“Kosovo economically unsustainable”

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

From what I can gather, the Albanians are relying on the EU/US to keep providing the fish but just like the Bosnian Federation, those fish will eventually run out.

I am glad the Serbians have learnt to fish and their success in both Serbia and Srpska Republika speaks for itself.

Tymi: "Kosovo possess sufficient natural resources to survive"

What are those exactly? What resources? You can't count in the mines in the Serbian areas.

Even the basic resources such as power require huge investment to upgrade their infrastructure as far as I understand. Are the UN, EU and US intending to foot the bill?

Toni: "Why Kosova economy would depend on serbia when we have Albania in our borders with 450 km cost line and what is most important its our natural motherland."

And there you have it. There is a new flag, declarations of independence and yet you describe another nation as your "natural motherland" and wave their flag? Why independence then? Surely you just wish to almalgamate with Albania.

And Albania has had the same coastline for a long time. How can this economically benefit Kosovo apart from trade routes which they already had?

I've no idea whther it is or isn't sustainable but i suspect it isn't. However, that's missing the point. The US and EU don't give a damn about sustainability. They'll drip feed aid to try to placate the albanians whilst they plunder the resources. At the end of the day, the Albanians will see very little of the benefits apart from the guys at the top like Thaci.

KV: Unfortunately, your comments along with your false grandiose empowerment cannon end soon enough.

As a US citizen, it is certainly amazing to read albanian posters attempting to describe how their still born nation plans on surviving without breast feeding from the US/EU nipple. Not once has anyone suggested or laid out a plan for growth or prosperity based on a Economics 101. What do you have that I want? Other than the overflowing river of drugs and prostitution via the albanian mafia, what else? Serbian organs perhaps?

How do you plan on overcoming Serbia in 15 years? Serbia has the Danube, agriculture, arts and entertainment, tourism, and sports to name a few arenas of economic growth and continued development? Let's not forget Russia and India's multi billion dollar investments along with FIAT that offer a bright future and stept in the right direction. Who in their right mind would invest in albanian proper now, let alone a non UN member state recognized by only 41 states? And lets be honest, those states only recognized you because of the immense pressure via Washington's State Dept. Let it be praised that soon this administration will be gone, remembered in history as the WORST ever elected by this country and suffered by the world.

albanians continue to demonstrate to the world the kind of partnerships they offer with regional instability seasoned with spices of intolerance and insults. You offer nothing, you have nothing, your are irrelevant.

I don't understand how these people talk about Kosova economy when they are the one who ruin it. 500 thousand houses and other object were burned to the ground in Kosova war by serbian paramilitary forces, all Kosova factories were cannibalized by serbian companies that were set up as "owners" to Kosova companies. On the other hand banks that use to function in Kosova stole all the money from Kosova Albanians who deposit their money in them, I still know people that never got their money back which money was used to finance Milosevic’s wars. The other point that I don't get here is that how dare one serb can say that Kosova economy can only survive together with serbia, the only way to Kosova survive with serbia is Kosova without Albaninas othervise there is no survive but chaos and war again. Why Kosova economy would depend on serbia when we have Albania in our borders with 450 km cost line and what is most important its our natural motherland. With Albania Kosova will not only survive economically but Albanians in Kosova will survive physically as well.

You last 4-5 Albanians have given no real objection to Mr. Popovic's claims. All you are saying is "kosova" this and "kosova" that but really its not giving anyone here a solid independent economic plan.

Guys what foreign investments.. what donations.. you think if this dollar keeps falling the USA will go out of its way to help the mighty brave citizens of "kosova" get real guys.

How can you say there will be foreign investment when there is so much mafia, drug and organized crime in Kosovo that its ridiculous.

Businessmen will not look for the best interest in your little mutated "country" they will look at one thing and one thing only.. the benefit of there product.... Kosovo gives absolutely no benefit for any business therefore there will be 0% foreign investment.


You Albanians keep setting these silly little time frames.. wait you'll see in X number of years.. but whats up guys you are now "independent" and so far all I have been seeing is a foreign military organization (NATO) telling you that you cant even have your own damn army.

This guy is a joke, just like most Serbian patriots. Kosova will surpass Serbia in living standards in 15 years, easily.

Fix Serbian economy first, and latter worry about Kosova's.

“Popović said that research showed that Kosovo’s economy had only progressed while it had been integrated with that of Serbia.”

