Official: Serbia would not cut ties over Kosovo

Finally somebody came out and admitted that NO we will not severe ties with Countries opening Embassies in Prishtina, but relations will have to be re-considered. A lot of flip-floping coming out of serb politicians.serbia did not severe ties with countries that droped bombs in the middle of belgrade, why would they try to severe ties for a foreign land?

This means that Serbia accepts the fact that Kosovo will be independent,without saying so.

Way to go Serbia!
It's hard to let Kosovo go but you can do it. It will help clear your conscience. After the independence you won't have to waste your energy with such fruitless cause.

As a general comment;
Don't think that the world hates Serbia. It's just that people want to live in peace. Denying Kosovo's independence is a debt that would bite international community later again. Europe knows that, USA knows that, even Russia knows that. The world doesn't care who is right or wrong. The world just doesn't need another headache for the next decade. That's just the way things work in life. Germany was divided in two. Maybe it was a wrong thing for many people but it was the only solution at that time.
Good luck with your EU integration.

No Anton. It means that the Serbian Government has agreed to abided by the decision of the UNSC, whatever that will be. The UNSC has no legal power to take land from a sovereign member unless the member govt says it can. This shows that Serbia has a very mature approach to the issue and wants the best for its citizens by avoiding confrontation with the UN. This in no way prevents the Serbian govt from continuing its lobbying to prevent the removal of its province.

Serbia should impose economic penalites on every single country that gets involved in an unilateral recognition. Serbia should ban all those countries to participate in privatisation process, raise tariffs on their goods or something like that etc...Hit them with economic penalties. They understand that language extremly well. Russia is a friend.

Very slowly but surely the serbian politicians are trying to live in the world of reality and are acknowledging the fact that Kosova is becoming independent. This is a good sign, hopefully the serbs will not still suffer due to the fact that their politicians live in the world of myths.

Good point Mr.Isufi.

If Serbia cuts ties with nations that will recognize Kosova as a new station, Serbia would stand alone in the m iddle of a desert!

The view expressed above say much more about the albanian's (who post here) understanding of 'diplomacy' than Serbia's diplomatic position vis-a-vis Kosovo.

Yes Anton, very much so.

Why would they ever make such a declaration on a status that they have vowed not to allow to become reallity? Despite the bravado declarations of the Serbian Gov (never mind that of the Serbian forummers here) they actually know this is completely out of their hands.

Serbia should ban those countries that recognize unilateral independence from participating in the privatisation process. And increase some tarifs on them etc...The penalty should be economic. As to Russia they are a friend. Russia, China, India, Brazil are huge countries with tremendous economic potential and booming economies. That's where the real action is going to be.

So Victor does that make Serbia an oasis then and the surrounding countries a desert??

Tesla,

How many times has Russia used its veto in the SC?
NONE, that's right, look it up if you don't believe it!

How many times has Russia succssfully been able to help Serbia dig its way out of its self inflicted problems? Correct again, nada!!!

Tesla...

ingenius!!!
Fantastic idea,i agree with you,serbia should impose economic penalities to the EU states and especially to the USA,or maybe an embargo!Things will become hard for them without your economic support!

You can laugh all you want but the Western imperialism is crashing. On the ruins of former Yugoslavia. The US Empire is bankrupt. Check the statistics. They have official debt of $9 trillion. Debts at all levels are astronomic. Savings are negative for the first time since the Great Depression in 1929. Foreigners including Russia hold their debt. They financed their Empire. China has $1.3 trillion in reserves, Russia around $400 billion etc...Russian's ruble is underpinned with the hard currency: oil. They are accumulating gold and preparing to become another financial center of the world. Laugh all you want but Russia is a friend and Serbia's interests lie with Russia not the USA. The last Western empire to rule this world is reaching its end. Not beginning as some would like to think. The sooner everyone understands this the better for everyone.

I would settle for Serbia never, ever joining NATO. It would drive them absolutely nuts and the US/NATO would never be able to invade and take over Serbia.

Ahmet isufi:

you still seem not to understand...

Kosovo is not "foreign land"
that made me smile, when I read it!
you only live there, but , it is not yours! you do not want to hear the truth, I know, but it is in fact the truth.

"How many times has Russia used its veto in the SC?
NONE, that's right, look it up if you don't believe it!"

