Koštunica: Youth show they want justice

Mike,

I was in Belgrade the night Serbia (& Montenegro) beat Bosnia and qualified for the 2006 World Cup Finals. In a spontaneous reaction, thousands descended on Republic Square for a mass celebration. A stage was hastily erected, musicians and DJs appeared out of the woodwork, speeches were made, and it was all in the best of spirits. Many of the youg people were drinking beer and smoking cigarettes like you say they were last night. I wouldn't hold that against them.

At least they bothered to show up with their flags and demonstrate their solidarity. Here in Western Europe adults often bemoan the fact that young people have no interest in politics. It seems they're too busy getting drunk or stoned to challenge the authorities. If the young people of Serbia are engaged with what's happening politically then that is to the country's benefit. Even if they do smoke and drink. Who cares about that?

Kostunica should have asked for a zoon lens to look into the crowd he was talking to last night. The youth around me were too busy smoking cigarettes, drinking Jelen Pivo, and pushing and shoving for a better spot to wave their flag. If the youth are really committed to Kosovo, I say form volunteer organizations to work in Kosovo. Work with the K-Serbs. Help improve their lives. If all they wanted was a day off from school, a free trip to Belgrade, and a chance to shout stupid football/basketball slogans, they wanted little else and will probably do even less for Kosovo.

Bravo VOJO!!!

Just when read the first paragraph you can clearly understand that PM Kostunica was behind all destruction yesterday. What a shame, rather looking for a bright future for all , he is puting fuel in the fire.

what would your point be, mike :)
i wasnt even at the rally, i was obligated to be elsewhere. those guys were smoking not going to kosovo. so? ask yourself this though, who will we vote for, all these strange serbs, in the parliamentary election. we wont vote for those pushing eu agenda thats for sure. that agenda is behind us now. the sooner tadic realizes the better. all these other parties who will capitalize on the situation, fair enough. most of them make me sick frankly but i will never again vote for someone who pushes the perverse eu lie. and i wont stay home on election day.

Just to clear some things up:

Serbia and Montenegro are two separate republics and were once in a union. Montenegro decided to leave that union and as a republic had every right to. No problems there from Serbia and it was never part of Serbia so in fact did NOT leave Serbia!

Kosovo is a province of Serbia and under international law does not have the same right! Kosovo is still part of Serbia with 177 out of 193 countries and international law saying so! Only 16 countries think otherwise so the whole world is on Serbia's side.

So what happened Mike? One day you are all for international law, supporting Serbs and the next you see some youths smoking and drinking beer and decide to change sides? Perhaps we should send them and the hooligans to the army! That should clean them up and make good use of their lives!

What happened to the American embassy was completely expected. The place was even emptied beforehand! Tomorrow will be another day and we'll be talking about other things! Cheer up.

It is not only youth who yearn for justice! I feel 20 years younger knowing that I am part of Serbia's struggle for wholeness, completeness and greatness. There is a greater goal that energizes me beyond words!!! You see 500, I see 250,000 more.

Justice??? Justice??????????????????????

By burning people alive in a foreign embassy?????

Olf,
You may choose to describe the anger of people who have been the victims of a massive miscarraige of justice as "nationalist-extremist", but I don't. Neither do millions around the world who can read exactly what's going on here.
The question of Kosovo recognition is now dividing the world and not for the first time, the USA is destabilising the international order. You know the old saying "Be careful what you wish for ....."

Nikic,
I was not at the demo in Belgrade last night (were you?) so I cannot comment on what slogans were being used. However, I would consider "Kosovo is Serbia" a perfectly valid and truthful thing for people to express. By the way, did your civics classes teach you anything about international law and how the territorial integrity of states is protected by the UN Charter?

Either your are with us or you are against us, already heard these words somewhere!!
Here below the last of a long exchange....

Quote
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!
(The Swiss, 22 February 2008 21:40)
unquote

vive la liberte
es lebe die Freiheit
long live freedom

Ratko,

"Bravo VOJO!!!"

Your "Vojo" has been leading Serbia for eigth years, during which Montenegro and Kosovo have both separated from Serbia. I wonder what you would consider as poor leadership? Bravo Vojo indeed.

Tom, come on! Chanting "Kosovo is Serbia" and "Death to Albanians" is hardly an "interest in politics." I don't remember the part of civics class that included calls for death and destruction.

Don't kid yourself.

Serbia's Youth is as much Tadic's as it is Kostunica.

Shame on B92! for such back alley flagrant journalism!

