Kosovo debate moves to Contact Group

Americans are pushing all the European countrieas to the violation of international law. Hope that only UK will remain with them. Other Europeans should follow the rules. It was too much efforts for creating EU, so to leave US to destroy it so easily!

It is nice to hear China is saying something on this issue. They have been silent for too long. I believe one reason is their culture. They are not really a nation that seems to want to influence the world, or get mixed up in other people's affairs. But in this case, this Kosovo situation might affect them down the road.

It is nice to hear what they said because it almost implies that they too would veto any UN resolution that was not acceptable to Belgrade. That would be more than just one nation standing in the way of America.

The more they push the status the worse the situation is getting.

People in a country with 2.4 million people living under 2 euros is beyond poverty. The world powers shouldn't postpone this issue but instead accelerate it.

If serbia wants to "negotiate" than it can begin by giving the Kosovar Pensions which it's holding it for itself. No jobs, no status, the region is going to get very destabilized very quickly.

We all know what the end game it's going to be. Proclamation of Independence with USA, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Italy, Germany, and UK recognizing it.

Did I mention that the Kosovo minorities plan on taking part in the elections this year? Did I mention that the Kosovar-Serbs in serbia are discriminated by serbs?

Let's just declare this thing and get it over.

Peace for/to All

Im glad that the western powers didn't even put the resolution under the SC approval.It is a very clear signal,and it shows how much they really care about the russian opinion on this matter.
i just hope that the serbian goverment will not accept further negotiations,because other 120 days of agony for Yugoslavia will be an useless delay and to boring indeed.Is time to finally abolish this unnatural creature.

Polt and all the other Western mouthpieces keep repeating the same exact line. "It will be our way, and this will not be a precedent". Geez, can I be a Western diplomat too, I cab learn those 2 lines? I am glad to see China finally say something meaningful and constructive, even if it is another finger in polt's eye.

As an educated American it gives me no pleasure in stating this fact"China is the most important country in the world".It has 1.3 BILLION people which is more than the US(300m)and EU(500m) combined.It holds over 1 TRILLION in US debt and it actually exports more than the US and in a very short time will surpass the US GNP.It is because the Chinese are disciplined people who work very hard and they save their money as opposed to us Americans who just spend spend spend that the US has come to rely on the Chinese to finance our budget deficit due to our overspending money which we do not have.The Chinese dragon is making deals all over the world for its insatiable appetite for natural resources and the majority of countries respect and adhere to China's policy of non-interfere in other countries' domestic political affairs.The Chinese model will become the standard by which intelligent economic policies coupled with rational political policies will dominate international relations very soon.Even at this point in time the EU needs China a lot more than it needs the Balkans and no amount of hypocritical statements about Kosovo being unique is going to sway the Chinese(Taiwan,Tibet,Xinjiang).If the argument is that Kosovo is a UN responsibility then why are some western leaders not respecting the UN process as the SOLE legitimate institution with authority to decide?The US has used its veto more times than all the other 4 UNSC permanent members put together especially when the UN deals with Israel/Palestine and yet no politician in the US says we are being obstructionist and should go along with the whole world if it does not suit our interests.China and Russia are upholding the prestige of the UN and respect for sovereignty and the inviolability of borders which our present world system is based on and I think enough rational Europeans are waking up to the fact that this system will not be ignored when it comes to Serbia.The EU needs to think outside the box in order to achieve LONG term stability in the Balkans.Did the EU tell the Serbs in Kosovo that they will become members of the EU in 2007 as citizens of Kosova?Does anybody say that an independent Kosova is economically more advanced than Serbia is today?What GREATER economic benefits would Albanians and Serbs have as an independent country than as part of Serbia?From all economic accounts Serbia is advancing towards the EU at a pretty good speed.Any comments from EU officials as to Albania being more economically advanced than Serbia?Who pays the pensions of retired Kosovars?Who pays for health care and education?Will traveling with a Kosovar passport be easier than with a Serbian one any time soon?Where are the carrots from the EU?

I don't understand what you Albanians are so excited about. This isn't the first time you've unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. What happened to the Kacanik declaration of 1990, or the referendum you had in 1991?
Now that there isn't going to be a new resolution in the Security Council, Resolution 1244 is the final word on Kosovo.
As far as the UN, and the international organizations, are concerned Kosovo is a province of Serbia -- end of discussion.
Albanians can declare independence tomorrow and the United States, Albania, and a handfull of EU and Islamic countries might recognize it, but the UN, the international organizations, and the rest of the world aren't going to.

