U.S., Serb officials dismiss Kosovo partition

I am sick and tired of these American spokesmen, and their geopolitical agendas. STAY OUT OF OTHER NATIONS' AFFAIRS! The US is not a rose garden, please concentrate on improving the lives of your own citizens, Serbia can take care of it's own affairs.

Toner was further quoted as saying that “the United States supportS the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo within its existing borders".

I was taught many lessons as a child...one was that the simplest, most logical solution was the best solution: "the US should support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of SERBIA- as UN resolution 1244 clearly states!!!
The second lesson was you can't put lipstick on a pig and think that you're going to dance with her. There's not enough "lipstick" in the world to transform Kosovo province into a legitimate, independent country.

He said that he is not familiar with the idea of Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher regarding the "exchange of territory between Kosovo and Serbia"
--
This is a congressman paid by the Albanian lobby. How can Serbia exchange part of its land for another part of its land?

But hey, it's great to see the status of Kosovo finally being discussed again! More than autonomy, less than independence with Albanian self-rule is the deal of the century.

Politicians on all the sides involved are still talking only politics and reality on the ground is disastrous division of Serbs and Albanians along ethnic lines which cannot be reversed.

As soon as they stop talking only politics, but start looking for the real solution, so soon the end of political dead-lock will be on sight and chance for the prosper for all the people from Kosovo may begin.

How long it will last before this is going to happen? Tens, hundreds of maybe thousand innocent lifes lost and maybe another few wasted young generations without any chance for prosperity...?

Toner was further quoted as saying that “the United States supportS the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo within its existing borders".

And UN resolution 1244 requires that the US supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia within its existing borders. Nothing complicated about that, it is simple and even a child should be able to see what that means. Would someone be kind enough to clearly explain this to the US so that the stop trying to police the world with thier version of justice and maybe concentrate on matters a little closer to home. I wonder how the US might react if Texas was claimed and independant state by the non Texan population and then Serbia started openly stating support for the independance despite any ICJ pending investigation and any UN resolution that said Texas was part of US? I suspect the US might, understandably tell Serbia to mind their own business. None of what happens in Serbia has anything to do with US......unless of course they are concerned about Camp Bondsteel?? Surely that cant be their agenda....can it??

'exchange of territory between Kosovo and Serbia'

sure thing and i'll exchange my nose for my arm. makes just about as much sense. i understand people upping antes and putting out feelers and all that but it's just plain silly. if there's ever partition it will be kosovo partitioned with north fully in mother serbia, well, just like now? :) us at ibar line securing the line, now it's a little different :)) and south of ibar albanians with full autonomy previously unknown to mankind but of course no independence.

also i'm gonna bookmark this page. when i feel like dying of monumental shameless nonsensical hypocricy radiation exposure i'll just stare a this sentence for a minute:
'United States supportS the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo within its existing borders'

:)

Serbia has always been the frontline against Islamofascism - the US, EU will not and cannot support the KLA forever, the truth will prevail.

http://www.flix.co.il/tapuz/showVideo.asp?m=1965579

> More than autonomy, less than
> independence with Albanian self-rule
> is the deal of the century.

It might have been the deal of the previous century. If anything like that had been on offer in 1989, or even 15 years ago, it could have prevented a lot of unnecessary bloodshed, human suffering and destruction on all sides.

But after all that's happened in 1998 and 1999, the "deal of the century" is no longer a viable option. Simply put, there's now no way, short of armed conflict, that Kosovo Albanians can be compelled to again accept living under Belgrade's rule. And unlike the 1990s, armed conflict is also no longer a real option, for any of the parties. They no longer have the military capability. Even if they did, the rest of Europe (which wants nothing from this region, except no more trouble) would not allow it.

@@@ by Zoran

“...But hey, it's great to see the status of Kosovo finally being discussed again! More than autonomy, less than independence with Albanian self-rule is the deal of the century.
(Zoran, 10 August 2009 14:59)...”

Answer: Do you really mean this, or is it kinda digging the grounds and positions before final settlement of two sides?

Serbs, who are supporting this idea are forgetting that “less then independence Kosovo” is coming with the package of almost 2 millions Albanians and that following present birth rate in year 2100, in that type of conglomerate state including Serbia’s proper, we will be having maximum 6.5 million Serbs(at its best) and 4 millions Albanian citizens.

