Ban: No return to status quo

How long are the UN going to 'sit on the fence' regarding Kosovo. The declaration was a total sham and the UN have still said or done nothing. Why do we have the UN these days as most countries don't respect them anyway.

Ban is currently paralysed. He knows Kosovo's independence is illegal but cannot do anything due to US pressure. It is obvious the UN is ineffective and redundant.

Mr Ban Ki-moon, Kosovo is currently in a status quo. How else can you define its status. Since the world is not willing to recognise it, nor UN for that matter, there are only 3 options left.
1. Status quo remains
2. Return to resolution 1244
3. Supervised autonomy approved by Belgrade
Judging by the Albanian immaturity the status quo will remain for the foreseeable future.

Mr. BAN made it very clear to Medvedev and other Russian officials that; Not a single country in the wolrd , no matter how powerful can not solve all problems in the world and aslo cannot speak on behalf of UN organization.

I find comparisons of 'other states which were not part of the UN and were rich' comparisons utterly ridiculous.

Particulary so, because Albanians who are counting on US hand outs seems to be forgetting that the west is experiencing an immense Credit Crunch and that USA is heading for ressesion.
International Monetary Fund has warned today that there is 1 in 4 chance of a ressesion happening as early as 2010. We're less than 2 years away from that.
Pound has just hit the record low and both USA and UK are struggling to keep their housing markets from hitting the rock bottom.
Therefore I hope you can appreciate how your sneraing at the Asian coutnries is rather arrogant and ridiculous.
For aid, you should all be looking to India and China. Their growth continues at 9.7% this year while UK and US will this year grow 0.5%.

If there are oppertunities for Serbia for closer ties with the China or India, this is the time to do it.
Europe and the West are slowing down by day, Asia and East are growing. Chose your allies and economic buddies wisely.

@bad gorilla: I don't think the current situation will lead Kosovo to the living standards of Taiwan, South Korea or Switzerland.

The problem here is that Serbs and Albanians have had no meaningful dialogue at all. All the Serbs have had so for is ultimatums from the powers that be. In the short term, this seems good for Albanians, but that won't last forever and then you can guess what happens next.

"No return to status quo"
Is that a suprise?
USA owns UN= fact
And UN was the last hope for Serbija, but they allways have Duma.
Ironic or pathetic?

I understand Serbian politicians playing theater about Kosovo case, but I do not understand some of commentators here to truly believe that Kosovo can be brought back to previous state. The Ahtisari Plan was backed by UN and even by Russia just before its approval. At the last moment Russia chose to play its destructive role by becoming a simple service of its little brother, Serbia. Russia knows very well that now is to late to change the outcome.
There is no doubt about Kosovo being independent for ever. There is one problem here though. Serbia did not like the resolution 1244 and now is quoting it. Serbia is opposing Ahtisari Plan now, but very soon is going to ask for its implementation. I hope Serbia does that before it becomes too late. Albanians in Kosovo are not quite pleased with Ahtisari Plan!
Liri, Canada

of course not!

cause the status quo never changed, so how to return?

if the coalition of the willing declares kosovo indiependent or victory in iraq, it´s always the same effect -> no one cares!

The status quo indicates that the illegal UDI has no power at all in N Mitrovica.

Ban is right.

Serbians and Russians can say what they want, but the fact is that Kosovo will never be ruled from Belgrade again in the foreseable future, even if it won’t join UN. Remeber that until recently South Korea was not in UN, as the same way that Taiwan — the two main Asian Tigers. And Pretty-rich and developed Switzerland didn’t joined UN until 2005…

And here is the IMF list. China is sure to take over the US and EU very soon as the world's strongest economy. Momentum is on the side of Serbia with all those countries growing wealthier and stronger on our side while those on the Albanian side are continuing to weaken.

1 United States 13,543,330
2 China 11,606,3361
3 India 4,726,537
4 Japan 4,346,080
5 Germany 2,714,469
6 United Kingdom 2,270,884
7 France 2,040,109
8 Brazil 2,013,893
9 Russia 1,908,739

With the US + EU at full capacity, China only has to achieve 63% of its potential to match it. And then we have India + Russia + Brazil and practically all of the other emerging and resurging powers!

It is just a matter of time!

