Coalition crisis deepens with committee clash

Hopefully Kostunica will find some loophole and send the EU’s carrot in the parliament for ratification. It is unbelievable how far DS is ready to go in order to preserve its position. They are ready to sign and accept every kind of rubbish that EU is offering them. Why don’t they come into public and explain people what does that “political deal” actually means in practise. I cannot believe that some people will fall for this.

As for the illegal EU mission, it’s very clear that they are running into disaster. Every move taken by the EU is illegal, literally every step. I am having a nice time learning that Dutch is going to be appointed as an envoy. I thought that Netherlands is the European state that “insists on preserving the law and justice”, at least that kind of messages we could hear prior to Serbia’s signing the SAA which was postponed after Netherlands opposed. I also remember that our foreign minister Vuk Jeremic stated not that long time ago that Netherlands oppose to Kosovo independence and certainly won’t be the one to recognise Kosovo. Seems everything so messy, so amusing and most amusing is the fact that the EU is trying to send mission based on some loophole in resolution 1244, trying to create a new state on the territory of sovereign country breaching the all possible laws. Great, I am amused. Viva la Europe

Ahmet,

this European Union mission - INLUX Kosovo - has funding that barely covers the cost of wages for 2000 staff (all EU personnel not local)for 16 months and as you see it it replaces the UN but what then will provide the economic underpinning of such an illegal entity ? OSCE mission is on a monthly mandate maybe they will have to leave in February ? If the EU is not under UN authorised mandate then what are the EU doing ? Surely then any other "international" organisation and maybe one that respects Serbia's sovereignity has an equal right to send in a mission too - if this is the EU "inlux" legal basis?

Tadic most be so pleased with the EU "firends" that have been so generous to him that they did not even give him a days grace after his narrow victory.

Illegal declarations remain illegal even if there is illegal recognition - this will be a worse situatiion then Status Quo since all the UN funding will no longer exist and there will be very few who would want to invest in a Serbian province with dubious Property rights protection and security!

Oh what a tangled web we weave.....

Nikolic is sitting pretty while the democratic clowns are making fools of them selfs in fighting on empty EU words. The EU is playing the classic game of divide ,conquer and confuse. All the while proceding with their plans of occupying and running Kosovo fore the enlargement of the EU empire.

Serbs and friends.
Time to get a grip here folks. Time for the pro-Tadic and pro-Kostunica posters to stop directing their fire at each other. Please do not let this forum resemble what's happening in the upper echelons of Serbian politics at the moment.

This in-fighting that's going on between DS and DSS is just playing into the hand's of Serbia's enemies.
Somebody should bang Tadic's and Kostunica's heads together until they realise they are on the same side. Because if this behaviour continues, the K-Albanians will sit back and laugh all the way to independence.

Unity! Unity! Unity! There is no other way.

My two cents are that the US and EU both believe that after Kosovo declares independence, they can run another resolution through the UN to legitimize the EU mission and fund it. The resolution wouldn't specifically recognize the UDI, but would say that they EU is replacing UNMIK and call on nations to support the mission. That way anyone can read the resolution any way they want. The US and EU would claim that it doesn't specifically recognize Kosovo's independence, but would allow it to be read that way. This is kind of like the resolution passed by the UN after the US went into Iraq without UN consent. The Administration argued that no new resolution was needed since the previous resolution allowed the use of force to make Saddam comply with UN sanctions but got a new resolution passed legitimizing the invasion after the fact. I see this being the same argument.

But there is a down side to any attempt to run another resolution through the UN. Russia. We've burned the Russians on Serbia in '99 and Iraq in '03. They have stood up against any new sanctions against Iran and I think they will do this again with Kosovo. I'm sure that Kosovo will be recognized by most Muslim countries, the US and some EU countries, but there are 192 countries in the UN and these three groups don't even represent half of them.

I read Thaci's statement today that he put out in the International Herald Tribune asking for investment in Kosovo. I really hope Albania has some money since the quasi-independence status that Kosovo will have will be worse than the status quo.

Tom

According to the EU, Serbia voted for an EU path. The very next day the EU slaps Serbia right in the face. Now that only plays into the hands of Nikolic. He is probably sitting back with a big grin on his face now.

