Is multiethnic idea alive in Kosovo?

Bogdanović,


If "..... more than 250,000 Serbs driven out of Kosovo since the arrival of the international community there in 1999" That was because Serbia started a war which lost it. What has been the Serbia's role since then? Cooperation or obstruction to dicredit the UN mission in Kosova?

"The reality in Kosovo shows that the multi-ethnic composition of the province is extremely jeopardized," Bogdanović said.

Since the Serbian government continues the threat towards the Serbian minority in Kosova not to participate in Kosova's institution the future will remain bleak.

Pointing out that .... the ethnic Albanian society was "not ready to accept Serbs as neighbors or colleagues." That is not a correct statement. With Ahtisari Plan the Kosovar Albanians has made many concession to ensure that the Serbian minority rights are guaranteed. Just compare these rights with those of the Albanians living in Presevo, Bujanovc and Medvegja. The Kosovar Albanians open Offer to Serbia is still valid to take.

"In Kosovo, there a territorial conflict," said Janjić.
That partially correct because Serbia is only interested in the territory of Kosova and not in people living in that territory.

"At this stage of negotiations on the status of Kosovo, it is not possible to realize two goals, full independence and full integration of Kosovo into Serbia, he explained.

Full independepence of Kosova is possible, real and the SOLUTION to many of the above issues. It is insane to ask to more than two million Kosovar Albanians to still being Serbian citizens after all they have been through. These are real FACTS.

In Janjić's opinion, the 14 points of the mediating Troika is a good way to create room for a future...... on status without prejudging the outcome. Serbia has already prejudged the outcome that "it will never agree to Kosova independence". Even in the Serbian Constitution is stated that Kosova is "part of Serbia" without asking the Kosovar Albanians first. Let's make a serious statement for once!

I do not know why Serbs are spending a lot of time talking about Kosovo. I strongly believe that 80% of them have never been there. They did not know even where it is, until a man with a beard (Vuk Draskovic)appeared in TV. Like in tales. He told the Serbs what his granny 'told' him when he was a boy.

Sam,

Politics and religion can make a man say and do some stupid things.

TO THIS DATE I HAVE NEVER HEARD SUCH RUBBISH IN ALL MY LIFE:

"They (The Serbs) did not know even where it (Kosovo) is, until a man with a beard (Vuk Draskovic)appeared in TV. Like in tales. He told the Serbs what his granny 'told' him when he was a boy..."

It's difficult to comment on that statement without first being insulted, secondly being angry, finally ending up laughing!

The "expert" on Kosova has never been to Kosova. This is how politics works in Belgrade?

Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Bogdanovic. Keep up the good work. This gentelman seems to have been in a letargic sleep for the last 20 years and just woke up, to find everything in a different place. Unbelieveable de javu!

The world already knows who is who and don't need anymore "intrigues" into this uresolved drama. Kosova is de-facto independent since 8 years. It will be so de-jure in a matter of weeks and everyone will be happy for different reasons, but the main reason that unites all of us being: We all had enough! Life must go on!

For you too, Mr. Bogdanovic...

A major flaw with Belgrade analysis.
It perceives the status issue as a territorial dispute which in turn would mean the adoption of a partition plan but no. BG is saying that is highly disappointed by the current level of multi-ethnicity in Kosova and hopes for the return of refugees as soon as possible.
on the ground BG has It has been heavily involved in a border formation exercise north of Ibar River but never has accepted that desires partition.
Yes level of ethnic divide is unacceptable but somehow convenient for both sides. For the Albanians real multiethnic Kosova cannot be achieved without clarity on the status issue. For Belgrade any lack of progress can be a strong argument that Albanians are not ready for coexistence thus devaluating independence argument.
Meanwhile refugees wait a quick return although as times before Serbia is in no hurry.
Ironically Serbia still remains the prime example of ethnic democracy that advocates multi-ethnicity for others.

Multi ethnic Kosovo,comeon pull the other one. I am ashamed that no western media group has slammed the Nato, EU leadership for cleansing Serbian territory and pretending that it remains multi-ethnic. Kosovo is an aparthied state run by the Mafia and a EU created terrorist infested police force. I wonder if they used the same criteria recruiting as they do in they,re own countries.

EA, radical albanians, the KLA, a criminal terrorist organization, is who started the conflict. The albanians had everything, their own media/newspapers/tv, schools, university, and so much. They lived better than albanians in albania. This was not enough, and the radical ones started the war, not the Serbs. Go look up the facts before you spread such slander.

