"Inter-ethnic hatred could lead to partition"

Slovenia, dont you worry. Your independence will be very short lived. We remember how you were greeting the Nazis with open arms. How happy you were to join Yugoslavia after the war. Also dont be scared when you get abandoned by your friends again to save their own skins. CCCC

"Inter-ethnic hatred could lead to partition"

All the more reason to hold off on a final status and return to building up Kosovo's infrastructures first.

If we know partition is a very likely outcome, if we know Serb flight may very well ensue, then why are we so adamantly determined to give premature political status to a region that can't stand up on its own without massive international aid?

It will take at least two generations for Serb-Albanian reconciliation to manifest. Premature independence will tear the region apart, and there doesn't appear to be anything besides non-existant goodwill written on some piece of paper that is going to guarantee inter-ethnic cooperation.

Standards before Status: why have we apparently disregarded this?

Doni, we do not want to "take our people" anyhwere, we just want our people to stay where they belong in their own country. But if you insist we will be happy to "give you your people back", you are free to take them back to their country called Albania.

Partition is a good idea but... Are Serbs (and I am one of them) ready to betray their history, their religion? To leave Gracanica, Pecka Patrijarsija, Veliki Decani, Dusan's city in Prizren? I do not think so! I urge some comentators here to worry their own worrys and to leave Vojvodina to Serbia and people of Vojvodina to think about it. And boys forget about Presevo valley your pathetic little lies worked ones with west (if that was not just politics) but will not work ever again. And as for Slovenians they would say things they are saying, they were first to break up Yugoslavia now they are determined to break up Serbia.

why is B92 focusing on the words of the slovenian guy?

he certainly has no say, it´s the Russians and USA, and to a certain extent the EU...but, for heavens sake, why are you concentrating so much on him?

if you have no news, you bring some news. right?

I said it many times & I'll say it again, partition is the end result. Serbia will not walk away empty handed. Serbia will take the north with little protest from the IC. & the valley is well guarded if they try amything.

Doni: We've been throught his before, however we all know the international community does not want this issue to go outside of the borders of Kosovo. Once they do so, all that talk about Kosovo not being a precedent flies into the garbage can.(If it's not there already)

You should also already know that Presevo's fate and Kosovo's are two different things as far as the international community is concerned. For example, just look at the way the western powers turned their backs a few years ago on the Albanian rebels of Presevo and let the Serbs clean their clocks.

In short, As for the idea of trading Albanian populated areas for Serbian one goes, I can't say I'm totally against it, however a few things need to be analyzed besides population, such as history, political and economic viability as well as the long term stability of the region.

Trading Northern Kosovo(southern Raska)for the Presevo Valley is not a fair trade. Serbs already control the Presevo valley as well as Northern Mitrovica, so the Albanians are not trading with anything that is theirs.

In such a situation the Serbs would already be making the greatest concession, which would be letting go over their recognized sovereign rights in Kosovo.

Thus, the only workable partition is for Serbs to give up the much larger area of Southern Kosovo and the Albanians give up the smaller piece of Northern Kosovo. Albanians would still ending getting much more out of the deal than the Serbs.

Vojvodina? hats rich...this must be albanians best dream, the total break up of the Serbian state. thankfully is a very poor poor dream.

Presevo ain't going no where, Kosovo as a whole is Serbia's forever but rest assured you wont set one foot into N-Kosovo, if you split so do they, and your family in Presevo can do nothing about it.

You comments Doni only serve to provoke. They bare no facts or logic, you are just worried and angry that you will lose N-Kosovo which has all the natural resources in the province and without it you will have nothing. Well, thats too bad for you.

If there is a partition, Serbia would come out the winner any way. Vojvodina will not be separating. Too many Serbs live there. Northern Kosovo will join with Serbis as will RS. This will only make Serbia bigger and stronger.

Serbs will not have to deal with people that only whinge and demand any more and will be able to keep them out of their country. Now as citizens they constantly cause trouble and are a constant headache for Serbia.
What will the rest of Kosovo have. Unemployment, crime and human and drug trafficiang. I doubt that Albania will want them to join anyway.

Partition might only give Serbia more loyal citizens and land while confining Albanians to ghetos that Serbs are in now.

It's pretty obvious that the
recognition of Kosovo by a
number of states will lead to
partitions in other Balkan
states ie Bosnia,F.Y.R macedonia and Kosovo itself.
These partitions will not
occur peacefully and a lot
of people wiil suffer.

Are they barely realizing that this is where Kosovo is going. It wasn't smart to have any preconditions when determining the status of Kosovo. Partition remains the only option on settling this dispute where both sides can claim victory without having to kill each other.

