"EU visa-free, but not for Kosovo residents"

Wait a minute, I thought the EU considered Kosovo as the center of the world?? I thought that Serbia will not be allowed to move forward because all EU officials think about is what is going on in Kosovo, you know because they really care about what is going on in Kosovo.

Lets get things straight, the West bombed Serbia and nobody can forget that. However, the West only recognized Kosovo because they realize that Serbia will eventually become a member of the EU and they do not want almost 2 million Albanians to also join the EU.

Any Albanian who doesn't believe that is only fooling themselves. Nobody minds the likes of Albania or Turkey joining NATO, but as for the EU there is no chance. Why is Albania so far behind countries like Serbia, Croatia and even Bosnia on the path to the EU? Albania was not involved in any wars, nor do they have any war criminals that are wanted by The Hague.

oh well move on leave Kosovo better future for Serbia. Travel freely within the EU access to jobs. Better to walk away and fight another day. Where are all of those jobs that was suppose to be in Kosovo not happening yet, now they are importing beef and the beef producers of Kosovo are under the bus. See things are not as rosy with the EULEX plan. Should have keep UNMIK.

Isn't it sad that our ethnic Albanian citizens think the EU will exclude Serbia from anything and everything until we somehow recognise the impossible but in reality the EU is excluding them from anything of benefit.

Wake up my fellow Southern citizens, your future lies with negotiations and not with those deceiving you. How long do you want to be stuck before you realise?

Mr. Jeremic, what’s going on, did you give up? Look what have been decided about “your southern Serbian citizens”. If I were in your position, I would be without delay suspending eventual visa free regime for entire Serbia. So, I am so decisive on my request to Mr. Jermic that I won’t be excepting any other solution but to provide All Serbian citizen with visas. Ultimately, if the Serbian officials agree with these terms imposed by whatever European body, we (“Serbian citizens in the Southern province’’) might freely establish that today Serbia has become the 61st state that have recognized Kosovo’s independence.
However, thank you Serbia for turning out to be finally realistic.

LOL. There it goes the fight. Given up for visas

Laki, you are so off the mark. Jeremic has done a good job fighting for less recognition of an independent A_Kosovo. A lot better than your foreign minister, Mr...........ahh, I don't know his/her name. In any case, Serbia will never recognize theft of its land, never. As for the visa situation, clearly the EU has had enough visitors that decided to stay. I do not blame them. More than autonomy, less than independence, and K_Albanians may get a chance to see some of the world.

Don't you love it, The EC understandes that it will be no problem for the Kosovo Serbs to get "forged documents" saying they live in Central Serbia.

Adrian, I wouldn't worry too much. Presovo will suddenly have 1.8 million ethnic Albanians registered there. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
(Zoran, 5 July 2009 23:17)

Picture the scene. Agim a recent university graduate from Pristina rings his brother Gjon in Belgrade/Presevo after reading the article in Koha Ditore.

Agim - "Hello Gjon, how are things?"
Gjon - "grand, I'm fine. what can I do you for?"
Agim - "I need a favour. I need to register for my new Serbian passport because I want to get the hell out of this place. Remember you owe me one. I need you to register me as living in your apartment so I can get the passport.
Gjon - "no problem Agim. Eh! you're not the first. I have about 20 other people registered here as well but I'd doubt there will be any problems. Get all your papers and meet me next Thursday in Nis where i'll get you sorted. Bring all your belongings & i'll book you into a hotel there".
Agim - "Gee, thanks bro"
Gjon - "No problem".

The following Thursday, Agim gathers up his belongings. Tearful goodbye to the folks before grabbing the bus to Mitrovica where he hops on the connecting bus to Nis to meet Gjon after paying Jovan the jovial bus driver the fare.

After a couple of days in Nis getting their papers sorted and relaxing in the numerous bars, Agim and Gjon are off to Belgrade where Agim catches the connecting flight to Germany where Uncle Enver is shacked up with the wife and kids.

"Don't you love it, The EC understandes that it will be no problem for the Kosovo Serbs to get "forged documents" saying they live in Central Serbia.
(pss)

well i don`t love it,i don`t hate it, i just find it interesting!

