Priština tones down threat of immediate independence

What a surprise - the new Leadership of the ethnic Albanians in Serbias southern province are looking less and less credible each day - even less credible then the out going Ceku!

Only Yesterday Thaci's words "we will declare independence" were plastered across global media and yet almost immediatly he is being brought down to earth - your in a Serbian province and there is now legal way around it - its not going to happen!

Accept the state your in and start working on reconciling the differences which will lead to economic development for the region as a whole - win-win everyone.

Looks like even before the 11th Decemeber my words;

No Illegal declaration
No Illegal recognition
No Illegal Independence
No Violence - NATO will act.

- are a true refelection of events when the 11th Decemebr comes and goes.

What is more given the low turnout is is evident that the ethnic Albanians in Serbias province lack belief in thier self interested leadership.

It would be funny if it werent so tragic.

Excuse me but I thought that December 10th was the final date for Kosovo indepdendence. Then we had a subtle move to 'after' 10th December.

Now we move back to no date at all - as if we all collectively imagined an impending Kosovo decleration of independence.

Now that the momentum has stalled and that Kosovo elections are over we can return to... unclear status (round of applause everybody for being part of much ado about nothing)

KosovO albanian leadership has no plans on claiming independance on December 10 - what else is new? They've changed their dates every year for the last 10 years!!

No one will back this claim of independance knowing that it will be a threat to world security in the future!

This is so sad. albanian "leaders" keep promising them something that will never happen.

The latest voter turnout shows how bad the economic situation is in KiM. Half of the people there if not more are living in poverty...

surprise, surprise...

can´t wait to read those comments of this only being tactics...

village bay,

He was hit with HARD reality. No support for illegal land theft from EU.

His face tells something like, "we have tried our best to steal Serbian land, we have discriminated them as much as possible, we have tried to ethnically clense all of the Serbs, but I guess it's not as easy as we thought."

Who really cares when they declare it? If there is to be any redrawing of borders it HAS to go through the UN. Otherwise, any declarations are completely pointless. Kosovo was always Serbian, and our leadership and our Russian friends will make sure it remains that way.
Cheers!

Abandon ship!!!

why do you bother? i have told you we will wait for spring
(lili, 19 November 2007 21:01)

when will you wait until lili? spring 2099? 3099?

Nikshala wrote:
"for the record, Thaci and Sejdiu have always said that independence will only be declared in co-ordination with international community, and it was only Ceku and Surroi who have insisted on an immediate declaration after 10th Dec."

Oh.....Okay.
Thanks for clearing that up.

It must have gotten lost in translation behind all the symbolic flag waving..

for the record, Thaci and Sejdiu have always said that independence will only be declared in co-ordination with international community, and it was only Ceku and Surroi who have insisted on an immediate declaration after 10th Dec.

"Non-partisan observers are blunter still: they say independence simply will not work.

David Webb, a former diplomat familiar with Kosovo, says the province's economic problems, including up to 60% unemployment and the lowest incomes in Europe, are so grave that independence is, in any case, illusory in any practical sense.

Some 65% of Kosovo's GDP came from foreign aid or remittances, he said. "Seventy per cent of Kosovo's external trade still goes to Serbia; in other words, it is still dependent on Serbia."

A pell-mell rush to independence would not be responsible and would not work, Webb suggested. Kosovo would wake up the next day with a big hangover - and Europe would have an even bigger one"

interesting article in the Guardian!
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/simon_tisdall/2007/11/the_balkan_bad_boys_warning.html

What’s up with him? He looks like he’s been in a fishing trip and caught no fish. Sick and tired with this good cop bad cop routine. A good day for us, a not so good day for us. Just declare the independence and have it done with. We are running out of ideas here.
Them communist assembly member back in 1990s must have had much more courage than these guerrilla fighters of today.

Thaci has just shown that he has got no idea what 'LEADERSHIP' means. Gloating because he got 160,000 votes out of 1.5 million, he has just once again shown the reason why only 45% of Albanian voters decided to show up. There's no point in voting for Sheep.

why do you bother? i have told you we will wait for spring

Correct me if i am wrong but the whole show in Kosova is run by Albanians with the help of the UN and the EU. Serbia has no influence over Kosova anymore and it will never have. If Serbia wants economic prosperity it should give up up its useless nationalistic dreams, but reather recognize the independece of Kosova, appologize to Kosova people for war attrocities in the 1998-1999 coflict, and live in peace as two good neigbours. Kosova has the backing of the US of A and the EU! Wake up Serbia what else does Kosova NEEDS>!

i think THEIR big brother has something to do with this too.

