Koštunica, Putin to meet on June 9

Restarting negotiations, this is the biggest joke of a century.

Ahmet,
I agree. It is a desperate move from a Russia which gets very confrontational. "Putin treatens West", front article in the Wall Street Journal".
I would just add "the dogs bark and the caravan pass". One Way or other Kosovo will get its independence.

Serbia's and Russia stance is so ridicuolus since even Putin himself said that if he knew of a compromise solution he would suggest one!!!!!! (it could've have been a slip of the tongue)

I.e. there is no point continuing hte negotiations even by what Putin says!

He said... continue talks to find a solution. Or they will VETO any resolution.

Actually the "biggest joke of the century" is that real negotiations ever took place! The line has been drawn and Kosovo is it. The imperialistic arrogance of the "West" has brought us to this impasse, and Russia/Serbia have no choice but to make a stand!

http://www.counterpunch.org/johnstone06022007.html

russia needs an ally in balkan region as the US is in the process of deployment of missile shield in europe. if russia manages to keep kosovo within serbia then camp bondsteel may go. if serbia loses kosovo then US has all europe in its grasp.

Go Russia

Funny how all the people have been barking for months that Kosovo is going to be independent and yet nothing

Thank you Cvele for the link! What does Dianna Johnstone have to gain from her analysis? Nothing! She is neither Serb or Albanian but an American living in Paris who could have made tons of money if she had chosen to parrot the mainstream media and if she had chosen to be a propagandist for US Foreign Policy. She chose to be the conscience of the West and is speaking out like Martin Niemoller who was the conscience of Nazi Germany when he said in 1945 :
First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
We can substitute Cuba for the communists, Serbia for the Jews, Iraq for the Catholics, and there will be other nations unless we speak up and Putin is speaking and NATO will be well advised to listen. However, US cannot survive without conflict so Kosovo is just a pretext for a conflict with Russia that they are developing as they are forced out of Iraq. US since WWI has wanted to partition Russia and this is another attempt to restart the Cold War and the Arms Race. American economy thrives on conflict because peace does not pay dividends. .

Cvele,

great article. I would suggest anyone read the Book by Diana Johnstone; Fools' Crusade: Yugoslavia, NATO and Western Delusions.
- it is excellent and well supported through extensive research!!!

Zoran,
absolutely spot on!
These so called Ahtisaari "mediated negotiations" are the biggest joke!!! The reality is that they have failed to "impose" their intended objective and will now need to actually negotiate i.e. in it's real definition : To arrange or settle by discussion and mutual agreement.

Zoran,
Actually I thought you already moved back to Serbia.

The biggest joke of the century is that Russians are suggesting further negotiations without suggesting any plans or ideas.
Ahtisaari, US, EU have submited different plans. Nothing came from Russia, other than just trying to gain some political Power.
Personally, I think that this is not Russia's business at all. They have just worked to make things worse in Kosova. US and EU have invested billions of dollars in Kosova. They are entitled to decide. Russians are too poor to decide for other's investments.

Hermon,
"Russia is too poor..."

Russia ended 2006 with its eighth straight year of growth, averaging 6.7% annually since the financial crisis of 1998. Although high oil prices and a relatively cheap ruble initially drove this growth, since 2003 consumer demand and, more recently, investment have played a significant role. Over the last five years, fixed capital investments have averaged real gains greater than 10% per year and personal incomes have achieved real gains more than 12% per year. During this time, poverty has declined steadily and the middle class has continued to expand. Russia has also improved its international financial position since the 1998 financial crisis. The federal budget has run surpluses since 2001 and ended 2006 with a surplus of 9% of GDP. Over the past several years, Russia has used its stabilization fund based on oil taxes to prepay all Soviet-era sovereign debt to Paris Club creditors and the IMF. Foreign debt has decreased to 39% of GDP, mainly due to decreasing state debt, although commercial debt to foreigners has risen strongly. Oil export earnings have allowed Russia to increase its foreign reserves from $12 billion in 1999 to some $315 billion at yearend 2006, the third largest reserves in the world. During PUTIN's first administration, a number of important reforms were implemented in the areas of tax, banking, labor, and land codes. These achievements have raised business and investor confidence in Russia's economic prospects, with foreign direct investment rising from $14.6 billion in 2005 to an estimated $30 billion in 2006. In 2006, Russia's GDP grew 6.6%, while inflation was below 10% for the first time in the past 10 years. Growth was driven by non-tradable services and goods for the domestic market, as opposed to oil or mineral extraction and exports. Russia has signed a bilateral market access agreement with the US as a prelude to possible WTO entry, and its companies are involved in global merger and acquisition activity in the oil and gas, metals, and telecom sectors.

Hermon,

"US and EU have invested billions of dollars in Kosova."

- really I wonder what they have to show for it seeing as it is certainly not independence!?!?! Moreover, where has all this investment of billions gone ??? Sounds like it has all been a bit of a loss leader in terms of an investment as it certainly is proving to have provided no return!!!

