"Dialogue chance for Kosovo compromise"

“We will never recognize Kosovo as an independent creation, and it is good that these discussions have not been given a fixed term and that participants in the talks will not go to Brussels with ready-made solutions,” said Bogdanović.


Just by sitting on the same table as equals, you are recognizing Kosova as independent and not as you claim your southern province. If Kosova is part of Serbia, than what is the purpose of having these talks in EU Capital?

(Kosova-USA, 9 March 2011 10:17)
You much loved US sits at a table with the Taliban, unbeknown to the American public, but does that mean they officially recognizes them? NO, they are only called discussions and nothing else.
The purpose of having talks in the EU capital is “neutral territory” so neither can claim advantage. Are you aware that the Romanian government has held talks with the western part of Moldavia” in Switzerland? And don’t the Romanians claim that part as their land? You have a lot to learn about things work in this world.

(FREEDOM, 9 March 2011 12:13)
Personally I think that Serbia should have left things as they are because in the end we will have to feed the Albanians – it would have looked very funny with hungry Albanians at the throats of their allies. But just for my curiosity tell me where are the symbols of the independent Kosovo? I don’t see them perhaps you have a different picture.

If Kosova is part of Serbia, than what is the purpose of having these talks in EU Capital?
(Kosova-USA, 9 March 2011 10:17)
--
If Kosovo is independent then why talk to Belgrade at all?

More than autonomy, less than independence is a fact my friend. Lets make life better for everyone in the province. If all goes well I'll even buy you a drink - in Belgrade or Pristina, your choice. :)

Dialogue will continue when the USA tells the Kosovo Albanians to do so.

It was the US that separated Kosovo from Serbia and not the Albanians. For some reason every Albanian poster here seems to think that Albanians were the ones that physically separated Serbia from Kosovo.

Albanians were only successful in driving out ethnic Serbs and tearing down centuries old churches.

The separation of Kosovo from Serbia was more about the US paying back Serbia for the ineffective 78 days of bombing.

During those 78 days of bombings, the US blew up Serbia's hospitals, water towers, schools, bridges and manufacturing facilities.

Oh yeah, i forget to mention the US also blew up a couple of Serbian tanks and straw huts in Kosovo. The US was so successfull in fighting the Serbian military in Kosoco that they finished their war on Serbia on civilians in downtown Belgrade.

Today, i read that Kosovo Albanians will never accept Serbian rule and that they will destroy the Serbian army if they try to come into Kosovo.

Truth is that the Serbian army would destroy the Albanian army in a couple of days.

Even the the Russians have stated that the Serbian Military can take care of itself.

Anyways, right now i am sure that Hilary Clinton is scheduling the next dialogue meeting in Brussels.

We have done pretty well since Serbia stopped all export from Kosovo passing through, why should we compromise, what is there to gain from Serbia except their cheap and highly cancer-risk products as is the case with Jaffa. I remember Serbian officials in Belgrade a couple of years ago saying Kosovo would go bankrupt after declaring Independence HAHA, since then they had to make up another story to undermine Kosovo and we now have this so-called organ trade. I sincerely hope these talks fail, we have nothing to talk

Kosova USA, unless Serbia says in explicit terms that it recognizes Kosovo as an independent Albanian state, it has not recognized Kosovo as an independent state. Do you know something the rest of us don't know? Did Serbia say it recognized Kosovo Albanian's UDI? I haven't seen anything yet. The dialogue is there because there are serious problems between Albanians and Serbians in Kosovo. Eventually the topic of status will come; it is inevitable.

I still don't understand what compromise we can reach with serbs,when they are saying NO recognition of Kosovo,insult K-Alb every day and are offering authonomy of 1989.On the other hand Kosovo's independece has been recognised by 75 UN members and 35 others are leaning toward it.Also Kosovo and its allies have make clear that there is no mention of status in this talks.Where is the commom ground,because I don't see it?
I have nothing agaist talks,but I don't see common points between two coutries.
Serbia says we didn't do anything to K-Alb. they were killed by aliens,Albanians give 15 thousand names of killed people.Albanians ask serbians to apologise for the 1999,serbians are saying that they have nothing to do with 1999.
The only way that serbians and albanians can reach an agreement is when serbia apologise to K-Alb for crimes of 1999 and before.After taking this step,they can show that they are willing to deal with Kosovo and Albanians.But till now I haven't seen anything that suggest that serbians are sorry for what they have done to albanians from 1913 to 1999.
Sorry but this talks are doom to fail.