Mike, thanks for the "inside Belgrade" perspective. This is a crime. It's mental child abuse.

To Mike, 22 February 2008 19:59)

thanks for the good news, was already worried that will not have the opporturnity to have a pint with my buddies there and listen to Vuk's impressive music collection :))
Cheers

miri, i have advice for you as well
don't take important decisions that make us angry :)

"All those who advocate the false state of Kosovo are happy to see violence in the streets of Belgrade," the prime minister concluded.

Should we assume that Kostunica is one of them? Or is he tying to fool sb.? Or was it Tadic who ordered police to pull out? Anyway, thanks Vojo, for the easy points.

I do not understand why the Serbian leaders still pretend not to understand reality. No one wants wars, I hope, any more. The sooner they understand that everybody in this world has the right to live free, the better it would be for all of us, including Serbs as well.

Regards,

Tom O'Donoghue

"Here in Western Europe adults often bemoan the fact that young people have no interest in politics."

I think that you are mixing politics and nationali-extremist. There is e huge difference.
Or maybe that is why there is peace in West.

for a people who throw the word "illegal" around a lot lately, i'm thinking that you struggle with the meaning of the word. it appears that it only applies to you when it's convenient.

Koštunica's damaging for all of Serbia.

Mike, i totally agree with you..
Although the gathering was impressive, i couldn't help but notice how many party flags there were.
I got the feeling that this was a party demonstration, and less of a grass roots demonstration.
Really, i mean, just think of the tax dollars that could have gone down south, rather than to satisfy the need for revenge...

And to top it all off, Kostunica has the gall to call the rioting justified.

Poor Tadic. The US is already starting to turn the screws on him early in his tenure. It's a shame. He's definately in a bad position.

When he won elections, the press considered him a Western winner, but in an instant, he's demonized because of Kostunica's actions...

I've lost lots of respect for Kostunica.
If the youth wanted justice, why don't they organize a peacefull rally to Kosovo?

The American UN Ambassodor is choking and drowning on his crocodile tears. I imagine he is averting everyone's attention from the real story; The UN has 'jumped the proverbial shark' and has been abbandoned by western powers, the Serbs reject the new world order, and the congress of European nations no longer agree on the borders of Europe.

"for a people who throw the word "illegal" around a lot lately, i'm thinking that you struggle with the meaning of the word. it appears that it only applies to you when it's convenient.
(mark, 22 February 2008 15:49)"

well, if someone struggles with a term called law, moral or truth..it´s certainly you Mark, the Albanians.

so much for struggle...

and don´t you find yourself to be ridiculous abusing the beatiful serbian name Kosovo by putting an a at the end?

don´t you know that the name has no meaning in the albanian language?

what do you think why this is so?

These days the world out of Serbia is watching serbia in a very close way.
I´m living in Austria. Since 1992 I´m really interested in serbian politics. I got to know a lot of very dirty details about the war in bosnia. Conclusion for me and my friends in the words of Simon Wiesenthal: "justice not revanche". There is no collective guilt but we have to find the concrete persons responsible for crimes and bring them to justice.
Kostunica´s speech targeted at the youth, connecting so called "ethical" values with mass rally reminds at first view accurately at the time before April 1992.It looks as the same agitation. It works the same way - a fistful hooligans try to exploit a whole nation. The EU countries don´t get tired to say "Serbia will never be member of European Community".
In my opinion Kostunicas decision was taken based on political calculations and shows the last array, the last point. I believe in present days nobody in Serbia wants to turn back the clock to 1992.
Although I´m deeply convinced in this opinion, I think it´s high on time that serbian people show their real sensation about freedom, justice and especially future for the youth. More than 15 years - a whole generation - have been lost - this should be enough !!
As a critical observer of serbian attitudes I please you send massages of your real sensations - It´s not a dream - You are part of europe - You have our hearts

Best wishes from Austria

To smile:
Here is a bit of advise to you:
Don't take important decisions when you are angry.

If you really feel that Radicals would be better for Serbia, than what's the plan with that? What would you want Radicals to do to "save" the situation? What can they do, other than steal Kostunica's speeches and patch them up with more hate and verbal abuse against the whole world? So what after that?

I haven't changed sides ZK. I still firmly believe Kosovo's UDI was a full breach of international law and the main galvanizer for these protests and these rallies, both of which would not have happened had Kosovo's outcome been different.

