Ex-KFOR chief warns of "Kosovo mess"

Kosovo is mess indeed, on that I agree 100%. Finaly something reasonble from the mouth of an Englishman.

However, I must add that before Albanians took it under their rule Kosovo was decent place. The last pictures I have seen form Kosovo left me without breath, I actually wanted to scream out. Streets and roads full of holes. Urbanism is chaos, does not exist. About administration and economy no need to say anything since it's well known. I just wonder where the money they get from the IC goes? Do they invest that money in anything? This is another very important mess too.

"Perhaps the international community's aversion to boundary change should be re-examined in this case," Jackson added.

"The largest concentration of Kosovo Serbs live north of the River Ibar, adjacent to Serbia proper. This small area was transferred from Serbia to Kosovo only 40 years ago. A restoration might have merit."

This is the first time I am reading this piece of info.
So north Kosovo was not historically part of Kosovo proper???? Then that part, with its overwhelming K-Serb majority, should be returned to Serbia proper.

The USA wouldn't give a toss
whether kosovar albanias live
or die if the region wasn't
included in CIA's plans for
future wars against Russia.
Just think of USA's decision
to install misiles in Poland
to protect them from Iran.
The same kind of protection
they offered to
dead iraqis when invaded iraq.Just think, why should
USA fight for independence of
2 million albanians andignore
the independence of 30 million kurds.

Kosovo will not be the last Balkan wound.

It will start a whole series of wounds all over the world.

Kosovo is not worth it. Preserve international law?

Or are we ready to recgonize Tibet, Taiwan and Kurdistan?

Everything is going to be ok if Serrbs accept our independence.

"So what happens to the current UN mission in Kosovo? Do the staff of recognizing countries leave, while those of non-recognizing countries remain? What of KFOR? Will Kosovo qualify for UN membership? "


1. It dissolves itself, under it's own mandate.

2. UN members leave. Otherwise, they'll be working without pay.

3. KFOR will rename itself as EUFOR under it's own NATO mandate.

4. Yes, automatically. Same with EU.

General Jackson, retired, is maybe missing some "action" and maybe is doing some Gun Lobbying. But he is a great guy anyhow.

I had an acquaintance from Leposavic who told me that the area was included into Kosovo by Tito and the communists after WWII to make the % of Serbs living there seem more balanced.

I'm surprised that General Jackson knows about this too. I also agree on his conclusions that a comprehensive solution is what's needed to make the peace long lasting.

"General Jackson, retired, is maybe missing some "action" and maybe is doing some Gun Lobbying. But he is a great guy anyhow.
(Clean Cut, 9 December 2007 15:14)"

now that was an intelligent comment, indeed.

Hasim: wishful thinking. that won´t happen. Kosovo is Serbia, there will come the day that you will understand that.

"For the record it is true that the north was only transferred in the early 1950s, as part of Tito’s concessions to the Serb nationalists (who otherwise hated him) by bolstering the Serb population figures in Kosova. If it goes back to Serbia now, it would only be northern Mitrovica added.

However, while “the largest concentration of Kosovo Serbs: live there, the majority do not. And it is north of the Ibar that Serbs are most secure whatever the arrangement. Partition might save Belgrade’s face, but how it helps Serbs in Gorazdevac or Ohrachovac, or for that matter Gracanica or Novo Brdo, is beyond me. They would be a more isolated, smaller minority."

DimTuc,

The north should go back to Serbia since it is Serbian territory transferred by the communists to Kosovo relatively recently. It is not historic Kosovo territory. I believe not many in the West were aware of this fact before.

Pristina can offer the K-Serbs south of the Ibar all the protection envisaged by Ahtissari and even more as a goodwill gesture. These K-Serbs, being more vulnerable with their reduced numbers, are more likely to accept. Or they can always choose to move north.

The quickest way to the status solution therefore is actually partition although everyone claims to be opposed to it.

"I do not believe the Serbs would be so foolish as to invade Kosovo in the face of KFOR".

