BBC: Kosovo economy in shambles

OK, now lets get this straight.

The Albanians have billions of €'s thrown at them to improve the infrastructure and it somehow goes missing.

They have ethnically cleansed all of the non-Albanians they could, burnt their houses and churches and have the remainder surrounded by barbed wire and protected by troops.

They have high unemployment and crime - and from what I can see, have absolutely no ability to run their own affairs - even with the guidance and money of the world's richest nations.

Really, if they were ever to build a sky scraper, I bet someone will still manage to steel it!

How can they ever expect to be accepted as independent and run the affairs of the minorities if they can't even look after themselves?

I think I know why the Albanians rejected Serbia's offer of self-rule. The reason being they are completely incapable of ruling themselves and need the occupiers to babysit them. It all seems clear now, doesn't it?

Waterboard UNMIK officials, Pristina's mafioso clan psuedo leadership, and you will get the answers directly from them, as to where the 1.5 billion dollars went. It's like giving an addict the keys to safeguard the drugs.

LOL i love it!! they want to build a skyscraper but they wont even have electricity to turn the lights on! hahaha...seriously, can we let Beograd run things again so those people can stop living in the 18th century!! How pathetic

This is not the fault of K-albanians just like the fact that 40% of serbs income goes to food. This is the fault of the respective governments. Instead of feeding people Tadic goes to brussels and signs away land, and instead of building power stations thaci declares independence and lines his pockets. It looks like the Serbs got rid of the DS loser governemt and I hope the K albanians get rid of the loser KLA Drug thug government at some point, untill then let them eat independence cake

(ZK UK, 14 May 2008 18:51)
Perfect! We got your point. It is not worth to live in Kosovo. Just hands off of Kosovo my friend. Hands off. Live those people to live as they want to live. Just hands off of Kosovo. That means everybody happy. Serbia without "trouble" people in "trouble" "province" and Albanians without boots of Serbian army in their throats. Just hands off of Kosovo.

Maks, indeed, the Serbian government has no interest in running the affairs of the Albanians. We have already offered self-rule to them.

Our interest is to support our loyal citizens in the province so our hands are nowhere near the Albanians.

TS, thanks for that http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7346055.stm Interesting read!

Bravo! Bravo B92! Your editor can't wait to throw some dirt on the future of a country called Kosova. But when some of us try to post messages according to your own regulations, they are doomed to be lost for not expressing the same opinion as your beloved radicals posting here.
Anyway, who cares!

Kosovo isn't really independent, it's a EU protectorate. And it is going to stay that way for a very long time. Kosovo perfectly fits Paul Colliers four traps:
1. The Conflict Trap. Kosovo has no institutions for conflict management, and rule of law is relatively absent. Conflicts will arise, and they won't be solved.
2. The "Natural" Resource Trap. OK, face it - Kosovo has no natural resources whatsoever. But, and it's even worse, it has plenty of money streaming into the country through foreign aid, organized crime, and remittances (but they will dry up with the credit crunch).
3. Lndlocked with bad neighbours. Where is Kosovo's exports going? Through ultra-corrupt Albania? At the moment the only thing coming out of Kosovo is scrap metal and crime.
4. Bad Governance in a small country. Once your in... Kosovo has nothing close to good governance, and surely not for minorities. Corruption is endemic, and the rule fo law is weak.

Paul Collier notes one very important and insightful lesson: Before the era of European nationalist thinking, small, resource scarce, landlocked, places where not countries, they where provinces. It's a reason for that: They where nowhere near economically viable on their own. Neither is Kosovo. So, they'll stay a EU protectorate for a while.

References:
Collier, Paul. 2007. The Bottom Billion.
Collier, Paul. 2001. The curse of aid.
BBC, Kosovo to scrap it's main exports.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7346055.stm

B92 I realise you guys are working overtime at the moment but can you include a link for this report so we can read it for ourselves.

I am sorry to hear about the continued problems in Kosovo but not surprised. It will take a while but some Kosovo Albanians, who still blame Serbs for taking money from Kosovo and harming its development, will come to understand that the problems in Kosovo are home grown, although for a period it may have looked to them that Serbs were to blame.

But lets consider this - of all the entities to rule Kosovo since we know it the most succesful actor and period was post 1974 Jugoslavija.

The Milosevic government's policy on Kosovo failed miserably and the internationally governed Kosovo is failing so far.