That being said, Serbia needs to stick to its moral highground in this and not jeopardize its position with a number of ill-places riots and a series of irresponsible statements from Kostunica. There's a way to fight and resist, and then there's just random acts of violence. Belgrade needs to know what cards its been dealt and play strategically. Overplaying one's hand could make Serbia lose out even more.

"Above all, the youth of Serbia have sent out a message that they want law, justice and freedom, and that they reject the western policy of force," Koštunica said, by force and destruction of foreign embassies and businesses.

Tom,

Far be it from me to ever say anything bad about drinking and smoking (well, maybe the smoking, but certainly not the drinking - just picked up a few bottles of wine and Jaeger for the weekend. By the way Swiss, if you're reading this, in response to your earlier inquiry of the Irish Pub, it was doing brisk business this afternoon as people were making their way down Knez Milosa to see the American Embassy, which has now become a makeshift tourist attraction - I also should add there was a sign put at the embassy that said, and I quote, "US people not responsible for this. US politics is").

My point here is what did the rally produce in any proactive sense? If it was just a display of shouting and hooliganism, it didn't really produce anything. If, and this is also directed towards Smile, if the rallies inpired people to actually GO to Kosovo Province and work on the ground with the Serbs the rally claimed to attest undying unity to, then we actually accomplished something. The sad thing is that this was an opportunity squandered by Kostunica et al, to suggest just that. Saying "Kosovo je srce Srbije" means nothing if you're expecting someone else to do the job. What we DON'T need are bus loads of Serbs going to the border to make trouble. The K-Serbs do not need this, and Kostunica may very well overplay his hand if he decides to just play the defiant nationalist card.

Mike is right. He obviously attended the rally and saw what I saw.

Let me expand a little something he said. The problem with the opinions of some of those at the rally is that they see Kosovo in terms of ownership - Kosovo is Serbia, but they are not willing to do anything concrete to help the Serbs of Kosovo.

Yelling a slogan might make a person feel good for a few minutes, but it produces no results. This is why in some way Kostunica's position on Kosovo (upto now) doesnt differ much from Milosevic's.
We need(ed) concrete policies to help solve the problem and Milosevic offered nothing except words and failed promises.

Alongside this we dont need political parties (well obviously former communists do, because they are not capable of getting rid of the 'we need to be led' mindset) to tell us what is best for Kosovo. We dont need stupid badges or party flags. This signifies part of what is wrong with Serbia today.

If Kosovo is such an important issue, and it is, then why should it be left to the politicians?

None of this criticism, means that Serbia should give up Kosovo. It just questions the same tired approach that got Serbia into this position in the first place.

Looks like huligans in Knjaza Milosa str. theft my komment too. Or you moderators did.

Hello,
That protest and the rally was unnecessary and especially the destruction of the embassies. The speech Kostunica gave out sounded like that of Milosevic twenty years ago in Kosova which sparked the Balkan Wars. There is nothing to be proud of because first the police department should have known and should have monitored the demonstrations. Here in the US the police is monitoring the entire protest at all time checking for drinkers and such.

And I was listening to FoxNews, CNN, and MSNBC talking to some Serbian people and they were claiming the demonstration for a prayer for "the Serbians suffering and their survival in Kosova." Now I could understand the emotional suffering but nothing more than emotional but survival? That part I do not get because Serbs in Kosova have full rights and they do have all of their human needs and rights. Now I do not know if this is propaganda fed or what.

May I change the subject for a moment?

Mike,
What's that Irish pub like? I have been in Belgrade a number of times and have never been in it. Having been in a few "Irish" pubs abroad I find that the best Irish pubs are here in Ireland itself.

But I am going back in April and may check it out if it is recommended.

Sorry for the diversion.

On to a less controversial, but no less serious, topic:

The subject of Irish pubs, and the Irish pub in Belgrade.

"Irish" Pubs are sort of like "Chinese" restaurants around the world. Have a themed bar, place a few black and white pictures of some WWI era athletes, and of course have a large map of Eire somewhere in the establishment. If you're lucky you'll get some music by either the Chieftains (my favorite all around music group), Wolftones, or maybe even some old-school Tommy Makem.

We've got lots of "authentic Irish pubs" in Amerikay. Yet they usually only tend to appear right around St. Patrick's Day, and for the most part it attracts the non-Irish who just need to shout a few anti-British slogans to think they're Irish.

That being said, an Irish pub in Belgrade, after days and days of drinking Lav and Jelen, provides a nice break when one just needs to sink his fork in a nice meaty pint of Guinness.

So Tom, Swiss, or anyone else, if you're in Belgrade, look me up and we'll down a few glasses. I'm here until June.