There goes more of that western talk about Serbs "invading their own coutry.Just like Serbs invaded and took over 70% of Bosna.Why is it viewed that Serbia would not dare cross KFOR are KFOR some great invincible supermen.The question should be if Serbs got into trouble with Albanians would KFOR not allow Serbs to protect themselves with arms if attacked? Not will Serbs fight KFOR because it is a question of self defense not agression or domination like KFOR is guilty of.Partition is the answer until we can reclaim the rest of Kosovo.History has shown that this area goes to and from rightful Serbian control.And in times when the Albanians or outsiders rule there is massive Serbian persecution.

Jackson:
"The largest concentration of Kosovo Serbs live north of the River Ibar, adjacent to Serbia proper. This small area was transferred from Serbia to Kosovo only 40 years ago. A restoration might have merit."

For the record it is true that the north was only transferred in the early 1950s, as part of Tito’s concessions to the Serb nationalists (who otherwise hated him) by bolstering the Serb population figures in Kosova. If it goes back to Serbia now, it would only be northern Mitrovica added.

However, while “the largest concentration of Kosovo Serbs: live there, the majority do not. And it is north of the Ibar that Serbs are most secure whatever the arrangement. Partition might save Belgrade’s face, but how it helps Serbs in Gorazdevac or Ohrachovac, or for that matter Gracanica or Novo Brdo, is beyond me. They would be a more isolated, smaller minority.

On the other hand, where he says:
"If Kosovo's independence really is to be the last piece of the Balkan jigsaw, there must be an unprecedented generosity of spirit in all concerned," he is right. Whatever further arrangements the K Albanian leadership can offer the K Serbs, up to a possible Serb federated unit in Kosova, the vice-presidency (as Thaci has offered), real measures to encourage return (requiring lots of western cash for resettlement, security etc), should be brought out now, to allow the last period, till March or whenever, to actually be constructive in terms of rebuilding bridges between the tow communities who inevitably have to live together whatever the arrangement.

Everything is going to be ok if Serrbs accept our independence.

General Jackson, retired, is maybe missing some "action" and maybe is doing some Gun Lobbying. But he is a great guy anyhow.

"So what happens to the current UN mission in Kosovo? Do the staff of recognizing countries leave, while those of non-recognizing countries remain? What of KFOR? Will Kosovo qualify for UN membership? "


1. It dissolves itself, under it's own mandate.

2. UN members leave. Otherwise, they'll be working without pay.

3. KFOR will rename itself as EUFOR under it's own NATO mandate.

4. Yes, automatically. Same with EU.

"Perhaps the international community's aversion to boundary change should be re-examined in this case," Jackson added.

"The largest concentration of Kosovo Serbs live north of the River Ibar, adjacent to Serbia proper. This small area was transferred from Serbia to Kosovo only 40 years ago. A restoration might have merit."

This is the first time I am reading this piece of info.
So north Kosovo was not historically part of Kosovo proper???? Then that part, with its overwhelming K-Serb majority, should be returned to Serbia proper.

Kosovo is mess indeed, on that I agree 100%. Finaly something reasonble from the mouth of an Englishman.

However, I must add that before Albanians took it under their rule Kosovo was decent place. The last pictures I have seen form Kosovo left me without breath, I actually wanted to scream out. Streets and roads full of holes. Urbanism is chaos, does not exist. About administration and economy no need to say anything since it's well known. I just wonder where the money they get from the IC goes? Do they invest that money in anything? This is another very important mess too.

The USA wouldn't give a toss
whether kosovar albanias live
or die if the region wasn't
included in CIA's plans for
future wars against Russia.
Just think of USA's decision
to install misiles in Poland
to protect them from Iran.
The same kind of protection
they offered to
dead iraqis when invaded iraq.Just think, why should
USA fight for independence of
2 million albanians andignore
the independence of 30 million kurds.

