Rehn: Serbia at crossroads

don´t worry Alex,

Serbia will be part of the EU anyway, and with kosovo as an integral part of it.

the question is only when.

remarks of the kind Mr.Rehn has made ... are so unimportant.., they are being said every year. it´s mere lip-service.

thanks a lot for the nice wishes, and of course same to you.

To all Serbs worldwide:
May you all have a peaceful and prosperous 2008 and despite all the propaganda, may the world recognise what fine and honourable people you are.

I also wish the K-Albanians a happy new year in the hope that despite their grievances they realise that their ambitions are contrary to natural justice.

Mr Rehn is repeating himself each year on the 31.December by saying that Serbia is at crossroads. Sure, the very next year Serbia will be still at crossroads with Kosovo within its boundaries.

Happy New Year to all of you dear posters and to b92 staffs.

I’m not the kind of guy that agrees with Mr. Kostunica very often. Nevertheless, his recent statement about Serbian position in Europe is something I can completely agree with. We are part of the Europe, geographically and historically. We shouldn’t fool ourselves as a nation that the only way we can enter Europe is with scarifying 15% of our territory. In fact, we shouldn’t sacrifice anything. Sooner or later European Union will be at our doorsteps begging us to join. In the meantime we should follow examples of other successful European countries that are doing just fine without the membership of European Union.
Perhaps we can offer a trade to European Union. We’ll give them Kosovo in exchange to 15% of France or maybe 15% of Germany. Serbian negotiation team needs to learn how to negotiate.

Thank you for the well wishes Alksander.

I do not see good neighborly relations happening between Kosovo and Serbia, simply because the Serbian perspective is totally being ignored.

Franco-German relations were not improved by the Versailles peace treaty after World War I, since its main goal was to punish Germany. The Ahtissari plan and Ramboulliet were conceived to punish Serbs and that's why they will not work in the long run either.

Furthermore, if Albanians really want good relations with Serbs they will do something immediately positive with the Serbian community in Kosovo. Everybody is watching what you will do not what you will say. If the last 8 years is any indication of how you intend to treat Serbs, then don't expect anything less to be returned from the Serbian side.

To Clean Cut: Do the Slovenia comparison with any former Yugo territory, whether it is before EU or after EU, and you get the same result. Thus, your comparison is not valid.

Moreover, Serbia will be integrating with Europe regardless of Kosovo. So I don't see your point. Lastly, I think adjectives like poor, uncertain, and at the cross roads better describe Kosovo under the Albanians than Serbia. I would also add adjectives like corrupt, crime ridden, and unproductive to Kosovo.

Enough with the "Serbia at the Crossroads" cliche. Analysts have been saying that for years and it is clear that Serbia is, and always was, within the European circle. The only problem is certain loud voices in the international community bent on stigmatizing Serbia as the proverbial cause of all misery and problems in Southeastern Europe while exonerating other state governments and other interested parties. Once Serbia ceases to be treated as some pariah state that constantly needs to be punished, and once other states like Washington view Serbia as a sovereign nation and not prospective real estate to be carved up, Serbia will easily become the integrated state everyone wants it to be.

Again, as I have repeated my self over and over...

10 years ago the EU would of been a organization that should of been fought tooth and nail to get into. Even with the fact that they illegally bombed us. However that would be only for our personal interest.

Now it is different.. the EU is not the world anymore. Russia is rising, China is rising, India is rising.. we are not Macedonia or Albania who needs the EU. We are better off than Albania, Macedonia and even Bosnia and Bulgaria. These Liberal jerk-offs try to scare Serbs living in Serbia to think otherwise but it is not true.

Iam not a conspiracy theorist
but i believe that EU has been economical with the truth with regards to Kosovo.
Two of the basic principles
of EU are multiethnic and
multicultural societies
whithin the framework of the
same country.Furthermore,the
EU legal apparatus supersedes
that of a member.In other
words all countries must
abide to EU law.This alone
eliminates the principle of
an independent country.Why
then the EU didn't try to
resolve Kosovo's status by
rewarding Serbia membership
and provide Kosovo extensive
autonomy whithin the existing federation.This is
where USA comes into play.
The idea of independent kosovo is to serve the USA
geopolitical interests.

We Kosovars hope for a European perspective for Serbia. Looking at today's Franco-German or Polish-German relations, we can be certain that Kosovo and Serbia will have a better future as good neighbors in the European family.

