Is Kosovo compromise possible?

"Kosovo’s Prime Minister Agim Ceku says Priština will not negotiate over Kosovo’s independence and territorial integrity in the upcoming talks on the province’s future.

"“Independence is the only option and no one can force us to accept anything else,” Ceku said."

This is what the US and EU should focus on - the intransigence of the Kosovo Albanian side. Why would there be an agreement for any negotiations when this refusal to even talk is broadcasted so arrogantly.

False promises and a false sense of importance have led to this situation. Time, for the good of Europe, to step back and demand that ALL parties negotiate to find a compromise which then has to be legitimised through the UN.

At the moment there is this veiled threat of violence present all the time from the Kosovo Albanian camp. Is Europe going to hand over sovereign territory just to give in to this? That should not be the way forward.

Why is that a province with historically undefined borders must preserve its 'territorial integrity' when it has no legal basis, but when a sovereign nation such as Serbia speaks of such reasons the world dismisses them? Mr. Çeku must realize the if the territorial integrity of BiH was preserved and the same happened in the most recent Albanian expansionist policy in Macedonia, then the same must happen with Serbia too.

This A. Isufi (or whatever his name is) seem to be unable to read: Kate is demanding ALL parties to negotiate...

Nice article, We have the predictable path of thought representing the Serbian side by Mr. Thomas Fleiner. The more they delay the more settlers will come back, than more negotiations are needed, than circumstances change, than more negotiations, than more settlers. Than the dream should be showered with acid rain. Of course that wont be tolerated By k-albanians who would feel very unjust with all the right reasons. So the Serbian side will try another 99 tank in your face style civilised "international Law" approved campaign.
Well that's their dream, all they want is the land and sovereignty, as they mention. It is just sad that is endorsed by a Swiss hight paid official.
Than we have Judy Batt who does security studies in Paris. The place that diplomacy started taking shape. And right now a country with a leader that has more backbone than a turtle. She is advising for a clean divorce.
As in real life anywhere in the west if a married couple spends 6 months apart they can file for separation. From Serbia it might require 10 but all those days are worth it. I think all the pride is talking from the Serb politicians, that it is the Albanians our second grade citizens that we left iliterate, that we corrupted by telling them that in turkey they will find a better future. The ones that we took the jobs from, the ones that we didn't give building permits. The ones who couldn't afford education. The ones that we couldn't get to forget their language.
Maybe it should have been Kosovo who divorced from Serbia first. With the rest of former Yugoslavia breaking down. It would of been a cleaner face for the Serbians.
I want a better life that is guaranteed by the International law, and not by politicians saying More than autonomy less than independence words. Independence is what 2 million of us and 92% of Kosovo, want. Ceku is just our megaphone to the world.

The deck has certainly been stacked against the Serbians. The Clinton administration's filthy agenda in the former Yugoslavia is what is at the root of it's breakup but then, that was their intention. Below, ssome old NYTimes articles:
"Investigators at the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague have concluded that the Croatian Army carried out summary executions, indiscriminate shelling of civilian populations and 'ethnic cleansing' during a 1995 assault that was a turning point in the Balkan wars, according to tribunal documents. The investigators have recommended that three Croatian generals be indicted, and an American official said this week that the indictments could come within a few weeks. . . . Any indictment of Croatian Army generals could prove politically troublesome for the Clinton Administration, which has a delicate relationship with Croatia, an American ally in preserving the peace in Bosnia with a poor human rights record. The August 1995 Croatian offensive, which drove some 100,000 Serbs from a large swath of Croatia over four days, was carried out with the tacit blessing of the United States by a Croatian Army that had been schooled in part by a group of retired American military officers. Questions still remain about the full extent of United States involvement. In the course of the three-year investigation into the assault, the United States has failed to provide critical evidence requested by the tribunal, according to tribunal documents and officials, adding to suspicion among some there that Washington is uneasy about the investigation. Two senior Canadian military officers, for example, who were in Croatia during the offensive, testified that the assault, in which some 3,000 shells rained down on the city of Knin over 48 hours, was indiscriminate and targeted civilians. . . . A section of the tribunal's 150-page report is headed: 'The Indictment. Operation Storm, A Prima Facie Case.': 'During the course of the military offensive, the Croatian armed forces and special police committed numerous violations of international humanitarian law, including but not limited to, shelling of Knin and other cities,' the report says. 'During, and in the 100 days following the military offensive, at least 150 Serb civilians were summarily executed, and many hundreds disappeared.' The crimes also included looting and burning, the report says." ["War Crimes Panel Finds Croat Troops 'Cleansed' the Serbs," New York Times, 3/21/99]

