“Serbia has nothing to lose in ICJ case”

It's not true...
Time is value like everybody know..
Serbia has already lost Eu funds..IMF deal is difficoult...No one from the Main Eu countries wants a meeting with Serbian authorithy..
What else?? Keep going ..Keep going...

“If the court is of that opinion, Kosovo would not be taken from us again—in effect, it has not been under Serbian rule since 1999. "

Well said since Kosovo will never be ruled by Belgrade again. I still cant figure out how they managed to force their control to the 92% population who did not want anything to do with Serbian state since Kosovo was never part of Serbia but rather Yugoslavia before the illegal changes forced through by Milosevic and his regime.

He ain't sounding that confident, is he? If a population can't exercise their self determination in a state then sovereignty makes room for it.

Serbia can lose: They will be forced to recognize Kosova on the spot by EU and pay reparations.

Either way, this is a delay tactic, neither serbia nor Kosova will recognize what they courts says.

"“If the court is of that opinion, Kosovo would not be taken from us again—in effect, it has not been under Serbian rule since 1999."
This is exactly what I said in one of my many comments that dessapear when illusionist Jeremic in his known false triumphal manners declared that Serbia has good arguments- to be honest good is not iron arguments, hence Jeremic himself is getting bit more sober.

How will Serbia persuade a court that has lost Kosova in 17 Feb 2008 when de facto and de-jure it doesn’t control Kosova since 1999???

How will Serbia persuade the court that the declaration of independence was done in branch of international law when the international rulers of Kosova UNMIK did not declared the UDi and with that without any effects. For the sake of clarity, that would be as if R.Srspka in Bosnia declares independence only 1 minute after the high rep. of Bosnia will nullify it. This was not the case with Kosova's declaration of independence. UNMIK and neither UN did not invalidate the declaration of independence of Kosova. So how Serbia explains this???

We all understand the wish of Serbia to show and fight also that the court sees this case a legal case par excellence but I am sure that the court will have consideration of a wider historical, cultural, social, economical and safety reasons that lead to the declaration of independence when will decide. This for the simple reason, the independence is not political project it is a natural right of nations to live free and in dignity.

Said that the only danger that me as profane of international law can see is that the court may say exactly that, the independence of a nation is very big matter it is not political project hence, a parliament elected in political election cannot declare independence without consultation with the people. Therefore, UNMIK and other international reps must organise a free and democratic referendum where the people of Kosova will declare freely if they want to be independent or live within Serbia.

Actualy this has been the rason why negotiations failed and would fail again and again, since Serbia has nothing to loose. That was Serbias strategy not only after 1999 but also before. You can only negotiate if both sides can gain something. This article highlights best why there is no other solution but unilateral declaration of independence.

"Well said since Kosovo will never be ruled by Belgrade again. I still cant figure out how they managed to force their control to the 92% population who did not want anything to do with Serbian state since Kosovo was never part of Serbia but rather Yugoslavia before the illegal changes forced through by Milosevic and his regime.
(Pejoni, 15 April 2009 11:40)"

Two problems here. One Albanians didn't make up 92% of Kosovo's population at any time prior to 1999. Secondly the 1974 constitution of the SFRY clearly states that Kosovo is a constiuent part of the Republic of Serbia.

“This is because, he says, Kosovo has effectively been out of Serbian control since 1999”. Very interesting to hear something like this from someone who will head the legal team representing Serbia before the International Court of Justice. This will be a good argument for the other side.

What this advisory opinion can do is, depending on the opinion, open the gates for some of the other countries that have so far stayed in the sidelines to recognize Kosovo. If it is vague but also recognizes that Kosovo has a case then it could also make it easier for Russia to eventually recognize once her relationship with the US becomes even better.

If the court says that it won't really make an opinion on this case due to legalities, then Kosovo wins big hands down, because essentially the international law argument gets dumped unceremoniously.

This will be Serbia's last resort, and everyone already knows that there is nothing to win for Serbia through the ICJ. From now on, i can say to all albanians, you can freely sleep with no fear.. CHEERS!

