>>>Winter is here. How much electricity will Kosovo need to function?
Budget time for Serbia is here. How much IMF and EU money will Serbia need???? That is in addition to EU aid that they give yearly. Does Serbia want to be cripled and dinar to go to 2000 levels?
The Serbs have, once again, shot themselves in the foot. With a huge trade deficit, Serbia cannot afford to lose a half a billion $US in sales to Kosova.
As Serbian trading partners are being replaced with Albanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin and others in the region, it will be quite difficult for Serbia to re-establish business partnerships with Kosovars at some point in the future. After all, why should Albanian businessmen risk having their source of imported products interrupted again. I'm sure these surrounding countries would welcome new business from Kosova, especially in these chalenging economic times. Even Bulgaria and Greece have indicated that there is a great demand of their products in Kosova. On the other side of the transaction, Kosova has more than enough coal to supply the rest of the Balkans. This could be bought at a very attractive price.
Kosovo Albanian costumers should have boycotted Serb products a long time ago. Probably right after Milosevic striped them of the autonomy.
Kosovo government apart from banning Serbian products should do everything within its powers to seal the borders with Serbia as nothing good is expected to enter from those borders.
It is interesting but not unexpected to see posters like Ataman and Sudyka burst their “cosmopolitan bubbles” with the above comments.
albanians have nothing in kosovo they have no money no jobs and no food but the government does. they are starving the albanian people, do you really think serbia cares. they export import to and from the world the only ones going to suffer are the albanian people not their government, and the people will believe whatever this thachi and sedju are whatever their names are say.
By the way: maybe "Kosovo" authorities can explain, how they will enforce the ban.
Because there is NO CUSTOMS CHECKPOINT at the "Gate #1". There is UNMIK checking the passports and a car with KP who DO NOT check the passports. There is no customs which would report to anyone in Pristina.
Going further south, there is one customs checkpoint, near KM. It's much more south and the goods from Serbia can reach every village between KM and the "Gate #1" without any interference from Pristina.
It will be interesting to see, how EULEX does behave. I can imagine, here our "quetzal" can get an unpleasant surprise.
Once in Kosovo, the goods obviously will reach anyone, it's just the question of time and of course the corruption of K. "customs".
Regarding Kosovo products in Serbia or Bosnia... not much of importance.
All this is of course purely theoretical. People will "smuggle" and won't care, as they do now.
But sure, this outbreak of stupid national "pride" feels so great, congratulations on that.
Some time back I thought that blockades were definitely something belonging to the past and that there will be more and more partnerships and exchanges, however, I was so wrong!
Serbia continues to "show" that anything that holds the sign "made in Kosovo" in it will be either faded out (as it is done with the Serbian products in Serbia, which have a sign saying "importer for Kosovo" - they have faded that out by some black marker or so) or simply banned from its market and blocked on its way to the other markets!
I deeply believe that Kosovo had no other choice apart from taking the same measure on its side!
I am not saying that there will be not difficulties at all on the side of Kosovo consumers but I am also very much confident that at the time of global recession there will be plenty of products of same quality and price to be bought in the market and that famous HIGHWAY which btw will be FREE OF CHARGE will enable us to exchange (read buy) goods for the same or cheaper price!
This will also give some advantage to Kosovar producers that will sell more now and increase their profits (although their products are of poorer quality sometime) and state will have more revenues!
Don't forget that this measure has been taken with the total support of Kosovar producers, traders and costumers associations!
Bad move Serbia, again!
Interesting how this Grcaliu fellow mentions both the trade ban and the vital trade link between Kosovo and Serbia Proper in the same sentance. Two bits of advice:
1. Good Luck
2. You can't feed your people on national hubris.
Historically speaking sanctions like this usually end up making things worse not better. The Hapsburg example was a good one.
I know a local Bosnian Muslim who has a European import store with all kinds of products from ex Yugo, although the smallest amount of items are from Serbia.
Despite the politics many of his best customers are Serbs. Good for him because he makes money and good for Serbs because he supplies many items not usually available on the American market.
Losing Kosovo business will hurt Serbian exporters, however Albanian consumers in Kosovo will end up paying higher prices.
Instead of focusing on how to kill off each other's cows maybe we should be trying to find ways to make the herd larger.
>> "Kosovo is hardly in any position to not trade with anyone. Serbia is their biggest trade partner (followed by Macedonia), and cutting trade with them will no longer make Kosovo the poorest country in Europe, but the poorest in the world even. --
Peter, please read the story again. Kosova BUYS from Serbia cheap junk that they can and will get from FYROM or come spring time from Albanian ports. Kosova sales are less than $30 million a year through Serbia. Most will be rerouted and Serbai will have some $500 million less in foreign currency and of course jobs will be impacted. Balance of trade matters, and I doubt Serbia can make up by selling cheap stuff to Hungary, Croatia or Romania.
>> the only people to be hurt by this ban on serbian imports is the albanian folks in kosovo
Not really, daily items are about the same price in the Balkans, give or take 1%-2%. By spring the Albania-Kosova highway will open and Kosova can buy from and sell to anywhere in the world and ship them to Durres. Buying, of course, is the easy part.
How about the Serbian workers whose factories will lose all the Kosova market? You forgot those--and the Serbian state who desperately needs foreign currency (like everyone in the Balkans does.) Try buying oil from the Saudis with dinars or lek for that matter. You need dollars, euro or yen.
I think the UDI and events leading up to them have given you a false sense of reality. Somehow you think every exchange or interaction between Albanians and Serbs will be one sided in favor of Albanians. You also seem to think that everything Albanian is gloriously great and everything Serbian is horribly bad.
I'm afraid it's more complicated than that. For example, you keep insisting that Kosovo's access to Albanian ports will be a bonanza for Kosovo. I also think that access will be a good thing, but come on man, Albania has had access to those ports forever and it's still a poor country.
I agree with you also that having a highway connecting Pristina to Durres is a good thing for Kosovo, but that road won't be free, and unfortunately it ends in Durres.
the only people to be hurt by this ban on serbian imports is the albanian folks in kosovo. Punish those who are mostly effected by this. I guess obtaining these items from turkey or macedonia will make things cheaper. The smugglers are going to suffer because EULEX is going to make life difficult for them. What a bunch of dummies in the Kosovo government.
"
Kosova was a gold mine and ANY country would love to snap it, China would even recognize us for $500 mil a year in one way sales."