Truth is that the Serbian army would destroy the Albanian army in a couple of days.

(Another Canadian Serb, 9 March 2011)

Some Serbs really live in la-la land. What will "destroying" the Albanian army in a "couple of days" achieve in your opinion?

Stop thinking like a kindergarden kid and give me an honest answer as to what will it achieve in your opinion?

Mr Bogdanoviq, you are a litte too late.

The ball has been rolling and you (Serbia) have accepted to talk to a politician of an independant Kosovo.

Tung

(1) “We will never recognize Kosovo as an independent creation,"

(2) " and it is good that these discussions have not been given a fixed term and that participants in the talks will not go to Brussels with ready-made solutions,” said Bogdanović.

Some simple logic; how does statement (1) NOT contradict statement (2)? Or is the term "oxymoron" not something he is familiar with?

Hmmm Seems like it was just a few months ago that Serbian delegations said they will never sit down a a same table with Kosova is. (one can hundreds of Serb Blogs here on b92 defending Serbian positions of NOT attending any conferences were Kosova is represented. Even snubbing internaional conferences when ever Kosova was present. My how you serbs forget. This is a an informal Recognition.....For now its one the right path to... dropping the U from UDI Kosovo.
Kosova is Albania!

Kosovo is only temporarily independent. Rational thinking individuals know that Kosovo is part and parcel of Albania. The West, although late, is trying to repair the damages of the past Today we are facing the boomerang period, and the west hastily is trying to correct the past mistakes.
So Kosovo is a done deal.

That's the socalled state neutral...oops, status neutral approach. Because Kosovo Albanians insist in participating as equal partners, and Kosovo is not a state, these talks might not be called talks on state level. And that why there are no symbols or country name signs. So yes, in the end, it's a talk as equals. They are equally humans, or maybe equally elected representatives of a certain group of people. Though, 'elected' is not exactly the right word for the things that happened during the latest Kosovo elections ;-)
(Top, 9 March 2011 15:50)
I guess everyone can play their own song and dance in the scenario.
As a consequence Serbia is being brought closer and closer to the pie cooling in the window with its enticing aroma. Will the hunger be too much to resist the true price it will cost to have a piece of the pie.

Truth is that the Serbian army would destroy the Albanian army in a couple of days.

(Another Canadian Serb, 9 March 2011)


Republic of Albania is a NATO member. Serbia on the other hand is the laughing stock of Europe.

Are you going to laugh the Albanian army to death?



Thanks,

They are so different that in Albanian alphabet they have 19 positions in between.
(ben, 9 March 2011 13:38)
--
More Miloseviq propaganda.

More than autonomy less jhan independence: Albanians get enough economic independence that they cant blame their incompetence on us or use their numbers to manipulate the rest of Serbia politically plus MUP & VS throughout KiM & the border of Albania.

What bogi the phantom minister meant to say is: Dialogue is a chance to to recognize Kosovo.

What a clown I tell you...bg is full of them.









Thanks,

"But just for my curiosity tell me where are the symbols of the independent Kosovo? I don’t see them perhaps you have a different picture."

That's the socalled state neutral...oops, status neutral approach. Because Kosovo Albanians insist in participating as equal partners, and Kosovo is not a state, these talks might not be called talks on state level. And that why there are no symbols or country name signs. So yes, in the end, it's a talk as equals. They are equally humans, or maybe equally elected representatives of a certain group of people. Though, 'elected' is not exactly the right word for the things that happened during the latest Kosovo elections ;-)

canadian serb,
you do know serbian history,i presume.
you do know how many time you did try to erase albanians from there(more than a millenium-for those who do not know)
you do know that each time you failed
you do know that each time we became stronger
so now,just try again!

