Power restored to protesting Serbs

The albanians don't seem to realise how this shows what a failure the "state of Kosovo" is. I can fully understand why KEK demands payment from all individuals in Kosovo. it simply has no choice and this is because Kosovo is bankrupt. It has no state finance and cannot raise any on any world markets as it's not recognised as a country so it has to live hand to mouth unless the international community puts money into it.

What a joke. Serbia is poor but they don't have anywhere near the same problems as Kosovo at the moment.

You had better get used to this situation because when Serbia wins it's case at the ICJ, you can continue pounding your chests declaring that Kosovo is a state, is independent but tell the world's capital markets that it is. At that stage, the EU and US will fundamentally rethink their strategy as they are not going to pump money into Kosovo for free for ever.

-and I wonder how many albanians received injuries in their protest? kosovo is dependent for everything they get from the EU etc- they are a charity case, they have no right to demand anything from the Serbs.

Srba: "The Albanian Kosovo leadership has no right to impose their will and force these people to respect Kosovo as an independent state until it gets a seat in the United Nations and become recognised by overwhelming majority of states in the world."

Exactly right!

"I have asked the Serbs numerous times in these last few days to tell us what would happen to someone in Serbia if he didnt pay the electricity for 9 years and if he refused that the meter be checked, but so far nobody gave any honest answer. "
Here is one honest answer, afrim hoxha.
We don't have to guess what would happen, it already happened.
On 28 September 1990 Kosovo's autonomy effectivelly ended. Albanian politicians in the Serbian executive structures collectively resigned, proclaimed the Republic of Kosovo, and constituted their own parliament. These events mark the beginning of what has become commonly known as the Kosovo Albanian parallel society.
Kosovo Albanian political writer Shkelzen Maliqi pointed out, that Albanians didn't start building their parallel political, cultural, education, health, and media institutions from scratch, as is sometimes thought. In most cases they just relocated their abolished institutions to new--often improvised and inadequate--venues. For example, school classes were brought into private homes.
Parallel government of "Republic of Kosovo" invited all Albanians in Kosovo not to cooperate with any Serbian or Yugoslavian authorities.
The parallel government's Information Minister XHAFER SHATRI, who operated from Geneva, asked Albanians not to pay taxes or water bills (you see Alban, this is not exactly serbian invention) or any other bills (like electricity). "Not a single coin to the government. Not a red cent." he said.
"Don't pay the electricity bill. It doesn't matter if they cut you off," says Shatri. "For centuries we lived without electricity. We could live for a few more years without it."
This resulted in a widespread boycott in Kosovo. Energy minister ( i think it was Vuckovic at the time) threatned to cut off electricity to all non-payers regardless of their ethnicity. This would be done everywhere like Elez rightfully pointed out about US.
But, what US would do Serbia wasn't allowed to.
Western media and politicians were fully supportive of parallel institutions. Number of US State Deparment officials voiced their "concernes" about itnended electricity cuts.
"This is a political problem and it has to be solved by political means" they were saying.
Or "We will not stand idly while somebody is suffering consequences for their peaceful, civil disobediance actions. Non-payment of the bills is just an excuse, and the real intent of Serbian government is to punish those who are excerscising their right to protest peacefully."
It even came from the highest place.
President George Bush in his Christmas speech 1992 praised peaceful resistance in Kosovo.
Tom Brokaw, went to Kosovo and made a heart-breaking report (I think it was Dateline) about fearfull children in Kosovo and the prospect of them being left without electricity in the middle of the winter "at the eve of the 21st century".
Serbian government quickly dropped the planned electricity cut-offs.
Nobody paid the bills until serbian authorities withdrew from Kosovo in 1999.
So, afrim hoxha .
What will happen now in Kosovo I don't know. I don't see any US State Department officials defending the "right" of those who don't pay electricity bills. And I doubt that Barack Obama will mention any villages in Kosovo in his 2009 Christmas speech.
And, of course, we don't see teary-eyed Tom Brokaw in there to lament over not prospect, but reality of children being left without electricity in the middle of winter, and not at the Eve but in 21st century. Compassion is reserved to cases when US public oppinion needs to be formed in support of the desired political outcomes.
What I do know Hoxha is what happened in Serbia already, and what was the behaviour of the democratic and free world, from whom we should all learn.
And from those lessons and democratic actions we can easily find the solution for this crisis.
-They should be allowed not to pay any bills or taxes indefinitely (as it is their right to engage with impunity in non-violant, civil disobediance actions).
-Should their peaceful action fail to bring about desired political results, they should be free to attack any security force in Kosovo (like KPS, for example) of their liking, kidnap and kill civilians of other ethnicity (perhaps read British parliamentary report on Kosovo pre-bombing period 1997-1998) , or kill those Serbs who are "collaborators" with Kosovo government.(for example, think of KLA killing of entire family in Klina who operated a bussiness procuring to Serbian governement in 1998). Again, it's their right, apparently.
-Should KPS or anyone in Kosovo try to respond in any way to those actions, Richard Hoolbrock should be sent to arrange ceasefire in which Serbs would be allowed to go around and shoot and do whatever they want, while KPS should stay in the barracks. This would bring peace.
And so on.
But, let's not speculate.
The fact is that there was electricity protest and Albanians did not pay bills for 9 years. They didn't won't to give a "red cent" to the Serbian government. Now I see some new comments, and comment No. 22 Ratko is saying something similar.
Albanians didn't consider that government to be their government and they boycotted. Now, same goes for Serbs in Kosovo. Yugoslavian and Serbian were at least fully recognized governments, and UN members. There was no ambiguity at all. Now there is. According to UN they still live in Serbia, right? While 55 countries recognize Kosovo independece, many more don't. You will have to admit that Serbs in Kosovo have even more reasons to reject and boycott institutions that they see as illegal. How is this really resolved? What should have Serbian answer to Kosovo boycott been in 90's? Alban here in comment 26 seems to have an answer. All Albanians that boycotted and didn't pay a bill should have been fined and inprisoned. By I don't think so.
"The serbs that are citizens of Kosova have to understand that they have to live under the government of Kosova." you say, Afrim.
And you had to understand that you are citizen of Serbia (even according Badinter's legal opinion), but you didn't. Right?
Why would they? And how can you even ask them to, given that you did not accept the state you lived in? ( And to say it again that state was fully recognized by entire world.).
So, let's just imagine for a second that Kosovo is a UN member and fully recognized state. What do we do with Serbian minority that is simply refusing to integrate and accept the state they live in?
In Croatia a general made a comment in Feral Tribune, after the Operation Storm. "They had to go", he said referring to Krajina Serbs. "They would never accept to be loyal to Croatian state."
What is your suggestion, Afrim?

Well done KEK & KLA Leadership, soon even K-Alb will ask for serbia to come back in the field to get the province on its feet again..

Serbian government should offer to pay the bills. The Albanian Kosovo leadership has no right to impose their will and force these people to respect Kosovo as an independent state until it gets a seat in the United Nations and become recognised by overwhelming majority of states in the world.

What a complete failure this thing called "Kosova" has turned out to be. Give criminals some power and look what happens. They use their typical pressure methods to demand money by hurting people.

This is likely to turn into mass protests and the world will continue to see what a mistake the occupiers have made.

My full support goes out to the Serbians. Stay strong and don't let the mafia get their way. Block the roads and get them to use as many "police" and troops as possible. The costs will mount and that is something they can't afford.

It's good to see this uniting the Serbians even more. This only makes us more determined and stronger!

>>>“Either they will accept our generous assistance to pay for a part of the bill for the Serbs or there is no alternative, as we don’t have the technical possibilities to help the Serbs in another way. Then that will transform into mass protests, everywhere, in all places, which means there will probably be incidents and, I fear, clashes with the police,” said Ivanović.

That's the way to go Ivanovic, either give us free electricity or we will (try) to beat the police up. Since you have a generous offer: pay the bills for them.

I think it is more than just failure to pay bills.

Kosovo is not able to provide a life where these people can work. They are unemployed, due to the circumstances created by Kosovo. For Kosovo to then say 'We ar enot providing you an environment where you can earn money, but you still need to pay us money' is not justified. Kosovo needs to make allowances for the people that live there under the conditions that are there.

