Sejdiu in "victory day" address

Yes, we all know that the Albanias have control of Kosovo since 1999. Now look what beautiful things they achieved:

Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc.

Another proof that the Albanians and the International forces do there jobs wrong.

South of Kosovo is still full of uran and the Albanian goverment doesn't do anything against it.

Good luck with your horrible pseudo future!

first happy freedom day to all you Kosovars out there.

and to all the Serbs out there. don't you wish you had a realistic President like the President of Kosova dr. Fatmir Sejdiu.

Many thought that after Rugova it will be hard to find a good President.

Sejdiu is showing to deserve the office that is running. He is one of the most mature, moderate and intelligent politicians in the Balkans.

His public speeches are always well balanced and intelligently written.

Also in this speech he never forgot to emphasis all aspect of the Kosovar’s resistance and the external key factors that lead to the freedom of Kosova.

“Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc.”

Wow. You’ve just described what was Yugoslavia during Milosevic era…

It iz amazing, how much private families in Kosovo have achieved since 1999. Of course you can not ignore the huge lack in public institutions and public service. The crime rate is extaordinary high, but it had a time of more than 20 yers to root and was de facto intitutionalized by Serb regime. By the way Serb and Albanian criminals have no problems tolerating each other, while some politicans still behave childish and refuse to shake hands.So combating crime will take many effords in Kosovo. Some themselves corrupt internationals have prooved to bee no real support. We have to keep in mind that Kosovo was almost burn down by 1999. Serb military was kenn on destroying and burning down everything after realizing they had lost the war and lost Kosovo. The Rebuilding immediately after the war prooved K-Albanians great courage. Respect!


Wish you a peacefull future.

Micha

Interested commentator:
I believe what Dr. Fatmir Sejdiu means is that since Kosova was occupied by the Serb armies during the Balkan Wars and annexed to Yugoslavia in 1918, the indigenous Albanian population has resented and resisted them with force.

After mistreatment and the refusal of repeated calls for autonomy, the policy of Milosevic culminated into "the straw that broke the camel's back" such that the Albanian Kosovars realized they could never again live under Belgrade's rule, not even with the greatest of autonomy.

Happy Victory Day to all Kosovars!

"with decades of effort that has been conducted via the system of education, and political and armed"

- what does Sediju mean by "decades" - has this been something the ethnic Albanians in Former Yugoslavia planned for decades ? Here in the US and West we were told this was all Milosevices fault in 1999 but this Sediju guy says it was a decades long armed struggle so somthing much longer planned!

Would love some information from both sides of the argument.

On really has to wonder at how much of a "victory" can really be claimed in this so-called "indepedent" state.

If all Sedjiu cares about is the removal of Belgrade's authority, then OK, he's on the money. But to go from one occupying force to be replaced by at least 3 others is a hollow "victory" at best.

I can completely understand his need to put a positive face on the situation: mentioning how this so-called epic struggle that had been taking place for decades if not centuries was finally realized by the rest of the world, and blah blah blah. It makes great reading for the revisionist textbooks that are no doubt being printed for K-Albanian schools as I write this.

In reality, he's probably smart enough to realize, though not actually say, that Kosovo's "independence" is simply a matter of being conveniently strategic to US international interests. But then again, this is the same man who thinks he can exert authority over Serb parts of Kosovo too, so I'll hold off my definitive conclusions about the man's intellectual capacities for a little while longer.

But why sour the moment with empirical data? If saying what he says makes the man happy and makes his constituents think he's a swell guy, then far be it from me to rain on their collective celebration today.

Red and Black I dress eagle on my chest

Did NATO even remove any of the depleted uranium they spread in (mostly) southwestern Kosovo since they took over?

They've had 9 years and have they done anything besides rope it off - or is it still sitting there?

