"UNSC veto, Serbia's new Kosovo tactic"

So how about this???

As strong as Russia is bullying Kosova

with the same force the west should reply to Serbia???

So, you bully Kosova- I bully Serbia.

Kiss goodbye EU and economic aid and donations. Kiss goodbye FDIs. Kiss goodbye World Bank, IMF, EBRD...

I think it this is fair.

What do you think??

Feeling the pressure, eh, Ben? Your frustration is really starting to show now.

Windmills? No,let`s be serious! Nobody really believes that Belgrade will ever rule there again. So what are they fighting for in fact?

No-one is more stubborn than a Serbian.

Russia would probably veto Kosovo's membership however PR China would never veto Kosovo. PR China has only vetoed three times in the UNSC and all three times were directly related to the Taiwan dispute. PR China doesn't veto if the issue isn't directly related to it, they prefer to abstain instead. Russia would veto Kosovo's membership though. Kosovo will probably try and get Observer status in the UN first as this can not be vetoed in the UNSC, then use this as a stepping stone towards full membership. Also Observer status would imply UN recognition.

Ah and I was about to forget:

of course you make my life hard I make the life of Serbs in Kosova even harder.

So no more cheriffs in the north.

No more I don't pay the utilities since I am from the divine nation.

No more I don't pay customs.

No more I want Serbian Telecom; Serbian car plates; Serbian pensions and BS of that kind.

Then if this is not enought: no more Serbian language in institutions; no more Serian in shops and any other public places; no more gathering to celebrate lost battles (they are lost what's there for a normal ppl to celebrate for???); no more Tadic visits Kosova (the only Serbian president that EVER visted Kosova was Milosevic in 1988 - so why should I allow to Tadic this???); and many other nice things.

So what do you think about this???

I think it is fair.

After all you complain as Serbs in Kosova indeed live under this kind of conditions. So why not make that true- at least you would have some credibility in your claims.

I hope this time they know what they are doing and I hope this time they will consult Russia and China. Another lost battle will be crucial not for Serbia or it’s discussed province but for Jeremic personally. Boris will remain but his chair too will be damaged. UNGA decisions are same as ICJ cause they are too not obligatory for the states.

But Serbia also cannot afford the score to be increased. So the stakes go up. Thus if we gain GA the score will be equal with moral support on our side. But if we lose we shall have to go to the mountains or find another radical solution. In any case it will be a öóãöâàíã situation for us cause we all know that with 2 vetoes against 3 Serbia can neither win nor lose the UNSC.

Do not know if this some kind of hype generated for Serbian Nationalists or what.
It is common knowledge that the Serbia-Kosovo issue is pretty much at a dead end in the UNSC.
There is nothing at the moment that benefits either side will pass in the UNSC.
What is interesting is how Serbia pre ICJ touted how important the decision would be eventhough it was nonbinding, then once it was made public began to decry the opinion as insignificant.
This time they are already dismissing any decision by the UNGA as insignificant.

After losing the legal (ICJ) and the moral (UN GA) fight, holding on the UNSC would be political nonsense. The West is not going to tolerate Serbia's stubborness after those 2 lost battles. If Serbia continues to accept reality then I can imagine a lot of things happen, starting with the VISA free regime, revoking all investments(even when compared to a possible EU accession small) and establishing high custom tax, making it absolutely not profitable to export from Serbia to the EU, not mentioning deteriorating bilateral relations which can easily go back to the 90s situation. And all this without having Kosovo at all.

It is enough!

This is interesting; it's the Rocky strategy. It actually may work because it makes Serbia look more like the victim and the US as a huge bully. The Serbs lose but they keep on battling. The Albanians laugh and insult Serbs, although they do it by hiding behind Biden's back whenever someone challenges their smugness for they are cowards. Who ends up looking bad? In the eyes of non biased nations, it's the US (actually it's Clinton and Biden's US not mine). Who is the folk here? It's the Serbs and Jeremic and Tadic who keep getting up after being knocked down! I like it! Of course it doesn't hurt to have two powers who can't stand the US on your side, China and Russia;-)

Now is this even newsworthy? Serbia already has the support of Russia and China in the UNSC.

If Washington and Brussels don't like this policy they can always go to the ICJ to ask whether Kosovo's independence and their recognition of it is legal or not. They know what answer they will get and they don't like it.

"In the eyes of non biased nations,"

See, the thing is, no one cares. No one's going to be looking at this because other nations don't care about this issue. It's hard for Serbs (indeed all balkans peoples) to comprehend that the world doesn't revolve around them and their issues.

If anything this will register as a blip. "oh, Serbia is having another tantrum" and then forgotten.

