Ahtisaari says Serbia "lost Kosovo"

"However, the architect of a plan for the province's supervised independence, rejected by Belgrade and never adopted at the UN, along with his deputy Albert Rohan and German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, writes that the Kosovo problem is still not solved "because Serbia persists in its rejection of the new reality, and is doing everything in its power to prevent normalization."


Kosovo was snatched from Serbia through US brute force and Ahtisaari's fake negotiations. Everyone knows this.

And since he talked about reality, the reality for Kosovo is a de facto partition at the Ibar.

Finally isn't he counting his chickens before they hatched when he talked about a unified EU position? If anything, the EU members have shown that they disagree about just everything.

There are just too many falsehoods and muddying of the waters here...

'Interethnic violence - which many feared - has largely been avoided, and the mass exodus of Serbs that some also predicted has not occurred'

Interethnic violence hass occured as we know. Mass exodus of Serbs is not possible - since there are hardly any Serbs left living in Kosovo, but Serbs are still leaving Kosovo. What success! And besides wasn't the idea that the war was for a MULTIETHNIC Kosovo, if so we should be talking about how many Serbs have returned, not that there has not been a mass exodus.

There is so much more in this which is an insult to common sense but lets end with this:

'Only a unified EU position'. Oh right a unified EU foreign policy, how often has that happened in the history of the union?

His plan failed and it doesn't matter that he is trying to pin the blame for his faliure on the Serbs. Had he done a better job, the results might have been better but solely blaming Belgrade is just sour grapes.

Ahtisaari's toilet paper that was funded by a few architects has already been flushed down the toilet. What an embarrasment for the international community. Forced occupation, annexation and sugar coating on a toilet paper, not to mention 60% of the worlds wealth. Where would half those economic giants be today, had they not raped, plundered and colonially abused over 60% of the countries on earth.

'The commentary, published by the Project Syndicate, further states that Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence on Feb. 17, 2008, was recognized "by more than 50 countries representing close to 60 percent of the world's economic power".'

This is a typical colonial mindset, like the opinions of the overwhelming majority of the world's countries do not matter because they are 'poor'. It smacks of elitism and racism.
Ahtisari's 'greater albanian' plan is a failure. The fake, illegal and immoral 'state' of Kosovo is a failure. Nothing is lost, Ahtisari. Kosovo will never be recognized by Serbia, and never by Russia, which means it is doomed from any kind of legal existence, and prosperity. Time to tell your albanian organ traffickers to start with some REAL negotiations. If not, they we Serbs are happy to block them for as long as it takes, and then take it back when the world geopolitical situation changes (and it is changing rapidly).
Cheers!!

Sadly for you mr Ahtisaari - the UN and indeed the EU do not entirely agree with your prognosis.

What did you expect?

Did you expect the Serbs to just say OK go-on then take Kosovo from us - did you really think it was that simple? The reality is a Suspended and limbo like existence for Kosovo until a REAL settlement is achieved. Everyone is forgetting the UN's role in this. The ICJ is obviously finding it VERY difficult to justify the Unilateral Declaration made by the US backed Albanian camp. It seems that the more you say 'Kosovo is lost to Serbia' and 'no - independence U-turn' the more you sound like you are trying to convince yourself.

If you are so convinced - then KEEP QUIET - you sound like the ORIGINAL BOY WHO CRIED WOLF!

Don't believe the HYPE!

Keep on pushing Serbia! You have the moral RIGHT and the World knows it!

Ahtisaari will die and not see Serbia recognizing Kosovo.

This article says it all. The indecisions of some EU members are directly helping the ultra nationalists in Serbia. May he rest in peace Dr. Rugova had told Mr. Milosevic the exact same thing in response to his provocation that NATO wont be there to protect you forever, “The longer it takes Serbia to understand that it has lost Kosovo the longer you are prolonging the agony of your people”. Serbia needs to take a good look in a mirror and ask itself some hard questions and realize that it no longer commands the prestige and the respect of the mighty Yugoslavia. The rest of the civilized world is amazed to hear Serbian diplomats claim Kosovo as their heartland and their strong rhetoric that they will never recognize Kosovo. Instead of apologizing to the people of Kosovo for all the horrible things that they’ve done - the people of Serbia are openly day dreaming of ruling Kosovo again and doing the exact same thing they’ve done just a couple of years ago. If you take away the diplomatic language the western diplomats are fully aware that given even the slightest possibility Serbia would move into Kosovo.

