"Serbia is sending wrong message"

The United Sates of Windbags is releasing more and more hot air and to be frank it’s a tad getting tiresome. For the US the issue of many things has been decided, but that’s not the reality on the ground. For example, Taiwan, US view it as independent, but the Chinese don’t see it that way. The US sees the islands north of Japan as Japanese, but the Russians don’t. The US sees that it’s won the war in Iraq, but everyone else does not and so it goes on and on.
Joe Biden is a prime example of the quintessential idiotic American politician who I can only describe as a fool. I’m not alone in that quarter either – there are many Americans that agree with my statement.
The US is going through a Depression right now with about 100 million of its people directly suffering from the GFC with unemployment anywhere between 25% and 30% (something not seen in its history) with business shutting doors left right and centre to the point of leaving shopping malls throughout the US which cover several blocks completely empty and these boobs are organizing a “business forum’ for South and Central Europe. I’m staggered to say the least.
These countries from Southern and Central Europe are attending in the hope of a handout not hot air, but that’s all there is folks – hot air and plenty of it. Why would Serbia attend this talk fest?
For the inherently stupid Americans in the White House these talks are leading up to negotiations. The EU is tired of paying for Kosovo so if the US wants to keep Kosovo as is then it has to put its money where its mouth is then the US can talk about not changing the so called status!!!! Windbags.

What kind of goods do albanians have to present at economic forum..
Organ snatching is still pretty much illegal,so is heroin..hmmm..

Thus speaks the invader.

As for the Belgrade-Priština talks in Brussels, which he will attend as a guest, Countryman said the issue of Kosovo's status "can be touched on but not changed".
--
I agree there, the status of Kosovo can only remain as is - more than autonomous less than independent. We touch on status when dealing with the technical details of this.

As for lost business opportunities, it goes both ways. US businesses also lose investment opportunities by having a corrupt and criminal entity participate and as such omit having the powerhouse of the region there.

Just got back from Belgrade. Things are pretty grim it has to be said so we need all the business we can get. It's hard to deal with this Countryman though and the State dept, true enemies of Serbia.

The question can be discussed but not changed, said he, "because for the U.S. the issue of status has been decided".

The U.S. official also stated that "the importance of the dialogue is being overestimated in Kosovo and Serbia", adding that the Brussels meetings were "not negotiations, but only a dialogue".


what I thought whiel reading this article...:

who cares what the US see as "decided"?

all Serbia has to do is to stay prepared, and the US will fade away in regard to their importance...

so, ...what ever some US-official says about southern Serbia, it doesn´t really have much importance.

on the other hand, our dear k-albanian friends can only lose, with every new assault on US-citizens they will lose more and more credibility...and there´s nothing they can do about it.

I think that Fort Dix and the Frankfurt Airport won´t stay isolated incidents, K-albanian terror will show its ugly face again.

and Serbia can only win.

just a question of time, let´s just see what future brings!

Economy is just about money. Kosovo is about something that goes much deeper. It is the heart and soul of the Serbian ancestry. Any politician who choose economy before Kosovo is finished at that very moment.

Serbs + Politics, is like Serbs + Rakija, you just can't separate them :)

Forget the economy!

I agree there, the status of Kosovo can only remain as is - more than autonomous less than independent. We touch on status when dealing with the technical details of this.

THIS IS ONLY YOUR WISH THAT WILL NEVER COME TRUE.
(Agim Kelmendi, 8 March 2011 13:08)
--
I don't wish for it, I am just stating something that is already true. More than autonomy, less than independence is the reality my friend whether I write it in caps or not.

However, if you are happy with what you have now and think that is independence then I am also happy.

Something tells me both the US and Serbian economy will survive this no-show in Baltimore. I didn't even know this thing was taking place.

"What kind of goods do albanians have to present at economic forum.. "
(lids, 8 March 2011 14:43)

Don't be unfair! There's not only illegal business! Everyone knows that the main export good from Kosovo is scrap metal ;-)

The US needs stability in the Balkans more then Serbia needs US cash. Good move by Serbia not to attend. Kosmet is not for sale!

By the way what the heck did Kosovo do at the conference? I didn't know running pizza parlors would have a place at the forum.

"not negotiations, but only a dialogue".

Everybody knows that, but try to convince some Serb posters on this site includin Albin Kurti and his new political party.

The important thing is that Serbia will never have a saying or control over what happends inside the existing borders of Kosovo...

By reading your coments Zoran, I read much wishful thinking...
(Demi, 8 March 2011 17:46)
--
I think you should read over your post and see who is thinking wishfully. Then we can come back to reality and see things as they are.

You wishfully think "Kosova" will join NATO and the EU? You wishfully think all EU members will recognise "Kosova" and join international sporting organisations where membership requires UN recognition?

You say Serbia has no control over Kosovo but we are starting "dialogue" to determine exactly how much control each side has. We have pretty much full control over the North. They use Serbian companies for electricity, telecommunication and travel. Cars have Serbian registration plates and they vote in Serbian elections, just like in the enclaves where Serbian politicians live freely. And you are here attempting to what? Pretend Serbia has no control?

Come back to reality Demi... here is a simple example, now if I wanted to book a flight with "Kosova Airlines" -> check http://flyksa.com/en/KOMPANIA/call_center
, the number I would call for Pristina begins with +381. When I look up +381 it comes back with Serbia, check -> http://countrycode.org/serbia Hey, it even lists Pristina there. So you don't have independence with telecommunications. You don't have independence with international sporting organisations and you don't even control the entire territory. You don't have a UN seat and tell me, why does the BBC list Serbia with having a population of about 10 million (including Kosovo? Check -> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/5050584.stm I thought the UK recognises "Kosova"?

As part of more than autonomy, less than independence you get self rule. Yes, your own police force, courts, judges and government. We accept that as you have had parallel structures for decades anyway, perhaps a bit more now but still, not much has changed.

So let me put it this way, if you are happy with what you have now and you think that is independence then I am also happy. In that case status is resolved for both of us and we can talk about the things that make life better for the people of the province.

Cheers!

Aijde Serbia. When are these self serving politicians going to wake up. "It's the economy stupid", as the British conservative party proclaimed in the 80's, after the labour government run the country into the ground. Since Margaret Thatcher the country has never fared better, until Labour messed up again under Gordon Brown, that is.
The point is that Serbia's political system needs to be more focused on progress rather than on the same old rhetoric of empty promises that every one is tired of hearing.
A politician is and should be a servant of the people not the other way round, which seems to be the case right now. You get what you deserve by voting these people in power. Therefore it is up to the people (of Serbia) to put this misconception right and to make sure that these politicians are accountable for their actions (and not above the law, which is an other matter). Only then this country will see (economic) progress that will inevitably benefit everyone.
So, Mr and Mrs politicians swallow your pride and go to Baltimore and do your best to leave a positive impression and secure the investment this country so desperately needs.

At the end of the day Serbia could have participated and just ignored Kosovo's representative. This way Serbia could have invested in some business deals to help improve her economy.

Serbs don't need US, they got Iran, Indonesia, Brunei. Jeremic recently visited these countries.

Any few days trip to Shenzhen will recover our business from this "tragedy".

Well spoken Mr Countryman.

Hopefully the Serbs are getting the message.

Tung

What kind of goods do albanians have to present at economic forum..
(lids, 8 March 2011 14:43)

Large dogs and jam. Don't take my word for it, none other than the Father of Kosovo said so, so it must be true. Absolutely hilarious! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1362827/Pacifist-claims-poll-victory-in-Kosovo.html

"One clear sentence to you only: Kosovo is independent from Serbia and Kosovo is closer to ''more than autonomy, less than independent'' in connction with Albania rather than Serbia. Kosovo has no connection to Serbia at all. Not ''less or more''!!"
-Demi


@Demi
What do you mean Serbia has no connection to its southern province of Kosovo Metohija? Serbia sets aside every year over $600 million for it. 25% of Kosovo is under direct Serbian control(Ibarski Kolasin, Gracanica, Ranilug, Novo Brdo, Strpce, Partes, Klokot, Velika Hoca, Gorazdevac, and Dragas). Belgrade basically controls these areas. For example if Belgrade tells the Serbs in these areas not to vote in an election, they dont. I dont see a "Kosovo" flag flying in any of these Serbian enclaves only Serbian flags fly. The Kosovo Albanians have no control politically, economically, or socially over 25% of their so called "country", What kind of "sovereignty" is that? Serbia's prescence in Kosovo Metohija is very real and will only grow in the future. Plus when negotiations are over and the 200,000 Serbians IDPs return to KIM, even more of the territory will be under Serbian influence and only expands Serbias power in the province.

