment is important for a good start. Be brave, do it, face new reality!

Thanks to Secretary Rice for once again confirming that Kosova will be an independent country and that it will NEVER be part of Serbia again.
While the US secretary showed open support for Kosova's independence, the Russian counterpart showed no sign of being in the side of Serbia but rather, Lavrov or Putin didnt even mention Serbia and this shows how much Russia cares for Serbia.

i loved her shocked face yesterday, when "ngo´s" told her in the us-embassy that putin will quite sure split georgia (but bosnia too) on the same day the us recognizes kosovo.

i think the message is now clear, as long as she doesn´t make mistakes, she can talk whatever she wants day in and day out!

Serbia has nothing to gain from this sad attempt to avoid "loosing" Kosovo. The myth of kosovo is virtual. The history of kosovo is manipulated. The people of Kosovo are completely ignored. Serbia has nothing to offer Kosovo.

Draskovic kept on saying that loosing kosovo is a humiliation for Serbia - but what is really humiliating is trying to hang on every dropped word of Russia to keep something which doesnt want to stay and which can bring Serbia nothing but conflict, disaster and more international sanctions.

I see that some Serbian people are preparing themselves for the next turmoil decade in the Balkans.
What a pity that Serbia and some of its neighbours (Bosnia and maybe Kosovo, even if I am not sure for the latter) will not be part of the developed world for many years to come.

Anthony SH. You are wrong about 14 century, but 1912 is the first time serbia occupied/annexed Kosovo/a. Before that Kosovo/a was never part of Serbia. I don't think you have a clue how big Serbia was before 1912(Belgrade with its sorroundings).Also, don't forget that Secretary Rice will keep her word in regard to Kosovo/a's Independence and there is nothing Russia can do about it.

I would call this: strait in the eye! Everyone, including Russia, knows very well what a pain have Serbia caused to Albanians, but not only to them, but to all the others in the Balkans, therefore no reason could be found to request the SC members to decide otherwise than full independence for Kosova. Instead of swearing US and EU and Albanian people, our neighbors, Serbs, here should actually apologize to what have been done to them (K/Alb)m, and realize the pure reality.
Only people who do not wish to see the K/Serbs prospering could do the opposite. People advocating Kosova as part of Serbia, regardless the fact it will never be, are actually advocating pure Albanian ethnic Kosova, what, regardless what the Serbian regime did in the past 80 years, K/Albanians do not want, not because Albanians have a kind of sympathy towards the Serbs, but for the sake of peace and stability once and forever in the region, moving towards civilization.
I use the opportunity, if this article is going to be published, to call my fellow K/Serb citizens to accept the reality, leave the chauvinistic political leaders, to apologize to their Albanian neighbors, to live in peace and prosperity, even among them. Try once, it is possible, everything is possible, believe me.

People here is a transcript of Mrs. Rice interview gave Ekho Moskvy http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/may/84931.htm
You can read it especially the line where she answers about unilateral recognation of Kosova as a state.

It is obvious that there is no need to convince Putin & Russia not to veto. We all know that it's not that Russia (and Russians)love Serbia and its people so much, and because of that, they wanna show it by blocking the SC resolution from passing! Russians think that by acting like this, they can gain power in the world, and compete with Americans and the major EU leaders! What a pity :(
With or without a UNSC resolution, KOSOVA will become independent. Serbia has a clear choice: must turn away from isolation and nationalism – and accept the EU support to move forward, or trap its people in poverty and pessimism, as they always did! I feel sorry that they don't know how to better canalize their nationalistic parities!

Predictor - it takes two to tango. maybe you albanians should apologise first for the war crimes you committed in WWII with the SS to show your goodwill first. maybe then we can talk.

Rice is being ridiculous. Does she also think the Albanians in Presevo should be given independence. Of course Albanians can live in Serbia.

No matter what Putin says, or Bush, or Rice, Kosovo is no longer a part of Serbia! Unfortunately for the Serbs, Milosevic has done the irreparable. Albanians were deprived of all rights for a decade, expulsed from their homes, killed by the 1000s... After what has been accomplished in Kosovo, have accomplished in Kosovo, Albanians want their independance from Serbia and this is what the USA want and many other nations.

Brian.
Perhaps, she's right about that. We all knew that Serbs can no longer live in Croatia.
And they don't live in Croatia.