That's the socalled state neutral...oops, status neutral approach. Because Kosovo Albanians insist in participating as equal partners, and Kosovo is not a state, these talks might not be called talks on state level. And that why there are no symbols or country name signs. So yes, in the end, it's a talk as equals. They are equally humans, or maybe equally elected representatives of a certain group of people. Though, 'elected' is not exactly the right word for the things that happened during the latest Kosovo elections ;-)
(Top, 9 March 2011 15:50)
It still amazes me how Serbians wave the banner of "status neutral" as a Serbian win. Sure it says we will not display Kosovo as an independent state but we will also not display it as a province of Serbia.
If the area could ever get out of the mindset that as long as the other side does not get what they want it is a win, who knows what could happen.
You are one of the more progressive Serbian posters, but you still base Serbian wins on Albanian losses.
Status neutral is not a win for either side, it is "neutral".

Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is a step the government of Serbia in the recognition of Kosovo's independence. Samardzic told a press conference said that the government of Serbia, "under the guise of" to lead discussions on technical issues, agreed to a dialogue with Kosovo as an equal partner with, or as an independent state.


"This is perhaps the last act in which our government actually recognize Kosovo as an independent state, "said Samardzic and added that Serbia's candidacy for the EU gave up its national objectives.


He said that the dialogue in Brussels led to the resolution that is compliant with the EU 9th September, in which, as he said, does not mention 1244 or the status of Kosovo, but only that it should open a dialogue with the aim of Serbia and Kosovo join the EU.

Samardzic said that the dialogue with Pristina, Belgrade's no mention of UN Resolution 1244, resolution of the Assembly of Serbia, and that there is no participation of Kosovo Serbs in Belgrade delegation.
potpredsednik Demokratske stranke Srbije Slobodan Samardžić,,,

Poor Ben,

This is written in the Albanian language just as Kosova or as you say Kosovo.

Tung

To the usual KA trolls who are trying to distort the situation, you might want to ponder tge following: if at the end of the meeting Stefanovic wanted to speak to Cooper on another matter, he would be doing so as the representative of a recognised UN member state. If Tahiri tried the same, Cooper would not be able officially to treat her in the same way. That is the political reality.
(Jim, 9 March 2011 20:20)
Ah yes after the meeting Serbia is a UN member, and Kosovo is not. However inside the room that is irrelevant, and in reality so it is in everyday life.
What benefit does UN membership really afford Serbia that Kosovo does not have?
Other than to participate in a pretty much defunct organization. After all UN membership did not prevent the bombing of Serbia, nor did it prevent the forced removal of Serb military and police from Kosovo. And last but not least being a UN member has not allowed Serbia to prevent Kosovo from declaring independence and being accepted by at least 75 countries.

Mr Bogdanoviq, you are a litte too late.

(FREEDOM, 9 March 2011 12:13)

How did you manage to misspell his name when you had it clearly written in the text of the article several times???

It is simply unbelaivable to me how someone cannot understand the difference between c and q.

They are so different that in Albanian alphabet they have 19 positions in between. http://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfabeti_shqip

It is good to hear that the talks went well. Let's hope that they bring some good results for everyone and that they will lead to a full resolution of the problem.

To the usual KA trolls who are trying to distort the situation, you might want to ponder tge following: if at the end of the meeting Stefanovic wanted to speak to Cooper on another matter, he would be doing so as the representative of a recognised UN member state. If Tahiri tried the same, Cooper would not be able officially to treat her in the same way. That is the political reality.

WIEN, 9 March 2011 18:38)

Everything is true what you wrotte, but try to tell that to hard heads in Serbia. Either is ablackout on this news or people in Serbia don't want to be beleive in actual facts.

There is no such thing as "more than autonomy but less than independence". This is a delusion Serbs have created so as not to have to face reality, until, that is, their feet are held to the fire. And, that is about to happen, since that is the real purpose of the current dialogue. It is just that the Serbs have not figured it out yet, but they will!

