Brussels encourages Kosovo talks

So let me get this straight...

The USA, which is despised in the world, and George Bush, the man everyone thinks is the cause of all the troubles is demanding independence.

The EU is saying it was a negotiated deal with UN backing. It is not willing to split up over Kosovo. Why on Earth would the EU want to split on a province that's dirt poor, overflowing with the criminal element, and intolerant towards its minorities? Kosovo means nothing to the EU.

But what means even less to the EU is Bush and the US at this point.

And yet, for some odd reason, the Albanians that visit this site think the EU will risk a split over them. Are they seriously this delusional? Do they not see the current status of the world? And do they honestly think the USA will go ahead and recognize Kosovo even if the EU refuses to join them? Do they think the US will care enough?

I live in the US, and to be honest, I never, and I mean NEVER hear about Kosovo in the news. The only time it comes up is when they run down a long list of things Putin disagrees with Bush on. It is a footnote. It is irrelevant. In fact, Bush could change his mind and NOT back independence, and the media wouldn't even notice.

The Americans are focused on those that killed 3,000 of their people on 9-11. Not on a poor state in the Balkans that's taking their soldiers away from the real fight. The Americans are focused on Iran and N. Korea. They don't care about Kosovo. Kosovo served the purpose back in 1999 when the world was different. Today it is simply a pebble in their shoe.

What will happen? I don't know, but I have a feeling the US will eventually give up and say "EU, please handle this situation. We will focus on Iran." And since the member states of the EU are against Kosovo, and many others are starting to change their minds, you can pretty much kiss independence good bye.

Especially when the Albanians decide to do something foolish like declare independence or use violence. It will simply work against them. And that will only solidify the anti independence movement in Europe.

That is the truth. Not Albanian or Serbian propaganda, but the way it is unfolding. The EU simply will not sacrifice ANYTHING over Kosovo, not when a war with Iran is on the horizon... which might occur, ironically enough, around the time these negotiations are coming to an end. Is it no surprise the US is constantly agreeing to postponement?

Why? Ask yourselves why? Because when war with Iran starts, and it gets ugly, the US can simply use the "We're too busy" excuse and be gone from there. No one would even mind.

That's the truth.

once again some representatives of the "one and only global superpower" are asking for a date in the Kremlin...

looks like this "one and only global superpower" has some difficulties to realize what should be so easy for them...


well the russian member of the so-called "troika" has made it clear, I guess.

the only question remaining here is:

why are the US trying to create the impression ( via simple speculations in certain "media-sources" ) that Russia´s stand is softening and in the same time trying to deceive Serbia and put pressure on the serbian side?

I´ll tell you, my dear albanian friends: because they do not have any means to deliver, what they have promised you.
what we are wittnessing here is a sign of weakness of the omnipotent "one and only global superpower"...

uh,..who is actually going where...the Russians to Washington?

"The document also says that the majority of the 27 EU states, particularly those within the European Commission, sees an agreed-on status solution as the preferred option"

- "agreed on status" not a one-sided unilateral and illegal one. Therefore it follows that the only solution is one forged through negotiated dialogue and thus leads to a lasting solution.

It's time the Serbian Albanians in Serbia's southern province accepted the state they are in and took hold of the opportunity for reconciliation and drop the empty word and promises from those (the US) who could never deliver what was never theirs to give. I guess this is a message from the EU letting everyone know that there is no way the EU is following the US in illegal recognition of illegal declarations and one evry much doubts the US would do so alone either.

It is alomost like a game of chicken between the internationalists but one thing is certain come the 11th December Serbia will continue to retain soverignity over it's province and I am very certain that this will the case come December 2008, 09,10 etc....

Surely it is time for the sake of everyone to accept the state your in and make it a better place for all in Serbia irrespective of ethnicity - why hold all this back as has been the case since 1999 and equally for many years before when many lived in denial of the state in which they lived. It is time the mafiocracy stopped holding the ordinary citizen hostage to the false promise that was never someones to give.

Surely the time is now to reconcile differences and learn to move forward together for the "optimal" win-win solution and learn to respect each other in the state all are in not lose out with false promises that create artificial borders and divisions.

Blacky, said it all.
Right to the point.
Fine Analysis!

Blacky is correct, the issue of Kosovo is seldom in the news in the US. He is also correct when he says that if it is mentioned, it is only in the context of Putin and Bush discussing their differences.
The majority of US citizens don’t know where Serbia is, let alone where its Province Kosovo is located.
Most probably can’t identify the 50 US states on a map.

