Russia rejects latest Kosovo draft

now that sounds much better,so all you seppatatist albanians can now wait for the proper outcome which is ,kosovo is serbia not greaterserbia but serbia proper.

My concern is that the US/UN are looking for any way to replace Resolution 1244, so they can give the EU a mandate to take control.

It is vital that all elements of 1244 are included in any new resolution and this time actually fulfilled!

Well to me it seems as if Russia is finally coming to its senses, but anyway.
I am just curious of one thing: how do you propose to control Kosovo? Maybe Zoran can give me an answer?

Zoran,
For you of course the Russians with their constant delaying tactics always sound better. You surely hope that they can play this game for years.
For Serbias's EU entry un unresolved status of Kosovo is however not helpful. I just read on the French Figaro that according to Kouchner, the French foreign minister Serbia's entry into the EU is not possible until the Kosovo status is resolved. This is the stand of a country, which was always very favorable to all Serbs living on the territory of ex-Yugoslavia.
On the ground itself in Kosovo - as people can learn from different sources - practically nothing reminds one anymore that it was "Serbian". Sure you still have some churches left for the tourists but that's it.

Ahtisaari must be seething mad now.

zoran ,it seems like you really have a attitude problem,for calling out loud 'albanian seperatist'..What make you than?? Nationalist?!?
Stop insulting people that are
trying to reach for freedom..
Kosovo will never be serbian proper,you now that so does everyone...

This is the best way to bypass 1244. The international law principle so "dear" to Russia will be followed and independence will be coming slowly but surely. I believe this is the win win situation everyone is talking about.

We need only a resolution that will replace the 1244, even if it does not mention independence of Kosovo it will open that way.

(One comment to B92: you are censoring very much some of the opinions and comments about Serbs in one way and in the other publish something that offends Albanians like calling terrorists a so on. It is clear that you are too part of the Serbian propaganda. Anyway I am not surprised by that).

It's interesting how people are so short-sighted. The first Serb to comment on this thread appears unaware that this actually is nothing but a trap.

Here's my reading of the situation:

The EU will be given the goahead to take over the Kosovo mission thru a UN resolution that seems likely to be approved in a matter of days.

Once the EU takes over, a major stumbling block over EU's unity issue regarding unilateral recognition is overcome. Why? Once the EU is already in Kosovo, it no longer will be in a position to claim that it needs a legal basis to go to Kosovo - because it will already be there.

This effectively implies that should talks fails after the 4-month period (which they will), the Russians will no longer be able to play on the 'Dividing Europe' card, which they've used so effectively.

Thus, the Europeans will be compelled to recognize Kosovo unilaterally, following Washington, since they're mission in Kosovo would otherwise be put to serious risk. They wont be able to leave, thus be forced to recognize independence as a block.

Plus, it looks to me that Serbs have been overlooking a key issue on the newest UN draft. Of course, its still speculative, but it looks to me that the UN draft will NOT mention Serbia's nominal sovereignty over Kosovo, effectively creating a resolution that can be interpreted both ways: giving the West the 'legal basis' to support independence after 4 months; at the same time, it would be a face-saving resolution for the Russians, who have digged in their heels deeper than they would have liked.

It's a smart way out of the present stalemate, of course with many risks involved, but it appears to make two crucial steps: it puts the EU into Kosovo (presenting Europe with a fait accompli regarding recognition in a few months time) and fails to mention Serbian soveregnity over Kosovo (effectively giving the West a suffician legal basis to support independence, giving the Russians a way out).

No wonder Kostunica is against it...

I totally agree. I am not in favor of a Greater Serbia, nor a Greater Albania for that matter. Serbia should remain the same size as it was pre-milosevic. Every ethnic communities rights should be guaranteed and this is exactly why the EU & Nato are there. If either side doesn't trust the other with safety or rights issues. The international community is there to oversea it until they can do it on their own. Any party which does not agree to this formula is not in it for rights and equality but rather ethnic supremacy, racism, ethnic cleansing and a land grab, which can only be accomplished through terrorism & illegal acts.

Supervised quick admission of Kosovo in EU ... well, I thought this was the idea anyway.

In the middst of all this diplomatic activity a very interesting development in Kosovo. There is a talk of possible new election in Kosovo somewhere in Fall and ...

Return and Communities Minister Branislav Grbic on Wednesday (July 11th) announced the launch of a new Serb political party, New Democracy.

"This is new political option which will represent citizens' interests in all aspects, with democratic principles and in compatibility with the interests of international community towards the fulfillment of final status," Grbic said after the OSCE certified the party.

The top priorities for New Democracy will be minority and social rights, economic issues and democratic interests, Grbic said. Speaking on the province's future, Grbic said "our political party is new, and in the near future we will create our stance. But I am sure that we will have an opinion which will [comply] with the stance of the Kosovo government and the international community."

At the same time, he said, all new parties should accept that all options are still on the table when it comes to resolving Kosovo's status.

"All those who are interested in living together in a multiethnic Kosovo should support our party," Grbic said. He called on Kosovo Serbs to support New Democracy, saying it would contribute to co-existence.

When Putin said that Russia will not support any plan that was not agreed to by BOTH sides(Serbs and Albanians) which part of this statement do some people not understand?Nobody in the world can staredown the judo master.