Varadi said that if the court ruled that the independence declaration had violated international law, it could lead to new negotiations.
------------

It's not going to lead to any kind of negotiations! How can you have negotiations when one side don't even want to recognize you as a country, and the other side don't even want to talk to you ?
As the guy has said it's not a legal issue but an advisory one!
It seems to me that the court it's not going to come with a clear advisory verdict YES or NO !
Just something in the middle to please both sides.
The question after that is going to be.
What's left for Serbia after the verdict to use as tool against Kosovo indepedence?

I don't understand why Pristina feels the need to outsource its own legal defense of territorial sovereignty when they can use some of their own posters here. Yet if the best they can do is knock the legal procedings out of bounds, instead of drop them altogether, I don't see how Albanians can claim a victory (though I have no doubrt Hash, Hysterical, and the rest will claim this as one). Belgrade needs either a victory or a draw for them to claim some credit. Pristina needs a clear victory, otherwise sovereignty will remain a frozen issue and BG can continue to contribute to Kosovo's frozen status for the foreseeable future.

“Serbia has nothing to lose in ICJ case”

I agree that serbia has nothing to lose. THe case is solid & however corrupt the "court" may be no judge wants to be openly seen tom be corrupt. Indeed I would go further & suggest Serbia & those citizens ethnicly cleansed by NATO should be personally suing the NATO governments & its leaders of the time personally in their own national courts & the EU courts. The EU court has come to many very silly judgements & there is no doubt that the treatment of Serbia breaches the European Declaration of human rights.

It's great to see all of Serbia's citizens and diaspora, especially ethnic Albanians enthusiastically debating issues important to Serbia.

The simple fact is the current Serbian government has been installed by the EU and NATO so the outcome of the ICJ case is not going to change much because it's a toothless initiative that I assume is being orchastrated and approved by the EU/US.

The reality is that Serbia does control large parts of Kosovo in the enclaves and more so in the North making up a considerable amount of territory while all of Kosovo still remains part of Serbia's sovereignty.

Although our enemies are all working towards the same goal, it is the will of Serbia never to allow Kosovo to be stolen. It really is that simple.

Now that the EU and US are losing grip it seems that the agenda is desperately being brought forward because Russia and China are getting stronger. Sorry, but the Western plan has failed and if this economic crisis allows the people to rise, this government will be history soon enough.

serbia have no thing to lose but just kosovo

Zoran, the fact is Kosovo and Serbia will never be together again just like when a couple divorces! We can try and put the past behind us and try to be friends but that's about it!

@Kanadezi:

you should abolish this divorce-comparison!

there can be no talk about a couple that is going through a divorce...

it´s rather like a Father ( Serbia, of course ) and it´s little child, that has no say.

if there is any kind of family-relation to be compared to the K-issue at all, then it would be the father-child one.

but, as I said it above, you can only dream of being sovereign.

and even that dream will be crushed.

there is the law, moral and history on Serbia´s side. that´s it what counts in the long run.

the best about it is: you the secessionists can only sit and watch how your little stillborn puppet entity loses more and more terrain in the international arena.

and that is good.

"Time is value like everybody know. Serbia has already lost Eu funds..IMF deal is difficoult...No one from the Main Eu countries wants a meeting with Serbian authorithy..
What else?? Keep going ..Keep going.."

What else? Serbia is continuing to upset the large countries, France, Germany, UK. They think that by going to Cyprus they will get in EU. Memo to Serbia: you will be shocked to find out that no EU until Kosova is "settled" like the big boys that pay the bills want it. Probably Serbia and Kosova at the same time, as two countries so all this delay for Kosova will harm Serbia. Serbia has a great record of shooting itself on the foot.

"Two problems here. One Albanians didn't make up 92% of Kosovo's population at any time prior to 1999."

True, but you know very well it was close to 90%. If we accept the current 92% figue, and factor in that about half the Serb population before 1999 remain in K and the other half are in exile, then if every refugee returns (and I sincerely hope all except the criminals do), we can say the Albanian population will be, what, 85% of Kosovo? So go figure what difference tha makes to the argument.

"Secondly the 1974 constitution of the SFRY clearly states that Kosovo is a constiuent part of the Republic of Serbia"

Yes, but the very same constitution *also* made it a constituent unit of Yugoslavia in its own right, with direct and equal representation on the Yuoslav presidenc, not via Serbia, on top of having all other attributes of a republic.