He must be joking. I really hope he was not serious, otherwise, if his book contains such a comments, than his book will become a garbage, as no one will buy it, no one is willing to waste his time reading nonsense jokes.
The “progress” that we had under Serbia brought us where we stand now, even after 9 years separation! Hopefully, we, after the independence, will have speedy progress, first of all thanking powerful K/Albanian businessmen and of course foreign investments and donations. So see you all in two-three years, and comment it this issue at that time.

What to expect from a people who build their lives on welfare for 5 generations.
Let them take from freedom loving"democrats" for a change,and let`s hope eurocrats don`t overfeed them like we did.

Truer words were never spoken about the Kosovo i Metohija status issue. While spending 2 years with US Army Civil Affairs KFOR 2005-2007, I was able to observe and work with local businessmen, PISG local governments, and the intl community.

The economy is in shambles! The largest employers in the province are KFOR bases, UNMIK and EU log bases, administrative assistants, and translators.

The province survives because of outside infusion of capital be it from Intl donators or the large immigrant community abroad. The only native industries to Kos-Met are car washes, petrol stations, supermarkets, mosque construction, and restaurants. The only reason the aforementioned industries stay afloat is because of the intl presence. While serving with Civil Affairs I ate "out side the wire" daily because we would always hold meetings with locals over coffee or dinner in places like Strpce, Urosevac, Lipjan, Pristina, Gracanica, Vitina, Vrbovac,Binac, etc.

There is also a culture of corruption among the provinces PISG. Just look the previous investigations of corruption and embezzlement in dealing with the construction of the new power plant in Obilic.

This is a province that without the central government in Serbia proper is unable to keep the lights on. No intl corporations with any serious motives will invest in a place that can not keep their factories or service industries running without further costs to them.

Also because of the unnecessarily speedy privatization of business and land, the institutions in the province have illegally distributed land. Other post communist and socialist countries, like Poland, should be the model. No businesses will invest in a land where the factory they own might be on a plot that was illegally seized after WWII.

From the macroeconomic point of view and under normal circumstances in a country Popovic is right. The problem of Kosovo´s economy is more complex. As Popovic and other experts admit, Kosovo possess sufficient natural resources to survive. Even better then Montenegro. Btw, many sceptics of Montengro´s independence used the same arguments. So far nothing negative occur. Therefore I see some contradictions in the message of Popovic. As for the mistakes of UNMIK Popovic is wrong. It was not UNMIK who pushed and declared Kosovo´s independence. The biggest mistake and misuse of the power of UNMIK was 9 year of non-efficient economic policy in Kosovo (for all the inhabitants not only Albanians). UNMIK was not able to create a normal economic environement. Considering the political opposition of the Albanians towards Belgrade, even Serbia couldn´t make Kosovo economically more efficient. I hope all agree that in 45 years Kosovo was the poorest region of Yugoslavia. Therefore I do not consider the economic future of Kosovo as independet country so pesimistic. If Serbia will show a good will towards the new state everybody will profit. Probably Kosovo Serbs even more.

Oh here we go Albanians blasting how Kosovo is going to be some economic miracle when we all know its not going to be any better than it was 50,100,1000 years ago.

Serbia's economy grows on average 7.6% a year that the highest in Europe my friends. Results speak for themselves, have any Albanians here ever been to Serbia (besides Kosovo of course) I doubt it, you have no idea how much construction is going on in the entire country.

azdren: congrats on the new Porsche dealership, Belgrade already has dozen of those... however I doubt Albanians would need a dealership to get their hand on one of those puppies. ;)

@10 Mark
"Contrary to what he thinks, Kosova is starting to improve and is getting on the right path."

Wait a minute. Did you really read it? And still believe what you write? Let me quote from the article:

1. "not more than 2 decent hotels in the whole country" meaning nowhere to stay actually
2. "rarest of destinations" meaning noone goes there.
3. "nearly free of tourists" again meaning noone goes there
4. "It's as if the clock has been turned back 50 years" meaning it is still beack in the stone age
5. "the State Department's Web site does advise travelers to Kosovo to steer clear of political demonstrations and watch for street crime" meaning stay in your hotel room and if go out, watch your back please.
6. "Kosovo is a land of deteriorated hotels, indifferent food, potholed roads and battle-scarred locals." meaning... a tourist's paradise
7. "highways leaving Pristina are littered with trash, an endless landscape of auto junkyards" just to re-confirm the number 6 point.
8. "Hotel Baci, ran out of hot water at peak hours, and there was no water at all one night." meaning take a truck full of water with you before you go there.
9. "on a beautiful June day, the hotel had exactly five guests, all of them members of Kosovo's NATO-led peacekeeping force" meaning noone is going there.
10. "In the lobby, stuffing was breaking through the seams of the leather chairs; the restrooms could be smelled 20 yards away. Water leaks streaked the walls of guest rooms; carpets were stained and moldy, and bird droppings fouled the balconies. Rebuilding crumbling ski resorts here is little more than a dream." meaning ski-tourism isnt the strong asset of the area, nor it is meant to be for the next (many) years.