If the EU had a choice between Serbia or Kosovo, what you do think the answer will be? So long as Serbia heads towards the EU path, that choice does not need to be made and the EU can then take both Serbia and Kosovo.

Kostunica is not a silly person. With 6% of Serbia's vote, he actually pulls the strings. He determines who is in power and whether the government exists. He is not silly and I believe he knows more about the EU game than Tadic.

Therefore, I believe Kostunica will do what is necessary to protect Serbia's interests if Tadic fails.

I have no political allegiances but only want what's best for Serbia and the region. It seems there are still some maneuvers Serbia can make so all is not lost!

It is the EU that needs to tread carefully otherwise that choice may come back to haunt it. Serbia or Kosovo?

Kostunica will continue do what he can to block progress in Serbia. When will the Serbian people realize that Kostunica acttually is the man who block the path for a better life for the individual in Serbia? Wake up Serbs, go to the streets and show your support for democracy and back your re-elected President, Boris Tadic. The Belgrade people have before shaown the world that they can back ideas of their own -more than half the voters in Serbia voted for democracy and European integration - that must be an idea of your own! Let Kostiunica be a part of his own and others past. What an idea if b92 tried to make a list of "all the good things" Kostunica made for the Serbian people.
I do not believe they need too many letters to mention this.

ZK UK,

I am right behind you on the Kosovo question but I fundamentally disagree with your assessment.

Let me as an outsider make a few points.

1. I am not concerned whether or not Serbia joins the EU. This is a decision for the people in a referendum. This will be decided in due course.
2. You say: Then we can all say "The EU chose the Nikolic path!" You know, the high moral ground might feel good, but it is a useless place to be when vital national interests are at stake.
3. If this in-fighting continues, the government might fall. What then? Kostunica in coalition with the Radicals? If so, who would be Prime Minister? I cannot see Kostunica playing second fiddle to Nikolic. Meanwhile, the President is at loggerheads with them all. A disaster all round.
4. My main point is that this disunity weakens Serbia in the eyes of the world. It weakens the country's ability to defend its own interests. And it makes it easier for the enemies of the country to have their way.
5. KOCPBO JE CPБИJA

Tom, I have to disagree. This disunity sends a strong message to the EU to tread carefully or they could effectively vote Nikolic into power.

Then we can all say "The EU chose the Nikolic path!"

Yes, Serbia wants an EU path but certainly not at the cost of Kosovo. I'd be more concerned if this crisis didn't occur as it would otherwise clear the way for "perceived" independence.

Cyprus obstained now and will obstain on the 18 of February when Ministers of Council will vote for the EU mission to start deploying immediately on the 19 of February.

People,

Sour grapes are not going to change the election results. Radicals lost.

to ahmet:

You have been writing imaginary dates on this website for how long now? This is what I call day dreaming.

to all of our western teachers: serbia voted for her president!

we aren´t because of tadic´s succes eu-colony, just as we wouldn´t be russian gubernment if nikolic would have won.

this are just phrases so westerners can understand the news!

the eu has simply to stop it´s mission, cause the eu isn´t the un.

the mission is first of all a provocation, cause at least 6 eu-countries won´t recognize kosovo, what means that the pseudo state won´t ever be un- , eu- or nato- or world-bank member.

so why a eu-mission?

the dreams of indiependent kosovo have been killed 1,5 years ago.

eusa can still dream about it, but the pseudo-state still won´t be a state!

People keep saying that this EU mission is illegal, but it is not. It says in 1244 that the UN can work with other international organisations.

bmrussila - you call this a loophole, but whether something is a loophole merely depends on whether it agrees or disagrees with what you want to happen. One could call the statement about Serbian sovereignty in Kosovo in the preamble a 'loophole', as the preamble is not normally legally binding.

The EU mission is not synonymous with independence and has not been stated as such.

Kostunica refuses to listen to the majority of voters who voted against Nicolic on Sunday. His latest about-turn threatens an EU co-operation that features a negotiation to end visa restrictions in EU for Serbs. Maybe he does not want Serbs to travel, as they will see how the rest of Europe thinks and behaves, and they would return and boot him and his incomptent party from power.