Should I add a single word? ...Don’t think so. Solution is final partition of Kosovo with only stake will the Serbia have to give up Presevo valley or not.

“dean van der serbia, we are talking about Albanian self-rule but the borders remain Serbian. (Zoran, 10 August 2009 18:07)”

Jovan, van der serbia brings up a good point, once the Albanian population matches that of the Serbian population or exceeds it, then they would be able to call the shots in government.

Unless of course you are suggesting that you deny the Albanians the right to vote on the federal level, or vote for president or anything.

It sounds like you are saying they should only be allowed to vote on the local level and should have no say in how the country itself is run.

Which brings up an interesting point, if only the Kosovar Albanians had voted against Milosevic, we might not have had a war at all.

Full independence for those regions which have an Albanian population but no historical or cultural sites. We have no legitimate claims to those areas.

A compromise must be found for the rest of Kosovo, but that’s a good start.

Americans changing their minds about albanians or have they just realized that they don't have the power to dictate to Serbs or anyone else what goes and what doesn't. If only one side agrees to a peace plan it is not a solution. Even the Yanks seem to understand this now. Albanians should be afraid...very afraid of what is comming their way when it comes to international politics and the unfinished status of Serbias southern province.

"“That's out of the question. Both Kosovo and southern Serbia are Serbian territory"

fullstop.


as for unasked american spokesmen:

we will ask them again, when the Mexicans start creating Aztlan...

Serbia can wait, it will prevail, sooner or later.

“That's out of the question. Both Kosovo and southern Serbia are Serbian territory and no one in Belgrade is thinking in that direction in the political sense,”

That's because no one bought it. As soon as you hinted partition, Presheva asked for the same so you are stuck.

"I can tell you that our policy remains unchanged"

That says it all about the Obama "change".

Simply put, there's now no way, short of armed conflict, that Kosovo Albanians can be compelled to again accept living under Belgrade's rule.
(Jovan R., 10 August 2009 16:20)
--
As part of this offer, you seem to have missed the "with ethnic Albanian self-rule". Belgrade does not want to rule these ethnic Albanian citizens, that's why Albanian self-rule is part of the deal.

No-one has to accept anything but that means the province remains in the status quo. The status quo that the occupiers are spending millions/billions to maintain. Now that's doing nothing for the regions prosperity and development.

Serbia has always been the frontline against Islamofascism - the US, EU will not and cannot support the KLA forever, the truth will prevail.

[link]
(George, counterjihad, 10 August 2009 16:38)

Serbia is Iran's biggest ally in that region which Israel just recently complained about. Iran on the other hand supports Serbia in the ICJ case.

Only that says more than 1000 words... So much for the "fight against Islamofascists", George...

'Jovan R': "But after all that's happened in 1998 and 1999, the "deal of the century" is no longer a viable option. Simply put, there's now no way, short of armed conflict, that Kosovo Albanians can be compelled to again accept living under Belgrade's rule. And unlike the 1990s, armed conflict is also no longer a real option, for any of the parties. They no longer have the military capability. Even if they did, the rest of Europe (which wants nothing from this region, except no more trouble) would not allow it."
(Jovan R., 10 August 2009 16:20)

But I think that the highest level of autonomy could be the best solution and Pristina should sit down peacefully with Belgrade and negotiate. It's the only way forward.

Toner is against the partition of Kosovo but was for the partition of Serbia along ethnic lines.

Serbia is a sovereign state, a member of the UN and a signatory of all the conventions on statehood. Legally Kosovo is a province of Serbia.

As usual, Toner like all apologists for US foreign policy, changes the goal posts when it suits them and of course their pocket!! Everything in the US comes down to old greenback. As the saying goes it has the best Congress money can buy.

I have read this article over and over again, and was unable to find a single Serbian official on it. Unless they call Oliver Ivanovic a Serbian official.
How soon Serbia forgat that Oli was in same bed till yesterday with Kosova parlament and Kosova govermant???
One thing I admire about Oli is that he speaks perfect Albanian.

"Which brings up an interesting point, if only the Kosovar Albanians had voted against Milosevic, we might not have had a war at all."

Blaming the Albanians for Slobodan? Slobo was actually a moderate compared to some other characters, he just wanted power, not really "Velika Srbja".

