U.S. expert: Autonomy gives Kosovo more than independence

Olf, with due respect, you compare apples to oranges and have no clue what you are talking about.

Personal autonomy is one thing, seccession and theft are another.

Living in a country does not entitle you to snatch it for yourself.


Fairytales of "oppression" are just this, fairytales to divert from the ugly facts.

After June 19, Kosovo Albanian extremists have murdered more than 1000 Kosovo Albanian civilians, sometimes the entire families were wiped out. Such "government" can not be trusted even by Albanians, because it is based on fear.
Other Kosovo citizens can not trust such "government" either, because 75% has been expelled and the remaining live in fear of their own lives, guarded behind barbed wire 24/7. Tens of thousands of houses were stolen or burned down, the businesses looted, lawlessness is the norm of the conduct and signature of Kosovo Albaninan government.

Add to this all murdered Serbs, Roma and others, to get the picture of Albanian victimhood.

Serbian government has no intent to rule over Albanians in Albania or in Kosovo. But Albanians live on Serbian land, in Serbia and they have to respect the country they live in. They have rebelled once, resoprted to terrorism and committed horrendous crimes against fellow Albanians, Serbs and Roma, and it has not changed the fact that Kosovo is Serbia.

Kosovo was NEVER Albanian land and will never be.

Pipe dream of "kosova" is just a pipe dream.

Kosovo Albanians deserve personal authonomy, but this does not entitle them to 15% of Serbia.

Why does B92 allow Alban to post that kind of comment that Kosovo was never Serbian? That is incorrect as any historian will tell you that Kosovo has always been Serbian. The world is trying to give Kosovo Albanians (meaning they come from Albania) a 2nd country, stealing territory away from Serbia. Is that fair to the Serbs?

I would like to add that her observation does not take to the account that the wish of K-Albanians is not to be ruled ever again in their lands by Serbia. - Olf said

-If this makes the only justification to ask for independence than you are playing with empty cards. Imagine the wishes of so many ethnicities in this world who cannot gain even autonomy. Please Olf, before Milosevic you had all in your hands, but instead you misused the trust given by the people. You mistreated Serbs in every possible way, you misused the provincial budget and made Kosovo the poorest region. Hm, but you were not enough of all the misdeeds, instead you went step forward seeking republic. When you could not get it, you continue with even worse misdeeds and when even that did not entirely helped after Milosevic intervened, you choose to boycott all Serbian and began to run parallel institutions. It was your choice; no one else imposed it to you. For once, Albanian should admit that they wanted Kosovo free of Serbs.

You mentioned Albanian in Presevo Valley and wonder what the pointing of the finger at them was. Well, if you think that they suffer because of the Serbs I must tell you that you are wrong. They suffer because of themselves, they cause the pain themselves. If they are unhappy of living in Serbia, they are free to move anywhere that pleases them, no one stops them. But, no, they do not want to move but want to stay there and play factor of instability. They behave just the way K-Albanian did. They boycott Serbian state in all possible ways.

Few months ago Presevo Valley representative Risa Halimi asked Serbian government to treat Albanian students as privileged ones giving them more student grants for studying abroad in Kosovo or Albania. Firstly, he offended Belgrade by treating Kosovo as abroad and secondly what use would Serbia have with the university diplomas from Albania? But the most important question is why Albanians should be treated any differently than any other Serbian students regardless of what ethnicity those students are. Albanian students get exactly the same treatment as any other students in Serbia and their needs are equally taken into consideration. There is no discrimination of Albanians in Serbia but the ordinary Albanians are mistreated and misused by their fellow leaders. The discrimination seems to be only in their heads as always having been.

I know that Albanians get very nervous after these kinds of articles that occasionally take place in prominent USA’s papers and that there are more and more voices against the independence in prominent circles but I am certain that we will read more and more these kinds of articles. Oh, if I only remember for how long we were waiting for such reasonable opinions worldwide but seem that the time for justice is coming and it will be more to be heard about it.

first of all to Olf:

please spare us with your propaganda! better think of the Serbs who live in ghetto-like enclaves, in their own state! that´s something you should be ashamed of instead of spreading lies here.

to Eric, comment no.3:
"If Serbia was join the EU would that not safeguard the inhabitants of Kosovo no matter what background the come from?"