Blacky

Same in Poland man, Kosovo does not exist in the news, only time I hear it is when US and Russian representatives get together to discuss the missile shield and such. Anyway, I reckon it will not be a case with the US leaving this to the EU, they will lose face that way, something George Bush seems more adament on than respect the UNSC.

EA

Why do all the Albanians doubt the nationalities of people replying to these articles? Blacky is supposedly not American, I am supposedly not Polish, kate is supposedly not British, Ron is supposedly not Dutch etc. I don't know if you know this, but because a country's government has a certain stance on Kosovo, doesn't mean the people don't. You have Poles, Americans, British and Dutch INDIVIDUALS who don't agree with Kosovo independence too, you know.

-----------------------------

Regarding this article, well yes, nothing really new, but I am glad the EU is trying more for negotiation, because the idea of unilateral independence will not benefit anybody, least of all Serbia and Kosovo. America and Russia have nothing to gain from any decision anyway, save for a political victory.

For the record, I not only live in the USA, but I was born here and read and watch the news every day. Look on Drudgereport for current news that matters to the Americans. Not only does the Drudge Report never mention Kosovo, but it never even mentioned the march riots of 2004. That tells you how much it matters.

And CNN, FOX, and all those networks NEVER mention Kosovo unless you're reading the little scroll bar at the bottom. MOst people just watch the news. And with the situation in Iran, no one will even care about Kosovo or America looking bad by backing out. Again, no one cares about Kosovo. That was before 9-11. That was a different time. When Americans say "everything changed" they mean it. That includes foreign policy and what matters. Kosovo and the Balkans is the LAST thing the Americans want to get involved with again. The only thing the Americans will do is put sanctions, but as for military force, they would not. Especially now with Russian support for the Serbs.

I hope that I cleared that up for you.

And the news is?

In a diplomatic language a "progress has been made". We can see that that the parties stand firm to their original positions. Troika is going to anounce that the next meeting will be let's say 1st of Novermber. What will be next? There would be no compromise when it comes to Sovereignity and independence of Kosova. Let's face it and be truthful.

That there will be no independence but great autonomy

ea,

The average american doesn't even know who is running their country, let alone where Serbian KiM is located.

Blacky's English is far better than EA'S and so i feel that he has more of a chance of living in the USA.

In addition EA, why you living in America when NATO bombed Kosovo so that you can live there. Surely your not claiming asylum or are you gatting ready to claim asylum for when it is proclaimed that rump Kosovo (because the wealthier North is part of Serbia) is refused Independance and obtains substantial autonomy. America and the EU needs Russia, China and Congo more than some small mafia run state.

Blaky,
I read your coment allway through and I like the term that you uesd: "Not on a poor state in the Balkans that's taking their soldiers away from the real fight". You wasted a lot of time writting that long coment but with one sentence you admitted that Koosva is a state and not a province of the old myth.

Finally the outcome is made clear so that the Serbs this time take the talks SERIOUS.
Last time you refused to shake hands, this time you're either going to stay and present a reasonable argument (something diff than MORE than this LESS than tHIS) or have the world decide the solution for you.

America #1

God I love being an AMERICAN.

KS, there is no such thing as a "gas store" named "9-11". It's 7-11. Hey, guess what? I'm an American of non Serb/Albanian/any Balkan blood. Kosovo is a PROVINCE of Serbia, always will be. Declare whatever you want until your throats are sore, it won't matter or change a thing. Sorry. Kosovo will be independent when there's a "gas store" named 9-11. Hah!

KS's comment alledging another poster's stated nationality is dubious = banal.

Blacky,
You are saying that
"I live in the US, and to be honest, I never, and I mean NEVER hear about Kosovo in the news.
How can we help you on that?
You don't sound as an American or maybe you haven't been staying at home/reading/listening/watching TV to much.

I keep hearing about this "substantial autonomy" to be given to the Albanians like no other minority enjoys in the world. They say that 95% of the autonomy is equivalent to that of an independent country. So why all this huff and puff for a puney 5%. Give the Albanians Kosovo and let's move on. What is there to hang on to?
If the Albanians will control the border, have their own army, institute their own laws, disrespect minorities, etc. etc. Why all this? The Serbs caved in!! The Albanians will have more rights and priviliges than the Serbs!! This to me is embarrissing and humiliating. Why not give the entire territory and save face!! There are other better solutions, however, the Radicals are not in power.
TOO BAD!!!

