EULEX throughout Kosovo on Dec. 9

In an interview for Gazeta Express Zanieri said that the so called 6 points are just suggestions, you don't even have to base anything on the 6 point; Kosova decides what to implement and what is against its Constitution (like US said). The title is "Ju vendosni" (You decide)


Zanieri is hated to the point of being called Zanierovic so I was surprised at his comments. The good news is that it will be all over Kosova and one law, one system of justice as US promised us

Alban I find this comment very sad indeed:

'Zanieri is hated to the point of being called Zanierovic'

I hope you mean 'distrusted' or 'biased'. If Serbs really are hated that much, there is no reason why they should be expected to live in an independent state of Kosova.

Alban: "The good news is that it will be all over Kosova and one law, one system of justice as US promised us"

Hmm - who to believe - Zanieri in a newspaper interview trying to placate Kosovo Albanians, or the UN Security Council. Tough one!

Alban, you seem like an angry young man. Whether your blanket stereotype of Serbs is really true or not by other Albanians, it certainly does not speak well to the alleged "multiethnic" character that we're somehow supposed to believe Kosovo is. This is the reason why I'm happy in knowing Kosovo's functional separation is beginning. Albanians in Pristina should have absolutely no control over the lives of K-Serbs. From the looks of comments here, statements by Thaci and other underlings, and the general attitude of K-Albanians, "multiethnicity" in Kosovo means little more than complete subordination of all non-Albanian communities.

I am surprised that some Serbs are so 'surprised' to read views like Alban's. In fact, Alban is probably one of the more moderate albanians.
Just open your eyes and look around. There is zero tolerance for Serbs and any other non-albanians in Kosovo, that is why they need military escorts to go grocery shopping and have to live behind barbed wire. That is why little kids stone Serb school children, desecrate Serbian graves, burn Serbian churches, attack buses...punch old Serbian grandmothers in the nose for speaking Serbian in public...the list goes on.
As for Serbia, it is the most multiethnic and most tolerant country in the Balkans. Where I was born, in Vojvodina, you have Serbs living beside Croats, Slovaks, Hungarians, Romanians and yes, even albanians, in peace. Absolutely zero problems, even after all that has happened. Can the same be said of Croatia? No. Kosovo? Absolutely not!!
Any visitor who has been to Serbia knows the warmth, hospitality and tolerance of the Serbian people, which is second to none. The only thing supporting this fake/illegal/immoral 'state' of Kosovo is the US, which is corrupt to the core and crumbling. The US no longer does things based on goodness and virtue, they only do things based on money and power - as can be seen all over the world.
Serbia will come out of all this, when the dust settles, smelling like a rose.
Cheers!!

"....as US promised us." (Alban)

There are millions of people in this world who expected things to happen because the US "promised" them.

Some are sad and dissappointed. Many are seriously wounded and disabled. Very, very many are dead.

Zanieri is hated to the point of being called Zanierovic so I was surprised at his comments
Alban

-Now what should I think after reading such public acknowledgment about general mood of Albanians towards everyone whose surname ends by vic/ic. You just admitted that the hatred towards Serbs is just normal behaviour in Kosovo which we had chance to witness many times inthe past and of course recently. That hatred occurs on the daily basis. How then we can live together? How the Serbs may feel safe one second surrounded by Albanians?

The more I read posts made by the Albanians in this forum, the more I wonder do they really deserve to have any sort of self-ruling, let alone independence. I think, you do not deserve anything before you really drastically change the attitude towards the Serbs or Slavs for that matter.

Unfortunately we live in a really sad world and this hatred is the fact that Serbs in Kosovo face it every day and this sad fact makes me feel bad. The worst of all, it makes me radical at some point when it comes to Albanians. I have no any wish to hurt any Albanian, but just to think that they really do not deserve any form of self-ruling because they just abuse the position as they always did.

However, thank you Alban for being honest how the things stand for Serbs and everyone with the surname such as Milosavljevic,Ristic, Petrovic, Mitic,
...and finally Zanier-ovic.

Wonder, why I do not have the same feelings when it comes to Krasniqi,Suroi...

