Joe, I'm still waiting to hear what your so-called "professional" position is (you clearly do not display the maturity of someone holding a professional position on this site with your narrow-minded comments and historical inaccuracies).
I'm also still waiting on knowing whether you have ever been to Serbia since you said in a previous comment "I am still planning to visite Serbia and be pleasantly surprised."
Maybe you read the comment of a Marsian but not mine. I mentioned that I was in Dubrovnik twice. That is the closest I ever got to Kosova (I prefer to use the Albanian name in sympathy to the K-Albanians). My education was in Hungary and France. English is my 4th language. If you can match that and my professional position than I am ready to hear your criticism.
Maybe you were not yet a "canadian" when I was already a US citizen. My tax dollars contributed to our intervention in Bosnia and Kosovo and they were extremely well spent. I know it is hard for a Serb to understand that many non-Albanians fully support the K-Albanians but you should get used to it. And again don't think for a minute that you or Ron alone can speak in the name of the West.
Get off it Joe, I have been following your comments for some time now, and I have noted that several times last year you mentioned you live and work in Kosovo, suddenly in the last few months you're claiming to be an American. Your English Grammar and spelling do not reflect an American educated person. I think Joe that before you ask posters on this site to,... these are your words >> "So please refrain to speak in the name of the West."
Ron:
"Bush is a coward!!!!
(I hate to say, cause I like some of his ideas)"
Well that explains this ron enigma then. There are a lot of people who like Bush's medievalist ideas, but who disagree only on Kosova. The reason for this is that, for both US and EU, the question of Kosova is not an ideological one belonging to a particular group,such as the Bushies, but a highly pragmatic one.
Quite simply: they understand that whatever they say or do, there is nothing that can stop the century-old desire forindependence in Kosova. The people there were struggling for independence decades before the west noticed. Kosova was ignored at Badinter, ignored at Dayton. Even in '99, none of the NATO states, including US, supported independence, but were scared the now armed Kosovar struggle, which Milosevic's policies had faned rather than controlled, could spread to other Albanian regions of the Balkans, so NATO decided to take control.
After years and years of leaving Kosova in limbo and continually saying that independence was not one of the options, the west fnally figured out that the desire was not going away, and therefore that any attempt to force the kosovar Albanians back under Serbian rule was going to lead to a new explosion of armed resistance. The west obviously has no intention of fighting this themseleves, and still less do they want another decade of mlitary conflict in the Balkans. It's OK for the west to have a Palestinian conflict in the middle east going on for decades, but that is not what they want in Europe. They simply see no other alternative, and Serbia isn't offering, and cannot offer one.
Kostunica is very right.
Quasi Albanian tailors of history and all other people interested further beyond current Albanian violent nationalist outcry should look at the fact of the names of villages, roads, valleys, hills, rivers, towns, gorges,... all geographical names over the map of Kosovo and Metohija. Vast majority of those names are semantically words from Serbian language. Many, many of them aren't close to the modern Serbian language because they originated long before XIX century Vuk Karadzic language reform. This is the situation across KiM mainland yet along the borders with Albania one can notice, on the both sides, presence of Albanian and Serbian names of geographical entities interwoven one next to another. This best proofs where is historical border between Albania and Serbia.
You are very correct with your observation. Serb and Russian "strong men" like Kostunica and Putin always have to find or invent a "foreign ghost", an ennemy to scare their own people and to present themselfes as their God sent protectors. In Kostunica's scenario the ennemies are the Albanians and the NATO, mainly the US. Once Kosovo becomes independent and the Serbs focus more on their daily economic hardships Kostunica & Co will discover Hungarian revisionism and the need to combat the Hungarian separatists. Yes this is the usual Serbian modus vivandi to stay in power. And the Serbian people continue to get short changed.
Ron, Sadly the west did intervene to created greater Albania. Whether they will succeed is another thing.
Bombing of Serbia to withdraw it's army from Kosovo in the name of humanitarian effort was just a trojan horse.
It's it very obvios now.
