Russian aid for Kosovo Serbs arrives

“The institutions in Priština, which unilaterally declared independence and violated the agreed-upon principles for solving the Kosovo question, are not legitimate in our opinion,” the minister said.

-Absolutely right and clear answer. Sejdiu et al have no say on any matter regarding Serbs. They must understand that many countries did not recognise their quasi state and it is normal to bypass so called Kosovo officials when dealing with K-Serbs. They also must learn that UNMIK is the only institution that brings decisions and work on the behalf of Kosmet province officials. Sejdiu and Thaci may propose something but they have no power to bring and implement decisions without approval of UNMIK. It seems they have troubles to understand this.

Thank you Russia!

Thank goodness the 'international presence in Kosovo' is doing something right to make up for its heavy handed behaviour at the courthouse in Kosovska Mitrovica.

The Russians are entitled to deliver aid to Serbian enclaves without seeking permission of the local government, and Serbians are entitled not to recognise the local government over their own state.

As Mr Ban has said, recognition of the UDI is up to individual nations. The international presence is not there to act on behalf of those nations or the local government.

As he has also confirmed, under Resolution 1244, Kosovo still remains a province within Serbia.

The illusion of independence is quickly losing its shine.

Thank you Russia!

I expect UNMIK to completely safeguard these vitally needed goods and make sure that they arrive in their entirety to the intended recipients.

I feel so sorry for Sejdiu and Taci...I mean they have tried to make themselves look important but the true bosses of Kosovo have agread with Russia on this one...

To Taci and Sejdiu I would recomment to keep on translating into Albanian (and Serbian ofcourse, it is a multietnic society) the Laws that the EU has prepared for their new country...and try to learn them by memory because this is all new for you, after all...I mean the LAW!

Thank you Russia for this humanitarian aid! I hope to see closer ties with these two countries in the near future. Laci, what do you mean finally? Russia has been working very hard within diplomatic circles to help Serbia. I believe that Russia will keep it's promise to the Serbs, the Russia of today is not the Russia of the 90's. keep the faith.

sebastian:

Distribution of humanitarian aid comes under the mandate of UNMIK & not of so-called authorities in pristina.

And Ruecker as head of UNMIK must comply, partisan though he may be to Thaci's interests. No 'wiggle room' this time mate.

ben:
No doubt you prefer the US's version of 'aid' rather than Russia's version. Guns are so much more exciting than medicine.., right?

Finally!!! Something helpful from Russians

Good News!!!

RE: ben

The Serbs shouldn't remind a Ministry that they exist...

After all, it is multi etnical Kosovo...

Thomas,

"…humanitarian aid to Kosovo Serbs. Today, humanitarian aid goes to places of large scale natural disasters, impoverished Africa and North Korea … "

Serbs in Kosovo are suffering a disaster, not natural but US-NATO-Albanian made one. Thanks to them, remains of the Serb nation in Kosovo don't have most basic human rights, such as security of life and freedom of movement. They are forced to live in enclaves behind a barbed wire fences and need armed protection. There is no shame for Serbia that they need humanitarian aid, it is your, western shame.

SFR Yugoslavia did have very substantial development plan for Kosovo and invested a lot over the years. Remarkable success were achieved. As a meter of fact, Albanians in Kosovo benefited enormously from it and achieved much higher level of development and living standard then Albanians in Albania. For the number of years Kosovo Albanians had a full control of Kosovo development fonds and if any of that was misused they can blame only themselves.

no more no less

thank you, thank you, thank you Russia!:-)))))))

“The institutions in Priština, which unilaterally declared independence and violated the agreed-upon principles for solving the Kosovo question, are not legitimate in our opinion,” the minister said.

Kosovo institutions are not accountable to Russia, sir. They are accountable to Kosovo citizens. And they have acted in complete legality and legitimacy when they declared independence, given that Kosovo citizens expected them to do so.

Ana,
you should only feel sorry for Kosovo Serbs who are being manipulated by Kostunica & Co for their petty interests.

why would russia send arms when serbia makes it own high quality weapons ? get real .

Okay, so, the aid arrives, is coordinated with the UN and KFOR, Kosovo Serbs get it, they make use of it - and then?

Some people (i.e. Kate) somehow seem too ready to make illogical links: aid delivery is linked by default to Resolution 1244, which somehow was 'confirmed' by Mr. Ban as entailing Serbian sovereignty over Kosovo. Okay, so - aid means 1244 and 1244 means Serbia and, even better, that means 'the illusion of independence is losing shine.' Oh boy! So, basically - the argument goes as follows:

Russian aid delivery -> 1244 -> Illusion of independence loses shine.