With the illegal detainmant of Germans, everyone was a witness, there is no rule of law in Albanians-Kosovo. They indeed need EULEX and more. Serbs do not, since they get their things done by themselves! Serbs living in Kosovo are neither asking for international assistance nor to rule Albanians. Therefore PARTITION NOW.

Nimi,

Kosovo is NOT an independent state. We, in the West, should fully support Serbia to oppose this illegal independence.

Alban,

"What the US promised us". Maybe you forgot, but the UN is in charge. Not the EU. And for sure not the US.
Get realistic please!

Bganon,
I tried to comment earlier that the -ovic is used to display bias by the current UNMIK administrator and is quite dislike not hated/loathed.

Kate,
UNSC R1244 allows Serbia to bring soldiers and police to protect Kosovar minority, yet Serbia in many attempts has been denied this right. Do not take this 6 point as a life or death, Peiter Feith himself says that they are simply a guideline (read more at B92).

Mike,
multiethnicity takes time, look at any country in the West. You are American, should know the saying, "rome wasn't built in one day".

ZK,
You are comparing facts v. conspiracy theories.

Clarity,
Quite the contrary, KP (Kosovo Police) enforced the law and demonstrated that it is quick to act against any crime no matter what the ethnicity of the perpetrator(s).

bganon (again),
I enjoy reading your comments, they are constructive and well thought, thank you. As for returns, Kosovar Serb refugee in Serbia proper or elsewhere are welcomed as long as they abide by the rules like everyone else.


Mirub Jager,
EULEX is to enforce the Constitution of Kosovo (ex-Ahtisaari Plan). EULEX is compromised of nations that have recognized the Republic of Kosovo, do not expect "status neutral".

Hmmm. EULEX throughout Kosovo.
Formation of Kosovo Security Force.
NATO soldiers to remain throughout Kosovo.
EULEX= EU & USA personel only-Russia out of the game.
So, can somebody tell me how this is status neutral?

'Zanier by proposing Serbia's points becomes a 'Serb'. '

That is primative thinking and reminds me of the radical mindset in Serbia. If you are not 'with' us, you are beneath contempt, traitor etc.

I didn't realise that Serb was such a 'dirty' word among Albanians. This is not a comment to show the Albanians to be hateful, but it is a comment to question the idea that Serbs are in any way welcome in todays Kosovo.

For me that is reason enough to question Kosovo independence, besides any historical argument.

Stil Alban you get a point for honesty. There is far too little of that nowdays.

to Biljana:

You can just picture how it was living with albanians in KiM...they had total disrepect for rule of law in the country that welcomed them. In Pristina - one of their protests against Serbia - they had a special time in the day where all the albanian families would come onto their balconies, bring pots and pans, and metal spoons, and they would start banging. Just imagine a whole city banging on pots and pans.

does anybody have a clue why the huge amount of delay the deployment has taken? even sejdiu is complaining. and do you notice the calmness of the serbians contrary to the huge anger of the albanian demonstrators yesterday? maybe, just maybe 1244 remains the king and eulex is queen?

I just wanted to add one thing. There can be missunderstandings in both sides, but concerning EULEX no one knows exactly what will happen in the next weeks. The Serbs have to be realistic, just like Cedomir Jovanovic, Kosovo is an Independent State now, and the Kosovo-serbs have to live with the Albanians, there is no alternative. Very soon we'll be part of the EU, just be realistic and respect each other.

bganon

I didn't realise that Serb was such a 'dirty' word among Albanians. This is not a comment to show the Albanians to be hateful, but it is a comment to question the idea that Serbs are in any way welcome in todays Kosovo.

In order to understand that please think that the Albanians have never ruled Belgrade, unlike Serbs in Prishtina. Also today Albanians are once again used to extract maximal political capital from Belgrade. That could be very dangerous on long run.

See also my comment to Mike, hope it appears.

However, we should overcome this hysteria and I hope Eulex will move on that direction by removing the causes which have led to it, hope also that everyone in Kosova, Serbs included, will follow

>>>Wonder, why I do not have the same feelings when it comes to Krasniqi,Suroi...

Anyone proposing Serbia's solutions to Kosova will be hated and labeled a 'Serb' due to history. Zanier by proposing Serbia's points becomes a 'Serb'.

Spare me the 'we love Albanians,' just 10 years ago Serbs in Prishtina University protested the return of in school. And we know what happened later.