Serbia should let this go. Nothing major will happen if it doesn't, so no biggie either way.

"All those Serb haters out there that want Serbia to be brought to its knees. I got some bad news for you. It isn't goona happen. Why? Because we are smarter than you. "
Peter

Do you think being smart is enough?

Serbia's tactical demoralizing of Albanian seperatism via diplomacy continues. Hey ALBANIANS, where's at least 1 of the 50 recognitions, hmmm?

Serbia seems to be forgetting that the US, the UK and France also wield veto power at the UNSC.

You call this "the new tactic"?
Actually it is "no tactic". It is just political merchandise for serbian public consumption.
This tactic of Russia supporting Serbia is centuries old. Didn't Serbia have the support of Russia in the UNSC even before the ICJ verdict?

Balkan have a long way to go until we have real peace! beacuse there are still tensions in kosovo vs serbia, Bosnia H Vs RS.. . .

All those Serb haters out there that want Serbia to be brought to its knees. I got some bad news for you. It isn't goona happen. Why? Because we are smarter than you. Sorry its just how it is. We always find a way to win, no matter HOW LONG and HOW IMPOSSIBLE it looks. Its been that way since the beginning of Serbs history. Just accept the fact... we will fight until we win, and always remember its a just victory every time also, which makes it that much sweeter.

Btw to the poster that thinks Serbia will be blockaded and sanctions have to be imposed on us because we are not letting Nato aneex 15% of our God given land... Do you really think they would be so foolish to do that? I mean we are Russia ONLY ally in all of Europe and saved them in WWII as much as they saved us during WWI. We got each others backs... and anyone who messes with us messes with our FAMILY :) This isn't the 90's anymore... Russia's back baby!

Where is your missile defence sheild? What happend to Georgia? Ukraine?... hmm, and yet the Russian base in NIS goes ahead as planned.

Sorry to be the one to tell you but things are NOT GOING to plan like you all hoped it would.

A just cause he says

Hey petar, let me remind you that serbia is the only country in europe that got bombed by nato, if it was unjust, were is russia with the revenge? In this world petar might makes right, not what is just.

Now this petar complains for justice at us.

since 168 BC starting with the romans we have endured foerign invasions, aissimilation of our peoples, territorial division, why because might makes right petar it has always been so in the history of man,

foutenately for us we have powerful allies to protect our interest because if it was up to our balkans neighbours we would be gone like most of Illyria.

The land of Dardania is our ancestral right.

"UNSC veto, Serbia's new Kosovo tactic"

New tactic!?
What a joke! Serbia never had anything else other than Russian veto.

"Where is your missile defence sheild? What happend to Georgia? Ukraine?... hmm, and yet the Russian base in NIS goes ahead as planned. "

Ok, the missile defense will be in Bulgaria, Romania, and ship-based (at least we know those work). Poland is getting their Patriots, and the CR is deciding what they want in exchange for a radar system public opinion never wanted, anyway.

Ukraine - shows what happens when you divide power equally between two stubborn people. Ukraine has the same geology as Poland and therefore should have the same shale-oil/gas potential, meaning if Russia tries to cut it out of the gas transportation system it may go for gas-independence. And there will be elections again.

Georgia - now, there's a happy outcome for you. Russia not only lost its leverage over Georgia from controlling the conflict-resolution process, but strengthened Saakashvili's position and reminded him of his commitment to the democratic process. (Ties with the EU have improved.) It left Russia with egg on its face when it could only persuade/buy 3 countries to recognize AbSo, and leaves it with two large money drains - it's sent $1 billion (well, 28 billion rubles) to SO (pop. 30,000) and those 300+ houses still haven't been rebuilt. People are looking at a third winter in tents. (Georgia got everybody under their own roofs before the first winter.) The UAE is putting in a tax-free port and industrial zone to help with the traditional poverty of the west of the country.

Frankly, getting rid of AbSo (temporarily) was the best thing that could have happened to the country - rather than focusing on military adventures, the government can now concentrate on developing the country's economy. And on figuring out what it wants in return for voting to allow Russia into the WTO.

ben

You forgot:

How about no more killing and harrasing Serbs?

How about no more cutting their phone lines so they can't make phone calls?

How about not destroying churches and graveyards belonging to Serbs?

If Washington and Brussels don't like this policy they can always go to the ICJ to ask whether Kosovo's independence and their recognition of it is legal or not. They know what answer they will get and they don't like it.
(Wim Roffel, 14 August 2010 12:53)
Why would they, we already know any decision is nonbinding and they consider it legal so why bother. However, I think the right to recognize has pretty much been established as a right of sovereign states.
What is amazing is so many here revel in the fact, not that Serbia will ever get Kosovo back, or that it will ever have control over the lives of the people in limbo, but the perception that they in some way are able to make the lives of the Albanians miserable.
A huge progression from the Milosevic era, you think?