If they become officially citizens of central Serbia, Kosovo could soon run out of serbs. so they couldn`t even vote in Belgrade organized local elections in Kosovo.

After a couple of days in Nis getting their papers sorted and relaxing in the numerous bars, Agim and Gjon are off to Belgrade where Agim catches the connecting flight to Germany where Uncle Enver is shacked up with the wife and kids.
(Niall O'Doherty, 6 July 2009 13:47)

Priceless. You should write for Mastercard.

Although, I think that Serbia would do better off alone without Kosovo. Hence, I congratulate you in your path to EU.
(Kada, 5 July 2009 23:17)

This is true, but these crazy Serbs just want that little area being theirs. It beats any "Western" logic (but to say the truth, Serbia and even Russia should be called "West" technically, so is Turkey and Iran). That means, they are stuck to that idea and the only progress is to make some deal with them.

------------

However, I feel sorry that my co-citizens cannot travel freely in EU for sometime to come.
(Kada, 5 July 2009 23:17)

I don't think, what is rumored is set in stone. This is rumormongering at it's worst. 10 fat cats from EU say 20 different things about Kosovo and visas, I would just wait and even in worst case there is always a loophole. Someone did mention Presevo already.

------------

And if I were the EU, I wouldn't myself put yet KS into the white list, there is so much to be done down there! Starting with cleaning these criminal gangs that are eating everything that KS has, or ever had. It is a challenging task, but it has to be done, otherwise, KS will be rotten to the death, as these bacterias won't ever stop.
(Kada, 5 July 2009 23:17)

True, but Mexico is on "white list" - and the situation there is much worse than in Kosovo. Not putting KS on the "white list" won't help much because the criminal gangs just don't care less. In the fact, visa-free travel would undermine some of the "activities".

IMO, the most to invest in Kosovo should be the schools. It has a very slow return of investment (people just don't grow fast like mushrooms) but it yields the best profit. The second most important would be probably the infrastructure - rail included.

Adrian, I wouldn't worry too much. Presovo will suddenly have 1.8 million ethnic Albanians registered there. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

Isn't it sad that our ethnic Albanian citizens think the EU will exclude Serbia from anything and everything until we somehow recognise the impossible but in reality the EU is excluding them from anything of benefit.

-----
Thanks for caring for us Zoran! But we don't have to worry, it's not like Serbia would go anywhere without its "Southern citizens of Albanian ethnicity" would it?

Yes, Center of Universe has moved upwards to Serbia.
(Olf, 6 July 2009 17:35)

upwards? how come? was the center of the universe previously somewher below (to the south) from serbia?

Albi (#15), Serbs also have children and grandchildren working in virtually every corner of the world, as do Croats and Bosnians, and others in the region. It's just the way things are for people in the Balkans

hahahah all those comments are very amuzing. Either way, the EU joining is a process and Kosova will join EU eventually. All it matters is that America and most of EU have accepted Kosova as a state and there's nothing Serbia nor Russia can do. Welcome to the real world people, Kosova is lost so let's all move on with our lives.

"Why is Albania so far behind countries like Serbia, Croatia and even Bosnia on the path to the EU?"

Because Albania started out behind. Serbia tried the path of isolation and confrontation with the west for 10 years, but in Albania we had been doing that since the 40's.

Don't worry though, pretty much every Albanian family has a son in living and working in the west or in the US. We have left the foolishness behind and we are now open to the world. You will find Albanians in every corner of the world, in every profession, and some bring their experiences back home. The standard of living has improved steadily and I don't even recognize the place any more.

So what I'm trying to say is this: worry about yourselves. Albania can't avoid the EU even if they really wanted to. And we don't care about visa-free travel. We already go anywhere we want.

Be happy you, those who are walthy enough to travel throug EU. You are not aloud either stay nor work.

So, is that thing IDP going to disappear?
What message will ICJ get out of this and will it influence the recomendation?
Is Serbia goign to issue passports to K-Serbs just with any adress?