This contradictory nature of the former legal situation is precisely makes the case difficult, nowhere near as simple as many here want to imagine, that Kosova was *simply* an "autinomous" part of Serbia and that's that, in stark contrast to the other republics. It was not.

Bear in mind the general legal principle that when things change, one's status should not be *reduced.* Pre-Yugoslav break-up, K had 1. very high level autonomy (ie before Milosevic ripped up the constitution in '89) in Serbia and 2. was an equalpart of a higher body, the Yugoslav federation. Following break-up, even the highest level of autonomy just within Serbia is therefore a *downgrade* of its position relative to that. Short of independence, only a confederation between Serbia and Kosova would be fair.

But then, if only between those two, it would also look odd. Why not also Albania, and how about Montenegro and Macedonia, and Bosnia and Croatia. Demaci's Balkania. Too equal, of course, for any Serb nationalist ruler since the BS "anti-bureaucratic revolution" of 1988-89 ...

#17: “it´s rather like a Father (Serbia, of course) and it´s little child, that has no say.”

This attitude pushed Kosovo away in the first place. This “father”, as you call it, was systematically abusing his “little child”. It was this “father” who revoked the 1974 constitutional rights to his “child”. But the time came when the “child” grew up, and normally left the house of the abusive “father”.

“there is the law, moral and history on Serbia´s side. that´s it what counts in the long run”
So, according to you, the treatment that was done to Kosovo and its Albanian population was done based on the law, and it was morally ok?

You cannot lose what you never had!Of course Serbia has nothing to lose in this case.Kosovo was part of YU, the YU is dead,so is the Serbian dream of gaining Kosovo.

The truth is that Serbia has lost Kosovo as we all know ten years ago. There is no way back at this process. However, some (lot of them in either side) benefit a lot of the current situation. I am speaking about politicians in both sides, but with a special accent for those in Serbia. Who realizing that we (ordinary citizens) are so naïve (these comments are so clear picture of that) run a strategy with no end. They will of course be traveling to every spot of the Globe to seek support over EU aspirations, regardless of its rationality, but not in any case with their own expenses. Despite the fact of the recognition by all relevant, they would be continually requesting the validity or legal basis of these decision! So our astonishment over by passing of the most relevant decision making factor has no any sense for them. Their goal is how to display the famous Balkans “determination” and angriness, forgetting that they are paid to take care about finding the best and most rational and valuable solutions for each second of our lives spent in this very short life.

Alban,

No smart Serb would want to join EU, it will destroy Serbia. I'm glad that Kosovo is blocking the path to EU!

Doesn't matter how small Cyprus is, it has a veto vote, thats all we need.

My prediction, Nothern Mitrovica stays Serb, ICJ rules in favour of Serbia. Countries start revoking recognition, K-Albs back to the table and back to Motherland Serbia.
We've been apart for too long, 10 years to be exact, you must miss us?
Don't worry Serbia will open new schools and Serbian will be taught once again.

Pro albanian commentators here sadly get it all wrong - Kosovo independence is a worst case scenario, for it represents a brutal violation of international order; Serbia has a 100% case in ICJ if the Court acts professionally, sticks to international law and distances itself from the US and EU pressure; Kosovo is a part of Serbia and as such was a part of Yugoslavia; countries that recognized Kosovo ignore the fact that K-Albanians are asking for more than any other minority in the region - a second homeland on the road to creating a Greater Albania.

"Zoran, the fact is Kosovo and Serbia will never be together again just like when a couple divorces! We can try and put the past behind us and try to be friends but that's about it!"
(Kanadezi, 15 April 2009 20:14)

You cannot use this comparison because there was never a marriage in the first place. Kosovo and Serbia are one. One body whose limb they are trying to amputate.

Don't you know that a limb cannot survive without a body. Perhaps you are thinking of attaching it to Albania?

PZ, you are turning everything upside-down, right?

no, "what pushed Kosovo away from Serbia", as you are calling it, was US-american effort to get a foot into southeastern europe.

you simply do not realize how you are being duped.

but I am fine with that, since that perfectly helps Serbia to restore control.

you will realize it some day in the future.

as for the "child growing up"... please do yourself a favour and don´t fool yourself!

the day Slobo Milosević died, you LOST your best argument.
he was not prissy in regard to albanian extremism, that´s right, but you are simply overestimating the repression in the Slobo-era if you believe that that will be of any help to you ( before the ICJ ).

and that´s a fact that you still don´t seem to get.