I mean we are Russia ONLY ally in all of Europe and saved them in WWII as much as they saved us during WWI.
(PeterTheGreat, 14 August 2010 19:36)

Albania too was China's only ally in Europe in the 1970's and got huge benefits from that, far better than being for example a member of the European Community... ha, ha, ha

PeterTheGreat,

Well why don't Serbia rule Kosovo? Isn't that a victory?

honesty, integrity, fairness, honorable, moral, truthfull, just, sincerity, worthy

and on and it goes, serbia's behavior and action are none of those things.

tactics.

"...Serbian diplomatic sources as saying that a failure to have the Serbian Kosovo resolution adopted by the General Assembly "would mean a lost battle, not the war".

That would mean a disaster for Serbia diplomac!

International law professor Radoslav Stojanović told the newspaper that "even if our resolution failed, this would be no setback in the continued diplomatic battle for Kosovo and Metohija".

What a professor is he? Whose fault is for Serbia's failure before the ICJ?

His colleague Predrag Simić...noticed that Moscow would "still have a right to veto".

That means DESPERACIJA...in other words HOPELESS in politics and of course NOT THE SLIGHTEST chance of Serbia's victory when it comes to Kosovo sovereignity.

Russia vetoes Kosovo's independence and suddenly the Slavs rule Europe or maybe the world?
In the 17th Century Peter the Great came to the Netherlands to learn how to modernize his country. Should I believe now that in our days this country is the summit of prosperity?

Today I read some articles in Blic about how politicians and industrials are entangled in Serbia since 2000. The same thing you can find under your "Russian Family". Putin alone succeeded to become from a "normal" KGB agent to one of the richest man in his country. Nobody is asking: "How?" There is no country in Europe where the gap between the few extreme Rich and the mass of the Poor is as big as in this country. There is no country in Europe where being a journalist is as dangerous as in this country. There is no country in Europe that would prefer to having back in Serbia a political leader like Milosevic was. Since centuries this family ties has kept Serbia away from real development. It will be against Kosovo's independence even if the reigning government would decide to do the opposite, because you don't know when the opposition will take over. Serbia is the only country over which Russia can gain some power in this part of the world, and not by bringing just a gas-pipe; the only way they can try to have some economical power.
Let's wait and see. To me: losing in the UNGA is a blow, which even Russia can't deny. It will not overestimate their strength in the entire world or will they?

"No embassies in most of the world and your passports useless in most of the world. How do you expect to trade?
(Peggy, 15 August 2010 23:03) "

I guess they'll have to scrape by with the US and the EU and Japan for trading partners. With the about-to-be renovated airport and easy access to a commercial seaport they have advantages many small countries might envy. And Berisha is so pleased with them (and his new highway) that he's promising to build them a railway - or maybe he just doesn't want that nice highway chewed up by truck loads of ore? And if they they are offered a great deal with a non-recognizing country, Zannier will sign some paper and make it ok.

See? The future looks brighter every day.

Kosovo will probably try and get Observer status in the UN first as this can not be vetoed in the UNSC, then use this as a stepping stone towards full membership. Also Observer status would imply UN recognition.
(Ian, UK, 14 August 2010 12:34)
=====================

What makes you think that Russia will not continue to veto even after observer status? Why would they ever give up on the veto?
Also why are you so sure that China will not veto? Did you forget that China sent someone to ICJ to argue in Serbia's favour? They have not done this previously for someone else eather and yet this did this for Serbia. Makes you wonder why Serbia is so important to them.

You are only hoping here. You have nothing concrete to back it up with. If yo do, please share with us but hopes don't cut it.

Isn't that enough? Let's see you try to overcome it.
But unfortunately for you there is another veto plus the majority of the world against you which you so conveniently seem to ignore.
Tell me, how do you plan to trade with a world which doesn't accept you? No embassies in most of the world and your passports useless in most of the world. How do you expect to trade?

If Serbia is going to rely on that, after defeat in the ICJ and most likely in the General Assembly, then I'm pretty sure that the West will stop all what has been achieved starting from Milosevic's removal. There is no way that Serbia's behaviour is going to be tolerated, leading ultima ratio to some kind of sanctions. Somebody already mentioned it, the VISA free regime is most obvious and also very painful tool which can easily applied. It will definitely affect other areas, too, but more in passive way. Instead of punishment, long and middle term projects frozen, investement reduced to a minimum, but also actively such as opposition in other areas of Serbia's interest.