"....as US promised us." (Alban)
--
Yep, just like the US promised Karadzic immunity from the Hague. I think we all know what a US "promise" is worth.

Biljana: I don't think they named him "Zanierovic" because of hatred to serbs, but because they feel that he worked only for the serb cause.

The hatred you mentioned, I don't believe it's true.
Sure there are people on both sides (a small minority) that may have these feelings but the majority just want to leave in peace.

For the sake of argument let say that you take back kosvo were 95% of people don’t want you there in the first place. I mean how would you move forward when political community in kosvo will act against serbia’s interests in every chance that they would get, or would you rule them with an iron fist, and turn back the clock to 90’s.

Regarding ethnic tolerance in Kosovo on behalf of the Albanian population, the number of churches and monasteries that have been damaged or destroyed in the past few years are far too numerous for anyone to claim that only a small portion of the population is not tolerant of Serbs. The statistics speak for themselves.

Regarding the EULEX deployment, it is obvious that EU controlled observers will be working closely with the Albanian faction and the UN controlled portion of the mission that has been in Kosovo for years now will focus on the needs of Serbs. There will not only be a partition of Kosovo, but the framework is being put in place for international forces to implement this partition. EULEX, NATO, and the UN will do as they please, whether Serbs or Albanians like it or not. So far, Serbia has played the game as best as they can since the independence proclamation. This will now be a huge test for the Albanians. You will either do as you're told by the international community or support for your cause will flounder. I can't wait to see the outcome.

Hmmm...where to begin. When I read the comments on here it becomes more and more apparent that partition is slowly becoming the one true alternative.

Neither side wants to live side by side with one another nor do they even want to live within shouting distance of each other. Neither side wants to work with the other nor can either side imagine sitting with the other in a bar/pub exchanging "cheers" over a beer or a meal. Neither side wants to be told what to do by the other nor does either side want to feel like they are being held back by the other. There is no win/win situation here, neither is there a win/lose situation, there is only a lose/lose situation. I know my comment sounds pessimistic, but after all that has happened since 1999 there is still no reconciliation in sight and I don't expect to see any type of reconciliation in Kosovo among the two main ethnicities within my lifetime (I have another 35-40 years, God willing, to go). Either there will be partition or the Serbs will possibly leave in a mass exodus which will kill the international idea of a multi-ethnic Kosovo (which I know some Albanians would love, not all, but definately a fairly large size) or the Albanians will take up arms again to combat the international actors on the scene if they feel like their pseudo-state is threatened (of course the retaliation by those international actors would make the late 90s look like a cakewalk). Can someone, truthfully and with a straight face, tell me that the current Kosovo will work as the international community hopes it will?

My country, the US, and the EU are oblivious to the realities on the ground. They want an independent Kosovo that is stable, has the rule of law throughout and is multi-ethnic (let's all sing kumbaya and give each other presents)...I would say to my country and the EU that this Western "ideal" is a pipedream. Just because Germany and France have gotten over their historic rivalry (England and France as well) doesn't mean that the same works everywhere else in the world. The Western community is arrogant to think so, because, despite what any of those countries think (mine included) we are not the end all, be all on this planet. If we were that powerful Kosovo would have had far more recognitions than it has and for the ethnic Albanians to think any of the western countries are king makers is to set themselves up for a huge disappointment.

My country and many of the other ones that recognize Kosovo are entering a period of economic instability. We are not going to be able to continue to give welfare payments to other countries, such as Kosovo, because the citizenry in those countries, including mine, will start demanding that our governments use that money for their own populations. It's going to be a long, hard and cold winter here and abroad. EULEX, I believe, will really see how bad things are in Kosovo, especially when it comes to organized crime throughout the "country". EULEX will see for itself just how bad things can/will get as the economic realites come crashing down all around. The only way for Kosovo to survive on it's own in the upcoming year or two is through criminal enterprises. There are no jobs, the birthrate is waaay up there and money is sparse and will continue to become even more sparse as the world economy continues it's downward spiral. There is no way EULEX will be able to hold off the upcoming turmoil, eventually they will give up and, as I said at the beginning of this commentary, partition will likely take place (unless one side gives up to the other and I seriously doubt that will happen).

Alban,
"What the US promised us".