"The Russians are entitled to deliver aid to Serbian enclaves without seeking permission of the local government, and Serbians are entitled not to recognise the local government over their own state."

It is not realy about AID but purely how to devide. Let's make that clear.

What would the Serbs here think if EU and America send AID only for the Kosovar Albanians? I am sure that you will jump and say that that is the case......and OF COURSE YOU ARE only interested in division of Kosova.

Please let me know when this mediocre theatre will end!

ben:
No doubt you prefer the US's version of 'aid' rather than Russia's version. Guns are so much more exciting than medicine.., right?
(peter, sydney, 2 April 2008 16:28)

There are plenty of medicines in Kosova. All the K-Serbs need is to address their demand to the Kosova's health care Ministry.

Do you believe that the western democracies will jeopardise the health to someone in Kosova so the Russian “aid” will be necessary?

THIS IS A JOKE and we (reasonable ppl) all know that.

So today Kostunica says "all of Kosovo is part of Serbia" and yet this aid is ONLY for Serbs in Kosovo?

Fortunately, the Pristina government will make sure that ALL citizens of Kosovo are protected.

No one is really caring about Russia sending food to Serbia. You better pray those MUP don't get caught driving those trucks because they will be sent to Prishtina and will stay there until those drivers pay the tax (10%) to get the Kosovar Government Stamp.

Anybody notice that Russia didn't parachute the aid in Kosova but brought it with airplanes into Serbia? Think about the reason why.

If Serbia had any idea of how to manage it's international image, or make forward looking policy decision with a plan, rather than *always* being in reactionary mode, they would realize what message is being sent with the delivery of humanitarian aid to Kosovo Serbs. Today, humantarian aid goes to places of large scale natural disasters, impoverished Africa and North Korea - is this the club Serbia wants to belong to? It can't care for the Serbs of Kosovo, at this incredibly early stage? Perhaps if it had built a economic and social development plan for Kosovo anytime over the past 50 years, it would not need to be a recipient of humanitarian aid. And of course, I would be surprised if there were *not* some munitions and artillery supplies in those planes.

Unfortunately today's Russia didn't changed at all since 90's. I can say that as I live in Russia. How it can be independent if our "stabilisation money"(earned from oil) kept in U.S. banks?!
The only change is image, imho cos it's beneficial both for our government- they can share oil money calmly and for the West- they can tell their citizens about strong and danger neighbor and spent more on military purpurse.
That aid to Serbs in Kosovo is nothing. Just to maintain image of independence, not more.

Nikic, EA & frukyy:

Try to get yours facts straight please - The aid is for the serb enclaves in the south.

K-albanians are not being discriminated against as K-serbs in the north are also not getting it.

Why does Russia provide this aid & not Serbia?

Simple.

Serbia tried to do so itself earlier, but shipments were held up by K-albanians in 'pristina' citing a 'customs' violation.

But if humanitarian aid comes from Russia, then by it's mandate ,it is UNMIK's responsibility to guarantee that the aid reaches the enclaves without any interference from 'pristina'.

That's why you lot are 'jumping up & down' claiming 'discrimination' & the like.

Because this bypasses K-albanian 'pseudo-state'.


KS:

Hmmm.. humanitarian aid will not get delivered until the 'tax' is paid.
Is that what you are saying?

Think the UN will have something to say about that.

And do you really think that NATO would shoot down a russian transport doing an air-drop?

Interesting world you live in.

I am wondering, do the people writing these articles thin sometimes it is just a farce. How many times cas somebody played a fool? Serbia really seems to be immune against rallity, therefor they again and again find themeselves facing facts everyone could see happening far in advance, but serbs beeing surrounded by their propaganda. Finally things happen and Serbs are so surprised and rage out, burn down ambassies and MC Donalds restaurants. Wondering how the world does not recognise their truth.
They keep on living day by day, believing the time might come everyone will see Serbia is right. Some already have done. Russia, China, Cuba, Iran and other really democratic states are already on the right side. The US and other will make their 180 degree turn some day, Kosovo will be a "serbian province", the bombardement of ´99 be made reverse and Nikolic will lead serbias Youth into a bright future.
Hallelulja

Bmruslia:
It is a noble gesture to help someone but look at the history and see if you can find anyone who was helped by Russia in any given time. Or maybe it is me who do not comprehend the meaning of the word HELP. Ok America looks after their interests as well but at least the countries allying with them are much prosperous (Israel, Panama etc).
Other point is if Belgrade is considering Kosovo as integral part of Serbia why the aid is only for Serb and non-Albanian population? Is this statement of Serbian officials against their own constitution which grants same treatment to all citizens?
Honestly I am tired of working and I will gladly go and spent few years on one of the enclaves – double pay and refusing to work, no taxes, no bills only because I am Serb.
Last but not least I know for a fact that majority of Serbs form Kosova acquired another property somewhere in Serbia since 1999 while citizens of Serbia can barely make living form check to check.

