35

Tuesday, 20.05.2008.

10:45

Kosovo customs seize medical consignment

Kosovo customs officers have seized medicine intended for the Kosovo Serbs at the Merdare administrative boundary.

Izvor: B92

Kosovo customs seize medical consignment IMAGE SOURCE
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35 Komentari

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lowe

pre 15 godina

so now even school children are being targetted and deprived of medicine? This is the new paradise of "Kosova"? Shouldn't Pristina be the first to look after the medical needs of these school children instead of having them turn to elsewhere outside the province?

Ataman

pre 15 godina

This is Quetzalcoatl (bloodthirsty Aztec Pigeon-Snake-God) in action.

If K-Albanian POLITICIANS want to have peace, this is precisely how NOT to do.

Otherwise the K-Albanian comments here make my stomach sick.

KV

pre 15 godina

Let's look at some interesting statistics.


(Mar 2007)
Export 12.327
Import 125.294
Balance -112.967 (9,8%)

(Mar 2008)
Export 17.435
Import 134.490
Balance -117.055 (13,0%)


(Change in)
Export: ~ 130%
Import: ~ 107%
Balance: -3.2%


Kosova's Import (from Serbia)
(M 07): 15.5%
(M 08): 9.8%


Conclusion:
Even though the trade imbalance for Kosova is a whopping 87% things are moving in the right direction. Kosova has started trading with new countries (Japan, China, Belgium, Sweden, etc) and this has caused an increase in imports and exports. Independence has staggered trade between Kosova-Serbia, nearly 50%. All facts are of March 2007 & March 2008. These facts do not represent Apr and May of 2008.


Source: Enti i Statistikes te Kosoves

(statistical office of Kosova)

bganon

pre 15 godina

EA its not a good question.

Its likely we would not have heard about it if the medicine had got through. Thats not a good example of Serbian negativity, but an example of news coverage around the world. Things are mostly covered when they go wrong.

This may be relatively minor on the PR radar but it is a small defeat for the Albanian side, showing a lack of humanity - thus posing the question what kind of life Serbs could expect under Albanians.

It need not have been in the news at all.

Jovan

pre 15 godina

where was that custom-authority when the ballot-boxes were delivered...? =)

this sort of playing around is meaningless... if a cheap sign on the "border" and these little provocations make our albanian friends happy.. let them be happy...


they will realize anyway, that they are being duped, ...sooner or later.

until that, they can dream on about being illyrian, building mile high scyscrapers and being "independent"...

EA

pre 15 godina

"...denying and/or taking a cut from, medicine to people, particularly children, is considered a public relations disaster in the civilized world.
(Mike, 20 May 2008 15:35)

I am surprised again with you Mike how quickly you come to that conclusion.

Can I ask everyone here a very simple question.

What would you say if the "so much needed medicine" were let come in Kosova without and hindrance?

Would you see that as the Kosova government is really generous?
Would you see that the Kosova state doesn't exist and calling it a fake state?
or
would you say that the Kosova's government is behaving responsibly?

Waiting for your responses guys))))

KASTRIOTI

pre 15 godina

Exactly what rules and laws are you talking about? Those made in fairy land?
(ZK UK, 20 May 2008 16:40)

Fairy land? At the Kosova border there is a big sign greeting serbs and others "Welcome to the Republic of Kosova." There is costums legitimizing all trafic. It is only going to get better--I mean, no one will be above the law (and that is the law of Republic of Kosova). Serbia can only watch from the other side of Kosova borders.
PEOPLE, Kosova has chosen to live in its own state and it has been recognized by most important international factors. Get used to it and remember that Kosova flag does not display the map of Kosova by chance. In the map is engraved 2 milion people's will to have its own borders and these people are ready to achieve this at any price. A right of self-determination and the pursuit of natural rights is the will of Kosova.

Roger7

pre 15 godina

lili says..."do you really believe that vit C and sirup is the right medecin for pulmonary infection or is it the way your doktors practice??"

Before you begin to act as if you are an authority on the uses of vitamin C, you need to work to improve your spelling.

I would think that medical professionals, including doctors, know more than you do about the uses of certain vitamins.

Previous blind trials using vitamin C found “a statistically significant 45 to 91% reduction in common cold incidence in the vitamin C group. Furthermore, three other trials found a statistically significant 80 to 100% reduction in the incidence of pneumonia in the vitamin C group. The large number of positive findings seems to warrant further consideration of the role of vitamin C in respiratory infections.”

Ilirian

pre 15 godina

The government of Kosovo won´t have an other choice but to take drastic action, if they are not willing to let their new state be undermined. Noone would doubt that Serbia is taking every action to destabilize Kosovo. The laissez-faire policies for Serbs should have an End. Serbia will upraid Kosovo if they enforce the law and if they do not.

lili

pre 15 godina

do you really believe that vit C and sirup is the right medecin for pulmonary infection or is it the way your doktors practice?? i have not read these kind of prescription in any manual of good practice!

Gojko

pre 15 godina

In due time the Lawless albanians will screw their iudi up! Serbs in Kosovo don't fall into their traps. They are losing patience and no one else is rushing to recognizing them. They want the Serbs to be violent to make us look like the bad guys. They are "testing" us. Nice try thaci. Its not going to work!

ZK UK

pre 15 godina

How do any of you expect normal relations and a future of coexistance if neither side takes the other side seriously, even when it comes to something like aid?

