“Kosovo will be problem for some time to come”

Mr Bushek must have been lectured by Condi Rice on history. It seems that only Western European countries have that exclusive right to have their own history and to remember it. For some Balkan countries such as Serbia, history supposed to mean nothing. I would like to ask back, so why Germany is then re-built the same way as it was look like before the bombing during WW2.

Well, Mr Bushek, the history of my country means a lot to me. Much more than your free visa regime any way, much more than your billions of euros, much more than the EU integration. The history of my country tells me who am I and where do I come from. The history of my country is my identity and I certainly won’t spew on my ancestor’s blood who fought for the freedom, who fought against oppression by many empires who wanted to grab Serbia and keep us as slaves, who fought for the country that I live in and the country that gave me basically everything. I thank and cherish my ancestors for enabling me to live free without being someone’s slave today.

Ahmed,

"…. Kosova has remained underdeveloped due to policies by the former Serbian goverments…."

If that is the truth, how would you explain the fact that Kosovo reached much higher level of development and quality of living then Albania?

“Kosovo will be problem for some time to come”

Another politician earning his huge salary by stating the blindingly obvious.

The Albanians have a long long way to go before the EU will accept them. What the EU has done is to put them in a reservation of sorts to sort them out. To weed out the criminals and pacify the people.

This link may not come up properly as B92 seem to have problems with commas in addresses. Click it and then add the end bit to the address.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-women10mar10,0,964968.story

This article says a lot. Women are abused all over the world but it seems the extent in Kosovo is extremely high!

I've been beaten a lot," said Fatima. "They beat me so badly the last time, I could not care for my children."

In the last couple of years, she says, she has spent more time at the shelter, hiding, than in her husband's house. It is only a slight exaggeration.

"Fatima is actually luckier than many women in Kosovo, a harsh region weighted by twin burdens of poverty and unenlightened tradition. A United Nations study in 2000 estimated that one-fourth of the female population of Kosovo suffered physical or psychological abuse.

The question now is whether independence, which is still in an embryonic stage and not universally recognized, will result in a change of status for women and eradication of the trafficking networks. Or whether organized criminal gangs, with allies in the new government, will be given an even freer hand.

He's not only stating the obvious, but contradicting previous statements by the West.
I thought the ''speedy recognition'' was needed to ensure stability in the region.
Now we hear there will be problem in the region for some time to come.
Well which one is it?

historical views of Mr. Kostunica?

what is this dude talking about???

Mr.Busek, just for your info, it´s about LAW, JUSTICE and MORALITY.
history is only one indicator, that the Serbs are right on this.

but, anyway, one thing should be clear to you, Serbs will remember, and they will be nearby.

and the US and other foreign occupiers won´t stay forever.

“Whoever holds the battle of Kosovo in their memory for 600 years has a great capacity to remember other things as well.”

Mr Busek, don’t trivialise the issue of Kosovo and Metohija for the Serbs by saying it is only in their ‘memory’ because of a battle that took place in 1389. You’re the one harking back to 1389. The Serbs are talking about 2008 and 1244.

“International law is not an absolute law. It is always a result of political relations and power.”

Ah, knowledge born of experience. You have a long memory and ambitions to match. You once had power but then you lost it, along with your empire, due in no small measure to the Serbs. Now you have power again but you will lose it, again, due in no small measure to... You figure it out.

Serbia will never sign Kosovo and Metohija away and the Serbs will never leave Bosnia and Herzegovina. How does that sit with your memories and ambitions, Mr Busek?

When will you learn the lessons of history Mr Busek?

ahmed, would you consider the reason that Kosovo didn't have the same level of economic growth as other reasons down to the fact the K-Alb population tripled from 1948 to 1981?

Slovenia in particular and Croatia have more natural resources and weren't devasted in both World Wars in the way that the other four republics were.

Olf

Like I said abuse of women unfortunately happens all over the world but Serbia has a fairly low occurance compared to other parts. It matches that of the US, Canada and Japan.

This is taken from the BBC.