Short, if Belgrade seriously relies on the UNSC purely then we will be soon witness in a incredible deterioration of the bilateral relations in that area. It would have fatal long-term development on Serbia first seen in a singificant increase in emigration of the Serbian intelligence leading to brain drain which would worsen Serbia's situation even more. A fatal cascade of a hopeless policy. Can they really be that stupid?

"UNSC veto,Serbia's new Kosovo tactic"Gentlemen;UNSC is the only place where the arguments and issues can be effectively made and discussed,because that body is in charge of Kosovo not a UN General Assembly.No question, it would be nice to have UNGA support but apparently necessary ground work has not be done to assure desire outcome.Since the resolution had been submitted,I suggest, do not pull it back,let run it course.First item on Serbia's agenda in UNSC should be Transfer of security for Serbian Orthodox Monastery from KFOR to Albanian authorities.We should emphatically reject that.There is nothing in UN resolution 1244 or Kumanovo agreement to compel us to accept Kosovo police protection for our Churches and Monasteries.To prevent to what happen in 2004 KFOR or Serbian/Russian police should be used to protect Serbian Shrines

Instead of asking for non-binding resolutions or opinions, Serbia should have sued individually all those states who, illegally, have recognized Albanian UDI

JohnC.

Try to reason this way, it's less albanian approach to this situation..

It's not in EU interest to isolate Serbia in long terms, because EU is not representing whole world, it's for sure. There are Russia and China, along with many other countries ready to invest here and, why not, to achieve their presence here, even military. I can think of that, and I'm not sure it's what EU wants in their nearest neigborhood.

honesty, integrity, fairness, honorable, moral, truthfull, just, sincerity, worthy

and on and it goes, serbia's behavior and action are none of those things.

tactics.
(AdamNYC, 16 August 2010 05:00)
=======================

Actually, we can shalk this up to the Albnaians.

"No embassies in most of the world and your passports useless in most of the world. How do you expect to trade?
(Peggy, 15 August 2010 23:03) "

I guess they'll have to scrape by with the US and the EU and Japan for trading partners
==========================

Amer, hate to break this to you but China is buying quite a lot of Japanese companies these days. Haven't you been paying attention? So any trade you might do with Japan is actually trade with China.
Do you actually stop and think about what you write?
2/3 of the world is out of reach for you. This is not a small thing. US cannot keep you afloat all by themselves. Even if all the countries who have recognised you invested in you, it wouldn't be enough because they also invest in other countries including Serbia.
You simply don't have enough trading partners unless the rest of the world becomes available to you.

"If Washington and Brussels don't like this policy they can always go to the ICJ to ask whether Kosovo's independence and their recognition of it is legal or not. "

Actually, this is an interesting idea. The problem is, I don't see how they could do it.

The ICJ does not offer advisory opinions to individual countries, meaning the US/EU would have to go to the GA in order to convince it to ask for a ruling. There are too many countries out there with restive populations who definitely do not want this question answered: they have too much to lose if the ICJ comes back with a ruling that under circumstances similar to Kosovo's (revoked autonomy, ethnic cleaning, etc.) a population has the right to secede. Would even Serbia vote for such a resolution?

So this would have to be treated as a contentious case - with somebody taking Serbia to court to have their attempt to thwart Kosovo's independence ruled illegal. But there's a problem here, too: who has standing except Kosovo? (you can't go to court unless you can show how it hurts you in particular), and as a nonmember of the UN, Kosovo can't bring a case in its own name.

On the other hand, I'm happy to see that the idea that the ICJ is controlled by the US/EU has somehow disappeared, since people are still considering appealing to it.

If the ICJ takes Georgia's case against Russia we may get some guidance from the ICJ on the legality of secession under various circumstances. But that's probably years away.

Told you so! Around and round it goes like a Kolo dance. I suggest that the Albos get used to the words sung in duet VETO, VETO, VETO in the UN SC. Gives you a hint at what going to happen to Kosovo’s UN membership, mmmm?
When that’s done, the Serbs will take a new tactic, but I will not spoil it for the Albos – let it be a surprise. Around and around it goes where it stops no one knows.

haha i think both Serbians and Albanians clicked like for that comment!

Yes Serbia is stubborn, step on the most basic principles that a country holds and Serbia will stay in the fight for at least half a millenium- ask the turks!