you hit the point. they are not yearning for "freedom" or other great ideas...it´s the pure and simple...or let´s rather call it strive for a greater Albania.
oh, ..excuse my my dear albanian friends.., you call it "natural" Albania, of course.

only one single Albanian here had the personal strength to condemn an albanian crime against an old serbian woman of 75 years or so... lazer is his nick-name.
others here usually boasting about how undemocratic Russia is, or how they want to live "free"... stayed quiet.

that shows me with whom we deal here.

as to the article:
as one K-albanian posted, he did not hear about this expert before.
shall that be an argument?
WHO are you to say that you have never heard about this person?
very childish approach, as far as I am concerned.

go on, and celebrate your "independence", UNSC 1244 is in effect. and that counts.

sooner or later even the last of the K-albanians will realize it.

Washington knew all of this long ago but since the tide is turning the other way,this is just warning to albanians that interest is not the same as it was yesterday.Expect more changes in the weeks to come.

I'm sorry but you should face the reality. Kosova is Albanian and Kosova will be independent on February 17, 2008. We can go on and argue about the history of Kosova.... People of Serbia and people around the world, please do realise that Kosova isn't about religion, it's about the will of its people to be free of the Serbian extremists which caused so much horror and pain for the last 2 decades in what was then Yugoslavia. Kosova is the last chapter and in a week, this chapter will be closed. Serbia should focus on its people and not on the past. What did it bring to them? Nothing besides poverty, isolation, hatred... Kosova was never part of Serbia whether you like it or not.
Freedom is Kosova's religion.

As an American, it would be nice to go see the ancient Serbian monastaries and other sights in Kosovo. But unfortunately world events, including the actions of my own government, preclude that from happening anytime soon.
Independence for Kosovo should be a regional issue, in my opinion.
If Serbia was join the EU would that not safeguard the inhabitants of Kosovo no matter what background the come from? If, inside of a decade or so, all of the former Yugoslavia is part of the European Union, won't all of this be moot?

Bmrusila,

Thank you for all the wonderful and passionate comments you have been writing. Not only are they honest, but they are also objective (you dare to be critical of Serbia when necessary). As an American I would like to let all you Serbs know that there are many Americans who do agree with you and who understand you, your struggle and your determination to keep your pride and your country. I have never believed all the propaganda that the Western media spread. Especially the last two administrations have conducted a terrible Balkan policy that was only aimed at self(ish) interest and choosing to support the wrong side. History will show that this was a huge mistake and it is a complete disgrace that an old country like Serbia, that fought as an ally in two WWs, has been betrayed like this. You may be interested in reading the following article that gives us a glimps of what this country has to brace itself for.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080211/ts_alt_afp/uspopulationimmigrationethnic

One day the Hispanics will declare Texas, New Mexico, Arizo and California independent of the US (and they have every right to do so, much much more than the Kosovo Albanians have the right to declare independence from Serbia (they have no right)). I hope that when that happens that Serbia (with Kosovo and outside of the EU, which will probably not exist anaymore by 2050) will be the first country to recognize this legal independence and that these former US states will join Mexico, where they belong. I hope that the West will wake up the coming days/weeks and not sell the Orthodox Christian Serbs to the Muslim Kosovo Albanians. I hope that Barak Obama will be elected and then a different wind should blow from this part of the world (nothing will change with McCain or Rodham-Clinton). Just hang in there for a while longer and please keep informing us (you and all the other Serbs out here). Long live Serbia! and a thousand times sorry for the last 20 years (and you guys do not have to apologize to anybody).

fine article,
lets eliminate the last paragraph and its almost perfect!

"Instead of implementing the Ahtisaari plan, rejected by the UN last spring, "


I think she got that wrong! It was Russia that rejected the plan by the former finish president.

And before we go any further. Why can't the Serbian Govt do one small thing. Its just a small gesture to its Citizens, you know the ones it considers thieves, murderers, drug dealers, less then human, Skiptars, etc.. AN APOLOGY FOR MURDERING INNOCENTS DURING THE MILOSEVIC ERA!

Two words: I'M SORRY!

Its been 9 years and not a single gesture to reconcile. WHY IS THAT?