Finally good luck to all those 5-10% Serbs that are going to travel to EU and spent their savings.
Unfortunately, there wont be work for Serbs in EU since they are not allowed, but spending their savings is fine.
Enjoy it

So much for the so-called famous slogan "Kosovo je Serbia"! Serbia, by accepting this sort of agreement with EU, it de-facto means it sold out Kosovo and its "southern citizens". I'm just wondering how our "northern citizens" don't understand, that way back in '99, Serbia has agreed to let Kosovo go. You can cry all you want "we will never give up Kosovo", but that doesn't bring you back Kosovo, now does it?
Although, I think that Serbia would do better off alone without Kosovo. Hence, I congratulate you in your path to EU. However, I feel sorry that my co-citizens cannot travel freely in EU for sometime to come. And if I were the EU, I wouldn't myself put yet KS into the white list, there is so much to be done down there! Starting with cleaning these criminal gangs that are eating everything that KS has, or ever had. It is a challenging task, but it has to be done, otherwise, KS will be rotten to the death, as these bacterias won't ever stop.

cheers,

This shouldn't be a sad moment for my Albanian brothers. Europe is considering Kosovo as its own independent country. Independent of any decision taken towards Serbia.

For those who understand real politiks, this is one of them on action.

The division of "white-shengen" means that the EU body considers Serba and Kosovo as two separate bodies, in other words two independent countries.

Sometimes the games are played in different strategies, instead of having kosovo as a requirement to join EU or join the shengen zone, this time is done in a different way, it gives Serbia the chance to give and take. By entering the shengen zone, Serbia is losing Kosovo, as it is not considered its territory anymore, as it doesn't have jurisdiction over it.

The idea is the same, its just a matter of how you play the game to get the most of your counterparts without the least expenses possible on your behalf.

Cheers and enjoy your travel free in Europe, hope to join you as soon as possible on the "White Shengen" zone.

So now Serbs from Kosova, will migrate to EU.

upwards? how come? was the center of the universe previously somewher below (to the south) from serbia?
(malcolm x, 6 July 2009 18:51)

Malcolm x,

It is well-known, the center of our Galaxy is a huge black hole. If I look at how much was poured there and what was the return on the investment... that "black hole" analogue is not completely off.

“The visa liberalization proposal applies to citizens living on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, but not to citizens living on the territory of Kosovo under Resolution 1244,” the draft proposal states.
If this is true, I’m of the opinion that the EC will make a huge mistake, since will clear interfere with human rights. A person has the right to choose its citizenship, no matter where you are living in this case. With this "restriction" they are imposing to the minorities (Serbs, Bosnians) borne in Kosovo to accept the Kosovo independence. The fact that Kosovo as a population composed by a majority of Albanians does not mean that everyone who lives in Kosovo is in favor of the so called proclamation of independence. What has been done by the international community to change this?
Based on this news, a person borne in Kosovo and presently living in Belgrade as the right to the white Visa list policy and one that for different reasons could not moved to Belgrade or other city in Serbia cannot be cover with the same rights? Shall all minorities living in Kosovo move to Serbia? Is that the EU plan- “The exodus of the minorities from Kosovo? Where we stand regarding the 6 point plan?
The population should not be "punished" because of the Politicians premature decisions, and mistakes. Did the EC change its policies towards to the EU countries that did not recognize Kosovo? Can these countries accept ALL Serbian citizens in a possession of a valid biometric passport to entry their countries? If so, what will be the consequences for them, Is EC ready to impose sanctions against Spain?
Why they don’t wait for the ECJ decision and then establish the necessary policies?
Kosovo is an issue that is far way to be solved. USA followed by other countries created a problem to the World that will not be easy to solve without harming the interests of the Serbia and Kosovo populations.

Stop the Propaganda you cant put some strange stuff in news pappers. no way on earth does it say where u live u are a citizen of that country. this is just News papper stuff, listen If u have serbian passport u can live in Antartica you are Serbian like it or not. So if KS Albanian has serbian passport he has it no EU can not tell him u cant enter since u are living there.

Stop already with this baby stuff just think.

It mite be harder for KS albanians to obtain Serbian passports this will be a fact but u cant say u live here so u are not Serbian passport holder.

Yes, Center of Universe has moved upwards to Serbia.

Nikola: "However, the West only recognized Kosovo because they realize that Serbia will eventually become a member of the EU and they do not want almost 2 million Albanians to also join the EU". Absolutely. But it beats me why so many Serbs want 2 million K-Albvanians to "rejoin" Serbia.

