"Kosovo decentralization after elections"

village-bey, words are cheap. In reality we have only seen a deteriorisation of the position of Kosovo's Serbs since march 17. And it is only days ago that we heared a Kosovo minister making threats to Kosovo's Serbs for the case they didn't resign in Kosovo's independence.

It is my impression that the Pristina officials quoted in the article are just trying to pull wool over the eyes of the EULEX officials in order to seduce them to harsh measures towards Kosovo's Serbs.

" Decentralisation is the prime example that the Albanians have no desire to control Serb lives whatsoever.
(village-bey, 21 December 2008 12:33)"

Well whether you desire to control or not is not the point. The truth of the matter is that Pristina cannot control K-Serbs' lives period.

Nowhere is this louder and clearer than north of the Ibar. Have been that way since 1999.

EA,

Kosovo is NOT an indepdendent state. Kosovo should start accepting that!

I am getting tired of this Balkan nonsense!

I live in Holland. A lot of Dutchman live in Belgium and France. That's life!

Accept it. Join EU. And stop this childish nonsense!

I approve this measure in theory, but before we start singing praises to Albanian multiethnic tolerance and generosity for willingly siphoning away parts of their inalienalble sovereign territory, let's look at a few things.

First, the Serb areas cleared for decentralization were never under Albanian control in the first place. Simply designating them to be part of the autonomous structure guaranteed to K-Serbs by the Ahtisaari Plan is not really Pristina giving in to any concessions (i.e. giving up land they currently control). Rather, it's acknowledging what they do not, and very well will not control, and eliminating an avoidable headache - that's a administrative no-brainer.

Second, if by decentralization these Serb municipalities simply graph themselves into the Serb Assembly in Mitrovica (which I assume is the core of the decentralized Serb areas), what then? Many Albanians here chaffed at my "Daytonized Kosovo" model saying it would only create little islands of Serb municipalities in Albanian territory. What now? Does anyone honestly think Gracanica Municipality is going to cooperate anytime soon with Albanian authorities in Pristina? What about Strpce? Albeit on the other side of Kosovo, it's a Serb-compact area. And let's not even think about what northern Kosovo is going to do.

Third, does decentralization also apply to Albanian parts too? What about the Gorani parts? Doesn't "decentralization" have a certain "federalizing" ring to it? Weren't there people here who kept saying Kosovo is too small to be further decentralized?

This whole thing is administratively strategic as it acknowledges the limits in sovereign authority coming from Pristina, and effectively lets the K-Serbs (and hopefully Gorani) run their own show. I'm all down with that, as it may even encourage much of the Serb IDPs to return. But Pristina should not be surprised if these Serb municipalities just work to form a parallel government of their own.

So again, before we start saying that Kosovo is more tolerant than Vojvodina, let's wait and see what happens.

Mainly to the Serb panel here I would say that I do not expect that the Serbs and Albanians in Kosova will kiss each other in their lips today and it is not easy to leave the bad history behind each other. The fact is that Belgrade can NOT rule Kosova anymore period. Kosova is a new born country with equal chances for all citizens living in. Way forward Serbia should recognise Kosova first as an independent country, free movement of goods, people, same rights for Albanians living in Presevo, Bujanovc and Medvegja to Serbs living in Kosova and otherway around and both countries in EU. Not a rocket science to understand!

There you have it chaps.
Decentralisation is the prime example that the Albanians have no desire to control Serb lives whatsoever. A synthesis of decentralisation and building up of modern and effective institutions presents a great opportunity for the new state. It will in the long term guard against unnecessary interference but also amplify the new growing self-confidence of the Kosovar State

Village bey,

I'm trying to figure out what I wrote that you take issue with. You imply that I believe the Serb component of a bi-state Kosovo solution would invariably accept all other non-Albanian minorities. I never said that, and if it seemed that I implied that, let me say that neither I nor you have information on what communities like the Gorani would do. Yes, it would be odd if the Serb Assembly in Mitrovica all of a sudden included the Gorani of Dragas. I was only asking whether decentralization would be extended to the Gorani, the other significant non-Albanian minority. And I have to take issue with your statement of Albanian-Gorani co-existence. While you may very well know more than I, the information I've received has indicated relations are tense at best - the demolishing of the Gorani school (regardless of who funded it) as well as benign Albanization of the Gorani language do not attest to multiethnic coexistence. Even if Pristina simply appropriated the land and the school under its authority, it might be one thing. Bulldozing a school, points to the opposite.

