Ischinger criticizes Washington

Bravo, Ischinger. It's about time a high-ranking EU diplomat told the US to keep it's opinions and threats to itself. I look at all the crisis America has to deal with - all the horrible situations it got itself into - the last thing the US should be doing is sticking it's nose into events in Southern Serbia. We (US) has so many domestic and international problems that need addressing - what even gives us the right to say what is right for another country. I will write my congressman today.

Wolfgang Ischinger is the voice of reason here. No longer are the Serbs alone in saying that US are encouraging the Albanians not to settle for anything less than independence.

He is openly saying that this sort of talk is counter productive and basically telling the US to put a lid on it.
Germany is distancing itself from supporting independent Kosovo. How soon before UK and France realize that they have to discourage Albanians from this path and encourage them onto a path of sincere negotiations?
I've always said that America will huff and puff but will not get the necessary support to impose their will onto Europe again. We will never go back to 1999 again. 1999 will prove a lot more dangerous this time around for all.

It is easier to control 2 million K-Albanians than risk the whole region erupting again. When you add Russia into the mix the stakes go much higher. Germany wants to have good relations with Russia as well as US.

regardless of the right message towards the US-administration, the reactions from the albanian supporters are quite nervous, as it seems.

calm down, you´ll enjoy your self-rule within Serbia. THAT is the only solution...no matter what you might feel yourself forced to write here in your present frustration.

let´s see what future brings.

ps: Russia won´t listen to some miri´s somewhere in Kosovo...so, writing childish remarks like "don´t stick your nose... " are really inappropriate!

Teni
"And as for him criticizing the US, that is the clearest confirmation yet that Kosova is getting independence. In diplomacy when things have not been decided people try to be ambiguous, speak a lot and say nothing. The fact that the US is saying it out loud speaks volumes."

I like your logic. If next time says that there will absolutely be no form of independence for Kosovo you may interpet it as Kosovo is independent. Selective hearing I guess.

However, this is the best possible news for the Serbs. It means that EU is not united and Germany is fighting for it but instead of being on your side they seem to have converted to ours. I mean we have the majority of the Troika on our side now. They are telling you months in advance that there will be no independence by Dec. 10, 11 , 12, Jan or any other time for that matter. Kosovo WAS NEVER independent and Germany is not insane enough to be the one to start WW3. All that matters is international law must be respected.


CCCC

"By refusing independence Russia hopes that sooner or later the peace will break down in Kosovo and then Russia will want to sit back and smile while EU and US will try once again to clean up the mess.

All this is a known scenario and it is being worked out. Independence is the only solution.
(miri, 11. October 2007 17:40) "

miri,

usa and europe are the ones who created the mess in the first place. Russia was on the right side from the beginning.

As for Russia should mind their business and not interfere in europe's problems?? miri Russia is a part of europe!

Does europe get energy supplies from america or Russia?

Don't you know that Russia holds land in europe? Just look at a map.

Maybe Ischinger got a call from Gerhard Schroeder to inform him about what Russia ha to offer Germany as opposed to Kosovo.

Isn't it obvious now? I feel so sorry for the Albanians. It just isn't going to happen guys. But what I don't really understand is why you want "independence". Serbia, including its southern province of Kosovo & Metohija, will join the EU by 2012. That's kind of cool, huh? Kosovo by itself, unrecognized by most of the world, languishes as a back water nothing. Oh well. Good luck.

Ishinger,
ANTICIPATION is one of the duty of diplomacy. That is what the Americans are doing. The Americam will not be full with empty spoon. It looks like that Ishinger is feeling the hit for not achieving any results in these so-called negotiations and is trying to put the blame on the Americans for its failure. There would be no "compromise" when it comes to the Sovereignity of Kosova. That is sealed with the victims who fought and lost their lives for Kosova's independence.