What I wanted to comment about the whole Kossovo thing is this: You are not going to have any economic development in hte near or maybe far futere either, if you continue depending on foreign aid, especially from the usa. Being rich in resources and combining it with the "free" usa aid and the Kfor present, only means that the americans have already made their plans on how to dig, extract, refine and export to their country all of those resources, without giving you a damn thing in return. This is the mainstream american policy, just look at Iraq and Kuweit. If Kossovo's economy doesnt (and at the moment cannot) stand on its own feet, then you are doomed to bankcrupsy and total failure, money borrowing from wmf with huge interest that you will never be able to pay back, and in the remote case you decide to unite with your motherland albania (remember for some people of Kossovo, motherland is Servia), then albania will have an even bigger problem incorporating you to the already 2nd poorest country in Europe (guess which one is the poorest).

On a funny note, again from the same article:
"Pristina, the capital, has a Bill Clinton Street and a Robert Dole Street."
and
"The Hotel Victory has a replica of the Statue of Liberty on the roof"
only shows the mentality of the people and the fairy tale they live in.
As for the Porsche's someone mentioned, the only reason I can think of that a dealership is there, is to "laundry" all those Porsche's stolen from the surrounding countries.

Bear in mind that Kossovo cant ever be an EU member. Even if it does start to develope and grow economically, there are another 20 years at least ahead before there is any kind of entry plan in the union. But by that time Servia will certainly be a member and then... I see veto's flying around like meteorites :)

Good. we'll join Albania. Problem solved. It will be a decent sized country with shores, minerals, tourism and close to 6 million people. Serbia is falling apart for themselves, so they can't be that good and they had 100 years to improve Kosovo.

This is a ridiculous...What kind of economics research is this?! How can you compare Kosovo in the 1980s with Kosovo now? Certainly Serbia needs to send its economists abroad to learn how to do proper research...Kosovo economy was put on hold because of the war, and that has lasting legacies...Surely that its economy it is going to strengthen soon, if Belgrade stops its stupid strategies to disintegrate Kosovo...Kosovo can stand on its on pretty easily. There are so many other countries in the world that are way smaller than Kosovo and they are sustainable economically...You cant compare a country that just comes out of war with its situation after the war...Perhaps this is a good way to suggest that from the economics point of view, the war has had a negative impact on Kosovo' economy...as it does in all war torn countries....but Kosovo will never look back, and the economy will get better and better...Now that it is independent and many countries have recognised this country and is stable, the Foreign Direct Investments will flow in the country, and bring the economy up, but really serbs need to beef up their level of economists, you cannot compare these two situations (Kosovo before and after the war)...You may, but that will just tell you the effect of the war on the economy, but will not tell you what the aouthor of that so called "study" suggests...When Yugoslavia was dismantled Serbia economy was on the donwhill...can you say that the economy was better because it was under Yugoslavia, no you can say that the war affected Serbia's economy...it would be good if some proper economists write about proper economics...not one that is fueled by nationalism...feelings are left asside when you do proper research...and of course you need more knowledge in economics and of course talent if you would like to do proper research

"The Kosovo economy is only sustainable as an integral part of Serbia’s economy..."

How you can be sustainable while someone is cording up yuor breath is a brainteaser to me.
No doubt, it would have been better all the things happened in Kosovo and Serbia would have never happened. We (Serbs and Albanians) probably would be part of EU, doing better than Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria etc. But the assumptions in the article are to hypothetical. On the one side we have a serb government considering Albanians in Kosovo alians and taking many effords to damage Kosovos sustainability. On the other side you have Albanians affraid to the bones of serb military action. So they prefere to be poor but not depend on Serbia.

This is hillarious coming from a Serb that wishes Kosova was still a part of Serbia.