I have to side with Blacky on the notion of Kosovo being less than a footnote in American news. It really only shows up in articles that focus on American - Russian relations, and usually part of the "and" clause in a sentence regarding missle defense or Iran. Americans by and large have no working knowledge of geography, and have even less of an idea of what's going on in the Balkans. To many who have even a vague notion, it's just one big collective Borat-country. You'd think for a government that is so vocal about supporting independence by any means necessary that they'd put this in the news all the time. You'd think that Kosovo, one of the last places in the world where America is loved - even revered - would be top stories to counter all the muck coming out of Iraq, Afghanistan, Latin America and Pop-Marxist Europe.

Blacky is right on the money when his says the only time you hear anything on Kosovo is when Putin's name is mentioned. I live in the U.S. and it is seldomly in the news paper or on the news. The only way I find anything out on Kosovo is when I read the Serbian paper or come on to B92. The average American couldn't care less on where Serbia and Kosovo is located and the situation over there. Like Blacky said the US is preoccupied with Iraq and could care less of the outcome and resolution to Kosovo.

This is just a wasted time. Kosova is practically independent, and it will be formally so very soon.

Instead of working on those highways, factories, which really contribute to a better future for all of us, Serbs and Albanians, we waste time conflicting each other for issues that will not exist in European Union, if we ever belong there.

Kosovan plan for the solution and Ahtisaari Plan see Kosova as an Independent State with open borders to Serbia as well as any other friendly neighbor. People will move freely in and out, do bussines, see friends, etc. This is the peaceful solution for the best of us. The other solution, from the Serbian part, sees Kosova as an forbidden land for Serbs on Serbia, some even think of building a wall between Serbia and Kosova in the future. It's easy to understand the difference if you relate to the future.

Hey KS. . .its 711, not 9-11. And they're refered to as convenience or variety stores in the U.S. not gas stores!?!

Get these little things right when you're attempting to convince people that you're an American.

Roger,

What you said and the way you put it makes sense and I agree:
"The majority of US citizens don’t know where Serbia is, let alone where its Province Kosovo is located.
Most probably can’t identify the 50 US states on a map.
(Roger7, 12. October 2007 17:32)"
The problem here that some people like Peter,Slavo, Jovan, Kate and Co....are trying to say that the USA doesn't want to care about Kosova and that is not correct. The USA President George W Bush visited Albania this year and he spoke a lot about Kosova. Bill Clinton has been in Albania and other leaders. For the Albanian nation that means a lot. For ordinary Americans might not mean anything. We don't really care about it. So whatever Peter, Blacky,Princip, Kate, Jovan, Cvele, Ratko,Mlladic think is irrelevant. Read my lips and wait until the 10th of December. Independence will follow in coordination with the USA and Europe and Blacky and others might still not know.

To Slavko: "hey say that 95% of the autonomy is equivalent to that of an independent country. So why all this huff and puff for a puney 5%. Give the Albanians Kosovo and let's move on. What is there to hang on to? "

Slavko, what you are saying it makes sense but the "5%" is the catch. That 5% will allow Serbia once again to annul the 95% in the future like it did in the past. The only way to remove this possibility is Independence, after all who can blame K-Albanians for asking such thing? Serbia has shown how it manipulates even its own laws.

If Brussels were really that committed to a negotiated settlement, they would issue a declaration stating that no unilateral moves towards independence will be honored by the EU. Until they explicitly rule out what Ceku et al are planning to do, all this is cheap talk.

Since this forum is now changing direction (discussing the article to Blacky's location) I will say this:

"The Americans are focused on those that killed 3,000 of their people on 9-11"

You (Blacky) DO NOT live in AMERICA but you may have or you live in an ENGLISH populated country. September 11th the 6th anniversary not one of my friends/colleagues/or tv EVEN MENTIONED 9/11 not 9-11 (the gas store).

All I'm saying is that YOU DO NOT LIVE CURRENTLY in AMERICA so please don't patronize anyone. Also the media has yet to mention any intervention with IRAN. The only cowboy that is just itching to hit Iran is France.
BTW do you even know why Kosova is an issue to America? Besides the obvious reasons, America is switching its strategy to bases in Balkans --- OF COURSE YOU KNEW all of this, right?

