Koštunica criticizes U.S. over Kosovo

Serbia needs to be forthright in reminding the US of their international law & obligations that they have formulated and signed which retains legality for the prescence os US troops on Serbian territory. Continued attempts by the US to undermine Serbia's territory undermines the very resolution that they formulated and signed in 1244 - for them to attempt to annul this by the continuation of such illegal rehetoric will have consequences that the US will bear responsibility for. Both Kustinica & Tadic need to put this meesage across in the loudest dipolmatice terms possible and must remind the US of their responsibility and accountability to International law.

Dear Mr. Kostunica, are you ready to pay all damages that Serbian army done to Kosovo, are you ready to share the Houeskeeping together with Albanians, what you offer to Albanians exept the wide autonomy (you never explained what does this autonomy content), are you ready to have the Albanians for ambasadors. Etc etc etc.

Good clear statement and absolutely correct.
I get the impression that there are many in the US who do not support the bid to annex another nation's territory.

The US can state whatever it likes. They are rapidly becoming a world liability in foreign policy. If they can be reckless with something as fundamental as territorial soverignty then we are all in trouble! It is not in their gift or anyone elses to give Kosovo away to the Albanians, Kosovo belongs to Serbia and Serbia will always have a claim on it regardless of what some spent US politicians proclaim.

This guy cracks me up! He is still living in the 90s. His style of speech is so similar to people from the Milosevic's regime. I can see USA shaking from fear about their future due to Koshtunicas threats!

His hatred for albanians is so blatant, and childish (he is supposed to be a politican and a prime minister)! This is no suprise in a country where some newspapers refer to albanians as 'shiptar' as was the case few days ago.

Don't make me laugh nikshala. Your govt hasn't even acted against the publication of names of all soldiers who fought (had to fight) for Serbia, regardless of whether they are guilty of any crimes.
In any civilised nation no such hit list would be allowed let alone run without any rebuke from the government.

There are Albanians still living elsewhere in Serbia. The Serbs in Kosovo live in fear for their lives behind barbed wire.

There are Serbian sites like this where you are welcome to say what you want, but nothing remotely similar in the way of Kosovo Albanian sites.

mr. kostunica, gone are the days when you posing with Kalashnikov in your hands could threaten albanians to be amenable to serbian regime. mr. tadic few days ago apologized to croation people. it would be wise to do the same thing to kosova albanains.

cheers,

Kate

You are very wrong. I have seen plenty of examples of newspapers in UK publishing names and photos of suspects of various crimes. (I think you are from UK).

Although I do think it was not the right thing to do to publish the names of those who fought at these difficult times, since it only raises tensions. But at the same time I doubt those that did fight were 'forced' and they didn;'t want to. most local serbs joined the military and police after the fighting started volentary. I saw it myself this happening with some of my serbs neighbours.

And there is a difference between publishing a list and calling a nation racists names. its like a paper in UK calling asians 'Pakis'. Do you think thats right.

I have never seen an albanian newspaper refer to serbs as 'shkije'

Do not talk to me about freedom of movement.

You think if an albanian from Kosovo went into Serbia, lets say belgrade or Nis, and he was talking albanian freely- you think he would be safe??? He's bound to get hospitalised or worse!

Do you think that albians that live in North Mitrovica live in better conditions or move freely? They don't.

Adi so when will people apologise for what they did to the Serbs?

It is funny how things are still the same in here, it is my first time after 3 months that I visit this web page.
It is really amusing to sit down and read statement of high Serbian Politicians, who still refer to Kosova as Serbian Land, and to Kosovo Albanians as terrorists.
This attitude is just great, its funny, it makes me laugh…
In Kosovo I see one flag, in every house and every store, It’s the Albanian Flag.
I celebrate 28 November, the Albanian national day… I learn Albanian history, I listen to Albanian Folk music.
I don’t understand how this could be Serbia, even some Serbs that I know they speak Albanian too.

Nikshala - what are you talking about?? There are no hit lists published in the UK and even the seedy tabloids do NOT refer to 'Pakis'. There would be outrage if they did! You do not know what you are talking about!
The list published in Kosovo is of all soldiers, and many had to fight either because they were conscripts or called up.

The primary reason the US is taking the stance it is over Kosovo is simply because it is in their national interest to do so. It has nothing to do with any particular love of the Albanian people, nor does it have anything smacking of anti-Serbian rhetoric. Your average American can't even find Germany on the map, let alone know the difference between Albanians and Serbs. The whole region is simply known as Borat Country. The US government is taking its position because the K-Albanians are offering the Americans something the Serbs aren't: Camp Bondsteel and a strategic foothold in SE Europe. Serbs are offering nothing to Washington. America would drop Albanians in a heartbeat if Serbia were to offer something more lucrative. Note the biggest and most vocal proponents of Kosovo independence (Lantos, Holbrooke) are all paid off by Albanian lobbyists.

Avni
Simple its like little China in downtown New York but its stil US. Just like the albans have their little albania IN Kosovo doesnt mean that its Albania. No matter how badly you wish it were so.

“America has become the leader in proposing that a part of Serbia’s territory should be made into another Albanian state,
-----------------------------

Without Kosovo, Albania is not an 'Albanian' state.

Nikshala you are incorrect. British newspapers couldn't even name a premiership footballer who was accussed of being involved in a gay orgy. All media sources in the UK have had names of IRA terrorists passed to them (including those responsible for the 1996 Manchester bomb) and they've not used them for fear of prosecution. In the UK it is even impossible to name people under 16 who have murdered or raped a fellow human being.

Kate is, as usual, spot on with a very level headed and sensible comment. However, as per usual, her stance is attacked, rather feebly.

Avni, Cvele is right. You make Kosovo sound like a little Albania in another country. If you want an independent Kosovo, why would you fly the Albanian flag? That's a different country.
There seems to be a complete denial that Kosovo is still legally part of Serbia. This is just the way it is - it's a fact.

Spot on Kate. No one is denying the flying of the Albanain flag in Kosovo, just as no one is denying the flying of the Mexican flag in Texas, or the Cuban flag in Florida. There is a difference between celebrating an indentity and a heritage, and thinking that just because you outnumber everyone else in the area that you have some moral and legal right to declare that territory yours. Without international recognition, and a legal document to back it up, such ideas are nothing more than flights of fancy.

Kate,

If i cant see it, hear it, feel it or touch it then its probably not there. Same is with Serbia's sovreignty in Kosova.

Mike,

"just because you outnumber everyone else in the area that you have some moral and legal right to declare that territory yours."

Wasnt this precisely what you attempted to achieve in Krajina and Bosnia?

Serbs outnumbered Croats and Bosnians in certain areas and therefore declared their own Republics. You simply werent able to capitalize on those claims.

Our claim for an independent Kosova has little to do with population numbers. We want our own country because of what Serbs did to the Kosova Albanians for centuries which culminated in 1999.