Disinformation.

Mr. Jeremic, what’s going on, did you give up? Look what have been decided about “your southern Serbian citizens”. If I were in your position, I would be without delay suspending eventual visa free regime for entire Serbia. So, I am so decisive on my request to Mr. Jermic that I won’t be excepting any other solution but to provide All Serbian citizen with visas. Ultimately, if the Serbian officials agree with these terms imposed by whatever European body, we (“Serbian citizens in the Southern province’’) might freely establish that today Serbia has become the 61st state that have recognized Kosovo’s independence.
However, thank you Serbia for turning out to be finally realistic.

Wait a minute, I thought the EU considered Kosovo as the center of the world?? I thought that Serbia will not be allowed to move forward because all EU officials think about is what is going on in Kosovo, you know because they really care about what is going on in Kosovo.

Lets get things straight, the West bombed Serbia and nobody can forget that. However, the West only recognized Kosovo because they realize that Serbia will eventually become a member of the EU and they do not want almost 2 million Albanians to also join the EU.

Any Albanian who doesn't believe that is only fooling themselves. Nobody minds the likes of Albania or Turkey joining NATO, but as for the EU there is no chance. Why is Albania so far behind countries like Serbia, Croatia and even Bosnia on the path to the EU? Albania was not involved in any wars, nor do they have any war criminals that are wanted by The Hague.

oh well move on leave Kosovo better future for Serbia. Travel freely within the EU access to jobs. Better to walk away and fight another day. Where are all of those jobs that was suppose to be in Kosovo not happening yet, now they are importing beef and the beef producers of Kosovo are under the bus. See things are not as rosy with the EULEX plan. Should have keep UNMIK.

Isn't it sad that our ethnic Albanian citizens think the EU will exclude Serbia from anything and everything until we somehow recognise the impossible but in reality the EU is excluding them from anything of benefit.

Wake up my fellow Southern citizens, your future lies with negotiations and not with those deceiving you. How long do you want to be stuck before you realise?

Isn't it sad that our ethnic Albanian citizens think the EU will exclude Serbia from anything and everything until we somehow recognise the impossible but in reality the EU is excluding them from anything of benefit.

-----
Thanks for caring for us Zoran! But we don't have to worry, it's not like Serbia would go anywhere without its "Southern citizens of Albanian ethnicity" would it?

hahahah all those comments are very amuzing. Either way, the EU joining is a process and Kosova will join EU eventually. All it matters is that America and most of EU have accepted Kosova as a state and there's nothing Serbia nor Russia can do. Welcome to the real world people, Kosova is lost so let's all move on with our lives.

"Why is Albania so far behind countries like Serbia, Croatia and even Bosnia on the path to the EU?"

Because Albania started out behind. Serbia tried the path of isolation and confrontation with the west for 10 years, but in Albania we had been doing that since the 40's.

Don't worry though, pretty much every Albanian family has a son in living and working in the west or in the US. We have left the foolishness behind and we are now open to the world. You will find Albanians in every corner of the world, in every profession, and some bring their experiences back home. The standard of living has improved steadily and I don't even recognize the place any more.

So what I'm trying to say is this: worry about yourselves. Albania can't avoid the EU even if they really wanted to. And we don't care about visa-free travel. We already go anywhere we want.

So, is that thing IDP going to disappear?
What message will ICJ get out of this and will it influence the recomendation?
Is Serbia goign to issue passports to K-Serbs just with any adress?

Finally good luck to all those 5-10% Serbs that are going to travel to EU and spent their savings.
Unfortunately, there wont be work for Serbs in EU since they are not allowed, but spending their savings is fine.
Enjoy it

LOL. There it goes the fight. Given up for visas

For those who understand real politiks, this is one of them on action.

The division of "white-shengen" means that the EU body considers Serba and Kosovo as two separate bodies, in other words two independent countries.

Sometimes the games are played in different strategies, instead of having kosovo as a requirement to join EU or join the shengen zone, this time is done in a different way, it gives Serbia the chance to give and take. By entering the shengen zone, Serbia is losing Kosovo, as it is not considered its territory anymore, as it doesn't have jurisdiction over it.

The idea is the same, its just a matter of how you play the game to get the most of your counterparts without the least expenses possible on your behalf.

