Norway awaits court decision

of course UNE, you will learn to get along with your state, Serbia will be good, prosperous and open society/state.

but it will need time for you to realize that.

This is actually a very interesting story because it allows the possibility that some countries may reverse their recognition in the future, depending upon the outcome at the international court.

Things are beginning to change, a bit...

It takes time! I am pretty sure that even in the US people may think that after all this 'solution' for Kosovo isn't really that great.

Will they admit that? Probably not! But on the other hand: the Kosovo problem will remain.

No Kosovo in EU. No Kosovo in UN!

SO there we are. Stagnation, problems and more problems.

Solution: a mutual agreement! See Slovakia!

Like stated there is hardly any turning back. So please lets all just learn how to get along

kate,

Let's hope this will happen. When I talk with Dutch diplomats they can never explain me why Kosovo, and not Kurdistan?

Kosovo a special situation? But what about the millions that suffer in Tibet.

We, the Serbs and the Albanians should work together to stop illegal Kosovo independence. And we should work towards a mutual accepted solution.

Is there any Albanian who has the guts to say:

"Yes, I want Kosovo to be independent. But no, there is no legal basis for this." ?

Une, they have already turned back but are only waiting for ICJ ruling to have an excuse to do so publicly.

So much anxiety starting to build up now I think. How many more countries could about face after the ruling?
Certainly no new countries recognizing Kosovo but a fair possibility of some reversals.

Let's see how long 53 countries can dictate to 140.

kate,

Whether or not the ICJ rules on Kosova, any country can change its mind. I doubt any country will risk looking foolish by doing so. If on the other hand, the ICJ rules in favor of Kosova, you will most likely see a large number of countries recognize her independence.

I personally feel that Serbia is taking a very risky chance on expecting a favorable decision from the ICJ. However, this has never stopped Serbia in the past regardless of the amount of egg she has had thrown in her face.

(The Norwegian ambassador added that the Kosovo issue is "in part political and in part legal", and that Serbia has in the past months "done a lot to promote her position".)
I believe what his excellency is trying to say here is: 'we are awaiting (and hoping and praying) the Tadic government to make the next move by edging closer to cutting the umbilical cord to Kosovo i Metohija and thereby saving his country's embarrassment at the likely positive ICJ ruling in Serbia's favour.'

I suspect that the British are in the driving seat on this one.

This is why the Serbs in Mitrovica are not being hassled so much lately, so that Mr. Tadic and his 'EU sponsored' cabinet can work out a way to sell out Kosovo so that the ICJ's ruling will have been diluted by Serbia's action.

God knows, it's all so sickening.

Micheal Breathnach
Ireland

Peggy, your comment of how long can 53 dictate to the other 140 brings up an interesting point.
Did you know that 4 countries provide for more than 50% of the UN budget, all of which recognized Kosovo. Also the total 53 countries provide 80% of the UN budget.
Of course the set up of the UN means that even the poorest of countries have the same vote but power comes with economics. As a matter of fact no country that has openly supported Serbia's postion on Kosovo provides for as much as 3% of the funding for the UN.

Ron, in answer to all your questions of why not----?. None of these countries have had a situation that required the UN to enact a resolution that prohibited the mother state from having ANY control over the lives and governing of those provinces. Nor has NATO had to bomb any of those countries to get them to comply with UN demands and to prevent humanitarian crisis.
Even though the Serbian goal is to paint the situation as a simple separatist movement like others throughout the world, these 2 FACTS sets the Kosovo situation in a category of its own.
Whether those interventions should have been taken is a matter of debate but the FACTS are they did take place in the situation of Kosovo. Both of these will play heavily in the decision of the ICJ.

Ron,
You are 100%correct 1244 is a fact. Read the facts, it is dedicated to the development of a govt totally out from under the control of Serbia. The territorial integrity part is simply a statement of circumstances in 1999, not what the future holds.
Apparently you think I am Albanian but just like you say you are not Serbian, I very much am neither Albanian or Serbian. I came to Kosovo without prejudice, it is only after much study of the developments on the ground and the people that I have become so passionate about the Independence of Kosovo.
Initially I thought the best scenario was some type of autonomy for Kosovo or something similar to the Ahtissari plan for Serbia with guarantees for Kosovo. But I do not think that Serbia has really showed any interest in the people of Kosovo only the land and with that there would be no hope for the international community to ever leave without Kosovo returning to the Milosevic years.
There was never anything in the negotiations that showed Serbia wanted to incorporate the Albanian population into Serbia it was always evident that they were to have a sub class existence.

But to me it is no insult to call me Albanian or Serbian, I am more of a mongrel who has no ethnic roots, I think both are very proud people who are misguided by prejudice. When you throw in some evil leaders that act on that is when the situation becomes dangerous.

pss,

But that intervention in 1999 was not made to create a second Albanian state. It was made to stop the killings.

And talking about facts: 1244 is a fact too! And so is the Serbian constitution.

But one more thing, pss. Why you guys spend so much time and energy on this issue? Why not work, live, party and be happy within the state you live in.

Again: take a look at the Dutchmen in Belgium and France!
And yes, awful things happened to them too! But we got over it!