We do not trust your country. We know you too well to buy "subtantial autonomy".

Cvele, albanians have 90% reasons more than serbs to call Kosovo as it is: a region of Albania which during the balcanic wars was stolen from it to create a greater Serbia. If 70.000 immigrant serbs permit themselves to call a territory in which they arrived with the purpose to colonize it: "Serbia", why should be denied to 2.000.000 autoctone albanians to call and consider their homeland as they wish?
LONG LIFE TO THE REPUBLIC OF DARDANIA!

Kate

"Nikshala - what are you talking about?? There are no hit lists published in the UK and even the seedy tabloids do NOT refer to 'Pakis'. There would be outrage if they did! You do not know what you are talking about! " -

its funny coz with your outburst you just proved my point. What I was saying was that a sebian newspaper calling albanians 'shiptari' is like a paper in UK calling asians 'pakis'- which has NOT happened in UK, but i was suggesting that if it did, it would be an outrage as you said youself!

So do you think its an outrage that some newspapers in Serbia call albanias 'shiptari', and Koshtunica calls all those that support independence (which is all albanians) terrosists? (don't give me the usual answer "yeah,.. but hit-list, KLA, freedom of movement....)

Or do you believe in selective racism?

And I never suggested that newspaper in UK or other eurponean countries published hit-lists, but they have published names and photos of various criminals and suspects i.e. more recently the photo of that guy Murat suspceted of abducting Madeleine, various radical muslim clerics, various conmen, ect ect.)

Like i said, while I do not agree with you that local serbs were forced to join the army (you obivously never lived in Kosovo and I do), and I do not think it was a hit-list as you call it, i still think it was irresponsible to publish those names.

Nick,

"Wasnt this precisely what you attempted to achieve in Krajina and Bosnia?"

Yeah, and a lot of good it did them. The same rules apply to Serbs as well as Albanians. Do it legally and get international backing and that's one thing. Do it unilaterally and without any attempts at compromise and you get, well, Krajina.

i'll let you talk to my brothers from RUSSIA

One Albanian here wrote:"have never seen an albanian newspaper refer to serbs as 'shkije' "

( shkije ??? ) never heard of that!

could the reason be that Serbs do call themselves Serbs, and Serbs call Albanians like they call themselves "Shqiptarët" ...and that there is absolutely nothing racistic about it?

no single Albanian did ever explain to me what there is so derogative about the term "Šiptar".

if not, please explain to all of the readers here, why it is racism to call you by your own name!

As an Albanian I ask the Serbian people to try and find another one like Kostunica and make him a president. That Nikolic guy would be a good president. The reason why I as an Albanian like Kostunica is because this guy does all the work for us. We do not have to lift a finger. Each time this dudes talks he alienates the US and the West. I would like for the Serbian media to post in English more of his speeches. We don't have to lobby as hard when someone like Kostunica opens their mouth and threatens the US. He sounds a lot like that Iranian guy. Probably the same person writes their speeches.

Johny
THX. We will consider it.

One Serbian above wrote:
"no single Albanian did ever explain to me what there is so derogative about the term "Šiptar".
Let me answer you.
We call ourselves " Shqiptar" and not "Šiptar".
"shkije" means beast in Albanian and it is used commonly when referring to serbs. However, this is not the official name for serbs, so we do not use it in our newspapers or press reports, trying to be as much professional as possible.
Now, regarding serbian newspapers, I bet you have your official name for "Albanian".
When the serbian press become more professional and objective, we expect them not to use the word "Šiptar".
Until than........ god knows how much we have to wait.

To all the Albanians. What will you do if you gain "independence"? How will you support your economy? No doubt Serbia will be asked to join the EU in the future but a predominantly muslim country like ALbania or Kosovo - NO chance. Just take a look at Turkey as a precedent. It will never get into the EU. SO if you gain "independence", recognised by a few EU countries and the US, with no hope of joining the EU, what will the future hold for you? Not much i'd say. Your already impoverished standard of living is set to continue indefinitely.

Because the term shqiptar is pronounced "SHQIPTAR" and not that "Šiptar". So the first is the misspronounciation, mostly in purposem, serbs do refering to us. Secondly is the meaning that term received during the yugoslav period trying to use another name for the albanians from Albania "albanci" and those from Kosovo "Šiptari". We are all the same. In your language albanian is "albanci". But the decision is yours. Or decide ALL the albanians are called "Šiptari" or stop dividing us in siptari and albanci.
Cheers
ilir

PS. By the way, most of the old nations of the balkans call themselves otherwise from the foreigners: greeks - elinas, albanians - shqiptarë, montenegrins - crnogorac, hungarians - magyar etc. It shows strong identity.

In 1998 the KLA was denounced by the UN as a 'terrorist' organisation funded by drugs and prostitution (like many things in Kosovo). Drop the romance Nikshala. I suppose Arkan's Tigers were freedom fighters? I suppose the SS Skanderbeg were freedom fighters?

Johnny, you are the king of sarcasm here, and a pretty bitter guy. Try and lighten up. What would you expect from a head of state protecting his own country's territory? BTW, I was always under the impression that Muslims from Kosovo called themselves Shiptars, and people that live in Albania are called Albanians.

To be honest Hermon, the only time I have ever seen the term "Shiptar" used officially in Serbian sources was during the Milosevic era, and even then, it was interspersed with the more common "Albanci". These were mostly printed in school textbooks, of whose educational quality were highly dubious and extremely one-sided, as befitting the Milosevic regime. Today, I have seen only "Albanci". Anything "Shiptar" is clearly unoffical and slanted towards bias. I think you'd be surprised to see the level of journalistic professionalism coming from Serbia, B92 being only one example of it.

Hermon says
"shkije" means beast in Albanian and it is used commonly when referring to serbs.
-----------------------------

No one really knows what Shkije means, and for sure it doesnt mean 'beasts' (though it might conjure up that image when one hears the word).

Shkije comes from either of these two latin words "sclavi" or 'schismatic'.

FYI, only that portion of Albanians that is in contact with the Serbs calls them 'Shkije".