Again, the question we all need to start looking at is how Kosovo will achieve independence, and what such a state will look like. It might help to once again review the facts:

1. Serbian sovereignty is nonexistant in the Albanian-majority areas of Kosovo. Belgrade talks, Albanians ignore.

2. Albanian sovereignty is nonexistant north of the Ibar and will most likely never reach there. Ceku demands, Serbs laugh.

3. Russia has not said it is against Kosovo's independence, but that it will veto a UN resolution that does not take Serb points into greater consideration. If Belgrade turned around tomorrow and said "we're onboard", Russia would vote "yes" in the UNSC.

4. The Ahtisaari Plan, while paving the road to eventual Kosovo sovereingty will quite possibly make the Kosovo Serbs more powerful than the Albanians with the sweeping minority rights and self-government given to them. Moreover, the SPC is institutionally protected.

5. The EU will not support any unilateral acts of declaration in Pristina. Most EU members who do support independence, areonly doing it because it's perceived as the lesser of the two evils of allowing Kosovo to remain part of Serbia - not over any sort of love or sympathy for the Albanian people.

6. Belgrade has indicated it has no wish to directly govern the Albanians in Kosovo, should Kosovo remain a part of Serbia.

With all of this said, and I doubt anyone from Team Kosovo or Team Kosova would seriously argue against these, it pays to look at the current situation through these parameters and ask the $64,000 question:

What are the Albanians willing to concede in order for their primary goal of independence to be achieved? Clearly they have hit an impasse, and no one will willing to bend international law for them. Therefore, it seems certain the following will NOT happen:

1. Centralized Kosovo state goverened solely and exclusively by Albanians (Serbs will ignore them, and the EU will be the executive authority)

2. Land swap of Presevo for Northern Kosovo (they cannot barter over something they do not control - see point 2 above).

3. Formal partition at the Ibar (neither Serbs nor Albanians want this - 2/3 of K Serbs live south, and most of the mining industry lies north).

Saying Kosovo should or should not be independent and leaving the statement hanging does not help because it allows people to think of all crazy sorts of scenarios of what that would entail. It is now time for the West to seriously consider federalizing Kosovo if they want to push for its independence, or for Serbia to lay in some serious, and I mean SERIOUS, guarantees for Albanians not only in Kosovo but in all of Serbia, if they really want to have the contested province remain in Serbia.

To all albans and their short sighted supporters....

Serbs have already said NO to this resolution. Russia already promised that it will not support anything that both sides do not agree to. Russia would lose face if they were to betray what they promised just a week ago and would also give way for US to bully them with other topics. SO they wont (Putin is not as ignorent as Bush). They choose their words carefully and will demand that Serbian sovereinty over Kosovo is recognised in the new resolution. I support EU going in even if some believe that they will later unilaterally recognise Kosovo. That would only mean that Russia will follow up with the same in Georgia and EU will lose Serbia for good which they need much more then an independent Kosovo. So I say let them try.

Joe and others, the first comment was by another zoran, I always use a capital Z. However the other zoran said it right. Albanians in SERBIAN KOSOVO are trying to "Separate" this SERBIAN LAND from Serbia, thus saying they "separatists" is completely accurate and actually very PC. I personally would call it a land grab, stealing etc. Joe, the EU carrot is not worth giving up one's sovereignty, so that threat is weak! There are many reminders of the centuries old Serbian presence in Serbian Kosovo including the name (translated from Serbian) field of Blackbirds, but I must say the Albanians with help from the US have done a marvelous job of ethnic cleansing/erasing the Serbian presence from our ancient heartland. This is not a justification for creating a GREATER ALBANIA, in fact it is a great reason to confirm Serbia's sovereignty over it! Pan, even though you were directing your comment to another Zoran I would like to say, so what if he or I are nationalists. What is wrong with that? Should we push for a one world government? Are not Albanians who do not tolerate any other ethnic groups nationalists or is that something totally different? At least Serbian nationalist are not trying to take land from Albania! I don't think the West will be able to fool Russia with redrafts of the same. Independence is not a possibility unless agreed to by both Serbia and the Albanians so it seems a bit arrogant of the West to say this is as far as we are willing to go. Russia/Serbia/China etc hold the cards now and all the kicking and screaming from the immoral pro-independence camp can't change that.

Surprise, surprise. NEW PROPOSAL REJECTED. There goes the comprimise the West was hoping for. Nothing like when an ally keeps their promise.

I suggest B92 & others read the speedy Russian Response,
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL1290852920070712

"reiterated Russia's long-standing position that it would only support a resolution that was acceptable for both sides"

1244 needs to be fully implemented and the UN needs to get on with it's responsibility for ensuring the resolutions that have been agreed - namely 1244. Ther is no need for new resolutions just to continue with talks on jow the Serbian province will be administered under autonomy!

who is Athissari, anyway?

he had his chance. he didn´t succeed. time for a new man and fresh talks, REAL talks this time.

Latest news from Moscow:Lavrov just rejected this new 5th draft so its going to trashcan like all those previous versions!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070711/wl_afp/kosovoserbiaeu_070711174059

Now USA and EU have moral ground to bypass Russia and embarrass them by unilaterally recognizing independent Kosova. Yes Russia successfully is coming out of the mess as political winner but Serbia is the big time loser.

