"No peace in Balkans without agreement"

The important thing to remember is that it was Serbia itself that brought on this whol ICJ thing - albanians always said that the ruling will not massively change the situation on the ground or stop our independence progress.

It was Serbia and its supporters that kept insisting on the ICJ and making grand statements how its ruling will demolish Kosovo's independence and have a huge political impact - now when the ruling clearly went the other way, we get people like Lajcak saying ....'Well you know what, this ruling doesnt really matter since it has no political impact'.

I always have said - Serbia's stance has nothing to do with international law but political interests (which is understandable), but this has spectacularly backfired on them.

Nothing changes with the ICJ decision towards independence. I invite the ethnic Albanians to push as hard as they can to prove to themselves that independence is irreversibly blocked. I'm afraid to say that celebrations by themselves are pointless and will achieve nothing.

The world needs something inbetween a country and province. Something that gives the people elements of independence while still respecting a country's sovereignty (even in a grey manner). I believe this will solve so many problems in this world. We are locked in by our flawed laws and we need to be freed from this evil.

Lets set a precedent that frees the world and lets talk about some kind of co-existence between our two ethnicities. We are the people of the Balkans and division only sets us all back.

Indeed, there must be dialogue, but in that sense Belgrade want(-ed) it. Hyseni reaffirmed that shortly after the court´s decision. Belgrade and Prishtina have to and will talk. The status, however, is once and for all determined. Kosovo has irreversible steps and the court proved them legal. The attempt of Serbia to dodge around that by saying that it was "only the UDI which was legal", will not help, since this was what Serbia´s wanted to be checked in the ICJ. If you wanted a different check, you should have define that in the beginning, not mentioning the fact that the UDI was absolutely sufficient to be checked, since a session is always the result of an UDI. So silly attempt as well.

It is time that the major powers make a clear stance to those renegade EU states. They cannot claim anymore that Kosovo`s independence is illegal. Of course, recognition is still not implied when independence is legal, but there is a responsibility of those states in the name of European values. One of them, is the free will of people, democracy and the prospect of a common will even with Serbia to join the EU. That is where they have to act. It is right, it is just, it is a fact and since yesterday, it is provenly legal. Chapter if Serbian Kosovo are closed. Now starts the future.

Move on Slovakia you can not have a stronger opinion than the hague and start to think litle bit more positive for the region and peace.

It is amusing that the pro-albanian crowd define 'dialogue' as the major states telling Serbia what it should do (through hook or by crook) and accept rather than an open, free and fair discussion between sovereign states.

But of course the West is completely the same as everywhere else around the world. They respect power first and foremost (i.e. the cake) but always dress it with words like democracy, equality and human rights (the icing).

Pristina doesn't even know how to negotiate without its hand being held..

It is time that the major powers make a clear stance to those renegade EU states. They cannot claim anymore that Kosovo`s independence is illegal. Of course, recognition is still not implied when independence is legal, but there is a responsibility of those states in the name of European values. One of them, is the free will of people, democracy and the prospect of a common will even with Serbia to join the EU. That is where they have to act. It is right, it is just, it is a fact and since yesterday, it is provenly legal. Chapter if Serbian Kosovo are closed. Now starts the future.
(JohnC., 23 July 2010 11:03

The judgment is non-binding, and the court did not say that Kosovo's independence was legal – merely that its declaration of independence was not illegal.

I personally never expected this new world order dominated kangaroo court to confirm the legality of 1244 resolution in Serbia's favour.Had they done so countries which participated in the bombing of Serbia would've been liable for prosecusion for war crimes.

The implication of the ICJ ruling is that it made a mockery of UN resolution 1244 which was signed by the UN security council.It just shows that UN resolutions in nowadays are not worth the paper they're written on.

The bad news for the Albanians is that neither China & Russia nor the EU five are going to change their position no matter what.The only solution is the negotiating table and you take it from there.

Leonidas,

You are right - the ICJ only ruled that UDI was not illegal but that leaves it to individuals countries to decided whether they want to recognize that declaration. And now that Serbia started a process that proved that the declaration was legal, many more countries are likely to recognize it. If you know a clause in UN resolution 1244 that prohibits declaration of indepedence, then please write to ICJ and let them know that they missed it - otherwise their interpretation is correct.

You can spin it any way you like but this is a major diplomatic defeat for Serbia - but hopefully it open the eyes of skeptics and pro-serbs that indepedence is a done deal.