To all the Albanians. What will you do if you gain "independence"? How will you support your economy? No doubt Serbia will be asked to join the EU in the future but a predominantly muslim country like ALbania or Kosovo - NO chance. Just take a look at Turkey as a precedent. It will never get into the EU. SO if you gain "independence", recognised by a few EU countries and the US, with no hope of joining the EU, what will the future hold for you? Not much i'd say. Your already impoverished standard of living is set to continue indefinitely.
(PB, Monday, 25 June, 2007, 19:34)


The same question I am asking to all the serbs. Now that Montenegro is gone and Kosovo is gone, we can see the tre potential of your country. But I am afraid soon we'll hear of an economic crash there. Serbia is landlocked. Albanians have access in two seas. GDP per capita of Serbia is falling to the quote of 4.400 USD (CIA World factbook). Albanias GDP per capita is in an continuous increase, and now we are at the quote of 5.700. Our economic growth is of 6-7% per year, yours the half. Our population is the youngest of the Europe (70% of albanians are under 40 years old). You are practically a clinically dead nation (more than half of serbs are over 60's).
Our strongest ties in trade exchange are Italy and Germany. Yours are Bosnia and Russia.
Albania has an yearly income from emmigration and tourism that Serbia only can dream. We are running fast forward, you are going back. And you dare to threat albanians: what will you do without Serbia. Isnt it the case that nobody wants to share the state with Serbia? Isnt only ethnic reasons. It is also an economic strong reason. All this data are for Serbia with Kosovo and Albania alone, now you can immagine what can happen while the contrary.
And, talking about EU integration: 16 of 25 europian parliaments have already approved the aplication of Albania to became a candidate to EU country. Serbia just began the MSA negotiations, a process Albania finished long time ago.
The truth is that Serbia have all the time exploited others resources and access, to please itself with goods and development. Left alone, Serbia is just a small, poor and hopeless country.
Better for you if begin to change your behavior with the neighbors
Klaudian

"its funny coz with your outburst you just proved my point. What I was saying was that a sebian newspaper calling albanians 'shiptari' is like a paper in UK calling asians 'pakis'- which has NOT happened in UK, but i was suggesting that if it did, it would be an outrage as you said youself!"

You go nikshala, you tied kate with her own tongue!

Dear Mr. Kostunica, are you ready to pay all damages that Serbian army done to Kosovo, are you ready to share the Houeskeeping together with Albanians, what you offer to Albanians exept the wide autonomy (you never explained what does this autonomy content), are you ready to have the Albanians for ambasadors. Etc etc etc.
(Dr. Patient, 25 June 2007, 12:25)

It seems to be forgotten that NATO not only bombed Serbia with illegal depleted Uranium bombs and cluster bombs, they leveled Kosovo including infrastructure. Contrary to popular belief, they were not hitting the Serbian Army.

Serbia does not need to "share housekeeping costs" as Kosovo is Serbia and Serbia is Kosovo.





Albania is Albania, not Serbia, not Greece, not Montenegro.

I was always under the impression that Muslims from Kosovo called themselves Shiptars, and people that live in Albania are called Albanians.
-----------------------------

We both call ourselves "Shqiptars". Of all the people in the world only the Serbs call us Shiptari. To their credit they seem to know us better then say the Greeks(except when it comes to the matter of our origins and their claims that most Albanians in Kosovo are 'illegal immigrants' from Albania

Kostunica just he is pretending that he is warrior for the Kosova Issue. He is cheating Serbian Nation. In the end he will say: "We tried but we could not succede, we lost Kosovo"

well then,

you the Albanians here approve it if one called them shkije, at least those Albanians who are burning down churches (!), desecrate graveyards and beat up 70-year-old women? or is it okay to call those Albanians shkije who didn´t condemn one single anti-serbian-violent-act here in B92, although I have repeatedly asked them to do so?

my dear fellow citizens of albanina ethnicity, is is a rather sad thing to read something like that.
thanks to the Albanian who corrected the other one about the meaning of that term. that means the first one only wanted to insult Serbs.

Ilir,

would you really dare to claim that Albanians have a "strong identity"?

I honestly doubt that, since they believe they are descendants of the illyrians.

the illyrians were assimilated by all european nations and Albanians are not descendants of those illyrians.
so, pretending or even only wishing to be the descendant of "an old civilisation" doesn´t look quite strong to me!

by the way: rather educated Albanians like for example Mr.Ardian Vehbiu know that the illyrian myth is nothing more than a myth that was needed to create a unified albanian nation. that´s all. you only do not know that, as it seems.

I'm an American and I am as bewildered by the U.S. position on Kosovo as Kostunica is.

Ethnic minorities in the United States don't get autonomy or the right of secession. If you live in the United States you're expected to be an American and that's it.

The United States supported Resolution 1244, which guarantees Serbia's sovregnity over Kosovo.

I don't know why the United States should go back on its word now. There is no cause to punish Serbia and reward the Albanians.

The Albanians have spent the last eight years ethnically cleansing Kosovo of it's non-Albanian minorities, and it has turned out that the scale of Serbian atrocities in the province was wildly exaggerated during the war.

The U.S. State Department believed that 100,000 Albanians had been killed in Kosovo when the U.S. voted for resolution 1244, now they have cut that estimate by 90% estimating only about 10,000 deaths, and even that estimate exceeds the number of confirmed dead and missing.

The American, or should I say the Bush Administration's, position is completely senseless. Kostunica is right to be annoyed.

I don't interpret his remarks as anti-American in the least. The majority of Americans would have far worse things to say about recent U.S. foreign policy.

also albanians in Albania call themselves "Shqiptar", the same happens with albanians in Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia...so we call ourself "Shqiptar" and others call us "Albanians"...
and the reason why serbs call us "Siftar" is because when they heard us calling ourself "Shqiptar" they misunderstood and misspelled saying "Siftar", so do not argue about this anymore, it doesn't make any sense...

answer to PB comment:
when you mention that EU will not accept Albania and Kosovo because of the religion, it shows itself that you are against muslim faith. People in Europe and USA are enough smart to calculate this issue. If they are willing to gain Kosovo independence, for sure they will accept to join UE, both Kosovo and Albania. I agree that majority of albanians are muslims, but they are not fundamentalists, they are not terrorists...just visit Albania and Kosovo, you will see that albanians are just the same as people in west europe and USA

We don't have to lobby as hard when someone like Kostunica opens their mouth and threatens the US. He sounds a lot like that Iranian guy. Probably the same person writes their speeches.
(Johny, Monday, 25 June, 2007, 18:55)

Are you kidding me? Are you really that ignorant that you don't know the Iranian guy you just knocked (President of Iran) is the "Dude" as you put it, that has sunk more money into Kosovo then anyone else! You are probably able to use the Internet thanks to this dude.

You people really need to come down from this mass trip everyone is on and starting considering the future, if not for yourself then all these new children being born.

Hi guys, I must remind you once again; Kosova is independent now 8 years.
Don’t waste your time, trying to convince yourselves for contrary. It is reality.

ADDRESSED TO ALL SERB COMENTATORS ON THIS SITE:
I am tired reading how K-Albanians have burned churches(I am assuming they mean orthodox churches)in Kosova . I challenge all of you to name all ancient orthodox churches that were destroyed by K-Alb. in Kosova.But, Please do not mention any building (so called churches)thatwas built during Miloseviq's era. Every ancient orthodox church in Kosova is intact.Stop with your lies, becasue I live in Kosova and I know teh facts on the ground.

No doubt Serbia will be asked to join the EU in the future but a predominantly Muslim country like Albania or Kosovo - NO chance.