If talks on status have beared no fruit, well then how about talks on technical issues.
(Peter Sudyka, 20 May 2008 16:11)

Peter, your point is valid. I have mentioned here many times that it is completely delusional for either the Serbians or Albanians to think they can rule the other. It is just not going to work and the Serbians have offered the Albanians self-rule many many times and are now attempting to work out a technical agreement (with UNMIK) where it can service its loyal citizens.

The problem at the moment is that some people are living in fairy land and believe somehow that Serbians will accept Albanian rule. Now they can't even rule themselves, so how on earth can they expect to rule others?

Anyway, it won't be too long before this gets sorted out one way or another, however, what is certain is that Serbians rules themselves and so do Albanians.

Chinchi

pre 15 godina

My dear friends. It seems that you are not aware of the fact that UNMIK and not Kosovo's government is in charge. The missing papers are papers which comply to UNMIK reguilations (2004/24) and not to any Kosovo Assembly laws. The SRSG is still issuing executive orders and the government of kosovo cannot really do anything about it.
The Customs are still UNMIK customs and not Kosovo's, according to UNMIK (who by the way is still the boss) there is not country called Kosovo, or Kosova or whatever. And my dear friends don't be surprised if this is the shortest dream you ever had and which will turn out to be a nightmare for the arrogant Albanians.
Ciao

Jan Andersen, DK

pre 15 godina

I don't more about this than what it says in the article - and I suspect that is also the case with the angry Serbs that has already commented on the story.

Now, this is the core of the story:

"Despite being accompanied by all the required documentation showing that this was a donation and that customs need not be paid, the customs officials asked for an import permit issued by the Kosovo Medical Agency, according to officials at the school."

2 things:

1) There is paperwork documenting that the shipment is a donation. Customswise I guess it makes it exempt from requiring the receiver to pay import tax on the shipment. Which is good, and is how donations should be handled.

It is not much different from if I buy something from a seller on eBay or from Amazon. Depending on the commercial value of the packet, country of origin, etc, I have to pay import tax before I can collect the packet. Some shady sellers will often label the packet as "Sample - No commercial value", "Marketing litterature" or something "innocent" to try to sneak it past customs without the buyer having to pay customs, but nowadays customs often inspects the packet anyway :)

2) The shipment is some kind of medicine. That makes it special in the eyes of most custom officials and countries.

Going back to the previous example of eBay/Amazon, nothing prevents me from importing shoes, books, or CD's. But if I try to import medicine or growth-hormones, I am probably breaking a dozens of laws unless I make sure I have the proper permissions, or can show customs that the medicine is already available over the counter without a prescription from my doctor.

It is, like it or not, the same with donations of medicine from a class of schoolchildren to another. You just don't ship medicine into another country without the proper permissions.

All that really is left to discuss here, is whether the Kosovo-custom officials has the right to demand this paperwork to be present, or they have no authority because Kosovo is still a part of Serbia proper.

And that discussion will not end for the next 50 years, and it is waste of time I fear.

ZK UK

pre 15 godina

Rules are rules. No one is above the law, not even the most privileged minority in the world, the Serbs.
(Suzana, 20 May 2008 13:01)
--
Exactly what rules and laws are you talking about? Those made in fairy land?

Peter Sudyka

pre 15 godina

Question for both sides:

How do any of you expect normal relations and a future of coexistance if neither side takes the other side seriously, even when it comes to something like aid?

If talks on status have beared no fruit, well then how about talks on technical issues, once again assisted by the Troika, because it can't stay like this forever.

Unless people are happy with Kosovo being the next Palestine or like one of those terrible, unrecognized ex-Soviet "countries", then go right ahead with this way of life as it is now.

Now before another Albanian comes and attacks me for being pro-Serb (here I must admit they do this more than the Serbs do), this is a purely objective question.

KV

pre 15 godina

If you don't have the necessary paperwork it will be confiscated. Just yesterday the Kosovar media was covering all these "donations" which were coming into Kosova with little paperwork --- only to find out that someone is paying for them (illegal).

lids

pre 15 godina

K-albanians havo no problem with drug galore coming from all over the world-but medicine for serbian children is a problem.But going after children, old and sick has been their only show of "democracy" for the past nine years.

Nick

pre 15 godina

Mr. Tadic,

We still have not heard a peep from you. Why aren't you condemning this appauling action. Why don't you ask your righteous friends the EU and the US to take a stand and condemn the authorities who are responsible. I am certain if it would be children of other nationalities there would be an uproar, but since it's ONLY Serbs, who cares.

louie

pre 15 godina

I don't understand why so much fuss about it!!!
I bet by end of the day the medicine will reach the pupils and all this will be forgotten!
What I don't like is the name calling,our leaders maybe corrupt but they are not criminals,we all know who filled the most prisons in Hague,but then again,we believe what we want to believe!
One thing for sure is that Kosovo is gone my friends and the truth is that at the present I can't see Albanians and Serbs living together!!!

Mike

pre 15 godina

With the notable exception of Village Bey, I find it sadly predictable that every Albanian groupthinker here somehow believes the stealing of medicine aimed for schoolchildren is somehow points to their advantage in pushing the myth that Kosovo is an indepedent country.

Free advice guys and gals: denying and/or taking a cut from, medicine to people, particularly children, is considered a public relations disaster in the civilized world.

