"No recognition and no Priština authority in north"

The line is not to recognize the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence or agree to let northern, predominantly Serb-inhabited area of Kosovo come under the authority of the territory's central government.
--
That has been the reality for quite a while now and it will end up cementing more than autonomy, less than independence.

Belgrade will claim sovereignty over KiM without complete authority over the region while Pristina will claim independence without all the benefits of such a status. We need to move forward now and improve the living conditions for those residing within the province, which kind of resembles a large prison camp.

Of course we can expect more threats from KiM Albanian nationalists as they remain in denial of not having independence. That dream will never be realised along with their dream of uniting with Albania. The path to peace and reconciliation is through the negotiating table my friends.

NATO right now is bombing Libya. Very easy they can bomb Serbia again. It's not hard for them to do it again.
(ivan, 25 March 2011 15:26)

Not everything is like the video games daddy and I buy you.

Sure keep dreaming Mr Borislav, but non the less thank you for taking this talks closer to fail, I salute you for that.

Every wise individuals knows that Serbia has recognise de facto independence of Kosovo, the de juro recognition segment is on the way, first by convincing the nation. The reasons why Kosovo is recognised by Serbia:

1. Serbia already recognises Kosovo, once it accepts to sit on discussion table as COMPLETE equals.

2. Most of EU recognise Kosovo MORE than they recognise Serbia when regards sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as respective constitutions.

3. Kosovo HAS the upper hand in ALL regional and world meetings/initiatives , and Serbia is now getting used to ISOLATION. However I dont think this will last to long, as Serbia even De Juro will recognise Kosovo because it never belonged to Serbia, but it held only by force as an occupied land. As an International Historian I can easily conclude this, as for us is plain and simple.

There no practically no barriers as talks are intesified to a degree that Albania and Kosovo will probably from this September to travel EVEN without IDs. The economies are also on the verge of unification.

I guess Serbia should take care of Sanjak, Presevo and Vojvodina as Kosovo is finished ONCE last Serbian police and military left Kosovo. Brining back Serbian police and military could happen ONLY if Russia becomes a lonely superpower something nobody even thinks that will ever happen.

Until then enjoy the present and leave such hopes to rest in peace.

I believe if capable, that Serbia along with allies such as Russia and China should send in their own police and peace keeping mission to Kosovo.

Time to clean up the criminal activities that NATO and the EU have created.

If Serbia is not going to recognize Kosovo and Priština is not going to relinquish its claim on independence, then they must work to find a way to live together while ensuring the safety of the Kosovo Serbs, Stefanović argued.

safety of the Kosovo Serbs, Stefanović argued

You only care for Serbs, but do not care about safety of Albanians in Presheva valley.

I notice that Boris is fully aware that reality in ground cannot be altered, so his Ace is northern Mitro and nothing else. To early to try and win political points for public cunsumption.

Creative,

You are living up the the first part of your name. Just because Serbia is pursuing it's case diplomatically and not militarily doesn't mean that it has recognized Kosovo. It just shows Serbia's maturity and its focus on the future, which is something that the Albanians should do here instead of focusing on Milosevic-era Serbia. Serbia is moving ahead while Kosovo is left behind. That's a true and rational statement.

@ creative rationality..."There no practically no barriers as talks are intesified to a degree that Albania and Kosovo will probably from this September to travel EVEN without IDs. The economies are also on the verge of unification."

I think I would struggle to remember a time when I have read anything quite so ridiculous before. You seem to be suggesting that Serbia has all but recognised Kosovo already and that the acceptable future of Kosovo is integration into a Greater Albania?
I thought Serbia had made it clear and simple for all to understand that they will not recognise the UDI? I also thought the K Albs had declared "independance" which means that unification into Albania would seem to contradict that notion? The vast majority of the worlds countries have not recognised the UDI and I dont see a queue forming for those that wish to do so either. The world is also starting to see both sides of the issue with more and more reporting and investigations of the activities of the KLA (Thaci et al) against Serbs down the years. I live in the UK and have to admit I start to see a gradual change in the media's perception of Serbia and of the whole UDI debacle. If you truly believe that the UDI and Kosovo is a done deal and that Serbia faces international isolation then I think, in my opinion, that you may have a few surprises coming your way in the not so distant future.