Perhaps if it had built a economic and social development plan for Kosovo anytime over the past 50 years, it would not need to be a recipient of humanitarian aid. And of course, I would be surprised if there were *not* some munitions and artillery supplies in those planes.
(Thomas Gergich, 2 April 2008 19:03)

Blame the Kosovo ALbanian Communist leaders who ran Kosovo to the ground since Tito took power in 1946.


You will be able to wage more blame with the KLA terrorist Thaci and his willing partner in crime Sejdiu(sp) who should bury his head in the ground associating with a killer and known murderer and terrorist.

Did anyone expect less?? Thachi & his broken promises of "peace & everyone is equal" - medicine was taken & deprived of the Serbs just because they're Serbs!!

Bravo Putin & Russia.

CCCC

"Anybody notice that Russia didn't parachute the aid in Kosova but brought it with airplanes into Serbia? Think about the reason why.
(KS, 2 April 2008 22:47)"

KS,

Why would Russia want to parachute the stuff into Kosovo where they will surely fall into the wrong hands ie. traffickers etc???
They send to Belgrade who will then transport them in an orderly way to the K-Serbs. Don't you realize by now there is a de facto partition at the Ibar?

frukyy:

Is getting past my bed-time so will just answer subject matter pertinent to my last post.

You said (post #21):
Other point is if Belgrade is considering Kosovo as integral part of Serbia why the aid is only for Serb and non-Albanian population? Is this statement of Serbian officials against their own constitution which grants same treatment to all citizens?

I said (post #31):
Try to get yours facts straight please - The aid is for the serb enclaves in the south.
K-albanians are not being discriminated against as K-serbs in the north are also not getting it.

You have now said (post #33):
Which part of my facts are wrong?

Is glaringly obvious.

Your initial comment implies bias against K-albanian population in Kosovo. Is not the case as russian aid is also not targeted for K-serbs in the north of Kosovo. Is only targeted for the enclaves.

Why? Because they are isolated.

And furthermore, aid is being provided by the russians who have specified that the aid is for those enclaves.

This therefore is NOT discrimination as you suggest. A child could see this. And yes, you are wrong in saying so.

As for the idea of NATO shooting down a russian transport. Russia is not Serbia. Do you really think that Germany & France would've gone against the US & backed off on the Ukraine if they didn't fear riling the russian bear?

Whole concept of an air-drop is immaterial here anyway - only use such in a war situation or when need is immediate.

G'night.

Ben:

> There are plenty of medicines in Kosova. All the K-Serbs need is to address their demand to the Kosova's health care Ministry.

Kosova? The place is called Kosovo. 'Rebadging' the name is just another tactic to legitimise the theft of serbian territory by K-albanians.

As for 'going through channels', K-serbs do not & have never recognised K-albanian claims to the territory of Kosovo. Doing so is an implicit recognition of something they do not recognise.

Trust in medical supplies provided by the so-called 'republic' of Kosovo?

Doctors & patients must have absolute trust in the efficacy of the medicine they use.

This is not the case here. Medical supplies can be tampered with. Smuggled medical supplies are in some cases ineffective, or in other cases useless or even detrimental.

The issue is 'trust'.

K-serbs have every reason NOT to trust the people who have been systematically victimising them for the past 8 years.

K-serbs in the enclaves STILL need KFOR escorts just to go from A to B.

> Do you believe that the western democracies will jeopardise the health to someone in Kosova so the Russian “aid” will be necessary?

The issue here is with the representatives that the 'west' has provided.

The head of UNMIK in Kosovo is Joachim Ruecker. Not so long ago, he refused to intercede with 'the authorities in pristina' over a disputed shipment of medical supplies to K-serb hospitals in the enclaves. The dispute was over 'customs' protocols.

Supporting the K-albanian UDI is not within his mandate. He had the authority to intercede in this.
He didn't.

The K-serb hospitals were running 'critically' short of a wide range of medical supplies. So-called K-albanian authorities literally waited until the last hours before releasing the medical supplies to the K-serb hospitals.

Did anyone die in these hospitals because of the lack? I don't know.

Was the treatment of sick people in these hospitals negatively affected by this lack during this

time? Most probably.

> THIS IS A JOKE and we (reasonable ppl) all know that.

No ben - interferring with the treatment of the sick for political reasons is no joke.

