“Kosovo solution will be postponed”

This sounds like a albanian head hitting the wall and bouncing back. What Ceku will say? How he can explain to his people that independence is not on?

well thank you mr.judah for this completely surprising news..

what must happen to make some guys understand that the Russians seem to have already made up their mind?

what did the "only global superpower" achieve? only incurable "believers" still expect some present to be delivered...

it would be interesting to read something about the alternatives, the US-administration has got, and I mean not those naive threats about violence that would be "the Russians´ fault", I mean real, viable alternatives.

So who are these so-called “usually well informed sources"? Anonymous sources are so convenient to quote are they not? That's why they are quoted so many countless times.

I doubt that this is true.
As far as banging heads on a wall, that remains to be seen. I hope nobody will be hiting the wall.
Independence is a done deal, considering my sources.
Russia, never had a say in the Balkans during Tito's tenure, they should not have it now.
Serbia should turn and be a western country.
Once they (Serbia and Kosovo) are in EU, there will be no borders anyway.
Take my word for it. To the bank,

What our Serbian friends seem to not understand is that Super Powers deal among them, for their best interests, and not with little republiks like Serbia!

@lazer:

Sure! When USA dissolves into 50 independant countries and they together join UN!

:) Show hands on who is surprised. WHAT?!?! NO alban POSTS? Do any of you think its relevant to Serbia if this is only Russia protecting its interests? The only time Kosovo might have been taken from Serbia is right after the 99 bombing but the resolution 1244 clearly states it was NOT a NATO victory.

If they won't let Turkey into the EU why would they take Kosovo? Turkey is an industrialized country and there are alot of investements there. Kosovo will not be there for awhile Serbia might go but not just yet for Kosovo

"Russia, never had a say in the Balkans during Tito's tenure, they should not have it now."

Dear LAZAR
WELL THEY DO. UN VETO.
:) Have a nice day.

What our Albanian friends seem to not understand is that Super Powers deal among them, for their best interests, and not with little insignficant,quasi entities like Kosovo:-)

We can post all day our wishes but the TRUTH IS that Kosova will never be part of Serbia. Main reason for this is that it is simply not posible for Serbia to run Kosova evevn if Albanians asked for it. For example the maximal autonomy. Imagine, for this to happen there would have to be a shared power. For example how about Hashim Thaqi or Agim Qeku being the prime minister of Serbia, and ex KLA fighters high ranking police officers. Serbia has enough on their plate as it is. LETS BE REALISTIC, PLEASE!!!!!

@lazer ,Serbia is a part of western world so we cant turn around and become part of something that we are already in. Why can not you realize that Serbia and Kosovo regardless of future Kosovo status will not join EU for a very long time? Why it is so hard to understand that, many Serbs do not get that also. No EU for all of us for very long time, that is deal done for sure. We should better stop dreaming about EU ,move our butts and sort out our houses and backyards and then we can pray to god to be taken in. Serbia&Kosovo,Albania, Bosnia, FYROM in EU that is dream of the century, it is not going to happend. If there will be no borders in future , then dear Albanians stay where you are and do not worry. As soon as Albanians realize that there will be no independence better for them. Let me quite Fatos Lubonja famous Albanian dissident: ''The Albanians are a people who still dream. That is what they are like in their conversations, their literature...In light of Hoxha and 'pyramid schemes, Albanians are a people who still dream. That's just the way they are... ''http://www.bhdani.com/arhiva/151/t1516.htm

I am very angry on Albanian leaders like Ceku, Taci because they lie to you and manipulate you, someone promise them something in order to keep Albanians quiet and now when they cant deliver it they will push you into that wall that I mentioned in 1st post. Do not fall on that. Azem Vlasi , Veton Suroi and in one part Bedzet Pacoli are the leaders who will make deal with Serbia in future , as soon as Ceku and his KLA thugs are off the scene. Most of the Serbs will not have anything against to have Vlasi or Suroi in Belgrade government so future is just around the corner it is up to Albanians to be smart and to take Belgrade road because that is road to Europe and reconciliation. For the end my friends I will back to another great Albanian Academic Professor Dr. Kaplan Resuli who said :''The Americans have reached their aim – on the Balkan they have installed their military bases. Let us hope that they will not support the terrorism and to use the Albanians as cannon fodder. And the Albanians, certainly, in the meantime will wake up and will not allow either the Americans or whoever else to use them as such. For that, understandably, with self criticism, all of us need to assist them.''http://www.unitedmacedonians.org/macedonia/kaplan_english.html
Peace ,stay strong, keep your families good and welcome back to Serbia.

Peter, you are wrong, and I hope you won't ask me to explain this socio-political game to you!

What most of you in the Balkans seem to forget is that the Great Powers have shed Balkan blood for centuries in self interest. The basic imperialist policy has always been divide and rule. Great Powers achieve this by telling the working class that their neighbor is the cause of their misery when in reality you the common people are being exploited by those who pretend to be on your side. The palaces and grand estates in Great Britain, Austria, France, Spain, America and even Russia were built on the bones of your ancestors and now you who fight over the scraps that they throw your way.

serbs i really don't understand you,always speaking about the 1244 resolution russian veto and other useless stuffs...
-i don't see any russian or even serbian army in kosova otherwise i see the NATO and TMK troops,
-i see an almost inexistent border between albania and kosova,
-i see more than 1'000'000 million kosovar tourists every summer in the albanian shores,
-i see the skanderberg or adem jashari monumets in every kosovar and albanian city.
-i see the red and black with the double headed eagle flag everywere in kosova and albania.
ecc,ecc...
that's what i see and this is the present situation,i think is quite easy to understand how hilarious are the serbian claims toward kosova.
the 1244 or the russian veto are just your alibi for an hypothetic future war.