The problem with Ahtisaari and his type of Eurocrats is that he continues to remain frustrated that Serbia just won't roll over and die. This was the collective expectation last year that a few Western powers led by suits, briefcases, and funky designer glasses could roll into Southeastern Europe, divide the land as they see fit, and expect everyone to just follow along. Obviously this has not happened, but rather than blame the current political, economic, and social mismanagement of Europe's most backward and undeveloped region on incompatible institutions, faulty diplomacy, and a general disregard for any possible countermeasures that don't involve expected uprisings and riots, these talking heads just put all the blame on Serbia and big bad Russia. It's gotten to the point where even the Albanians themselves, caught up in their own sense of collective historical justifications are willing and able to do the same.

The fact remains that Kosovo's soveriengty has been ambiguous since Day One and will remain so. The fact remains that while Serbia cannot stop the Albanians from forming their own government and creating their own laws, they have been effective in creating doubt about this little US-run statelet. The fact also remains that Serbs, regardless of whether they live in Belgrade, Mitrovica, or Gracanica, want nothing to do with "The Republic of Kosovo". Ahtisaari still somehow thinks that K-Serbs are being strong-armed by BG when in fact the K-Serbs themselves want no part of it.

The fact that a year on, Kosovo is a quasi-legal, partially soveriegn dependency is largely the fault of the Albanians themselves and their overly optimistic international backers. They never expected Serbia to be this resilient and they never expected Kosovo's independence to be anything less than self-evident. Kosovo is a mess, and will remain dysfunctional as long as armchair diplomats continue to push for incongruent institutions on ethnic societies divided by their own self-serving historical memories and uncompromising prejudices.

was recognized "by more than 50 countries representing close to 60 percent of the world's economic power" - every time they mention these stats, the % figure seems to be getting smaller and smaller. I find it funny that to try to add some importance and overinflate their position, they mention the "economic power". I prefer a much more pertinent statistic, one which is MUCH more relevant as far as Kosovo is concerned. UN members recognising Kosovo 1/4, those NOT recognising 3/4, or for Mr Ahtisaari 25% and 75% respectively. Stark figures indeed.

"Interethnic violence - which many feared - has largely been avoided, and the mass exodus of Serbs that some also predicted has not occurred - Not yet anyway. When Germany and the US gets frustrated that they can't provide Kosovo with the independence that their global strategy requires, they'll let the Albanians loose. That's when the "s**t will hit the fan".

Serbs themselves are preventing the early implementation of the wide-ranging community rights foreseen in the Ahtisaari plan, which would bring to them a normal and secure life." - that's because they know how Albanians view Serbs and for all the rubbish about protecting human rights, equality, etc, they know that the West will turn a blind eye to all the crimes the Albanians will commit on the Serbs when they can directly control them.

"On the international level, Serbia - with strong support from Russia - is actively engaged in blocking Kosovo's accession to the United Nations and other global or regional organizations," - which Serbia has every right to do, and will ultimately result in Kosovo staying in limbo with no development.

is an irreversible reality with which they must come to terms - If Ahtisaari truly believes this then why is he asking the Russians, a full 60+ years after WWII to give back a part of Russia to Finland? One rule for me, another rule for you.....

"also making it infinitely more difficult for moderate forces in Serbia to adjust to the new situation" - Unless i'm mistaken all the main parties in Serbia say the same thing about Kosovo, i.e. that they won't recognise it. Would Ahtisaari care to enlighten us as to whom the moderate forces are?

"Only a unified EU position, combined with the knowledge that EU accession for Serbia is unthinkable as long as this conflict has not been fully resolved - This may be a blessing in disguise considering the huge mess that eastern European members have got themselves into, the huge mess that countries like Spain and Ireland face due to the fact that they use the Euro instead of their own currency. Fully resolved - It probably will be in a few years when the ICJ rules in Serbia's favour. There'll be nowhere to run or hide for Kosovo's "govt" and it's supporters and their laughable claim of sui generis.

"the relative calm now prevailing in Kosovo" should not "mislead anyone" i agree with this though. the balkans is like a box of gunpowder.

"Our time for standing pat, for protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed." - excellent quote which could easily be turned on it's head and interpreted as Obama talking about multilateralism instead of unilateralism, and withdrawing recognition of Kosovo.

These former somethings that thrived during the Bush years have still not realised that times have changed. The A-plan is dead and Mr Ahtisaari should just accept his peace prize as consolation and move on. He simply has no more influence anymore. So good bye and good riddence Mr Ahtisaari.