I for one am looking forward to hearing the annoucements that will follow after the meeting on the 9th June as I am sure there will be amny disappointed dreamers still sound asleep when the folly is finally out to rest - plan Ahtisaari RIP!

"The biggest joke of the century is that Russians are suggesting further negotiations without suggesting any plans or ideas.
Ahtisaari, US, EU have submited different plans. Nothing came from Russia, other than just trying to gain some political Power."

(Hermon, Monday, 4 June, 2007, 18:51)

Perhaps the Russians haven't put forward their own solution because they believe that the solution should be arrived at by the Serbs and Ethnic Albanians through the two parties negotiating with each other without outside interference? After all this has very little to do with Russia, US, EU or anyone that doesn't live in the area in question. This course has the best chance of providing a long term solution and would create the least amount of impact on other disputed zones in the world.

Hermon,

Its not Russia's business but somehow it is US's business. Yeah because it suits you guys. thats a joke

Cvele,
Sorry to burst your bubble but all that data was really not necesary.
You missed my point.
Russia invested $0 and her polcy has been detsructive when it comes to Kosova. Thats why they have no right to decide about it.
As per their love for their slavic - orthodox brothers, Ukraine and Georgia are the perfect examples. They will through Serbia as a squeezed lemon if something will be offered to them in exchange for Kosova.
Forget Kosova and move forward for the sake of your children's future. Your wind should blow west, not east.

Ahmet, if negotiations on Kosovo are "the biggest joke", so please lough louder: Western annexation plan "A" has failed and will never be implemented! Think about more rational plan "B".

Okay let’s say the West approves the idea of continuing negotiation. The Albanian will not accept anything less then supervised independence, Serbia is obviously not willing to compromise on that. I don’t see any relevant points they can debate on. Serbian leaders are not willing to accept the loss of Kosovo while the Serbs in Kosovo suffer their leader’s position. I’m not sure if Serbia really cares about its people in Kosovo or has some other economical interest over the region. The radical historical talk is nonsense, if it was up to the people to decide then this matter would have been solved long time ago.

Hermon,
NO! And thats how 99% of Serbs feel.

As for the data... simple... Just shows the noose they have around Europes neck.

Also tell me why would Europe side with the states? Seeing how they invaded IRAQ against their wishes, they costed them billions with embargos on SUDAN, IRAQ, IRAN. YOU must understand...

AMERICA CONSUMES NATURAL RESOURCES
RUSSIA EXPORTS NATURAL RESOURCES

Who is the better economic ally?

Restarting negotiations, this is the biggest joke of a century.

Ahmet,
I agree. It is a desperate move from a Russia which gets very confrontational. "Putin treatens West", front article in the Wall Street Journal".
I would just add "the dogs bark and the caravan pass". One Way or other Kosovo will get its independence.

Serbia's and Russia stance is so ridicuolus since even Putin himself said that if he knew of a compromise solution he would suggest one!!!!!! (it could've have been a slip of the tongue)

I.e. there is no point continuing hte negotiations even by what Putin says!

He said... continue talks to find a solution. Or they will VETO any resolution.

Actually the "biggest joke of the century" is that real negotiations ever took place! The line has been drawn and Kosovo is it. The imperialistic arrogance of the "West" has brought us to this impasse, and Russia/Serbia have no choice but to make a stand!

http://www.counterpunch.org/johnstone06022007.html

russia needs an ally in balkan region as the US is in the process of deployment of missile shield in europe. if russia manages to keep kosovo within serbia then camp bondsteel may go. if serbia loses kosovo then US has all europe in its grasp.

Go Russia

Funny how all the people have been barking for months that Kosovo is going to be independent and yet nothing

Thank you Cvele for the link! What does Dianna Johnstone have to gain from her analysis? Nothing! She is neither Serb or Albanian but an American living in Paris who could have made tons of money if she had chosen to parrot the mainstream media and if she had chosen to be a propagandist for US Foreign Policy. She chose to be the conscience of the West and is speaking out like Martin Niemoller who was the conscience of Nazi Germany when he said in 1945 :
First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
We can substitute Cuba for the communists, Serbia for the Jews, Iraq for the Catholics, and there will be other nations unless we speak up and Putin is speaking and NATO will be well advised to listen. However, US cannot survive without conflict so Kosovo is just a pretext for a conflict with Russia that they are developing as they are forced out of Iraq. US since WWI has wanted to partition Russia and this is another attempt to restart the Cold War and the Arms Race. American economy thrives on conflict because peace does not pay dividends. .

Cvele,

great article. I would suggest anyone read the Book by Diana Johnstone; Fools' Crusade: Yugoslavia, NATO and Western Delusions.
- it is excellent and well supported through extensive research!!!

Zoran,
absolutely spot on!
These so called Ahtisaari "mediated negotiations" are the biggest joke!!! The reality is that they have failed to "impose" their intended objective and will now need to actually negotiate i.e. in it's real definition : To arrange or settle by discussion and mutual agreement.