There is still a need to negotiate about the north of Kosovo but until Serbia starts treating albanians as equal negotation partners then no compormise will ever be reached.

It is this serbian arrogance which commonly verges on racism towards albanians, that usually leads to these kind of defeats.

It is milosevic, kostunica, jeremic and the like that have actually helped our independence cause.

He really does miss is old job. Anyway he should get back to the job centre.

Expect Slowakia to slowly turnaround in the wake of icj ..

Lecjak: just recognize.

Your political position that UDI was illegal crumbeled as a castle made of carts.

Now you recognize and from today we talk to Belgrade as equal partner.

GAME OVER Lacjak: like it or not.

Now I wonder what the other smart guy Zapatero will have to say :)))

(Mister, 23 July 2010 15:42)

I did not say the opinion said that but I am saying that it is up to individual countries to interpret the ruling and decide whether they want to recognize....In many ways its the same as it was before ICJ but I do believe this is a good diplomatic victory for Kosovo and it will sway some contries to recongize.

At the end of the day it was Serbia that focused all its effort in the ICJ and made it sound like its ruling will be this divine decision with massive political consequences...now everyone is trying to downplay its significance because the ruling didnt go its way. Albanians always said ICJ will not change our stance and we never asked it for its opinion.

Mike,

There was no statue but there was a prominent article in a albanian language newspaper - Gazeta Express - titled 'Hvala Vuce' and whilst most albanian posters defend our current leaders in this site for obvious reasons, most of albanains are dissappointed with their incompetency particularly with their 'reactive' rather than pro-active approach to lobbying.

"He really does miss is old job. Anyway he should get back to the job centre."

Ian, UK

You should open a couple of job centers in Kosovo since 75 percent of the population are unemployed.

Lets set a precedent that frees the world and lets talk about some kind of co-existence between our two ethnicities. We are the people of the Balkans and division only sets us all back.
(Zoran, 23 July 2010 11:15)

Zoran,

What do you have in mind? "More than Autonomy..." I'm afraid that's a non-starter.

What you should be thinking about is a way in which Serbia can be a part of Europe. This will can only be accomplished with western educated people. Sending Jeremic back to school will take too long. The only hope for Serbia is to allow another western country such as Germany to run Serbia until it is brought up to standard.

"You are right - the ICJ only ruled that UDI was not illegal but that leaves it to individuals countries to decided whether they want to recognize that declaration"

You are nearly there but you couldn't help but keep making things up. The opinion did not say that. It said the act of declaration in itself in not illegal for anyone - absolutely anyone. It expressly stated that it did not consider whether the secession was illegal on the grounds that it was not asked that question. That does not necessarily leave it for other countries to decide.

btw I see as much racism against Serbs as I do against K-Albanians.

"It is milosevic, kostunica, jeremic and the like that have actually helped our independence cause." (nikshala)

-- Just to be funny for a minute, I think you guys should really build a statue of Jeremic in Pristina. He may very well have done more for your side than the jokers that currently embezzle state funds for their turbo mansions on Pristina's outskirts :)

I thought there would be 30 immediate recognitions today. Nothing seems to have changed?

(nikshala, 23 July 2010, 18:32)

With all due respect, in my view, all the spin is coming from the pro independence camp. I'm thoroughly disgusted with the BBC inaccurate reporting of this issue. There is nothing to interpret it was a very clear opinion.

When K-Albanians finally realise that even a ruling from the ICJ cannot break the deadlock then just maybe there will be meaningful negotiations and both sides make tangible concessions. I hope that happens sooner rather than later but I think it will take a lot of time in limbo. And I hope that when that happens there is a new member state at the UN.

Do you maybe think that Serbia has been working to this and that it, and others concerned about secession, were prepared for this? Think about the facts. This has went to the highest international court and that does not appear to have changed anything. Some further minor recognitions maybe.

With her policy, EU will gain Kosovo but will lose Serbia for good.

(Mister, 23 July 2010 22:56)

Mister
I expect some changes on the attitude of the neighbour countries that recognized Kosovo. There will be no more lack of invitation to Kosovo authorities on regional meetings held in capitals of those countries just for the sake of Serbia's presence. This means that there will be no more "Kosova prison camp" words here too.
This is the first change I am expecting to see for starters.
Also, I am expecting the road map for visa liberalisation since especially after ICJ opinion there will be no reason why the ordinary people of Kosovo can not move freely just because of status issues with Serbia.
I do not expect many more recognitions.