I think you overplay Kosovo's importance several times over with that statement. Kosovo is hardly in any position to not trade with anyone. Serbia is their biggest trade partner (followed by Macedonia), and cutting trade with them will no longer make Kosovo the poorest country in Europe, but the poorest in the world even.
It would be unwise for Serbia to cut its trade with Kosovo and bloody stupid for Kosovo to cut its trade with Serbia.
Enough is enough! That is something that the Serbs need to be reminded sistematically and periodically. If the news is true Good luck to Kosova in its way towards of non submission. Stop begging Serbia for friendship! Your natural partners are Albanian, Macedonia and Montenegro. When Serbia wakes up you have already finished your dinner....))
well, if economics are "not Canadian´s strongest point"...like "Dardania" writes, I would emphasize that History isn´t Dardania´s strongest point... since todays Albanians have nothing to do with the Illyrians, although they so desperately try to point that out...
as for these economic measures...
who cares for the threats that are coming from the socalled Kosovo-government?
didn´t the K-albanians boycott serbian goods already for years? and now we read that the amount of exchanged goods goes into hundreds of millions?
well, what a gigantic boycott these fanatic "kosovars" have shown...
Canadian - (I'm sure you'll recall this from your history lessons in Serbia...)
I believe the Habsburgs tried something similar once with Serbia, cutting off trade in pigs to crush Serbia. Serbia ended up stronger for it, and less dependent than ever on the Habsburg Monarchy, with new markets and increased trade.
But this sort of move is stupid, on both sides, for another reason.
In this economic climate, Serbia (and Kosovo) need as much trade as they can get. Orders are drying up everywhere. Throwing away 2% of one's external market is more than silly.
I am sure that Kosovo will find new suppliers, with plenty of products they are unable to sell easily just now (Albania and Macedonia come to mind).
But it does seem equally stupid for Kosovo to cut off a cheap and regular source of goods - no matter what sort of prestige Prishtina thinks is involved.
An Albanian ban on Serbian products does not hurt Serbia.
This year alone Serbia has had over 4 Billion dollars worth of trade with Russia another 3 Billion with China, almost 1 Billion with Brazil and over 700 Million with India, their trade with just these 4 countries is enough to keep Serbia with a population of just under 8 Million people going, never mind the trade they have with the rest of the world including the EU. Serbia's trade with their Provence Kosovo amounts to less than 2% of their overall trade, where as Kosovo's largest trading partner is Serbia amounting to over 20% of all goods in Kosovo.
Kosovo is hurting big time for trade and by them cutting of trade with Serbia will sink them into an even bigger hole. Do they really think this will hurt Serbia? How foolish do Pristina's politicians think their Albanian followers are? Or perhaps they are foolish and actually think this move is productive.
This is the stupidest thing that Kosovo can do and it will only hurt the "little man" (i.e. the poor) and increase smuggling = less revenue for the Kosovo state.
Kosovo has very little in terms of economic "comparative advantage" vis a vis its neighbors. One advantage it does have is a potential transit route for the region. This has to be supported by open borders and transit infrastructure, not sanctions from any side.
>>>>>This year alone Serbia has had over 4 Billion dollars worth of trade with Russia another 3 Billion with China, almost 1 Billion with Brazil and over 700 Million with India ---
Canadian, economics isn't your strong point. Serbia IMPORTS from those countries. Serbia for example, sells more to Kosova than to Russia. Exports matter, read a bit more:
"Serbia's current-account deficit has been high in recent years, reflecting strong import demand and a rising trade deficit. The current-account deficit was US$5.3bn in 2007, compared with US$3bn in 2006. "
http://www.economist.com/countries/serbia/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-FactSheet
>> "I have zero sympathy with Kosovo on this ban because most of their imports are from Serbia; to do it is an insanity. "
Finding sellers is the easiest part of all, so I have zero clue on what you are talking about. Cooking oil is cooking oil, Serb, Bulgar or Albanian. Same with soaps, biscuits etc. Explain that to Serbs as they lose their jobs when $500 mil in yearly contracts just vanish because 'Kosovo je Srbja' and Tadic an't accept a stamp in a box! $500 mil a year! Think of how many jobs Kosova supported in Serbia. The entire world is in a recession and goods are piling in warehouses and you say that Kosova can't find sellers????????
Kosova was a gold mine and ANY country would love to snap it, China would even recognize us for $500 mil a year in one way sales.
Electricity lines pass through Kosova to FYROM so Serbia will have to cut the power to FYROM as well--and of course to Serbs in Kosova. It's safe to say that $ hundreds of millions in yearly EU /US aid to Serbia would also be cut.
>>>>Really sad, such criminals play the game with K-Albanians just for the sake of politics. But if they "excelled" with rape, killing, torture, organ harvesting of Serbs, making the life of ordinary Kosovars a pain is pretty much in their nature.
Funny how Serbs try to make themselves victim. Let's leave rhetoric aside: Serbs are the only people in Europe to have legally been found of committing genocide post WWII and rape is now a war crime all over the world thanks to what Serbs did. http://www.nytimes.com/specials/bosnia/context/0628warcrimes-tribunal.html
I absolutely agree with Albanian. This band would only confirm the new economic realignment of Kosova towards Albania.
For many obvious reasons economic cooperation between Serbia and Kosova doesn’t make a great deal of sense.
It is highly artificial and heavily subsidised. An economy less reliant on the economic ties with Serbia would also serve to enhance the political dimension of independence.
In contrast Albania and Kosova have always complimented each other economically. Albania by providing a natural market for Kosovar agricultural goods and by next year an easy trade route for Kosovar mineral exports. Albania on the other hand is better poised to provide services, expertise and eventually cheap energy. All in all Kosova’s trade has historically been directed towards Mediterranean and this move is only a natural readjustment of economics. That’s why Mr Thaci rather than trying to convince Serbia to recognise, should focus on more pressing needs of the population, e.g. revitalising economy and making sure that trade flourishes southwards.
"UNMIK signed CEFTA on behalf of Kosovo, meaning that this agreement is binding for them too."
let's analyze his so-called logic: If it's binding for Kosova isn't it for Serbia?
But it says Kosovo now, not UNMIK': if changing a name invalidates the agreement, then Kosova is no longer bound to honor it either, right?