'the economic argument has merits and it stresses the necessity of Kosovo joining with Albania.
(Kreshnik, 20 November 2007 04:06)'

The cat has been let out of the bag on this one. So this is what they mean by 'independence'. Detach KiM from Serbia and annex it to Albania. Can anybody not see this as an illegal landgrab. The true face of the independence posters has been revealed.

Serbia must hold fast.

So this is what they mean by 'independence'?Detach KiM from Serbia and annex it to Albania.
------------------------------

Who is this 'they'? Kosovo's independence is being supported by the US precisely because it disallows any eventual union with Albania.
However, as stated by US Sec. of State Rice, Kosovo has no economy of its own, and will likely lose its Trepca cash cow, which will further exarcerbate the situation, making union with Albania, even more likely

Don't put the wagon before the horse.

Jovan,
the economic argument has merits and it stresses the necessity of Kosovo joining with Albania.

I am really glad to see that the Serb posters in the forum have found some more materials between the lines to reach their conclusions, which as usual, are not carefully thought through and are contradictive.

First, Princip tries to undermine the Kosova government before it is even formed, just like Kostunica turns down proposals for the status of Kosova before they are even made public. It may be something that is a trait of heavenly nations?

Just to remind everyone that no one (including Thaci) has ever said that independence will be declared right on December 11.

It is actually Serbia that was hoping for Kosova parliament to declare its independence on December 11, so it would have a scapegoat to move in and take over the areas populated with Serb minority. Election boycott was the first step in the process of achieving the final goal of partition.

Nice try, it isn’t going to happen. Kosovar leaders are not as thick-headed as many think. The momentum has not stalled; it is still being built as we speak. The momentum consists of preparations for recognition and preventions of partition.

- The parties involved want to be prepared and wait at least until the Serb areas are reinforced with KFOR troops so Serb dreams of dividing and splintering Kosova are finally put to rest.

- Then diplomatic preparations that consist of meetings with representatives from around the world to coordinate the actions (20 of 27 EU countries and the United States are already on board, more to follow) are on the way.

The above will be followed with the declaration.

Second, the low-turnout that all point to is actually a higher turnout than the elections in Serbia had… It is a common knowledge that most of the governments in democratic countries are elected by less than 50% of the eligible voters.

Also, Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination movement has urged the Albanian voters to boycott the polls as well.

Then of course, the freezing temperatures and so on…

Not sure why would one link the economic situation with low turnout? Usually the devastating economic situation encourages people to go to the polls and vote, hoping for a change.

Let me end this on a comic note. I have actually read some posts on these forums that implied that the low turn-out on the elections means that the population of Kosova wants to remain in Serbia?

Those comments were just priceless…

P.S. I forgot to add that today’s date is 20 November 2007… December 10 is not here yet.

Please curb your enthusiasm :-)

"no no no, they are not important, Fatmir and Ceku, who are they?

Independence the 11 th of december! We do not care what ANYONE says, we albanians here on B92 will declare independence of Kosovo/Dardania in december!!

BUT WAIT.... I forgot, if these two illegal politicians won't declare independence, who will then?
I guess there won't be any other independence than autonomy for Kosovo-Metohija, but that is not so bad for the albanians. THey can join the EU in a few years and immedeatly benefit from Serbias booming economy!

Even if independence comes sooner than later (it is obvious that Kosovo will not accept anything less and that a lot of the international community backs this), it must at least not be unilateral, because that would mean things would just get horribly worse. It is obvious that Serbia will not accept Kosovo's independence, and it will probably sanction it (it can afford to do so, because the trade deficit is somewhere like 90%, obviously in Serbia's favor, meaning Kosovo relies on Serbia a hell of a lot more than Serbia on Kosovo), therefore the only solution to avoid total economic disater and to not further the situation of the average Kosovar, Kosovo needs to accept supervized independence when the international community says it is the best time to do so, because without UNSC recognition and EU unity, Kosovo's transition to independence will be tough, it will need lots of help, and it cannot afford further instability.