Well done Arben Qosja another excellent and informative post from the Albanian lobby. Now if you would like to know the facts about the UNSC from planet reality.

Russia accounts for nearly half of all UNSC vetoes(123 out of 261) and last vetoed on 12 January 2007. This veto should be particularly alarming for the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo because it was a double veto by russia and china against a USA/UK proposition to force Myanmar to
"6. Calls on the Government of Myanmar to begin without delay a
substantive political dialogue, which would lead to a genuine democratic transition, to include all political stakeholders, including representatives of ethnic nationality
groups and political leaders;
7. Also calls on the Government of Myanmar to take concrete steps to allow
full freedom of expression, association, and movement by unconditionally releasing
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, lifting all constraints on all
political leaders and citizens, and allowing the National League for Democracy
(NLD) and other political parties to operate freely;" among other things.

This january veto shows that:
1. China and Russia are now willing and able to go head to head with "the West" in the UNSC.
2. China and Russia are wanting to keep "the West" out of their traditional spheres of influence.
3. China and Russia are willing to back each other on these issues.

If I was an ethnic Albanian expecting a result in the UNSC I would be very concerned about this January veto.
Thank you Arben for bringing up this important point. Good work.

Arben - WRONG!!!

if you did your research you would know that the Russians and the Chinese issued a double veto in January http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-01/13/content_782772.htm
Less of the personal attacks at Tesla and more research Arben!!!

Serbia will act responsibly as it stands on very solid and principled grounds regarding it's sovereignity - there will be no independence, no Illegal unilateral declarations, no Illegal unilateral recognition and no violence since NATO will act!

Arben Qosja
"How many times has Russia used its veto in the SC?
NONE, that's right, look it up if you don't believe it! "

Maby educating yourself before making sutch statements you could make some contribution to the discussion. Russia used its veto last time on 12 Jan 2007 along with a chinease one regarding Myanmar.
It used it in 1993 and 2004 regarding the finances and the termination of UN peacekeeping mandate in Cyprus. And in 94 one even involved an issue over Bosnia with transportations of goods between Ex-Yu.

Google is just so simple to use, i dont know how you missed it....

"How many times has Russia used its veto in the SC?
NONE, that's right, look it up if you don't believe it!

(Arben Qosja, Wednesday, 13 June, 2007, 19:16)"

Arben Qosja

I don't believe it. I looked it up. And you are so, so, so WRONG!!

None of the big 5 have cast more vetos than Russia/USSR. Check the link below:

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/data/vetotab.htm

Bad move it seems. Not a way to signal willingness to negotiate--instead, a signal showing readiness to capitulate! Serbia should signal that it can consider Kosovo independence and that put a price tag. The Ahtissari plan PLUS partition would be a good compromise and the intl community should really consider this as the real Plan B.

Tito's policy of 'Manja Srbija, veca Jugoslavia' was a failure bacause it encouraged separatizm and discrimination to Serbia's detriment. The EU & US is following the same failed policy. And when the next crisis happens, probably in Macedonia, Montenegro or southern Serbia, the EU & US will want the Serbs to 'play a constructive role' again.

The Serbs have to start thinking of themselves as the West has done nothing but kick them in the teeth or offered them qualifed and never fulfilled promises. Serbia should concentrate on investment from China, India and Russia. There is buisiness outside the old West so there is no reason why Serbia's economy should be beholden to the West when it is in the process of being eclipsed by the East and globalization.

Arben,

My understanding without looking it up again, is that Russia has only used a veto 4 times since 1984, essentially since Gorbachav's reforms started. In the same time period the US has used it a couple hundred times. The interesting thing to note, and during the "cold war", the USSR was very liberal in using its Veto, casting it hundreds of times.

Putin, being an obvious fan of the way the USSR did things, is very likely to want to use a veto as often as possible, if only to show the US they aren't the only ones able to use a veto. Putin is not like Yelstin or Gorbachav in any way shape or form. Putin seems to have made this a personal issue for him and for Russia's power in the world. I do not personally believe Putin would put so much on the line if he wasn't confident that he would get results. Putin seems like a very intelligent leader, and I don't see him making too many mistakes. Ex-KGB officers being assassinated in the middle of the UK is a very strong message to the west. That was done in such a way as to leave no doubt as to who was behind it. That event was straight out of a spy versus spy movie...