The question is whether Serbia's territorial integrity can be compromised? dont think so buddy...
not now not ever!
No-one is more stubborn than a Serbian.
(G-man, 14 August 2010 14:13)

This is interesting; it's the Rocky strategy. It actually may work because it makes Serbia look more like the victim and the US as a huge bully. The Serbs lose but they keep on battling. The Albanians laugh and insult Serbs, although they do it by hiding behind Biden's back whenever someone challenges their smugness for they are cowards. Who ends up looking bad? In the eyes of non biased nations, it's the US (actually it's Clinton and Biden's US not mine). Who is the folk here? It's the Serbs and Jeremic and Tadic who keep getting up after being knocked down! I like it! Of course it doesn't hurt to have two powers who can't stand the US on your side, China and Russia;-)

All those Serb haters out there that want Serbia to be brought to its knees. I got some bad news for you. It isn't goona happen. Why? Because we are smarter than you. Sorry its just how it is. We always find a way to win, no matter HOW LONG and HOW IMPOSSIBLE it looks. Its been that way since the beginning of Serbs history. Just accept the fact... we will fight until we win, and always remember its a just victory every time also, which makes it that much sweeter.

Btw to the poster that thinks Serbia will be blockaded and sanctions have to be imposed on us because we are not letting Nato aneex 15% of our God given land... Do you really think they would be so foolish to do that? I mean we are Russia ONLY ally in all of Europe and saved them in WWII as much as they saved us during WWI. We got each others backs... and anyone who messes with us messes with our FAMILY :) This isn't the 90's anymore... Russia's back baby!

Where is your missile defence sheild? What happend to Georgia? Ukraine?... hmm, and yet the Russian base in NIS goes ahead as planned.

Sorry to be the one to tell you but things are NOT GOING to plan like you all hoped it would.

Serbia's tactical demoralizing of Albanian seperatism via diplomacy continues. Hey ALBANIANS, where's at least 1 of the 50 recognitions, hmmm?

So how about this???

As strong as Russia is bullying Kosova

with the same force the west should reply to Serbia???

So, you bully Kosova- I bully Serbia.

Kiss goodbye EU and economic aid and donations. Kiss goodbye FDIs. Kiss goodbye World Bank, IMF, EBRD...

I think it this is fair.

What do you think??

Ah and I was about to forget:

of course you make my life hard I make the life of Serbs in Kosova even harder.

So no more cheriffs in the north.

No more I don't pay the utilities since I am from the divine nation.

No more I don't pay customs.

No more I want Serbian Telecom; Serbian car plates; Serbian pensions and BS of that kind.

Then if this is not enought: no more Serbian language in institutions; no more Serian in shops and any other public places; no more gathering to celebrate lost battles (they are lost what's there for a normal ppl to celebrate for???); no more Tadic visits Kosova (the only Serbian president that EVER visted Kosova was Milosevic in 1988 - so why should I allow to Tadic this???); and many other nice things.

So what do you think about this???

I think it is fair.

After all you complain as Serbs in Kosova indeed live under this kind of conditions. So why not make that true- at least you would have some credibility in your claims.

After losing the legal (ICJ) and the moral (UN GA) fight, holding on the UNSC would be political nonsense. The West is not going to tolerate Serbia's stubborness after those 2 lost battles. If Serbia continues to accept reality then I can imagine a lot of things happen, starting with the VISA free regime, revoking all investments(even when compared to a possible EU accession small) and establishing high custom tax, making it absolutely not profitable to export from Serbia to the EU, not mentioning deteriorating bilateral relations which can easily go back to the 90s situation. And all this without having Kosovo at all.

It is enough!

Feeling the pressure, eh, Ben? Your frustration is really starting to show now.

If Washington and Brussels don't like this policy they can always go to the ICJ to ask whether Kosovo's independence and their recognition of it is legal or not. They know what answer they will get and they don't like it.

"In the eyes of non biased nations,"

See, the thing is, no one cares. No one's going to be looking at this because other nations don't care about this issue. It's hard for Serbs (indeed all balkans peoples) to comprehend that the world doesn't revolve around them and their issues.

If anything this will register as a blip. "oh, Serbia is having another tantrum" and then forgotten.

Serbia should let this go. Nothing major will happen if it doesn't, so no biggie either way.

Instead of asking for non-binding resolutions or opinions, Serbia should have sued individually all those states who, illegally, have recognized Albanian UDI

ben

You forgot:

How about no more killing and harrasing Serbs?

How about no more cutting their phone lines so they can't make phone calls?

How about not destroying churches and graveyards belonging to Serbs?

JohnC.

Try to reason this way, it's less albanian approach to this situation..