America isn't going anywhere for another century.

If you don't believe that I am an American would you like me to fax my passport, my home address, my address in Kosova, and also my birth certificate?


Main point is that it doesn't matter what you think. I find it that every year I'm becoming more and more American bc here I have equal rights and I'm not picked up by police for no reason on daily basis. It is very easy to assimilate, maybe if Serbia offered these basic freedoms it wouldn't get smaller by the decade don't you think?

The Kosovo issue I believe will ultimately be decided by mainstream Europe. To determine the position of Europe, the views of Wolfgang Ischinger will carry great weight. In his resent interview in Handelsblatt, he says that Kosovo will not be economically sustainable without the cooperation of Serbia. "The province needs inroads, energy, trade and human relationships not only with Macedonia and Albania, but also with Serbia", and that "the EU would hardly foot the bill if a state should arise that is not economically viable". This is a strong argument, that a person like Gordon Brown will be able to appreciate. This is also the reason why I think that Germany has left the independence boat. Also for this reason, the EU will in the end unite behind a position that satisfies Serbia's minimal requirements. When people like Gordon Brown starts to tell this to the Americans, we will begin to see the end of the status process.

Unknown cumic, I don't know wehre you live but before NATO bombing started Koosva was on prime time news, such as: NBC,CBS,ABC,FOW, CNN etc...
When NATO bombing started there was coverige around the clock and I have footige that is miles long from the above mentioned networks. Apparantly you don't have TV in your house.
If i can see NATO bombing live inside FOW news studio in NYC , how is possible that you can not see it on your TV screen.

the Albanians that visit this site think the EU will risk a split over them.
-----------------------------

They will be split after Prishtina declares independence for the second time. They will only have Robert Badinter and they own Supreme Court judges to blame for this mess.

The first time i heard of Kosovo was in November 99 and it was newspaper article in the San Diego Union. Besides that it is never mentioned in the US except for the Riots in 2004. my family never seen anything on the news. Kosovo is a Europeon issue not a US issue. For those who say the live in the US and don't please don't say you are to make yourself sound important. Kosovo is a EUROPE ISSUE not the US. They say it is Unique so let it be unique in europe. we have better things to do instead bailing out Europe.

Since this forum is now changing direction (discussing the article to Blacky's location) I will say this:

"The Americans are focused on those that killed 3,000 of their people on 9-11"

You (Blacky) DO NOT live in AMERICA but you may have or you live in an ENGLISH populated country. September 11th the 6th anniversary not one of my friends/colleagues/or tv EVEN MENTIONED 9/11 not 9-11 (the gas store).

All I'm saying is that YOU DO NOT LIVE CURRENTLY in AMERICA so please don't patronize anyone. Also the media has yet to mention any intervention with IRAN. The only cowboy that is just itching to hit Iran is France.
BTW do you even know why Kosova is an issue to America? Besides the obvious reasons, America is switching its strategy to bases in Balkans --- OF COURSE YOU KNEW all of this, right?

America isn't going anywhere for another century.

"The document also says that the majority of the 27 EU states, particularly those within the European Commission, sees an agreed-on status solution as the preferred option"

- "agreed on status" not a one-sided unilateral and illegal one. Therefore it follows that the only solution is one forged through negotiated dialogue and thus leads to a lasting solution.

It's time the Serbian Albanians in Serbia's southern province accepted the state they are in and took hold of the opportunity for reconciliation and drop the empty word and promises from those (the US) who could never deliver what was never theirs to give. I guess this is a message from the EU letting everyone know that there is no way the EU is following the US in illegal recognition of illegal declarations and one evry much doubts the US would do so alone either.

It is alomost like a game of chicken between the internationalists but one thing is certain come the 11th December Serbia will continue to retain soverignity over it's province and I am very certain that this will the case come December 2008, 09,10 etc....

Surely it is time for the sake of everyone to accept the state your in and make it a better place for all in Serbia irrespective of ethnicity - why hold all this back as has been the case since 1999 and equally for many years before when many lived in denial of the state in which they lived. It is time the mafiocracy stopped holding the ordinary citizen hostage to the false promise that was never someones to give.

Surely the time is now to reconcile differences and learn to move forward together for the "optimal" win-win solution and learn to respect each other in the state all are in not lose out with false promises that create artificial borders and divisions.

So let me get this straight...