As far as the Serbs are concerned, you still seem to think that the only way forward for them is to bite the proverbial bullet and work within Albanian-led institutions. I could argue the same thing about Albanians just biting the bullet and working with Belgrade-led instititions, and you'd rightfully think I was insane. You miss one critical variable: trust. Even if such confederalization or whatever one calls it, is temporary, it will certainly be a necessary issue for at least this and possibly the next generation. No Serb will work with a government run by Thaci, Haradinaj, Ceku et al. My inquiry about Serb municipality autonomy was simply wondering which ones they would be. Strpce and Gracanica seem like obvious candidates. But you still didn't discount my additional question of whether these municipalities would simply group together under one government (parallel, shadow, or whatever you choose to call it) within Kosovo's parameters. Pristina can use the AP to give the wide ranging autonomy designated to the Serbs, but what's to stop them from just grafting themselves into the Serb Assembly? I agree that those south of the Ibar cannot avoid some form of cooperation and contact with Pristina on account of risking total isolation and further emigration. But it remains to be seen whether EULEX will force them to comply with Pristina.

I am indeed critical of Kosovo's sovereignty, as well as its institutions. But you've known this and yet we've still been able to have meaningful debate. And I believe that without the Ahtisaari Plan, the Albanians, who aren't really known for their democratic generosity, would not have automatically given the Serbs and others administrative autonomy within a decentralized state if they wanted it. Just a few weeks ago, Thaci was going ballistic because the EULEX compromise designates status neutral authority. He'll find it convenient to play the ethnic card and still blame Belgrade for problems that are taking place within his own Albanian-majority jurisdictions. He's good at taking orders from the West, but he's no Rugova, and lacks any vision at constructing a true multiethnic civic culture.

So yes, my comments are, and will be, critical of the Kosovo government. But if you equate "critical" with "aggressive", I fear our fruitful debates may lose its saliency. I sincerely hope not.

Mike
I too like to join many others who think that your rhetoric lately has assumed an unnecessarily aggressive tone, to put it mildly.
Any prediction about the future of Kosova can only be tentative in nature, no other way about it but you seem to argue on an assumption of strength and to a great degree on misinformation. Anyone with a bit of local knowledge would see through some of your claim, like that one of Serbs representing Gorani interest in Kosova. Using OSCE reports Dragash Municipality is probably unique within Kosovo for its tolerant environment between its two communities, which by the way means Albanian and Gorani. You can’t be serious if you really think that the phantom assembly in Mitrovica would advocate on behalf of these Gorani.

Your other precept is that either Albanians cooperate with Serb demands or they will have their own way anyhow.

On Your first point you seem too happy to highlights that there are not the Albanians who have made the concessions but they were envisaged by the Ahtisaari Plan. In that case you are very happy to take your rights to decentralization but somehow paradoxically not necessarily accept the legitimacy of Kosovan state.

