Serbs still in court, situation calm

As a Brit I was told we were there to liberate Kosovo. Throwing judges out of their court does not seem to me liberation but more like colonisation. I am glad to see that the Brits are not involved in this tragedy anymore. EULEX is not a real European force but the French and Germans who seem to have something against the Serbs.

I hope they stay firm and determined to their goals. UNMIK should be aware that using any force against those protestors won’t bring any good and certainly not contribute to stability of the situation but making it only worse. UNMIK also have to accept that the North is lost for the Albanian influence of any kind and certainly cannot have any control over Serbs. North stays under Belgrade’s jurisdiction, that’s it and definitely under Serbian sphere of influence.

My heart is with protestors!

I have written before that I see all sorts of parallels between the developing situation in Kosovo and the early days of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Let me mention just one aspect of this.

The British Army arrived in large numbers in Northern Ireland in 1969. Their role was supposed to be that of a neutral force between Nationalists (mainly Catholic and seeking a United Ireland) and Unionists (mainly Protestant and anxious to maintain the union with Britain). Within a year the army came to be perceived as a hostile force by the nationalist people due to various violent actions and the shooting dead of several nationalist civilians. The war escalated from there.

The reaction of UNMIK to the courthouse occupation and other acts of defiance will determine how these foreign troops will, in time, come to be seen by the Serbian people in Kosovo. Any aggressive attempt to expel the courthouse protestors will sour relations further and move the situation to near breaking point. If there are fatalities, then all bets are off and any legitimacy UNMIK claim will count for nothing in Serbian eyes.

And God knows where that will take us.

Am glad to see that UNMIK hasn't done anything dumb..

novajlija:

Believe in actuality, are several judges present. And as for trespass, these people are where they should be. They are serbian judicial workers in a serbian court-house on serbian land - the latter specified by international law, UN charter, UN resolution 1244, and 'boots on the ground'.

regards

Let them stay in court. They belong there. The only person that is missing there is a judge, which would sentence these folks for illegal tresspassing to the state property.

Either they respect Res.1244 in its entirety, or they are law breakers. They can not have it both ways.
(Jovan R., 16 March 2008 17:28)
--
Jovan R, when the UN starts to follow its own charter and resolutions, the Serbians will follow.

In case you hadn't realised, the US has flushed international law down the toilet.

Stuart:

Pathetic & sad? How about principled & brave. May or may not be there in a months time.. doesn't matter. Other protests will continue.

Stuart & Jovan R:

As you're talking about illegalities, you'll no doubt agree that the K-albanian UDI is itself illegal & UNMIK should take immediate steps to disband the illegal administration in Pristina. This, I'm sure, will in turn lead to the end of the protest in the court-house.

The Kosova leaders are handling this case very well by giving Serbian occupiers of the court of Mitrovica more time, so the attention fades off. We all know that they are manipulated by Serbian polticians, who even themselves are not sure what they want. UNMIK and NATO are going to intervene right on time and these protesters are going to gain nothing except the waste of their own time in the end. The biggest loser in this case is Serbia which is getting in the nerves of the democartic world by manipulating local Serbs for their vague and dark purposes. Kosova is showing the respect and humanity toward its own citizens, as are some manipulated Serbs at this momment and that`s the way it should be. In return, it is anticipated that these Kosova citizens are going to very soon respect their own country, which is Kosova as a multiple society and not a pure Albanian one.
However, my suggestion for all the Serbs of Kosova is, to start getting over this issue and carefully read the Ahtisari`s Plan based on which Kosova declared independence and figure out the quantity and quality of rights and benifits granted with it. I believe in that document, they would get anything they need. The onnly thing they do not get there is soverenity of Serbia over Kosova, but Serbia has never had a real soverinty over Kosova, even during Milosevic's regime. The Serbian flag can be used freely again in Kosova as can an Albanian one, but not as a state symbol any more, because as a balance of both sides there has been an imposed solution for both sides that Kosova gets a supervised independence and adopts the flag which is acceptable for The Albanians, The Serbs and other minorities of Kosova. This is a painful solution for not only Serbs, but for Albanians as well, however dialog could not be continued for ten more years, since Kosova's economy is based on foreign investments and those could not be absorbed without the definiton of the political status. We need to live beside each other and work hard to strengthen our common country which we call Kosova and you can freely call it Kosovo.
All the best to both sides.
Liri, Canada

Pathetic and sad, these Milosevic-era appointees think they can negotiate with UN after illegal seizure of court building. Let's see if they are there in a months time.