Ms. Rice says that Kosovo will not lead to a precedent because it is a problem specific to the Balkans. So, unilateral recognition is the worst case scenario.

This is an absolute shambles. Will granting an independant Kosovo even guarentee the safety of Serbian people and stop Albanians from migrating further north and occupying more Serbian land and/or displacing Serbian citizens. I don't think so, and Im sure if that ever did happen the Albanians will scream discrimination and claim that Serbs never lived in those areas either.

US kept his words when attacked Serbia in 1999. Russia couldnt do anything on that time. US will keep its words again. On the other hand it is very weird that dictatorial countries like Russia are asked to decide if a people is to be free or not considering that itself is doing the same to its own population like serbia to its neibgours.

Russian's are trying to prove that they are still a force to be messed with, eventhough they alone in the game. They have quite a bit of work to do in their own country and then worry about the rest of the world. The world understands this and is only playing fair for now, but when decision time comes - we will see who will flex their muslces and who will try to find the best 'diplomatic excuse'. Russia is losing big points by opposing the EU and the US in their decision making - and so is Serbia alongside.

As far as rest of the world in concerned and the concurrent involvement of the US - all I have to say is THANK GOD that we have the US in this world.

Having a degree from University College London in Balkan History (Medieval Serbia being my thesis) actually gives me a sound understanding of the relationship between Kosovo and Metohija and 14th century Serbia.

M.Miller for your information. Dusan ruled an Empire (that ironically didn't include Beograd) until 1355 which stretched from the Danube to the gulf of Corinth. He was crowned in Skpoje as Emperor of both Serbs and Greeks. Kosovo and Metohija was very central to the Serbian state... 2 of his ancestors having their capitals in Prizren and Pristina. Place names, ruined churches, and even the ultra biased Albanian stooge Noel Malcolm admits that in medieval Kosovo and Metohija Albanians were a minority.

I think you're historical myth and oral tradition falls to bits in the face of historic fact. Hoxha told you a load of fairy tales.

And Skanderbeg was as much Serb as he was Albanian. Bet that hurts!

I would like to remind the players about something that has not been reported widely by the media. For obvious reasons:

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - FreeMarketNews.com

A Spanish judge is calling for President Bush and his allies to be tried for war crimes over Iraq. This is the same judge who tried to prosecute Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet for war crimes. Baltasar Garzon made the accusation on the anniversary of the beginning of the war saying that "Breaking every international law, and under the pretext of the war against terror, there has taken place since 2003 a devastating attack on the rule of law and against the very essence of the international community."

Gaston then criticised former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar who supported the war and sent troops to Iraq.

In addition to citing the Chilean dictator, Gaston has said he intends to question Henry Kissinger about events in Chile after documents indicated that Kissinger knew what was happening in Chile.

How wrong she is. Kosovo and Metohija will always be part of Serbia regardless of what happens in the short term. I expect the Ottoman elite thought the same as Rice in the 14th century.... and then in 1912 Serbia proved that Kosovo and Metohija can never be seperated from Serbia.
(Anthony Shelmerdine, Wednesday, 16 May, 2007, 11:24)

Hey Anthony , just to tell you that you are so so wrong check this link :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Illyria.jpg

where the dardans ( today albanians) were in Kosova , I can't tell for sure where the Serbs were .

all the best

hey
serb's can live in an independent kosovo too.

people who live in kosovo will rule it. not belgrade, not moscow, not beijing.

sorry.

i guess the serbs have a choice of how they would like kosovo to see it go. resolution or not

peace

Predictor - it takes two to tango. maybe you albanians should apologise first for the war crimes you committed in WWII with the SS to show your goodwill first. maybe then we can talk.
(PB, Wednesday, 16 May, 2007, 14:39)

PB - so thats why serbs killed innocent albanian civilians 98-99 war, because of what happened in WW2!!! Now it makes sense!!-(regardless of whether what you are saying about WW2 is true or not)

So maybe Isreal should throw a nuclear bomb at Germany , kill a few million there..... I could go on to prove how ridicuolus you 'excuse' for serb crimes sound.

Look we as a group have to make a big decision, or tradeoff, is my view. The reality is that Kosovo or Kosova, or whatever, is not considered to be a part of Serbia by the pragmatically important voices of the world elites.