Nehat UK

pre 15 godina

this is a joke you say. But it really isn't, all you need to do is obey the the rules and regulation of Kosova. The government of Kosova has agreed to let all humanitarian aid through to the serbs in Kosova, however any country would act the same, you simple cant just walls in with trucks expecting to go through the border with legal paper that do not belong to Kosova. SIMPLE

nikshala

pre 15 godina

This is the result of the arrogance of the people behind these medical supplies, who choose not to apply for the necessary documentation from the Kosovan Authorities since in their eyes Kosovo is part of Serbia! Well tough.

As long as they choose to ignore the Kosovan authorities and only get the paperwork and documentation from Serbia, then this will happen more often in the future.

Believe nobody in Kosovo is intersted in stopping medical supplies for serbs, but they should have the required paperwork. Law is the law.

I wouldn't be suprised if this is some provocation and PR stunt , just to provoke Kosovan authorities and say " look we told you, they are tryin to kill all the serbs".

BennyB

pre 15 godina

Many Trucks with donations come and go freely in Kosovo.

For the latest trucks you can just read this article:
http://www.openpr.com/news/44746/Abacus-Trucks-Return-From-Kosovo-Aid-Convoy.html

When it comes to medicines and certain organizations that could be not too transparent, it is a good thing that the stuff inside gets examined first. The world has too many cases where expired and/or contaminated medicines have been sent to Africa, Balkans etc.

These things should be checked thoroughly before being passed to the citizens. It is irresponsible to have your own citizens being poisoned by some dubious organizations that send only one truck, and that to a selective place.

Jevic

pre 15 godina

The corrupt kosovo albanians are acting as if they are an independent state. what a sham!! well if international law is the basis they are not independent.

bganon

pre 15 godina

A petty and stupid move, this was hardly an arms consignment.

We hear a lot from Kosovo Albanian politicians about Serbs being unwilling to trust Albanians and to take part in institutions.

I'm sure this is (not) an intelligent way to build trust...

village-bey

pre 15 godina

Kosovar authorities need to find other non soft target to assert their authority. Stop the moustache man if you can, not medical supplies.

Bato

pre 15 godina

As you see Kosovo is now a state whether people like it or not. On the boundry you can see the sign welcoming you to the republic of Kosovo and the Kosovo state customs controlling import and export.

Serbia dosen't send ''donation'' because this so called donation is fully payed by the Kosovo goverment. Serbia is just fooling serbs in Kosovo to think that belgrade is helping them.

Mr. Tadic personally knows that Kosovo is a real state with real instututions. Soon he is going to reconize it to everybody because he knows that the serbian citizens cant dream for ever. Kosovo for Serbia is just a bad dream.

Niall O'Doherty

pre 15 godina

Pathetic,

The stopping of medical aid from school kids to a hospital. All the spin from the Snake about promoting a multiethnic society was just a sham. Mr Pejoni, this is not about showing who is in charge. This is a criminal act by an illegal 'government' in Pristina who likes to exercise its 'authority' on humanitarian aid from schoolkids, however when the elections were held 2 weeks ago the brave KPS did not stop it nor did the 'Kosovo' customs try and halt the ballot papers at the 'border'.

ZK UK

pre 15 godina

So Pejoni, this is a clear sign that the Albanians are not capable of ruling Kosovo since it finds it acceptable to deny citizens of Serbia even the most basic medical needs.

For that reason it is absolutely necessary for Serbia to strengthen ties with loyal citizens. The criminal Albanian leaders will be exposed for what they really are soon enough.

Goran

pre 15 godina

Wow talk about corruption? the albanian politicians make me sick to the soul. they have no morality, nor do they care for anyone but themselves. they talk about a multicultural kosovo and peace, which they always without hesitation fail to deliver upon. now they deny medical donations which have all the required paper work, and which are for children at a primary school. independence? what a sick joke. this is hostage taking, and the serbs sure as hell aren't going to give into the terrorising nature of the illegal and pathetic albanian government.
CCCC

Goran

pre 15 godina

Wow talk about corruption? the albanian politicians make me sick to the soul. they have no morality, nor do they care for anyone but themselves. they talk about a multicultural kosovo and peace, which they always without hesitation fail to deliver upon. now they deny medical donations which have all the required paper work, and which are for children at a primary school. independence? what a sick joke. this is hostage taking, and the serbs sure as hell aren't going to give into the terrorising nature of the illegal and pathetic albanian government.
CCCC

Niall O'Doherty

pre 15 godina

Pathetic,

The stopping of medical aid from school kids to a hospital. All the spin from the Snake about promoting a multiethnic society was just a sham. Mr Pejoni, this is not about showing who is in charge. This is a criminal act by an illegal 'government' in Pristina who likes to exercise its 'authority' on humanitarian aid from schoolkids, however when the elections were held 2 weeks ago the brave KPS did not stop it nor did the 'Kosovo' customs try and halt the ballot papers at the 'border'.

ZK UK

pre 15 godina

So Pejoni, this is a clear sign that the Albanians are not capable of ruling Kosovo since it finds it acceptable to deny citizens of Serbia even the most basic medical needs.

For that reason it is absolutely necessary for Serbia to strengthen ties with loyal citizens. The criminal Albanian leaders will be exposed for what they really are soon enough.

bganon

pre 15 godina

A petty and stupid move, this was hardly an arms consignment.

We hear a lot from Kosovo Albanian politicians about Serbs being unwilling to trust Albanians and to take part in institutions.

I'm sure this is (not) an intelligent way to build trust...

