New U.S. ambassador arrives in Belgrade

Lets hope he keeps true to his word regarding serbia going forward to EU "whole, free and at peace"

In which case we will need to see a continued sea change in US administration viewpoint regarding Serbia's territorial intergrity. Could this be a further sign of such a change? Especially following what the outgoing Ambassador Polt had to say
"What if we were to tell you today that we were wrong and that Kosovo is yours, and that we are withdrawing our forces from Kosovo by Saturday. What then?"

Maybe Polt was giving a strong signal rather then just being prophetic!

Hopefully he'll be more sensitive and less offensive than Polt (not hard) but I'm sure he'll just push the exact same agenda by the US. The one where you spread democracy by imposing your will on other nations. No doubt he'll be giving presentations about the rights and wrongs of the state before even unpacking his crates.

Kate,

Mr Munter is an employee of his government and what he is personally is of no importance regarding the American politics and policies. One point is clear: Washington wants Mladic for all the crimes he has committed in Bosnia and the American resolve will persist no matter who is the Ambassador in Serbia.

Be sure of this.

Serbs and Albanians living in Kosovo need to negotiate directly. I'm sure we'd make a very good agreement if the USA and NATO didn't meddle. The fact is that most people in Kosovo and Serbia are more concerned about the lack of jobs and poverty than these idiotic games our corrupt politicians are playing. It would be better if we got rid of these leaders who get rich on our suffering and who divide the working people so that the end they can make an agreement and become best friends. It's not their families who've suffered in these wars!! All the best to my Albanian brothers and sisters!! We need to move together into the future, either in one state or two... Let's focus on the real enemy, our corrupt elites and the NATO powers that view our territories as a space for military stationing rights and the exploitation of our resources. NATO doesn't care about the people of the Balkans, just the geostrategic region.

Princip,
I definitely, think that serbians all are all agonaizing by Kosovophobia. Everything what happened, is related with Kosovo. This is not good pint serbians.

Astro - I wouldn't be so complacent. My point was that these people are all just pen pushers in effect and will echo whatever policies are favoured at the time. That could also change at any point, you know.

" Before that, in Washington, Munter was director for Central and Eastern Europe at the National Security Council (1999-2001), Executive Assistant to the Counselor of the State Department (1998-1999) . . ."

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

village-bey,

What does your conspiracy theory have to do with this article?

Nehat,

I assume you're aware that Serbian nationalists aren't from Russia. I suspect that anyone with any understanding of European history will realize it is impossible to send Serbs "back to Russia." The actual origins of "ethnic Albanians" and "ethnic Serbs" is still in flux, as our understanding of history comes to grasp with genetic evidence.

For instance, the E3b and E3b1 haplogroups are extremely common among both Albanians and Serbs (I believe they are both around 20%). The most prevalent haplogroup for Serbs is I1b, which has been present in the Balkans for 20,000 years.

If you start arguing which haplogroup got their 25,000 years ago vs. 20,000 years ago, where will that leave anyone?

Through accidents of time and history modern peoples recognizing themselves as ethnic Serbs and Albanians have come to occupy the same territory. You are just going to have to find a way to live together and in peace.

Princip

you wrote:

Maybe Polt was giving a strong signal rather then just being prophetic!

You did word your comment quite well, you said "Maybe".
But than again "Maybe Not".

I would bet my money on "Maybe Not".

What would you bet your money on?

Kate,

You wrote:

but I'm sure he'll just push the exact same agenda by the US.

Prcisely correct.

Cheers

"holds a doctoral degree in Modern European History" he is there to work for the Kosovars, America want to send the Serb netionalist back to Russia.

Dardan,

Seeing "genetics" and "politics" in the same sentence gives me shivers. I immediatelly think of American Eugenics promoters and their best pupil Adolph Hitler. I don't like that idea. Genetics should remain in the domain of scientific discourse, not daily politics.

However, I'd like to comment on your finding:

"What caught my eye was I1b (dominating in Serbs) is at merely 2.7% in Kosovar Albanians, while it is at 17% in Albanians from Albania. So much for the theory that Albanians migrated to Kosovo from Albania?

This is a classical logical fallacy.

Population of Albania consists of people who are Shqip and others who are assimilated into Albanian nation - Serbs, Greeks and others, while Kosovo Albanians are 100% Shqip.

In order to make comprarrison, compared items must be the same.

Thus, the fact that in genetically mixed population of Albania I1b can be found in 17% of cases while among Kosovo Albanians it is only 2.7% does not rule out that Kosovo Albanians came from Albania.

Quite opposite, it shows that 97% of Kosovo Albanians are genetically the same as 83% of citizens of Albania today.

