Seems to me that the USA has managed yet again to keep its foot in the door by making sure Geographical Europe remains divided. There are enough non-recognising countries out there to make sure that Kosovo remains where it is. If there is no agreement from Serbia (regardless of any others) then Kosovo remains the poorest territory in the region. The money coming in is drying up... and the Worlds economy has bigger things to deal with than Kosovo. I`m sorry if this disturbs anyone but please face reality - the current Kosovo issue is nothing to do with Serbia and Kosovo, and more to do with Big Brother USA making sure Europe can`t get its own economy together.
The US is in a Depression and there are no indications of it emerging from this economic downward spiral – look at the latest news from Wall Street; month after month all bad. The EU is suffering from an economic mess of its own making; so the question is who or what is going to improve the economic standards in Kosovo? The EU’s budget is being reduced and forecasts are indicating that this will continue to occur for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
If the Albanians are living from hand to mouth with money from the EU now, what will happen when the EU budgets are cut further in the future?
(sj, 19 July 2010 03:32)
So it was in depression when it won two fronts in WWII. I hope your politicians are not as dump as to miscalculate like you are doing. Otherwise they will make a gravest mistake of their life.
And please don't worry about Kosovo. You have enough to worry as Serbia is over $10 billion in debt.
Empty statements from a yesterday's person (and from a yesterday's world power). Although I prefer Kosovo to remain Serbian as a whole, I have to admit that partition might solve the problem once and for all and that a worse situation in the future might be avoided. On the other hand, Pandora's box will be opened, but then again; maybe it was meant to be. In case Kosovo will be partitioned though, there is no need to compensate the Kosovo-Albanians for the North. It is Serbia that needs to be compensated for the loss of the territory South of the Ibar. A change with Presevo valley can be made, but only in case Albanians offer (small) parts of the South, since the North is already Serbian and can't be offered by others. Albanians can have Presevo if they offer Pec Patriarchy, Kosovo Polje (partly) and Gracanica plus some pieces that connect those places with the rest of Serbia. And yes, it might be true that Serbs live in the best parts of Kosovo, but then Albanians should have chosen those parts of the province to live in, to multiply and to expell Serbs from.
If the Albanians are living from hand to mouth with money from the EU now, what will happen when the EU budgets are cut further in the future?
(sj, 19 July 2010 03:32)
You're so unaware of the situation in Kosovo that I wonder how you dare commenting the economy of a Superpower...especially when branches of that Superpower (IMF, WB) saved Serbia in extremis from collapsing on year ago...and are still fuelling it...
By the way, I liked your piece in the Eurasia review a few days ago. Your comment on EU and US support for what amounts to 'slow motion ethnic cleansing' sums it up beautifully.
http://www.eurasiareview.com/201007175193/kosovo-is-a-moral-issue.html
Montgomery is right. If Serbia wants any success it needs to do much more to bring its case. Tadic, Jeremic and co assume that their main case is the illegality of Kosovo's independence. They are wrong. Their main case is what is happening in Kosovo: the ongoing discrimination, the massive amounts of occupied lands, the nearly mono-ethnic (ie totally cleansed) cities, the lack of refugee returns. Did you ever hear Tadic call Ahtisaari a hypocrite because he nearly totally ignores the refugees in his plan and hasn't said a word about them since then? That is the kind of discussion we need, but until now it is totally lacking.
Where is the journalist who confronts US ambassador in Kosovo Dell and asks him how many Serbs he thinks will be left in Kosovo in 30 years and then confronts him with the facts? Who will ask those Western defenders of Kosovo's borders because of "precedent" what kind of precedent they think it will make when they deliberately put the Serbs in Northern Kosovo in an environment where they will be heavily discriminated?
1. News of Serbia's offers on negotiations come out on newspapers. They involve swapping territories and recognition from Serbia.
2. One day later news from Kosovo newspapers come out and say Kosovo Albanian leadership want to coordinate with the international community in eventual negotiations. This means that Kosovo Albanian leadership want strong guarantees, a signature on that paper from those capable of holding Serbia (and also Kosovo) to their word. This also means Kosovo Albanian leadership is not saying no to those negotiations, they just do not trust Serbia. Not yet at least. Understandable. There could have been a start of negotiations here, for those who do not see it, negotiations about the mediators, that is "who is going to be the mediator". Serbia could have stated its position on the mediators and once that had been settled, real negotiations might have begun.
3. A couple of days later Tadic comes out and kills everything, brings us to the same position of the last two years that kills any negotiations, "never, never, never".