Your already impoverished standard of living is set to continue indefinitely.
(PB, Monday, 25 June, 2007, 19:34)

Have you ever been to Tirana, Durres, Fieri, or Saranda. I was there just 2 weeks ago. These cities I mentioned surely don't look like impoverished places as you depict them. In fact they look a lot more modernized than some Serbian towns I have visited. Albania's potential for tourism is a lot greater than Serbia's! During my five years of working in the Balkans, I have seen the face of Albania changing so rapidly that Serbia will have difficulties catching up.

I have seen none of the Islamic fundamentalism that some of commentators here at B92 frequently talk about. In fact, we have a lot more Muslims in Canada and USA than there are in Albania.


To embellish your theologic understanding of demographics. Here are few countries that possess more Muslims than Albania. France contains 6 million Muslims, Great Britain 4 , Germany 5, Russia 28 million. Canada 4 million.

Maybe some of you forget that Albania's population is only 3 and a half million. There are 2 million agnostics, half million Christians and less than half million Muslims. It looks like Serbs and some other Slavic countries are still relying on before the World War 2 statistics when it comes to Albania. But besides the fact, why do some of you Serbs always act as if it is a crime to be a Muslim. If you count the Sandzak muslims, Valley Albanians, Roma muslims, and others living in Belgrade and Vojvodina, you have almost a million Muslim citizens in Serbia.
So, your anti Muslim remarks just show how you see and treat your own citizens, and I sincerely have difficulties understanding on how you plan to incorporate Kosovo Albanians with these kinds of remarks. It looks to me that Serbia doesn't believe in a multi ethnic society, or even if it does it has to be the one where Serbia always rules.

I apologized if my remarks trouble someone!

Albert,

I am rather impressed by your understanding of the issues. I too have worked and still work with internationals in Kosova, but rarely do I meet people who have such a profound understanding of the issues which we must deal with.

Serbia, unfortunately still believes everyone south of Nis is a Turk and they must be the shield and sword of Christendom in Europe, out to protect it from the evil Muslims. Some Serbs fail to understand that there is nothing wrong with people who belong to another religion than theirs.

I sure hope Serbia will join the other Balkan countries and integrate into NATO and EU. Serbia is an important part of the Balkans and its integration into Europe will help us all to finally achieve a peaceful and prosperous future.

rather educated Albanians like for example Mr.Ardian Vehbiu know that the illyrian myth is nothing more than a myth
-----------------------------

Ardian Vehbiu is a linguist who thinks too highly of his own discipline. He merely says "I havent seen any physical evidence". As Karl Sagan says "Absence of evidence does not correlate to evidence of absence".

Our dear friend Ahmet wrote:

"I challenge all of you to name all ancient orthodox churches that were destroyed by K-Alb. in Kosova.But, Please do not mention any building (so called churches)thatwas built during Miloseviq's era. Every ancient orthodox church in Kosova is intact.Stop with your lies, becasue I live in Kosova and I know teh facts on the ground."

Ahmet, you always claim to "know the facts" but always miss important little details to validate your position:

Please explain how the Church of Bogorodica Ljeviška in Prizren, a church built in 12th-13th century was then targeted and heavily damaged in 2004. I'm not expert on Albanian logic, but I think even you could conclude that something in the 13th century doesn't qualify as a "so called Milosevic church" as you conveniently term. Also please explain to me the reasons behind the mortar attack on Decani Monastery too. Again, medieval not Milosevic.

Nice try Ahmet but you're going to have to do a better job arguing with some of us who apparently pay better attention to events than you.

Mike,

You may be right. Some churches have been damaged. But, how come you on the Serbian side never mention Mosques that were burned by Milosevic's troops. 120000 homes were burned along with mosques. What makes a church more valuable than a mosque?

Though I am an agnostic and do not visit mosques or churches, but religious sites ought to be valued and protected equally.

"But, how come you on the Serbian side never mention Mosques that were burned by Milosevic's troops. (Destan Belaxhia, Tuesday, 26 June, 2007, 17:32)"
Not mentioning them every time we post and denying that any were destroyed are two different matters.
Destroying Churches and mosques was common on all sides of the war everywhere in the Balkans.
Ahmet does make what we Serbs consider to be an important point. We Serbs feel that those Churches that are very old and under UNESCO protection are also important in the historical sense in addition to its religious value. As those Churches represent the very founding of our civilization. You don't often hear Serbs feeling as strongly about the destroyed Churches in Krajina (there are many, I've seen them personally) or in areas of Bosnia. Basically for me, as a Serb raised in the West, the whole entire issue in Kosovo is about those Churches and the fact that I feel Kosovo is the very cradle of our civilization. My wife is from Krajina, and as sad as it was what happened there, it does not affect me as much as the possible loss of Kosovo.
If you are familiar with my comments you know that I've been to the Mosque in Belgrade that was destroyed in retaliation for the 2004 riots and that I strongly condemned those actions. When I speak of the destruction of property in Kosovo, I mean homes, businesses and religious sites.
Destan, you must admit there is a difference between regular churches and important historical ones.
Please, let me know if any Mosques of historical importance were destroyed or damaged. I honestly don't know. I know a lot of stuff was destroyed, and I've always been of the opinion that Serbia must pay to repair the damage.
BTW, Ahmet already claimed to have personally inspected Decani after the attack and made the claim that it was only a rusty unexploded mortar round that the priest obviously just placed there on top of a few cracked roof tiles. Then again, he also claimed to have inside knowledge proving those poor innocent kids that drowned, causing the 2004 riots, were in fact killed by Serbs, and that Serbian Intelligence agencies were the ones to start destroying churches and incited the Albanians to riot. Now he claims no churches were damaged. He also claims to be a high level police officer, and if that is true, God help us all in Kosovo...

"Are you kidding me? Are you really that ignorant that you don't know the Iranian guy you just knocked (President of Iran) is the "Dude" as you put it, that has sunk more money into Kosovo then anyone else! You are probably able to use the Internet thanks to this dude."

Can you please be so kind to provide us with your sources, cuz I hear you speak, even get infuriated, call people names and offend them but I don't see any sources for what you are stating. Very tabloid-like; I don't see you provide any facts.

Nikshala in the Balkans people write Canada as “Kanada” this does not offend me since it is a simple transliteration. . Shiprtar is simply a Serbian word for the Albanian word Shqiptarët" . Since Serbo-Croat language is phonetic it is a logical transliteration into Serbo-Croat language. As to hit lists in Kosiovo you need to read this from Der Spiegel September 21, 2002 “Twenty-four Albanians were shot, among them 13 children, and their houses were burned down. But the victims are not buried in the heroes’ cemetery at the end of the village, where under a sea of Albanian flags rest its former inhabitants killed in clashes with the Serbs. They are not buried there because, according to protected testimony by eyewitnesses, the Krasniqis were apparently executed by their compatriots only after the arrival of KFOR international peacekeeping forces in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo. To read more go to this link http://www.kosovo.net/kla2.html

Serbia needs to be forthright in reminding the US of their international law & obligations that they have formulated and signed which retains legality for the prescence os US troops on Serbian territory. Continued attempts by the US to undermine Serbia's territory undermines the very resolution that they formulated and signed in 1244 - for them to attempt to annul this by the continuation of such illegal rehetoric will have consequences that the US will bear responsibility for. Both Kustinica & Tadic need to put this meesage across in the loudest dipolmatice terms possible and must remind the US of their responsibility and accountability to International law.