Cheers and enjoy your travel free in Europe, hope to join you as soon as possible on the "White Shengen" zone.

So much for the so-called famous slogan "Kosovo je Serbia"! Serbia, by accepting this sort of agreement with EU, it de-facto means it sold out Kosovo and its "southern citizens". I'm just wondering how our "northern citizens" don't understand, that way back in '99, Serbia has agreed to let Kosovo go. You can cry all you want "we will never give up Kosovo", but that doesn't bring you back Kosovo, now does it?
Although, I think that Serbia would do better off alone without Kosovo. Hence, I congratulate you in your path to EU. However, I feel sorry that my co-citizens cannot travel freely in EU for sometime to come. And if I were the EU, I wouldn't myself put yet KS into the white list, there is so much to be done down there! Starting with cleaning these criminal gangs that are eating everything that KS has, or ever had. It is a challenging task, but it has to be done, otherwise, KS will be rotten to the death, as these bacterias won't ever stop.

cheers,

This shouldn't be a sad moment for my Albanian brothers. Europe is considering Kosovo as its own independent country. Independent of any decision taken towards Serbia.

Disinformation.

So now Serbs from Kosova, will migrate to EU.

Be happy you, those who are walthy enough to travel throug EU. You are not aloud either stay nor work.

"Don't you love it, The EC understandes that it will be no problem for the Kosovo Serbs to get "forged documents" saying they live in Central Serbia.
(pss)

well i don`t love it,i don`t hate it, i just find it interesting!

If they become officially citizens of central Serbia, Kosovo could soon run out of serbs. so they couldn`t even vote in Belgrade organized local elections in Kosovo.

Yes, Center of Universe has moved upwards to Serbia.

Laki, you are so off the mark. Jeremic has done a good job fighting for less recognition of an independent A_Kosovo. A lot better than your foreign minister, Mr...........ahh, I don't know his/her name. In any case, Serbia will never recognize theft of its land, never. As for the visa situation, clearly the EU has had enough visitors that decided to stay. I do not blame them. More than autonomy, less than independence, and K_Albanians may get a chance to see some of the world.

Don't you love it, The EC understandes that it will be no problem for the Kosovo Serbs to get "forged documents" saying they live in Central Serbia.

Adrian, I wouldn't worry too much. Presovo will suddenly have 1.8 million ethnic Albanians registered there. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
(Zoran, 5 July 2009 23:17)

Picture the scene. Agim a recent university graduate from Pristina rings his brother Gjon in Belgrade/Presevo after reading the article in Koha Ditore.

Agim - "Hello Gjon, how are things?"
Gjon - "grand, I'm fine. what can I do you for?"
Agim - "I need a favour. I need to register for my new Serbian passport because I want to get the hell out of this place. Remember you owe me one. I need you to register me as living in your apartment so I can get the passport.
Gjon - "no problem Agim. Eh! you're not the first. I have about 20 other people registered here as well but I'd doubt there will be any problems. Get all your papers and meet me next Thursday in Nis where i'll get you sorted. Bring all your belongings & i'll book you into a hotel there".
Agim - "Gee, thanks bro"
Gjon - "No problem".

The following Thursday, Agim gathers up his belongings. Tearful goodbye to the folks before grabbing the bus to Mitrovica where he hops on the connecting bus to Nis to meet Gjon after paying Jovan the jovial bus driver the fare.

After a couple of days in Nis getting their papers sorted and relaxing in the numerous bars, Agim and Gjon are off to Belgrade where Agim catches the connecting flight to Germany where Uncle Enver is shacked up with the wife and kids.

Stop the Propaganda you cant put some strange stuff in news pappers. no way on earth does it say where u live u are a citizen of that country. this is just News papper stuff, listen If u have serbian passport u can live in Antartica you are Serbian like it or not. So if KS Albanian has serbian passport he has it no EU can not tell him u cant enter since u are living there.

Stop already with this baby stuff just think.

It mite be harder for KS albanians to obtain Serbian passports this will be a fact but u cant say u live here so u are not Serbian passport holder.