Latest news from Kosova. Ceku is choosing the difficult road rather than the impossible one. Any guess?

Yup 5th resolution, straight in the garbage can, courtesy of Russia!

I agree with someone who said B92 censores Albanian comments while it allows Serb commentators to make outrageous insulting comments. Maybe B92 is within it's rights. It's a Serbian newspaper. However, if it truly believed in freedom of speech, it would have fired such editors a long while ago. Nothing changes since Milosevic times!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another attempt at pushing the same documents, reworded by highly paid lawyers to try to fool Russia, and another NYET!! Ahtisaari's 'greater albania' project is dead, and has been dead for a long time now. What part of 'NYET' do these people not understand? On the same day Bernard Kouchner said that France and Russia were not that far apart. Are all these politicians seriously in this much denial about the fact that Kosovo is Serbia, and Serbia is Kosovo and it is going to remain that way? They need to stop dreaming of 'greater albania' and sit down for some real negotiations. The Russian Bear, the Chinese Dragon, and the Serbian Eagle, have once again risen. Deal with reality, or get another NYET.

Larav Kostiunica.Putin.all these names that are being mentioned here are absolute nobodies when it comes to Kosova,not "Kosovo".The only people that matter to this problem are the k alb, k serbs and the rest of the people living in Kosova. Serb lost all right when it broke international laws and created havoc in the balkans not just kosova. once you took part in these actions you lost your right too most everything.

“4. The Ahtisaari Plan, while paving the road to eventual Kosovo sovereingty will quite possibly make the Kosovo Serbs more powerful than the Albanians with the sweeping minority rights and self-government given to them. Moreover, the SPC is institutionally protected.”

Mike, I do appreciate your analysis as always, but this is simply not true. Read paragraph 3.7 of Ahtisaari’s proposal. Its relatively easy to abolish almost all those “rights” given to the Serbs with a simple majority vote of the seats in the assembly reserved for minorities. Given that half those seats go to non-Serbs, this shouldn’t be too difficult and will also have a very negative impact on the other minorities who will be pressured to go along with revising all those protections. I think this will be incredibly dangerous for the Roma of Kosovo, who in my personal belief, deserve a country of their own as much as anyone in the Balkans. People seem to forget the Roma in all of this. Where is their place in the Sun in all of this?

C,

Of course this resolution is a trap, and it appears that the Russians have recognized it as such.

What nobody understands is that the Russians have their own interests. This isn't about Russia trying to flex its muscles on the international stage.

If Kosovo is made independent, the precedent will give the Russians no end of trouble in Georgia and Moldova, not to mention Chechnya. That is why Russia will never agree to an independent Kosovo.

This is a trap for the Albanians too. Ahtisaari proposed "supervised independence", not independence.

"Supervised independence" is an oxymoron. You could just as easily say that East Germany had "supervised independence" from the USSR after World War II. (but at least East Germany was recognized by the UN, which is more than Kosovo would be able to say)

Kosovo has no economy and a 70% unemployment rate. It isn't headed for EU membership anytime soon. The EU doesn't want to subsidize Kosovo - it just wants to "supervise" it.

So when is this independence going to happen again? Did someone say July? or was it June? Oh wait! it was may day, right? hmmm maybe August?

Only one thing: Everybody (in the World) knows that there isn't the slightest chance for the Serbian forces to come back to Kosovo (as serbs demand) for the one reason - they killed, massacred, burt, tortured and abused us. There is no single Kosovo Albanian that would stand a serbian policeman walking down the street. This is one of the reasons, perhaps the simpliest one. God bless Americans and the British, and for the rest - doesn't really matter what they have to say!

This Ahtisaari guy really gets me. After all the countless times his plan has been trashed, he still keeps pushing it as some sort of "10 Commandments for Kosovo" from God. He goes even further now to critisize the Russians and explain to them how they are ruining their presence on the world stage. Is he for real? He is the one with no credibility. The rumor that he may have been paid by Albanian interest groups to include the word "Independence" in his proposal, should really be investigated. There are many solutions to Kosovo without the word independence. Just be fair to both sideds. There is NO good guy bad guy here. The history of this area of the balkans proves that. Ahtisaari has created more harm with his proposals than solutions.

Now is the time to show who is talking business!
At the moment Russia is winning.How long US and EU will play games like this,time will tell.For US it is a good chance to act now if they mean business otherwise it is better to keep silent and not give false promisses.
Everyday the West are loosing credibility.Now it is the time to act.Please stop promising something that you can't deliver,Kosovan Albanians have suffered enough!

Yeah, Jovan, that's what I'm talking about
Some REAL talks

Serbs say Serbia
Albanians say independence

Let's have another 4 months of that !

Here's the thing -- at the end of the day, there will be one winner. US-EU backing vs. a Russian one -- guess who that will be

there are only so many proposals you can reject...

"It is too small an issue to give Russia a possibility to stress its power. Rather than strengthening its international position, Russia only weakens it by this," UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari told Finnish newspaper Lansi-Savo."