"We all know UN membership is the ultimate aspiration of any state"


Switzerland joined the UN in 2002

They are so different that in Albanian alphabet they have 19 positions in between. [link]
(ben, 9 March 2011 13:38)

Hehe, "ћ", "ć" and Albanian "q" in this case represent the same sound. Just not everyone has proper set of UTF characters to copy-paste or at least did not realize how to make "ć" out of "c".

Now if you look at that nick - every Albanian, Serb, Russian and Hungarian can pronounce it perfectly, just the transcription is a bit different.

Not a single American was able to say that - the closest they got was "jury" so I let it be.

On the other hand - you sound like that wonderful idiot from the Life of Brian who asks what have the Romans ever done for us, only to be given an ever growing list of things they have done. So it is with the UN. It is not just about membership of a club, it is about participation in global decision making on any number of issues, full international comunications (telephone dialing codes, Internet addresses), participation in sports, etc., etc., etc.

By all means, make a point. But don't be stupid when you do it. We all know UN membership is the ultimate aspiration of any state and the real proof of its existence.

"Samardzic told a press conference said that the government of Serbia, "under the guise of" to lead discussions on technical issues, agreed to a dialogue with Kosovo as an equal partner with, or as an independent state."

Since when does what Samardzic say matter? He has no power, did a really bad job when he had power, he is in the opposition now, and the duty of the opposition is to criticize. Even more so for Samardzic, since he belongs to that party that just nags and nags and nags. I would not give too much attention to what this dinosaur with mustache says. I would not trust people wearing mustache in general.
You are making the same mistake of B92 editors that bring articles from Koha Ditore, a newspaper sympathizing with the opposition, as if they represented the general mood in Kosovo.

By all means, make a point. But don't be stupid when you do it. We all know UN membership is the ultimate aspiration of any state and the real proof of its existence.
(Jim, 10 March 2011 19:28)
So as you say it is the "ultimate aspiration" meaning the final goal.
Membership means paarticipating on the items you listed but decision making???
Prestige yes, proof of existence nay.
But to the question at hand did Serbia's membership prevent any of the events I listed??

On the other hand - further to my previous comment about recognition, you might want to see this article, which was just published in The Economist:

http://www.economist.com/node/18330465?story_id=18330465&fsrc=rss

I reaaly hope that you will now stop pretending UN membership doesn't matter. We all know that it does.

Also, you might want to notice that Kosovo is lumped in with unrecognised territories. This from a magazine that is firmly Western in outlook. Slowly, but surely, the independence project is failing. This is what comes from trying to blackmail the international community. Pristina's silly temper tantrums and threats of violence if they were not allowed to proclaim independence have left it in limbo. As the ICJ said, anyone can declare independence - however, it is recognition that ultimately makes it so!

We all know UN membership is the ultimate aspiration of any state and the real proof of its existence.
(Jim, 10 March 2011 19:28)

I'm perplexed... So, Switzerland got real proof of it's existence in 2004 only ?!!!! If you told that to a Swiss citizen, he/she will remain aghast :)

I reaaly hope that you will now stop pretending UN membership doesn't matter. We all know that it does.
(Jim, 11 March 2011 07:22)

I don’t think we are saying that UN membership does not matter; membership in the UN, WB, IMF, UEFA, EU, African Union, Arab leagues, etc… all matter for different purposes. But statehood is not one of those. As you say yourself further down, it’s recognitions that matter for that.



Also, you might want to notice that Kosovo is lumped in with unrecognised territories. This from a magazine that is firmly Western in outlook. Slowly, but surely, the independence project is failing. This is what comes from trying to blackmail the international community. Pristina's silly temper tantrums and threats of violence if they were not allowed to proclaim independence have left it in limbo. As the ICJ said, anyone can declare independence
(Jim, 11 March 2011 07:22)

No, the ICJ did not say that; it said “the declaration of independence of Kosovo adopted on 17 February 2008 did not violate international law”. So it was for a specific declaration (Kosovo's) declared on a specific date (17 Feb 2008). It does not even cover Kosovo's UDI of 1991, let alone that of other entities.


- however, it is recognition that ultimately makes it so!
(Jim, 11 March 2011 07:22)

Yes, indeed… and there are 75 states which have said they recognize Kosovo and about 20 or so who have said they don’t recognize Kosovo.