Serbian negotiators are again, playing dangerous game with and around Kosovo! Serbia will at the end lost the most with such rigid and blunt attitude.

The more Albanians live in DENIAL of re-integration, the easier it'll be to set up institutions again in all of KiM because they'll simply brush everything off, the reality is way to painful for the Albanian public. But I'd love to be in that negotiating room just to see the face on the Albanian team.

Until then enjoy the present and leave such hopes to rest in peace.
(Creative rationality, 25 March 2011 14:08)
--
PRN, it's good to see you stopped using CAPS but why did you change your alias?

Zoran that sounds like a ringing endorsement of the government's 'sell out' policy on Kosovo.

Sometimes, I think there are two Zorans!

But on the point, Stefanovic neatly sums up the Serbian position. I personally am more flexible, but its probably too early to enter into full blown negotiations.

So lets sort out bread and butter issues and try to keep the political point scoring down to a minimum.

NATO right now is bombing Libya. Very easy they can bomb Serbia again. It's not hard for them to do it again.

albania and kosova will join together in the future, AGAIN things dont happen overnight but it will happen, they are after all albanian why live in two states when we can create one

So Belgrade has clearly laid out three general principles at the conference:

1. Hold on to the north
2. Claim some sort of active authority over the Serb enclaves in the center and south including monasteries (Gracanica and Strpce seem two likely cases)
3. No recognition of Kosovo, but at the same time no active attempt at undermining whatever authority Pristina already has, and will continue to have, with the large Albanian sectors.

This seems like Belgrade has become far more pragmatic over the years at it appears to be cutting a good amount of what it previously claimed. Note we don't hear one thing about "reintegration" or reestablishing any of Belgrade's authority over Albanians. If Belgrade plays its cards right and keeps a cool head, it can extract far more concessions than it was previously told to deal with in 2008. But this comes at, I must say, implicitly or indirectly recognizing Pristina's authority and legitimacy, if not its independence.

Zoran that sounds like a ringing endorsement of the government's 'sell out' policy on Kosovo.
(bganon, 25 March 2011 12:38)
--
I don't understand how that is selling out? Not recognising "Kosova" and keeping the north under Serbian control is pretty much the reality.

Reading through Wikileaks it was already hinted to the US (in diplomatic terms) that Serbia will use force if necessary to ensure the north does not get touched and I doubt very much the US will have an appetite for another conflict in an area Pristina has practically no influence over.

Pristina will have to relinquish some control over the territory and allow Serbian structures to operate while Serbia will have to provide some legitimacy to the regime in Pristina. Perhaps a bit more than the Hong Kong model where they have their own passports and could be members of more international organisations (but not a full UN member).

I have always maintained that each side needs enough to keep them happy and to prevent them from further conflict. If one or the other side gets too much then the seeds for future conflict are sowed.

The window of opportunity to compromise is now.

The only de jure Serbia recognizes may be soup de jure but not your phony pseudo-state. But since the eu will not give Serbia candidate status this year, they will use the talks as a platform against american imperialism.

"they are after all albanian why live in two states when we can create one"

eric

Since when is eric an albanian name? Why not use your real name? Ashamed?
Albanians can't hanle one state much less two. Nationbuilding isn't for everyone. You are made to live in societies run by others. Albanians have proven, in Albania, that they are not capable of running a country.

Ask the question can Kosovo survive on its own. Is there a possibility to open up employment by attacking investment? It is no to both questions.
I repeat what I saw on HTV about 5 weeks ago when Jadranka Kosor was invited to visit a local factory and the workers had gathered around her and one asked why hasn’t Croatia spend more time effort in trying to attract new industry to the country? She replied that they and others in the past made every effort and offered many incentives, but foreign industry will not invest because Croatia is a small market and there is no return on investment. I was surprised to hear such a frank statement and I appreciated Kosor’s honesty.
Now if Croatia is unable to attract industry what are Pristina’s chances? This myth about huge oil or gas or minerals reserves in Kosovo is just that. Unless you can extract these minerals at a cheap rate forget it. They may as well be on the other side of the planet. It is well known that there exists shale rock that can be converted to oil, but the process is expensive and it would cost $400/$500 per barrel so what are the chances that BP or Exxon will invest to extract oil when the current price on the world market is $104 per barrel?