Ratko,

"Bravo VOJO!!!"

Your "Vojo" has been leading Serbia for eigth years, during which Montenegro and Kosovo have both separated from Serbia. I wonder what you would consider as poor leadership? Bravo Vojo indeed.

Just when read the first paragraph you can clearly understand that PM Kostunica was behind all destruction yesterday. What a shame, rather looking for a bright future for all , he is puting fuel in the fire.

"Above all, the youth of Serbia have sent out a message that they want law, justice and freedom, and that they reject the western policy of force," Koštunica said, by force and destruction of foreign embassies and businesses.

Tom O'Donoghue

"Here in Western Europe adults often bemoan the fact that young people have no interest in politics."

I think that you are mixing politics and nationali-extremist. There is e huge difference.
Or maybe that is why there is peace in West.

Koštunica's damaging for all of Serbia.

"All those who advocate the false state of Kosovo are happy to see violence in the streets of Belgrade," the prime minister concluded.

Should we assume that Kostunica is one of them? Or is he tying to fool sb.? Or was it Tadic who ordered police to pull out? Anyway, thanks Vojo, for the easy points.

Justice??? Justice??????????????????????

By burning people alive in a foreign embassy?????

for a people who throw the word "illegal" around a lot lately, i'm thinking that you struggle with the meaning of the word. it appears that it only applies to you when it's convenient.

Kostunica should have asked for a zoon lens to look into the crowd he was talking to last night. The youth around me were too busy smoking cigarettes, drinking Jelen Pivo, and pushing and shoving for a better spot to wave their flag. If the youth are really committed to Kosovo, I say form volunteer organizations to work in Kosovo. Work with the K-Serbs. Help improve their lives. If all they wanted was a day off from school, a free trip to Belgrade, and a chance to shout stupid football/basketball slogans, they wanted little else and will probably do even less for Kosovo.

I do not understand why the Serbian leaders still pretend not to understand reality. No one wants wars, I hope, any more. The sooner they understand that everybody in this world has the right to live free, the better it would be for all of us, including Serbs as well.

Regards,

To smile:
Here is a bit of advise to you:
Don't take important decisions when you are angry.

If you really feel that Radicals would be better for Serbia, than what's the plan with that? What would you want Radicals to do to "save" the situation? What can they do, other than steal Kostunica's speeches and patch them up with more hate and verbal abuse against the whole world? So what after that?

Mike, thanks for the "inside Belgrade" perspective. This is a crime. It's mental child abuse.

Tom, come on! Chanting "Kosovo is Serbia" and "Death to Albanians" is hardly an "interest in politics." I don't remember the part of civics class that included calls for death and destruction.

Don't kid yourself.

Hello,
That protest and the rally was unnecessary and especially the destruction of the embassies. The speech Kostunica gave out sounded like that of Milosevic twenty years ago in Kosova which sparked the Balkan Wars. There is nothing to be proud of because first the police department should have known and should have monitored the demonstrations. Here in the US the police is monitoring the entire protest at all time checking for drinkers and such.

And I was listening to FoxNews, CNN, and MSNBC talking to some Serbian people and they were claiming the demonstration for a prayer for "the Serbians suffering and their survival in Kosova." Now I could understand the emotional suffering but nothing more than emotional but survival? That part I do not get because Serbs in Kosova have full rights and they do have all of their human needs and rights. Now I do not know if this is propaganda fed or what.

Mike, i totally agree with you..
Although the gathering was impressive, i couldn't help but notice how many party flags there were.
I got the feeling that this was a party demonstration, and less of a grass roots demonstration.
Really, i mean, just think of the tax dollars that could have gone down south, rather than to satisfy the need for revenge...

And to top it all off, Kostunica has the gall to call the rioting justified.

Poor Tadic. The US is already starting to turn the screws on him early in his tenure. It's a shame. He's definately in a bad position.

When he won elections, the press considered him a Western winner, but in an instant, he's demonized because of Kostunica's actions...

I've lost lots of respect for Kostunica.
If the youth wanted justice, why don't they organize a peacefull rally to Kosovo?

Tom,

Far be it from me to ever say anything bad about drinking and smoking (well, maybe the smoking, but certainly not the drinking - just picked up a few bottles of wine and Jaeger for the weekend. By the way Swiss, if you're reading this, in response to your earlier inquiry of the Irish Pub, it was doing brisk business this afternoon as people were making their way down Knez Milosa to see the American Embassy, which has now become a makeshift tourist attraction - I also should add there was a sign put at the embassy that said, and I quote, "US people not responsible for this. US politics is").

