One victim in U.S. embassy fire in Belgrade

I am an American. I am also very pro-Serb. I am outraged at what has occurred in Kosovo and Metohija since 1999. But, I am also outraged at what has happened tonight to my embassy. In the four years that I have lived in Serbia,one of the most common complaints I've heard is how Serbs are demonized in the media, and in general popular opinion elsewhere in the world. And setting fire to my embassy does what, exactly? Dou some of you not realize that the same media machine that worked against you in 1997,98,99 and so on... is still there, just waiting like a pack of wolves to demonize you even further?

When 200,000 of you show up in front of parliament and then march to St Sava, it is an example to the world, and to yourselves, of your strength, unity and passion for Kosovo. When a small percentage of those then go and commit violence, putting people in danger, well, that's just shooting yourself in the foot.

Regarding Kosovo; Serbia is right, And we are wrong. In time, and with diplomatic struggle, the truth about kosovo will emerge. But by sending your message with violence, nobody will care what the truth is.

And, just a note to the thousands of Albanians who live in Belgrade.... if you are all such great friends of America, why dont you get some buckets full of water, and come down and help put the flames out? It's you who are ultimately responsible for this mess....

Was trying to figure out what could be a florishing business nowadays, just found:
-production of American flags

it became a very popular item to burn all around the world... woundering why...

Just imagine if this was done to the Serbian Embassy, in one of the foreign countries. WOW, I am appauled, but after all, I did not expect anything else.
Serbia is loosing, and loosing fast.
Rememember my words, as of now. If US withdraws from Belgrade, it will be a long time before Serbia ever gains any memberships in EU or elsewhere.
I hope this does not spiral into something else. I feel very bad for the Serbian people in general, but not these ones.
Serbia has a responsibility to protect the embassies and Consulates in its territory (not Kosovo).

I cannot believe the sheer naivity of the Albanian posters on this website it seems as though you people genuinly believe that the West is creating "kosova" because of Albanians' right to self-determination and to punish the brutalist Serbs.

None of this has anything to do with Albanians or Serbs its to do with power and position the idea that your enemies' enamy is your friend.

So its all good except for one thing; Americans have made a grave mistake; they have underestimated the reslove of the Serbian peoples to preserve their identity their soul. This is just one round in a ongoing Saga in Kosovo.

As a K.Albanian i thank you for showing the world the true face of 'democratic' Serbia, especially since serbian police were just standing by, knowing US embassy would be targeted.

I always said, when it comes to Kosovo and albanians, Serbia will never change. The world has realised this hence the recognition of independence.

In spite of the warnings of nearly all my friends, I attended the mass rally in Belgrade today. Stood right in the middle of the street across from Parliament. Saw everything, heard everything.

Let me give you a few details of what went down.

First, there were clearly more than ten thousand people in Belgrade today. The government bused in people from all over Serbia, and allowed them to travel by train for free. As such, there were Serbs from Nis, Krajlevo, RS, Croatia, Montenegro, and elsewhere. Clearly there was not enough police to mange everyone.

Second, for the most part, out of over ten thousand, it was overwhelmingly peaceful. Yet at the same time, I was shaken at speech after speech that contained Hell, Fire, and Brimestone rhetoric, from Kostunica to Nikolic, from Dodik to Dulic, to even Emir Kosturica. I've been sympathetic to Serbia's cause as you all know, but these speeches were reminiscent of the Milosevic years - probably even worse since Milosevic really didn't truly believe what he was saying. Here, it was the largest group of people engaging in self-flaggelation I've ever seen.

Third, it was basically a DSS-SRS political rally. Nowhere to be found were DS members as was originally billed. Listening to some chants in the crowd, Tadic was certainly NOT welcome there. Lots of flag waving, lots of chest thumping, but really no tangible evidence that something would be done to actually help the Serbs in Kosovo. For the most part, people were shouting for a land to defend that most will never visit.

Fourth, after 90 minutes of speeches pumping everyone up, saying "OK now we're going to have a peaceful march to St. Sava's" was incredibly dumb. This rally definitely game ammo to those rioters that broke away from the crowd and attacked embassies and businesses.

Fifth, even at the service in front of St. Sava, Archbishop Amfiloje gave an impassioned, but decisively nationalistic speech. It was surreal to get text messages about the embassy while everyone else was at a mass prayer.

No doubt the rioters are going to be all over Western media, but I have to be honest. Even though the overwhelming majority conducted themselves peacefully and dispered after it was done, the rally clearly pumped up those people who went on rampages. Plus the police was clearly not prepared for handling so many people. If this was done in part by certain government members, they should be ashamed of themselves.

This was clearly a bad move on behalf of Belgrade and will not go down well in international circles. I'm all rallied out. I need a few drinks :)

to lazer:

WOW lazer you are appaled? Really?? I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for letting us know.

"Just imagine if this was done to the Serbian Embassy, in one of the foreign countries."

What do you think is a proper response to america - to sit in a corner like a mouse, while america is stealing your country, and giving it to muslims?

Why don't you talk about the churches and monastaries your alban buddies destroyed. You compare that with one embassy... don't worry america can afford a new one.

No need to feel sorry for us. That last thing we need is alban sympathy.

Just letting off some steam. Anyone with half a brain can understand that.

I am American and also pro-Serbian; though never pro-volient. I have lived in Serbia against the advice of my friends and family; because you were said to be anti-American and I would not be "safe". I continue to love your country and those who I will always love over there. I do not support my president's administration, (i do not know many who do). Until my country can fix our own problem's... we have not a right to intrude in those of others. With this said; don't burn down our buildings. Americans in your country chose to be there; undoubtedly for non-political reasons, but for the love of your country and your people. I miss Serbia very much and wish for you all the success that is well overdue. But violence never looks good in the eyes of others, and you can have conviction without violence. I am half-way around the world and I have heard you before our embassy was destroyed, and never believed that Kosovo should be independent. Our western countries have little understanding of this and cultural importance or the threat of a state succession. Maybe one day if California was taken by the Mexicans, there would be some understanding or at least compassion and empathy. We are very egocentric, are we not?
Don't hate the Americans; there are many of us here defending your position and your country.
Also we really did not vote for Bush... he stole 2 elections, and that is another story.

This is what "government-sponsored" "people's" demonstrations over Kosovo lead to. Violence. Time to give up on the mass rallies before democracy is totally subverted. Remember what the majority of serbian citizens voted for in the presidential elections

What did you expect. The US, UK and EU "gave away" the symbol of Serbian heritage like a sack of potatoes. What do you think would happen if the US gave the vatican to the moslems - the actions of the UK, US and EU have insulted the Serbian nation and more then that, UNIFIED the Serbs more than anything else?

What the Serbs are doing is rather symbolic and not entirely unexpected. It is just material damage! No-one has died or been severely injured. Politicians are not calling for violence, which is a good thing!

Don't forget, NATO bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and kill a few of their citizen back then.

Some people need to vent their anger and this is one way. It's a far cry from the US policy of bombing countries back to the stone age!

the Chinese embassy in Belgrade was bombed by the US and totally destroyed. Chinese people actually were killed by the US. I guess these things happen.
The US ambassador in Belgrade can move across the street, into the bombed out shell of the Ministry of Defense building, or sleep under one of the bombed out bridges, or in the cellar of the Ob_Gyn hospital, which Clinton bombed while Serb mothers were giving birth.

Ah Lazer, once again, entertaining us with your hypocrisy. I didn't see you saying much in 2004 against your Albanian bretheren when they tried to kill UN troops (actually, you did kill a few who tried to stop the churches from burning) on the Ibar river and all over Kosovo. Didn't you say things like "can't stop the will of the people." I guess it doesn't work the other way does it?

As far as I can remember, you've been posting such ridicilous (and at times vulgar) posts here, the New York Times, Washington Post, etc... One has to wonder what do you guys do for a living? Or could it be that you are one of the many "plants" that the Albanian lobby has? Here in the US, the Republicans and Democrats are notrious for having bloggers (and callers) who try to infiltrate the other side and antagonize. I would venture to bet you, Olf, Alban, nikshala are part of the "planting." I'm glad B92 gives us all the opportunity to meet here in a civilized way. But most of your posts have been like "nah-nah-nah-nah, you guys can't do anything, you're evil, nobody likes you..." Very constructive points, wow.

Also, I agree with Mr. Gospodin, an apology should be given to Canada who have not recognized Kosovo or ever will. You guys who did attack their embassy should be ashamed of yourselves! General Mckenzie is the biggest ally of the Serbs because he saw through all the nonsense!

@(Joe, 21 February 2008 21:42)

Congrats, the US has done it, it now has burned embassy's on every continent of the world.

For the first time in history an American Embassy has been torched in europe, and yet you are still ignorant, how many US embassy's have been burned worldwide by angry mob's???

Doesn't that turn on an light???
Americans are getting hated by more and more people around the world, keep up the good work and within 20 years America is hated by the entire world.

And for the people who don't believe China's economic might over the US

Read 'm and weep

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7b578958-48e8-11dc-b326-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2340.html

(Mike, 21 February 2008 22:23)

Hi Mike, you were braver than me, I only stayed at the begining to show my disagreement about this US/EU complete irresponsible move and then move further!
Hope they didn't touch the Irish Pub :)
Considering the massive amount of people, it would have been very difficult to predict anything, so for those who are outside and are 'happy' to blame one more time the Serbs, one common question:
How come the Danish govnt didn't manage to protect schools that were burnt last week, the italian still didn't manage to stop the football hooligans, the french to stop the riots in the suburbs with hundreds of cars burned etc etc...
simply because of the emotion and the pride and this is not a particularity of the Serbs.
And for u, K-albanians, experts in provocation, (the main reason why so many Swiss citizens do not like you) don't you think it's time to get to work and finally create something in your region, you got what you paid for, so prove to all that you have changed overnight and don't count on your eldorado expatriates because they have no intention to come back to help you out...

Is this the kind of stability in the Balkans Independence for Kosovo will bring as the US and EU has harped about so much!?

I fear that this is nothing so far, it will get much more worse in the days and weeks to come!

Good work US and EU! And good luck to you. You'll need it!

I support you Serbs in preventing your territorial integrity. THis time I can call myself: Serb. I come from Poland but I pray foryour country and your fellow citizens from different nations and wit different religions.

Ok, so now Belgrade is in the same league as Gaza Strip, Karachi and Tehran where burning US flags is a fashion. These images of U.S embassy going up in flames are being beamed right now thru out US and every other country. With leader like Kostunica, and Nikolic who needs enemies? The 51% who voted for Tadic are being overrun by the other half that voted for Nikolic. I only feel sorry for the ½ of the Serbian population, but I wish good for all of Serbia for the sake of the children of this country. When will Serbia wake up? The flames of hate and nationalism will burn you again.

Congratulations Serbs for shooting yourself in the foot.
I can already imagine the kind of article I will read in the evening paper.
So this was part of the "action plan" of your government? According to a Belgian site the police didn't even try to prevent it. Apparently they got orders from higher-ups to do nothing.
It shows that nothing changed in Serbia. Milosevic just got replaced by Vojo.

So many of the comments here are truly outrageous.

"It's you who are ultimately responsible for this mess...."

Who? Albanians? Give me a break. The Serbian government is solely responsible for this behavior. What do you expect when the foreign minister himself says attacking and blowing up border posts on the Serbia-Kosovo border is in line with the government's position? What do you expect when the government organized hundreds of thousands of angry people to protest against losing something they've been taught they're supposed to love? The Serbian government is responsible for all violence stemming from the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Serbia has been warning of instability following Kosovo's independence, and it is a self-fulfilling prophecy! They are the ones who are instigating the instability!!!

"it became a very popular item to burn all around the world... woundering why..."

Why? Because spoiled brats need somebody to blame.

"Regarding Kosovo; Serbia is right, And we are wrong. In time, and with diplomatic struggle, the truth about kosovo will emerge. But by sending your message with violence, nobody will care what the truth is."

Jess, with all due respect, you should probably have spent some of those four years in Kosovo, not just listening to the propaganda of your neighbors in Belgrade. The truth is our about Kosovo: Serbian gave it away in the late 80s. Being an American (read: naive) and living in Belgrade (read: the wolves' den) doesn't make you non-biased, it makes you a tool.

And the funniest part about all this is that it doesn't stem from logic, politics, history, or what have you, but a little thing called bigotry, against Albanian people. Most Yugoslavs will tell you that all the Albanians they knew were good people, but still...for some reason, they had a bad reputation. Why? Because you simply hated them.

I hope this will not mis-characterize the Serbs, because it shouldn't. They are just some bored, drunk angry kids. But the blame should go to the government who laid the foundations and indeed has encouraged this awful, deplorable behavior. Black day for Serbian diplomacy is RIGHT!

And for all you who keep mentioning that the declaration of Kosovo independence is illegal: How convenient you care about international law today, when it was the Serbian government who committed some of the worst atrocities since WW2 in the Balkans and had the highest number of war criminals in the Hague. Not to mention, you STILL refuse to hand over the remaining ones!

Setting fire to the US Embassy? Despicable. The Serbian government needs to check itself before it wrecks itself. Hasn't Serbs had enough self-victimization, isolation etc.? Seriously.