Joseph, you are absolutely correct in that Serbia is waiting for the opportune moment to reseal our border and that time will come again. These people who claim that Kosovo is lost to Serbia obviously have no idea whatsoever what it means to be Serbian.

We will never relinquish the cradle of our civilisation, especially to terrorists and criminals that have burned hundreds of our churches, murdered and ethnically cleansed half the non-Albanian population, and have attempted to remove all that is Serbian on our holy soil. That is why only 5% of Serbians remain and I'm sure they are disappointed that the predicted mass-exodus didn't occur. How much easier their life would have been!

Although the Albanians don't realise, this is the only window of opportunity they have to finalise status negotiations. Soon that window will be closed and any possibility of negotiations will be over.

What a shame it was for Ahtisaari to get it so wrong.

Mr Ahtisari, thank you for reaffirming this statement, although it is clear for everybody in Serbia and elsewhere...

Contributer of comment 1 says:
'Kosovo was snatched from Serbia through US brute force and Ahtisaari's fake negotiations. Everyone knows this.'

This sums up the Serb radical view on this issue and I hope, for your own sake, this is not shared by the majority of people in Serbia. The rest of the world sees things differently.

Kosovo, under Milosevic, became the wounded consience of Europe. After the wars in Bosnia and Croatia, the oppression metted out on Kosovo Albanians by Milosevic's polices and Serbian troops was the last straw which broke the US and EU patience with Serbia. What happened during the 1990s and the Kosovo war, a joint future was impossible. This is why Kosovo parted ways with Serbia. And your nationalist feeling may compel you to disagree, but Serbia will be better off without Kosovo in the long run.

Ahtisaari says Serbia "lost Kosovo"
Okay, suppose for a moment this statement is true and see what on the other side a whole world have lost with Ahtisaari's failed plan for 'Kosovo State'.
World had lost its trust in the rule of international law.
World had lost respect for one of its icons: Nobel Prize.
World had lost political respect for USA and EU, irretrievably.
And now this corrupted man who is a shame of every decent person in this world should put an equation to what all had in the world got screwed up with his arrogant engineering of the illegal state of Kosovo.

This is a very good and objective assessment from Ahtisaari and the other two mediators. Yes it was a big blunder of nationalist Kostunica to not willing to negociate and try to get as much as possible for the Kosovo Serbs.

Thank you Ahtisaari for your fantastic plan. Thanks to you, we Albanians are now proud to call ourselves citizens of two countries side-by-side each other.

“Kosovo Serbs, who represent some five percent of the population, refuse to cooperate with Kosovo's government and the EU mission.”

So Ahtisaari and his buddies support and legitimize the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo? They appear to have no problem that the Serbian population of Kosovo was cut in half and use the results of that to support the independence of Kosovo? That is offensive beyond measure and Ahtisaari was supposedly a “neutral” negotiator?

“recognized "by more than 50 countries representing close to 60 percent of the world's economic power".

So, those countries with money and power count more than poor countries? “All men are created equal, but some are more equal than others”.

Anyone else deeply concerned about the logic and justification used in these decisions? Especially since these countries are also the ones that supposedly support “democracy”?

“Would it not be wiser to give a helping hand to the infant state, turning hostility into friendship and thus securing the future presence of Serbs in Kosovo?," the authors wonder”

So if Serbia does not recognize Kosovo, Ahtisaari supports the elimination of the “future presence of Serbs in Kosovo”?

“All they can achieve with their current policy of rejection is to delay the much-needed stabilization of the region”

Or maybe they would like a solution based on compromise and negotiation such as partition?

“The three diplomats also describe Kosovo as "first of all, a European problem", with this organization having "the primary responsibility”

What about Russia’s opinion? They are indisputably an European country with a European history, far more so than a country like Turkey. Why are the big 3 West European countries allowed to speak for the rest of Europe?

“The Balkans' recent tragedies have shown that problems that remain unresolved sooner or later turn into open conflict, and that the costs become unbearable for all.”

So the argument that the UDI would bring stability to the region has been proven false and that reality accepted by those who originally proclaimed that it would be?

“If you take away the diplomatic language the western diplomats are fully aware that given even the slightest possibility Serbia would move into Kosovo.
(Joseph, 16 February 2009 14:51) “

Absolutely Joseph, so that begs the question, why such a one sided “solution” to the issue that will ultimately led to just one thing, war? Serbia fought 500 years for Kosovo, what makes you think there aren’t elements of Serbian society that would wait another 500?