The Krajina episode -- the largest in the recent Yugoslav wars, at least until this week in Kosovo -- exposes the hypocrisy of the Clinton claims as to why intervention in Kosovo is a humanitarian imperative:

"Within four days, the Croatians drove out 150,000 Serbs, the largest [until this week] ethnic cleansing of the entire Balkan wars. Investigators in the Hague have concluded that this campaign was carried out with brutality, wanton murder, and indiscriminate shelling of civilians. . . . Krajina is Kosovo writ large. And yet, at the same time, the U.S. did not stop or even protest the Croatian action. The Clinton Administration tacitly encouraged it." [Charles Krauthammer, "The Clinton Doctrine," Time magazine, 4/5/99]
I hope that one day the Clinton administration will be exposed for their evil in the former Yugoslavia. Does anyone, or country, have the courage and determination to do it. Please, before we see him in the White House again. I could not bear that.

turkish cypress for you Sunny!

And yes Greece has lots to say in these matters as do the Russians, Spain and China, let's not forget the South Africans, Slovakia, Indonesia, India and Romania, we might continue the list with Israel and Bulgaria. All of these counties have an important say in this matter and these countries are just the one's who strongly appose your drive for independence. The List of countries that will wish to remain neutral is long indeed starting with all the Former Republics of Yugoslavia, Canada! And over 80% of Europe. My friend all you have on your side is Lame Duck Bush, and maybe the Germans, the French and English as well at the Italians are searching for a way out of this mess and if they look hard enough they will find a way.

Kate , I don't know if you ar of serb orgin but, which I beleive you are but if not than you are supporting one side without knowing the true facts.
You accuse Albanian side that thye are not willing to copromise and are using veil threats as you call them, but you never mention serb side that they did the same thing from day one when Ahtisari was appointed by UNSC Membbers, which russia is one of thos emembers and to top it of a permanent member.Shame on you for not being fair and true in your coments. As for russia , it is only a game to because when push comes to shove you will see russia dropping serbia like hot potato.

"As long as the US/EU insist on Kosovo independence (as the only outcome) Pristina will not be ready to TRULY negotiate". Fleiner, a Swiss advisor said! The Swiss, as always tend to be "neutral". Isn't that what the Serbs and many other countries have been saying about these so called negotiations since they started? It is not a true negotiation when the outcome is predetermined! It is just a show, a bad sit-com. Even a caveman can do it or understand such a simple concept, yet right away the pro-Indy camp starts on their mantra of the only outcome is independence and accuse the other side of intransigence.

Fleiner concluded by saying that “The status issue is mainly a point of prestige,”.
I could not agree more.
Oliver Ivanović of the Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija just a few days before stated referring to the Belgrade policy on the future of Kosova that “They were more focused on [the possible loss of] 15 per cent of their territory than on [the fate of] 110,000 Kosovo Serbs, or on the additional 230,000 displaced people in Serbia.”
Serbia has no real strategic or economic interest in Kosova and insisting on its rights to sovereignty based on historical arguments is not helpful. History in the Balkans is highly contestable as there are at least two versions of history depending which side of the fence you stand.
The Serbian arguments for retaining sovereignty over Kosova are flawed as they only relate to the historic and religious significance of a territory that is predominantly against the Serbian rule.
This overwhelming desire of the Kosova population is not something that sprang out of the blue but is a direct reaction to an oppressive rule stretching throughout decades and applied on the sole basis of the wrong ethnicity.
Wars of ex-Yugoslavia concluded with the NATO intervention in Kosova stopping a human catastrophe of biblical proportions. This watershed moment marked the establishment for the first time democratic rule in Kosova and the possibility for all inhabitants to contribute and built a better future for themselves
Peace requires braver men than the war and it is about time that brave decisions were taken from the Serbian side.

adriano, if "[you] want a better life that is guaranteed by the International law, and not by politicians saying More than autonomy less than independence words." then you have to respect the INTERNATIONAL LAW.

Your goal can be only achieved by respecting the Law and without of violence. Unfortunately you didn't go that way.