Likewise, Russia should refrain from sticking its nose where it doesn't belong. Let's just say that Kosovo independence is an european problem and Russia should not use its veto in UNSC for its own interest in the expense of of 2 million people who are just trying to secure a safe future for themselves.
You want UNSC solution? Let's Russia and US abstain their votes and let's see what the decision will be between England, France and China.
Russia's refusal to accept independence has only one intention, to raise tensions in the province in order to secure diplomatic victory for itself. By refusing independence Russia hopes that sooner or later the peace will break down in Kosovo and then Russia will want to sit back and smile while EU and US will try once again to clean up the mess.

All this is a known scenario and it is being worked out. Independence is the only solution.

The current Serbian leadership would decide in favor of Kosovo," Ischinger said in an interview with Germany's leading business magazine, Handelsblatt.

While he is telling to US to mind their business and himself is speculating about the future talks?!
How does he know what Serbian Leadership will do!
He is not supposed to give any prediction himself.
Well,the way I see it,there is USA,France and UK and they will work hard to convince Germany and Italy so they can go on and support independence of Kosovo and for that K-Albanians have to wait a bit more.

what has a regional and downfalling power like usa anyway to say about an EUROPEAN problem?


about indiependence pristina can negotiate with usa (probbably another 8 years), about their future autonomy within serbia pristina will negotiate in brussels.

it´s up to them to choose!

and the decission won´t be tough, is it the eu that pay´s the bills of "de-facto" indiependent kosovo.

and it isn´t the eu that builds refugeecamps in croatia and montenegro and bullies both states to accept so-called "passports" of unmik, it´s albanians big brother from washington that does so.

Noli, are you not embaressed to admit that you failed geography class?

Yes, Russia is considered a european country, even if parts of the big country resides in asia. It is not considered an asian country.

Sunny, those 5 areas are nothing compared to dozens if not hundreds of areas that will eventually use this as a precident. As for those 5 areas that will be destabalized, let us and EU/NATO worry about that.

Independence is dead.

Ischinger poor guy he is feeling a bit left out. I sincerely believe he says things which in most cases are later withdrawn just to draw attention to himself. But in any case what he said is nothing new. He wouldn't be warning Serbia to chose the EU over Kosova if Kosova would not become independent now would he? That is also the reason why he is proposing the EU throw Serbia a bone, i.e. visas.
And as for him criticizing the US, that is the clearest confirmation yet that Kosova is getting independence. In diplomacy when things have not been decided people try to be ambiguous, speak a lot and say nothing. The fact that the US is saying it out loud speaks volumes.

What this all amounts to is that the EU is beginning to flex its own muscles over Kosovo. The solution will probably not be to either the Serbs' or Albanians' liking, but it will be a solution that - even if imposed - will attempt to take the greatest amount of both sides demands into consideration. I sincerely hope that Ischinger is fully engaging himself in finding a Third Way.

There's a very simple solution for the pro-independence Albanian posters' dillema. Albania is completely independent of Serbia. I've read comments from these very posters that Albania is far more attractive than Serbia, with great beaches, a booming economy and the brightest possible future. If I were them, I'd be moving before land prices go through the roof!

Serbian Albanians will continue to live in Serbia, just as American Albanians live in the US, as loyal citizens, swearing full allegiance to their country, indivisible under God.

Ischinger's is a weasel of a lawyer who will stop at nothing to protect that insanity that feeds him "international law".

The Albanians will make sure he goes hungry

To Ratko:"usa and europe are the ones who created the mess in the first place. Russia was on the right side from the beginning. "

Oh yeah!! and which side was the side that Russia was?

Have you heard about a guy called Milosevic and the people following him for a decade, and crimes commmited in the name of that people? That's Serbia.
Is the side you are talking about?

Ischinger being a critic towards Washington? I`m sure that in the next days he will come up with that "I WAS MISSUNDERSTOOD" Ooopsss he did it again!

KS Said >> "If he failed Geography than you surely failed MATH. Russia doesn't have "PARTS" of its territory in Asia but over 90%.

KS, Just a little more than half of Russia is in Asia and less than 20% of the overall population lives on the Asian side. You are mixing up Turkey with Russia.