Move on Slovakia you can not have a stronger opinion than the hague and start to think litle bit more positive for the region and peace.

Indeed, there must be dialogue, but in that sense Belgrade want(-ed) it. Hyseni reaffirmed that shortly after the court´s decision. Belgrade and Prishtina have to and will talk. The status, however, is once and for all determined. Kosovo has irreversible steps and the court proved them legal. The attempt of Serbia to dodge around that by saying that it was "only the UDI which was legal", will not help, since this was what Serbia´s wanted to be checked in the ICJ. If you wanted a different check, you should have define that in the beginning, not mentioning the fact that the UDI was absolutely sufficient to be checked, since a session is always the result of an UDI. So silly attempt as well.

It is time that the major powers make a clear stance to those renegade EU states. They cannot claim anymore that Kosovo`s independence is illegal. Of course, recognition is still not implied when independence is legal, but there is a responsibility of those states in the name of European values. One of them, is the free will of people, democracy and the prospect of a common will even with Serbia to join the EU. That is where they have to act. It is right, it is just, it is a fact and since yesterday, it is provenly legal. Chapter if Serbian Kosovo are closed. Now starts the future.

The important thing to remember is that it was Serbia itself that brought on this whol ICJ thing - albanians always said that the ruling will not massively change the situation on the ground or stop our independence progress.

It was Serbia and its supporters that kept insisting on the ICJ and making grand statements how its ruling will demolish Kosovo's independence and have a huge political impact - now when the ruling clearly went the other way, we get people like Lajcak saying ....'Well you know what, this ruling doesnt really matter since it has no political impact'.

I always have said - Serbia's stance has nothing to do with international law but political interests (which is understandable), but this has spectacularly backfired on them.

Nothing changes with the ICJ decision towards independence. I invite the ethnic Albanians to push as hard as they can to prove to themselves that independence is irreversibly blocked. I'm afraid to say that celebrations by themselves are pointless and will achieve nothing.

The world needs something inbetween a country and province. Something that gives the people elements of independence while still respecting a country's sovereignty (even in a grey manner). I believe this will solve so many problems in this world. We are locked in by our flawed laws and we need to be freed from this evil.

Lets set a precedent that frees the world and lets talk about some kind of co-existence between our two ethnicities. We are the people of the Balkans and division only sets us all back.

He really does miss is old job. Anyway he should get back to the job centre.

Expect Slowakia to slowly turnaround in the wake of icj ..

It is time that the major powers make a clear stance to those renegade EU states. They cannot claim anymore that Kosovo`s independence is illegal. Of course, recognition is still not implied when independence is legal, but there is a responsibility of those states in the name of European values. One of them, is the free will of people, democracy and the prospect of a common will even with Serbia to join the EU. That is where they have to act. It is right, it is just, it is a fact and since yesterday, it is provenly legal. Chapter if Serbian Kosovo are closed. Now starts the future.
(JohnC., 23 July 2010 11:03

The judgment is non-binding, and the court did not say that Kosovo's independence was legal – merely that its declaration of independence was not illegal.

I personally never expected this new world order dominated kangaroo court to confirm the legality of 1244 resolution in Serbia's favour.Had they done so countries which participated in the bombing of Serbia would've been liable for prosecusion for war crimes.

The implication of the ICJ ruling is that it made a mockery of UN resolution 1244 which was signed by the UN security council.It just shows that UN resolutions in nowadays are not worth the paper they're written on.

The bad news for the Albanians is that neither China & Russia nor the EU five are going to change their position no matter what.The only solution is the negotiating table and you take it from there.

It is amusing that the pro-albanian crowd define 'dialogue' as the major states telling Serbia what it should do (through hook or by crook) and accept rather than an open, free and fair discussion between sovereign states.

But of course the West is completely the same as everywhere else around the world. They respect power first and foremost (i.e. the cake) but always dress it with words like democracy, equality and human rights (the icing).

Pristina doesn't even know how to negotiate without its hand being held..

Leonidas,

You are right - the ICJ only ruled that UDI was not illegal but that leaves it to individuals countries to decided whether they want to recognize that declaration. And now that Serbia started a process that proved that the declaration was legal, many more countries are likely to recognize it. If you know a clause in UN resolution 1244 that prohibits declaration of indepedence, then please write to ICJ and let them know that they missed it - otherwise their interpretation is correct.