Contrary to what he thinks, Kosova is starting to improve and is getting on the right path. The Wall Street Journal just published an article entitled "Kosovo: Europe's Unlikely Charmer" which sheds more light on the situation of tourism in Kosova. You can find it here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121452066620808827.html

Ha ha. It is laughable to look at the contents of this book.

"1980's there were 250,000 Albanians employed, now 60% unemployment." Yeah, no kidding. But did he mention how in 1988 when Milosevic gave his speech.

And you say how Kosova's economy will only grow if it is a part of Serbia. Yeah, that's why the Balkans largest building will be in Prishtina, and they just opened a Porsche dealership in Pristina too.

I don't understand how these people talk about Kosova economy when they are the one who ruin it. 500 thousand houses and other object were burned to the ground in Kosova war by serbian paramilitary forces, all Kosova factories were cannibalized by serbian companies that were set up as "owners" to Kosova companies. On the other hand banks that use to function in Kosova stole all the money from Kosova Albanians who deposit their money in them, I still know people that never got their money back which money was used to finance Milosevic’s wars. The other point that I don't get here is that how dare one serb can say that Kosova economy can only survive together with serbia, the only way to Kosova survive with serbia is Kosova without Albaninas othervise there is no survive but chaos and war again. Why Kosova economy would depend on serbia when we have Albania in our borders with 450 km cost line and what is most important its our natural motherland. With Albania Kosova will not only survive economically but Albanians in Kosova will survive physically as well.
(Toni, 27 June 2008 13:55)

Mr Toni, why are we saying the Serbs burned 500,000 homes or object in Kosovo. Let face the facts at hand and i not interested in the past which will solve Kosov0/A problems. Currently there is an unemployment rate of approximately 60 percent, since Kosovo/a declared independence there was supposed to be a flood of investors creating jobs, business and economic prosperity for Kosovo. It is almost the end of June and there is still severe power problems thanks to KeK's mismanagement, still no jobs or investments, banking system well it is being supported by the EU. I see no improvements in infrastructure or the ablitity to export goods to increase the GNP and those Trepca mines north of the IBAR was suppose to be savior but no one counted on the Serbs holding fast in the North. Plus to get to those minerals you have to destroy the land further to continue to mine and while the cost of the enviromental damge and mining will it offset the minerals mined? That question i cannot answer but people are wishing in one hand and doing something else in the other. It is time people of Kosovo/A both Serb and Albanian to wake up and smell the coffee or chai which ever you prefer, stop blaming each other for the others problems either you indentify the source of the problem solve it and prosper or remain stuck in the mud. Remember the EU is a business and if Bonn does not think they can get a return on ther investment they will flip flop on the Albanians then what, the Arab countries most of them have not address Kosovo/a because of how Islam is practiced in Kosovo/a they don't need people rebelling against there form of Islam. Think about it folks instead of blaming the problems on the Serbs or Albaninans. I hope B92 will publish this and hopefully the people will wake up.

Reality Check

"adding that during the 1980s, 250,000 people had been in work, while now more than 60 percent of Kosovo’s population was unemployed"

Yes, but he "forgot" the small detail that 90% of these 250,000 people who happened to be the wrong ethnic group were sacked over 1989-90. In comparison with this, even the current miserable 40% employment he claims (the result of a decade of UNMIK denying independence) is an advance on the last decade of Serbian rule.

I agree 100 and 10 percent with Nikitas. The US will exploit until there is nothing left to exploit. Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Bosna, all economically sturggling after alot of aid.

How Serbia managed to maintain any growth at all with all the sanctions and barriers is amazing to me. Thanks to the russians and greeks, as well as Serbia itself for being able to (and still) continuing to grow.

Kosovo economically unsustainable”
Take it easy!
erach time serbs say this and that is impossible for albanians,we succeded,so this time too we will succeed!
WE have rebuilt our houses,that was our first urgent need.We are building our transportation network now(airport is finished,main roads will be this year and prishtina kukes durres will be soon achevied) then we can begin sustaineble economic groth.
what we have that other don't have: our population,which is the youngest of europe,our diaspora which is the one who sends the bigger amount of money among other diaspora,and our optimism.
Every day is brighter than the day before for us,and for serbs it's the contrary!
really,don't worry for us that much,we have survived much more difficult time ,so we will get throught this period without problem too!

One thing i forgot to mention is that Albanians do have tremendous work ethics so they do have something working for them. However, i do believe that corruption will prevail.