As the worlds most indebted country by far, the US has quite alot of promises to keep!

Information from The World Factbook:


Rank Country Current account balance Date of Information

1 China $ 371,800,000,000 2007 est.
2 Germany $ 254,500,000,000 2007 est.
3 Japan $ 210,500,000,000 2007 est.
4 Saudi Arabia $ 86,620,000,000 2007 est.
5 Russia $ 78,310,000,000 2007 est.
6 Switzerland $ 72,350,000,000 2007 est.
7 Norway $ 64,070,000,000 2007 est.
8 Kuwait $ 47,500,000,000 2007 est.
9 Netherlands $ 47,310,000,000 2007 est.


182 Turkey $ -37,580,000,000 2007 est.
183 Greece $ -44,400,000,000 2007 est.
184 Italy $ -51,030,000,000 2007 est.
185 Australia $ -56,780,000,000 2007 est.
186 United Kingdom $ -119,200,000,000 2007 est.
187 Spain $ -145,300,000,000 2007 est.
188 United States $ -731,200,000,000 2007 est.

Mike #12,

in my understanding Alban was refering to those K-Serbs looking towards Belgrade and acting subsequently when reporting the Zanierovic case.

From your previous posts you seem very smart to miss that, since you seem continuously looking for a balanced, neither-Prishtina-nor-Belgrade K-Serbian approach.

Maybe you should add to what happened before 1999 the ongoing sabotage coming from the Serbian side to understand the look of some comments.

A slight change to your approach: "Serbs in Kosovo should rule over their lives sharing the responsibility of government and the interests together with the Albanians". In this sense the neutral EULEX could well be a firewall between them and destabilizing wind from North.

Genc,

I appreciate your input. If what you say does actually materialize in the end, I think you and I would agree it's an acceptible solution. I'll be perfectly happy if both Pristina and Kosovska Mitrovica are on an equal level.

Mike,

thanks for the answer. At the end I would see that equal level materialized in Prishtina (which should, of course, reflect the structure and composition of Kosova's population). You know, a country has only one capital, that's how it works nowadays. But for the (how many?) years to come no doubt, Northern Mitrovica will retain its political status. A Bosnian outcome (legalized Daytonization, even temporary), which seems today the easiest way, on the other side would be really detrimental to the region, from Bosnia to Macedonia. As far as I'm concerned, seems that in Brussels, as well as in the region people are well aware of that.

"EULEX is to enforce the Constitution of Kosovo (ex-Ahtisaari Plan). EULEX is compromised of nations that have recognized the Republic of Kosovo, do not expect "status neutral".
(L*O*G*I*C, 3 December 2008 20:40)"

EU which has already declared Eulex to be status neutral. The EU values its reputation too much to want to cheat the UN in front of the entire world. Kosovo is not important enough for the EU to risk getting their reputation and credibility soiled and lose whatever little moral authority they claim to still have. You can ask your masters in London, Brussels and Paris if you don't believe ......

At the end I would see that equal level materialized in Prishtina (which should, of course, reflect the structure and composition of Kosova's population).
(genc, 3 December 2008 22:38)
would you be saying this if albanians were a minority in kosovo?

"A declaration from the two-day NATO summit stated that the “strong KFOR presence will remain in Kosovo on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and will cooperate throughout Kosovo with the UN, EU and all other international actors on developing a stable, democratic, multi-ethnic and peaceful Kosovo.”


Ah this quote cleared up a few confusing news items of this past week. Foremost was Ponos's and Tadic's desire and request to 'revise' the Kumanovo agreement.

Well, in order for these two leaders to even suggest 'revising' Kumanovo Agreemet, they should look to res. 1244, which, as in the quote above, authorizes "KFOR" to be the 'militarized' peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Only, Tadic's first attempt to revise 1244, will result in the loss of "territorial integrity" which pre-empts any chance of bringing VS anywhere near Kosovo. Check Mate against the Serbia.

For a while I almost fell for the 6 point plan going in the wrong direction and damaging the Kosova state interests but I can se now where this is going or who's being duped,:).

"would you be saying this if albanians were a minority in kosovo?
(malcolm x, 4 December 2008 12:03)

The answer is YES malcolm x, provided this Albanian minority behaved the same way as the Serbian minority in Kosovo did.