With respect to Wedgwood, who I don’t recognise nor heard if her before, I would like to add that her observation does not take to the account that the wish of K-Albanians is not to be ruled ever again in their lands by Serbia. Why? Very simple, even if autonomy offered that much K-Albanians have forcibly trusted many times their life’s to Serbian government. Last time is was the last time and never again. Milosevic has gone but so had the other Milosevic, Rankovics and many other Vichs and since the 29th century but one thing never changed. So Wedgwood, I suggest you come and live the life of Albanian in Presheva, Bujanovc and Medvegja and than talk about something.
I should remind the public that 1000s of Albanians of Medvegja are living in Kosova since they are scared to return and have no place to return.
Serbian democrats, lets do something to return these poor people to their houses. They want nothing more nothing less that to live in their houses. Can you do something about this please?

“Autonomy gives Kosovo more than independence”.
Yes, and mouldy bread is better than cake.
Right, Mr. Expert?

Thnak you "expert" - but NO thank you!!!

call us minimalists if you prefer ;)

Bush admin. that wants to create an islamic state- this really makes me laugh lol

neo-cons that want an islamic state in europe, furthermore with teh Vatican’s blessing (not more then 2 week ago, remember Sejdiu in Vatican?) ;)

Nice try, now Serbian Gov. should disclose how much they paid here.. com on- it's a show we all now this...

“Autonomy gives Kosovo more than independence”.

Funniest joke ever!

To: bmrusila and other serb or pro-serb guys here

Sorry but everybody knows who is Eagleburger (Lawrence of Serbia you forgot?) or John Bolton (dismissed by Congress) and this Wedgewood, all blatantly proserb since a long time--go check wikipedia the least.
Luckily for Albanians all these guys dont count at all in US policymaking and you Serbs know this well.

PB

your posting reminds me of RTS during 1990's but thanks god B92 came later with proper information.B92 is doing the same today, inform citizens of Serbia properly. Imagine if there was only RTS, people with postings like yours, would be directors while Serbs would think that Japan was Serbian too.
PB, majority of poeple of Serbia are tired of ilusions next to yours. They have learned hard way the reality. They are not prepared to fall pray of posting of Milosevic era.

Bmrusila and kate

are you giving us Serbian government policies here.
Will of the population is one, secodn is the fact that you no longer control Kosova, so you have lost sovereignty over Kosova.
We are ware of the treatment of Albanians in Presheva, Bujanovc and Medvegja. While in Presheva and Bujanovc people are misstreated in Medvegja is a bit better, you have ethnicaly cleased the area so there is no need for represion.
Bmrusila, lets agree on something, lets treat K-Serbs like you treat Albanians in the Presheva< BUjanovc and Medvegja and you treat Albanians like we treat K-Serbs, than we'll see whcih treatment is better.

Pyrros

That's exactly what the Greeks have done to the history of Balkans -- keeping some paragraphs and deleting the ones they don't like.
Hence your name.

(Milos, 11 February 2008 19:09)

So Milos, anybody with views different from yours should be barred from the forum.
I believe that would make you very happy as everybody would agree with you.
By the way by any historian you mean any Serbian Historian.
I could ask B92 the same question (your comment with few modifications:

“
Why does B92 allow Milos to post that kind of comment that Kosovo was always been Serbian? That is incorrect as any historian will tell you that Kosovo has never been Serbian. The world is trying to do the right thing giving Kosovo back to Albanians (meaning they do not come from Albania) a 2nd country, taking territory that was given to Serbia (that never belonged to it)?

Bill,

Thanks for taking a part in our little discussion over here and especailly thanks for the support and encouragment. I would also wish to see Obama in White House, so lets hope together.

Olf,

"even if autonomy offered that much K-Albanians have forcibly trusted many times their life’s to Serbian government. Last time is was the last time and never again."


You could easily get Belgrade to agree to a solution with Kosovo/a autonomy supervised by the EU. And I'm sure the EU would gladly take the role as garantors of Kosovo autonomy and protectors of Kosovo Albanians. Thus you would not risk history repeating itself.

Thus you would not have to fear "history repeating itself".

Still, I'm pretty sure you don't find such a solution acceptable. You don't have to tell my that. What I wonder is why?

Olf,

Ok, I agree. Give K-Serbs exactely the same treatment and rights as Albanian in Presevo Valley have, but first begin with barbed wires removal and enable them to move freely.