Stuart, how is this exactly illegal? It's their courthouse and they are Serbs living in Serbian part of Kosovo.

Interesting how the UN and Albanian government of Kosovo arent coming out and trying to explain to us exactly the logic or reasoning behind preventing these people from working in the courthouse but instead forcing them to work from home.

Jon: "As a Brit I was told we were there to liberate Kosovo. Throwing judges out of their court does not seem to me liberation but more like colonisation. I am glad to see that the Brits are not involved in this tragedy anymore."

I hate to burst your bubble, but Britain has been a main player in allowing this to happen in the first place. From pushing for the bombing in 1999, to recognising the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (therefore bypassing the UN), and to helping to set up EULEX which has no authority or legal mandate whatsoever.

And let's not forget their support for the US stance which meant that the Albanians were offered independence by the US at the start of the supposed talks, and they subsequently didn't even try to strike a deal with Belgrade. In fact, the Kosovo Albanian delegation refused to sit at the table if anything other than independence was even mentioned.

Don't be surprised if the proverbial hits the fan to see British troops put in yet another war which could have been avoided.

Let's not forget that none of this would have happened without the wonderful evangelistic Bliar. I guess that like Bush he just couldn't resist having at least one crowd of people chanting for him and naming streets after him. Lord knows it wouldn't happen on their home patches.

Under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the United Nations was given charge of the civil administration in Kosovo -- including the police and the courts. The Security Council resolution makes no separate provision for Serbian judges and court clerks to work in parallel in Kosovo, under the Ministry in Belgrade. Under the terms of Resolution 1244, the Ministry of Justice in Belgrade has had no legitimate business in Kosovo for the past nine years -- that jurisdiction has been handed over to the United Nations. If the demonstrators, who occupied the courthouse in K.Mitrovica, really respect the Security Council resolution, they would leave the courthouse and hand it back to the UN authorities.

Either they respect Res.1244 in its entirety, or they are law breakers. They can not have it both ways.

"Kosova is showing the respect and humanity toward its own citizens..."
Liri, Canada
(Liri, 16 March 2008 18:53)

Wow I didn't know that respect and humanity involved Kosovo's minorities living in barbed wire enclaves for their own protection and requiring armed escorts to move around!

"This is a painful solution for not only Serbs, but for Albanians as well."
Liri, Canada
(Liri, 16 March 2008 18:53)

Sad for the Serbs yes, although I don't know if the Albanians can be too sad with having a chunk of Serbia given to them??

I hope the Serbs working in other institutions in Kosovo (if they haven't been kicked out of all of them) follow the lead of those in the court house and use all peaceful means necessary to show that Kosovo is Serbia.

These protesters in the court were Milosevic-henchman in Kosovo. Now they breach public order and I am sure, they are informed already about the consequences. Sooner or later they gonna get the justice they are asking for - and it does not matter, whether they are Serbs or not. By the way, they show, that they are don't care for the juridical system anymore, therefore there should be ALSO disciplinary consequences for to prevent, that such people are allowed for working in juridical and related positions further more.

Liri, Canada:

There is no such place as 'Kosova'. It is Kosovo, & the jurists in the court-house are not being manipulated by anyone, & know far more about laws & legality than you ever will.

And should UNMIK at the behest of 'pristina' attempt to use force, they will be doing so against unarmed civilians protesting their conscience. Will certainly go down well in places like Prague & Sofia.

And I would not mention K-albanian respect for minorities & human rights. You don't have any as your track record of the last 8 years has shown, in no uncertain terms. And nothing has changed. Serbs in the south of Kosovo still live behind behind barbed wire & still need armed escorts.

You also suggest that the serbs in Kosovo read Ahtisaari's status plan & further state that K-albanian Unilateral Declaration of Independence is based on that. Does not surprise me in the slightest that a pro-K-albanian supporter would base justification of an illegal K-albanian UDI on a plan that was never approved in the UN, & is never likely to be.