“After the wars in Bosnia and Croatia, the oppression metted out on Kosovo Albanians by Milosevic's polices and Serbian troops was the last straw which broke the US and EU patience with Serbia. (Mospyt, 16 February 2009 16:18) “

Mospyt, the lies and propaganda that 100,000 Albanians were killed before the NATO bombing is what led to the NATO action. Personally, I find this very troubling as it was the exact type of Blue Print that Bush used to deceive the US into attacking Iraq. We should all condemn the manipulation of the facts like that. If you feel that 2,000 killed in an insurgency should result in a region receiving independence, then we should apply that same logic across the board in all the disputed regions. If that is to be the level of oppression that results in independence, why not independence for Krajina or RS? The brutal genocide the Serbs experienced there in WWII and during Operation storm far exceeds any of the crimes committed by Milosevic before the NATO bombing.

"What was the force used by Serbian state against civilian in Kosova and the rest of former Yugoslavia? Everyone in the world know that exept Serbia and Russia.
(EA, 16 February 2009 22:18) "

Well the Albanians are no angels either if you remember the most recent mass violence in March 2004.

Mospyt....

It is what think a great majority of Serbs.

NATO bombed us whit 30 000 bombs and missiles and then they came to negotiate like "If the negotiation fails, kosovo will get independence".

Why would anybody negotiate???!!!

We will get it back, sooner or later.

Obama's letter to President of Republic of Kosovo:
"On behalf of the American people, I congratulate you and the citizens of Kosovo on the first anniversary of the historic declaration of independence of Kosovo," Obama was quoted in the statement as saying.
"I want to stress that the US will continue to support multi-ethnic, independent and democratic Kosovo in its efforts to take a meritorious place as a full member of the community of the states," he added.
I didn't find it this new in b92.

Lowe,

Kosovo was snatched from Serbia through US brute force and Ahtisaari's fake negotiations. Everyone knows this.

What was the force used by Serbian state against civilian in Kosova and the rest of former Yugoslavia? Everyone in the world know that exept Serbia and Russia.

It is difficult to comprehend what Serbia aims to achieve. Nobody will deny that, for any state, being separated from part of its territory is a painful matter - even if a different ethnic group largely populates that territory. Still, there are examples in recent history when this has been achieved in a consensual manner," Ahtisaari, Rohan and Ischinger argue

Please provide me with examples?

Atishaari knows deep down that he and this still born entity (Kosova) are a fraud. He knows he and his Nobel prize will go down in history as a complete sham because that's what it is. Scarp the nobel peace prize and scrap Atishaari- Kosova will scrap itself.

Atlantic,

Thank you for reminding all of us about the congratulation of Obama to Kosovo. It looks like B92 simply "forgot it....."!!

“Serbia has lost Kosovo”. That sounds like a chilled losing a toy as a punishment. Not a sensible thing for a diplomat to say. Kosovo became independent because its population was too big and too different to function successfully as part of the Serbian body politic. It is as simple as that. With 2 million Kosovars being Serbian citizens Serbia becomes ungovernable. The Serbs and the K. Albanians must learn to live side by side. They will be both miserable if they do it in one country. As two separate countries there is a chance they may reconcile. The real dilemma in front of Serbia is whether to accept Kosovo’s independence and negotiate a special status for the K. Serbs, for the Serbian property etc. By the way it will win many sympathies in the EU and many EU countries will side with it during the negotiations. The other option is to keep denying the reality. That will keep everybody in suspense but will bring no good to the region

I wonder if Mr. Ahtisaari's perspective would change if the Aland Islands (belonging to Finland, but majority are ethnic Swedish) unilaterally declared independence after decades of terrorizing Finnish civilians.

To whom it may concern,

While this discussion is going on, a witness at the trial of gen. Vlastimir Dordevic has testified that the serbian police killed 103 people in his village including to of his sons during the war in Kosova.
This testimony is a cristal clear example of the brutal approch the Serbian state used in dealing with Albanians and that is why Serbia lost Kosova.

Regards to all
Ilir
Albania

Ahtissari messed up big time,total desperation knowing that their"project" failed.I feel really sorry for them.
With Abkhazias recognition Russia will now forever hold up its veto in the UN.
Thank you Mr.Sakashvili !!!
BTW Spain and Romania clearly stated that they will not be bullied,therefore
it is only a matter of time when Kosovo Albanians will realize that their destiny is to be proud citizens of Serbia.

My question:who's the winner here?Just watch the movie "The International" whith Clive Owen-it really matches the reality in Kosovo.