4. Montgomery (not an official voice, a former ambassador) comes out and says basically "bad move Tadic, you could get even less than what you want, and remember your political opponents". He reminds Tadic the US is needed for the negotiations. In fact, it is needed to bring the Albanians to the table, as a guarantor.
Now, what happened between points 2 and 3? In particular between Serbian government and the US? Judging from the words of Montgomery the deal failed. Would love to know the details of that deal. Who offered it, what did it contain? Any insights anybody? What could Serbia and the US have talked about in that couple of days?
All this assuming the news that came out on Blic and B92 on the negotiations have some truth in them.
The flaw in Montgomery’s is that he thinks 90% of Albanians that live below the poverty line are going put up with this situation for the next decade or so. You will note he makes no mention of the ordinary person but address the Albanian leadership in Kosovo.
When a so called superpower has to make statements like this it’s only because there is a huge flaw in their argument and its trying to reassure itself and its allies rather than anyone else.
The US is in a Depression and there are no indications of it emerging from this economic downward spiral – look at the latest news from Wall Street; month after month all bad. The EU is suffering from an economic mess of its own making; so the question is who or what is going to improve the economic standards in Kosovo? The EU’s budget is being reduced and forecasts are indicating that this will continue to occur for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
If the Albanians are living from hand to mouth with money from the EU now, what will happen when the EU budgets are cut further in the future?
I don't see why many from the pro-Serb camp can't understand that Washington will not agree to a partition. You see, the U.S. believes in punishing the transgressor, i.e. Serbia, therefore, by agreeing to a partition, in Washington's eyes, means rewarding Serbia. Before any partition of Kosova occurs Hell must have to freeze over.
Oh, and in case anyone forgot, the U.S. is still the richest and most militarily powerful country on earth and that is not going to change anytime soon. So, the U.S. will continue to calls the shots in the foreseeable future!
Has it crossed anyones mind why all "experts" NOW are so keen to speak about partition, how it could be this and that ?? The ICJ verdict will be a spike in the coffin for the "Kosova project". When it comes in about 100 hours, the saga is gone, gone and gone. Then the Kosovo people will see how their leaders have fooled them. They will be stuck there forever and ever. Kosovo will never, NEVR be a real country like Belgium, Spain, Denmark, India etc, never ! Mark my words !
Although I personally believe partition and territorial exchange may bring peace between Kosovo and Serbia. It won´t happen for a simple reason Kosovo gains nothing from it, but few villages in Southern Serbia. If Serbia succeds in convincing the west, Serbia will gain a lot more than what Slobo aimed at. For one thing, nothing will stop Republika Srpska from joining Serbia, or Krajina Serbs. You lose little and gain a lot more than you lost in 3 previous wars and without firing a single shot! Actually if this strategy comes from Tadic and Yeremic, it´s rather brilliant. Who should worry in case this happens is Bosnian Federation, Croatia, Macedonia! Because Serbia and Albania can just sit and wait as their territories grow on the account of their neighbors, and this is when I know that Americans are not as dumb as one think, and would never allow something like that to happen.
I agree. A formal partition will cause too many problems. There are more Serbians in the south of KiM than in the north. A functional partition where Serbians look after their own as do ethnic Albanians is already in place. Just sign on the line - more than autonomy, less than independence is as far as it goes.
"I just cannot understand why the US is so utterly opposed to opening the door for a real compromise that will let everyone - KAs, Serbia, EU, UN - move on?"
Because any peace agreement between Albos and Serbs how small they might seem, will strip the americans of their influence and their "Bondsteel" base and the surrounding area which they occupy. Nobody REALLY wants that pariah there anyway.
Peace ANYWHERE most notably in the middle east, is a disaster for USA since violence is the only language "McDonalds & Co" speaks. That is simply not an option.
Montgomery said that the Serbian government has focused all of its foreign and internal policies on the Kosovo question and has imprisoned itself in the case of many important issues.
"You" have also miscalculated and underestimated the Vietnamese, Castro,North Koreans, Ayatollahs and Iran, Sadam and Iraq, Taliban and Afghanistan,*Putinman*and Georgia, China, Serbia, by believing that the Serbs were going to lie down and play dead for you and give up on Kosovo because of your big guns and "mighty noble warriors"--LOL.
And sooner than later, my brotherman, you'll get to experience your miscalculation of your beloved new partners in crime against Serbia--The KLA and the Kosovo Albanians.
You people need to chill with causing so much suffering to innocent people around the globe and mind your own MF business, for once!