Jevic

pre 15 godina

The corrupt kosovo albanians are acting as if they are an independent state. what a sham!! well if international law is the basis they are not independent.

Mike

pre 15 godina

With the notable exception of Village Bey, I find it sadly predictable that every Albanian groupthinker here somehow believes the stealing of medicine aimed for schoolchildren is somehow points to their advantage in pushing the myth that Kosovo is an indepedent country.

Free advice guys and gals: denying and/or taking a cut from, medicine to people, particularly children, is considered a public relations disaster in the civilized world.

lids

pre 15 godina

K-albanians havo no problem with drug galore coming from all over the world-but medicine for serbian children is a problem.But going after children, old and sick has been their only show of "democracy" for the past nine years.

Jan Andersen, DK

pre 15 godina

I don't more about this than what it says in the article - and I suspect that is also the case with the angry Serbs that has already commented on the story.

Now, this is the core of the story:

"Despite being accompanied by all the required documentation showing that this was a donation and that customs need not be paid, the customs officials asked for an import permit issued by the Kosovo Medical Agency, according to officials at the school."

2 things:

1) There is paperwork documenting that the shipment is a donation. Customswise I guess it makes it exempt from requiring the receiver to pay import tax on the shipment. Which is good, and is how donations should be handled.

It is not much different from if I buy something from a seller on eBay or from Amazon. Depending on the commercial value of the packet, country of origin, etc, I have to pay import tax before I can collect the packet. Some shady sellers will often label the packet as "Sample - No commercial value", "Marketing litterature" or something "innocent" to try to sneak it past customs without the buyer having to pay customs, but nowadays customs often inspects the packet anyway :)

2) The shipment is some kind of medicine. That makes it special in the eyes of most custom officials and countries.

Going back to the previous example of eBay/Amazon, nothing prevents me from importing shoes, books, or CD's. But if I try to import medicine or growth-hormones, I am probably breaking a dozens of laws unless I make sure I have the proper permissions, or can show customs that the medicine is already available over the counter without a prescription from my doctor.

It is, like it or not, the same with donations of medicine from a class of schoolchildren to another. You just don't ship medicine into another country without the proper permissions.

All that really is left to discuss here, is whether the Kosovo-custom officials has the right to demand this paperwork to be present, or they have no authority because Kosovo is still a part of Serbia proper.

And that discussion will not end for the next 50 years, and it is waste of time I fear.

Nick

pre 15 godina

Mr. Tadic,

We still have not heard a peep from you. Why aren't you condemning this appauling action. Why don't you ask your righteous friends the EU and the US to take a stand and condemn the authorities who are responsible. I am certain if it would be children of other nationalities there would be an uproar, but since it's ONLY Serbs, who cares.

nikshala

pre 15 godina

This is the result of the arrogance of the people behind these medical supplies, who choose not to apply for the necessary documentation from the Kosovan Authorities since in their eyes Kosovo is part of Serbia! Well tough.

As long as they choose to ignore the Kosovan authorities and only get the paperwork and documentation from Serbia, then this will happen more often in the future.

Believe nobody in Kosovo is intersted in stopping medical supplies for serbs, but they should have the required paperwork. Law is the law.

I wouldn't be suprised if this is some provocation and PR stunt , just to provoke Kosovan authorities and say " look we told you, they are tryin to kill all the serbs".

Chinchi

pre 15 godina

My dear friends. It seems that you are not aware of the fact that UNMIK and not Kosovo's government is in charge. The missing papers are papers which comply to UNMIK reguilations (2004/24) and not to any Kosovo Assembly laws. The SRSG is still issuing executive orders and the government of kosovo cannot really do anything about it.
The Customs are still UNMIK customs and not Kosovo's, according to UNMIK (who by the way is still the boss) there is not country called Kosovo, or Kosova or whatever. And my dear friends don't be surprised if this is the shortest dream you ever had and which will turn out to be a nightmare for the arrogant Albanians.
Ciao

Nehat UK

pre 15 godina

this is a joke you say. But it really isn't, all you need to do is obey the the rules and regulation of Kosova. The government of Kosova has agreed to let all humanitarian aid through to the serbs in Kosova, however any country would act the same, you simple cant just walls in with trucks expecting to go through the border with legal paper that do not belong to Kosova. SIMPLE

BennyB

pre 15 godina

Many Trucks with donations come and go freely in Kosovo.

For the latest trucks you can just read this article:
http://www.openpr.com/news/44746/Abacus-Trucks-Return-From-Kosovo-Aid-Convoy.html

When it comes to medicines and certain organizations that could be not too transparent, it is a good thing that the stuff inside gets examined first. The world has too many cases where expired and/or contaminated medicines have been sent to Africa, Balkans etc.

These things should be checked thoroughly before being passed to the citizens. It is irresponsible to have your own citizens being poisoned by some dubious organizations that send only one truck, and that to a selective place.

Gojko

pre 15 godina

In due time the Lawless albanians will screw their iudi up! Serbs in Kosovo don't fall into their traps. They are losing patience and no one else is rushing to recognizing them. They want the Serbs to be violent to make us look like the bad guys. They are "testing" us. Nice try thaci. Its not going to work!

Bato

pre 15 godina

As you see Kosovo is now a state whether people like it or not. On the boundry you can see the sign welcoming you to the republic of Kosovo and the Kosovo state customs controlling import and export.

Serbia dosen't send ''donation'' because this so called donation is fully payed by the Kosovo goverment. Serbia is just fooling serbs in Kosovo to think that belgrade is helping them.