Zoran,
Actually I thought you already moved back to Serbia.

The biggest joke of the century is that Russians are suggesting further negotiations without suggesting any plans or ideas.
Ahtisaari, US, EU have submited different plans. Nothing came from Russia, other than just trying to gain some political Power.
Personally, I think that this is not Russia's business at all. They have just worked to make things worse in Kosova. US and EU have invested billions of dollars in Kosova. They are entitled to decide. Russians are too poor to decide for other's investments.

Hermon,
"Russia is too poor..."

Russia ended 2006 with its eighth straight year of growth, averaging 6.7% annually since the financial crisis of 1998. Although high oil prices and a relatively cheap ruble initially drove this growth, since 2003 consumer demand and, more recently, investment have played a significant role. Over the last five years, fixed capital investments have averaged real gains greater than 10% per year and personal incomes have achieved real gains more than 12% per year. During this time, poverty has declined steadily and the middle class has continued to expand. Russia has also improved its international financial position since the 1998 financial crisis. The federal budget has run surpluses since 2001 and ended 2006 with a surplus of 9% of GDP. Over the past several years, Russia has used its stabilization fund based on oil taxes to prepay all Soviet-era sovereign debt to Paris Club creditors and the IMF. Foreign debt has decreased to 39% of GDP, mainly due to decreasing state debt, although commercial debt to foreigners has risen strongly. Oil export earnings have allowed Russia to increase its foreign reserves from $12 billion in 1999 to some $315 billion at yearend 2006, the third largest reserves in the world. During PUTIN's first administration, a number of important reforms were implemented in the areas of tax, banking, labor, and land codes. These achievements have raised business and investor confidence in Russia's economic prospects, with foreign direct investment rising from $14.6 billion in 2005 to an estimated $30 billion in 2006. In 2006, Russia's GDP grew 6.6%, while inflation was below 10% for the first time in the past 10 years. Growth was driven by non-tradable services and goods for the domestic market, as opposed to oil or mineral extraction and exports. Russia has signed a bilateral market access agreement with the US as a prelude to possible WTO entry, and its companies are involved in global merger and acquisition activity in the oil and gas, metals, and telecom sectors.

Hermon,

"US and EU have invested billions of dollars in Kosova."

- really I wonder what they have to show for it seeing as it is certainly not independence!?!?! Moreover, where has all this investment of billions gone ??? Sounds like it has all been a bit of a loss leader in terms of an investment as it certainly is proving to have provided no return!!!

I for one am looking forward to hearing the annoucements that will follow after the meeting on the 9th June as I am sure there will be amny disappointed dreamers still sound asleep when the folly is finally out to rest - plan Ahtisaari RIP!

"The biggest joke of the century is that Russians are suggesting further negotiations without suggesting any plans or ideas.
Ahtisaari, US, EU have submited different plans. Nothing came from Russia, other than just trying to gain some political Power."

(Hermon, Monday, 4 June, 2007, 18:51)

Perhaps the Russians haven't put forward their own solution because they believe that the solution should be arrived at by the Serbs and Ethnic Albanians through the two parties negotiating with each other without outside interference? After all this has very little to do with Russia, US, EU or anyone that doesn't live in the area in question. This course has the best chance of providing a long term solution and would create the least amount of impact on other disputed zones in the world.

Hermon,

Its not Russia's business but somehow it is US's business. Yeah because it suits you guys. thats a joke

Cvele,
Sorry to burst your bubble but all that data was really not necesary.
You missed my point.
Russia invested $0 and her polcy has been detsructive when it comes to Kosova. Thats why they have no right to decide about it.
As per their love for their slavic - orthodox brothers, Ukraine and Georgia are the perfect examples. They will through Serbia as a squeezed lemon if something will be offered to them in exchange for Kosova.
Forget Kosova and move forward for the sake of your children's future. Your wind should blow west, not east.

Ahmet, if negotiations on Kosovo are "the biggest joke", so please lough louder: Western annexation plan "A" has failed and will never be implemented! Think about more rational plan "B".

Okay let’s say the West approves the idea of continuing negotiation. The Albanian will not accept anything less then supervised independence, Serbia is obviously not willing to compromise on that. I don’t see any relevant points they can debate on. Serbian leaders are not willing to accept the loss of Kosovo while the Serbs in Kosovo suffer their leader’s position. I’m not sure if Serbia really cares about its people in Kosovo or has some other economical interest over the region. The radical historical talk is nonsense, if it was up to the people to decide then this matter would have been solved long time ago.

Hermon,
NO! And thats how 99% of Serbs feel.

As for the data... simple... Just shows the noose they have around Europes neck.

Also tell me why would Europe side with the states? Seeing how they invaded IRAQ against their wishes, they costed them billions with embargos on SUDAN, IRAQ, IRAN. YOU must understand...

AMERICA CONSUMES NATURAL RESOURCES
RUSSIA EXPORTS NATURAL RESOURCES

Who is the better economic ally?