It is very worrying indeed as I don't think there is any reason to think that if the Jugoslavs (including Albanians), Serbs and internationals all failed to one degree or another in Kosovo that Kosovo Albanians on their own will have any better luck.

Aside from the status issue, I don't recommend it usually, but perhaps the best way is to attempt some kind of privatisation shock therapy.

I like the post sometime ago by a K-Albanian "Not the Albanians are ready to go to work." I keep cracking up at it. A reminder- TITO is dead and the Ottomans are no longer in Serbia. Nothing for free anymore, you'll just have to keep shining American boots.

It's very sad to hear. The worst part of it all is that normal, everyday people suffer the most. I am sure though, that under EU protection, Kosovo will stand on its own two feet and the people enjoy a better life one day.

It makes me think though why Serbia sees the sense of such an economic disaster being a part of their country, when judging from some peoples' comments here, they could not care less for the Albanians living there.

It's understandable why Serbia cannot forget Kosovo since it's such an integral part of their national character and heritage, but I don't get why they want it so badly today since it's over 90% Albanian, an economic mess (which I am certain that the average young and educated Serb who is the future of Serbia does not want his/her tax money going towards compared to things that actually make up a part of his/her life) and they will never see eye-to-eye with the Albanian population there, as equals.

It makes me rethink the idea of equal, normal negotiations between two sides, and this is more directed at the Serbs here, how do the Serbs think they can negotiate with the Albanians when they see them the way they see them and expect the Albanians to take the Serbs into consideration?

On the other hand, it makes me think if Germans living in Wielkopolska (our cradle) decided to break away from Poland claiming they have been living there for thousands of years, I would not really be able to understand it either.

I don't know anymore. This is all too complex.

Peter that is a fair comment. But the depth of negative feeling is sadly mutual between Serbs and Albanians.

I agree that it is so complex but I am also convinced that the DS policy maximises the chances of reaching agreement, compromise, one day at least. On the one hand they believe in Kosovo remaining in Serbia, but on the other will not try to trample on the rights of Albanians either. Its not ideal, but its the fairest political basis for reaching a historic compromise and I would venture that without DS Kosovo would be lost. I think the internationals must reach out and that Albanians must be prepared to compromise on the issue.

However, the eventual solution will have to include one of the 'national' parties in Serbia - DS cannot do this alone, nor should it.

A link would have done instead of paraphrasing BBC.

BBC says that 40% of the bills are not being paid, not all B92.

Furthermore, electricity has stagnated growth but I believe economy is going in the right direction.

Also the billions of Euros are not missing. I am not quite sure where you Serbs get the idea that money is missing --- is the Serbian Budget Committee reporting a shortage?

ZK,

"They have ethnically cleansed all of the non-Albanians they could, burnt their houses and churches and have the remainder surrounded by barbed wire and protected by troops."

Just read a bit more about the history that is my advise to you. Twisting the facts won't help you even if you say "Let's get this straight" or "it all seem clear doesn't it"?

You are fooling yourself!

On 15 May 2008 02:10, Sahid wrote:

"Kosova is richest country and Americans think we are poor. I have two merceders and big house with 5 sons and 18 grandchildren. We never need to pay tax to enyone only Rom, Serbs and Americans must pay tax because they live on our land."

I don't know what it is Sahid has been smoking, but I want some!!

What happened to those wine and fishes that some of the 'Team Kosova' camp were on about?

or has the economic focus now switched to magic mushrooms and weed.

bganon

Here is one http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7354763.stm

I don't know anymore. This is all too complex.
(Peter Sudyka, 15 May 2008 08:04)

It's the Balkans!

I don't know what it is Sahid has been smoking, but I want some!!
(Jan Andersen, DK, 15 May 2008 17:03)

This was nice one Jan ;)

if that stuf makes me have two mercedeses I want some too ;)

The economy of the province of Kosovo(i Metohija) is propped up by the international community. I participated in several monthly meetings between the Municipal President and Vice President of Urosevac/Ferizaj and the MNTF-E Commander(three different US Generals). The biggest concern for the Municipal leadership was the base closures of NATO/KFOR and the employment of ethnic - Albanians on Camp Bondsteel. Bontsteel the largest employer in the municipality and MNTF-E and probably in the whole of the province.