This article says it all. The indecisions of some EU members are directly helping the ultra nationalists in Serbia. May he rest in peace Dr. Rugova had told Mr. Milosevic the exact same thing in response to his provocation that NATO wont be there to protect you forever, “The longer it takes Serbia to understand that it has lost Kosovo the longer you are prolonging the agony of your people”. Serbia needs to take a good look in a mirror and ask itself some hard questions and realize that it no longer commands the prestige and the respect of the mighty Yugoslavia. The rest of the civilized world is amazed to hear Serbian diplomats claim Kosovo as their heartland and their strong rhetoric that they will never recognize Kosovo. Instead of apologizing to the people of Kosovo for all the horrible things that they’ve done - the people of Serbia are openly day dreaming of ruling Kosovo again and doing the exact same thing they’ve done just a couple of years ago. If you take away the diplomatic language the western diplomats are fully aware that given even the slightest possibility Serbia would move into Kosovo.

Mr Ahtisari, thank you for reaffirming this statement, although it is clear for everybody in Serbia and elsewhere...

Contributer of comment 1 says:
'Kosovo was snatched from Serbia through US brute force and Ahtisaari's fake negotiations. Everyone knows this.'

This sums up the Serb radical view on this issue and I hope, for your own sake, this is not shared by the majority of people in Serbia. The rest of the world sees things differently.

Kosovo, under Milosevic, became the wounded consience of Europe. After the wars in Bosnia and Croatia, the oppression metted out on Kosovo Albanians by Milosevic's polices and Serbian troops was the last straw which broke the US and EU patience with Serbia. What happened during the 1990s and the Kosovo war, a joint future was impossible. This is why Kosovo parted ways with Serbia. And your nationalist feeling may compel you to disagree, but Serbia will be better off without Kosovo in the long run.

Ahtisaari will die and not see Serbia recognizing Kosovo.

This is a very good and objective assessment from Ahtisaari and the other two mediators. Yes it was a big blunder of nationalist Kostunica to not willing to negociate and try to get as much as possible for the Kosovo Serbs.

Ahtisaari's toilet paper that was funded by a few architects has already been flushed down the toilet. What an embarrasment for the international community. Forced occupation, annexation and sugar coating on a toilet paper, not to mention 60% of the worlds wealth. Where would half those economic giants be today, had they not raped, plundered and colonially abused over 60% of the countries on earth.

"However, the architect of a plan for the province's supervised independence, rejected by Belgrade and never adopted at the UN, along with his deputy Albert Rohan and German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger, writes that the Kosovo problem is still not solved "because Serbia persists in its rejection of the new reality, and is doing everything in its power to prevent normalization."


Kosovo was snatched from Serbia through US brute force and Ahtisaari's fake negotiations. Everyone knows this.

And since he talked about reality, the reality for Kosovo is a de facto partition at the Ibar.

Finally isn't he counting his chickens before they hatched when he talked about a unified EU position? If anything, the EU members have shown that they disagree about just everything.

Sadly for you mr Ahtisaari - the UN and indeed the EU do not entirely agree with your prognosis.

What did you expect?

Did you expect the Serbs to just say OK go-on then take Kosovo from us - did you really think it was that simple? The reality is a Suspended and limbo like existence for Kosovo until a REAL settlement is achieved. Everyone is forgetting the UN's role in this. The ICJ is obviously finding it VERY difficult to justify the Unilateral Declaration made by the US backed Albanian camp. It seems that the more you say 'Kosovo is lost to Serbia' and 'no - independence U-turn' the more you sound like you are trying to convince yourself.

If you are so convinced - then KEEP QUIET - you sound like the ORIGINAL BOY WHO CRIED WOLF!

Don't believe the HYPE!

Keep on pushing Serbia! You have the moral RIGHT and the World knows it!

was recognized "by more than 50 countries representing close to 60 percent of the world's economic power" - every time they mention these stats, the % figure seems to be getting smaller and smaller. I find it funny that to try to add some importance and overinflate their position, they mention the "economic power". I prefer a much more pertinent statistic, one which is MUCH more relevant as far as Kosovo is concerned. UN members recognising Kosovo 1/4, those NOT recognising 3/4, or for Mr Ahtisaari 25% and 75% respectively. Stark figures indeed.

"Interethnic violence - which many feared - has largely been avoided, and the mass exodus of Serbs that some also predicted has not occurred - Not yet anyway. When Germany and the US gets frustrated that they can't provide Kosovo with the independence that their global strategy requires, they'll let the Albanians loose. That's when the "s**t will hit the fan".