Mr. Tadic personally knows that Kosovo is a real state with real instututions. Soon he is going to reconize it to everybody because he knows that the serbian citizens cant dream for ever. Kosovo for Serbia is just a bad dream.

village-bey

pre 15 godina

Kosovar authorities need to find other non soft target to assert their authority. Stop the moustache man if you can, not medical supplies.

louie

pre 15 godina

I don't understand why so much fuss about it!!!
I bet by end of the day the medicine will reach the pupils and all this will be forgotten!
What I don't like is the name calling,our leaders maybe corrupt but they are not criminals,we all know who filled the most prisons in Hague,but then again,we believe what we want to believe!
One thing for sure is that Kosovo is gone my friends and the truth is that at the present I can't see Albanians and Serbs living together!!!

ZK UK

pre 15 godina

Rules are rules. No one is above the law, not even the most privileged minority in the world, the Serbs.
(Suzana, 20 May 2008 13:01)
--
Exactly what rules and laws are you talking about? Those made in fairy land?

Roger7

pre 15 godina

lili says..."do you really believe that vit C and sirup is the right medecin for pulmonary infection or is it the way your doktors practice??"

Before you begin to act as if you are an authority on the uses of vitamin C, you need to work to improve your spelling.

I would think that medical professionals, including doctors, know more than you do about the uses of certain vitamins.

Previous blind trials using vitamin C found “a statistically significant 45 to 91% reduction in common cold incidence in the vitamin C group. Furthermore, three other trials found a statistically significant 80 to 100% reduction in the incidence of pneumonia in the vitamin C group. The large number of positive findings seems to warrant further consideration of the role of vitamin C in respiratory infections.”

bganon

pre 15 godina

EA its not a good question.

Its likely we would not have heard about it if the medicine had got through. Thats not a good example of Serbian negativity, but an example of news coverage around the world. Things are mostly covered when they go wrong.

This may be relatively minor on the PR radar but it is a small defeat for the Albanian side, showing a lack of humanity - thus posing the question what kind of life Serbs could expect under Albanians.

It need not have been in the news at all.

Peter Sudyka

pre 15 godina

Question for both sides:

How do any of you expect normal relations and a future of coexistance if neither side takes the other side seriously, even when it comes to something like aid?

If talks on status have beared no fruit, well then how about talks on technical issues, once again assisted by the Troika, because it can't stay like this forever.

Unless people are happy with Kosovo being the next Palestine or like one of those terrible, unrecognized ex-Soviet "countries", then go right ahead with this way of life as it is now.

Now before another Albanian comes and attacks me for being pro-Serb (here I must admit they do this more than the Serbs do), this is a purely objective question.

ZK UK

pre 15 godina

How do any of you expect normal relations and a future of coexistance if neither side takes the other side seriously, even when it comes to something like aid?

If talks on status have beared no fruit, well then how about talks on technical issues.
(Peter Sudyka, 20 May 2008 16:11)

Peter, your point is valid. I have mentioned here many times that it is completely delusional for either the Serbians or Albanians to think they can rule the other. It is just not going to work and the Serbians have offered the Albanians self-rule many many times and are now attempting to work out a technical agreement (with UNMIK) where it can service its loyal citizens.

The problem at the moment is that some people are living in fairy land and believe somehow that Serbians will accept Albanian rule. Now they can't even rule themselves, so how on earth can they expect to rule others?

Anyway, it won't be too long before this gets sorted out one way or another, however, what is certain is that Serbians rules themselves and so do Albanians.

Jovan

pre 15 godina

where was that custom-authority when the ballot-boxes were delivered...? =)

this sort of playing around is meaningless... if a cheap sign on the "border" and these little provocations make our albanian friends happy.. let them be happy...


they will realize anyway, that they are being duped, ...sooner or later.

until that, they can dream on about being illyrian, building mile high scyscrapers and being "independent"...

KV

pre 15 godina

If you don't have the necessary paperwork it will be confiscated. Just yesterday the Kosovar media was covering all these "donations" which were coming into Kosova with little paperwork --- only to find out that someone is paying for them (illegal).

lowe

pre 15 godina

so now even school children are being targetted and deprived of medicine? This is the new paradise of "Kosova"? Shouldn't Pristina be the first to look after the medical needs of these school children instead of having them turn to elsewhere outside the province?

EA

pre 15 godina

"...denying and/or taking a cut from, medicine to people, particularly children, is considered a public relations disaster in the civilized world.
(Mike, 20 May 2008 15:35)

I am surprised again with you Mike how quickly you come to that conclusion.

Can I ask everyone here a very simple question.

What would you say if the "so much needed medicine" were let come in Kosova without and hindrance?

Would you see that as the Kosova government is really generous?
Would you see that the Kosova state doesn't exist and calling it a fake state?
or
would you say that the Kosova's government is behaving responsibly?

Waiting for your responses guys))))

KASTRIOTI

pre 15 godina

Exactly what rules and laws are you talking about? Those made in fairy land?
(ZK UK, 20 May 2008 16:40)

Fairy land? At the Kosova border there is a big sign greeting serbs and others "Welcome to the Republic of Kosova." There is costums legitimizing all trafic. It is only going to get better--I mean, no one will be above the law (and that is the law of Republic of Kosova). Serbia can only watch from the other side of Kosova borders.
PEOPLE, Kosova has chosen to live in its own state and it has been recognized by most important international factors. Get used to it and remember that Kosova flag does not display the map of Kosova by chance. In the map is engraved 2 milion people's will to have its own borders and these people are ready to achieve this at any price. A right of self-determination and the pursuit of natural rights is the will of Kosova.

