Ban calls for restraint on all sides in Kosovo

Kosova-USA,

You keep misspelling Kosovo!

Then: 1244 is still valid. If it was not there should not be UNMIK in Kosovo. But there is. And hey, EULEX is working witin the framework of 1244!

Forget about illegal independence, my friend!

A mutual agreed deal is fine of course.

Yes, EULEX is far more numerous on the ground but at the end of the day they are under the umbrella of UNMIK, so even if there was just 1 UNMIK personnel or even NONE, EULEX would still answer to UNMIK at the UN. Peter Feith can waffle as much as he likes, and so can any other European delegates, but EULEX signed a protocol which puts them under the direct supervision and control of UNMIK. And this is the beauty of the ICJ case. When Serbia wins it's case reaffirming it's ownership of Kosovo it'll finally dawn on the Albo's that the EULEX administration in Kosovo is simply to help bring them upto speed with Serbia before Serbia joins the EU, so that it can finally be integrated again into Serbia having not been left behind.

Thanks for all the effort EULEX, greatly appreciated, but even more so to UNMIK and the UNSC which oversees all of this. R.I.P "Kosova"

The only deal the Serbia will get is what it wants in the end.
Kosovo is Serbia, love it or leave it.

Who has voted for the UN? Who do they represent besides those that pay for their wages/ existence? Same is true for Eulex...why are they running the country. You want to steal land- there are courts and armies to handle this, whether it Kosovo, Quebec, Spain or even Ireland.

Declaring Kosovo independent. Illegally...
Well, that is not exactly being 'restraintful' I would say.

Time for the UN and the EU and the West to stop this Kosovo joke!

No special deal for Kosovo. Please respect internatinal law!

Time for the UN to get more involved in Kosovo!

"According to Ban, all political parties taking part in the November local elections should steer clear of inflammatory rhetoric which could contribute to an upsurge in violence, mainly in the northern part of the province, Itar-Tass stated."

-- And that can be achieved as long as Serbs and Albanians stay in their own spheres of influence. I highly doubt any Serbian party is going to make a dash for Pristina, but I certainly wouldn't put it past Hash, especially if he's down in the polls, to play the ethnic card and make overt statements of invading the north in order to get a boost from the nationalist camps. Accept that Kosovo is internally divided and is moving towards parallel institutions, and standards will be placed before status.

What case are you resting, Morris? The Albanians started this mess with your KLA terrorizing civilians and cowardly on police officers. When will the Albanians stop their wave of aggression and stealing of Serbian land? That is my case, Morris.

According to Ban, all political parties taking part in the November local elections should steer clear of inflammatory rhetoric which could contribute to an upsurge in violence, mainly in the northern part of the province, Itar-Tass stated.

And which ethnic group lives in the northern part of Kosova!

Even Ban case see which ethnicity is prone to violence.
I rest my case!

The report expresses hope that all communities will regard UNMIK and its representative office in northern Kosovo as an important instrument of support to regional peace and stability.

UNMIK office is functional only in the northern Mitro, and even there only on paper.
If you don't beleive read the above coment from Ban KI Moon. So much for your 1244 , governing KoSOvA.

Where does it say in any "international law" that a country can't declare independence?
(KOSOVARi, 6 October 2009 21:30)

Well, I will give you a hint. You will get it black on white if you wait some 6-12 months. The ICJ in Hague will answer all you that thinks its possible to suddenly take a bit of a sovereign country and make it independent. The documents this court will lean on is the Final Helsinki act from 1975 and UNSC resolution 1244. Especially the Helsinki final act, that is signed by all European states (except Albania) and also US and Russia, will be of huge importance.

It funny people are talking about violence in Northern Kosovo but my girlfriend has just returned from a trip to Mitrovica. She said she only saw 3 policemen for the duration (she was expecting many more men in uniform) whilst she was in the town (3 nights). She also said that the journey was uneventful.

I for one am glad that violence in Kosovo does not seem as commonplace as some of us might think.

You serbs keep making false accusations that Kosovar Albanians are stealing Kosovar Serb land. Really? All those people own their houses, they have proof, if this wasn't the case UNMIK & EULEX would have done everything about it.