He should not be stressing that it could lead to partion, he should stress that the EU will do everything in its power to prevent partion of Kosovo.

If Kosovo is to become independent, it must be within the recognized borders. The only reason why technically this should not set a precedent is because the UN is administering the region (the only card the US and EU can play with regards to this being a "sui generis" case, though personally I believe this holds as much weight as Russia's "UNSCR1244" argument) and not Serbia (the only thing that differs this from Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdniestr, Nagorno-Karabakh etc.).

Ethnically dividing Kosovo would definitely cause a precedent, if not another Balkan War. Presevo Valley CANNOT become a part of Kosovo, same way that North Kosovo CANNOT become a part of Serbia). Ideally, NATO and Russia should enter Kosovo upon declaration of independence and with the utmost seriousness and effort, prevent ethnic violence between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, especially by cracking down on Serbian nationalist groups and Albanian terrorist groups.

Peter you fail to see how they can trust Serbia and you understand how they must feel after suffering for 20 years.
Bravo, you finally went to Albanian side.
Peter, who lives behind barbed wire and why? Are the Serbs behind wire because they cannot be trusted, or are they behind wire because Albanians cannot be trusted?

What about all the ethnic cleansing that went on for decades before the war. By this I mean the ethnic cleansing done by the Albanians. Too many Serbs lived in fear and had to sell and move to Serbia in order to secure a safe trip to school for their kids.

It was the Serbs who suffered to decades.

I simply cannot believe that you have said those things.

Shame on you.

He is right. Seeds of hatred have been spread all over not only by Serbs, but Albanians as well, and both sides are now reaping the sour fruits of such an attitude. The opposite should be the outcome: both nations should act together in tolerance and cooperation.

serbia will also be affected in vojvodina relation and the partition of presevo valley.
lets make thing fair and clear here. if you want to take your people give us our people

"Ethnically dividing Kosovo would definitely cause a precedent, if not another Balkan War. Presevo Valley CANNOT become a part of Kosovo, same way that North Kosovo CANNOT become a part of Serbia). Ideally, NATO and Russia should enter Kosovo upon declaration of independence and with the utmost seriousness and effort, prevent ethnic violence between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, especially by cracking down on Serbian nationalist groups and Albanian terrorist groups.
(Peter Sudyka, 23 December 2007 18:45) "

Peter

I don't get you. Why would dividing Serbia not cause a precedent while dividing Kosovo would????

Secondly, regarding your prediction of another war, my question is: who are going to be fighting who in this new war? K-Serbs won't be invading Pristina obviously, neither will Nato allow the K-Albanians to threaten the Serbs. In any case the Albanians would, at least for PR reasons, want to appear peace-loving people to the world during the crucial days following their independence declaration when they hope recognition from many countries will follow soon. Maybe you are talking about Bosnia -- despite the rhetoric, I don't think Srpska will use Kosovo's partition to secede unless they have Belgrade's and Moscow's full support to do so, which is unlikely. Serbia is a signatory to Dayton which recognizes Bosnia's current borders.

Finally North Kosovo is already occupied and administered by Serbs. That is the reality on the ground. That's why I think there will be de facto partition of Kosovo at the Ibar when Pristina declares independence.

Clean cut does you unltra nationalism blind you so much that you cannot see the North is not under Albanian control and will stay will Serbia if Kosovo is stolen?
Partition of Belgrade? That does not even make any sense
I must laugh ha ha at your emotional childish comment.With the wests backing of the most extreme elements in Albanian society tehy have made Kosovo much more difficult to resolve.Serbia and Albanians could have solved this long ago.

"There is gonna be no partition of Kosova. If one thinks that will happen, they should be prepared for a partition of Belgrade as well. Keep that in mind neighbours.
(Clean Cut, 24 December 2007 00:49)"

And pray tell how will there be a partition of Belgrade? I am just dying to know. But I don't believe you have a logical answer to my question.

Garry...

the can live together, and they will live together within Serbia.

those attempts to speak in favor of a partition are nothing more than the ineffectual attempt to get at least the south of Serbia´s southern province...but, that won´t happen either.

the Russian marine squadron hasn´t even arrived in the mediterranean and some are already getting nervous here...

=)

just sit back and wait...

no doni,

I don´t think Russians will fight for Serbia... don´t be naive,...that won´t be neccessary.

Serbia can very well fight for itself, it doesn´t need any help.

it´s the K-albanians who are desperate without their american masters..., but don´t misjudge the Serbs...

