Samardžić calls for "functional separation"

It's got my full support.

Absolutely correct proposal. Serbs can take care of its own people and own interests. This is more justifiable and makes more sense after Carla’s allegations on human organ trafficking by the Albanians. We don’t want any more missing Serbs for whose disappearances will no one care. We don’t want any longer such “human” treatment blessed even by the EU puppets and high UNMIK officials who done everything in their power to prevent further investigation on war criminals and allegations on human organs trafficking... Freedom for Serbs now, far away from Albanian oppression.

Is this really the end game you want Nick? "The Serbs of Kosovo may be clensed, while the Albanians of Preshevo may get "Functional Separation".

By the international community's own words Kosovo is unique and does not set any precedents, so you really don't need to go outside the borders of Kosovo and bring up Presevo.

Also, I would be careful about throwing out words like cleansed into any forum. People get really emotional for one, and secondly it doesn't help us get anywhere. Lastly, people in Montenegro, Serbia, Greece, and Macedonia might get the same idea about Albanians.

He really had in mind those Serb enclaves south of the Ibar when he talked about functional separation -- which UNMIK will reject because it is afraid of angering Pristina and the US. He wasn't referring to the north which is already de facto separated from the rest of Kosovo since 1999 in the practical sense of the word.

"Functional Separation"??? Why Serbian politition could not learn the rules of Europe? It is not that the "Albanianas" separated from Serbia. It was Kosovo, a former subject of the dedunct Yugoslav federation. The same way as it was not the "Slovenians", the 'Croats" etc.who broke away from Yugoslavia. It was the republics of Slovenia, Croatioa etc. And if Serbia insists on "Functional separation" of the Kosovo Serbs, that would lead to demands of the same from the Albanians of the Preshevo valley. The Serbs, of coures will say: "That is a different case, that is Serbia proper how dare they!" But thje international community would not understand that "difference". If Serbs cause a conflict, Nato may get involved and terrible things may happen. The Serbs of Kosovo may be clensed, while the Albanians of Preshevo may get "Functional Separation". The Serbs will cry: Double standarts...etc. We have seen it all. When does it end?

For "functional seperation" read "partition".

"Asked whether the new agreement would be in breach of Resolution 1244, he replied that Serbia would “not stop complying with that decision, but the decision has been shaken by the unilateral declaration of independence, and the Kosovo Albanians’ failure to comply with it.“

The fact remains that while Kosovo's provisional governmment have complied with 1244 and UNMIK directives for the past eight years, the Serbian government has not, openly defying 1244 in the north via its parallel structures and funding mechanisms. Serbian government is therefore not trusted by UNMIK. The last sentence by Samardzic regarding "peace and stability" looks like a threat, but this man is given to making these, as well as justifying violence so it comes as little surprise. More empty words from someone who will be ignored by the Kosovo government, UNMIK, KFOR and the EU

The Israel of the Balkans

Michael J. Totten

Subject: The Israel of the Balkans

Top of Form

“All we want is to reduce the Albanian population to a manageable level.” – Zoran Andjelkovic, former Serbian governor of Kosovo

B92,

Still can't get why some of comment wasn't published. I was just wrote why Samardzic did talk about "functional integration" of Serbs in Kosova's institution.
But I am a patient man)))

does he know that soon he will need a new job. Kosovo last i checked was a country with its own flag and its own goverment. Soon he will be in the unemplyment line

Dear B92,
Following you decision not to publish my post the other day I would kindly request a review of your criteria for this specific article.
I am all for censuring irresponsible comments. In hindsight, I accept that some of my comments should have not reached you. Nonetheless, I did not understand you your decision not to allow the link from Guardian newspaper.
My involvement in that post was minimal and I cannot help but think that your quarrel might have been with the article itself.
Not publishing links of certain articles from the western media has only happened under stick military rule, which certainly is not the case right now.
The article analyses the role of this gentleman on the last week’s riots and I think it is only right that you publish it.
Here are the two formats of the piece titled Crocodile tears.
I am highly interested to know what revisionist think.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ian_williams/2008/03/crocodile_tears.html

@Johny: I guess the UDI didn't seperate Kosovo Albanians from Serbia as much as some people thought.
You told everybody that UDI would solve all these problems, but I'm afraid these problems are more bilateral than let's say unilateral.

Solving the Serbian living conditions in Kosovo would be a good place for the two sides to start talking.