(ivan, 25 March 2011 15:26)

So if you don’t get your way then NATO will bomb Serbia; I think not.
Wait till you get the bill for NATO’s latest escapades. So far it has been close to 3 billion for the first week and that will equate to about 12 billion per month for the next say 3 to four months followed by a land invasion followed by occupation for at least 10 years. At the same time Al Qaida moves in and starts to replicate Iraq in Libya.
Why do you think Putin is smiling from ear to ear? Because he has given them carte blanch while he got Serbia with Kosovo and Republika Srpska in exchange. He gave the silly Americans the green light knowing they will further impoverish their country without Russia lifting a little finger. If you Google US debt you will see its 14.2 trillion, but I know it’s much higher because a lot is hidden in government departments and not counted. However, let say it’s 14.2; the 2011 budget deficit will be 1.6 trillion while in 2012 it’s 1.2 trillion - in 21 months you will have 17 trillion.
The UK is in deep doo doo right now with massive budget cuts which includes a loss of 400 000 jobs in government. If we assume that Libya will be settled in say 8 weeks then you will only have to add another 100 000 jobs to be slashed, but if it going to take 3 to 4 months then you will see another 600 000 to 800 000 jobs lost in Government to bring the total to over 1000 000 and this does not take into account the cost of occupation.
France is only a step away from Spain.

(Creative rationality, 25 March 2011 14:08)
As an international historian I’d be interested to read some of your work. Can you please post. I e-mailed your statement to a colleague that covers European finance – his reply is unprintable, but he had a good laugh about Kosovo and Albanian economies integrating. I also asked him about the Montenegrin economy being stronger than the Serbian economy. He replied then why is Montenegro whinning about Serbia stopping the sale of wheat? If you have a strong economy you have the money and you buy elsewhere.
On the issue of the Albanian economy he said it is slightly better than Kosovo. Tells you a lot about living in paradise.
On the issue of Kosovo having the upper hand, that is also unprintable. Unfortunately my colleague uses many expletives when he has to deal with banal comments like this. But he did say “when you live from hand to mouth as in Kosovo and Albania, the only upper hand is the one they raise in the air above their heads. I have never read more utter rubbish in my life”.

bring back the 235,000 odd Serbian refugees, rebuild the churches, and get the minorities out of the ghettos, give them freedom of movement, and get them living amongst the Albanians. Allow both sides to operate their own lisense plates/governments/telephone companies without predujice
(New Zealander, 26 March 2011 01:23)

While you at it, why don't you bring all Serbs living in Australia and New Zealand to Kosova, and I will bring all Albanians living in USA,Swiss and Germany to Serbia proper.

I think its pretty clear that much like Isreal-Palestine Its going to remain a frozen conflict, No ones giving anything. instead they should be more practical, Get rid of those 2 death camps outside mitrovica, bring back the 235,000 odd Serbian refugees, rebuild the churches, and get the minorities out of the ghettos, give them freedom of movement, and get them living amongst the Albanians. Allow both sides to operate their own lisense plates/governments/telephone companies without predujice

"Belgrade has a red line...
the line is not to recognize the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence or agree to let northern, predominantly Serb-inhabited area of Kosovo come under the authority of the territory's central government."

That is the main reason why these talks will fail at the end. Serbia countinous moaning about Ahtisari Plans was exactely "unilateral declaration of independence"...it was unilateral because Serbia didn't want and doesnt want to be mutual...The "talk" with Serbia should not last for ever. Serbia must recognise Kosovo independence first and that should be Kosovo Albanians red line.

RE: Irrational Soup Drinker


As an International Historian I can easily conclude this, as for us is plain and simple. (Creative rationality, 25 March 2011 14:08)

Now that is the joke of the day, keep sipping on your soup de jour.

I guess you all remember Knin and Croatian Oluja.It is on the table in Kosova .Let those poor Srbs live in peace in Kosova and dont play or protect them like the ones in KNIN.Then you will look for China or Russias help if they can help and I dont think so as you do the same.

Until then enjoy the present and leave such hopes to rest in peace.
(Creative rationality, 25 March 2011 14:08)

Thank you, and you enjoy your independence.

Zoran that sounds like a ringing endorsement of the government's 'sell out' policy on Kosovo.

Sometimes, I think there are two Zorans!

But on the point, Stefanovic neatly sums up the Serbian position. I personally am more flexible, but its probably too early to enter into full blown negotiations.