Fleiner is right: independence in itself is a trophy and the negotiations should focus on minority rights. And if the Albanians are not prepared to deliver on that front they should pay a price for that in terms of either territory or autonomy. Giving them independence without sanctions when they do not deliver means giving them a license to maltreat their minorities.

first of all:
Wim,
the K-albanians do not have "their" minorities... THEY ARE the minority, it´s Serbia that counts, not the administrational borders of a province... hope that was clear enough.

as to those who are STILL bringing up this ridiculous argumentation, "if there is no independence, hell will break loose"
that or similar kinds of rhetoric-phrases are being reiterated on and on...but they lack of reality.

direct studies of the situation in Kosovo do not confirm those apocalyptic scenario´s at all.
most Albanians do want to live in peace and to finally experience some prosperity. that cannot be achieved through a new war.
and some incurable fanatics all along with their "independence"-graffiti´s do not pose a threat to the UNMIK-personnel, at least not yet.
if that should happen, there is still the serbian army ready to help the international forces ( it could be called supervised assistance ).
and that´s the greates mistake Mr.ceku makes...there are things that can stop the idea of a greater-Albania, and the problem is that either he doesn´t realize it, or what is even worse for the Albanians, that he is lying to them.

Kosovo Albaians are in crisis for many years - and they will be in crisis for many years - regardless of indepndence (minimal or maximal). Problem is much more in society itself
in its entrenched customs then in anything else. Independence is mainly excuse to continue with crisis, indefinitely, protected by Western interference.

The Ahtisari package is the biggest compromise that the Unity Team has made, in fact it's a little too much of a compromise.

No more compromises, serbia didn't use 13 months of negotiations now it needs to suffer an imposed solution.
The true winners in this will be the Kosovars (serbs and albanians) and also stability in the Balkans.

As Kosova's President Sejdiu said the Ahtisari plan was a compromise for the Kosovars. It does not matter at all what the serb paid negotiators say. The bottom line is that Kosova will never again be governed by the Serbs after all the atrocities they caused to the Kosovar people in their own homes. Its insane and you have no one else to blaim apart from your selves you elected the Government which has put you back 50 years.

I have a question for the Serbs in these forum
for example if 2 m k Albanians where all Serbs and all Serbs in Serbian where
Albanians ,same history what’s going on right now what would you think Kosova status should be
(dritoniusa, 6. August 2007 00:24)


I have an answer for you

Look at the bosnian federation and the Serbian people that do not want to be there but in a union with Serbia.

If were up to me I would divide Kosovo, sell the southern end to EU or whoever wants to buy it and militarize the borders where all those in kosovo would stay within their borders.

The slightest provocation would be met with a immediate militarily response.Like Isreal.

Zoran did you even read the article? "Fleiner, who acted as Belgrade’s negotiating team adviser, told Blic daily" He is a paid servant man. If the K-Albanians paid him enough money he would say Kustunica raped him. Cought red handed you propaganda spreading unjust nationalist. "he Swiss, as always tend to be "neutral"" Yeah not when they are paid to do a certain function. Do you remember the 13 months of negotiations that were with out a set outcome??? Were you here on earth? Because the serbian side didn't even bother turning up to some of them. It is a waist of time to drag it, but if we are going to drag it we will drag it so everybody else can understand that there are no better ways.

Village-Bey,

You are the only member of Team Kosova commenting on this article so far that has said anything rational. While I may not agree with everything you said, your argument that Serbia claim to Kosovo are based more on history than reality is on the money. While I am part of Team Kosovo, I have been saying for months that the Serbian government needs to do more to entice the world to accept Kosovo's attachment to Serbia than just the "more than autonomy, less than independence" approach. They need to give something more concrete than the Ahtisaari Plan, and as long as the international community views whatever comes out of Belgrade as cryptic and vague, they will continue to push for Kosovo's independence.

Thank you Mike.
I would go a bit further with my praise.
I think that you are only one of the few reasonable voices on the Kosovo Team.
It is a real shame that the passive resistance of late Mr Rugova did not work in the early 90s when a real compromise could have been achieved with a little bit of good will. Ideally democratisation of the two countries would have been the best scenario possible, but for many reasons time is commodity that we do not have.
Now I believe the room for manoeuvre on Albanian side is non-existent. Serbia can afford to let Kosova go as it is bigger, potentially the most important state in the Balkans and will always have an interest in Kosova. Albanians on the other hand can not afford to have center of self-ruling decisions elsewhere but in Prishtina.