Provide electricity so these people can live. Then try to provide jobs so these people can get a better standard of living and pay their bills.

The Kosovo electric company (KEK) says that turning off the electricity "had no connection with ethnicity". They added that Serb villages didn’t have electricity because of failure and they would make repairs if bills were not paid.

WRONG - if you believe this, you'll believe ANYTHING.

Serbs do not need to pay 1 Dinar to the uck "government!"

Whatever prompted KEK to respond, I'm glad they did, and I'm glad these Serbs have basic services restored to them.

Well done to the protesting Serbians! You have achieved victory. Stand tall and be proud!

The time when UNMIK is in charge of decision making is OVER. Now Kosova is independent and it has a government who is in charge of the sovereign country of Kosova.
Finally in the last paragraph here is mentioned that there is an albanian village left without electricity for failing to pay the bills. This shows the fact that this action of KEK is not just against serbs as some people try to make it look like, but it is against anyone who does not pay the bills.
The serbs that are citizens of Kosova have to understand that they have to live under the government of Kosova.
I have asked the Serbs numerous times in these last few days to tell us what would happen to someone in Serbia if he didnt pay the electricity for 9 years and if he refused that the meter be checked, but so far nobody gave any honest answer.
thanks

Re:

"They will have to soon or else the power will be cut again and again and again. KEK should fix the lines and cut it on individual basis not for the entire village. if a person doesn't pay, no power. Hook it illegally, jail.

The same for licenses, car insurance and registration: fines, then jail.
(Alban, 10 March 2009 16:30)"

Alban - If thats how you want to play how would you like it if Serbs in N. Kosovo formed their own police, license plates, etc. etc. and if you didn't respect it, we through you in jail. Or should we have a shoot out??? You can't expect these Serbs to recognise your phony police, government and country when MOST of the international community does not. The rest of the world is on Serbia's side. Only the US and their "satellite" states are with you. You can't force anyone to recognize your fake institutions. They are as legitimate as Disneyland.

"Tracy" - If Albanian police were beating Albanian people, especially women and children, I am sure we would hear about it.

I don't believe for one minute that the regional Kosovo authorities took pity on anyone, even in these isolated enclaves. They were pressured by the UN and EU to act in a civilised manner.

I commend KEK for restoration of power to these villages. That was the right thing to do.

Dear Miri,

The KEK worker that climbed the pole in the picture accompanying the article did so in order to cut off power to several Serb families in the village of Grace.

The following families: Denić, Živić, and Popović, all connect to the grid from that pole, and were all disconnected.

This is according to Beta news agency. Beta broadcast several photographs of the same event, with the same caption.

Regards,

B92

well it works - as always - just hours before serbia turns off the light to the indiependent-of-hearts and short-time occupied parts of kosmet...

and of course no serb citizen will pay to the pseudo-organisation of a pseudo-state a single penny.

but to stop the provocations serbia still should turn off the electricity, just to set an example ...

Serbs:
We are enetitled to free electricity
No taxes
Free water
No car registration
No Gasoline tax
Free pensions
Free food

It's a human right!!!

Dear Alban,

In my opinion, your strategy is wrong as it relies on brute force, which would be unacceptable to relevant international factors (at the moment).

It is clear that Serbs will not accept Kosovo as their state until they are forced to do it, i.e. until Kosovo gets an UN seat and independence becomes a hard reality. Therefore, I ask you to answer the following:

1. Is your strategy aimed to make life of these people impossible?

2. Would you like to see Kosovo without Serbs (as they are only troublemakers)?

I look forward to your response and comments.

Now Kosovo is Indipendence, sorry but it is reality...

Well done KEK there is no ethnicity separation to deliver electricity , i live in USA and if i don`t pay the bill within 60 days the power will be cut off so it is very simple if you do use power you pay for it does not matter if you are Serbian ,Albanian , bosniak ,goran etc. but i agree this poor people are directed from Belgrade and suffer for someones Political carriers .if you live in serbia and you don`t pay the bill will the Serbian power supply company tell that is ok couse you are serbian you don`t have to pay or will thay cut you off ?
I belive wil be the latter they will cut you off unless you throug proper chanels and you have no income what soever the goverment will pay for you , so pay your stupid bills and don`t be part of the serbian propaganda.

"Yesterday about 100 ethnic Albanians from the village of Stanovac in the Vučitrn district also protested, as they, too, have been without electricity for nine days."


And there's the answer to all the Serbs complaining "oh the police is beating us!"

It doesn't matter what you are (Serb, Albanian, Roma...), if you don't pay your bills you ain't getting electricity.

"Yesterday about 100 ethnic Albanians from the village of Stanovac in the Vučitrn district also protested, as they, too, have been without electricity for nine days. "

But this cannot be used as political issue. Therefore, it deserves to be published after 3 days and to have the last paragraph of any report.

Another masterpiece of the Serbian journalism!
At the service of politics and "good" neighbourhood relations!

"And there's the answer to all the Serbs complaining "oh the police is beating us!"

It doesn't matter what you are (Serb, Albanian, Roma...), if you don't pay your bills you ain't getting electricity.
(tracy, 10 March 2009 13:59)"

The fact that an Albanian village has had its electricity cut off doesn't mean allegations of police brutality are necessarily untrue.

To me it seems strange that the KEK can cut off electricity to a whole village (be it Serb or Albanian) inhabited and not the individual houses.

In regards to the picture and the comment underneath it; It looks to me that the guy is actually fixing the line not cutting it off. To cut off you don't need to climb a pole. These things are run on electronic switches and a connection is easily disabled from the main office to any destination. It's simply ridiculous to think that you cut off the electricity by literally "cutting off" the power line. One would climb a pole only to fix a physical problem with the lines.

B92, don't be a sucker.

It's not nice not to have electricity thats a fundamental regardless of ethnicity but also its unacceptable no to pay the bills regardless of ethinicity.

It seems that the only solution is to install wind turbines and solar panels with the diesel power as a back up.

>> "Serbs do not need to pay 1 Dinar to the uck "government!""

They will have to soon or else the power will be cut again and again and again. KEK should fix the lines and cut it on individual basis not for the entire village. if a person doesn't pay, no power. Hook it illegally, jail.

The same for licenses, car insurance and registration: fines, then jail.

I need to meet with those Kosovar-Serbs and get a few lessons from them - I sure could use a break from paying my utility bills, especially in these times...

Looking at a picture of protesting Serbs I noticed that these are all well-fed and dressed people, not people suffering under hardship. Maybe BG is helping them what is a nice gesture.

Dear Serbs posters

now that Free Electricy for Serbs is restored, Kosova has become democratic country with free Electricity rights respected. Other countrieas are expected to follow this example in order not be branded as non- Democratic countries

"We are open to a serious and constructive talk about a permanent solution to this problem, and, as before, we expect full support from the international community in this." -bogdanovic


Yes but no one is going to talk to you because you are nobody and dont represent anuyone any in kosovo, KEK and people who need to pay their bills need to sort it out.

Such a long article, and no clear mention of one of the most important points. Did they pay KEK or not? Or did somebody pay for them?
Does this mean that a part of the bill was paid:
“Either they will accept our generous assistance to pay for a part of the bill for the Serbs or there is no alternative, as we don’t have the technical possibilities to help the Serbs in another way. Then that will transform into mass protests, everywhere, in all places, which means there will probably be incidents and, I fear, clashes with the police,” said Ivanović.

Now, if you are the ministry for Kosovo, you are not being generous if you pay part of the bill to restore electricity and help them. It should be your duty to help them.

How awful it must be to live with all this hatred between you all.

Fatlumi.
I appreciate your comment very much. There is hope as long as there are people willing to find some reasonable solutions. There are too many extremists and hardliners like Alban that would respond to everything with brute force and oppression. On both sides, of course. To many Serbs, solution for Albanians disrespecting Serbian laws would be to fine them and put them in jail, too.
Now, to respond to some things in your comment.
I'm well aware of the events in 1987.
Is this the year that trouble started? Kosovo was oasis of multiethnic understanding before Serbs turned nationalistic? Just like that, out of the blue?
Perhaps, you could read more thoroughly about the events throughout 80's.
Don't go after Serbian propaganda. Read this New York Times article dated Nov 1 , 1987. You can trust the Americans, can you?