Cyprus obstained now and will obstain on the 18 of February when Ministers of Council will vote for the EU mission to start deploying immediately on the 19 of February.

Kostunica will continue do what he can to block progress in Serbia. When will the Serbian people realize that Kostunica acttually is the man who block the path for a better life for the individual in Serbia? Wake up Serbs, go to the streets and show your support for democracy and back your re-elected President, Boris Tadic. The Belgrade people have before shaown the world that they can back ideas of their own -more than half the voters in Serbia voted for democracy and European integration - that must be an idea of your own! Let Kostiunica be a part of his own and others past. What an idea if b92 tried to make a list of "all the good things" Kostunica made for the Serbian people.
I do not believe they need too many letters to mention this.

Kostunica refuses to listen to the majority of voters who voted against Nicolic on Sunday. His latest about-turn threatens an EU co-operation that features a negotiation to end visa restrictions in EU for Serbs. Maybe he does not want Serbs to travel, as they will see how the rest of Europe thinks and behaves, and they would return and boot him and his incomptent party from power.

People keep saying that this EU mission is illegal, but it is not. It says in 1244 that the UN can work with other international organisations.

bmrussila - you call this a loophole, but whether something is a loophole merely depends on whether it agrees or disagrees with what you want to happen. One could call the statement about Serbian sovereignty in Kosovo in the preamble a 'loophole', as the preamble is not normally legally binding.

The EU mission is not synonymous with independence and has not been stated as such.

People,

Sour grapes are not going to change the election results. Radicals lost.

to ahmet:

You have been writing imaginary dates on this website for how long now? This is what I call day dreaming.

Hopefully Kostunica will find some loophole and send the EU’s carrot in the parliament for ratification. It is unbelievable how far DS is ready to go in order to preserve its position. They are ready to sign and accept every kind of rubbish that EU is offering them. Why don’t they come into public and explain people what does that “political deal” actually means in practise. I cannot believe that some people will fall for this.

As for the illegal EU mission, it’s very clear that they are running into disaster. Every move taken by the EU is illegal, literally every step. I am having a nice time learning that Dutch is going to be appointed as an envoy. I thought that Netherlands is the European state that “insists on preserving the law and justice”, at least that kind of messages we could hear prior to Serbia’s signing the SAA which was postponed after Netherlands opposed. I also remember that our foreign minister Vuk Jeremic stated not that long time ago that Netherlands oppose to Kosovo independence and certainly won’t be the one to recognise Kosovo. Seems everything so messy, so amusing and most amusing is the fact that the EU is trying to send mission based on some loophole in resolution 1244, trying to create a new state on the territory of sovereign country breaching the all possible laws. Great, I am amused. Viva la Europe

Ahmet,

this European Union mission - INLUX Kosovo - has funding that barely covers the cost of wages for 2000 staff (all EU personnel not local)for 16 months and as you see it it replaces the UN but what then will provide the economic underpinning of such an illegal entity ? OSCE mission is on a monthly mandate maybe they will have to leave in February ? If the EU is not under UN authorised mandate then what are the EU doing ? Surely then any other "international" organisation and maybe one that respects Serbia's sovereignity has an equal right to send in a mission too - if this is the EU "inlux" legal basis?

Tadic most be so pleased with the EU "firends" that have been so generous to him that they did not even give him a days grace after his narrow victory.

Illegal declarations remain illegal even if there is illegal recognition - this will be a worse situatiion then Status Quo since all the UN funding will no longer exist and there will be very few who would want to invest in a Serbian province with dubious Property rights protection and security!

Oh what a tangled web we weave.....

Nikolic is sitting pretty while the democratic clowns are making fools of them selfs in fighting on empty EU words. The EU is playing the classic game of divide ,conquer and confuse. All the while proceding with their plans of occupying and running Kosovo fore the enlargement of the EU empire.

Serbs and friends.
Time to get a grip here folks. Time for the pro-Tadic and pro-Kostunica posters to stop directing their fire at each other. Please do not let this forum resemble what's happening in the upper echelons of Serbian politics at the moment.