I can understand why Serbs are angry with emperor Bush and his spineless marionettes Sarkozy, Brown, Merkel, and Prodi, but burning embassies is just dead wrong. Even when the emperor breaches international law.

As an American living in Belgrade for 4 years, I can't stress how important it is to keep a few things in focus here:

1. The media focused on events caused by less than 1% of the people who were present.
2. Every country gets judged based on its worst citizens.
3. The majority of the people causing trouble were supporters of either Partizan or Zvezda, all of them notorious a$$h*le$ who are opportunistic parasites, not thoughtful political activists.
4. The seccesion of Kosovo is NOT legal under international law.

There is very good reason for all Serbs to be angry. Not only at the loss of Kosovo, but at the highjacking of their international identity by a group of illiterate thugs.

Milosevic is gone but his idea still lives.

(Jess, 21 February 2008 20:18)

Jess, am glad that finally somebody that have been living in Serbia can give an objective view.
Am also an expat living in Serbia and I can say that 100 of thousands were peacefully marching in town since I was there at the beginning. Unfortunately,like always, and this is not only a Serbian speciality, you have a few hundreds that join just to break something (like it happened lately in Danemark, in France, in Holland etc...). Of course like many times the US is the favorite target and this is valid all around the world thanks to your current administration.
I can say that my experience in Serbia has been excellent and I have no plans to leave anytime soon.
Thanks God Switzerland has not yet officially recognized this unlawfull act and according to the last comments, will do when Kosovo will prove that they can sustain economically and that the minorities will be respected.....and of course since we have about 200thousand of them, the migration policy will also have to be taken into consideration, real swiss politic...
Cheers

Fair enough to call them hooligans, and yes it is true that troublemakers do exist everywhere. Nonetheless, the whole scenario resembled something well rehearsed, bordering premeditation and failure to prevent. You had the surreal speech about the whole nation’s need for a myth. Then the passionate call, just to blur things even further.
Cheery on the cake though, the angry mob. Total absence of the state after the repeated calls of different embassy staff to protect their staff and property did not look good either. Seems apparent that government took the decision to punish certain foreign delegation with the old famous mob justice. How appropriate for a state who has been in overdrive with the augments of legality and responsible behaviour.

Thank You Serbian embassy-burners! THANK YOU. I was hoping this would happen. As we speak, every major US news channel is beaming images of the US embassy burning, with a huge hearline on top: SERBS ATTACK & BURN US EMBASSY! Americans will equalize the Serbs to the Taliban now. You could not have helped cement American support for Kosova in a better way. Again Thank You!

To those "Holy Christian Serbs" fighting the creation of an "Islamic state" from "their homeland:"
I'm curious what explanation you have for burning Croatian Catholic Churches during your war to keep the Former Yugoslav Republic of Croatia within Yugoslavia?

How would you reply to the facts that Muslim Albanians are secular, and the Kosovar Declaration of Independence has reiterated the creation of a democratic, secular, state? What about Thaci's decision to make his advisor for Judicial Reform Tom Gashi, a Catholic Kosovar lawyer? What about the Catholic minority that has persisted in Kosova since before the Serbs began to conquer the land in the 13th century? What about the Catholic Cathedral constructed in the heart of Prishtina in honor of Mother Teresa?

For all your "Holy Christian" zeal, how can you justify attacks on Catholic Albanian Kosovars, as well as the destruction and desecration of Croatian Catholic Churches?

It is shameful that Serbs have attacked the US Embassy, and the government did very little to stop it. I feel bad for the Serbs, which are victims of their own ultranationalist leaders, which indoctrinate them with myths in order to turn them into mindless, violent supporters of dangerous ultranationalism.

I find it hard to believe that the Serbian gov’t didn’t foresee something like this happening and they took their sweet time to arrive on the scene. 45 minutes!
As an American of Albanian decent, I say bring it on Serbia and do your worst for it’s only going to place you further back so hold on tight to Mr Putin’s arm because they will definitely guide you down the “right” path.
Also, to the Serbian posters here, keep up with these remarks here because they are supplying many people, myself included, with some much needed laughter.
The events in Belgrade today clearly detail the Serbian version of democracy for all the word to witness. Keep up the “good” work and I suggest you have one these each and every week.

Dear Serbian and propagandists

Finally the "democratic" Serbia is in the center of attention all around the world for the messages given to the world. It is very clear that the same messages would have been given to Kosova if it still were part of Serbia. Thanks to God it is no more. What is the most disgraceful is the support and rights given to the bandits who are fighting with flags and fast foods. We Albanian can say the same that in Kosova in 2004 were same hooligans who burned your churches but you labeled them as terrorists. While we never supported them your hooligans are treated as heroes now by showing the world you true strength and culture. I don’t see any sign of regrets for the majority of commentators

It seems important to identify yourself first before you speak on B92's chat site: I am not from the region, but have spent a lot of time in Belgrade and have lived and worked in the region.

Having said that, it seems surprising to me that people I know in Belgrade are running around destroying two of their most important services, over a piece of land many of them have never seen and many of them would never agree to live in, namely:

1. The US Embassy - Where do you think you're going to get your visas from?, and, more importantly,
2. McDonalds (owned by Serbs with relatives in Kosovo) - I think this speaks for itself, pleskavica or no.

The U.S. has a knack for screwing up things in the int'l scene and the Balkans is no exception.
We continue to shoot ourselves in the foot just to appease some party opposite of the Serbs.

@(Stuart, 21 February 2008 19:22)

You really think that the majority off Serbs is gonna vote the same the next time, welcome to the reality that Serbia is backing away from th west.

And as any fool can see, an stable balkan is impossible without the cooperation off Serbia, without Serbia the Balkan is never gonna become stable.

Nobody is going to invest in an region where there is no stabilty.

Tadic is history, and Serbia is slipping away from the EU.

i condemn riots, i dont want to see our police hurt, first and foremost. and riots are not at issue here but our state policy in the future. so i am asking everyone to understand. we are not grieving, meaving, whathaveyou. we are angry and its not going away. the next election will push us god knows where. for all those who say, nah, serbs voted tadic, its gonna turn out fine, eu membership... people, i voted tadic. but that was BEFORE. understand that.

It seems that this is one things serbs and the serb government are good in: Setting everything on fire. You did it in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, tryed Macedonia and now going on... Why the croatian embassy? Why Bosnian embassy? Why n t your own parlament, the home of your criminal politicians.
Shame, shame and more shame on you.

Just finished watching the nightly news in the US and all three national broadcasts and the cable news networks down played the embassy burning in prime time. The embassy burning did not top the news broadcasts, it was the third story presented behind McCain's infidelity story and the coverage of upcoming Obama-Clinton debates. Contrary to to all the doomsdayers on this site that have espoused the view that Serbia is going to be demonised even more than it has already suffered, the reports seemed almost conciliatory, explaining how the vast majority of the 200000 protesters were peaceful, how it was only a few hundred young angry and hurt hooligans who attacked the embassy. Similarly, some annalists on the cable news networks , for the first time ever, began to question the wisdom in recognizing the illegal unilateral declaration. It seems that there has been some reevaluation of this folly, especially in light of the Palestinians announcing they are considering unilateral declaration against Israel. The argument goes if it acceptable for Albanians then why not the Palestinians, they're also unique. Pandora's Box is wide open! Just remember proud Serbians, Americans only respect money and power, justice is irrelevant, it can always be twisted to suit their needs. Albanians threatened violence if not granted illegal independence, American arrogance just assumed you would accept this folly willingly and make it easy for them especially considering they are bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, hold firm, you might not have money, but your "Inat" combined with Russia's "Nyet" in the UN, your sovernity under International Law plus Srpska's right to self determination in contrast to the EslimeU's waffling is POWER. STOP THE GENOCIDE OF SERBS IN KOSOVO NOW! ALL REFUGEES MUST RETURN NOW! HOLD THE UN AND NATO TO THEY'RE WORD (1244). KOSOVO IS SERBIA!

Why did the hooligans throw stones at the Canadian Embassy?

Canada did not recognize the unconstitutional declaration of independence by the crinal Kosovo Albanian government!

Canada's retired genereal stated that it was a wrong decision!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEUakpYNAhg

An apology would be appropriate!

if they are burning every embasy that recognized the independence it seems like they are going to have to burn all the embassies on that street. Mayby not, there will probably be a couple of buildings left...
Way to go Serbio!

to all the americans who post here i think it goes without saying that the anger is at us policy not american people. your president who is making these decisions doing this unspeakable damage to our country has the lowest approval rating ever, which says what the american people think about him. i hope you're all safe tonight and every other night. street violence will die down very soon, this will translate to something much more important, the political arena. we will have a change of government and our people's opinion about all this will be channeled there. an unholy mess. a dreadful decision the west made to do this with kosovo.

As a US citizen I'm furious over the thugish behavior of the Serbian citizenary. Serbian people marching with pictures of Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadick & Ratko Mladick. Burning the USA flag! The USA should recall its ambassador immediately and leave the Serbian bananna republic to be administered by there Russian masters

I've been watching this on the CTV Newsnet for a while now. It's nothing but hooligans with nothing better to do. I've scene worse after football/hockey matches.

Do not judge a country by their unemployed, drunk and stupid hooligans. This is not the official gov position.

If someone has died then that is a tragedy. These demonstrations should not put life at risk! Be firm but be careful!

The Canadian embassy should not be touched as they have not recognised Kosovo and I would like to apologise.

To put it into context, the last time the Albanians did something like this (back in 2004), scores of Serbians were murdered, Churches burnt and villages emptied. There is no high ground for the Albanians here!

Shane, thanks for the friendly words...

but that is nothing, compared to what could happen if things get out of control.

the Russians have warned not to take measures against Serbs, and I think that occupying troops in Kosovo should take that warning serious.

if the Albanians start attacking Serbs in Kosovo, there could be a real mess.

as for the embassy, nothing really serious. the chinese embassy was bombed by the US and chinese personnel was killed. THAT was a serious thing.

but this stoning and fire ...is only symbolic.

Chinese Embassy was destroyed when NATO bombed Serbia in 1999

(part 1)
i'm italian and i feel sorry my country recognized the illegal independence of kosovo i metohija. maybe i will be in serbia this summer and i will dress a t-shirt with "please kick me: i'm italian!".
i (don't) want remember when italy was with NATO in the bombing of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and when in 1944 the italian fascists who was in albania killed and kicked off a lot of serbs away from kosovo helped by 21st division Waffen SS Skanderbeg (nazi K.albanians).

I can see that whatever the path the world would have taken with regards to Kosovo, the outcome would have been exactly the same, depending which side got the short end of the deal. The West recognized Kosovo, Serbs started attacking Western embassies and burning Western flags, had the West refused to recognize Kosovo independence, Albanians would have started attacking KFOR buildings and burning Western flags as well.

The funny thing is that now you have Albanians saying how Serbia has shown their "true face", when just 4 years ago they damaged or destroyed a great deal of Serbian cultural and religious sites and attacked Serbs in Northern Kosovo. Is that their true face? You have comments like:

"The way Serbia behaved today, you have no future in the European Union. Goodbye.
(EU citizen, 21 February 2008 22:32) "

So Kosovo did not kiss its EU future after their behaviour in 2004? People, it is not the whole of Kosovo that burned those churches, it is not the whole of Serbia that is burning embassies, it is some angry hooligans on both sides, nothing more, nothing less. To now label the whole of Serbia as this, or the Albanian peoples as that after 2004, just goes to show that you are no better than the people you are accusing when it comes to nationalistic prejudice.

Of course some Albanians could not control their hatred and anger back in 2004, of course some Serbs cannot control their hatred and anger now, it is completely understandable why they were/are acting the way they did/do, but to accuse the whole country for these incidents is just retarded if you ask me.

" Ok, so now Belgrade is in the same league as Gaza Strip, Karachi and Tehran where burning US flags is a fashion."
Balkan Update
Don't you think that this is exactly what US had in mind to make of my country when recognizing a rogue state on its territory.
Burning of a flag compared with supporting terrorist KLA, bombing and devastating my state,killing thousands and then illegally recognizing a secession of her part is a kind of saloon protest.
Please don't get so sentimental about a flag that have done so much harm in this world.

I feel sorry for most of the Serbs because there are just 10% of those who did this to the American embassy. Probably never thought of leaving their counry and burning american flag. I am also sorry for those who will have problems getting a US visa. It is going to take more than a year until they rebuild the embassy, and America won't help them any more. They just digged a big black hole for themselves. I am sorry again

Watching the scenes of what is going on in Belgrade is disturbing even from a Kosovar Albanian perspective. Please calm down and think of the best for your country, think of the Serbs in Kosova. Ignore your leaders’ speeches which they never stopped imposing hatred. This can easily jeopardize the Serbia’s EU bid, and you will not only lose Kosovo but also western world and you’ll end up with Russia who is not the best model of leadership. I purely understand your frustration but think for the future, and with what I’m seeing on TV I don’t see any brighter future. You wouldn’t want Kosovo either, because you won’t be able to manage it. I’m sure the people that are protesting are people that never visited Kosovo. Kosovo is populated by the Albanians and the will of these Albanians is independence, you or anyone else cannot decide for us, and you cannot go against of the majority of the population in Kosovo.

Attacking the US Embassy (or any other embassy) is dead wrong. Dont think you will change the decision of any state by attacking their embassy. Dont think that other nations wont reckognize Kosova Independence, because they will be afraid that a bunch of hooligans will attack the embassys.