Just like when they expelled ambasadors serbs will once again back down. But by then new agreements with Albanian /Montenegrin /FYROM merchants will have been created, causing Serbia a permanent loss. Great move Serbia, you can really afford to lose money, NOT!
now we schould close the border with serbia and ban serbian passports we dont need to make trade with serbia.we have albania,macedonia and montenegro and all of european countrys thats more than enough
>>"If it were a EULEX stamp then the trade would be free and easy as I distinctly remember it was when I used to import equipment into Pristina."
If we wrote 'Russia' in the boxes too it would free, but it isn't Russia, it's Kosovo/a. This is only fair, Serbs can't have it both ways, now let them lose 300-400 million of much needed Euros a year.
>> "I am not overly concerned, since it is up to those who monitors this – the CEFTA Forum and the WTO – to take notice and say, gentlemen, that is not allowed,"
Of course you aren't concerned. You are flush with cash and the economy is doing great everywhere.
Well done KosovA!
Don't forget you have Macedonia, Montenegro and your Albania to do business with. The Albania-KosovA highway will be ready for 2009 so don't worry. In 3-4 hours you can get anywhere you want.
BH_NYC, what's the relevance in here? I fail to see your point!
Nevertheless, I have to agree again with Ian. That's what two 'problematic' independent countries shall do in cases like this. Nothing to worry, cz it's the Serbian market who will be more affected on this case!
If, according to the Serbian camp, Kosova is Serbia, how come they are calling it an IMPORT of goods from Kosova and are banning it from entering Serbia? Cz, as you all (probably) know, IMPORT means commodities (goods or services) bought from a foreign country!
In Belgrade, Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) chairman Miloš Bugarin says that there is no boycott of goods arriving from Kosovo, but that those goods come in "small amouts".
"He also reminded that any ban on Serbian goods sold in Kosovo would be a direct violation of the regional free trade agreement CEFTA."
Now, just watch the arrogance of this gentleman.
If I violate it is OK "small amounts"- if you reciprocate VIOALTON of CEFTA...
An entire life of arrogance from Serbia- enough is enough.
I guess Kosova should have no fear in RECIPROCATING.
But if Serbia is to ban imports from Kosovo, it is only fair for Kosovo to ban imports from Serbia in return. Same with BiH.
(Ian, UK, 27 December 2008 12:16)
Ian, Serbia and BiH did not ban "imports" from Kosovo. Please read the article again. Somewhat made in Kosovo can have that label and still being sold in Serbia proper or BiH if it has the UNMIK stamp. What is banned is the stamp of "Kosovar" customs.
I have zero sympathy with Kosovo on this ban because most of their imports are from Serbia; to do it is an insanity. Just think about electricity. How that "7/24 power" promise does look for the "Mr. quetzalcoatl" (the bloodthirsty Aztec pigeon/snake god) he ensured his voters about?
Really sad, such criminals play the game with K-Albanians just for the sake of politics. But if they "excelled" with rape, killing, torture, organ harvesting of Serbs, making the life of ordinary Kosovars a pain is pretty much in their nature.
Just because there is a political dispute between Kosovo and Serbia doesn't mean businesses should be affected. But if Serbia is to ban imports from Kosovo, it is only fair for Kosovo to ban imports from Serbia in return. Same with BiH. Its a shame that Serbia is banning goods from Kosovo in the current economic situation. I sympathise with Kosovo on this ban though. I'm sure Kosovo would annul this ban if Serbia were too also, regardless of the Kosovo status dispute.
This could be resolved easily if EULEX controlled the import and export of goods to and from the Serbian province of Kosovo. It's all down to the stamps on the paperwork. If it were a EULEX stamp then the trade would be free and easy as I distinctly remember it was when I used to import equipment into Pristina.
Contrary to what is believed the Kosovo status is still a long way from being resolved and will get even more convoluted when the ICJ makes a ruling on the legality of the Albanian Kosovo/US, illegal declaration for independence.
I think that the reason why Czech troops wanted to pull out is different from what they officially told us. Judging by the latest developments, things might get quite ugly in the next few months.
Well done by Prishtina, hopefully soon it closes the border permantly since they dont recognize Kosovas Passport. Why should we recognize theirs? Serbia showed yesterday it still lives in the 90s, we have tried everything. Enough is enough!
Just because there is a political dispute between Kosovo and Serbia doesn't mean businesses should be affected. But if Serbia is to ban imports from Kosovo, it is only fair for Kosovo to ban imports from Serbia in return. Same with BiH. Its a shame that Serbia is banning goods from Kosovo in the current economic situation. I sympathise with Kosovo on this ban though. I'm sure Kosovo would annul this ban if Serbia were too also, regardless of the Kosovo status dispute.
Well done by Prishtina, hopefully soon it closes the border permantly since they dont recognize Kosovas Passport. Why should we recognize theirs? Serbia showed yesterday it still lives in the 90s, we have tried everything. Enough is enough!
In Belgrade, Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) chairman Miloš Bugarin says that there is no boycott of goods arriving from Kosovo, but that those goods come in "small amouts".
"He also reminded that any ban on Serbian goods sold in Kosovo would be a direct violation of the regional free trade agreement CEFTA."
Now, just watch the arrogance of this gentleman.
If I violate it is OK "small amounts"- if you reciprocate VIOALTON of CEFTA...
An entire life of arrogance from Serbia- enough is enough.
I guess Kosova should have no fear in RECIPROCATING.
Well done KosovA!
Don't forget you have Macedonia, Montenegro and your Albania to do business with. The Albania-KosovA highway will be ready for 2009 so don't worry. In 3-4 hours you can get anywhere you want.
BH_NYC, what's the relevance in here? I fail to see your point!
Nevertheless, I have to agree again with Ian. That's what two 'problematic' independent countries shall do in cases like this. Nothing to worry, cz it's the Serbian market who will be more affected on this case!
If, according to the Serbian camp, Kosova is Serbia, how come they are calling it an IMPORT of goods from Kosova and are banning it from entering Serbia? Cz, as you all (probably) know, IMPORT means commodities (goods or services) bought from a foreign country!
But if Serbia is to ban imports from Kosovo, it is only fair for Kosovo to ban imports from Serbia in return. Same with BiH.
(Ian, UK, 27 December 2008 12:16)
Ian, Serbia and BiH did not ban "imports" from Kosovo. Please read the article again. Somewhat made in Kosovo can have that label and still being sold in Serbia proper or BiH if it has the UNMIK stamp. What is banned is the stamp of "Kosovar" customs.