Russia is only securing that there is no breach of international law.

you don´t seem to see it yet, but you will. and let me tell you, it will be good for all who live in Serbia, not only for the Serbs, but also for the K-albanians.

Clean Cut. What are you talking about? Who is going to ask for partition of Belgrade?

Leave your wishful thinking out of a serious conversation.

One thing certain is that Serbs and Albanians cannot possibly live together.The
only solution would be for a
negotiated settlement with
exhange of population and
land.I know the historical
arguments on both sides but
they owe it to future
generations if they want to
avoid future conflicts

you think rusian will fight for serbs.
serbia is insignificant to russians

Doni, nobody is denying your right to be in charge of your life, or to have the privacy you want. All you have to do is go across the border to Albania and you can have as much independence as you wish.

Rupeland Slovenia propaganda problems so-called undivided Adriatic Sea and open bordering issue. If we start redrawing borders Southeast Europe could fall off track again with open bordering issue, with nasty repercussions for everyone. Slovenia now a part of the EU gang, is not the only country, EU's land grab crime is lower then we as a free people can prosses.

There is gonna be no partition of Kosova. If one thinks that will happen, they should be prepared for a partition of Belgrade as well. Keep that in mind neighbours.

Iowe

The thing is that Serbia has no administrative control over Kosovo, ie. the government has no decision-making power in the region. The UN is administering it for the moment, and the only link that Serbia has to it is the borders are legally recognized within it. Of course I disagree with breaking international law in recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, but it is going to happen anyway so everyone might as well be prepared for it.

Unfortunately even the UNSC cannot prevent the US and EU from recognizing Kosovo. Taiwan also exists without UNSC backing, as does Palestine, it's not something that will stop recognition of independence. Sad but true, I disagree with it, but what else can we do about it?

OK fair enough, maybe there won't be a war, but violence definitely if this independence doesn't go through, and it may very well be not only in Northern Kosovo, but also Presevo Valley. While I agree that violence cannot be rewarded, I don't feel they are doing it because they hate Serbs, or whateve,r only because of what they endured during the last 20 years. I fail to see how they can trust Serbia.

peter,

congratulations, finaly I agree 100% with you.
we dont hate serbs, but they must understand that we need to be incharge of our lives, we need privacy, we want to be free and independent like anyone in the balkans, like croatia, slovenia, bosnia, macedonia, montenegro and serbia.
If they want still to be on our backs, that will be unacceptable.

Doni: We've been throught his before, however we all know the international community does not want this issue to go outside of the borders of Kosovo. Once they do so, all that talk about Kosovo not being a precedent flies into the garbage can.(If it's not there already)

You should also already know that Presevo's fate and Kosovo's are two different things as far as the international community is concerned. For example, just look at the way the western powers turned their backs a few years ago on the Albanian rebels of Presevo and let the Serbs clean their clocks.

In short, As for the idea of trading Albanian populated areas for Serbian one goes, I can't say I'm totally against it, however a few things need to be analyzed besides population, such as history, political and economic viability as well as the long term stability of the region.

Trading Northern Kosovo(southern Raska)for the Presevo Valley is not a fair trade. Serbs already control the Presevo valley as well as Northern Mitrovica, so the Albanians are not trading with anything that is theirs.

In such a situation the Serbs would already be making the greatest concession, which would be letting go over their recognized sovereign rights in Kosovo.

Thus, the only workable partition is for Serbs to give up the much larger area of Southern Kosovo and the Albanians give up the smaller piece of Northern Kosovo. Albanians would still ending getting much more out of the deal than the Serbs.

serbia will also be affected in vojvodina relation and the partition of presevo valley.
lets make thing fair and clear here. if you want to take your people give us our people

There is gonna be no partition of Kosova. If one thinks that will happen, they should be prepared for a partition of Belgrade as well. Keep that in mind neighbours.

It's pretty obvious that the
recognition of Kosovo by a
number of states will lead to
partitions in other Balkan
states ie Bosnia,F.Y.R macedonia and Kosovo itself.
These partitions will not
occur peacefully and a lot
of people wiil suffer.

you think rusian will fight for serbs.
serbia is insignificant to russians

peter,

congratulations, finaly I agree 100% with you.
we dont hate serbs, but they must understand that we need to be incharge of our lives, we need privacy, we want to be free and independent like anyone in the balkans, like croatia, slovenia, bosnia, macedonia, montenegro and serbia.
If they want still to be on our backs, that will be unacceptable.

Slovenia, dont you worry. Your independence will be very short lived. We remember how you were greeting the Nazis with open arms. How happy you were to join Yugoslavia after the war. Also dont be scared when you get abandoned by your friends again to save their own skins. CCCC

He should not be stressing that it could lead to partion, he should stress that the EU will do everything in its power to prevent partion of Kosovo.