Thanks

Some interesting points to consider:

1. A Kosovo Declaration of independence does not, can't and will not remove the important issues that still harbour between Albanians and Serbians: Most importantly Co-habitability.

2. American political interests in creating an Independent Kosovo country can only linger for so long. Any artificial prop-up of a new "independent" country is doomed to fail just on its foundation alone, ie. Iraqi (American) Constitution, post-Hussein.

3. Legally, those wishing to create a new country on the back of Serbia's have ZERO legal basis to do so, ie. UN SCR 1244.

4. Serbia has recently re-elected Boris Tadic, showing its resolve to continue progressive reforms including with respect to Kosovo, Kosovo Albanians seem to take this fact for granted. It seems many Kosovo Albanians think things would have been better if Nikolic was elected instead of Tadic, so that the situation would be more confrontational and this type of backward Kosovo Albanian thinking is what continues to drag this conflict without end.

to mici:

Right on! The 'humanitarian intervention" was purely an amercian intervetnion.

O my god Bob Petrovich!


This comment implies that you are very much OK with all the 'fairytales' that have happened - and you might even be able to do the same if given the chance - right?

Lived all my live in Kosovo, know very well whose was an is Kosovo so you just keep dreaming that through 'fairytales' you can keep Kosovars land - never again!!!!

Lived and seen more than enough in Kosovo

Kosovar

the Americans drew a plan of building BONDSTILL long before 1998
when the Americans say BANG the WORLD jump's
are these Experts Thinking with there Heads

Wedgwood?! a US expert?! i really must protest!! where in god's name do you dig up these people, much less insist on terming them experts? i swear to god i have never heard of her, ever -- and i consider myself reasonably well read on such matters, from writers on the american right, left and center.

eagleberger, on the other hand, i've known of all too well -- during the 90s his voice was one of the loudest insisting on these "intractable" balkan conflicts, where no amount of outside intervention could ever help. such voices kept that bloody bosnian war raging for some 4 long years, w/100s of thousands dead, and many more lives decimated. how that man even dares show his face is beyond me.

for the life of me, i cannot understand b92. my voice is regularly censored (not always, but often enough) whereas these absolute obscure "nobodies" show up as US EXPERTS every few days. please get serious.

I'm sorry but you should face the reality. Kosova is Albanian and Kosova will be independent on February 17, 2008. We can go on and argue about the history of Kosova.... People of Serbia and people around the world, please do realise that Kosova isn't about religion, it's about the will of its people to be free of the Serbian extremists which caused so much horror and pain for the last 2 decades in what was then Yugoslavia. Kosova is the last chapter and in a week, this chapter will be closed. Serbia should focus on its people and not on the past. What did it bring to them? Nothing besides poverty, isolation, hatred... Kosova was never part of Serbia whether you like it or not.
Freedom is Kosova's religion.

With respect to Wedgwood, who I don’t recognise nor heard if her before, I would like to add that her observation does not take to the account that the wish of K-Albanians is not to be ruled ever again in their lands by Serbia. Why? Very simple, even if autonomy offered that much K-Albanians have forcibly trusted many times their life’s to Serbian government. Last time is was the last time and never again. Milosevic has gone but so had the other Milosevic, Rankovics and many other Vichs and since the 29th century but one thing never changed. So Wedgwood, I suggest you come and live the life of Albanian in Presheva, Bujanovc and Medvegja and than talk about something.
I should remind the public that 1000s of Albanians of Medvegja are living in Kosova since they are scared to return and have no place to return.
Serbian democrats, lets do something to return these poor people to their houses. They want nothing more nothing less that to live in their houses. Can you do something about this please?

Thnak you "expert" - but NO thank you!!!

call us minimalists if you prefer ;)

Bush admin. that wants to create an islamic state- this really makes me laugh lol

neo-cons that want an islamic state in europe, furthermore with teh Vatican’s blessing (not more then 2 week ago, remember Sejdiu in Vatican?) ;)

Nice try, now Serbian Gov. should disclose how much they paid here.. com on- it's a show we all now this...

PB

your posting reminds me of RTS during 1990's but thanks god B92 came later with proper information.B92 is doing the same today, inform citizens of Serbia properly. Imagine if there was only RTS, people with postings like yours, would be directors while Serbs would think that Japan was Serbian too.
PB, majority of poeple of Serbia are tired of ilusions next to yours. They have learned hard way the reality. They are not prepared to fall pray of posting of Milosevic era.