"Kosovo will represent it self as a state in the coming dialoug with Serbia and all other talks wich will occure with other different countrys of the world. It means that the Kosovo is fully independent and functional. Nothing less or nothing more. "
(Demi, 8 March 2011 17:46)

Ever wondered why these talks are called "Belgrade-Pristina talks", and not "Serbia-Kosovo talks"? Think a bit, and I'm sure you'll find out...

I agree there, the status of Kosovo can only remain as is - more than autonomous less than independent. We touch on status when dealing with the technical details of this.

THIS IS ONLY YOUR WISH THAT WILL NEVER COME TRUE.

As for lost business opportunities, it goes both ways. US businesses also lose investment opportunities by having a corrupt and criminal entity participate and as such omit having the powerhouse of the region there.

SERBIA WILL SUFFER AND NOT INDIVIDUAL POLITICIANS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMY AND NOT ABOUT DESINTEGRATION OF OLD YUGO.

(Zoran, 8 March 2011 12:24)

I don't wish for it, I am just stating something that is already true. More than autonomy, less than independence is the reality my friend whether I write it in caps or not.

However, if you are happy with what you have now and think that is independence then I am also happy.
(Zoran, 8 March 2011 14:19)



The important thing is that Serbia will never have a saying or control over what happends inside the existing borders of Kosovo. Kosovo will devolpment and enforce the rule of law in the entire territory. 22 of 27 EU member states recognize and respects Kosovo as an independent state. The remaining 5 member states wich have not recognized Kosovo will do so when Kosovo goverment showes it can stand on its own feet. The EU will not be divided and specialy not on an issue wich cannot be changed.


By reading your coments Zoran, I read much wishful thinking. Serbia do not have anything more beside UN seat wich confirms it as an country mora than Kosovo. Kosovo as Serbia got an goverment,constitution, parlament,judicaly and elements of 'rule of law such as the police. All of this many instituions of Kosovo have no connection in anyway to Serbia or serbian state structure. No connection and you still dream about such a thing as ''more than autonomy'' ??

I guess ''Less than independece'' means for you no UN seat and Uefa membership for Kosovo ?? Well when Nato membership comes by and Kosovo will be on the doorstep to EU I don't think no country has the moral and human right to block the young people of Kosovo from being represented at sportic events. when it comes to UN seat we actully dont need it. Both Albania and US can represent Kosovo at the UN. UN-seat is not confirmation of a country. Reamember the Swiss country was not an member of UN before 2001.


I don't know what ''less than independence'' means actully ?? It sounds like a grey zone. The real deal is that Serbia will never rule over nothing in Kosovo. Serbia will never have an saying about the internal issues of Kosovo and will respect the constitutions and laws of Kosovo.

Kosovo will represent it self as a state in the coming dialoug with Serbia and all other talks wich will occure with other different countrys of the world. It means that the Kosovo is fully independent and functional. Nothing less or nothing more.


But be my guest Zoran, you are free to belive that Kosovo have ''more than autonomy,less then independence'' inside Serbia. Its a free world to belive whatever you want. I pressume you would belive that even if all 27 contrys of the EU and the all 192 UN countrys would recognize Kosovo as an independent state.


One clear sentence to you only: Kosovo is independent from Serbia and Kosovo is closer to ''more than autonomy, less than independent'' in connction with Albania rather than Serbia. Kosovo has no connection to Serbia at all. Not ''less or more''!!

The US is looking for some buyers for their toxic mortgages and debts? Choose your trading partners well.

"What kind of goods do albanians have to present at economic forum..
Organ snatching is still pretty much illegal,so is heroin..hmmm..
lids"

- Maybe they're exporting Serb war criminals wanted by the free world. Know any?

Serbia gets better business and investments from South Korea. The U.S. just bought things at firesale prices from a puppet government and hasn't really helped with unemployment.
Other countries are bringing more jobs and productivity to Serbia and treating Serbs fairly instead of underhanded, strings-attached deals laced with threats.

By most of the Serbian comments I got only one thing. That kosovo is this terrible place but yet you want it.
Maybe LaFonten "The fox and the grapes" complex.

(Ataman, 8 March 2011 22:58)

..and I was asking myself where are you and if everything is OK! Nice to hear from you.

I just saved over a 1000£ for a white tea and Reishi (personal use) and I earned 4000-5000£ (don't know yet) on several processors. There's other multiple details saved me a nice money.

I love business with Chinese!

TODAY it's very difficult to prosper, remember?

Seller, buyer or reseller, it's same to me when it come to the profit., it's one thing.

"Serbia is sending the wrong message"?? and the US has got it's own economic message right has it? So much for the rule of law and having to listen to democratic and unanimous voting in the UN. One rule for the US and another for anyone else I guess?

my previous post here had a link to an article about the US ignoring a resolution passed by 189 of the UN members to lift it's "economic embargo" on Cuba. It demonstrates how the US in spite of overwhelming democratic voting , only two member states voted against the resolution and one of those was the US, still does exactly what it wants. Funny how it can then turn around and try to dictate to Serbia what it should or shouldnt do and how Serbia has to engage with a "state" that it doesnt nor ever will recognise. It might have saved me a little time had B92 actually published my full post and the link I provided.

Also, Chinese do not care for honey, for them it is too sweet. However, if you can manage to find Skenderbeg Konjac, I know you will profit nicely. Chinese were crazy for it since it was introduced to them by Hoxha in 1960's when they were allies with Albania.
(The Count of Kosova, 9 March 2011 21:52)

Chinese do not care for honey?!
It's too sweet for Chinese?!

Have you ever been in China?

If you ever go I guarantee that you'll rarely find a place to eat without honey sauce., and "too sweet" you should avoid not to insult the hosts.. Maybe the best way to describe Chinese cuisine would be- Sweet cuisine or Sweet-Sour cuisine with unlimited sauces and syrups- some of those much sweeter then honey.

China is the biggest producer of honey in the world and consume it's 150gr per year- per capita. (Australia 1,6kg, US 500gr etc.) Just dont be stupid and tell me that average Australian eat 10 times more honey.. It's about "Chineese consumption" which is almost generally lower in let's say everything. You can compare meet consumption to see much more difference. Chinese love honey and eat honey. Honey is very important in Chinese traditional medicine too.

AND, if you want to know THERE IS opportunity to sell honey to a biggest honey producer in the world (China) if you have mature organic forest (safe) honey. (Chinese is 95% immature and "full" of Chloranphericol)

Look at this and mention the specific terms we use in Europe last hundred years (maybe):

"In additional to its use for nutritional value, which is widely recognized, honey is a favorite among the Chinese people because it is a neutral food that has medicinal properties. As written by Pharmacist Li Shizhen from the Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644 in the text Compendium of Materia Medica, honey can be used to help with many ailments including the removal of pathogenic heat, pain reliever, a way to fight dehydration, and as a power anti-oxidant."

As for Skenderbeg do you really mean this what you wrote? If they "got crazy" about it then you can easily describe your economic situation you were living those decades!

At those times they were "unpacking" ships with thousands of our IMT-s rather then drinking Skenderbeg.

Sarplaninac is a Serbian dog with maybe some of your genes (again- maybe).

I thought that the mighty Serbia was never going to sit down with the Kosovar Albanians and discuss "issues"? The picture in the article proves otherwise. I mean, I thought Kosova was never going to declare independence, Serbia wouldn't "allow" it. Wait, I mean I thought that the International Courts were going to rule in Serbias favour on the legality of the declaration of independence. Wait, what I really meant to say was I thought that Serbia was going to control Kosova?

It seems to me that nothing Serbia said was going to happen has happened. The Albanians made good on all of their promises from the first shots fired from Adem Jashari's gun to the declaration of independence to telling the Serbs that they will have to talk to them sooner or later. History speaks for itself. Please lets keep this conversation current too. Discussing 1389, resistence to Turkish dominance blah blah blah isnt going to get you Kosova back. Lets hear some real plausable arguements of how Serbia will regain control of Kosova that isnt short of laughable.

There's not a single person in Alaska that doesn't consider themselves American.
(Danilo, 10 March 2011 18:42)

So., this means that there's not a single normal, non stupid person in Alaska.. It's too cold causing some percentage of brain cells to cease to function.. Are you from Alaska?

It means Serbia will recognize Kosovo step by step pararel with Serbia entering the EU. The procces will take about 5-10 years.
(Demi, 9 March 2011 00:49)
--
All I hear from you is "when when when" and you accuse me of wishful thinking? Sorry, but I don't live in the land of la-la so come back to reality or there is no point continuing this discussion.