You need to read the build up to 1989.

"Cultural sites" are all over the place. Serbs have monasteries in Greece, FYROM, Crna Gora, Croatia etc etc and others have them in Serbia as well.

coment# 16

Jovan.R. is apparently an Albanian and Agim.S is most certanly a Serbian.
Why hide behind the curtain?
I thought b92 has the technology to track the IP of readers!

dean van der serbia, we are talking about Albanian self-rule but the borders remain Serbian. This becomes a functional partition of Kosovo while ensuring Serbia's territorial integrity.

It is pretty much the same thing the US is delivering now without the promise of independence, which really cannot be delivered.

It is just a matter of facing up to reality.

Matthew, it is similar to how it is now except status is resolved. Ethnic Albanians rule themselves and do not participate in Serbian affairs or elections. We don't expect K-Albanians to vote in Serbian elections now and they don't want to anyway. I'm sure we'll all agree it's better that way.

As for granting them independence, why? If they can't get it now, why should we give it to them? They have a home land already and what next? FYROM? Why couldn't Serbians get independence in BiH and Croatia? If we go down that path then we need to include ethnic regions in the whole of former YU. In that case Albanians get a good deal and so do Serbians but what about FYROMians or the Bosnian Muslims? That's another can of worms I think.

It's no surprise that Albanians brushed off this suggestion. After all, keeping Kosovo intact it works better for them than the Serbs. Few years back I used to hear that Albanians couldn't even walk up the north, now all of the sudden you hear news of rebuilding of their homes, new licences for building new homes. So, little by little they are inching up north the Albanian style, which has worked well in Balkans so far. Why would they want to trade the North when they could simply take it peace by peace until Serbia has nothing left to trade for? I am stunned hearing some who also think that this is not a good deal for Serbia because the entire Kosovo belong to it and somehow the International Court of justice is simply going to resolve all of this. Even if Serbia won, nothing will change and we all know it. You may win an argument, but you may never win the people who are essential for you to put that victory into practice. For Kosovo temporary government, may work well if this case drags on into the next century. Their plan is not to make Serbs feel at home, rather to slowly but surely push them out by allowing Albanians to build homes next to them. And they know that the effect is great! One Albanian moves in, five Serbs move out. And that's how they have taken over almost half of Macedonia, and that's how they will take over the north. Count 20 years and you'll be negotiating under entirely different circumstances.

I believe Serbia should trade the Presevo walleye for the north, get some share of the mining area, seek Vatican status for all the monasteries and churches and seal its borders in a way that it never puts its population in danger of every 50 years loosing more and more territory. Other than that, I see no wining scenario for Serbia unfortunately, unless it plans to take it by force, which is utterly unrealistic. First, because it will simply not be allowed by the western powers during this century. And if it plans to do it in the next, there may not be left even 1 % of Serb nationals throughout Kosovo, and you'll be fighting at least 12 million Albanians in Balkans by that time. From all the comments I read coming from my fellow Serbian friends, I see only Matthew who sees this outcome and no one else. I see more like a battle of words raging between Albs and Serbs and no one really looks into the future for more than 2 or 3 years ahead.

"Bu he added that it is good that such ideas are coming from the U.S., "because it shows that America too understands that the status of Kosovo is not an issue that has been solved".
I don't think this guy understands the meaning of the words "no change on policy regarding Kosovo",so no to partition unless Albanians/USA want it,period.

"I thought b92 has the technology to track the IP of readers!"
Kosova-USA

It only gives you the numbers not the names of individuals. If you want the names B92 would have to get permission by the persons internet provider whitch could be lokated in a nother country. You honestly think B92 can get permission by, for example, the Canadian gov.?

"> More than autonomy, less than
> independence with Albanian self-rule
> is the deal of the century. "

Are You sure Zoran?? Albanians had great level of autonomy in 1974-89. And what was final?? Final was, when Albanian authorities started actions against K-Serbs and violence against K-Serbs and Orthodox Church in 1981. This autonomy - provoked them.

Has anyone seen Tim Judah's recent commentary about the north of Kosovo? Hardly a lover of Serbs, Judah said something to the effect of the north is basically a frozen conflict for the past decade and there is very little chance of it integrating into Pristina's institutions. For once, he is quite right!