My apology to all Canadians!

(lazer, nyc, usa, 21 February 2008 19:11)
Yes you are right Lazer, Serbia have a responsibility to protect Embassys in Serbia.

Unfortunately we failed in -99. I am very sorry and would like to apology to the Chinese people that we could't protect their embassy from being bombed by the US in -99.

"Republic of Serbia, you showed again who you are. I hope you never will be part of the European Union as Serbia but rather like Vojvodina. Bombings should be implemented (continue where we left 1999).
(Jens, 22 February 2008 07:28)"

Jens, You are probably some right-wing Dane (an estimate based on your name) who can only live in his perfect little world. Even implying that Serbia should be bombed again makes your whole comment so insane. You guys could not control some of your Muslim/foreing population recently after publishing the insulting cartoon (which was defended by freedom of speech). For your sake, Serbia does not want to become an EU member. What do you imply with your Vojvodina comment? That the Western sponsored break up of Serbia has not been completed? Is that what your government is sponsoring? These are very disturbing times and it is time to get rid of the EU ASAP, take Europe back from the US, and stop bullying Serbia.

no problem, ronald. we lost an embassy in belgrade but we'll replace it soon w/a new one in pristina.

(Kushtrim, 21 February 2008 21:46)

As a matter of fact we want to let them go, the Govnt is even ready to pay to help to return. but the problem is that none of them, sorry around 2%, are willing to go back, main reasons given: destroyed country, high unemployment, no future...and last but not least switzerland is too confortable (Le Matin newspaper of yesterday). it's nice to be a patriote!!

As to the national team, ok, no big deal. not following it and certainly do not mind, but I certainly mind about the legitimity of the 'pseudo independance' of Kosovo, I'm sure that you would agree with me that everybody should be equal in front of the law and that's where I have a problem.

And you may also read the attached biography of 'your PM' and tell me what you think about it...

http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=125467

I am of Italian origin. What the USA has done is ignited the aspirations of all terrorist and crazy groups for independence. had the Albanian Kosovars waited for 10 or so years with autonomy (as promised by the Serbs)and acted in a reasonable and civilsed manner during that period then their application for independence might have some substance and credibility.
However, the current decision to recognise a state that hs never existed before on the basis of dislike of the Serbs by the uS and its allies and the bullying manner of the EU, well, I am not surprised that teh serbs have reacted in this way and I am not surprised that the sensible and conservative voices in the world are reticent about recognising the albanians in Kosovo.
The problem that we have is an ignorant American President who has virtually no knowledge about European history and European cultures has cooked up this scheme because his popularity is non existent and he was desperate to be seen to do something - the trouble is that he has completely stuffed it up and has muddied the US image further in Europe.
As for the US embassy, I am surprised by those Americans who are outraged - the US interferes in almost every country in the world and you wonder why people lose their temper and burn a building? The Us has been killing people and bombing countries and their assets for 50 years and you are outraged by the reaction of the serbs and others who respond? You cannot be serious - you must be blind, mate!
Can't you see what the US is doing? It is all about US money and greed and a few Euro allies that have been "bought' by the US to support them in this illegal act of recognition. Sarkozy and Merkel are the new "poodles" of Europe now the Blair has humiliatede through his lies to the british people.
As for the ordinary American people, you ALL have a moral responsibility to make sure that do not vote in another idiot as President because who ever will be the next President will do things in YOUR name - if you fail to appoint a man of substance then please do not be surprised when more and more of the world hates your country. You cannot sit back and complain and do nothing about it. I know that there are many of you who do not support your president but unless you organise protests in the uS can you not wonder why the rest of the world do not believe ALL of you when you say you do not support him
Apathy is the root of many an evil and tragically the US people have done NOTHING AT ALL to put pressure on your Preisdent to stop him from recognising Kosovo. I am sorry but ALL of the US bear the responsilibilty for allowing such a foolish man from doing the things he does. When President Nixon was bombing countries the US people had major riots (and yes burnt doen many buildings!) and demonstrations and this put ENORMOUS pressure on the President to amke him CHANGE his decision.
We all have a MORAL duty to stop Presidents whi do stupid and dangerous things. The people in the US have done nothing - perhaps you can tell me why?

US welcome to reality: if you thought that we, serbs, would have accepted your insane decision to recognize independent a SERBIAN province filled with thugs, in peace well let me tell you that you were WRONG!

Dignity is priceless and if all this means no EU, no Nato no b####it well who cares! I rather being on my own than beg to US and little countries in Europe.

To Endri, 22 February 2008 12:15)

Good that you read it carefully, didn't have that feeling..., then don't interprete my words!

Interesting enough everybody that do not share the same view as you or your peers is an uneducated idiot.

Then let me ask you one question, what have you been doing the last 10 years for your region?? because as far as I know billions have been poored down there with so little result or should I repeat the World Bank statistics about unemployment, illeterate people, people in poverty, whose fault is it??

Furthermore as far as I know for the last 10 years Serbia had no involment there, so why so little 'eldorado' expatriates went back to help the reconstruction, even worst, now that you got what you wanted still nobody wants to return, can you explain it??

If u want to call me more Serbs than Serbs, it is your right and I do not care, but you will never change some proven facts.

The first wave of K-albanians refugees in Switzerdland have quiet well integrated and nobody would talk bad about them. As far as the second wave, well it's another story... They managed to get the top spot in drug dealing, prostution rings, thefts and even racketting against their own fellows..., sorry but this is not my wishfull thinking but rather statisctical facts. Now you may call all the Swiss institutions that made those statistics racists, again it's is your right but you can't change the bleak reality of how the k-albanians community is perceived! If you talk french, pls read the newspaper nowadays! For some reasons the same problem exist in other european country.
So, if you are so convinced of your right and behavor then it will be great time to lauch an 'image' making campain and lean on the US experience to do so!

Regarding Mr Thaci, you may deny all, I do not care, one thing is sure, he and his organization were considered by the US a terrorist organization with link to Al Qaida, but were then removed, wondering why!

Finally it is also your right to support the US policy, anyway I believe you have little choice today..., They have proven to the all world how to go around the UN,how to attack a country based on fabricated information, lies etc, maybe you will also contest these facts. (just look at the Bush popularity...)

You may also shout out numbers, I don't even want to remember how many died in Vietnam and how many are still suffering from it, don't even want to know how many died in Irak and are still dying, for what was supposed to be a quick legal intervention...
I certainly do not advocate any violence neither here nor nowhere but this should be valid both ways!
What gives me some hope is that the number of people not ready to accept anything anymore that comes out of the US is sharply increasing and then maybe we will be living in a more peacefull world.

To the Albanian camp, to those of you that condem this act in Belgrade I would like to remind all the hypocrits that 2004 riots was not so long ago. This does not even compare to what the K-Albanians did then. The BURNING of Orthodox churches, and Serbian HOMES and the KILLING of Serbian people. How quickly you people forget about this planned riot by Pristina. Do not condem the Serbs till you condem the acts of 2004 by Pristina. I'm sick of this one sided media that only portray the Serbs as the bad guys when in fact the illegal quazi state of south "kosova" was in fact created out of violence by the K-Albanians at the expence of Serbia and her people. They say that Serbia may become nationalistic once again, I say can you blame them? NO! The west created this new movement in Serbia and they are the ones to blame for this, not Serbia or the gov. Steal their land and give it away, what the hell do you expect the Serbs to do have a picnic, NO! They will fight. If anyone knows the Serbs better, it's the west and they knew what was and is to come next after this illegal act on Serbia. The west created this mess now deal with it. Like I've said before, "what comes around goes around". Get ready for Bosnia, that is next to fall. I would like to thank the west for the mess they created and hatred they produced in the Balkans over the years and for along time to come! Thank you very f'n much. Long live Serbia!!!!!!

I do not think that it serves the national interest of Serbia to stone foreign embassies, even if those states are breaking the law and rewarding terrorists ( as they have called them before ) for using violence against civilians ( KLA ).

but given that those countries are supporting terrorism against Serbia, I can at least understand the feelings of those kids.

since it is Lazer who was the only one to condemn the brutal beating of a serbian granny a few months ago..., hey Lazer, have you seen how many Albanians here have done the same like you?

none of them. that says a lot about humanity among your society, or since you seem to live in NYC, about those who are terrorizing non-albanians in the serbian province.

it is still serbian territory, remember UNSC 1244...

regards,
Jovan

"200thousand of them, the migration policy will also have to be taken into consideration, real swiss politic...
Cheers
(The Swiss, 21 February 2008 21:20) '

Some of those 200000 Kosovars that live in "your country" play for "your" National Football Team...
If you let them go we would appreciate...we those players for the newest member of FIFA and UEFA :-)
who knows we may play against "your" country one day

It's obvious that you never get a Serb angry. It was so naive and foolish to recognize a non state.

why does the usa even have a say in european affairs ?
dont give in serbia stand your ground and be counted , the EU is the worst party ive been to anyway .

Come on Gordo you try to minimize this act a playful act of hooligans, who are bored and need some fun?
Believe me Western countries see it very differently. As I just read on a site it was part of your government's action plan. How pathetic! I think your country just lost a lot of good will by some people, who thought that Serbia is now different from the ninties.

The Swiss,

are u talking on behalf of Serbs or Swiss people???? Who the hell are u to judge the govs of Denmark and Italy or u simply want to justify what was done tonight by Serbs. Keep searching for Albanian provocateurs as u call them but you wont find one because there are not such. It is shame that a majority here still support hooligans and „patriots“ while the other people over there are terrified. Nobody is even talking about the consequences of Serbian politics in 1999. Think about the true reasons of nowadays situation.

TO Joe, 22 February 2008 03:03)

just read my post 69, then you will not lose your time to write irrelevant comments.
And yes, am one sided, against the US destructive policy all around the world and I'm proud to be! Just look at the approval rate of your favorite puppet president and you'll find out that the majority of the americans do share my opinion! This has unfortunately not stopped yet your irresponsable administration, hopefully that time will come soon!

@Balkan update:
"The flames of hate and nationalism will burn you again."

Not this time, there's no more drunk Yelstin! Only a stead fast Putin! Exactly what did the NATO US dominated forces in Kosovo do in 2004 when hordes of Albanians burnt down all of our churches? They toasted Marsh mallows and basically said let them have their fun! Don't lecture us about burning an embassy down – so what!!

A black day for Serb diplomacy.

Of course Serbia is backing away from the west. They ousted Milosevic, elected a democratic, pro western president, made significant economic reforms to get ready for EU intergration, and how are they rewarded? Theyr cultural and religious heartland is stolen illegaly and supported by western countries. well good ritance to the west, Russia, China, and India are Serbias future. China, India, Russia have a bigger market for export then the EU and US combined, and they have shown they respect international law and will not bend it to meet theyr own goals. Im also disgusted how the media has reported this. 150 000 Peacefull Serbs protest in parliament, while a few hundred football hooligans trash an embassy, and which do you think gets the most media coverage.

BTW one thing i feel i have to mention. I watched the debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and Hillary said "Its the Serbian governments responsibility to protect the embassy according to international law" WOW, the audacity that she has suprises me, after the US breaks international law by recognizing Kosovo, and shes talking about the Serb governments responsibility to international law.

It was probably not the best of a PR move, but there are much worse things in this world. It was a relatively small group of people with lots of anger and frustration, which I can understand. I am sure that in many other countries people woould like to burn down the US embassy as well. All you Kosovo Albanians who think they can take advantage of this or who are crying to show how bad the Serbs are again calm down. Your US masters have destroyed some many buildings and people in many places and you never say anything about that (also from your muslim brothers and sisters). How come you are not supporting your brothers and sisters in Palestine? Afraid that you will offend your US masters and their Israeli friends. I am sure the Serbian government will do all to prevent this from happening. How come that all over the world the US embassies and consulates are the most protected of all? Not because they are so popular.

Tricky,

You as a Serbian-American have an American passport but otherwise you are "American" only on paper. You fully approve the burning of our embassy. How despicable. Shame on you. Please never tell again that you are an American.

Thumbs up for Jess.

Otherwise: Budapest was a scene of much uglier riots in 2006. The "Western" media immediately called the hooligans 'revolutionaries' supporting the 'spirit of 1956'.

Sidi wrote:

Thank You Serbian embassy-burners! THANK YOU. I was hoping this would happen.

--

Really, you were hoping someone died? Now that's low!

This is my last comment in this webpage regarding the Kosova Independence.
I think is a waste of time to talk with hardheaded people.
I dont understand, is entire world against Serbia and Russia.
Even the youngest child in the world knows how democratic is Russia and China.
I really wanna see our country Kosova, and Serbia as well in EU asap. We are the only countries in Europe that are still having a conflict. Thats why we have unemployement,un-educated people.
I still think that most of serbians do not support those hooligans. Real serbians are conceren more about serbian economy than Kosova Independence (According to a survey lately)
Now bye bye
Peace (as long as you want it)


p.s. To the Swiss...what the hell someone from Switzeland is doing in Serbia.