If Kosovo is to become independent, it must be within the recognized borders. The only reason why technically this should not set a precedent is because the UN is administering the region (the only card the US and EU can play with regards to this being a "sui generis" case, though personally I believe this holds as much weight as Russia's "UNSCR1244" argument) and not Serbia (the only thing that differs this from Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transdniestr, Nagorno-Karabakh etc.).

Ethnically dividing Kosovo would definitely cause a precedent, if not another Balkan War. Presevo Valley CANNOT become a part of Kosovo, same way that North Kosovo CANNOT become a part of Serbia). Ideally, NATO and Russia should enter Kosovo upon declaration of independence and with the utmost seriousness and effort, prevent ethnic violence between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, especially by cracking down on Serbian nationalist groups and Albanian terrorist groups.

Are they barely realizing that this is where Kosovo is going. It wasn't smart to have any preconditions when determining the status of Kosovo. Partition remains the only option on settling this dispute where both sides can claim victory without having to kill each other.

why is B92 focusing on the words of the slovenian guy?

he certainly has no say, it´s the Russians and USA, and to a certain extent the EU...but, for heavens sake, why are you concentrating so much on him?

if you have no news, you bring some news. right?

He is right. Seeds of hatred have been spread all over not only by Serbs, but Albanians as well, and both sides are now reaping the sour fruits of such an attitude. The opposite should be the outcome: both nations should act together in tolerance and cooperation.

"Inter-ethnic hatred could lead to partition"

All the more reason to hold off on a final status and return to building up Kosovo's infrastructures first.

If we know partition is a very likely outcome, if we know Serb flight may very well ensue, then why are we so adamantly determined to give premature political status to a region that can't stand up on its own without massive international aid?

It will take at least two generations for Serb-Albanian reconciliation to manifest. Premature independence will tear the region apart, and there doesn't appear to be anything besides non-existant goodwill written on some piece of paper that is going to guarantee inter-ethnic cooperation.

Standards before Status: why have we apparently disregarded this?

I said it many times & I'll say it again, partition is the end result. Serbia will not walk away empty handed. Serbia will take the north with little protest from the IC. & the valley is well guarded if they try amything.

Doni, we do not want to "take our people" anyhwere, we just want our people to stay where they belong in their own country. But if you insist we will be happy to "give you your people back", you are free to take them back to their country called Albania.

Partition is a good idea but... Are Serbs (and I am one of them) ready to betray their history, their religion? To leave Gracanica, Pecka Patrijarsija, Veliki Decani, Dusan's city in Prizren? I do not think so! I urge some comentators here to worry their own worrys and to leave Vojvodina to Serbia and people of Vojvodina to think about it. And boys forget about Presevo valley your pathetic little lies worked ones with west (if that was not just politics) but will not work ever again. And as for Slovenians they would say things they are saying, they were first to break up Yugoslavia now they are determined to break up Serbia.

Vojvodina? hats rich...this must be albanians best dream, the total break up of the Serbian state. thankfully is a very poor poor dream.

Presevo ain't going no where, Kosovo as a whole is Serbia's forever but rest assured you wont set one foot into N-Kosovo, if you split so do they, and your family in Presevo can do nothing about it.

You comments Doni only serve to provoke. They bare no facts or logic, you are just worried and angry that you will lose N-Kosovo which has all the natural resources in the province and without it you will have nothing. Well, thats too bad for you.

If there is a partition, Serbia would come out the winner any way. Vojvodina will not be separating. Too many Serbs live there. Northern Kosovo will join with Serbis as will RS. This will only make Serbia bigger and stronger.

Serbs will not have to deal with people that only whinge and demand any more and will be able to keep them out of their country. Now as citizens they constantly cause trouble and are a constant headache for Serbia.
What will the rest of Kosovo have. Unemployment, crime and human and drug trafficiang. I doubt that Albania will want them to join anyway.

Partition might only give Serbia more loyal citizens and land while confining Albanians to ghetos that Serbs are in now.

Clean Cut. What are you talking about? Who is going to ask for partition of Belgrade?

Leave your wishful thinking out of a serious conversation.

Clean cut does you unltra nationalism blind you so much that you cannot see the North is not under Albanian control and will stay will Serbia if Kosovo is stolen?
Partition of Belgrade? That does not even make any sense
I must laugh ha ha at your emotional childish comment.With the wests backing of the most extreme elements in Albanian society tehy have made Kosovo much more difficult to resolve.Serbia and Albanians could have solved this long ago.