Kostunica is right. Serbia has law on it's side and many countries supporting it. Russia and China will never let it through the UN and without that Kosovo cannot become an independent country legally.
Ron, EU governments have a lot of explaining to their citizens now.
Kosova is already de facto independent since 8 years. It will be de jure so in a matter of weeks. We all know it must be hard for people like you who can't exist without a little power. We know that when Kosova is de jure gone you will have to turn your eyes towards your own Serbian people and their real problems like health, education, etc. and beurocrats like you don't like that. You like to stay in power doing nothing. Your kind will always find a "foreign ghost" to scare your own people and stay in power as a "protector". After Kosova, you will find some else, who knows, maybe "hungarian separatists" or "sandjak separatists" or maybe even "European secret agents".
Kosova elections were no different than those held in any rich, developed Western country. This is one of the segments of life that we have authority over, and we already take good care of it. When we get de jure independence, we will surely take care of other aspects like economy, etc. Until then, we will see people like you on TV frequently and flip the channel to watch cartoons.
You have this habit to speak in the name of the West "we the West". Somehow B92 likes it very much because it suppressed my comment of yesterday criticizing it. The West also include very much the US, my country, whose opinion is very different of yours. So please refrain to speak in the name of the West.
"Now is the time for the international mediators to show impartiality and suggest a form of essential autonomy."
It is beyond my comprehension to understand how can you be impartial if you propose autonomy which is what Serbian side wants. That is fulfilling 100% of the Serbian side goals. Well maybe 80 %. The removal of Albanians from Kosova/o would be 100%. Now that I think about, I understand why Kostunica views this as a compromise. I think he's thinking in these terms.
We do not want any Albanians in Kosova/o. So by agreeing for them to live in Kosova/o and agreeing to autonomy we are making a big compromise.
I can't think of any other way which would make the autonomy model a compromise.
On the other side. We have two choices. Full independence or autonomy. So we meet in the midle with supervised independence. Which means Kosova/o will be separate from Serbia, but it will not enjoy all the powers that a fully independent has, since the EU will have some major powers in this model. I don't see where this idea of impartiality that Kostunica sees fits here.
Well said Koštunica, Albanians are already a independent people, just look on a map for god sake. Leave Serbian land out of your "greater albania" plans. Albania already has enough trouble governing itself with its 99.99% Albanian population.
Less than 50% of Serbian citizens (i.e. Serbian citizens of Albanian descent)in K&M went to the polls yesterday. The main campaign promise was independece. By this, can assume that the majority of citizens in K&M are not interested in independence and possibly see more of a future in democratic Serbia?
This tactic of calling something (independence) by another name to sneak it by the clueless masses is typical of the German led EU. This is the same tactic they used on Oct 19th 2007 when EU leaders (whoever they are?) finalized the text of the Lisbon Treaty, previously known as the EU reform treaty, formerly known as the EU constitution, which was rejected in French & Dutch referendums. So much for EU democracy and the will of the people! Good thing most Serbs are not so ignorant to buy this swamp land of a tactic! This is the same power the Serbian government wants to join up with; good luck with that, I hope you like being servants of the Germans.
I hope that you can see that these guys are 500 years bacwards. Their time don't move at all. They still can't see that they have nothing to offer because Kosova is lost in the 1999 war. Full stop! Go and take if you have guts without turning in civilians with ethnic cleansing. It clearer and clearer everyday that these talks are a waste of time and Kostunica is helping like Milosevic in speeding up the Kosova independence.
Dragan wrote: So, albanians can expect skyrocketting food prices, constant instability, no outside investment, no UN membership, no EU membership, no flag, no FIFA, no UEFA.