Bmrusila and kate

are you giving us Serbian government policies here.
Will of the population is one, secodn is the fact that you no longer control Kosova, so you have lost sovereignty over Kosova.
We are ware of the treatment of Albanians in Presheva, Bujanovc and Medvegja. While in Presheva and Bujanovc people are misstreated in Medvegja is a bit better, you have ethnicaly cleased the area so there is no need for represion.
Bmrusila, lets agree on something, lets treat K-Serbs like you treat Albanians in the Presheva< BUjanovc and Medvegja and you treat Albanians like we treat K-Serbs, than we'll see whcih treatment is better.

(Milos, 11 February 2008 19:09)

So Milos, anybody with views different from yours should be barred from the forum.
I believe that would make you very happy as everybody would agree with you.
By the way by any historian you mean any Serbian Historian.
I could ask B92 the same question (your comment with few modifications:

“
Why does B92 allow Milos to post that kind of comment that Kosovo was always been Serbian? That is incorrect as any historian will tell you that Kosovo has never been Serbian. The world is trying to do the right thing giving Kosovo back to Albanians (meaning they do not come from Albania) a 2nd country, taking territory that was given to Serbia (that never belonged to it)?

Pyrros

That's exactly what the Greeks have done to the history of Balkans -- keeping some paragraphs and deleting the ones they don't like.
Hence your name.

“Autonomy gives Kosovo more than independence”.

Funniest joke ever!

“Autonomy gives Kosovo more than independence”.
Yes, and mouldy bread is better than cake.
Right, Mr. Expert?

"Instead of implementing the Ahtisaari plan, rejected by the UN last spring, "


I think she got that wrong! It was Russia that rejected the plan by the former finish president.

And before we go any further. Why can't the Serbian Govt do one small thing. Its just a small gesture to its Citizens, you know the ones it considers thieves, murderers, drug dealers, less then human, Skiptars, etc.. AN APOLOGY FOR MURDERING INNOCENTS DURING THE MILOSEVIC ERA!

Two words: I'M SORRY!

Its been 9 years and not a single gesture to reconcile. WHY IS THAT?

Olf, with due respect, you compare apples to oranges and have no clue what you are talking about.

Personal autonomy is one thing, seccession and theft are another.

Living in a country does not entitle you to snatch it for yourself.


Fairytales of "oppression" are just this, fairytales to divert from the ugly facts.

After June 19, Kosovo Albanian extremists have murdered more than 1000 Kosovo Albanian civilians, sometimes the entire families were wiped out. Such "government" can not be trusted even by Albanians, because it is based on fear.
Other Kosovo citizens can not trust such "government" either, because 75% has been expelled and the remaining live in fear of their own lives, guarded behind barbed wire 24/7. Tens of thousands of houses were stolen or burned down, the businesses looted, lawlessness is the norm of the conduct and signature of Kosovo Albaninan government.

Add to this all murdered Serbs, Roma and others, to get the picture of Albanian victimhood.

Serbian government has no intent to rule over Albanians in Albania or in Kosovo. But Albanians live on Serbian land, in Serbia and they have to respect the country they live in. They have rebelled once, resoprted to terrorism and committed horrendous crimes against fellow Albanians, Serbs and Roma, and it has not changed the fact that Kosovo is Serbia.

Kosovo was NEVER Albanian land and will never be.

Pipe dream of "kosova" is just a pipe dream.

Kosovo Albanians deserve personal authonomy, but this does not entitle them to 15% of Serbia.

To: bmrusila and other serb or pro-serb guys here

Sorry but everybody knows who is Eagleburger (Lawrence of Serbia you forgot?) or John Bolton (dismissed by Congress) and this Wedgewood, all blatantly proserb since a long time--go check wikipedia the least.
Luckily for Albanians all these guys dont count at all in US policymaking and you Serbs know this well.