So Ahtisaari in essence looks down on the Kosovo issue as an unimportant issue of no international consequence.

Obviously the real reason is that he is in utter dread of his proposals becoming a dead duck. The humiliation after all his earlier arrogance must be unbearable.

I on the other hand think Moscow should be applauded for being willing to look all issues, big or small.

mr bush is fading and mr putin is shining. bush has a lot of more complicated problems back home and election is near and even his republican senators are shying away. hajde russia.

To Mr. Ahtisaari:
The US and the EU are diminishing its prestige and image by insisting on a quick-fix independence for Kosovo.

To all Serbian posters that don’t live in Serbia:

Rejection of the Resolution from Russia means postponement of better life for people of Serbia not for You. As well, nobody is mentioning Serbs that live in Kosova except the K-Albanians that are ready to offer enough just to see a better a prosperous life for all. So much for the You Serbs living abroad and those that support them. Shame on you. Stop playing with peoples life’s. This is another sad day for all, K-Albanians and Serbs in Kosova and Serbia. You are offering nothing else but hate and separation.
Do you really think that the solutions offered by Serbs not living in Kosova are acceptable for Serbs that are going to live in KosovA? I suggest ask them?
Do you think that K-Albanians just want to get the Independence and isolate after that? The answer is NO. We want to move ahead and join the EU club. To join the EU we know that human rights have to be respected!
New resolution will open the doors for cooperation between KS and RS. We could solve easier the common problem that we have i.e. corruption, organised crime, unemployment. All these problem thrive at present because Russia and Serbian politicians allow these. Perhaps it suit them?!

Friends, Russia and current failed Serbian politicians are doing favour to themselves. Kosova issue will not be solved this way. This way , misery of the people currently living in KS and SR is being prolonged.

So, Princip, Jovan and many others let us come up something suitable for both.

Cheers

Olf,

do you really think that independence would help when it is about creating walls between all Serbians irrespective of ethnicity?

Take for example the words of Agim at 01:24;
"There is no single Kosovo Albanian that would stand a serbian policeman walking down the street."

What difference should it make who that policeman is ethnically if they are upholding the rule of law?

However he did say "God bless Americans and the British, and for the rest - doesn't really matter what they have to say!"

- well maybe he should read what the new British Govt have to say to the US about the "rule of law" and multilaterism being the way forward and not unilateraism - read the BBC article - UK hints at foreign policy shift http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6896797.stm

Needless to say the US administration really have more important issues to deal with such as what to do about Iraq!

Louie,
your right promises that can't not be delivered should never be made. I accept that the Milosevic era was unsophisticated in its brutal handling of the insurgency by KLA but that is not justification to dismember the state nor should it be the solution! We have a lot to learn about truth and reconcilation and that must be the way forward "together" accepting wrongs against each and all to create the tabula rasa from which all can move forward. I don't know maybe the EU don't want the ethnic-Albaninans in the EU - certainly they would not join in the near future if independence was enforced in some way - certainly unlikely but if it did - do you think it would not be a poison chalice? Has this ever crossed your mind? It has been a thought in the back of my mind and when I hear Kouchner say the same words as bildt regarding Serbia dropping Kosovo so that it can join the EU it does make me question motives!

Surely the best way is to work together in a new understanding - yes many hardline and narrow minded Serbs would need to understand and learn what tolerance means but can reflect on the way of Orthodoxy to fully understand that message if they need guidance. So surely the best way is finding a solution agreeable to all whatever that is but it must be done together and I think partition be it 15%, 5% or 1% is ultimately a loss to all!

What difference should it make who that policeman is ethnically if they are upholding the rule of law?
(Princip, UK, Friday, 13 July, 2007, 13:04)

It did not make any difference until 1989 Princip. After 1989 they have done so many horrible things that really it is unacceptable to see them around in Kosova. I am a very open minded person but I cant imagine Serbian police officer in Prishtina. You probably don’t understand the situation in Kosova because are/were not living here and you did not suffer from them, I am just amazed how people in Serbia got the understand what K-Albanians want and you didn’t.
Maybe with the time you will understand us and that international laws have constantly changed and suited the situations. World is changing so should the Int. laws as well.

Good weekend
Olf

Is Sergei Lavrovs objective to waste time and foster instability? Sergei suggests further discussions with “independent international mediators”. Martti Ahtisaari, “a former Finnish president and diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work”. Here lies an “independent international mediator” with a proven history if ever there was one. Just because Russia does not like the outcome suggested by his proposals, does not make him biased. I’m sure if the UN were to source another diplomat……with a proven history. The outcome would essentially be the same. Russia has clearly lowered its standards. Sergei has put into question Martti’s ability when clearly Martti has far more qualifications than those held by Sergei himself. It’s obvious the two parties can not and will not reach an agreement!!!! There has to be an outcome and there is no better outcome than that proposed by someone who is completely impartial.

Serbia has proven its inability to protect its predominantly Albanian civilian population from what went on in Kosovo in 1999. Serbia lost its right to govern Kosovo. It’s as simple as that. Anyone who thinks outside of these proposals put forward by an “independent international mediator” is playing with an outcome that will lead to guaranteed instability which has the potential to encompass the wider region. This will create the very likelihood of what Serbia does not want……. a greater Albania.

now that sounds much better,so all you seppatatist albanians can now wait for the proper outcome which is ,kosovo is serbia not greaterserbia but serbia proper.