I have a question for the Serbs in these forum
for example if 2 m k Albanians where all Serbs and all Serbs in Serbian where
Albanians ,same history what’s going on right now what would you think Kosova status should be

Driton; Serbs in Kosovo would have to Albanize their names as they must do in Albania. In your scenario Belgrade would retain Kosovo like Albania retains 500, 000 strong Greek populated Southern Albania. With the present policy of USA towards Albania your question is redundant,

the eu and usa are trying to exhaust every avenue of deplomacy to appease the russians and serbs that they tried hard to find an alternate solution between belgrade and prishtina to only conclude the inevitable, independance. they will proclaim independace and theres nothing anybody can do about it and the kosvo albanians know this. once they exhaust all mediation the rest is do the kalbanians have the support of countries and wheather the government can raise money to kick start the economy and foreign investments and grow the country and intergrate into the eu. does greece, spain have any say in who joins the eu? i dont think so, kosovo will not be a turkish cypress but serbia might.

Classic this one. Since when has the Belgrade’s negotiating team adviser been a neutral observer. Maybe neutrality is a socio-cultural concept that varies from one country to the next and as such is open to interpretation.
One thing I don’t understand. Fleiner is an expert of federal arrangements, what is he doing advising a unitary state?
I think you got the wrong advisor.

The independence is not negotiable (full stop). Ceku is not saying that, just because he wants to. He is saying that, because he is representing the right solution, supported by every single Albanian (90% of population), and other minorities as well (Romans, Bosnians, Turks etc). Serbs (5%) of the rest of the population can join this support as there will be no power in the world to change this stand (not even Russia). As for Russia, they can stop planting flags on no mans lands and become more sensible. Planting flags and claiming territories is “abiding with international law” as they claim to be the only power to abide with the international laws. Common guys become more sensible, as the only talks that can take place are improving the inter-relations between Serbia and Kosova as neighbouring countries. Serbia’s economy is to some extend effected by the exported products (part of those in Kosova as well). The talks can take place to have some kind of good economic inter-relationship.

Zbyszek,
No my friend, the serbs didnt choose that side? Thats why whe have the UN protecting Kosovo. And YES we are going right about international law. And yes i will live under all the protection of an EU law.Its only a matter of time. Its not how but when.
And as for "Greece has lots to say in these matters as do the Russians, Spain and China, let's not forget the South Africans, Slovakia, Indonesia, India and Romania," I couldnt care less what they think.
After all the suffering that has been going on, it is the only way. Serbs claim to be abused Kosovars were abused. Striped of every right they had, not only as a citizen but also as a human. The propaganda of milosevic turned us into monsters, If our names ended with an IC we would not be here right now we would have been independent.
If the Serb people want to continue their stigma against us , you can do it in your country. But Kosovo left.

adriano:
just for your information:
it IS our country,...don´t you still know that???

what´s so difficult to understand about that???

Kosovo INDEPENDENCE is not gonna be negotiated. Mark my words.
I just know it. You can say whatever you want, all of you.
The Independent Kosovo is going to treat and give all the rights of a citizen, like everyone else.
Most of you DONT understand what that means, since your premise is looked upon the Albanians who did not have their rights in Serbia, therefore, they will not give rights to Serbs, Roma and Turkish minorities.

"if 2 m k Albanians where all Serbs and all Serbs in Serbian where
Albanians ,same history what’s going on right now what would you think Kosova status should be (dritoniusa, 6. August 2007 00:24)"
Driton,
Two things.

Number One: The Balkans are like a fractal turning in on itself. The situation you describe is much like both WWII, and the situation in Kosovo itself after the NATO bombing and in 2004. Serbs clearly were abused minorities in those instances.
Number Two: The sad reality is its never good to be a minority in the Balkans regardless of your ethnicity. The majority in power have always brutalized the minority when they get the chance.
So, I would still support the idea of Partition. The fact is neither the Serbs OR the Albanians are good at treating one another with respect. We need to recognize that and realize the idea of preserving multi-culturism in Kosovo is simply not a valid possibility at this time. Maybe when we are all in the EU we can work together to keep the larger more economically developed countries from controlling us completely. Or maybe they'll just swallow us both, and future generations will curse our stupidity and naivety in dealing with global issues and power struggles.

Is Kosovo compromise possible? YES it is! Actually, what should our team negotiate afterwards is negotiating joining the Presheva Valley to Kosova, as well as some other parts there were occupied in 1912 wat was used to be Kosova Villajet (Vilajeti i Kosoves). That is what our team should negotiate with international community and serbian team. There is nothing more to be negotiated about Kosova itself, Kosova is surely becoming free and independent country with highest level of minority rights in Europe. if Presheva Valley is not going to happen, then our team should negotiate the very same minority rights for our fellow Albanians living there.

"This A. Isufi (or whatever his name is) seem to be unable to read: Kate is demanding ALL parties to negotiate...
(Buzz, 5. August 2007 14:25) "

Of course there will be 120 days of negotiations, but some things simply can not be nogotiable .

