Serbia votes yet again

Charles Crawford, British diplomat and former ambassador to Belgrade, YOU have got it so wrong.
You EU diplomats are missing the point. You have no desire to understand the Serbian psyche.
Kostunica's morals have been elevated and in the West the Serbian diaspora hold this man Kostunica in the highest esteem. Charles your negative words just do not penetrate the Serbian psyche, except to irritate.
Kostunica holds firm Serbian sovereignty, Kostunica holds firm Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija, Kostunica holds firm respect for international law, ALL this close to his heart and his head. This can never be moral collapse!
Serbia has the legal and moral right to ALL of its territory, just like the other former Yugo republics.
Serbia and Kostunica accept high autonomy for Kosovo Albanians but NEVER amputation, NEVER theft of its spiritual and medieval heartland.
Serbia should NEVER choose between Europe and Russia because Serbia NEEDS and wants BOTH.

Thankyou Mr Crawford for your predictable article.

Now for the equally predictable response.

You say that Kostunica is "trapped in a personal maze of dysfunctional nationalist pedantry".... I beg your pardon?
I actually think your problem (and the problem of most Western leaders) is that he has always held a very clear and principled position on the question - Is Kosovo a part of Serbia or not? Tadic and co are the ones in a maze with their reply of "sort of". Kostunica says it "absolutely is" and is clearly correct according to Serbia's constitution, the UN, Helsinki accords, Badinter commission etc etc. Absolutely nothing pedantic about any of that, EVERY leader of EVERY country would quote similar things in defense of their own soveriegnty.

The British went to war with Argentina over a handful of islands on the other side of the world based on what principles Mr Crawford? Something about international law was it? Yet Serbs cannot voice their determination to defend their own country - sorry, we will not comply.

Interesting that you bring up Havel... nobody expected the Czechs to give up the Sudentenland though to join the EU, did they? If Havel was expected to, he would have definetly said "no way" probably in a much more emphatic way than Kostunica would, would he have been pedantic for doing so? I think not.

On a side note, I don't need to remind you which country was a key ring leader of the sorry events of 1938 either do I? The British don't have a good resume when it comes to these sorts of things.

Finally, on a personal note, I took a tractor ride back in 1995 from Knin to Belgrade (as a child) never to return, because we were told that this is the way it has to be according to international law. Croatia's integritry cannot be disputed and if you don't want to be ruled over by the mad fascists in Zagreb - too bad - can't help - it's the law after all.

Why not the same for Kosovo Albanians? Serbia today is much more democratic than Croatia was in 1995 (or even now I would argue). Krajina is still a dirty word in Croatia whilst "Kosova" we must swallow.

No chance. Deep down you understand why.

Serbs are a principled people, mazes are not our speciality. Consistent rules for all please Mr Crawford. Maybe in your next article you can propose a solution to that problem? We'll be listening....

Seems like some one is not at all happy & that things didn't go all their own way with Solano's boys - D yeS.

Ah but then one wonders what chance did sovereign Serbia have when this is the view of so called "friends" who keep saying they want to help Serbia?

One wonders when articles like this are written by the likes of;
"Charles Crawford is a British diplomat and a former ambassador to Belgrade"

One wonders what this 'former' Ambassador's take on the rift between the Scottish First Minister and Nationalist leader - Alex Salmond with that of the current UK PM Gordon Brown (also a Scot)!!!

At least the majoritty of Serbians were not duped into believing the continual tripe coming form such "friends"!!!

The fact is that Serbia went from a prisoner under Milosevic to a beggar before Europe.

Your excellency, should the SPS return to government, you may thank your colleagues and fellow diplomats in Paris, London, Washington and Brussels. The EU and NATO have loved nothing better than to humiliate the once defiant Balkan beggar nation.

Alas, Kosovo independence is a multi billion Euro tar baby and western European diplomats have lost the hearts and minds of 60% of Serbian voters.

Perhaps its time for more capable men to do your job.

but its ok for Tadic to side with the "milosevites".

Once they fail to impose their will through state-level pressure and illegal interference in the elections of a sovereign state, they reappear here as "friends" just hanging on for old time's sake. It's time for B92 to find some other commentators. I would suggest that most of the critical contributors in this comments section have a much more realistic impression of what is going on in Serbia than any ex-ambassador trying to complete England's never-ending mission of subduing Serbia as part of its global policy against Russia.