"The percentage of woman who had been physically or sexually attacked by their partners in the preceding year was 4% in Japan and Serbia, compared with between 30% and 54% in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Peru and Tanzania." The Albanians would fit into the list with Ethiopia and Peru.

Check http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4465916.stm

Olf, are you attempting to say a German newspaper reporting on Serbs is more reliable than the World Health Organistion? Sorry, it just doesn't stand and I don't expect the figures would change in the last two years.

If that is the truth, how would you explain the fact that Kosovo reached much higher level of development and quality of living then Albania?
(Stevan, 11 March 2008 13:26)
Why the comparison with Albania and not with Slovenia and Croatia.They were all provinces of the same country.Why did they achieved different rates of development?The reason is that Yugoslavia never gave a toss about Kosova because its residents were Albanian.If we were treated as equal there wouldn't have been any problems.Because of all this we've got our independence and the futere looks bright.We are the masters of our own destiny.

Abolish visas? So then skilled labourers from Serbia can go to the western EU countries and work for lower pay then those born in the EU? This guy is so transparent he makes me laugh.

“I do not believe that the Kosovo situation will be resolved soon. Whoever holds the battle of Kosovo in their memory for 600 years has a great capacity to remember other things as well,” - Busek

This is what I say too, the problems to Kosova have always come from outside- mainly from north.

Ahmed,
are you for real with this statement
"Kosova has remained underdeveloped due to policies by the former Serbian goverments.
I thought the Albanians left Albania to start a better life in Serbia. Why do you blame the Serbians for providing the Albanians with Shelter, No income tax rates, free hydro and education. Was not the rest up to the Albanians?
If your statement is factual, then how would you explain the disposition of Albania today?

Busek is right about the difficult times ahead for Kosova but these can be overcome by planning and hard work.Kosova has remained underdeveloped due to policies by the former Serbian goverments.We start from a low base but all Kosovars want to prove that we will be succesfull.Iam sure that our friend in the west won't let us down.

To B92
I think its time to move all news related to Kosova to "Region" section instead of "Politics"
Thanks for the consideration

Busek is right. Kosova will be problem for some time to come.
Serbia is a problem since it was formed last year 2006. Of course that Serbia is not to blame entirely for the occupation of Albanian lands during and after the WWI in the name of SCS kingdom. But, that has happened and Serbia has gained a lot of land, from Nis-Merdare. This must not be forgotten but is should stay where it is, same as the Balkan Alliance war against Ottoman Empire, in history.

ZK UK
You are bringing to light a problem that most of the societies have. If you don’t mind check the data and articles of B92 few weeks a go which tells that every 4th woman in Serbia physically and mentally abused. Moreover, human trafficking and prostitution are rife in Serbia, not long ago Serbs where caught arranging a illegal passage for Kurds to Hungary. The story that you have told us is the unfortunate story of many women in the word, including Serb ones. I guess that any Russian would react to you story too.
According to this I guess that Serbia, the newest state until recently, should be stripped of it’s right of state. Common mate, don’t go so low.

ZK UK
Thank you for the link mate but that one is outdated, form 2005.
I dont usually post links in here in order to justify my claim but I have found the article you need to see and it is form a credible source too, form Deutche Welle.

See the link bellow.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3157165,00.html

The original sin of Bosnia was the Dayton agreement, the “peace of your time” of the Yugoslav Wars. Appeasement to genocidal ditactors and religious fanatics simply doesn’t work.

Everybody in the international community say that to abolish Dayton is impossible, so the best thing they could do for now is to reshape the mini-me countries of FBiH, RS and the independent city of Brcko into real subnational entities, like Saxony and Bavaria are to Germany.

Create a single presidency, a single police, a single juficiary and a single education ministry would be important steps to this kind of achievement.

another serb canadian' Since you talking about that or that and serbia ! seems to me in your eye serbia is doing or did to others so good ! why did you go in CANADA ?or just a bluff, being serb canadian!?