Mike,

It is obvious your sympathy towards the Serbs and I have no issue with that. It is your choice. What is surprises me is how much you want to see Kosova devided in ethnic lines without looking into the consequences. It doesn't concerns me how much self governing authority the Serbs in Kosova have as long as the it applies the same for the Albanians living in Presevo Bujanovac and Medvedja. If we are talking about deviding Kosova in ethic lines why not deviding Serbia itself in ethnic lines and Macedonia?
I think the REALISTIC way forward and is that Kosova and Serbia should engage in talks as two independent countries WHERE priorities should be free movement of people and goods, mutual respect of minorities on both countries, etc etc with the joint aim in joining the EU. Isn't that more REALISTIC and touchable for people living in Kosova and Serbia?

Marko,

"Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc."
I really thought that you gave a description of Serbia here, but it seems that you know nothing about the Serbian (criminal) world. It is so easy to just point to others by ignoring his own failures. The reality is different, even in Serbia. Read the Human Rights Reports!!
The biggest Mafia in a city like Rotterdam is controled by the Russians with some Serbians helping them out. The ways of trafficking are leading over Belgrade, so stop talking about Albanians as the only wrongdoers in the European world. This is discrimination and "HATE SPEECH"!!
Cees

EA,

Indeed I am a Serb sympathizer, but let me emphasize that my views on Kosovo and region have less to do with beating the drum of Serbian nationalism than by looking at all the facts on the table. Saying Kosovo is Serbia and leaving it at that is a hollow argument indeed. Let me answer your points one by one:

"What is surprises me is how much you want to see Kosova devided in ethnic lines without looking into the consequences."

-- This, whether we like it or not, is a reality. The K-Serbs are not going to come on board anything Pristina is offering anytime soon. Not as long as people like Thaci are at the helm. There seems to be this assumption that K-Serbs are being strong-armed by Belgrade. There may be some merit in that, but there is also a genuine refusal of K-Serbs to have anything to do with Pristina. What remains is whether authority will continue to come from Belgrade, or whether authority will originate and radiate from Mitrovica. If the latter wins, consider that a marginal victory.

"It doesn't concerns me how much self governing authority the Serbs in Kosova have as long as the it applies the same for the Albanians living in Presevo Bujanovac and Medvedja."

-- I personally have no problem with that. If the international community is going to enforce that borders after February 17 cannot be changed, then Valley Albanians need to realize their state is, and always was, Serbia. They can have a significant degree of self-rule if the same is given (and it looks like it will be) to the K-Serbs.

" think the REALISTIC way forward and is that Kosova and Serbia should engage in talks as two independent countries WHERE priorities should be free movement of people and goods, mutual respect of minorities on both countries, etc etc with the joint aim in joining the EU."

-- Yes, that's what everyone on the ground is saying on both sides of the Ibar. The only sticking point is what to classify Kosovo as. You say it's independent. Belgrade says it's part of Serbia. Again, you're both right and you're both wrong. But regardless of sematics and getting stuck on names and all, I agree with you that the best way forward is for Serbs and Albanians to start cooperating on the levels you indicated. Though the Albanian argument prior to February 17 was something like "we want to be cooperative with Serbs, but we want a fence dividing us." Well it seems the Serbs are now applying the same tactic.

If good fences make good neigbors, I say let the rock-laying begin.

And finally, with regards to EU ascension, all of this will look and sound completely silly once Serbia (with Kosovo) enter the EU.

"Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc."
I really thought that you gave a description of Serbia here, but it seems that you know nothing about the Serbian (criminal) world. It is so easy to just point to others by ignoring his own failures. The reality is different, even in Serbia. Read the Human Rights Reports!!
The biggest Mafia in a city like Rotterdam is controled by the Russians with some Serbians helping them out. The ways of trafficking are leading over Belgrade, so stop talking about Albanians as the only wrongdoers in the European world. This is discrimination and "HATE SPEECH"!!
Cees
(cees, 13 June 2008 00:20)

yes, cees, and i have repeated exactly such comments time after time, but it makes no difference in this forum, and by allowing it,day after day, it absolutely encourages it.

as for widespread criminality, it goes throughout the balkans, needless to say in russia, and every other country to some extent. it is hardly worth pointing this out, because it is so well known.

yes, i do like this president, from what i know of him, and again i congratulate all of our frnds and allies. we need to feel good about what we've Accomplished, and work hard on many need areas. as they need to do in serbia, instead of wasting all of their time pouring their wrath onto newly independent Kosova...

roberto-frisco

Mark,

thanks for that - so the Albanians have been doing this since 1918 like you say;

"annexed to Yugoslavia in 1918, the indigenous Albanian population has resented and resisted them with force. "

Gee I didn't know that Yugoslavia belonged to Albania - far too many countries in Old Europe!