I had an acquaintance from Leposavic who told me that the area was included into Kosovo by Tito and the communists after WWII to make the % of Serbs living there seem more balanced.

I'm surprised that General Jackson knows about this too. I also agree on his conclusions that a comprehensive solution is what's needed to make the peace long lasting.

Kosovo will not be the last Balkan wound.

It will start a whole series of wounds all over the world.

Kosovo is not worth it. Preserve international law?

Or are we ready to recgonize Tibet, Taiwan and Kurdistan?

Jackson:
"The largest concentration of Kosovo Serbs live north of the River Ibar, adjacent to Serbia proper. This small area was transferred from Serbia to Kosovo only 40 years ago. A restoration might have merit."

For the record it is true that the north was only transferred in the early 1950s, as part of Tito’s concessions to the Serb nationalists (who otherwise hated him) by bolstering the Serb population figures in Kosova. If it goes back to Serbia now, it would only be northern Mitrovica added.

However, while “the largest concentration of Kosovo Serbs: live there, the majority do not. And it is north of the Ibar that Serbs are most secure whatever the arrangement. Partition might save Belgrade’s face, but how it helps Serbs in Gorazdevac or Ohrachovac, or for that matter Gracanica or Novo Brdo, is beyond me. They would be a more isolated, smaller minority.

On the other hand, where he says:
"If Kosovo's independence really is to be the last piece of the Balkan jigsaw, there must be an unprecedented generosity of spirit in all concerned," he is right. Whatever further arrangements the K Albanian leadership can offer the K Serbs, up to a possible Serb federated unit in Kosova, the vice-presidency (as Thaci has offered), real measures to encourage return (requiring lots of western cash for resettlement, security etc), should be brought out now, to allow the last period, till March or whenever, to actually be constructive in terms of rebuilding bridges between the tow communities who inevitably have to live together whatever the arrangement.

"General Jackson, retired, is maybe missing some "action" and maybe is doing some Gun Lobbying. But he is a great guy anyhow.
(Clean Cut, 9 December 2007 15:14)"

now that was an intelligent comment, indeed.

Hasim: wishful thinking. that won´t happen. Kosovo is Serbia, there will come the day that you will understand that.

"For the record it is true that the north was only transferred in the early 1950s, as part of Tito’s concessions to the Serb nationalists (who otherwise hated him) by bolstering the Serb population figures in Kosova. If it goes back to Serbia now, it would only be northern Mitrovica added.

However, while “the largest concentration of Kosovo Serbs: live there, the majority do not. And it is north of the Ibar that Serbs are most secure whatever the arrangement. Partition might save Belgrade’s face, but how it helps Serbs in Gorazdevac or Ohrachovac, or for that matter Gracanica or Novo Brdo, is beyond me. They would be a more isolated, smaller minority."

DimTuc,

The north should go back to Serbia since it is Serbian territory transferred by the communists to Kosovo relatively recently. It is not historic Kosovo territory. I believe not many in the West were aware of this fact before.

Pristina can offer the K-Serbs south of the Ibar all the protection envisaged by Ahtissari and even more as a goodwill gesture. These K-Serbs, being more vulnerable with their reduced numbers, are more likely to accept. Or they can always choose to move north.

The quickest way to the status solution therefore is actually partition although everyone claims to be opposed to it.

"I do not believe the Serbs would be so foolish as to invade Kosovo in the face of KFOR".

There goes more of that western talk about Serbs "invading their own coutry.Just like Serbs invaded and took over 70% of Bosna.Why is it viewed that Serbia would not dare cross KFOR are KFOR some great invincible supermen.The question should be if Serbs got into trouble with Albanians would KFOR not allow Serbs to protect themselves with arms if attacked? Not will Serbs fight KFOR because it is a question of self defense not agression or domination like KFOR is guilty of.Partition is the answer until we can reclaim the rest of Kosovo.History has shown that this area goes to and from rightful Serbian control.And in times when the Albanians or outsiders rule there is massive Serbian persecution.