Finally somebody came out and admitted that NO we will not severe ties with Countries opening Embassies in Prishtina, but relations will have to be re-considered. A lot of flip-floping coming out of serb politicians.serbia did not severe ties with countries that droped bombs in the middle of belgrade, why would they try to severe ties for a foreign land?

This means that Serbia accepts the fact that Kosovo will be independent,without saying so.

Way to go Serbia!
It's hard to let Kosovo go but you can do it. It will help clear your conscience. After the independence you won't have to waste your energy with such fruitless cause.

As a general comment;
Don't think that the world hates Serbia. It's just that people want to live in peace. Denying Kosovo's independence is a debt that would bite international community later again. Europe knows that, USA knows that, even Russia knows that. The world doesn't care who is right or wrong. The world just doesn't need another headache for the next decade. That's just the way things work in life. Germany was divided in two. Maybe it was a wrong thing for many people but it was the only solution at that time.
Good luck with your EU integration.

No Anton. It means that the Serbian Government has agreed to abided by the decision of the UNSC, whatever that will be. The UNSC has no legal power to take land from a sovereign member unless the member govt says it can. This shows that Serbia has a very mature approach to the issue and wants the best for its citizens by avoiding confrontation with the UN. This in no way prevents the Serbian govt from continuing its lobbying to prevent the removal of its province.

Serbia should impose economic penalites on every single country that gets involved in an unilateral recognition. Serbia should ban all those countries to participate in privatisation process, raise tariffs on their goods or something like that etc...Hit them with economic penalties. They understand that language extremly well. Russia is a friend.

Very slowly but surely the serbian politicians are trying to live in the world of reality and are acknowledging the fact that Kosova is becoming independent. This is a good sign, hopefully the serbs will not still suffer due to the fact that their politicians live in the world of myths.

Good point Mr.Isufi.

If Serbia cuts ties with nations that will recognize Kosova as a new station, Serbia would stand alone in the m iddle of a desert!

The view expressed above say much more about the albanian's (who post here) understanding of 'diplomacy' than Serbia's diplomatic position vis-a-vis Kosovo.

Yes Anton, very much so.

Why would they ever make such a declaration on a status that they have vowed not to allow to become reallity? Despite the bravado declarations of the Serbian Gov (never mind that of the Serbian forummers here) they actually know this is completely out of their hands.

Serbia should ban those countries that recognize unilateral independence from participating in the privatisation process. And increase some tarifs on them etc...The penalty should be economic. As to Russia they are a friend. Russia, China, India, Brazil are huge countries with tremendous economic potential and booming economies. That's where the real action is going to be.

So Victor does that make Serbia an oasis then and the surrounding countries a desert??

Tesla,

How many times has Russia used its veto in the SC?
NONE, that's right, look it up if you don't believe it!

How many times has Russia succssfully been able to help Serbia dig its way out of its self inflicted problems? Correct again, nada!!!

Tesla...

ingenius!!!
Fantastic idea,i agree with you,serbia should impose economic penalities to the EU states and especially to the USA,or maybe an embargo!Things will become hard for them without your economic support!

You can laugh all you want but the Western imperialism is crashing. On the ruins of former Yugoslavia. The US Empire is bankrupt. Check the statistics. They have official debt of $9 trillion. Debts at all levels are astronomic. Savings are negative for the first time since the Great Depression in 1929. Foreigners including Russia hold their debt. They financed their Empire. China has $1.3 trillion in reserves, Russia around $400 billion etc...Russian's ruble is underpinned with the hard currency: oil. They are accumulating gold and preparing to become another financial center of the world. Laugh all you want but Russia is a friend and Serbia's interests lie with Russia not the USA. The last Western empire to rule this world is reaching its end. Not beginning as some would like to think. The sooner everyone understands this the better for everyone.

I would settle for Serbia never, ever joining NATO. It would drive them absolutely nuts and the US/NATO would never be able to invade and take over Serbia.

Ahmet isufi:

you still seem not to understand...

Kosovo is not "foreign land"
that made me smile, when I read it!
you only live there, but , it is not yours! you do not want to hear the truth, I know, but it is in fact the truth.

"How many times has Russia used its veto in the SC?
NONE, that's right, look it up if you don't believe it!"