GDP by PPP is the actual indicator -
1 United States 13,860,000
2 China 7,043,000
3 Japan 4,346,000
4 India 2,965,000
5 Germany 2,833,000
6 United Kingdom 2,147,000
7 Russia 2,076,000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29

And these are CIA figures, so one can imagine that the top five/six has Russia, India, China, Japan, Germany and US in them...

And US is in recession as well as EU...

Serbs, you can well understand where your future lies.

EU doesn't matter, US is irrelevant, only Serbia (including Kosovo) matters!

"For aid, you should all be looking to India and China. Their growth continues at 9.7% this year while UK and US will this year grow 0.5%."

The United States GDP is at least four times the size of China's and ten times greater than India's. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29) Both of these are countries that cant feed there own populations and you suggest someone pin their hopes on them? I won't even mention where Russia falls on this list.

Randal Dewey,

I have at no point suggested that either of those countries were in better financial position than United States. Once recession hits USA, their current standing in the world will mean nothing. I can already get virtually 2 dollars for every pound. In 2005 I only had 1.54 American dollars for 1 GBP.

The point is however, that while China and India both felt the credit crunch, it did not affect them as it has Europe and America, hence their economic growth continues by 9% stronger than the west.
It is therefore far more likely that after recession hits, it will be those countries which will overwhelm and dominate markets across the globe.

If anything was certain and cemented in the world of economics and financials we wouldn't have stock markets, investments and financial planning.

Ment,

Albania's standing in this retrospect is irrelevant. And as for Kosovo - economically looking, every state which has made something of itself was not been drug ally way into a continent.

The point remains that America will not waste its resources into Kosovo which it de facto owns, has a base in and controls.
It is in America's interest to be weak, undeveloped and at its mercy.

Your unrealistic expectation of rosy rich life are just economic and social short-sightedness. Kosovo does not exist outside the realms of global economics!

BKK

Your argument as to why Kosovo cannot become rich is pretty flawed.

Yes, the West is experiencing a slowdown. But it is just a part of the business cycle. The credit crunch will not last forever, neither will the recession in the West. India is not going to catch up or grow significantly anytime soon due to its major infrastructural problems. Their booming IT business employes employees a million people at most..out of a population of 1 billion.

China is choking in its own pollution. If you've read the news recently, their government is trying very hard to slow down the pace of growth because it is leading to the wrecking of its environment and major imbalances in wealth distribution, etc.

The point is, things do not remain static. Kosovo is in bad shape now... it does not mean it will remain the same in the future.

In the beginning, it is true that the Kosovar economy will rely on help from the West...but that's likely to remain temporary. Kosovo will not remain an isolated economy.

Even if Serbia does not prove helpful, remember that Kosovo has another ally in the region...Albania.

Albania is building a major highway whose main purpose is to connect Kosovo with the Adriatic. The highway is scheduled to finish in 2009 and work is going on around the clock.
A sea port in Shengjin (Albania) will also be dedicated to trade to and from Kosovo. More likely than not, the two economies will integrate further despite the fact that politically the two countries will remain separate.

Economically, Albania was in hell 17 years ago. Since then it has made significant progress growing at around 6% a year. There's no reason why Kosovo can't achieve the same, with or without the UN, with or without Russia, China, India, with or without Serbia.

Come on, people, the United States and EU will not implode themselves just because of this economic crisis. They are strong, capitalist and democratic enough to survive very well.

“The problem here is that Serbs and Albanians have had no meaningful dialogue at all. All the Serbs have had so for is ultimatums from the powers that be. In the short term, this seems good for Albanians, but that won't last forever and then you can guess what happens next.”

Mmmm… war?

Man, 100% of Kosovo (and 100% of Bosnia, too) is under complete occupation and control of NATO. And there is the question of the Democratic Peace Theory: as long as Serbia have reasonably fair elections, there is no possibility of real war over Kosovo. The only chance is of direct Russian military intervention, since Russia is not a democracy but hey, Russia won't start a war with the West over Kosovo.

BKK

Actually, I merely said that Kosovo's situation will improve with time. Nothing more nothing less.

You seem to be very sure of what the U.S. will do and how the recession will affect the world order, never mind the fact that there have been countless recessions and booms around the world over the years.

Vencor

Nice math... except

Germany + UK does not equal EU.

EU's GDP (PPP) - 14,440,000

Ban is right.