Bmrusila,

Thank you for all the wonderful and passionate comments you have been writing. Not only are they honest, but they are also objective (you dare to be critical of Serbia when necessary). As an American I would like to let all you Serbs know that there are many Americans who do agree with you and who understand you, your struggle and your determination to keep your pride and your country. I have never believed all the propaganda that the Western media spread. Especially the last two administrations have conducted a terrible Balkan policy that was only aimed at self(ish) interest and choosing to support the wrong side. History will show that this was a huge mistake and it is a complete disgrace that an old country like Serbia, that fought as an ally in two WWs, has been betrayed like this. You may be interested in reading the following article that gives us a glimps of what this country has to brace itself for.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080211/ts_alt_afp/uspopulationimmigrationethnic

One day the Hispanics will declare Texas, New Mexico, Arizo and California independent of the US (and they have every right to do so, much much more than the Kosovo Albanians have the right to declare independence from Serbia (they have no right)). I hope that when that happens that Serbia (with Kosovo and outside of the EU, which will probably not exist anaymore by 2050) will be the first country to recognize this legal independence and that these former US states will join Mexico, where they belong. I hope that the West will wake up the coming days/weeks and not sell the Orthodox Christian Serbs to the Muslim Kosovo Albanians. I hope that Barak Obama will be elected and then a different wind should blow from this part of the world (nothing will change with McCain or Rodham-Clinton). Just hang in there for a while longer and please keep informing us (you and all the other Serbs out here). Long live Serbia! and a thousand times sorry for the last 20 years (and you guys do not have to apologize to anybody).

As an American, it would be nice to go see the ancient Serbian monastaries and other sights in Kosovo. But unfortunately world events, including the actions of my own government, preclude that from happening anytime soon.
Independence for Kosovo should be a regional issue, in my opinion.
If Serbia was join the EU would that not safeguard the inhabitants of Kosovo no matter what background the come from? If, inside of a decade or so, all of the former Yugoslavia is part of the European Union, won't all of this be moot?

Washington knew all of this long ago but since the tide is turning the other way,this is just warning to albanians that interest is not the same as it was yesterday.Expect more changes in the weeks to come.

Why does B92 allow Alban to post that kind of comment that Kosovo was never Serbian? That is incorrect as any historian will tell you that Kosovo has always been Serbian. The world is trying to give Kosovo Albanians (meaning they come from Albania) a 2nd country, stealing territory away from Serbia. Is that fair to the Serbs?

first of all to Olf:

please spare us with your propaganda! better think of the Serbs who live in ghetto-like enclaves, in their own state! that´s something you should be ashamed of instead of spreading lies here.

to Eric, comment no.3:
"If Serbia was join the EU would that not safeguard the inhabitants of Kosovo no matter what background the come from?"

you hit the point. they are not yearning for "freedom" or other great ideas...it´s the pure and simple...or let´s rather call it strive for a greater Albania.
oh, ..excuse my my dear albanian friends.., you call it "natural" Albania, of course.

only one single Albanian here had the personal strength to condemn an albanian crime against an old serbian woman of 75 years or so... lazer is his nick-name.
others here usually boasting about how undemocratic Russia is, or how they want to live "free"... stayed quiet.

that shows me with whom we deal here.

as to the article:
as one K-albanian posted, he did not hear about this expert before.
shall that be an argument?
WHO are you to say that you have never heard about this person?
very childish approach, as far as I am concerned.

go on, and celebrate your "independence", UNSC 1244 is in effect. and that counts.

sooner or later even the last of the K-albanians will realize it.

O my god Bob Petrovich!


This comment implies that you are very much OK with all the 'fairytales' that have happened - and you might even be able to do the same if given the chance - right?

Lived all my live in Kosovo, know very well whose was an is Kosovo so you just keep dreaming that through 'fairytales' you can keep Kosovars land - never again!!!!

Lived and seen more than enough in Kosovo

Kosovar

fine article,
lets eliminate the last paragraph and its almost perfect!

I would like to add that her observation does not take to the account that the wish of K-Albanians is not to be ruled ever again in their lands by Serbia. - Olf said

-If this makes the only justification to ask for independence than you are playing with empty cards. Imagine the wishes of so many ethnicities in this world who cannot gain even autonomy. Please Olf, before Milosevic you had all in your hands, but instead you misused the trust given by the people. You mistreated Serbs in every possible way, you misused the provincial budget and made Kosovo the poorest region. Hm, but you were not enough of all the misdeeds, instead you went step forward seeking republic. When you could not get it, you continue with even worse misdeeds and when even that did not entirely helped after Milosevic intervened, you choose to boycott all Serbian and began to run parallel institutions. It was your choice; no one else imposed it to you. For once, Albanian should admit that they wanted Kosovo free of Serbs.