The remainder of the Kosovo economy is propped up by international administrations and their support, government administrations and their support, car washes, restaurants, and hotels frequented by the international community, and the incoming funds from the ethnic-Albanian population abroad.

The lights are not, the roads are not paved, industry is not booming, and their is no hope. Albanian has been independent for almost 100 years and it is still the most backward national economically, socially, and politically on the continent. In the same time the Irish turned 800 years of British oppression to the Celtic tiger and the most dynamic economy in the EU. The Albanians posses a social problem, not a political problem. Any separation from Serbia (be it illegal and has no ground) is a scapegoat for an old crony capitalism and corruption.

The hurdle to prosperity was Serbia, then it will be decentralization, then it will be the remaining Serbs, then it will be the UN's fault.

Just for the sake of information: I do not have a problem with the BBC, and I am not a Serb. Here are some more links, by the way:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR70/001/2008/en/EUR700012008en.html
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR70/010/2003
From Amnesty international.

Interesting link ZK, its such a shame the shambolic economic status that FREE INDEPENDENT KOSOVA (rofl) is in. I feel sorry for B92 for having to put up with all the posts accusing them of fabricating stories such as this one.

As the football fans the UK would sing "You're just a bunch of wreckers!!"

FYI
to BEN - the albanian

Kosovo is crammed with cash. EU and U.S. humanitarian organizations are making significant contributions to the economy.
Albanians are also sending huge annual remittances from Western Europe.
Part of this money is earned from criminal activities.
But Kosovo can't yet cope with these substantial money streams.

The EU can't explain why the Albanian mafia was given a republic to rule after massacring the Serbian population.
But the Albanians know how to play the democratic game. Each mega market boasts a collection of small EU and U.S. flags,
although the well-being of Kosovo residents is divided purely along ethnic lines - a mockery of the democratic values
that the country pretends to uphold.

For the details reed below

KP journalists trace the scandalous book by Carla Del Ponte,
prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

Kosovo killers. Part 1
http://www.kp.ru/daily/24096.5/324917/print/

Kosovo killers. Part 2
http://www.dv.kp.ru/daily/24097/325320/


Kosovo killers. Part 3
http://www.dv.kp.ru/daily/24097/325325/

Dmitry ROGOZIN, Russia's Representative in NATO: "It's real-deal politics"

"The international community always knew about the organ trafficking as described in Ponte's book.
These are things that everyone knows who's ever been involved with Kosovo's problems.
There is serious evidence discrediting Tachi, the KLA's head, who's still respected in the West.
Everyone knew that the KLA is a terrorist organization financed by drug trafficking.
For the West, acknowledging these facts meant breaking their plans for dividing Serbia,
changing the power scheme in the Balkans and weakening Russian influence.
My partners in Brussels call it 'real-deal politics.'"

Eh, these things are fixable. By Serbia's account Kosovo shouldn't even have electricity at all because of the "Action Plan" (which was codeword for: We ain't got nothing planned). Yet they still have electricity, the borders are open, and there's no embargo of any kind.

Serbia gave up Kosovo long ago. People forget that this is a new country, a new nation, born only less than 3 months ago. Give it time for them to fix up their infrastructure.

They could care less about electricity shortages right about now. All they care is that they won the fight against Serbia, the battle, and the complete war.

Serbs should not worry about Kosovo anymore because they have nothing to do with it. They should instead worry about how to best protect the threatened lives of their leaders...

Serbs should first point at themselves for having done everything to make living in Kosovo impossible for Albanians for decades. Because of Serb occupation the infrastructure and living conditions in Kosovo were destroyed. Everything Education, medical Tratment had to be run in underground afraid of serb myrmidons. Nevertheless Albanians build up their houses immediately after the war. Most of them were burn down by serb military knowing Kosovo is lost for ever --F O R E V E R--!! Showing that reconstruction of private Housing k-Albanians have shown their are great workers. The UN however showed oncemore they cannot run anything, see Kosovo´s Economy. It was more than necessary to declare independence! By the way, what kind of improvement is there in Serbia. Still you are living on former exploation of Kosovo, but in future? Once you had Milosevic now you have Seselj, oh what a great progress..

All,

Sahid made my day. Let's take the brake and relax everybody. Sahid where you come frommmmmm all of the sudden ??? The best post ever???

Serbs are used to carrots... but Sahid seem to prefere grass and mushrooms.