Guess what Hoss--Kosovo is Serbia, otherwise "you" wouldn't have invoked the 1903 Serbia/America treaty on extradition.
""Since the U.S. will not be convincing the Kosovo Albanians to meet Serbia’s demands, this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently, [Montgomery] said."
-- That ultimately depends on what Belgrade demands - or what it is able to demand. If after all of this all they want is a partition of the north at the Ibar while writing off the rest to EULEX, Washington can certainly be amenable to what it regards as a de facto fait accompli. Yes, Pristina's extremist will hem and haw but if the US can still spin this as a victory in preserving "Kosovo's independence" and moving on, I think we'd be surprised how quickly Washington will change its tune.
Should Belgrade push for more (enclaves and municipalities south of the Ibar as well), then partition becomes increasingly unlikely.
"Since the U.S. will not be convincing the Kosovo Albanians to meet Serbia’s demands, this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently,"
Yes, this concert of America approach does make it harder for Serbs and Albanians to make agreements between each other. This has been especially hurtful to the Serbs, because the Albanians have had no accountability in this process.
However, just because the U.S. says so doesn't mean that's the way it is, and Albanians should take heed of that.
For example I'm sure Mr. Sakashvili wishes the U.S would have have convinced him not to provoke Russia by invading South Ossetia.
Also, I wonder if the Izetbegovic group wishes they would have signed the Lisbon treaty in 1992 with the Serbs and Croats instead of taking their names off the paper based upon the American ambassador Zimmerman's advice.
The chances of an utterly bankrupt USA retaining a lot of influence in the Balkans is remarkably slim.There is no American military intervention on the table anymore. When is Serbia going to stop fearing empty American threats? We can't even clean up our beaches.
I just cannot understand why the US is so utterly opposed to opening the door for a real compromise that will let everyone - KAs, Serbia, EU, UN - move on?
Are they that afraid that the KAs will resort to violence and expose just unprepared they really were for 'independence'. If it isn't that, then it's almost as if Washington actually wants to keep Kosovo in limbo.
Maybe the KAs will learn one day that being an autonomous actor means taking one's own decisions and seek an honourable and peaceful solution with Belgrade that will give them real statehood in return for giving up territory that they will never control anyway.
"this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently, he said."
Serbs got nothing in the first place but now have to accept less. Hmmm!
The fact is that Serbs got nothing to begin with and are now fighting for something.
He said that it would be difficult for Belgrade to back down from the strict stances that the government has taken now without engaging in serious confrontations with political opponents.
Let me get this straight. If I defend myself against rape and robbery then I brought this confrontation on myself.
Do these buffoons have any idea how embarrassing they sound.
"Since the U.S. will not be convincing the Kosovo Albanians to meet Serbia’s demands, this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently, he said."
In the first place there is already a de facto partition at the Ibar.
Secondly, this man's reasoning that Serbia "must" just because the US says so is plain ridiculous -- Serbia has been saying no to the Yankees since 1999! And must continue to thumb her nose at them!
"Since the U.S. will not be convincing the Kosovo Albanians to meet Serbia’s demands, this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently, he said."
In the first place there is already a de facto partition at the Ibar.
Secondly, this man's reasoning that Serbia "must" just because the US says so is plain ridiculous -- Serbia has been saying no to the Yankees since 1999! And must continue to thumb her nose at them!
The chances of an utterly bankrupt USA retaining a lot of influence in the Balkans is remarkably slim.There is no American military intervention on the table anymore. When is Serbia going to stop fearing empty American threats? We can't even clean up our beaches.
"this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently, he said."
Serbs got nothing in the first place but now have to accept less. Hmmm!
The fact is that Serbs got nothing to begin with and are now fighting for something.
"Since the U.S. will not be convincing the Kosovo Albanians to meet Serbia’s demands, this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently,"
Yes, this concert of America approach does make it harder for Serbs and Albanians to make agreements between each other. This has been especially hurtful to the Serbs, because the Albanians have had no accountability in this process.
However, just because the U.S. says so doesn't mean that's the way it is, and Albanians should take heed of that.
For example I'm sure Mr. Sakashvili wishes the U.S would have have convinced him not to provoke Russia by invading South Ossetia.
Also, I wonder if the Izetbegovic group wishes they would have signed the Lisbon treaty in 1992 with the Serbs and Croats instead of taking their names off the paper based upon the American ambassador Zimmerman's advice.
He said that it would be difficult for Belgrade to back down from the strict stances that the government has taken now without engaging in serious confrontations with political opponents.