Pretty good indicator, if you want to use genetic markers.

"For instance, the E3b and E3b1 haplogroups are extremely common among both Albanians and Serbs (I believe they are both around 20%). The most prevalent haplogroup for Serbs is I1b, which has been present in the Balkans for 20,000 years."

Ciznec,

Haplogruop E3b1 for Kosovo Albanians is 45.6% (not around 20% as you claim).

E3b1 is below 10% in Turks.

This eliminates the theory that Kosovo Albanians are Turks (like many Serbs claim).

For Serbs, E2b1 is 20.4%.

As you said, the dominating haplogroup among Serbs is I1b (Haplogroup I1b (S31) is a Y-chromosome haplogroup. Its subclade I1b1* is typical of South Slavs, especially Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks).

Another interesting thing that I noticed was that there are noticeable difference between the haplogroups of the Albanians in Albania with the Albanians in Kosovo.

What caught my eye was I1b (dominating in Serbs) is at merely 2.7% in Kosovar Albanians, while it is at 17% in Albanians from Albania.

So much for the theory that Albanians migrated to Kosovo from Albania?

Genetics – an interesting field indeed (as long as it is not used for political gains by any party).

Kostas I agree with some of your thoughts but I disegree why you never mentioned your mother russia that is the biggest obsticle to the entire peace process in balkans.

Mr. Polt left and Mr. Polt took his place. No further coment.

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

If you start arguing which haplogroup got their 25,000 years ago vs. 20,000 years ago, where will that leave anyone?

Through accidents of time and history modern peoples recognizing themselves as ethnic Serbs and Albanians have come to occupy the same territory. You are just going to have to find a way to live together and in peace.
(cizinec, 16. August 2007 17:29)"

Well said cizinec. Borders and flags are only artificial (though meaningful to many) constructs. What matters most, however, is what social and political relations they represent, and how they are ACTUALLY played out in daily life. The deeper question is why one haplogroup will not be happy being within the other haplogroup's borders, even when that haplogroup is offering everything under the sun (except borders)...

Hopefully, we won't get fooled again.... but we'll probably sing the same old song.

"NATO doesn't care about the people of the Balkans"
(kosta, 16. August 2007 19:27)

Yes they do, they bombed the serbian forces in 1999 just before they were going to create Kosova into another Drenica-massacre.

Nontheless I agree that Kosovars need to cooperate with all their neighbors. It really sucks that Balkan has a war every 40-50 year and is lagging behind. A united Balkan is a serious power-house.

After having Polt who made so many faux pas that he was recalled, they need someone with an intelligence backgroung in Belgrade who is reliable and will do is part in the upcoming Kosvo debacle.

I wonder if he will be the last US ambassador to Serbia for a while...

If some top politicians keep their promise, pretty soon the foreighn embassies in belgrade will not have ambassadors, becasue they countries are going to recognize Kosova as Independent country. You will be left with ambassadors from third world countries.Way to go serbia, I am having fun.
By the way; Mr. Polt left and another Mr. Polt came just with dfferent name but with same ideas.

It is very interesting to watch this unholy alliance of right wing radicals, international Marxist, concerned Europeans and religious fanatics closing ranks when it comes to Kosova. It is a very impressive display of movement cohesion.
It would be equally interesting to see what topic they might be discussing after independence, although I doubt very much that ‘Finding Mladic’ would have many takers.

Humanitarian intervention Kosova has become a rallying cause for many unlikely allies. Extreme left and right have joined forces in a unbelievable fashion to devalue international intervention and consequently the role of USA in Kosova’s final settlement. I know that many would have liked that Kosova remained an internal matter of Serbia but thankfully times have changed. Internal legitimacy of many states has become evermore the prime concern of international community. It is in these instances of contestable legitimacy and gross violations of human rights that have raised many of these previosly thought internal matters, into major security issues and in our case into a “sui generis” example of humanitarian intervention and civil administartion. The process exemplifies a factual evolution of the previous standard of civilisation standards to internal legitimacy requirements for an outright regime classification.
The insistence on the imperialist rhetoric and geopolitical hegemony is simply pathetic.

I'm sorry I mentioned genetics at all. I just wanted to point out that Serbs aren't from Russia.

I was also trying to point out that whatever group you are in doesn't matter at all. I suspect that there are some Serbs and Albanians with shockingly "wrong" DNA.

What matters is that you live peacefully in whatever state the accidents of history put you.

Welcome to Beograd.

Ambassador Bolt's color coded ties was part of his sense of humor. Probably because Beograd's beef is the best tasting in the world. I can't speak for Spain, I haven't been their yet.

