“Agreement would have been reached, if possible”

"In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said."

Wrong. It is exactly the other way around. Washington is the one who's been trying to dictate to Belgrade, Russia and just about everyone else who to recognize.

In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said.

Is it needed to make any further comment. This is not about the law any longer and this is not about the right and wrong. This is all about the offence. Washington felt ofended by Belgrade's rejection, Washington cannot accept the fact that Belgrade, that small Serbia dares to say NO to Washington. How Belgrade dares to say Washington that does not accept partition of its country. The world's cop No.1 cannot be disobeyed.
Washington cannot accept the fact that they are failing everywhere and all its frustrations will break over Serbia. Washington cannot possibly accept that Belgrade win this game. That would be such a slap to thier policy. EU as USA's puppet will once again do thier best to save the USA's highly damaged reputation and camouflage the real Washington's failure.

“It is impossible to reach a compromise between two sovereignties on one territory, Serbia’s and the Kosovo Albanians’, and I don’t see a way of Serbia establishing sovereignty over the territory again,” Server said.
The above statemant explains everything. No further coments.

"anything else would provoke negative reactions from the Kosovo Albanians"
There is an implicit threat and support of Kosovo Albianian violence in this statement.

“I think it would be a lot better to reach the decision in the UN Security Council based on the Ahtisaari plan, with the protection of the Serb minority. In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said.


And of course, Russia, China and Serbia has every right to recognize the independent state of Republika Srpska after that.

If not territoral integrity is important in the balkans there will be consequenses for all nations, not only in the balkans.

Exactly right! Ahtisaari Plan is still the best deal that Serbian minority of Kosova could ever get, but at this point it is useless that Albanians give in to all those ridiculous demands that no other State is required to provide to a minority of 100,000 people. No Ahtisaari Plan! Full Independence and Souvereignity for Kosova Now!

“The right of a sovereign country such as the U.S. to recognize another sovereign country cannot be denied. In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said.

Sure, if the veneer of international law and agreements is stripped away by this administration, then in time Republika Srpska will be recognised as a sovereign country. And if the US refuses, their own 'recognitions' will be ignored by other major powers. With the recognition of 'Kosovo', they will plunge their own foreign policy into chaos and their power will wane.

"In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said."

I think gives it all away - compromise had no chance in these talks because the US is bent on flgrant abuse of international law and norms and choose to be purposefully ignorant of th predictable consequences and ill-prepared for the unpredictable. I think the US administration can no longer lead the world with their failure of analysis of the flagant attack at the UN via its abuse of the UN SC Resolution that they formulated, signed and agreed to obligated to - in which case Sovereignity of all nations including the US no longer have any validity - in yeurs to come they can hardly expect to retain the South West if they have enforced such an abrupt and flagrant precedent that undermines Sovereignity.

The months to come will give the US an opportunity to analyse and refelect on what they propose and I think when it really sinks in they might put things off again seeing as it is very clear that there can be no UN sponsored imposition of such US folly on the Soverieign and UN recognised Republic of Serbia - the UN Succesor to FR Yugoslavia and as affirmed in UN SC 1244.

Quite ironic and preditable that illegal methods are being suggested by the ethnic-Albanians leadership who represent less than 45% of the local electotare in this Serbian province.

So many false statements coming from Mr Server. Serbia does not need to establish sovereignty over Kosovo, she already has it but Albanians do not hence the fight in UN. Also noone is denying US the right to recognise Serbia that is another sovereign country, but not Kosovo that is only a province of a sovereign country.
Anyway, the only alternative to compromise is war but noone supports it hence a compromise has no alternatives.

Mr. Serwer, talk to Mr. Putin. No UN recognition of the illegal and immoral 'greater albania' project, means no redrawing of borders, period. Deal with it.
Cheers!

Right on Mister Server! Things have to be spelled out clearly to the Serbs again and again otherwise they get this childish illusion that they can dictate their ridiculous terms to the world and the US.

Smile
Im glad that you brought the poker up. Any player will know that when the chips are down it is time to shake hands and wave goodbye. You say that you might have misbehaved in Kosova and that my friend must be the understatement of the century.
You played a heavy hand and you bluff was called. Now we need to look forward move away from this brinkmanship.
The point that Peter was making is a fair one as it relates to the perceptions of each other. After all that has happened equality should be the main principle that regulates our relationship to minorities. What is good for Serbs should be good enough for Albanians and vice versa.
If after independence Serbia chooses to make life difficult, communities on both sides will suffer. No one will benefit from your doom and gloom scenario. As neighbours our fates are intrinsically linked. The European Gaza scenario was always a possibility if Kosova was left under Serbias suzerainty. With an independent Kosova in sight, western Balkans will certainly be a much better place for our kids.