Serbs themselves are preventing the early implementation of the wide-ranging community rights foreseen in the Ahtisaari plan, which would bring to them a normal and secure life." - that's because they know how Albanians view Serbs and for all the rubbish about protecting human rights, equality, etc, they know that the West will turn a blind eye to all the crimes the Albanians will commit on the Serbs when they can directly control them.

"On the international level, Serbia - with strong support from Russia - is actively engaged in blocking Kosovo's accession to the United Nations and other global or regional organizations," - which Serbia has every right to do, and will ultimately result in Kosovo staying in limbo with no development.

is an irreversible reality with which they must come to terms - If Ahtisaari truly believes this then why is he asking the Russians, a full 60+ years after WWII to give back a part of Russia to Finland? One rule for me, another rule for you.....

"also making it infinitely more difficult for moderate forces in Serbia to adjust to the new situation" - Unless i'm mistaken all the main parties in Serbia say the same thing about Kosovo, i.e. that they won't recognise it. Would Ahtisaari care to enlighten us as to whom the moderate forces are?

"Only a unified EU position, combined with the knowledge that EU accession for Serbia is unthinkable as long as this conflict has not been fully resolved - This may be a blessing in disguise considering the huge mess that eastern European members have got themselves into, the huge mess that countries like Spain and Ireland face due to the fact that they use the Euro instead of their own currency. Fully resolved - It probably will be in a few years when the ICJ rules in Serbia's favour. There'll be nowhere to run or hide for Kosovo's "govt" and it's supporters and their laughable claim of sui generis.

"the relative calm now prevailing in Kosovo" should not "mislead anyone" i agree with this though. the balkans is like a box of gunpowder.

"Our time for standing pat, for protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed." - excellent quote which could easily be turned on it's head and interpreted as Obama talking about multilateralism instead of unilateralism, and withdrawing recognition of Kosovo.

'The commentary, published by the Project Syndicate, further states that Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence on Feb. 17, 2008, was recognized "by more than 50 countries representing close to 60 percent of the world's economic power".'

This is a typical colonial mindset, like the opinions of the overwhelming majority of the world's countries do not matter because they are 'poor'. It smacks of elitism and racism.
Ahtisari's 'greater albanian' plan is a failure. The fake, illegal and immoral 'state' of Kosovo is a failure. Nothing is lost, Ahtisari. Kosovo will never be recognized by Serbia, and never by Russia, which means it is doomed from any kind of legal existence, and prosperity. Time to tell your albanian organ traffickers to start with some REAL negotiations. If not, they we Serbs are happy to block them for as long as it takes, and then take it back when the world geopolitical situation changes (and it is changing rapidly).
Cheers!!

Thank you Ahtisaari for your fantastic plan. Thanks to you, we Albanians are now proud to call ourselves citizens of two countries side-by-side each other.

Obama's letter to President of Republic of Kosovo:
"On behalf of the American people, I congratulate you and the citizens of Kosovo on the first anniversary of the historic declaration of independence of Kosovo," Obama was quoted in the statement as saying.
"I want to stress that the US will continue to support multi-ethnic, independent and democratic Kosovo in its efforts to take a meritorious place as a full member of the community of the states," he added.
I didn't find it this new in b92.

There are just too many falsehoods and muddying of the waters here...

'Interethnic violence - which many feared - has largely been avoided, and the mass exodus of Serbs that some also predicted has not occurred'

Interethnic violence hass occured as we know. Mass exodus of Serbs is not possible - since there are hardly any Serbs left living in Kosovo, but Serbs are still leaving Kosovo. What success! And besides wasn't the idea that the war was for a MULTIETHNIC Kosovo, if so we should be talking about how many Serbs have returned, not that there has not been a mass exodus.

There is so much more in this which is an insult to common sense but lets end with this:

'Only a unified EU position'. Oh right a unified EU foreign policy, how often has that happened in the history of the union?

His plan failed and it doesn't matter that he is trying to pin the blame for his faliure on the Serbs. Had he done a better job, the results might have been better but solely blaming Belgrade is just sour grapes.

These former somethings that thrived during the Bush years have still not realised that times have changed. The A-plan is dead and Mr Ahtisaari should just accept his peace prize as consolation and move on. He simply has no more influence anymore. So good bye and good riddence Mr Ahtisaari.

