Lavrov blames U.S. for Kosovo deadlock

It’s unfortunate but true, had the U.S taken Russia’s standpoint of a solution only acceptable to both sides, a compromise would have been reached.

Of course the US and its followers have completely undermined the Troika talks. Anyone objective can see that.

Cyprus, Spain and some other EU countries will not bend to bypassing UN procedure, because they personally will encounter problems as a result. Germany also is clearly concerned about supporting independence.

Any attempt to prise away Serbian territory via the UN is going to be vetoed not just by Russia, but also probably by China.

There has to be a negotiated solution implemented quickly and in an organised fashion. This has to include the fulfillment of Resolution 1244 including the return of displaced people and protection of Serbia's sovereignty and heritage.

Therefore this must be written into a new resolution, agreed by all. If the US continues to obstruct a negotiated agreement and keeps on pushing the independence agenda, the consequences will be dire and everyone will lose.

Serbia legally holds this territory and the Kosovo Albanians want to take it from them. The support of such a move by Western governments is shameful.

They need to take a step back and sort this out properly and within international law.

I really must protest to B92 about allowing such rubbish to be published the likes of the one written by KS. He says that Lavrov was an angry child because of the lack of attention so now he vents. Could KS be any more rude? Are we supposed to debate the issue or engage in cheap shots?

I fully agree that the US never intended to find a solution to any of this. They had their agenda and have stuck to it all along. They encouraged the Albanians to keep going for independence and agree to nothing less as they will get it. Why was so much time and money invested in this farce?
We know from past experiences that every time America enters a debate evryone loses but them.

Looks like the US will get their war after all and keep their arms sales at a level they want. In the end they will get a country to rule as well. For how long is a real question. Serbia has always managed to get their people out of slavery and take their land back.

This time it won't be any different but the Albanians will regret this and their grand children will blaim them for setting them back.

When he says US and some other Western countries, he means US and 25 EU countries. I thought this would make his statement clearer to anyone who sees colorful lights at the bottom of the well. Kosova Independence and Souvereignity is a done deal. In a few weeks Europe will have a new state. You will once again have another new neighbour. See you then neighbour! Wish us good luck :-)

Does anyone remember in 1991 when Slovenia & Croatia declared independence that it was Germany and the Vatican who where the only countries to recognize their independence? It took the U.S. two years after that (two years of lobbying & arm twisting by Germany) to recognize their independence. In 1999 Germany used the U.S. military to do its dirty work and also to hide behind the aggressive Superpower knowing that this type of aggression would be more tolerated if the once benevolent U.S. took the lead. I know that Germany says it has reservations about Albanian independence in the Serbian province of Kosovo, but its actions speak louder then words. Make no mistake! Germany is the real power behind the break-up of Yugoslavia and Kosovo is the last piece of the puzzle. In conclusion, the U.S. is a puppet and Germany is the very clever puppet master. History does repeat itself!

This is entirely correct.

It is not a matter of E-W politics, it is a matter of finding the best solution for the Balkans. That would mean persistent negotiation without the threat of violence and without imposed inflexibility. If agreement can be reached that would be far better than a US imposed solution that the EU complies with.

The EU is capable of good negotiation to the benefit of all sides. I cannot understand why their diplomats and politicians are not pursuing that kind of path. They should reconsider.

KS, you have known Mr. Lavrov all your life, haven't you? You lived nextdoor to Lavrov and went to the same school, right? Or maybe you have read Lavrov's autobiography. If not, please do not comment about Mr. Lavrov's psychological development. You might just be very wrong.

Lavrov is just mad because every time he takes a stance, the West disagrees with him and they get their way.

That's Lavrov's legacy, too much air-talk.