I suggest to Serbia to recodnise Kosovo as State and give to Preshevo wide autonomy. This is the way for Serbia to get in Nato and EU

I just read these guys comments and have so much trouble linking the name of his organisation with his world view. I don't know anything about the Washington Institute for Peace, but he sure sounds like a member of Bush's public service.

Lets thank the US (my country) for spliting up the Balkans along ethnic lines. Most states their are almost monoethnic except for Serbia. Kosovo declairs independence, N-Kosovo will do the same, & the RS, well thats only a matter of time. If the Albanians here would rather live in poverty in S-Kosovo than enter the EU with Serbia, well so be it. I'm sure the criminal sector of S-Kosovos economy will thrive. Declair your independence & have a very merry christmas.

Symetrical approach for both regions.
(village-bey, 29 November 2007 15:50)

hah good one village bey, and btw what a phenomenal nick :), i appreciate your sense of humor and it's showing here.
but you know as well as i do that all these regions, presevo, north and south kosovo, are all serbian.
don't know if peter knows this though but why should he :)
if they werent serbian you wouldn't be encouraging yourself silly with your "de facto, de facto, soon to be" mantra.
so i don't know about de facto but here are facts:
yes, you can declare independence; no, you will not be able to keep north under any kind of control; no, the rest of kosovo will not be a real country; no, status is not the biggest problem in kosovo, its standards- of living, and for albanians; no, investors do not spend money in half-baked states with no un seat, a history of violence and huge crime and corruption; yes, we could impose economic blockade, but personally i'm not convinced we should. kosovo will be the poorest region in europe without our help and there's no need for people to point fingers at us when they report about european gaza.
but you know our government looks dead set to impose blockade so what can we do.
or, we could all work out a compromise.
either way we dont really care, because from this point of view, no un recongition for kosovo, things have changed 360 degrees for us compared to a year ago. now we know that we can partition kosovo if we must and now we know that kosovo can declare what they want but can never be a real state. so kosovo's choices will punish it economically, which is not something a lot of people in serbia will be losing sleep over i have to say. over here the worst is well over for us in serbia and the country's progressing steadily in every area. even if we misbehave over kosovo, europe is so frightened of radicals in power it will not even slap us on the wrist. if albanians try violence in valley they know who's waiting for troublemakers. and that's all. we can play this game of poker for the next 30, 50 years. can you?

Would Kosovo be prepared to offer the same to its Northern, Serbian regions?
(Peter Sudyka, 29 November 2007 14:02)
Absolutely Peter. Symetrical approach for both regions.

Kosovars made painful concessions to Ahtisaari.Decentralisation of the country and the
rights that were offered to minorities are unpreceedented.
All this exageration was made to make Serbia cooperate, however this was prevented by Russia.
Many feel that Kosovars therfore are not obliged to respect Ahtisaari Plan.
Should offer no more rights to minorities than any other democratic country, and NO decentralisation of the country.
Unless Serbia and Russia cooperate:
Indipendence for Kosovo, no adoption of Ahtisaari Plan.

"“It is impossible to reach a compromise between two sovereignties on one territory, Serbia’s and the Kosovo Albanians’, and I don’t see a way of Serbia establishing sovereignty over the territory again,” Server said. "
It happened both in Krajina and in Serb part of Bosnia.

Alba-Eagle

"Preshevo wide autonomy."

Would Kosovo be prepared to offer the same to its Northern, Serbian regions?

A person with common sense

smile
you said "yes, we could impose economic blockade, but personally i'm not convinced we should. kosovo will be the poorest region in europe without our help and there's no need for people to point fingers at us"

That will only hurt the Serbian economy but wont effect Kosovo for too long since Kosovo has open borders with Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro.. Kosovo has no great need from Serbia economically,it will take its markets elsewhere. that is what kosovars desire ,rejection on anything Serbian, self determination has been calling on this for years!!

i've written this before, as have others -- the serb diaspora are their own worst enemies. daily i read of their demands that the albanians "compromise" (do as they're told) and meanwhile the diaspora voices pour out their thinly veiled antipaty and denigration of those same albanians. NO ethnic albanians could ever read these posts, day after day, and think, "Oh, yes, we should compromise with these reasonable people." rather they are thinking: we must get as far away from their jurisdiction and interference as is humanly pssible, or risk the lives of our people, our children's futures. and again, with each new day come even more threats, and on and on and on. you of the S- diaspora do not have to search, far and wide, for yr real and imagined enemies: US, albania, germany, europe, "muslim fundamentalists," croats, tito, etc. all you need to do is look into the mirror...

once again, i am so sorry that i don't read serbo-croatian (S/C/B) to see if native serbs give out a different, more pragmatic and compromising tone in their own comments and posts. i would like to see this as perhaps a topic of future conversations.

and again i congratulate all citizens of kosovo/a for the upcoming independence, and wish you the best from america (north) and from freedom-loving people around the world.