Yugoslavia had problems with terrorists, yes.
BUT, ...also the same has Spain with ETA, or the French with "their" separatist criminals... that´s nothing you can count on in your "argumentation" which is, frankly said, given that you are coming up with family-relations, quite lousy!

but the ICJ-jurists will be amused, at least.

and what´s best: while you are raging around about Mr.Tadić entering southern Serbia, Serbia is scoring on the international scene, and you don´t even seem to realize it.

that´s what you get when you read k-albanian yellow-papers in downtown-Priština!

and YOU think to live in a state???

=)

It's a lawyers job to twist words in such a fashion to make a situation favour one party in the eyes of the law.

I'm not sure either side has anything to gain from this case. Kosovo will still be in limbo. It'll be nice to see the steady increase of Serbian citizens in Kosovo applying for Serbian passports. It's the only hope these 2 million people have.

Serbia has nothing to lose in ICJ case….

Serbia is losing a lot! It loses precious time and energy for a lost cause!
One upon the time the Soviet Union wanted a “security zone” in Eastern Europe. Instead it got a zone of constant insecurity that drained its energy. Could anyone tell me what on Earth could Serbia gain in Kosovo? If it gets international recognition of its sovereignty over Kosovo it would be stuck with a frozen conflict. Even if it gets the chance to exercise an effective rule over the territory, coping with the certain strong resistance would cost them more than any possible gains.

"If it gets international recognition of its sovereignty over Kosovo it would be stuck with a frozen conflict. Even if it gets the chance to exercise an effective rule over the territory, coping with the certain strong resistance would cost them more than any possible gains.
(nik, 16 April 2009 20:31) "

there will be further and above all increasing international support ( recognition of serbian sovereignty is already secured, forgot UNSCR 1244 ? ), nik, and ...we WILL be there - frozen conflicts are no problem as long as you foreign powers stop supporting you - and that is gonna happen, one way or another.

but I think that the K-albanians will come to reason by themselves, it´s only a question of time.

if I were in your shoes I would fear that Serbia and the US improve their relations to an extent that you become worthless for the US.

that´s something that could happen, and it´s not so unlikely, given that the US will ( due to their very own and not only economical problems ) have to seek cooperation with other global players such as Russia, China and Brasil...

I think the day Slobo died was the day you had lost your chance.

let´s just see what future brings, my dear.

Jovan, it’s immoral to blame an individual alone, Like Milosevic in this case, for what has happened in Kosovo. He was the president of the Yugoslavia (Serbia) and allegedly the one who gave orders, but believe me there were many others (high and low political and military ranked) who were so eager to implement those orders. As far as I know Milosevic was elected in those positions, he did not just appoint himself. I was young then, but I remember very well his speeches when he visited Prizren and Obilic. And those speeches and promises he made to the Serb people brought him to power.

“the day Slobo Milosević died, you LOST your best argument.”

Milosevic died but his deeds are still having great affects in this region of Balkans.

“Yugoslavia had problems with terrorists, yes.
BUT, ...also the same has Spain with ETA, or the French with "their" separatist criminals... that´s nothing you can count on in your "argumentation" which is, frankly said, given that you are coming up with family-relations, quite lousy!”

Can you please find me a single example, only one, where the Spain or French police and/or army went, let’s say, into a village or a town and killed women, children, elders, and burned everything down in hunt for “their” separatist criminals?

“and what´s best: while you are raging around about Mr.Tadić entering southern Serbia, Serbia is scoring on the international scene, and you don´t even seem to realize it.”

Do you know that Mr. Tadic has asked for permission to come to Kosovo? It’s strange for the president of a state to ask for permission to visit a part of “his state”, isn’t it? What’s best here is that Politicians in Belgrade are slowly realizing that going to Kosovo means entering another state.

John N D your comment is right on the money. That is why new negotiations would be fruitless. Serbia can never hope for more control over Kosovo than name only, so why would they ever be willing to negotiate.
A ruling against Kosovo would only doom Kosovo to any economic progress for a long time, which is the true motivation.