“In that case Albanians get a good deal and so do Serbians but what about FYROMians or the Bosnian Muslims? That's another can of worms I think.
(Zoran, 10 August 2009 22:55)”

If we could agree with the Albanians to partition Kosovo, why not an exchange of Sandzak for RS? Sandzak isn’t so important anymore since the split with Montenegro. I firmly support a change of the borders that is far more stable than the current ones. Haven’t we learned our lesson from the past?

I think what you’re describing is a more like a Federation than anything else. Would they be allowed a military? What about economic issues and currency? How would changes that affect both peoples be done? I suppose it might be possible, but it would be difficult to do without diluting the democratic rights of the Albanians in some way. I firmly believe they have a right to some sort of independence (like we should in RS and Krajina), however, I also strongly believe that parts of Kosovo are so culturally important to us, that it’s far more important than Krajina or RS, and we simply can not let it go. I feel we have a situation with two equal opposing forces.

aRTA, I am in no way blaming the Albanians for Milosevic, however you guys didn’t really do much to try to stabilize the situation either. Personally I think the KLA wanted reprisals to their attacks so they could play the victim card. I respect Rugova and Surroi (although often disagree), but I despise the KLA, just as I despised Milosevic and Tudjman.

I am not suggesting that every historical monument be preserved under Serbian rule, but I suggest a discussion on what to be done with the most important. I’d like to see Serbia retain Pec and Decani and something substantial being done with important other sites like Kosovo Field. It would be cheaper to put walls around every Serbian site connected by subway than the damage and cost of the NATO bombing.

Joan R wrote-
But after all that's happened in 1998 and 1999, the "deal of the century" is no longer a viable option. Simply put, there's now no way, short of armed conflict, that Kosovo Albanians can be compelled to again accept living under Belgrade's rule.

So, it's ok for the Serbs to live under what the Albanian population did to them over the last 80 years in particular? This is crazy, The sooner we start talking about respecting international law, and providing UN/EU personal to inforce atonomy the closer we will be working towards a lasting solution. Serbia will never give up it's claim to Kosovo. Not under the Turks, or the US. Case closed. We have time......

"coment# 16

Jovan.R. is apparently an Albanian and Agim.S is most certanly a Serbian.
Why hide behind the curtain?
I thought b92 has the technology to track the IP of readers!
(Kosovo-USA, 10 August 2009 18:55) "

I agree. thanks to god, this other Jovan at least added a "R", so that I do not have to distance myself from foreign opinions...

unfortunately "Matthew" is not posting quite accurately, since he is referring to "Jovan" without "R"...

what is simply false..

as for these mimicries, usually it is ( apparently ) Albanians who use western-sounding nick-names in order to create the impression of having a vast foreign public supporter group - or at least someone who is at least interested in them.

“unfortunately "Matthew" is not posting quite accurately, since he is referring to "Jovan" without "R"...”

Actually it was a typo, you can see I quoted Zoran.

I have an English name and I’m Serbian, so it’s possible some of the Albanians have western sounding names.

As far as Jovan R. goes, he’s clearly not Serbian, he refers to Serbia and Serbians as “they” not “we”.

The U.S supports the Albanians for one reason and one reason only, to ensure the utter and further destruction of the once powerful state of Yugoslavia and to distance all the peoples to the point where they will never unify again.

It has worked so far in the sense that Serbia and Croatia have a Bosnian buffer zone between them and Macedonia and Serbia have a buffer zone between them with Kosovo, and soon Preshevo, western Macedonia and Montegreo will also be albanian buffer zones between former yugoslav states, but the U.S didn't count on one thing. They can split the Macedonians, Serbs, Montenegrins, etc from each other, but they can not split these nation's own peoples from each other. And as long as Albanian occupied territories are not 100% Albanian and the minorities of what was once the majority in these regions still exist, the Americans and Albanians will never successfully split Serb from Serb or Macedonian from Macedonian and so on and so forth. Let them play games all they want but our people, whether or not they forget their former Yugoslav countrymen, will never forget their own kin across the border of Greater Albania- (The Serbs in Kosovo will not forget the Serbs in Serbia and the Macedonians in Western Macedonia will not forget the Macedonians elsewhere) so good luck with Greater Albania, we'll see what happens after this creates the Fourth Balkan War. (I believe, unfortunately, we're looking at the next ten years.)