Entirely wrong, you guys just don't get it. Kosovar Albanians have wanted independence from Serbia since 1913, while the US only began hinting at supporting conditional or supervised independence in 2005. Even during the NATO bombing in 1999, there were zero statements from US leaders supporting independence, in fact if you read their foreign policy journals and state documents you will continuously see the idea put that Albanians must be granted some kind of autonomy precisely in order to try to satisfy them to curb the desire for independence. It was only after 6 years of seeing the Kosovar Albanian desire had not been curbed one iota that the US and some other countries began to accept the reality, and hence try to condition and supervise the inevitable independence, mostly for the protection of the Serb minority. If today the US said independence was off the table, the Kosovar Albanians would just keep fighting for it. That is the reality we need to deal with, not these myths. Having said all this, I would agree that the US diplomacy over this year has been clumsy and provocative, in a way the causes unnecessarily heated reactions in the country which the US bombed, thus probably creating unnecessary tension, and hardening the Russian position as a result. But that is entirely different to suggesting that the US stance could have made any difference to the K Albanian stance.

"Lavrov as a child was always angry because his parents didn't give him enough attention --- now as a grown up he has become an opposition-man, someone that likes to take the opposite stance you have no matter what.
(KS, 9 December 2007 17:38)"

That's politics KS. Condi on the US side does the same thing. The US and Russia are using you and the Serbs as part of their political game. Neither of them are interested in your national interests. It's all just politics.

Regardless of the fact that I am of the opinion that talks should continue and definition of status goes through a UNSC resolution, I disagree with Mr. Lavrov regarding the authorisation contained in UNSCR 1244 on the international cicilian presence in Kosovo. Paragraphs 5 and 10 of the resolution are clear about international organizations' presence other than the UN, as long as this is done by the Secretary-General, see:
10. Authorizes the Secretary-General, with the assistance of relevant international organizations, to establish an international civil presence in Kosovo in order to provide an interim administration for Kosovo under which the people of Kosovo can enjoy substantial autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and which will provide transitional administration while establishing and overseeing the development of provisional democratic self-governing institutions to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants of Kosovo;

Lavrov as a child was always angry because his parents didn't give him enough attention --- now as a grown up he has become an opposition-man, someone that likes to take the opposite stance you have no matter what.

Mr. Lavrov before blaming the rest of the world take a look at your own country's policy.
Following your logic the compromise will be reached if the US says there is no independence and as a result the Albanians will have to accept autonomy.
Well those whose intellegence you're trying to offend can then follow your own logic and make the following statement.
If Russia stops backing Serbia and makes it clear to them that there is no autonomy, just independence, then a compromise will be reached and as a result Serbia will have to accept the independence of Kosova.
The Russian politics is famous for its hypocrisy Mr. Lavrov and you're just following the tradition by blaming others for doing exactly what you're doing.

P.S With the US or without it we will never give up on independence. It was our blood that was spilled, it is our compromise.

I had a long comment but I realized that I would not change the opinions of anyone here they are etched in stone and non-changeable.
So I will just say that I am proud to be an American and cherish my heritage. I may not agree with the US policy on some things (which is the privilege of living in a land of true freedom) but the US stance on Kosovo is without a doubt 100% the only moral position to take.

I had a long comment but I realized that I would not change the opinions of anyone here they are etched in stone and non-changeable.
So I will just say that I am proud to be an American and cherish my heritage. I may not agree with the US policy on some things (which is the privilege of living in a land of true freedom) but the US stance on Kosovo is without a doubt 100% the only moral position to take.
(skipp5, 10 December 2007 09:50)

Please don't say things that make us all look bad. I'm an American as well and i can say that this is ILLEGAL, it goes against international Law. Skip please keep your views to yourself when it makes the rest of us look like typical ugly Americans. Why don't you keep your views to yourself and think about how much you'll miss W when he's gone.
Kosovo is legally part of Serbia and should remain that way. Sorry Albanians but law is law. hopefully the EU will split on this and stumble. If the US has to go it alone on this one we may think twice about supporting a terrorist state in Europe.

Putin and Lavrov are the real hypocrits, there would have been a solution several months without these pointless talks and threats of a Russian veto. To blame the US and EU for supporting the K Albanians and making them unwilling to compromise, will doing exactly the same with Serbia is just double standards. Can Serbia not see Russia is using you to get at the West.

And who has more rights to land, the people who live there, or politicians in Belgrade who have never been there?