Sterpce and Gracanica are mentioned as examples of strong defiant Serbian islands that will convince Albanians or their western sponsors to revise the nature of the state to a loose confederalist model like the one in Bosnia. To introduce a bit of background of those unfamiliar with the two areas, Sterpce total population is estimated at around 13,600; approximately 9,100 Kosovo Serbs, 4,500 Kosovo while there are no direct figures on Gracanica but for the whole municipality of Prishtina estimated total population is approximately 500,000. It has significantly increased since the end of the
1999 conflict. However, estimates on the total population of Prishtinë/Priština vary considerably. Vast majority are Kosovo Albanians (approx. 475,000); the estimated number of minority communities in 2005 was 12,510 Kosovo Serbs, 4,550 Ashkali and Roma, and 450 Bosniaks and Gorani, Turks, amount to approximately 3,950. Presuming again that you are not advocating on behalf of other minorities, Serb percentage of the overall population hardly makes case for a confederalist Kosova.
I would argue on the contrary. It is precisely for this boyish talk that Serbs have continued to leave enclaves and I would argue Mitrovica too. If your only hope is a guarded bridge and a sanctioned separation, I say you have no hope at all. Many on the current Serb political class have started to reason that the survival of the Serb life in Kosova lies in cooperation with Albanians. You seem to argue the opposite. Well good luck with that.

Lowe
On the contrary, intention of state towards its citizens I would have though of being of crucial importance. If state influence north of Ibar is nonexistent that doesn’t exclude the same state from legislating and making public the expressed wishes towards respective minority. Furthermore, if decentralisation upgrades the level of that influence from nonexistent to nominal, it would constitute a major step forward.
State intention is also crucial as would introduce a major qualitative difference between two current approaches. Kosovar state sends a clear message that it is interested in all inhabitants of Kosova, which is hardly the case with BG.
Wim,
We are not talking about words here but proper action here. If you read the article you would have noticed that decentralisation will double Serb hold on municipalities from 5 to 10. Although situation is far from ideal your personal view magical tricks from Mr Ferati is hardly believable. With the Kosova Serbs keeping a close eye that rabbit is staying firmly inside the hat, (in our case white scull cap).

Wim,
We are not talking about words here but proper action here. If you read the article you would have noticed that decentralisation will double Serb hold on municipalities from 5 to 10. Although situation is far from ideal your personal view magical tricks from Mr Ferati is hardly believable. With the Kosova Serbs keeping a close eye that rabbit is staying firmly inside the hat, (in our case white scull cap).

Since most K-Serbs dont respect the new constitution, we might as well halt the decentralization process until they start acting as regular citizens. Prishtina has compromised enough, its not their fault most Albanians dont trust their neighbor for what they did in 98-99.

This was promised in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and now in late 2008.

One can expect nothing to happen.

EA,

Good to see you visted my country Holland. Hope you liked it!

Indeed, we will meet again here on this forum. Albanians are bending every fact in their advantage.

While the facts are clear:

Montenegro was a republic. There was no problem when it declared itself independent. It joined UN. Can apply for EU membership. Its football teams can play in Champions League and UEFA Cup...

Why? Because Montenegro is a STATE!

Compare Kosovo please.

A province. No right to split from Serbia. A big mess surrounding its 'independence'. No seat in UN. Cannot apply for EU membership. Not playing in UEFA competitions.

EA, I think you really are a nice guy, and I would really like to meet you. But can't you really accept that Kosovo was not a republic. And thus (!) had no right to split from Serbia?

Is it that hard to face facts that are not in your advantage?

So much times is wasted on the Kosovo issue. And yes, if it wasn't that serious we could laugh about it.

Wish you the best in the UK. Indeed, a real country like Holland and Serbia. And unless Kosovo...

Ron,

"Kosovo is NOT an indepdendent state".
Who told you that? In other words who lied to you? Measures should be taken to punish the perpetrators who lie in the daytime.))))

"I am getting tired of this Balkan nonsense!" I feel the same sometimes especially when I was studying in Leiden University many years back. Even now here in England sometimes I think what a waste of time for the politics in Balcan.

Even when you miss the point by saying that Kosova is not an independent state and NOT saying that "Serbia has lost completely the control over Kosova since it was forced out in 1999 and has no authority whatsoever over Kosova. Accept it! That's life!