With the illegal detainmant of Germans, everyone was a witness, there is no rule of law in Albanians-Kosovo. They indeed need EULEX and more. Serbs do not, since they get their things done by themselves! Serbs living in Kosovo are neither asking for international assistance nor to rule Albanians. Therefore PARTITION NOW.

In an interview for Gazeta Express Zanieri said that the so called 6 points are just suggestions, you don't even have to base anything on the 6 point; Kosova decides what to implement and what is against its Constitution (like US said). The title is "Ju vendosni" (You decide)


Zanieri is hated to the point of being called Zanierovic so I was surprised at his comments. The good news is that it will be all over Kosova and one law, one system of justice as US promised us

>>>Wonder, why I do not have the same feelings when it comes to Krasniqi,Suroi...

Anyone proposing Serbia's solutions to Kosova will be hated and labeled a 'Serb' due to history. Zanier by proposing Serbia's points becomes a 'Serb'.

Spare me the 'we love Albanians,' just 10 years ago Serbs in Prishtina University protested the return of in school. And we know what happened later.

Alban: "The good news is that it will be all over Kosova and one law, one system of justice as US promised us"

Hmm - who to believe - Zanieri in a newspaper interview trying to placate Kosovo Albanians, or the UN Security Council. Tough one!

I am surprised that some Serbs are so 'surprised' to read views like Alban's. In fact, Alban is probably one of the more moderate albanians.
Just open your eyes and look around. There is zero tolerance for Serbs and any other non-albanians in Kosovo, that is why they need military escorts to go grocery shopping and have to live behind barbed wire. That is why little kids stone Serb school children, desecrate Serbian graves, burn Serbian churches, attack buses...punch old Serbian grandmothers in the nose for speaking Serbian in public...the list goes on.
As for Serbia, it is the most multiethnic and most tolerant country in the Balkans. Where I was born, in Vojvodina, you have Serbs living beside Croats, Slovaks, Hungarians, Romanians and yes, even albanians, in peace. Absolutely zero problems, even after all that has happened. Can the same be said of Croatia? No. Kosovo? Absolutely not!!
Any visitor who has been to Serbia knows the warmth, hospitality and tolerance of the Serbian people, which is second to none. The only thing supporting this fake/illegal/immoral 'state' of Kosovo is the US, which is corrupt to the core and crumbling. The US no longer does things based on goodness and virtue, they only do things based on money and power - as can be seen all over the world.
Serbia will come out of all this, when the dust settles, smelling like a rose.
Cheers!!

I just wanted to add one thing. There can be missunderstandings in both sides, but concerning EULEX no one knows exactly what will happen in the next weeks. The Serbs have to be realistic, just like Cedomir Jovanovic, Kosovo is an Independent State now, and the Kosovo-serbs have to live with the Albanians, there is no alternative. Very soon we'll be part of the EU, just be realistic and respect each other.

Nimi,

Kosovo is NOT an independent state. We, in the West, should fully support Serbia to oppose this illegal independence.

Alban,

"What the US promised us". Maybe you forgot, but the UN is in charge. Not the EU. And for sure not the US.
Get realistic please!

Biljana: I don't think they named him "Zanierovic" because of hatred to serbs, but because they feel that he worked only for the serb cause.

The hatred you mentioned, I don't believe it's true.
Sure there are people on both sides (a small minority) that may have these feelings but the majority just want to leave in peace.

"....as US promised us." (Alban)
--
Yep, just like the US promised Karadzic immunity from the Hague. I think we all know what a US "promise" is worth.

to Biljana:

You can just picture how it was living with albanians in KiM...they had total disrepect for rule of law in the country that welcomed them. In Pristina - one of their protests against Serbia - they had a special time in the day where all the albanian families would come onto their balconies, bring pots and pans, and metal spoons, and they would start banging. Just imagine a whole city banging on pots and pans.

For the sake of argument let say that you take back kosvo were 95% of people don’t want you there in the first place. I mean how would you move forward when political community in kosvo will act against serbia’s interests in every chance that they would get, or would you rule them with an iron fist, and turn back the clock to 90’s.