Russia fails to see what they did to themselves re. her internal policies and how they are used as a welcome pretext to isolating Russia and putting her in that same int'l terror/jihadi corner with her best friends Iran and No. Korea.
Just bec. there is a minor market for her energy does not give Russia claim to superpower/eco. superpower status. No nation looks at Russia this way, except for minor ones like Serbia/Moldova/Greece. Russia should take care of her people and not subject them to another round of nihilism like it did for the last 2 centuries or more. This time the stakes are higher and the destructive powers more permanent in this current 'culture of death' syndrome running amok between 'democratically stable' nations. This "star wars" system is nothing but what it always was...move to the next war focused on threats coming from nations with intercontinental missile capabilities.

If Serbs can wait, we Albanians can wait too. We are gaining and Serbs loosing. Rusians are waiting for summit G8 -let's how much will be the price. So why rushing?

Blerim, ...

ceku or taci won´t speak on behalft of Serbia, since they are k-albanians, that means, if they would have any significant position ( what I seriously doubt, after what has been reported about them )than it would only be in the autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija, but not more. but to be honest, that wouldn´t be a wise choice, if the Albanians chose those people as their representatives...

Ceku should be much more realistic and stop putting oil in the fire-by constantly making false expectations and promises to the people of Kosovo and Serbia, he is creating a situation where violence will ensue no matter what.

I hope the Albanians leave Ceku where they found him and find a guy who will work for unity, peace, and stronger communities for the sake of our countries, and not lead you to the ground like Ceku.

"Surprising news",I don't think so.This is only an opinion of Mr.Judah.He does it all the time.Few months ago he wasn't very good for serbian commentators and now he gets A BIG THANK YOU!!!
I can say it is a big mess.
Kosovan Albanians are waiting and waiting and I don't know for how long,what they will do,we can only speculate.I think they deserve to know about their future.
On the other hand Serbia still has on paper Kosova/o but how much control they have at the moment,nothing.
There is not Serbian army,police,law,etc.in Kosova/o.
Kosovan People own UNMIK passports,ID cards,the cars have Kosovan Registration numbers,they control the police,taxes payed goes in to Kosova's budget,etc.In one way they are already living without Serbia.
Now how to legalize this it will take time,maybe years and years and to be honest Kosovan Albanians are not complaining much as they have no fear for life they are free at last!!!
For the Serbian side they should fight to gain as much as they can from Kosova/o,now how they will do that we will see.
It is a big mess I can say.
It is to early to speculate what will happen,let's see how will end.
Peace and Love.

"According to usually well informed sources Russia did... READ( _try_ to use/sold Serbs)"

Judah has very little (none) good intel on Russia so is doing a lot of guessing. In short, Judah is now operating on hope rather than facts. There is little point getting upset with his writings.

Milan, have you read this excellent book written by Judah, The Serbs? I highly recommend it to all, even the Serbs!

vrana konti, how can you see something that almost doesn't exist. The border between Serbia and Albania is a chain of mountains.

so 1 million of the 1.8 million Albanians of Kosovo visit Albania every summer. I doubt it somehow.

All I am saying is that kosovo is a part of EU already!!!
The money there last I visited in July '06 was EURO.
And as far as I know in Serbia is still DINAR.
Secondly, Serbia is not even on a paper part of any Western alliance. Russians consider you as a province of theirs like you were in Siberia somewhere.
How can you side with Russians and still say that you are a western country.
Something does NOT add up right.
I, personally am not fonde of Serbian and Kosovar leaders either, but when you look at the people you still have to make that distinction.
Some of you are misinterpreting the UN's 1224, if you read it in its entirity you might be able to understand it. It has a lot of different layers.
Anyway, I understand that it is tough to loose 15% of a territory but as some very skilled analysts have explained that most Serbian politicians consider kosovo by name only and not really caring about the people who live there. Regardless of ethnicity.
If that was a different case maybe we should not be here discussing the Independence of Kosovo from Serbia.
Cheers

louie, ...mr.judah never was a serious analyst, since he is known to be in service of certain lobbyist groups, so, no reason to be thankful. he is only doing his job.

as to Victor:

if you´d informed yourself about mr.judah´s connections, you wouldn´t recommend his "work" as "highly" as you want to emphasize it here...

you could also mention mr.malcolm and his "un-biased" works... =)

Victor, my dear, how about some serious reading?