My concern is that the US/UN are looking for any way to replace Resolution 1244, so they can give the EU a mandate to take control.

It is vital that all elements of 1244 are included in any new resolution and this time actually fulfilled!

Well to me it seems as if Russia is finally coming to its senses, but anyway.
I am just curious of one thing: how do you propose to control Kosovo? Maybe Zoran can give me an answer?

Zoran,
For you of course the Russians with their constant delaying tactics always sound better. You surely hope that they can play this game for years.
For Serbias's EU entry un unresolved status of Kosovo is however not helpful. I just read on the French Figaro that according to Kouchner, the French foreign minister Serbia's entry into the EU is not possible until the Kosovo status is resolved. This is the stand of a country, which was always very favorable to all Serbs living on the territory of ex-Yugoslavia.
On the ground itself in Kosovo - as people can learn from different sources - practically nothing reminds one anymore that it was "Serbian". Sure you still have some churches left for the tourists but that's it.

Ahtisaari must be seething mad now.

zoran ,it seems like you really have a attitude problem,for calling out loud 'albanian seperatist'..What make you than?? Nationalist?!?
Stop insulting people that are
trying to reach for freedom..
Kosovo will never be serbian proper,you now that so does everyone...

This is the best way to bypass 1244. The international law principle so "dear" to Russia will be followed and independence will be coming slowly but surely. I believe this is the win win situation everyone is talking about.

We need only a resolution that will replace the 1244, even if it does not mention independence of Kosovo it will open that way.

(One comment to B92: you are censoring very much some of the opinions and comments about Serbs in one way and in the other publish something that offends Albanians like calling terrorists a so on. It is clear that you are too part of the Serbian propaganda. Anyway I am not surprised by that).

It's interesting how people are so short-sighted. The first Serb to comment on this thread appears unaware that this actually is nothing but a trap.

Here's my reading of the situation:

The EU will be given the goahead to take over the Kosovo mission thru a UN resolution that seems likely to be approved in a matter of days.

Once the EU takes over, a major stumbling block over EU's unity issue regarding unilateral recognition is overcome. Why? Once the EU is already in Kosovo, it no longer will be in a position to claim that it needs a legal basis to go to Kosovo - because it will already be there.

This effectively implies that should talks fails after the 4-month period (which they will), the Russians will no longer be able to play on the 'Dividing Europe' card, which they've used so effectively.

Thus, the Europeans will be compelled to recognize Kosovo unilaterally, following Washington, since they're mission in Kosovo would otherwise be put to serious risk. They wont be able to leave, thus be forced to recognize independence as a block.

Plus, it looks to me that Serbs have been overlooking a key issue on the newest UN draft. Of course, its still speculative, but it looks to me that the UN draft will NOT mention Serbia's nominal sovereignty over Kosovo, effectively creating a resolution that can be interpreted both ways: giving the West the 'legal basis' to support independence after 4 months; at the same time, it would be a face-saving resolution for the Russians, who have digged in their heels deeper than they would have liked.

It's a smart way out of the present stalemate, of course with many risks involved, but it appears to make two crucial steps: it puts the EU into Kosovo (presenting Europe with a fait accompli regarding recognition in a few months time) and fails to mention Serbian soveregnity over Kosovo (effectively giving the West a suffician legal basis to support independence, giving the Russians a way out).

No wonder Kostunica is against it...

I totally agree. I am not in favor of a Greater Serbia, nor a Greater Albania for that matter. Serbia should remain the same size as it was pre-milosevic. Every ethnic communities rights should be guaranteed and this is exactly why the EU & Nato are there. If either side doesn't trust the other with safety or rights issues. The international community is there to oversea it until they can do it on their own. Any party which does not agree to this formula is not in it for rights and equality but rather ethnic supremacy, racism, ethnic cleansing and a land grab, which can only be accomplished through terrorism & illegal acts.

Supervised quick admission of Kosovo in EU ... well, I thought this was the idea anyway.

In the middst of all this diplomatic activity a very interesting development in Kosovo. There is a talk of possible new election in Kosovo somewhere in Fall and ...

Return and Communities Minister Branislav Grbic on Wednesday (July 11th) announced the launch of a new Serb political party, New Democracy.

"This is new political option which will represent citizens' interests in all aspects, with democratic principles and in compatibility with the interests of international community towards the fulfillment of final status," Grbic said after the OSCE certified the party.

The top priorities for New Democracy will be minority and social rights, economic issues and democratic interests, Grbic said. Speaking on the province's future, Grbic said "our political party is new, and in the near future we will create our stance. But I am sure that we will have an opinion which will [comply] with the stance of the Kosovo government and the international community."

At the same time, he said, all new parties should accept that all options are still on the table when it comes to resolving Kosovo's status.

"All those who are interested in living together in a multiethnic Kosovo should support our party," Grbic said. He called on Kosovo Serbs to support New Democracy, saying it would contribute to co-existence.

When Putin said that Russia will not support any plan that was not agreed to by BOTH sides(Serbs and Albanians) which part of this statement do some people not understand?Nobody in the world can staredown the judo master.