In which case how was Milosevic to blame - was he even born before 1918? What about this so called Genocide against the Albanians how many hundreds of thousands were Killed since 1918 under Yugoslavia? I mean you say you suffered greatly in all this time so how come nothing was mentioned till 1998 - 80 years later?

From what I can gather there are now 2 million Albanians in kosovo - did they get decimated under Milosevic or even in the second world war under the Nazi's - surely the terrible Serbs must have wiped out all the Albanians then with Nazi help? Gee this is complicated.

Partition is coming only words i will say

Cees,

A few days ago I read a report from the Dutch Ministery of Justice on organised crime in the Netherlands (see www.ciroc.nl), and Russians and Serbs were not mentioned in that report. However, the report did mention Albanians involved in drugs and prostitution in Amsterdam...

When it comes to crime, young Maroccans are the biggest problem in Rotterdam (as well as in Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Almere etc etc.). That is one of the reasons why politicians who are against immigration from Islamic countries (Geert Wilders!) are so popular in the Netherlands.

Marko wrote: "Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc. "

Marko is absolutely right! But why?
Before 1989 Kosovo's communist rulers were as good (as bad) as any in former Yugoslavia. The accroachmet to its autonomy (insead of promotin it to a Republic) lead to deterioration.
How can Kosovo be normalized? That is the puzzle! And the (most countries of the) EU and the USA believe the ansear is: Controled Independence! Controlled obvously not by the Serbs, because 90% of the local population would not accept that, but by the EU. It will take a long time to get it back to normal, but what is the alternative? A frozen conflict?

first happy freedom day to all you Kosovars out there.

and to all the Serbs out there. don't you wish you had a realistic President like the President of Kosova dr. Fatmir Sejdiu.

Many thought that after Rugova it will be hard to find a good President.

Sejdiu is showing to deserve the office that is running. He is one of the most mature, moderate and intelligent politicians in the Balkans.

His public speeches are always well balanced and intelligently written.

Also in this speech he never forgot to emphasis all aspect of the Kosovar’s resistance and the external key factors that lead to the freedom of Kosova.

Yes, we all know that the Albanias have control of Kosovo since 1999. Now look what beautiful things they achieved:

Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc.

Another proof that the Albanians and the International forces do there jobs wrong.

South of Kosovo is still full of uran and the Albanian goverment doesn't do anything against it.

Good luck with your horrible pseudo future!

“Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc.”

Wow. You’ve just described what was Yugoslavia during Milosevic era…

Interested commentator:
I believe what Dr. Fatmir Sejdiu means is that since Kosova was occupied by the Serb armies during the Balkan Wars and annexed to Yugoslavia in 1918, the indigenous Albanian population has resented and resisted them with force.

After mistreatment and the refusal of repeated calls for autonomy, the policy of Milosevic culminated into "the straw that broke the camel's back" such that the Albanian Kosovars realized they could never again live under Belgrade's rule, not even with the greatest of autonomy.

Happy Victory Day to all Kosovars!

Red and Black I dress eagle on my chest

Mike,

It is obvious your sympathy towards the Serbs and I have no issue with that. It is your choice. What is surprises me is how much you want to see Kosova devided in ethnic lines without looking into the consequences. It doesn't concerns me how much self governing authority the Serbs in Kosova have as long as the it applies the same for the Albanians living in Presevo Bujanovac and Medvedja. If we are talking about deviding Kosova in ethic lines why not deviding Serbia itself in ethnic lines and Macedonia?
I think the REALISTIC way forward and is that Kosova and Serbia should engage in talks as two independent countries WHERE priorities should be free movement of people and goods, mutual respect of minorities on both countries, etc etc with the joint aim in joining the EU. Isn't that more REALISTIC and touchable for people living in Kosova and Serbia?