I have answered the points you've raised. You have yet to answer the questions I've raised with you in an earlier post. Here is the link. My post is #25.

http://xs4.b92.net/eng/news/comments.php?nav_id=48688

Are you a 'reasonable' person?

Or do you just spread propaganda.

Russia sends humanitarian aid.
The U.S. sends weapons.
What is wrong with this picture?

Kosovo has one of the highest unemployment numbers in the world. If the U.S. was honestly interested in helping Kosovo's Albanians then it would also send humanitarian aid. And its first priority would be to create jobs for K-Albanians. The only jobs the U.S. has provided for them to date is at Camp Bondsteel as toilet cleaners and boot polishers for U.S. troops.

Shameful! If I was a K-Albanian I would be outraged.

Do you really think that Russia will aid Kosovo serbs, I doubt it. Come on, this is just a political thing to drop down the high intensity of serbs fighting for Kosovo.

It looks like Kosovo has become the Serbian Chechen Republic. Russia knows how to deal with those who claim independence - even when they are in total minority. Say good bye to SAA, Serbia!

To people like ben, Thomas Gergich and Andrey (rus), I say thank you! Thank you for seeing, in many parts, bits of a greater picture that is the farce of modern Serbia! I am a Serb and a damn proud one at that but I cannot stand by and watch so many puppet shows being lapped up by my fellow brothers and sisters as God given paths to a realistic future for us all.

Russia sends aid to Kosovo! Wow, that is really great. No, I mean it. Thank you to all those in Russia who believe that Serbia is still a friend worthy to help with handouts of humanitarian aid. But! There is always a but, isn’t there! But, where was Russia in the aftermath of the bombing and the years of struggle that followed in Kosovo – for all ethnic groups? Don’t start with the holy stories of Russian troops and such. I am talking Money, Investment and Infrastructure. Just take a peek over the mountains and you will see never ending amounts of good green money saturating the economy of Montenegro since it gained its independence.

But Kosovo was dogs’ mess. It always has been to some of our great friends. One of those friends I fear seems very much to be Russia. Only now, when a political poker game is in play, does “Mother” Putin come to the humanitarian rescue of the poor Serbs in Kosovo. At the same time however, our fantastic array of governments has found hard cash to fight and hold elections and then found the wit to follow up with repeated annulments of the very same Mickey Mouse governments that were elected by a Serbian population that is being ridiculed by the very same governments that they tried to elect in the first place to help us all enter a better future. As I said – Puppet show.

Please to all the rest of you, carry on with your taunts to the Albanians, with the street party’s in celebration of Russian aid but ask yourselves just this one question. What have I personally ever done to better the lives of my brothers and sisters in Kosovo (apart from shouting and screaming every five minutes)! Well – our various governments have done about just as much and that is why we are sitting in the middle of a toilet bowl with our fingers in our ears – not because of the big bad Albanians or Americans. If you find all this too hard to believe then please go back to your fairytale versions of the simple truth.

It seems that April fools day lasts one more day in brother States Serbia and Russia. Why do you guys do such a pathetic move? See now, Albania has become a US protectorate and Croatia too, you guys are just gettin' a bit more isolated. Forgive to people like they can forgive to you, personnaly it's done.

Peter:

Which part of my facts are wrong?
Did you read the constitution of Serbia?
Do you know that some of the crucial Serbian elections were fixed on Kosovo?
I’m not jumping just laying out facts. About NATO shooting down Russian trucks, remember how sophisticated guided missiles “mistakenly” landed on Chinese and Russian embassies – you are going to tell me “accidents happens”. If Serbian politicians cared about the people the situation would have never came to the point to lose Kosovo in first place. And truly I hope the aid reaches the needed people but what I am saying there is more sufferance in other part of Serbia then the K-Serbs. And that is an undeniable fact. Sir did you had a chance to visit Kosova and Serbia to see with your own eyes the situation instead of listening to the propaganda of the “action plan”. Just for a moment forget about K-Albanians and just question Serbian politics in the last decades and the debacles they brought to the Serbian nation. If you think that they were doing well then you do not want any good for Serbian nation. It is not about being pro or anti anyone or anybody is about being honest and moving forward in the right direction the country which brought light to the world (Tesla).

>> Russia sends humanitarian aid. The U.S. sends weapons.
What is wrong with this picture?

You are. You seem to forget the rapes, murders and the some 70,000 burned houses, all because Kosovo did not have weapons or an army once you unleashed the Arkan and Chetnik thugs. I am pretty sure Serbia would love to have a defenseless Kosovo, but it will not happen again. Btw., the rapes, the looting and the burning was used as a tool of war, done with the purpose of driving Albanians our of their land. Now do you see why we need guns?