"Bogdanović illustrated this by reminding of, in his words, more than 250,000 Serbs driven out of Kosovo since the arrival of the international community there in 1999"

The Serb refugee exodus is a problem hat needs to be urgently addressed, and it would be good if both sides actually paid more attention to it. From where I stand, it seems both have some responsibility forthe continuation of the problem. Some real discussion here (ie, not shouting and sloganeering) of this problem would be useful.

However, accepting that it is a serious humanitarian problem, why do so many Serbs think it helps their cause to make up any figure they want out of thin air?

In the 1991 Yugoslav census, there were 190,000 Serbs in Kosova. That was down from 1981, which was down from 1971 etc, as Serbs left the povert stricken province for greener fields in north Serbia and Vojvodina. Yet somehow we are supposed to believe that by some miracle, between 1991 and 1999 - not exactly ears of great stability that would reverse decades of out-migratin - that the Serb population grew from 190,000 to 380,000!! This figure comes from adding together the 130,000 Serbs estimated to live in Kosova now (including from Serbian government figures) and this imaginary "250,000" figure given here. Even if reduced to the usual "200,000" figure it is clearly just as ridiculous. Allowing for a little population growth, the true number of Serb refugees from Kosova is obviously well under 100,000.

Therefore, the real number of refugees is still large and still a serious problem, without need for absurdity. I know the large figures are quoted in UNHCR documents (not this large though), but my undersanding is that it has never carried out its own survey, merely relying on Serbian government figures (which probably include everyine in Serbia who has some grandparent who originaly came from Kosova some time this century).

Also he said:

"In his opinion, the decentralization of power is a good approach to the resolving of the problem of Serbs in Kosovo, which are also "economically threatened"

Yes. Has he read the Ahtisaari Plan which provides for exactly such decentralisation?

"...more than 250,000 Serbs driven out of Kosovo since the arrival of the international community there in 1999". Serbia did not wage the war, it was rather brutally and illegaly raped, attacked cowardly by air strikes all over Serbia to stage the last phase of infamous anti-Serb policy (conducted over the Tito's years) and finaly wipe them off the soil of Kosovo once and forever. Once albanians got 95% majotity it is very cynical to ask and deliver the independence to ethnic Albanians. There is no more Human Rights talk about Serbs driven out of their properties. Whatever interest the West has there, this is inhumanity to the core.

Bogdanović,


If "..... more than 250,000 Serbs driven out of Kosovo since the arrival of the international community there in 1999" That was because Serbia started a war which lost it. What has been the Serbia's role since then? Cooperation or obstruction to dicredit the UN mission in Kosova?

"The reality in Kosovo shows that the multi-ethnic composition of the province is extremely jeopardized," Bogdanović said.

Since the Serbian government continues the threat towards the Serbian minority in Kosova not to participate in Kosova's institution the future will remain bleak.

Pointing out that .... the ethnic Albanian society was "not ready to accept Serbs as neighbors or colleagues." That is not a correct statement. With Ahtisari Plan the Kosovar Albanians has made many concession to ensure that the Serbian minority rights are guaranteed. Just compare these rights with those of the Albanians living in Presevo, Bujanovc and Medvegja. The Kosovar Albanians open Offer to Serbia is still valid to take.

"In Kosovo, there a territorial conflict," said Janjić.
That partially correct because Serbia is only interested in the territory of Kosova and not in people living in that territory.

"At this stage of negotiations on the status of Kosovo, it is not possible to realize two goals, full independence and full integration of Kosovo into Serbia, he explained.

Full independepence of Kosova is possible, real and the SOLUTION to many of the above issues. It is insane to ask to more than two million Kosovar Albanians to still being Serbian citizens after all they have been through. These are real FACTS.

In Janjić's opinion, the 14 points of the mediating Troika is a good way to create room for a future...... on status without prejudging the outcome. Serbia has already prejudged the outcome that "it will never agree to Kosova independence". Even in the Serbian Constitution is stated that Kosova is "part of Serbia" without asking the Kosovar Albanians first. Let's make a serious statement for once!

I do not know why Serbs are spending a lot of time talking about Kosovo. I strongly believe that 80% of them have never been there. They did not know even where it is, until a man with a beard (Vuk Draskovic)appeared in TV. Like in tales. He told the Serbs what his granny 'told' him when he was a boy.