Let me get this straight. If I defend myself against rape and robbery then I brought this confrontation on myself.
Do these buffoons have any idea how embarrassing they sound.
I just cannot understand why the US is so utterly opposed to opening the door for a real compromise that will let everyone - KAs, Serbia, EU, UN - move on?
Are they that afraid that the KAs will resort to violence and expose just unprepared they really were for 'independence'. If it isn't that, then it's almost as if Washington actually wants to keep Kosovo in limbo.
Maybe the KAs will learn one day that being an autonomous actor means taking one's own decisions and seek an honourable and peaceful solution with Belgrade that will give them real statehood in return for giving up territory that they will never control anyway.
Has it crossed anyones mind why all "experts" NOW are so keen to speak about partition, how it could be this and that ?? The ICJ verdict will be a spike in the coffin for the "Kosova project". When it comes in about 100 hours, the saga is gone, gone and gone. Then the Kosovo people will see how their leaders have fooled them. They will be stuck there forever and ever. Kosovo will never, NEVR be a real country like Belgium, Spain, Denmark, India etc, never ! Mark my words !
""Since the U.S. will not be convincing the Kosovo Albanians to meet Serbia’s demands, this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently, [Montgomery] said."
-- That ultimately depends on what Belgrade demands - or what it is able to demand. If after all of this all they want is a partition of the north at the Ibar while writing off the rest to EULEX, Washington can certainly be amenable to what it regards as a de facto fait accompli. Yes, Pristina's extremist will hem and haw but if the US can still spin this as a victory in preserving "Kosovo's independence" and moving on, I think we'd be surprised how quickly Washington will change its tune.
Should Belgrade push for more (enclaves and municipalities south of the Ibar as well), then partition becomes increasingly unlikely.
Montgomery said that the Serbian government has focused all of its foreign and internal policies on the Kosovo question and has imprisoned itself in the case of many important issues.
"You" have also miscalculated and underestimated the Vietnamese, Castro,North Koreans, Ayatollahs and Iran, Sadam and Iraq, Taliban and Afghanistan,*Putinman*and Georgia, China, Serbia, by believing that the Serbs were going to lie down and play dead for you and give up on Kosovo because of your big guns and "mighty noble warriors"--LOL.
And sooner than later, my brotherman, you'll get to experience your miscalculation of your beloved new partners in crime against Serbia--The KLA and the Kosovo Albanians.
You people need to chill with causing so much suffering to innocent people around the globe and mind your own MF business, for once!
Guess what Hoss--Kosovo is Serbia, otherwise "you" wouldn't have invoked the 1903 Serbia/America treaty on extradition.
I agree. A formal partition will cause too many problems. There are more Serbians in the south of KiM than in the north. A functional partition where Serbians look after their own as do ethnic Albanians is already in place. Just sign on the line - more than autonomy, less than independence is as far as it goes.
Although I personally believe partition and territorial exchange may bring peace between Kosovo and Serbia. It won´t happen for a simple reason Kosovo gains nothing from it, but few villages in Southern Serbia. If Serbia succeds in convincing the west, Serbia will gain a lot more than what Slobo aimed at. For one thing, nothing will stop Republika Srpska from joining Serbia, or Krajina Serbs. You lose little and gain a lot more than you lost in 3 previous wars and without firing a single shot! Actually if this strategy comes from Tadic and Yeremic, it´s rather brilliant. Who should worry in case this happens is Bosnian Federation, Croatia, Macedonia! Because Serbia and Albania can just sit and wait as their territories grow on the account of their neighbors, and this is when I know that Americans are not as dumb as one think, and would never allow something like that to happen.
Montgomery is right. If Serbia wants any success it needs to do much more to bring its case. Tadic, Jeremic and co assume that their main case is the illegality of Kosovo's independence. They are wrong. Their main case is what is happening in Kosovo: the ongoing discrimination, the massive amounts of occupied lands, the nearly mono-ethnic (ie totally cleansed) cities, the lack of refugee returns. Did you ever hear Tadic call Ahtisaari a hypocrite because he nearly totally ignores the refugees in his plan and hasn't said a word about them since then? That is the kind of discussion we need, but until now it is totally lacking.
Where is the journalist who confronts US ambassador in Kosovo Dell and asks him how many Serbs he thinks will be left in Kosovo in 30 years and then confronts him with the facts? Who will ask those Western defenders of Kosovo's borders because of "precedent" what kind of precedent they think it will make when they deliberately put the Serbs in Northern Kosovo in an environment where they will be heavily discriminated?