Serbians and Russians can say what they want, but the fact is that Kosovo will never be ruled from Belgrade again in the foreseable future, even if it won’t join UN. Remeber that until recently South Korea was not in UN, as the same way that Taiwan — the two main Asian Tigers. And Pretty-rich and developed Switzerland didn’t joined UN until 2005…

I understand Serbian politicians playing theater about Kosovo case, but I do not understand some of commentators here to truly believe that Kosovo can be brought back to previous state. The Ahtisari Plan was backed by UN and even by Russia just before its approval. At the last moment Russia chose to play its destructive role by becoming a simple service of its little brother, Serbia. Russia knows very well that now is to late to change the outcome.
There is no doubt about Kosovo being independent for ever. There is one problem here though. Serbia did not like the resolution 1244 and now is quoting it. Serbia is opposing Ahtisari Plan now, but very soon is going to ask for its implementation. I hope Serbia does that before it becomes too late. Albanians in Kosovo are not quite pleased with Ahtisari Plan!
Liri, Canada

Mr Ban Ki-moon, Kosovo is currently in a status quo. How else can you define its status. Since the world is not willing to recognise it, nor UN for that matter, there are only 3 options left.
1. Status quo remains
2. Return to resolution 1244
3. Supervised autonomy approved by Belgrade
Judging by the Albanian immaturity the status quo will remain for the foreseeable future.

"For aid, you should all be looking to India and China. Their growth continues at 9.7% this year while UK and US will this year grow 0.5%."

The United States GDP is at least four times the size of China's and ten times greater than India's. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29) Both of these are countries that cant feed there own populations and you suggest someone pin their hopes on them? I won't even mention where Russia falls on this list.

Come on, people, the United States and EU will not implode themselves just because of this economic crisis. They are strong, capitalist and democratic enough to survive very well.

“The problem here is that Serbs and Albanians have had no meaningful dialogue at all. All the Serbs have had so for is ultimatums from the powers that be. In the short term, this seems good for Albanians, but that won't last forever and then you can guess what happens next.”

Mmmm… war?

Man, 100% of Kosovo (and 100% of Bosnia, too) is under complete occupation and control of NATO. And there is the question of the Democratic Peace Theory: as long as Serbia have reasonably fair elections, there is no possibility of real war over Kosovo. The only chance is of direct Russian military intervention, since Russia is not a democracy but hey, Russia won't start a war with the West over Kosovo.

Mr. BAN made it very clear to Medvedev and other Russian officials that; Not a single country in the wolrd , no matter how powerful can not solve all problems in the world and aslo cannot speak on behalf of UN organization.

BKK

Your argument as to why Kosovo cannot become rich is pretty flawed.

Yes, the West is experiencing a slowdown. But it is just a part of the business cycle. The credit crunch will not last forever, neither will the recession in the West. India is not going to catch up or grow significantly anytime soon due to its major infrastructural problems. Their booming IT business employes employees a million people at most..out of a population of 1 billion.

China is choking in its own pollution. If you've read the news recently, their government is trying very hard to slow down the pace of growth because it is leading to the wrecking of its environment and major imbalances in wealth distribution, etc.

The point is, things do not remain static. Kosovo is in bad shape now... it does not mean it will remain the same in the future.

In the beginning, it is true that the Kosovar economy will rely on help from the West...but that's likely to remain temporary. Kosovo will not remain an isolated economy.

Even if Serbia does not prove helpful, remember that Kosovo has another ally in the region...Albania.

Albania is building a major highway whose main purpose is to connect Kosovo with the Adriatic. The highway is scheduled to finish in 2009 and work is going on around the clock.
A sea port in Shengjin (Albania) will also be dedicated to trade to and from Kosovo. More likely than not, the two economies will integrate further despite the fact that politically the two countries will remain separate.

Economically, Albania was in hell 17 years ago. Since then it has made significant progress growing at around 6% a year. There's no reason why Kosovo can't achieve the same, with or without the UN, with or without Russia, China, India, with or without Serbia.

How long are the UN going to 'sit on the fence' regarding Kosovo. The declaration was a total sham and the UN have still said or done nothing. Why do we have the UN these days as most countries don't respect them anyway.