To Joe, 22 February 2008 16:40

hahaha, what a little guy you are, as a matter of fact, you are right, and you know with whom, the american embassy.... :))

why is it that some serbs are so gung ho to point the finger of blame towards albanians who were frustrated during events in kosove and ignited serbian churches, which was clearly wrong, however the same serbian people today simply brush aside the same crime of arson on the US embassy as nothing serious and should be viewed a misdemeanor? could this be the same ole' serbian double-standard that we're all too familiar with from the "slobo days?" i was under the impression those days were in the past, right?

I don't remember the US complaining when the Serbian parliament building was burnt in October 2000.

In New York the US ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, expressed outrage at the attack, and said he would ask for a Security Council condemnation.

He said the Serbian government should be reminded "of its responsibility to protect diplomatic facilities".

The words pot kettle and lack come to mind here.

Kushtrim, FIFA & UEFA only accepts new members when they attain membership of the UN. Something that isn't going to happen to Kosovo for a long time.

It is sad to see what happened at the US and other western embassies in Belgrade. The country that says it is "fighting for international laws" is itself violating them by attacking foreign embassies which are protected by international laws. Anyway I think some serb friends led by the aggressive nationalist leader Mr. Kostunica still have time to learn more about laws and democracy. It is never late but if it will happen sooner then the road of Serbia to the EU will be faster.
Sven fron Stockholm working in Balkans

To albanians...

You sound very stupid when you say "sponsored attack on embassies"

I was watching all the political happenings in serbia on the tv last one week.

Every single politicians, even radikals, have called on peaceful protest!! And repeated it many times.

There was more then 500 000 people on the street and only few tens of people did what they did.
It makes maybe 0.001% of people.

So acording to albanians people around the world should base them on those 0.001%?

The way Serbia behaved today, you have no future in the European Union. Goodbye.

"that Serbia hasn't controlled Kosovo for nearly ten years. The province was lost long ago."

MD


Dear MD,

you may say Kosovo is gone long ago but

1 Kosovo belongs to Serbia
and financial value of Kosovo assets are estimated on several hundreds billions of Euros.

2 Kosovo's part of Yugoslavian international debt, by this ilegal secession is thrown into the hands of the former Yugoslavia legal inheritor: Serbia. Should we be paying off their debt?
Would you?

The ignorance of the international community regarding the history of SERBIA is ridiculous. If one would report the TRUTH of the original protest scheduled - praying, 150K + calm peaceful human beings gathering together to make a mark in history - it would be shown as being the truth of what happened.

For any albanian poster - it just shows that you will grab at whatever opportunity will allow you to & that's fine, but one thing you must recognize is that SERBIANS will not give up without a fight.

TO ENDRI, 22 February 2008 00:39)

Well you better read my post again....
not judging and justifying anyone, just giving some parallels about hooligans wherever they are.
I don't know where you come from and I really do not care, but what I do care is what the US and part of EU have done against all principles, laws and treates! My reaction would have been the sam no matter in which country it would have happend and am glad that there are still countries in this world that do not blindly follow the US destructive policy!

Am not neither talking on behalf of the Swiss (which I am since the 14th century!) nor on behalf of the Serbs but as a person that obviousely do no share this illegal move like many other millions of people!

I certainly didn't forget 99
and rejected it, but I also didn't forget the dirty US involvement at the begining of the war and also certainly not the involment of Mr Thaci, (wasn't he called a terrorist with links to Al Qaida by the US administration), so things are not as simple as they seem.

Finally I do not have to look for provocative K-albanians, they are unfortunately all around and if you have the chance to read and understand french then read some swiss local newspapers and you will get a feeling of what I meant and peoples' reaction.

And let me also include for your lecture a link, and of course I'll appreciate to have your poing of view on it...

http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=125467

I wish one day this sily things stop.When will people in balkans will stop all this 13 ct primitive way of life. People do you know that in Europe nobody cares about where you are from and what nationality you are from. I travell from London to south of spain there is no borders i have my freedom, i can work anywhere i want in europe. That what i call freedom. Dont you know faster you leave the past faster you will be in my situation where i am. Dont you understand that in 5 years every body from all countries around serbia will feel same as me . Only you people will be left behind because you have been tricked by you selfish "leaders". They only think for them self, not about you who want to feel real freedom i have. Dont you want to be free and move with a time.

To The Swiss

Firstly I want to say that I read carefully all the comments here including yours. However it seems that you are more Serb then the Serbs themselves. The parallels that u give have nothing in common. In the respective country that u mentioned the hooligans never were supported politically as they are in Serbia (cf. V Jeremic). Instead of contributing to the freedom and peace you put more fuel on the fire. You are whoever you are but I think you are not in such position to judge US and EU policy since you know nothing about the past in Kosova. For your information I am from Albania and I am here since 2000 BC.

You can not simply reject so easy the 1999. Remember 12000 people killed and massacred with more than 80 % civilian. While an embassy can be built again, they are not going to bring in life their relatives. What about the emotions of these people!!!! Do you call destructive policy the intervention against killing machines!!! My dear friend, unfortunately people like you I have met around Europe but they are very few.

About links with Al Qaeda!! It is a fact that we are one of the closest alleys of USA in the war against terror since our soldiers are serving along with others in Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore USA would never welcome us if we were linked with Islamic terrorists. The article that u sent here about links of Mr.Thaci with Al Qaeda is written by a person without proper education and clearly standing always against US policy. If Mr. Thaci were linked as the writer pretends of course he wouldn’t be where he is. By the way your co patriot, the main prosecutor of Hague was looking for some indictees who are still hiding over there in Serbia and not for Mr. Thaci

The points of your comments are "I don’t care for this and that". Then I will give you an advice but before that I have to say that I never called anyone as idiot or racist. On the contrary the Albanians are thankful to the Swiss government for the help and support given when they were forced to leave Kosova under Serbian regime. Please DON’T MESS anymore with our problems and policies. For the rights of the worlds concerning the US and EU for which you are so much worried you can address to UN. And please let us Albanians and Serbs in peace to solve the problems as we want. If you don’t care about us then we definitely don’t care about you either.
(Endri, 22 February 2008 20:52)

Endri, I have no comments anymore, your post is self talking and prove one more time if necessary that you do not accept others' opposite view and your "DON'T MESS ANYORE" does not impress me at all and will certainly not stop me to express my view, whether you like it or not!
Last but not least you again did not read my post correctly and moreover forgot your own words, so let your adrenaline goes down and read again!

Really, what does Serbia really mean to the US or the EU? It seems to me that this country has much more to lose by the loss of ties with the Western powers then those countries do with Serbia. Violence and protests in the streets do nothing to change the fact that Serbia hasn't controlled Kosovo for nearly ten years. The province was lost long ago. This game of power politics is over. Protests and violence does little to change the reality on the ground. It's time to look forward and not backward.

Albanians in Croatia were also attacked:
http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=125777

"since it is Lazer who was the only one to condemn the brutal beating of a serbian granny a few months ago..., hey Lazer, have you seen how many Albanians here have done the same like you?"

Jovan, they actually have, but maybe not on this blog.

Tomislav, maybe you are not aware but I have condemned the violence that occured in 2004. I have also condemned the massive violence of the Serbian paramilitary and police during 1997, 1998 and 1999.
FYI.
But this, burning of the Embassies is really not getting you far up front, only far backwards.
If you dont believe me now, you will, much later.

Kostunica should go, with his pals : Ilic, Samardjic, Prorokovic and many others. Until that happens, Serbia is not going to see the light of day.

I also hear that they were gonna attack B92 studios, what a shame. SHAME.

Unbelievable act!!!They should be shamed on themselves.What were the thinking?!

Endri,

I agree very much with your comment #58. "The Swiss" (or maybe just a nationalist Serb with swiss passport) seems to justify and approve any violence as long as it is committed by Serbs. This is called one-sided mentality. I knew a lot of Swiss, when I worked in Europe. It was a pleasure to work with them. Those were very different, open-minded, moral people. I think most of the Swiss are still in that category.

Why did the Serbs attack the Croatian embassy and burn the Croatian flag? Croatia is (was?) siding with the Serbs and has refused to recognize the so-called independence of Kosovo. Why did they attack the Canadian embassy as well? I am Croatian-Canadian and I have always strongly been against the notion of independence for Kosovo, but the unnecessary Serb brutality against the embassies of Croatia and Canada has made me think that perhaps my sympathy was misplaced.

As a US expat living in Belgrade I am saddened to see how both sides of the fence have been acting. I love Serbia, the people, culture, etc but have no idea what would possess the government to stage a rally in which they were not prepared to control.

I've read these blogs for many months but have never posted. This issue has swayed me to try to speak some sense to the few idots that will ruin it for the entire country. The fact is that most Americans do not even know where Serbia is let alone the issues you face. Setting ablaze Embassies will only drive you further from prosperity.

For all that say "to hell with the US, the West and the EU" think about this: where would this country be right now without the influx of money from those that you so love to hate? A quarter of Serbia's revenue comes from American owned businesses and reconstruction activities are funded by the EU or Western countries.

Close the door on them and you'll be an island in the center of Europe.

There is nothing wrong with a peacefull protest and having international courts decide the final outcome. Police sitting aside as Embassies are stoned or burned is another. You'll get attention alright, but the attention you get will cost you for years to come.

Endri,

I like your post #98 very much. I just would like to add that the Swiss has most likely strong commercial interests in Serbia. I don't know what he is selling but apparently the more trouble the better for him.

B92:

Good to see that you're still operating - by trying to stay impartial, you're providing a platform on which both sides can express their views, which puts a human face on those with contrary views - makes a difference.. but you're also going to necessarily attract some flak - flak jackets? :)

The President of Serbia in front of the whole world states that there would be no violence coming from Serbs. Two days later there is violence coming from Serbs. Serbia lost a lot of credit today.
To those Serbs who state Serbia will not go down without a fight. You gotta learn to pick your fights. Today first of all Serbia was fighting itself, showing its ugly side to the world at time where it should have done the impossible to hide it.

As an Albanian this off course reinforces our cause and helps as politically. If Serbia really thinks that at some point in time it will have Kosova/o back, they better start to wise up. Otherwise with things like this happening, you are just making it to easy for us.

Yeah way to go Serbia, you just keep blaming the world, burn down flags and embassys, take your ambasadors from the world. You are victims, the world is to blame, why i am not suprised? even today after what's going on you keep blaming Americans and others especially Kosovar Albanians for burning your monastires, but you dont talk about last 20 years of burning, killing, and torturing people from Kroatia, Bosnia and Kosova. Your regime policy was and is burning. Milions of people all over Ballkans has suffered and are still suffering from Serbian Regime, I am sorry abot you, but I am more sorry about your neighbours, who suffered so much because they were different, and know they want to join the democratic world and forget the past, but you are still being obstacle in their path to democracy and prosperity.
It's your time, there are two ways east, or west, to bad you can not choose both, but either way is better than noway because noway is confusing and doesn't last forever.I am sorry for those people(majority) who voted for going west because it seems they were betrayed, and their vote was manipulated, this is called Democracy in Serbia.

The government encouraged Serbs to have a riot and damage property in a Serbian city, does that sound perverse to anyone? Like a teenager destroying their own possessions in a fit of anger.

Dear Ovich,

we albanians are not trying to maximize the number of hooligans who were responsible for the attacks against several embassies over there and we truly believe that the majority of Serbs don’t support such events. We both have had enough destruction through the past years. Despite of this I want to raise a question and I will appreciate if you answer me. You say that only 0.001% of rally’s participants took part in the riots. How is possible that the police forces, who were more than hundred, couldn’t stop 50 or 100 angry men to do what they did? Or was it part of secret plan of Serbian government such events like those?

i'm italian and i write my name as i like! i wrong the date: was 1941 (not 1944).
i remember the "foibe" but i remember the italian crime and the nazi-fascist occupation of yugoslavia, i remember tito fighting VS ùstascia, cetnik and so on, i remember the ùstascia drilled in italy, i remember the occupation of crna gora (montenegro)and so on! and i can say u about foibe that we, in italy, 10th of febbrary have a memory day near foiba of Bosovizza, we say that we found there 2500 italians, but there was 10 nazi! this is history!

By the way, I have always been in favour of Kosovo independence since you cannot stop history and the will of the people.

Ronald, ZK, and other posters who have trivialised or played down what has occured tonight. ZK - contrary what you state somebody died. Think about it. A person was killed. We don't know who it was at this stage, but this is a tragedy. That person will have had relatives and a family. You should stop being flippant about what happened.

(part 1)
i'm italian and i feel sorry my country recognized the illegal independence of kosovo i metohija. maybe i will be in serbia this summer and i will dress a t-shirt with "please kick me: i'm italian!".
i (don't) want remember when italy was with NATO in the bombing of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and when in 1944 the italian fascists who was in albania killed and kicked off a lot of serbs away from kosovo helped by 21st division Waffen SS Skanderbeg (nazi K.albanians).
(djanluka, 22 February 2008 02:27)

Djanluka or you are not italian or you have some lacks in your countrys history.
1.ss scanderbeg was an wannabe albanian but indeed the most of its troops were germans.
2.here we are on point 2,it has nothing to do with italy
3.You "forgot" to mention(probably because you are not italian) the "Foibe" massacres,when thousands of italians from istria were killed by Titos(mostly serbian) partizans.
so Gianluca theres no need to apology for a country that you obiovsly don't represent,even if you really are italian.

And i have a question for serbs here.This burning of foreing embassys now or the burning albanian houses religious and cultural objects in the 99 war are more or less serious then burning some churches?