“That's out of the question. Both Kosovo and southern Serbia are Serbian territory and no one in Belgrade is thinking in that direction in the political sense,”

That's because no one bought it. As soon as you hinted partition, Presheva asked for the same so you are stuck.

He said that he is not familiar with the idea of Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher regarding the "exchange of territory between Kosovo and Serbia"
--
This is a congressman paid by the Albanian lobby. How can Serbia exchange part of its land for another part of its land?

But hey, it's great to see the status of Kosovo finally being discussed again! More than autonomy, less than independence with Albanian self-rule is the deal of the century.

Serbia has always been the frontline against Islamofascism - the US, EU will not and cannot support the KLA forever, the truth will prevail.

http://www.flix.co.il/tapuz/showVideo.asp?m=1965579

> More than autonomy, less than
> independence with Albanian self-rule
> is the deal of the century.

It might have been the deal of the previous century. If anything like that had been on offer in 1989, or even 15 years ago, it could have prevented a lot of unnecessary bloodshed, human suffering and destruction on all sides.

But after all that's happened in 1998 and 1999, the "deal of the century" is no longer a viable option. Simply put, there's now no way, short of armed conflict, that Kosovo Albanians can be compelled to again accept living under Belgrade's rule. And unlike the 1990s, armed conflict is also no longer a real option, for any of the parties. They no longer have the military capability. Even if they did, the rest of Europe (which wants nothing from this region, except no more trouble) would not allow it.

"Bu he added that it is good that such ideas are coming from the U.S., "because it shows that America too understands that the status of Kosovo is not an issue that has been solved".
I don't think this guy understands the meaning of the words "no change on policy regarding Kosovo",so no to partition unless Albanians/USA want it,period.

I am sick and tired of these American spokesmen, and their geopolitical agendas. STAY OUT OF OTHER NATIONS' AFFAIRS! The US is not a rose garden, please concentrate on improving the lives of your own citizens, Serbia can take care of it's own affairs.

Americans changing their minds about albanians or have they just realized that they don't have the power to dictate to Serbs or anyone else what goes and what doesn't. If only one side agrees to a peace plan it is not a solution. Even the Yanks seem to understand this now. Albanians should be afraid...very afraid of what is comming their way when it comes to international politics and the unfinished status of Serbias southern province.

coment# 16

Jovan.R. is apparently an Albanian and Agim.S is most certanly a Serbian.
Why hide behind the curtain?
I thought b92 has the technology to track the IP of readers!

'Jovan R': "But after all that's happened in 1998 and 1999, the "deal of the century" is no longer a viable option. Simply put, there's now no way, short of armed conflict, that Kosovo Albanians can be compelled to again accept living under Belgrade's rule. And unlike the 1990s, armed conflict is also no longer a real option, for any of the parties. They no longer have the military capability. Even if they did, the rest of Europe (which wants nothing from this region, except no more trouble) would not allow it."
(Jovan R., 10 August 2009 16:20)

But I think that the highest level of autonomy could be the best solution and Pristina should sit down peacefully with Belgrade and negotiate. It's the only way forward.

Serbia has always been the frontline against Islamofascism - the US, EU will not and cannot support the KLA forever, the truth will prevail.

[link]
(George, counterjihad, 10 August 2009 16:38)

Serbia is Iran's biggest ally in that region which Israel just recently complained about. Iran on the other hand supports Serbia in the ICJ case.

Only that says more than 1000 words... So much for the "fight against Islamofascists", George...

Toner was further quoted as saying that “the United States supportS the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo within its existing borders".

I was taught many lessons as a child...one was that the simplest, most logical solution was the best solution: "the US should support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of SERBIA- as UN resolution 1244 clearly states!!!
The second lesson was you can't put lipstick on a pig and think that you're going to dance with her. There's not enough "lipstick" in the world to transform Kosovo province into a legitimate, independent country.

"“That's out of the question. Both Kosovo and southern Serbia are Serbian territory"

fullstop.


as for unasked american spokesmen:

we will ask them again, when the Mexicans start creating Aztlan...

Serbia can wait, it will prevail, sooner or later.

I have read this article over and over again, and was unable to find a single Serbian official on it. Unless they call Oliver Ivanovic a Serbian official.
How soon Serbia forgat that Oli was in same bed till yesterday with Kosova parlament and Kosova govermant???
One thing I admire about Oli is that he speaks perfect Albanian.