When he says US and some other Western countries, he means US and 25 EU countries. I thought this would make his statement clearer to anyone who sees colorful lights at the bottom of the well. Kosova Independence and Souvereignity is a done deal. In a few weeks Europe will have a new state. You will once again have another new neighbour. See you then neighbour! Wish us good luck :-)

Lavrov is just mad because every time he takes a stance, the West disagrees with him and they get their way.

That's Lavrov's legacy, too much air-talk.

Lavrov as a child was always angry because his parents didn't give him enough attention --- now as a grown up he has become an opposition-man, someone that likes to take the opposite stance you have no matter what.

Mr. Lavrov before blaming the rest of the world take a look at your own country's policy.
Following your logic the compromise will be reached if the US says there is no independence and as a result the Albanians will have to accept autonomy.
Well those whose intellegence you're trying to offend can then follow your own logic and make the following statement.
If Russia stops backing Serbia and makes it clear to them that there is no autonomy, just independence, then a compromise will be reached and as a result Serbia will have to accept the independence of Kosova.
The Russian politics is famous for its hypocrisy Mr. Lavrov and you're just following the tradition by blaming others for doing exactly what you're doing.

P.S With the US or without it we will never give up on independence. It was our blood that was spilled, it is our compromise.

Entirely wrong, you guys just don't get it. Kosovar Albanians have wanted independence from Serbia since 1913, while the US only began hinting at supporting conditional or supervised independence in 2005. Even during the NATO bombing in 1999, there were zero statements from US leaders supporting independence, in fact if you read their foreign policy journals and state documents you will continuously see the idea put that Albanians must be granted some kind of autonomy precisely in order to try to satisfy them to curb the desire for independence. It was only after 6 years of seeing the Kosovar Albanian desire had not been curbed one iota that the US and some other countries began to accept the reality, and hence try to condition and supervise the inevitable independence, mostly for the protection of the Serb minority. If today the US said independence was off the table, the Kosovar Albanians would just keep fighting for it. That is the reality we need to deal with, not these myths. Having said all this, I would agree that the US diplomacy over this year has been clumsy and provocative, in a way the causes unnecessarily heated reactions in the country which the US bombed, thus probably creating unnecessary tension, and hardening the Russian position as a result. But that is entirely different to suggesting that the US stance could have made any difference to the K Albanian stance.

I had a long comment but I realized that I would not change the opinions of anyone here they are etched in stone and non-changeable.
So I will just say that I am proud to be an American and cherish my heritage. I may not agree with the US policy on some things (which is the privilege of living in a land of true freedom) but the US stance on Kosovo is without a doubt 100% the only moral position to take.

It’s unfortunate but true, had the U.S taken Russia’s standpoint of a solution only acceptable to both sides, a compromise would have been reached.

Of course the US and its followers have completely undermined the Troika talks. Anyone objective can see that.

Cyprus, Spain and some other EU countries will not bend to bypassing UN procedure, because they personally will encounter problems as a result. Germany also is clearly concerned about supporting independence.

Any attempt to prise away Serbian territory via the UN is going to be vetoed not just by Russia, but also probably by China.

There has to be a negotiated solution implemented quickly and in an organised fashion. This has to include the fulfillment of Resolution 1244 including the return of displaced people and protection of Serbia's sovereignty and heritage.

Therefore this must be written into a new resolution, agreed by all. If the US continues to obstruct a negotiated agreement and keeps on pushing the independence agenda, the consequences will be dire and everyone will lose.

Serbia legally holds this territory and the Kosovo Albanians want to take it from them. The support of such a move by Western governments is shameful.

They need to take a step back and sort this out properly and within international law.

Regardless of the fact that I am of the opinion that talks should continue and definition of status goes through a UNSC resolution, I disagree with Mr. Lavrov regarding the authorisation contained in UNSCR 1244 on the international cicilian presence in Kosovo. Paragraphs 5 and 10 of the resolution are clear about international organizations' presence other than the UN, as long as this is done by the Secretary-General, see:
10. Authorizes the Secretary-General, with the assistance of relevant international organizations, to establish an international civil presence in Kosovo in order to provide an interim administration for Kosovo under which the people of Kosovo can enjoy substantial autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and which will provide transitional administration while establishing and overseeing the development of provisional democratic self-governing institutions to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants of Kosovo;

This is entirely correct.