The USA, which is despised in the world, and George Bush, the man everyone thinks is the cause of all the troubles is demanding independence.

The EU is saying it was a negotiated deal with UN backing. It is not willing to split up over Kosovo. Why on Earth would the EU want to split on a province that's dirt poor, overflowing with the criminal element, and intolerant towards its minorities? Kosovo means nothing to the EU.

But what means even less to the EU is Bush and the US at this point.

And yet, for some odd reason, the Albanians that visit this site think the EU will risk a split over them. Are they seriously this delusional? Do they not see the current status of the world? And do they honestly think the USA will go ahead and recognize Kosovo even if the EU refuses to join them? Do they think the US will care enough?

I live in the US, and to be honest, I never, and I mean NEVER hear about Kosovo in the news. The only time it comes up is when they run down a long list of things Putin disagrees with Bush on. It is a footnote. It is irrelevant. In fact, Bush could change his mind and NOT back independence, and the media wouldn't even notice.

The Americans are focused on those that killed 3,000 of their people on 9-11. Not on a poor state in the Balkans that's taking their soldiers away from the real fight. The Americans are focused on Iran and N. Korea. They don't care about Kosovo. Kosovo served the purpose back in 1999 when the world was different. Today it is simply a pebble in their shoe.

What will happen? I don't know, but I have a feeling the US will eventually give up and say "EU, please handle this situation. We will focus on Iran." And since the member states of the EU are against Kosovo, and many others are starting to change their minds, you can pretty much kiss independence good bye.

Especially when the Albanians decide to do something foolish like declare independence or use violence. It will simply work against them. And that will only solidify the anti independence movement in Europe.

That is the truth. Not Albanian or Serbian propaganda, but the way it is unfolding. The EU simply will not sacrifice ANYTHING over Kosovo, not when a war with Iran is on the horizon... which might occur, ironically enough, around the time these negotiations are coming to an end. Is it no surprise the US is constantly agreeing to postponement?

Why? Ask yourselves why? Because when war with Iran starts, and it gets ugly, the US can simply use the "We're too busy" excuse and be gone from there. No one would even mind.

That's the truth.

And the news is?

In a diplomatic language a "progress has been made". We can see that that the parties stand firm to their original positions. Troika is going to anounce that the next meeting will be let's say 1st of Novermber. What will be next? There would be no compromise when it comes to Sovereignity and independence of Kosova. Let's face it and be truthful.

once again some representatives of the "one and only global superpower" are asking for a date in the Kremlin...

looks like this "one and only global superpower" has some difficulties to realize what should be so easy for them...


well the russian member of the so-called "troika" has made it clear, I guess.

the only question remaining here is:

why are the US trying to create the impression ( via simple speculations in certain "media-sources" ) that Russia´s stand is softening and in the same time trying to deceive Serbia and put pressure on the serbian side?

I´ll tell you, my dear albanian friends: because they do not have any means to deliver, what they have promised you.
what we are wittnessing here is a sign of weakness of the omnipotent "one and only global superpower"...

uh,..who is actually going where...the Russians to Washington?

Blacky,
You are saying that
"I live in the US, and to be honest, I never, and I mean NEVER hear about Kosovo in the news.
How can we help you on that?
You don't sound as an American or maybe you haven't been staying at home/reading/listening/watching TV to much.

ea,

The average american doesn't even know who is running their country, let alone where Serbian KiM is located.

Blaky,
I read your coment allway through and I like the term that you uesd: "Not on a poor state in the Balkans that's taking their soldiers away from the real fight". You wasted a lot of time writting that long coment but with one sentence you admitted that Koosva is a state and not a province of the old myth.

Finally the outcome is made clear so that the Serbs this time take the talks SERIOUS.
Last time you refused to shake hands, this time you're either going to stay and present a reasonable argument (something diff than MORE than this LESS than tHIS) or have the world decide the solution for you.

America #1

God I love being an AMERICAN.

To Slavko: "hey say that 95% of the autonomy is equivalent to that of an independent country. So why all this huff and puff for a puney 5%. Give the Albanians Kosovo and let's move on. What is there to hang on to? "

Slavko, what you are saying it makes sense but the "5%" is the catch. That 5% will allow Serbia once again to annul the 95% in the future like it did in the past. The only way to remove this possibility is Independence, after all who can blame K-Albanians for asking such thing? Serbia has shown how it manipulates even its own laws.