Raso i agree with you in European problem issue...but last time I checked Russia wasn`t in Europe or did I miss something in the geography class?

ischinger is playing the devils advocat, as thats all he can do, its not like the usa r not in the troika and dont know what the other is doing, troika are working together with there own countries.
Peggy thats where your wrong!!!! there r more than 2million albanians and you cant control and they r the wild card from montenegro, serbia (preshevo) macedonia and albania of course including kosovo. i think u got it wrong, thats 5 areas that will destabilize the balkans and and thats 5 areas of stability if kosovo gets independance, you do the maths, then the will of the people of kosovo and no return to pre 1999 however you interpret that or better still the diplomats that matter.

cvele, please explain????, what hundreds of areas you speak of, considering greece serbia romania slovacia are against it in balkans, then u got macedonia bulgaria montenegro crotia slovenia austria turkey albania for it in balkans, there are many slavic countries and 2 greek countries in the balkans, precedense is not for us to define but politicians as the troika have said kosovo cannot join anoher state cnannot be returned b4 1999 and accordin to the will of the people, they are rules set by them and 1244 and rambouillet, we dont have to like it, but for them to define, weather its now or later, its inevitable. kosovo will be independant. you cant blame the world for serbias lack of heart and interest for what had occured in kosovo and forgivness and sympathy for what was once serbia citizens, its irresponsable deliberate and to late. words never have defined people or person but the actions they take. perhaps you should spend some time wih those albanians who have suffered as i have with the serbs and albanians of kosovo, you might get some insight

Yes, Russia is considered a european country, even if parts of the big country resides in asia. It is not considered an asian country.
(Srboslav, 12. October 2007 13:27)

If he failed Geography than you surely failed MATH. Russia doesn't have "PARTS" of its territory in Asia but over 90%.

I've always disputed if a country is in a continent based on where the PEOPLE live or where the TERRITORY is located and I've concluded.

Russia is its' own CONTINENT.

BTW that ^^^ is russian propaganda, they believe that they are a continent.

Cvele
INDEPENDENCE is really close by.

Don't worry about other precedents, nobody gave you the title of world supervisor to meddle in other countries affairs.

Ischinger's is a weasel of a lawyer who will stop at nothing to protect that insanity that feeds him "international law".

The Albanians will make sure he goes hungry

Likewise, Russia should refrain from sticking its nose where it doesn't belong. Let's just say that Kosovo independence is an european problem and Russia should not use its veto in UNSC for its own interest in the expense of of 2 million people who are just trying to secure a safe future for themselves.
You want UNSC solution? Let's Russia and US abstain their votes and let's see what the decision will be between England, France and China.
Russia's refusal to accept independence has only one intention, to raise tensions in the province in order to secure diplomatic victory for itself. By refusing independence Russia hopes that sooner or later the peace will break down in Kosovo and then Russia will want to sit back and smile while EU and US will try once again to clean up the mess.

All this is a known scenario and it is being worked out. Independence is the only solution.

Ischinger poor guy he is feeling a bit left out. I sincerely believe he says things which in most cases are later withdrawn just to draw attention to himself. But in any case what he said is nothing new. He wouldn't be warning Serbia to chose the EU over Kosova if Kosova would not become independent now would he? That is also the reason why he is proposing the EU throw Serbia a bone, i.e. visas.
And as for him criticizing the US, that is the clearest confirmation yet that Kosova is getting independence. In diplomacy when things have not been decided people try to be ambiguous, speak a lot and say nothing. The fact that the US is saying it out loud speaks volumes.

Ishinger,
ANTICIPATION is one of the duty of diplomacy. That is what the Americans are doing. The Americam will not be full with empty spoon. It looks like that Ishinger is feeling the hit for not achieving any results in these so-called negotiations and is trying to put the blame on the Americans for its failure. There would be no "compromise" when it comes to the Sovereignity of Kosova. That is sealed with the victims who fought and lost their lives for Kosova's independence.

To Ratko:"usa and europe are the ones who created the mess in the first place. Russia was on the right side from the beginning. "

Oh yeah!! and which side was the side that Russia was?