"Well said since Kosovo will never be ruled by Belgrade again. I still cant figure out how they managed to force their control to the 92% population who did not want anything to do with Serbian state since Kosovo was never part of Serbia but rather Yugoslavia before the illegal changes forced through by Milosevic and his regime.
(Pejoni, 15 April 2009 11:40)"

Two problems here. One Albanians didn't make up 92% of Kosovo's population at any time prior to 1999. Secondly the 1974 constitution of the SFRY clearly states that Kosovo is a constiuent part of the Republic of Serbia.

“If the court is of that opinion, Kosovo would not be taken from us again—in effect, it has not been under Serbian rule since 1999. "

Well said since Kosovo will never be ruled by Belgrade again. I still cant figure out how they managed to force their control to the 92% population who did not want anything to do with Serbian state since Kosovo was never part of Serbia but rather Yugoslavia before the illegal changes forced through by Milosevic and his regime.

He ain't sounding that confident, is he? If a population can't exercise their self determination in a state then sovereignty makes room for it.

Serbia can lose: They will be forced to recognize Kosova on the spot by EU and pay reparations.

Either way, this is a delay tactic, neither serbia nor Kosova will recognize what they courts says.

This will be Serbia's last resort, and everyone already knows that there is nothing to win for Serbia through the ICJ. From now on, i can say to all albanians, you can freely sleep with no fear.. CHEERS!

"“If the court is of that opinion, Kosovo would not be taken from us again—in effect, it has not been under Serbian rule since 1999."
This is exactly what I said in one of my many comments that dessapear when illusionist Jeremic in his known false triumphal manners declared that Serbia has good arguments- to be honest good is not iron arguments, hence Jeremic himself is getting bit more sober.

How will Serbia persuade a court that has lost Kosova in 17 Feb 2008 when de facto and de-jure it doesn’t control Kosova since 1999???

How will Serbia persuade the court that the declaration of independence was done in branch of international law when the international rulers of Kosova UNMIK did not declared the UDi and with that without any effects. For the sake of clarity, that would be as if R.Srspka in Bosnia declares independence only 1 minute after the high rep. of Bosnia will nullify it. This was not the case with Kosova's declaration of independence. UNMIK and neither UN did not invalidate the declaration of independence of Kosova. So how Serbia explains this???

We all understand the wish of Serbia to show and fight also that the court sees this case a legal case par excellence but I am sure that the court will have consideration of a wider historical, cultural, social, economical and safety reasons that lead to the declaration of independence when will decide. This for the simple reason, the independence is not political project it is a natural right of nations to live free and in dignity.

Said that the only danger that me as profane of international law can see is that the court may say exactly that, the independence of a nation is very big matter it is not political project hence, a parliament elected in political election cannot declare independence without consultation with the people. Therefore, UNMIK and other international reps must organise a free and democratic referendum where the people of Kosova will declare freely if they want to be independent or live within Serbia.

Actualy this has been the rason why negotiations failed and would fail again and again, since Serbia has nothing to loose. That was Serbias strategy not only after 1999 but also before. You can only negotiate if both sides can gain something. This article highlights best why there is no other solution but unilateral declaration of independence.

serbia have no thing to lose but just kosovo

It's not true...
Time is value like everybody know..
Serbia has already lost Eu funds..IMF deal is difficoult...No one from the Main Eu countries wants a meeting with Serbian authorithy..
What else?? Keep going ..Keep going...

Varadi said that if the court ruled that the independence declaration had violated international law, it could lead to new negotiations.
------------

It's not going to lead to any kind of negotiations! How can you have negotiations when one side don't even want to recognize you as a country, and the other side don't even want to talk to you ?
As the guy has said it's not a legal issue but an advisory one!
It seems to me that the court it's not going to come with a clear advisory verdict YES or NO !
Just something in the middle to please both sides.
The question after that is going to be.
What's left for Serbia after the verdict to use as tool against Kosovo indepedence?

What this advisory opinion can do is, depending on the opinion, open the gates for some of the other countries that have so far stayed in the sidelines to recognize Kosovo. If it is vague but also recognizes that Kosovo has a case then it could also make it easier for Russia to eventually recognize once her relationship with the US becomes even better.