Kosovo won't have a final status. It will have a disputed status, and nobody is going to invest in a disputed territory.

The only reason that the SC did not vote is that Russia and China have areas of their country with majority of differnent ethinic backgrounds who are closely watching the Kosovo Saga. If Kosovo is granted independence then everyone will run to the UN asking to be given there own state. You just cannot take part of a state from a country who is in the UN. If the UN does not approved of this partition could we still say it is a legimate country? Would investors still invest? Would the skilled and educated remain in Kosovo or head to the EU to find work and better wages? On November 23 we will see because Kosovo will suffer because the skilled and educated will leave for a better life. If i could make example 2-3 thousand euros a month working a skilled job in say Germany, Italy or the UK or stay in Kosovo and make 150-200 Euros per month, you do the math. The majority would say yes i would stay but in reality they will leave Kosovo. will those outside come back to live no, maybe buy a summer home which a lot come for vacation but that is it.

I'm certainly amused by the West's failure over Kosovo, from start to finish, this has been a disasterous affair. American taxpayers are funding an aggressive policy of intolerance from Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo to name just a few. Certainly, the US is involved to a degree in every conflict across the globe. US forefathers must be turning in their graves as current American diplomats/politicians take manifestdestiny to it's highest degree of arrogance. Isn't it reassuring that communist China of all nations and Russia have risen to the challenge to voice thier support for international law. Kosovo can/could be decided in days. Split the territory, along ethnic lines, along with Bosnia, let Serbia discard this problematic foster child commonly refered to the KLA zone of occupation, and let the burocratic and cumbersome instituion of the EU deal.

From this moment on the only loosers are K-Serbs, and PM kostunica can brag all he wants that this is a victory but on contrary this is the worst scenario about K-Serbs, because Kosovo/a 's Independence is unstoppable.

Good to see the Russians standing up to the US on this very important matter. Good also to see the Chinese making some relevant noises. As usual the US is trying to bully the UN into following the American agenda and as usual they are threatening to bypass it if they don't get their way. Now where have we seen this before? The US treats the UN as a tool of its own foreign policy, to be disgarded if the other members don't toe the line. In the interests of the sovereignty of all nations, the Russians must stand firm.

Blacky - That's because China has openly stated previously that it would follow Russia's lead on this issue, so just to make sure all commentators here understand and refer to this point in the future correctly, it's the Russians AND the Chinese who will veto the vote at the UN.

Life...
You think even that is independence? Living in Kosovo will be like living in an Anarchist Cuba.

When America&NATO bombed Serbia, first Russia did not allow it to happen through United Nations but America achieved its goal through NATO.
Same thing again, since Russia did not allow it to go through UN, the achievement will happen through Contact Group.
History is repeating itself. Both times Russia will leave Serbia high and dry since Russia could not do anything to stop NATO and Russia can not do anything ot stop the independence of Kosova through the Contact Group.
Serbs might be happy about this delay, but now the independence of Kosova is on the right track.
Kosova will be independent, one way or another, no matter what serbs say.

It means that nobody will care about Russia anymore. The contact group will decide that Ahtisaris plan is one of the best and will give OK to albanians to declare independence. I am very glad that UN will have to do nothing with the issue anymore. I dont know how serbs can bee so brain blinded and call this a succes. I guess the Milosevic propaganda is still working. Kosova will bee independent and serbs cant do anything about it. Unless they wana fight with NATO wich I doubt.

"Who pays the pensions of retired Kosovars?"

Did you NOT read my post??
The Kosovar Government pays for the pensions. Since you don't live in Kosova (it's clear) the people like my grandparents get a 40E a month. Most pensioners have to get a taxi to go to the city-banks thus living in under 40E a month.

There is no way Kosovo will become an independent Albanian nation. It will get broad autonomy, supervised by the EU, so as to eliminate the criminal element now running Kosovo's institutions. Majority of the funding will come from the EU, much to their disliking, so they will demand to get something out of it. Welcome to capitalism. Enough of this folly, enough lives, time, and money has been spent on this issue. There are a lot more critical areas in the world to be concerned with. This is a great opportunity for Ceku and company to prove to everyone that they really do want a multi-ethnic society. It's your time to shine Agim.