Dear Mr. Kostunica, are you ready to pay all damages that Serbian army done to Kosovo, are you ready to share the Houeskeeping together with Albanians, what you offer to Albanians exept the wide autonomy (you never explained what does this autonomy content), are you ready to have the Albanians for ambasadors. Etc etc etc.

Good clear statement and absolutely correct.
I get the impression that there are many in the US who do not support the bid to annex another nation's territory.

The US can state whatever it likes. They are rapidly becoming a world liability in foreign policy. If they can be reckless with something as fundamental as territorial soverignty then we are all in trouble! It is not in their gift or anyone elses to give Kosovo away to the Albanians, Kosovo belongs to Serbia and Serbia will always have a claim on it regardless of what some spent US politicians proclaim.

This guy cracks me up! He is still living in the 90s. His style of speech is so similar to people from the Milosevic's regime. I can see USA shaking from fear about their future due to Koshtunicas threats!

His hatred for albanians is so blatant, and childish (he is supposed to be a politican and a prime minister)! This is no suprise in a country where some newspapers refer to albanians as 'shiptar' as was the case few days ago.

Don't make me laugh nikshala. Your govt hasn't even acted against the publication of names of all soldiers who fought (had to fight) for Serbia, regardless of whether they are guilty of any crimes.
In any civilised nation no such hit list would be allowed let alone run without any rebuke from the government.

There are Albanians still living elsewhere in Serbia. The Serbs in Kosovo live in fear for their lives behind barbed wire.

There are Serbian sites like this where you are welcome to say what you want, but nothing remotely similar in the way of Kosovo Albanian sites.

mr. kostunica, gone are the days when you posing with Kalashnikov in your hands could threaten albanians to be amenable to serbian regime. mr. tadic few days ago apologized to croation people. it would be wise to do the same thing to kosova albanains.

cheers,

Kate

You are very wrong. I have seen plenty of examples of newspapers in UK publishing names and photos of suspects of various crimes. (I think you are from UK).

Although I do think it was not the right thing to do to publish the names of those who fought at these difficult times, since it only raises tensions. But at the same time I doubt those that did fight were 'forced' and they didn;'t want to. most local serbs joined the military and police after the fighting started volentary. I saw it myself this happening with some of my serbs neighbours.

And there is a difference between publishing a list and calling a nation racists names. its like a paper in UK calling asians 'Pakis'. Do you think thats right.

I have never seen an albanian newspaper refer to serbs as 'shkije'

Do not talk to me about freedom of movement.

You think if an albanian from Kosovo went into Serbia, lets say belgrade or Nis, and he was talking albanian freely- you think he would be safe??? He's bound to get hospitalised or worse!

Do you think that albians that live in North Mitrovica live in better conditions or move freely? They don't.

Adi so when will people apologise for what they did to the Serbs?

It is funny how things are still the same in here, it is my first time after 3 months that I visit this web page.
It is really amusing to sit down and read statement of high Serbian Politicians, who still refer to Kosova as Serbian Land, and to Kosovo Albanians as terrorists.
This attitude is just great, its funny, it makes me laugh…
In Kosovo I see one flag, in every house and every store, It’s the Albanian Flag.
I celebrate 28 November, the Albanian national day… I learn Albanian history, I listen to Albanian Folk music.
I don’t understand how this could be Serbia, even some Serbs that I know they speak Albanian too.

Nikshala - what are you talking about?? There are no hit lists published in the UK and even the seedy tabloids do NOT refer to 'Pakis'. There would be outrage if they did! You do not know what you are talking about!
The list published in Kosovo is of all soldiers, and many had to fight either because they were conscripts or called up.

The primary reason the US is taking the stance it is over Kosovo is simply because it is in their national interest to do so. It has nothing to do with any particular love of the Albanian people, nor does it have anything smacking of anti-Serbian rhetoric. Your average American can't even find Germany on the map, let alone know the difference between Albanians and Serbs. The whole region is simply known as Borat Country. The US government is taking its position because the K-Albanians are offering the Americans something the Serbs aren't: Camp Bondsteel and a strategic foothold in SE Europe. Serbs are offering nothing to Washington. America would drop Albanians in a heartbeat if Serbia were to offer something more lucrative. Note the biggest and most vocal proponents of Kosovo independence (Lantos, Holbrooke) are all paid off by Albanian lobbyists.

Avni
Simple its like little China in downtown New York but its stil US. Just like the albans have their little albania IN Kosovo doesnt mean that its Albania. No matter how badly you wish it were so.

“America has become the leader in proposing that a part of Serbia’s territory should be made into another Albanian state,
-----------------------------

Without Kosovo, Albania is not an 'Albanian' state.

Nikshala you are incorrect. British newspapers couldn't even name a premiership footballer who was accussed of being involved in a gay orgy. All media sources in the UK have had names of IRA terrorists passed to them (including those responsible for the 1996 Manchester bomb) and they've not used them for fear of prosecution. In the UK it is even impossible to name people under 16 who have murdered or raped a fellow human being.

Kate is, as usual, spot on with a very level headed and sensible comment. However, as per usual, her stance is attacked, rather feebly.

Avni, Cvele is right. You make Kosovo sound like a little Albania in another country. If you want an independent Kosovo, why would you fly the Albanian flag? That's a different country.
There seems to be a complete denial that Kosovo is still legally part of Serbia. This is just the way it is - it's a fact.

Spot on Kate. No one is denying the flying of the Albanain flag in Kosovo, just as no one is denying the flying of the Mexican flag in Texas, or the Cuban flag in Florida. There is a difference between celebrating an indentity and a heritage, and thinking that just because you outnumber everyone else in the area that you have some moral and legal right to declare that territory yours. Without international recognition, and a legal document to back it up, such ideas are nothing more than flights of fancy.

Kate,

If i cant see it, hear it, feel it or touch it then its probably not there. Same is with Serbia's sovreignty in Kosova.

Mike,

"just because you outnumber everyone else in the area that you have some moral and legal right to declare that territory yours."

Wasnt this precisely what you attempted to achieve in Krajina and Bosnia?

Serbs outnumbered Croats and Bosnians in certain areas and therefore declared their own Republics. You simply werent able to capitalize on those claims.

Our claim for an independent Kosova has little to do with population numbers. We want our own country because of what Serbs did to the Kosova Albanians for centuries which culminated in 1999.