A major flaw with Belgrade analysis.
It perceives the status issue as a territorial dispute which in turn would mean the adoption of a partition plan but no. BG is saying that is highly disappointed by the current level of multi-ethnicity in Kosova and hopes for the return of refugees as soon as possible.
on the ground BG has It has been heavily involved in a border formation exercise north of Ibar River but never has accepted that desires partition.
Yes level of ethnic divide is unacceptable but somehow convenient for both sides. For the Albanians real multiethnic Kosova cannot be achieved without clarity on the status issue. For Belgrade any lack of progress can be a strong argument that Albanians are not ready for coexistence thus devaluating independence argument.
Meanwhile refugees wait a quick return although as times before Serbia is in no hurry.
Ironically Serbia still remains the prime example of ethnic democracy that advocates multi-ethnicity for others.

Sam,

Politics and religion can make a man say and do some stupid things.

TO THIS DATE I HAVE NEVER HEARD SUCH RUBBISH IN ALL MY LIFE:

"They (The Serbs) did not know even where it (Kosovo) is, until a man with a beard (Vuk Draskovic)appeared in TV. Like in tales. He told the Serbs what his granny 'told' him when he was a boy..."

It's difficult to comment on that statement without first being insulted, secondly being angry, finally ending up laughing!

EA, radical albanians, the KLA, a criminal terrorist organization, is who started the conflict. The albanians had everything, their own media/newspapers/tv, schools, university, and so much. They lived better than albanians in albania. This was not enough, and the radical ones started the war, not the Serbs. Go look up the facts before you spread such slander.

Multi ethnic Kosovo,comeon pull the other one. I am ashamed that no western media group has slammed the Nato, EU leadership for cleansing Serbian territory and pretending that it remains multi-ethnic. Kosovo is an aparthied state run by the Mafia and a EU created terrorist infested police force. I wonder if they used the same criteria recruiting as they do in they,re own countries.

The "expert" on Kosova has never been to Kosova. This is how politics works in Belgrade?

Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Bogdanovic. Keep up the good work. This gentelman seems to have been in a letargic sleep for the last 20 years and just woke up, to find everything in a different place. Unbelieveable de javu!

The world already knows who is who and don't need anymore "intrigues" into this uresolved drama. Kosova is de-facto independent since 8 years. It will be so de-jure in a matter of weeks and everyone will be happy for different reasons, but the main reason that unites all of us being: We all had enough! Life must go on!

For you too, Mr. Bogdanovic...

"Bogdanović illustrated this by reminding of, in his words, more than 250,000 Serbs driven out of Kosovo since the arrival of the international community there in 1999"

The Serb refugee exodus is a problem hat needs to be urgently addressed, and it would be good if both sides actually paid more attention to it. From where I stand, it seems both have some responsibility forthe continuation of the problem. Some real discussion here (ie, not shouting and sloganeering) of this problem would be useful.

However, accepting that it is a serious humanitarian problem, why do so many Serbs think it helps their cause to make up any figure they want out of thin air?

In the 1991 Yugoslav census, there were 190,000 Serbs in Kosova. That was down from 1981, which was down from 1971 etc, as Serbs left the povert stricken province for greener fields in north Serbia and Vojvodina. Yet somehow we are supposed to believe that by some miracle, between 1991 and 1999 - not exactly ears of great stability that would reverse decades of out-migratin - that the Serb population grew from 190,000 to 380,000!! This figure comes from adding together the 130,000 Serbs estimated to live in Kosova now (including from Serbian government figures) and this imaginary "250,000" figure given here. Even if reduced to the usual "200,000" figure it is clearly just as ridiculous. Allowing for a little population growth, the true number of Serb refugees from Kosova is obviously well under 100,000.

Therefore, the real number of refugees is still large and still a serious problem, without need for absurdity. I know the large figures are quoted in UNHCR documents (not this large though), but my undersanding is that it has never carried out its own survey, merely relying on Serbian government figures (which probably include everyine in Serbia who has some grandparent who originaly came from Kosova some time this century).

Also he said:

"In his opinion, the decentralization of power is a good approach to the resolving of the problem of Serbs in Kosovo, which are also "economically threatened"

Yes. Has he read the Ahtisaari Plan which provides for exactly such decentralisation?

"...more than 250,000 Serbs driven out of Kosovo since the arrival of the international community there in 1999". Serbia did not wage the war, it was rather brutally and illegaly raped, attacked cowardly by air strikes all over Serbia to stage the last phase of infamous anti-Serb policy (conducted over the Tito's years) and finaly wipe them off the soil of Kosovo once and forever. Once albanians got 95% majotity it is very cynical to ask and deliver the independence to ethnic Albanians. There is no more Human Rights talk about Serbs driven out of their properties. Whatever interest the West has there, this is inhumanity to the core.