Stuart wrote.......The fact remains that while Kosovo's provisional government have complied with 1244 and UNMIK directives for the past eight years, the Serbian government has not, openly defying 1244 in the north via its parallel structures and funding mechanisms. Serbian government is therefore not trusted by UNMIK. The last sentence by Samardzic regarding "peace and stability" looks like a threat, but this man is given to making these, as well as justifying violence so it comes as little surprise. More empty words from someone who will be ignored by the Kosovo government, UNMIK, KFOR and the EU
(Stuart, 22 March 2008 12:12)

Stuart, the fact remains that no one, including UNMIK meaning UN the “author” of 1244 has EVER in the past 8 years applied this resolution completely. Let alone provisional institutions of self - governance in Kosovo (favoured by Kosovo Albanians) or Kosovo Serbs. Whatever you may have heard or read on the implementation or full compliance with the resolution is far from the reality on the ground. And that has only worsened situation on the ground (like in so many other places where UN hade executive power as a matter of fact) –quite opposite to the original intention of the resolution. I can only say, that the resolution has been most of the time (mis)used by one or the other side (referring here only to K Albanians and K Serbs), as it suited them best. It’s Kosovo Serbs and Serbia proper’s turn now to try to get best out of it. Why blame them?
Unfortunately I will for now agree with you about your last sentence – that this proposal will be ignored – because of the current “unique” double standards – I guess unique case requires unique standards…….

Given the oppression, murder and ethnic cleansing done by the Albanian leadership and tolerated or condoned by the UN in Kosovo, a clear, complete, separation of all minority communities from the KLA government in monoethnic Pristina seems the only reasonable solution. Once the UN starts implementing international law, perhaps a multiethic society may have a basis to grow from. To begin with, Albanians with Albanian passports or Identification/birth certificates need to be deported, as they are clearly not from Kosovo.

I wonder if people use words like "we" are actually members of the Kosovo population or are they the Albanian diaspora living comfortably in the west. I won't use Kosovar because there is no such thing...they are Albanians.

EA, perhaps the reason for B92 not publishing your comment was because you might've put words in someone's mouth again as you do quite a lot.

Try to have an opinion and put that down and see how it goes.

Functional separation will work for now until they clear this mess of UDI. At least it will stop the violence.

Once the matter is resolved legally we can call it a transfer back to it's rightful owners.

"Serbia's Last stand on Kosova" that's should be the title of this article! anyway,giving a try it's never a bad idea Mr Samardzic,:)

Serbian politician's are talking nonsense while Kosova is getting more recognition and the Serbian minority are returning to Government. This "action" plan is going great.

If Serbia recognizes the Independence of Kosova/o as a whole then we can talk about functional separation. Until then it is not doable. Why on earth would we agree to make our position in certain parts of Kosova/o weaker than it is. We get recognition of the whole Kosova/o from Serbia, the Serbs in Kosova/o then can get functional separation or whatever they call it so they can govern themselves. You gotta give something to get something.

Aha, functional separation this time.
Your bargaining powers are highly questionable. You certainly need some peasant tips on the matter.
First rule of haggle;
You cannot say hey mister do me a family price for the turkey, just before you have professed of being single.

When UN presented partition both sides rejected it..now Serbia wants a do over. Sorry, we're not interested.

Mr. Klinsman,
you wrote; "Is this really the end game you want Nick? "The Serbs of Kosovo may be clensed, while the Albanians of Preshevo may get "Functional Separation".
God NO! No one should have been clensed. That is a crime against humanity. All I am saying is: "Functional separation means Apartheit". It is unacceptable!That is how the International community thinks.(debatabl what it doies) It sees the collaps of former Yougoslavia as a disolution of the bonds between its subjects. So the sovereignity goes to the rebublics (and in the unique case of Kosovo - to that subject of the federation) with their borders unchainged, minorities protected etc. On the other hands the Serbian politicians saw the collaps of formar Yugoslavia as an ethnik seperation and asked: "If Croats could leave Yougoslavia, why Serbs in Croatia could not stay in it." This is a different game. It is not desolution of a federation, it is an ethnic seperatism. And the Serbs always encouraged it outsid Serbia, but insisted it was against the international law in Serbia. Why? Because Yougoslavia/Serbia was internationaly recognised, while Croatia/Bosnia before, Kosovo now were not. The I.C. could never grast that "subtle" difference. That is why it seemed that the intarnational community always sided against the Serbs. Did the Serbian people deserve that. NO they didn't! But that is what their polititians brought to them. To change the international community's attitud towards the Serbs, now their polititians should talk not about "functional separation", but shouled start saing: "We demand for the Kosovo Serbs NOTHING MORE than what we are happy to offer to the Preshevo Albanians!" Then the focus of attention will pass from the "Serbian intransigence" to "Do the Kosovar goverment fulfils its pledges".