We do not trust your country. We know you too well to buy "subtantial autonomy".

Cvele, albanians have 90% reasons more than serbs to call Kosovo as it is: a region of Albania which during the balcanic wars was stolen from it to create a greater Serbia. If 70.000 immigrant serbs permit themselves to call a territory in which they arrived with the purpose to colonize it: "Serbia", why should be denied to 2.000.000 autoctone albanians to call and consider their homeland as they wish?
LONG LIFE TO THE REPUBLIC OF DARDANIA!

Kate

"Nikshala - what are you talking about?? There are no hit lists published in the UK and even the seedy tabloids do NOT refer to 'Pakis'. There would be outrage if they did! You do not know what you are talking about! " -

its funny coz with your outburst you just proved my point. What I was saying was that a sebian newspaper calling albanians 'shiptari' is like a paper in UK calling asians 'pakis'- which has NOT happened in UK, but i was suggesting that if it did, it would be an outrage as you said youself!

So do you think its an outrage that some newspapers in Serbia call albanias 'shiptari', and Koshtunica calls all those that support independence (which is all albanians) terrosists? (don't give me the usual answer "yeah,.. but hit-list, KLA, freedom of movement....)

Or do you believe in selective racism?

And I never suggested that newspaper in UK or other eurponean countries published hit-lists, but they have published names and photos of various criminals and suspects i.e. more recently the photo of that guy Murat suspceted of abducting Madeleine, various radical muslim clerics, various conmen, ect ect.)

Like i said, while I do not agree with you that local serbs were forced to join the army (you obivously never lived in Kosovo and I do), and I do not think it was a hit-list as you call it, i still think it was irresponsible to publish those names.

Nick,

"Wasnt this precisely what you attempted to achieve in Krajina and Bosnia?"

Yeah, and a lot of good it did them. The same rules apply to Serbs as well as Albanians. Do it legally and get international backing and that's one thing. Do it unilaterally and without any attempts at compromise and you get, well, Krajina.

i'll let you talk to my brothers from RUSSIA

One Albanian here wrote:"have never seen an albanian newspaper refer to serbs as 'shkije' "

( shkije ??? ) never heard of that!

could the reason be that Serbs do call themselves Serbs, and Serbs call Albanians like they call themselves "Shqiptarët" ...and that there is absolutely nothing racistic about it?

no single Albanian did ever explain to me what there is so derogative about the term "Šiptar".

if not, please explain to all of the readers here, why it is racism to call you by your own name!

As an Albanian I ask the Serbian people to try and find another one like Kostunica and make him a president. That Nikolic guy would be a good president. The reason why I as an Albanian like Kostunica is because this guy does all the work for us. We do not have to lift a finger. Each time this dudes talks he alienates the US and the West. I would like for the Serbian media to post in English more of his speeches. We don't have to lobby as hard when someone like Kostunica opens their mouth and threatens the US. He sounds a lot like that Iranian guy. Probably the same person writes their speeches.

Johny
THX. We will consider it.

One Serbian above wrote:
"no single Albanian did ever explain to me what there is so derogative about the term "Šiptar".
Let me answer you.
We call ourselves " Shqiptar" and not "Šiptar".
"shkije" means beast in Albanian and it is used commonly when referring to serbs. However, this is not the official name for serbs, so we do not use it in our newspapers or press reports, trying to be as much professional as possible.
Now, regarding serbian newspapers, I bet you have your official name for "Albanian".
When the serbian press become more professional and objective, we expect them not to use the word "Šiptar".
Until than........ god knows how much we have to wait.

To all the Albanians. What will you do if you gain "independence"? How will you support your economy? No doubt Serbia will be asked to join the EU in the future but a predominantly muslim country like ALbania or Kosovo - NO chance. Just take a look at Turkey as a precedent. It will never get into the EU. SO if you gain "independence", recognised by a few EU countries and the US, with no hope of joining the EU, what will the future hold for you? Not much i'd say. Your already impoverished standard of living is set to continue indefinitely.

Because the term shqiptar is pronounced "SHQIPTAR" and not that "Šiptar". So the first is the misspronounciation, mostly in purposem, serbs do refering to us. Secondly is the meaning that term received during the yugoslav period trying to use another name for the albanians from Albania "albanci" and those from Kosovo "Šiptari". We are all the same. In your language albanian is "albanci". But the decision is yours. Or decide ALL the albanians are called "Šiptari" or stop dividing us in siptari and albanci.
Cheers
ilir

PS. By the way, most of the old nations of the balkans call themselves otherwise from the foreigners: greeks - elinas, albanians - shqiptarë, montenegrins - crnogorac, hungarians - magyar etc. It shows strong identity.

In 1998 the KLA was denounced by the UN as a 'terrorist' organisation funded by drugs and prostitution (like many things in Kosovo). Drop the romance Nikshala. I suppose Arkan's Tigers were freedom fighters? I suppose the SS Skanderbeg were freedom fighters?

Johnny, you are the king of sarcasm here, and a pretty bitter guy. Try and lighten up. What would you expect from a head of state protecting his own country's territory? BTW, I was always under the impression that Muslims from Kosovo called themselves Shiptars, and people that live in Albania are called Albanians.

To be honest Hermon, the only time I have ever seen the term "Shiptar" used officially in Serbian sources was during the Milosevic era, and even then, it was interspersed with the more common "Albanci". These were mostly printed in school textbooks, of whose educational quality were highly dubious and extremely one-sided, as befitting the Milosevic regime. Today, I have seen only "Albanci". Anything "Shiptar" is clearly unoffical and slanted towards bias. I think you'd be surprised to see the level of journalistic professionalism coming from Serbia, B92 being only one example of it.

Hermon says
"shkije" means beast in Albanian and it is used commonly when referring to serbs.
-----------------------------

No one really knows what Shkije means, and for sure it doesnt mean 'beasts' (though it might conjure up that image when one hears the word).

Shkije comes from either of these two latin words "sclavi" or 'schismatic'.

FYI, only that portion of Albanians that is in contact with the Serbs calls them 'Shkije".