(Dragan, 18. November 2007 15:58)
Albanians would start to buy Kosova's products and the price will naturally go down (at present we are buying from Serbia in amount of billions), Kosova will be stable because we would legally divorce ourselves from Serbia
Once Sebia is out of the picture everyone will invest in Kosova
And Kosova has a wonderful flag, so we do not need to reinvent one like Serbia
And, as far as UEFA and FIFA, at current we do not have high quality soccer and we are content with the fact that half of Albanians national team is from Kosova
You know, at some point, Belgrade is going to have to acquiesce on something. Yes, I completely understand and sympathize with the Serbian position on keeping Kosovo. But at the same time, offering 95% autonomy isn't really that much different from the "Albanian state in Serbian territory" that Belgrade fears. How is a neutral state any different if everything will be run by the EU?
I do like village-bey's proposal of linking trade routes. What better way to (re)establish good neighborly relations than in trade? It would help out the entire region, and I can see a city like Nis becoming a regional trading hub that runs between Bulgaria and Albania. Why not?
But if Belgrade is going to reject everything outright at everytime, it also affirms what Nikshala has been saying too: that Belgrade is making it incredibly easy for the Albanians to see where their future should lie.
For once I agree with Kostunica. All those terms mean Indipendence for Kosovo.
And none of the terms, or suggestions are albanian ones, but comming from International comunity.
Doesen't this say something to you Mr Kostunica?
Mr Kostunica should be grateful as the International comunity is, with albanians being prepared to accept decentralisation and supervised indipendence.
Painful concessions from Kosovars side.
Please Mr Kostunica and other citizens of mother earth, let's stop talking in terms of albanian and serbs, europians and russians, lets just accept the obvious, sepration and good naighbourly relations.
We owe this to future generations.
I totally agree with Lazer’s view that a change in jurisdiction over Kosova cannot be a bad thing for Serbia after all. Kosova will still be there. Independence would mean greater cooperation between the two people. Nish will be connected with the port of Durres by a highway soon. That would translate into bigger trade, cooperation and exchanges. I am sure that Prishtina would have a policy of open access with regards to all visitors from Serbia. As long as we respect each other, everything should be fine.
If some countries unilaterally recognize greater albania, there will be no 'friendly relations'. Kosovo will always legally be part of Serbia, so they can simply wait it out and take it back some time in the future. You can expect an economic blockade on Kosovo that will remain until then, as well as full Serbian control of the north Mitrovica pocket. Kosovo's albanians will be even poorer than the north Cyprus Turks. So, albanians can expect skyrocketting food prices, constant instability, no outside investment, no UN membership, no EU membership, no flag, no FIFA, no UEFA.
The best solution is Independence with good and friendly relations pact.
No one is taking away 15% of teritory. Its still there, and will always be there, but not under the political control of Serbia. Its very simple, you got it as a gift, you misused it, time to give it back.
Feel very bad for the Serbs that live in Kosova/o, they are the ones that are sacrifice of Serbian attitude towards Kosova/o.
They should incorporate themselves with all Kosovan people.
If some countries unilaterally recognize greater albania, there will be no 'friendly relations'. Kosovo will always legally be part of Serbia, so they can simply wait it out and take it back some time in the future. You can expect an economic blockade on Kosovo that will remain until then, as well as full Serbian control of the north Mitrovica pocket. Kosovo's albanians will be even poorer than the north Cyprus Turks. So, albanians can expect skyrocketting food prices, constant instability, no outside investment, no UN membership, no EU membership, no flag, no FIFA, no UEFA.
The best solution is Independence with good and friendly relations pact.
No one is taking away 15% of teritory. Its still there, and will always be there, but not under the political control of Serbia. Its very simple, you got it as a gift, you misused it, time to give it back.
Feel very bad for the Serbs that live in Kosova/o, they are the ones that are sacrifice of Serbian attitude towards Kosova/o.
They should incorporate themselves with all Kosovan people.
I totally agree with Lazer’s view that a change in jurisdiction over Kosova cannot be a bad thing for Serbia after all. Kosova will still be there. Independence would mean greater cooperation between the two people. Nish will be connected with the port of Durres by a highway soon. That would translate into bigger trade, cooperation and exchanges. I am sure that Prishtina would have a policy of open access with regards to all visitors from Serbia. As long as we respect each other, everything should be fine.