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DF143FF932A35752C1A961948260&scp=3&sq=david+binder+1987&st=nyt

"Ethnic Albanians in the Government have manipulated public funds and regulations to take over land belonging to Serbs. "
"Slavic Orthodox churches have been attacked, and flags have been torn down. Wells have been poisoned and crops burned. Slavic boys have been knifed, and some young ethnic Albanians have been told by their elders to rape Serbian girls."
" As Slavs flee the protracted violence, Kosovo is becoming what ethnic Albanian nationalists have been...."
Et cetera.
Why?
Don't tell me that it's because Kosovo failed to gain status of the republic in 1981.
Afrim asked me for honest answer and got one. Let me ask you one honest question.
You must be aware of this, as so many Albanians say this so often. Kosovo was autonomus province of Serbia, but de facto a republic, wasn't it?
1974 Yugoslavian Constitution loosened federation. For the Albanian minority, this meant enhancing the constitutional status of Kosovo province. Under the unique provisions of the new constitution, Kosovo and Vojvodina, in the north, remained formally part of Serbia but were practically granted all the rights of the other republics
The point was less important in the multiethnic but Serb-majority Vojvodina but crucial for Albanians in Kosovo. Albanians were granted unambiguously Albanian and state-like political, cultural, educational, and financial institutions--even a police force.
What was it that Slovenia, or Croatia, or Serbia had that Kosovo didn't? Can you answer me that?
Direct representation in Federal parliament and seat in Presidency? No. That was there, too.
The answer is - absolutelly nothing.
You were running Kosovo already. Why then violant demonstrations with attacks on the churches in 1981? Should we blame that on Slobo too?
The fact is that the Albanians used these structures (given in 1974) to articulate further their desire (that was already there and had nothing to do with Slobo) to leave Yugoslavia and to oppress non-Albanians in Kosovo.

" i agree that your institutions were boycotted, but only after they were annexed away by your leader (slobo) at that time. " you say.
You must be reffering to what you call "1989 the annexation of Kosovo's autonomy".
I have to correct you there as it was not slobo that "annexed" it away, but the Yugoslavian Presidency. It was Janez Drnovsek, the Slovenian, that signed the bill. But, let's not pretend that Slovenians, Croats, etc made this decision collectivelly (out of some slavic solidarity or something) and complitelly out of the blue, just to annoy Albanians and deny them what they have. Simply, Kosovo Albanian leadership that was in power then didn't do much to stop the problem. They even acted to the contrary fanning nationalistic flames. Something had to be done.
Anyway.
The point is that you boycotted institutions, "but only after they were annexed away"...
They were "annexed" away by Yugoslavian Collective Presidency, in perfectly legal and constitutional manner. And not without reason, I have to say.
This Presidency was legal Head of the State of Yugoslavia, UN member, and state recognized by all at that time. It was your "collective President" Fatlumi, and decision was ractified by Federal Parliament. Again, nothing illegal or unconstitutional about that.
But, you boycotted.
Why would it be a surprise now that Serbs are boycotting institutions of Kosovo? You have to admit that it's self-proclaimed government (unilateral declaration of independence), not UN member (it's a fact), and recognized by some, but unrecognized by many more states.
At the very best, we can say that legality of this government being in charge of Kosovo is disputed before the Word Court.
Why would Serb non-cooperation with this government be a surprise when you boycotted legal decisions of the undisputed and fully recognized by all, government of the country you lived in? (Yugoslavia).
You claim that you were sacked from your job.
I don't know about that. I'm sure that you are telling the truth. I was never in Kosovo in my life, you are right about that. I'm a Bosnian Serb. To the best of my knowledge, Albanians in protest quit their jobs, in schools for example, refusing to work and be paid by Serbian Ministry of Education and Labor. Then they proceeded to educate Albanian children in private homes (parallel government).
Description in western media was that "Albanians lost equal access to education in their language."
But, access was there, they just didn't take it.
The ones that truly didn't have access to education in their language in Yugoslavia, were Serbs in Croatia, as Tudjman's government passed the amandments declaring Croatian language only language in use in Croatia and banned cyrillic script.
As far as I know, the only peope who were sacked out of their jobs for their ethnicity were also Croatian Serbs. Official explanation of the Tudjman's government was that there is too many ethnic Serbs employed by the government. "There is as many as 32% of ethnic Serbs in our health care system", he explained while firing number of doctors and nurses simply because they were Serbs, "much more then their share in general population."

Can we really accept this?

It is most likely that Roma population is underrepresented in any European government if we go by their share in general population. For various reasons they are most likely to be less educated, too.
On the other hand, I would not be surprised to find out that Jews are overrepresented in most if not all European governments, compared to their share in general population. Jewish families emphasise and highly value education of their children.
I'm wondering what would be the reaction if Duch government, for example, would decide to fire Jews, simply because they are overrepresented ethnic group, or some nonsense like that?

You also claim that you paid your electicity bill. Just like your claim that you were sacked from job, it would make you a rare case. Don't trust me or any serbian propaganda.
Take a look at this Albanian site.

http://www.botashqiptare.tv/index.php/sq/lajme/1-politics/9-kosovo-ngos-against-electricity-price-hike

In the words of Ramadan Ilazi.
"Beside the technical problems, the power company's main woes stem from the thousands of illegal connections stealing power from the grid, and from consumer's refusal to start paying for electricity which they got for free throughout the 1990s , when Serbian authorities, and bills, had little formal reach in Kosovo."

I'm afraid , Fatlumi, that for the roots of Kosovo's problems you will have to go far deeper into the past then 1987 and Slobo.
The Albanian desire to break away from Serbia is not an aspiration born in the context of Yugoslavia's breakdown. The roots of Serbian-Albanian mistrust run deep. It's not a human rights issue either.
Same goes for Croatia. In 1996 Mesic explained on Montenegro TV station that confederation was a suggestion that was looked upon as a middle step towards the independence. Unlike Serbia or Montenegro who have achieved its independence before entering Yugoslavia, Croatia didn't, it was ruled by Austria, Mesic explained. They never gave up on the dream of achieving full independence, he said.
Same goes for Kosovo.
Many have worked hard at co-existence. "Since 1912, the Albanians always wanted to unite," says Mahmut Bakalli, the leading ethnic-Albanian communist during the Tito years. He was a true believer in Titoist "brotherhood and unity" formula for inter-ethnic harmony, and that Yugoslavia is the land in which Albanians could fluorish. "In the past this was sometimes met with oppression, we tried liberalisam, but nothing halted Albanians' instincts for independence. ", he said.
"To be very honest," he insists, "the Serbian authorities, myself and Tito, we all tried very hard. It simply didn't work."
I can understand that.
In the essence problem in Yugoslavia is that west is supporting creation of nation-states disguised as multiethnic, multicultural states, thus fullfilling ethnic aspirations of Croats, Bosnian Muslims, Albanians, etc. All but Serbs.
"Our goal is to have borders with Albania and Macedonia erased" said openly LPK's spokesman Mahmuti in Geneva, Switzerland.
Those are international borders, protected by numerous international laws.
In the meanwhile main goal of the Serbs, weather in Croatia, Bosnia or northern Kosovo is not to have international borders drawn between them, where they didn't exist. They used to be internal administrative borders only, not protected by any law.
But, even if they are. Right now border with Bosnia is international, for example. Border with Kosovo is too, according to some countries.
If that didn't stop Albanians, why would it stop Serbs?
Why wouldn't Serbs want the same thing that Albanians, or Croats do?
I believe that in the future (it might take a generation or two) all these ethnic groups are capable of developing sympathy for each others. But, right now we have to start with empathy, as ability to understand each other's position. To be "in other ones shoes" so to speak.
Let's be frank here. What are the chanches of reintegration of Kosovo Albanians into Serbian society? Or reintegration of northern Kosovo Serbs into Albanian society? Or what were the chances of reintegrating Krajina Serbs into Croatian society? What about Bosnian Serbs and Croats, too?