I have zero sympathy with Kosovo on this ban because most of their imports are from Serbia; to do it is an insanity. Just think about electricity. How that "7/24 power" promise does look for the "Mr. quetzalcoatl" (the bloodthirsty Aztec pigeon/snake god) he ensured his voters about?
Really sad, such criminals play the game with K-Albanians just for the sake of politics. But if they "excelled" with rape, killing, torture, organ harvesting of Serbs, making the life of ordinary Kosovars a pain is pretty much in their nature.
This could be resolved easily if EULEX controlled the import and export of goods to and from the Serbian province of Kosovo. It's all down to the stamps on the paperwork. If it were a EULEX stamp then the trade would be free and easy as I distinctly remember it was when I used to import equipment into Pristina.
Contrary to what is believed the Kosovo status is still a long way from being resolved and will get even more convoluted when the ICJ makes a ruling on the legality of the Albanian Kosovo/US, illegal declaration for independence.
now we schould close the border with serbia and ban serbian passports we dont need to make trade with serbia.we have albania,macedonia and montenegro and all of european countrys thats more than enough
>> "I have zero sympathy with Kosovo on this ban because most of their imports are from Serbia; to do it is an insanity. "
Finding sellers is the easiest part of all, so I have zero clue on what you are talking about. Cooking oil is cooking oil, Serb, Bulgar or Albanian. Same with soaps, biscuits etc. Explain that to Serbs as they lose their jobs when $500 mil in yearly contracts just vanish because 'Kosovo je Srbja' and Tadic an't accept a stamp in a box! $500 mil a year! Think of how many jobs Kosova supported in Serbia. The entire world is in a recession and goods are piling in warehouses and you say that Kosova can't find sellers????????
Kosova was a gold mine and ANY country would love to snap it, China would even recognize us for $500 mil a year in one way sales.
Electricity lines pass through Kosova to FYROM so Serbia will have to cut the power to FYROM as well--and of course to Serbs in Kosova. It's safe to say that $ hundreds of millions in yearly EU /US aid to Serbia would also be cut.
>>>>Really sad, such criminals play the game with K-Albanians just for the sake of politics. But if they "excelled" with rape, killing, torture, organ harvesting of Serbs, making the life of ordinary Kosovars a pain is pretty much in their nature.
Funny how Serbs try to make themselves victim. Let's leave rhetoric aside: Serbs are the only people in Europe to have legally been found of committing genocide post WWII and rape is now a war crime all over the world thanks to what Serbs did. http://www.nytimes.com/specials/bosnia/context/0628warcrimes-tribunal.html
"UNMIK signed CEFTA on behalf of Kosovo, meaning that this agreement is binding for them too."
let's analyze his so-called logic: If it's binding for Kosova isn't it for Serbia?
But it says Kosovo now, not UNMIK': if changing a name invalidates the agreement, then Kosova is no longer bound to honor it either, right?
Just like when they expelled ambasadors serbs will once again back down. But by then new agreements with Albanian /Montenegrin /FYROM merchants will have been created, causing Serbia a permanent loss. Great move Serbia, you can really afford to lose money, NOT!
>>>>>This year alone Serbia has had over 4 Billion dollars worth of trade with Russia another 3 Billion with China, almost 1 Billion with Brazil and over 700 Million with India ---
Canadian, economics isn't your strong point. Serbia IMPORTS from those countries. Serbia for example, sells more to Kosova than to Russia. Exports matter, read a bit more:
"Serbia's current-account deficit has been high in recent years, reflecting strong import demand and a rising trade deficit. The current-account deficit was US$5.3bn in 2007, compared with US$3bn in 2006. "
http://www.economist.com/countries/serbia/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-FactSheet
I absolutely agree with Albanian. This band would only confirm the new economic realignment of Kosova towards Albania.
For many obvious reasons economic cooperation between Serbia and Kosova doesn’t make a great deal of sense.
It is highly artificial and heavily subsidised. An economy less reliant on the economic ties with Serbia would also serve to enhance the political dimension of independence.
In contrast Albania and Kosova have always complimented each other economically. Albania by providing a natural market for Kosovar agricultural goods and by next year an easy trade route for Kosovar mineral exports. Albania on the other hand is better poised to provide services, expertise and eventually cheap energy. All in all Kosova’s trade has historically been directed towards Mediterranean and this move is only a natural readjustment of economics. That’s why Mr Thaci rather than trying to convince Serbia to recognise, should focus on more pressing needs of the population, e.g. revitalising economy and making sure that trade flourishes southwards.
An Albanian ban on Serbian products does not hurt Serbia.
This year alone Serbia has had over 4 Billion dollars worth of trade with Russia another 3 Billion with China, almost 1 Billion with Brazil and over 700 Million with India, their trade with just these 4 countries is enough to keep Serbia with a population of just under 8 Million people going, never mind the trade they have with the rest of the world including the EU. Serbia's trade with their Provence Kosovo amounts to less than 2% of their overall trade, where as Kosovo's largest trading partner is Serbia amounting to over 20% of all goods in Kosovo.
Kosovo is hurting big time for trade and by them cutting of trade with Serbia will sink them into an even bigger hole. Do they really think this will hurt Serbia? How foolish do Pristina's politicians think their Albanian followers are? Or perhaps they are foolish and actually think this move is productive.
I think that the reason why Czech troops wanted to pull out is different from what they officially told us. Judging by the latest developments, things might get quite ugly in the next few months.
Historically speaking sanctions like this usually end up making things worse not better. The Hapsburg example was a good one.
I know a local Bosnian Muslim who has a European import store with all kinds of products from ex Yugo, although the smallest amount of items are from Serbia.
Despite the politics many of his best customers are Serbs. Good for him because he makes money and good for Serbs because he supplies many items not usually available on the American market.
Losing Kosovo business will hurt Serbian exporters, however Albanian consumers in Kosovo will end up paying higher prices.
Instead of focusing on how to kill off each other's cows maybe we should be trying to find ways to make the herd larger.
Some time back I thought that blockades were definitely something belonging to the past and that there will be more and more partnerships and exchanges, however, I was so wrong!