If the court says that it won't really make an opinion on this case due to legalities, then Kosovo wins big hands down, because essentially the international law argument gets dumped unceremoniously.

“This is because, he says, Kosovo has effectively been out of Serbian control since 1999”. Very interesting to hear something like this from someone who will head the legal team representing Serbia before the International Court of Justice. This will be a good argument for the other side.

It's great to see all of Serbia's citizens and diaspora, especially ethnic Albanians enthusiastically debating issues important to Serbia.

The simple fact is the current Serbian government has been installed by the EU and NATO so the outcome of the ICJ case is not going to change much because it's a toothless initiative that I assume is being orchastrated and approved by the EU/US.

The reality is that Serbia does control large parts of Kosovo in the enclaves and more so in the North making up a considerable amount of territory while all of Kosovo still remains part of Serbia's sovereignty.

Although our enemies are all working towards the same goal, it is the will of Serbia never to allow Kosovo to be stolen. It really is that simple.

Now that the EU and US are losing grip it seems that the agenda is desperately being brought forward because Russia and China are getting stronger. Sorry, but the Western plan has failed and if this economic crisis allows the people to rise, this government will be history soon enough.

“Serbia has nothing to lose in ICJ case”

I agree that serbia has nothing to lose. THe case is solid & however corrupt the "court" may be no judge wants to be openly seen tom be corrupt. Indeed I would go further & suggest Serbia & those citizens ethnicly cleansed by NATO should be personally suing the NATO governments & its leaders of the time personally in their own national courts & the EU courts. The EU court has come to many very silly judgements & there is no doubt that the treatment of Serbia breaches the European Declaration of human rights.

Zoran, the fact is Kosovo and Serbia will never be together again just like when a couple divorces! We can try and put the past behind us and try to be friends but that's about it!

"Two problems here. One Albanians didn't make up 92% of Kosovo's population at any time prior to 1999."

True, but you know very well it was close to 90%. If we accept the current 92% figue, and factor in that about half the Serb population before 1999 remain in K and the other half are in exile, then if every refugee returns (and I sincerely hope all except the criminals do), we can say the Albanian population will be, what, 85% of Kosovo? So go figure what difference tha makes to the argument.

"Secondly the 1974 constitution of the SFRY clearly states that Kosovo is a constiuent part of the Republic of Serbia"

Yes, but the very same constitution *also* made it a constituent unit of Yugoslavia in its own right, with direct and equal representation on the Yuoslav presidenc, not via Serbia, on top of having all other attributes of a republic.

This contradictory nature of the former legal situation is precisely makes the case difficult, nowhere near as simple as many here want to imagine, that Kosova was *simply* an "autinomous" part of Serbia and that's that, in stark contrast to the other republics. It was not.

Bear in mind the general legal principle that when things change, one's status should not be *reduced.* Pre-Yugoslav break-up, K had 1. very high level autonomy (ie before Milosevic ripped up the constitution in '89) in Serbia and 2. was an equalpart of a higher body, the Yugoslav federation. Following break-up, even the highest level of autonomy just within Serbia is therefore a *downgrade* of its position relative to that. Short of independence, only a confederation between Serbia and Kosova would be fair.

But then, if only between those two, it would also look odd. Why not also Albania, and how about Montenegro and Macedonia, and Bosnia and Croatia. Demaci's Balkania. Too equal, of course, for any Serb nationalist ruler since the BS "anti-bureaucratic revolution" of 1988-89 ...

I don't understand why Pristina feels the need to outsource its own legal defense of territorial sovereignty when they can use some of their own posters here. Yet if the best they can do is knock the legal procedings out of bounds, instead of drop them altogether, I don't see how Albanians can claim a victory (though I have no doubrt Hash, Hysterical, and the rest will claim this as one). Belgrade needs either a victory or a draw for them to claim some credit. Pristina needs a clear victory, otherwise sovereignty will remain a frozen issue and BG can continue to contribute to Kosovo's frozen status for the foreseeable future.

"Time is value like everybody know. Serbia has already lost Eu funds..IMF deal is difficoult...No one from the Main Eu countries wants a meeting with Serbian authorithy..
What else?? Keep going ..Keep going.."