Have you heard about a guy called Milosevic and the people following him for a decade, and crimes commmited in the name of that people? That's Serbia.
Is the side you are talking about?

The current Serbian leadership would decide in favor of Kosovo," Ischinger said in an interview with Germany's leading business magazine, Handelsblatt.

While he is telling to US to mind their business and himself is speculating about the future talks?!
How does he know what Serbian Leadership will do!
He is not supposed to give any prediction himself.
Well,the way I see it,there is USA,France and UK and they will work hard to convince Germany and Italy so they can go on and support independence of Kosovo and for that K-Albanians have to wait a bit more.

Ischinger being a critic towards Washington? I`m sure that in the next days he will come up with that "I WAS MISSUNDERSTOOD" Ooopsss he did it again!

What this all amounts to is that the EU is beginning to flex its own muscles over Kosovo. The solution will probably not be to either the Serbs' or Albanians' liking, but it will be a solution that - even if imposed - will attempt to take the greatest amount of both sides demands into consideration. I sincerely hope that Ischinger is fully engaging himself in finding a Third Way.

regardless of the right message towards the US-administration, the reactions from the albanian supporters are quite nervous, as it seems.

calm down, you´ll enjoy your self-rule within Serbia. THAT is the only solution...no matter what you might feel yourself forced to write here in your present frustration.

let´s see what future brings.

ps: Russia won´t listen to some miri´s somewhere in Kosovo...so, writing childish remarks like "don´t stick your nose... " are really inappropriate!

Raso i agree with you in European problem issue...but last time I checked Russia wasn`t in Europe or did I miss something in the geography class?

ischinger is playing the devils advocat, as thats all he can do, its not like the usa r not in the troika and dont know what the other is doing, troika are working together with there own countries.
Peggy thats where your wrong!!!! there r more than 2million albanians and you cant control and they r the wild card from montenegro, serbia (preshevo) macedonia and albania of course including kosovo. i think u got it wrong, thats 5 areas that will destabilize the balkans and and thats 5 areas of stability if kosovo gets independance, you do the maths, then the will of the people of kosovo and no return to pre 1999 however you interpret that or better still the diplomats that matter.

Bravo, Ischinger. It's about time a high-ranking EU diplomat told the US to keep it's opinions and threats to itself. I look at all the crisis America has to deal with - all the horrible situations it got itself into - the last thing the US should be doing is sticking it's nose into events in Southern Serbia. We (US) has so many domestic and international problems that need addressing - what even gives us the right to say what is right for another country. I will write my congressman today.

Wolfgang Ischinger is the voice of reason here. No longer are the Serbs alone in saying that US are encouraging the Albanians not to settle for anything less than independence.

He is openly saying that this sort of talk is counter productive and basically telling the US to put a lid on it.
Germany is distancing itself from supporting independent Kosovo. How soon before UK and France realize that they have to discourage Albanians from this path and encourage them onto a path of sincere negotiations?
I've always said that America will huff and puff but will not get the necessary support to impose their will onto Europe again. We will never go back to 1999 again. 1999 will prove a lot more dangerous this time around for all.

It is easier to control 2 million K-Albanians than risk the whole region erupting again. When you add Russia into the mix the stakes go much higher. Germany wants to have good relations with Russia as well as US.

Teni
"And as for him criticizing the US, that is the clearest confirmation yet that Kosova is getting independence. In diplomacy when things have not been decided people try to be ambiguous, speak a lot and say nothing. The fact that the US is saying it out loud speaks volumes."

I like your logic. If next time says that there will absolutely be no form of independence for Kosovo you may interpet it as Kosovo is independent. Selective hearing I guess.

However, this is the best possible news for the Serbs. It means that EU is not united and Germany is fighting for it but instead of being on your side they seem to have converted to ours. I mean we have the majority of the Troika on our side now. They are telling you months in advance that there will be no independence by Dec. 10, 11 , 12, Jan or any other time for that matter. Kosovo WAS NEVER independent and Germany is not insane enough to be the one to start WW3. All that matters is international law must be respected.