I don't understand how these people talk about Kosova economy when they are the one who ruin it. 500 thousand houses and other object were burned to the ground in Kosova war by serbian paramilitary forces, all Kosova factories were cannibalized by serbian companies that were set up as "owners" to Kosova companies. On the other hand banks that use to function in Kosova stole all the money from Kosova Albanians who deposit their money in them, I still know people that never got their money back which money was used to finance Milosevic’s wars. The other point that I don't get here is that how dare one serb can say that Kosova economy can only survive together with serbia, the only way to Kosova survive with serbia is Kosova without Albaninas othervise there is no survive but chaos and war again. Why Kosova economy would depend on serbia when we have Albania in our borders with 450 km cost line and what is most important its our natural motherland. With Albania Kosova will not only survive economically but Albanians in Kosova will survive physically as well.

This guy is a joke, just like most Serbian patriots. Kosova will surpass Serbia in living standards in 15 years, easily.

Fix Serbian economy first, and latter worry about Kosova's.

This is hillarious coming from a Serb that wishes Kosova was still a part of Serbia.

Contrary to what he thinks, Kosova is starting to improve and is getting on the right path. The Wall Street Journal just published an article entitled "Kosovo: Europe's Unlikely Charmer" which sheds more light on the situation of tourism in Kosova. You can find it here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121452066620808827.html

“Popović said that research showed that Kosovo’s economy had only progressed while it had been integrated with that of Serbia.”

He must be joking. I really hope he was not serious, otherwise, if his book contains such a comments, than his book will become a garbage, as no one will buy it, no one is willing to waste his time reading nonsense jokes.
The “progress” that we had under Serbia brought us where we stand now, even after 9 years separation! Hopefully, we, after the independence, will have speedy progress, first of all thanking powerful K/Albanian businessmen and of course foreign investments and donations. So see you all in two-three years, and comment it this issue at that time.

From the macroeconomic point of view and under normal circumstances in a country Popovic is right. The problem of Kosovo´s economy is more complex. As Popovic and other experts admit, Kosovo possess sufficient natural resources to survive. Even better then Montenegro. Btw, many sceptics of Montengro´s independence used the same arguments. So far nothing negative occur. Therefore I see some contradictions in the message of Popovic. As for the mistakes of UNMIK Popovic is wrong. It was not UNMIK who pushed and declared Kosovo´s independence. The biggest mistake and misuse of the power of UNMIK was 9 year of non-efficient economic policy in Kosovo (for all the inhabitants not only Albanians). UNMIK was not able to create a normal economic environement. Considering the political opposition of the Albanians towards Belgrade, even Serbia couldn´t make Kosovo economically more efficient. I hope all agree that in 45 years Kosovo was the poorest region of Yugoslavia. Therefore I do not consider the economic future of Kosovo as independet country so pesimistic. If Serbia will show a good will towards the new state everybody will profit. Probably Kosovo Serbs even more.

"The Kosovo economy is only sustainable as an integral part of Serbia’s economy..."

How you can be sustainable while someone is cording up yuor breath is a brainteaser to me.
No doubt, it would have been better all the things happened in Kosovo and Serbia would have never happened. We (Serbs and Albanians) probably would be part of EU, doing better than Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria etc. But the assumptions in the article are to hypothetical. On the one side we have a serb government considering Albanians in Kosovo alians and taking many effords to damage Kosovos sustainability. On the other side you have Albanians affraid to the bones of serb military action. So they prefere to be poor but not depend on Serbia.

I've no idea whther it is or isn't sustainable but i suspect it isn't. However, that's missing the point. The US and EU don't give a damn about sustainability. They'll drip feed aid to try to placate the albanians whilst they plunder the resources. At the end of the day, the Albanians will see very little of the benefits apart from the guys at the top like Thaci.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

From what I can gather, the Albanians are relying on the EU/US to keep providing the fish but just like the Bosnian Federation, those fish will eventually run out.

I am glad the Serbians have learnt to fish and their success in both Serbia and Srpska Republika speaks for itself.

Kosovo economically unsustainable”
Take it easy!
erach time serbs say this and that is impossible for albanians,we succeded,so this time too we will succeed!
WE have rebuilt our houses,that was our first urgent need.We are building our transportation network now(airport is finished,main roads will be this year and prishtina kukes durres will be soon achevied) then we can begin sustaineble economic groth.
what we have that other don't have: our population,which is the youngest of europe,our diaspora which is the one who sends the bigger amount of money among other diaspora,and our optimism.
Every day is brighter than the day before for us,and for serbs it's the contrary!
really,don't worry for us that much,we have survived much more difficult time ,so we will get throught this period without problem too!