I wish you all a very joyful New Year's eve tonight. Careful with drinking :) To those who follow the Julian calendar - Merry Christmas/Srecan Bozic/Gëzuar Krishtlindjet.

We're at crossroads every year, I'd say.

Slovenia and Serbia: both parts of ex-Yugooslavia, now independent.

Slovenia: Pro-western, in EU.
Serbia: Pro-Russian, nowhere.

Slovenia: rich, prosperous country.
Serbia: poor, uncertainty, in the crossroads.

Now, if you look from the outside at these two entities, you would normally think that something is really wrong with Serbia.

Now, if you look from the outside at these two entities, you would normally think that something is really wrong with Serbia.
(Clean Cut, 31 December 2007 16:27)

Yes Clean Cut one gets this impression on French, German, English and US sites.

Clean Cut just wants to totally ignore the idea that Slovenia isn't under threat of dismemberment from the EU and The United States and is not being held responsible for indicted non-citizens who just happen to share the same ethnicity.

Same old,same old...

My wife and I wish all of you a Happy New Year for those celebrating tonight, and to our Serb brothers and sisters a Happy Christmas.

It seems the EU is at this particular crossroad. They have two paths they can choose.

1. Follow international law and ensure Resolution 1244 is implemented properely.

2. Follow the illegal path and recognise Kosovo out of the UN framework and laws.

Serbia knows what it wants, to suggest they are at a point where they must choose is incorrect.

I just believe the EU are being more than a little sly with the reality.

Dont worry Jovan,

Kosova and Serbia will be good neighbors and finally we will have stability in the Balkans.

thanks a lot Tom, same to you over there in Ireland.

AlboSwe:

amazing, you believe to be somehow original by copying me?
that´s your weakness, openly displayed.

but, in order to make even you understand what is meant:
you forget UNSC 1244...

Mladen,

You should be an adviser to Kostanica. As a result I am sure rich EU countries would line up begging for your favor and offer billions of euros. Seeing that the Russians would offer billions of rubels. It is a win-win situation. I think this will be a fantastic year for Serbia.

Joe:

Can you please offer some ideas. If you oppose something Mladen or anybody else says, use some facts and logic to discuss it. My guess, is that most of your arguments lack strength and that's why you turn to ridicule.

Dont worry Jovan,

Kosova and Serbia will be good neighbors and finally we will have stability in the Balkans.

Slovenia and Serbia: both parts of ex-Yugooslavia, now independent.

Slovenia: Pro-western, in EU.
Serbia: Pro-Russian, nowhere.

Slovenia: rich, prosperous country.
Serbia: poor, uncertainty, in the crossroads.

Now, if you look from the outside at these two entities, you would normally think that something is really wrong with Serbia.

We Kosovars hope for a European perspective for Serbia. Looking at today's Franco-German or Polish-German relations, we can be certain that Kosovo and Serbia will have a better future as good neighbors in the European family.

I wish you all a very joyful New Year's eve tonight. Careful with drinking :) To those who follow the Julian calendar - Merry Christmas/Srecan Bozic/Gëzuar Krishtlindjet.

Now, if you look from the outside at these two entities, you would normally think that something is really wrong with Serbia.
(Clean Cut, 31 December 2007 16:27)

Yes Clean Cut one gets this impression on French, German, English and US sites.

Mr Rehn is repeating himself each year on the 31.December by saying that Serbia is at crossroads. Sure, the very next year Serbia will be still at crossroads with Kosovo within its boundaries.

Happy New Year to all of you dear posters and to b92 staffs.

Same old,same old...

We're at crossroads every year, I'd say.

Mladen,

You should be an adviser to Kostanica. As a result I am sure rich EU countries would line up begging for your favor and offer billions of euros. Seeing that the Russians would offer billions of rubels. It is a win-win situation. I think this will be a fantastic year for Serbia.

don´t worry Alex,

Serbia will be part of the EU anyway, and with kosovo as an integral part of it.

the question is only when.

remarks of the kind Mr.Rehn has made ... are so unimportant.., they are being said every year. it´s mere lip-service.

thanks a lot for the nice wishes, and of course same to you.

Thank you for the well wishes Alksander.

I do not see good neighborly relations happening between Kosovo and Serbia, simply because the Serbian perspective is totally being ignored.

Franco-German relations were not improved by the Versailles peace treaty after World War I, since its main goal was to punish Germany. The Ahtissari plan and Ramboulliet were conceived to punish Serbs and that's why they will not work in the long run either.