Regarding ethnic tolerance in Kosovo on behalf of the Albanian population, the number of churches and monasteries that have been damaged or destroyed in the past few years are far too numerous for anyone to claim that only a small portion of the population is not tolerant of Serbs. The statistics speak for themselves.

Regarding the EULEX deployment, it is obvious that EU controlled observers will be working closely with the Albanian faction and the UN controlled portion of the mission that has been in Kosovo for years now will focus on the needs of Serbs. There will not only be a partition of Kosovo, but the framework is being put in place for international forces to implement this partition. EULEX, NATO, and the UN will do as they please, whether Serbs or Albanians like it or not. So far, Serbia has played the game as best as they can since the independence proclamation. This will now be a huge test for the Albanians. You will either do as you're told by the international community or support for your cause will flounder. I can't wait to see the outcome.

Bganon,
I tried to comment earlier that the -ovic is used to display bias by the current UNMIK administrator and is quite dislike not hated/loathed.

Kate,
UNSC R1244 allows Serbia to bring soldiers and police to protect Kosovar minority, yet Serbia in many attempts has been denied this right. Do not take this 6 point as a life or death, Peiter Feith himself says that they are simply a guideline (read more at B92).

Mike,
multiethnicity takes time, look at any country in the West. You are American, should know the saying, "rome wasn't built in one day".

ZK,
You are comparing facts v. conspiracy theories.

Clarity,
Quite the contrary, KP (Kosovo Police) enforced the law and demonstrated that it is quick to act against any crime no matter what the ethnicity of the perpetrator(s).

bganon (again),
I enjoy reading your comments, they are constructive and well thought, thank you. As for returns, Kosovar Serb refugee in Serbia proper or elsewhere are welcomed as long as they abide by the rules like everyone else.


Mirub Jager,
EULEX is to enforce the Constitution of Kosovo (ex-Ahtisaari Plan). EULEX is compromised of nations that have recognized the Republic of Kosovo, do not expect "status neutral".

Alban I find this comment very sad indeed:

'Zanieri is hated to the point of being called Zanierovic'

I hope you mean 'distrusted' or 'biased'. If Serbs really are hated that much, there is no reason why they should be expected to live in an independent state of Kosova.

"....as US promised us." (Alban)

There are millions of people in this world who expected things to happen because the US "promised" them.

Some are sad and dissappointed. Many are seriously wounded and disabled. Very, very many are dead.

Zanieri is hated to the point of being called Zanierovic so I was surprised at his comments
Alban

-Now what should I think after reading such public acknowledgment about general mood of Albanians towards everyone whose surname ends by vic/ic. You just admitted that the hatred towards Serbs is just normal behaviour in Kosovo which we had chance to witness many times inthe past and of course recently. That hatred occurs on the daily basis. How then we can live together? How the Serbs may feel safe one second surrounded by Albanians?

The more I read posts made by the Albanians in this forum, the more I wonder do they really deserve to have any sort of self-ruling, let alone independence. I think, you do not deserve anything before you really drastically change the attitude towards the Serbs or Slavs for that matter.

Unfortunately we live in a really sad world and this hatred is the fact that Serbs in Kosovo face it every day and this sad fact makes me feel bad. The worst of all, it makes me radical at some point when it comes to Albanians. I have no any wish to hurt any Albanian, but just to think that they really do not deserve any form of self-ruling because they just abuse the position as they always did.

However, thank you Alban for being honest how the things stand for Serbs and everyone with the surname such as Milosavljevic,Ristic, Petrovic, Mitic,
...and finally Zanier-ovic.

Wonder, why I do not have the same feelings when it comes to Krasniqi,Suroi...

Alban, you seem like an angry young man. Whether your blanket stereotype of Serbs is really true or not by other Albanians, it certainly does not speak well to the alleged "multiethnic" character that we're somehow supposed to believe Kosovo is. This is the reason why I'm happy in knowing Kosovo's functional separation is beginning. Albanians in Pristina should have absolutely no control over the lives of K-Serbs. From the looks of comments here, statements by Thaci and other underlings, and the general attitude of K-Albanians, "multiethnicity" in Kosovo means little more than complete subordination of all non-Albanian communities.

'Zanier by proposing Serbia's points becomes a 'Serb'. '

That is primative thinking and reminds me of the radical mindset in Serbia. If you are not 'with' us, you are beneath contempt, traitor etc.