Tymi: "Kosovo possess sufficient natural resources to survive"

What are those exactly? What resources? You can't count in the mines in the Serbian areas.

Even the basic resources such as power require huge investment to upgrade their infrastructure as far as I understand. Are the UN, EU and US intending to foot the bill?

Toni: "Why Kosova economy would depend on serbia when we have Albania in our borders with 450 km cost line and what is most important its our natural motherland."

And there you have it. There is a new flag, declarations of independence and yet you describe another nation as your "natural motherland" and wave their flag? Why independence then? Surely you just wish to almalgamate with Albania.

And Albania has had the same coastline for a long time. How can this economically benefit Kosovo apart from trade routes which they already had?

Ha ha. It is laughable to look at the contents of this book.

"1980's there were 250,000 Albanians employed, now 60% unemployment." Yeah, no kidding. But did he mention how in 1988 when Milosevic gave his speech.

And you say how Kosova's economy will only grow if it is a part of Serbia. Yeah, that's why the Balkans largest building will be in Prishtina, and they just opened a Porsche dealership in Pristina too.

Good. we'll join Albania. Problem solved. It will be a decent sized country with shores, minerals, tourism and close to 6 million people. Serbia is falling apart for themselves, so they can't be that good and they had 100 years to improve Kosovo.

"adding that during the 1980s, 250,000 people had been in work, while now more than 60 percent of Kosovo’s population was unemployed"

Yes, but he "forgot" the small detail that 90% of these 250,000 people who happened to be the wrong ethnic group were sacked over 1989-90. In comparison with this, even the current miserable 40% employment he claims (the result of a decade of UNMIK denying independence) is an advance on the last decade of Serbian rule.

You last 4-5 Albanians have given no real objection to Mr. Popovic's claims. All you are saying is "kosova" this and "kosova" that but really its not giving anyone here a solid independent economic plan.

Guys what foreign investments.. what donations.. you think if this dollar keeps falling the USA will go out of its way to help the mighty brave citizens of "kosova" get real guys.

How can you say there will be foreign investment when there is so much mafia, drug and organized crime in Kosovo that its ridiculous.

Businessmen will not look for the best interest in your little mutated "country" they will look at one thing and one thing only.. the benefit of there product.... Kosovo gives absolutely no benefit for any business therefore there will be 0% foreign investment.


You Albanians keep setting these silly little time frames.. wait you'll see in X number of years.. but whats up guys you are now "independent" and so far all I have been seeing is a foreign military organization (NATO) telling you that you cant even have your own damn army.

@10 Mark
"Contrary to what he thinks, Kosova is starting to improve and is getting on the right path."

Wait a minute. Did you really read it? And still believe what you write? Let me quote from the article:

1. "not more than 2 decent hotels in the whole country" meaning nowhere to stay actually
2. "rarest of destinations" meaning noone goes there.
3. "nearly free of tourists" again meaning noone goes there
4. "It's as if the clock has been turned back 50 years" meaning it is still beack in the stone age
5. "the State Department's Web site does advise travelers to Kosovo to steer clear of political demonstrations and watch for street crime" meaning stay in your hotel room and if go out, watch your back please.
6. "Kosovo is a land of deteriorated hotels, indifferent food, potholed roads and battle-scarred locals." meaning... a tourist's paradise
7. "highways leaving Pristina are littered with trash, an endless landscape of auto junkyards" just to re-confirm the number 6 point.
8. "Hotel Baci, ran out of hot water at peak hours, and there was no water at all one night." meaning take a truck full of water with you before you go there.
9. "on a beautiful June day, the hotel had exactly five guests, all of them members of Kosovo's NATO-led peacekeeping force" meaning noone is going there.
10. "In the lobby, stuffing was breaking through the seams of the leather chairs; the restrooms could be smelled 20 yards away. Water leaks streaked the walls of guest rooms; carpets were stained and moldy, and bird droppings fouled the balconies. Rebuilding crumbling ski resorts here is little more than a dream." meaning ski-tourism isnt the strong asset of the area, nor it is meant to be for the next (many) years.


