"Only Security Council can interpret 1244"

Mika - He didn't say that at all. He said that in his opinion it would be impossible to sue individual nations for recognising Kosovo's independence.

That doesn't mean that other punitive measures couldn't be taken or that legal action of another kind would be impossible.

It certainly doesn't mean that independence is inevitable.

At last to hear something smart from Serbian side, my credits goes to Vojin Dimitrijević, who showed a lot of courage in explaining to Serbians what is unpreventable:Kosovo indenpendance. I just wonder are the bells ringing lought enought for people in Serbia to hear them?

1244 is a blank null document which everybody signed, because it cannot be applied in reality without genocide and ethnic cleansning from serbian side, and thus is invalid.
whoever signed it, must have been more carefull and read first what was in it, and see if those points were achievable or not.
But instead that points in 1244 are unrealistic and is like signing a resolution saying serbia have sovreignty over the tibet, and dai lai lama and kostunica sign it.

Kate: The only problems Serbia can create concern the North, but were it to do anything there I think the Serbs in the rest of Kosova would pay the price. Because if Serbia claims that part as the Serb part of Kosova, the remaining Serb population would be so small as to make any talk of autonomy a joke.
And seriously, who do you think Serbia could ever scare with the threat of punitive measures? Nobody, not even Kosova, Albania and Macedonia. let alone the EU or NATO. The David and Goliath posturing may play well in domestic politics but it doesn't really work any further than that.

SK,

I agree that laws change from time to time...but in this particular case, UNSC 1244 is the law, and I do not see how it could be changed!

so, you should better conform to it, instead of dreaming dreams...

Serbia is just about to start a process of stabilization and ... you know ...the EU, ...and guess what, if Serbia enters the EU with UNSC 1244 in effect, then...my dear SK,..even the EU will have to protect and ensure Serbia´s borders, no matter what they "declare" now...
because without the blessing of the UNSC... recognitions are not "holy documents of eternal validity"...

let´s see what future brings!

Stan,

since it is late, and I don´t wanna waste more time today..I´ll cut it short...

there can´t be spoken of a world-conspiracy against Serbia, since the majority of countries in the world are upholding international law and the rule of the UN.

not only Russia,China,South Africa, Slovakia, Romania, Indonesia etc. ... many others..actually,
it´s a minority of countries that wishes to breach international law...the usual suspects, if you don´t mind that expression: the USA, UK and some vassals...

so, trying to be cynical can only backfire, my dear...

inform youself more properly, so that you can contribute something better here!

A law is worthless unless it is executed. You can say that 1244 is the final word, international law, but no one wants to execute it...than it means nothing. Laws change all the time.

I am not sure what "other punitive measures" could be taken against the U.S., E.U., Australia, or let's say Montenegro, Croatia, Hungary, or even against Kossovo.
When it comes to relationships it's a two way street. It is precisely because of this inexplicable and bizarre mentality displayed in one of the comments here (and often times present in Belgrade's official policy) that Serbia has been doing so well during these past fifteen years. I do not exclude the possibility of a world conspiracy against Milosevic and now Kostunica, but then I end up questioning myself and reality kicks in. A wolf should never be entrusted with the herd.

1244 is the defacto law - no interpretation needed.

Without 1244 the government of Kosovo is Serbia and the Serbian army has full right of entry. Further, without 1244 the UN, NATO, (or whoever else) has no right to be there.

With 1244 the international community has the permission to negotiate a form of autonomous self government for Kosovo. Not (in my reading of 1244) independence however.

Bob, in case you are not aware about Serbian army I will fill you in, as follows: Serbian army will never step a foot in Kosovoa again and by the way they are confined into their baracks in Serbia proper. If you don't beleive come to Kosova and see it for yourself.

To Jovan:

Your language reminds me that of Milosevic and his still alive cohorts.

There are a couple of things in your posting that trigger my humble response.

You write that my comment (you call it cynical but I think it's devoid of any emotion) "can only backfire." I am not used to any backfiring, but I've seen a lot documentaries and testimonies that describe your kins "firing at the back" of non-Serbs.

Now, I don't think I'm an authority on Serbian matters as you suggest that I should inform myself properly, but I understand that after the atrocities commited against another ethnicity, nobody has legal or moral right to rule over them. Let me make an anology with the relationship between a married couple. After beating up almost daily the partner, the perpatrator is enraged because the court accepts the request for divorce and acknowledges the victimized partner the right not only to divorce but also that of ownership of the property, until the divorce under the name of both partners. And that's here where we differ. What I believe is that the court has not gone far enough. It should slam the criminal in jail for quite a few years. Whereas you keep referring to the marriage papers and vows, and keep bringing up in your argument what your cousin or my friend, or whoever sides with you. It doen't matter whether it is the fishmonger or the mailman. What else to ask here. Law? International law? What about the impossibility of living together? Nobody wants to live with an abusive partner, especially one who has nothing nice to say or do, but is just looking for another chance so that s/he does not lose the property deed. That young man, is what I call telling the truth, and not an expression of cynicism.