See you next time with more entertaining comments)
Greetings for United Kingdom a REAL COUNTRY)

Since most K-Serbs dont respect the new constitution, we might as well halt the decentralization process until they start acting as regular citizens. Prishtina has compromised enough, its not their fault most Albanians dont trust their neighbor for what they did in 98-99.

Mainly to the Serb panel here I would say that I do not expect that the Serbs and Albanians in Kosova will kiss each other in their lips today and it is not easy to leave the bad history behind each other. The fact is that Belgrade can NOT rule Kosova anymore period. Kosova is a new born country with equal chances for all citizens living in. Way forward Serbia should recognise Kosova first as an independent country, free movement of goods, people, same rights for Albanians living in Presevo, Bujanovc and Medvegja to Serbs living in Kosova and otherway around and both countries in EU. Not a rocket science to understand!

Lowe
On the contrary, intention of state towards its citizens I would have though of being of crucial importance. If state influence north of Ibar is nonexistent that doesn’t exclude the same state from legislating and making public the expressed wishes towards respective minority. Furthermore, if decentralisation upgrades the level of that influence from nonexistent to nominal, it would constitute a major step forward.
State intention is also crucial as would introduce a major qualitative difference between two current approaches. Kosovar state sends a clear message that it is interested in all inhabitants of Kosova, which is hardly the case with BG.
Wim,
We are not talking about words here but proper action here. If you read the article you would have noticed that decentralisation will double Serb hold on municipalities from 5 to 10. Although situation is far from ideal your personal view magical tricks from Mr Ferati is hardly believable. With the Kosova Serbs keeping a close eye that rabbit is staying firmly inside the hat, (in our case white scull cap).

There you have it chaps.
Decentralisation is the prime example that the Albanians have no desire to control Serb lives whatsoever. A synthesis of decentralisation and building up of modern and effective institutions presents a great opportunity for the new state. It will in the long term guard against unnecessary interference but also amplify the new growing self-confidence of the Kosovar State

EA,

Kosovo is NOT an indepdendent state. Kosovo should start accepting that!

I am getting tired of this Balkan nonsense!

I live in Holland. A lot of Dutchman live in Belgium and France. That's life!

Accept it. Join EU. And stop this childish nonsense!

Wim,
We are not talking about words here but proper action here. If you read the article you would have noticed that decentralisation will double Serb hold on municipalities from 5 to 10. Although situation is far from ideal your personal view magical tricks from Mr Ferati is hardly believable. With the Kosova Serbs keeping a close eye that rabbit is staying firmly inside the hat, (in our case white scull cap).

" Decentralisation is the prime example that the Albanians have no desire to control Serb lives whatsoever.
(village-bey, 21 December 2008 12:33)"

Well whether you desire to control or not is not the point. The truth of the matter is that Pristina cannot control K-Serbs' lives period.

Nowhere is this louder and clearer than north of the Ibar. Have been that way since 1999.

Mike
I too like to join many others who think that your rhetoric lately has assumed an unnecessarily aggressive tone, to put it mildly.
Any prediction about the future of Kosova can only be tentative in nature, no other way about it but you seem to argue on an assumption of strength and to a great degree on misinformation. Anyone with a bit of local knowledge would see through some of your claim, like that one of Serbs representing Gorani interest in Kosova. Using OSCE reports Dragash Municipality is probably unique within Kosovo for its tolerant environment between its two communities, which by the way means Albanian and Gorani. You can’t be serious if you really think that the phantom assembly in Mitrovica would advocate on behalf of these Gorani.

Your other precept is that either Albanians cooperate with Serb demands or they will have their own way anyhow.

On Your first point you seem too happy to highlights that there are not the Albanians who have made the concessions but they were envisaged by the Ahtisaari Plan. In that case you are very happy to take your rights to decentralization but somehow paradoxically not necessarily accept the legitimacy of Kosovan state.