@ ZK: I'm glad to hear that you see the Serbian rule over Kosova as "occupiers" too; precisely what they were. The truth will always prevail!!!

Pavarsia,

It looks you use some staff as Sahid. It looks Sahid's staff is spreading - only illusions.

Ben,

Please read my whole comment, I am a Serbian supporter and the quote you used was satire to illustrate what the ethnic-Albanians use as excuses and "roadblocks" to prosperity.

B92 keeps on tracking articles that would discredit the NEWBORN STATE OF KOSOVA,and as much as I can tell this is not an independet mediu but it's totally in line with serb government.Why dont you serbs take care of yourselves.KosovA's goal was to seperate from Serbia that's the greatest achievement that we reached.That's important.And for your information Kosova is making a huge economical progress.It's amazing what's happening here and there's much more to come, it's just the beginnig and there's all this development.TO B92:You need a very long time to be a real medium.Stop serving your government.KosovA is GONE FOREVER.Pity to have such "neighbour"
LONG LIVE KOSOVA'S INDEPENDENCE.LONG LIVE G.W.BUSH.
LONG LIVE ADEM JASHARI

Why to pay electricity when Kosova is ours now. I even never need pay it Yugoslavia. Serb's were trying to cut electic line, but I never let them. It is my land and nobody is going to tell me what to do! Kosova is richest country and Americans think we are poor. I have two merceders and big house with 5 sons and 18 grandchildren. We never need to pay tax to enyone only Rom, Serbs and Americans must pay tax because they live on our land. Madh Kosovar

Hey there Serbian camp again.

Aren’t you the same guys that were saying: don't give me as reference BBC, CNN, NY Times, Washington Post, FT, etc... now suddenly BBC is OK for you? com on make up your minds ppl you are making such a mess I don’t know which is your position now ufff ;))

“Paul Collier notes one very important and insightful lesson: Before the era of European nationalist thinking, small, resource scarce, landlocked, places where not countries, they where provinces. It's a reason for that: They where nowhere near economically viable on their own. Neither is Kosovo. So, they'll stay a EU protectorate for a while.

References:
Collier, Paul. 2007. The Bottom Billion.
Collier, Paul. 2001. The curse of aid.
BBC, Kosovo to scrap it's main exports.
[link]
(TS, 14 May 2008 21:26)

TS (& Collier Paul) you are right. They are [Kosova] provinces- the issue is that it was awarded to the wrong side.

Kosova IS Albanian province not Serbian. Hence Kosova is not landlocked.

When you “pundits” will learn at least to recognize the problem? I would be happy if you reach this point, for offering solutions, it might sound slightly sadistic at this stage, so we’ll wait, ups actually we are independent now ;)

There is another country slightly into north that is landlocked- maybe joining Albania as here province would open here to the world- just a thought ;)

TO:
SY, London UK
I had read these articles, my favorite part was with the attempts to contrast the poor dismal plight of Serbians as compared to the wealthy Albanian population.
"The country's elegant agrarian landscape now has tens of thousands of newly built elite homes."
Which cast major doubts on any credibility by this author. It is a shame that there are some who would believe this article and even more shame that some would reference it. However when I read this part I broke my chair laughing so hard.

The hurdle to prosperity was Serbia, then it will be decentralization, then it will be the remaining Serbs, then it will be the UN's fault.
(Anthony, 16 May 2008 05:12)

Anthony: stop hanging on with Sahid.

it´s sad to see the level of naivety in those comments campaigning for "free" "kosova" as an " province of Albania "...

depending completely on foreign help and even in addition on dirty bucks from drugs and prostitution...and having difficulties to secure the own electricity-needs, they dream of scyscrapers.. I mean is it possible at all to be more "off the road" than THIS?

furthermore this bla bla about province of Albania...

my dear benny... if Albania should, or to be more precise, the leading heads of Albania should make the mistake to proclaim something like that officially, the serbian army would very likely be in Tirana within 3 weeks.

you are free to dream, but you should stick to reality, Serbia won´t give up it´s southern territory.

you simply didn´t realize it yet.

but you will, my dear, you will.

Please read my whole comment, I am a Serbian supporter and the quote you used was satire to illustrate what the ethnic-Albanians use as excuses and "roadblocks" to prosperity.
(Anthony, 16 May 2008 23:25)

What a naive I am.