What I wanted to comment about the whole Kossovo thing is this: You are not going to have any economic development in hte near or maybe far futere either, if you continue depending on foreign aid, especially from the usa. Being rich in resources and combining it with the "free" usa aid and the Kfor present, only means that the americans have already made their plans on how to dig, extract, refine and export to their country all of those resources, without giving you a damn thing in return. This is the mainstream american policy, just look at Iraq and Kuweit. If Kossovo's economy doesnt (and at the moment cannot) stand on its own feet, then you are doomed to bankcrupsy and total failure, money borrowing from wmf with huge interest that you will never be able to pay back, and in the remote case you decide to unite with your motherland albania (remember for some people of Kossovo, motherland is Servia), then albania will have an even bigger problem incorporating you to the already 2nd poorest country in Europe (guess which one is the poorest).

On a funny note, again from the same article:
"Pristina, the capital, has a Bill Clinton Street and a Robert Dole Street."
and
"The Hotel Victory has a replica of the Statue of Liberty on the roof"
only shows the mentality of the people and the fairy tale they live in.
As for the Porsche's someone mentioned, the only reason I can think of that a dealership is there, is to "laundry" all those Porsche's stolen from the surrounding countries.

Bear in mind that Kossovo cant ever be an EU member. Even if it does start to develope and grow economically, there are another 20 years at least ahead before there is any kind of entry plan in the union. But by that time Servia will certainly be a member and then... I see veto's flying around like meteorites :)

What to expect from a people who build their lives on welfare for 5 generations.
Let them take from freedom loving"democrats" for a change,and let`s hope eurocrats don`t overfeed them like we did.

KV: Unfortunately, your comments along with your false grandiose empowerment cannon end soon enough.

As a US citizen, it is certainly amazing to read albanian posters attempting to describe how their still born nation plans on surviving without breast feeding from the US/EU nipple. Not once has anyone suggested or laid out a plan for growth or prosperity based on a Economics 101. What do you have that I want? Other than the overflowing river of drugs and prostitution via the albanian mafia, what else? Serbian organs perhaps?

How do you plan on overcoming Serbia in 15 years? Serbia has the Danube, agriculture, arts and entertainment, tourism, and sports to name a few arenas of economic growth and continued development? Let's not forget Russia and India's multi billion dollar investments along with FIAT that offer a bright future and stept in the right direction. Who in their right mind would invest in albanian proper now, let alone a non UN member state recognized by only 41 states? And lets be honest, those states only recognized you because of the immense pressure via Washington's State Dept. Let it be praised that soon this administration will be gone, remembered in history as the WORST ever elected by this country and suffered by the world.

albanians continue to demonstrate to the world the kind of partnerships they offer with regional instability seasoned with spices of intolerance and insults. You offer nothing, you have nothing, your are irrelevant.

Oh here we go Albanians blasting how Kosovo is going to be some economic miracle when we all know its not going to be any better than it was 50,100,1000 years ago.

Serbia's economy grows on average 7.6% a year that the highest in Europe my friends. Results speak for themselves, have any Albanians here ever been to Serbia (besides Kosovo of course) I doubt it, you have no idea how much construction is going on in the entire country.

azdren: congrats on the new Porsche dealership, Belgrade already has dozen of those... however I doubt Albanians would need a dealership to get their hand on one of those puppies. ;)

I don't understand how these people talk about Kosova economy when they are the one who ruin it. 500 thousand houses and other object were burned to the ground in Kosova war by serbian paramilitary forces, all Kosova factories were cannibalized by serbian companies that were set up as "owners" to Kosova companies. On the other hand banks that use to function in Kosova stole all the money from Kosova Albanians who deposit their money in them, I still know people that never got their money back which money was used to finance Milosevic’s wars. The other point that I don't get here is that how dare one serb can say that Kosova economy can only survive together with serbia, the only way to Kosova survive with serbia is Kosova without Albaninas othervise there is no survive but chaos and war again. Why Kosova economy would depend on serbia when we have Albania in our borders with 450 km cost line and what is most important its our natural motherland. With Albania Kosova will not only survive economically but Albanians in Kosova will survive physically as well.
(Toni, 27 June 2008 13:55)