You mentioned Albanian in Presevo Valley and wonder what the pointing of the finger at them was. Well, if you think that they suffer because of the Serbs I must tell you that you are wrong. They suffer because of themselves, they cause the pain themselves. If they are unhappy of living in Serbia, they are free to move anywhere that pleases them, no one stops them. But, no, they do not want to move but want to stay there and play factor of instability. They behave just the way K-Albanian did. They boycott Serbian state in all possible ways.

Few months ago Presevo Valley representative Risa Halimi asked Serbian government to treat Albanian students as privileged ones giving them more student grants for studying abroad in Kosovo or Albania. Firstly, he offended Belgrade by treating Kosovo as abroad and secondly what use would Serbia have with the university diplomas from Albania? But the most important question is why Albanians should be treated any differently than any other Serbian students regardless of what ethnicity those students are. Albanian students get exactly the same treatment as any other students in Serbia and their needs are equally taken into consideration. There is no discrimination of Albanians in Serbia but the ordinary Albanians are mistreated and misused by their fellow leaders. The discrimination seems to be only in their heads as always having been.

I know that Albanians get very nervous after these kinds of articles that occasionally take place in prominent USA’s papers and that there are more and more voices against the independence in prominent circles but I am certain that we will read more and more these kinds of articles. Oh, if I only remember for how long we were waiting for such reasonable opinions worldwide but seem that the time for justice is coming and it will be more to be heard about it.

Wedgwood?! a US expert?! i really must protest!! where in god's name do you dig up these people, much less insist on terming them experts? i swear to god i have never heard of her, ever -- and i consider myself reasonably well read on such matters, from writers on the american right, left and center.

eagleberger, on the other hand, i've known of all too well -- during the 90s his voice was one of the loudest insisting on these "intractable" balkan conflicts, where no amount of outside intervention could ever help. such voices kept that bloody bosnian war raging for some 4 long years, w/100s of thousands dead, and many more lives decimated. how that man even dares show his face is beyond me.

for the life of me, i cannot understand b92. my voice is regularly censored (not always, but often enough) whereas these absolute obscure "nobodies" show up as US EXPERTS every few days. please get serious.

Bill,

Thanks for taking a part in our little discussion over here and especailly thanks for the support and encouragment. I would also wish to see Obama in White House, so lets hope together.

Olf,

Ok, I agree. Give K-Serbs exactely the same treatment and rights as Albanian in Presevo Valley have, but first begin with barbed wires removal and enable them to move freely.

Thanks

the Americans drew a plan of building BONDSTILL long before 1998
when the Americans say BANG the WORLD jump's
are these Experts Thinking with there Heads

to mici:

Right on! The 'humanitarian intervention" was purely an amercian intervetnion.

Olf,

"even if autonomy offered that much K-Albanians have forcibly trusted many times their life’s to Serbian government. Last time is was the last time and never again."


You could easily get Belgrade to agree to a solution with Kosovo/a autonomy supervised by the EU. And I'm sure the EU would gladly take the role as garantors of Kosovo autonomy and protectors of Kosovo Albanians. Thus you would not risk history repeating itself.

Thus you would not have to fear "history repeating itself".

Still, I'm pretty sure you don't find such a solution acceptable. You don't have to tell my that. What I wonder is why?

Some interesting points to consider:

1. A Kosovo Declaration of independence does not, can't and will not remove the important issues that still harbour between Albanians and Serbians: Most importantly Co-habitability.

2. American political interests in creating an Independent Kosovo country can only linger for so long. Any artificial prop-up of a new "independent" country is doomed to fail just on its foundation alone, ie. Iraqi (American) Constitution, post-Hussein.

3. Legally, those wishing to create a new country on the back of Serbia's have ZERO legal basis to do so, ie. UN SCR 1244.

4. Serbia has recently re-elected Boris Tadic, showing its resolve to continue progressive reforms including with respect to Kosovo, Kosovo Albanians seem to take this fact for granted. It seems many Kosovo Albanians think things would have been better if Nikolic was elected instead of Tadic, so that the situation would be more confrontational and this type of backward Kosovo Albanian thinking is what continues to drag this conflict without end.