Mr Bogdanoviq, you are a litte too late.

The ball has been rolling and you (Serbia) have accepted to talk to a politician of an independant Kosovo.

Tung

If Kosova is part of Serbia, than what is the purpose of having these talks in EU Capital?
(Kosova-USA, 9 March 2011 10:17)
--
If Kosovo is independent then why talk to Belgrade at all?

More than autonomy, less than independence is a fact my friend. Lets make life better for everyone in the province. If all goes well I'll even buy you a drink - in Belgrade or Pristina, your choice. :)

Dialogue will continue when the USA tells the Kosovo Albanians to do so.

It was the US that separated Kosovo from Serbia and not the Albanians. For some reason every Albanian poster here seems to think that Albanians were the ones that physically separated Serbia from Kosovo.

Albanians were only successful in driving out ethnic Serbs and tearing down centuries old churches.

The separation of Kosovo from Serbia was more about the US paying back Serbia for the ineffective 78 days of bombing.

During those 78 days of bombings, the US blew up Serbia's hospitals, water towers, schools, bridges and manufacturing facilities.

Oh yeah, i forget to mention the US also blew up a couple of Serbian tanks and straw huts in Kosovo. The US was so successfull in fighting the Serbian military in Kosoco that they finished their war on Serbia on civilians in downtown Belgrade.

Today, i read that Kosovo Albanians will never accept Serbian rule and that they will destroy the Serbian army if they try to come into Kosovo.

Truth is that the Serbian army would destroy the Albanian army in a couple of days.

Even the the Russians have stated that the Serbian Military can take care of itself.

Anyways, right now i am sure that Hilary Clinton is scheduling the next dialogue meeting in Brussels.

“We will never recognize Kosovo as an independent creation, and it is good that these discussions have not been given a fixed term and that participants in the talks will not go to Brussels with ready-made solutions,” said Bogdanović.


Just by sitting on the same table as equals, you are recognizing Kosova as independent and not as you claim your southern province. If Kosova is part of Serbia, than what is the purpose of having these talks in EU Capital?

Kosova USA, unless Serbia says in explicit terms that it recognizes Kosovo as an independent Albanian state, it has not recognized Kosovo as an independent state. Do you know something the rest of us don't know? Did Serbia say it recognized Kosovo Albanian's UDI? I haven't seen anything yet. The dialogue is there because there are serious problems between Albanians and Serbians in Kosovo. Eventually the topic of status will come; it is inevitable.

I still don't understand what compromise we can reach with serbs,when they are saying NO recognition of Kosovo,insult K-Alb every day and are offering authonomy of 1989.On the other hand Kosovo's independece has been recognised by 75 UN members and 35 others are leaning toward it.Also Kosovo and its allies have make clear that there is no mention of status in this talks.Where is the commom ground,because I don't see it?
I have nothing agaist talks,but I don't see common points between two coutries.
Serbia says we didn't do anything to K-Alb. they were killed by aliens,Albanians give 15 thousand names of killed people.Albanians ask serbians to apologise for the 1999,serbians are saying that they have nothing to do with 1999.
The only way that serbians and albanians can reach an agreement is when serbia apologise to K-Alb for crimes of 1999 and before.After taking this step,they can show that they are willing to deal with Kosovo and Albanians.But till now I haven't seen anything that suggest that serbians are sorry for what they have done to albanians from 1913 to 1999.
Sorry but this talks are doom to fail.

Truth is that the Serbian army would destroy the Albanian army in a couple of days.

(Another Canadian Serb, 9 March 2011)

Some Serbs really live in la-la land. What will "destroying" the Albanian army in a "couple of days" achieve in your opinion?

Stop thinking like a kindergarden kid and give me an honest answer as to what will it achieve in your opinion?

Hmmm Seems like it was just a few months ago that Serbian delegations said they will never sit down a a same table with Kosova is. (one can hundreds of Serb Blogs here on b92 defending Serbian positions of NOT attending any conferences were Kosova is represented. Even snubbing internaional conferences when ever Kosova was present. My how you serbs forget. This is a an informal Recognition.....For now its one the right path to... dropping the U from UDI Kosovo.
Kosova is Albania!