Sincerely,

John Bosnitch
Washington, DC
john.b@imcnews.com

His Excellency says (among other wise things):
"And his (Kostunica's) ducking and weaving on the transfer of Karadžić and Mladić to the Hague have been hugely damaging to Serbia's international credibility"

Mr.Stewart is misjudging severely the present Serbian mood.
Serbs have been lied to so many times since 'liberated' from Milosevic, they couldn't care less about their 'ruined international credibility' for not delivering Mladic and Karadzic to the kangooroo court in Hague.
If Tony Blair didn't damage British international credibility, by dragging His Excellency's country into a most immoral war,shamelessly by his constant lies, we are positive that Mr Kostunica with far less sins, will survive His Excellency's Wrath and Indignation.

Richard Z,

Kosovo is not gone.

I don´t know what drives you to write about your pains, but please, do not mix up your personal feelings with reality.

I was doubtful about the future until the security council proved that the US and their allies cannot push it through in a legal way.

after they pulled the issue out of the UNSC... it was all clear.

they won´t succeed.

you seem to be quite a pessimist...

I am very confident, and time works for Serbia.
let´s just see what future brings.

Charles Crawford omits to mention that Vojislav Koštunica won two Serbian presidential elections in 2002 but due to Zoran Đinđić persuading his supporters not to vote the turnout was not sufficient for the election to be valid.

Nothing like the deft hand of a british diplomat in this effective piece of character assassination.

The usual trait of deliberate simplification, omission and creativity are all in abundance. In all fairness, it offers absolutely no 'analysis', so what is the value of this piece apart from it is the 'view' of someone who has spent quite a bit of time in the SFRY and FRY/Serbia?

With regards to 'morals', I'm always impressed with the unending sanctimoniousness that british civil servants serve up to the great unwashed masses.

1991-2003, Britain supported the US in banning the export of chlorine to Iraq beacause of 'dual use' fears (chlorine gas is long since know to be generally ineffective in warfare). So, no cholorinated water in Iraq, an important factor that lead indirectly to the deaths of over 500,000 iraqi children.

2003+, British acquiesence to the US in the invasion of Iraq (well, the 'special relationship' must be kept up chaps, even if it is only one -sided) has lead to the deaths of over 1 million Iraqis.

P.S. When is B92 going to publish the details on who is paying for its new 24/7 tv channel?

There are one or two reasonable points in here but the reference to Russia and the ICTY is bizarre. Did Moscow really have any great interest in non-compliance? It's hard to see why they would. If Kostunica did indeed offer such assurances (and Charles's hanging question is worthy of Kurir), he did little to maintain them, delivering more indictees to the Hague in his first term as Prime Minister than did Djindjic.

Kostunica holds firm to Kosovo, please don't make me laugh. Kostunica is doing nothing for the Serbs in Kosovo. Kostunica is doing nothing for the serbs in Serbia. The radicals and people like Kostunica only are returning the country back to the 90's, setting up serbs against each other. There really is no difference in the standpoint of Tadic and Kostunica regarding Kosovo. Both want to preserve Kosovo, but Tadic is a bit more realistic then Kostunica. At least he realises that we won't have a chance if we cut off ties with the majority of the european countries, if we don't do what we should have done years ago and finalise our obligations to the Hague tribunal. Why stop co-oparition now when we are so close and only have to hand over 4 more suspects? Why cut ourselves in the fingers by refusing the SAA agreements and funds from the E.U.

It pains me as much as most other Serbs but Kosovo is gone. The new goverment should try to come up with some concrete steps to improve the lifes of Serbs in Kosovo, so they have a good life, albeit in an independend Kosovo. If we are smart we can have a Kosovo with open borders where everyone can travel to. Where we can visit all the places that are important to us without a problem. Where Kosovo might be independend but where you don't have a feeling it is an indepened country and it feels like nothing has changed.
Unfortunately people like Kostunica don't think that way, he can only make matters worse and the reality will be that Kosovo is independend, the Serbs having a hard time over there, and Serbia misses out on the E.U.

Good article btw, I fully agree.

Mr. Kostunica and Mr. Havel are different dimensions. first one tries everything to become a hero, but he never will achieve this goal. "citizen Havel" is the opposite.