Let them stay in court. They belong there. The only person that is missing there is a judge, which would sentence these folks for illegal tresspassing to the state property.

As a Brit I was told we were there to liberate Kosovo. Throwing judges out of their court does not seem to me liberation but more like colonisation. I am glad to see that the Brits are not involved in this tragedy anymore. EULEX is not a real European force but the French and Germans who seem to have something against the Serbs.

I hope they stay firm and determined to their goals. UNMIK should be aware that using any force against those protestors won’t bring any good and certainly not contribute to stability of the situation but making it only worse. UNMIK also have to accept that the North is lost for the Albanian influence of any kind and certainly cannot have any control over Serbs. North stays under Belgrade’s jurisdiction, that’s it and definitely under Serbian sphere of influence.

My heart is with protestors!

Under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the United Nations was given charge of the civil administration in Kosovo -- including the police and the courts. The Security Council resolution makes no separate provision for Serbian judges and court clerks to work in parallel in Kosovo, under the Ministry in Belgrade. Under the terms of Resolution 1244, the Ministry of Justice in Belgrade has had no legitimate business in Kosovo for the past nine years -- that jurisdiction has been handed over to the United Nations. If the demonstrators, who occupied the courthouse in K.Mitrovica, really respect the Security Council resolution, they would leave the courthouse and hand it back to the UN authorities.

Either they respect Res.1244 in its entirety, or they are law breakers. They can not have it both ways.

Pathetic and sad, these Milosevic-era appointees think they can negotiate with UN after illegal seizure of court building. Let's see if they are there in a months time.

I have written before that I see all sorts of parallels between the developing situation in Kosovo and the early days of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Let me mention just one aspect of this.

The British Army arrived in large numbers in Northern Ireland in 1969. Their role was supposed to be that of a neutral force between Nationalists (mainly Catholic and seeking a United Ireland) and Unionists (mainly Protestant and anxious to maintain the union with Britain). Within a year the army came to be perceived as a hostile force by the nationalist people due to various violent actions and the shooting dead of several nationalist civilians. The war escalated from there.

The reaction of UNMIK to the courthouse occupation and other acts of defiance will determine how these foreign troops will, in time, come to be seen by the Serbian people in Kosovo. Any aggressive attempt to expel the courthouse protestors will sour relations further and move the situation to near breaking point. If there are fatalities, then all bets are off and any legitimacy UNMIK claim will count for nothing in Serbian eyes.

And God knows where that will take us.

Am glad to see that UNMIK hasn't done anything dumb..

novajlija:

Believe in actuality, are several judges present. And as for trespass, these people are where they should be. They are serbian judicial workers in a serbian court-house on serbian land - the latter specified by international law, UN charter, UN resolution 1244, and 'boots on the ground'.

regards

The Kosova leaders are handling this case very well by giving Serbian occupiers of the court of Mitrovica more time, so the attention fades off. We all know that they are manipulated by Serbian polticians, who even themselves are not sure what they want. UNMIK and NATO are going to intervene right on time and these protesters are going to gain nothing except the waste of their own time in the end. The biggest loser in this case is Serbia which is getting in the nerves of the democartic world by manipulating local Serbs for their vague and dark purposes. Kosova is showing the respect and humanity toward its own citizens, as are some manipulated Serbs at this momment and that`s the way it should be. In return, it is anticipated that these Kosova citizens are going to very soon respect their own country, which is Kosova as a multiple society and not a pure Albanian one.
However, my suggestion for all the Serbs of Kosova is, to start getting over this issue and carefully read the Ahtisari`s Plan based on which Kosova declared independence and figure out the quantity and quality of rights and benifits granted with it. I believe in that document, they would get anything they need. The onnly thing they do not get there is soverenity of Serbia over Kosova, but Serbia has never had a real soverinty over Kosova, even during Milosevic's regime. The Serbian flag can be used freely again in Kosova as can an Albanian one, but not as a state symbol any more, because as a balance of both sides there has been an imposed solution for both sides that Kosova gets a supervised independence and adopts the flag which is acceptable for The Albanians, The Serbs and other minorities of Kosova. This is a painful solution for not only Serbs, but for Albanians as well, however dialog could not be continued for ten more years, since Kosova's economy is based on foreign investments and those could not be absorbed without the definiton of the political status. We need to live beside each other and work hard to strengthen our common country which we call Kosova and you can freely call it Kosovo.
All the best to both sides.
Liri, Canada

Stuart, how is this exactly illegal? It's their courthouse and they are Serbs living in Serbian part of Kosovo.