Less than 50% of Serbian citizens (i.e. Serbian citizens of Albanian descent)in K&M went to the polls yesterday. The main campaign promise was independece. By this, can assume that the majority of citizens in K&M are not interested in independence and possibly see more of a future in democratic Serbia?
You know, at some point, Belgrade is going to have to acquiesce on something. Yes, I completely understand and sympathize with the Serbian position on keeping Kosovo. But at the same time, offering 95% autonomy isn't really that much different from the "Albanian state in Serbian territory" that Belgrade fears. How is a neutral state any different if everything will be run by the EU?
I do like village-bey's proposal of linking trade routes. What better way to (re)establish good neighborly relations than in trade? It would help out the entire region, and I can see a city like Nis becoming a regional trading hub that runs between Bulgaria and Albania. Why not?
But if Belgrade is going to reject everything outright at everytime, it also affirms what Nikshala has been saying too: that Belgrade is making it incredibly easy for the Albanians to see where their future should lie.
This tactic of calling something (independence) by another name to sneak it by the clueless masses is typical of the German led EU. This is the same tactic they used on Oct 19th 2007 when EU leaders (whoever they are?) finalized the text of the Lisbon Treaty, previously known as the EU reform treaty, formerly known as the EU constitution, which was rejected in French & Dutch referendums. So much for EU democracy and the will of the people! Good thing most Serbs are not so ignorant to buy this swamp land of a tactic! This is the same power the Serbian government wants to join up with; good luck with that, I hope you like being servants of the Germans.
For once I agree with Kostunica. All those terms mean Indipendence for Kosovo.
And none of the terms, or suggestions are albanian ones, but comming from International comunity.
Doesen't this say something to you Mr Kostunica?
Mr Kostunica should be grateful as the International comunity is, with albanians being prepared to accept decentralisation and supervised indipendence.
Painful concessions from Kosovars side.
Please Mr Kostunica and other citizens of mother earth, let's stop talking in terms of albanian and serbs, europians and russians, lets just accept the obvious, sepration and good naighbourly relations.
We owe this to future generations.
Dragan wrote: So, albanians can expect skyrocketting food prices, constant instability, no outside investment, no UN membership, no EU membership, no flag, no FIFA, no UEFA.
(Dragan, 18. November 2007 15:58)
Albanians would start to buy Kosova's products and the price will naturally go down (at present we are buying from Serbia in amount of billions), Kosova will be stable because we would legally divorce ourselves from Serbia
Once Sebia is out of the picture everyone will invest in Kosova
And Kosova has a wonderful flag, so we do not need to reinvent one like Serbia
And, as far as UEFA and FIFA, at current we do not have high quality soccer and we are content with the fact that half of Albanians national team is from Kosova
I hope that you can see that these guys are 500 years bacwards. Their time don't move at all. They still can't see that they have nothing to offer because Kosova is lost in the 1999 war. Full stop! Go and take if you have guts without turning in civilians with ethnic cleansing. It clearer and clearer everyday that these talks are a waste of time and Kostunica is helping like Milosevic in speeding up the Kosova independence.
Well said Koštunica, Albanians are already a independent people, just look on a map for god sake. Leave Serbian land out of your "greater albania" plans. Albania already has enough trouble governing itself with its 99.99% Albanian population.
Kosova is already de facto independent since 8 years. It will be de jure so in a matter of weeks. We all know it must be hard for people like you who can't exist without a little power. We know that when Kosova is de jure gone you will have to turn your eyes towards your own Serbian people and their real problems like health, education, etc. and beurocrats like you don't like that. You like to stay in power doing nothing. Your kind will always find a "foreign ghost" to scare your own people and stay in power as a "protector". After Kosova, you will find some else, who knows, maybe "hungarian separatists" or "sandjak separatists" or maybe even "European secret agents".
Kosova elections were no different than those held in any rich, developed Western country. This is one of the segments of life that we have authority over, and we already take good care of it. When we get de jure independence, we will surely take care of other aspects like economy, etc. Until then, we will see people like you on TV frequently and flip the channel to watch cartoons.