What bogi the phantom minister meant to say is: Dialogue is a chance to to recognize Kosovo.

What a clown I tell you...bg is full of them.









Thanks,

We have done pretty well since Serbia stopped all export from Kosovo passing through, why should we compromise, what is there to gain from Serbia except their cheap and highly cancer-risk products as is the case with Jaffa. I remember Serbian officials in Belgrade a couple of years ago saying Kosovo would go bankrupt after declaring Independence HAHA, since then they had to make up another story to undermine Kosovo and we now have this so-called organ trade. I sincerely hope these talks fail, we have nothing to talk

(Kosova-USA, 9 March 2011 10:17)
You much loved US sits at a table with the Taliban, unbeknown to the American public, but does that mean they officially recognizes them? NO, they are only called discussions and nothing else.
The purpose of having talks in the EU capital is “neutral territory” so neither can claim advantage. Are you aware that the Romanian government has held talks with the western part of Moldavia” in Switzerland? And don’t the Romanians claim that part as their land? You have a lot to learn about things work in this world.

(FREEDOM, 9 March 2011 12:13)
Personally I think that Serbia should have left things as they are because in the end we will have to feed the Albanians – it would have looked very funny with hungry Albanians at the throats of their allies. But just for my curiosity tell me where are the symbols of the independent Kosovo? I don’t see them perhaps you have a different picture.

Mr Bogdanoviq, you are a litte too late.

(FREEDOM, 9 March 2011 12:13)

How did you manage to misspell his name when you had it clearly written in the text of the article several times???

It is simply unbelaivable to me how someone cannot understand the difference between c and q.

They are so different that in Albanian alphabet they have 19 positions in between. http://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfabeti_shqip

More than autonomy less jhan independence: Albanians get enough economic independence that they cant blame their incompetence on us or use their numbers to manipulate the rest of Serbia politically plus MUP & VS throughout KiM & the border of Albania.

Kosovo is only temporarily independent. Rational thinking individuals know that Kosovo is part and parcel of Albania. The West, although late, is trying to repair the damages of the past Today we are facing the boomerang period, and the west hastily is trying to correct the past mistakes.
So Kosovo is a done deal.

That's the socalled state neutral...oops, status neutral approach. Because Kosovo Albanians insist in participating as equal partners, and Kosovo is not a state, these talks might not be called talks on state level. And that why there are no symbols or country name signs. So yes, in the end, it's a talk as equals. They are equally humans, or maybe equally elected representatives of a certain group of people. Though, 'elected' is not exactly the right word for the things that happened during the latest Kosovo elections ;-)
(Top, 9 March 2011 15:50)
I guess everyone can play their own song and dance in the scenario.
As a consequence Serbia is being brought closer and closer to the pie cooling in the window with its enticing aroma. Will the hunger be too much to resist the true price it will cost to have a piece of the pie.

Truth is that the Serbian army would destroy the Albanian army in a couple of days.

(Another Canadian Serb, 9 March 2011)


Republic of Albania is a NATO member. Serbia on the other hand is the laughing stock of Europe.

Are you going to laugh the Albanian army to death?



Thanks,

They are so different that in Albanian alphabet they have 19 positions in between.
(ben, 9 March 2011 13:38)
--
More Miloseviq propaganda.

(1) “We will never recognize Kosovo as an independent creation,"

(2) " and it is good that these discussions have not been given a fixed term and that participants in the talks will not go to Brussels with ready-made solutions,” said Bogdanović.

Some simple logic; how does statement (1) NOT contradict statement (2)? Or is the term "oxymoron" not something he is familiar with?

"But just for my curiosity tell me where are the symbols of the independent Kosovo? I don’t see them perhaps you have a different picture."