Well done Arben Qosja another excellent and informative post from the Albanian lobby. Now if you would like to know the facts about the UNSC from planet reality.

Russia accounts for nearly half of all UNSC vetoes(123 out of 261) and last vetoed on 12 January 2007. This veto should be particularly alarming for the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo because it was a double veto by russia and china against a USA/UK proposition to force Myanmar to
"6. Calls on the Government of Myanmar to begin without delay a
substantive political dialogue, which would lead to a genuine democratic transition, to include all political stakeholders, including representatives of ethnic nationality
groups and political leaders;
7. Also calls on the Government of Myanmar to take concrete steps to allow
full freedom of expression, association, and movement by unconditionally releasing
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, lifting all constraints on all
political leaders and citizens, and allowing the National League for Democracy
(NLD) and other political parties to operate freely;" among other things.

This january veto shows that:
1. China and Russia are now willing and able to go head to head with "the West" in the UNSC.
2. China and Russia are wanting to keep "the West" out of their traditional spheres of influence.
3. China and Russia are willing to back each other on these issues.

If I was an ethnic Albanian expecting a result in the UNSC I would be very concerned about this January veto.
Thank you Arben for bringing up this important point. Good work.

Arben - WRONG!!!

if you did your research you would know that the Russians and the Chinese issued a double veto in January http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-01/13/content_782772.htm
Less of the personal attacks at Tesla and more research Arben!!!

Serbia will act responsibly as it stands on very solid and principled grounds regarding it's sovereignity - there will be no independence, no Illegal unilateral declarations, no Illegal unilateral recognition and no violence since NATO will act!

Arben Qosja
"How many times has Russia used its veto in the SC?
NONE, that's right, look it up if you don't believe it! "

Maby educating yourself before making sutch statements you could make some contribution to the discussion. Russia used its veto last time on 12 Jan 2007 along with a chinease one regarding Myanmar.
It used it in 1993 and 2004 regarding the finances and the termination of UN peacekeeping mandate in Cyprus. And in 94 one even involved an issue over Bosnia with transportations of goods between Ex-Yu.

Google is just so simple to use, i dont know how you missed it....

"How many times has Russia used its veto in the SC?
NONE, that's right, look it up if you don't believe it!

(Arben Qosja, Wednesday, 13 June, 2007, 19:16)"

Arben Qosja

I don't believe it. I looked it up. And you are so, so, so WRONG!!

None of the big 5 have cast more vetos than Russia/USSR. Check the link below:

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/data/vetotab.htm

Bad move it seems. Not a way to signal willingness to negotiate--instead, a signal showing readiness to capitulate! Serbia should signal that it can consider Kosovo independence and that put a price tag. The Ahtissari plan PLUS partition would be a good compromise and the intl community should really consider this as the real Plan B.

Tito's policy of 'Manja Srbija, veca Jugoslavia' was a failure bacause it encouraged separatizm and discrimination to Serbia's detriment. The EU & US is following the same failed policy. And when the next crisis happens, probably in Macedonia, Montenegro or southern Serbia, the EU & US will want the Serbs to 'play a constructive role' again.

The Serbs have to start thinking of themselves as the West has done nothing but kick them in the teeth or offered them qualifed and never fulfilled promises. Serbia should concentrate on investment from China, India and Russia. There is buisiness outside the old West so there is no reason why Serbia's economy should be beholden to the West when it is in the process of being eclipsed by the East and globalization.

Arben,

My understanding without looking it up again, is that Russia has only used a veto 4 times since 1984, essentially since Gorbachav's reforms started. In the same time period the US has used it a couple hundred times. The interesting thing to note, and during the "cold war", the USSR was very liberal in using its Veto, casting it hundreds of times.

Putin, being an obvious fan of the way the USSR did things, is very likely to want to use a veto as often as possible, if only to show the US they aren't the only ones able to use a veto. Putin is not like Yelstin or Gorbachav in any way shape or form. Putin seems to have made this a personal issue for him and for Russia's power in the world. I do not personally believe Putin would put so much on the line if he wasn't confident that he would get results. Putin seems like a very intelligent leader, and I don't see him making too many mistakes. Ex-KGB officers being assassinated in the middle of the UK is a very strong message to the west. That was done in such a way as to leave no doubt as to who was behind it. That event was straight out of a spy versus spy movie...