@@@ by Zoran

“...But hey, it's great to see the status of Kosovo finally being discussed again! More than autonomy, less than independence with Albanian self-rule is the deal of the century.
(Zoran, 10 August 2009 14:59)...”

Answer: Do you really mean this, or is it kinda digging the grounds and positions before final settlement of two sides?

Serbs, who are supporting this idea are forgetting that “less then independence Kosovo” is coming with the package of almost 2 millions Albanians and that following present birth rate in year 2100, in that type of conglomerate state including Serbia’s proper, we will be having maximum 6.5 million Serbs(at its best) and 4 millions Albanian citizens.

Should I add a single word? ...Don’t think so. Solution is final partition of Kosovo with only stake will the Serbia have to give up Presevo valley or not.

Politicians on all the sides involved are still talking only politics and reality on the ground is disastrous division of Serbs and Albanians along ethnic lines which cannot be reversed.

As soon as they stop talking only politics, but start looking for the real solution, so soon the end of political dead-lock will be on sight and chance for the prosper for all the people from Kosovo may begin.

How long it will last before this is going to happen? Tens, hundreds of maybe thousand innocent lifes lost and maybe another few wasted young generations without any chance for prosperity...?

Toner is against the partition of Kosovo but was for the partition of Serbia along ethnic lines.

Serbia is a sovereign state, a member of the UN and a signatory of all the conventions on statehood. Legally Kosovo is a province of Serbia.

As usual, Toner like all apologists for US foreign policy, changes the goal posts when it suits them and of course their pocket!! Everything in the US comes down to old greenback. As the saying goes it has the best Congress money can buy.

Toner was further quoted as saying that “the United States supportS the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo within its existing borders".

And UN resolution 1244 requires that the US supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia within its existing borders. Nothing complicated about that, it is simple and even a child should be able to see what that means. Would someone be kind enough to clearly explain this to the US so that the stop trying to police the world with thier version of justice and maybe concentrate on matters a little closer to home. I wonder how the US might react if Texas was claimed and independant state by the non Texan population and then Serbia started openly stating support for the independance despite any ICJ pending investigation and any UN resolution that said Texas was part of US? I suspect the US might, understandably tell Serbia to mind their own business. None of what happens in Serbia has anything to do with US......unless of course they are concerned about Camp Bondsteel?? Surely that cant be their agenda....can it??

dean van der serbia, we are talking about Albanian self-rule but the borders remain Serbian. This becomes a functional partition of Kosovo while ensuring Serbia's territorial integrity.

It is pretty much the same thing the US is delivering now without the promise of independence, which really cannot be delivered.

It is just a matter of facing up to reality.

'exchange of territory between Kosovo and Serbia'

sure thing and i'll exchange my nose for my arm. makes just about as much sense. i understand people upping antes and putting out feelers and all that but it's just plain silly. if there's ever partition it will be kosovo partitioned with north fully in mother serbia, well, just like now? :) us at ibar line securing the line, now it's a little different :)) and south of ibar albanians with full autonomy previously unknown to mankind but of course no independence.

also i'm gonna bookmark this page. when i feel like dying of monumental shameless nonsensical hypocricy radiation exposure i'll just stare a this sentence for a minute:
'United States supportS the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo within its existing borders'

:)

Matthew, it is similar to how it is now except status is resolved. Ethnic Albanians rule themselves and do not participate in Serbian affairs or elections. We don't expect K-Albanians to vote in Serbian elections now and they don't want to anyway. I'm sure we'll all agree it's better that way.

As for granting them independence, why? If they can't get it now, why should we give it to them? They have a home land already and what next? FYROM? Why couldn't Serbians get independence in BiH and Croatia? If we go down that path then we need to include ethnic regions in the whole of former YU. In that case Albanians get a good deal and so do Serbians but what about FYROMians or the Bosnian Muslims? That's another can of worms I think.

Simply put, there's now no way, short of armed conflict, that Kosovo Albanians can be compelled to again accept living under Belgrade's rule.
(Jovan R., 10 August 2009 16:20)
--
As part of this offer, you seem to have missed the "with ethnic Albanian self-rule". Belgrade does not want to rule these ethnic Albanian citizens, that's why Albanian self-rule is part of the deal.