Ron, Sadly the west did intervene to created greater Albania. Whether they will succeed is another thing.
Bombing of Serbia to withdraw it's army from Kosovo in the name of humanitarian effort was just a trojan horse.
It's it very obvios now.
Kostunica is right. Serbia has law on it's side and many countries supporting it. Russia and China will never let it through the UN and without that Kosovo cannot become an independent country legally.
Ron, EU governments have a lot of explaining to their citizens now.
Ron:
"Bush is a coward!!!!
(I hate to say, cause I like some of his ideas)"
Well that explains this ron enigma then. There are a lot of people who like Bush's medievalist ideas, but who disagree only on Kosova. The reason for this is that, for both US and EU, the question of Kosova is not an ideological one belonging to a particular group,such as the Bushies, but a highly pragmatic one.
Quite simply: they understand that whatever they say or do, there is nothing that can stop the century-old desire forindependence in Kosova. The people there were struggling for independence decades before the west noticed. Kosova was ignored at Badinter, ignored at Dayton. Even in '99, none of the NATO states, including US, supported independence, but were scared the now armed Kosovar struggle, which Milosevic's policies had faned rather than controlled, could spread to other Albanian regions of the Balkans, so NATO decided to take control.
After years and years of leaving Kosova in limbo and continually saying that independence was not one of the options, the west fnally figured out that the desire was not going away, and therefore that any attempt to force the kosovar Albanians back under Serbian rule was going to lead to a new explosion of armed resistance. The west obviously has no intention of fighting this themseleves, and still less do they want another decade of mlitary conflict in the Balkans. It's OK for the west to have a Palestinian conflict in the middle east going on for decades, but that is not what they want in Europe. They simply see no other alternative, and Serbia isn't offering, and cannot offer one.
Get off it Joe, I have been following your comments for some time now, and I have noted that several times last year you mentioned you live and work in Kosovo, suddenly in the last few months you're claiming to be an American. Your English Grammar and spelling do not reflect an American educated person. I think Joe that before you ask posters on this site to,... these are your words >> "So please refrain to speak in the name of the West."
Joe, I'm still waiting to hear what your so-called "professional" position is (you clearly do not display the maturity of someone holding a professional position on this site with your narrow-minded comments and historical inaccuracies).
I'm also still waiting on knowing whether you have ever been to Serbia since you said in a previous comment "I am still planning to visite Serbia and be pleasantly surprised."
Kostunica is very right.
Quasi Albanian tailors of history and all other people interested further beyond current Albanian violent nationalist outcry should look at the fact of the names of villages, roads, valleys, hills, rivers, towns, gorges,... all geographical names over the map of Kosovo and Metohija. Vast majority of those names are semantically words from Serbian language. Many, many of them aren't close to the modern Serbian language because they originated long before XIX century Vuk Karadzic language reform. This is the situation across KiM mainland yet along the borders with Albania one can notice, on the both sides, presence of Albanian and Serbian names of geographical entities interwoven one next to another. This best proofs where is historical border between Albania and Serbia.
You are very correct with your observation. Serb and Russian "strong men" like Kostunica and Putin always have to find or invent a "foreign ghost", an ennemy to scare their own people and to present themselfes as their God sent protectors. In Kostunica's scenario the ennemies are the Albanians and the NATO, mainly the US. Once Kosovo becomes independent and the Serbs focus more on their daily economic hardships Kostunica & Co will discover Hungarian revisionism and the need to combat the Hungarian separatists. Yes this is the usual Serbian modus vivandi to stay in power. And the Serbian people continue to get short changed.
You have this habit to speak in the name of the West "we the West". Somehow B92 likes it very much because it suppressed my comment of yesterday criticizing it. The West also include very much the US, my country, whose opinion is very different of yours. So please refrain to speak in the name of the West.
"Now is the time for the international mediators to show impartiality and suggest a form of essential autonomy."