My point here is what did the rally produce in any proactive sense? If it was just a display of shouting and hooliganism, it didn't really produce anything. If, and this is also directed towards Smile, if the rallies inpired people to actually GO to Kosovo Province and work on the ground with the Serbs the rally claimed to attest undying unity to, then we actually accomplished something. The sad thing is that this was an opportunity squandered by Kostunica et al, to suggest just that. Saying "Kosovo je srce Srbije" means nothing if you're expecting someone else to do the job. What we DON'T need are bus loads of Serbs going to the border to make trouble. The K-Serbs do not need this, and Kostunica may very well overplay his hand if he decides to just play the defiant nationalist card.

Mike,

I was in Belgrade the night Serbia (& Montenegro) beat Bosnia and qualified for the 2006 World Cup Finals. In a spontaneous reaction, thousands descended on Republic Square for a mass celebration. A stage was hastily erected, musicians and DJs appeared out of the woodwork, speeches were made, and it was all in the best of spirits. Many of the youg people were drinking beer and smoking cigarettes like you say they were last night. I wouldn't hold that against them.

At least they bothered to show up with their flags and demonstrate their solidarity. Here in Western Europe adults often bemoan the fact that young people have no interest in politics. It seems they're too busy getting drunk or stoned to challenge the authorities. If the young people of Serbia are engaged with what's happening politically then that is to the country's benefit. Even if they do smoke and drink. Who cares about that?

Looks like huligans in Knjaza Milosa str. theft my komment too. Or you moderators did.

miri, i have advice for you as well
don't take important decisions that make us angry :)

May I change the subject for a moment?

Mike,
What's that Irish pub like? I have been in Belgrade a number of times and have never been in it. Having been in a few "Irish" pubs abroad I find that the best Irish pubs are here in Ireland itself.

But I am going back in April and may check it out if it is recommended.

Sorry for the diversion.

On to a less controversial, but no less serious, topic:

The subject of Irish pubs, and the Irish pub in Belgrade.

"Irish" Pubs are sort of like "Chinese" restaurants around the world. Have a themed bar, place a few black and white pictures of some WWI era athletes, and of course have a large map of Eire somewhere in the establishment. If you're lucky you'll get some music by either the Chieftains (my favorite all around music group), Wolftones, or maybe even some old-school Tommy Makem.

We've got lots of "authentic Irish pubs" in Amerikay. Yet they usually only tend to appear right around St. Patrick's Day, and for the most part it attracts the non-Irish who just need to shout a few anti-British slogans to think they're Irish.

That being said, an Irish pub in Belgrade, after days and days of drinking Lav and Jelen, provides a nice break when one just needs to sink his fork in a nice meaty pint of Guinness.

So Tom, Swiss, or anyone else, if you're in Belgrade, look me up and we'll down a few glasses. I'm here until June.

Bravo VOJO!!!

what would your point be, mike :)
i wasnt even at the rally, i was obligated to be elsewhere. those guys were smoking not going to kosovo. so? ask yourself this though, who will we vote for, all these strange serbs, in the parliamentary election. we wont vote for those pushing eu agenda thats for sure. that agenda is behind us now. the sooner tadic realizes the better. all these other parties who will capitalize on the situation, fair enough. most of them make me sick frankly but i will never again vote for someone who pushes the perverse eu lie. and i wont stay home on election day.

Serbia's Youth is as much Tadic's as it is Kostunica.

Shame on B92! for such back alley flagrant journalism!

It is not only youth who yearn for justice! I feel 20 years younger knowing that I am part of Serbia's struggle for wholeness, completeness and greatness. There is a greater goal that energizes me beyond words!!! You see 500, I see 250,000 more.

The American UN Ambassodor is choking and drowning on his crocodile tears. I imagine he is averting everyone's attention from the real story; The UN has 'jumped the proverbial shark' and has been abbandoned by western powers, the Serbs reject the new world order, and the congress of European nations no longer agree on the borders of Europe.

Olf,
You may choose to describe the anger of people who have been the victims of a massive miscarraige of justice as "nationalist-extremist", but I don't. Neither do millions around the world who can read exactly what's going on here.
The question of Kosovo recognition is now dividing the world and not for the first time, the USA is destabilising the international order. You know the old saying "Be careful what you wish for ....."