Sterpce and Gracanica are mentioned as examples of strong defiant Serbian islands that will convince Albanians or their western sponsors to revise the nature of the state to a loose confederalist model like the one in Bosnia. To introduce a bit of background of those unfamiliar with the two areas, Sterpce total population is estimated at around 13,600; approximately 9,100 Kosovo Serbs, 4,500 Kosovo while there are no direct figures on Gracanica but for the whole municipality of Prishtina estimated total population is approximately 500,000. It has significantly increased since the end of the
1999 conflict. However, estimates on the total population of Prishtinë/Priština vary considerably. Vast majority are Kosovo Albanians (approx. 475,000); the estimated number of minority communities in 2005 was 12,510 Kosovo Serbs, 4,550 Ashkali and Roma, and 450 Bosniaks and Gorani, Turks, amount to approximately 3,950. Presuming again that you are not advocating on behalf of other minorities, Serb percentage of the overall population hardly makes case for a confederalist Kosova.
I would argue on the contrary. It is precisely for this boyish talk that Serbs have continued to leave enclaves and I would argue Mitrovica too. If your only hope is a guarded bridge and a sanctioned separation, I say you have no hope at all. Many on the current Serb political class have started to reason that the survival of the Serb life in Kosova lies in cooperation with Albanians. You seem to argue the opposite. Well good luck with that.

village-bey, words are cheap. In reality we have only seen a deteriorisation of the position of Kosovo's Serbs since march 17. And it is only days ago that we heared a Kosovo minister making threats to Kosovo's Serbs for the case they didn't resign in Kosovo's independence.

It is my impression that the Pristina officials quoted in the article are just trying to pull wool over the eyes of the EULEX officials in order to seduce them to harsh measures towards Kosovo's Serbs.

Ron,

"Kosovo is NOT an indepdendent state".
Who told you that? In other words who lied to you? Measures should be taken to punish the perpetrators who lie in the daytime.))))

"I am getting tired of this Balkan nonsense!" I feel the same sometimes especially when I was studying in Leiden University many years back. Even now here in England sometimes I think what a waste of time for the politics in Balcan.

Even when you miss the point by saying that Kosova is not an independent state and NOT saying that "Serbia has lost completely the control over Kosova since it was forced out in 1999 and has no authority whatsoever over Kosova. Accept it! That's life!

See you next time with more entertaining comments)
Greetings for United Kingdom a REAL COUNTRY)

I approve this measure in theory, but before we start singing praises to Albanian multiethnic tolerance and generosity for willingly siphoning away parts of their inalienalble sovereign territory, let's look at a few things.

First, the Serb areas cleared for decentralization were never under Albanian control in the first place. Simply designating them to be part of the autonomous structure guaranteed to K-Serbs by the Ahtisaari Plan is not really Pristina giving in to any concessions (i.e. giving up land they currently control). Rather, it's acknowledging what they do not, and very well will not control, and eliminating an avoidable headache - that's a administrative no-brainer.

Second, if by decentralization these Serb municipalities simply graph themselves into the Serb Assembly in Mitrovica (which I assume is the core of the decentralized Serb areas), what then? Many Albanians here chaffed at my "Daytonized Kosovo" model saying it would only create little islands of Serb municipalities in Albanian territory. What now? Does anyone honestly think Gracanica Municipality is going to cooperate anytime soon with Albanian authorities in Pristina? What about Strpce? Albeit on the other side of Kosovo, it's a Serb-compact area. And let's not even think about what northern Kosovo is going to do.

Third, does decentralization also apply to Albanian parts too? What about the Gorani parts? Doesn't "decentralization" have a certain "federalizing" ring to it? Weren't there people here who kept saying Kosovo is too small to be further decentralized?

This whole thing is administratively strategic as it acknowledges the limits in sovereign authority coming from Pristina, and effectively lets the K-Serbs (and hopefully Gorani) run their own show. I'm all down with that, as it may even encourage much of the Serb IDPs to return. But Pristina should not be surprised if these Serb municipalities just work to form a parallel government of their own.