Republic of Serbia, you showed again who you are. I hope you never will be part of the European Union as Serbia but rather like Vojvodina. Bombings should be implemented (continue where we left 1999).

Natural reaction to a feeling of injustice. If the US had turned around and double crossed the Albanians, something similar would've occurred.

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v203/247/18/505522804/n505522804_658850_3251.jpg

Glad to see we have support :)

The Canadian embassy shouldnt have been touched. They did participate in the bombing, but are worried about Quebec. Hopefully they decide not to recognise and think independently of our neighbour to the south.

To The Swiss

The points of your comments are "I don’t care for this and that". Then I will give you an advice but before that I have to say that I never called anyone as idiot or racist. On the contrary the Albanians are thankful to the Swiss government for the help and support given when they were forced to leave Kosova under Serbian regime. Please DON’T MESS anymore with our problems and policies. For the rights of the worlds concerning the US and EU for which you are so much worried you can address to UN. And please let us Albanians and Serbs in peace to solve the problems as we want. If you don’t care about us then we definitely don’t care about you either.

Thanks for the apology.

Thanks for the two beers.

The Serbian police did a good job of reducing the number of injured people yesterday, regardless of the criticism they received from foreign nations.

The burning I saw thurday night in Belgrade it cleary reminded Prishtina in March 1999 during the NATO bombing. It was exactly the same situation when people started to steal all shops and broke into every apartment. As a Kosovar and Balkan citizen, those pictures of Belgrade made me be ashamed. Please God help our serb friends because they deserve more. Nevertheless, it's just a great feeling to be independent. We might have poor country, but who cares...peace is priceless...

It's obvious that you never get a Serb angry. It was so naive and foolish to recognize a non state.
(GM, 21 February 2008 22:06)
i think your intention was to impress or strike fear into someone, however, i think you've not only failed on both accounts but rather have had the opposite effect.
don't be discouraged...feel free to try again if you feel up to it.

seeing this Tank's on Tv
i remember seeing them for my 34 GOD DEM YEARS IN MY COUNTRY

Djanluka, you cannot spell your own name in Italian (Gianluca,) but you offer youraself as human punch-ball to the Serbs to release their frustration. Weldone!! You are the right sort of person for the job.

Djanluca!
Don't be ridiculous! First, the right italian name is Gianluca and second being an italian you should know that italy capitulated in 1943. You can say anything you want but just don't pretend to be an italian.

I have a question, did the US force Costa Rica to recognize Kosovo? How about Denmark, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Malaysia, Senegal, Lithuania, Finland, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Australia, Latvia, and all the other countries who have recognized or said they will?

It's so typical to blame the US. It also shows the low level of critical thinking going on, especially when there are plenty of vocal pro-Western, pro-American, pro-Serbian Serbs who want to move on with their lives.

Thanks for the apology.

Thanks for the two beers.

The Serbian police did a good job of reducing the number of injured people yesterday, regardless of the criticism they received from foreign nations.
(Canada, 22 February 2008 20:53)

you must reside in world where left is right and up is down.

Its official, the US are attempting to erase KosovO of all Serbian history. Rice stated:

“We believe that the resolution of Kosovo's status will really, finally, let the Balkans begin to put its terrible history behind it," Rice said Friday. "I mean, after all, we're talking about something from 1389 — 1389! It's time to move forward”.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ie7MkLvjbbKQiGvfank1pUVZvYywD8UVLSEG0

This was said to be a rumour. However, the US believes the only problem they have with Kosovo is the remaining Serb populous. Equal rights by Thaci are just a stage show - we all know that, and Kosovo would be better off if the remaining Serbs left. Reminiscent to Clinton supporting the expulsion of 5000000 Serbs from Kraijna Geographical names have already started to be re-named Albanian.

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/comments.php?nav_id=47429

Anything that resembles Serb history will be eradicated completely started in 2004. This is only commonsense when everything in Kosovo is Serbian named.

I am Serbian and this is what I have seen here today.

Most of the information that Serbs choose to accept as fact comes from pro Serbian news sources.

Most of the information that Albanians(Kosovo Albanians) choose to accept as fact comes from pro Albanian news sources.

Most of the information coming from a neutral source is dismissed for “lack of knowledge” by what ever side got the short end of the stick.

I am Serbian and right now all I feel like doing is ranting and raving about how the Serbs are justified in the way they feel and in the way they act because it is the fault of Albanians and those who are pro Albanian. After all they are trying to steal our Kosovo. I think that just about every Serb feels the same way right about now.

If I was Albanian, right now all I would feel like doing is ranting and raving about how the horrible Serbs are at it again. Anything bad that any Albanian did would be justified because the horrible Serbs started the whole mess. After all, those Serbs are trying to steal our Kosovo. Oops, I mean Kosova.(Forgive the slip, I admit, I am Serbian but I’m truly trying here) I think that just about every Albanian feels the same way right about now.

Well, that’s all right. It is quite natural to support your own side in any conflict. BUT NOW WHAT!?! Are there no positive thoughts left at all about the other side? Are there any negative statements about our own sides that are not followed by a “but” or a “because” justifying the negative action? Is it always the Albanians fault? Is it always the Serbs fault? Can it possibly be that someone else is always at fault?

I am going to try to become a better man right now and finish by saying something that will not have a “but” or a “because” at the end of it. Maybe someone on the other side will reciprocate and we can start something positive for a change before I pull all my hair out from the frustration.

Serbian sponsored attack on the American Embassy must not go unpunished.The US will respond in the only language the Serbs understand.We all support America's war on terror in Serbia.

US Expat,
you love serbian people, culture, etc. but you clearly still don't know who they really are.

Serbia in EU? no thank you.

Mark, please, if you can't handle the heat get out of the kitchen. The comments that get on this Serbian site comeing from you and the Albanian camp are just as offensive. All you people do here is try to get under our skin. Still the fack is 2004 was 100x worse than what the Sedrbs did in Belgrade. You did't disagree with me on that part now did you so I must be right. Serbia will fight thats a given. By the way, that new Kosovo flag is incorect. They added North Kosovo to it, and we all know that pristina has no control over it Belgrade dose. So please let them know to remove it, thanks mark.

To B92, update the forums so there are threads. Many comments were worth reading and would have begun some good threads.

TO JESS "THE AMERICAN". i DID NOT SEE YOU RUNNING WITH A BUCKET OF WATER? AFTER ALL IT IS YOUR EMBASSY.

TO SERBS BRAVO. You made all pro-kosovars so happy, looking at the serb police beating on serbs. Serbs destroying serb property. serbs adding more enemies to the list. Way to go.

Have you read this article about possible Russian invilvement in Kosovo:
http://www.pressonline.co.yu/rubrika.jsp?sectionId=38
If this is true, then we could assume that there were FSB agents at the U.S. Embassy, too.

excellent post jeff, serbians listen to his message, a message of a true american friend; the difficult question now is how and when are we going to mend our ties?

PLEASE PEACE !!!!!

What happened in belgrade certainly it wasnt the doing of albanians but it was their own peoples and also to some of the commentators who do not watch the news there were a victims and also the casulties in hospitals so way to go serbio isnt the time finaly somebody see the true colours of kostunica were he is leading his people and his country. And finaly to jess to call yourself pro-serb you think is something to be proud and specialy this last 10 years dont make me laugh please

Long live Serbia!!!!!!
(Delije, 22 February 2008 19:21)

you should take great comfort in the fact that people who don't agree with you here cannot have their opinions posted because of your moderators. in the odd chance we do, it's always edited and losses it's validity in transition. mind you that these are comments free & void of vulgar language or insults but it appears that facts are a rare item in belgrade and here at b92.

The Swiss,

are u talking on behalf of Serbs or Swiss people???? Who the hell are u to judge the govs of Denmark and Italy or u simply want to justify what was done tonight by Serbs. Keep searching for Albanian provocateurs as u call them but you wont find one because there are not such. It is shame that a majority here still support hooligans and „patriots“ while the other people over there are terrified. Nobody is even talking about the consequences of Serbian politics in 1999. Think about the true reasons of nowadays situation.

Just imagine if this was done to the Serbian Embassy, in one of the foreign countries. WOW, I am appauled, but after all, I did not expect anything else.
Serbia is loosing, and loosing fast.
Rememember my words, as of now. If US withdraws from Belgrade, it will be a long time before Serbia ever gains any memberships in EU or elsewhere.
I hope this does not spiral into something else. I feel very bad for the Serbian people in general, but not these ones.
Serbia has a responsibility to protect the embassies and Consulates in its territory (not Kosovo).

I am an American. I am also very pro-Serb. I am outraged at what has occurred in Kosovo and Metohija since 1999. But, I am also outraged at what has happened tonight to my embassy. In the four years that I have lived in Serbia,one of the most common complaints I've heard is how Serbs are demonized in the media, and in general popular opinion elsewhere in the world. And setting fire to my embassy does what, exactly? Dou some of you not realize that the same media machine that worked against you in 1997,98,99 and so on... is still there, just waiting like a pack of wolves to demonize you even further?

When 200,000 of you show up in front of parliament and then march to St Sava, it is an example to the world, and to yourselves, of your strength, unity and passion for Kosovo. When a small percentage of those then go and commit violence, putting people in danger, well, that's just shooting yourself in the foot.

Regarding Kosovo; Serbia is right, And we are wrong. In time, and with diplomatic struggle, the truth about kosovo will emerge. But by sending your message with violence, nobody will care what the truth is.

And, just a note to the thousands of Albanians who live in Belgrade.... if you are all such great friends of America, why dont you get some buckets full of water, and come down and help put the flames out? It's you who are ultimately responsible for this mess....

Thank You Serbian embassy-burners! THANK YOU. I was hoping this would happen. As we speak, every major US news channel is beaming images of the US embassy burning, with a huge hearline on top: SERBS ATTACK & BURN US EMBASSY! Americans will equalize the Serbs to the Taliban now. You could not have helped cement American support for Kosova in a better way. Again Thank You!

Watching the scenes of what is going on in Belgrade is disturbing even from a Kosovar Albanian perspective. Please calm down and think of the best for your country, think of the Serbs in Kosova. Ignore your leaders’ speeches which they never stopped imposing hatred. This can easily jeopardize the Serbia’s EU bid, and you will not only lose Kosovo but also western world and you’ll end up with Russia who is not the best model of leadership. I purely understand your frustration but think for the future, and with what I’m seeing on TV I don’t see any brighter future. You wouldn’t want Kosovo either, because you won’t be able to manage it. I’m sure the people that are protesting are people that never visited Kosovo. Kosovo is populated by the Albanians and the will of these Albanians is independence, you or anyone else cannot decide for us, and you cannot go against of the majority of the population in Kosovo.

As a K.Albanian i thank you for showing the world the true face of 'democratic' Serbia, especially since serbian police were just standing by, knowing US embassy would be targeted.

I always said, when it comes to Kosovo and albanians, Serbia will never change. The world has realised this hence the recognition of independence.

Milosevic is gone but his idea still lives.

Congratulations Serbs for shooting yourself in the foot.
I can already imagine the kind of article I will read in the evening paper.
So this was part of the "action plan" of your government? According to a Belgian site the police didn't even try to prevent it. Apparently they got orders from higher-ups to do nothing.
It shows that nothing changed in Serbia. Milosevic just got replaced by Vojo.

no problem, ronald. we lost an embassy in belgrade but we'll replace it soon w/a new one in pristina.

I cannot believe the sheer naivity of the Albanian posters on this website it seems as though you people genuinly believe that the West is creating "kosova" because of Albanians' right to self-determination and to punish the brutalist Serbs.

None of this has anything to do with Albanians or Serbs its to do with power and position the idea that your enemies' enamy is your friend.

So its all good except for one thing; Americans have made a grave mistake; they have underestimated the reslove of the Serbian peoples to preserve their identity their soul. This is just one round in a ongoing Saga in Kosovo.

Ok, so now Belgrade is in the same league as Gaza Strip, Karachi and Tehran where burning US flags is a fashion. These images of U.S embassy going up in flames are being beamed right now thru out US and every other country. With leader like Kostunica, and Nikolic who needs enemies? The 51% who voted for Tadic are being overrun by the other half that voted for Nikolic. I only feel sorry for the ½ of the Serbian population, but I wish good for all of Serbia for the sake of the children of this country. When will Serbia wake up? The flames of hate and nationalism will burn you again.

So many of the comments here are truly outrageous.

"It's you who are ultimately responsible for this mess...."

Who? Albanians? Give me a break. The Serbian government is solely responsible for this behavior. What do you expect when the foreign minister himself says attacking and blowing up border posts on the Serbia-Kosovo border is in line with the government's position? What do you expect when the government organized hundreds of thousands of angry people to protest against losing something they've been taught they're supposed to love? The Serbian government is responsible for all violence stemming from the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Serbia has been warning of instability following Kosovo's independence, and it is a self-fulfilling prophecy! They are the ones who are instigating the instability!!!

"it became a very popular item to burn all around the world... woundering why..."

Why? Because spoiled brats need somebody to blame.

"Regarding Kosovo; Serbia is right, And we are wrong. In time, and with diplomatic struggle, the truth about kosovo will emerge. But by sending your message with violence, nobody will care what the truth is."