So, then, our choice is either to let Kosovo go and to focus on enhancing the well-being of Serbian citizens in Serbia, or to fight for Kosovo and have people like massimo laugh at us in the end. It's our choice...

Ally with the West. Have a vital economy, attract influential foreigners to live in Belgrade, and there is a possibility that the US will give Serbia Kosovo in the future.

In 1999 the WEST moved forward without the UNs aproval and that made russia fell humiliated, The West is saying the same again with or without and UN aproval Kosovo will get its indipendence. Now do you really think russia wants too fell humiliated again, THE answer is NO!! so they will not veto in the proposal and they will still go with there heads high. Simple logiks.

The rational European leaders must step forward and prevent US arrogance from dividing Europe .The US is NOT a European country and should not dictate anything.The EU works great as an economic/free trade zone but will be powerless to prevent a political schism on its continent if it does not insist on mutually acceptable solutions to all sides on any given issue.Russia along with Belarus and Serbia can unilaterally recognize Republika Srpska,Transdniester and Ossetia in additon to agitating 30 million Russians living in Ukraine,Estonia,Lithuania Latvia for more autonomy if not outright independence.Russia can station THOUSANDS of its nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad.As far as idiots who talk about Russia needing the EU to sell its oil the fact is that Russia can sell ALL of its oil only to China for the next 100 years and not supply any to Europe.China's 1 billion people and massive economy use more oil than Russia can supply.Oil is black GOLD and can be sold anywhere at world market prices.The US has nothing to offer Europe except a market of 300 million overspending indebted consumers and the oppurtunity for European boys to sacrifice their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.It is time for the 500 million Europeans in the EU to tell 300 million Americans that we are great friends but we do not dictate to each other.

Let me try to understand what is happening. Eastern North Atlantic (ENA) countries, aka Western Europe (WE), want the Kosovo, Serbia (KS) issue to become a European Union (EU) issue by transferring United Nations (UN) resolution 1244 to the EU. Let me further try to understand that when this proposal first surfaced, China’s, Russia’s and the United States of America’s (USA) question mark started to blink like a computer curser. The EU tried to alleviate the USA’s (US) concern by stating the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would remain on the ground in KS; thus, keeping the US in the solution to the KS former-conflict of the twentieth century. Russia being the scholarly statesmen shown their diplomatic light on WE and exposed that all parties in KS were not part of the peaceful solution. Then the US took the side of the Albanian speaking inhabitants of KS. Why would the US do this now? Maybe it’s because if they wait the NATO troops will be replaced by EU troops (EUFOR) then the US will not have a voice, yet they have refugees from the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Yugoslavia). Could there be more to this reasoning? Albanian speaking inhabitants of KS threatening violence if their demands are not met? If that is the case, then KS is an international issue and not an EU issue.

All of these “international” conflicts in former Yugoslavia could have been avoided if Yugoslavia’s member status in the UN was respected, rather than preventing Yugoslavia’s attempt to reform into a democracy.

Has the UN/NATO disarmed the Albanian speaking inhabitants of KS?

Čifra, May 16, 2007

For all those Albanians who really feel America has their best interest at heart, think again!

America's interest is in the land of Kosovo not its people. The Americana's don't care about the average Albanian. This struggle over Kosovo has nothing to do with 1.5 Million largely unemployed, under educated, short tempered Albanians whose average age is around 22 years old. The same could be said for Europe, what possible Benefit could the Albanian people bring to Europe? what would there contribution be to Europe be? Besides organized crime.

This whole thing about granting Kosovo independence is because of the untapped rich resources the Provence has. European and American business want to come into the Provence and buy everything up for their own benefit, the Albanian people would at best enjoy minimum paying jobs to carry out this agenda, at least those who would want to work and I know there are some good people there who want to work and be productive.

For the most part of the Slavic History on the Balkans (that began around 600 AD), the area which is now Kosovo was not part of any Serbian state.

In 1400 years, Kosovo was Serbian land for just around 300 years. And it seems like the last time Kosovo was majoritarially Serbian was around the end of the Middle Ages — since then, Kosovo has been multiethnic and since 19th century, predominantely Albanian.

The Battle of Kosovo in 1389 cannot be used as a certificate of property over Kosovo. Borders and states are not defined by what happened in European Dark Ages. Imagine if Germany claim the northern half of Italy just because it was territory of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation around 1300.