Mark,

thanks for that - so the Albanians have been doing this since 1918 like you say;

"annexed to Yugoslavia in 1918, the indigenous Albanian population has resented and resisted them with force. "

Gee I didn't know that Yugoslavia belonged to Albania - far too many countries in Old Europe!

In which case how was Milosevic to blame - was he even born before 1918? What about this so called Genocide against the Albanians how many hundreds of thousands were Killed since 1918 under Yugoslavia? I mean you say you suffered greatly in all this time so how come nothing was mentioned till 1998 - 80 years later?

From what I can gather there are now 2 million Albanians in kosovo - did they get decimated under Milosevic or even in the second world war under the Nazi's - surely the terrible Serbs must have wiped out all the Albanians then with Nazi help? Gee this is complicated.

EA,

Indeed I am a Serb sympathizer, but let me emphasize that my views on Kosovo and region have less to do with beating the drum of Serbian nationalism than by looking at all the facts on the table. Saying Kosovo is Serbia and leaving it at that is a hollow argument indeed. Let me answer your points one by one:

"What is surprises me is how much you want to see Kosova devided in ethnic lines without looking into the consequences."

-- This, whether we like it or not, is a reality. The K-Serbs are not going to come on board anything Pristina is offering anytime soon. Not as long as people like Thaci are at the helm. There seems to be this assumption that K-Serbs are being strong-armed by Belgrade. There may be some merit in that, but there is also a genuine refusal of K-Serbs to have anything to do with Pristina. What remains is whether authority will continue to come from Belgrade, or whether authority will originate and radiate from Mitrovica. If the latter wins, consider that a marginal victory.

"It doesn't concerns me how much self governing authority the Serbs in Kosova have as long as the it applies the same for the Albanians living in Presevo Bujanovac and Medvedja."

-- I personally have no problem with that. If the international community is going to enforce that borders after February 17 cannot be changed, then Valley Albanians need to realize their state is, and always was, Serbia. They can have a significant degree of self-rule if the same is given (and it looks like it will be) to the K-Serbs.

" think the REALISTIC way forward and is that Kosova and Serbia should engage in talks as two independent countries WHERE priorities should be free movement of people and goods, mutual respect of minorities on both countries, etc etc with the joint aim in joining the EU."

-- Yes, that's what everyone on the ground is saying on both sides of the Ibar. The only sticking point is what to classify Kosovo as. You say it's independent. Belgrade says it's part of Serbia. Again, you're both right and you're both wrong. But regardless of sematics and getting stuck on names and all, I agree with you that the best way forward is for Serbs and Albanians to start cooperating on the levels you indicated. Though the Albanian argument prior to February 17 was something like "we want to be cooperative with Serbs, but we want a fence dividing us." Well it seems the Serbs are now applying the same tactic.

If good fences make good neigbors, I say let the rock-laying begin.

And finally, with regards to EU ascension, all of this will look and sound completely silly once Serbia (with Kosovo) enter the EU.

Partition is coming only words i will say

"with decades of effort that has been conducted via the system of education, and political and armed"

- what does Sediju mean by "decades" - has this been something the ethnic Albanians in Former Yugoslavia planned for decades ? Here in the US and West we were told this was all Milosevices fault in 1999 but this Sediju guy says it was a decades long armed struggle so somthing much longer planned!

Would love some information from both sides of the argument.

It iz amazing, how much private families in Kosovo have achieved since 1999. Of course you can not ignore the huge lack in public institutions and public service. The crime rate is extaordinary high, but it had a time of more than 20 yers to root and was de facto intitutionalized by Serb regime. By the way Serb and Albanian criminals have no problems tolerating each other, while some politicans still behave childish and refuse to shake hands.So combating crime will take many effords in Kosovo. Some themselves corrupt internationals have prooved to bee no real support. We have to keep in mind that Kosovo was almost burn down by 1999. Serb military was kenn on destroying and burning down everything after realizing they had lost the war and lost Kosovo. The Rebuilding immediately after the war prooved K-Albanians great courage. Respect!