You can spin it any way you like but this is a major diplomatic defeat for Serbia - but hopefully it open the eyes of skeptics and pro-serbs that indepedence is a done deal.

There is still a need to negotiate about the north of Kosovo but until Serbia starts treating albanians as equal negotation partners then no compormise will ever be reached.

It is this serbian arrogance which commonly verges on racism towards albanians, that usually leads to these kind of defeats.

It is milosevic, kostunica, jeremic and the like that have actually helped our independence cause.

Lecjak: just recognize.

Your political position that UDI was illegal crumbeled as a castle made of carts.

Now you recognize and from today we talk to Belgrade as equal partner.

GAME OVER Lacjak: like it or not.

Now I wonder what the other smart guy Zapatero will have to say :)))

"It is milosevic, kostunica, jeremic and the like that have actually helped our independence cause." (nikshala)

-- Just to be funny for a minute, I think you guys should really build a statue of Jeremic in Pristina. He may very well have done more for your side than the jokers that currently embezzle state funds for their turbo mansions on Pristina's outskirts :)

"He really does miss is old job. Anyway he should get back to the job centre."

Ian, UK

You should open a couple of job centers in Kosovo since 75 percent of the population are unemployed.

I thought there would be 30 immediate recognitions today. Nothing seems to have changed?

"You are right - the ICJ only ruled that UDI was not illegal but that leaves it to individuals countries to decided whether they want to recognize that declaration"

You are nearly there but you couldn't help but keep making things up. The opinion did not say that. It said the act of declaration in itself in not illegal for anyone - absolutely anyone. It expressly stated that it did not consider whether the secession was illegal on the grounds that it was not asked that question. That does not necessarily leave it for other countries to decide.

btw I see as much racism against Serbs as I do against K-Albanians.

(Mister, 23 July 2010 15:42)

I did not say the opinion said that but I am saying that it is up to individual countries to interpret the ruling and decide whether they want to recognize....In many ways its the same as it was before ICJ but I do believe this is a good diplomatic victory for Kosovo and it will sway some contries to recongize.

At the end of the day it was Serbia that focused all its effort in the ICJ and made it sound like its ruling will be this divine decision with massive political consequences...now everyone is trying to downplay its significance because the ruling didnt go its way. Albanians always said ICJ will not change our stance and we never asked it for its opinion.

Mike,

There was no statue but there was a prominent article in a albanian language newspaper - Gazeta Express - titled 'Hvala Vuce' and whilst most albanian posters defend our current leaders in this site for obvious reasons, most of albanains are dissappointed with their incompetency particularly with their 'reactive' rather than pro-active approach to lobbying.

Lets set a precedent that frees the world and lets talk about some kind of co-existence between our two ethnicities. We are the people of the Balkans and division only sets us all back.
(Zoran, 23 July 2010 11:15)

Zoran,

What do you have in mind? "More than Autonomy..." I'm afraid that's a non-starter.

What you should be thinking about is a way in which Serbia can be a part of Europe. This will can only be accomplished with western educated people. Sending Jeremic back to school will take too long. The only hope for Serbia is to allow another western country such as Germany to run Serbia until it is brought up to standard.

With her policy, EU will gain Kosovo but will lose Serbia for good.

(nikshala, 23 July 2010, 18:32)

With all due respect, in my view, all the spin is coming from the pro independence camp. I'm thoroughly disgusted with the BBC inaccurate reporting of this issue. There is nothing to interpret it was a very clear opinion.

When K-Albanians finally realise that even a ruling from the ICJ cannot break the deadlock then just maybe there will be meaningful negotiations and both sides make tangible concessions. I hope that happens sooner rather than later but I think it will take a lot of time in limbo. And I hope that when that happens there is a new member state at the UN.

Do you maybe think that Serbia has been working to this and that it, and others concerned about secession, were prepared for this? Think about the facts. This has went to the highest international court and that does not appear to have changed anything. Some further minor recognitions maybe.

(Mister, 23 July 2010 22:56)

Mister
I expect some changes on the attitude of the neighbour countries that recognized Kosovo. There will be no more lack of invitation to Kosovo authorities on regional meetings held in capitals of those countries just for the sake of Serbia's presence. This means that there will be no more "Kosova prison camp" words here too.
This is the first change I am expecting to see for starters.
Also, I am expecting the road map for visa liberalisation since especially after ICJ opinion there will be no reason why the ordinary people of Kosovo can not move freely just because of status issues with Serbia.
I do not expect many more recognitions.