As the same way Gdansk will never be German again, Kosovo will never be Serb again. Period.

RE: Kosovo

Kosovo was liberated in 1912 and King Peter I rode in his high white horse in the centre of Pristina where the streets were full of Albanians and Serbians cheering "Long Live the King!!" "Long Live the King~!"

The Serbians waited 500 years's of Ottoman rule to liberate Kosovo they can wait less time to liberate again even if it falls under the illegitimate and illegal Ahtisarri plan which breaches all international laws and precedents.

So as the Turkish foreigh Pasha's fought to control Kosovo, so does foreign US interests, but Kosovo cannot be stolen.

Just wait and see the serbian political strategy in next few days.Ratko Mladic will be arrested and handed over to ICTY and this will not surprise me even if its same day when UNSC meets to vote the resolution.Thats just another poker game for Serbia and its politicians.But every game has more than one player and in poker you never know what cards are still in play and in other hands.Ratko Mladic is your last card, you will use it in smart way.But we have another two cards to play with.Lets just see what comes next in few weeks time.Hope it will not be 1914.Good luck with your last card.Dont think it will work.....Remember there are two more cards to be shown....

Instead of insulting Serbians and Russians, the Albanians posting here should put forth logical arguments, not emotional ones. Who cares that Albanians believe they are Illyrians, which the Croats also claimed during their quest for independence during the Austro-Hungarian Empire? And stating over and over again that the US will recognize Kosovo's independence does nothing for Kosovo. Without a UN resolution, the EU won't take over from the UN and the US has already said that it won't act unilaterally. Both sides need to work together to solve this problem and stop insulting each other otherwise Kosovo will be stuck for years to come.

It would be a nice gesture for Ms Rice to offer Albany to the Albanians because the name fits and the Americans are there totally for them.
Kosovo, however, will forever remain Serbian, there needs to be no dispute about this, and the Serbian nation accepts a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious community within its sovereign territory.
The ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo and Metohija need to be conferring on how to govern within the province because they wish to remain isolated.
International law and sovereign territory must be respected, Ms Rice.

Here we go again:

"1912 is the first time serbia occupied/annexed Kosovo/a. Before that Kosovo/a was never part of Serbia. I don't think you have a clue how big Serbia was before 1912(Belgrade with its sorroundings)."

Did the devil plant the 700+ hundred year old churches and monastaries all throughout Kosovo...what's left of them, anyway, after they were vandalaised?

Considering that the US Government has just said that there will be no unilateral recognition of Kosovo i Metohija's independance and also because Russia will definately veto the curernt plan, i honestly don't see how Kosovo i Metohija could be anyone else's but Serbia's. Please don't tell me that it was only Serbia's since 1912. That's blantant Albanian (pigeon) propaganda.

Kosovo will remain in Serbia always, Ms. Rice. You are looking to Putin as the fall-guy so you can turn and say to Kosovo,"We did the max for you, but....."
Already, US cautions Kosovars not to declare independence unilaterally.

As of who has more influence Russia or EU and USA is well known. You the serbs do not have to look further than your own new government.
Your new government is formed based on the influence and the wish of USA and EU not of Russia. You even had to change the speaker of the parliament from one that was a pro russian to a one that is pro western.
Also, if you serbs think that Russia is the winner and EU and USA the looser, then why do you want to join the EU instead of joining Russia?
Dont you see that there is some kind of backlash between your actions and your words? dont you see that you are not fitting with the reality?
Again, Ms. Rice said it very well that Kosova will NEVER belong to Serbia again. Like it or not, you have to live with this fact my dear serb neighbors.

Nikshala - i don't condone war crimes by whoever or whenever they perpetrated them, and the perpetrators MUST be punished. What i was saying was that if the Albanians want to build better relations with the Serbs then they should first admit to their role in WWII where many, many more Serbs were killed than Albanians have been in Kosovo (and no, i'm not making light of the thousands of Albanians who died). Serbia is under a completely different regime to Milosevic now which should be the basis for a much more constructive relationship between the albanians and the serbs. the reality is that the entire region has to cooperate so as to ensure a propsperous future and is not helped by the west's and Kosovo albanians demanding independence with no room for manouvre on the serbian side - that isn't a negotiation but a demand. if the defacto situation stays the same it'll be the basis for more trouble in the future, whether it's next week, month, year or 5,10,20,50 years from now.