Large dogs and jam. Sorry, I'm still chuckling.

Kosovo is all about economy: Yugoslavia was 6th world major producer of [Lignite (Wikipedia)].

UN panel on future energy resources decided (2 years ago) that coal will be the essential energy resource, of course with clean technologies included. (See [David Mackay]'s book ["Sustainable Energy - Without The Hot Air"].

Now let us remember [Madeleine Albright], with Check company ČEZ, through "Albright Consulting", tried to close a contract 2 billion dollars worth, for a thermal plant in Kosovo, bigger than all other thermal and hydro plants in Serbia and former Yugoslavia, and to have Kosovo lignite FOR FREE.

That's just one example where money drills...

The other examples can be seen in Anex B of Rambuillet Agreement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambouillet_Agreement).

Best examples, however, can be seen in the documentary "Iraq for sale". It is shown there that the US wealthy "elite" leads US to numerous wars simply because of the interest of themselves - the wealthy oligarchs. US people are being robbed, and countries like Vietnam, Cuba, Iraq. Yugoslavia, Serbia ... are only episodes in that.
Sad, but we all lose.

Follow the link provided and think for yourselves, please.

All the best...
LK

(Je¿ atamañski, 10 March 2011 00:11)

We do not have anything to offer to Chinese except on some rare metals in the future, stakes and attractive business locations right now. That's the only thing they need or they'll need and something we shouldn't sell actually- never, especially not to them. We shouldn't think about selling stuff to Chinese at all, not yet at least.

But, we can interfere in business with them grabbing our peace of the pie. There's so many business opportunities next to the Chinese and I'm amazed how many of those are lost by now. We cannot say that we can't sell to the others., on the contrary there's number of agreements we're late or very frequently we (Chamber of Commerce, Yugoimport etc.) use to introduce our capabilities like: "Our capacities.." and/or: "Our annual production.."., the thing so stupid now days.. We can actually "do" EVERYTHING by both- quality and quantity.

Sarplaninac?! Give me a break! It should be 500 people Chinese wedding to serve one Sarplaninac on the spit, they eat so little.. They eat so little that I was asking myself if they "fix" their wives- so little! In a fact, maybe there IS something to export to China..

Serbs + Politics, is like Serbs + Rakija, you just can't separate them :)

Forget the economy!
(deki, 8 March 2011 13:46)

That maybe true - but what real use this business meeting is for? I am pretty sceptic about the use of that meeting but going there would probably hurt less than not. Politicians do not need to meet in Baltimore to make sound business decisions. On the other hand so many idiots who are great to ruin the economies gathering in one place - do they really need more extra?

Normally small business is running the countries. If they want to do things together - they will, regardless of the politicians.

What we need from politicians is to let us in peace and if happen to go into contract with small business - than don't ruin it by disregarding the contract (typical for *****) and don't extort money (typical for *****).

What typical american banter! Yes Mr countryman, we serbs put our nation and our culture ahead of business. That might seem strange to the elites in america who put profit before all.

the serbian government acted properly in not attending this forum in Baltimore, USA. The Ameri should stop trying to teach people about business and politics and human rights and concentrate on correcting thier own failing society and nation.

@(Budimir, 9 March 2011 02:35)

so, you're either unemployed (up at 2:30am) in Serbia or, more likely, you're living in the USA.

Nice of you to decide for Serbs living in Serbia (ie, not you) should suffer for YOUR identity.

Forbes...
----------------

* There are 413 billionaires in the United States with a net worth of $1.5 trillion. This is up from 403 in 2010 and a value of $1.3 trillion.

* There are 300 billionaires in Europe with a net worth of $1.3 trillion, up from 248 billionaires last year with a fortune of $1 trillion.

* In the Asia-Pacific region there are 332 billionaires worth $996 billion, compared with 234 billionaires in 2010 valued at $729 billion.

* The Middle East and Africa have 89 billionaires with a fortune of $251 billion, up from 65 last year worth $181 billion.
***
(Aleks, 10 March 2011 21:22)

--------------------


Forbes Premiere Lifetime Membership

Items left: 1

Price: 5 (five) £

Buy it now!

Take advantage of knowing faster then anyone else. Give yourself a lifetime opportunity to access global data at any time. You can rule the blogs with just an Enter-click! You can show those bastards which country has lesser billionaires with more trillions! Trillionaires are just waiting to hug your country and help swiftly jump out from the crisis. Yes, we will give you the precious formula on how to make a single rich from 500.000 impoverished! Take this advantage - now!

Continue to checkout-

PayPal
Visa
MasterCard
Other?

Zoran,


''You say Serbia has no control over Kosovo but we are starting "dialogue" to determine exactly how much control each side has. We have pretty much full control over the North. They use Serbian companies for electricity, telecommunication and travel. Cars have Serbian registration plates and they vote in Serbian elections, just like in the enclaves where Serbian politicians live freely. And you are here attempting to what? Pretend Serbia has no control? ''


You maybee mean that serbian radical criminal groups controls north Kosovo and does anything in their power to keep the status quoe in the north so they can keep on with their criminal activitys. That means protesting against Kosovo Police and blocking roads to keep the rule of law away. When Kosovo goverment enforce the rule of law in that part of the territory you will not say anymore that Serbia control N.Kosovo. And that time will come very soon when the constitution of Kosovo will be respected in the entire territory of Kosovo incl. north Kosovo. Serbian plates and serbian election as you mentioned will be prohbited in Kosovo when the rule of law based on the constitution of Kosovo is enforced in north Kosovo. So you will never control north of Kosovo but you can make life harder for your own people living there if you want.



''As part of more than autonomy, less than independence you get self rule. Yes, your own police force, courts, judges and government. We accept that as you have had parallel structures for decades anyway, perhaps a bit more now but still, not much has changed.''




Why diden't you mention the constitution of Kosovo ?? Kosovo works based on the constitution of Kosovo and not the serbian one. It means no legal or territorial connection to Serbia, In the constitution of Kosovo it stands very clear that Kosovo is independent with its own flag and anthem.Do you wrelly wish that an telephone country code and an UN seat will change that ??

Those things come with time and we are not in hurry to get a phone code and an seat at UN.

And what about 76 countrys wich recognizes Kosovo as independent? 80% of the EU countrys ? How come your country wants to be an member of an union where 80% of the union dosent respect your territorial inegrity??


Reamember my words Zoran when Serbia is at the doorstep to EU membership it will have to recognize Kosovo as it is right now, independent and free. And it will do it. For Serbia to get candidate status by the begining of 2012 it has to give up on many of their ''red lines'' in the coming dialoug between Prishtina and Belgrade. It means Serbia will recognize Kosovo step by step pararel with Serbia entering the EU. The procces will take about 5-10 years.

Would China take part if Taiwan was represented as a state? Aksing = answering!

Same for US. Would US take part if Alaska was represented as an independent state? Nope!

It is time the US will respect the territorial integrity of other nations!

Friendship with the United States is injurious to your health.Just look at what happened to Hosni Mubarak and how Gaddafi is trying to survive.
(Rekha Vinjamuri, 10 March 2011 19:27)

Once you say health..

Yes, it is! United States pharmaceutical mafia is planning to release special Turmeric (Curcumin) disease in your country right now to drastically limit or destroy production.. Can you imagine India without curry as it was? Or., can you imagine the world without cancer- as it "was"..

Do you know that the world will be chocolate "free" in 2050 because the Cocoa will be exclusive to Pharmaceutical Industry and limited to the rich population?

Twilight zone?

No.

Turmeric (diferuloylmethane) properly used starts killing cancer cells in 24 hours (esophageal) or other up to 5 days..

Is that to be compared to Mubarak or Gaddafi when it comes to health?

No.

So it comes that I agree- partially.

Countryman: "because for the U.S. the issue of status has been decided".
That's all folks! Good night, and dream well. Soon, all participants in these forum will wear the same NATO uniform

As to Serbia 'loosing out', the mountain can come to Mohammed, not that the US as a declining power really has much to offer Serbia that it cannot get from elsewhere and with less strings attached. It's as if the US has never heard of the roaring economic growth in LatAm or Asia with whom Serbia has very good relations, regardless of religion (Indonesia for example).

The West pushed globalization and now it complains because it didn't turn out the way they wanted it, i.e. globalization a la Occidentale! It shot all its remaining credibility and influence with the financial crisis. A laughing stock in fact.

The irony is that whilst the US is complaining like a bunch of little girls that the chinese are 'cheating', the few good, high value products in IT that the US does produce are banned from export to China. The US is effectively beating itself up, not to mention that several states (Wisconsin, Iowa etc.) now are attacking the few remaining rights US workers have (unionization, wages etc.) because they are considered 'too expensive'. So the plan is for the US to out cheap China? Absolute genius.