Vlajko, Bexhet Pacolli?!?!
Serbs should hate him, he is the guy who swindled Yeltcin of about 2 Billion dollars, for allegedly renovating Kremlin.
That was some robbery. Sorry Yelcin, God bless your drunk soul, but to take a guy like Pacolli and the whole Russian Government you would think the odds are against him but...
Vlajko, Vlajkane....

i am sorry to disagree with the noted expert mr tim judah -- but, enough with postponement! there has been more than enough time to settle differences, differences that can be settled. if putin is determined to veto, then so be it. we will have independence, with or without russian or serb approval. the day for their approval is long gone.

furthermore, i do admit that i have been "guilty" of name-calling, in that i have characterized a number of posters here as "Chetniks" for supporting/ignoring the legacy of war crimes and war criminals, and/or for purposely distorting history to fit their arguments. it is unforgivable, in my opinion, that people belittle atrocities (quite recently committed), reduce human lives to some kind of game, and basically support facism as it suits them (so long as it does not interfer with their rights, of course.) no one with any real historical knowledge can fight so viciously against independence, without supporting on some level the atrocities by serb forces during the 90s. furthermore, it is clear that for some of the posters here, those atrocities would continue and step up! if only those damn nato troops would mind their own business. i do understand patriotism, but it is not patriotic to want to destroy peoples simply because they are inconvenient, which is what serbia was actively doing throughout the 90s, and which has now switched (by necessity)to a more passive but incidious form.

so -- if this is not the chetnik dream, then what is??

It would be good if Serbia would wake up and realise that Russia is only supporting "their slavic brothers" on the Kosova issue because it is useful to them. It allows them to upset the west. If the west gave enough consessions they would drop the issue like a stone.
The EU meanwhile does actually want to benefit the lives of actual serbs and make your country more developed and prosperous. Look at the other ex communist countries. They are gallopping ahead by embracing the EU because its policies actually work.
While I have n idea how the Kosovo issue can be actually settled (I see it turning into a long and unresolved North Cyprus style issue, with, to be honest, the Kosovars on the more deprived side) positioning Serbia towards Europe is the only possible way to benefit both Srbs and Kocsovars.

Does anyone know have an answer why "Kosovo" is so much more important than Tibet, Abkhazia, Kurdistan, Northern Ireland, Darfur, Wales, Chechnya, Pakistan, Alaska, and Scottland. We have every country in the World trying to take 1/3 of Serbia to give to Albanians who already have a country. This is a serious question so please spare me any Conspiresey theory about the US just wants the boutiful land for military reasons or "Kosovo will never be nore never was a part of Serbia" Check a map, except for when the turks took over it ALWAYS has been a part of Serbia. I love people who pretend like nomads living in a region constitute a country thousands of years ago, come on. There are things that I agree with and dont agree with but have know choice because "Thats the way it is" However at least most of the unfortunate people wanting to have their own country are actually a nation and their not getting it, so thats not "the way it is" in the World today. People of Kosovo you are not Welsh or Pakistani, you do have a country and you can either live in the country that mostly resides with your nation or you can work to make the world better my making the country you currently live in a melting pot of cultures in piece. This never worked before because as we know Cease fires were a joke on both sides. So now eight years later while we finally got everyone to shut up for a moment and listen, why not give it a try. In cival war and it was, no body deserves reperation. There were autrocities on both sides and I feel I am one of the few who do genuinly feel sympothy for both.
If anyone can answer my question earlier it would be much appreciated for the general thought

Well let's just wait and see.
And if somebody thinks that Kosovan-Albs will accept Serbia as their own state! and that is just wrong.
When Serbia (government and people) treat Albanians in Presevo Valey with dignity and repect than maybe someone will have a thought about that, but untill than (and that's basically never)dream about Kosovo in Serbia

the way things are coming up in the international arena plus the rock hard stance of russia against the kosovo independence, mr judah may be right in his prediction. US-UK and EU have many more urgent issues at hand which are iraq, afghanistan,iran, lebanon, israel and palestine. to add kosovo now will make them crazy and disoriented.

Hello to everyone...
It is really interesting to see the comments and analyse them...
Honestly do you guys still believe that Kosova and Serbia will be together in one state, do you still believe that after what happened K-albanians and Serbs will forget everything and live together!!!!!! Do you think that NATO bombed to bring back serbian forces and authorities to Kosova!!!!!Do you think that there is International willingness to get back to '99!!!!!
Seeing your comments I can easily recognise that most of the commenters are OUT of Kosova,cause they do not have any milimetric idea on what is going on in Kosova.
let me give you just one Indicator of what is getting done here in Kosova, then you decide by your own.
-EUPT (European Union Planing Team in Kosova) -check what they are planning and doing and you see the future.
When you have a nice dream during the night in the morning you have two choices: wake up and chase those dreams and second get back to bed and continue dreaming.....I think my serbian friends are still sleeping or they must have been returned back to bed....
Have a nice day....Please don't get me wrong....

hello Boys,...

well, first of all, it seems to be necessary, it´s Kosovo, with an o at the end...

Albanians do not even have an own expression for that territory they only change one letter in a purely serbian term/name. so, please respect historical names, or if not, stay some sort of amateur historians...