B92
You publishing only when srbians say what they want.
Kosovo is Serbia you like it dont you.
What about when i say
=Serbia is KOSOVA=
You have to publish my words as well.

B 92 stuff. You publish only things that you want right? I think Kosova is lost cause to Serbia specially now that Kosova Albanians are getting arms from Nato and USA. Now they cant anything to stop Kosova anymore, so mr Kostunica came up with the idea of seperation.

"If Serbia recognizes the Independence of Kosova/o as a whole then we can talk about functional separation. Until then it is not doable. Why on earth would we agree to make our position in certain parts of Kosova/o weaker than it is. We get recognition of the whole Kosova/o from Serbia, the Serbs in Kosova/o then can get functional separation or whatever they call it so they can govern themselves."

Yes exactly. However, rather than play this game "if they do that first, then we'll think about the other later," what about Serbs and Albanians negotiating that agreement directly - an independent Kosova, recognised by the UN and a fully sovereign state without need for too much western "supervision" as if Albanians were teenagers, in exchange for that independent state being divided into two federal or confederal entities, completely self-governing in most respects. Just do it. I reckon leaving out hypocritical great powers on both sides, who put ther own interests first, ought to suit both communities.

Pristina should consider this offer and possibly make a deal with belgrade with this counter proposal. Belgrade officially recognize the Independent sovereign state of Kosova in its current borders and with a certain number of Albanian veto wielding administrators governing this 'functional separation' of northern mitrovica. To the UN, with official Pristina possible acceptance of this offer, Kosova is fully recognized by the UNSC and made a permanent veto wielding member of the UN and the UNSC.

Otherwise, send this proposal back to the drawing board. Peace and cheers!!

"Functional Separation"??? Why Serbian politition could not learn the rules of Europe? It is not that the "Albanianas" separated from Serbia. It was Kosovo, a former subject of the dedunct Yugoslav federation. The same way as it was not the "Slovenians", the 'Croats" etc.who broke away from Yugoslavia. It was the republics of Slovenia, Croatioa etc. And if Serbia insists on "Functional separation" of the Kosovo Serbs, that would lead to demands of the same from the Albanians of the Preshevo valley. The Serbs, of coures will say: "That is a different case, that is Serbia proper how dare they!" But thje international community would not understand that "difference". If Serbs cause a conflict, Nato may get involved and terrible things may happen. The Serbs of Kosovo may be clensed, while the Albanians of Preshevo may get "Functional Separation". The Serbs will cry: Double standarts...etc. We have seen it all. When does it end?

For "functional seperation" read "partition".

"Asked whether the new agreement would be in breach of Resolution 1244, he replied that Serbia would “not stop complying with that decision, but the decision has been shaken by the unilateral declaration of independence, and the Kosovo Albanians’ failure to comply with it.“

The fact remains that while Kosovo's provisional governmment have complied with 1244 and UNMIK directives for the past eight years, the Serbian government has not, openly defying 1244 in the north via its parallel structures and funding mechanisms. Serbian government is therefore not trusted by UNMIK. The last sentence by Samardzic regarding "peace and stability" looks like a threat, but this man is given to making these, as well as justifying violence so it comes as little surprise. More empty words from someone who will be ignored by the Kosovo government, UNMIK, KFOR and the EU

Aha, functional separation this time.
Your bargaining powers are highly questionable. You certainly need some peasant tips on the matter.
First rule of haggle;
You cannot say hey mister do me a family price for the turkey, just before you have professed of being single.

does he know that soon he will need a new job. Kosovo last i checked was a country with its own flag and its own goverment. Soon he will be in the unemplyment line

The Israel of the Balkans

Michael J. Totten

Subject: The Israel of the Balkans

Top of Form

“All we want is to reduce the Albanian population to a manageable level.” – Zoran Andjelkovic, former Serbian governor of Kosovo

"Serbia's Last stand on Kosova" that's should be the title of this article! anyway,giving a try it's never a bad idea Mr Samardzic,:)

B92,

Still can't get why some of comment wasn't published. I was just wrote why Samardzic did talk about "functional integration" of Serbs in Kosova's institution.
But I am a patient man)))

When UN presented partition both sides rejected it..now Serbia wants a do over. Sorry, we're not interested.