It is not a matter of E-W politics, it is a matter of finding the best solution for the Balkans. That would mean persistent negotiation without the threat of violence and without imposed inflexibility. If agreement can be reached that would be far better than a US imposed solution that the EU complies with.

The EU is capable of good negotiation to the benefit of all sides. I cannot understand why their diplomats and politicians are not pursuing that kind of path. They should reconsider.

Does anyone remember in 1991 when Slovenia & Croatia declared independence that it was Germany and the Vatican who where the only countries to recognize their independence? It took the U.S. two years after that (two years of lobbying & arm twisting by Germany) to recognize their independence. In 1999 Germany used the U.S. military to do its dirty work and also to hide behind the aggressive Superpower knowing that this type of aggression would be more tolerated if the once benevolent U.S. took the lead. I know that Germany says it has reservations about Albanian independence in the Serbian province of Kosovo, but its actions speak louder then words. Make no mistake! Germany is the real power behind the break-up of Yugoslavia and Kosovo is the last piece of the puzzle. In conclusion, the U.S. is a puppet and Germany is the very clever puppet master. History does repeat itself!

KS, you have known Mr. Lavrov all your life, haven't you? You lived nextdoor to Lavrov and went to the same school, right? Or maybe you have read Lavrov's autobiography. If not, please do not comment about Mr. Lavrov's psychological development. You might just be very wrong.

"Lavrov as a child was always angry because his parents didn't give him enough attention --- now as a grown up he has become an opposition-man, someone that likes to take the opposite stance you have no matter what.
(KS, 9 December 2007 17:38)"

That's politics KS. Condi on the US side does the same thing. The US and Russia are using you and the Serbs as part of their political game. Neither of them are interested in your national interests. It's all just politics.

I really must protest to B92 about allowing such rubbish to be published the likes of the one written by KS. He says that Lavrov was an angry child because of the lack of attention so now he vents. Could KS be any more rude? Are we supposed to debate the issue or engage in cheap shots?

I fully agree that the US never intended to find a solution to any of this. They had their agenda and have stuck to it all along. They encouraged the Albanians to keep going for independence and agree to nothing less as they will get it. Why was so much time and money invested in this farce?
We know from past experiences that every time America enters a debate evryone loses but them.

Looks like the US will get their war after all and keep their arms sales at a level they want. In the end they will get a country to rule as well. For how long is a real question. Serbia has always managed to get their people out of slavery and take their land back.

This time it won't be any different but the Albanians will regret this and their grand children will blaim them for setting them back.

I had a long comment but I realized that I would not change the opinions of anyone here they are etched in stone and non-changeable.
So I will just say that I am proud to be an American and cherish my heritage. I may not agree with the US policy on some things (which is the privilege of living in a land of true freedom) but the US stance on Kosovo is without a doubt 100% the only moral position to take.
(skipp5, 10 December 2007 09:50)

Please don't say things that make us all look bad. I'm an American as well and i can say that this is ILLEGAL, it goes against international Law. Skip please keep your views to yourself when it makes the rest of us look like typical ugly Americans. Why don't you keep your views to yourself and think about how much you'll miss W when he's gone.
Kosovo is legally part of Serbia and should remain that way. Sorry Albanians but law is law. hopefully the EU will split on this and stumble. If the US has to go it alone on this one we may think twice about supporting a terrorist state in Europe.

Putin and Lavrov are the real hypocrits, there would have been a solution several months without these pointless talks and threats of a Russian veto. To blame the US and EU for supporting the K Albanians and making them unwilling to compromise, will doing exactly the same with Serbia is just double standards. Can Serbia not see Russia is using you to get at the West.

And who has more rights to land, the people who live there, or politicians in Belgrade who have never been there?