I didn't realise that Serb was such a 'dirty' word among Albanians. This is not a comment to show the Albanians to be hateful, but it is a comment to question the idea that Serbs are in any way welcome in todays Kosovo.

For me that is reason enough to question Kosovo independence, besides any historical argument.

Stil Alban you get a point for honesty. There is far too little of that nowdays.

does anybody have a clue why the huge amount of delay the deployment has taken? even sejdiu is complaining. and do you notice the calmness of the serbians contrary to the huge anger of the albanian demonstrators yesterday? maybe, just maybe 1244 remains the king and eulex is queen?

bganon

I didn't realise that Serb was such a 'dirty' word among Albanians. This is not a comment to show the Albanians to be hateful, but it is a comment to question the idea that Serbs are in any way welcome in todays Kosovo.

In order to understand that please think that the Albanians have never ruled Belgrade, unlike Serbs in Prishtina. Also today Albanians are once again used to extract maximal political capital from Belgrade. That could be very dangerous on long run.

See also my comment to Mike, hope it appears.

However, we should overcome this hysteria and I hope Eulex will move on that direction by removing the causes which have led to it, hope also that everyone in Kosova, Serbs included, will follow

"A declaration from the two-day NATO summit stated that the “strong KFOR presence will remain in Kosovo on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and will cooperate throughout Kosovo with the UN, EU and all other international actors on developing a stable, democratic, multi-ethnic and peaceful Kosovo.”


Ah this quote cleared up a few confusing news items of this past week. Foremost was Ponos's and Tadic's desire and request to 'revise' the Kumanovo agreement.

Well, in order for these two leaders to even suggest 'revising' Kumanovo Agreemet, they should look to res. 1244, which, as in the quote above, authorizes "KFOR" to be the 'militarized' peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Only, Tadic's first attempt to revise 1244, will result in the loss of "territorial integrity" which pre-empts any chance of bringing VS anywhere near Kosovo. Check Mate against the Serbia.

For a while I almost fell for the 6 point plan going in the wrong direction and damaging the Kosova state interests but I can se now where this is going or who's being duped,:).

Hmmm. EULEX throughout Kosovo.
Formation of Kosovo Security Force.
NATO soldiers to remain throughout Kosovo.
EULEX= EU & USA personel only-Russia out of the game.
So, can somebody tell me how this is status neutral?

Mike #12,

in my understanding Alban was refering to those K-Serbs looking towards Belgrade and acting subsequently when reporting the Zanierovic case.

From your previous posts you seem very smart to miss that, since you seem continuously looking for a balanced, neither-Prishtina-nor-Belgrade K-Serbian approach.

Maybe you should add to what happened before 1999 the ongoing sabotage coming from the Serbian side to understand the look of some comments.

A slight change to your approach: "Serbs in Kosovo should rule over their lives sharing the responsibility of government and the interests together with the Albanians". In this sense the neutral EULEX could well be a firewall between them and destabilizing wind from North.

Hmmm...where to begin. When I read the comments on here it becomes more and more apparent that partition is slowly becoming the one true alternative.

Neither side wants to live side by side with one another nor do they even want to live within shouting distance of each other. Neither side wants to work with the other nor can either side imagine sitting with the other in a bar/pub exchanging "cheers" over a beer or a meal. Neither side wants to be told what to do by the other nor does either side want to feel like they are being held back by the other. There is no win/win situation here, neither is there a win/lose situation, there is only a lose/lose situation. I know my comment sounds pessimistic, but after all that has happened since 1999 there is still no reconciliation in sight and I don't expect to see any type of reconciliation in Kosovo among the two main ethnicities within my lifetime (I have another 35-40 years, God willing, to go). Either there will be partition or the Serbs will possibly leave in a mass exodus which will kill the international idea of a multi-ethnic Kosovo (which I know some Albanians would love, not all, but definately a fairly large size) or the Albanians will take up arms again to combat the international actors on the scene if they feel like their pseudo-state is threatened (of course the retaliation by those international actors would make the late 90s look like a cakewalk). Can someone, truthfully and with a straight face, tell me that the current Kosovo will work as the international community hopes it will?