"I just cannot understand why the US is so utterly opposed to opening the door for a real compromise that will let everyone - KAs, Serbia, EU, UN - move on?"
Because any peace agreement between Albos and Serbs how small they might seem, will strip the americans of their influence and their "Bondsteel" base and the surrounding area which they occupy. Nobody REALLY wants that pariah there anyway.
Peace ANYWHERE most notably in the middle east, is a disaster for USA since violence is the only language "McDonalds & Co" speaks. That is simply not an option.
I don't see why many from the pro-Serb camp can't understand that Washington will not agree to a partition. You see, the U.S. believes in punishing the transgressor, i.e. Serbia, therefore, by agreeing to a partition, in Washington's eyes, means rewarding Serbia. Before any partition of Kosova occurs Hell must have to freeze over.
Oh, and in case anyone forgot, the U.S. is still the richest and most militarily powerful country on earth and that is not going to change anytime soon. So, the U.S. will continue to calls the shots in the foreseeable future!
By the way, I liked your piece in the Eurasia review a few days ago. Your comment on EU and US support for what amounts to 'slow motion ethnic cleansing' sums it up beautifully.
http://www.eurasiareview.com/201007175193/kosovo-is-a-moral-issue.html
Empty statements from a yesterday's person (and from a yesterday's world power). Although I prefer Kosovo to remain Serbian as a whole, I have to admit that partition might solve the problem once and for all and that a worse situation in the future might be avoided. On the other hand, Pandora's box will be opened, but then again; maybe it was meant to be. In case Kosovo will be partitioned though, there is no need to compensate the Kosovo-Albanians for the North. It is Serbia that needs to be compensated for the loss of the territory South of the Ibar. A change with Presevo valley can be made, but only in case Albanians offer (small) parts of the South, since the North is already Serbian and can't be offered by others. Albanians can have Presevo if they offer Pec Patriarchy, Kosovo Polje (partly) and Gracanica plus some pieces that connect those places with the rest of Serbia. And yes, it might be true that Serbs live in the best parts of Kosovo, but then Albanians should have chosen those parts of the province to live in, to multiply and to expell Serbs from.
If the Albanians are living from hand to mouth with money from the EU now, what will happen when the EU budgets are cut further in the future?
(sj, 19 July 2010 03:32)
You're so unaware of the situation in Kosovo that I wonder how you dare commenting the economy of a Superpower...especially when branches of that Superpower (IMF, WB) saved Serbia in extremis from collapsing on year ago...and are still fuelling it...
The flaw in Montgomery’s is that he thinks 90% of Albanians that live below the poverty line are going put up with this situation for the next decade or so. You will note he makes no mention of the ordinary person but address the Albanian leadership in Kosovo.
When a so called superpower has to make statements like this it’s only because there is a huge flaw in their argument and its trying to reassure itself and its allies rather than anyone else.
The US is in a Depression and there are no indications of it emerging from this economic downward spiral – look at the latest news from Wall Street; month after month all bad. The EU is suffering from an economic mess of its own making; so the question is who or what is going to improve the economic standards in Kosovo? The EU’s budget is being reduced and forecasts are indicating that this will continue to occur for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
If the Albanians are living from hand to mouth with money from the EU now, what will happen when the EU budgets are cut further in the future?
The US is in a Depression and there are no indications of it emerging from this economic downward spiral – look at the latest news from Wall Street; month after month all bad. The EU is suffering from an economic mess of its own making; so the question is who or what is going to improve the economic standards in Kosovo? The EU’s budget is being reduced and forecasts are indicating that this will continue to occur for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
If the Albanians are living from hand to mouth with money from the EU now, what will happen when the EU budgets are cut further in the future?
(sj, 19 July 2010 03:32)
So it was in depression when it won two fronts in WWII. I hope your politicians are not as dump as to miscalculate like you are doing. Otherwise they will make a gravest mistake of their life.
And please don't worry about Kosovo. You have enough to worry as Serbia is over $10 billion in debt.
Seems to me that the USA has managed yet again to keep its foot in the door by making sure Geographical Europe remains divided. There are enough non-recognising countries out there to make sure that Kosovo remains where it is. If there is no agreement from Serbia (regardless of any others) then Kosovo remains the poorest territory in the region. The money coming in is drying up... and the Worlds economy has bigger things to deal with than Kosovo. I`m sorry if this disturbs anyone but please face reality - the current Kosovo issue is nothing to do with Serbia and Kosovo, and more to do with Big Brother USA making sure Europe can`t get its own economy together.