Absolutely Peter. Symetrical approach for both regions.
(village-bey, 29 November 2007 15:50)

I really hope that both sides are willing to make such concessions in the name of stability and peace. I think nothing can stop Kosovo independence, though this would have been a good compromize from the Pristina camp during the talks.

It's surreal how we get two conflicting articles on B92. The first has the UN Secretary General saying that there is still room for compromise and calls for more time.

Serbs cheer, Albanians boo.

Then of course, we have the US position, which, knowing it is going to cash in with an independent Kosovo, is already sounding the warnings that all attempts at finding a compromise have failed, if there was a compromise we would have found it, and so since there is no compromise, it's just best that we give independence to Kosovo.

Albanians cheer, Serbs boo.

Since when did reaching a stalemate mean that one side's argument be simply implemented? Here we have two sides trying to debate, with neither side surmounting the other for all this time. The bell rings, time is up, and we remain entrenched. How some can now call for one's side to just be implemented when there is still opposition to the plan, is beyond me. Rather, I feel a solution will be imposed that will make both sides simultaneouly happy and frustrated: Kosovo will be adminitratively detached from Serbia, but not given sovereign status. It will probably remain an EU Mandate for at least 20 years. Government in Pristina will be localized and decentralized, and in all likelihood, an EU High Commissioner such as we see in Bosnia will take over executive powers. The more Washington pushes for its own way, the more the other side will push back.

Toni of UK, You NAILED IT.

That's the truth and Kosova should declare independence, with no more or less right for minorities as in other EU 'democracies' and no decentralization of power except for certain local services.

There is NO such place on the maps of the world as kosova or kosovars - enough of this already!

Exactly right! Ahtisaari Plan is still the best deal that Serbian minority of Kosova could ever get, but at this point it is useless that Albanians give in to all those ridiculous demands that no other State is required to provide to a minority of 100,000 people. No Ahtisaari Plan! Full Independence and Souvereignity for Kosova Now!

I suggest to Serbia to recodnise Kosovo as State and give to Preshevo wide autonomy. This is the way for Serbia to get in Nato and EU

“It is impossible to reach a compromise between two sovereignties on one territory, Serbia’s and the Kosovo Albanians’, and I don’t see a way of Serbia establishing sovereignty over the territory again,” Server said.
The above statemant explains everything. No further coments.

Right on Mister Server! Things have to be spelled out clearly to the Serbs again and again otherwise they get this childish illusion that they can dictate their ridiculous terms to the world and the US.

"anything else would provoke negative reactions from the Kosovo Albanians"
There is an implicit threat and support of Kosovo Albianian violence in this statement.

"In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said."

Wrong. It is exactly the other way around. Washington is the one who's been trying to dictate to Belgrade, Russia and just about everyone else who to recognize.

So many false statements coming from Mr Server. Serbia does not need to establish sovereignty over Kosovo, she already has it but Albanians do not hence the fight in UN. Also noone is denying US the right to recognise Serbia that is another sovereign country, but not Kosovo that is only a province of a sovereign country.
Anyway, the only alternative to compromise is war but noone supports it hence a compromise has no alternatives.

“I think it would be a lot better to reach the decision in the UN Security Council based on the Ahtisaari plan, with the protection of the Serb minority. In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said.


And of course, Russia, China and Serbia has every right to recognize the independent state of Republika Srpska after that.

If not territoral integrity is important in the balkans there will be consequenses for all nations, not only in the balkans.

"In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said."

I think gives it all away - compromise had no chance in these talks because the US is bent on flgrant abuse of international law and norms and choose to be purposefully ignorant of th predictable consequences and ill-prepared for the unpredictable. I think the US administration can no longer lead the world with their failure of analysis of the flagant attack at the UN via its abuse of the UN SC Resolution that they formulated, signed and agreed to obligated to - in which case Sovereignity of all nations including the US no longer have any validity - in yeurs to come they can hardly expect to retain the South West if they have enforced such an abrupt and flagrant precedent that undermines Sovereignity.