They are born again kamikaze.

Back again, following a diversified path for foreign investments and economic ties is a very sensible economic policy for Serbia and leaves it much less likely to the kinds of economic blackmail that both the US and EU like to practise by their various means. As much as their enemies wish it, Serbia is not leaving the balkans where they occupy the shortest trade route between Europe and Asia.

First of all I would like to say that I don't trust people who choose as nickname "the Truth" ... second, I wonder why so many albanians are passionate readers of this site. don't they have their own ones ???
third... dear serbians let the albanian kosovars dream about their shining future in the independent new-born ! For Serbia it's a chance to loose Kosovo: 2 milion lazy people less to feed; it's time to discuss the status of north, the status of religious sites and let the rest of the province go to hell.

There's not a single person in Alaska that doesn't consider themselves American.
(Danilo, 10 March 2011 18:42)
=========================

Is that why they speak Russian, have Russian churches there, wear Russian clothing and are now teaching Americans how to speak Russian?
How much do you really know about Alaska.
Many people there are of Russian descent and still consider themselves more Russian than American.
Take a trip to Alaska and see for yourself.

Large dogs and jam. Don't take my word for it, none other than the Father of Kosovo said so, so it must be true. Absolutely hilarious! [link]
(The Brit, 8 March 2011 17:18)

There is nothing wrong with it - it's the Sarplaninac and ... well, jam is jam.

----

Any few days trip to Shenzhen will recover our business from this "tragedy".
(ZMAJ, 8 March 2011 20:13)

Absolutely, but the trip to Shenzhen sounds like a one-way street. Unless Chinese need the Sarplaninac and more jam. Good, Serbia has excellent honey and some other things here and there Chinese don't have.

For instance, Studenica. You can't export it - but at least make the Chinese wanting to visit and spend money.

All I hear from you is "when when when" and you accuse me of wishful thinking? Sorry, but I don't live in the land of la-la so come back to reality or there is no point continuing this discussion.
(Zoran, 9 March 2011 13:24)


I am living in reality Zoran. I would suggest for you to go to Kosovo and see the new reality on the ground so you can wake up. I seems like you still belive everything is like it was in the 90's. Things have changed Zoran. Before 10 years ago you serbs wouldent belive that Kosovo one day would declare independence and being recognized by 76 countrys of the world. Mainly from the most powerful ones. No you hang on to and organ trade accusation and dream about Kosovo having some kind of autonomy inside the borders of Serbia ? This is wishful thinking the same way you wouldent belive that Kosovo would declare independence 10 years ago. That was also wishful thinking beliving that albanians would accept serbian rule over them.

Kosovo independence is a big blow on Serbia because of serbian nationalism beliving in old fairytale how Kosovo was serbian 700 years ago and because of that it still should be. It will take time for Serbia to swallow the big blow and accept the independence of Kosovo. This will come with an period of 5-10 years when Serbia will join EU.


The authoritys in Prishtina will keep working and the rule of law will be enforced in all of the territory of Kosovo. It is an obligation for Kosovo pay its way for Eu membership and we will not allow Serbia to stop us on this way.

I hope I made my point.

Dave, old chap, this isn't the 20th century any more. Foreign investment comes from all around the world, not just the US and EU. It is LatAm, Asia, Russia etc. who have money to invest in Serbia. Its investors benefit from Serbia's close location to the European market which for example would allow them to produce goods or finish goods in Serbia and get them cheaply into the EU market.

Current trade may be low (there's a recession on in west in case you've already forgotten) with non-western states, but as most people who understand the basics of economies, it is not simply about exports which can wax and wane on quite a number of variable conditions.

Will Europe remain an important trade partner of Serbia? Yes? Will it be the only significant source of trade with Serbia? No.

You clearly read what you wanted to believe I wrote rather than what I actually did write (like quite a few commenters on b92 regularly do).

Like it or not, your guesses and wishes are irrelevant because you clearly look to the past rather than the future, Dave 1989.

Well for a guy who says this is business and not politics, his touched but not changed comment sounds like politics to me...oh and for the record touched but not changed still means kosovo is a part of serbia ..opinions even of the largest are just that until WE make it official!

Jez,

I don't recommend you try selling Illyrian Shepard dogs (those you call Sarplaninac) to China, since the Chinese eat dogs. Also, Chinese do not care for honey, for them it is too sweet. However, if you can manage to find Skenderbeg Konjac, I know you will profit nicely. Chinese were crazy for it since it was introduced to them by Hoxha in 1960's when they were allies with Albania.
(The Count of Kosova, 9 March 2011 21:52)

Congratulations to ZMAJ for making good profit... but as far as Šarplaninac (which is mistaken for "Qen Sharri" by some, they aren't the same) - no, neither Šarplaninac nor Qen Sharri is appealing for a Chinese dinner. There are very few exotic restaurants in the Hong Kong area serving SPECIAL dog, bred for... eating. These are pretty expensive and of course normal people won't eat there. Koreans are more "known" for that habit - but lately things in both Koreas are more "politically correct" in that respect and eating of dogs or cats is very much discouraged.

I don't thing anyone would object Skenderbeg.

Forbes Rich List 2011 via Yahoo:

http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/FACTBOX-Interesting-numbers-reuters-1420070182.html


* There are 413 billionaires in the United States with a net worth of $1.5 trillion. This is up from 403 in 2010 and a value of $1.3 trillion.

* There are 300 billionaires in Europe with a net worth of $1.3 trillion, up from 248 billionaires last year with a fortune of $1 trillion.

* In the Asia-Pacific region there are 332 billionaires worth $996 billion, compared with 234 billionaires in 2010 valued at $729 billion.

* The Middle East and Africa have 89 billionaires with a fortune of $251 billion, up from 65 last year worth $181 billion.
***

Clearly Jeremic is wasting his time going around the world chasing the new money then. Better to stick to the tried and 'trusted' allies of the past....

Will Europe remain an important trade partner of Serbia? Yes? Will it be the only significant source of trade with Serbia? No.

You clearly read what you wanted to believe I wrote rather than what I actually did write (like quite a few commenters on b92 regularly do).
(Aleks, 9 March 2011 18:42)

Looks like that's exactly what you're doing, Alex old chap. I didn't say Europe was the only source of anything. simply that for the foreseeable future it was likely to remain Serbia's most important trade and investment partner. If you know about, for example, widespread Latin American investment in the Balkans, feel free to put me right. I can think of only one example, Mexico's Cemex has a cement works in Croatia.

It's as if the US has never heard of the roaring economic growth in LatAm or Asia with whom Serbia has very good relations, regardless of religion (Indonesia for example).
(Aleks, 8 March 2011 23:21)

It's true that the balance of the global economy is shifting, but it's shifting far more slowly than the wishful thinkers would like to believe. It's good that Serbia has cordial relations with Indonesia but what does that translate to in economic terms? Very little indeed. Latin America is on the rise but what Serbian exports does it take? How much investment has it brought to Serbia? I'll venture a guess at zero in both cases.

Like it or not, Serbia's dominant trade and investment partner will continue to be Europe for the foreseeable future, followed by the FSU, US, China/Japan/Korea and the Middle East.

Friendship with the United States is injurious to your health.Just look at what happened to Hosni Mubarak and how Gaddafi is trying to survive.

Meanwhile, some traditional empires are having 'trouble' adjusting to the change in power and influence vis-a-vist relations with their former colonies (via the british newspaper independent):

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/03/08/david-cameron%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98diplomatic%E2%80%99-gunboats-misfire-in-india-and-libya/

David Cameron's 'diplomatic' gunboats misfire in India and Libya

The future, not the past

Absolutely, but the trip to Shenzhen sounds like a one-way street. Unless Chinese need the Sarplaninac and more jam. Good, Serbia has excellent honey and some other things here and there Chinese don't have.

For instance, Studenica. You can't export it - but at least make the Chinese wanting to visit and spend money.
(Ataman, 8 March 2011 22:58)

Jez,

I don't recommend you try selling Illyrian Shepard dogs (those you call Sarplaninac) to China, since the Chinese eat dogs. Also, Chinese do not care for honey, for them it is too sweet. However, if you can manage to find Skenderbeg Konjac, I know you will profit nicely. Chinese were crazy for it since it was introduced to them by Hoxha in 1960's when they were allies with Albania.

"Same for US. Would US take part if Alaska was represented as an independent state? Nope! "

I love it when Serbs make stupid, emotional comparisons.

There's not a single person in Alaska that doesn't consider themselves American.