Pristina should consider this offer and possibly make a deal with belgrade with this counter proposal. Belgrade officially recognize the Independent sovereign state of Kosova in its current borders and with a certain number of Albanian veto wielding administrators governing this 'functional separation' of northern mitrovica. To the UN, with official Pristina possible acceptance of this offer, Kosova is fully recognized by the UNSC and made a permanent veto wielding member of the UN and the UNSC.

Otherwise, send this proposal back to the drawing board. Peace and cheers!!

B92
You publishing only when srbians say what they want.
Kosovo is Serbia you like it dont you.
What about when i say
=Serbia is KOSOVA=
You have to publish my words as well.

Absolutely correct proposal. Serbs can take care of its own people and own interests. This is more justifiable and makes more sense after Carla’s allegations on human organ trafficking by the Albanians. We don’t want any more missing Serbs for whose disappearances will no one care. We don’t want any longer such “human” treatment blessed even by the EU puppets and high UNMIK officials who done everything in their power to prevent further investigation on war criminals and allegations on human organs trafficking... Freedom for Serbs now, far away from Albanian oppression.

Dear B92,
Following you decision not to publish my post the other day I would kindly request a review of your criteria for this specific article.
I am all for censuring irresponsible comments. In hindsight, I accept that some of my comments should have not reached you. Nonetheless, I did not understand you your decision not to allow the link from Guardian newspaper.
My involvement in that post was minimal and I cannot help but think that your quarrel might have been with the article itself.
Not publishing links of certain articles from the western media has only happened under stick military rule, which certainly is not the case right now.
The article analyses the role of this gentleman on the last week’s riots and I think it is only right that you publish it.
Here are the two formats of the piece titled Crocodile tears.
I am highly interested to know what revisionist think.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ian_williams/2008/03/crocodile_tears.html

If Serbia recognizes the Independence of Kosova/o as a whole then we can talk about functional separation. Until then it is not doable. Why on earth would we agree to make our position in certain parts of Kosova/o weaker than it is. We get recognition of the whole Kosova/o from Serbia, the Serbs in Kosova/o then can get functional separation or whatever they call it so they can govern themselves. You gotta give something to get something.

Serbian politician's are talking nonsense while Kosova is getting more recognition and the Serbian minority are returning to Government. This "action" plan is going great.

Given the oppression, murder and ethnic cleansing done by the Albanian leadership and tolerated or condoned by the UN in Kosovo, a clear, complete, separation of all minority communities from the KLA government in monoethnic Pristina seems the only reasonable solution. Once the UN starts implementing international law, perhaps a multiethic society may have a basis to grow from. To begin with, Albanians with Albanian passports or Identification/birth certificates need to be deported, as they are clearly not from Kosovo.

B 92 stuff. You publish only things that you want right? I think Kosova is lost cause to Serbia specially now that Kosova Albanians are getting arms from Nato and USA. Now they cant anything to stop Kosova anymore, so mr Kostunica came up with the idea of seperation.

"If Serbia recognizes the Independence of Kosova/o as a whole then we can talk about functional separation. Until then it is not doable. Why on earth would we agree to make our position in certain parts of Kosova/o weaker than it is. We get recognition of the whole Kosova/o from Serbia, the Serbs in Kosova/o then can get functional separation or whatever they call it so they can govern themselves."

Yes exactly. However, rather than play this game "if they do that first, then we'll think about the other later," what about Serbs and Albanians negotiating that agreement directly - an independent Kosova, recognised by the UN and a fully sovereign state without need for too much western "supervision" as if Albanians were teenagers, in exchange for that independent state being divided into two federal or confederal entities, completely self-governing in most respects. Just do it. I reckon leaving out hypocritical great powers on both sides, who put ther own interests first, ought to suit both communities.

It's got my full support.

@Johny: I guess the UDI didn't seperate Kosovo Albanians from Serbia as much as some people thought.
You told everybody that UDI would solve all these problems, but I'm afraid these problems are more bilateral than let's say unilateral.