I "bewildered" you with an impartial observer ;)))

Bravo! Bravo B92! Your editor can't wait to throw some dirt on the future of a country called Kosova. But when some of us try to post messages according to your own regulations, they are doomed to be lost for not expressing the same opinion as your beloved radicals posting here.
Anyway, who cares!

A link would have done instead of paraphrasing BBC.

BBC says that 40% of the bills are not being paid, not all B92.

Furthermore, electricity has stagnated growth but I believe economy is going in the right direction.

Also the billions of Euros are not missing. I am not quite sure where you Serbs get the idea that money is missing --- is the Serbian Budget Committee reporting a shortage?

Why to pay electricity when Kosova is ours now. I even never need pay it Yugoslavia. Serb's were trying to cut electic line, but I never let them. It is my land and nobody is going to tell me what to do! Kosova is richest country and Americans think we are poor. I have two merceders and big house with 5 sons and 18 grandchildren. We never need to pay tax to enyone only Rom, Serbs and Americans must pay tax because they live on our land. Madh Kosovar

OK, now lets get this straight.

The Albanians have billions of €'s thrown at them to improve the infrastructure and it somehow goes missing.

They have ethnically cleansed all of the non-Albanians they could, burnt their houses and churches and have the remainder surrounded by barbed wire and protected by troops.

They have high unemployment and crime - and from what I can see, have absolutely no ability to run their own affairs - even with the guidance and money of the world's richest nations.

Really, if they were ever to build a sky scraper, I bet someone will still manage to steel it!

How can they ever expect to be accepted as independent and run the affairs of the minorities if they can't even look after themselves?

I think I know why the Albanians rejected Serbia's offer of self-rule. The reason being they are completely incapable of ruling themselves and need the occupiers to babysit them. It all seems clear now, doesn't it?

(ZK UK, 14 May 2008 18:51)
Perfect! We got your point. It is not worth to live in Kosovo. Just hands off of Kosovo my friend. Hands off. Live those people to live as they want to live. Just hands off of Kosovo. That means everybody happy. Serbia without "trouble" people in "trouble" "province" and Albanians without boots of Serbian army in their throats. Just hands off of Kosovo.

Waterboard UNMIK officials, Pristina's mafioso clan psuedo leadership, and you will get the answers directly from them, as to where the 1.5 billion dollars went. It's like giving an addict the keys to safeguard the drugs.

ZK,

"They have ethnically cleansed all of the non-Albanians they could, burnt their houses and churches and have the remainder surrounded by barbed wire and protected by troops."

Just read a bit more about the history that is my advise to you. Twisting the facts won't help you even if you say "Let's get this straight" or "it all seem clear doesn't it"?

You are fooling yourself!

Eh, these things are fixable. By Serbia's account Kosovo shouldn't even have electricity at all because of the "Action Plan" (which was codeword for: We ain't got nothing planned). Yet they still have electricity, the borders are open, and there's no embargo of any kind.

Serbia gave up Kosovo long ago. People forget that this is a new country, a new nation, born only less than 3 months ago. Give it time for them to fix up their infrastructure.

They could care less about electricity shortages right about now. All they care is that they won the fight against Serbia, the battle, and the complete war.

Serbs should not worry about Kosovo anymore because they have nothing to do with it. They should instead worry about how to best protect the threatened lives of their leaders...

Hey there Serbian camp again.

Aren’t you the same guys that were saying: don't give me as reference BBC, CNN, NY Times, Washington Post, FT, etc... now suddenly BBC is OK for you? com on make up your minds ppl you are making such a mess I don’t know which is your position now ufff ;))

“Paul Collier notes one very important and insightful lesson: Before the era of European nationalist thinking, small, resource scarce, landlocked, places where not countries, they where provinces. It's a reason for that: They where nowhere near economically viable on their own. Neither is Kosovo. So, they'll stay a EU protectorate for a while.

References:
Collier, Paul. 2007. The Bottom Billion.
Collier, Paul. 2001. The curse of aid.
BBC, Kosovo to scrap it's main exports.
[link]
(TS, 14 May 2008 21:26)

TS (& Collier Paul) you are right. They are [Kosova] provinces- the issue is that it was awarded to the wrong side.

Kosova IS Albanian province not Serbian. Hence Kosova is not landlocked.