“The institutions in Priština, which unilaterally declared independence and violated the agreed-upon principles for solving the Kosovo question, are not legitimate in our opinion,” the minister said.

Kosovo institutions are not accountable to Russia, sir. They are accountable to Kosovo citizens. And they have acted in complete legality and legitimacy when they declared independence, given that Kosovo citizens expected them to do so.

Ana,
you should only feel sorry for Kosovo Serbs who are being manipulated by Kostunica & Co for their petty interests.

I am wondering, do the people writing these articles thin sometimes it is just a farce. How many times cas somebody played a fool? Serbia really seems to be immune against rallity, therefor they again and again find themeselves facing facts everyone could see happening far in advance, but serbs beeing surrounded by their propaganda. Finally things happen and Serbs are so surprised and rage out, burn down ambassies and MC Donalds restaurants. Wondering how the world does not recognise their truth.
They keep on living day by day, believing the time might come everyone will see Serbia is right. Some already have done. Russia, China, Cuba, Iran and other really democratic states are already on the right side. The US and other will make their 180 degree turn some day, Kosovo will be a "serbian province", the bombardement of ´99 be made reverse and Nikolic will lead serbias Youth into a bright future.
Hallelulja

ben:
No doubt you prefer the US's version of 'aid' rather than Russia's version. Guns are so much more exciting than medicine.., right?
(peter, sydney, 2 April 2008 16:28)

There are plenty of medicines in Kosova. All the K-Serbs need is to address their demand to the Kosova's health care Ministry.

Do you believe that the western democracies will jeopardise the health to someone in Kosova so the Russian “aid” will be necessary?

THIS IS A JOKE and we (reasonable ppl) all know that.

Please let me know when this mediocre theatre will end!

If Serbia had any idea of how to manage it's international image, or make forward looking policy decision with a plan, rather than *always* being in reactionary mode, they would realize what message is being sent with the delivery of humanitarian aid to Kosovo Serbs. Today, humantarian aid goes to places of large scale natural disasters, impoverished Africa and North Korea - is this the club Serbia wants to belong to? It can't care for the Serbs of Kosovo, at this incredibly early stage? Perhaps if it had built a economic and social development plan for Kosovo anytime over the past 50 years, it would not need to be a recipient of humanitarian aid. And of course, I would be surprised if there were *not* some munitions and artillery supplies in those planes.

So today Kostunica says "all of Kosovo is part of Serbia" and yet this aid is ONLY for Serbs in Kosovo?

Fortunately, the Pristina government will make sure that ALL citizens of Kosovo are protected.

"The Russians are entitled to deliver aid to Serbian enclaves without seeking permission of the local government, and Serbians are entitled not to recognise the local government over their own state."

It is not realy about AID but purely how to devide. Let's make that clear.

What would the Serbs here think if EU and America send AID only for the Kosovar Albanians? I am sure that you will jump and say that that is the case......and OF COURSE YOU ARE only interested in division of Kosova.

Bmruslia:
It is a noble gesture to help someone but look at the history and see if you can find anyone who was helped by Russia in any given time. Or maybe it is me who do not comprehend the meaning of the word HELP. Ok America looks after their interests as well but at least the countries allying with them are much prosperous (Israel, Panama etc).
Other point is if Belgrade is considering Kosovo as integral part of Serbia why the aid is only for Serb and non-Albanian population? Is this statement of Serbian officials against their own constitution which grants same treatment to all citizens?
Honestly I am tired of working and I will gladly go and spent few years on one of the enclaves – double pay and refusing to work, no taxes, no bills only because I am Serb.
Last but not least I know for a fact that majority of Serbs form Kosova acquired another property somewhere in Serbia since 1999 while citizens of Serbia can barely make living form check to check.

No one is really caring about Russia sending food to Serbia. You better pray those MUP don't get caught driving those trucks because they will be sent to Prishtina and will stay there until those drivers pay the tax (10%) to get the Kosovar Government Stamp.

Anybody notice that Russia didn't parachute the aid in Kosova but brought it with airplanes into Serbia? Think about the reason why.

Thank goodness the 'international presence in Kosovo' is doing something right to make up for its heavy handed behaviour at the courthouse in Kosovska Mitrovica.

The Russians are entitled to deliver aid to Serbian enclaves without seeking permission of the local government, and Serbians are entitled not to recognise the local government over their own state.

As Mr Ban has said, recognition of the UDI is up to individual nations. The international presence is not there to act on behalf of those nations or the local government.

As he has also confirmed, under Resolution 1244, Kosovo still remains a province within Serbia.

The illusion of independence is quickly losing its shine.