Wish you a peacefull future.

Micha

On really has to wonder at how much of a "victory" can really be claimed in this so-called "indepedent" state.

If all Sedjiu cares about is the removal of Belgrade's authority, then OK, he's on the money. But to go from one occupying force to be replaced by at least 3 others is a hollow "victory" at best.

I can completely understand his need to put a positive face on the situation: mentioning how this so-called epic struggle that had been taking place for decades if not centuries was finally realized by the rest of the world, and blah blah blah. It makes great reading for the revisionist textbooks that are no doubt being printed for K-Albanian schools as I write this.

In reality, he's probably smart enough to realize, though not actually say, that Kosovo's "independence" is simply a matter of being conveniently strategic to US international interests. But then again, this is the same man who thinks he can exert authority over Serb parts of Kosovo too, so I'll hold off my definitive conclusions about the man's intellectual capacities for a little while longer.

But why sour the moment with empirical data? If saying what he says makes the man happy and makes his constituents think he's a swell guy, then far be it from me to rain on their collective celebration today.

Did NATO even remove any of the depleted uranium they spread in (mostly) southwestern Kosovo since they took over?

They've had 9 years and have they done anything besides rope it off - or is it still sitting there?

Marko,

"Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc."
I really thought that you gave a description of Serbia here, but it seems that you know nothing about the Serbian (criminal) world. It is so easy to just point to others by ignoring his own failures. The reality is different, even in Serbia. Read the Human Rights Reports!!
The biggest Mafia in a city like Rotterdam is controled by the Russians with some Serbians helping them out. The ways of trafficking are leading over Belgrade, so stop talking about Albanians as the only wrongdoers in the European world. This is discrimination and "HATE SPEECH"!!
Cees

"Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc."
I really thought that you gave a description of Serbia here, but it seems that you know nothing about the Serbian (criminal) world. It is so easy to just point to others by ignoring his own failures. The reality is different, even in Serbia. Read the Human Rights Reports!!
The biggest Mafia in a city like Rotterdam is controled by the Russians with some Serbians helping them out. The ways of trafficking are leading over Belgrade, so stop talking about Albanians as the only wrongdoers in the European world. This is discrimination and "HATE SPEECH"!!
Cees
(cees, 13 June 2008 00:20)

yes, cees, and i have repeated exactly such comments time after time, but it makes no difference in this forum, and by allowing it,day after day, it absolutely encourages it.

as for widespread criminality, it goes throughout the balkans, needless to say in russia, and every other country to some extent. it is hardly worth pointing this out, because it is so well known.

yes, i do like this president, from what i know of him, and again i congratulate all of our frnds and allies. we need to feel good about what we've Accomplished, and work hard on many need areas. as they need to do in serbia, instead of wasting all of their time pouring their wrath onto newly independent Kosova...

roberto-frisco

Cees,

A few days ago I read a report from the Dutch Ministery of Justice on organised crime in the Netherlands (see www.ciroc.nl), and Russians and Serbs were not mentioned in that report. However, the report did mention Albanians involved in drugs and prostitution in Amsterdam...

When it comes to crime, young Maroccans are the biggest problem in Rotterdam (as well as in Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Almere etc etc.). That is one of the reasons why politicians who are against immigration from Islamic countries (Geert Wilders!) are so popular in the Netherlands.

Marko wrote: "Rising criminality, drug traffic, prostitution, spread of ethnic hate, terrorism, unemployment, high debts, racism, oppression etc. "

Marko is absolutely right! But why?
Before 1989 Kosovo's communist rulers were as good (as bad) as any in former Yugoslavia. The accroachmet to its autonomy (insead of promotin it to a Republic) lead to deterioration.
How can Kosovo be normalized? That is the puzzle! And the (most countries of the) EU and the USA believe the ansear is: Controled Independence! Controlled obvously not by the Serbs, because 90% of the local population would not accept that, but by the EU. It will take a long time to get it back to normal, but what is the alternative? A frozen conflict?