What’s up with him? He looks like he’s been in a fishing trip and caught no fish. Sick and tired with this good cop bad cop routine. A good day for us, a not so good day for us. Just declare the independence and have it done with. We are running out of ideas here.
Them communist assembly member back in 1990s must have had much more courage than these guerrilla fighters of today.

for the record, Thaci and Sejdiu have always said that independence will only be declared in co-ordination with international community, and it was only Ceku and Surroi who have insisted on an immediate declaration after 10th Dec.

why do you bother? i have told you we will wait for spring

why do you bother? i have told you we will wait for spring
(lili, 19 November 2007 21:01)

when will you wait until lili? spring 2099? 3099?

What a surprise - the new Leadership of the ethnic Albanians in Serbias southern province are looking less and less credible each day - even less credible then the out going Ceku!

Only Yesterday Thaci's words "we will declare independence" were plastered across global media and yet almost immediatly he is being brought down to earth - your in a Serbian province and there is now legal way around it - its not going to happen!

Accept the state your in and start working on reconciling the differences which will lead to economic development for the region as a whole - win-win everyone.

Looks like even before the 11th Decemeber my words;

No Illegal declaration
No Illegal recognition
No Illegal Independence
No Violence - NATO will act.

- are a true refelection of events when the 11th Decemebr comes and goes.

What is more given the low turnout is is evident that the ethnic Albanians in Serbias province lack belief in thier self interested leadership.

It would be funny if it werent so tragic.

Excuse me but I thought that December 10th was the final date for Kosovo indepdendence. Then we had a subtle move to 'after' 10th December.

Now we move back to no date at all - as if we all collectively imagined an impending Kosovo decleration of independence.

Now that the momentum has stalled and that Kosovo elections are over we can return to... unclear status (round of applause everybody for being part of much ado about nothing)

This is so sad. albanian "leaders" keep promising them something that will never happen.

The latest voter turnout shows how bad the economic situation is in KiM. Half of the people there if not more are living in poverty...

KosovO albanian leadership has no plans on claiming independance on December 10 - what else is new? They've changed their dates every year for the last 10 years!!

No one will back this claim of independance knowing that it will be a threat to world security in the future!

surprise, surprise...

can´t wait to read those comments of this only being tactics...

Abandon ship!!!

village bay,

He was hit with HARD reality. No support for illegal land theft from EU.

His face tells something like, "we have tried our best to steal Serbian land, we have discriminated them as much as possible, we have tried to ethnically clense all of the Serbs, but I guess it's not as easy as we thought."

Nikshala wrote:
"for the record, Thaci and Sejdiu have always said that independence will only be declared in co-ordination with international community, and it was only Ceku and Surroi who have insisted on an immediate declaration after 10th Dec."

Oh.....Okay.
Thanks for clearing that up.

It must have gotten lost in translation behind all the symbolic flag waving..

Who really cares when they declare it? If there is to be any redrawing of borders it HAS to go through the UN. Otherwise, any declarations are completely pointless. Kosovo was always Serbian, and our leadership and our Russian friends will make sure it remains that way.
Cheers!

Thaci has just shown that he has got no idea what 'LEADERSHIP' means. Gloating because he got 160,000 votes out of 1.5 million, he has just once again shown the reason why only 45% of Albanian voters decided to show up. There's no point in voting for Sheep.

"Non-partisan observers are blunter still: they say independence simply will not work.

David Webb, a former diplomat familiar with Kosovo, says the province's economic problems, including up to 60% unemployment and the lowest incomes in Europe, are so grave that independence is, in any case, illusory in any practical sense.

Some 65% of Kosovo's GDP came from foreign aid or remittances, he said. "Seventy per cent of Kosovo's external trade still goes to Serbia; in other words, it is still dependent on Serbia."

A pell-mell rush to independence would not be responsible and would not work, Webb suggested. Kosovo would wake up the next day with a big hangover - and Europe would have an even bigger one"

interesting article in the Guardian!
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/simon_tisdall/2007/11/the_balkan_bad_boys_warning.html

Correct me if i am wrong but the whole show in Kosova is run by Albanians with the help of the UN and the EU. Serbia has no influence over Kosova anymore and it will never have. If Serbia wants economic prosperity it should give up up its useless nationalistic dreams, but reather recognize the independece of Kosova, appologize to Kosova people for war attrocities in the 1998-1999 coflict, and live in peace as two good neigbours. Kosova has the backing of the US of A and the EU! Wake up Serbia what else does Kosova NEEDS>!