Jess, with all due respect, you should probably have spent some of those four years in Kosovo, not just listening to the propaganda of your neighbors in Belgrade. The truth is our about Kosovo: Serbian gave it away in the late 80s. Being an American (read: naive) and living in Belgrade (read: the wolves' den) doesn't make you non-biased, it makes you a tool.

And the funniest part about all this is that it doesn't stem from logic, politics, history, or what have you, but a little thing called bigotry, against Albanian people. Most Yugoslavs will tell you that all the Albanians they knew were good people, but still...for some reason, they had a bad reputation. Why? Because you simply hated them.

I hope this will not mis-characterize the Serbs, because it shouldn't. They are just some bored, drunk angry kids. But the blame should go to the government who laid the foundations and indeed has encouraged this awful, deplorable behavior. Black day for Serbian diplomacy is RIGHT!

And for all you who keep mentioning that the declaration of Kosovo independence is illegal: How convenient you care about international law today, when it was the Serbian government who committed some of the worst atrocities since WW2 in the Balkans and had the highest number of war criminals in the Hague. Not to mention, you STILL refuse to hand over the remaining ones!

Setting fire to the US Embassy? Despicable. The Serbian government needs to check itself before it wrecks itself. Hasn't Serbs had enough self-victimization, isolation etc.? Seriously.

why is it that some serbs are so gung ho to point the finger of blame towards albanians who were frustrated during events in kosove and ignited serbian churches, which was clearly wrong, however the same serbian people today simply brush aside the same crime of arson on the US embassy as nothing serious and should be viewed a misdemeanor? could this be the same ole' serbian double-standard that we're all too familiar with from the "slobo days?" i was under the impression those days were in the past, right?

"since it is Lazer who was the only one to condemn the brutal beating of a serbian granny a few months ago..., hey Lazer, have you seen how many Albanians here have done the same like you?"

Jovan, they actually have, but maybe not on this blog.

Tomislav, maybe you are not aware but I have condemned the violence that occured in 2004. I have also condemned the massive violence of the Serbian paramilitary and police during 1997, 1998 and 1999.
FYI.
But this, burning of the Embassies is really not getting you far up front, only far backwards.
If you dont believe me now, you will, much later.

Kostunica should go, with his pals : Ilic, Samardjic, Prorokovic and many others. Until that happens, Serbia is not going to see the light of day.

I also hear that they were gonna attack B92 studios, what a shame. SHAME.

Endri,

I like your post #98 very much. I just would like to add that the Swiss has most likely strong commercial interests in Serbia. I don't know what he is selling but apparently the more trouble the better for him.

Was trying to figure out what could be a florishing business nowadays, just found:
-production of American flags

it became a very popular item to burn all around the world... woundering why...

I find it hard to believe that the Serbian gov’t didn’t foresee something like this happening and they took their sweet time to arrive on the scene. 45 minutes!
As an American of Albanian decent, I say bring it on Serbia and do your worst for it’s only going to place you further back so hold on tight to Mr Putin’s arm because they will definitely guide you down the “right” path.
Also, to the Serbian posters here, keep up with these remarks here because they are supplying many people, myself included, with some much needed laughter.
The events in Belgrade today clearly detail the Serbian version of democracy for all the word to witness. Keep up the “good” work and I suggest you have one these each and every week.

Dear Serbian and propagandists

Finally the "democratic" Serbia is in the center of attention all around the world for the messages given to the world. It is very clear that the same messages would have been given to Kosova if it still were part of Serbia. Thanks to God it is no more. What is the most disgraceful is the support and rights given to the bandits who are fighting with flags and fast foods. We Albanian can say the same that in Kosova in 2004 were same hooligans who burned your churches but you labeled them as terrorists. While we never supported them your hooligans are treated as heroes now by showing the world you true strength and culture. I don’t see any sign of regrets for the majority of commentators

Djanluka, you cannot spell your own name in Italian (Gianluca,) but you offer youraself as human punch-ball to the Serbs to release their frustration. Weldone!! You are the right sort of person for the job.

Republic of Serbia, you showed again who you are. I hope you never will be part of the European Union as Serbia but rather like Vojvodina. Bombings should be implemented (continue where we left 1999).

This is my last comment in this webpage regarding the Kosova Independence.
I think is a waste of time to talk with hardheaded people.
I dont understand, is entire world against Serbia and Russia.
Even the youngest child in the world knows how democratic is Russia and China.
I really wanna see our country Kosova, and Serbia as well in EU asap. We are the only countries in Europe that are still having a conflict. Thats why we have unemployement,un-educated people.
I still think that most of serbians do not support those hooligans. Real serbians are conceren more about serbian economy than Kosova Independence (According to a survey lately)
Now bye bye
Peace (as long as you want it)


p.s. To the Swiss...what the hell someone from Switzeland is doing in Serbia.

Tricky,

You as a Serbian-American have an American passport but otherwise you are "American" only on paper. You fully approve the burning of our embassy. How despicable. Shame on you. Please never tell again that you are an American.

I have a question, did the US force Costa Rica to recognize Kosovo? How about Denmark, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Malaysia, Senegal, Lithuania, Finland, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Australia, Latvia, and all the other countries who have recognized or said they will?

It's so typical to blame the US. It also shows the low level of critical thinking going on, especially when there are plenty of vocal pro-Western, pro-American, pro-Serbian Serbs who want to move on with their lives.

Attacking the US Embassy (or any other embassy) is dead wrong. Dont think you will change the decision of any state by attacking their embassy. Dont think that other nations wont reckognize Kosova Independence, because they will be afraid that a bunch of hooligans will attack the embassys.

"200thousand of them, the migration policy will also have to be taken into consideration, real swiss politic...
Cheers
(The Swiss, 21 February 2008 21:20) '

Some of those 200000 Kosovars that live in "your country" play for "your" National Football Team...
If you let them go we would appreciate...we those players for the newest member of FIFA and UEFA :-)
who knows we may play against "your" country one day

Fair enough to call them hooligans, and yes it is true that troublemakers do exist everywhere. Nonetheless, the whole scenario resembled something well rehearsed, bordering premeditation and failure to prevent. You had the surreal speech about the whole nation’s need for a myth. Then the passionate call, just to blur things even further.
Cheery on the cake though, the angry mob. Total absence of the state after the repeated calls of different embassy staff to protect their staff and property did not look good either. Seems apparent that government took the decision to punish certain foreign delegation with the old famous mob justice. How appropriate for a state who has been in overdrive with the augments of legality and responsible behaviour.

Come on Gordo you try to minimize this act a playful act of hooligans, who are bored and need some fun?
Believe me Western countries see it very differently. As I just read on a site it was part of your government's action plan. How pathetic! I think your country just lost a lot of good will by some people, who thought that Serbia is now different from the ninties.

It seems that this is one things serbs and the serb government are good in: Setting everything on fire. You did it in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, tryed Macedonia and now going on... Why the croatian embassy? Why Bosnian embassy? Why n t your own parlament, the home of your criminal politicians.
Shame, shame and more shame on you.

Really, what does Serbia really mean to the US or the EU? It seems to me that this country has much more to lose by the loss of ties with the Western powers then those countries do with Serbia. Violence and protests in the streets do nothing to change the fact that Serbia hasn't controlled Kosovo for nearly ten years. The province was lost long ago. This game of power politics is over. Protests and violence does little to change the reality on the ground. It's time to look forward and not backward.

The way Serbia behaved today, you have no future in the European Union. Goodbye.

I wish one day this sily things stop.When will people in balkans will stop all this 13 ct primitive way of life. People do you know that in Europe nobody cares about where you are from and what nationality you are from. I travell from London to south of spain there is no borders i have my freedom, i can work anywhere i want in europe. That what i call freedom. Dont you know faster you leave the past faster you will be in my situation where i am. Dont you understand that in 5 years every body from all countries around serbia will feel same as me . Only you people will be left behind because you have been tricked by you selfish "leaders". They only think for them self, not about you who want to feel real freedom i have. Dont you want to be free and move with a time.

To those "Holy Christian Serbs" fighting the creation of an "Islamic state" from "their homeland:"
I'm curious what explanation you have for burning Croatian Catholic Churches during your war to keep the Former Yugoslav Republic of Croatia within Yugoslavia?

How would you reply to the facts that Muslim Albanians are secular, and the Kosovar Declaration of Independence has reiterated the creation of a democratic, secular, state? What about Thaci's decision to make his advisor for Judicial Reform Tom Gashi, a Catholic Kosovar lawyer? What about the Catholic minority that has persisted in Kosova since before the Serbs began to conquer the land in the 13th century? What about the Catholic Cathedral constructed in the heart of Prishtina in honor of Mother Teresa?

For all your "Holy Christian" zeal, how can you justify attacks on Catholic Albanian Kosovars, as well as the destruction and desecration of Croatian Catholic Churches?

It is shameful that Serbs have attacked the US Embassy, and the government did very little to stop it. I feel bad for the Serbs, which are victims of their own ultranationalist leaders, which indoctrinate them with myths in order to turn them into mindless, violent supporters of dangerous ultranationalism.

The President of Serbia in front of the whole world states that there would be no violence coming from Serbs. Two days later there is violence coming from Serbs. Serbia lost a lot of credit today.
To those Serbs who state Serbia will not go down without a fight. You gotta learn to pick your fights. Today first of all Serbia was fighting itself, showing its ugly side to the world at time where it should have done the impossible to hide it.

As an Albanian this off course reinforces our cause and helps as politically. If Serbia really thinks that at some point in time it will have Kosova/o back, they better start to wise up. Otherwise with things like this happening, you are just making it to easy for us.

TO JESS "THE AMERICAN". i DID NOT SEE YOU RUNNING WITH A BUCKET OF WATER? AFTER ALL IT IS YOUR EMBASSY.

TO SERBS BRAVO. You made all pro-kosovars so happy, looking at the serb police beating on serbs. Serbs destroying serb property. serbs adding more enemies to the list. Way to go.

Serbian sponsored attack on the American Embassy must not go unpunished.The US will respond in the only language the Serbs understand.We all support America's war on terror in Serbia.

Yeah way to go Serbia, you just keep blaming the world, burn down flags and embassys, take your ambasadors from the world. You are victims, the world is to blame, why i am not suprised? even today after what's going on you keep blaming Americans and others especially Kosovar Albanians for burning your monastires, but you dont talk about last 20 years of burning, killing, and torturing people from Kroatia, Bosnia and Kosova. Your regime policy was and is burning. Milions of people all over Ballkans has suffered and are still suffering from Serbian Regime, I am sorry abot you, but I am more sorry about your neighbours, who suffered so much because they were different, and know they want to join the democratic world and forget the past, but you are still being obstacle in their path to democracy and prosperity.
It's your time, there are two ways east, or west, to bad you can not choose both, but either way is better than noway because noway is confusing and doesn't last forever.I am sorry for those people(majority) who voted for going west because it seems they were betrayed, and their vote was manipulated, this is called Democracy in Serbia.

What happened in belgrade certainly it wasnt the doing of albanians but it was their own peoples and also to some of the commentators who do not watch the news there were a victims and also the casulties in hospitals so way to go serbio isnt the time finaly somebody see the true colours of kostunica were he is leading his people and his country. And finaly to jess to call yourself pro-serb you think is something to be proud and specialy this last 10 years dont make me laugh please

To The Swiss

Firstly I want to say that I read carefully all the comments here including yours. However it seems that you are more Serb then the Serbs themselves. The parallels that u give have nothing in common. In the respective country that u mentioned the hooligans never were supported politically as they are in Serbia (cf. V Jeremic). Instead of contributing to the freedom and peace you put more fuel on the fire. You are whoever you are but I think you are not in such position to judge US and EU policy since you know nothing about the past in Kosova. For your information I am from Albania and I am here since 2000 BC.

You can not simply reject so easy the 1999. Remember 12000 people killed and massacred with more than 80 % civilian. While an embassy can be built again, they are not going to bring in life their relatives. What about the emotions of these people!!!! Do you call destructive policy the intervention against killing machines!!! My dear friend, unfortunately people like you I have met around Europe but they are very few.

About links with Al Qaeda!! It is a fact that we are one of the closest alleys of USA in the war against terror since our soldiers are serving along with others in Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore USA would never welcome us if we were linked with Islamic terrorists. The article that u sent here about links of Mr.Thaci with Al Qaeda is written by a person without proper education and clearly standing always against US policy. If Mr. Thaci were linked as the writer pretends of course he wouldn’t be where he is. By the way your co patriot, the main prosecutor of Hague was looking for some indictees who are still hiding over there in Serbia and not for Mr. Thaci

This is what "government-sponsored" "people's" demonstrations over Kosovo lead to. Violence. Time to give up on the mass rallies before democracy is totally subverted. Remember what the majority of serbian citizens voted for in the presidential elections

A black day for Serb diplomacy.

Endri,

I agree very much with your comment #58. "The Swiss" (or maybe just a nationalist Serb with swiss passport) seems to justify and approve any violence as long as it is committed by Serbs. This is called one-sided mentality. I knew a lot of Swiss, when I worked in Europe. It was a pleasure to work with them. Those were very different, open-minded, moral people. I think most of the Swiss are still in that category.