Fleiner concluded by saying that “The status issue is mainly a point of prestige,”.
I could not agree more.
Oliver Ivanović of the Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija just a few days before stated referring to the Belgrade policy on the future of Kosova that “They were more focused on [the possible loss of] 15 per cent of their territory than on [the fate of] 110,000 Kosovo Serbs, or on the additional 230,000 displaced people in Serbia.”
Serbia has no real strategic or economic interest in Kosova and insisting on its rights to sovereignty based on historical arguments is not helpful. History in the Balkans is highly contestable as there are at least two versions of history depending which side of the fence you stand.
The Serbian arguments for retaining sovereignty over Kosova are flawed as they only relate to the historic and religious significance of a territory that is predominantly against the Serbian rule.
This overwhelming desire of the Kosova population is not something that sprang out of the blue but is a direct reaction to an oppressive rule stretching throughout decades and applied on the sole basis of the wrong ethnicity.
Wars of ex-Yugoslavia concluded with the NATO intervention in Kosova stopping a human catastrophe of biblical proportions. This watershed moment marked the establishment for the first time democratic rule in Kosova and the possibility for all inhabitants to contribute and built a better future for themselves
Peace requires braver men than the war and it is about time that brave decisions were taken from the Serbian side.

Kate , I don't know if you ar of serb orgin but, which I beleive you are but if not than you are supporting one side without knowing the true facts.
You accuse Albanian side that thye are not willing to copromise and are using veil threats as you call them, but you never mention serb side that they did the same thing from day one when Ahtisari was appointed by UNSC Membbers, which russia is one of thos emembers and to top it of a permanent member.Shame on you for not being fair and true in your coments. As for russia , it is only a game to because when push comes to shove you will see russia dropping serbia like hot potato.

"Kosovo’s Prime Minister Agim Ceku says Priština will not negotiate over Kosovo’s independence and territorial integrity in the upcoming talks on the province’s future.

"“Independence is the only option and no one can force us to accept anything else,” Ceku said."

This is what the US and EU should focus on - the intransigence of the Kosovo Albanian side. Why would there be an agreement for any negotiations when this refusal to even talk is broadcasted so arrogantly.

False promises and a false sense of importance have led to this situation. Time, for the good of Europe, to step back and demand that ALL parties negotiate to find a compromise which then has to be legitimised through the UN.

At the moment there is this veiled threat of violence present all the time from the Kosovo Albanian camp. Is Europe going to hand over sovereign territory just to give in to this? That should not be the way forward.

Nice article, We have the predictable path of thought representing the Serbian side by Mr. Thomas Fleiner. The more they delay the more settlers will come back, than more negotiations are needed, than circumstances change, than more negotiations, than more settlers. Than the dream should be showered with acid rain. Of course that wont be tolerated By k-albanians who would feel very unjust with all the right reasons. So the Serbian side will try another 99 tank in your face style civilised "international Law" approved campaign.
Well that's their dream, all they want is the land and sovereignty, as they mention. It is just sad that is endorsed by a Swiss hight paid official.
Than we have Judy Batt who does security studies in Paris. The place that diplomacy started taking shape. And right now a country with a leader that has more backbone than a turtle. She is advising for a clean divorce.
As in real life anywhere in the west if a married couple spends 6 months apart they can file for separation. From Serbia it might require 10 but all those days are worth it. I think all the pride is talking from the Serb politicians, that it is the Albanians our second grade citizens that we left iliterate, that we corrupted by telling them that in turkey they will find a better future. The ones that we took the jobs from, the ones that we didn't give building permits. The ones who couldn't afford education. The ones that we couldn't get to forget their language.
Maybe it should have been Kosovo who divorced from Serbia first. With the rest of former Yugoslavia breaking down. It would of been a cleaner face for the Serbians.
I want a better life that is guaranteed by the International law, and not by politicians saying More than autonomy less than independence words. Independence is what 2 million of us and 92% of Kosovo, want. Ceku is just our megaphone to the world.

the eu and usa are trying to exhaust every avenue of deplomacy to appease the russians and serbs that they tried hard to find an alternate solution between belgrade and prishtina to only conclude the inevitable, independance. they will proclaim independace and theres nothing anybody can do about it and the kosvo albanians know this. once they exhaust all mediation the rest is do the kalbanians have the support of countries and wheather the government can raise money to kick start the economy and foreign investments and grow the country and intergrate into the eu. does greece, spain have any say in who joins the eu? i dont think so, kosovo will not be a turkish cypress but serbia might.