"holds a doctoral degree in Modern European History" he is there to work for the Kosovars, America want to send the Serb netionalist back to Russia.

Kate,

Mr Munter is an employee of his government and what he is personally is of no importance regarding the American politics and policies. One point is clear: Washington wants Mladic for all the crimes he has committed in Bosnia and the American resolve will persist no matter who is the Ambassador in Serbia.

Be sure of this.

Princip,
I definitely, think that serbians all are all agonaizing by Kosovophobia. Everything what happened, is related with Kosovo. This is not good pint serbians.

Princip

you wrote:

Maybe Polt was giving a strong signal rather then just being prophetic!

You did word your comment quite well, you said "Maybe".
But than again "Maybe Not".

I would bet my money on "Maybe Not".

What would you bet your money on?

Kate,

You wrote:

but I'm sure he'll just push the exact same agenda by the US.

Prcisely correct.

Cheers

It is very interesting to watch this unholy alliance of right wing radicals, international Marxist, concerned Europeans and religious fanatics closing ranks when it comes to Kosova. It is a very impressive display of movement cohesion.
It would be equally interesting to see what topic they might be discussing after independence, although I doubt very much that ‘Finding Mladic’ would have many takers.

" Before that, in Washington, Munter was director for Central and Eastern Europe at the National Security Council (1999-2001), Executive Assistant to the Counselor of the State Department (1998-1999) . . ."

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

village-bey,

What does your conspiracy theory have to do with this article?

Nehat,

I assume you're aware that Serbian nationalists aren't from Russia. I suspect that anyone with any understanding of European history will realize it is impossible to send Serbs "back to Russia." The actual origins of "ethnic Albanians" and "ethnic Serbs" is still in flux, as our understanding of history comes to grasp with genetic evidence.

For instance, the E3b and E3b1 haplogroups are extremely common among both Albanians and Serbs (I believe they are both around 20%). The most prevalent haplogroup for Serbs is I1b, which has been present in the Balkans for 20,000 years.

If you start arguing which haplogroup got their 25,000 years ago vs. 20,000 years ago, where will that leave anyone?

Through accidents of time and history modern peoples recognizing themselves as ethnic Serbs and Albanians have come to occupy the same territory. You are just going to have to find a way to live together and in peace.

Humanitarian intervention Kosova has become a rallying cause for many unlikely allies. Extreme left and right have joined forces in a unbelievable fashion to devalue international intervention and consequently the role of USA in Kosova’s final settlement. I know that many would have liked that Kosova remained an internal matter of Serbia but thankfully times have changed. Internal legitimacy of many states has become evermore the prime concern of international community. It is in these instances of contestable legitimacy and gross violations of human rights that have raised many of these previosly thought internal matters, into major security issues and in our case into a “sui generis” example of humanitarian intervention and civil administartion. The process exemplifies a factual evolution of the previous standard of civilisation standards to internal legitimacy requirements for an outright regime classification.
The insistence on the imperialist rhetoric and geopolitical hegemony is simply pathetic.

Lets hope he keeps true to his word regarding serbia going forward to EU "whole, free and at peace"

In which case we will need to see a continued sea change in US administration viewpoint regarding Serbia's territorial intergrity. Could this be a further sign of such a change? Especially following what the outgoing Ambassador Polt had to say
"What if we were to tell you today that we were wrong and that Kosovo is yours, and that we are withdrawing our forces from Kosovo by Saturday. What then?"

Maybe Polt was giving a strong signal rather then just being prophetic!

Hopefully he'll be more sensitive and less offensive than Polt (not hard) but I'm sure he'll just push the exact same agenda by the US. The one where you spread democracy by imposing your will on other nations. No doubt he'll be giving presentations about the rights and wrongs of the state before even unpacking his crates.

Astro - I wouldn't be so complacent. My point was that these people are all just pen pushers in effect and will echo whatever policies are favoured at the time. That could also change at any point, you know.

Mr. Polt left and Mr. Polt took his place. No further coment.

Serbs and Albanians living in Kosovo need to negotiate directly. I'm sure we'd make a very good agreement if the USA and NATO didn't meddle. The fact is that most people in Kosovo and Serbia are more concerned about the lack of jobs and poverty than these idiotic games our corrupt politicians are playing. It would be better if we got rid of these leaders who get rich on our suffering and who divide the working people so that the end they can make an agreement and become best friends. It's not their families who've suffered in these wars!! All the best to my Albanian brothers and sisters!! We need to move together into the future, either in one state or two... Let's focus on the real enemy, our corrupt elites and the NATO powers that view our territories as a space for military stationing rights and the exploitation of our resources. NATO doesn't care about the people of the Balkans, just the geostrategic region.