Although, I think that Serbia would do better off alone without Kosovo. Hence, I congratulate you in your path to EU.
(Kada, 5 July 2009 23:17)

This is true, but these crazy Serbs just want that little area being theirs. It beats any "Western" logic (but to say the truth, Serbia and even Russia should be called "West" technically, so is Turkey and Iran). That means, they are stuck to that idea and the only progress is to make some deal with them.

------------

However, I feel sorry that my co-citizens cannot travel freely in EU for sometime to come.
(Kada, 5 July 2009 23:17)

I don't think, what is rumored is set in stone. This is rumormongering at it's worst. 10 fat cats from EU say 20 different things about Kosovo and visas, I would just wait and even in worst case there is always a loophole. Someone did mention Presevo already.

------------

And if I were the EU, I wouldn't myself put yet KS into the white list, there is so much to be done down there! Starting with cleaning these criminal gangs that are eating everything that KS has, or ever had. It is a challenging task, but it has to be done, otherwise, KS will be rotten to the death, as these bacterias won't ever stop.
(Kada, 5 July 2009 23:17)

True, but Mexico is on "white list" - and the situation there is much worse than in Kosovo. Not putting KS on the "white list" won't help much because the criminal gangs just don't care less. In the fact, visa-free travel would undermine some of the "activities".

IMO, the most to invest in Kosovo should be the schools. It has a very slow return of investment (people just don't grow fast like mushrooms) but it yields the best profit. The second most important would be probably the infrastructure - rail included.

Albi (#15), Serbs also have children and grandchildren working in virtually every corner of the world, as do Croats and Bosnians, and others in the region. It's just the way things are for people in the Balkans

Yes, Center of Universe has moved upwards to Serbia.
(Olf, 6 July 2009 17:35)

upwards? how come? was the center of the universe previously somewher below (to the south) from serbia?

Adrian, I wouldn't worry too much. Presovo will suddenly have 1.8 million ethnic Albanians registered there. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

After a couple of days in Nis getting their papers sorted and relaxing in the numerous bars, Agim and Gjon are off to Belgrade where Agim catches the connecting flight to Germany where Uncle Enver is shacked up with the wife and kids.
(Niall O'Doherty, 6 July 2009 13:47)

Priceless. You should write for Mastercard.

“The visa liberalization proposal applies to citizens living on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, but not to citizens living on the territory of Kosovo under Resolution 1244,” the draft proposal states.
If this is true, I’m of the opinion that the EC will make a huge mistake, since will clear interfere with human rights. A person has the right to choose its citizenship, no matter where you are living in this case. With this "restriction" they are imposing to the minorities (Serbs, Bosnians) borne in Kosovo to accept the Kosovo independence. The fact that Kosovo as a population composed by a majority of Albanians does not mean that everyone who lives in Kosovo is in favor of the so called proclamation of independence. What has been done by the international community to change this?
Based on this news, a person borne in Kosovo and presently living in Belgrade as the right to the white Visa list policy and one that for different reasons could not moved to Belgrade or other city in Serbia cannot be cover with the same rights? Shall all minorities living in Kosovo move to Serbia? Is that the EU plan- “The exodus of the minorities from Kosovo? Where we stand regarding the 6 point plan?
The population should not be "punished" because of the Politicians premature decisions, and mistakes. Did the EC change its policies towards to the EU countries that did not recognize Kosovo? Can these countries accept ALL Serbian citizens in a possession of a valid biometric passport to entry their countries? If so, what will be the consequences for them, Is EC ready to impose sanctions against Spain?
Why they don’t wait for the ECJ decision and then establish the necessary policies?
Kosovo is an issue that is far way to be solved. USA followed by other countries created a problem to the World that will not be easy to solve without harming the interests of the Serbia and Kosovo populations.

upwards? how come? was the center of the universe previously somewher below (to the south) from serbia?
(malcolm x, 6 July 2009 18:51)

Malcolm x,

It is well-known, the center of our Galaxy is a huge black hole. If I look at how much was poured there and what was the return on the investment... that "black hole" analogue is not completely off.

Nikola: "However, the West only recognized Kosovo because they realize that Serbia will eventually become a member of the EU and they do not want almost 2 million Albanians to also join the EU". Absolutely. But it beats me why so many Serbs want 2 million K-Albvanians to "rejoin" Serbia.