So lets sort out bread and butter issues and try to keep the political point scoring down to a minimum.
(bganon, 25 March 2011 12:38)

It is great to hear voice of reason from Serbs like you,Top, and few others. Both Sides K-Albnians and Serbs majority stay in far right where the solution is somewhere in the middle.

But its sad that so many nationalists in both sides are looking for win all solution. In the end both will have something to celebrate and both sides will have some people who will feel they should not give out.

Serbia Must recognise Kosovo and North portion should have special status and that is for mineral wealth 50/50 for 100 years and it will be under special UN or Eulex control for police. put strong judges there and if any one peeps they go to jail.

I think that if people have jobs and stop hating they will be more inclined to let things move, I am just afraid that US UK FRANCE know that if north goes to Serbia Russia will get whats under ground in that area and trust me there is a lot. So after many Billions in KS they will never let it go hence the 50/50 solution but no western country goes for half when they can have it all.
People on the ground are the one who loose in the end.

bring back the 235,000 odd Serbian refugees, rebuild the churches, and get the minorities out of the ghettos, give them freedom of movement, and get them living amongst the Albanians. Allow both sides to operate their own lisense plates/governments/telephone companies without predujice
(New Zealander, 26 March 2011 01:23)

While you at it, why don't you bring all Serbs living in Australia and New Zealand to Kosova, and I will bring all Albanians living in USA,Swiss and Germany to Serbia proper.
(Agim Kelmendi, 26 March 2011 08:26)

I'm not a Serb, I was born in the UK, my parents grew up in New Zealand, and their ancestors were English and Irish

Reading some comments unjust can't jelp bit pitch in my two cents. Do you think that Presevo will stand idle let Serbia get the NOrth. When we are gone start forming ethnically clean states in the ballkans look at not to far but 12 years ago. So all this is smOle and mirrors. Kosovo will be safe and Serbia will claim we did all we could. As far as albanians not being able to for one state our affairs are perfectly in order and thenlpnger this keeps on the better our resolve to unify under one state with Presevo, Medvegja and every inch where albanian is spoken.

MikeC, please don't hurt our feelings to much... :D

I don't know where to start since all your arguments are based on fallacies. In the end, you conclusions lead to contradictions. Do yourself a favour, get an education and please stop wasting everyone's time.
(Xhako, 27 March 2011 21:52)

Well instead of flapping your gums show me where I have made my mistakes. This should be a good read in fantasy and imagination about the great Albanian economy and its superiority in the Balkans. Unfortunately you people always finish it with threats about NATO and how it would be unwise to tangle with Albania.

I have an excellent education and I don’t rely on the CIA world book nor on most of the drivel published in the west for my information.

"Since when is eric an albanian name? Why not use your real name? Ashamed?
Albanians can't hanle one state much less two. Nationbuilding isn't for everyone. You are made to live in societies run by others. Albanians have proven, in Albania, that they are not capable of running a country.
MikeC"

MikeC,
Since when is Mike a Serbian name?
Why not use your real name? Ashamed?
I don't expect you to know much based on your comments I read here. There's nothing but hatred coming out of you.
That's fine by me. Everyone should be allowed to voice their own opinion and live freely.
A belief that you don't share.

For your record, Albania has made much larger strides in the last 20 years than Serbia has.

Albanians have struggled for centuries. Now, Albanians are on the rise and their future is bright.

On the issue of the Albanian economy he said it is slightly better than Kosovo. Tells you a lot about living in paradise.
On the issue of Kosovo having the upper hand, that is also unprintable. Unfortunately my colleague uses many expletives when he has to deal with banal comments like this. But he did say “when you live from hand to mouth as in Kosovo and Albania, the only upper hand is the one they raise in the air above their heads. I have never read more utter rubbish in my life”.
(sj, 26 March 2011 00:37)

sj,

I don't know where to start since all your arguments are based on fallacies. In the end, you conclusions lead to contradictions. Do yourself a favor, get an education and please stop wasting everyone's time.

Serbian negotiators are again, playing dangerous game with and around Kosovo! Serbia will at the end lost the most with such rigid and blunt attitude.

NATO right now is bombing Libya. Very easy they can bomb Serbia again. It's not hard for them to do it again.

Sure keep dreaming Mr Borislav, but non the less thank you for taking this talks closer to fail, I salute you for that.