No-one has to accept anything but that means the province remains in the status quo. The status quo that the occupiers are spending millions/billions to maintain. Now that's doing nothing for the regions prosperity and development.

"I can tell you that our policy remains unchanged"

That says it all about the Obama "change".

“dean van der serbia, we are talking about Albanian self-rule but the borders remain Serbian. (Zoran, 10 August 2009 18:07)”

Jovan, van der serbia brings up a good point, once the Albanian population matches that of the Serbian population or exceeds it, then they would be able to call the shots in government.

Unless of course you are suggesting that you deny the Albanians the right to vote on the federal level, or vote for president or anything.

It sounds like you are saying they should only be allowed to vote on the local level and should have no say in how the country itself is run.

Which brings up an interesting point, if only the Kosovar Albanians had voted against Milosevic, we might not have had a war at all.

Full independence for those regions which have an Albanian population but no historical or cultural sites. We have no legitimate claims to those areas.

A compromise must be found for the rest of Kosovo, but that’s a good start.

"I thought b92 has the technology to track the IP of readers!"
Kosova-USA

It only gives you the numbers not the names of individuals. If you want the names B92 would have to get permission by the persons internet provider whitch could be lokated in a nother country. You honestly think B92 can get permission by, for example, the Canadian gov.?

It's no surprise that Albanians brushed off this suggestion. After all, keeping Kosovo intact it works better for them than the Serbs. Few years back I used to hear that Albanians couldn't even walk up the north, now all of the sudden you hear news of rebuilding of their homes, new licences for building new homes. So, little by little they are inching up north the Albanian style, which has worked well in Balkans so far. Why would they want to trade the North when they could simply take it peace by peace until Serbia has nothing left to trade for? I am stunned hearing some who also think that this is not a good deal for Serbia because the entire Kosovo belong to it and somehow the International Court of justice is simply going to resolve all of this. Even if Serbia won, nothing will change and we all know it. You may win an argument, but you may never win the people who are essential for you to put that victory into practice. For Kosovo temporary government, may work well if this case drags on into the next century. Their plan is not to make Serbs feel at home, rather to slowly but surely push them out by allowing Albanians to build homes next to them. And they know that the effect is great! One Albanian moves in, five Serbs move out. And that's how they have taken over almost half of Macedonia, and that's how they will take over the north. Count 20 years and you'll be negotiating under entirely different circumstances.

I believe Serbia should trade the Presevo walleye for the north, get some share of the mining area, seek Vatican status for all the monasteries and churches and seal its borders in a way that it never puts its population in danger of every 50 years loosing more and more territory. Other than that, I see no wining scenario for Serbia unfortunately, unless it plans to take it by force, which is utterly unrealistic. First, because it will simply not be allowed by the western powers during this century. And if it plans to do it in the next, there may not be left even 1 % of Serb nationals throughout Kosovo, and you'll be fighting at least 12 million Albanians in Balkans by that time. From all the comments I read coming from my fellow Serbian friends, I see only Matthew who sees this outcome and no one else. I see more like a battle of words raging between Albs and Serbs and no one really looks into the future for more than 2 or 3 years ahead.

"coment# 16

Jovan.R. is apparently an Albanian and Agim.S is most certanly a Serbian.
Why hide behind the curtain?
I thought b92 has the technology to track the IP of readers!
(Kosovo-USA, 10 August 2009 18:55) "

I agree. thanks to god, this other Jovan at least added a "R", so that I do not have to distance myself from foreign opinions...

unfortunately "Matthew" is not posting quite accurately, since he is referring to "Jovan" without "R"...

what is simply false..

as for these mimicries, usually it is ( apparently ) Albanians who use western-sounding nick-names in order to create the impression of having a vast foreign public supporter group - or at least someone who is at least interested in them.

"Which brings up an interesting point, if only the Kosovar Albanians had voted against Milosevic, we might not have had a war at all."

Blaming the Albanians for Slobodan? Slobo was actually a moderate compared to some other characters, he just wanted power, not really "Velika Srbja".

You need to read the build up to 1989.

"Cultural sites" are all over the place. Serbs have monasteries in Greece, FYROM, Crna Gora, Croatia etc etc and others have them in Serbia as well.