To all the Albanians. What will you do if you gain "independence"? How will you support your economy? No doubt Serbia will be asked to join the EU in the future but a predominantly muslim country like ALbania or Kosovo - NO chance. Just take a look at Turkey as a precedent. It will never get into the EU. SO if you gain "independence", recognised by a few EU countries and the US, with no hope of joining the EU, what will the future hold for you? Not much i'd say. Your already impoverished standard of living is set to continue indefinitely.
(PB, Monday, 25 June, 2007, 19:34)


The same question I am asking to all the serbs. Now that Montenegro is gone and Kosovo is gone, we can see the tre potential of your country. But I am afraid soon we'll hear of an economic crash there. Serbia is landlocked. Albanians have access in two seas. GDP per capita of Serbia is falling to the quote of 4.400 USD (CIA World factbook). Albanias GDP per capita is in an continuous increase, and now we are at the quote of 5.700. Our economic growth is of 6-7% per year, yours the half. Our population is the youngest of the Europe (70% of albanians are under 40 years old). You are practically a clinically dead nation (more than half of serbs are over 60's).
Our strongest ties in trade exchange are Italy and Germany. Yours are Bosnia and Russia.
Albania has an yearly income from emmigration and tourism that Serbia only can dream. We are running fast forward, you are going back. And you dare to threat albanians: what will you do without Serbia. Isnt it the case that nobody wants to share the state with Serbia? Isnt only ethnic reasons. It is also an economic strong reason. All this data are for Serbia with Kosovo and Albania alone, now you can immagine what can happen while the contrary.
And, talking about EU integration: 16 of 25 europian parliaments have already approved the aplication of Albania to became a candidate to EU country. Serbia just began the MSA negotiations, a process Albania finished long time ago.
The truth is that Serbia have all the time exploited others resources and access, to please itself with goods and development. Left alone, Serbia is just a small, poor and hopeless country.
Better for you if begin to change your behavior with the neighbors
Klaudian

"its funny coz with your outburst you just proved my point. What I was saying was that a sebian newspaper calling albanians 'shiptari' is like a paper in UK calling asians 'pakis'- which has NOT happened in UK, but i was suggesting that if it did, it would be an outrage as you said youself!"

You go nikshala, you tied kate with her own tongue!

Dear Mr. Kostunica, are you ready to pay all damages that Serbian army done to Kosovo, are you ready to share the Houeskeeping together with Albanians, what you offer to Albanians exept the wide autonomy (you never explained what does this autonomy content), are you ready to have the Albanians for ambasadors. Etc etc etc.
(Dr. Patient, 25 June 2007, 12:25)

It seems to be forgotten that NATO not only bombed Serbia with illegal depleted Uranium bombs and cluster bombs, they leveled Kosovo including infrastructure. Contrary to popular belief, they were not hitting the Serbian Army.

Serbia does not need to "share housekeeping costs" as Kosovo is Serbia and Serbia is Kosovo.





Albania is Albania, not Serbia, not Greece, not Montenegro.

I was always under the impression that Muslims from Kosovo called themselves Shiptars, and people that live in Albania are called Albanians.
-----------------------------

We both call ourselves "Shqiptars". Of all the people in the world only the Serbs call us Shiptari. To their credit they seem to know us better then say the Greeks(except when it comes to the matter of our origins and their claims that most Albanians in Kosovo are 'illegal immigrants' from Albania

Kostunica just he is pretending that he is warrior for the Kosova Issue. He is cheating Serbian Nation. In the end he will say: "We tried but we could not succede, we lost Kosovo"

well then,

you the Albanians here approve it if one called them shkije, at least those Albanians who are burning down churches (!), desecrate graveyards and beat up 70-year-old women? or is it okay to call those Albanians shkije who didn´t condemn one single anti-serbian-violent-act here in B92, although I have repeatedly asked them to do so?

my dear fellow citizens of albanina ethnicity, is is a rather sad thing to read something like that.
thanks to the Albanian who corrected the other one about the meaning of that term. that means the first one only wanted to insult Serbs.

Ilir,

would you really dare to claim that Albanians have a "strong identity"?

I honestly doubt that, since they believe they are descendants of the illyrians.

the illyrians were assimilated by all european nations and Albanians are not descendants of those illyrians.
so, pretending or even only wishing to be the descendant of "an old civilisation" doesn´t look quite strong to me!

by the way: rather educated Albanians like for example Mr.Ardian Vehbiu know that the illyrian myth is nothing more than a myth that was needed to create a unified albanian nation. that´s all. you only do not know that, as it seems.

I'm an American and I am as bewildered by the U.S. position on Kosovo as Kostunica is.

Ethnic minorities in the United States don't get autonomy or the right of secession. If you live in the United States you're expected to be an American and that's it.

The United States supported Resolution 1244, which guarantees Serbia's sovregnity over Kosovo.

I don't know why the United States should go back on its word now. There is no cause to punish Serbia and reward the Albanians.

The Albanians have spent the last eight years ethnically cleansing Kosovo of it's non-Albanian minorities, and it has turned out that the scale of Serbian atrocities in the province was wildly exaggerated during the war.

The U.S. State Department believed that 100,000 Albanians had been killed in Kosovo when the U.S. voted for resolution 1244, now they have cut that estimate by 90% estimating only about 10,000 deaths, and even that estimate exceeds the number of confirmed dead and missing.

The American, or should I say the Bush Administration's, position is completely senseless. Kostunica is right to be annoyed.

I don't interpret his remarks as anti-American in the least. The majority of Americans would have far worse things to say about recent U.S. foreign policy.

also albanians in Albania call themselves "Shqiptar", the same happens with albanians in Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia...so we call ourself "Shqiptar" and others call us "Albanians"...
and the reason why serbs call us "Siftar" is because when they heard us calling ourself "Shqiptar" they misunderstood and misspelled saying "Siftar", so do not argue about this anymore, it doesn't make any sense...

answer to PB comment:
when you mention that EU will not accept Albania and Kosovo because of the religion, it shows itself that you are against muslim faith. People in Europe and USA are enough smart to calculate this issue. If they are willing to gain Kosovo independence, for sure they will accept to join UE, both Kosovo and Albania. I agree that majority of albanians are muslims, but they are not fundamentalists, they are not terrorists...just visit Albania and Kosovo, you will see that albanians are just the same as people in west europe and USA

We don't have to lobby as hard when someone like Kostunica opens their mouth and threatens the US. He sounds a lot like that Iranian guy. Probably the same person writes their speeches.
(Johny, Monday, 25 June, 2007, 18:55)

Are you kidding me? Are you really that ignorant that you don't know the Iranian guy you just knocked (President of Iran) is the "Dude" as you put it, that has sunk more money into Kosovo then anyone else! You are probably able to use the Internet thanks to this dude.

You people really need to come down from this mass trip everyone is on and starting considering the future, if not for yourself then all these new children being born.

Hi guys, I must remind you once again; Kosova is independent now 8 years.
Don’t waste your time, trying to convince yourselves for contrary. It is reality.

ADDRESSED TO ALL SERB COMENTATORS ON THIS SITE:
I am tired reading how K-Albanians have burned churches(I am assuming they mean orthodox churches)in Kosova . I challenge all of you to name all ancient orthodox churches that were destroyed by K-Alb. in Kosova.But, Please do not mention any building (so called churches)thatwas built during Miloseviq's era. Every ancient orthodox church in Kosova is intact.Stop with your lies, becasue I live in Kosova and I know teh facts on the ground.

No doubt Serbia will be asked to join the EU in the future but a predominantly Muslim country like Albania or Kosovo - NO chance.