Mr Toni, why are we saying the Serbs burned 500,000 homes or object in Kosovo. Let face the facts at hand and i not interested in the past which will solve Kosov0/A problems. Currently there is an unemployment rate of approximately 60 percent, since Kosovo/a declared independence there was supposed to be a flood of investors creating jobs, business and economic prosperity for Kosovo. It is almost the end of June and there is still severe power problems thanks to KeK's mismanagement, still no jobs or investments, banking system well it is being supported by the EU. I see no improvements in infrastructure or the ablitity to export goods to increase the GNP and those Trepca mines north of the IBAR was suppose to be savior but no one counted on the Serbs holding fast in the North. Plus to get to those minerals you have to destroy the land further to continue to mine and while the cost of the enviromental damge and mining will it offset the minerals mined? That question i cannot answer but people are wishing in one hand and doing something else in the other. It is time people of Kosovo/A both Serb and Albanian to wake up and smell the coffee or chai which ever you prefer, stop blaming each other for the others problems either you indentify the source of the problem solve it and prosper or remain stuck in the mud. Remember the EU is a business and if Bonn does not think they can get a return on ther investment they will flip flop on the Albanians then what, the Arab countries most of them have not address Kosovo/a because of how Islam is practiced in Kosovo/a they don't need people rebelling against there form of Islam. Think about it folks instead of blaming the problems on the Serbs or Albaninans. I hope B92 will publish this and hopefully the people will wake up.

Reality Check

This is a ridiculous...What kind of economics research is this?! How can you compare Kosovo in the 1980s with Kosovo now? Certainly Serbia needs to send its economists abroad to learn how to do proper research...Kosovo economy was put on hold because of the war, and that has lasting legacies...Surely that its economy it is going to strengthen soon, if Belgrade stops its stupid strategies to disintegrate Kosovo...Kosovo can stand on its on pretty easily. There are so many other countries in the world that are way smaller than Kosovo and they are sustainable economically...You cant compare a country that just comes out of war with its situation after the war...Perhaps this is a good way to suggest that from the economics point of view, the war has had a negative impact on Kosovo' economy...as it does in all war torn countries....but Kosovo will never look back, and the economy will get better and better...Now that it is independent and many countries have recognised this country and is stable, the Foreign Direct Investments will flow in the country, and bring the economy up, but really serbs need to beef up their level of economists, you cannot compare these two situations (Kosovo before and after the war)...You may, but that will just tell you the effect of the war on the economy, but will not tell you what the aouthor of that so called "study" suggests...When Yugoslavia was dismantled Serbia economy was on the donwhill...can you say that the economy was better because it was under Yugoslavia, no you can say that the war affected Serbia's economy...it would be good if some proper economists write about proper economics...not one that is fueled by nationalism...feelings are left asside when you do proper research...and of course you need more knowledge in economics and of course talent if you would like to do proper research

Truer words were never spoken about the Kosovo i Metohija status issue. While spending 2 years with US Army Civil Affairs KFOR 2005-2007, I was able to observe and work with local businessmen, PISG local governments, and the intl community.

The economy is in shambles! The largest employers in the province are KFOR bases, UNMIK and EU log bases, administrative assistants, and translators.

The province survives because of outside infusion of capital be it from Intl donators or the large immigrant community abroad. The only native industries to Kos-Met are car washes, petrol stations, supermarkets, mosque construction, and restaurants. The only reason the aforementioned industries stay afloat is because of the intl presence. While serving with Civil Affairs I ate "out side the wire" daily because we would always hold meetings with locals over coffee or dinner in places like Strpce, Urosevac, Lipjan, Pristina, Gracanica, Vitina, Vrbovac,Binac, etc.

There is also a culture of corruption among the provinces PISG. Just look the previous investigations of corruption and embezzlement in dealing with the construction of the new power plant in Obilic.

This is a province that without the central government in Serbia proper is unable to keep the lights on. No intl corporations with any serious motives will invest in a place that can not keep their factories or service industries running without further costs to them.

Also because of the unnecessarily speedy privatization of business and land, the institutions in the province have illegally distributed land. Other post communist and socialist countries, like Poland, should be the model. No businesses will invest in a land where the factory they own might be on a plot that was illegally seized after WWII.

I agree 100 and 10 percent with Nikitas. The US will exploit until there is nothing left to exploit. Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Bosna, all economically sturggling after alot of aid.

How Serbia managed to maintain any growth at all with all the sanctions and barriers is amazing to me. Thanks to the russians and greeks, as well as Serbia itself for being able to (and still) continuing to grow.

One thing i forgot to mention is that Albanians do have tremendous work ethics so they do have something working for them. However, i do believe that corruption will prevail.