Ahmed,

"… Why the comparison with Albania and not with Slovenia and Croatia…"

Because of the relevance. You are same people as Albanians in Albania. You have common culture, same temperament, customs, work ethics … you name it. Also geographically you are close. (Albania even has a big advantage of having coastline).

Because of all of these similarities, it is a reasonable to expect that in similar circumstances both of you would develop in similar way and reach same level.

Now, you, Kosovo Albanians are claiming that Serbs are your only problem. According to you, Serbs are constantly suppressing your nation, preventing your development. If that is the truth, Albania, completely free from any Serb influence, should be much more developed then Kosovo, wouldn't you agree? And what we see? Just the opposite, Kosovo much more developed then Albania! How can it be? What does it tell us about your accusations?

To compare Kosovo to Slovenia and Croatia is not so relevant. Croats and Slovens have different cultures then yours, other geographical position which gives them number of comparative advantages, such as closeness of western markets, tourism e.t.c.

Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence and its acceptance by many world powers is a definite precedent with possible consequences around the world.

In the near future, we may see escalation of conflict in the Basque region of Spain and parts of France, fighting for independent Kurdistan in Iraq and Turkey, problems in Romania, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, China, the whole African continent, and elsewhere.

Another country that could expect a lot of uncertainty is Bosnia and Herzegovina. In December 1995, Bosnia ended its three-sided bloody war that lasted for almost four years. Since then, the country is formally divided into two, and informally into three ethnically homogeneous parts.

It is very possible that some ethnic groups in Bosnia could decide to follow Kosovo’s path and seek partition of the country. German newspaper Handelsblatt writes that “the West will have problems explaining why one is against Republika Srpska when Kosovo’s secession was deemed acceptable. Keeping the artificial state Bosnia and Herzegovina together against the will of the Bosnian Serbs will, in any case, be difficult.”

After Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence received support around the world, it will be hard to say no to others who attempt the same.

SAVO HELETA
Author of "Not My Turn to Die:
Memoirs of a Broken Childhood in Bosnia"
http://savoheleta.livejournal.com

Busek is right about the difficult times ahead for Kosova but these can be overcome by planning and hard work.Kosova has remained underdeveloped due to policies by the former Serbian goverments.We start from a low base but all Kosovars want to prove that we will be succesfull.Iam sure that our friend in the west won't let us down.

“I do not believe that the Kosovo situation will be resolved soon. Whoever holds the battle of Kosovo in their memory for 600 years has a great capacity to remember other things as well,” - Busek

This is what I say too, the problems to Kosova have always come from outside- mainly from north.

If that is the truth, how would you explain the fact that Kosovo reached much higher level of development and quality of living then Albania?
(Stevan, 11 March 2008 13:26)
Why the comparison with Albania and not with Slovenia and Croatia.They were all provinces of the same country.Why did they achieved different rates of development?The reason is that Yugoslavia never gave a toss about Kosova because its residents were Albanian.If we were treated as equal there wouldn't have been any problems.Because of all this we've got our independence and the futere looks bright.We are the masters of our own destiny.

To B92
I think its time to move all news related to Kosova to "Region" section instead of "Politics"
Thanks for the consideration

Busek is right. Kosova will be problem for some time to come.
Serbia is a problem since it was formed last year 2006. Of course that Serbia is not to blame entirely for the occupation of Albanian lands during and after the WWI in the name of SCS kingdom. But, that has happened and Serbia has gained a lot of land, from Nis-Merdare. This must not be forgotten but is should stay where it is, same as the Balkan Alliance war against Ottoman Empire, in history.

ZK UK
You are bringing to light a problem that most of the societies have. If you don’t mind check the data and articles of B92 few weeks a go which tells that every 4th woman in Serbia physically and mentally abused. Moreover, human trafficking and prostitution are rife in Serbia, not long ago Serbs where caught arranging a illegal passage for Kurds to Hungary. The story that you have told us is the unfortunate story of many women in the word, including Serb ones. I guess that any Russian would react to you story too.
According to this I guess that Serbia, the newest state until recently, should be stripped of it’s right of state. Common mate, don’t go so low.