The more they push the status the worse the situation is getting.

People in a country with 2.4 million people living under 2 euros is beyond poverty. The world powers shouldn't postpone this issue but instead accelerate it.

If serbia wants to "negotiate" than it can begin by giving the Kosovar Pensions which it's holding it for itself. No jobs, no status, the region is going to get very destabilized very quickly.

We all know what the end game it's going to be. Proclamation of Independence with USA, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Italy, Germany, and UK recognizing it.

Did I mention that the Kosovo minorities plan on taking part in the elections this year? Did I mention that the Kosovar-Serbs in serbia are discriminated by serbs?

Let's just declare this thing and get it over.

Peace for/to All

Im glad that the western powers didn't even put the resolution under the SC approval.It is a very clear signal,and it shows how much they really care about the russian opinion on this matter.
i just hope that the serbian goverment will not accept further negotiations,because other 120 days of agony for Yugoslavia will be an useless delay and to boring indeed.Is time to finally abolish this unnatural creature.

Americans are pushing all the European countrieas to the violation of international law. Hope that only UK will remain with them. Other Europeans should follow the rules. It was too much efforts for creating EU, so to leave US to destroy it so easily!

Polt and all the other Western mouthpieces keep repeating the same exact line. "It will be our way, and this will not be a precedent". Geez, can I be a Western diplomat too, I cab learn those 2 lines? I am glad to see China finally say something meaningful and constructive, even if it is another finger in polt's eye.

From this moment on the only loosers are K-Serbs, and PM kostunica can brag all he wants that this is a victory but on contrary this is the worst scenario about K-Serbs, because Kosovo/a 's Independence is unstoppable.

It means that nobody will care about Russia anymore. The contact group will decide that Ahtisaris plan is one of the best and will give OK to albanians to declare independence. I am very glad that UN will have to do nothing with the issue anymore. I dont know how serbs can bee so brain blinded and call this a succes. I guess the Milosevic propaganda is still working. Kosova will bee independent and serbs cant do anything about it. Unless they wana fight with NATO wich I doubt.

It is nice to hear China is saying something on this issue. They have been silent for too long. I believe one reason is their culture. They are not really a nation that seems to want to influence the world, or get mixed up in other people's affairs. But in this case, this Kosovo situation might affect them down the road.

It is nice to hear what they said because it almost implies that they too would veto any UN resolution that was not acceptable to Belgrade. That would be more than just one nation standing in the way of America.

When America&NATO bombed Serbia, first Russia did not allow it to happen through United Nations but America achieved its goal through NATO.
Same thing again, since Russia did not allow it to go through UN, the achievement will happen through Contact Group.
History is repeating itself. Both times Russia will leave Serbia high and dry since Russia could not do anything to stop NATO and Russia can not do anything ot stop the independence of Kosova through the Contact Group.
Serbs might be happy about this delay, but now the independence of Kosova is on the right track.
Kosova will be independent, one way or another, no matter what serbs say.

Good to see the Russians standing up to the US on this very important matter. Good also to see the Chinese making some relevant noises. As usual the US is trying to bully the UN into following the American agenda and as usual they are threatening to bypass it if they don't get their way. Now where have we seen this before? The US treats the UN as a tool of its own foreign policy, to be disgarded if the other members don't toe the line. In the interests of the sovereignty of all nations, the Russians must stand firm.

I don't understand what you Albanians are so excited about. This isn't the first time you've unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. What happened to the Kacanik declaration of 1990, or the referendum you had in 1991?
Now that there isn't going to be a new resolution in the Security Council, Resolution 1244 is the final word on Kosovo.
As far as the UN, and the international organizations, are concerned Kosovo is a province of Serbia -- end of discussion.
Albanians can declare independence tomorrow and the United States, Albania, and a handfull of EU and Islamic countries might recognize it, but the UN, the international organizations, and the rest of the world aren't going to.

Kosovo won't have a final status. It will have a disputed status, and nobody is going to invest in a disputed territory.

Life...
You think even that is independence? Living in Kosovo will be like living in an Anarchist Cuba.