I would like to ask you all: who is the one, who should wake up, actually? who is being duped for several years now? how many times did they promise you "independence until..."? come on, boys, I can understand you unwillingness to accept reality, but by expressing your wishes and accusing others to live in dreams...you don´t help the matter.

k-albanians have no moral rights to claim Kosovo theirs and they have no legal rights to do so...
but they will have the right to contribute to rise the living-standard in the future and to rule themselves. that should be a lot for some intelligent viewer, after all what happened.
so, the bottom line is: come to the ground, and take your hands off the break, and finally start to be realistic.

otherise you will only stay incurable fanatics ( and tell me when did fanatics achieve anything of importance, in history? )

Jovan and other readers!
Russia and the west are striking a deal not for autonomy but for INDEPENDENCE. Therefore, it would be wise if serbian people adjusted their irrational beleifs and not beleive in remote dreams of Kosova as serbian identity. Kosova is a place where the serbs and allies got defeated by the turks. By no means do I have sympathy for turks. However, while everybody else from the allies understand the defeat Serbia sees it as victory. The Serbian intelektuals have misled serbian people on this myth. Kosova has been so far the begining and the end of the Serbian tragedy. This is only because Milosevic thought that he was reviving the old myth (which is based in defeat and humiliation) and it brought serbs one last final defeat and humiliation by loosing Kosova altogether. Had Milosevic and serbian people loyal to him not taken such radical paths of destruction today Kosova most likely would have been part fo Serbia and not in brink of independence. It is only right for Kosova independence from Serbia because how else would we explain 20 thousand masacred and one milion people chased out of their homes. Therefore Kosova is becoming independence and this is the best solution not only for Kosova but for Serbia too, as well as for all the nation states that think that they can perform ethnic cleansing and act as if nothing has happened.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I think we have reached the point that none of us know for sure what will take place as far as Kosovo=Kosova.
We, at least know the name of the territory, all are thinking the same one.
Every side wishes its own version. none of us really know to the core whats going to happen. Its nice of B92 to let us all express our disagreements on the issue, but let us all wait and see.
there are a lot of things pro-Independence, but there also are things against it.
What the balance is going to bring is anybody's guess.
Fingerpointing and hatred should not be expressed as I see in many bloggs and comments made by all sides.
Let us not continue to do what people did in the previous wars. Lack of respect for the other side regardless of who.
As Former Yugoslavia was a very loved and free country, has become nostalgic just thinking about how most people got along, put aside the ignorance of few.
It should NEVER be alowed the similar people come to power ever again. People all over Former yugoslavia are suffering economically and psychologicaly. A lot of lifes lost etc.
So, everybody hold your breath....for few more weeks.
'til then, have a nice summer!!!

Kosovo should declare it's indepedence a soon as poosible, no russia or belgrade can postpone the process! All I can say that the serbians are in denial, they should wake up, I mean who are we kidding here, the whole world knows by now who is the problem in balkans, they should never been allowed to settle in ballkans, I think the only solution to balkans is send them back to their own slav brothers in russia!

We have come a long way but we are not there yet. 10 years INDEPENDENCE was the forbiden word while today is a lot more accepted by serbs. Our children will judge us over our decisions. People should live in nothing but freedom. It has been proven that for Albanians and Serbs real freedom is not living in a same state-not having limited autonomy-not having Rankovic terrorize the region-not even having autonomous self goverment (Tito's rule)-not having the police regime of Milosevic terrorize the Kosova parlament (self goverment in the 1990)nor ethnic cleansing performed in great scale. Therefore, what else is there for Kosova. It is a lot easier to say what is not possible to happen-to live in the same state with Serbia. Everything else will not change Serbs irrational fears of loosing Kosova. Serbs and Albanians can not change these facts. All they can do is make each others lives worse-something inherritent in the Balkans. Theonly thing that could ease the two sides is an act of hope. That is to have the Serbian church, intelectuals, and patriots (not nationalists) simply ask forgiveness for the hardships that they caused. It would be a HEALTHY begining for the two nations and could spark hope for having good neighbourly relations. After all is better being honest and fair with your neighbour than holding irrational rrage and breeding hatred-something that has been shown to do more damage than good to naations that were bigger and mightier than Serbia. It is time for good serbs to really love Serbia and do what is good for her. Otehrwise there is always the risk of Serbias borders being limited to pashaluk of Belgrade (Vilajet of Belgrade). NO ONE CAN HELP YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HELP YPURSELF!!!!

To Lazar,

AN Anti-Serb with a Serb name, guess some Croatians have that name too. Read the article (link below) and then dare come back and continue talking about something you have no idea about! > http://www.theonerepublic.com/archives/Columns/Gorin/20070530GorinProAmerican.html

To David,

The answer to your question is simple > It is all about the dollar and Euro, the other countries you mentioned fall short in terms of corporate and industrial value, furthermore, the Americana's made a fools promise to the Albanians, and lastly this thing has become a wrestling match between Russia and America, which neither side wants to lose, combined these three reasons make Kosovo more important then the other countries you mentioned, by the way did you notice that none of the reasons were because America and the EU is making Kosovo more important because they honestly feel its the right thing to do for the Albanians? Quite frankly both the Americana's and EU couldn't care less for the Albanians, why should they? Do they care about what is happening in Africa, where Genocide is happening every second of the day? No, so why then care for 1.8 Million Albanians who feel that Serbia and the world owe them something? I highly recommend that anyone who is Pro-Albanian read the article I posted (Link) earlier on this page. It will open eyes to many and its a difficult article for the Albanians to argue.