Albin Kurti from the Albanian Independent Union of Students in Pristina says, "We were an alien body in the Slavic sea. It was unnatural for us to live in Yugoslavia."
Is he capable of seeing things other way around? Will he ever say that it would be unnatural for northern Kosovo to reintegrate? That Serbs in the north don't want to be "alien body in Albanian sea".?
I doubt it. It's a long way to acceptance that what you want other ones may want too.
We have to all realise that, and move on. I'm glad , Fatlumi, that we can disagree on things with respect for oppinion of the other one. I do respect yours.
As "Own my own generator" suggested, resposable behaviour has to start reappearing in the Balkans.
Someone has to start paying electricity.
Best wishes

The comments here are simply corroboration of the fact that Kosovo Albanians are not capable. You do not understanding the fine line and sensitivities you must allow for the purported ethnic minorities. If you are to be a "western state" then you fail to understand that you must make concessions and, for example, not cut off electricity. Not to inflame ethnic confrontation. Not as an issue of right and wrong but as a demonstration that you, as a nation, can function given the difficulties. All these comments and actions just prove that the West was wrong. The West put a lot of faith in you and you are failing them. Make no mistake, no one wanted Albanians ruling Kosovo – it was part of Serbia- you were just the only pragmatic solution the international community could see. Carry on with your small mindedness and using Serbs as an excuse for everything, you will only lose support and that support you desperately need. It has not taken long since the introduction of the KPS for you to revert to old. The oppressed turned oppressor – well done lads.

Playing with electricity can be very dangerous.
Why can't you all cop on and grow up?
How on Earth do you ever expect to get Foreign Direct Investment while you're behaving like this?
Keeping yourselves in the dark like this is only counterproductive. Targeting minorities by providing less supply to them than others will only worsen your situation.
I think that the Electricity Barons in Kosovo are soon going to get the shock of their lives.

MB,Ireland

"Looking at a picture of protesting Serbs I noticed that these are all well-fed and dressed people, not people suffering under hardship. Maybe BG is helping them what is a nice gesture.
(Joe, 11 March 2009 01:00)"

Take a really good look at yourself Joe

SRETEN
To say "Thank you" will never be enough.
I just wish for your words to reach every Serb in Kosovo.

Sreten,

you base your argument on that article. you would have to have been in Kosovo to understand the nature of the situation. or, you would have to read more thoroughly about the events from 1987 (the rise of Slobo and Serb nationalism) to 1989 (the annexation of Kosovo's autonomy) and so on, to have a better grasp of the situtation in Kosovo at that time. slobo's regime was a master manipulator of public opinion and this is an empirical fact.
i agree that your institutions were boycotted, but only after they were annexed away by your leader (slobo) at that time.
on the other hand, i was there during the whole time and we paid our electric bills (even if inititally we had electricity for 3 hours a day due to the embargo). sometimes we had trouble paying it (as did many serbs, too) because of the dire economic situtation in the entire territory of the former yugoslavia. nevertheless, we paid our electric bills and we paid our phone bills. we didn't pay taxes because we were sacked from our jobs (we did not want to leave our jobs).

if we didn't pay our electric bills, the electricity would get cut off.

serbs will continue to boycot Kosovo's institutions, but the bills will have to eventually be paid by Serbs, Albanians and all alike.
with that said, i think that something has to be done to help serbs integrate into the society. i don't think that by using them as pawns for political reasons is the way to do it (by either side). i commend KEK and the Kosovo government for restoring the electricity to them, because i feared that the situation would have had a negative effect on kosovo's reputation.

however, i don't expect this kind of extortion to continue to yield positive feedback for Serbs.

don't forget that kosovo is losing on average about 1 million dollars a year paying the salaries of serb KPS members who have left their jobs but continue to receive their paychecks.

with respect,
fatlum

The problem with Serbs and Albanians has been, is, and I hope very much it will not be, that they wanna be each winners on their own. I have the power switch now, I will cut it off. Serbs did it before, now it's time for Albanians to follow suit. I believe that you should consider both sides to come up with a smart solution, which includes demands from Serbian citizens of Kosovo, with the right of KEK to collect what it's owed. Both governments, be that of Kosovo, or that of Serbia, should stay away from this issue, because as we have all seen before, they cannot find the common language on anything just yet. There can always be found a solution to an economic problem, a billing issue as this is. For example, KEK can forgive a part or all of the debt in order for all citizens to start paying their bills. For all those who are verifiable unemployed, the rate can be cut to the break-even point for KEK, so that everyone can get what they deserve, no losers, no winners. But most of all, the idea that somehow this way of living can go on forever must come to an end. Responsible behavior must start reappearing again in these parts of the Balkans. One more thing. In these times when cash flow is low all over the globe, any move from any legal business or government to collect what it is owed will get the strongest support from any other business entity or government of the world. Politics today bow blindly to Economics. So, the position of Serbs today is much worse than the position of Albanians in the early 90-s when the world economic bubble started, and that's why they (Serbs) will be the biggest losers in this nonsense "battle" of nerves.

By the way, I have bought my own generator with my savings, as all of you have proven unreliable to fulfill my demands as human for the last 1,000 years.

MB,Ireland

As for Irish investors in Kosovo be realistic. Gone are the days when your country was booming. You are in dire shape. None of you could invest in Kosovo anyway. So your warning comment will not be taken seriously.

>> "Will he ever say that it would be unnatural for northern Kosovo to reintegrate? That Serbs in the north don't want to be "alien body in Albanian sea".?
I doubt it. It's a long way to acceptance that what you want other ones may want too. "

I am sure he can, but he sees Presevo as well. Exchange them and be done!

This time I agree with you, Alban. It's good that you mentioned Presevo. "I am sure he can, but he sees Presevo as well." That's right! There is Presevo, not only Kosovo problem. We don't have Kosovo problem, or even only Serb-Albanian problem.
It's good that he sees Presevo as well, but he has to see more then just Albanians.
It's regional problem, and that is how it should be solved.
Serbia will stick to the policy that no part of the republic can become independent including Kosovo south of Ibar(unspoken words - unless other yu-republic are divisable too).
Hard part would be places like Presevo. I don't think that is realistic to expect anybody to give up territory that is effectivelly under their control. Not at this time at least. What are the chanses of Croatia giving up Krajina, for example, that is effectivelly under their control? None.
Maybe it's not impossible, but is not likely.
Some sort of autonomy would probably have to be used, at least for some time.
Regions that are not under your effective control wouldn't be too hard to give up, for anyone.
Kosovo is Serbia, under UN1244. But, that's the paper. We all know that Belgrade controls nothing south of Ibar. Same goes for Pristina's control north of Ibar. Or Sarajevo's control of RS, etc. etc.
In my oppinion, those areas wouldn't be so hard to give up by anyone, they don't control them anyway.
But, everybody's interests have to be taken into account. We can't think only Serbs, or only Albanians, or only Croats, etc.
Perhaps Albanians would be willing to give up on north (That they don't control anyway) in exchange for wide autonomy for Presevo Valley and western Macedonia, and of course, full recognition of independence of Kosovo, south of Ibar by Serbia, and subsequently bu UN (no Russian veto). Here I talk about full independence again. There is no control anyway. Macedonians could be perhaps, persuaded by a nice financial package to hand control to newly established autonomy in the west of the republic.
Bosnian Muslims could give up RS (that it doesn't control anyway, and it's only trouble for them) in exchange for wide autonomy for Muslims in part of Sandjak where they are majority population, and again nice financial package. Croatia could give Krajina autonomy with official bilingualisam, etc. (Again, it's just hard to imagine that anyone would be willing to give up something they control already). In return predominantly Croat Western Herzegovina could get status of today's entity in Bosnia, etc.
Needless to say, all the leaders should work on reconcilliation, and acceptance of each others then.
I don't know, Alban. I'm not pretending that I have a solutions. But regional conference that will deal with problems and start finding some compromises , seems to be a good idea. Everybody suffered more then enough. It's time for some solutions. Otherwise, region is in danger of becoming next Middle East, with occasional flares of violance, and all that goes with it. I'm sure that nobody wants that.