Joseph, you are absolutely correct in that Serbia is waiting for the opportune moment to reseal our border and that time will come again. These people who claim that Kosovo is lost to Serbia obviously have no idea whatsoever what it means to be Serbian.

We will never relinquish the cradle of our civilisation, especially to terrorists and criminals that have burned hundreds of our churches, murdered and ethnically cleansed half the non-Albanian population, and have attempted to remove all that is Serbian on our holy soil. That is why only 5% of Serbians remain and I'm sure they are disappointed that the predicted mass-exodus didn't occur. How much easier their life would have been!

Although the Albanians don't realise, this is the only window of opportunity they have to finalise status negotiations. Soon that window will be closed and any possibility of negotiations will be over.

What a shame it was for Ahtisaari to get it so wrong.

Lowe,

Kosovo was snatched from Serbia through US brute force and Ahtisaari's fake negotiations. Everyone knows this.

What was the force used by Serbian state against civilian in Kosova and the rest of former Yugoslavia? Everyone in the world know that exept Serbia and Russia.

Atlantic,

Thank you for reminding all of us about the congratulation of Obama to Kosovo. It looks like B92 simply "forgot it....."!!

The problem with Ahtisaari and his type of Eurocrats is that he continues to remain frustrated that Serbia just won't roll over and die. This was the collective expectation last year that a few Western powers led by suits, briefcases, and funky designer glasses could roll into Southeastern Europe, divide the land as they see fit, and expect everyone to just follow along. Obviously this has not happened, but rather than blame the current political, economic, and social mismanagement of Europe's most backward and undeveloped region on incompatible institutions, faulty diplomacy, and a general disregard for any possible countermeasures that don't involve expected uprisings and riots, these talking heads just put all the blame on Serbia and big bad Russia. It's gotten to the point where even the Albanians themselves, caught up in their own sense of collective historical justifications are willing and able to do the same.

The fact remains that Kosovo's soveriengty has been ambiguous since Day One and will remain so. The fact remains that while Serbia cannot stop the Albanians from forming their own government and creating their own laws, they have been effective in creating doubt about this little US-run statelet. The fact also remains that Serbs, regardless of whether they live in Belgrade, Mitrovica, or Gracanica, want nothing to do with "The Republic of Kosovo". Ahtisaari still somehow thinks that K-Serbs are being strong-armed by BG when in fact the K-Serbs themselves want no part of it.

The fact that a year on, Kosovo is a quasi-legal, partially soveriegn dependency is largely the fault of the Albanians themselves and their overly optimistic international backers. They never expected Serbia to be this resilient and they never expected Kosovo's independence to be anything less than self-evident. Kosovo is a mess, and will remain dysfunctional as long as armchair diplomats continue to push for incongruent institutions on ethnic societies divided by their own self-serving historical memories and uncompromising prejudices.

Ahtisaari says Serbia "lost Kosovo"
Okay, suppose for a moment this statement is true and see what on the other side a whole world have lost with Ahtisaari's failed plan for 'Kosovo State'.
World had lost its trust in the rule of international law.
World had lost respect for one of its icons: Nobel Prize.
World had lost political respect for USA and EU, irretrievably.
And now this corrupted man who is a shame of every decent person in this world should put an equation to what all had in the world got screwed up with his arrogant engineering of the illegal state of Kosovo.

To whom it may concern,

While this discussion is going on, a witness at the trial of gen. Vlastimir Dordevic has testified that the serbian police killed 103 people in his village including to of his sons during the war in Kosova.
This testimony is a cristal clear example of the brutal approch the Serbian state used in dealing with Albanians and that is why Serbia lost Kosova.

Regards to all
Ilir
Albania

“Kosovo Serbs, who represent some five percent of the population, refuse to cooperate with Kosovo's government and the EU mission.”

So Ahtisaari and his buddies support and legitimize the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo? They appear to have no problem that the Serbian population of Kosovo was cut in half and use the results of that to support the independence of Kosovo? That is offensive beyond measure and Ahtisaari was supposedly a “neutral” negotiator?

“recognized "by more than 50 countries representing close to 60 percent of the world's economic power".

So, those countries with money and power count more than poor countries? “All men are created equal, but some are more equal than others”.

Anyone else deeply concerned about the logic and justification used in these decisions? Especially since these countries are also the ones that supposedly support “democracy”?

“Would it not be wiser to give a helping hand to the infant state, turning hostility into friendship and thus securing the future presence of Serbs in Kosovo?," the authors wonder”

So if Serbia does not recognize Kosovo, Ahtisaari supports the elimination of the “future presence of Serbs in Kosovo”?