Nikic,
I was not at the demo in Belgrade last night (were you?) so I cannot comment on what slogans were being used. However, I would consider "Kosovo is Serbia" a perfectly valid and truthful thing for people to express. By the way, did your civics classes teach you anything about international law and how the territorial integrity of states is protected by the UN Charter?

Just to clear some things up:

Serbia and Montenegro are two separate republics and were once in a union. Montenegro decided to leave that union and as a republic had every right to. No problems there from Serbia and it was never part of Serbia so in fact did NOT leave Serbia!

Kosovo is a province of Serbia and under international law does not have the same right! Kosovo is still part of Serbia with 177 out of 193 countries and international law saying so! Only 16 countries think otherwise so the whole world is on Serbia's side.

So what happened Mike? One day you are all for international law, supporting Serbs and the next you see some youths smoking and drinking beer and decide to change sides? Perhaps we should send them and the hooligans to the army! That should clean them up and make good use of their lives!

What happened to the American embassy was completely expected. The place was even emptied beforehand! Tomorrow will be another day and we'll be talking about other things! Cheer up.

To Mike, 22 February 2008 19:59)

thanks for the good news, was already worried that will not have the opporturnity to have a pint with my buddies there and listen to Vuk's impressive music collection :))
Cheers

I haven't changed sides ZK. I still firmly believe Kosovo's UDI was a full breach of international law and the main galvanizer for these protests and these rallies, both of which would not have happened had Kosovo's outcome been different.

That being said, Serbia needs to stick to its moral highground in this and not jeopardize its position with a number of ill-places riots and a series of irresponsible statements from Kostunica. There's a way to fight and resist, and then there's just random acts of violence. Belgrade needs to know what cards its been dealt and play strategically. Overplaying one's hand could make Serbia lose out even more.

"for a people who throw the word "illegal" around a lot lately, i'm thinking that you struggle with the meaning of the word. it appears that it only applies to you when it's convenient.
(mark, 22 February 2008 15:49)"

well, if someone struggles with a term called law, moral or truth..it´s certainly you Mark, the Albanians.

so much for struggle...

and don´t you find yourself to be ridiculous abusing the beatiful serbian name Kosovo by putting an a at the end?

don´t you know that the name has no meaning in the albanian language?

what do you think why this is so?

These days the world out of Serbia is watching serbia in a very close way.
I´m living in Austria. Since 1992 I´m really interested in serbian politics. I got to know a lot of very dirty details about the war in bosnia. Conclusion for me and my friends in the words of Simon Wiesenthal: "justice not revanche". There is no collective guilt but we have to find the concrete persons responsible for crimes and bring them to justice.
Kostunica´s speech targeted at the youth, connecting so called "ethical" values with mass rally reminds at first view accurately at the time before April 1992.It looks as the same agitation. It works the same way - a fistful hooligans try to exploit a whole nation. The EU countries don´t get tired to say "Serbia will never be member of European Community".
In my opinion Kostunicas decision was taken based on political calculations and shows the last array, the last point. I believe in present days nobody in Serbia wants to turn back the clock to 1992.
Although I´m deeply convinced in this opinion, I think it´s high on time that serbian people show their real sensation about freedom, justice and especially future for the youth. More than 15 years - a whole generation - have been lost - this should be enough !!
As a critical observer of serbian attitudes I please you send massages of your real sensations - It´s not a dream - You are part of europe - You have our hearts

Best wishes from Austria

Either your are with us or you are against us, already heard these words somewhere!!
Here below the last of a long exchange....

Quote
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!
(The Swiss, 22 February 2008 21:40)
unquote

vive la liberte
es lebe die Freiheit
long live freedom

Mike is right. He obviously attended the rally and saw what I saw.

Let me expand a little something he said. The problem with the opinions of some of those at the rally is that they see Kosovo in terms of ownership - Kosovo is Serbia, but they are not willing to do anything concrete to help the Serbs of Kosovo.

Yelling a slogan might make a person feel good for a few minutes, but it produces no results. This is why in some way Kostunica's position on Kosovo (upto now) doesnt differ much from Milosevic's.
We need(ed) concrete policies to help solve the problem and Milosevic offered nothing except words and failed promises.

Alongside this we dont need political parties (well obviously former communists do, because they are not capable of getting rid of the 'we need to be led' mindset) to tell us what is best for Kosovo. We dont need stupid badges or party flags. This signifies part of what is wrong with Serbia today.

If Kosovo is such an important issue, and it is, then why should it be left to the politicians?

None of this criticism, means that Serbia should give up Kosovo. It just questions the same tired approach that got Serbia into this position in the first place.