Don't put the wagon before the horse.

Jovan,
the economic argument has merits and it stresses the necessity of Kosovo joining with Albania.

I am really glad to see that the Serb posters in the forum have found some more materials between the lines to reach their conclusions, which as usual, are not carefully thought through and are contradictive.

First, Princip tries to undermine the Kosova government before it is even formed, just like Kostunica turns down proposals for the status of Kosova before they are even made public. It may be something that is a trait of heavenly nations?

Just to remind everyone that no one (including Thaci) has ever said that independence will be declared right on December 11.

It is actually Serbia that was hoping for Kosova parliament to declare its independence on December 11, so it would have a scapegoat to move in and take over the areas populated with Serb minority. Election boycott was the first step in the process of achieving the final goal of partition.

Nice try, it isn’t going to happen. Kosovar leaders are not as thick-headed as many think. The momentum has not stalled; it is still being built as we speak. The momentum consists of preparations for recognition and preventions of partition.

- The parties involved want to be prepared and wait at least until the Serb areas are reinforced with KFOR troops so Serb dreams of dividing and splintering Kosova are finally put to rest.

- Then diplomatic preparations that consist of meetings with representatives from around the world to coordinate the actions (20 of 27 EU countries and the United States are already on board, more to follow) are on the way.

The above will be followed with the declaration.

Second, the low-turnout that all point to is actually a higher turnout than the elections in Serbia had… It is a common knowledge that most of the governments in democratic countries are elected by less than 50% of the eligible voters.

Also, Albin Kurti’s Self-Determination movement has urged the Albanian voters to boycott the polls as well.

Then of course, the freezing temperatures and so on…

Not sure why would one link the economic situation with low turnout? Usually the devastating economic situation encourages people to go to the polls and vote, hoping for a change.

Let me end this on a comic note. I have actually read some posts on these forums that implied that the low turn-out on the elections means that the population of Kosova wants to remain in Serbia?

Those comments were just priceless…

P.S. I forgot to add that today’s date is 20 November 2007… December 10 is not here yet.

Please curb your enthusiasm :-)

"no no no, they are not important, Fatmir and Ceku, who are they?

Independence the 11 th of december! We do not care what ANYONE says, we albanians here on B92 will declare independence of Kosovo/Dardania in december!!

BUT WAIT.... I forgot, if these two illegal politicians won't declare independence, who will then?
I guess there won't be any other independence than autonomy for Kosovo-Metohija, but that is not so bad for the albanians. THey can join the EU in a few years and immedeatly benefit from Serbias booming economy!

Even if independence comes sooner than later (it is obvious that Kosovo will not accept anything less and that a lot of the international community backs this), it must at least not be unilateral, because that would mean things would just get horribly worse. It is obvious that Serbia will not accept Kosovo's independence, and it will probably sanction it (it can afford to do so, because the trade deficit is somewhere like 90%, obviously in Serbia's favor, meaning Kosovo relies on Serbia a hell of a lot more than Serbia on Kosovo), therefore the only solution to avoid total economic disater and to not further the situation of the average Kosovar, Kosovo needs to accept supervized independence when the international community says it is the best time to do so, because without UNSC recognition and EU unity, Kosovo's transition to independence will be tough, it will need lots of help, and it cannot afford further instability.

i think THEIR big brother has something to do with this too.

'the economic argument has merits and it stresses the necessity of Kosovo joining with Albania.
(Kreshnik, 20 November 2007 04:06)'

The cat has been let out of the bag on this one. So this is what they mean by 'independence'. Detach KiM from Serbia and annex it to Albania. Can anybody not see this as an illegal landgrab. The true face of the independence posters has been revealed.

Serbia must hold fast.

So this is what they mean by 'independence'?Detach KiM from Serbia and annex it to Albania.
------------------------------

Who is this 'they'? Kosovo's independence is being supported by the US precisely because it disallows any eventual union with Albania.
However, as stated by US Sec. of State Rice, Kosovo has no economy of its own, and will likely lose its Trepca cash cow, which will further exarcerbate the situation, making union with Albania, even more likely