As a US citizen I'm furious over the thugish behavior of the Serbian citizenary. Serbian people marching with pictures of Serbian war criminal Radovan Karadick & Ratko Mladick. Burning the USA flag! The USA should recall its ambassador immediately and leave the Serbian bananna republic to be administered by there Russian masters

The government encouraged Serbs to have a riot and damage property in a Serbian city, does that sound perverse to anyone? Like a teenager destroying their own possessions in a fit of anger.

It is sad to see what happened at the US and other western embassies in Belgrade. The country that says it is "fighting for international laws" is itself violating them by attacking foreign embassies which are protected by international laws. Anyway I think some serb friends led by the aggressive nationalist leader Mr. Kostunica still have time to learn more about laws and democracy. It is never late but if it will happen sooner then the road of Serbia to the EU will be faster.
Sven fron Stockholm working in Balkans

As a US expat living in Belgrade I am saddened to see how both sides of the fence have been acting. I love Serbia, the people, culture, etc but have no idea what would possess the government to stage a rally in which they were not prepared to control.

I've read these blogs for many months but have never posted. This issue has swayed me to try to speak some sense to the few idots that will ruin it for the entire country. The fact is that most Americans do not even know where Serbia is let alone the issues you face. Setting ablaze Embassies will only drive you further from prosperity.

For all that say "to hell with the US, the West and the EU" think about this: where would this country be right now without the influx of money from those that you so love to hate? A quarter of Serbia's revenue comes from American owned businesses and reconstruction activities are funded by the EU or Western countries.

Close the door on them and you'll be an island in the center of Europe.

There is nothing wrong with a peacefull protest and having international courts decide the final outcome. Police sitting aside as Embassies are stoned or burned is another. You'll get attention alright, but the attention you get will cost you for years to come.

(Jess, 21 February 2008 20:18)

Jess, am glad that finally somebody that have been living in Serbia can give an objective view.
Am also an expat living in Serbia and I can say that 100 of thousands were peacefully marching in town since I was there at the beginning. Unfortunately,like always, and this is not only a Serbian speciality, you have a few hundreds that join just to break something (like it happened lately in Danemark, in France, in Holland etc...). Of course like many times the US is the favorite target and this is valid all around the world thanks to your current administration.
I can say that my experience in Serbia has been excellent and I have no plans to leave anytime soon.
Thanks God Switzerland has not yet officially recognized this unlawfull act and according to the last comments, will do when Kosovo will prove that they can sustain economically and that the minorities will be respected.....and of course since we have about 200thousand of them, the migration policy will also have to be taken into consideration, real swiss politic...
Cheers

I am American and also pro-Serbian; though never pro-volient. I have lived in Serbia against the advice of my friends and family; because you were said to be anti-American and I would not be "safe". I continue to love your country and those who I will always love over there. I do not support my president's administration, (i do not know many who do). Until my country can fix our own problem's... we have not a right to intrude in those of others. With this said; don't burn down our buildings. Americans in your country chose to be there; undoubtedly for non-political reasons, but for the love of your country and your people. I miss Serbia very much and wish for you all the success that is well overdue. But violence never looks good in the eyes of others, and you can have conviction without violence. I am half-way around the world and I have heard you before our embassy was destroyed, and never believed that Kosovo should be independent. Our western countries have little understanding of this and cultural importance or the threat of a state succession. Maybe one day if California was taken by the Mexicans, there would be some understanding or at least compassion and empathy. We are very egocentric, are we not?
Don't hate the Americans; there are many of us here defending your position and your country.
Also we really did not vote for Bush... he stole 2 elections, and that is another story.

It's obvious that you never get a Serb angry. It was so naive and foolish to recognize a non state.
(GM, 21 February 2008 22:06)
i think your intention was to impress or strike fear into someone, however, i think you've not only failed on both accounts but rather have had the opposite effect.
don't be discouraged...feel free to try again if you feel up to it.

Albanians in Croatia were also attacked:
http://www.javno.com/en/croatia/clanak.php?id=125777

I feel sorry for most of the Serbs because there are just 10% of those who did this to the American embassy. Probably never thought of leaving their counry and burning american flag. I am also sorry for those who will have problems getting a US visa. It is going to take more than a year until they rebuild the embassy, and America won't help them any more. They just digged a big black hole for themselves. I am sorry again

(part 1)
i'm italian and i feel sorry my country recognized the illegal independence of kosovo i metohija. maybe i will be in serbia this summer and i will dress a t-shirt with "please kick me: i'm italian!".
i (don't) want remember when italy was with NATO in the bombing of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and when in 1944 the italian fascists who was in albania killed and kicked off a lot of serbs away from kosovo helped by 21st division Waffen SS Skanderbeg (nazi K.albanians).
(djanluka, 22 February 2008 02:27)

Djanluka or you are not italian or you have some lacks in your countrys history.
1.ss scanderbeg was an wannabe albanian but indeed the most of its troops were germans.
2.here we are on point 2,it has nothing to do with italy
3.You "forgot" to mention(probably because you are not italian) the "Foibe" massacres,when thousands of italians from istria were killed by Titos(mostly serbian) partizans.
so Gianluca theres no need to apology for a country that you obiovsly don't represent,even if you really are italian.

And i have a question for serbs here.This burning of foreing embassys now or the burning albanian houses religious and cultural objects in the 99 war are more or less serious then burning some churches?

to lazer:

WOW lazer you are appaled? Really?? I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for letting us know.

"Just imagine if this was done to the Serbian Embassy, in one of the foreign countries."

What do you think is a proper response to america - to sit in a corner like a mouse, while america is stealing your country, and giving it to muslims?

Why don't you talk about the churches and monastaries your alban buddies destroyed. You compare that with one embassy... don't worry america can afford a new one.

No need to feel sorry for us. That last thing we need is alban sympathy.

I support you Serbs in preventing your territorial integrity. THis time I can call myself: Serb. I come from Poland but I pray foryour country and your fellow citizens from different nations and wit different religions.

(part 1)
i'm italian and i feel sorry my country recognized the illegal independence of kosovo i metohija. maybe i will be in serbia this summer and i will dress a t-shirt with "please kick me: i'm italian!".
i (don't) want remember when italy was with NATO in the bombing of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and when in 1944 the italian fascists who was in albania killed and kicked off a lot of serbs away from kosovo helped by 21st division Waffen SS Skanderbeg (nazi K.albanians).

Dear Ovich,

we albanians are not trying to maximize the number of hooligans who were responsible for the attacks against several embassies over there and we truly believe that the majority of Serbs don’t support such events. We both have had enough destruction through the past years. Despite of this I want to raise a question and I will appreciate if you answer me. You say that only 0.001% of rally’s participants took part in the riots. How is possible that the police forces, who were more than hundred, couldn’t stop 50 or 100 angry men to do what they did? Or was it part of secret plan of Serbian government such events like those?

It's obvious that you never get a Serb angry. It was so naive and foolish to recognize a non state.

Unbelievable act!!!They should be shamed on themselves.What were the thinking?!

Ronald, ZK, and other posters who have trivialised or played down what has occured tonight. ZK - contrary what you state somebody died. Think about it. A person was killed. We don't know who it was at this stage, but this is a tragedy. That person will have had relatives and a family. You should stop being flippant about what happened.

I've been watching this on the CTV Newsnet for a while now. It's nothing but hooligans with nothing better to do. I've scene worse after football/hockey matches.

Do not judge a country by their unemployed, drunk and stupid hooligans. This is not the official gov position.

Thumbs up for Jess.

Otherwise: Budapest was a scene of much uglier riots in 2006. The "Western" media immediately called the hooligans 'revolutionaries' supporting the 'spirit of 1956'.

It seems important to identify yourself first before you speak on B92's chat site: I am not from the region, but have spent a lot of time in Belgrade and have lived and worked in the region.

Having said that, it seems surprising to me that people I know in Belgrade are running around destroying two of their most important services, over a piece of land many of them have never seen and many of them would never agree to live in, namely:

1. The US Embassy - Where do you think you're going to get your visas from?, and, more importantly,
2. McDonalds (owned by Serbs with relatives in Kosovo) - I think this speaks for itself, pleskavica or no.

Djanluca!
Don't be ridiculous! First, the right italian name is Gianluca and second being an italian you should know that italy capitulated in 1943. You can say anything you want but just don't pretend to be an italian.

Long live Serbia!!!!!!
(Delije, 22 February 2008 19:21)

you should take great comfort in the fact that people who don't agree with you here cannot have their opinions posted because of your moderators. in the odd chance we do, it's always edited and losses it's validity in transition. mind you that these are comments free & void of vulgar language or insults but it appears that facts are a rare item in belgrade and here at b92.

Thanks for the apology.

Thanks for the two beers.

The Serbian police did a good job of reducing the number of injured people yesterday, regardless of the criticism they received from foreign nations.
(Canada, 22 February 2008 20:53)

you must reside in world where left is right and up is down.

By the way, I have always been in favour of Kosovo independence since you cannot stop history and the will of the people.

Is this the kind of stability in the Balkans Independence for Kosovo will bring as the US and EU has harped about so much!?

I fear that this is nothing so far, it will get much more worse in the days and weeks to come!

Good work US and EU! And good luck to you. You'll need it!

if they are burning every embasy that recognized the independence it seems like they are going to have to burn all the embassies on that street. Mayby not, there will probably be a couple of buildings left...
Way to go Serbio!

In spite of the warnings of nearly all my friends, I attended the mass rally in Belgrade today. Stood right in the middle of the street across from Parliament. Saw everything, heard everything.

Let me give you a few details of what went down.

First, there were clearly more than ten thousand people in Belgrade today. The government bused in people from all over Serbia, and allowed them to travel by train for free. As such, there were Serbs from Nis, Krajlevo, RS, Croatia, Montenegro, and elsewhere. Clearly there was not enough police to mange everyone.

Second, for the most part, out of over ten thousand, it was overwhelmingly peaceful. Yet at the same time, I was shaken at speech after speech that contained Hell, Fire, and Brimestone rhetoric, from Kostunica to Nikolic, from Dodik to Dulic, to even Emir Kosturica. I've been sympathetic to Serbia's cause as you all know, but these speeches were reminiscent of the Milosevic years - probably even worse since Milosevic really didn't truly believe what he was saying. Here, it was the largest group of people engaging in self-flaggelation I've ever seen.

Third, it was basically a DSS-SRS political rally. Nowhere to be found were DS members as was originally billed. Listening to some chants in the crowd, Tadic was certainly NOT welcome there. Lots of flag waving, lots of chest thumping, but really no tangible evidence that something would be done to actually help the Serbs in Kosovo. For the most part, people were shouting for a land to defend that most will never visit.

Fourth, after 90 minutes of speeches pumping everyone up, saying "OK now we're going to have a peaceful march to St. Sava's" was incredibly dumb. This rally definitely game ammo to those rioters that broke away from the crowd and attacked embassies and businesses.

Fifth, even at the service in front of St. Sava, Archbishop Amfiloje gave an impassioned, but decisively nationalistic speech. It was surreal to get text messages about the embassy while everyone else was at a mass prayer.

No doubt the rioters are going to be all over Western media, but I have to be honest. Even though the overwhelming majority conducted themselves peacefully and dispered after it was done, the rally clearly pumped up those people who went on rampages. Plus the police was clearly not prepared for handling so many people. If this was done in part by certain government members, they should be ashamed of themselves.

This was clearly a bad move on behalf of Belgrade and will not go down well in international circles. I'm all rallied out. I need a few drinks :)

the Chinese embassy in Belgrade was bombed by the US and totally destroyed. Chinese people actually were killed by the US. I guess these things happen.
The US ambassador in Belgrade can move across the street, into the bombed out shell of the Ministry of Defense building, or sleep under one of the bombed out bridges, or in the cellar of the Ob_Gyn hospital, which Clinton bombed while Serb mothers were giving birth.

to all the americans who post here i think it goes without saying that the anger is at us policy not american people. your president who is making these decisions doing this unspeakable damage to our country has the lowest approval rating ever, which says what the american people think about him. i hope you're all safe tonight and every other night. street violence will die down very soon, this will translate to something much more important, the political arena. we will have a change of government and our people's opinion about all this will be channeled there. an unholy mess. a dreadful decision the west made to do this with kosovo.

"that Serbia hasn't controlled Kosovo for nearly ten years. The province was lost long ago."

MD


Dear MD,

you may say Kosovo is gone long ago but

1 Kosovo belongs to Serbia
and financial value of Kosovo assets are estimated on several hundreds billions of Euros.

2 Kosovo's part of Yugoslavian international debt, by this ilegal secession is thrown into the hands of the former Yugoslavia legal inheritor: Serbia. Should we be paying off their debt?
Would you?

TO ENDRI, 22 February 2008 00:39)

Well you better read my post again....
not judging and justifying anyone, just giving some parallels about hooligans wherever they are.
I don't know where you come from and I really do not care, but what I do care is what the US and part of EU have done against all principles, laws and treates! My reaction would have been the sam no matter in which country it would have happend and am glad that there are still countries in this world that do not blindly follow the US destructive policy!

Am not neither talking on behalf of the Swiss (which I am since the 14th century!) nor on behalf of the Serbs but as a person that obviousely do no share this illegal move like many other millions of people!

I certainly didn't forget 99
and rejected it, but I also didn't forget the dirty US involvement at the begining of the war and also certainly not the involment of Mr Thaci, (wasn't he called a terrorist with links to Al Qaida by the US administration), so things are not as simple as they seem.