The time when UNMIK is in charge of decision making is OVER. Now Kosova is independent and it has a government who is in charge of the sovereign country of Kosova.
Finally in the last paragraph here is mentioned that there is an albanian village left without electricity for failing to pay the bills. This shows the fact that this action of KEK is not just against serbs as some people try to make it look like, but it is against anyone who does not pay the bills.
The serbs that are citizens of Kosova have to understand that they have to live under the government of Kosova.
I have asked the Serbs numerous times in these last few days to tell us what would happen to someone in Serbia if he didnt pay the electricity for 9 years and if he refused that the meter be checked, but so far nobody gave any honest answer.
thanks

>>>“Either they will accept our generous assistance to pay for a part of the bill for the Serbs or there is no alternative, as we don’t have the technical possibilities to help the Serbs in another way. Then that will transform into mass protests, everywhere, in all places, which means there will probably be incidents and, I fear, clashes with the police,” said Ivanović.

That's the way to go Ivanovic, either give us free electricity or we will (try) to beat the police up. Since you have a generous offer: pay the bills for them.

"Yesterday about 100 ethnic Albanians from the village of Stanovac in the Vučitrn district also protested, as they, too, have been without electricity for nine days."


And there's the answer to all the Serbs complaining "oh the police is beating us!"

It doesn't matter what you are (Serb, Albanian, Roma...), if you don't pay your bills you ain't getting electricity.

>> "Serbs do not need to pay 1 Dinar to the uck "government!""

They will have to soon or else the power will be cut again and again and again. KEK should fix the lines and cut it on individual basis not for the entire village. if a person doesn't pay, no power. Hook it illegally, jail.

The same for licenses, car insurance and registration: fines, then jail.

Now Kosovo is Indipendence, sorry but it is reality...

Well done KEK & KLA Leadership, soon even K-Alb will ask for serbia to come back in the field to get the province on its feet again..

-and I wonder how many albanians received injuries in their protest? kosovo is dependent for everything they get from the EU etc- they are a charity case, they have no right to demand anything from the Serbs.

"Yesterday about 100 ethnic Albanians from the village of Stanovac in the Vučitrn district also protested, as they, too, have been without electricity for nine days. "

But this cannot be used as political issue. Therefore, it deserves to be published after 3 days and to have the last paragraph of any report.

Another masterpiece of the Serbian journalism!
At the service of politics and "good" neighbourhood relations!

Serbs:
We are enetitled to free electricity
No taxes
Free water
No car registration
No Gasoline tax
Free pensions
Free food

It's a human right!!!

Well done KEK there is no ethnicity separation to deliver electricity , i live in USA and if i don`t pay the bill within 60 days the power will be cut off so it is very simple if you do use power you pay for it does not matter if you are Serbian ,Albanian , bosniak ,goran etc. but i agree this poor people are directed from Belgrade and suffer for someones Political carriers .if you live in serbia and you don`t pay the bill will the Serbian power supply company tell that is ok couse you are serbian you don`t have to pay or will thay cut you off ?
I belive wil be the latter they will cut you off unless you throug proper chanels and you have no income what soever the goverment will pay for you , so pay your stupid bills and don`t be part of the serbian propaganda.

What a complete failure this thing called "Kosova" has turned out to be. Give criminals some power and look what happens. They use their typical pressure methods to demand money by hurting people.

This is likely to turn into mass protests and the world will continue to see what a mistake the occupiers have made.

My full support goes out to the Serbians. Stay strong and don't let the mafia get their way. Block the roads and get them to use as many "police" and troops as possible. The costs will mount and that is something they can't afford.

It's good to see this uniting the Serbians even more. This only makes us more determined and stronger!

Srba: "The Albanian Kosovo leadership has no right to impose their will and force these people to respect Kosovo as an independent state until it gets a seat in the United Nations and become recognised by overwhelming majority of states in the world."

Exactly right!

Serbs do not need to pay 1 Dinar to the uck "government!"

Serbian government should offer to pay the bills. The Albanian Kosovo leadership has no right to impose their will and force these people to respect Kosovo as an independent state until it gets a seat in the United Nations and become recognised by overwhelming majority of states in the world.

The albanians don't seem to realise how this shows what a failure the "state of Kosovo" is. I can fully understand why KEK demands payment from all individuals in Kosovo. it simply has no choice and this is because Kosovo is bankrupt. It has no state finance and cannot raise any on any world markets as it's not recognised as a country so it has to live hand to mouth unless the international community puts money into it.

What a joke. Serbia is poor but they don't have anywhere near the same problems as Kosovo at the moment.

You had better get used to this situation because when Serbia wins it's case at the ICJ, you can continue pounding your chests declaring that Kosovo is a state, is independent but tell the world's capital markets that it is. At that stage, the EU and US will fundamentally rethink their strategy as they are not going to pump money into Kosovo for free for ever.

Well done to the protesting Serbians! You have achieved victory. Stand tall and be proud!

In regards to the picture and the comment underneath it; It looks to me that the guy is actually fixing the line not cutting it off. To cut off you don't need to climb a pole. These things are run on electronic switches and a connection is easily disabled from the main office to any destination. It's simply ridiculous to think that you cut off the electricity by literally "cutting off" the power line. One would climb a pole only to fix a physical problem with the lines.

B92, don't be a sucker.

"We are open to a serious and constructive talk about a permanent solution to this problem, and, as before, we expect full support from the international community in this." -bogdanovic


Yes but no one is going to talk to you because you are nobody and dont represent anuyone any in kosovo, KEK and people who need to pay their bills need to sort it out.

The Kosovo electric company (KEK) says that turning off the electricity "had no connection with ethnicity". They added that Serb villages didn’t have electricity because of failure and they would make repairs if bills were not paid.

WRONG - if you believe this, you'll believe ANYTHING.

"Tracy" - If Albanian police were beating Albanian people, especially women and children, I am sure we would hear about it.

I don't believe for one minute that the regional Kosovo authorities took pity on anyone, even in these isolated enclaves. They were pressured by the UN and EU to act in a civilised manner.

Such a long article, and no clear mention of one of the most important points. Did they pay KEK or not? Or did somebody pay for them?
Does this mean that a part of the bill was paid:
“Either they will accept our generous assistance to pay for a part of the bill for the Serbs or there is no alternative, as we don’t have the technical possibilities to help the Serbs in another way. Then that will transform into mass protests, everywhere, in all places, which means there will probably be incidents and, I fear, clashes with the police,” said Ivanović.

Now, if you are the ministry for Kosovo, you are not being generous if you pay part of the bill to restore electricity and help them. It should be your duty to help them.

I need to meet with those Kosovar-Serbs and get a few lessons from them - I sure could use a break from paying my utility bills, especially in these times...