The months to come will give the US an opportunity to analyse and refelect on what they propose and I think when it really sinks in they might put things off again seeing as it is very clear that there can be no UN sponsored imposition of such US folly on the Soverieign and UN recognised Republic of Serbia - the UN Succesor to FR Yugoslavia and as affirmed in UN SC 1244.

Quite ironic and preditable that illegal methods are being suggested by the ethnic-Albanians leadership who represent less than 45% of the local electotare in this Serbian province.

Would Kosovo be prepared to offer the same to its Northern, Serbian regions?
(Peter Sudyka, 29 November 2007 14:02)
Absolutely Peter. Symetrical approach for both regions.

Smile
Im glad that you brought the poker up. Any player will know that when the chips are down it is time to shake hands and wave goodbye. You say that you might have misbehaved in Kosova and that my friend must be the understatement of the century.
You played a heavy hand and you bluff was called. Now we need to look forward move away from this brinkmanship.
The point that Peter was making is a fair one as it relates to the perceptions of each other. After all that has happened equality should be the main principle that regulates our relationship to minorities. What is good for Serbs should be good enough for Albanians and vice versa.
If after independence Serbia chooses to make life difficult, communities on both sides will suffer. No one will benefit from your doom and gloom scenario. As neighbours our fates are intrinsically linked. The European Gaza scenario was always a possibility if Kosova was left under Serbias suzerainty. With an independent Kosova in sight, western Balkans will certainly be a much better place for our kids.

A person with common sense

Kosovars made painful concessions to Ahtisaari.Decentralisation of the country and the
rights that were offered to minorities are unpreceedented.
All this exageration was made to make Serbia cooperate, however this was prevented by Russia.
Many feel that Kosovars therfore are not obliged to respect Ahtisaari Plan.
Should offer no more rights to minorities than any other democratic country, and NO decentralisation of the country.
Unless Serbia and Russia cooperate:
Indipendence for Kosovo, no adoption of Ahtisaari Plan.

“The right of a sovereign country such as the U.S. to recognize another sovereign country cannot be denied. In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said.

Sure, if the veneer of international law and agreements is stripped away by this administration, then in time Republika Srpska will be recognised as a sovereign country. And if the US refuses, their own 'recognitions' will be ignored by other major powers. With the recognition of 'Kosovo', they will plunge their own foreign policy into chaos and their power will wane.

In any case, Belgrade will no longer dictate to Washington what states it can and cannot recognize,” Server said.

Is it needed to make any further comment. This is not about the law any longer and this is not about the right and wrong. This is all about the offence. Washington felt ofended by Belgrade's rejection, Washington cannot accept the fact that Belgrade, that small Serbia dares to say NO to Washington. How Belgrade dares to say Washington that does not accept partition of its country. The world's cop No.1 cannot be disobeyed.
Washington cannot accept the fact that they are failing everywhere and all its frustrations will break over Serbia. Washington cannot possibly accept that Belgrade win this game. That would be such a slap to thier policy. EU as USA's puppet will once again do thier best to save the USA's highly damaged reputation and camouflage the real Washington's failure.

I just read these guys comments and have so much trouble linking the name of his organisation with his world view. I don't know anything about the Washington Institute for Peace, but he sure sounds like a member of Bush's public service.

Mr. Serwer, talk to Mr. Putin. No UN recognition of the illegal and immoral 'greater albania' project, means no redrawing of borders, period. Deal with it.
Cheers!

Symetrical approach for both regions.
(village-bey, 29 November 2007 15:50)

hah good one village bey, and btw what a phenomenal nick :), i appreciate your sense of humor and it's showing here.
but you know as well as i do that all these regions, presevo, north and south kosovo, are all serbian.
don't know if peter knows this though but why should he :)
if they werent serbian you wouldn't be encouraging yourself silly with your "de facto, de facto, soon to be" mantra.
so i don't know about de facto but here are facts:
yes, you can declare independence; no, you will not be able to keep north under any kind of control; no, the rest of kosovo will not be a real country; no, status is not the biggest problem in kosovo, its standards- of living, and for albanians; no, investors do not spend money in half-baked states with no un seat, a history of violence and huge crime and corruption; yes, we could impose economic blockade, but personally i'm not convinced we should. kosovo will be the poorest region in europe without our help and there's no need for people to point fingers at us when they report about european gaza.
but you know our government looks dead set to impose blockade so what can we do.
or, we could all work out a compromise.
either way we dont really care, because from this point of view, no un recongition for kosovo, things have changed 360 degrees for us compared to a year ago. now we know that we can partition kosovo if we must and now we know that kosovo can declare what they want but can never be a real state. so kosovo's choices will punish it economically, which is not something a lot of people in serbia will be losing sleep over i have to say. over here the worst is well over for us in serbia and the country's progressing steadily in every area. even if we misbehave over kosovo, europe is so frightened of radicals in power it will not even slap us on the wrist. if albanians try violence in valley they know who's waiting for troublemakers. and that's all. we can play this game of poker for the next 30, 50 years. can you?