Good article btw, I fully agree.

Mr. Kostunica and Mr. Havel are different dimensions. first one tries everything to become a hero, but he never will achieve this goal. "citizen Havel" is the opposite.

Kostunica holds firm to Kosovo, please don't make me laugh. Kostunica is doing nothing for the Serbs in Kosovo. Kostunica is doing nothing for the serbs in Serbia. The radicals and people like Kostunica only are returning the country back to the 90's, setting up serbs against each other. There really is no difference in the standpoint of Tadic and Kostunica regarding Kosovo. Both want to preserve Kosovo, but Tadic is a bit more realistic then Kostunica. At least he realises that we won't have a chance if we cut off ties with the majority of the european countries, if we don't do what we should have done years ago and finalise our obligations to the Hague tribunal. Why stop co-oparition now when we are so close and only have to hand over 4 more suspects? Why cut ourselves in the fingers by refusing the SAA agreements and funds from the E.U.

It pains me as much as most other Serbs but Kosovo is gone. The new goverment should try to come up with some concrete steps to improve the lifes of Serbs in Kosovo, so they have a good life, albeit in an independend Kosovo. If we are smart we can have a Kosovo with open borders where everyone can travel to. Where we can visit all the places that are important to us without a problem. Where Kosovo might be independend but where you don't have a feeling it is an indepened country and it feels like nothing has changed.
Unfortunately people like Kostunica don't think that way, he can only make matters worse and the reality will be that Kosovo is independend, the Serbs having a hard time over there, and Serbia misses out on the E.U.

Seems like some one is not at all happy & that things didn't go all their own way with Solano's boys - D yeS.

Ah but then one wonders what chance did sovereign Serbia have when this is the view of so called "friends" who keep saying they want to help Serbia?

One wonders when articles like this are written by the likes of;
"Charles Crawford is a British diplomat and a former ambassador to Belgrade"

One wonders what this 'former' Ambassador's take on the rift between the Scottish First Minister and Nationalist leader - Alex Salmond with that of the current UK PM Gordon Brown (also a Scot)!!!

At least the majoritty of Serbians were not duped into believing the continual tripe coming form such "friends"!!!

Charles Crawford, British diplomat and former ambassador to Belgrade, YOU have got it so wrong.
You EU diplomats are missing the point. You have no desire to understand the Serbian psyche.
Kostunica's morals have been elevated and in the West the Serbian diaspora hold this man Kostunica in the highest esteem. Charles your negative words just do not penetrate the Serbian psyche, except to irritate.
Kostunica holds firm Serbian sovereignty, Kostunica holds firm Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija, Kostunica holds firm respect for international law, ALL this close to his heart and his head. This can never be moral collapse!
Serbia has the legal and moral right to ALL of its territory, just like the other former Yugo republics.
Serbia and Kostunica accept high autonomy for Kosovo Albanians but NEVER amputation, NEVER theft of its spiritual and medieval heartland.
Serbia should NEVER choose between Europe and Russia because Serbia NEEDS and wants BOTH.

Thankyou Mr Crawford for your predictable article.

Now for the equally predictable response.

You say that Kostunica is "trapped in a personal maze of dysfunctional nationalist pedantry".... I beg your pardon?
I actually think your problem (and the problem of most Western leaders) is that he has always held a very clear and principled position on the question - Is Kosovo a part of Serbia or not? Tadic and co are the ones in a maze with their reply of "sort of". Kostunica says it "absolutely is" and is clearly correct according to Serbia's constitution, the UN, Helsinki accords, Badinter commission etc etc. Absolutely nothing pedantic about any of that, EVERY leader of EVERY country would quote similar things in defense of their own soveriegnty.

The British went to war with Argentina over a handful of islands on the other side of the world based on what principles Mr Crawford? Something about international law was it? Yet Serbs cannot voice their determination to defend their own country - sorry, we will not comply.

Interesting that you bring up Havel... nobody expected the Czechs to give up the Sudentenland though to join the EU, did they? If Havel was expected to, he would have definetly said "no way" probably in a much more emphatic way than Kostunica would, would he have been pedantic for doing so? I think not.

On a side note, I don't need to remind you which country was a key ring leader of the sorry events of 1938 either do I? The British don't have a good resume when it comes to these sorts of things.