"I have asked the Serbs numerous times in these last few days to tell us what would happen to someone in Serbia if he didnt pay the electricity for 9 years and if he refused that the meter be checked, but so far nobody gave any honest answer. "
Here is one honest answer, afrim hoxha.
We don't have to guess what would happen, it already happened.
On 28 September 1990 Kosovo's autonomy effectivelly ended. Albanian politicians in the Serbian executive structures collectively resigned, proclaimed the Republic of Kosovo, and constituted their own parliament. These events mark the beginning of what has become commonly known as the Kosovo Albanian parallel society.
Kosovo Albanian political writer Shkelzen Maliqi pointed out, that Albanians didn't start building their parallel political, cultural, education, health, and media institutions from scratch, as is sometimes thought. In most cases they just relocated their abolished institutions to new--often improvised and inadequate--venues. For example, school classes were brought into private homes.
Parallel government of "Republic of Kosovo" invited all Albanians in Kosovo not to cooperate with any Serbian or Yugoslavian authorities.
The parallel government's Information Minister XHAFER SHATRI, who operated from Geneva, asked Albanians not to pay taxes or water bills (you see Alban, this is not exactly serbian invention) or any other bills (like electricity). "Not a single coin to the government. Not a red cent." he said.
"Don't pay the electricity bill. It doesn't matter if they cut you off," says Shatri. "For centuries we lived without electricity. We could live for a few more years without it."
This resulted in a widespread boycott in Kosovo. Energy minister ( i think it was Vuckovic at the time) threatned to cut off electricity to all non-payers regardless of their ethnicity. This would be done everywhere like Elez rightfully pointed out about US.
But, what US would do Serbia wasn't allowed to.
Western media and politicians were fully supportive of parallel institutions. Number of US State Deparment officials voiced their "concernes" about itnended electricity cuts.
"This is a political problem and it has to be solved by political means" they were saying.
Or "We will not stand idly while somebody is suffering consequences for their peaceful, civil disobediance actions. Non-payment of the bills is just an excuse, and the real intent of Serbian government is to punish those who are excerscising their right to protest peacefully."
It even came from the highest place.
President George Bush in his Christmas speech 1992 praised peaceful resistance in Kosovo.
Tom Brokaw, went to Kosovo and made a heart-breaking report (I think it was Dateline) about fearfull children in Kosovo and the prospect of them being left without electricity in the middle of the winter "at the eve of the 21st century".
Serbian government quickly dropped the planned electricity cut-offs.
Nobody paid the bills until serbian authorities withdrew from Kosovo in 1999.
So, afrim hoxha .
What will happen now in Kosovo I don't know. I don't see any US State Department officials defending the "right" of those who don't pay electricity bills. And I doubt that Barack Obama will mention any villages in Kosovo in his 2009 Christmas speech.
And, of course, we don't see teary-eyed Tom Brokaw in there to lament over not prospect, but reality of children being left without electricity in the middle of winter, and not at the Eve but in 21st century. Compassion is reserved to cases when US public oppinion needs to be formed in support of the desired political outcomes.
What I do know Hoxha is what happened in Serbia already, and what was the behaviour of the democratic and free world, from whom we should all learn.
And from those lessons and democratic actions we can easily find the solution for this crisis.
-They should be allowed not to pay any bills or taxes indefinitely (as it is their right to engage with impunity in non-violant, civil disobediance actions).
-Should their peaceful action fail to bring about desired political results, they should be free to attack any security force in Kosovo (like KPS, for example) of their liking, kidnap and kill civilians of other ethnicity (perhaps read British parliamentary report on Kosovo pre-bombing period 1997-1998) , or kill those Serbs who are "collaborators" with Kosovo government.(for example, think of KLA killing of entire family in Klina who operated a bussiness procuring to Serbian governement in 1998). Again, it's their right, apparently.
-Should KPS or anyone in Kosovo try to respond in any way to those actions, Richard Hoolbrock should be sent to arrange ceasefire in which Serbs would be allowed to go around and shoot and do whatever they want, while KPS should stay in the barracks. This would bring peace.
And so on.
But, let's not speculate.
The fact is that there was electricity protest and Albanians did not pay bills for 9 years. They didn't won't to give a "red cent" to the Serbian government. Now I see some new comments, and comment No. 22 Ratko is saying something similar.
Albanians didn't consider that government to be their government and they boycotted. Now, same goes for Serbs in Kosovo. Yugoslavian and Serbian were at least fully recognized governments, and UN members. There was no ambiguity at all. Now there is. According to UN they still live in Serbia, right? While 55 countries recognize Kosovo independece, many more don't. You will have to admit that Serbs in Kosovo have even more reasons to reject and boycott institutions that they see as illegal. How is this really resolved? What should have Serbian answer to Kosovo boycott been in 90's? Alban here in comment 26 seems to have an answer. All Albanians that boycotted and didn't pay a bill should have been fined and inprisoned. By I don't think so.
"The serbs that are citizens of Kosova have to understand that they have to live under the government of Kosova." you say, Afrim.
And you had to understand that you are citizen of Serbia (even according Badinter's legal opinion), but you didn't. Right?
Why would they? And how can you even ask them to, given that you did not accept the state you lived in? ( And to say it again that state was fully recognized by entire world.).
So, let's just imagine for a second that Kosovo is a UN member and fully recognized state. What do we do with Serbian minority that is simply refusing to integrate and accept the state they live in?
In Croatia a general made a comment in Feral Tribune, after the Operation Storm. "They had to go", he said referring to Krajina Serbs. "They would never accept to be loyal to Croatian state."
What is your suggestion, Afrim?

I think it is more than just failure to pay bills.

Kosovo is not able to provide a life where these people can work. They are unemployed, due to the circumstances created by Kosovo. For Kosovo to then say 'We ar enot providing you an environment where you can earn money, but you still need to pay us money' is not justified. Kosovo needs to make allowances for the people that live there under the conditions that are there.

Provide electricity so these people can live. Then try to provide jobs so these people can get a better standard of living and pay their bills.

well it works - as always - just hours before serbia turns off the light to the indiependent-of-hearts and short-time occupied parts of kosmet...

and of course no serb citizen will pay to the pseudo-organisation of a pseudo-state a single penny.

but to stop the provocations serbia still should turn off the electricity, just to set an example ...

How awful it must be to live with all this hatred between you all.

It's not nice not to have electricity thats a fundamental regardless of ethnicity but also its unacceptable no to pay the bills regardless of ethinicity.

Looking at a picture of protesting Serbs I noticed that these are all well-fed and dressed people, not people suffering under hardship. Maybe BG is helping them what is a nice gesture.

"And there's the answer to all the Serbs complaining "oh the police is beating us!"

It doesn't matter what you are (Serb, Albanian, Roma...), if you don't pay your bills you ain't getting electricity.
(tracy, 10 March 2009 13:59)"

The fact that an Albanian village has had its electricity cut off doesn't mean allegations of police brutality are necessarily untrue.

To me it seems strange that the KEK can cut off electricity to a whole village (be it Serb or Albanian) inhabited and not the individual houses.

Dear Alban,

In my opinion, your strategy is wrong as it relies on brute force, which would be unacceptable to relevant international factors (at the moment).

It is clear that Serbs will not accept Kosovo as their state until they are forced to do it, i.e. until Kosovo gets an UN seat and independence becomes a hard reality. Therefore, I ask you to answer the following:

1. Is your strategy aimed to make life of these people impossible?

2. Would you like to see Kosovo without Serbs (as they are only troublemakers)?

I look forward to your response and comments.

I commend KEK for restoration of power to these villages. That was the right thing to do.

Dear Miri,

The KEK worker that climbed the pole in the picture accompanying the article did so in order to cut off power to several Serb families in the village of Grace.

The following families: Denić, Živić, and Popović, all connect to the grid from that pole, and were all disconnected.

This is according to Beta news agency. Beta broadcast several photographs of the same event, with the same caption.

Regards,

B92

Re:

"They will have to soon or else the power will be cut again and again and again. KEK should fix the lines and cut it on individual basis not for the entire village. if a person doesn't pay, no power. Hook it illegally, jail.

The same for licenses, car insurance and registration: fines, then jail.
(Alban, 10 March 2009 16:30)"

Alban - If thats how you want to play how would you like it if Serbs in N. Kosovo formed their own police, license plates, etc. etc. and if you didn't respect it, we through you in jail. Or should we have a shoot out??? You can't expect these Serbs to recognise your phony police, government and country when MOST of the international community does not. The rest of the world is on Serbia's side. Only the US and their "satellite" states are with you. You can't force anyone to recognize your fake institutions. They are as legitimate as Disneyland.

Dear Serbs posters

now that Free Electricy for Serbs is restored, Kosova has become democratic country with free Electricity rights respected. Other countrieas are expected to follow this example in order not be branded as non- Democratic countries

Whatever prompted KEK to respond, I'm glad they did, and I'm glad these Serbs have basic services restored to them.

Fatlumi.
I appreciate your comment very much. There is hope as long as there are people willing to find some reasonable solutions. There are too many extremists and hardliners like Alban that would respond to everything with brute force and oppression. On both sides, of course. To many Serbs, solution for Albanians disrespecting Serbian laws would be to fine them and put them in jail, too.
Now, to respond to some things in your comment.
I'm well aware of the events in 1987.
Is this the year that trouble started? Kosovo was oasis of multiethnic understanding before Serbs turned nationalistic? Just like that, out of the blue?
Perhaps, you could read more thoroughly about the events throughout 80's.
Don't go after Serbian propaganda. Read this New York Times article dated Nov 1 , 1987. You can trust the Americans, can you?