Serbia continues to "show" that anything that holds the sign "made in Kosovo" in it will be either faded out (as it is done with the Serbian products in Serbia, which have a sign saying "importer for Kosovo" - they have faded that out by some black marker or so) or simply banned from its market and blocked on its way to the other markets!
I deeply believe that Kosovo had no other choice apart from taking the same measure on its side!
I am not saying that there will be not difficulties at all on the side of Kosovo consumers but I am also very much confident that at the time of global recession there will be plenty of products of same quality and price to be bought in the market and that famous HIGHWAY which btw will be FREE OF CHARGE will enable us to exchange (read buy) goods for the same or cheaper price!
This will also give some advantage to Kosovar producers that will sell more now and increase their profits (although their products are of poorer quality sometime) and state will have more revenues!
Don't forget that this measure has been taken with the total support of Kosovar producers, traders and costumers associations!
Bad move Serbia, again!
Enough is enough! That is something that the Serbs need to be reminded sistematically and periodically. If the news is true Good luck to Kosova in its way towards of non submission. Stop begging Serbia for friendship! Your natural partners are Albanian, Macedonia and Montenegro. When Serbia wakes up you have already finished your dinner....))
>> "Kosovo is hardly in any position to not trade with anyone. Serbia is their biggest trade partner (followed by Macedonia), and cutting trade with them will no longer make Kosovo the poorest country in Europe, but the poorest in the world even. --
Peter, please read the story again. Kosova BUYS from Serbia cheap junk that they can and will get from FYROM or come spring time from Albanian ports. Kosova sales are less than $30 million a year through Serbia. Most will be rerouted and Serbai will have some $500 million less in foreign currency and of course jobs will be impacted. Balance of trade matters, and I doubt Serbia can make up by selling cheap stuff to Hungary, Croatia or Romania.
>> the only people to be hurt by this ban on serbian imports is the albanian folks in kosovo
Not really, daily items are about the same price in the Balkans, give or take 1%-2%. By spring the Albania-Kosova highway will open and Kosova can buy from and sell to anywhere in the world and ship them to Durres. Buying, of course, is the easy part.
How about the Serbian workers whose factories will lose all the Kosova market? You forgot those--and the Serbian state who desperately needs foreign currency (like everyone in the Balkans does.) Try buying oil from the Saudis with dinars or lek for that matter. You need dollars, euro or yen.
>>"If it were a EULEX stamp then the trade would be free and easy as I distinctly remember it was when I used to import equipment into Pristina."
If we wrote 'Russia' in the boxes too it would free, but it isn't Russia, it's Kosovo/a. This is only fair, Serbs can't have it both ways, now let them lose 300-400 million of much needed Euros a year.
>> "I am not overly concerned, since it is up to those who monitors this – the CEFTA Forum and the WTO – to take notice and say, gentlemen, that is not allowed,"
Of course you aren't concerned. You are flush with cash and the economy is doing great everywhere.
well, if economics are "not Canadian´s strongest point"...like "Dardania" writes, I would emphasize that History isn´t Dardania´s strongest point... since todays Albanians have nothing to do with the Illyrians, although they so desperately try to point that out...
as for these economic measures...
who cares for the threats that are coming from the socalled Kosovo-government?
didn´t the K-albanians boycott serbian goods already for years? and now we read that the amount of exchanged goods goes into hundreds of millions?
well, what a gigantic boycott these fanatic "kosovars" have shown...
This is the stupidest thing that Kosovo can do and it will only hurt the "little man" (i.e. the poor) and increase smuggling = less revenue for the Kosovo state.
Kosovo has very little in terms of economic "comparative advantage" vis a vis its neighbors. One advantage it does have is a potential transit route for the region. This has to be supported by open borders and transit infrastructure, not sanctions from any side.
I think the UDI and events leading up to them have given you a false sense of reality. Somehow you think every exchange or interaction between Albanians and Serbs will be one sided in favor of Albanians. You also seem to think that everything Albanian is gloriously great and everything Serbian is horribly bad.
I'm afraid it's more complicated than that. For example, you keep insisting that Kosovo's access to Albanian ports will be a bonanza for Kosovo. I also think that access will be a good thing, but come on man, Albania has had access to those ports forever and it's still a poor country.
I agree with you also that having a highway connecting Pristina to Durres is a good thing for Kosovo, but that road won't be free, and unfortunately it ends in Durres.
the only people to be hurt by this ban on serbian imports is the albanian folks in kosovo. Punish those who are mostly effected by this. I guess obtaining these items from turkey or macedonia will make things cheaper. The smugglers are going to suffer because EULEX is going to make life difficult for them. What a bunch of dummies in the Kosovo government.
Canadian - (I'm sure you'll recall this from your history lessons in Serbia...)
I believe the Habsburgs tried something similar once with Serbia, cutting off trade in pigs to crush Serbia. Serbia ended up stronger for it, and less dependent than ever on the Habsburg Monarchy, with new markets and increased trade.
But this sort of move is stupid, on both sides, for another reason.
In this economic climate, Serbia (and Kosovo) need as much trade as they can get. Orders are drying up everywhere. Throwing away 2% of one's external market is more than silly.
I am sure that Kosovo will find new suppliers, with plenty of products they are unable to sell easily just now (Albania and Macedonia come to mind).
But it does seem equally stupid for Kosovo to cut off a cheap and regular source of goods - no matter what sort of prestige Prishtina thinks is involved.
"
Kosova was a gold mine and ANY country would love to snap it, China would even recognize us for $500 mil a year in one way sales."
I think you overplay Kosovo's importance several times over with that statement. Kosovo is hardly in any position to not trade with anyone. Serbia is their biggest trade partner (followed by Macedonia), and cutting trade with them will no longer make Kosovo the poorest country in Europe, but the poorest in the world even.
It would be unwise for Serbia to cut its trade with Kosovo and bloody stupid for Kosovo to cut its trade with Serbia.
Interesting how this Grcaliu fellow mentions both the trade ban and the vital trade link between Kosovo and Serbia Proper in the same sentance. Two bits of advice:
1. Good Luck
2. You can't feed your people on national hubris.
By the way: maybe "Kosovo" authorities can explain, how they will enforce the ban.
Because there is NO CUSTOMS CHECKPOINT at the "Gate #1". There is UNMIK checking the passports and a car with KP who DO NOT check the passports. There is no customs which would report to anyone in Pristina.