KV

pre 15 godina

Let's look at some interesting statistics.


(Mar 2007)
Export 12.327
Import 125.294
Balance -112.967 (9,8%)

(Mar 2008)
Export 17.435
Import 134.490
Balance -117.055 (13,0%)


(Change in)
Export: ~ 130%
Import: ~ 107%
Balance: -3.2%


Kosova's Import (from Serbia)
(M 07): 15.5%
(M 08): 9.8%


Conclusion:
Even though the trade imbalance for Kosova is a whopping 87% things are moving in the right direction. Kosova has started trading with new countries (Japan, China, Belgium, Sweden, etc) and this has caused an increase in imports and exports. Independence has staggered trade between Kosova-Serbia, nearly 50%. All facts are of March 2007 & March 2008. These facts do not represent Apr and May of 2008.


Source: Enti i Statistikes te Kosoves

(statistical office of Kosova)

Ilirian

pre 15 godina

The government of Kosovo won´t have an other choice but to take drastic action, if they are not willing to let their new state be undermined. Noone would doubt that Serbia is taking every action to destabilize Kosovo. The laissez-faire policies for Serbs should have an End. Serbia will upraid Kosovo if they enforce the law and if they do not.

Ataman

pre 15 godina

This is Quetzalcoatl (bloodthirsty Aztec Pigeon-Snake-God) in action.

If K-Albanian POLITICIANS want to have peace, this is precisely how NOT to do.

Otherwise the K-Albanian comments here make my stomach sick.

lili

pre 15 godina

do you really believe that vit C and sirup is the right medecin for pulmonary infection or is it the way your doktors practice?? i have not read these kind of prescription in any manual of good practice!

Nehat UK

pre 15 godina

this is a joke you say. But it really isn't, all you need to do is obey the the rules and regulation of Kosova. The government of Kosova has agreed to let all humanitarian aid through to the serbs in Kosova, however any country would act the same, you simple cant just walls in with trucks expecting to go through the border with legal paper that do not belong to Kosova. SIMPLE

Bato

pre 15 godina

As you see Kosovo is now a state whether people like it or not. On the boundry you can see the sign welcoming you to the republic of Kosovo and the Kosovo state customs controlling import and export.

Serbia dosen't send ''donation'' because this so called donation is fully payed by the Kosovo goverment. Serbia is just fooling serbs in Kosovo to think that belgrade is helping them.

Mr. Tadic personally knows that Kosovo is a real state with real instututions. Soon he is going to reconize it to everybody because he knows that the serbian citizens cant dream for ever. Kosovo for Serbia is just a bad dream.

nikshala

pre 15 godina

This is the result of the arrogance of the people behind these medical supplies, who choose not to apply for the necessary documentation from the Kosovan Authorities since in their eyes Kosovo is part of Serbia! Well tough.

As long as they choose to ignore the Kosovan authorities and only get the paperwork and documentation from Serbia, then this will happen more often in the future.

Believe nobody in Kosovo is intersted in stopping medical supplies for serbs, but they should have the required paperwork. Law is the law.

I wouldn't be suprised if this is some provocation and PR stunt , just to provoke Kosovan authorities and say " look we told you, they are tryin to kill all the serbs".

Goran

pre 15 godina

Wow talk about corruption? the albanian politicians make me sick to the soul. they have no morality, nor do they care for anyone but themselves. they talk about a multicultural kosovo and peace, which they always without hesitation fail to deliver upon. now they deny medical donations which have all the required paper work, and which are for children at a primary school. independence? what a sick joke. this is hostage taking, and the serbs sure as hell aren't going to give into the terrorising nature of the illegal and pathetic albanian government.
CCCC

Ilirian

pre 15 godina

The government of Kosovo won´t have an other choice but to take drastic action, if they are not willing to let their new state be undermined. Noone would doubt that Serbia is taking every action to destabilize Kosovo. The laissez-faire policies for Serbs should have an End. Serbia will upraid Kosovo if they enforce the law and if they do not.

ZK UK

pre 15 godina

So Pejoni, this is a clear sign that the Albanians are not capable of ruling Kosovo since it finds it acceptable to deny citizens of Serbia even the most basic medical needs.

For that reason it is absolutely necessary for Serbia to strengthen ties with loyal citizens. The criminal Albanian leaders will be exposed for what they really are soon enough.

Nick

pre 15 godina

Mr. Tadic,

We still have not heard a peep from you. Why aren't you condemning this appauling action. Why don't you ask your righteous friends the EU and the US to take a stand and condemn the authorities who are responsible. I am certain if it would be children of other nationalities there would be an uproar, but since it's ONLY Serbs, who cares.

KV

pre 15 godina

Let's look at some interesting statistics.


(Mar 2007)
Export 12.327
Import 125.294
Balance -112.967 (9,8%)

(Mar 2008)
Export 17.435
Import 134.490
Balance -117.055 (13,0%)


(Change in)
Export: ~ 130%
Import: ~ 107%
Balance: -3.2%


Kosova's Import (from Serbia)
(M 07): 15.5%
(M 08): 9.8%


Conclusion:
Even though the trade imbalance for Kosova is a whopping 87% things are moving in the right direction. Kosova has started trading with new countries (Japan, China, Belgium, Sweden, etc) and this has caused an increase in imports and exports. Independence has staggered trade between Kosova-Serbia, nearly 50%. All facts are of March 2007 & March 2008. These facts do not represent Apr and May of 2008.