Furthermore, if Albanians really want good relations with Serbs they will do something immediately positive with the Serbian community in Kosovo. Everybody is watching what you will do not what you will say. If the last 8 years is any indication of how you intend to treat Serbs, then don't expect anything less to be returned from the Serbian side.

To Clean Cut: Do the Slovenia comparison with any former Yugo territory, whether it is before EU or after EU, and you get the same result. Thus, your comparison is not valid.

Moreover, Serbia will be integrating with Europe regardless of Kosovo. So I don't see your point. Lastly, I think adjectives like poor, uncertain, and at the cross roads better describe Kosovo under the Albanians than Serbia. I would also add adjectives like corrupt, crime ridden, and unproductive to Kosovo.

Clean Cut just wants to totally ignore the idea that Slovenia isn't under threat of dismemberment from the EU and The United States and is not being held responsible for indicted non-citizens who just happen to share the same ethnicity.

My wife and I wish all of you a Happy New Year for those celebrating tonight, and to our Serb brothers and sisters a Happy Christmas.

Again, as I have repeated my self over and over...

10 years ago the EU would of been a organization that should of been fought tooth and nail to get into. Even with the fact that they illegally bombed us. However that would be only for our personal interest.

Now it is different.. the EU is not the world anymore. Russia is rising, China is rising, India is rising.. we are not Macedonia or Albania who needs the EU. We are better off than Albania, Macedonia and even Bosnia and Bulgaria. These Liberal jerk-offs try to scare Serbs living in Serbia to think otherwise but it is not true.

Iam not a conspiracy theorist
but i believe that EU has been economical with the truth with regards to Kosovo.
Two of the basic principles
of EU are multiethnic and
multicultural societies
whithin the framework of the
same country.Furthermore,the
EU legal apparatus supersedes
that of a member.In other
words all countries must
abide to EU law.This alone
eliminates the principle of
an independent country.Why
then the EU didn't try to
resolve Kosovo's status by
rewarding Serbia membership
and provide Kosovo extensive
autonomy whithin the existing federation.This is
where USA comes into play.
The idea of independent kosovo is to serve the USA
geopolitical interests.

Enough with the "Serbia at the Crossroads" cliche. Analysts have been saying that for years and it is clear that Serbia is, and always was, within the European circle. The only problem is certain loud voices in the international community bent on stigmatizing Serbia as the proverbial cause of all misery and problems in Southeastern Europe while exonerating other state governments and other interested parties. Once Serbia ceases to be treated as some pariah state that constantly needs to be punished, and once other states like Washington view Serbia as a sovereign nation and not prospective real estate to be carved up, Serbia will easily become the integrated state everyone wants it to be.

I’m not the kind of guy that agrees with Mr. Kostunica very often. Nevertheless, his recent statement about Serbian position in Europe is something I can completely agree with. We are part of the Europe, geographically and historically. We shouldn’t fool ourselves as a nation that the only way we can enter Europe is with scarifying 15% of our territory. In fact, we shouldn’t sacrifice anything. Sooner or later European Union will be at our doorsteps begging us to join. In the meantime we should follow examples of other successful European countries that are doing just fine without the membership of European Union.
Perhaps we can offer a trade to European Union. We’ll give them Kosovo in exchange to 15% of France or maybe 15% of Germany. Serbian negotiation team needs to learn how to negotiate.

To all Serbs worldwide:
May you all have a peaceful and prosperous 2008 and despite all the propaganda, may the world recognise what fine and honourable people you are.

I also wish the K-Albanians a happy new year in the hope that despite their grievances they realise that their ambitions are contrary to natural justice.

thanks a lot Tom, same to you over there in Ireland.

AlboSwe:

amazing, you believe to be somehow original by copying me?
that´s your weakness, openly displayed.

but, in order to make even you understand what is meant:
you forget UNSC 1244...

It seems the EU is at this particular crossroad. They have two paths they can choose.

1. Follow international law and ensure Resolution 1244 is implemented properely.

2. Follow the illegal path and recognise Kosovo out of the UN framework and laws.

Serbia knows what it wants, to suggest they are at a point where they must choose is incorrect.

I just believe the EU are being more than a little sly with the reality.

Joe:

Can you please offer some ideas. If you oppose something Mladen or anybody else says, use some facts and logic to discuss it. My guess, is that most of your arguments lack strength and that's why you turn to ridicule.