1. News of Serbia's offers on negotiations come out on newspapers. They involve swapping territories and recognition from Serbia.
2. One day later news from Kosovo newspapers come out and say Kosovo Albanian leadership want to coordinate with the international community in eventual negotiations. This means that Kosovo Albanian leadership want strong guarantees, a signature on that paper from those capable of holding Serbia (and also Kosovo) to their word. This also means Kosovo Albanian leadership is not saying no to those negotiations, they just do not trust Serbia. Not yet at least. Understandable. There could have been a start of negotiations here, for those who do not see it, negotiations about the mediators, that is "who is going to be the mediator". Serbia could have stated its position on the mediators and once that had been settled, real negotiations might have begun.
3. A couple of days later Tadic comes out and kills everything, brings us to the same position of the last two years that kills any negotiations, "never, never, never".
4. Montgomery (not an official voice, a former ambassador) comes out and says basically "bad move Tadic, you could get even less than what you want, and remember your political opponents". He reminds Tadic the US is needed for the negotiations. In fact, it is needed to bring the Albanians to the table, as a guarantor.
Now, what happened between points 2 and 3? In particular between Serbian government and the US? Judging from the words of Montgomery the deal failed. Would love to know the details of that deal. Who offered it, what did it contain? Any insights anybody? What could Serbia and the US have talked about in that couple of days?
All this assuming the news that came out on Blic and B92 on the negotiations have some truth in them.
"Since the U.S. will not be convincing the Kosovo Albanians to meet Serbia’s demands, this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently, he said."
In the first place there is already a de facto partition at the Ibar.
Secondly, this man's reasoning that Serbia "must" just because the US says so is plain ridiculous -- Serbia has been saying no to the Yankees since 1999! And must continue to thumb her nose at them!
The chances of an utterly bankrupt USA retaining a lot of influence in the Balkans is remarkably slim.There is no American military intervention on the table anymore. When is Serbia going to stop fearing empty American threats? We can't even clean up our beaches.
I just cannot understand why the US is so utterly opposed to opening the door for a real compromise that will let everyone - KAs, Serbia, EU, UN - move on?
Are they that afraid that the KAs will resort to violence and expose just unprepared they really were for 'independence'. If it isn't that, then it's almost as if Washington actually wants to keep Kosovo in limbo.
Maybe the KAs will learn one day that being an autonomous actor means taking one's own decisions and seek an honourable and peaceful solution with Belgrade that will give them real statehood in return for giving up territory that they will never control anyway.
"this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently, he said."
Serbs got nothing in the first place but now have to accept less. Hmmm!
The fact is that Serbs got nothing to begin with and are now fighting for something.
"Since the U.S. will not be convincing the Kosovo Albanians to meet Serbia’s demands, this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently,"
Yes, this concert of America approach does make it harder for Serbs and Albanians to make agreements between each other. This has been especially hurtful to the Serbs, because the Albanians have had no accountability in this process.
However, just because the U.S. says so doesn't mean that's the way it is, and Albanians should take heed of that.
For example I'm sure Mr. Sakashvili wishes the U.S would have have convinced him not to provoke Russia by invading South Ossetia.
Also, I wonder if the Izetbegovic group wishes they would have signed the Lisbon treaty in 1992 with the Serbs and Croats instead of taking their names off the paper based upon the American ambassador Zimmerman's advice.
""Since the U.S. will not be convincing the Kosovo Albanians to meet Serbia’s demands, this means that Serbia must accept a lot less than it is willing to consider currently, [Montgomery] said."
-- That ultimately depends on what Belgrade demands - or what it is able to demand. If after all of this all they want is a partition of the north at the Ibar while writing off the rest to EULEX, Washington can certainly be amenable to what it regards as a de facto fait accompli. Yes, Pristina's extremist will hem and haw but if the US can still spin this as a victory in preserving "Kosovo's independence" and moving on, I think we'd be surprised how quickly Washington will change its tune.
Should Belgrade push for more (enclaves and municipalities south of the Ibar as well), then partition becomes increasingly unlikely.
He said that it would be difficult for Belgrade to back down from the strict stances that the government has taken now without engaging in serious confrontations with political opponents.
Let me get this straight. If I defend myself against rape and robbery then I brought this confrontation on myself.
Do these buffoons have any idea how embarrassing they sound.