smile
you said "yes, we could impose economic blockade, but personally i'm not convinced we should. kosovo will be the poorest region in europe without our help and there's no need for people to point fingers at us"

That will only hurt the Serbian economy but wont effect Kosovo for too long since Kosovo has open borders with Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro.. Kosovo has no great need from Serbia economically,it will take its markets elsewhere. that is what kosovars desire ,rejection on anything Serbian, self determination has been calling on this for years!!

"“It is impossible to reach a compromise between two sovereignties on one territory, Serbia’s and the Kosovo Albanians’, and I don’t see a way of Serbia establishing sovereignty over the territory again,” Server said. "
It happened both in Krajina and in Serb part of Bosnia.

Alba-Eagle

"Preshevo wide autonomy."

Would Kosovo be prepared to offer the same to its Northern, Serbian regions?

Absolutely Peter. Symetrical approach for both regions.
(village-bey, 29 November 2007 15:50)

I really hope that both sides are willing to make such concessions in the name of stability and peace. I think nothing can stop Kosovo independence, though this would have been a good compromize from the Pristina camp during the talks.

It's surreal how we get two conflicting articles on B92. The first has the UN Secretary General saying that there is still room for compromise and calls for more time.

Serbs cheer, Albanians boo.

Then of course, we have the US position, which, knowing it is going to cash in with an independent Kosovo, is already sounding the warnings that all attempts at finding a compromise have failed, if there was a compromise we would have found it, and so since there is no compromise, it's just best that we give independence to Kosovo.

Albanians cheer, Serbs boo.

Since when did reaching a stalemate mean that one side's argument be simply implemented? Here we have two sides trying to debate, with neither side surmounting the other for all this time. The bell rings, time is up, and we remain entrenched. How some can now call for one's side to just be implemented when there is still opposition to the plan, is beyond me. Rather, I feel a solution will be imposed that will make both sides simultaneouly happy and frustrated: Kosovo will be adminitratively detached from Serbia, but not given sovereign status. It will probably remain an EU Mandate for at least 20 years. Government in Pristina will be localized and decentralized, and in all likelihood, an EU High Commissioner such as we see in Bosnia will take over executive powers. The more Washington pushes for its own way, the more the other side will push back.

Lets thank the US (my country) for spliting up the Balkans along ethnic lines. Most states their are almost monoethnic except for Serbia. Kosovo declairs independence, N-Kosovo will do the same, & the RS, well thats only a matter of time. If the Albanians here would rather live in poverty in S-Kosovo than enter the EU with Serbia, well so be it. I'm sure the criminal sector of S-Kosovos economy will thrive. Declair your independence & have a very merry christmas.

Toni of UK, You NAILED IT.

That's the truth and Kosova should declare independence, with no more or less right for minorities as in other EU 'democracies' and no decentralization of power except for certain local services.

i've written this before, as have others -- the serb diaspora are their own worst enemies. daily i read of their demands that the albanians "compromise" (do as they're told) and meanwhile the diaspora voices pour out their thinly veiled antipaty and denigration of those same albanians. NO ethnic albanians could ever read these posts, day after day, and think, "Oh, yes, we should compromise with these reasonable people." rather they are thinking: we must get as far away from their jurisdiction and interference as is humanly pssible, or risk the lives of our people, our children's futures. and again, with each new day come even more threats, and on and on and on. you of the S- diaspora do not have to search, far and wide, for yr real and imagined enemies: US, albania, germany, europe, "muslim fundamentalists," croats, tito, etc. all you need to do is look into the mirror...

once again, i am so sorry that i don't read serbo-croatian (S/C/B) to see if native serbs give out a different, more pragmatic and compromising tone in their own comments and posts. i would like to see this as perhaps a topic of future conversations.

and again i congratulate all citizens of kosovo/a for the upcoming independence, and wish you the best from america (north) and from freedom-loving people around the world.

There is NO such place on the maps of the world as kosova or kosovars - enough of this already!