"There is gonna be no partition of Kosova. If one thinks that will happen, they should be prepared for a partition of Belgrade as well. Keep that in mind neighbours.
(Clean Cut, 24 December 2007 00:49)"

And pray tell how will there be a partition of Belgrade? I am just dying to know. But I don't believe you have a logical answer to my question.

"Ethnically dividing Kosovo would definitely cause a precedent, if not another Balkan War. Presevo Valley CANNOT become a part of Kosovo, same way that North Kosovo CANNOT become a part of Serbia). Ideally, NATO and Russia should enter Kosovo upon declaration of independence and with the utmost seriousness and effort, prevent ethnic violence between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, especially by cracking down on Serbian nationalist groups and Albanian terrorist groups.
(Peter Sudyka, 23 December 2007 18:45) "

Peter

I don't get you. Why would dividing Serbia not cause a precedent while dividing Kosovo would????

Secondly, regarding your prediction of another war, my question is: who are going to be fighting who in this new war? K-Serbs won't be invading Pristina obviously, neither will Nato allow the K-Albanians to threaten the Serbs. In any case the Albanians would, at least for PR reasons, want to appear peace-loving people to the world during the crucial days following their independence declaration when they hope recognition from many countries will follow soon. Maybe you are talking about Bosnia -- despite the rhetoric, I don't think Srpska will use Kosovo's partition to secede unless they have Belgrade's and Moscow's full support to do so, which is unlikely. Serbia is a signatory to Dayton which recognizes Bosnia's current borders.

Finally North Kosovo is already occupied and administered by Serbs. That is the reality on the ground. That's why I think there will be de facto partition of Kosovo at the Ibar when Pristina declares independence.

One thing certain is that Serbs and Albanians cannot possibly live together.The
only solution would be for a
negotiated settlement with
exhange of population and
land.I know the historical
arguments on both sides but
they owe it to future
generations if they want to
avoid future conflicts

Garry...

the can live together, and they will live together within Serbia.

those attempts to speak in favor of a partition are nothing more than the ineffectual attempt to get at least the south of Serbia´s southern province...but, that won´t happen either.

the Russian marine squadron hasn´t even arrived in the mediterranean and some are already getting nervous here...

=)

just sit back and wait...

no doni,

I don´t think Russians will fight for Serbia... don´t be naive,...that won´t be neccessary.

Serbia can very well fight for itself, it doesn´t need any help.

it´s the K-albanians who are desperate without their american masters..., but don´t misjudge the Serbs...

Russia is only securing that there is no breach of international law.

you don´t seem to see it yet, but you will. and let me tell you, it will be good for all who live in Serbia, not only for the Serbs, but also for the K-albanians.

Iowe

The thing is that Serbia has no administrative control over Kosovo, ie. the government has no decision-making power in the region. The UN is administering it for the moment, and the only link that Serbia has to it is the borders are legally recognized within it. Of course I disagree with breaking international law in recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, but it is going to happen anyway so everyone might as well be prepared for it.

Unfortunately even the UNSC cannot prevent the US and EU from recognizing Kosovo. Taiwan also exists without UNSC backing, as does Palestine, it's not something that will stop recognition of independence. Sad but true, I disagree with it, but what else can we do about it?

OK fair enough, maybe there won't be a war, but violence definitely if this independence doesn't go through, and it may very well be not only in Northern Kosovo, but also Presevo Valley. While I agree that violence cannot be rewarded, I don't feel they are doing it because they hate Serbs, or whateve,r only because of what they endured during the last 20 years. I fail to see how they can trust Serbia.

Doni, nobody is denying your right to be in charge of your life, or to have the privacy you want. All you have to do is go across the border to Albania and you can have as much independence as you wish.

Peter you fail to see how they can trust Serbia and you understand how they must feel after suffering for 20 years.
Bravo, you finally went to Albanian side.
Peter, who lives behind barbed wire and why? Are the Serbs behind wire because they cannot be trusted, or are they behind wire because Albanians cannot be trusted?

What about all the ethnic cleansing that went on for decades before the war. By this I mean the ethnic cleansing done by the Albanians. Too many Serbs lived in fear and had to sell and move to Serbia in order to secure a safe trip to school for their kids.

It was the Serbs who suffered to decades.

I simply cannot believe that you have said those things.

Shame on you.

Rupeland Slovenia propaganda problems so-called undivided Adriatic Sea and open bordering issue. If we start redrawing borders Southeast Europe could fall off track again with open bordering issue, with nasty repercussions for everyone. Slovenia now a part of the EU gang, is not the only country, EU's land grab crime is lower then we as a free people can prosses.