Source: Enti i Statistikes te Kosoves

(statistical office of Kosova)

village-bey

pre 15 godina

Kosovar authorities need to find other non soft target to assert their authority. Stop the moustache man if you can, not medical supplies.

louie

pre 15 godina

I don't understand why so much fuss about it!!!
I bet by end of the day the medicine will reach the pupils and all this will be forgotten!
What I don't like is the name calling,our leaders maybe corrupt but they are not criminals,we all know who filled the most prisons in Hague,but then again,we believe what we want to believe!
One thing for sure is that Kosovo is gone my friends and the truth is that at the present I can't see Albanians and Serbs living together!!!

lids

pre 15 godina

K-albanians havo no problem with drug galore coming from all over the world-but medicine for serbian children is a problem.But going after children, old and sick has been their only show of "democracy" for the past nine years.

ZK UK

pre 15 godina

Rules are rules. No one is above the law, not even the most privileged minority in the world, the Serbs.
(Suzana, 20 May 2008 13:01)
--
Exactly what rules and laws are you talking about? Those made in fairy land?

Jevic

pre 15 godina

The corrupt kosovo albanians are acting as if they are an independent state. what a sham!! well if international law is the basis they are not independent.

bganon

pre 15 godina

A petty and stupid move, this was hardly an arms consignment.

We hear a lot from Kosovo Albanian politicians about Serbs being unwilling to trust Albanians and to take part in institutions.

I'm sure this is (not) an intelligent way to build trust...

Peter Sudyka

pre 15 godina

Question for both sides:

How do any of you expect normal relations and a future of coexistance if neither side takes the other side seriously, even when it comes to something like aid?

If talks on status have beared no fruit, well then how about talks on technical issues, once again assisted by the Troika, because it can't stay like this forever.

Unless people are happy with Kosovo being the next Palestine or like one of those terrible, unrecognized ex-Soviet "countries", then go right ahead with this way of life as it is now.

Now before another Albanian comes and attacks me for being pro-Serb (here I must admit they do this more than the Serbs do), this is a purely objective question.

lili

pre 15 godina

do you really believe that vit C and sirup is the right medecin for pulmonary infection or is it the way your doktors practice?? i have not read these kind of prescription in any manual of good practice!

KASTRIOTI

pre 15 godina

Exactly what rules and laws are you talking about? Those made in fairy land?
(ZK UK, 20 May 2008 16:40)

Fairy land? At the Kosova border there is a big sign greeting serbs and others "Welcome to the Republic of Kosova." There is costums legitimizing all trafic. It is only going to get better--I mean, no one will be above the law (and that is the law of Republic of Kosova). Serbia can only watch from the other side of Kosova borders.
PEOPLE, Kosova has chosen to live in its own state and it has been recognized by most important international factors. Get used to it and remember that Kosova flag does not display the map of Kosova by chance. In the map is engraved 2 milion people's will to have its own borders and these people are ready to achieve this at any price. A right of self-determination and the pursuit of natural rights is the will of Kosova.

Niall O'Doherty

pre 15 godina

Pathetic,

The stopping of medical aid from school kids to a hospital. All the spin from the Snake about promoting a multiethnic society was just a sham. Mr Pejoni, this is not about showing who is in charge. This is a criminal act by an illegal 'government' in Pristina who likes to exercise its 'authority' on humanitarian aid from schoolkids, however when the elections were held 2 weeks ago the brave KPS did not stop it nor did the 'Kosovo' customs try and halt the ballot papers at the 'border'.

KV

pre 15 godina

If you don't have the necessary paperwork it will be confiscated. Just yesterday the Kosovar media was covering all these "donations" which were coming into Kosova with little paperwork --- only to find out that someone is paying for them (illegal).

EA

pre 15 godina

"...denying and/or taking a cut from, medicine to people, particularly children, is considered a public relations disaster in the civilized world.
(Mike, 20 May 2008 15:35)

I am surprised again with you Mike how quickly you come to that conclusion.

Can I ask everyone here a very simple question.

What would you say if the "so much needed medicine" were let come in Kosova without and hindrance?

Would you see that as the Kosova government is really generous?
Would you see that the Kosova state doesn't exist and calling it a fake state?
or
would you say that the Kosova's government is behaving responsibly?

Waiting for your responses guys))))

BennyB

pre 15 godina

Many Trucks with donations come and go freely in Kosovo.

For the latest trucks you can just read this article:
http://www.openpr.com/news/44746/Abacus-Trucks-Return-From-Kosovo-Aid-Convoy.html

When it comes to medicines and certain organizations that could be not too transparent, it is a good thing that the stuff inside gets examined first. The world has too many cases where expired and/or contaminated medicines have been sent to Africa, Balkans etc.

These things should be checked thoroughly before being passed to the citizens. It is irresponsible to have your own citizens being poisoned by some dubious organizations that send only one truck, and that to a selective place.

Mike

pre 15 godina

With the notable exception of Village Bey, I find it sadly predictable that every Albanian groupthinker here somehow believes the stealing of medicine aimed for schoolchildren is somehow points to their advantage in pushing the myth that Kosovo is an indepedent country.