Well spoken Mr Countryman.

Hopefully the Serbs are getting the message.

Tung

"not negotiations, but only a dialogue".

Everybody knows that, but try to convince some Serb posters on this site includin Albin Kurti and his new political party.

At the end of the day Serbia could have participated and just ignored Kosovo's representative. This way Serbia could have invested in some business deals to help improve her economy.

I agree there, the status of Kosovo can only remain as is - more than autonomous less than independent. We touch on status when dealing with the technical details of this.

THIS IS ONLY YOUR WISH THAT WILL NEVER COME TRUE.

As for lost business opportunities, it goes both ways. US businesses also lose investment opportunities by having a corrupt and criminal entity participate and as such omit having the powerhouse of the region there.

SERBIA WILL SUFFER AND NOT INDIVIDUAL POLITICIANS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMY AND NOT ABOUT DESINTEGRATION OF OLD YUGO.

(Zoran, 8 March 2011 12:24)

I don't wish for it, I am just stating something that is already true. More than autonomy, less than independence is the reality my friend whether I write it in caps or not.

However, if you are happy with what you have now and think that is independence then I am also happy.
(Zoran, 8 March 2011 14:19)



The important thing is that Serbia will never have a saying or control over what happends inside the existing borders of Kosovo. Kosovo will devolpment and enforce the rule of law in the entire territory. 22 of 27 EU member states recognize and respects Kosovo as an independent state. The remaining 5 member states wich have not recognized Kosovo will do so when Kosovo goverment showes it can stand on its own feet. The EU will not be divided and specialy not on an issue wich cannot be changed.


By reading your coments Zoran, I read much wishful thinking. Serbia do not have anything more beside UN seat wich confirms it as an country mora than Kosovo. Kosovo as Serbia got an goverment,constitution, parlament,judicaly and elements of 'rule of law such as the police. All of this many instituions of Kosovo have no connection in anyway to Serbia or serbian state structure. No connection and you still dream about such a thing as ''more than autonomy'' ??

I guess ''Less than independece'' means for you no UN seat and Uefa membership for Kosovo ?? Well when Nato membership comes by and Kosovo will be on the doorstep to EU I don't think no country has the moral and human right to block the young people of Kosovo from being represented at sportic events. when it comes to UN seat we actully dont need it. Both Albania and US can represent Kosovo at the UN. UN-seat is not confirmation of a country. Reamember the Swiss country was not an member of UN before 2001.


I don't know what ''less than independence'' means actully ?? It sounds like a grey zone. The real deal is that Serbia will never rule over nothing in Kosovo. Serbia will never have an saying about the internal issues of Kosovo and will respect the constitutions and laws of Kosovo.

Kosovo will represent it self as a state in the coming dialoug with Serbia and all other talks wich will occure with other different countrys of the world. It means that the Kosovo is fully independent and functional. Nothing less or nothing more.


But be my guest Zoran, you are free to belive that Kosovo have ''more than autonomy,less then independence'' inside Serbia. Its a free world to belive whatever you want. I pressume you would belive that even if all 27 contrys of the EU and the all 192 UN countrys would recognize Kosovo as an independent state.


One clear sentence to you only: Kosovo is independent from Serbia and Kosovo is closer to ''more than autonomy, less than independent'' in connction with Albania rather than Serbia. Kosovo has no connection to Serbia at all. Not ''less or more''!!

Serbs don't need US, they got Iran, Indonesia, Brunei. Jeremic recently visited these countries.

Thus speaks the invader.

What kind of goods do albanians have to present at economic forum..
Organ snatching is still pretty much illegal,so is heroin..hmmm..

Serbs + Politics, is like Serbs + Rakija, you just can't separate them :)

Forget the economy!

Economy is just about money. Kosovo is about something that goes much deeper. It is the heart and soul of the Serbian ancestry. Any politician who choose economy before Kosovo is finished at that very moment.

All I hear from you is "when when when" and you accuse me of wishful thinking? Sorry, but I don't live in the land of la-la so come back to reality or there is no point continuing this discussion.
(Zoran, 9 March 2011 13:24)


I am living in reality Zoran. I would suggest for you to go to Kosovo and see the new reality on the ground so you can wake up. I seems like you still belive everything is like it was in the 90's. Things have changed Zoran. Before 10 years ago you serbs wouldent belive that Kosovo one day would declare independence and being recognized by 76 countrys of the world. Mainly from the most powerful ones. No you hang on to and organ trade accusation and dream about Kosovo having some kind of autonomy inside the borders of Serbia ? This is wishful thinking the same way you wouldent belive that Kosovo would declare independence 10 years ago. That was also wishful thinking beliving that albanians would accept serbian rule over them.

Kosovo independence is a big blow on Serbia because of serbian nationalism beliving in old fairytale how Kosovo was serbian 700 years ago and because of that it still should be. It will take time for Serbia to swallow the big blow and accept the independence of Kosovo. This will come with an period of 5-10 years when Serbia will join EU.


The authoritys in Prishtina will keep working and the rule of law will be enforced in all of the territory of Kosovo. It is an obligation for Kosovo pay its way for Eu membership and we will not allow Serbia to stop us on this way.

I hope I made my point.

The question can be discussed but not changed, said he, "because for the U.S. the issue of status has been decided".

The U.S. official also stated that "the importance of the dialogue is being overestimated in Kosovo and Serbia", adding that the Brussels meetings were "not negotiations, but only a dialogue".


what I thought whiel reading this article...:

who cares what the US see as "decided"?

all Serbia has to do is to stay prepared, and the US will fade away in regard to their importance...

so, ...what ever some US-official says about southern Serbia, it doesn´t really have much importance.

on the other hand, our dear k-albanian friends can only lose, with every new assault on US-citizens they will lose more and more credibility...and there´s nothing they can do about it.

I think that Fort Dix and the Frankfurt Airport won´t stay isolated incidents, K-albanian terror will show its ugly face again.

and Serbia can only win.

just a question of time, let´s just see what future brings!

Aijde Serbia. When are these self serving politicians going to wake up. "It's the economy stupid", as the British conservative party proclaimed in the 80's, after the labour government run the country into the ground. Since Margaret Thatcher the country has never fared better, until Labour messed up again under Gordon Brown, that is.
The point is that Serbia's political system needs to be more focused on progress rather than on the same old rhetoric of empty promises that every one is tired of hearing.
A politician is and should be a servant of the people not the other way round, which seems to be the case right now. You get what you deserve by voting these people in power. Therefore it is up to the people (of Serbia) to put this misconception right and to make sure that these politicians are accountable for their actions (and not above the law, which is an other matter). Only then this country will see (economic) progress that will inevitably benefit everyone.
So, Mr and Mrs politicians swallow your pride and go to Baltimore and do your best to leave a positive impression and secure the investment this country so desperately needs.

As for the Belgrade-Priština talks in Brussels, which he will attend as a guest, Countryman said the issue of Kosovo's status "can be touched on but not changed".
--
I agree there, the status of Kosovo can only remain as is - more than autonomous less than independent. We touch on status when dealing with the technical details of this.

As for lost business opportunities, it goes both ways. US businesses also lose investment opportunities by having a corrupt and criminal entity participate and as such omit having the powerhouse of the region there.

The US needs stability in the Balkans more then Serbia needs US cash. Good move by Serbia not to attend. Kosmet is not for sale!

By the way what the heck did Kosovo do at the conference? I didn't know running pizza parlors would have a place at the forum.

The United Sates of Windbags is releasing more and more hot air and to be frank it’s a tad getting tiresome. For the US the issue of many things has been decided, but that’s not the reality on the ground. For example, Taiwan, US view it as independent, but the Chinese don’t see it that way. The US sees the islands north of Japan as Japanese, but the Russians don’t. The US sees that it’s won the war in Iraq, but everyone else does not and so it goes on and on.
Joe Biden is a prime example of the quintessential idiotic American politician who I can only describe as a fool. I’m not alone in that quarter either – there are many Americans that agree with my statement.
The US is going through a Depression right now with about 100 million of its people directly suffering from the GFC with unemployment anywhere between 25% and 30% (something not seen in its history) with business shutting doors left right and centre to the point of leaving shopping malls throughout the US which cover several blocks completely empty and these boobs are organizing a “business forum’ for South and Central Europe. I’m staggered to say the least.
These countries from Southern and Central Europe are attending in the hope of a handout not hot air, but that’s all there is folks – hot air and plenty of it. Why would Serbia attend this talk fest?
For the inherently stupid Americans in the White House these talks are leading up to negotiations. The EU is tired of paying for Kosovo so if the US wants to keep Kosovo as is then it has to put its money where its mouth is then the US can talk about not changing the so called status!!!! Windbags.