Again, the question we all need to start looking at is how Kosovo will achieve independence, and what such a state will look like. It might help to once again review the facts:

1. Serbian sovereignty is nonexistant in the Albanian-majority areas of Kosovo. Belgrade talks, Albanians ignore.

2. Albanian sovereignty is nonexistant north of the Ibar and will most likely never reach there. Ceku demands, Serbs laugh.

3. Russia has not said it is against Kosovo's independence, but that it will veto a UN resolution that does not take Serb points into greater consideration. If Belgrade turned around tomorrow and said "we're onboard", Russia would vote "yes" in the UNSC.

4. The Ahtisaari Plan, while paving the road to eventual Kosovo sovereingty will quite possibly make the Kosovo Serbs more powerful than the Albanians with the sweeping minority rights and self-government given to them. Moreover, the SPC is institutionally protected.

5. The EU will not support any unilateral acts of declaration in Pristina. Most EU members who do support independence, areonly doing it because it's perceived as the lesser of the two evils of allowing Kosovo to remain part of Serbia - not over any sort of love or sympathy for the Albanian people.

6. Belgrade has indicated it has no wish to directly govern the Albanians in Kosovo, should Kosovo remain a part of Serbia.

With all of this said, and I doubt anyone from Team Kosovo or Team Kosova would seriously argue against these, it pays to look at the current situation through these parameters and ask the $64,000 question:

What are the Albanians willing to concede in order for their primary goal of independence to be achieved? Clearly they have hit an impasse, and no one will willing to bend international law for them. Therefore, it seems certain the following will NOT happen:

1. Centralized Kosovo state goverened solely and exclusively by Albanians (Serbs will ignore them, and the EU will be the executive authority)

2. Land swap of Presevo for Northern Kosovo (they cannot barter over something they do not control - see point 2 above).

3. Formal partition at the Ibar (neither Serbs nor Albanians want this - 2/3 of K Serbs live south, and most of the mining industry lies north).

Saying Kosovo should or should not be independent and leaving the statement hanging does not help because it allows people to think of all crazy sorts of scenarios of what that would entail. It is now time for the West to seriously consider federalizing Kosovo if they want to push for its independence, or for Serbia to lay in some serious, and I mean SERIOUS, guarantees for Albanians not only in Kosovo but in all of Serbia, if they really want to have the contested province remain in Serbia.

To all albans and their short sighted supporters....

Serbs have already said NO to this resolution. Russia already promised that it will not support anything that both sides do not agree to. Russia would lose face if they were to betray what they promised just a week ago and would also give way for US to bully them with other topics. SO they wont (Putin is not as ignorent as Bush). They choose their words carefully and will demand that Serbian sovereinty over Kosovo is recognised in the new resolution. I support EU going in even if some believe that they will later unilaterally recognise Kosovo. That would only mean that Russia will follow up with the same in Georgia and EU will lose Serbia for good which they need much more then an independent Kosovo. So I say let them try.

Joe and others, the first comment was by another zoran, I always use a capital Z. However the other zoran said it right. Albanians in SERBIAN KOSOVO are trying to "Separate" this SERBIAN LAND from Serbia, thus saying they "separatists" is completely accurate and actually very PC. I personally would call it a land grab, stealing etc. Joe, the EU carrot is not worth giving up one's sovereignty, so that threat is weak! There are many reminders of the centuries old Serbian presence in Serbian Kosovo including the name (translated from Serbian) field of Blackbirds, but I must say the Albanians with help from the US have done a marvelous job of ethnic cleansing/erasing the Serbian presence from our ancient heartland. This is not a justification for creating a GREATER ALBANIA, in fact it is a great reason to confirm Serbia's sovereignty over it! Pan, even though you were directing your comment to another Zoran I would like to say, so what if he or I are nationalists. What is wrong with that? Should we push for a one world government? Are not Albanians who do not tolerate any other ethnic groups nationalists or is that something totally different? At least Serbian nationalist are not trying to take land from Albania! I don't think the West will be able to fool Russia with redrafts of the same. Independence is not a possibility unless agreed to by both Serbia and the Albanians so it seems a bit arrogant of the West to say this is as far as we are willing to go. Russia/Serbia/China etc hold the cards now and all the kicking and screaming from the immoral pro-independence camp can't change that.

Surprise, surprise. NEW PROPOSAL REJECTED. There goes the comprimise the West was hoping for. Nothing like when an ally keeps their promise.

I suggest B92 & others read the speedy Russian Response,
http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL1290852920070712

"reiterated Russia's long-standing position that it would only support a resolution that was acceptable for both sides"

1244 needs to be fully implemented and the UN needs to get on with it's responsibility for ensuring the resolutions that have been agreed - namely 1244. Ther is no need for new resolutions just to continue with talks on jow the Serbian province will be administered under autonomy!

who is Athissari, anyway?

he had his chance. he didn´t succeed. time for a new man and fresh talks, REAL talks this time.

Latest news from Moscow:Lavrov just rejected this new 5th draft so its going to trashcan like all those previous versions!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070711/wl_afp/kosovoserbiaeu_070711174059

Now USA and EU have moral ground to bypass Russia and embarrass them by unilaterally recognizing independent Kosova. Yes Russia successfully is coming out of the mess as political winner but Serbia is the big time loser.