When you “pundits” will learn at least to recognize the problem? I would be happy if you reach this point, for offering solutions, it might sound slightly sadistic at this stage, so we’ll wait, ups actually we are independent now ;)

There is another country slightly into north that is landlocked- maybe joining Albania as here province would open here to the world- just a thought ;)

Serbs should first point at themselves for having done everything to make living in Kosovo impossible for Albanians for decades. Because of Serb occupation the infrastructure and living conditions in Kosovo were destroyed. Everything Education, medical Tratment had to be run in underground afraid of serb myrmidons. Nevertheless Albanians build up their houses immediately after the war. Most of them were burn down by serb military knowing Kosovo is lost for ever --F O R E V E R--!! Showing that reconstruction of private Housing k-Albanians have shown their are great workers. The UN however showed oncemore they cannot run anything, see Kosovo´s Economy. It was more than necessary to declare independence! By the way, what kind of improvement is there in Serbia. Still you are living on former exploation of Kosovo, but in future? Once you had Milosevic now you have Seselj, oh what a great progress..

It's very sad to hear. The worst part of it all is that normal, everyday people suffer the most. I am sure though, that under EU protection, Kosovo will stand on its own two feet and the people enjoy a better life one day.

It makes me think though why Serbia sees the sense of such an economic disaster being a part of their country, when judging from some peoples' comments here, they could not care less for the Albanians living there.

It's understandable why Serbia cannot forget Kosovo since it's such an integral part of their national character and heritage, but I don't get why they want it so badly today since it's over 90% Albanian, an economic mess (which I am certain that the average young and educated Serb who is the future of Serbia does not want his/her tax money going towards compared to things that actually make up a part of his/her life) and they will never see eye-to-eye with the Albanian population there, as equals.

It makes me rethink the idea of equal, normal negotiations between two sides, and this is more directed at the Serbs here, how do the Serbs think they can negotiate with the Albanians when they see them the way they see them and expect the Albanians to take the Serbs into consideration?

On the other hand, it makes me think if Germans living in Wielkopolska (our cradle) decided to break away from Poland claiming they have been living there for thousands of years, I would not really be able to understand it either.

I don't know anymore. This is all too complex.

Peter that is a fair comment. But the depth of negative feeling is sadly mutual between Serbs and Albanians.

I agree that it is so complex but I am also convinced that the DS policy maximises the chances of reaching agreement, compromise, one day at least. On the one hand they believe in Kosovo remaining in Serbia, but on the other will not try to trample on the rights of Albanians either. Its not ideal, but its the fairest political basis for reaching a historic compromise and I would venture that without DS Kosovo would be lost. I think the internationals must reach out and that Albanians must be prepared to compromise on the issue.

However, the eventual solution will have to include one of the 'national' parties in Serbia - DS cannot do this alone, nor should it.

@ ZK: I'm glad to hear that you see the Serbian rule over Kosova as "occupiers" too; precisely what they were. The truth will always prevail!!!

TO:
SY, London UK
I had read these articles, my favorite part was with the attempts to contrast the poor dismal plight of Serbians as compared to the wealthy Albanian population.
"The country's elegant agrarian landscape now has tens of thousands of newly built elite homes."
Which cast major doubts on any credibility by this author. It is a shame that there are some who would believe this article and even more shame that some would reference it. However when I read this part I broke my chair laughing so hard.

All,

Sahid made my day. Let's take the brake and relax everybody. Sahid where you come frommmmmm all of the sudden ??? The best post ever???

B92 keeps on tracking articles that would discredit the NEWBORN STATE OF KOSOVA,and as much as I can tell this is not an independet mediu but it's totally in line with serb government.Why dont you serbs take care of yourselves.KosovA's goal was to seperate from Serbia that's the greatest achievement that we reached.That's important.And for your information Kosova is making a huge economical progress.It's amazing what's happening here and there's much more to come, it's just the beginnig and there's all this development.TO B92:You need a very long time to be a real medium.Stop serving your government.KosovA is GONE FOREVER.Pity to have such "neighbour"
LONG LIVE KOSOVA'S INDEPENDENCE.LONG LIVE G.W.BUSH.
LONG LIVE ADEM JASHARI

LOL i love it!! they want to build a skyscraper but they wont even have electricity to turn the lights on! hahaha...seriously, can we let Beograd run things again so those people can stop living in the 18th century!! How pathetic