Going further south, there is one customs checkpoint, near KM. It's much more south and the goods from Serbia can reach every village between KM and the "Gate #1" without any interference from Pristina.
It will be interesting to see, how EULEX does behave. I can imagine, here our "quetzal" can get an unpleasant surprise.
Once in Kosovo, the goods obviously will reach anyone, it's just the question of time and of course the corruption of K. "customs".
Regarding Kosovo products in Serbia or Bosnia... not much of importance.
All this is of course purely theoretical. People will "smuggle" and won't care, as they do now.
But sure, this outbreak of stupid national "pride" feels so great, congratulations on that.
Kosovo Albanian costumers should have boycotted Serb products a long time ago. Probably right after Milosevic striped them of the autonomy.
Kosovo government apart from banning Serbian products should do everything within its powers to seal the borders with Serbia as nothing good is expected to enter from those borders.
It is interesting but not unexpected to see posters like Ataman and Sudyka burst their “cosmopolitan bubbles” with the above comments.
albanians have nothing in kosovo they have no money no jobs and no food but the government does. they are starving the albanian people, do you really think serbia cares. they export import to and from the world the only ones going to suffer are the albanian people not their government, and the people will believe whatever this thachi and sedju are whatever their names are say.
>>>Winter is here. How much electricity will Kosovo need to function?
Budget time for Serbia is here. How much IMF and EU money will Serbia need???? That is in addition to EU aid that they give yearly. Does Serbia want to be cripled and dinar to go to 2000 levels?
The Serbs have, once again, shot themselves in the foot. With a huge trade deficit, Serbia cannot afford to lose a half a billion $US in sales to Kosova.
As Serbian trading partners are being replaced with Albanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin and others in the region, it will be quite difficult for Serbia to re-establish business partnerships with Kosovars at some point in the future. After all, why should Albanian businessmen risk having their source of imported products interrupted again. I'm sure these surrounding countries would welcome new business from Kosova, especially in these chalenging economic times. Even Bulgaria and Greece have indicated that there is a great demand of their products in Kosova. On the other side of the transaction, Kosova has more than enough coal to supply the rest of the Balkans. This could be bought at a very attractive price.
But if Serbia is to ban imports from Kosovo, it is only fair for Kosovo to ban imports from Serbia in return. Same with BiH.
(Ian, UK, 27 December 2008 12:16)
Ian, Serbia and BiH did not ban "imports" from Kosovo. Please read the article again. Somewhat made in Kosovo can have that label and still being sold in Serbia proper or BiH if it has the UNMIK stamp. What is banned is the stamp of "Kosovar" customs.
I have zero sympathy with Kosovo on this ban because most of their imports are from Serbia; to do it is an insanity. Just think about electricity. How that "7/24 power" promise does look for the "Mr. quetzalcoatl" (the bloodthirsty Aztec pigeon/snake god) he ensured his voters about?
Really sad, such criminals play the game with K-Albanians just for the sake of politics. But if they "excelled" with rape, killing, torture, organ harvesting of Serbs, making the life of ordinary Kosovars a pain is pretty much in their nature.
This could be resolved easily if EULEX controlled the import and export of goods to and from the Serbian province of Kosovo. It's all down to the stamps on the paperwork. If it were a EULEX stamp then the trade would be free and easy as I distinctly remember it was when I used to import equipment into Pristina.
Contrary to what is believed the Kosovo status is still a long way from being resolved and will get even more convoluted when the ICJ makes a ruling on the legality of the Albanian Kosovo/US, illegal declaration for independence.
Well done by Prishtina, hopefully soon it closes the border permantly since they dont recognize Kosovas Passport. Why should we recognize theirs? Serbia showed yesterday it still lives in the 90s, we have tried everything. Enough is enough!
Well done KosovA!
Don't forget you have Macedonia, Montenegro and your Albania to do business with. The Albania-KosovA highway will be ready for 2009 so don't worry. In 3-4 hours you can get anywhere you want.
An Albanian ban on Serbian products does not hurt Serbia.
This year alone Serbia has had over 4 Billion dollars worth of trade with Russia another 3 Billion with China, almost 1 Billion with Brazil and over 700 Million with India, their trade with just these 4 countries is enough to keep Serbia with a population of just under 8 Million people going, never mind the trade they have with the rest of the world including the EU. Serbia's trade with their Provence Kosovo amounts to less than 2% of their overall trade, where as Kosovo's largest trading partner is Serbia amounting to over 20% of all goods in Kosovo.
Kosovo is hurting big time for trade and by them cutting of trade with Serbia will sink them into an even bigger hole. Do they really think this will hurt Serbia? How foolish do Pristina's politicians think their Albanian followers are? Or perhaps they are foolish and actually think this move is productive.
In Belgrade, Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) chairman Miloš Bugarin says that there is no boycott of goods arriving from Kosovo, but that those goods come in "small amouts".
"He also reminded that any ban on Serbian goods sold in Kosovo would be a direct violation of the regional free trade agreement CEFTA."
Now, just watch the arrogance of this gentleman.
If I violate it is OK "small amounts"- if you reciprocate VIOALTON of CEFTA...
An entire life of arrogance from Serbia- enough is enough.
I guess Kosova should have no fear in RECIPROCATING.
well, if economics are "not Canadian´s strongest point"...like "Dardania" writes, I would emphasize that History isn´t Dardania´s strongest point... since todays Albanians have nothing to do with the Illyrians, although they so desperately try to point that out...
as for these economic measures...
who cares for the threats that are coming from the socalled Kosovo-government?
didn´t the K-albanians boycott serbian goods already for years? and now we read that the amount of exchanged goods goes into hundreds of millions?
well, what a gigantic boycott these fanatic "kosovars" have shown...
Just because there is a political dispute between Kosovo and Serbia doesn't mean businesses should be affected. But if Serbia is to ban imports from Kosovo, it is only fair for Kosovo to ban imports from Serbia in return. Same with BiH. Its a shame that Serbia is banning goods from Kosovo in the current economic situation. I sympathise with Kosovo on this ban though. I'm sure Kosovo would annul this ban if Serbia were too also, regardless of the Kosovo status dispute.
BH_NYC, what's the relevance in here? I fail to see your point!
Nevertheless, I have to agree again with Ian. That's what two 'problematic' independent countries shall do in cases like this. Nothing to worry, cz it's the Serbian market who will be more affected on this case!