Of course, we all know who is and was smuggling fuel and commodities through northern part of Kosova.

bganon,

I thought the exact same thing when I went to KM earlier this year. With all the stuff one hears on BBC, and from whatever outlets Albanians get their information from, Kosovska Mitrovica should have looked like 1930s Chicago with shootouts common enough to set one's clock to. I would have expected scores of two-meter tall bald-headed no necks intimidating the local population.

Instead, I found a completely functioning city that looked no different from a neighborhood in Belgrade or Novi Sad. Yes, I saw a few KFOR and EULEX soldiers, but 95% of them were sitting in Serbian kafane and and cafes talking with local Serbs (the burek was the best I've had in all of Serbia there). The markets were full, the restaurants were good, and well, the parking was horrendous, but that's commonplace. I was absolutely shocked to find northern Mitrovica to be as, well, functional, as it was. And everywhere I went, there wasn't a sign (not. a. sign.) that this was another country apart from Serbia. It goes to show one that "lawlessness" is really the lack of Pristina's law, not the lack of law itself.

I think the craziest thing about the Kosovo independence, is that, Albanians already have a country, isn't it even called Albania? Hmmm, the rest of the Yugoslavia break up almost makes sense (at least the groups of people originated from the land), but, giving Kosovo to the Albanians, it's just crazy! Damn, if you don't like Serbia, then go back to Albania, don't try and steal a part of someone else's country and then cry foul when "mummy" doesn't give you what you want. And of course America is mixed up in this, they have been trying to break up Yugoslavia from the beginning, the Albanians are very stupid if they think America is going to actually help them in anyway. The situation is almost laughable, if it wasn't for the reality of it all.

@ kosovari ...re-read your question a bit closer..A COUNTRY MAY DECLARE ANYTHING IT WANTS ...but a region of a country ( as is kosovo a region of serbia ) does not have that open ended right to change borders of a UN member state ( as is serbia). loopholes .."unique situations" "we cant live within serbia" "serbs are mean" ALL THAT can be said but it does not change the fact that kosovo CAN NOT PROCLAIM ANYTHING WITH SERBIAN APPROVAL!!!!!!!!

Where does it say in any "international law" that a country can't declare independence?

The reference to "province" was either added by the Russian news agency or B92. Nowhere in Ban's report does he ever refer to Kosovo as a province and definitely as a Serbian province.
He does note the number of recognitions Kosovo has obtained, and membership in the World Bank. He also said that UNMIK is working with the govt of Pristina to aid in their representation in organizations which the status issue makes it impossible for Kosovo to represent itself.

People calling for the UN and EU to assume more control over Kosovo or constantly ranting that UNMIK controls Kosovo reminds me of the question=="If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?"

It funny people are talking about violence in Northern Kosovo but my girlfriend has just returned from a trip to Mitrovica. She said she only saw 3 policemen for the duration (she was expecting many more men in uniform) whilst she was in the town (3 nights). She also said that the journey was uneventful.
---
No offense but wives and girlfriends always say the weekend trip was uneventful.

Law and order will be coming there soon.

The Helsinki Accords served as the groundwork for the later Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), established under the Paris Charter.
(KOSOVARi, 7 October 2009 00:53)

So then Abkhazia can claim indepence NOW?

Where does it say in any "international law" that a country can't declare independence?
(KOSOVARi, 6 October 2009 21:30)

Well, I will give you a hint. You will get it black on white if you wait some 6-12 months. The ICJ in Hague will answer all you that thinks its possible to suddenly take a bit of a sovereign country and make it independent. The documents this court will lean on is the Final Helsinki act from 1975 and UNSC resolution 1244. Especially the Helsinki final act, that is signed by all European states (except Albania) and also US and Russia, will be of huge importance.
(Staff, 6 October 2009 22:45)

WRONG!!

Helsinki Accords establishes 10 key points that lay ground to member STATE sovereignty. None of the points state that it's illegal for a country to declare independence. In fact I challenge the authority of such a agreement signed only by 30 countries (of 192).

The Helsinki Accords served as the groundwork for the later Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), established under the Paris Charter.

'my girlfriend has just returned from a trip to Mitrovica. She said she only saw 3 policemen for the duration (she was expecting many more men in uniform)'

I respect a woman who expects more than three uniformed men. I dont care about her opinion about security or crime (can be two separate things).
But frankly i'm sick and tired of those who think one is one too many..
anyway, mitrovica? which one? Do you know our country has sremska and kosovska? Sure you do.