Has it crossed anyones mind why all "experts" NOW are so keen to speak about partition, how it could be this and that ?? The ICJ verdict will be a spike in the coffin for the "Kosova project". When it comes in about 100 hours, the saga is gone, gone and gone. Then the Kosovo people will see how their leaders have fooled them. They will be stuck there forever and ever. Kosovo will never, NEVR be a real country like Belgium, Spain, Denmark, India etc, never ! Mark my words !
I don't see why many from the pro-Serb camp can't understand that Washington will not agree to a partition. You see, the U.S. believes in punishing the transgressor, i.e. Serbia, therefore, by agreeing to a partition, in Washington's eyes, means rewarding Serbia. Before any partition of Kosova occurs Hell must have to freeze over.
Oh, and in case anyone forgot, the U.S. is still the richest and most militarily powerful country on earth and that is not going to change anytime soon. So, the U.S. will continue to calls the shots in the foreseeable future!
Montgomery said that the Serbian government has focused all of its foreign and internal policies on the Kosovo question and has imprisoned itself in the case of many important issues.
"You" have also miscalculated and underestimated the Vietnamese, Castro,North Koreans, Ayatollahs and Iran, Sadam and Iraq, Taliban and Afghanistan,*Putinman*and Georgia, China, Serbia, by believing that the Serbs were going to lie down and play dead for you and give up on Kosovo because of your big guns and "mighty noble warriors"--LOL.
And sooner than later, my brotherman, you'll get to experience your miscalculation of your beloved new partners in crime against Serbia--The KLA and the Kosovo Albanians.
You people need to chill with causing so much suffering to innocent people around the globe and mind your own MF business, for once!
Guess what Hoss--Kosovo is Serbia, otherwise "you" wouldn't have invoked the 1903 Serbia/America treaty on extradition.
I agree. A formal partition will cause too many problems. There are more Serbians in the south of KiM than in the north. A functional partition where Serbians look after their own as do ethnic Albanians is already in place. Just sign on the line - more than autonomy, less than independence is as far as it goes.
"I just cannot understand why the US is so utterly opposed to opening the door for a real compromise that will let everyone - KAs, Serbia, EU, UN - move on?"
Because any peace agreement between Albos and Serbs how small they might seem, will strip the americans of their influence and their "Bondsteel" base and the surrounding area which they occupy. Nobody REALLY wants that pariah there anyway.
Peace ANYWHERE most notably in the middle east, is a disaster for USA since violence is the only language "McDonalds & Co" speaks. That is simply not an option.
The US is in a Depression and there are no indications of it emerging from this economic downward spiral – look at the latest news from Wall Street; month after month all bad. The EU is suffering from an economic mess of its own making; so the question is who or what is going to improve the economic standards in Kosovo? The EU’s budget is being reduced and forecasts are indicating that this will continue to occur for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
If the Albanians are living from hand to mouth with money from the EU now, what will happen when the EU budgets are cut further in the future?
(sj, 19 July 2010 03:32)
So it was in depression when it won two fronts in WWII. I hope your politicians are not as dump as to miscalculate like you are doing. Otherwise they will make a gravest mistake of their life.
And please don't worry about Kosovo. You have enough to worry as Serbia is over $10 billion in debt.
If the Albanians are living from hand to mouth with money from the EU now, what will happen when the EU budgets are cut further in the future?
(sj, 19 July 2010 03:32)
You're so unaware of the situation in Kosovo that I wonder how you dare commenting the economy of a Superpower...especially when branches of that Superpower (IMF, WB) saved Serbia in extremis from collapsing on year ago...and are still fuelling it...
Although I personally believe partition and territorial exchange may bring peace between Kosovo and Serbia. It won´t happen for a simple reason Kosovo gains nothing from it, but few villages in Southern Serbia. If Serbia succeds in convincing the west, Serbia will gain a lot more than what Slobo aimed at. For one thing, nothing will stop Republika Srpska from joining Serbia, or Krajina Serbs. You lose little and gain a lot more than you lost in 3 previous wars and without firing a single shot! Actually if this strategy comes from Tadic and Yeremic, it´s rather brilliant. Who should worry in case this happens is Bosnian Federation, Croatia, Macedonia! Because Serbia and Albania can just sit and wait as their territories grow on the account of their neighbors, and this is when I know that Americans are not as dumb as one think, and would never allow something like that to happen.
1. News of Serbia's offers on negotiations come out on newspapers. They involve swapping territories and recognition from Serbia.