What else? Serbia is continuing to upset the large countries, France, Germany, UK. They think that by going to Cyprus they will get in EU. Memo to Serbia: you will be shocked to find out that no EU until Kosova is "settled" like the big boys that pay the bills want it. Probably Serbia and Kosova at the same time, as two countries so all this delay for Kosova will harm Serbia. Serbia has a great record of shooting itself on the foot.

@Kanadezi:

you should abolish this divorce-comparison!

there can be no talk about a couple that is going through a divorce...

it´s rather like a Father ( Serbia, of course ) and it´s little child, that has no say.

if there is any kind of family-relation to be compared to the K-issue at all, then it would be the father-child one.

but, as I said it above, you can only dream of being sovereign.

and even that dream will be crushed.

there is the law, moral and history on Serbia´s side. that´s it what counts in the long run.

the best about it is: you the secessionists can only sit and watch how your little stillborn puppet entity loses more and more terrain in the international arena.

and that is good.

Alban,

No smart Serb would want to join EU, it will destroy Serbia. I'm glad that Kosovo is blocking the path to EU!

Doesn't matter how small Cyprus is, it has a veto vote, thats all we need.

My prediction, Nothern Mitrovica stays Serb, ICJ rules in favour of Serbia. Countries start revoking recognition, K-Albs back to the table and back to Motherland Serbia.
We've been apart for too long, 10 years to be exact, you must miss us?
Don't worry Serbia will open new schools and Serbian will be taught once again.

"Zoran, the fact is Kosovo and Serbia will never be together again just like when a couple divorces! We can try and put the past behind us and try to be friends but that's about it!"
(Kanadezi, 15 April 2009 20:14)

You cannot use this comparison because there was never a marriage in the first place. Kosovo and Serbia are one. One body whose limb they are trying to amputate.

Don't you know that a limb cannot survive without a body. Perhaps you are thinking of attaching it to Albania?

Pro albanian commentators here sadly get it all wrong - Kosovo independence is a worst case scenario, for it represents a brutal violation of international order; Serbia has a 100% case in ICJ if the Court acts professionally, sticks to international law and distances itself from the US and EU pressure; Kosovo is a part of Serbia and as such was a part of Yugoslavia; countries that recognized Kosovo ignore the fact that K-Albanians are asking for more than any other minority in the region - a second homeland on the road to creating a Greater Albania.

#17: “it´s rather like a Father (Serbia, of course) and it´s little child, that has no say.”

This attitude pushed Kosovo away in the first place. This “father”, as you call it, was systematically abusing his “little child”. It was this “father” who revoked the 1974 constitutional rights to his “child”. But the time came when the “child” grew up, and normally left the house of the abusive “father”.

“there is the law, moral and history on Serbia´s side. that´s it what counts in the long run”
So, according to you, the treatment that was done to Kosovo and its Albanian population was done based on the law, and it was morally ok?

John N D your comment is right on the money. That is why new negotiations would be fruitless. Serbia can never hope for more control over Kosovo than name only, so why would they ever be willing to negotiate.
A ruling against Kosovo would only doom Kosovo to any economic progress for a long time, which is the true motivation.

The truth is that Serbia has lost Kosovo as we all know ten years ago. There is no way back at this process. However, some (lot of them in either side) benefit a lot of the current situation. I am speaking about politicians in both sides, but with a special accent for those in Serbia. Who realizing that we (ordinary citizens) are so naïve (these comments are so clear picture of that) run a strategy with no end. They will of course be traveling to every spot of the Globe to seek support over EU aspirations, regardless of its rationality, but not in any case with their own expenses. Despite the fact of the recognition by all relevant, they would be continually requesting the validity or legal basis of these decision! So our astonishment over by passing of the most relevant decision making factor has no any sense for them. Their goal is how to display the famous Balkans “determination” and angriness, forgetting that they are paid to take care about finding the best and most rational and valuable solutions for each second of our lives spent in this very short life.

You cannot lose what you never had!Of course Serbia has nothing to lose in this case.Kosovo was part of YU, the YU is dead,so is the Serbian dream of gaining Kosovo.

It's a lawyers job to twist words in such a fashion to make a situation favour one party in the eyes of the law.