I agree there, the status of Kosovo can only remain as is - more than autonomous less than independent. We touch on status when dealing with the technical details of this.

THIS IS ONLY YOUR WISH THAT WILL NEVER COME TRUE.
(Agim Kelmendi, 8 March 2011 13:08)
--
I don't wish for it, I am just stating something that is already true. More than autonomy, less than independence is the reality my friend whether I write it in caps or not.

However, if you are happy with what you have now and think that is independence then I am also happy.

Just got back from Belgrade. Things are pretty grim it has to be said so we need all the business we can get. It's hard to deal with this Countryman though and the State dept, true enemies of Serbia.

"What kind of goods do albanians have to present at economic forum..
Organ snatching is still pretty much illegal,so is heroin..hmmm..
lids"

- Maybe they're exporting Serb war criminals wanted by the free world. Know any?

"What kind of goods do albanians have to present at economic forum.. "
(lids, 8 March 2011 14:43)

Don't be unfair! There's not only illegal business! Everyone knows that the main export good from Kosovo is scrap metal ;-)

By most of the Serbian comments I got only one thing. That kosovo is this terrible place but yet you want it.
Maybe LaFonten "The fox and the grapes" complex.

I thought that the mighty Serbia was never going to sit down with the Kosovar Albanians and discuss "issues"? The picture in the article proves otherwise. I mean, I thought Kosova was never going to declare independence, Serbia wouldn't "allow" it. Wait, I mean I thought that the International Courts were going to rule in Serbias favour on the legality of the declaration of independence. Wait, what I really meant to say was I thought that Serbia was going to control Kosova?

It seems to me that nothing Serbia said was going to happen has happened. The Albanians made good on all of their promises from the first shots fired from Adem Jashari's gun to the declaration of independence to telling the Serbs that they will have to talk to them sooner or later. History speaks for itself. Please lets keep this conversation current too. Discussing 1389, resistence to Turkish dominance blah blah blah isnt going to get you Kosova back. Lets hear some real plausable arguements of how Serbia will regain control of Kosova that isnt short of laughable.

What typical american banter! Yes Mr countryman, we serbs put our nation and our culture ahead of business. That might seem strange to the elites in america who put profit before all.

the serbian government acted properly in not attending this forum in Baltimore, USA. The Ameri should stop trying to teach people about business and politics and human rights and concentrate on correcting thier own failing society and nation.

Serbs + Politics, is like Serbs + Rakija, you just can't separate them :)

Forget the economy!
(deki, 8 March 2011 13:46)

That maybe true - but what real use this business meeting is for? I am pretty sceptic about the use of that meeting but going there would probably hurt less than not. Politicians do not need to meet in Baltimore to make sound business decisions. On the other hand so many idiots who are great to ruin the economies gathering in one place - do they really need more extra?

Normally small business is running the countries. If they want to do things together - they will, regardless of the politicians.

What we need from politicians is to let us in peace and if happen to go into contract with small business - than don't ruin it by disregarding the contract (typical for *****) and don't extort money (typical for *****).

Something tells me both the US and Serbian economy will survive this no-show in Baltimore. I didn't even know this thing was taking place.

Countryman: "because for the U.S. the issue of status has been decided".
That's all folks! Good night, and dream well. Soon, all participants in these forum will wear the same NATO uniform

@(Budimir, 9 March 2011 02:35)

so, you're either unemployed (up at 2:30am) in Serbia or, more likely, you're living in the USA.

Nice of you to decide for Serbs living in Serbia (ie, not you) should suffer for YOUR identity.

First of all I would like to say that I don't trust people who choose as nickname "the Truth" ... second, I wonder why so many albanians are passionate readers of this site. don't they have their own ones ???
third... dear serbians let the albanian kosovars dream about their shining future in the independent new-born ! For Serbia it's a chance to loose Kosovo: 2 milion lazy people less to feed; it's time to discuss the status of north, the status of religious sites and let the rest of the province go to hell.

"Same for US. Would US take part if Alaska was represented as an independent state? Nope! "

I love it when Serbs make stupid, emotional comparisons.

There's not a single person in Alaska that doesn't consider themselves American.

Zoran,


''You say Serbia has no control over Kosovo but we are starting "dialogue" to determine exactly how much control each side has. We have pretty much full control over the North. They use Serbian companies for electricity, telecommunication and travel. Cars have Serbian registration plates and they vote in Serbian elections, just like in the enclaves where Serbian politicians live freely. And you are here attempting to what? Pretend Serbia has no control? ''


You maybee mean that serbian radical criminal groups controls north Kosovo and does anything in their power to keep the status quoe in the north so they can keep on with their criminal activitys. That means protesting against Kosovo Police and blocking roads to keep the rule of law away. When Kosovo goverment enforce the rule of law in that part of the territory you will not say anymore that Serbia control N.Kosovo. And that time will come very soon when the constitution of Kosovo will be respected in the entire territory of Kosovo incl. north Kosovo. Serbian plates and serbian election as you mentioned will be prohbited in Kosovo when the rule of law based on the constitution of Kosovo is enforced in north Kosovo. So you will never control north of Kosovo but you can make life harder for your own people living there if you want.



''As part of more than autonomy, less than independence you get self rule. Yes, your own police force, courts, judges and government. We accept that as you have had parallel structures for decades anyway, perhaps a bit more now but still, not much has changed.''




Why diden't you mention the constitution of Kosovo ?? Kosovo works based on the constitution of Kosovo and not the serbian one. It means no legal or territorial connection to Serbia, In the constitution of Kosovo it stands very clear that Kosovo is independent with its own flag and anthem.Do you wrelly wish that an telephone country code and an UN seat will change that ??

Those things come with time and we are not in hurry to get a phone code and an seat at UN.

And what about 76 countrys wich recognizes Kosovo as independent? 80% of the EU countrys ? How come your country wants to be an member of an union where 80% of the union dosent respect your territorial inegrity??


Reamember my words Zoran when Serbia is at the doorstep to EU membership it will have to recognize Kosovo as it is right now, independent and free. And it will do it. For Serbia to get candidate status by the begining of 2012 it has to give up on many of their ''red lines'' in the coming dialoug between Prishtina and Belgrade. It means Serbia will recognize Kosovo step by step pararel with Serbia entering the EU. The procces will take about 5-10 years.

Friendship with the United States is injurious to your health.Just look at what happened to Hosni Mubarak and how Gaddafi is trying to survive.

What kind of goods do albanians have to present at economic forum..
(lids, 8 March 2011 14:43)

Large dogs and jam. Don't take my word for it, none other than the Father of Kosovo said so, so it must be true. Absolutely hilarious! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1362827/Pacifist-claims-poll-victory-in-Kosovo.html

"Kosovo will represent it self as a state in the coming dialoug with Serbia and all other talks wich will occure with other different countrys of the world. It means that the Kosovo is fully independent and functional. Nothing less or nothing more. "
(Demi, 8 March 2011 17:46)

Ever wondered why these talks are called "Belgrade-Pristina talks", and not "Serbia-Kosovo talks"? Think a bit, and I'm sure you'll find out...

The US is looking for some buyers for their toxic mortgages and debts? Choose your trading partners well.

The important thing is that Serbia will never have a saying or control over what happends inside the existing borders of Kosovo...

By reading your coments Zoran, I read much wishful thinking...
(Demi, 8 March 2011 17:46)
--
I think you should read over your post and see who is thinking wishfully. Then we can come back to reality and see things as they are.

You wishfully think "Kosova" will join NATO and the EU? You wishfully think all EU members will recognise "Kosova" and join international sporting organisations where membership requires UN recognition?

You say Serbia has no control over Kosovo but we are starting "dialogue" to determine exactly how much control each side has. We have pretty much full control over the North. They use Serbian companies for electricity, telecommunication and travel. Cars have Serbian registration plates and they vote in Serbian elections, just like in the enclaves where Serbian politicians live freely. And you are here attempting to what? Pretend Serbia has no control?

Come back to reality Demi... here is a simple example, now if I wanted to book a flight with "Kosova Airlines" -> check http://flyksa.com/en/KOMPANIA/call_center
, the number I would call for Pristina begins with +381. When I look up +381 it comes back with Serbia, check -> http://countrycode.org/serbia Hey, it even lists Pristina there. So you don't have independence with telecommunications. You don't have independence with international sporting organisations and you don't even control the entire territory. You don't have a UN seat and tell me, why does the BBC list Serbia with having a population of about 10 million (including Kosovo? Check -> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/5050584.stm I thought the UK recognises "Kosova"?