"No return to status quo"
Is that a suprise?
USA owns UN= fact
And UN was the last hope for Serbija, but they allways have Duma.
Ironic or pathetic?

Ban is currently paralysed. He knows Kosovo's independence is illegal but cannot do anything due to US pressure. It is obvious the UN is ineffective and redundant.

And here is the IMF list. China is sure to take over the US and EU very soon as the world's strongest economy. Momentum is on the side of Serbia with all those countries growing wealthier and stronger on our side while those on the Albanian side are continuing to weaken.

1 United States 13,543,330
2 China 11,606,3361
3 India 4,726,537
4 Japan 4,346,080
5 Germany 2,714,469
6 United Kingdom 2,270,884
7 France 2,040,109
8 Brazil 2,013,893
9 Russia 1,908,739

With the US + EU at full capacity, China only has to achieve 63% of its potential to match it. And then we have India + Russia + Brazil and practically all of the other emerging and resurging powers!

It is just a matter of time!

@bad gorilla: I don't think the current situation will lead Kosovo to the living standards of Taiwan, South Korea or Switzerland.

The problem here is that Serbs and Albanians have had no meaningful dialogue at all. All the Serbs have had so for is ultimatums from the powers that be. In the short term, this seems good for Albanians, but that won't last forever and then you can guess what happens next.

Vencor

Nice math... except

Germany + UK does not equal EU.

EU's GDP (PPP) - 14,440,000

of course not!

cause the status quo never changed, so how to return?

if the coalition of the willing declares kosovo indiependent or victory in iraq, it´s always the same effect -> no one cares!

I find comparisons of 'other states which were not part of the UN and were rich' comparisons utterly ridiculous.

Particulary so, because Albanians who are counting on US hand outs seems to be forgetting that the west is experiencing an immense Credit Crunch and that USA is heading for ressesion.
International Monetary Fund has warned today that there is 1 in 4 chance of a ressesion happening as early as 2010. We're less than 2 years away from that.
Pound has just hit the record low and both USA and UK are struggling to keep their housing markets from hitting the rock bottom.
Therefore I hope you can appreciate how your sneraing at the Asian coutnries is rather arrogant and ridiculous.
For aid, you should all be looking to India and China. Their growth continues at 9.7% this year while UK and US will this year grow 0.5%.

If there are oppertunities for Serbia for closer ties with the China or India, this is the time to do it.
Europe and the West are slowing down by day, Asia and East are growing. Chose your allies and economic buddies wisely.

The status quo indicates that the illegal UDI has no power at all in N Mitrovica.

GDP by PPP is the actual indicator -
1 United States 13,860,000
2 China 7,043,000
3 Japan 4,346,000
4 India 2,965,000
5 Germany 2,833,000
6 United Kingdom 2,147,000
7 Russia 2,076,000
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29

And these are CIA figures, so one can imagine that the top five/six has Russia, India, China, Japan, Germany and US in them...

And US is in recession as well as EU...

Serbs, you can well understand where your future lies.

EU doesn't matter, US is irrelevant, only Serbia (including Kosovo) matters!

Randal Dewey,

I have at no point suggested that either of those countries were in better financial position than United States. Once recession hits USA, their current standing in the world will mean nothing. I can already get virtually 2 dollars for every pound. In 2005 I only had 1.54 American dollars for 1 GBP.

The point is however, that while China and India both felt the credit crunch, it did not affect them as it has Europe and America, hence their economic growth continues by 9% stronger than the west.
It is therefore far more likely that after recession hits, it will be those countries which will overwhelm and dominate markets across the globe.

If anything was certain and cemented in the world of economics and financials we wouldn't have stock markets, investments and financial planning.

Ment,

Albania's standing in this retrospect is irrelevant. And as for Kosovo - economically looking, every state which has made something of itself was not been drug ally way into a continent.

The point remains that America will not waste its resources into Kosovo which it de facto owns, has a base in and controls.
It is in America's interest to be weak, undeveloped and at its mercy.

Your unrealistic expectation of rosy rich life are just economic and social short-sightedness. Kosovo does not exist outside the realms of global economics!

BKK

Actually, I merely said that Kosovo's situation will improve with time. Nothing more nothing less.

You seem to be very sure of what the U.S. will do and how the recession will affect the world order, never mind the fact that there have been countless recessions and booms around the world over the years.