Rehn: Kosovo and Bosnia separate issues

Simply saying Kosovo and Bosnia are unrelated issues, does not MAKE them unrelated issues. Belgrade is playing its hand well in saying "if it's good enough for the Albanians of Kosovo, it's good enough for the Serbs of Bosnia", to which the Albanians are also saying "if it's good enough for the Serbs in Kosovo, it's good enough for the Albanians in Presevo".

There's a potentially explosive issue on the horizion if the international community does not recognize that all these pieces are seemingly interlocked together in one large domino game. Rather than trying to keep Kosovo a "special" issue just by saying it, it might be prudent to advance the Kosovo issue into a region-wide conference that addresses all other territorial matters and seeks on large solution, which will quench potential fires before they start.

Mr.Dodik is right on the money,having albanians in Serbian goverment would be a suicide.No minority in the world had more rights and freedom and look what happened.As for Rehm and other power brokers in Europe-if you do play games,you should know the rules.You just can`t take 15% of anything and scream that the other side has no right to do the same.It just makes you look stupid.!

I agree with you Mike. If there's one place where you can't pick and choose solutions by small areas to suit outside political aims, it's the Balkans.

The US and the EU to a lesser extent are playing with dynamite. I also expect the problems in Macedonia to fully ignite if there is a conflict of any sort in Kosovo.

There are only 2 solutions to this. Either partition, which I am personally against but makes some sense; or for the EU to embrace Serbia, keep Kosovo as a protectorate and work with the Serbian government and the Kosovo regional govt towards a future where the province can function as a fully self governing autonomous province.

Independence has to be taken off the agenda. Better to face the music now than try and keep the population happy under false pretences. Nobody wins that way.

It is clear from the report yesterday and the signing of the agreement today with Serbia that there is now a slow wake-up call that there can be no independence.

Nobody seems to have the brass neck to just come out and say this. Or maybe there is still a mad diplomatic flurry to decide how best to handle the fall out.

As for Mr Rehn I would say just wait and we will see what happens next and for Mr Dodik i would agree on everything he says. I am looking forward to forthcoming days,weeks,months,years

Dodic doesn't want Albanians representives in the Serbian government,then how could you possibly call yourself a democracy? HE of all people should talk,he is luckly the international community recognized srpska republica as a reward for serbians genocide of Bosnian Muslim.If the country of Bosnia is serious of joing the EU then thay must apply as a unified nation rather than allowing serbian entity-turned-semi legal region of Bosnia obstruct its path to membership.I agree in that Presheva, Medveg and Bujanoc areas must be liberated since as noted by the serbs fiends that we are not welcome in their so called country.That's fine with us. Let us go.

Even Belgium is falling apart...

So why should Serbs and Croats stay in Bosnia?

If a rich, EU member is falling apart, why maintain an unsuccesful UN protectorate?

“I am saying this for the first time, but I don’t believe it would be good for Serbia if the Albanians stayed there, to be incorporated into the political life of that country, as it would then generate long-term instability,” Dodik said.

WOW. Between the lines he is hoping for Kosovo to be partitioned. Giving him a reason to hold a referendum blaming the WEST for all their problems and seeking independence.

Immaginary interview with a Serbian leader:

What are you offering to Albanians?
- Autonomy.

So, they will be part of the government?
- Oh no! No, no, no, noo! God forbid no! No way!

Why is that?
- We don't want them anywhere near us.

So, they can go their way?
- Oh, no! No, no, no...no!

So, what do you suggest?
- Autonomy.

What does that mean?
- It means that our children can draw a map with Kosovo in it. That's all we ask!

How about people who live in Kosovo?
- Oh, no! No, no, nooo..no! We will draw them too, inside the map, you know...map...that's all we ask.

But...
- I got to go now. Remember! Map!

Let us all guess really hard Dodic of what kind of compensation you are alluding to. Serbia should get without you saying it..?..?.maybe Srpska or Serbs your to much generous Dodic & clever...not!

Thank you Mr. Dodik for telling what one Serb political leader think about Albanians and their rights in proposed wide authonomy for Kosovo. Thnx again.

it's very flattering thinking of myself as a unique case in the world , Rehn thxs .
Dodik , thank you too for admiting that Sebia doesn't need Kosovo and Albanians any more .

So Serbia is better of with no Albanians...

But then I would say that Bosnia is better of with no Serbs and Croats.

Bosnia, let the Serbs and Croats go!
Macedonia, let the Albanias go.