So again, before we start saying that Kosovo is more tolerant than Vojvodina, let's wait and see what happens.

This was promised in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and now in late 2008.

One can expect nothing to happen.

EA,

Good to see you visted my country Holland. Hope you liked it!

Indeed, we will meet again here on this forum. Albanians are bending every fact in their advantage.

While the facts are clear:

Montenegro was a republic. There was no problem when it declared itself independent. It joined UN. Can apply for EU membership. Its football teams can play in Champions League and UEFA Cup...

Why? Because Montenegro is a STATE!

Compare Kosovo please.

A province. No right to split from Serbia. A big mess surrounding its 'independence'. No seat in UN. Cannot apply for EU membership. Not playing in UEFA competitions.

EA, I think you really are a nice guy, and I would really like to meet you. But can't you really accept that Kosovo was not a republic. And thus (!) had no right to split from Serbia?

Is it that hard to face facts that are not in your advantage?

So much times is wasted on the Kosovo issue. And yes, if it wasn't that serious we could laugh about it.

Wish you the best in the UK. Indeed, a real country like Holland and Serbia. And unless Kosovo...

Village bey,

I'm trying to figure out what I wrote that you take issue with. You imply that I believe the Serb component of a bi-state Kosovo solution would invariably accept all other non-Albanian minorities. I never said that, and if it seemed that I implied that, let me say that neither I nor you have information on what communities like the Gorani would do. Yes, it would be odd if the Serb Assembly in Mitrovica all of a sudden included the Gorani of Dragas. I was only asking whether decentralization would be extended to the Gorani, the other significant non-Albanian minority. And I have to take issue with your statement of Albanian-Gorani co-existence. While you may very well know more than I, the information I've received has indicated relations are tense at best - the demolishing of the Gorani school (regardless of who funded it) as well as benign Albanization of the Gorani language do not attest to multiethnic coexistence. Even if Pristina simply appropriated the land and the school under its authority, it might be one thing. Bulldozing a school, points to the opposite.

As far as the Serbs are concerned, you still seem to think that the only way forward for them is to bite the proverbial bullet and work within Albanian-led institutions. I could argue the same thing about Albanians just biting the bullet and working with Belgrade-led instititions, and you'd rightfully think I was insane. You miss one critical variable: trust. Even if such confederalization or whatever one calls it, is temporary, it will certainly be a necessary issue for at least this and possibly the next generation. No Serb will work with a government run by Thaci, Haradinaj, Ceku et al. My inquiry about Serb municipality autonomy was simply wondering which ones they would be. Strpce and Gracanica seem like obvious candidates. But you still didn't discount my additional question of whether these municipalities would simply group together under one government (parallel, shadow, or whatever you choose to call it) within Kosovo's parameters. Pristina can use the AP to give the wide ranging autonomy designated to the Serbs, but what's to stop them from just grafting themselves into the Serb Assembly? I agree that those south of the Ibar cannot avoid some form of cooperation and contact with Pristina on account of risking total isolation and further emigration. But it remains to be seen whether EULEX will force them to comply with Pristina.

I am indeed critical of Kosovo's sovereignty, as well as its institutions. But you've known this and yet we've still been able to have meaningful debate. And I believe that without the Ahtisaari Plan, the Albanians, who aren't really known for their democratic generosity, would not have automatically given the Serbs and others administrative autonomy within a decentralized state if they wanted it. Just a few weeks ago, Thaci was going ballistic because the EULEX compromise designates status neutral authority. He'll find it convenient to play the ethnic card and still blame Belgrade for problems that are taking place within his own Albanian-majority jurisdictions. He's good at taking orders from the West, but he's no Rugova, and lacks any vision at constructing a true multiethnic civic culture.

So yes, my comments are, and will be, critical of the Kosovo government. But if you equate "critical" with "aggressive", I fear our fruitful debates may lose its saliency. I sincerely hope not.