It is beyond my comprehension to understand how can you be impartial if you propose autonomy which is what Serbian side wants. That is fulfilling 100% of the Serbian side goals. Well maybe 80 %. The removal of Albanians from Kosova/o would be 100%. Now that I think about, I understand why Kostunica views this as a compromise. I think he's thinking in these terms.
We do not want any Albanians in Kosova/o. So by agreeing for them to live in Kosova/o and agreeing to autonomy we are making a big compromise.
I can't think of any other way which would make the autonomy model a compromise.
On the other side. We have two choices. Full independence or autonomy. So we meet in the midle with supervised independence. Which means Kosova/o will be separate from Serbia, but it will not enjoy all the powers that a fully independent has, since the EU will have some major powers in this model. I don't see where this idea of impartiality that Kostunica sees fits here.
Maybe you read the comment of a Marsian but not mine. I mentioned that I was in Dubrovnik twice. That is the closest I ever got to Kosova (I prefer to use the Albanian name in sympathy to the K-Albanians). My education was in Hungary and France. English is my 4th language. If you can match that and my professional position than I am ready to hear your criticism.
Maybe you were not yet a "canadian" when I was already a US citizen. My tax dollars contributed to our intervention in Bosnia and Kosovo and they were extremely well spent. I know it is hard for a Serb to understand that many non-Albanians fully support the K-Albanians but you should get used to it. And again don't think for a minute that you or Ron alone can speak in the name of the West.
The best solution is Independence with good and friendly relations pact.
No one is taking away 15% of teritory. Its still there, and will always be there, but not under the political control of Serbia. Its very simple, you got it as a gift, you misused it, time to give it back.
Feel very bad for the Serbs that live in Kosova/o, they are the ones that are sacrifice of Serbian attitude towards Kosova/o.
They should incorporate themselves with all Kosovan people.
I totally agree with Lazer’s view that a change in jurisdiction over Kosova cannot be a bad thing for Serbia after all. Kosova will still be there. Independence would mean greater cooperation between the two people. Nish will be connected with the port of Durres by a highway soon. That would translate into bigger trade, cooperation and exchanges. I am sure that Prishtina would have a policy of open access with regards to all visitors from Serbia. As long as we respect each other, everything should be fine.
For once I agree with Kostunica. All those terms mean Indipendence for Kosovo.
And none of the terms, or suggestions are albanian ones, but comming from International comunity.
Doesen't this say something to you Mr Kostunica?
Mr Kostunica should be grateful as the International comunity is, with albanians being prepared to accept decentralisation and supervised indipendence.
Painful concessions from Kosovars side.
Please Mr Kostunica and other citizens of mother earth, let's stop talking in terms of albanian and serbs, europians and russians, lets just accept the obvious, sepration and good naighbourly relations.
We owe this to future generations.
Dragan wrote: So, albanians can expect skyrocketting food prices, constant instability, no outside investment, no UN membership, no EU membership, no flag, no FIFA, no UEFA.
(Dragan, 18. November 2007 15:58)
Albanians would start to buy Kosova's products and the price will naturally go down (at present we are buying from Serbia in amount of billions), Kosova will be stable because we would legally divorce ourselves from Serbia
Once Sebia is out of the picture everyone will invest in Kosova
And Kosova has a wonderful flag, so we do not need to reinvent one like Serbia
And, as far as UEFA and FIFA, at current we do not have high quality soccer and we are content with the fact that half of Albanians national team is from Kosova
I hope that you can see that these guys are 500 years bacwards. Their time don't move at all. They still can't see that they have nothing to offer because Kosova is lost in the 1999 war. Full stop! Go and take if you have guts without turning in civilians with ethnic cleansing. It clearer and clearer everyday that these talks are a waste of time and Kostunica is helping like Milosevic in speeding up the Kosova independence.
If some countries unilaterally recognize greater albania, there will be no 'friendly relations'. Kosovo will always legally be part of Serbia, so they can simply wait it out and take it back some time in the future. You can expect an economic blockade on Kosovo that will remain until then, as well as full Serbian control of the north Mitrovica pocket. Kosovo's albanians will be even poorer than the north Cyprus Turks. So, albanians can expect skyrocketting food prices, constant instability, no outside investment, no UN membership, no EU membership, no flag, no FIFA, no UEFA.