As part of more than autonomy, less than independence you get self rule. Yes, your own police force, courts, judges and government. We accept that as you have had parallel structures for decades anyway, perhaps a bit more now but still, not much has changed.

So let me put it this way, if you are happy with what you have now and you think that is independence then I am also happy. In that case status is resolved for both of us and we can talk about the things that make life better for the people of the province.

Cheers!

Serbia gets better business and investments from South Korea. The U.S. just bought things at firesale prices from a puppet government and hasn't really helped with unemployment.
Other countries are bringing more jobs and productivity to Serbia and treating Serbs fairly instead of underhanded, strings-attached deals laced with threats.

Well for a guy who says this is business and not politics, his touched but not changed comment sounds like politics to me...oh and for the record touched but not changed still means kosovo is a part of serbia ..opinions even of the largest are just that until WE make it official!

"One clear sentence to you only: Kosovo is independent from Serbia and Kosovo is closer to ''more than autonomy, less than independent'' in connction with Albania rather than Serbia. Kosovo has no connection to Serbia at all. Not ''less or more''!!"
-Demi


@Demi
What do you mean Serbia has no connection to its southern province of Kosovo Metohija? Serbia sets aside every year over $600 million for it. 25% of Kosovo is under direct Serbian control(Ibarski Kolasin, Gracanica, Ranilug, Novo Brdo, Strpce, Partes, Klokot, Velika Hoca, Gorazdevac, and Dragas). Belgrade basically controls these areas. For example if Belgrade tells the Serbs in these areas not to vote in an election, they dont. I dont see a "Kosovo" flag flying in any of these Serbian enclaves only Serbian flags fly. The Kosovo Albanians have no control politically, economically, or socially over 25% of their so called "country", What kind of "sovereignty" is that? Serbia's prescence in Kosovo Metohija is very real and will only grow in the future. Plus when negotiations are over and the 200,000 Serbians IDPs return to KIM, even more of the territory will be under Serbian influence and only expands Serbias power in the province.

It's as if the US has never heard of the roaring economic growth in LatAm or Asia with whom Serbia has very good relations, regardless of religion (Indonesia for example).
(Aleks, 8 March 2011 23:21)

It's true that the balance of the global economy is shifting, but it's shifting far more slowly than the wishful thinkers would like to believe. It's good that Serbia has cordial relations with Indonesia but what does that translate to in economic terms? Very little indeed. Latin America is on the rise but what Serbian exports does it take? How much investment has it brought to Serbia? I'll venture a guess at zero in both cases.

Like it or not, Serbia's dominant trade and investment partner will continue to be Europe for the foreseeable future, followed by the FSU, US, China/Japan/Korea and the Middle East.

Large dogs and jam. Sorry, I'm still chuckling.

It means Serbia will recognize Kosovo step by step pararel with Serbia entering the EU. The procces will take about 5-10 years.
(Demi, 9 March 2011 00:49)
--
All I hear from you is "when when when" and you accuse me of wishful thinking? Sorry, but I don't live in the land of la-la so come back to reality or there is no point continuing this discussion.

Absolutely, but the trip to Shenzhen sounds like a one-way street. Unless Chinese need the Sarplaninac and more jam. Good, Serbia has excellent honey and some other things here and there Chinese don't have.

For instance, Studenica. You can't export it - but at least make the Chinese wanting to visit and spend money.
(Ataman, 8 March 2011 22:58)

Jez,

I don't recommend you try selling Illyrian Shepard dogs (those you call Sarplaninac) to China, since the Chinese eat dogs. Also, Chinese do not care for honey, for them it is too sweet. However, if you can manage to find Skenderbeg Konjac, I know you will profit nicely. Chinese were crazy for it since it was introduced to them by Hoxha in 1960's when they were allies with Albania.

Any few days trip to Shenzhen will recover our business from this "tragedy".

Large dogs and jam. Don't take my word for it, none other than the Father of Kosovo said so, so it must be true. Absolutely hilarious! [link]
(The Brit, 8 March 2011 17:18)

There is nothing wrong with it - it's the Sarplaninac and ... well, jam is jam.

----

Any few days trip to Shenzhen will recover our business from this "tragedy".
(ZMAJ, 8 March 2011 20:13)

Absolutely, but the trip to Shenzhen sounds like a one-way street. Unless Chinese need the Sarplaninac and more jam. Good, Serbia has excellent honey and some other things here and there Chinese don't have.

For instance, Studenica. You can't export it - but at least make the Chinese wanting to visit and spend money.

As to Serbia 'loosing out', the mountain can come to Mohammed, not that the US as a declining power really has much to offer Serbia that it cannot get from elsewhere and with less strings attached. It's as if the US has never heard of the roaring economic growth in LatAm or Asia with whom Serbia has very good relations, regardless of religion (Indonesia for example).

The West pushed globalization and now it complains because it didn't turn out the way they wanted it, i.e. globalization a la Occidentale! It shot all its remaining credibility and influence with the financial crisis. A laughing stock in fact.

The irony is that whilst the US is complaining like a bunch of little girls that the chinese are 'cheating', the few good, high value products in IT that the US does produce are banned from export to China. The US is effectively beating itself up, not to mention that several states (Wisconsin, Iowa etc.) now are attacking the few remaining rights US workers have (unionization, wages etc.) because they are considered 'too expensive'. So the plan is for the US to out cheap China? Absolute genius.

They are born again kamikaze.

Back again, following a diversified path for foreign investments and economic ties is a very sensible economic policy for Serbia and leaves it much less likely to the kinds of economic blackmail that both the US and EU like to practise by their various means. As much as their enemies wish it, Serbia is not leaving the balkans where they occupy the shortest trade route between Europe and Asia.

"Serbia is sending the wrong message"?? and the US has got it's own economic message right has it? So much for the rule of law and having to listen to democratic and unanimous voting in the UN. One rule for the US and another for anyone else I guess?

Forbes Rich List 2011 via Yahoo:

http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/FACTBOX-Interesting-numbers-reuters-1420070182.html


* There are 413 billionaires in the United States with a net worth of $1.5 trillion. This is up from 403 in 2010 and a value of $1.3 trillion.

* There are 300 billionaires in Europe with a net worth of $1.3 trillion, up from 248 billionaires last year with a fortune of $1 trillion.

* In the Asia-Pacific region there are 332 billionaires worth $996 billion, compared with 234 billionaires in 2010 valued at $729 billion.

* The Middle East and Africa have 89 billionaires with a fortune of $251 billion, up from 65 last year worth $181 billion.
***

Clearly Jeremic is wasting his time going around the world chasing the new money then. Better to stick to the tried and 'trusted' allies of the past....

Jez,

I don't recommend you try selling Illyrian Shepard dogs (those you call Sarplaninac) to China, since the Chinese eat dogs. Also, Chinese do not care for honey, for them it is too sweet. However, if you can manage to find Skenderbeg Konjac, I know you will profit nicely. Chinese were crazy for it since it was introduced to them by Hoxha in 1960's when they were allies with Albania.
(The Count of Kosova, 9 March 2011 21:52)

Congratulations to ZMAJ for making good profit... but as far as Šarplaninac (which is mistaken for "Qen Sharri" by some, they aren't the same) - no, neither Šarplaninac nor Qen Sharri is appealing for a Chinese dinner. There are very few exotic restaurants in the Hong Kong area serving SPECIAL dog, bred for... eating. These are pretty expensive and of course normal people won't eat there. Koreans are more "known" for that habit - but lately things in both Koreas are more "politically correct" in that respect and eating of dogs or cats is very much discouraged.

I don't thing anyone would object Skenderbeg.

Would China take part if Taiwan was represented as a state? Aksing = answering!

Same for US. Would US take part if Alaska was represented as an independent state? Nope!

It is time the US will respect the territorial integrity of other nations!

Will Europe remain an important trade partner of Serbia? Yes? Will it be the only significant source of trade with Serbia? No.

You clearly read what you wanted to believe I wrote rather than what I actually did write (like quite a few commenters on b92 regularly do).
(Aleks, 9 March 2011 18:42)

Looks like that's exactly what you're doing, Alex old chap. I didn't say Europe was the only source of anything. simply that for the foreseeable future it was likely to remain Serbia's most important trade and investment partner. If you know about, for example, widespread Latin American investment in the Balkans, feel free to put me right. I can think of only one example, Mexico's Cemex has a cement works in Croatia.