According to Ban, all political parties taking part in the November local elections should steer clear of inflammatory rhetoric which could contribute to an upsurge in violence, mainly in the northern part of the province, Itar-Tass stated.

And which ethnic group lives in the northern part of Kosova!

Even Ban case see which ethnicity is prone to violence.
I rest my case!

The report expresses hope that all communities will regard UNMIK and its representative office in northern Kosovo as an important instrument of support to regional peace and stability.

UNMIK office is functional only in the northern Mitro, and even there only on paper.
If you don't beleive read the above coment from Ban KI Moon. So much for your 1244 , governing KoSOvA.

Kosova-USA,

You keep misspelling Kosovo!

Then: 1244 is still valid. If it was not there should not be UNMIK in Kosovo. But there is. And hey, EULEX is working witin the framework of 1244!

Forget about illegal independence, my friend!

A mutual agreed deal is fine of course.

You serbs keep making false accusations that Kosovar Albanians are stealing Kosovar Serb land. Really? All those people own their houses, they have proof, if this wasn't the case UNMIK & EULEX would have done everything about it.

Of course, we all know who is and was smuggling fuel and commodities through northern part of Kosova.

The reference to "province" was either added by the Russian news agency or B92. Nowhere in Ban's report does he ever refer to Kosovo as a province and definitely as a Serbian province.
He does note the number of recognitions Kosovo has obtained, and membership in the World Bank. He also said that UNMIK is working with the govt of Pristina to aid in their representation in organizations which the status issue makes it impossible for Kosovo to represent itself.

People calling for the UN and EU to assume more control over Kosovo or constantly ranting that UNMIK controls Kosovo reminds me of the question=="If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?"

Where does it say in any "international law" that a country can't declare independence?

The only deal the Serbia will get is what it wants in the end.
Kosovo is Serbia, love it or leave it.

Yes, EULEX is far more numerous on the ground but at the end of the day they are under the umbrella of UNMIK, so even if there was just 1 UNMIK personnel or even NONE, EULEX would still answer to UNMIK at the UN. Peter Feith can waffle as much as he likes, and so can any other European delegates, but EULEX signed a protocol which puts them under the direct supervision and control of UNMIK. And this is the beauty of the ICJ case. When Serbia wins it's case reaffirming it's ownership of Kosovo it'll finally dawn on the Albo's that the EULEX administration in Kosovo is simply to help bring them upto speed with Serbia before Serbia joins the EU, so that it can finally be integrated again into Serbia having not been left behind.

Thanks for all the effort EULEX, greatly appreciated, but even more so to UNMIK and the UNSC which oversees all of this. R.I.P "Kosova"

Who has voted for the UN? Who do they represent besides those that pay for their wages/ existence? Same is true for Eulex...why are they running the country. You want to steal land- there are courts and armies to handle this, whether it Kosovo, Quebec, Spain or even Ireland.

What case are you resting, Morris? The Albanians started this mess with your KLA terrorizing civilians and cowardly on police officers. When will the Albanians stop their wave of aggression and stealing of Serbian land? That is my case, Morris.

Declaring Kosovo independent. Illegally...
Well, that is not exactly being 'restraintful' I would say.

Time for the UN and the EU and the West to stop this Kosovo joke!

No special deal for Kosovo. Please respect internatinal law!

Time for the UN to get more involved in Kosovo!

It funny people are talking about violence in Northern Kosovo but my girlfriend has just returned from a trip to Mitrovica. She said she only saw 3 policemen for the duration (she was expecting many more men in uniform) whilst she was in the town (3 nights). She also said that the journey was uneventful.
---
No offense but wives and girlfriends always say the weekend trip was uneventful.

Law and order will be coming there soon.

"According to Ban, all political parties taking part in the November local elections should steer clear of inflammatory rhetoric which could contribute to an upsurge in violence, mainly in the northern part of the province, Itar-Tass stated."

-- And that can be achieved as long as Serbs and Albanians stay in their own spheres of influence. I highly doubt any Serbian party is going to make a dash for Pristina, but I certainly wouldn't put it past Hash, especially if he's down in the polls, to play the ethnic card and make overt statements of invading the north in order to get a boost from the nationalist camps. Accept that Kosovo is internally divided and is moving towards parallel institutions, and standards will be placed before status.