Solving the Serbian living conditions in Kosovo would be a good place for the two sides to start talking.

Stuart wrote.......The fact remains that while Kosovo's provisional government have complied with 1244 and UNMIK directives for the past eight years, the Serbian government has not, openly defying 1244 in the north via its parallel structures and funding mechanisms. Serbian government is therefore not trusted by UNMIK. The last sentence by Samardzic regarding "peace and stability" looks like a threat, but this man is given to making these, as well as justifying violence so it comes as little surprise. More empty words from someone who will be ignored by the Kosovo government, UNMIK, KFOR and the EU
(Stuart, 22 March 2008 12:12)

Stuart, the fact remains that no one, including UNMIK meaning UN the “author” of 1244 has EVER in the past 8 years applied this resolution completely. Let alone provisional institutions of self - governance in Kosovo (favoured by Kosovo Albanians) or Kosovo Serbs. Whatever you may have heard or read on the implementation or full compliance with the resolution is far from the reality on the ground. And that has only worsened situation on the ground (like in so many other places where UN hade executive power as a matter of fact) –quite opposite to the original intention of the resolution. I can only say, that the resolution has been most of the time (mis)used by one or the other side (referring here only to K Albanians and K Serbs), as it suited them best. It’s Kosovo Serbs and Serbia proper’s turn now to try to get best out of it. Why blame them?
Unfortunately I will for now agree with you about your last sentence – that this proposal will be ignored – because of the current “unique” double standards – I guess unique case requires unique standards…….

EA, perhaps the reason for B92 not publishing your comment was because you might've put words in someone's mouth again as you do quite a lot.

Try to have an opinion and put that down and see how it goes.

Functional separation will work for now until they clear this mess of UDI. At least it will stop the violence.

Once the matter is resolved legally we can call it a transfer back to it's rightful owners.

Is this really the end game you want Nick? "The Serbs of Kosovo may be clensed, while the Albanians of Preshevo may get "Functional Separation".

By the international community's own words Kosovo is unique and does not set any precedents, so you really don't need to go outside the borders of Kosovo and bring up Presevo.

Also, I would be careful about throwing out words like cleansed into any forum. People get really emotional for one, and secondly it doesn't help us get anywhere. Lastly, people in Montenegro, Serbia, Greece, and Macedonia might get the same idea about Albanians.

He really had in mind those Serb enclaves south of the Ibar when he talked about functional separation -- which UNMIK will reject because it is afraid of angering Pristina and the US. He wasn't referring to the north which is already de facto separated from the rest of Kosovo since 1999 in the practical sense of the word.

I wonder if people use words like "we" are actually members of the Kosovo population or are they the Albanian diaspora living comfortably in the west. I won't use Kosovar because there is no such thing...they are Albanians.

Mr. Klinsman,
you wrote; "Is this really the end game you want Nick? "The Serbs of Kosovo may be clensed, while the Albanians of Preshevo may get "Functional Separation".
God NO! No one should have been clensed. That is a crime against humanity. All I am saying is: "Functional separation means Apartheit". It is unacceptable!That is how the International community thinks.(debatabl what it doies) It sees the collaps of former Yougoslavia as a disolution of the bonds between its subjects. So the sovereignity goes to the rebublics (and in the unique case of Kosovo - to that subject of the federation) with their borders unchainged, minorities protected etc. On the other hands the Serbian politicians saw the collaps of formar Yugoslavia as an ethnik seperation and asked: "If Croats could leave Yougoslavia, why Serbs in Croatia could not stay in it." This is a different game. It is not desolution of a federation, it is an ethnic seperatism. And the Serbs always encouraged it outsid Serbia, but insisted it was against the international law in Serbia. Why? Because Yougoslavia/Serbia was internationaly recognised, while Croatia/Bosnia before, Kosovo now were not. The I.C. could never grast that "subtle" difference. That is why it seemed that the intarnational community always sided against the Serbs. Did the Serbian people deserve that. NO they didn't! But that is what their polititians brought to them. To change the international community's attitud towards the Serbs, now their polititians should talk not about "functional separation", but shouled start saing: "We demand for the Kosovo Serbs NOTHING MORE than what we are happy to offer to the Preshevo Albanians!" Then the focus of attention will pass from the "Serbian intransigence" to "Do the Kosovar goverment fulfils its pledges".