Also, Chinese do not care for honey, for them it is too sweet. However, if you can manage to find Skenderbeg Konjac, I know you will profit nicely. Chinese were crazy for it since it was introduced to them by Hoxha in 1960's when they were allies with Albania.
(The Count of Kosova, 9 March 2011 21:52)

Chinese do not care for honey?!
It's too sweet for Chinese?!

Have you ever been in China?

If you ever go I guarantee that you'll rarely find a place to eat without honey sauce., and "too sweet" you should avoid not to insult the hosts.. Maybe the best way to describe Chinese cuisine would be- Sweet cuisine or Sweet-Sour cuisine with unlimited sauces and syrups- some of those much sweeter then honey.

China is the biggest producer of honey in the world and consume it's 150gr per year- per capita. (Australia 1,6kg, US 500gr etc.) Just dont be stupid and tell me that average Australian eat 10 times more honey.. It's about "Chineese consumption" which is almost generally lower in let's say everything. You can compare meet consumption to see much more difference. Chinese love honey and eat honey. Honey is very important in Chinese traditional medicine too.

AND, if you want to know THERE IS opportunity to sell honey to a biggest honey producer in the world (China) if you have mature organic forest (safe) honey. (Chinese is 95% immature and "full" of Chloranphericol)

Look at this and mention the specific terms we use in Europe last hundred years (maybe):

"In additional to its use for nutritional value, which is widely recognized, honey is a favorite among the Chinese people because it is a neutral food that has medicinal properties. As written by Pharmacist Li Shizhen from the Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644 in the text Compendium of Materia Medica, honey can be used to help with many ailments including the removal of pathogenic heat, pain reliever, a way to fight dehydration, and as a power anti-oxidant."

As for Skenderbeg do you really mean this what you wrote? If they "got crazy" about it then you can easily describe your economic situation you were living those decades!

At those times they were "unpacking" ships with thousands of our IMT-s rather then drinking Skenderbeg.

Sarplaninac is a Serbian dog with maybe some of your genes (again- maybe).

(Ataman, 8 March 2011 22:58)

..and I was asking myself where are you and if everything is OK! Nice to hear from you.

I just saved over a 1000£ for a white tea and Reishi (personal use) and I earned 4000-5000£ (don't know yet) on several processors. There's other multiple details saved me a nice money.

I love business with Chinese!

TODAY it's very difficult to prosper, remember?

Seller, buyer or reseller, it's same to me when it come to the profit., it's one thing.

my previous post here had a link to an article about the US ignoring a resolution passed by 189 of the UN members to lift it's "economic embargo" on Cuba. It demonstrates how the US in spite of overwhelming democratic voting , only two member states voted against the resolution and one of those was the US, still does exactly what it wants. Funny how it can then turn around and try to dictate to Serbia what it should or shouldnt do and how Serbia has to engage with a "state" that it doesnt nor ever will recognise. It might have saved me a little time had B92 actually published my full post and the link I provided.

Kosovo is all about economy: Yugoslavia was 6th world major producer of [Lignite (Wikipedia)].

UN panel on future energy resources decided (2 years ago) that coal will be the essential energy resource, of course with clean technologies included. (See [David Mackay]'s book ["Sustainable Energy - Without The Hot Air"].

Now let us remember [Madeleine Albright], with Check company ČEZ, through "Albright Consulting", tried to close a contract 2 billion dollars worth, for a thermal plant in Kosovo, bigger than all other thermal and hydro plants in Serbia and former Yugoslavia, and to have Kosovo lignite FOR FREE.

That's just one example where money drills...

The other examples can be seen in Anex B of Rambuillet Agreement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambouillet_Agreement).

Best examples, however, can be seen in the documentary "Iraq for sale". It is shown there that the US wealthy "elite" leads US to numerous wars simply because of the interest of themselves - the wealthy oligarchs. US people are being robbed, and countries like Vietnam, Cuba, Iraq. Yugoslavia, Serbia ... are only episodes in that.
Sad, but we all lose.

Follow the link provided and think for yourselves, please.

All the best...
LK

Dave, old chap, this isn't the 20th century any more. Foreign investment comes from all around the world, not just the US and EU. It is LatAm, Asia, Russia etc. who have money to invest in Serbia. Its investors benefit from Serbia's close location to the European market which for example would allow them to produce goods or finish goods in Serbia and get them cheaply into the EU market.

Current trade may be low (there's a recession on in west in case you've already forgotten) with non-western states, but as most people who understand the basics of economies, it is not simply about exports which can wax and wane on quite a number of variable conditions.

Will Europe remain an important trade partner of Serbia? Yes? Will it be the only significant source of trade with Serbia? No.

You clearly read what you wanted to believe I wrote rather than what I actually did write (like quite a few commenters on b92 regularly do).

Like it or not, your guesses and wishes are irrelevant because you clearly look to the past rather than the future, Dave 1989.

(Je¿ atamañski, 10 March 2011 00:11)

We do not have anything to offer to Chinese except on some rare metals in the future, stakes and attractive business locations right now. That's the only thing they need or they'll need and something we shouldn't sell actually- never, especially not to them. We shouldn't think about selling stuff to Chinese at all, not yet at least.

But, we can interfere in business with them grabbing our peace of the pie. There's so many business opportunities next to the Chinese and I'm amazed how many of those are lost by now. We cannot say that we can't sell to the others., on the contrary there's number of agreements we're late or very frequently we (Chamber of Commerce, Yugoimport etc.) use to introduce our capabilities like: "Our capacities.." and/or: "Our annual production.."., the thing so stupid now days.. We can actually "do" EVERYTHING by both- quality and quantity.

Sarplaninac?! Give me a break! It should be 500 people Chinese wedding to serve one Sarplaninac on the spit, they eat so little.. They eat so little that I was asking myself if they "fix" their wives- so little! In a fact, maybe there IS something to export to China..

There's not a single person in Alaska that doesn't consider themselves American.
(Danilo, 10 March 2011 18:42)
=========================

Is that why they speak Russian, have Russian churches there, wear Russian clothing and are now teaching Americans how to speak Russian?
How much do you really know about Alaska.
Many people there are of Russian descent and still consider themselves more Russian than American.
Take a trip to Alaska and see for yourself.

There's not a single person in Alaska that doesn't consider themselves American.
(Danilo, 10 March 2011 18:42)

So., this means that there's not a single normal, non stupid person in Alaska.. It's too cold causing some percentage of brain cells to cease to function.. Are you from Alaska?

Friendship with the United States is injurious to your health.Just look at what happened to Hosni Mubarak and how Gaddafi is trying to survive.
(Rekha Vinjamuri, 10 March 2011 19:27)

Once you say health..

Yes, it is! United States pharmaceutical mafia is planning to release special Turmeric (Curcumin) disease in your country right now to drastically limit or destroy production.. Can you imagine India without curry as it was? Or., can you imagine the world without cancer- as it "was"..

Do you know that the world will be chocolate "free" in 2050 because the Cocoa will be exclusive to Pharmaceutical Industry and limited to the rich population?

Twilight zone?

No.

Turmeric (diferuloylmethane) properly used starts killing cancer cells in 24 hours (esophageal) or other up to 5 days..

Is that to be compared to Mubarak or Gaddafi when it comes to health?

No.

So it comes that I agree- partially.

Forbes...
----------------

* There are 413 billionaires in the United States with a net worth of $1.5 trillion. This is up from 403 in 2010 and a value of $1.3 trillion.

* There are 300 billionaires in Europe with a net worth of $1.3 trillion, up from 248 billionaires last year with a fortune of $1 trillion.

* In the Asia-Pacific region there are 332 billionaires worth $996 billion, compared with 234 billionaires in 2010 valued at $729 billion.

* The Middle East and Africa have 89 billionaires with a fortune of $251 billion, up from 65 last year worth $181 billion.
***
(Aleks, 10 March 2011 21:22)

--------------------


Forbes Premiere Lifetime Membership

Items left: 1

Price: 5 (five) £

Buy it now!

Take advantage of knowing faster then anyone else. Give yourself a lifetime opportunity to access global data at any time. You can rule the blogs with just an Enter-click! You can show those bastards which country has lesser billionaires with more trillions! Trillionaires are just waiting to hug your country and help swiftly jump out from the crisis. Yes, we will give you the precious formula on how to make a single rich from 500.000 impoverished! Take this advantage - now!

Continue to checkout-

PayPal
Visa
MasterCard
Other?

Meanwhile, some traditional empires are having 'trouble' adjusting to the change in power and influence vis-a-vist relations with their former colonies (via the british newspaper independent):

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/03/08/david-cameron%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98diplomatic%E2%80%99-gunboats-misfire-in-india-and-libya/

David Cameron's 'diplomatic' gunboats misfire in India and Libya

The future, not the past