Latest news from Kosova. Ceku is choosing the difficult road rather than the impossible one. Any guess?

Yup 5th resolution, straight in the garbage can, courtesy of Russia!

I agree with someone who said B92 censores Albanian comments while it allows Serb commentators to make outrageous insulting comments. Maybe B92 is within it's rights. It's a Serbian newspaper. However, if it truly believed in freedom of speech, it would have fired such editors a long while ago. Nothing changes since Milosevic times!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another attempt at pushing the same documents, reworded by highly paid lawyers to try to fool Russia, and another NYET!! Ahtisaari's 'greater albania' project is dead, and has been dead for a long time now. What part of 'NYET' do these people not understand? On the same day Bernard Kouchner said that France and Russia were not that far apart. Are all these politicians seriously in this much denial about the fact that Kosovo is Serbia, and Serbia is Kosovo and it is going to remain that way? They need to stop dreaming of 'greater albania' and sit down for some real negotiations. The Russian Bear, the Chinese Dragon, and the Serbian Eagle, have once again risen. Deal with reality, or get another NYET.

Larav Kostiunica.Putin.all these names that are being mentioned here are absolute nobodies when it comes to Kosova,not "Kosovo".The only people that matter to this problem are the k alb, k serbs and the rest of the people living in Kosova. Serb lost all right when it broke international laws and created havoc in the balkans not just kosova. once you took part in these actions you lost your right too most everything.

“4. The Ahtisaari Plan, while paving the road to eventual Kosovo sovereingty will quite possibly make the Kosovo Serbs more powerful than the Albanians with the sweeping minority rights and self-government given to them. Moreover, the SPC is institutionally protected.”

Mike, I do appreciate your analysis as always, but this is simply not true. Read paragraph 3.7 of Ahtisaari’s proposal. Its relatively easy to abolish almost all those “rights” given to the Serbs with a simple majority vote of the seats in the assembly reserved for minorities. Given that half those seats go to non-Serbs, this shouldn’t be too difficult and will also have a very negative impact on the other minorities who will be pressured to go along with revising all those protections. I think this will be incredibly dangerous for the Roma of Kosovo, who in my personal belief, deserve a country of their own as much as anyone in the Balkans. People seem to forget the Roma in all of this. Where is their place in the Sun in all of this?

C,

Of course this resolution is a trap, and it appears that the Russians have recognized it as such.

What nobody understands is that the Russians have their own interests. This isn't about Russia trying to flex its muscles on the international stage.

If Kosovo is made independent, the precedent will give the Russians no end of trouble in Georgia and Moldova, not to mention Chechnya. That is why Russia will never agree to an independent Kosovo.

This is a trap for the Albanians too. Ahtisaari proposed "supervised independence", not independence.

"Supervised independence" is an oxymoron. You could just as easily say that East Germany had "supervised independence" from the USSR after World War II. (but at least East Germany was recognized by the UN, which is more than Kosovo would be able to say)

Kosovo has no economy and a 70% unemployment rate. It isn't headed for EU membership anytime soon. The EU doesn't want to subsidize Kosovo - it just wants to "supervise" it.

So when is this independence going to happen again? Did someone say July? or was it June? Oh wait! it was may day, right? hmmm maybe August?

Only one thing: Everybody (in the World) knows that there isn't the slightest chance for the Serbian forces to come back to Kosovo (as serbs demand) for the one reason - they killed, massacred, burt, tortured and abused us. There is no single Kosovo Albanian that would stand a serbian policeman walking down the street. This is one of the reasons, perhaps the simpliest one. God bless Americans and the British, and for the rest - doesn't really matter what they have to say!

This Ahtisaari guy really gets me. After all the countless times his plan has been trashed, he still keeps pushing it as some sort of "10 Commandments for Kosovo" from God. He goes even further now to critisize the Russians and explain to them how they are ruining their presence on the world stage. Is he for real? He is the one with no credibility. The rumor that he may have been paid by Albanian interest groups to include the word "Independence" in his proposal, should really be investigated. There are many solutions to Kosovo without the word independence. Just be fair to both sideds. There is NO good guy bad guy here. The history of this area of the balkans proves that. Ahtisaari has created more harm with his proposals than solutions.

Now is the time to show who is talking business!
At the moment Russia is winning.How long US and EU will play games like this,time will tell.For US it is a good chance to act now if they mean business otherwise it is better to keep silent and not give false promisses.
Everyday the West are loosing credibility.Now it is the time to act.Please stop promising something that you can't deliver,Kosovan Albanians have suffered enough!

Yeah, Jovan, that's what I'm talking about
Some REAL talks

Serbs say Serbia
Albanians say independence

Let's have another 4 months of that !

Here's the thing -- at the end of the day, there will be one winner. US-EU backing vs. a Russian one -- guess who that will be

there are only so many proposals you can reject...

"It is too small an issue to give Russia a possibility to stress its power. Rather than strengthening its international position, Russia only weakens it by this," UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari told Finnish newspaper Lansi-Savo."

So Ahtisaari in essence looks down on the Kosovo issue as an unimportant issue of no international consequence.