The only reason that the SC did not vote is that Russia and China have areas of their country with majority of differnent ethinic backgrounds who are closely watching the Kosovo Saga. If Kosovo is granted independence then everyone will run to the UN asking to be given there own state. You just cannot take part of a state from a country who is in the UN. If the UN does not approved of this partition could we still say it is a legimate country? Would investors still invest? Would the skilled and educated remain in Kosovo or head to the EU to find work and better wages? On November 23 we will see because Kosovo will suffer because the skilled and educated will leave for a better life. If i could make example 2-3 thousand euros a month working a skilled job in say Germany, Italy or the UK or stay in Kosovo and make 150-200 Euros per month, you do the math. The majority would say yes i would stay but in reality they will leave Kosovo. will those outside come back to live no, maybe buy a summer home which a lot come for vacation but that is it.

Blacky - That's because China has openly stated previously that it would follow Russia's lead on this issue, so just to make sure all commentators here understand and refer to this point in the future correctly, it's the Russians AND the Chinese who will veto the vote at the UN.

I'm certainly amused by the West's failure over Kosovo, from start to finish, this has been a disasterous affair. American taxpayers are funding an aggressive policy of intolerance from Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo to name just a few. Certainly, the US is involved to a degree in every conflict across the globe. US forefathers must be turning in their graves as current American diplomats/politicians take manifestdestiny to it's highest degree of arrogance. Isn't it reassuring that communist China of all nations and Russia have risen to the challenge to voice thier support for international law. Kosovo can/could be decided in days. Split the territory, along ethnic lines, along with Bosnia, let Serbia discard this problematic foster child commonly refered to the KLA zone of occupation, and let the burocratic and cumbersome instituion of the EU deal.

As an educated American it gives me no pleasure in stating this fact"China is the most important country in the world".It has 1.3 BILLION people which is more than the US(300m)and EU(500m) combined.It holds over 1 TRILLION in US debt and it actually exports more than the US and in a very short time will surpass the US GNP.It is because the Chinese are disciplined people who work very hard and they save their money as opposed to us Americans who just spend spend spend that the US has come to rely on the Chinese to finance our budget deficit due to our overspending money which we do not have.The Chinese dragon is making deals all over the world for its insatiable appetite for natural resources and the majority of countries respect and adhere to China's policy of non-interfere in other countries' domestic political affairs.The Chinese model will become the standard by which intelligent economic policies coupled with rational political policies will dominate international relations very soon.Even at this point in time the EU needs China a lot more than it needs the Balkans and no amount of hypocritical statements about Kosovo being unique is going to sway the Chinese(Taiwan,Tibet,Xinjiang).If the argument is that Kosovo is a UN responsibility then why are some western leaders not respecting the UN process as the SOLE legitimate institution with authority to decide?The US has used its veto more times than all the other 4 UNSC permanent members put together especially when the UN deals with Israel/Palestine and yet no politician in the US says we are being obstructionist and should go along with the whole world if it does not suit our interests.China and Russia are upholding the prestige of the UN and respect for sovereignty and the inviolability of borders which our present world system is based on and I think enough rational Europeans are waking up to the fact that this system will not be ignored when it comes to Serbia.The EU needs to think outside the box in order to achieve LONG term stability in the Balkans.Did the EU tell the Serbs in Kosovo that they will become members of the EU in 2007 as citizens of Kosova?Does anybody say that an independent Kosova is economically more advanced than Serbia is today?What GREATER economic benefits would Albanians and Serbs have as an independent country than as part of Serbia?From all economic accounts Serbia is advancing towards the EU at a pretty good speed.Any comments from EU officials as to Albania being more economically advanced than Serbia?Who pays the pensions of retired Kosovars?Who pays for health care and education?Will traveling with a Kosovar passport be easier than with a Serbian one any time soon?Where are the carrots from the EU?

"Who pays the pensions of retired Kosovars?"

Did you NOT read my post??
The Kosovar Government pays for the pensions. Since you don't live in Kosova (it's clear) the people like my grandparents get a 40E a month. Most pensioners have to get a taxi to go to the city-banks thus living in under 40E a month.

There is no way Kosovo will become an independent Albanian nation. It will get broad autonomy, supervised by the EU, so as to eliminate the criminal element now running Kosovo's institutions. Majority of the funding will come from the EU, much to their disliking, so they will demand to get something out of it. Welcome to capitalism. Enough of this folly, enough lives, time, and money has been spent on this issue. There are a lot more critical areas in the world to be concerned with. This is a great opportunity for Ceku and company to prove to everyone that they really do want a multi-ethnic society. It's your time to shine Agim.