This sounds like a albanian head hitting the wall and bouncing back. What Ceku will say? How he can explain to his people that independence is not on?

well thank you mr.judah for this completely surprising news..

what must happen to make some guys understand that the Russians seem to have already made up their mind?

what did the "only global superpower" achieve? only incurable "believers" still expect some present to be delivered...

it would be interesting to read something about the alternatives, the US-administration has got, and I mean not those naive threats about violence that would be "the Russians´ fault", I mean real, viable alternatives.

So who are these so-called “usually well informed sources"? Anonymous sources are so convenient to quote are they not? That's why they are quoted so many countless times.

I doubt that this is true.
As far as banging heads on a wall, that remains to be seen. I hope nobody will be hiting the wall.
Independence is a done deal, considering my sources.
Russia, never had a say in the Balkans during Tito's tenure, they should not have it now.
Serbia should turn and be a western country.
Once they (Serbia and Kosovo) are in EU, there will be no borders anyway.
Take my word for it. To the bank,

What our Serbian friends seem to not understand is that Super Powers deal among them, for their best interests, and not with little republiks like Serbia!

@lazer:

Sure! When USA dissolves into 50 independant countries and they together join UN!

:) Show hands on who is surprised. WHAT?!?! NO alban POSTS? Do any of you think its relevant to Serbia if this is only Russia protecting its interests? The only time Kosovo might have been taken from Serbia is right after the 99 bombing but the resolution 1244 clearly states it was NOT a NATO victory.

If they won't let Turkey into the EU why would they take Kosovo? Turkey is an industrialized country and there are alot of investements there. Kosovo will not be there for awhile Serbia might go but not just yet for Kosovo

"Russia, never had a say in the Balkans during Tito's tenure, they should not have it now."

Dear LAZAR
WELL THEY DO. UN VETO.
:) Have a nice day.

What our Albanian friends seem to not understand is that Super Powers deal among them, for their best interests, and not with little insignficant,quasi entities like Kosovo:-)

We can post all day our wishes but the TRUTH IS that Kosova will never be part of Serbia. Main reason for this is that it is simply not posible for Serbia to run Kosova evevn if Albanians asked for it. For example the maximal autonomy. Imagine, for this to happen there would have to be a shared power. For example how about Hashim Thaqi or Agim Qeku being the prime minister of Serbia, and ex KLA fighters high ranking police officers. Serbia has enough on their plate as it is. LETS BE REALISTIC, PLEASE!!!!!

@lazer ,Serbia is a part of western world so we cant turn around and become part of something that we are already in. Why can not you realize that Serbia and Kosovo regardless of future Kosovo status will not join EU for a very long time? Why it is so hard to understand that, many Serbs do not get that also. No EU for all of us for very long time, that is deal done for sure. We should better stop dreaming about EU ,move our butts and sort out our houses and backyards and then we can pray to god to be taken in. Serbia&Kosovo,Albania, Bosnia, FYROM in EU that is dream of the century, it is not going to happend. If there will be no borders in future , then dear Albanians stay where you are and do not worry. As soon as Albanians realize that there will be no independence better for them. Let me quite Fatos Lubonja famous Albanian dissident: ''The Albanians are a people who still dream. That is what they are like in their conversations, their literature...In light of Hoxha and 'pyramid schemes, Albanians are a people who still dream. That's just the way they are... ''http://www.bhdani.com/arhiva/151/t1516.htm

I am very angry on Albanian leaders like Ceku, Taci because they lie to you and manipulate you, someone promise them something in order to keep Albanians quiet and now when they cant deliver it they will push you into that wall that I mentioned in 1st post. Do not fall on that. Azem Vlasi , Veton Suroi and in one part Bedzet Pacoli are the leaders who will make deal with Serbia in future , as soon as Ceku and his KLA thugs are off the scene. Most of the Serbs will not have anything against to have Vlasi or Suroi in Belgrade government so future is just around the corner it is up to Albanians to be smart and to take Belgrade road because that is road to Europe and reconciliation. For the end my friends I will back to another great Albanian Academic Professor Dr. Kaplan Resuli who said :''The Americans have reached their aim – on the Balkan they have installed their military bases. Let us hope that they will not support the terrorism and to use the Albanians as cannon fodder. And the Albanians, certainly, in the meantime will wake up and will not allow either the Americans or whoever else to use them as such. For that, understandably, with self criticism, all of us need to assist them.''http://www.unitedmacedonians.org/macedonia/kaplan_english.html
Peace ,stay strong, keep your families good and welcome back to Serbia.

Peter, you are wrong, and I hope you won't ask me to explain this socio-political game to you!

What most of you in the Balkans seem to forget is that the Great Powers have shed Balkan blood for centuries in self interest. The basic imperialist policy has always been divide and rule. Great Powers achieve this by telling the working class that their neighbor is the cause of their misery when in reality you the common people are being exploited by those who pretend to be on your side. The palaces and grand estates in Great Britain, Austria, France, Spain, America and even Russia were built on the bones of your ancestors and now you who fight over the scraps that they throw your way.

serbs i really don't understand you,always speaking about the 1244 resolution russian veto and other useless stuffs...
-i don't see any russian or even serbian army in kosova otherwise i see the NATO and TMK troops,
-i see an almost inexistent border between albania and kosova,
-i see more than 1'000'000 million kosovar tourists every summer in the albanian shores,
-i see the skanderberg or adem jashari monumets in every kosovar and albanian city.
-i see the red and black with the double headed eagle flag everywere in kosova and albania.
ecc,ecc...
that's what i see and this is the present situation,i think is quite easy to understand how hilarious are the serbian claims toward kosova.
the 1244 or the russian veto are just your alibi for an hypothetic future war.