CCCC

"By refusing independence Russia hopes that sooner or later the peace will break down in Kosovo and then Russia will want to sit back and smile while EU and US will try once again to clean up the mess.

All this is a known scenario and it is being worked out. Independence is the only solution.
(miri, 11. October 2007 17:40) "

miri,

usa and europe are the ones who created the mess in the first place. Russia was on the right side from the beginning.

As for Russia should mind their business and not interfere in europe's problems?? miri Russia is a part of europe!

Does europe get energy supplies from america or Russia?

Don't you know that Russia holds land in europe? Just look at a map.

Maybe Ischinger got a call from Gerhard Schroeder to inform him about what Russia ha to offer Germany as opposed to Kosovo.

Isn't it obvious now? I feel so sorry for the Albanians. It just isn't going to happen guys. But what I don't really understand is why you want "independence". Serbia, including its southern province of Kosovo & Metohija, will join the EU by 2012. That's kind of cool, huh? Kosovo by itself, unrecognized by most of the world, languishes as a back water nothing. Oh well. Good luck.

what has a regional and downfalling power like usa anyway to say about an EUROPEAN problem?


about indiependence pristina can negotiate with usa (probbably another 8 years), about their future autonomy within serbia pristina will negotiate in brussels.

it´s up to them to choose!

and the decission won´t be tough, is it the eu that pay´s the bills of "de-facto" indiependent kosovo.

and it isn´t the eu that builds refugeecamps in croatia and montenegro and bullies both states to accept so-called "passports" of unmik, it´s albanians big brother from washington that does so.

There's a very simple solution for the pro-independence Albanian posters' dillema. Albania is completely independent of Serbia. I've read comments from these very posters that Albania is far more attractive than Serbia, with great beaches, a booming economy and the brightest possible future. If I were them, I'd be moving before land prices go through the roof!

Serbian Albanians will continue to live in Serbia, just as American Albanians live in the US, as loyal citizens, swearing full allegiance to their country, indivisible under God.

Noli, are you not embaressed to admit that you failed geography class?

Yes, Russia is considered a european country, even if parts of the big country resides in asia. It is not considered an asian country.

Sunny, those 5 areas are nothing compared to dozens if not hundreds of areas that will eventually use this as a precident. As for those 5 areas that will be destabalized, let us and EU/NATO worry about that.

Independence is dead.

cvele, please explain????, what hundreds of areas you speak of, considering greece serbia romania slovacia are against it in balkans, then u got macedonia bulgaria montenegro crotia slovenia austria turkey albania for it in balkans, there are many slavic countries and 2 greek countries in the balkans, precedense is not for us to define but politicians as the troika have said kosovo cannot join anoher state cnannot be returned b4 1999 and accordin to the will of the people, they are rules set by them and 1244 and rambouillet, we dont have to like it, but for them to define, weather its now or later, its inevitable. kosovo will be independant. you cant blame the world for serbias lack of heart and interest for what had occured in kosovo and forgivness and sympathy for what was once serbia citizens, its irresponsable deliberate and to late. words never have defined people or person but the actions they take. perhaps you should spend some time wih those albanians who have suffered as i have with the serbs and albanians of kosovo, you might get some insight

Yes, Russia is considered a european country, even if parts of the big country resides in asia. It is not considered an asian country.
(Srboslav, 12. October 2007 13:27)

If he failed Geography than you surely failed MATH. Russia doesn't have "PARTS" of its territory in Asia but over 90%.

I've always disputed if a country is in a continent based on where the PEOPLE live or where the TERRITORY is located and I've concluded.

Russia is its' own CONTINENT.

BTW that ^^^ is russian propaganda, they believe that they are a continent.

Cvele
INDEPENDENCE is really close by.

Don't worry about other precedents, nobody gave you the title of world supervisor to meddle in other countries affairs.

KS Said >> "If he failed Geography than you surely failed MATH. Russia doesn't have "PARTS" of its territory in Asia but over 90%.

KS, Just a little more than half of Russia is in Asia and less than 20% of the overall population lives on the Asian side. You are mixing up Turkey with Russia.