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE3DF143FF932A35752C1A961948260&scp=3&sq=david+binder+1987&st=nyt

"Ethnic Albanians in the Government have manipulated public funds and regulations to take over land belonging to Serbs. "
"Slavic Orthodox churches have been attacked, and flags have been torn down. Wells have been poisoned and crops burned. Slavic boys have been knifed, and some young ethnic Albanians have been told by their elders to rape Serbian girls."
" As Slavs flee the protracted violence, Kosovo is becoming what ethnic Albanian nationalists have been...."
Et cetera.
Why?
Don't tell me that it's because Kosovo failed to gain status of the republic in 1981.
Afrim asked me for honest answer and got one. Let me ask you one honest question.
You must be aware of this, as so many Albanians say this so often. Kosovo was autonomus province of Serbia, but de facto a republic, wasn't it?
1974 Yugoslavian Constitution loosened federation. For the Albanian minority, this meant enhancing the constitutional status of Kosovo province. Under the unique provisions of the new constitution, Kosovo and Vojvodina, in the north, remained formally part of Serbia but were practically granted all the rights of the other republics
The point was less important in the multiethnic but Serb-majority Vojvodina but crucial for Albanians in Kosovo. Albanians were granted unambiguously Albanian and state-like political, cultural, educational, and financial institutions--even a police force.
What was it that Slovenia, or Croatia, or Serbia had that Kosovo didn't? Can you answer me that?
Direct representation in Federal parliament and seat in Presidency? No. That was there, too.
The answer is - absolutelly nothing.
You were running Kosovo already. Why then violant demonstrations with attacks on the churches in 1981? Should we blame that on Slobo too?
The fact is that the Albanians used these structures (given in 1974) to articulate further their desire (that was already there and had nothing to do with Slobo) to leave Yugoslavia and to oppress non-Albanians in Kosovo.

" i agree that your institutions were boycotted, but only after they were annexed away by your leader (slobo) at that time. " you say.
You must be reffering to what you call "1989 the annexation of Kosovo's autonomy".
I have to correct you there as it was not slobo that "annexed" it away, but the Yugoslavian Presidency. It was Janez Drnovsek, the Slovenian, that signed the bill. But, let's not pretend that Slovenians, Croats, etc made this decision collectivelly (out of some slavic solidarity or something) and complitelly out of the blue, just to annoy Albanians and deny them what they have. Simply, Kosovo Albanian leadership that was in power then didn't do much to stop the problem. They even acted to the contrary fanning nationalistic flames. Something had to be done.
Anyway.
The point is that you boycotted institutions, "but only after they were annexed away"...
They were "annexed" away by Yugoslavian Collective Presidency, in perfectly legal and constitutional manner. And not without reason, I have to say.
This Presidency was legal Head of the State of Yugoslavia, UN member, and state recognized by all at that time. It was your "collective President" Fatlumi, and decision was ractified by Federal Parliament. Again, nothing illegal or unconstitutional about that.
But, you boycotted.
Why would it be a surprise now that Serbs are boycotting institutions of Kosovo? You have to admit that it's self-proclaimed government (unilateral declaration of independence), not UN member (it's a fact), and recognized by some, but unrecognized by many more states.
At the very best, we can say that legality of this government being in charge of Kosovo is disputed before the Word Court.
Why would Serb non-cooperation with this government be a surprise when you boycotted legal decisions of the undisputed and fully recognized by all, government of the country you lived in? (Yugoslavia).
You claim that you were sacked from your job.
I don't know about that. I'm sure that you are telling the truth. I was never in Kosovo in my life, you are right about that. I'm a Bosnian Serb. To the best of my knowledge, Albanians in protest quit their jobs, in schools for example, refusing to work and be paid by Serbian Ministry of Education and Labor. Then they proceeded to educate Albanian children in private homes (parallel government).
Description in western media was that "Albanians lost equal access to education in their language."
But, access was there, they just didn't take it.
The ones that truly didn't have access to education in their language in Yugoslavia, were Serbs in Croatia, as Tudjman's government passed the amandments declaring Croatian language only language in use in Croatia and banned cyrillic script.
As far as I know, the only peope who were sacked out of their jobs for their ethnicity were also Croatian Serbs. Official explanation of the Tudjman's government was that there is too many ethnic Serbs employed by the government. "There is as many as 32% of ethnic Serbs in our health care system", he explained while firing number of doctors and nurses simply because they were Serbs, "much more then their share in general population."

Can we really accept this?

It is most likely that Roma population is underrepresented in any European government if we go by their share in general population. For various reasons they are most likely to be less educated, too.
On the other hand, I would not be surprised to find out that Jews are overrepresented in most if not all European governments, compared to their share in general population. Jewish families emphasise and highly value education of their children.
I'm wondering what would be the reaction if Duch government, for example, would decide to fire Jews, simply because they are overrepresented ethnic group, or some nonsense like that?

You also claim that you paid your electicity bill. Just like your claim that you were sacked from job, it would make you a rare case. Don't trust me or any serbian propaganda.
Take a look at this Albanian site.

http://www.botashqiptare.tv/index.php/sq/lajme/1-politics/9-kosovo-ngos-against-electricity-price-hike

In the words of Ramadan Ilazi.
"Beside the technical problems, the power company's main woes stem from the thousands of illegal connections stealing power from the grid, and from consumer's refusal to start paying for electricity which they got for free throughout the 1990s , when Serbian authorities, and bills, had little formal reach in Kosovo."

I'm afraid , Fatlumi, that for the roots of Kosovo's problems you will have to go far deeper into the past then 1987 and Slobo.
The Albanian desire to break away from Serbia is not an aspiration born in the context of Yugoslavia's breakdown. The roots of Serbian-Albanian mistrust run deep. It's not a human rights issue either.
Same goes for Croatia. In 1996 Mesic explained on Montenegro TV station that confederation was a suggestion that was looked upon as a middle step towards the independence. Unlike Serbia or Montenegro who have achieved its independence before entering Yugoslavia, Croatia didn't, it was ruled by Austria, Mesic explained. They never gave up on the dream of achieving full independence, he said.
Same goes for Kosovo.
Many have worked hard at co-existence. "Since 1912, the Albanians always wanted to unite," says Mahmut Bakalli, the leading ethnic-Albanian communist during the Tito years. He was a true believer in Titoist "brotherhood and unity" formula for inter-ethnic harmony, and that Yugoslavia is the land in which Albanians could fluorish. "In the past this was sometimes met with oppression, we tried liberalisam, but nothing halted Albanians' instincts for independence. ", he said.
"To be very honest," he insists, "the Serbian authorities, myself and Tito, we all tried very hard. It simply didn't work."
I can understand that.
In the essence problem in Yugoslavia is that west is supporting creation of nation-states disguised as multiethnic, multicultural states, thus fullfilling ethnic aspirations of Croats, Bosnian Muslims, Albanians, etc. All but Serbs.
"Our goal is to have borders with Albania and Macedonia erased" said openly LPK's spokesman Mahmuti in Geneva, Switzerland.
Those are international borders, protected by numerous international laws.
In the meanwhile main goal of the Serbs, weather in Croatia, Bosnia or northern Kosovo is not to have international borders drawn between them, where they didn't exist. They used to be internal administrative borders only, not protected by any law.
But, even if they are. Right now border with Bosnia is international, for example. Border with Kosovo is too, according to some countries.
If that didn't stop Albanians, why would it stop Serbs?
Why wouldn't Serbs want the same thing that Albanians, or Croats do?
I believe that in the future (it might take a generation or two) all these ethnic groups are capable of developing sympathy for each others. But, right now we have to start with empathy, as ability to understand each other's position. To be "in other ones shoes" so to speak.
Let's be frank here. What are the chanches of reintegration of Kosovo Albanians into Serbian society? Or reintegration of northern Kosovo Serbs into Albanian society? Or what were the chances of reintegrating Krajina Serbs into Croatian society? What about Bosnian Serbs and Croats, too?