Obviously the real reason is that he is in utter dread of his proposals becoming a dead duck. The humiliation after all his earlier arrogance must be unbearable.

I on the other hand think Moscow should be applauded for being willing to look all issues, big or small.

mr bush is fading and mr putin is shining. bush has a lot of more complicated problems back home and election is near and even his republican senators are shying away. hajde russia.

To Mr. Ahtisaari:
The US and the EU are diminishing its prestige and image by insisting on a quick-fix independence for Kosovo.

To all Serbian posters that don’t live in Serbia:

Rejection of the Resolution from Russia means postponement of better life for people of Serbia not for You. As well, nobody is mentioning Serbs that live in Kosova except the K-Albanians that are ready to offer enough just to see a better a prosperous life for all. So much for the You Serbs living abroad and those that support them. Shame on you. Stop playing with peoples life’s. This is another sad day for all, K-Albanians and Serbs in Kosova and Serbia. You are offering nothing else but hate and separation.
Do you really think that the solutions offered by Serbs not living in Kosova are acceptable for Serbs that are going to live in KosovA? I suggest ask them?
Do you think that K-Albanians just want to get the Independence and isolate after that? The answer is NO. We want to move ahead and join the EU club. To join the EU we know that human rights have to be respected!
New resolution will open the doors for cooperation between KS and RS. We could solve easier the common problem that we have i.e. corruption, organised crime, unemployment. All these problem thrive at present because Russia and Serbian politicians allow these. Perhaps it suit them?!

Friends, Russia and current failed Serbian politicians are doing favour to themselves. Kosova issue will not be solved this way. This way , misery of the people currently living in KS and SR is being prolonged.

So, Princip, Jovan and many others let us come up something suitable for both.

Cheers

Olf,

do you really think that independence would help when it is about creating walls between all Serbians irrespective of ethnicity?

Take for example the words of Agim at 01:24;
"There is no single Kosovo Albanian that would stand a serbian policeman walking down the street."

What difference should it make who that policeman is ethnically if they are upholding the rule of law?

However he did say "God bless Americans and the British, and for the rest - doesn't really matter what they have to say!"

- well maybe he should read what the new British Govt have to say to the US about the "rule of law" and multilaterism being the way forward and not unilateraism - read the BBC article - UK hints at foreign policy shift http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6896797.stm

Needless to say the US administration really have more important issues to deal with such as what to do about Iraq!

Louie,
your right promises that can't not be delivered should never be made. I accept that the Milosevic era was unsophisticated in its brutal handling of the insurgency by KLA but that is not justification to dismember the state nor should it be the solution! We have a lot to learn about truth and reconcilation and that must be the way forward "together" accepting wrongs against each and all to create the tabula rasa from which all can move forward. I don't know maybe the EU don't want the ethnic-Albaninans in the EU - certainly they would not join in the near future if independence was enforced in some way - certainly unlikely but if it did - do you think it would not be a poison chalice? Has this ever crossed your mind? It has been a thought in the back of my mind and when I hear Kouchner say the same words as bildt regarding Serbia dropping Kosovo so that it can join the EU it does make me question motives!

Surely the best way is to work together in a new understanding - yes many hardline and narrow minded Serbs would need to understand and learn what tolerance means but can reflect on the way of Orthodoxy to fully understand that message if they need guidance. So surely the best way is finding a solution agreeable to all whatever that is but it must be done together and I think partition be it 15%, 5% or 1% is ultimately a loss to all!

What difference should it make who that policeman is ethnically if they are upholding the rule of law?
(Princip, UK, Friday, 13 July, 2007, 13:04)

It did not make any difference until 1989 Princip. After 1989 they have done so many horrible things that really it is unacceptable to see them around in Kosova. I am a very open minded person but I cant imagine Serbian police officer in Prishtina. You probably don’t understand the situation in Kosova because are/were not living here and you did not suffer from them, I am just amazed how people in Serbia got the understand what K-Albanians want and you didn’t.
Maybe with the time you will understand us and that international laws have constantly changed and suited the situations. World is changing so should the Int. laws as well.

Good weekend
Olf

Is Sergei Lavrovs objective to waste time and foster instability? Sergei suggests further discussions with “independent international mediators”. Martti Ahtisaari, “a former Finnish president and diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work”. Here lies an “independent international mediator” with a proven history if ever there was one. Just because Russia does not like the outcome suggested by his proposals, does not make him biased. I’m sure if the UN were to source another diplomat……with a proven history. The outcome would essentially be the same. Russia has clearly lowered its standards. Sergei has put into question Martti’s ability when clearly Martti has far more qualifications than those held by Sergei himself. It’s obvious the two parties can not and will not reach an agreement!!!! There has to be an outcome and there is no better outcome than that proposed by someone who is completely impartial.

Serbia has proven its inability to protect its predominantly Albanian civilian population from what went on in Kosovo in 1999. Serbia lost its right to govern Kosovo. It’s as simple as that. Anyone who thinks outside of these proposals put forward by an “independent international mediator” is playing with an outcome that will lead to guaranteed instability which has the potential to encompass the wider region. This will create the very likelihood of what Serbia does not want……. a greater Albania.