“All they can achieve with their current policy of rejection is to delay the much-needed stabilization of the region”

Or maybe they would like a solution based on compromise and negotiation such as partition?

“The three diplomats also describe Kosovo as "first of all, a European problem", with this organization having "the primary responsibility”

What about Russia’s opinion? They are indisputably an European country with a European history, far more so than a country like Turkey. Why are the big 3 West European countries allowed to speak for the rest of Europe?

“The Balkans' recent tragedies have shown that problems that remain unresolved sooner or later turn into open conflict, and that the costs become unbearable for all.”

So the argument that the UDI would bring stability to the region has been proven false and that reality accepted by those who originally proclaimed that it would be?

“If you take away the diplomatic language the western diplomats are fully aware that given even the slightest possibility Serbia would move into Kosovo.
(Joseph, 16 February 2009 14:51) “

Absolutely Joseph, so that begs the question, why such a one sided “solution” to the issue that will ultimately led to just one thing, war? Serbia fought 500 years for Kosovo, what makes you think there aren’t elements of Serbian society that would wait another 500?

“After the wars in Bosnia and Croatia, the oppression metted out on Kosovo Albanians by Milosevic's polices and Serbian troops was the last straw which broke the US and EU patience with Serbia. (Mospyt, 16 February 2009 16:18) “

Mospyt, the lies and propaganda that 100,000 Albanians were killed before the NATO bombing is what led to the NATO action. Personally, I find this very troubling as it was the exact type of Blue Print that Bush used to deceive the US into attacking Iraq. We should all condemn the manipulation of the facts like that. If you feel that 2,000 killed in an insurgency should result in a region receiving independence, then we should apply that same logic across the board in all the disputed regions. If that is to be the level of oppression that results in independence, why not independence for Krajina or RS? The brutal genocide the Serbs experienced there in WWII and during Operation storm far exceeds any of the crimes committed by Milosevic before the NATO bombing.

I wonder if Mr. Ahtisaari's perspective would change if the Aland Islands (belonging to Finland, but majority are ethnic Swedish) unilaterally declared independence after decades of terrorizing Finnish civilians.

“Serbia has lost Kosovo”. That sounds like a chilled losing a toy as a punishment. Not a sensible thing for a diplomat to say. Kosovo became independent because its population was too big and too different to function successfully as part of the Serbian body politic. It is as simple as that. With 2 million Kosovars being Serbian citizens Serbia becomes ungovernable. The Serbs and the K. Albanians must learn to live side by side. They will be both miserable if they do it in one country. As two separate countries there is a chance they may reconcile. The real dilemma in front of Serbia is whether to accept Kosovo’s independence and negotiate a special status for the K. Serbs, for the Serbian property etc. By the way it will win many sympathies in the EU and many EU countries will side with it during the negotiations. The other option is to keep denying the reality. That will keep everybody in suspense but will bring no good to the region

"What was the force used by Serbian state against civilian in Kosova and the rest of former Yugoslavia? Everyone in the world know that exept Serbia and Russia.
(EA, 16 February 2009 22:18) "

Well the Albanians are no angels either if you remember the most recent mass violence in March 2004.

It is difficult to comprehend what Serbia aims to achieve. Nobody will deny that, for any state, being separated from part of its territory is a painful matter - even if a different ethnic group largely populates that territory. Still, there are examples in recent history when this has been achieved in a consensual manner," Ahtisaari, Rohan and Ischinger argue

Please provide me with examples?

Atishaari knows deep down that he and this still born entity (Kosova) are a fraud. He knows he and his Nobel prize will go down in history as a complete sham because that's what it is. Scarp the nobel peace prize and scrap Atishaari- Kosova will scrap itself.

Mospyt....

It is what think a great majority of Serbs.

NATO bombed us whit 30 000 bombs and missiles and then they came to negotiate like "If the negotiation fails, kosovo will get independence".

Why would anybody negotiate???!!!

We will get it back, sooner or later.

Ahtissari messed up big time,total desperation knowing that their"project" failed.I feel really sorry for them.
With Abkhazias recognition Russia will now forever hold up its veto in the UN.
Thank you Mr.Sakashvili !!!
BTW Spain and Romania clearly stated that they will not be bullied,therefore
it is only a matter of time when Kosovo Albanians will realize that their destiny is to be proud citizens of Serbia.

My question:who's the winner here?Just watch the movie "The International" whith Clive Owen-it really matches the reality in Kosovo.