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

If you start arguing which haplogroup got their 25,000 years ago vs. 20,000 years ago, where will that leave anyone?

Through accidents of time and history modern peoples recognizing themselves as ethnic Serbs and Albanians have come to occupy the same territory. You are just going to have to find a way to live together and in peace.
(cizinec, 16. August 2007 17:29)"

Well said cizinec. Borders and flags are only artificial (though meaningful to many) constructs. What matters most, however, is what social and political relations they represent, and how they are ACTUALLY played out in daily life. The deeper question is why one haplogroup will not be happy being within the other haplogroup's borders, even when that haplogroup is offering everything under the sun (except borders)...

Hopefully, we won't get fooled again.... but we'll probably sing the same old song.

"For instance, the E3b and E3b1 haplogroups are extremely common among both Albanians and Serbs (I believe they are both around 20%). The most prevalent haplogroup for Serbs is I1b, which has been present in the Balkans for 20,000 years."

Ciznec,

Haplogruop E3b1 for Kosovo Albanians is 45.6% (not around 20% as you claim).

E3b1 is below 10% in Turks.

This eliminates the theory that Kosovo Albanians are Turks (like many Serbs claim).

For Serbs, E2b1 is 20.4%.

As you said, the dominating haplogroup among Serbs is I1b (Haplogroup I1b (S31) is a Y-chromosome haplogroup. Its subclade I1b1* is typical of South Slavs, especially Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks).

Another interesting thing that I noticed was that there are noticeable difference between the haplogroups of the Albanians in Albania with the Albanians in Kosovo.

What caught my eye was I1b (dominating in Serbs) is at merely 2.7% in Kosovar Albanians, while it is at 17% in Albanians from Albania.

So much for the theory that Albanians migrated to Kosovo from Albania?

Genetics – an interesting field indeed (as long as it is not used for political gains by any party).

Kostas I agree with some of your thoughts but I disegree why you never mentioned your mother russia that is the biggest obsticle to the entire peace process in balkans.

"NATO doesn't care about the people of the Balkans"
(kosta, 16. August 2007 19:27)

Yes they do, they bombed the serbian forces in 1999 just before they were going to create Kosova into another Drenica-massacre.

Nontheless I agree that Kosovars need to cooperate with all their neighbors. It really sucks that Balkan has a war every 40-50 year and is lagging behind. A united Balkan is a serious power-house.

After having Polt who made so many faux pas that he was recalled, they need someone with an intelligence backgroung in Belgrade who is reliable and will do is part in the upcoming Kosvo debacle.

I wonder if he will be the last US ambassador to Serbia for a while...

Dardan,

Seeing "genetics" and "politics" in the same sentence gives me shivers. I immediatelly think of American Eugenics promoters and their best pupil Adolph Hitler. I don't like that idea. Genetics should remain in the domain of scientific discourse, not daily politics.

However, I'd like to comment on your finding:

"What caught my eye was I1b (dominating in Serbs) is at merely 2.7% in Kosovar Albanians, while it is at 17% in Albanians from Albania. So much for the theory that Albanians migrated to Kosovo from Albania?

This is a classical logical fallacy.

Population of Albania consists of people who are Shqip and others who are assimilated into Albanian nation - Serbs, Greeks and others, while Kosovo Albanians are 100% Shqip.

In order to make comprarrison, compared items must be the same.

Thus, the fact that in genetically mixed population of Albania I1b can be found in 17% of cases while among Kosovo Albanians it is only 2.7% does not rule out that Kosovo Albanians came from Albania.

Quite opposite, it shows that 97% of Kosovo Albanians are genetically the same as 83% of citizens of Albania today.

Pretty good indicator, if you want to use genetic markers.

I'm sorry I mentioned genetics at all. I just wanted to point out that Serbs aren't from Russia.

I was also trying to point out that whatever group you are in doesn't matter at all. I suspect that there are some Serbs and Albanians with shockingly "wrong" DNA.

What matters is that you live peacefully in whatever state the accidents of history put you.

If some top politicians keep their promise, pretty soon the foreighn embassies in belgrade will not have ambassadors, becasue they countries are going to recognize Kosova as Independent country. You will be left with ambassadors from third world countries.Way to go serbia, I am having fun.
By the way; Mr. Polt left and another Mr. Polt came just with dfferent name but with same ideas.

Welcome to Beograd.

Ambassador Bolt's color coded ties was part of his sense of humor. Probably because Beograd's beef is the best tasting in the world. I can't speak for Spain, I haven't been their yet.