Finally, on a personal note, I took a tractor ride back in 1995 from Knin to Belgrade (as a child) never to return, because we were told that this is the way it has to be according to international law. Croatia's integritry cannot be disputed and if you don't want to be ruled over by the mad fascists in Zagreb - too bad - can't help - it's the law after all.

Why not the same for Kosovo Albanians? Serbia today is much more democratic than Croatia was in 1995 (or even now I would argue). Krajina is still a dirty word in Croatia whilst "Kosova" we must swallow.

No chance. Deep down you understand why.

Serbs are a principled people, mazes are not our speciality. Consistent rules for all please Mr Crawford. Maybe in your next article you can propose a solution to that problem? We'll be listening....

The fact is that Serbia went from a prisoner under Milosevic to a beggar before Europe.

Your excellency, should the SPS return to government, you may thank your colleagues and fellow diplomats in Paris, London, Washington and Brussels. The EU and NATO have loved nothing better than to humiliate the once defiant Balkan beggar nation.

Alas, Kosovo independence is a multi billion Euro tar baby and western European diplomats have lost the hearts and minds of 60% of Serbian voters.

Perhaps its time for more capable men to do your job.

Charles Crawford omits to mention that Vojislav Koštunica won two Serbian presidential elections in 2002 but due to Zoran Đinđić persuading his supporters not to vote the turnout was not sufficient for the election to be valid.

but its ok for Tadic to side with the "milosevites".

There are one or two reasonable points in here but the reference to Russia and the ICTY is bizarre. Did Moscow really have any great interest in non-compliance? It's hard to see why they would. If Kostunica did indeed offer such assurances (and Charles's hanging question is worthy of Kurir), he did little to maintain them, delivering more indictees to the Hague in his first term as Prime Minister than did Djindjic.

Once they fail to impose their will through state-level pressure and illegal interference in the elections of a sovereign state, they reappear here as "friends" just hanging on for old time's sake. It's time for B92 to find some other commentators. I would suggest that most of the critical contributors in this comments section have a much more realistic impression of what is going on in Serbia than any ex-ambassador trying to complete England's never-ending mission of subduing Serbia as part of its global policy against Russia.

Sincerely,

John Bosnitch
Washington, DC
john.b@imcnews.com

Nothing like the deft hand of a british diplomat in this effective piece of character assassination.

The usual trait of deliberate simplification, omission and creativity are all in abundance. In all fairness, it offers absolutely no 'analysis', so what is the value of this piece apart from it is the 'view' of someone who has spent quite a bit of time in the SFRY and FRY/Serbia?

With regards to 'morals', I'm always impressed with the unending sanctimoniousness that british civil servants serve up to the great unwashed masses.

1991-2003, Britain supported the US in banning the export of chlorine to Iraq beacause of 'dual use' fears (chlorine gas is long since know to be generally ineffective in warfare). So, no cholorinated water in Iraq, an important factor that lead indirectly to the deaths of over 500,000 iraqi children.

2003+, British acquiesence to the US in the invasion of Iraq (well, the 'special relationship' must be kept up chaps, even if it is only one -sided) has lead to the deaths of over 1 million Iraqis.

P.S. When is B92 going to publish the details on who is paying for its new 24/7 tv channel?

His Excellency says (among other wise things):
"And his (Kostunica's) ducking and weaving on the transfer of Karadžić and Mladić to the Hague have been hugely damaging to Serbia's international credibility"

Mr.Stewart is misjudging severely the present Serbian mood.
Serbs have been lied to so many times since 'liberated' from Milosevic, they couldn't care less about their 'ruined international credibility' for not delivering Mladic and Karadzic to the kangooroo court in Hague.
If Tony Blair didn't damage British international credibility, by dragging His Excellency's country into a most immoral war,shamelessly by his constant lies, we are positive that Mr Kostunica with far less sins, will survive His Excellency's Wrath and Indignation.

Richard Z,

Kosovo is not gone.

I don´t know what drives you to write about your pains, but please, do not mix up your personal feelings with reality.

I was doubtful about the future until the security council proved that the US and their allies cannot push it through in a legal way.

after they pulled the issue out of the UNSC... it was all clear.

they won´t succeed.

you seem to be quite a pessimist...

I am very confident, and time works for Serbia.
let´s just see what future brings.