Okay, so, the aid arrives, is coordinated with the UN and KFOR, Kosovo Serbs get it, they make use of it - and then?

Some people (i.e. Kate) somehow seem too ready to make illogical links: aid delivery is linked by default to Resolution 1244, which somehow was 'confirmed' by Mr. Ban as entailing Serbian sovereignty over Kosovo. Okay, so - aid means 1244 and 1244 means Serbia and, even better, that means 'the illusion of independence is losing shine.' Oh boy! So, basically - the argument goes as follows:

Russian aid delivery -> 1244 -> Illusion of independence loses shine.

It looks like Kosovo has become the Serbian Chechen Republic. Russia knows how to deal with those who claim independence - even when they are in total minority. Say good bye to SAA, Serbia!

Unfortunately today's Russia didn't changed at all since 90's. I can say that as I live in Russia. How it can be independent if our "stabilisation money"(earned from oil) kept in U.S. banks?!
The only change is image, imho cos it's beneficial both for our government- they can share oil money calmly and for the West- they can tell their citizens about strong and danger neighbor and spent more on military purpurse.
That aid to Serbs in Kosovo is nothing. Just to maintain image of independence, not more.

Peter:

Which part of my facts are wrong?
Did you read the constitution of Serbia?
Do you know that some of the crucial Serbian elections were fixed on Kosovo?
I’m not jumping just laying out facts. About NATO shooting down Russian trucks, remember how sophisticated guided missiles “mistakenly” landed on Chinese and Russian embassies – you are going to tell me “accidents happens”. If Serbian politicians cared about the people the situation would have never came to the point to lose Kosovo in first place. And truly I hope the aid reaches the needed people but what I am saying there is more sufferance in other part of Serbia then the K-Serbs. And that is an undeniable fact. Sir did you had a chance to visit Kosova and Serbia to see with your own eyes the situation instead of listening to the propaganda of the “action plan”. Just for a moment forget about K-Albanians and just question Serbian politics in the last decades and the debacles they brought to the Serbian nation. If you think that they were doing well then you do not want any good for Serbian nation. It is not about being pro or anti anyone or anybody is about being honest and moving forward in the right direction the country which brought light to the world (Tesla).

Finally!!! Something helpful from Russians

Good News!!!

“The institutions in Priština, which unilaterally declared independence and violated the agreed-upon principles for solving the Kosovo question, are not legitimate in our opinion,” the minister said.

-Absolutely right and clear answer. Sejdiu et al have no say on any matter regarding Serbs. They must understand that many countries did not recognise their quasi state and it is normal to bypass so called Kosovo officials when dealing with K-Serbs. They also must learn that UNMIK is the only institution that brings decisions and work on the behalf of Kosmet province officials. Sejdiu and Thaci may propose something but they have no power to bring and implement decisions without approval of UNMIK. It seems they have troubles to understand this.

Thank you Russia!

To people like ben, Thomas Gergich and Andrey (rus), I say thank you! Thank you for seeing, in many parts, bits of a greater picture that is the farce of modern Serbia! I am a Serb and a damn proud one at that but I cannot stand by and watch so many puppet shows being lapped up by my fellow brothers and sisters as God given paths to a realistic future for us all.

Russia sends aid to Kosovo! Wow, that is really great. No, I mean it. Thank you to all those in Russia who believe that Serbia is still a friend worthy to help with handouts of humanitarian aid. But! There is always a but, isn’t there! But, where was Russia in the aftermath of the bombing and the years of struggle that followed in Kosovo – for all ethnic groups? Don’t start with the holy stories of Russian troops and such. I am talking Money, Investment and Infrastructure. Just take a peek over the mountains and you will see never ending amounts of good green money saturating the economy of Montenegro since it gained its independence.

But Kosovo was dogs’ mess. It always has been to some of our great friends. One of those friends I fear seems very much to be Russia. Only now, when a political poker game is in play, does “Mother” Putin come to the humanitarian rescue of the poor Serbs in Kosovo. At the same time however, our fantastic array of governments has found hard cash to fight and hold elections and then found the wit to follow up with repeated annulments of the very same Mickey Mouse governments that were elected by a Serbian population that is being ridiculed by the very same governments that they tried to elect in the first place to help us all enter a better future. As I said – Puppet show.

Please to all the rest of you, carry on with your taunts to the Albanians, with the street party’s in celebration of Russian aid but ask yourselves just this one question. What have I personally ever done to better the lives of my brothers and sisters in Kosovo (apart from shouting and screaming every five minutes)! Well – our various governments have done about just as much and that is why we are sitting in the middle of a toilet bowl with our fingers in our ears – not because of the big bad Albanians or Americans. If you find all this too hard to believe then please go back to your fairytale versions of the simple truth.