Russia fails to see what they did to themselves re. her internal policies and how they are used as a welcome pretext to isolating Russia and putting her in that same int'l terror/jihadi corner with her best friends Iran and No. Korea.
Just bec. there is a minor market for her energy does not give Russia claim to superpower/eco. superpower status. No nation looks at Russia this way, except for minor ones like Serbia/Moldova/Greece. Russia should take care of her people and not subject them to another round of nihilism like it did for the last 2 centuries or more. This time the stakes are higher and the destructive powers more permanent in this current 'culture of death' syndrome running amok between 'democratically stable' nations. This "star wars" system is nothing but what it always was...move to the next war focused on threats coming from nations with intercontinental missile capabilities.

If Serbs can wait, we Albanians can wait too. We are gaining and Serbs loosing. Rusians are waiting for summit G8 -let's how much will be the price. So why rushing?

Blerim, ...

ceku or taci won´t speak on behalft of Serbia, since they are k-albanians, that means, if they would have any significant position ( what I seriously doubt, after what has been reported about them )than it would only be in the autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija, but not more. but to be honest, that wouldn´t be a wise choice, if the Albanians chose those people as their representatives...

Ceku should be much more realistic and stop putting oil in the fire-by constantly making false expectations and promises to the people of Kosovo and Serbia, he is creating a situation where violence will ensue no matter what.

I hope the Albanians leave Ceku where they found him and find a guy who will work for unity, peace, and stronger communities for the sake of our countries, and not lead you to the ground like Ceku.

"Surprising news",I don't think so.This is only an opinion of Mr.Judah.He does it all the time.Few months ago he wasn't very good for serbian commentators and now he gets A BIG THANK YOU!!!
I can say it is a big mess.
Kosovan Albanians are waiting and waiting and I don't know for how long,what they will do,we can only speculate.I think they deserve to know about their future.
On the other hand Serbia still has on paper Kosova/o but how much control they have at the moment,nothing.
There is not Serbian army,police,law,etc.in Kosova/o.
Kosovan People own UNMIK passports,ID cards,the cars have Kosovan Registration numbers,they control the police,taxes payed goes in to Kosova's budget,etc.In one way they are already living without Serbia.
Now how to legalize this it will take time,maybe years and years and to be honest Kosovan Albanians are not complaining much as they have no fear for life they are free at last!!!
For the Serbian side they should fight to gain as much as they can from Kosova/o,now how they will do that we will see.
It is a big mess I can say.
It is to early to speculate what will happen,let's see how will end.
Peace and Love.

"According to usually well informed sources Russia did... READ( _try_ to use/sold Serbs)"

Judah has very little (none) good intel on Russia so is doing a lot of guessing. In short, Judah is now operating on hope rather than facts. There is little point getting upset with his writings.

Milan, have you read this excellent book written by Judah, The Serbs? I highly recommend it to all, even the Serbs!

vrana konti, how can you see something that almost doesn't exist. The border between Serbia and Albania is a chain of mountains.

so 1 million of the 1.8 million Albanians of Kosovo visit Albania every summer. I doubt it somehow.

All I am saying is that kosovo is a part of EU already!!!
The money there last I visited in July '06 was EURO.
And as far as I know in Serbia is still DINAR.
Secondly, Serbia is not even on a paper part of any Western alliance. Russians consider you as a province of theirs like you were in Siberia somewhere.
How can you side with Russians and still say that you are a western country.
Something does NOT add up right.
I, personally am not fonde of Serbian and Kosovar leaders either, but when you look at the people you still have to make that distinction.
Some of you are misinterpreting the UN's 1224, if you read it in its entirity you might be able to understand it. It has a lot of different layers.
Anyway, I understand that it is tough to loose 15% of a territory but as some very skilled analysts have explained that most Serbian politicians consider kosovo by name only and not really caring about the people who live there. Regardless of ethnicity.
If that was a different case maybe we should not be here discussing the Independence of Kosovo from Serbia.
Cheers

louie, ...mr.judah never was a serious analyst, since he is known to be in service of certain lobbyist groups, so, no reason to be thankful. he is only doing his job.

as to Victor:

if you´d informed yourself about mr.judah´s connections, you wouldn´t recommend his "work" as "highly" as you want to emphasize it here...

you could also mention mr.malcolm and his "un-biased" works... =)

Victor, my dear, how about some serious reading?