Free advice guys and gals: denying and/or taking a cut from, medicine to people, particularly children, is considered a public relations disaster in the civilized world.

Jan Andersen, DK

pre 15 godina

I don't more about this than what it says in the article - and I suspect that is also the case with the angry Serbs that has already commented on the story.

Now, this is the core of the story:

"Despite being accompanied by all the required documentation showing that this was a donation and that customs need not be paid, the customs officials asked for an import permit issued by the Kosovo Medical Agency, according to officials at the school."

2 things:

1) There is paperwork documenting that the shipment is a donation. Customswise I guess it makes it exempt from requiring the receiver to pay import tax on the shipment. Which is good, and is how donations should be handled.

It is not much different from if I buy something from a seller on eBay or from Amazon. Depending on the commercial value of the packet, country of origin, etc, I have to pay import tax before I can collect the packet. Some shady sellers will often label the packet as "Sample - No commercial value", "Marketing litterature" or something "innocent" to try to sneak it past customs without the buyer having to pay customs, but nowadays customs often inspects the packet anyway :)

2) The shipment is some kind of medicine. That makes it special in the eyes of most custom officials and countries.

Going back to the previous example of eBay/Amazon, nothing prevents me from importing shoes, books, or CD's. But if I try to import medicine or growth-hormones, I am probably breaking a dozens of laws unless I make sure I have the proper permissions, or can show customs that the medicine is already available over the counter without a prescription from my doctor.

It is, like it or not, the same with donations of medicine from a class of schoolchildren to another. You just don't ship medicine into another country without the proper permissions.

All that really is left to discuss here, is whether the Kosovo-custom officials has the right to demand this paperwork to be present, or they have no authority because Kosovo is still a part of Serbia proper.

And that discussion will not end for the next 50 years, and it is waste of time I fear.

Chinchi

pre 15 godina

My dear friends. It seems that you are not aware of the fact that UNMIK and not Kosovo's government is in charge. The missing papers are papers which comply to UNMIK reguilations (2004/24) and not to any Kosovo Assembly laws. The SRSG is still issuing executive orders and the government of kosovo cannot really do anything about it.
The Customs are still UNMIK customs and not Kosovo's, according to UNMIK (who by the way is still the boss) there is not country called Kosovo, or Kosova or whatever. And my dear friends don't be surprised if this is the shortest dream you ever had and which will turn out to be a nightmare for the arrogant Albanians.
Ciao

ZK UK

pre 15 godina

How do any of you expect normal relations and a future of coexistance if neither side takes the other side seriously, even when it comes to something like aid?

If talks on status have beared no fruit, well then how about talks on technical issues.
(Peter Sudyka, 20 May 2008 16:11)

Peter, your point is valid. I have mentioned here many times that it is completely delusional for either the Serbians or Albanians to think they can rule the other. It is just not going to work and the Serbians have offered the Albanians self-rule many many times and are now attempting to work out a technical agreement (with UNMIK) where it can service its loyal citizens.

The problem at the moment is that some people are living in fairy land and believe somehow that Serbians will accept Albanian rule. Now they can't even rule themselves, so how on earth can they expect to rule others?

Anyway, it won't be too long before this gets sorted out one way or another, however, what is certain is that Serbians rules themselves and so do Albanians.

Gojko

pre 15 godina

In due time the Lawless albanians will screw their iudi up! Serbs in Kosovo don't fall into their traps. They are losing patience and no one else is rushing to recognizing them. They want the Serbs to be violent to make us look like the bad guys. They are "testing" us. Nice try thaci. Its not going to work!

Roger7

pre 15 godina

lili says..."do you really believe that vit C and sirup is the right medecin for pulmonary infection or is it the way your doktors practice??"

Before you begin to act as if you are an authority on the uses of vitamin C, you need to work to improve your spelling.

I would think that medical professionals, including doctors, know more than you do about the uses of certain vitamins.

Previous blind trials using vitamin C found “a statistically significant 45 to 91% reduction in common cold incidence in the vitamin C group. Furthermore, three other trials found a statistically significant 80 to 100% reduction in the incidence of pneumonia in the vitamin C group. The large number of positive findings seems to warrant further consideration of the role of vitamin C in respiratory infections.”

Jovan

pre 15 godina

where was that custom-authority when the ballot-boxes were delivered...? =)

this sort of playing around is meaningless... if a cheap sign on the "border" and these little provocations make our albanian friends happy.. let them be happy...


they will realize anyway, that they are being duped, ...sooner or later.

until that, they can dream on about being illyrian, building mile high scyscrapers and being "independent"...

bganon

pre 15 godina

EA its not a good question.

Its likely we would not have heard about it if the medicine had got through. Thats not a good example of Serbian negativity, but an example of news coverage around the world. Things are mostly covered when they go wrong.

This may be relatively minor on the PR radar but it is a small defeat for the Albanian side, showing a lack of humanity - thus posing the question what kind of life Serbs could expect under Albanians.

It need not have been in the news at all.

Ataman

pre 15 godina

This is Quetzalcoatl (bloodthirsty Aztec Pigeon-Snake-God) in action.

If K-Albanian POLITICIANS want to have peace, this is precisely how NOT to do.

Otherwise the K-Albanian comments here make my stomach sick.

lowe

pre 15 godina

so now even school children are being targetted and deprived of medicine? This is the new paradise of "Kosova"? Shouldn't Pristina be the first to look after the medical needs of these school children instead of having them turn to elsewhere outside the province?