Blacky is right on the money when his says the only time you hear anything on Kosovo is when Putin's name is mentioned. I live in the U.S. and it is seldomly in the news paper or on the news. The only way I find anything out on Kosovo is when I read the Serbian paper or come on to B92. The average American couldn't care less on where Serbia and Kosovo is located and the situation over there. Like Blacky said the US is preoccupied with Iraq and could care less of the outcome and resolution to Kosovo.

This is just a wasted time. Kosova is practically independent, and it will be formally so very soon.

Instead of working on those highways, factories, which really contribute to a better future for all of us, Serbs and Albanians, we waste time conflicting each other for issues that will not exist in European Union, if we ever belong there.

Kosovan plan for the solution and Ahtisaari Plan see Kosova as an Independent State with open borders to Serbia as well as any other friendly neighbor. People will move freely in and out, do bussines, see friends, etc. This is the peaceful solution for the best of us. The other solution, from the Serbian part, sees Kosova as an forbidden land for Serbs on Serbia, some even think of building a wall between Serbia and Kosova in the future. It's easy to understand the difference if you relate to the future.

Roger,

What you said and the way you put it makes sense and I agree:
"The majority of US citizens don’t know where Serbia is, let alone where its Province Kosovo is located.
Most probably can’t identify the 50 US states on a map.
(Roger7, 12. October 2007 17:32)"
The problem here that some people like Peter,Slavo, Jovan, Kate and Co....are trying to say that the USA doesn't want to care about Kosova and that is not correct. The USA President George W Bush visited Albania this year and he spoke a lot about Kosova. Bill Clinton has been in Albania and other leaders. For the Albanian nation that means a lot. For ordinary Americans might not mean anything. We don't really care about it. So whatever Peter, Blacky,Princip, Kate, Jovan, Cvele, Ratko,Mlladic think is irrelevant. Read my lips and wait until the 10th of December. Independence will follow in coordination with the USA and Europe and Blacky and others might still not know.

That there will be no independence but great autonomy

Blacky, said it all.
Right to the point.
Fine Analysis!

I keep hearing about this "substantial autonomy" to be given to the Albanians like no other minority enjoys in the world. They say that 95% of the autonomy is equivalent to that of an independent country. So why all this huff and puff for a puney 5%. Give the Albanians Kosovo and let's move on. What is there to hang on to?
If the Albanians will control the border, have their own army, institute their own laws, disrespect minorities, etc. etc. Why all this? The Serbs caved in!! The Albanians will have more rights and priviliges than the Serbs!! This to me is embarrissing and humiliating. Why not give the entire territory and save face!! There are other better solutions, however, the Radicals are not in power.
TOO BAD!!!

Blacky's English is far better than EA'S and so i feel that he has more of a chance of living in the USA.

In addition EA, why you living in America when NATO bombed Kosovo so that you can live there. Surely your not claiming asylum or are you gatting ready to claim asylum for when it is proclaimed that rump Kosovo (because the wealthier North is part of Serbia) is refused Independance and obtains substantial autonomy. America and the EU needs Russia, China and Congo more than some small mafia run state.

Blacky

Same in Poland man, Kosovo does not exist in the news, only time I hear it is when US and Russian representatives get together to discuss the missile shield and such. Anyway, I reckon it will not be a case with the US leaving this to the EU, they will lose face that way, something George Bush seems more adament on than respect the UNSC.

EA

Why do all the Albanians doubt the nationalities of people replying to these articles? Blacky is supposedly not American, I am supposedly not Polish, kate is supposedly not British, Ron is supposedly not Dutch etc. I don't know if you know this, but because a country's government has a certain stance on Kosovo, doesn't mean the people don't. You have Poles, Americans, British and Dutch INDIVIDUALS who don't agree with Kosovo independence too, you know.

-----------------------------

Regarding this article, well yes, nothing really new, but I am glad the EU is trying more for negotiation, because the idea of unilateral independence will not benefit anybody, least of all Serbia and Kosovo. America and Russia have nothing to gain from any decision anyway, save for a political victory.

Blacky is correct, the issue of Kosovo is seldom in the news in the US. He is also correct when he says that if it is mentioned, it is only in the context of Putin and Bush discussing their differences.
The majority of US citizens don’t know where Serbia is, let alone where its Province Kosovo is located.
Most probably can’t identify the 50 US states on a map.