Albin Kurti from the Albanian Independent Union of Students in Pristina says, "We were an alien body in the Slavic sea. It was unnatural for us to live in Yugoslavia."
Is he capable of seeing things other way around? Will he ever say that it would be unnatural for northern Kosovo to reintegrate? That Serbs in the north don't want to be "alien body in Albanian sea".?
I doubt it. It's a long way to acceptance that what you want other ones may want too.
We have to all realise that, and move on. I'm glad , Fatlumi, that we can disagree on things with respect for oppinion of the other one. I do respect yours.
As "Own my own generator" suggested, resposable behaviour has to start reappearing in the Balkans.
Someone has to start paying electricity.
Best wishes

It seems that the only solution is to install wind turbines and solar panels with the diesel power as a back up.

The comments here are simply corroboration of the fact that Kosovo Albanians are not capable. You do not understanding the fine line and sensitivities you must allow for the purported ethnic minorities. If you are to be a "western state" then you fail to understand that you must make concessions and, for example, not cut off electricity. Not to inflame ethnic confrontation. Not as an issue of right and wrong but as a demonstration that you, as a nation, can function given the difficulties. All these comments and actions just prove that the West was wrong. The West put a lot of faith in you and you are failing them. Make no mistake, no one wanted Albanians ruling Kosovo – it was part of Serbia- you were just the only pragmatic solution the international community could see. Carry on with your small mindedness and using Serbs as an excuse for everything, you will only lose support and that support you desperately need. It has not taken long since the introduction of the KPS for you to revert to old. The oppressed turned oppressor – well done lads.

Sreten,

you base your argument on that article. you would have to have been in Kosovo to understand the nature of the situation. or, you would have to read more thoroughly about the events from 1987 (the rise of Slobo and Serb nationalism) to 1989 (the annexation of Kosovo's autonomy) and so on, to have a better grasp of the situtation in Kosovo at that time. slobo's regime was a master manipulator of public opinion and this is an empirical fact.
i agree that your institutions were boycotted, but only after they were annexed away by your leader (slobo) at that time.
on the other hand, i was there during the whole time and we paid our electric bills (even if inititally we had electricity for 3 hours a day due to the embargo). sometimes we had trouble paying it (as did many serbs, too) because of the dire economic situtation in the entire territory of the former yugoslavia. nevertheless, we paid our electric bills and we paid our phone bills. we didn't pay taxes because we were sacked from our jobs (we did not want to leave our jobs).

if we didn't pay our electric bills, the electricity would get cut off.

serbs will continue to boycot Kosovo's institutions, but the bills will have to eventually be paid by Serbs, Albanians and all alike.
with that said, i think that something has to be done to help serbs integrate into the society. i don't think that by using them as pawns for political reasons is the way to do it (by either side). i commend KEK and the Kosovo government for restoring the electricity to them, because i feared that the situation would have had a negative effect on kosovo's reputation.

however, i don't expect this kind of extortion to continue to yield positive feedback for Serbs.

don't forget that kosovo is losing on average about 1 million dollars a year paying the salaries of serb KPS members who have left their jobs but continue to receive their paychecks.

with respect,
fatlum

The problem with Serbs and Albanians has been, is, and I hope very much it will not be, that they wanna be each winners on their own. I have the power switch now, I will cut it off. Serbs did it before, now it's time for Albanians to follow suit. I believe that you should consider both sides to come up with a smart solution, which includes demands from Serbian citizens of Kosovo, with the right of KEK to collect what it's owed. Both governments, be that of Kosovo, or that of Serbia, should stay away from this issue, because as we have all seen before, they cannot find the common language on anything just yet. There can always be found a solution to an economic problem, a billing issue as this is. For example, KEK can forgive a part or all of the debt in order for all citizens to start paying their bills. For all those who are verifiable unemployed, the rate can be cut to the break-even point for KEK, so that everyone can get what they deserve, no losers, no winners. But most of all, the idea that somehow this way of living can go on forever must come to an end. Responsible behavior must start reappearing again in these parts of the Balkans. One more thing. In these times when cash flow is low all over the globe, any move from any legal business or government to collect what it is owed will get the strongest support from any other business entity or government of the world. Politics today bow blindly to Economics. So, the position of Serbs today is much worse than the position of Albanians in the early 90-s when the world economic bubble started, and that's why they (Serbs) will be the biggest losers in this nonsense "battle" of nerves.

By the way, I have bought my own generator with my savings, as all of you have proven unreliable to fulfill my demands as human for the last 1,000 years.

"Looking at a picture of protesting Serbs I noticed that these are all well-fed and dressed people, not people suffering under hardship. Maybe BG is helping them what is a nice gesture.
(Joe, 11 March 2009 01:00)"

Take a really good look at yourself Joe

MB,Ireland

As for Irish investors in Kosovo be realistic. Gone are the days when your country was booming. You are in dire shape. None of you could invest in Kosovo anyway. So your warning comment will not be taken seriously.

SRETEN
To say "Thank you" will never be enough.
I just wish for your words to reach every Serb in Kosovo.

Playing with electricity can be very dangerous.
Why can't you all cop on and grow up?
How on Earth do you ever expect to get Foreign Direct Investment while you're behaving like this?
Keeping yourselves in the dark like this is only counterproductive. Targeting minorities by providing less supply to them than others will only worsen your situation.
I think that the Electricity Barons in Kosovo are soon going to get the shock of their lives.

MB,Ireland

>> "Will he ever say that it would be unnatural for northern Kosovo to reintegrate? That Serbs in the north don't want to be "alien body in Albanian sea".?
I doubt it. It's a long way to acceptance that what you want other ones may want too. "

I am sure he can, but he sees Presevo as well. Exchange them and be done!

This time I agree with you, Alban. It's good that you mentioned Presevo. "I am sure he can, but he sees Presevo as well." That's right! There is Presevo, not only Kosovo problem. We don't have Kosovo problem, or even only Serb-Albanian problem.
It's good that he sees Presevo as well, but he has to see more then just Albanians.
It's regional problem, and that is how it should be solved.
Serbia will stick to the policy that no part of the republic can become independent including Kosovo south of Ibar(unspoken words - unless other yu-republic are divisable too).
Hard part would be places like Presevo. I don't think that is realistic to expect anybody to give up territory that is effectivelly under their control. Not at this time at least. What are the chanses of Croatia giving up Krajina, for example, that is effectivelly under their control? None.
Maybe it's not impossible, but is not likely.
Some sort of autonomy would probably have to be used, at least for some time.
Regions that are not under your effective control wouldn't be too hard to give up, for anyone.
Kosovo is Serbia, under UN1244. But, that's the paper. We all know that Belgrade controls nothing south of Ibar. Same goes for Pristina's control north of Ibar. Or Sarajevo's control of RS, etc. etc.
In my oppinion, those areas wouldn't be so hard to give up by anyone, they don't control them anyway.
But, everybody's interests have to be taken into account. We can't think only Serbs, or only Albanians, or only Croats, etc.
Perhaps Albanians would be willing to give up on north (That they don't control anyway) in exchange for wide autonomy for Presevo Valley and western Macedonia, and of course, full recognition of independence of Kosovo, south of Ibar by Serbia, and subsequently bu UN (no Russian veto). Here I talk about full independence again. There is no control anyway. Macedonians could be perhaps, persuaded by a nice financial package to hand control to newly established autonomy in the west of the republic.
Bosnian Muslims could give up RS (that it doesn't control anyway, and it's only trouble for them) in exchange for wide autonomy for Muslims in part of Sandjak where they are majority population, and again nice financial package. Croatia could give Krajina autonomy with official bilingualisam, etc. (Again, it's just hard to imagine that anyone would be willing to give up something they control already). In return predominantly Croat Western Herzegovina could get status of today's entity in Bosnia, etc.
Needless to say, all the leaders should work on reconcilliation, and acceptance of each others then.
I don't know, Alban. I'm not pretending that I have a solutions. But regional conference that will deal with problems and start finding some compromises , seems to be a good idea. Everybody suffered more then enough. It's time for some solutions. Otherwise, region is in danger of becoming next Middle East, with occasional flares of violance, and all that goes with it. I'm sure that nobody wants that.