That's the socalled state neutral...oops, status neutral approach. Because Kosovo Albanians insist in participating as equal partners, and Kosovo is not a state, these talks might not be called talks on state level. And that why there are no symbols or country name signs. So yes, in the end, it's a talk as equals. They are equally humans, or maybe equally elected representatives of a certain group of people. Though, 'elected' is not exactly the right word for the things that happened during the latest Kosovo elections ;-)

That's the socalled state neutral...oops, status neutral approach. Because Kosovo Albanians insist in participating as equal partners, and Kosovo is not a state, these talks might not be called talks on state level. And that why there are no symbols or country name signs. So yes, in the end, it's a talk as equals. They are equally humans, or maybe equally elected representatives of a certain group of people. Though, 'elected' is not exactly the right word for the things that happened during the latest Kosovo elections ;-)
(Top, 9 March 2011 15:50)
It still amazes me how Serbians wave the banner of "status neutral" as a Serbian win. Sure it says we will not display Kosovo as an independent state but we will also not display it as a province of Serbia.
If the area could ever get out of the mindset that as long as the other side does not get what they want it is a win, who knows what could happen.
You are one of the more progressive Serbian posters, but you still base Serbian wins on Albanian losses.
Status neutral is not a win for either side, it is "neutral".

Poor Ben,

This is written in the Albanian language just as Kosova or as you say Kosovo.

Tung

WIEN, 9 March 2011 18:38)

Everything is true what you wrotte, but try to tell that to hard heads in Serbia. Either is ablackout on this news or people in Serbia don't want to be beleive in actual facts.

Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is a step the government of Serbia in the recognition of Kosovo's independence. Samardzic told a press conference said that the government of Serbia, "under the guise of" to lead discussions on technical issues, agreed to a dialogue with Kosovo as an equal partner with, or as an independent state.


"This is perhaps the last act in which our government actually recognize Kosovo as an independent state, "said Samardzic and added that Serbia's candidacy for the EU gave up its national objectives.


He said that the dialogue in Brussels led to the resolution that is compliant with the EU 9th September, in which, as he said, does not mention 1244 or the status of Kosovo, but only that it should open a dialogue with the aim of Serbia and Kosovo join the EU.

Samardzic said that the dialogue with Pristina, Belgrade's no mention of UN Resolution 1244, resolution of the Assembly of Serbia, and that there is no participation of Kosovo Serbs in Belgrade delegation.
potpredsednik Demokratske stranke Srbije Slobodan Samardžić,,,

canadian serb,
you do know serbian history,i presume.
you do know how many time you did try to erase albanians from there(more than a millenium-for those who do not know)
you do know that each time you failed
you do know that each time we became stronger
so now,just try again!

There is no such thing as "more than autonomy but less than independence". This is a delusion Serbs have created so as not to have to face reality, until, that is, their feet are held to the fire. And, that is about to happen, since that is the real purpose of the current dialogue. It is just that the Serbs have not figured it out yet, but they will!

It is good to hear that the talks went well. Let's hope that they bring some good results for everyone and that they will lead to a full resolution of the problem.

To the usual KA trolls who are trying to distort the situation, you might want to ponder tge following: if at the end of the meeting Stefanovic wanted to speak to Cooper on another matter, he would be doing so as the representative of a recognised UN member state. If Tahiri tried the same, Cooper would not be able officially to treat her in the same way. That is the political reality.

To the usual KA trolls who are trying to distort the situation, you might want to ponder tge following: if at the end of the meeting Stefanovic wanted to speak to Cooper on another matter, he would be doing so as the representative of a recognised UN member state. If Tahiri tried the same, Cooper would not be able officially to treat her in the same way. That is the political reality.
(Jim, 9 March 2011 20:20)
Ah yes after the meeting Serbia is a UN member, and Kosovo is not. However inside the room that is irrelevant, and in reality so it is in everyday life.
What benefit does UN membership really afford Serbia that Kosovo does not have?
Other than to participate in a pretty much defunct organization. After all UN membership did not prevent the bombing of Serbia, nor did it prevent the forced removal of Serb military and police from Kosovo. And last but not least being a UN member has not allowed Serbia to prevent Kosovo from declaring independence and being accepted by at least 75 countries.

On the other hand - you sound like that wonderful idiot from the Life of Brian who asks what have the Romans ever done for us, only to be given an ever growing list of things they have done. So it is with the UN. It is not just about membership of a club, it is about participation in global decision making on any number of issues, full international comunications (telephone dialing codes, Internet addresses), participation in sports, etc., etc., etc.