Kosova is already de facto independent since 8 years. It will be de jure so in a matter of weeks. We all know it must be hard for people like you who can't exist without a little power. We know that when Kosova is de jure gone you will have to turn your eyes towards your own Serbian people and their real problems like health, education, etc. and beurocrats like you don't like that. You like to stay in power doing nothing. Your kind will always find a "foreign ghost" to scare your own people and stay in power as a "protector". After Kosova, you will find some else, who knows, maybe "hungarian separatists" or "sandjak separatists" or maybe even "European secret agents".
Kosova elections were no different than those held in any rich, developed Western country. This is one of the segments of life that we have authority over, and we already take good care of it. When we get de jure independence, we will surely take care of other aspects like economy, etc. Until then, we will see people like you on TV frequently and flip the channel to watch cartoons.
You know, at some point, Belgrade is going to have to acquiesce on something. Yes, I completely understand and sympathize with the Serbian position on keeping Kosovo. But at the same time, offering 95% autonomy isn't really that much different from the "Albanian state in Serbian territory" that Belgrade fears. How is a neutral state any different if everything will be run by the EU?
I do like village-bey's proposal of linking trade routes. What better way to (re)establish good neighborly relations than in trade? It would help out the entire region, and I can see a city like Nis becoming a regional trading hub that runs between Bulgaria and Albania. Why not?
But if Belgrade is going to reject everything outright at everytime, it also affirms what Nikshala has been saying too: that Belgrade is making it incredibly easy for the Albanians to see where their future should lie.
This tactic of calling something (independence) by another name to sneak it by the clueless masses is typical of the German led EU. This is the same tactic they used on Oct 19th 2007 when EU leaders (whoever they are?) finalized the text of the Lisbon Treaty, previously known as the EU reform treaty, formerly known as the EU constitution, which was rejected in French & Dutch referendums. So much for EU democracy and the will of the people! Good thing most Serbs are not so ignorant to buy this swamp land of a tactic! This is the same power the Serbian government wants to join up with; good luck with that, I hope you like being servants of the Germans.
You are very correct with your observation. Serb and Russian "strong men" like Kostunica and Putin always have to find or invent a "foreign ghost", an ennemy to scare their own people and to present themselfes as their God sent protectors. In Kostunica's scenario the ennemies are the Albanians and the NATO, mainly the US. Once Kosovo becomes independent and the Serbs focus more on their daily economic hardships Kostunica & Co will discover Hungarian revisionism and the need to combat the Hungarian separatists. Yes this is the usual Serbian modus vivandi to stay in power. And the Serbian people continue to get short changed.
Ron:
"Bush is a coward!!!!
(I hate to say, cause I like some of his ideas)"
Well that explains this ron enigma then. There are a lot of people who like Bush's medievalist ideas, but who disagree only on Kosova. The reason for this is that, for both US and EU, the question of Kosova is not an ideological one belonging to a particular group,such as the Bushies, but a highly pragmatic one.
Quite simply: they understand that whatever they say or do, there is nothing that can stop the century-old desire forindependence in Kosova. The people there were struggling for independence decades before the west noticed. Kosova was ignored at Badinter, ignored at Dayton. Even in '99, none of the NATO states, including US, supported independence, but were scared the now armed Kosovar struggle, which Milosevic's policies had faned rather than controlled, could spread to other Albanian regions of the Balkans, so NATO decided to take control.
After years and years of leaving Kosova in limbo and continually saying that independence was not one of the options, the west fnally figured out that the desire was not going away, and therefore that any attempt to force the kosovar Albanians back under Serbian rule was going to lead to a new explosion of armed resistance. The west obviously has no intention of fighting this themseleves, and still less do they want another decade of mlitary conflict in the Balkans. It's OK for the west to have a Palestinian conflict in the middle east going on for decades, but that is not what they want in Europe. They simply see no other alternative, and Serbia isn't offering, and cannot offer one.