It seems that April fools day lasts one more day in brother States Serbia and Russia. Why do you guys do such a pathetic move? See now, Albania has become a US protectorate and Croatia too, you guys are just gettin' a bit more isolated. Forgive to people like they can forgive to you, personnaly it's done.

I feel so sorry for Sejdiu and Taci...I mean they have tried to make themselves look important but the true bosses of Kosovo have agread with Russia on this one...

To Taci and Sejdiu I would recomment to keep on translating into Albanian (and Serbian ofcourse, it is a multietnic society) the Laws that the EU has prepared for their new country...and try to learn them by memory because this is all new for you, after all...I mean the LAW!

Thank you Russia!

why would russia send arms when serbia makes it own high quality weapons ? get real .

sebastian:

Distribution of humanitarian aid comes under the mandate of UNMIK & not of so-called authorities in pristina.

And Ruecker as head of UNMIK must comply, partisan though he may be to Thaci's interests. No 'wiggle room' this time mate.

ben:
No doubt you prefer the US's version of 'aid' rather than Russia's version. Guns are so much more exciting than medicine.., right?

Thank you Russia for this humanitarian aid! I hope to see closer ties with these two countries in the near future. Laci, what do you mean finally? Russia has been working very hard within diplomatic circles to help Serbia. I believe that Russia will keep it's promise to the Serbs, the Russia of today is not the Russia of the 90's. keep the faith.

RE: ben

The Serbs shouldn't remind a Ministry that they exist...

After all, it is multi etnical Kosovo...

Thomas,

"…humanitarian aid to Kosovo Serbs. Today, humanitarian aid goes to places of large scale natural disasters, impoverished Africa and North Korea … "

Serbs in Kosovo are suffering a disaster, not natural but US-NATO-Albanian made one. Thanks to them, remains of the Serb nation in Kosovo don't have most basic human rights, such as security of life and freedom of movement. They are forced to live in enclaves behind a barbed wire fences and need armed protection. There is no shame for Serbia that they need humanitarian aid, it is your, western shame.

SFR Yugoslavia did have very substantial development plan for Kosovo and invested a lot over the years. Remarkable success were achieved. As a meter of fact, Albanians in Kosovo benefited enormously from it and achieved much higher level of development and living standard then Albanians in Albania. For the number of years Kosovo Albanians had a full control of Kosovo development fonds and if any of that was misused they can blame only themselves.

Do you really think that Russia will aid Kosovo serbs, I doubt it. Come on, this is just a political thing to drop down the high intensity of serbs fighting for Kosovo.

I expect UNMIK to completely safeguard these vitally needed goods and make sure that they arrive in their entirety to the intended recipients.

no more no less

thank you, thank you, thank you Russia!:-)))))))

Perhaps if it had built a economic and social development plan for Kosovo anytime over the past 50 years, it would not need to be a recipient of humanitarian aid. And of course, I would be surprised if there were *not* some munitions and artillery supplies in those planes.
(Thomas Gergich, 2 April 2008 19:03)

Blame the Kosovo ALbanian Communist leaders who ran Kosovo to the ground since Tito took power in 1946.


You will be able to wage more blame with the KLA terrorist Thaci and his willing partner in crime Sejdiu(sp) who should bury his head in the ground associating with a killer and known murderer and terrorist.

Did anyone expect less?? Thachi & his broken promises of "peace & everyone is equal" - medicine was taken & deprived of the Serbs just because they're Serbs!!

Bravo Putin & Russia.

CCCC

"Anybody notice that Russia didn't parachute the aid in Kosova but brought it with airplanes into Serbia? Think about the reason why.
(KS, 2 April 2008 22:47)"

KS,

Why would Russia want to parachute the stuff into Kosovo where they will surely fall into the wrong hands ie. traffickers etc???
They send to Belgrade who will then transport them in an orderly way to the K-Serbs. Don't you realize by now there is a de facto partition at the Ibar?

Ben:

> There are plenty of medicines in Kosova. All the K-Serbs need is to address their demand to the Kosova's health care Ministry.

Kosova? The place is called Kosovo. 'Rebadging' the name is just another tactic to legitimise the theft of serbian territory by K-albanians.

As for 'going through channels', K-serbs do not & have never recognised K-albanian claims to the territory of Kosovo. Doing so is an implicit recognition of something they do not recognise.

Trust in medical supplies provided by the so-called 'republic' of Kosovo?

Doctors & patients must have absolute trust in the efficacy of the medicine they use.