If, according to the Serbian camp, Kosova is Serbia, how come they are calling it an IMPORT of goods from Kosova and are banning it from entering Serbia? Cz, as you all (probably) know, IMPORT means commodities (goods or services) bought from a foreign country!
This is the stupidest thing that Kosovo can do and it will only hurt the "little man" (i.e. the poor) and increase smuggling = less revenue for the Kosovo state.
Kosovo has very little in terms of economic "comparative advantage" vis a vis its neighbors. One advantage it does have is a potential transit route for the region. This has to be supported by open borders and transit infrastructure, not sanctions from any side.
"
Kosova was a gold mine and ANY country would love to snap it, China would even recognize us for $500 mil a year in one way sales."
I think you overplay Kosovo's importance several times over with that statement. Kosovo is hardly in any position to not trade with anyone. Serbia is their biggest trade partner (followed by Macedonia), and cutting trade with them will no longer make Kosovo the poorest country in Europe, but the poorest in the world even.
It would be unwise for Serbia to cut its trade with Kosovo and bloody stupid for Kosovo to cut its trade with Serbia.
albanians have nothing in kosovo they have no money no jobs and no food but the government does. they are starving the albanian people, do you really think serbia cares. they export import to and from the world the only ones going to suffer are the albanian people not their government, and the people will believe whatever this thachi and sedju are whatever their names are say.
I think that the reason why Czech troops wanted to pull out is different from what they officially told us. Judging by the latest developments, things might get quite ugly in the next few months.
now we schould close the border with serbia and ban serbian passports we dont need to make trade with serbia.we have albania,macedonia and montenegro and all of european countrys thats more than enough
>> "I have zero sympathy with Kosovo on this ban because most of their imports are from Serbia; to do it is an insanity. "
Finding sellers is the easiest part of all, so I have zero clue on what you are talking about. Cooking oil is cooking oil, Serb, Bulgar or Albanian. Same with soaps, biscuits etc. Explain that to Serbs as they lose their jobs when $500 mil in yearly contracts just vanish because 'Kosovo je Srbja' and Tadic an't accept a stamp in a box! $500 mil a year! Think of how many jobs Kosova supported in Serbia. The entire world is in a recession and goods are piling in warehouses and you say that Kosova can't find sellers????????
Kosova was a gold mine and ANY country would love to snap it, China would even recognize us for $500 mil a year in one way sales.
Electricity lines pass through Kosova to FYROM so Serbia will have to cut the power to FYROM as well--and of course to Serbs in Kosova. It's safe to say that $ hundreds of millions in yearly EU /US aid to Serbia would also be cut.
>>>>Really sad, such criminals play the game with K-Albanians just for the sake of politics. But if they "excelled" with rape, killing, torture, organ harvesting of Serbs, making the life of ordinary Kosovars a pain is pretty much in their nature.
Funny how Serbs try to make themselves victim. Let's leave rhetoric aside: Serbs are the only people in Europe to have legally been found of committing genocide post WWII and rape is now a war crime all over the world thanks to what Serbs did. http://www.nytimes.com/specials/bosnia/context/0628warcrimes-tribunal.html
>>"If it were a EULEX stamp then the trade would be free and easy as I distinctly remember it was when I used to import equipment into Pristina."
If we wrote 'Russia' in the boxes too it would free, but it isn't Russia, it's Kosovo/a. This is only fair, Serbs can't have it both ways, now let them lose 300-400 million of much needed Euros a year.
>> "I am not overly concerned, since it is up to those who monitors this – the CEFTA Forum and the WTO – to take notice and say, gentlemen, that is not allowed,"
Of course you aren't concerned. You are flush with cash and the economy is doing great everywhere.
"UNMIK signed CEFTA on behalf of Kosovo, meaning that this agreement is binding for them too."
let's analyze his so-called logic: If it's binding for Kosova isn't it for Serbia?
But it says Kosovo now, not UNMIK': if changing a name invalidates the agreement, then Kosova is no longer bound to honor it either, right?
Just like when they expelled ambasadors serbs will once again back down. But by then new agreements with Albanian /Montenegrin /FYROM merchants will have been created, causing Serbia a permanent loss. Great move Serbia, you can really afford to lose money, NOT!
By the way: maybe "Kosovo" authorities can explain, how they will enforce the ban.
Because there is NO CUSTOMS CHECKPOINT at the "Gate #1". There is UNMIK checking the passports and a car with KP who DO NOT check the passports. There is no customs which would report to anyone in Pristina.
Going further south, there is one customs checkpoint, near KM. It's much more south and the goods from Serbia can reach every village between KM and the "Gate #1" without any interference from Pristina.
It will be interesting to see, how EULEX does behave. I can imagine, here our "quetzal" can get an unpleasant surprise.
Once in Kosovo, the goods obviously will reach anyone, it's just the question of time and of course the corruption of K. "customs".
Regarding Kosovo products in Serbia or Bosnia... not much of importance.
All this is of course purely theoretical. People will "smuggle" and won't care, as they do now.
But sure, this outbreak of stupid national "pride" feels so great, congratulations on that.
I absolutely agree with Albanian. This band would only confirm the new economic realignment of Kosova towards Albania.
For many obvious reasons economic cooperation between Serbia and Kosova doesn’t make a great deal of sense.
It is highly artificial and heavily subsidised. An economy less reliant on the economic ties with Serbia would also serve to enhance the political dimension of independence.
In contrast Albania and Kosova have always complimented each other economically. Albania by providing a natural market for Kosovar agricultural goods and by next year an easy trade route for Kosovar mineral exports. Albania on the other hand is better poised to provide services, expertise and eventually cheap energy. All in all Kosova’s trade has historically been directed towards Mediterranean and this move is only a natural readjustment of economics. That’s why Mr Thaci rather than trying to convince Serbia to recognise, should focus on more pressing needs of the population, e.g. revitalising economy and making sure that trade flourishes southwards.
Enough is enough! That is something that the Serbs need to be reminded sistematically and periodically. If the news is true Good luck to Kosova in its way towards of non submission. Stop begging Serbia for friendship! Your natural partners are Albanian, Macedonia and Montenegro. When Serbia wakes up you have already finished your dinner....))
the only people to be hurt by this ban on serbian imports is the albanian folks in kosovo. Punish those who are mostly effected by this. I guess obtaining these items from turkey or macedonia will make things cheaper. The smugglers are going to suffer because EULEX is going to make life difficult for them. What a bunch of dummies in the Kosovo government.