By all means, make a point. But don't be stupid when you do it. We all know UN membership is the ultimate aspiration of any state and the real proof of its existence.

They are so different that in Albanian alphabet they have 19 positions in between. [link]
(ben, 9 March 2011 13:38)

Hehe, "ћ", "ć" and Albanian "q" in this case represent the same sound. Just not everyone has proper set of UTF characters to copy-paste or at least did not realize how to make "ć" out of "c".

Now if you look at that nick - every Albanian, Serb, Russian and Hungarian can pronounce it perfectly, just the transcription is a bit different.

Not a single American was able to say that - the closest they got was "jury" so I let it be.

"Samardzic told a press conference said that the government of Serbia, "under the guise of" to lead discussions on technical issues, agreed to a dialogue with Kosovo as an equal partner with, or as an independent state."

Since when does what Samardzic say matter? He has no power, did a really bad job when he had power, he is in the opposition now, and the duty of the opposition is to criticize. Even more so for Samardzic, since he belongs to that party that just nags and nags and nags. I would not give too much attention to what this dinosaur with mustache says. I would not trust people wearing mustache in general.
You are making the same mistake of B92 editors that bring articles from Koha Ditore, a newspaper sympathizing with the opposition, as if they represented the general mood in Kosovo.

By all means, make a point. But don't be stupid when you do it. We all know UN membership is the ultimate aspiration of any state and the real proof of its existence.
(Jim, 10 March 2011 19:28)
So as you say it is the "ultimate aspiration" meaning the final goal.
Membership means paarticipating on the items you listed but decision making???
Prestige yes, proof of existence nay.
But to the question at hand did Serbia's membership prevent any of the events I listed??

"We all know UN membership is the ultimate aspiration of any state"


Switzerland joined the UN in 2002

On the other hand - further to my previous comment about recognition, you might want to see this article, which was just published in The Economist:

http://www.economist.com/node/18330465?story_id=18330465&fsrc=rss

I reaaly hope that you will now stop pretending UN membership doesn't matter. We all know that it does.

Also, you might want to notice that Kosovo is lumped in with unrecognised territories. This from a magazine that is firmly Western in outlook. Slowly, but surely, the independence project is failing. This is what comes from trying to blackmail the international community. Pristina's silly temper tantrums and threats of violence if they were not allowed to proclaim independence have left it in limbo. As the ICJ said, anyone can declare independence - however, it is recognition that ultimately makes it so!

We all know UN membership is the ultimate aspiration of any state and the real proof of its existence.
(Jim, 10 March 2011 19:28)

I'm perplexed... So, Switzerland got real proof of it's existence in 2004 only ?!!!! If you told that to a Swiss citizen, he/she will remain aghast :)

I reaaly hope that you will now stop pretending UN membership doesn't matter. We all know that it does.
(Jim, 11 March 2011 07:22)

I don’t think we are saying that UN membership does not matter; membership in the UN, WB, IMF, UEFA, EU, African Union, Arab leagues, etc… all matter for different purposes. But statehood is not one of those. As you say yourself further down, it’s recognitions that matter for that.



Also, you might want to notice that Kosovo is lumped in with unrecognised territories. This from a magazine that is firmly Western in outlook. Slowly, but surely, the independence project is failing. This is what comes from trying to blackmail the international community. Pristina's silly temper tantrums and threats of violence if they were not allowed to proclaim independence have left it in limbo. As the ICJ said, anyone can declare independence
(Jim, 11 March 2011 07:22)

No, the ICJ did not say that; it said “the declaration of independence of Kosovo adopted on 17 February 2008 did not violate international law”. So it was for a specific declaration (Kosovo's) declared on a specific date (17 Feb 2008). It does not even cover Kosovo's UDI of 1991, let alone that of other entities.


- however, it is recognition that ultimately makes it so!
(Jim, 11 March 2011 07:22)

Yes, indeed… and there are 75 states which have said they recognize Kosovo and about 20 or so who have said they don’t recognize Kosovo.