An overal solution: yes! BUT NO SPECIAL DEAL FOR KOSOVO!!!

If Serbia is serious that there is any connection between Kosova and "RS" (leaving aside the fact that the latter, 50% of the land for 30% of the people, is merely a product of genocide recognition), then it should do the following:

Declare the "South Balkan Confederation", consisting of two states, the Kosova Albanian Republic (Republika Albansca), and the Serbian Federation. Make the weak central government paralysed by having to have "consensus" on every decision between these two entities, with equal numbers of Serbs and Albanians in the federal regime.

And I suppose just to equalise the size a bit better to make it more like post-Dayton Bosnia, make sure the 25% Albanian population in this set-up gets at least 40% of the land, so ethnically cleanse much of south Serbia of Serbs, like the Drina Valley being empty of Muslims. Do it all peacefully to avoid unnecessary Srebrenicas.

Then you can compare a breakaway of Kosova ("RA") with a breakaway of "RS".

Dodik saying this is like the Southern United States Dixie KKK-Democrats saying “black people should not vote nor occupy any public office since they’re uncivilized and dangerous” before the 60’s.

That is ridiculous. Even when Kosovo gets independence, Serbia will still retain a good number of Albanians inside its borders, and to be a real democratic, Western-oriented country, it must to assure to all its minorities (Albanians, Hungarians, catholics and muslims) the right to vote and the right to be voted too.

If Serbia is serious that there is any connectin between Kosova and "RS" (leaving aside the fact that the latter, 50% of the land for 30% of the people is merely a product of genocide recognition), then it should do the following:

Declare the "South Balkan Confederation", consisting of two states, the Kosova Albanian Republic (Republika Albansca), and the Serbian Federation. Make the weak cenral government paralysed by having to have "consensus" on every decision between these two entities, with equal numbers of Serbs and Albanians in the federal regime.

And suppose just to equalise the size a bit better to make it more like post-Dayton Bosnia, make sure the 25% Albanian popuation in this set-up gets at least 40% of the land, so ethnically cleanse much of south Serbia of Serbs, like the Drina Valley being empty of Muslims. o it all peacefully to avoid unnecesary Srebrenicas.

Then you can compare a breakway of Kososva ("RA") with a breakaway of "RS".

Dodic doesn't want Albanians representives in the Serbian government,then how could you possibly call yourself a democracy? HE of all people should talk,he is luckly the international community recognized srpska republica as a reward for serbians genocide of Bosnian Muslim.If the country of Bosnia is serious of joing the EU then thay must apply as a unified nation rather than allowing serbian entity-turned-semi legal region of Bosnia obstruct its path to membership.I agree in that Presheva, Medveg and Bujanoc areas must be liberated since as noted by the serbs fiends that we are not welcome in their so called country.That's fine with us. Let us go.

Thank you Mr. Dodik for telling what one Serb political leader think about Albanians and their rights in proposed wide authonomy for Kosovo. Thnx again.

Immaginary interview with a Serbian leader:

What are you offering to Albanians?
- Autonomy.

So, they will be part of the government?
- Oh no! No, no, no, noo! God forbid no! No way!

Why is that?
- We don't want them anywhere near us.

So, they can go their way?
- Oh, no! No, no, no...no!

So, what do you suggest?
- Autonomy.

What does that mean?
- It means that our children can draw a map with Kosovo in it. That's all we ask!

How about people who live in Kosovo?
- Oh, no! No, no, nooo..no! We will draw them too, inside the map, you know...map...that's all we ask.

But...
- I got to go now. Remember! Map!

Let us all guess really hard Dodic of what kind of compensation you are alluding to. Serbia should get without you saying it..?..?.maybe Srpska or Serbs your to much generous Dodic & clever...not!

it's very flattering thinking of myself as a unique case in the world , Rehn thxs .
Dodik , thank you too for admiting that Sebia doesn't need Kosovo and Albanians any more .

So Serbia is better of with no Albanians...

But then I would say that Bosnia is better of with no Serbs and Croats.

Bosnia, let the Serbs and Croats go!
Macedonia, let the Albanias go.

An overal solution: yes! BUT NO SPECIAL DEAL FOR KOSOVO!!!

Even Belgium is falling apart...

So why should Serbs and Croats stay in Bosnia?

If a rich, EU member is falling apart, why maintain an unsuccesful UN protectorate?