Interesting how the UN and Albanian government of Kosovo arent coming out and trying to explain to us exactly the logic or reasoning behind preventing these people from working in the courthouse but instead forcing them to work from home.

These protesters in the court were Milosevic-henchman in Kosovo. Now they breach public order and I am sure, they are informed already about the consequences. Sooner or later they gonna get the justice they are asking for - and it does not matter, whether they are Serbs or not. By the way, they show, that they are don't care for the juridical system anymore, therefore there should be ALSO disciplinary consequences for to prevent, that such people are allowed for working in juridical and related positions further more.

Stuart:

Pathetic & sad? How about principled & brave. May or may not be there in a months time.. doesn't matter. Other protests will continue.

Stuart & Jovan R:

As you're talking about illegalities, you'll no doubt agree that the K-albanian UDI is itself illegal & UNMIK should take immediate steps to disband the illegal administration in Pristina. This, I'm sure, will in turn lead to the end of the protest in the court-house.

Either they respect Res.1244 in its entirety, or they are law breakers. They can not have it both ways.
(Jovan R., 16 March 2008 17:28)
--
Jovan R, when the UN starts to follow its own charter and resolutions, the Serbians will follow.

In case you hadn't realised, the US has flushed international law down the toilet.

Jon: "As a Brit I was told we were there to liberate Kosovo. Throwing judges out of their court does not seem to me liberation but more like colonisation. I am glad to see that the Brits are not involved in this tragedy anymore."

I hate to burst your bubble, but Britain has been a main player in allowing this to happen in the first place. From pushing for the bombing in 1999, to recognising the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (therefore bypassing the UN), and to helping to set up EULEX which has no authority or legal mandate whatsoever.

And let's not forget their support for the US stance which meant that the Albanians were offered independence by the US at the start of the supposed talks, and they subsequently didn't even try to strike a deal with Belgrade. In fact, the Kosovo Albanian delegation refused to sit at the table if anything other than independence was even mentioned.

Don't be surprised if the proverbial hits the fan to see British troops put in yet another war which could have been avoided.

Let's not forget that none of this would have happened without the wonderful evangelistic Bliar. I guess that like Bush he just couldn't resist having at least one crowd of people chanting for him and naming streets after him. Lord knows it wouldn't happen on their home patches.

"Kosova is showing the respect and humanity toward its own citizens..."
Liri, Canada
(Liri, 16 March 2008 18:53)

Wow I didn't know that respect and humanity involved Kosovo's minorities living in barbed wire enclaves for their own protection and requiring armed escorts to move around!

"This is a painful solution for not only Serbs, but for Albanians as well."
Liri, Canada
(Liri, 16 March 2008 18:53)

Sad for the Serbs yes, although I don't know if the Albanians can be too sad with having a chunk of Serbia given to them??

I hope the Serbs working in other institutions in Kosovo (if they haven't been kicked out of all of them) follow the lead of those in the court house and use all peaceful means necessary to show that Kosovo is Serbia.

Liri, Canada:

There is no such place as 'Kosova'. It is Kosovo, & the jurists in the court-house are not being manipulated by anyone, & know far more about laws & legality than you ever will.

And should UNMIK at the behest of 'pristina' attempt to use force, they will be doing so against unarmed civilians protesting their conscience. Will certainly go down well in places like Prague & Sofia.

And I would not mention K-albanian respect for minorities & human rights. You don't have any as your track record of the last 8 years has shown, in no uncertain terms. And nothing has changed. Serbs in the south of Kosovo still live behind behind barbed wire & still need armed escorts.

You also suggest that the serbs in Kosovo read Ahtisaari's status plan & further state that K-albanian Unilateral Declaration of Independence is based on that. Does not surprise me in the slightest that a pro-K-albanian supporter would base justification of an illegal K-albanian UDI on a plan that was never approved in the UN, & is never likely to be.