This is not the fault of K-albanians just like the fact that 40% of serbs income goes to food. This is the fault of the respective governments. Instead of feeding people Tadic goes to brussels and signs away land, and instead of building power stations thaci declares independence and lines his pockets. It looks like the Serbs got rid of the DS loser governemt and I hope the K albanians get rid of the loser KLA Drug thug government at some point, untill then let them eat independence cake

Kosovo isn't really independent, it's a EU protectorate. And it is going to stay that way for a very long time. Kosovo perfectly fits Paul Colliers four traps:
1. The Conflict Trap. Kosovo has no institutions for conflict management, and rule of law is relatively absent. Conflicts will arise, and they won't be solved.
2. The "Natural" Resource Trap. OK, face it - Kosovo has no natural resources whatsoever. But, and it's even worse, it has plenty of money streaming into the country through foreign aid, organized crime, and remittances (but they will dry up with the credit crunch).
3. Lndlocked with bad neighbours. Where is Kosovo's exports going? Through ultra-corrupt Albania? At the moment the only thing coming out of Kosovo is scrap metal and crime.
4. Bad Governance in a small country. Once your in... Kosovo has nothing close to good governance, and surely not for minorities. Corruption is endemic, and the rule fo law is weak.

Paul Collier notes one very important and insightful lesson: Before the era of European nationalist thinking, small, resource scarce, landlocked, places where not countries, they where provinces. It's a reason for that: They where nowhere near economically viable on their own. Neither is Kosovo. So, they'll stay a EU protectorate for a while.

References:
Collier, Paul. 2007. The Bottom Billion.
Collier, Paul. 2001. The curse of aid.
BBC, Kosovo to scrap it's main exports.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7346055.stm

B92 I realise you guys are working overtime at the moment but can you include a link for this report so we can read it for ourselves.

I am sorry to hear about the continued problems in Kosovo but not surprised. It will take a while but some Kosovo Albanians, who still blame Serbs for taking money from Kosovo and harming its development, will come to understand that the problems in Kosovo are home grown, although for a period it may have looked to them that Serbs were to blame.

But lets consider this - of all the entities to rule Kosovo since we know it the most succesful actor and period was post 1974 Jugoslavija.

The Milosevic government's policy on Kosovo failed miserably and the internationally governed Kosovo is failing so far.

It is very worrying indeed as I don't think there is any reason to think that if the Jugoslavs (including Albanians), Serbs and internationals all failed to one degree or another in Kosovo that Kosovo Albanians on their own will have any better luck.

Aside from the status issue, I don't recommend it usually, but perhaps the best way is to attempt some kind of privatisation shock therapy.

Maks, indeed, the Serbian government has no interest in running the affairs of the Albanians. We have already offered self-rule to them.

Our interest is to support our loyal citizens in the province so our hands are nowhere near the Albanians.

TS, thanks for that http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7346055.stm Interesting read!

bganon

Here is one http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7354763.stm

I like the post sometime ago by a K-Albanian "Not the Albanians are ready to go to work." I keep cracking up at it. A reminder- TITO is dead and the Ottomans are no longer in Serbia. Nothing for free anymore, you'll just have to keep shining American boots.

Interesting link ZK, its such a shame the shambolic economic status that FREE INDEPENDENT KOSOVA (rofl) is in. I feel sorry for B92 for having to put up with all the posts accusing them of fabricating stories such as this one.

As the football fans the UK would sing "You're just a bunch of wreckers!!"

FYI
to BEN - the albanian

Kosovo is crammed with cash. EU and U.S. humanitarian organizations are making significant contributions to the economy.
Albanians are also sending huge annual remittances from Western Europe.
Part of this money is earned from criminal activities.
But Kosovo can't yet cope with these substantial money streams.

The EU can't explain why the Albanian mafia was given a republic to rule after massacring the Serbian population.
But the Albanians know how to play the democratic game. Each mega market boasts a collection of small EU and U.S. flags,
although the well-being of Kosovo residents is divided purely along ethnic lines - a mockery of the democratic values
that the country pretends to uphold.