Finally I do not have to look for provocative K-albanians, they are unfortunately all around and if you have the chance to read and understand french then read some swiss local newspapers and you will get a feeling of what I meant and peoples' reaction.

And let me also include for your lecture a link, and of course I'll appreciate to have your poing of view on it...

http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=125467

Just finished watching the nightly news in the US and all three national broadcasts and the cable news networks down played the embassy burning in prime time. The embassy burning did not top the news broadcasts, it was the third story presented behind McCain's infidelity story and the coverage of upcoming Obama-Clinton debates. Contrary to to all the doomsdayers on this site that have espoused the view that Serbia is going to be demonised even more than it has already suffered, the reports seemed almost conciliatory, explaining how the vast majority of the 200000 protesters were peaceful, how it was only a few hundred young angry and hurt hooligans who attacked the embassy. Similarly, some annalists on the cable news networks , for the first time ever, began to question the wisdom in recognizing the illegal unilateral declaration. It seems that there has been some reevaluation of this folly, especially in light of the Palestinians announcing they are considering unilateral declaration against Israel. The argument goes if it acceptable for Albanians then why not the Palestinians, they're also unique. Pandora's Box is wide open! Just remember proud Serbians, Americans only respect money and power, justice is irrelevant, it can always be twisted to suit their needs. Albanians threatened violence if not granted illegal independence, American arrogance just assumed you would accept this folly willingly and make it easy for them especially considering they are bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, hold firm, you might not have money, but your "Inat" combined with Russia's "Nyet" in the UN, your sovernity under International Law plus Srpska's right to self determination in contrast to the EslimeU's waffling is POWER. STOP THE GENOCIDE OF SERBS IN KOSOVO NOW! ALL REFUGEES MUST RETURN NOW! HOLD THE UN AND NATO TO THEY'RE WORD (1244). KOSOVO IS SERBIA!

US Expat,
you love serbian people, culture, etc. but you clearly still don't know who they really are.

Serbia in EU? no thank you.

To The Swiss

The points of your comments are "I don’t care for this and that". Then I will give you an advice but before that I have to say that I never called anyone as idiot or racist. On the contrary the Albanians are thankful to the Swiss government for the help and support given when they were forced to leave Kosova under Serbian regime. Please DON’T MESS anymore with our problems and policies. For the rights of the worlds concerning the US and EU for which you are so much worried you can address to UN. And please let us Albanians and Serbs in peace to solve the problems as we want. If you don’t care about us then we definitely don’t care about you either.

Why did the hooligans throw stones at the Canadian Embassy?

Canada did not recognize the unconstitutional declaration of independence by the crinal Kosovo Albanian government!

Canada's retired genereal stated that it was a wrong decision!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEUakpYNAhg

An apology would be appropriate!

I can understand why Serbs are angry with emperor Bush and his spineless marionettes Sarkozy, Brown, Merkel, and Prodi, but burning embassies is just dead wrong. Even when the emperor breaches international law.

(Kushtrim, 21 February 2008 21:46)

As a matter of fact we want to let them go, the Govnt is even ready to pay to help to return. but the problem is that none of them, sorry around 2%, are willing to go back, main reasons given: destroyed country, high unemployment, no future...and last but not least switzerland is too confortable (Le Matin newspaper of yesterday). it's nice to be a patriote!!

As to the national team, ok, no big deal. not following it and certainly do not mind, but I certainly mind about the legitimity of the 'pseudo independance' of Kosovo, I'm sure that you would agree with me that everybody should be equal in front of the law and that's where I have a problem.

And you may also read the attached biography of 'your PM' and tell me what you think about it...

http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=125467

If someone has died then that is a tragedy. These demonstrations should not put life at risk! Be firm but be careful!

The Canadian embassy should not be touched as they have not recognised Kosovo and I would like to apologise.

To put it into context, the last time the Albanians did something like this (back in 2004), scores of Serbians were murdered, Churches burnt and villages emptied. There is no high ground for the Albanians here!

" Ok, so now Belgrade is in the same league as Gaza Strip, Karachi and Tehran where burning US flags is a fashion."
Balkan Update
Don't you think that this is exactly what US had in mind to make of my country when recognizing a rogue state on its territory.
Burning of a flag compared with supporting terrorist KLA, bombing and devastating my state,killing thousands and then illegally recognizing a secession of her part is a kind of saloon protest.
Please don't get so sentimental about a flag that have done so much harm in this world.

seeing this Tank's on Tv
i remember seeing them for my 34 GOD DEM YEARS IN MY COUNTRY

@(Stuart, 21 February 2008 19:22)

You really think that the majority off Serbs is gonna vote the same the next time, welcome to the reality that Serbia is backing away from th west.

And as any fool can see, an stable balkan is impossible without the cooperation off Serbia, without Serbia the Balkan is never gonna become stable.

Nobody is going to invest in an region where there is no stabilty.

Tadic is history, and Serbia is slipping away from the EU.

What did you expect. The US, UK and EU "gave away" the symbol of Serbian heritage like a sack of potatoes. What do you think would happen if the US gave the vatican to the moslems - the actions of the UK, US and EU have insulted the Serbian nation and more then that, UNIFIED the Serbs more than anything else?

I do not think that it serves the national interest of Serbia to stone foreign embassies, even if those states are breaking the law and rewarding terrorists ( as they have called them before ) for using violence against civilians ( KLA ).

but given that those countries are supporting terrorism against Serbia, I can at least understand the feelings of those kids.

since it is Lazer who was the only one to condemn the brutal beating of a serbian granny a few months ago..., hey Lazer, have you seen how many Albanians here have done the same like you?

none of them. that says a lot about humanity among your society, or since you seem to live in NYC, about those who are terrorizing non-albanians in the serbian province.

it is still serbian territory, remember UNSC 1244...

regards,
Jovan

Just letting off some steam. Anyone with half a brain can understand that.

Ah Lazer, once again, entertaining us with your hypocrisy. I didn't see you saying much in 2004 against your Albanian bretheren when they tried to kill UN troops (actually, you did kill a few who tried to stop the churches from burning) on the Ibar river and all over Kosovo. Didn't you say things like "can't stop the will of the people." I guess it doesn't work the other way does it?

As far as I can remember, you've been posting such ridicilous (and at times vulgar) posts here, the New York Times, Washington Post, etc... One has to wonder what do you guys do for a living? Or could it be that you are one of the many "plants" that the Albanian lobby has? Here in the US, the Republicans and Democrats are notrious for having bloggers (and callers) who try to infiltrate the other side and antagonize. I would venture to bet you, Olf, Alban, nikshala are part of the "planting." I'm glad B92 gives us all the opportunity to meet here in a civilized way. But most of your posts have been like "nah-nah-nah-nah, you guys can't do anything, you're evil, nobody likes you..." Very constructive points, wow.

Also, I agree with Mr. Gospodin, an apology should be given to Canada who have not recognized Kosovo or ever will. You guys who did attack their embassy should be ashamed of yourselves! General Mckenzie is the biggest ally of the Serbs because he saw through all the nonsense!

i condemn riots, i dont want to see our police hurt, first and foremost. and riots are not at issue here but our state policy in the future. so i am asking everyone to understand. we are not grieving, meaving, whathaveyou. we are angry and its not going away. the next election will push us god knows where. for all those who say, nah, serbs voted tadic, its gonna turn out fine, eu membership... people, i voted tadic. but that was BEFORE. understand that.

What the Serbs are doing is rather symbolic and not entirely unexpected. It is just material damage! No-one has died or been severely injured. Politicians are not calling for violence, which is a good thing!

Don't forget, NATO bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and kill a few of their citizen back then.

Some people need to vent their anger and this is one way. It's a far cry from the US policy of bombing countries back to the stone age!

@(Joe, 21 February 2008 21:42)

Congrats, the US has done it, it now has burned embassy's on every continent of the world.

For the first time in history an American Embassy has been torched in europe, and yet you are still ignorant, how many US embassy's have been burned worldwide by angry mob's???

Doesn't that turn on an light???
Americans are getting hated by more and more people around the world, keep up the good work and within 20 years America is hated by the entire world.

And for the people who don't believe China's economic might over the US

Read 'm and weep

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7b578958-48e8-11dc-b326-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2340.html

The U.S. has a knack for screwing up things in the int'l scene and the Balkans is no exception.
We continue to shoot ourselves in the foot just to appease some party opposite of the Serbs.

My apology to all Canadians!

Shane, thanks for the friendly words...

but that is nothing, compared to what could happen if things get out of control.

the Russians have warned not to take measures against Serbs, and I think that occupying troops in Kosovo should take that warning serious.

if the Albanians start attacking Serbs in Kosovo, there could be a real mess.

as for the embassy, nothing really serious. the chinese embassy was bombed by the US and chinese personnel was killed. THAT was a serious thing.

but this stoning and fire ...is only symbolic.

(Mike, 21 February 2008 22:23)

Hi Mike, you were braver than me, I only stayed at the begining to show my disagreement about this US/EU complete irresponsible move and then move further!
Hope they didn't touch the Irish Pub :)
Considering the massive amount of people, it would have been very difficult to predict anything, so for those who are outside and are 'happy' to blame one more time the Serbs, one common question:
How come the Danish govnt didn't manage to protect schools that were burnt last week, the italian still didn't manage to stop the football hooligans, the french to stop the riots in the suburbs with hundreds of cars burned etc etc...
simply because of the emotion and the pride and this is not a particularity of the Serbs.
And for u, K-albanians, experts in provocation, (the main reason why so many Swiss citizens do not like you) don't you think it's time to get to work and finally create something in your region, you got what you paid for, so prove to all that you have changed overnight and don't count on your eldorado expatriates because they have no intention to come back to help you out...

To B92, update the forums so there are threads. Many comments were worth reading and would have begun some good threads.

I don't remember the US complaining when the Serbian parliament building was burnt in October 2000.

In New York the US ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, expressed outrage at the attack, and said he would ask for a Security Council condemnation.

He said the Serbian government should be reminded "of its responsibility to protect diplomatic facilities".

The words pot kettle and lack come to mind here.

Kushtrim, FIFA & UEFA only accepts new members when they attain membership of the UN. Something that isn't going to happen to Kosovo for a long time.

The ignorance of the international community regarding the history of SERBIA is ridiculous. If one would report the TRUTH of the original protest scheduled - praying, 150K + calm peaceful human beings gathering together to make a mark in history - it would be shown as being the truth of what happened.

For any albanian poster - it just shows that you will grab at whatever opportunity will allow you to & that's fine, but one thing you must recognize is that SERBIANS will not give up without a fight.

Chinese Embassy was destroyed when NATO bombed Serbia in 1999

Sidi wrote:

Thank You Serbian embassy-burners! THANK YOU. I was hoping this would happen.

--

Really, you were hoping someone died? Now that's low!

It was probably not the best of a PR move, but there are much worse things in this world. It was a relatively small group of people with lots of anger and frustration, which I can understand. I am sure that in many other countries people woould like to burn down the US embassy as well. All you Kosovo Albanians who think they can take advantage of this or who are crying to show how bad the Serbs are again calm down. Your US masters have destroyed some many buildings and people in many places and you never say anything about that (also from your muslim brothers and sisters). How come you are not supporting your brothers and sisters in Palestine? Afraid that you will offend your US masters and their Israeli friends. I am sure the Serbian government will do all to prevent this from happening. How come that all over the world the US embassies and consulates are the most protected of all? Not because they are so popular.

Why did the Serbs attack the Croatian embassy and burn the Croatian flag? Croatia is (was?) siding with the Serbs and has refused to recognize the so-called independence of Kosovo. Why did they attack the Canadian embassy as well? I am Croatian-Canadian and I have always strongly been against the notion of independence for Kosovo, but the unnecessary Serb brutality against the embassies of Croatia and Canada has made me think that perhaps my sympathy was misplaced.

Of course Serbia is backing away from the west. They ousted Milosevic, elected a democratic, pro western president, made significant economic reforms to get ready for EU intergration, and how are they rewarded? Theyr cultural and religious heartland is stolen illegaly and supported by western countries. well good ritance to the west, Russia, China, and India are Serbias future. China, India, Russia have a bigger market for export then the EU and US combined, and they have shown they respect international law and will not bend it to meet theyr own goals. Im also disgusted how the media has reported this. 150 000 Peacefull Serbs protest in parliament, while a few hundred football hooligans trash an embassy, and which do you think gets the most media coverage.

BTW one thing i feel i have to mention. I watched the debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and Hillary said "Its the Serbian governments responsibility to protect the embassy according to international law" WOW, the audacity that she has suprises me, after the US breaks international law by recognizing Kosovo, and shes talking about the Serb governments responsibility to international law.

Have you read this article about possible Russian invilvement in Kosovo:
http://www.pressonline.co.yu/rubrika.jsp?sectionId=38
If this is true, then we could assume that there were FSB agents at the U.S. Embassy, too.

(lazer, nyc, usa, 21 February 2008 19:11)
Yes you are right Lazer, Serbia have a responsibility to protect Embassys in Serbia.

Unfortunately we failed in -99. I am very sorry and would like to apology to the Chinese people that we could't protect their embassy from being bombed by the US in -99.