If Serbia is not going to recognize Kosovo and Priština is not going to relinquish its claim on independence, then they must work to find a way to live together while ensuring the safety of the Kosovo Serbs, Stefanović argued.

safety of the Kosovo Serbs, Stefanović argued

You only care for Serbs, but do not care about safety of Albanians in Presheva valley.

I notice that Boris is fully aware that reality in ground cannot be altered, so his Ace is northern Mitro and nothing else. To early to try and win political points for public cunsumption.

albania and kosova will join together in the future, AGAIN things dont happen overnight but it will happen, they are after all albanian why live in two states when we can create one

I believe if capable, that Serbia along with allies such as Russia and China should send in their own police and peace keeping mission to Kosovo.

Time to clean up the criminal activities that NATO and the EU have created.

Every wise individuals knows that Serbia has recognise de facto independence of Kosovo, the de juro recognition segment is on the way, first by convincing the nation. The reasons why Kosovo is recognised by Serbia:

1. Serbia already recognises Kosovo, once it accepts to sit on discussion table as COMPLETE equals.

2. Most of EU recognise Kosovo MORE than they recognise Serbia when regards sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as respective constitutions.

3. Kosovo HAS the upper hand in ALL regional and world meetings/initiatives , and Serbia is now getting used to ISOLATION. However I dont think this will last to long, as Serbia even De Juro will recognise Kosovo because it never belonged to Serbia, but it held only by force as an occupied land. As an International Historian I can easily conclude this, as for us is plain and simple.

There no practically no barriers as talks are intesified to a degree that Albania and Kosovo will probably from this September to travel EVEN without IDs. The economies are also on the verge of unification.

I guess Serbia should take care of Sanjak, Presevo and Vojvodina as Kosovo is finished ONCE last Serbian police and military left Kosovo. Brining back Serbian police and military could happen ONLY if Russia becomes a lonely superpower something nobody even thinks that will ever happen.

Until then enjoy the present and leave such hopes to rest in peace.

The line is not to recognize the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence or agree to let northern, predominantly Serb-inhabited area of Kosovo come under the authority of the territory's central government.
--
That has been the reality for quite a while now and it will end up cementing more than autonomy, less than independence.

Belgrade will claim sovereignty over KiM without complete authority over the region while Pristina will claim independence without all the benefits of such a status. We need to move forward now and improve the living conditions for those residing within the province, which kind of resembles a large prison camp.

Of course we can expect more threats from KiM Albanian nationalists as they remain in denial of not having independence. That dream will never be realised along with their dream of uniting with Albania. The path to peace and reconciliation is through the negotiating table my friends.

Zoran that sounds like a ringing endorsement of the government's 'sell out' policy on Kosovo.

Sometimes, I think there are two Zorans!

But on the point, Stefanovic neatly sums up the Serbian position. I personally am more flexible, but its probably too early to enter into full blown negotiations.

So lets sort out bread and butter issues and try to keep the political point scoring down to a minimum.
(bganon, 25 March 2011 12:38)

It is great to hear voice of reason from Serbs like you,Top, and few others. Both Sides K-Albnians and Serbs majority stay in far right where the solution is somewhere in the middle.

But its sad that so many nationalists in both sides are looking for win all solution. In the end both will have something to celebrate and both sides will have some people who will feel they should not give out.

Serbia Must recognise Kosovo and North portion should have special status and that is for mineral wealth 50/50 for 100 years and it will be under special UN or Eulex control for police. put strong judges there and if any one peeps they go to jail.

I think that if people have jobs and stop hating they will be more inclined to let things move, I am just afraid that US UK FRANCE know that if north goes to Serbia Russia will get whats under ground in that area and trust me there is a lot. So after many Billions in KS they will never let it go hence the 50/50 solution but no western country goes for half when they can have it all.
People on the ground are the one who loose in the end.

"they are after all albanian why live in two states when we can create one"

eric

Since when is eric an albanian name? Why not use your real name? Ashamed?
Albanians can't hanle one state much less two. Nationbuilding isn't for everyone. You are made to live in societies run by others. Albanians have proven, in Albania, that they are not capable of running a country.