The Ahtisari package is the biggest compromise that the Unity Team has made, in fact it's a little too much of a compromise.

No more compromises, serbia didn't use 13 months of negotiations now it needs to suffer an imposed solution.
The true winners in this will be the Kosovars (serbs and albanians) and also stability in the Balkans.

Zoran did you even read the article? "Fleiner, who acted as Belgrade’s negotiating team adviser, told Blic daily" He is a paid servant man. If the K-Albanians paid him enough money he would say Kustunica raped him. Cought red handed you propaganda spreading unjust nationalist. "he Swiss, as always tend to be "neutral"" Yeah not when they are paid to do a certain function. Do you remember the 13 months of negotiations that were with out a set outcome??? Were you here on earth? Because the serbian side didn't even bother turning up to some of them. It is a waist of time to drag it, but if we are going to drag it we will drag it so everybody else can understand that there are no better ways.

This A. Isufi (or whatever his name is) seem to be unable to read: Kate is demanding ALL parties to negotiate...

Fleiner is right: independence in itself is a trophy and the negotiations should focus on minority rights. And if the Albanians are not prepared to deliver on that front they should pay a price for that in terms of either territory or autonomy. Giving them independence without sanctions when they do not deliver means giving them a license to maltreat their minorities.

"As long as the US/EU insist on Kosovo independence (as the only outcome) Pristina will not be ready to TRULY negotiate". Fleiner, a Swiss advisor said! The Swiss, as always tend to be "neutral". Isn't that what the Serbs and many other countries have been saying about these so called negotiations since they started? It is not a true negotiation when the outcome is predetermined! It is just a show, a bad sit-com. Even a caveman can do it or understand such a simple concept, yet right away the pro-Indy camp starts on their mantra of the only outcome is independence and accuse the other side of intransigence.

Zbyszek,
No my friend, the serbs didnt choose that side? Thats why whe have the UN protecting Kosovo. And YES we are going right about international law. And yes i will live under all the protection of an EU law.Its only a matter of time. Its not how but when.
And as for "Greece has lots to say in these matters as do the Russians, Spain and China, let's not forget the South Africans, Slovakia, Indonesia, India and Romania," I couldnt care less what they think.
After all the suffering that has been going on, it is the only way. Serbs claim to be abused Kosovars were abused. Striped of every right they had, not only as a citizen but also as a human. The propaganda of milosevic turned us into monsters, If our names ended with an IC we would not be here right now we would have been independent.
If the Serb people want to continue their stigma against us , you can do it in your country. But Kosovo left.

Why is that a province with historically undefined borders must preserve its 'territorial integrity' when it has no legal basis, but when a sovereign nation such as Serbia speaks of such reasons the world dismisses them? Mr. Çeku must realize the if the territorial integrity of BiH was preserved and the same happened in the most recent Albanian expansionist policy in Macedonia, then the same must happen with Serbia too.

Classic this one. Since when has the Belgrade’s negotiating team adviser been a neutral observer. Maybe neutrality is a socio-cultural concept that varies from one country to the next and as such is open to interpretation.
One thing I don’t understand. Fleiner is an expert of federal arrangements, what is he doing advising a unitary state?
I think you got the wrong advisor.

As Kosova's President Sejdiu said the Ahtisari plan was a compromise for the Kosovars. It does not matter at all what the serb paid negotiators say. The bottom line is that Kosova will never again be governed by the Serbs after all the atrocities they caused to the Kosovar people in their own homes. Its insane and you have no one else to blaim apart from your selves you elected the Government which has put you back 50 years.

I have a question for the Serbs in these forum
for example if 2 m k Albanians where all Serbs and all Serbs in Serbian where
Albanians ,same history what’s going on right now what would you think Kosova status should be

Kosovo INDEPENDENCE is not gonna be negotiated. Mark my words.
I just know it. You can say whatever you want, all of you.
The Independent Kosovo is going to treat and give all the rights of a citizen, like everyone else.
Most of you DONT understand what that means, since your premise is looked upon the Albanians who did not have their rights in Serbia, therefore, they will not give rights to Serbs, Roma and Turkish minorities.

I have a question for the Serbs in these forum
for example if 2 m k Albanians where all Serbs and all Serbs in Serbian where
Albanians ,same history what’s going on right now what would you think Kosova status should be
(dritoniusa, 6. August 2007 00:24)


I have an answer for you

Look at the bosnian federation and the Serbian people that do not want to be there but in a union with Serbia.

If were up to me I would divide Kosovo, sell the southern end to EU or whoever wants to buy it and militarize the borders where all those in kosovo would stay within their borders.