“Kosovo will be problem for some time to come”

Another politician earning his huge salary by stating the blindingly obvious.

Mr Bushek must have been lectured by Condi Rice on history. It seems that only Western European countries have that exclusive right to have their own history and to remember it. For some Balkan countries such as Serbia, history supposed to mean nothing. I would like to ask back, so why Germany is then re-built the same way as it was look like before the bombing during WW2.

Well, Mr Bushek, the history of my country means a lot to me. Much more than your free visa regime any way, much more than your billions of euros, much more than the EU integration. The history of my country tells me who am I and where do I come from. The history of my country is my identity and I certainly won’t spew on my ancestor’s blood who fought for the freedom, who fought against oppression by many empires who wanted to grab Serbia and keep us as slaves, who fought for the country that I live in and the country that gave me basically everything. I thank and cherish my ancestors for enabling me to live free without being someone’s slave today.

The Albanians have a long long way to go before the EU will accept them. What the EU has done is to put them in a reservation of sorts to sort them out. To weed out the criminals and pacify the people.

This link may not come up properly as B92 seem to have problems with commas in addresses. Click it and then add the end bit to the address.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-women10mar10,0,964968.story

This article says a lot. Women are abused all over the world but it seems the extent in Kosovo is extremely high!

I've been beaten a lot," said Fatima. "They beat me so badly the last time, I could not care for my children."

In the last couple of years, she says, she has spent more time at the shelter, hiding, than in her husband's house. It is only a slight exaggeration.

"Fatima is actually luckier than many women in Kosovo, a harsh region weighted by twin burdens of poverty and unenlightened tradition. A United Nations study in 2000 estimated that one-fourth of the female population of Kosovo suffered physical or psychological abuse.

The question now is whether independence, which is still in an embryonic stage and not universally recognized, will result in a change of status for women and eradication of the trafficking networks. Or whether organized criminal gangs, with allies in the new government, will be given an even freer hand.

historical views of Mr. Kostunica?

what is this dude talking about???

Mr.Busek, just for your info, it´s about LAW, JUSTICE and MORALITY.
history is only one indicator, that the Serbs are right on this.

but, anyway, one thing should be clear to you, Serbs will remember, and they will be nearby.

and the US and other foreign occupiers won´t stay forever.

He's not only stating the obvious, but contradicting previous statements by the West.
I thought the ''speedy recognition'' was needed to ensure stability in the region.
Now we hear there will be problem in the region for some time to come.
Well which one is it?

“Whoever holds the battle of Kosovo in their memory for 600 years has a great capacity to remember other things as well.”

Mr Busek, don’t trivialise the issue of Kosovo and Metohija for the Serbs by saying it is only in their ‘memory’ because of a battle that took place in 1389. You’re the one harking back to 1389. The Serbs are talking about 2008 and 1244.

“International law is not an absolute law. It is always a result of political relations and power.”

Ah, knowledge born of experience. You have a long memory and ambitions to match. You once had power but then you lost it, along with your empire, due in no small measure to the Serbs. Now you have power again but you will lose it, again, due in no small measure to... You figure it out.

Serbia will never sign Kosovo and Metohija away and the Serbs will never leave Bosnia and Herzegovina. How does that sit with your memories and ambitions, Mr Busek?

When will you learn the lessons of history Mr Busek?

Ahmed,

"…. Kosova has remained underdeveloped due to policies by the former Serbian goverments…."

If that is the truth, how would you explain the fact that Kosovo reached much higher level of development and quality of living then Albania?

ahmed, would you consider the reason that Kosovo didn't have the same level of economic growth as other reasons down to the fact the K-Alb population tripled from 1948 to 1981?

Slovenia in particular and Croatia have more natural resources and weren't devasted in both World Wars in the way that the other four republics were.

Olf

Like I said abuse of women unfortunately happens all over the world but Serbia has a fairly low occurance compared to other parts. It matches that of the US, Canada and Japan.