It's not in EU interest to isolate Serbia in long terms, because EU is not representing whole world, it's for sure. There are Russia and China, along with many other countries ready to invest here and, why not, to achieve their presence here, even military. I can think of that, and I'm not sure it's what EU wants in their nearest neigborhood.

Now is this even newsworthy? Serbia already has the support of Russia and China in the UNSC.

Windmills? No,let`s be serious! Nobody really believes that Belgrade will ever rule there again. So what are they fighting for in fact?

I hope this time they know what they are doing and I hope this time they will consult Russia and China. Another lost battle will be crucial not for Serbia or it’s discussed province but for Jeremic personally. Boris will remain but his chair too will be damaged. UNGA decisions are same as ICJ cause they are too not obligatory for the states.

But Serbia also cannot afford the score to be increased. So the stakes go up. Thus if we gain GA the score will be equal with moral support on our side. But if we lose we shall have to go to the mountains or find another radical solution. In any case it will be a öóãöâàíã situation for us cause we all know that with 2 vetoes against 3 Serbia can neither win nor lose the UNSC.

Do not know if this some kind of hype generated for Serbian Nationalists or what.
It is common knowledge that the Serbia-Kosovo issue is pretty much at a dead end in the UNSC.
There is nothing at the moment that benefits either side will pass in the UNSC.
What is interesting is how Serbia pre ICJ touted how important the decision would be eventhough it was nonbinding, then once it was made public began to decry the opinion as insignificant.
This time they are already dismissing any decision by the UNGA as insignificant.

Told you so! Around and round it goes like a Kolo dance. I suggest that the Albos get used to the words sung in duet VETO, VETO, VETO in the UN SC. Gives you a hint at what going to happen to Kosovo’s UN membership, mmmm?
When that’s done, the Serbs will take a new tactic, but I will not spoil it for the Albos – let it be a surprise. Around and around it goes where it stops no one knows.

haha i think both Serbians and Albanians clicked like for that comment!

Yes Serbia is stubborn, step on the most basic principles that a country holds and Serbia will stay in the fight for at least half a millenium- ask the turks!

The question is whether Serbia's territorial integrity can be compromised? dont think so buddy...
not now not ever!
No-one is more stubborn than a Serbian.
(G-man, 14 August 2010 14:13)

Russia would probably veto Kosovo's membership however PR China would never veto Kosovo. PR China has only vetoed three times in the UNSC and all three times were directly related to the Taiwan dispute. PR China doesn't veto if the issue isn't directly related to it, they prefer to abstain instead. Russia would veto Kosovo's membership though. Kosovo will probably try and get Observer status in the UN first as this can not be vetoed in the UNSC, then use this as a stepping stone towards full membership. Also Observer status would imply UN recognition.

No-one is more stubborn than a Serbian.

Balkan have a long way to go until we have real peace! beacuse there are still tensions in kosovo vs serbia, Bosnia H Vs RS.. . .

You call this "the new tactic"?
Actually it is "no tactic". It is just political merchandise for serbian public consumption.
This tactic of Russia supporting Serbia is centuries old. Didn't Serbia have the support of Russia in the UNSC even before the ICJ verdict?

"UNSC veto,Serbia's new Kosovo tactic"Gentlemen;UNSC is the only place where the arguments and issues can be effectively made and discussed,because that body is in charge of Kosovo not a UN General Assembly.No question, it would be nice to have UNGA support but apparently necessary ground work has not be done to assure desire outcome.Since the resolution had been submitted,I suggest, do not pull it back,let run it course.First item on Serbia's agenda in UNSC should be Transfer of security for Serbian Orthodox Monastery from KFOR to Albanian authorities.We should emphatically reject that.There is nothing in UN resolution 1244 or Kumanovo agreement to compel us to accept Kosovo police protection for our Churches and Monasteries.To prevent to what happen in 2004 KFOR or Serbian/Russian police should be used to protect Serbian Shrines

Kosovo will probably try and get Observer status in the UN first as this can not be vetoed in the UNSC, then use this as a stepping stone towards full membership. Also Observer status would imply UN recognition.
(Ian, UK, 14 August 2010 12:34)
=====================

What makes you think that Russia will not continue to veto even after observer status? Why would they ever give up on the veto?
Also why are you so sure that China will not veto? Did you forget that China sent someone to ICJ to argue in Serbia's favour? They have not done this previously for someone else eather and yet this did this for Serbia. Makes you wonder why Serbia is so important to them.

You are only hoping here. You have nothing concrete to back it up with. If yo do, please share with us but hopes don't cut it.

"UNSC veto, Serbia's new Kosovo tactic"

New tactic!?
What a joke! Serbia never had anything else other than Russian veto.