Where does it say in any "international law" that a country can't declare independence?
(KOSOVARi, 6 October 2009 21:30)

Well, I will give you a hint. You will get it black on white if you wait some 6-12 months. The ICJ in Hague will answer all you that thinks its possible to suddenly take a bit of a sovereign country and make it independent. The documents this court will lean on is the Final Helsinki act from 1975 and UNSC resolution 1244. Especially the Helsinki final act, that is signed by all European states (except Albania) and also US and Russia, will be of huge importance.

Where does it say in any "international law" that a country can't declare independence?
(KOSOVARi, 6 October 2009 21:30)

Well, I will give you a hint. You will get it black on white if you wait some 6-12 months. The ICJ in Hague will answer all you that thinks its possible to suddenly take a bit of a sovereign country and make it independent. The documents this court will lean on is the Final Helsinki act from 1975 and UNSC resolution 1244. Especially the Helsinki final act, that is signed by all European states (except Albania) and also US and Russia, will be of huge importance.
(Staff, 6 October 2009 22:45)

WRONG!!

Helsinki Accords establishes 10 key points that lay ground to member STATE sovereignty. None of the points state that it's illegal for a country to declare independence. In fact I challenge the authority of such a agreement signed only by 30 countries (of 192).

The Helsinki Accords served as the groundwork for the later Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), established under the Paris Charter.

I think the craziest thing about the Kosovo independence, is that, Albanians already have a country, isn't it even called Albania? Hmmm, the rest of the Yugoslavia break up almost makes sense (at least the groups of people originated from the land), but, giving Kosovo to the Albanians, it's just crazy! Damn, if you don't like Serbia, then go back to Albania, don't try and steal a part of someone else's country and then cry foul when "mummy" doesn't give you what you want. And of course America is mixed up in this, they have been trying to break up Yugoslavia from the beginning, the Albanians are very stupid if they think America is going to actually help them in anyway. The situation is almost laughable, if it wasn't for the reality of it all.

It funny people are talking about violence in Northern Kosovo but my girlfriend has just returned from a trip to Mitrovica. She said she only saw 3 policemen for the duration (she was expecting many more men in uniform) whilst she was in the town (3 nights). She also said that the journey was uneventful.

I for one am glad that violence in Kosovo does not seem as commonplace as some of us might think.

bganon,

I thought the exact same thing when I went to KM earlier this year. With all the stuff one hears on BBC, and from whatever outlets Albanians get their information from, Kosovska Mitrovica should have looked like 1930s Chicago with shootouts common enough to set one's clock to. I would have expected scores of two-meter tall bald-headed no necks intimidating the local population.

Instead, I found a completely functioning city that looked no different from a neighborhood in Belgrade or Novi Sad. Yes, I saw a few KFOR and EULEX soldiers, but 95% of them were sitting in Serbian kafane and and cafes talking with local Serbs (the burek was the best I've had in all of Serbia there). The markets were full, the restaurants were good, and well, the parking was horrendous, but that's commonplace. I was absolutely shocked to find northern Mitrovica to be as, well, functional, as it was. And everywhere I went, there wasn't a sign (not. a. sign.) that this was another country apart from Serbia. It goes to show one that "lawlessness" is really the lack of Pristina's law, not the lack of law itself.

The Helsinki Accords served as the groundwork for the later Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), established under the Paris Charter.
(KOSOVARi, 7 October 2009 00:53)

So then Abkhazia can claim indepence NOW?

'my girlfriend has just returned from a trip to Mitrovica. She said she only saw 3 policemen for the duration (she was expecting many more men in uniform)'

I respect a woman who expects more than three uniformed men. I dont care about her opinion about security or crime (can be two separate things).
But frankly i'm sick and tired of those who think one is one too many..
anyway, mitrovica? which one? Do you know our country has sremska and kosovska? Sure you do.

@ kosovari ...re-read your question a bit closer..A COUNTRY MAY DECLARE ANYTHING IT WANTS ...but a region of a country ( as is kosovo a region of serbia ) does not have that open ended right to change borders of a UN member state ( as is serbia). loopholes .."unique situations" "we cant live within serbia" "serbs are mean" ALL THAT can be said but it does not change the fact that kosovo CAN NOT PROCLAIM ANYTHING WITH SERBIAN APPROVAL!!!!!!!!