This is taken from the BBC.

"The percentage of woman who had been physically or sexually attacked by their partners in the preceding year was 4% in Japan and Serbia, compared with between 30% and 54% in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Peru and Tanzania." The Albanians would fit into the list with Ethiopia and Peru.

Check http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4465916.stm

Abolish visas? So then skilled labourers from Serbia can go to the western EU countries and work for lower pay then those born in the EU? This guy is so transparent he makes me laugh.

ZK UK
Thank you for the link mate but that one is outdated, form 2005.
I dont usually post links in here in order to justify my claim but I have found the article you need to see and it is form a credible source too, form Deutche Welle.

See the link bellow.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3157165,00.html

Ahmed,
are you for real with this statement
"Kosova has remained underdeveloped due to policies by the former Serbian goverments.
I thought the Albanians left Albania to start a better life in Serbia. Why do you blame the Serbians for providing the Albanians with Shelter, No income tax rates, free hydro and education. Was not the rest up to the Albanians?
If your statement is factual, then how would you explain the disposition of Albania today?

The original sin of Bosnia was the Dayton agreement, the “peace of your time” of the Yugoslav Wars. Appeasement to genocidal ditactors and religious fanatics simply doesn’t work.

Everybody in the international community say that to abolish Dayton is impossible, so the best thing they could do for now is to reshape the mini-me countries of FBiH, RS and the independent city of Brcko into real subnational entities, like Saxony and Bavaria are to Germany.

Create a single presidency, a single police, a single juficiary and a single education ministry would be important steps to this kind of achievement.

Olf, are you attempting to say a German newspaper reporting on Serbs is more reliable than the World Health Organistion? Sorry, it just doesn't stand and I don't expect the figures would change in the last two years.

another serb canadian' Since you talking about that or that and serbia ! seems to me in your eye serbia is doing or did to others so good ! why did you go in CANADA ?or just a bluff, being serb canadian!?

Ahmed,

"… Why the comparison with Albania and not with Slovenia and Croatia…"

Because of the relevance. You are same people as Albanians in Albania. You have common culture, same temperament, customs, work ethics … you name it. Also geographically you are close. (Albania even has a big advantage of having coastline).

Because of all of these similarities, it is a reasonable to expect that in similar circumstances both of you would develop in similar way and reach same level.

Now, you, Kosovo Albanians are claiming that Serbs are your only problem. According to you, Serbs are constantly suppressing your nation, preventing your development. If that is the truth, Albania, completely free from any Serb influence, should be much more developed then Kosovo, wouldn't you agree? And what we see? Just the opposite, Kosovo much more developed then Albania! How can it be? What does it tell us about your accusations?

To compare Kosovo to Slovenia and Croatia is not so relevant. Croats and Slovens have different cultures then yours, other geographical position which gives them number of comparative advantages, such as closeness of western markets, tourism e.t.c.

Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence and its acceptance by many world powers is a definite precedent with possible consequences around the world.

In the near future, we may see escalation of conflict in the Basque region of Spain and parts of France, fighting for independent Kurdistan in Iraq and Turkey, problems in Romania, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, China, the whole African continent, and elsewhere.

Another country that could expect a lot of uncertainty is Bosnia and Herzegovina. In December 1995, Bosnia ended its three-sided bloody war that lasted for almost four years. Since then, the country is formally divided into two, and informally into three ethnically homogeneous parts.

It is very possible that some ethnic groups in Bosnia could decide to follow Kosovo’s path and seek partition of the country. German newspaper Handelsblatt writes that “the West will have problems explaining why one is against Republika Srpska when Kosovo’s secession was deemed acceptable. Keeping the artificial state Bosnia and Herzegovina together against the will of the Bosnian Serbs will, in any case, be difficult.”

After Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence received support around the world, it will be hard to say no to others who attempt the same.

SAVO HELETA
Author of "Not My Turn to Die:
Memoirs of a Broken Childhood in Bosnia"
http://savoheleta.livejournal.com