I'm not sure either side has anything to gain from this case. Kosovo will still be in limbo. It'll be nice to see the steady increase of Serbian citizens in Kosovo applying for Serbian passports. It's the only hope these 2 million people have.

PZ, you are turning everything upside-down, right?

no, "what pushed Kosovo away from Serbia", as you are calling it, was US-american effort to get a foot into southeastern europe.

you simply do not realize how you are being duped.

but I am fine with that, since that perfectly helps Serbia to restore control.

you will realize it some day in the future.

as for the "child growing up"... please do yourself a favour and don´t fool yourself!

the day Slobo Milosević died, you LOST your best argument.
he was not prissy in regard to albanian extremism, that´s right, but you are simply overestimating the repression in the Slobo-era if you believe that that will be of any help to you ( before the ICJ ).

and that´s a fact that you still don´t seem to get.

Yugoslavia had problems with terrorists, yes.
BUT, ...also the same has Spain with ETA, or the French with "their" separatist criminals... that´s nothing you can count on in your "argumentation" which is, frankly said, given that you are coming up with family-relations, quite lousy!

but the ICJ-jurists will be amused, at least.

and what´s best: while you are raging around about Mr.Tadić entering southern Serbia, Serbia is scoring on the international scene, and you don´t even seem to realize it.

that´s what you get when you read k-albanian yellow-papers in downtown-Priština!

and YOU think to live in a state???

=)

Serbia has nothing to lose in ICJ case….

Serbia is losing a lot! It loses precious time and energy for a lost cause!
One upon the time the Soviet Union wanted a “security zone” in Eastern Europe. Instead it got a zone of constant insecurity that drained its energy. Could anyone tell me what on Earth could Serbia gain in Kosovo? If it gets international recognition of its sovereignty over Kosovo it would be stuck with a frozen conflict. Even if it gets the chance to exercise an effective rule over the territory, coping with the certain strong resistance would cost them more than any possible gains.

Jovan, it’s immoral to blame an individual alone, Like Milosevic in this case, for what has happened in Kosovo. He was the president of the Yugoslavia (Serbia) and allegedly the one who gave orders, but believe me there were many others (high and low political and military ranked) who were so eager to implement those orders. As far as I know Milosevic was elected in those positions, he did not just appoint himself. I was young then, but I remember very well his speeches when he visited Prizren and Obilic. And those speeches and promises he made to the Serb people brought him to power.

“the day Slobo Milosević died, you LOST your best argument.”

Milosevic died but his deeds are still having great affects in this region of Balkans.

“Yugoslavia had problems with terrorists, yes.
BUT, ...also the same has Spain with ETA, or the French with "their" separatist criminals... that´s nothing you can count on in your "argumentation" which is, frankly said, given that you are coming up with family-relations, quite lousy!”

Can you please find me a single example, only one, where the Spain or French police and/or army went, let’s say, into a village or a town and killed women, children, elders, and burned everything down in hunt for “their” separatist criminals?

“and what´s best: while you are raging around about Mr.Tadić entering southern Serbia, Serbia is scoring on the international scene, and you don´t even seem to realize it.”

Do you know that Mr. Tadic has asked for permission to come to Kosovo? It’s strange for the president of a state to ask for permission to visit a part of “his state”, isn’t it? What’s best here is that Politicians in Belgrade are slowly realizing that going to Kosovo means entering another state.

"If it gets international recognition of its sovereignty over Kosovo it would be stuck with a frozen conflict. Even if it gets the chance to exercise an effective rule over the territory, coping with the certain strong resistance would cost them more than any possible gains.
(nik, 16 April 2009 20:31) "

there will be further and above all increasing international support ( recognition of serbian sovereignty is already secured, forgot UNSCR 1244 ? ), nik, and ...we WILL be there - frozen conflicts are no problem as long as you foreign powers stop supporting you - and that is gonna happen, one way or another.

but I think that the K-albanians will come to reason by themselves, it´s only a question of time.

if I were in your shoes I would fear that Serbia and the US improve their relations to an extent that you become worthless for the US.

that´s something that could happen, and it´s not so unlikely, given that the US will ( due to their very own and not only economical problems ) have to seek cooperation with other global players such as Russia, China and Brasil...

I think the day Slobo died was the day you had lost your chance.

let´s just see what future brings, my dear.