>> "Kosovo is hardly in any position to not trade with anyone. Serbia is their biggest trade partner (followed by Macedonia), and cutting trade with them will no longer make Kosovo the poorest country in Europe, but the poorest in the world even. --
Peter, please read the story again. Kosova BUYS from Serbia cheap junk that they can and will get from FYROM or come spring time from Albanian ports. Kosova sales are less than $30 million a year through Serbia. Most will be rerouted and Serbai will have some $500 million less in foreign currency and of course jobs will be impacted. Balance of trade matters, and I doubt Serbia can make up by selling cheap stuff to Hungary, Croatia or Romania.
>> the only people to be hurt by this ban on serbian imports is the albanian folks in kosovo
Not really, daily items are about the same price in the Balkans, give or take 1%-2%. By spring the Albania-Kosova highway will open and Kosova can buy from and sell to anywhere in the world and ship them to Durres. Buying, of course, is the easy part.
How about the Serbian workers whose factories will lose all the Kosova market? You forgot those--and the Serbian state who desperately needs foreign currency (like everyone in the Balkans does.) Try buying oil from the Saudis with dinars or lek for that matter. You need dollars, euro or yen.
Interesting how this Grcaliu fellow mentions both the trade ban and the vital trade link between Kosovo and Serbia Proper in the same sentance. Two bits of advice:
1. Good Luck
2. You can't feed your people on national hubris.
>>>>>This year alone Serbia has had over 4 Billion dollars worth of trade with Russia another 3 Billion with China, almost 1 Billion with Brazil and over 700 Million with India ---
Canadian, economics isn't your strong point. Serbia IMPORTS from those countries. Serbia for example, sells more to Kosova than to Russia. Exports matter, read a bit more:
"Serbia's current-account deficit has been high in recent years, reflecting strong import demand and a rising trade deficit. The current-account deficit was US$5.3bn in 2007, compared with US$3bn in 2006. "
http://www.economist.com/countries/serbia/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-FactSheet
Some time back I thought that blockades were definitely something belonging to the past and that there will be more and more partnerships and exchanges, however, I was so wrong!
Serbia continues to "show" that anything that holds the sign "made in Kosovo" in it will be either faded out (as it is done with the Serbian products in Serbia, which have a sign saying "importer for Kosovo" - they have faded that out by some black marker or so) or simply banned from its market and blocked on its way to the other markets!
I deeply believe that Kosovo had no other choice apart from taking the same measure on its side!
I am not saying that there will be not difficulties at all on the side of Kosovo consumers but I am also very much confident that at the time of global recession there will be plenty of products of same quality and price to be bought in the market and that famous HIGHWAY which btw will be FREE OF CHARGE will enable us to exchange (read buy) goods for the same or cheaper price!
This will also give some advantage to Kosovar producers that will sell more now and increase their profits (although their products are of poorer quality sometime) and state will have more revenues!
Don't forget that this measure has been taken with the total support of Kosovar producers, traders and costumers associations!
Bad move Serbia, again!
Canadian - (I'm sure you'll recall this from your history lessons in Serbia...)
I believe the Habsburgs tried something similar once with Serbia, cutting off trade in pigs to crush Serbia. Serbia ended up stronger for it, and less dependent than ever on the Habsburg Monarchy, with new markets and increased trade.
But this sort of move is stupid, on both sides, for another reason.
In this economic climate, Serbia (and Kosovo) need as much trade as they can get. Orders are drying up everywhere. Throwing away 2% of one's external market is more than silly.
I am sure that Kosovo will find new suppliers, with plenty of products they are unable to sell easily just now (Albania and Macedonia come to mind).
But it does seem equally stupid for Kosovo to cut off a cheap and regular source of goods - no matter what sort of prestige Prishtina thinks is involved.
I think the UDI and events leading up to them have given you a false sense of reality. Somehow you think every exchange or interaction between Albanians and Serbs will be one sided in favor of Albanians. You also seem to think that everything Albanian is gloriously great and everything Serbian is horribly bad.
I'm afraid it's more complicated than that. For example, you keep insisting that Kosovo's access to Albanian ports will be a bonanza for Kosovo. I also think that access will be a good thing, but come on man, Albania has had access to those ports forever and it's still a poor country.
I agree with you also that having a highway connecting Pristina to Durres is a good thing for Kosovo, but that road won't be free, and unfortunately it ends in Durres.
The Serbs have, once again, shot themselves in the foot. With a huge trade deficit, Serbia cannot afford to lose a half a billion $US in sales to Kosova.
As Serbian trading partners are being replaced with Albanian, Macedonian, Montenegrin and others in the region, it will be quite difficult for Serbia to re-establish business partnerships with Kosovars at some point in the future. After all, why should Albanian businessmen risk having their source of imported products interrupted again. I'm sure these surrounding countries would welcome new business from Kosova, especially in these chalenging economic times. Even Bulgaria and Greece have indicated that there is a great demand of their products in Kosova. On the other side of the transaction, Kosova has more than enough coal to supply the rest of the Balkans. This could be bought at a very attractive price.
Kosovo Albanian costumers should have boycotted Serb products a long time ago. Probably right after Milosevic striped them of the autonomy.
Kosovo government apart from banning Serbian products should do everything within its powers to seal the borders with Serbia as nothing good is expected to enter from those borders.
It is interesting but not unexpected to see posters like Ataman and Sudyka burst their “cosmopolitan bubbles” with the above comments.
Historically speaking sanctions like this usually end up making things worse not better. The Hapsburg example was a good one.
I know a local Bosnian Muslim who has a European import store with all kinds of products from ex Yugo, although the smallest amount of items are from Serbia.
Despite the politics many of his best customers are Serbs. Good for him because he makes money and good for Serbs because he supplies many items not usually available on the American market.
Losing Kosovo business will hurt Serbian exporters, however Albanian consumers in Kosovo will end up paying higher prices.
Instead of focusing on how to kill off each other's cows maybe we should be trying to find ways to make the herd larger.
>>>Winter is here. How much electricity will Kosovo need to function?
Budget time for Serbia is here. How much IMF and EU money will Serbia need???? That is in addition to EU aid that they give yearly. Does Serbia want to be cripled and dinar to go to 2000 levels?
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