Your already impoverished standard of living is set to continue indefinitely.
(PB, Monday, 25 June, 2007, 19:34)

Have you ever been to Tirana, Durres, Fieri, or Saranda. I was there just 2 weeks ago. These cities I mentioned surely don't look like impoverished places as you depict them. In fact they look a lot more modernized than some Serbian towns I have visited. Albania's potential for tourism is a lot greater than Serbia's! During my five years of working in the Balkans, I have seen the face of Albania changing so rapidly that Serbia will have difficulties catching up.

I have seen none of the Islamic fundamentalism that some of commentators here at B92 frequently talk about. In fact, we have a lot more Muslims in Canada and USA than there are in Albania.


To embellish your theologic understanding of demographics. Here are few countries that possess more Muslims than Albania. France contains 6 million Muslims, Great Britain 4 , Germany 5, Russia 28 million. Canada 4 million.

Maybe some of you forget that Albania's population is only 3 and a half million. There are 2 million agnostics, half million Christians and less than half million Muslims. It looks like Serbs and some other Slavic countries are still relying on before the World War 2 statistics when it comes to Albania. But besides the fact, why do some of you Serbs always act as if it is a crime to be a Muslim. If you count the Sandzak muslims, Valley Albanians, Roma muslims, and others living in Belgrade and Vojvodina, you have almost a million Muslim citizens in Serbia.
So, your anti Muslim remarks just show how you see and treat your own citizens, and I sincerely have difficulties understanding on how you plan to incorporate Kosovo Albanians with these kinds of remarks. It looks to me that Serbia doesn't believe in a multi ethnic society, or even if it does it has to be the one where Serbia always rules.

I apologized if my remarks trouble someone!

Albert,

I am rather impressed by your understanding of the issues. I too have worked and still work with internationals in Kosova, but rarely do I meet people who have such a profound understanding of the issues which we must deal with.

Serbia, unfortunately still believes everyone south of Nis is a Turk and they must be the shield and sword of Christendom in Europe, out to protect it from the evil Muslims. Some Serbs fail to understand that there is nothing wrong with people who belong to another religion than theirs.

I sure hope Serbia will join the other Balkan countries and integrate into NATO and EU. Serbia is an important part of the Balkans and its integration into Europe will help us all to finally achieve a peaceful and prosperous future.

rather educated Albanians like for example Mr.Ardian Vehbiu know that the illyrian myth is nothing more than a myth
-----------------------------

Ardian Vehbiu is a linguist who thinks too highly of his own discipline. He merely says "I havent seen any physical evidence". As Karl Sagan says "Absence of evidence does not correlate to evidence of absence".

Our dear friend Ahmet wrote:

"I challenge all of you to name all ancient orthodox churches that were destroyed by K-Alb. in Kosova.But, Please do not mention any building (so called churches)thatwas built during Miloseviq's era. Every ancient orthodox church in Kosova is intact.Stop with your lies, becasue I live in Kosova and I know teh facts on the ground."

Ahmet, you always claim to "know the facts" but always miss important little details to validate your position:

Please explain how the Church of Bogorodica Ljeviška in Prizren, a church built in 12th-13th century was then targeted and heavily damaged in 2004. I'm not expert on Albanian logic, but I think even you could conclude that something in the 13th century doesn't qualify as a "so called Milosevic church" as you conveniently term. Also please explain to me the reasons behind the mortar attack on Decani Monastery too. Again, medieval not Milosevic.

Nice try Ahmet but you're going to have to do a better job arguing with some of us who apparently pay better attention to events than you.

Mike,

You may be right. Some churches have been damaged. But, how come you on the Serbian side never mention Mosques that were burned by Milosevic's troops. 120000 homes were burned along with mosques. What makes a church more valuable than a mosque?

Though I am an agnostic and do not visit mosques or churches, but religious sites ought to be valued and protected equally.

"But, how come you on the Serbian side never mention Mosques that were burned by Milosevic's troops. (Destan Belaxhia, Tuesday, 26 June, 2007, 17:32)"
Not mentioning them every time we post and denying that any were destroyed are two different matters.
Destroying Churches and mosques was common on all sides of the war everywhere in the Balkans.
Ahmet does make what we Serbs consider to be an important point. We Serbs feel that those Churches that are very old and under UNESCO protection are also important in the historical sense in addition to its religious value. As those Churches represent the very founding of our civilization. You don't often hear Serbs feeling as strongly about the destroyed Churches in Krajina (there are many, I've seen them personally) or in areas of Bosnia. Basically for me, as a Serb raised in the West, the whole entire issue in Kosovo is about those Churches and the fact that I feel Kosovo is the very cradle of our civilization. My wife is from Krajina, and as sad as it was what happened there, it does not affect me as much as the possible loss of Kosovo.
If you are familiar with my comments you know that I've been to the Mosque in Belgrade that was destroyed in retaliation for the 2004 riots and that I strongly condemned those actions. When I speak of the destruction of property in Kosovo, I mean homes, businesses and religious sites.
Destan, you must admit there is a difference between regular churches and important historical ones.
Please, let me know if any Mosques of historical importance were destroyed or damaged. I honestly don't know. I know a lot of stuff was destroyed, and I've always been of the opinion that Serbia must pay to repair the damage.
BTW, Ahmet already claimed to have personally inspected Decani after the attack and made the claim that it was only a rusty unexploded mortar round that the priest obviously just placed there on top of a few cracked roof tiles. Then again, he also claimed to have inside knowledge proving those poor innocent kids that drowned, causing the 2004 riots, were in fact killed by Serbs, and that Serbian Intelligence agencies were the ones to start destroying churches and incited the Albanians to riot. Now he claims no churches were damaged. He also claims to be a high level police officer, and if that is true, God help us all in Kosovo...

"Are you kidding me? Are you really that ignorant that you don't know the Iranian guy you just knocked (President of Iran) is the "Dude" as you put it, that has sunk more money into Kosovo then anyone else! You are probably able to use the Internet thanks to this dude."

Can you please be so kind to provide us with your sources, cuz I hear you speak, even get infuriated, call people names and offend them but I don't see any sources for what you are stating. Very tabloid-like; I don't see you provide any facts.

Nikshala in the Balkans people write Canada as “Kanada” this does not offend me since it is a simple transliteration. . Shiprtar is simply a Serbian word for the Albanian word Shqiptarët" . Since Serbo-Croat language is phonetic it is a logical transliteration into Serbo-Croat language. As to hit lists in Kosiovo you need to read this from Der Spiegel September 21, 2002 “Twenty-four Albanians were shot, among them 13 children, and their houses were burned down. But the victims are not buried in the heroes’ cemetery at the end of the village, where under a sea of Albanian flags rest its former inhabitants killed in clashes with the Serbs. They are not buried there because, according to protected testimony by eyewitnesses, the Krasniqis were apparently executed by their compatriots only after the arrival of KFOR international peacekeeping forces in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo. To read more go to this link http://www.kosovo.net/kla2.html