Vlajko, Bexhet Pacolli?!?!
Serbs should hate him, he is the guy who swindled Yeltcin of about 2 Billion dollars, for allegedly renovating Kremlin.
That was some robbery. Sorry Yelcin, God bless your drunk soul, but to take a guy like Pacolli and the whole Russian Government you would think the odds are against him but...
Vlajko, Vlajkane....

i am sorry to disagree with the noted expert mr tim judah -- but, enough with postponement! there has been more than enough time to settle differences, differences that can be settled. if putin is determined to veto, then so be it. we will have independence, with or without russian or serb approval. the day for their approval is long gone.

furthermore, i do admit that i have been "guilty" of name-calling, in that i have characterized a number of posters here as "Chetniks" for supporting/ignoring the legacy of war crimes and war criminals, and/or for purposely distorting history to fit their arguments. it is unforgivable, in my opinion, that people belittle atrocities (quite recently committed), reduce human lives to some kind of game, and basically support facism as it suits them (so long as it does not interfer with their rights, of course.) no one with any real historical knowledge can fight so viciously against independence, without supporting on some level the atrocities by serb forces during the 90s. furthermore, it is clear that for some of the posters here, those atrocities would continue and step up! if only those damn nato troops would mind their own business. i do understand patriotism, but it is not patriotic to want to destroy peoples simply because they are inconvenient, which is what serbia was actively doing throughout the 90s, and which has now switched (by necessity)to a more passive but incidious form.

so -- if this is not the chetnik dream, then what is??

It would be good if Serbia would wake up and realise that Russia is only supporting "their slavic brothers" on the Kosova issue because it is useful to them. It allows them to upset the west. If the west gave enough consessions they would drop the issue like a stone.
The EU meanwhile does actually want to benefit the lives of actual serbs and make your country more developed and prosperous. Look at the other ex communist countries. They are gallopping ahead by embracing the EU because its policies actually work.
While I have n idea how the Kosovo issue can be actually settled (I see it turning into a long and unresolved North Cyprus style issue, with, to be honest, the Kosovars on the more deprived side) positioning Serbia towards Europe is the only possible way to benefit both Srbs and Kocsovars.

Does anyone know have an answer why "Kosovo" is so much more important than Tibet, Abkhazia, Kurdistan, Northern Ireland, Darfur, Wales, Chechnya, Pakistan, Alaska, and Scottland. We have every country in the World trying to take 1/3 of Serbia to give to Albanians who already have a country. This is a serious question so please spare me any Conspiresey theory about the US just wants the boutiful land for military reasons or "Kosovo will never be nore never was a part of Serbia" Check a map, except for when the turks took over it ALWAYS has been a part of Serbia. I love people who pretend like nomads living in a region constitute a country thousands of years ago, come on. There are things that I agree with and dont agree with but have know choice because "Thats the way it is" However at least most of the unfortunate people wanting to have their own country are actually a nation and their not getting it, so thats not "the way it is" in the World today. People of Kosovo you are not Welsh or Pakistani, you do have a country and you can either live in the country that mostly resides with your nation or you can work to make the world better my making the country you currently live in a melting pot of cultures in piece. This never worked before because as we know Cease fires were a joke on both sides. So now eight years later while we finally got everyone to shut up for a moment and listen, why not give it a try. In cival war and it was, no body deserves reperation. There were autrocities on both sides and I feel I am one of the few who do genuinly feel sympothy for both.
If anyone can answer my question earlier it would be much appreciated for the general thought

Well let's just wait and see.
And if somebody thinks that Kosovan-Albs will accept Serbia as their own state! and that is just wrong.
When Serbia (government and people) treat Albanians in Presevo Valey with dignity and repect than maybe someone will have a thought about that, but untill than (and that's basically never)dream about Kosovo in Serbia

the way things are coming up in the international arena plus the rock hard stance of russia against the kosovo independence, mr judah may be right in his prediction. US-UK and EU have many more urgent issues at hand which are iraq, afghanistan,iran, lebanon, israel and palestine. to add kosovo now will make them crazy and disoriented.

Hello to everyone...
It is really interesting to see the comments and analyse them...
Honestly do you guys still believe that Kosova and Serbia will be together in one state, do you still believe that after what happened K-albanians and Serbs will forget everything and live together!!!!!! Do you think that NATO bombed to bring back serbian forces and authorities to Kosova!!!!!Do you think that there is International willingness to get back to '99!!!!!
Seeing your comments I can easily recognise that most of the commenters are OUT of Kosova,cause they do not have any milimetric idea on what is going on in Kosova.
let me give you just one Indicator of what is getting done here in Kosova, then you decide by your own.
-EUPT (European Union Planing Team in Kosova) -check what they are planning and doing and you see the future.
When you have a nice dream during the night in the morning you have two choices: wake up and chase those dreams and second get back to bed and continue dreaming.....I think my serbian friends are still sleeping or they must have been returned back to bed....
Have a nice day....Please don't get me wrong....

hello Boys,...

well, first of all, it seems to be necessary, it´s Kosovo, with an o at the end...

Albanians do not even have an own expression for that territory they only change one letter in a purely serbian term/name. so, please respect historical names, or if not, stay some sort of amateur historians...