Like stated there is hardly any turning back. So please lets all just learn how to get along

Things are beginning to change, a bit...

It takes time! I am pretty sure that even in the US people may think that after all this 'solution' for Kosovo isn't really that great.

Will they admit that? Probably not! But on the other hand: the Kosovo problem will remain.

No Kosovo in EU. No Kosovo in UN!

SO there we are. Stagnation, problems and more problems.

Solution: a mutual agreement! See Slovakia!

of course UNE, you will learn to get along with your state, Serbia will be good, prosperous and open society/state.

but it will need time for you to realize that.

kate,

Let's hope this will happen. When I talk with Dutch diplomats they can never explain me why Kosovo, and not Kurdistan?

Kosovo a special situation? But what about the millions that suffer in Tibet.

We, the Serbs and the Albanians should work together to stop illegal Kosovo independence. And we should work towards a mutual accepted solution.

Is there any Albanian who has the guts to say:

"Yes, I want Kosovo to be independent. But no, there is no legal basis for this." ?

kate,

Whether or not the ICJ rules on Kosova, any country can change its mind. I doubt any country will risk looking foolish by doing so. If on the other hand, the ICJ rules in favor of Kosova, you will most likely see a large number of countries recognize her independence.

I personally feel that Serbia is taking a very risky chance on expecting a favorable decision from the ICJ. However, this has never stopped Serbia in the past regardless of the amount of egg she has had thrown in her face.

This is actually a very interesting story because it allows the possibility that some countries may reverse their recognition in the future, depending upon the outcome at the international court.

Peggy, your comment of how long can 53 dictate to the other 140 brings up an interesting point.
Did you know that 4 countries provide for more than 50% of the UN budget, all of which recognized Kosovo. Also the total 53 countries provide 80% of the UN budget.
Of course the set up of the UN means that even the poorest of countries have the same vote but power comes with economics. As a matter of fact no country that has openly supported Serbia's postion on Kosovo provides for as much as 3% of the funding for the UN.

Ron, in answer to all your questions of why not----?. None of these countries have had a situation that required the UN to enact a resolution that prohibited the mother state from having ANY control over the lives and governing of those provinces. Nor has NATO had to bomb any of those countries to get them to comply with UN demands and to prevent humanitarian crisis.
Even though the Serbian goal is to paint the situation as a simple separatist movement like others throughout the world, these 2 FACTS sets the Kosovo situation in a category of its own.
Whether those interventions should have been taken is a matter of debate but the FACTS are they did take place in the situation of Kosovo. Both of these will play heavily in the decision of the ICJ.

Une, they have already turned back but are only waiting for ICJ ruling to have an excuse to do so publicly.

So much anxiety starting to build up now I think. How many more countries could about face after the ruling?
Certainly no new countries recognizing Kosovo but a fair possibility of some reversals.

Let's see how long 53 countries can dictate to 140.

(The Norwegian ambassador added that the Kosovo issue is "in part political and in part legal", and that Serbia has in the past months "done a lot to promote her position".)
I believe what his excellency is trying to say here is: 'we are awaiting (and hoping and praying) the Tadic government to make the next move by edging closer to cutting the umbilical cord to Kosovo i Metohija and thereby saving his country's embarrassment at the likely positive ICJ ruling in Serbia's favour.'

I suspect that the British are in the driving seat on this one.

This is why the Serbs in Mitrovica are not being hassled so much lately, so that Mr. Tadic and his 'EU sponsored' cabinet can work out a way to sell out Kosovo so that the ICJ's ruling will have been diluted by Serbia's action.

God knows, it's all so sickening.

Micheal Breathnach
Ireland

Ron,
You are 100%correct 1244 is a fact. Read the facts, it is dedicated to the development of a govt totally out from under the control of Serbia. The territorial integrity part is simply a statement of circumstances in 1999, not what the future holds.
Apparently you think I am Albanian but just like you say you are not Serbian, I very much am neither Albanian or Serbian. I came to Kosovo without prejudice, it is only after much study of the developments on the ground and the people that I have become so passionate about the Independence of Kosovo.
Initially I thought the best scenario was some type of autonomy for Kosovo or something similar to the Ahtissari plan for Serbia with guarantees for Kosovo. But I do not think that Serbia has really showed any interest in the people of Kosovo only the land and with that there would be no hope for the international community to ever leave without Kosovo returning to the Milosevic years.
There was never anything in the negotiations that showed Serbia wanted to incorporate the Albanian population into Serbia it was always evident that they were to have a sub class existence.

But to me it is no insult to call me Albanian or Serbian, I am more of a mongrel who has no ethnic roots, I think both are very proud people who are misguided by prejudice. When you throw in some evil leaders that act on that is when the situation becomes dangerous.

pss,

But that intervention in 1999 was not made to create a second Albanian state. It was made to stop the killings.

And talking about facts: 1244 is a fact too! And so is the Serbian constitution.

But one more thing, pss. Why you guys spend so much time and energy on this issue? Why not work, live, party and be happy within the state you live in.

Again: take a look at the Dutchmen in Belgium and France!
And yes, awful things happened to them too! But we got over it!