"All those Serb haters out there that want Serbia to be brought to its knees. I got some bad news for you. It isn't goona happen. Why? Because we are smarter than you. "
Peter

Do you think being smart is enough?

Isn't that enough? Let's see you try to overcome it.
But unfortunately for you there is another veto plus the majority of the world against you which you so conveniently seem to ignore.
Tell me, how do you plan to trade with a world which doesn't accept you? No embassies in most of the world and your passports useless in most of the world. How do you expect to trade?

Serbia seems to be forgetting that the US, the UK and France also wield veto power at the UNSC.

"Where is your missile defence sheild? What happend to Georgia? Ukraine?... hmm, and yet the Russian base in NIS goes ahead as planned. "

Ok, the missile defense will be in Bulgaria, Romania, and ship-based (at least we know those work). Poland is getting their Patriots, and the CR is deciding what they want in exchange for a radar system public opinion never wanted, anyway.

Ukraine - shows what happens when you divide power equally between two stubborn people. Ukraine has the same geology as Poland and therefore should have the same shale-oil/gas potential, meaning if Russia tries to cut it out of the gas transportation system it may go for gas-independence. And there will be elections again.

Georgia - now, there's a happy outcome for you. Russia not only lost its leverage over Georgia from controlling the conflict-resolution process, but strengthened Saakashvili's position and reminded him of his commitment to the democratic process. (Ties with the EU have improved.) It left Russia with egg on its face when it could only persuade/buy 3 countries to recognize AbSo, and leaves it with two large money drains - it's sent $1 billion (well, 28 billion rubles) to SO (pop. 30,000) and those 300+ houses still haven't been rebuilt. People are looking at a third winter in tents. (Georgia got everybody under their own roofs before the first winter.) The UAE is putting in a tax-free port and industrial zone to help with the traditional poverty of the west of the country.

Frankly, getting rid of AbSo (temporarily) was the best thing that could have happened to the country - rather than focusing on military adventures, the government can now concentrate on developing the country's economy. And on figuring out what it wants in return for voting to allow Russia into the WTO.

honesty, integrity, fairness, honorable, moral, truthfull, just, sincerity, worthy

and on and it goes, serbia's behavior and action are none of those things.

tactics.

"...Serbian diplomatic sources as saying that a failure to have the Serbian Kosovo resolution adopted by the General Assembly "would mean a lost battle, not the war".

That would mean a disaster for Serbia diplomac!

International law professor Radoslav Stojanović told the newspaper that "even if our resolution failed, this would be no setback in the continued diplomatic battle for Kosovo and Metohija".

What a professor is he? Whose fault is for Serbia's failure before the ICJ?

His colleague Predrag Simić...noticed that Moscow would "still have a right to veto".

That means DESPERACIJA...in other words HOPELESS in politics and of course NOT THE SLIGHTEST chance of Serbia's victory when it comes to Kosovo sovereignity.

PeterTheGreat,

Well why don't Serbia rule Kosovo? Isn't that a victory?

I mean we are Russia ONLY ally in all of Europe and saved them in WWII as much as they saved us during WWI.
(PeterTheGreat, 14 August 2010 19:36)

Albania too was China's only ally in Europe in the 1970's and got huge benefits from that, far better than being for example a member of the European Community... ha, ha, ha

"No embassies in most of the world and your passports useless in most of the world. How do you expect to trade?
(Peggy, 15 August 2010 23:03) "

I guess they'll have to scrape by with the US and the EU and Japan for trading partners. With the about-to-be renovated airport and easy access to a commercial seaport they have advantages many small countries might envy. And Berisha is so pleased with them (and his new highway) that he's promising to build them a railway - or maybe he just doesn't want that nice highway chewed up by truck loads of ore? And if they they are offered a great deal with a non-recognizing country, Zannier will sign some paper and make it ok.

See? The future looks brighter every day.

If Washington and Brussels don't like this policy they can always go to the ICJ to ask whether Kosovo's independence and their recognition of it is legal or not. They know what answer they will get and they don't like it.
(Wim Roffel, 14 August 2010 12:53)
Why would they, we already know any decision is nonbinding and they consider it legal so why bother. However, I think the right to recognize has pretty much been established as a right of sovereign states.
What is amazing is so many here revel in the fact, not that Serbia will ever get Kosovo back, or that it will ever have control over the lives of the people in limbo, but the perception that they in some way are able to make the lives of the Albanians miserable.
A huge progression from the Milosevic era, you think?

A just cause he says

Hey petar, let me remind you that serbia is the only country in europe that got bombed by nato, if it was unjust, were is russia with the revenge? In this world petar might makes right, not what is just.