If Brussels were really that committed to a negotiated settlement, they would issue a declaration stating that no unilateral moves towards independence will be honored by the EU. Until they explicitly rule out what Ceku et al are planning to do, all this is cheap talk.

Hey KS. . .its 711, not 9-11. And they're refered to as convenience or variety stores in the U.S. not gas stores!?!

Get these little things right when you're attempting to convince people that you're an American.

KS, there is no such thing as a "gas store" named "9-11". It's 7-11. Hey, guess what? I'm an American of non Serb/Albanian/any Balkan blood. Kosovo is a PROVINCE of Serbia, always will be. Declare whatever you want until your throats are sore, it won't matter or change a thing. Sorry. Kosovo will be independent when there's a "gas store" named 9-11. Hah!

KS's comment alledging another poster's stated nationality is dubious = banal.

For the record, I not only live in the USA, but I was born here and read and watch the news every day. Look on Drudgereport for current news that matters to the Americans. Not only does the Drudge Report never mention Kosovo, but it never even mentioned the march riots of 2004. That tells you how much it matters.

And CNN, FOX, and all those networks NEVER mention Kosovo unless you're reading the little scroll bar at the bottom. MOst people just watch the news. And with the situation in Iran, no one will even care about Kosovo or America looking bad by backing out. Again, no one cares about Kosovo. That was before 9-11. That was a different time. When Americans say "everything changed" they mean it. That includes foreign policy and what matters. Kosovo and the Balkans is the LAST thing the Americans want to get involved with again. The only thing the Americans will do is put sanctions, but as for military force, they would not. Especially now with Russian support for the Serbs.

I hope that I cleared that up for you.

If you don't believe that I am an American would you like me to fax my passport, my home address, my address in Kosova, and also my birth certificate?


Main point is that it doesn't matter what you think. I find it that every year I'm becoming more and more American bc here I have equal rights and I'm not picked up by police for no reason on daily basis. It is very easy to assimilate, maybe if Serbia offered these basic freedoms it wouldn't get smaller by the decade don't you think?

The first time i heard of Kosovo was in November 99 and it was newspaper article in the San Diego Union. Besides that it is never mentioned in the US except for the Riots in 2004. my family never seen anything on the news. Kosovo is a Europeon issue not a US issue. For those who say the live in the US and don't please don't say you are to make yourself sound important. Kosovo is a EUROPE ISSUE not the US. They say it is Unique so let it be unique in europe. we have better things to do instead bailing out Europe.

I have to side with Blacky on the notion of Kosovo being less than a footnote in American news. It really only shows up in articles that focus on American - Russian relations, and usually part of the "and" clause in a sentence regarding missle defense or Iran. Americans by and large have no working knowledge of geography, and have even less of an idea of what's going on in the Balkans. To many who have even a vague notion, it's just one big collective Borat-country. You'd think for a government that is so vocal about supporting independence by any means necessary that they'd put this in the news all the time. You'd think that Kosovo, one of the last places in the world where America is loved - even revered - would be top stories to counter all the muck coming out of Iraq, Afghanistan, Latin America and Pop-Marxist Europe.

the Albanians that visit this site think the EU will risk a split over them.
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They will be split after Prishtina declares independence for the second time. They will only have Robert Badinter and they own Supreme Court judges to blame for this mess.

The Kosovo issue I believe will ultimately be decided by mainstream Europe. To determine the position of Europe, the views of Wolfgang Ischinger will carry great weight. In his resent interview in Handelsblatt, he says that Kosovo will not be economically sustainable without the cooperation of Serbia. "The province needs inroads, energy, trade and human relationships not only with Macedonia and Albania, but also with Serbia", and that "the EU would hardly foot the bill if a state should arise that is not economically viable". This is a strong argument, that a person like Gordon Brown will be able to appreciate. This is also the reason why I think that Germany has left the independence boat. Also for this reason, the EU will in the end unite behind a position that satisfies Serbia's minimal requirements. When people like Gordon Brown starts to tell this to the Americans, we will begin to see the end of the status process.

Unknown cumic, I don't know wehre you live but before NATO bombing started Koosva was on prime time news, such as: NBC,CBS,ABC,FOW, CNN etc...
When NATO bombing started there was coverige around the clock and I have footige that is miles long from the above mentioned networks. Apparantly you don't have TV in your house.
If i can see NATO bombing live inside FOW news studio in NYC , how is possible that you can not see it on your TV screen.