“In that case Albanians get a good deal and so do Serbians but what about FYROMians or the Bosnian Muslims? That's another can of worms I think.
(Zoran, 10 August 2009 22:55)”

If we could agree with the Albanians to partition Kosovo, why not an exchange of Sandzak for RS? Sandzak isn’t so important anymore since the split with Montenegro. I firmly support a change of the borders that is far more stable than the current ones. Haven’t we learned our lesson from the past?

I think what you’re describing is a more like a Federation than anything else. Would they be allowed a military? What about economic issues and currency? How would changes that affect both peoples be done? I suppose it might be possible, but it would be difficult to do without diluting the democratic rights of the Albanians in some way. I firmly believe they have a right to some sort of independence (like we should in RS and Krajina), however, I also strongly believe that parts of Kosovo are so culturally important to us, that it’s far more important than Krajina or RS, and we simply can not let it go. I feel we have a situation with two equal opposing forces.

aRTA, I am in no way blaming the Albanians for Milosevic, however you guys didn’t really do much to try to stabilize the situation either. Personally I think the KLA wanted reprisals to their attacks so they could play the victim card. I respect Rugova and Surroi (although often disagree), but I despise the KLA, just as I despised Milosevic and Tudjman.

I am not suggesting that every historical monument be preserved under Serbian rule, but I suggest a discussion on what to be done with the most important. I’d like to see Serbia retain Pec and Decani and something substantial being done with important other sites like Kosovo Field. It would be cheaper to put walls around every Serbian site connected by subway than the damage and cost of the NATO bombing.

"> More than autonomy, less than
> independence with Albanian self-rule
> is the deal of the century. "

Are You sure Zoran?? Albanians had great level of autonomy in 1974-89. And what was final?? Final was, when Albanian authorities started actions against K-Serbs and violence against K-Serbs and Orthodox Church in 1981. This autonomy - provoked them.

“unfortunately "Matthew" is not posting quite accurately, since he is referring to "Jovan" without "R"...”

Actually it was a typo, you can see I quoted Zoran.

I have an English name and I’m Serbian, so it’s possible some of the Albanians have western sounding names.

As far as Jovan R. goes, he’s clearly not Serbian, he refers to Serbia and Serbians as “they” not “we”.

Joan R wrote-
But after all that's happened in 1998 and 1999, the "deal of the century" is no longer a viable option. Simply put, there's now no way, short of armed conflict, that Kosovo Albanians can be compelled to again accept living under Belgrade's rule.

So, it's ok for the Serbs to live under what the Albanian population did to them over the last 80 years in particular? This is crazy, The sooner we start talking about respecting international law, and providing UN/EU personal to inforce atonomy the closer we will be working towards a lasting solution. Serbia will never give up it's claim to Kosovo. Not under the Turks, or the US. Case closed. We have time......

Has anyone seen Tim Judah's recent commentary about the north of Kosovo? Hardly a lover of Serbs, Judah said something to the effect of the north is basically a frozen conflict for the past decade and there is very little chance of it integrating into Pristina's institutions. For once, he is quite right!

The U.S supports the Albanians for one reason and one reason only, to ensure the utter and further destruction of the once powerful state of Yugoslavia and to distance all the peoples to the point where they will never unify again.

It has worked so far in the sense that Serbia and Croatia have a Bosnian buffer zone between them and Macedonia and Serbia have a buffer zone between them with Kosovo, and soon Preshevo, western Macedonia and Montegreo will also be albanian buffer zones between former yugoslav states, but the U.S didn't count on one thing. They can split the Macedonians, Serbs, Montenegrins, etc from each other, but they can not split these nation's own peoples from each other. And as long as Albanian occupied territories are not 100% Albanian and the minorities of what was once the majority in these regions still exist, the Americans and Albanians will never successfully split Serb from Serb or Macedonian from Macedonian and so on and so forth. Let them play games all they want but our people, whether or not they forget their former Yugoslav countrymen, will never forget their own kin across the border of Greater Albania- (The Serbs in Kosovo will not forget the Serbs in Serbia and the Macedonians in Western Macedonia will not forget the Macedonians elsewhere) so good luck with Greater Albania, we'll see what happens after this creates the Fourth Balkan War. (I believe, unfortunately, we're looking at the next ten years.)