The slightest provocation would be met with a immediate militarily response.Like Isreal.

Driton; Serbs in Kosovo would have to Albanize their names as they must do in Albania. In your scenario Belgrade would retain Kosovo like Albania retains 500, 000 strong Greek populated Southern Albania. With the present policy of USA towards Albania your question is redundant,

first of all:
Wim,
the K-albanians do not have "their" minorities... THEY ARE the minority, it´s Serbia that counts, not the administrational borders of a province... hope that was clear enough.

as to those who are STILL bringing up this ridiculous argumentation, "if there is no independence, hell will break loose"
that or similar kinds of rhetoric-phrases are being reiterated on and on...but they lack of reality.

direct studies of the situation in Kosovo do not confirm those apocalyptic scenario´s at all.
most Albanians do want to live in peace and to finally experience some prosperity. that cannot be achieved through a new war.
and some incurable fanatics all along with their "independence"-graffiti´s do not pose a threat to the UNMIK-personnel, at least not yet.
if that should happen, there is still the serbian army ready to help the international forces ( it could be called supervised assistance ).
and that´s the greates mistake Mr.ceku makes...there are things that can stop the idea of a greater-Albania, and the problem is that either he doesn´t realize it, or what is even worse for the Albanians, that he is lying to them.

Village-Bey,

You are the only member of Team Kosova commenting on this article so far that has said anything rational. While I may not agree with everything you said, your argument that Serbia claim to Kosovo are based more on history than reality is on the money. While I am part of Team Kosovo, I have been saying for months that the Serbian government needs to do more to entice the world to accept Kosovo's attachment to Serbia than just the "more than autonomy, less than independence" approach. They need to give something more concrete than the Ahtisaari Plan, and as long as the international community views whatever comes out of Belgrade as cryptic and vague, they will continue to push for Kosovo's independence.

The independence is not negotiable (full stop). Ceku is not saying that, just because he wants to. He is saying that, because he is representing the right solution, supported by every single Albanian (90% of population), and other minorities as well (Romans, Bosnians, Turks etc). Serbs (5%) of the rest of the population can join this support as there will be no power in the world to change this stand (not even Russia). As for Russia, they can stop planting flags on no mans lands and become more sensible. Planting flags and claiming territories is “abiding with international law” as they claim to be the only power to abide with the international laws. Common guys become more sensible, as the only talks that can take place are improving the inter-relations between Serbia and Kosova as neighbouring countries. Serbia’s economy is to some extend effected by the exported products (part of those in Kosova as well). The talks can take place to have some kind of good economic inter-relationship.

The deck has certainly been stacked against the Serbians. The Clinton administration's filthy agenda in the former Yugoslavia is what is at the root of it's breakup but then, that was their intention. Below, ssome old NYTimes articles:
"Investigators at the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague have concluded that the Croatian Army carried out summary executions, indiscriminate shelling of civilian populations and 'ethnic cleansing' during a 1995 assault that was a turning point in the Balkan wars, according to tribunal documents. The investigators have recommended that three Croatian generals be indicted, and an American official said this week that the indictments could come within a few weeks. . . . Any indictment of Croatian Army generals could prove politically troublesome for the Clinton Administration, which has a delicate relationship with Croatia, an American ally in preserving the peace in Bosnia with a poor human rights record. The August 1995 Croatian offensive, which drove some 100,000 Serbs from a large swath of Croatia over four days, was carried out with the tacit blessing of the United States by a Croatian Army that had been schooled in part by a group of retired American military officers. Questions still remain about the full extent of United States involvement. In the course of the three-year investigation into the assault, the United States has failed to provide critical evidence requested by the tribunal, according to tribunal documents and officials, adding to suspicion among some there that Washington is uneasy about the investigation. Two senior Canadian military officers, for example, who were in Croatia during the offensive, testified that the assault, in which some 3,000 shells rained down on the city of Knin over 48 hours, was indiscriminate and targeted civilians. . . . A section of the tribunal's 150-page report is headed: 'The Indictment. Operation Storm, A Prima Facie Case.': 'During the course of the military offensive, the Croatian armed forces and special police committed numerous violations of international humanitarian law, including but not limited to, shelling of Knin and other cities,' the report says. 'During, and in the 100 days following the military offensive, at least 150 Serb civilians were summarily executed, and many hundreds disappeared.' The crimes also included looting and burning, the report says." ["War Crimes Panel Finds Croat Troops 'Cleansed' the Serbs," New York Times, 3/21/99]