This is not the case here. Medical supplies can be tampered with. Smuggled medical supplies are in some cases ineffective, or in other cases useless or even detrimental.

The issue is 'trust'.

K-serbs have every reason NOT to trust the people who have been systematically victimising them for the past 8 years.

K-serbs in the enclaves STILL need KFOR escorts just to go from A to B.

> Do you believe that the western democracies will jeopardise the health to someone in Kosova so the Russian “aid” will be necessary?

The issue here is with the representatives that the 'west' has provided.

The head of UNMIK in Kosovo is Joachim Ruecker. Not so long ago, he refused to intercede with 'the authorities in pristina' over a disputed shipment of medical supplies to K-serb hospitals in the enclaves. The dispute was over 'customs' protocols.

Supporting the K-albanian UDI is not within his mandate. He had the authority to intercede in this.
He didn't.

The K-serb hospitals were running 'critically' short of a wide range of medical supplies. So-called K-albanian authorities literally waited until the last hours before releasing the medical supplies to the K-serb hospitals.

Did anyone die in these hospitals because of the lack? I don't know.

Was the treatment of sick people in these hospitals negatively affected by this lack during this

time? Most probably.

> THIS IS A JOKE and we (reasonable ppl) all know that.

No ben - interferring with the treatment of the sick for political reasons is no joke.

I have answered the points you've raised. You have yet to answer the questions I've raised with you in an earlier post. Here is the link. My post is #25.

http://xs4.b92.net/eng/news/comments.php?nav_id=48688

Are you a 'reasonable' person?

Or do you just spread propaganda.

Nikic, EA & frukyy:

Try to get yours facts straight please - The aid is for the serb enclaves in the south.

K-albanians are not being discriminated against as K-serbs in the north are also not getting it.

Why does Russia provide this aid & not Serbia?

Simple.

Serbia tried to do so itself earlier, but shipments were held up by K-albanians in 'pristina' citing a 'customs' violation.

But if humanitarian aid comes from Russia, then by it's mandate ,it is UNMIK's responsibility to guarantee that the aid reaches the enclaves without any interference from 'pristina'.

That's why you lot are 'jumping up & down' claiming 'discrimination' & the like.

Because this bypasses K-albanian 'pseudo-state'.


KS:

Hmmm.. humanitarian aid will not get delivered until the 'tax' is paid.
Is that what you are saying?

Think the UN will have something to say about that.

And do you really think that NATO would shoot down a russian transport doing an air-drop?

Interesting world you live in.

frukyy:

Is getting past my bed-time so will just answer subject matter pertinent to my last post.

You said (post #21):
Other point is if Belgrade is considering Kosovo as integral part of Serbia why the aid is only for Serb and non-Albanian population? Is this statement of Serbian officials against their own constitution which grants same treatment to all citizens?

I said (post #31):
Try to get yours facts straight please - The aid is for the serb enclaves in the south.
K-albanians are not being discriminated against as K-serbs in the north are also not getting it.

You have now said (post #33):
Which part of my facts are wrong?

Is glaringly obvious.

Your initial comment implies bias against K-albanian population in Kosovo. Is not the case as russian aid is also not targeted for K-serbs in the north of Kosovo. Is only targeted for the enclaves.

Why? Because they are isolated.

And furthermore, aid is being provided by the russians who have specified that the aid is for those enclaves.

This therefore is NOT discrimination as you suggest. A child could see this. And yes, you are wrong in saying so.

As for the idea of NATO shooting down a russian transport. Russia is not Serbia. Do you really think that Germany & France would've gone against the US & backed off on the Ukraine if they didn't fear riling the russian bear?

Whole concept of an air-drop is immaterial here anyway - only use such in a war situation or when need is immediate.

G'night.

Russia sends humanitarian aid.
The U.S. sends weapons.
What is wrong with this picture?

Kosovo has one of the highest unemployment numbers in the world. If the U.S. was honestly interested in helping Kosovo's Albanians then it would also send humanitarian aid. And its first priority would be to create jobs for K-Albanians. The only jobs the U.S. has provided for them to date is at Camp Bondsteel as toilet cleaners and boot polishers for U.S. troops.

Shameful! If I was a K-Albanian I would be outraged.

>> Russia sends humanitarian aid. The U.S. sends weapons.
What is wrong with this picture?

You are. You seem to forget the rapes, murders and the some 70,000 burned houses, all because Kosovo did not have weapons or an army once you unleashed the Arkan and Chetnik thugs. I am pretty sure Serbia would love to have a defenseless Kosovo, but it will not happen again. Btw., the rapes, the looting and the burning was used as a tool of war, done with the purpose of driving Albanians our of their land. Now do you see why we need guns?