Now this petar complains for justice at us.

since 168 BC starting with the romans we have endured foerign invasions, aissimilation of our peoples, territorial division, why because might makes right petar it has always been so in the history of man,

foutenately for us we have powerful allies to protect our interest because if it was up to our balkans neighbours we would be gone like most of Illyria.

The land of Dardania is our ancestral right.

If Serbia is going to rely on that, after defeat in the ICJ and most likely in the General Assembly, then I'm pretty sure that the West will stop all what has been achieved starting from Milosevic's removal. There is no way that Serbia's behaviour is going to be tolerated, leading ultima ratio to some kind of sanctions. Somebody already mentioned it, the VISA free regime is most obvious and also very painful tool which can easily applied. It will definitely affect other areas, too, but more in passive way. Instead of punishment, long and middle term projects frozen, investement reduced to a minimum, but also actively such as opposition in other areas of Serbia's interest.

Short, if Belgrade seriously relies on the UNSC purely then we will be soon witness in a incredible deterioration of the bilateral relations in that area. It would have fatal long-term development on Serbia first seen in a singificant increase in emigration of the Serbian intelligence leading to brain drain which would worsen Serbia's situation even more. A fatal cascade of a hopeless policy. Can they really be that stupid?

Russia vetoes Kosovo's independence and suddenly the Slavs rule Europe or maybe the world?
In the 17th Century Peter the Great came to the Netherlands to learn how to modernize his country. Should I believe now that in our days this country is the summit of prosperity?

Today I read some articles in Blic about how politicians and industrials are entangled in Serbia since 2000. The same thing you can find under your "Russian Family". Putin alone succeeded to become from a "normal" KGB agent to one of the richest man in his country. Nobody is asking: "How?" There is no country in Europe where the gap between the few extreme Rich and the mass of the Poor is as big as in this country. There is no country in Europe where being a journalist is as dangerous as in this country. There is no country in Europe that would prefer to having back in Serbia a political leader like Milosevic was. Since centuries this family ties has kept Serbia away from real development. It will be against Kosovo's independence even if the reigning government would decide to do the opposite, because you don't know when the opposition will take over. Serbia is the only country over which Russia can gain some power in this part of the world, and not by bringing just a gas-pipe; the only way they can try to have some economical power.
Let's wait and see. To me: losing in the UNGA is a blow, which even Russia can't deny. It will not overestimate their strength in the entire world or will they?

"If Washington and Brussels don't like this policy they can always go to the ICJ to ask whether Kosovo's independence and their recognition of it is legal or not. "

Actually, this is an interesting idea. The problem is, I don't see how they could do it.

The ICJ does not offer advisory opinions to individual countries, meaning the US/EU would have to go to the GA in order to convince it to ask for a ruling. There are too many countries out there with restive populations who definitely do not want this question answered: they have too much to lose if the ICJ comes back with a ruling that under circumstances similar to Kosovo's (revoked autonomy, ethnic cleaning, etc.) a population has the right to secede. Would even Serbia vote for such a resolution?

So this would have to be treated as a contentious case - with somebody taking Serbia to court to have their attempt to thwart Kosovo's independence ruled illegal. But there's a problem here, too: who has standing except Kosovo? (you can't go to court unless you can show how it hurts you in particular), and as a nonmember of the UN, Kosovo can't bring a case in its own name.

On the other hand, I'm happy to see that the idea that the ICJ is controlled by the US/EU has somehow disappeared, since people are still considering appealing to it.

If the ICJ takes Georgia's case against Russia we may get some guidance from the ICJ on the legality of secession under various circumstances. But that's probably years away.

honesty, integrity, fairness, honorable, moral, truthfull, just, sincerity, worthy

and on and it goes, serbia's behavior and action are none of those things.

tactics.
(AdamNYC, 16 August 2010 05:00)
=======================

Actually, we can shalk this up to the Albnaians.

"No embassies in most of the world and your passports useless in most of the world. How do you expect to trade?
(Peggy, 15 August 2010 23:03) "

I guess they'll have to scrape by with the US and the EU and Japan for trading partners
==========================

Amer, hate to break this to you but China is buying quite a lot of Japanese companies these days. Haven't you been paying attention? So any trade you might do with Japan is actually trade with China.
Do you actually stop and think about what you write?
2/3 of the world is out of reach for you. This is not a small thing. US cannot keep you afloat all by themselves. Even if all the countries who have recognised you invested in you, it wouldn't be enough because they also invest in other countries including Serbia.
You simply don't have enough trading partners unless the rest of the world becomes available to you.