2. One day later news from Kosovo newspapers come out and say Kosovo Albanian leadership want to coordinate with the international community in eventual negotiations. This means that Kosovo Albanian leadership want strong guarantees, a signature on that paper from those capable of holding Serbia (and also Kosovo) to their word. This also means Kosovo Albanian leadership is not saying no to those negotiations, they just do not trust Serbia. Not yet at least. Understandable. There could have been a start of negotiations here, for those who do not see it, negotiations about the mediators, that is "who is going to be the mediator". Serbia could have stated its position on the mediators and once that had been settled, real negotiations might have begun.
3. A couple of days later Tadic comes out and kills everything, brings us to the same position of the last two years that kills any negotiations, "never, never, never".
4. Montgomery (not an official voice, a former ambassador) comes out and says basically "bad move Tadic, you could get even less than what you want, and remember your political opponents". He reminds Tadic the US is needed for the negotiations. In fact, it is needed to bring the Albanians to the table, as a guarantor.
Now, what happened between points 2 and 3? In particular between Serbian government and the US? Judging from the words of Montgomery the deal failed. Would love to know the details of that deal. Who offered it, what did it contain? Any insights anybody? What could Serbia and the US have talked about in that couple of days?
All this assuming the news that came out on Blic and B92 on the negotiations have some truth in them.
Empty statements from a yesterday's person (and from a yesterday's world power). Although I prefer Kosovo to remain Serbian as a whole, I have to admit that partition might solve the problem once and for all and that a worse situation in the future might be avoided. On the other hand, Pandora's box will be opened, but then again; maybe it was meant to be. In case Kosovo will be partitioned though, there is no need to compensate the Kosovo-Albanians for the North. It is Serbia that needs to be compensated for the loss of the territory South of the Ibar. A change with Presevo valley can be made, but only in case Albanians offer (small) parts of the South, since the North is already Serbian and can't be offered by others. Albanians can have Presevo if they offer Pec Patriarchy, Kosovo Polje (partly) and Gracanica plus some pieces that connect those places with the rest of Serbia. And yes, it might be true that Serbs live in the best parts of Kosovo, but then Albanians should have chosen those parts of the province to live in, to multiply and to expell Serbs from.
Montgomery is right. If Serbia wants any success it needs to do much more to bring its case. Tadic, Jeremic and co assume that their main case is the illegality of Kosovo's independence. They are wrong. Their main case is what is happening in Kosovo: the ongoing discrimination, the massive amounts of occupied lands, the nearly mono-ethnic (ie totally cleansed) cities, the lack of refugee returns. Did you ever hear Tadic call Ahtisaari a hypocrite because he nearly totally ignores the refugees in his plan and hasn't said a word about them since then? That is the kind of discussion we need, but until now it is totally lacking.
Where is the journalist who confronts US ambassador in Kosovo Dell and asks him how many Serbs he thinks will be left in Kosovo in 30 years and then confronts him with the facts? Who will ask those Western defenders of Kosovo's borders because of "precedent" what kind of precedent they think it will make when they deliberately put the Serbs in Northern Kosovo in an environment where they will be heavily discriminated?
The flaw in Montgomery’s is that he thinks 90% of Albanians that live below the poverty line are going put up with this situation for the next decade or so. You will note he makes no mention of the ordinary person but address the Albanian leadership in Kosovo.
When a so called superpower has to make statements like this it’s only because there is a huge flaw in their argument and its trying to reassure itself and its allies rather than anyone else.
The US is in a Depression and there are no indications of it emerging from this economic downward spiral – look at the latest news from Wall Street; month after month all bad. The EU is suffering from an economic mess of its own making; so the question is who or what is going to improve the economic standards in Kosovo? The EU’s budget is being reduced and forecasts are indicating that this will continue to occur for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
If the Albanians are living from hand to mouth with money from the EU now, what will happen when the EU budgets are cut further in the future?
By the way, I liked your piece in the Eurasia review a few days ago. Your comment on EU and US support for what amounts to 'slow motion ethnic cleansing' sums it up beautifully.
http://www.eurasiareview.com/201007175193/kosovo-is-a-moral-issue.html
Seems to me that the USA has managed yet again to keep its foot in the door by making sure Geographical Europe remains divided. There are enough non-recognising countries out there to make sure that Kosovo remains where it is. If there is no agreement from Serbia (regardless of any others) then Kosovo remains the poorest territory in the region. The money coming in is drying up... and the Worlds economy has bigger things to deal with than Kosovo. I`m sorry if this disturbs anyone but please face reality - the current Kosovo issue is nothing to do with Serbia and Kosovo, and more to do with Big Brother USA making sure Europe can`t get its own economy together.
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