This in-fighting that's going on between DS and DSS is just playing into the hand's of Serbia's enemies.
Somebody should bang Tadic's and Kostunica's heads together until they realise they are on the same side. Because if this behaviour continues, the K-Albanians will sit back and laugh all the way to independence.

Unity! Unity! Unity! There is no other way.

My two cents are that the US and EU both believe that after Kosovo declares independence, they can run another resolution through the UN to legitimize the EU mission and fund it. The resolution wouldn't specifically recognize the UDI, but would say that they EU is replacing UNMIK and call on nations to support the mission. That way anyone can read the resolution any way they want. The US and EU would claim that it doesn't specifically recognize Kosovo's independence, but would allow it to be read that way. This is kind of like the resolution passed by the UN after the US went into Iraq without UN consent. The Administration argued that no new resolution was needed since the previous resolution allowed the use of force to make Saddam comply with UN sanctions but got a new resolution passed legitimizing the invasion after the fact. I see this being the same argument.

But there is a down side to any attempt to run another resolution through the UN. Russia. We've burned the Russians on Serbia in '99 and Iraq in '03. They have stood up against any new sanctions against Iran and I think they will do this again with Kosovo. I'm sure that Kosovo will be recognized by most Muslim countries, the US and some EU countries, but there are 192 countries in the UN and these three groups don't even represent half of them.

I read Thaci's statement today that he put out in the International Herald Tribune asking for investment in Kosovo. I really hope Albania has some money since the quasi-independence status that Kosovo will have will be worse than the status quo.

Tom, I have to disagree. This disunity sends a strong message to the EU to tread carefully or they could effectively vote Nikolic into power.

Then we can all say "The EU chose the Nikolic path!"

Yes, Serbia wants an EU path but certainly not at the cost of Kosovo. I'd be more concerned if this crisis didn't occur as it would otherwise clear the way for "perceived" independence.

ZK UK,

I am right behind you on the Kosovo question but I fundamentally disagree with your assessment.

Let me as an outsider make a few points.

1. I am not concerned whether or not Serbia joins the EU. This is a decision for the people in a referendum. This will be decided in due course.
2. You say: Then we can all say "The EU chose the Nikolic path!" You know, the high moral ground might feel good, but it is a useless place to be when vital national interests are at stake.
3. If this in-fighting continues, the government might fall. What then? Kostunica in coalition with the Radicals? If so, who would be Prime Minister? I cannot see Kostunica playing second fiddle to Nikolic. Meanwhile, the President is at loggerheads with them all. A disaster all round.
4. My main point is that this disunity weakens Serbia in the eyes of the world. It weakens the country's ability to defend its own interests. And it makes it easier for the enemies of the country to have their way.
5. KOCPBO JE CPБИJA

Tom

According to the EU, Serbia voted for an EU path. The very next day the EU slaps Serbia right in the face. Now that only plays into the hands of Nikolic. He is probably sitting back with a big grin on his face now.

If the EU had a choice between Serbia or Kosovo, what you do think the answer will be? So long as Serbia heads towards the EU path, that choice does not need to be made and the EU can then take both Serbia and Kosovo.

Kostunica is not a silly person. With 6% of Serbia's vote, he actually pulls the strings. He determines who is in power and whether the government exists. He is not silly and I believe he knows more about the EU game than Tadic.

Therefore, I believe Kostunica will do what is necessary to protect Serbia's interests if Tadic fails.

I have no political allegiances but only want what's best for Serbia and the region. It seems there are still some maneuvers Serbia can make so all is not lost!

It is the EU that needs to tread carefully otherwise that choice may come back to haunt it. Serbia or Kosovo?

to all of our western teachers: serbia voted for her president!

we aren´t because of tadic´s succes eu-colony, just as we wouldn´t be russian gubernment if nikolic would have won.

this are just phrases so westerners can understand the news!

the eu has simply to stop it´s mission, cause the eu isn´t the un.

the mission is first of all a provocation, cause at least 6 eu-countries won´t recognize kosovo, what means that the pseudo state won´t ever be un- , eu- or nato- or world-bank member.

so why a eu-mission?

the dreams of indiependent kosovo have been killed 1,5 years ago.

eusa can still dream about it, but the pseudo-state still won´t be a state!