Maybe you read the comment of a Marsian but not mine. I mentioned that I was in Dubrovnik twice. That is the closest I ever got to Kosova (I prefer to use the Albanian name in sympathy to the K-Albanians). My education was in Hungary and France. English is my 4th language. If you can match that and my professional position than I am ready to hear your criticism.
Maybe you were not yet a "canadian" when I was already a US citizen. My tax dollars contributed to our intervention in Bosnia and Kosovo and they were extremely well spent. I know it is hard for a Serb to understand that many non-Albanians fully support the K-Albanians but you should get used to it. And again don't think for a minute that you or Ron alone can speak in the name of the West.
Less than 50% of Serbian citizens (i.e. Serbian citizens of Albanian descent)in K&M went to the polls yesterday. The main campaign promise was independece. By this, can assume that the majority of citizens in K&M are not interested in independence and possibly see more of a future in democratic Serbia?
"Now is the time for the international mediators to show impartiality and suggest a form of essential autonomy."
It is beyond my comprehension to understand how can you be impartial if you propose autonomy which is what Serbian side wants. That is fulfilling 100% of the Serbian side goals. Well maybe 80 %. The removal of Albanians from Kosova/o would be 100%. Now that I think about, I understand why Kostunica views this as a compromise. I think he's thinking in these terms.
We do not want any Albanians in Kosova/o. So by agreeing for them to live in Kosova/o and agreeing to autonomy we are making a big compromise.
I can't think of any other way which would make the autonomy model a compromise.
On the other side. We have two choices. Full independence or autonomy. So we meet in the midle with supervised independence. Which means Kosova/o will be separate from Serbia, but it will not enjoy all the powers that a fully independent has, since the EU will have some major powers in this model. I don't see where this idea of impartiality that Kostunica sees fits here.
Well said Koštunica, Albanians are already a independent people, just look on a map for god sake. Leave Serbian land out of your "greater albania" plans. Albania already has enough trouble governing itself with its 99.99% Albanian population.
You have this habit to speak in the name of the West "we the West". Somehow B92 likes it very much because it suppressed my comment of yesterday criticizing it. The West also include very much the US, my country, whose opinion is very different of yours. So please refrain to speak in the name of the West.
Kostunica is very right.
Quasi Albanian tailors of history and all other people interested further beyond current Albanian violent nationalist outcry should look at the fact of the names of villages, roads, valleys, hills, rivers, towns, gorges,... all geographical names over the map of Kosovo and Metohija. Vast majority of those names are semantically words from Serbian language. Many, many of them aren't close to the modern Serbian language because they originated long before XIX century Vuk Karadzic language reform. This is the situation across KiM mainland yet along the borders with Albania one can notice, on the both sides, presence of Albanian and Serbian names of geographical entities interwoven one next to another. This best proofs where is historical border between Albania and Serbia.
Ron, Sadly the west did intervene to created greater Albania. Whether they will succeed is another thing.
Bombing of Serbia to withdraw it's army from Kosovo in the name of humanitarian effort was just a trojan horse.
It's it very obvios now.
Kostunica is right. Serbia has law on it's side and many countries supporting it. Russia and China will never let it through the UN and without that Kosovo cannot become an independent country legally.
Ron, EU governments have a lot of explaining to their citizens now.
Get off it Joe, I have been following your comments for some time now, and I have noted that several times last year you mentioned you live and work in Kosovo, suddenly in the last few months you're claiming to be an American. Your English Grammar and spelling do not reflect an American educated person. I think Joe that before you ask posters on this site to,... these are your words >> "So please refrain to speak in the name of the West."
Joe, I'm still waiting to hear what your so-called "professional" position is (you clearly do not display the maturity of someone holding a professional position on this site with your narrow-minded comments and historical inaccuracies).
I'm also still waiting on knowing whether you have ever been to Serbia since you said in a previous comment "I am still planning to visite Serbia and be pleasantly surprised."
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