My country, the US, and the EU are oblivious to the realities on the ground. They want an independent Kosovo that is stable, has the rule of law throughout and is multi-ethnic (let's all sing kumbaya and give each other presents)...I would say to my country and the EU that this Western "ideal" is a pipedream. Just because Germany and France have gotten over their historic rivalry (England and France as well) doesn't mean that the same works everywhere else in the world. The Western community is arrogant to think so, because, despite what any of those countries think (mine included) we are not the end all, be all on this planet. If we were that powerful Kosovo would have had far more recognitions than it has and for the ethnic Albanians to think any of the western countries are king makers is to set themselves up for a huge disappointment.

My country and many of the other ones that recognize Kosovo are entering a period of economic instability. We are not going to be able to continue to give welfare payments to other countries, such as Kosovo, because the citizenry in those countries, including mine, will start demanding that our governments use that money for their own populations. It's going to be a long, hard and cold winter here and abroad. EULEX, I believe, will really see how bad things are in Kosovo, especially when it comes to organized crime throughout the "country". EULEX will see for itself just how bad things can/will get as the economic realites come crashing down all around. The only way for Kosovo to survive on it's own in the upcoming year or two is through criminal enterprises. There are no jobs, the birthrate is waaay up there and money is sparse and will continue to become even more sparse as the world economy continues it's downward spiral. There is no way EULEX will be able to hold off the upcoming turmoil, eventually they will give up and, as I said at the beginning of this commentary, partition will likely take place (unless one side gives up to the other and I seriously doubt that will happen).

"would you be saying this if albanians were a minority in kosovo?
(malcolm x, 4 December 2008 12:03)

The answer is YES malcolm x, provided this Albanian minority behaved the same way as the Serbian minority in Kosovo did.

Genc,

I appreciate your input. If what you say does actually materialize in the end, I think you and I would agree it's an acceptible solution. I'll be perfectly happy if both Pristina and Kosovska Mitrovica are on an equal level.

Mike,

thanks for the answer. At the end I would see that equal level materialized in Prishtina (which should, of course, reflect the structure and composition of Kosova's population). You know, a country has only one capital, that's how it works nowadays. But for the (how many?) years to come no doubt, Northern Mitrovica will retain its political status. A Bosnian outcome (legalized Daytonization, even temporary), which seems today the easiest way, on the other side would be really detrimental to the region, from Bosnia to Macedonia. As far as I'm concerned, seems that in Brussels, as well as in the region people are well aware of that.

Alban,
"What the US promised us".

As the worlds most indebted country by far, the US has quite alot of promises to keep!

Information from The World Factbook:


Rank Country Current account balance Date of Information

1 China $ 371,800,000,000 2007 est.
2 Germany $ 254,500,000,000 2007 est.
3 Japan $ 210,500,000,000 2007 est.
4 Saudi Arabia $ 86,620,000,000 2007 est.
5 Russia $ 78,310,000,000 2007 est.
6 Switzerland $ 72,350,000,000 2007 est.
7 Norway $ 64,070,000,000 2007 est.
8 Kuwait $ 47,500,000,000 2007 est.
9 Netherlands $ 47,310,000,000 2007 est.


182 Turkey $ -37,580,000,000 2007 est.
183 Greece $ -44,400,000,000 2007 est.
184 Italy $ -51,030,000,000 2007 est.
185 Australia $ -56,780,000,000 2007 est.
186 United Kingdom $ -119,200,000,000 2007 est.
187 Spain $ -145,300,000,000 2007 est.
188 United States $ -731,200,000,000 2007 est.

At the end I would see that equal level materialized in Prishtina (which should, of course, reflect the structure and composition of Kosova's population).
(genc, 3 December 2008 22:38)
would you be saying this if albanians were a minority in kosovo?

"EULEX is to enforce the Constitution of Kosovo (ex-Ahtisaari Plan). EULEX is compromised of nations that have recognized the Republic of Kosovo, do not expect "status neutral".
(L*O*G*I*C, 3 December 2008 20:40)"

EU which has already declared Eulex to be status neutral. The EU values its reputation too much to want to cheat the UN in front of the entire world. Kosovo is not important enough for the EU to risk getting their reputation and credibility soiled and lose whatever little moral authority they claim to still have. You can ask your masters in London, Brussels and Paris if you don't believe ......