For the details reed below

KP journalists trace the scandalous book by Carla Del Ponte,
prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

Kosovo killers. Part 1
http://www.kp.ru/daily/24096.5/324917/print/

Kosovo killers. Part 2
http://www.dv.kp.ru/daily/24097/325320/


Kosovo killers. Part 3
http://www.dv.kp.ru/daily/24097/325325/

Dmitry ROGOZIN, Russia's Representative in NATO: "It's real-deal politics"

"The international community always knew about the organ trafficking as described in Ponte's book.
These are things that everyone knows who's ever been involved with Kosovo's problems.
There is serious evidence discrediting Tachi, the KLA's head, who's still respected in the West.
Everyone knew that the KLA is a terrorist organization financed by drug trafficking.
For the West, acknowledging these facts meant breaking their plans for dividing Serbia,
changing the power scheme in the Balkans and weakening Russian influence.
My partners in Brussels call it 'real-deal politics.'"

Just for the sake of information: I do not have a problem with the BBC, and I am not a Serb. Here are some more links, by the way:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR70/001/2008/en/EUR700012008en.html
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR70/010/2003
From Amnesty international.

I don't know anymore. This is all too complex.
(Peter Sudyka, 15 May 2008 08:04)

It's the Balkans!

On 15 May 2008 02:10, Sahid wrote:

"Kosova is richest country and Americans think we are poor. I have two merceders and big house with 5 sons and 18 grandchildren. We never need to pay tax to enyone only Rom, Serbs and Americans must pay tax because they live on our land."

I don't know what it is Sahid has been smoking, but I want some!!

I don't know what it is Sahid has been smoking, but I want some!!
(Jan Andersen, DK, 15 May 2008 17:03)

This was nice one Jan ;)

if that stuf makes me have two mercedeses I want some too ;)

The economy of the province of Kosovo(i Metohija) is propped up by the international community. I participated in several monthly meetings between the Municipal President and Vice President of Urosevac/Ferizaj and the MNTF-E Commander(three different US Generals). The biggest concern for the Municipal leadership was the base closures of NATO/KFOR and the employment of ethnic - Albanians on Camp Bondsteel. Bontsteel the largest employer in the municipality and MNTF-E and probably in the whole of the province.

The remainder of the Kosovo economy is propped up by international administrations and their support, government administrations and their support, car washes, restaurants, and hotels frequented by the international community, and the incoming funds from the ethnic-Albanian population abroad.

The lights are not, the roads are not paved, industry is not booming, and their is no hope. Albanian has been independent for almost 100 years and it is still the most backward national economically, socially, and politically on the continent. In the same time the Irish turned 800 years of British oppression to the Celtic tiger and the most dynamic economy in the EU. The Albanians posses a social problem, not a political problem. Any separation from Serbia (be it illegal and has no ground) is a scapegoat for an old crony capitalism and corruption.

The hurdle to prosperity was Serbia, then it will be decentralization, then it will be the remaining Serbs, then it will be the UN's fault.

Serbs are used to carrots... but Sahid seem to prefere grass and mushrooms.

Pavarsia,

It looks you use some staff as Sahid. It looks Sahid's staff is spreading - only illusions.

What happened to those wine and fishes that some of the 'Team Kosova' camp were on about?

or has the economic focus now switched to magic mushrooms and weed.

The hurdle to prosperity was Serbia, then it will be decentralization, then it will be the remaining Serbs, then it will be the UN's fault.
(Anthony, 16 May 2008 05:12)

Anthony: stop hanging on with Sahid.

Ben,

Please read my whole comment, I am a Serbian supporter and the quote you used was satire to illustrate what the ethnic-Albanians use as excuses and "roadblocks" to prosperity.

it´s sad to see the level of naivety in those comments campaigning for "free" "kosova" as an " province of Albania "...

depending completely on foreign help and even in addition on dirty bucks from drugs and prostitution...and having difficulties to secure the own electricity-needs, they dream of scyscrapers.. I mean is it possible at all to be more "off the road" than THIS?

furthermore this bla bla about province of Albania...

my dear benny... if Albania should, or to be more precise, the leading heads of Albania should make the mistake to proclaim something like that officially, the serbian army would very likely be in Tirana within 3 weeks.

you are free to dream, but you should stick to reality, Serbia won´t give up it´s southern territory.

you simply didn´t realize it yet.

but you will, my dear, you will.

Please read my whole comment, I am a Serbian supporter and the quote you used was satire to illustrate what the ethnic-Albanians use as excuses and "roadblocks" to prosperity.
(Anthony, 16 May 2008 23:25)

What a naive I am.

I "bewildered" you with an impartial observer ;)))