At last to hear something smart from Serbian side, my credits goes to Vojin Dimitrijević, who showed a lot of courage in explaining to Serbians what is unpreventable:Kosovo indenpendance. I just wonder are the bells ringing lought enought for people in Serbia to hear them?

1244 is a blank null document which everybody signed, because it cannot be applied in reality without genocide and ethnic cleansning from serbian side, and thus is invalid.
whoever signed it, must have been more carefull and read first what was in it, and see if those points were achievable or not.
But instead that points in 1244 are unrealistic and is like signing a resolution saying serbia have sovreignty over the tibet, and dai lai lama and kostunica sign it.

Mika - He didn't say that at all. He said that in his opinion it would be impossible to sue individual nations for recognising Kosovo's independence.

That doesn't mean that other punitive measures couldn't be taken or that legal action of another kind would be impossible.

It certainly doesn't mean that independence is inevitable.

Kate: The only problems Serbia can create concern the North, but were it to do anything there I think the Serbs in the rest of Kosova would pay the price. Because if Serbia claims that part as the Serb part of Kosova, the remaining Serb population would be so small as to make any talk of autonomy a joke.
And seriously, who do you think Serbia could ever scare with the threat of punitive measures? Nobody, not even Kosova, Albania and Macedonia. let alone the EU or NATO. The David and Goliath posturing may play well in domestic politics but it doesn't really work any further than that.

A law is worthless unless it is executed. You can say that 1244 is the final word, international law, but no one wants to execute it...than it means nothing. Laws change all the time.

SK,

I agree that laws change from time to time...but in this particular case, UNSC 1244 is the law, and I do not see how it could be changed!

so, you should better conform to it, instead of dreaming dreams...

Serbia is just about to start a process of stabilization and ... you know ...the EU, ...and guess what, if Serbia enters the EU with UNSC 1244 in effect, then...my dear SK,..even the EU will have to protect and ensure Serbia´s borders, no matter what they "declare" now...
because without the blessing of the UNSC... recognitions are not "holy documents of eternal validity"...

let´s see what future brings!

I am not sure what "other punitive measures" could be taken against the U.S., E.U., Australia, or let's say Montenegro, Croatia, Hungary, or even against Kossovo.
When it comes to relationships it's a two way street. It is precisely because of this inexplicable and bizarre mentality displayed in one of the comments here (and often times present in Belgrade's official policy) that Serbia has been doing so well during these past fifteen years. I do not exclude the possibility of a world conspiracy against Milosevic and now Kostunica, but then I end up questioning myself and reality kicks in. A wolf should never be entrusted with the herd.

Stan,

since it is late, and I don´t wanna waste more time today..I´ll cut it short...

there can´t be spoken of a world-conspiracy against Serbia, since the majority of countries in the world are upholding international law and the rule of the UN.

not only Russia,China,South Africa, Slovakia, Romania, Indonesia etc. ... many others..actually,
it´s a minority of countries that wishes to breach international law...the usual suspects, if you don´t mind that expression: the USA, UK and some vassals...

so, trying to be cynical can only backfire, my dear...

inform youself more properly, so that you can contribute something better here!

1244 is the defacto law - no interpretation needed.

Without 1244 the government of Kosovo is Serbia and the Serbian army has full right of entry. Further, without 1244 the UN, NATO, (or whoever else) has no right to be there.

With 1244 the international community has the permission to negotiate a form of autonomous self government for Kosovo. Not (in my reading of 1244) independence however.

Bob, in case you are not aware about Serbian army I will fill you in, as follows: Serbian army will never step a foot in Kosovoa again and by the way they are confined into their baracks in Serbia proper. If you don't beleive come to Kosova and see it for yourself.

To Jovan:

Your language reminds me that of Milosevic and his still alive cohorts.

There are a couple of things in your posting that trigger my humble response.

You write that my comment (you call it cynical but I think it's devoid of any emotion) "can only backfire." I am not used to any backfiring, but I've seen a lot documentaries and testimonies that describe your kins "firing at the back" of non-Serbs.

Now, I don't think I'm an authority on Serbian matters as you suggest that I should inform myself properly, but I understand that after the atrocities commited against another ethnicity, nobody has legal or moral right to rule over them. Let me make an anology with the relationship between a married couple. After beating up almost daily the partner, the perpatrator is enraged because the court accepts the request for divorce and acknowledges the victimized partner the right not only to divorce but also that of ownership of the property, until the divorce under the name of both partners. And that's here where we differ. What I believe is that the court has not gone far enough. It should slam the criminal in jail for quite a few years. Whereas you keep referring to the marriage papers and vows, and keep bringing up in your argument what your cousin or my friend, or whoever sides with you. It doen't matter whether it is the fishmonger or the mailman. What else to ask here. Law? International law? What about the impossibility of living together? Nobody wants to live with an abusive partner, especially one who has nothing nice to say or do, but is just looking for another chance so that s/he does not lose the property deed. That young man, is what I call telling the truth, and not an expression of cynicism.