As for Mr Rehn I would say just wait and we will see what happens next and for Mr Dodik i would agree on everything he says. I am looking forward to forthcoming days,weeks,months,years

Mr.Dodik is right on the money,having albanians in Serbian goverment would be a suicide.No minority in the world had more rights and freedom and look what happened.As for Rehm and other power brokers in Europe-if you do play games,you should know the rules.You just can`t take 15% of anything and scream that the other side has no right to do the same.It just makes you look stupid.!

Simply saying Kosovo and Bosnia are unrelated issues, does not MAKE them unrelated issues. Belgrade is playing its hand well in saying "if it's good enough for the Albanians of Kosovo, it's good enough for the Serbs of Bosnia", to which the Albanians are also saying "if it's good enough for the Serbs in Kosovo, it's good enough for the Albanians in Presevo".

There's a potentially explosive issue on the horizion if the international community does not recognize that all these pieces are seemingly interlocked together in one large domino game. Rather than trying to keep Kosovo a "special" issue just by saying it, it might be prudent to advance the Kosovo issue into a region-wide conference that addresses all other territorial matters and seeks on large solution, which will quench potential fires before they start.

I agree with you Mike. If there's one place where you can't pick and choose solutions by small areas to suit outside political aims, it's the Balkans.

The US and the EU to a lesser extent are playing with dynamite. I also expect the problems in Macedonia to fully ignite if there is a conflict of any sort in Kosovo.

There are only 2 solutions to this. Either partition, which I am personally against but makes some sense; or for the EU to embrace Serbia, keep Kosovo as a protectorate and work with the Serbian government and the Kosovo regional govt towards a future where the province can function as a fully self governing autonomous province.

Independence has to be taken off the agenda. Better to face the music now than try and keep the population happy under false pretences. Nobody wins that way.

It is clear from the report yesterday and the signing of the agreement today with Serbia that there is now a slow wake-up call that there can be no independence.

Nobody seems to have the brass neck to just come out and say this. Or maybe there is still a mad diplomatic flurry to decide how best to handle the fall out.

“I am saying this for the first time, but I don’t believe it would be good for Serbia if the Albanians stayed there, to be incorporated into the political life of that country, as it would then generate long-term instability,” Dodik said.

WOW. Between the lines he is hoping for Kosovo to be partitioned. Giving him a reason to hold a referendum blaming the WEST for all their problems and seeking independence.

Dodik saying this is like the Southern United States Dixie KKK-Democrats saying “black people should not vote nor occupy any public office since they’re uncivilized and dangerous” before the 60’s.

That is ridiculous. Even when Kosovo gets independence, Serbia will still retain a good number of Albanians inside its borders, and to be a real democratic, Western-oriented country, it must to assure to all its minorities (Albanians, Hungarians, catholics and muslims) the right to vote and the right to be voted too.

If Serbia is serious that there is any connectin between Kosova and "RS" (leaving aside the fact that the latter, 50% of the land for 30% of the people is merely a product of genocide recognition), then it should do the following:

Declare the "South Balkan Confederation", consisting of two states, the Kosova Albanian Republic (Republika Albansca), and the Serbian Federation. Make the weak cenral government paralysed by having to have "consensus" on every decision between these two entities, with equal numbers of Serbs and Albanians in the federal regime.

And suppose just to equalise the size a bit better to make it more like post-Dayton Bosnia, make sure the 25% Albanian popuation in this set-up gets at least 40% of the land, so ethnically cleanse much of south Serbia of Serbs, like the Drina Valley being empty of Muslims. o it all peacefully to avoid unnecesary Srebrenicas.

Then you can compare a breakway of Kososva ("RA") with a breakaway of "RS".

If Serbia is serious that there is any connection between Kosova and "RS" (leaving aside the fact that the latter, 50% of the land for 30% of the people, is merely a product of genocide recognition), then it should do the following:

Declare the "South Balkan Confederation", consisting of two states, the Kosova Albanian Republic (Republika Albansca), and the Serbian Federation. Make the weak central government paralysed by having to have "consensus" on every decision between these two entities, with equal numbers of Serbs and Albanians in the federal regime.

And I suppose just to equalise the size a bit better to make it more like post-Dayton Bosnia, make sure the 25% Albanian population in this set-up gets at least 40% of the land, so ethnically cleanse much of south Serbia of Serbs, like the Drina Valley being empty of Muslims. Do it all peacefully to avoid unnecessary Srebrenicas.

Then you can compare a breakaway of Kosova ("RA") with a breakaway of "RS".