The Krajina episode -- the largest in the recent Yugoslav wars, at least until this week in Kosovo -- exposes the hypocrisy of the Clinton claims as to why intervention in Kosovo is a humanitarian imperative:

"Within four days, the Croatians drove out 150,000 Serbs, the largest [until this week] ethnic cleansing of the entire Balkan wars. Investigators in the Hague have concluded that this campaign was carried out with brutality, wanton murder, and indiscriminate shelling of civilians. . . . Krajina is Kosovo writ large. And yet, at the same time, the U.S. did not stop or even protest the Croatian action. The Clinton Administration tacitly encouraged it." [Charles Krauthammer, "The Clinton Doctrine," Time magazine, 4/5/99]
I hope that one day the Clinton administration will be exposed for their evil in the former Yugoslavia. Does anyone, or country, have the courage and determination to do it. Please, before we see him in the White House again. I could not bear that.

turkish cypress for you Sunny!

And yes Greece has lots to say in these matters as do the Russians, Spain and China, let's not forget the South Africans, Slovakia, Indonesia, India and Romania, we might continue the list with Israel and Bulgaria. All of these counties have an important say in this matter and these countries are just the one's who strongly appose your drive for independence. The List of countries that will wish to remain neutral is long indeed starting with all the Former Republics of Yugoslavia, Canada! And over 80% of Europe. My friend all you have on your side is Lame Duck Bush, and maybe the Germans, the French and English as well at the Italians are searching for a way out of this mess and if they look hard enough they will find a way.

adriano, if "[you] want a better life that is guaranteed by the International law, and not by politicians saying More than autonomy less than independence words." then you have to respect the INTERNATIONAL LAW.

Your goal can be only achieved by respecting the Law and without of violence. Unfortunately you didn't go that way.

Kosovo Albaians are in crisis for many years - and they will be in crisis for many years - regardless of indepndence (minimal or maximal). Problem is much more in society itself
in its entrenched customs then in anything else. Independence is mainly excuse to continue with crisis, indefinitely, protected by Western interference.

Thank you Mike.
I would go a bit further with my praise.
I think that you are only one of the few reasonable voices on the Kosovo Team.
It is a real shame that the passive resistance of late Mr Rugova did not work in the early 90s when a real compromise could have been achieved with a little bit of good will. Ideally democratisation of the two countries would have been the best scenario possible, but for many reasons time is commodity that we do not have.
Now I believe the room for manoeuvre on Albanian side is non-existent. Serbia can afford to let Kosova go as it is bigger, potentially the most important state in the Balkans and will always have an interest in Kosova. Albanians on the other hand can not afford to have center of self-ruling decisions elsewhere but in Prishtina.

adriano:
just for your information:
it IS our country,...don´t you still know that???

what´s so difficult to understand about that???

"if 2 m k Albanians where all Serbs and all Serbs in Serbian where
Albanians ,same history what’s going on right now what would you think Kosova status should be (dritoniusa, 6. August 2007 00:24)"
Driton,
Two things.

Number One: The Balkans are like a fractal turning in on itself. The situation you describe is much like both WWII, and the situation in Kosovo itself after the NATO bombing and in 2004. Serbs clearly were abused minorities in those instances.
Number Two: The sad reality is its never good to be a minority in the Balkans regardless of your ethnicity. The majority in power have always brutalized the minority when they get the chance.
So, I would still support the idea of Partition. The fact is neither the Serbs OR the Albanians are good at treating one another with respect. We need to recognize that and realize the idea of preserving multi-culturism in Kosovo is simply not a valid possibility at this time. Maybe when we are all in the EU we can work together to keep the larger more economically developed countries from controlling us completely. Or maybe they'll just swallow us both, and future generations will curse our stupidity and naivety in dealing with global issues and power struggles.

Is Kosovo compromise possible? YES it is! Actually, what should our team negotiate afterwards is negotiating joining the Presheva Valley to Kosova, as well as some other parts there were occupied in 1912 wat was used to be Kosova Villajet (Vilajeti i Kosoves). That is what our team should negotiate with international community and serbian team. There is nothing more to be negotiated about Kosova itself, Kosova is surely becoming free and independent country with highest level of minority rights in Europe. if Presheva Valley is not going to happen, then our team should negotiate the very same minority rights for our fellow Albanians living there.

"This A. Isufi (or whatever his name is) seem to be unable to read: Kate is demanding ALL parties to negotiate...
(Buzz, 5. August 2007 14:25) "

Of course there will be 120 days of negotiations, but some things simply can not be nogotiable .