I would like to ask you all: who is the one, who should wake up, actually? who is being duped for several years now? how many times did they promise you "independence until..."? come on, boys, I can understand you unwillingness to accept reality, but by expressing your wishes and accusing others to live in dreams...you don´t help the matter.

k-albanians have no moral rights to claim Kosovo theirs and they have no legal rights to do so...
but they will have the right to contribute to rise the living-standard in the future and to rule themselves. that should be a lot for some intelligent viewer, after all what happened.
so, the bottom line is: come to the ground, and take your hands off the break, and finally start to be realistic.

otherise you will only stay incurable fanatics ( and tell me when did fanatics achieve anything of importance, in history? )

Jovan and other readers!
Russia and the west are striking a deal not for autonomy but for INDEPENDENCE. Therefore, it would be wise if serbian people adjusted their irrational beleifs and not beleive in remote dreams of Kosova as serbian identity. Kosova is a place where the serbs and allies got defeated by the turks. By no means do I have sympathy for turks. However, while everybody else from the allies understand the defeat Serbia sees it as victory. The Serbian intelektuals have misled serbian people on this myth. Kosova has been so far the begining and the end of the Serbian tragedy. This is only because Milosevic thought that he was reviving the old myth (which is based in defeat and humiliation) and it brought serbs one last final defeat and humiliation by loosing Kosova altogether. Had Milosevic and serbian people loyal to him not taken such radical paths of destruction today Kosova most likely would have been part fo Serbia and not in brink of independence. It is only right for Kosova independence from Serbia because how else would we explain 20 thousand masacred and one milion people chased out of their homes. Therefore Kosova is becoming independence and this is the best solution not only for Kosova but for Serbia too, as well as for all the nation states that think that they can perform ethnic cleansing and act as if nothing has happened.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I think we have reached the point that none of us know for sure what will take place as far as Kosovo=Kosova.
We, at least know the name of the territory, all are thinking the same one.
Every side wishes its own version. none of us really know to the core whats going to happen. Its nice of B92 to let us all express our disagreements on the issue, but let us all wait and see.
there are a lot of things pro-Independence, but there also are things against it.
What the balance is going to bring is anybody's guess.
Fingerpointing and hatred should not be expressed as I see in many bloggs and comments made by all sides.
Let us not continue to do what people did in the previous wars. Lack of respect for the other side regardless of who.
As Former Yugoslavia was a very loved and free country, has become nostalgic just thinking about how most people got along, put aside the ignorance of few.
It should NEVER be alowed the similar people come to power ever again. People all over Former yugoslavia are suffering economically and psychologicaly. A lot of lifes lost etc.
So, everybody hold your breath....for few more weeks.
'til then, have a nice summer!!!

Kosovo should declare it's indepedence a soon as poosible, no russia or belgrade can postpone the process! All I can say that the serbians are in denial, they should wake up, I mean who are we kidding here, the whole world knows by now who is the problem in balkans, they should never been allowed to settle in ballkans, I think the only solution to balkans is send them back to their own slav brothers in russia!

We have come a long way but we are not there yet. 10 years INDEPENDENCE was the forbiden word while today is a lot more accepted by serbs. Our children will judge us over our decisions. People should live in nothing but freedom. It has been proven that for Albanians and Serbs real freedom is not living in a same state-not having limited autonomy-not having Rankovic terrorize the region-not even having autonomous self goverment (Tito's rule)-not having the police regime of Milosevic terrorize the Kosova parlament (self goverment in the 1990)nor ethnic cleansing performed in great scale. Therefore, what else is there for Kosova. It is a lot easier to say what is not possible to happen-to live in the same state with Serbia. Everything else will not change Serbs irrational fears of loosing Kosova. Serbs and Albanians can not change these facts. All they can do is make each others lives worse-something inherritent in the Balkans. Theonly thing that could ease the two sides is an act of hope. That is to have the Serbian church, intelectuals, and patriots (not nationalists) simply ask forgiveness for the hardships that they caused. It would be a HEALTHY begining for the two nations and could spark hope for having good neighbourly relations. After all is better being honest and fair with your neighbour than holding irrational rrage and breeding hatred-something that has been shown to do more damage than good to naations that were bigger and mightier than Serbia. It is time for good serbs to really love Serbia and do what is good for her. Otehrwise there is always the risk of Serbias borders being limited to pashaluk of Belgrade (Vilajet of Belgrade). NO ONE CAN HELP YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HELP YPURSELF!!!!

To Lazar,

AN Anti-Serb with a Serb name, guess some Croatians have that name too. Read the article (link below) and then dare come back and continue talking about something you have no idea about! > http://www.theonerepublic.com/archives/Columns/Gorin/20070530GorinProAmerican.html

To David,

The answer to your question is simple > It is all about the dollar and Euro, the other countries you mentioned fall short in terms of corporate and industrial value, furthermore, the Americana's made a fools promise to the Albanians, and lastly this thing has become a wrestling match between Russia and America, which neither side wants to lose, combined these three reasons make Kosovo more important then the other countries you mentioned, by the way did you notice that none of the reasons were because America and the EU is making Kosovo more important because they honestly feel its the right thing to do for the Albanians? Quite frankly both the Americana's and EU couldn't care less for the Albanians, why should they? Do they care about what is happening in Africa, where Genocide is happening every second of the day? No, so why then care for 1.8 Million Albanians who feel that Serbia and the world owe them something? I highly recommend that anyone who is Pro-Albanian read the article I posted (Link) earlier on this page. It will open eyes to many and its a difficult article for the Albanians to argue.