The more Albanians live in DENIAL of re-integration, the easier it'll be to set up institutions again in all of KiM because they'll simply brush everything off, the reality is way to painful for the Albanian public. But I'd love to be in that negotiating room just to see the face on the Albanian team.

"Belgrade has a red line...
the line is not to recognize the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence or agree to let northern, predominantly Serb-inhabited area of Kosovo come under the authority of the territory's central government."

That is the main reason why these talks will fail at the end. Serbia countinous moaning about Ahtisari Plans was exactely "unilateral declaration of independence"...it was unilateral because Serbia didn't want and doesnt want to be mutual...The "talk" with Serbia should not last for ever. Serbia must recognise Kosovo independence first and that should be Kosovo Albanians red line.

Creative,

You are living up the the first part of your name. Just because Serbia is pursuing it's case diplomatically and not militarily doesn't mean that it has recognized Kosovo. It just shows Serbia's maturity and its focus on the future, which is something that the Albanians should do here instead of focusing on Milosevic-era Serbia. Serbia is moving ahead while Kosovo is left behind. That's a true and rational statement.

@ creative rationality..."There no practically no barriers as talks are intesified to a degree that Albania and Kosovo will probably from this September to travel EVEN without IDs. The economies are also on the verge of unification."

I think I would struggle to remember a time when I have read anything quite so ridiculous before. You seem to be suggesting that Serbia has all but recognised Kosovo already and that the acceptable future of Kosovo is integration into a Greater Albania?
I thought Serbia had made it clear and simple for all to understand that they will not recognise the UDI? I also thought the K Albs had declared "independance" which means that unification into Albania would seem to contradict that notion? The vast majority of the worlds countries have not recognised the UDI and I dont see a queue forming for those that wish to do so either. The world is also starting to see both sides of the issue with more and more reporting and investigations of the activities of the KLA (Thaci et al) against Serbs down the years. I live in the UK and have to admit I start to see a gradual change in the media's perception of Serbia and of the whole UDI debacle. If you truly believe that the UDI and Kosovo is a done deal and that Serbia faces international isolation then I think, in my opinion, that you may have a few surprises coming your way in the not so distant future.

Until then enjoy the present and leave such hopes to rest in peace.
(Creative rationality, 25 March 2011 14:08)
--
PRN, it's good to see you stopped using CAPS but why did you change your alias?

RE: Irrational Soup Drinker


As an International Historian I can easily conclude this, as for us is plain and simple. (Creative rationality, 25 March 2011 14:08)

Now that is the joke of the day, keep sipping on your soup de jour.

bring back the 235,000 odd Serbian refugees, rebuild the churches, and get the minorities out of the ghettos, give them freedom of movement, and get them living amongst the Albanians. Allow both sides to operate their own lisense plates/governments/telephone companies without predujice
(New Zealander, 26 March 2011 01:23)

While you at it, why don't you bring all Serbs living in Australia and New Zealand to Kosova, and I will bring all Albanians living in USA,Swiss and Germany to Serbia proper.

Zoran that sounds like a ringing endorsement of the government's 'sell out' policy on Kosovo.
(bganon, 25 March 2011 12:38)
--
I don't understand how that is selling out? Not recognising "Kosova" and keeping the north under Serbian control is pretty much the reality.

Reading through Wikileaks it was already hinted to the US (in diplomatic terms) that Serbia will use force if necessary to ensure the north does not get touched and I doubt very much the US will have an appetite for another conflict in an area Pristina has practically no influence over.

Pristina will have to relinquish some control over the territory and allow Serbian structures to operate while Serbia will have to provide some legitimacy to the regime in Pristina. Perhaps a bit more than the Hong Kong model where they have their own passports and could be members of more international organisations (but not a full UN member).

I have always maintained that each side needs enough to keep them happy and to prevent them from further conflict. If one or the other side gets too much then the seeds for future conflict are sowed.

The window of opportunity to compromise is now.

I think its pretty clear that much like Isreal-Palestine Its going to remain a frozen conflict, No ones giving anything. instead they should be more practical, Get rid of those 2 death camps outside mitrovica, bring back the 235,000 odd Serbian refugees, rebuild the churches, and get the minorities out of the ghettos, give them freedom of movement, and get them living amongst the Albanians. Allow both sides to operate their own lisense plates/governments/telephone companies without predujice

I guess you all remember Knin and Croatian Oluja.It is on the table in Kosova .Let those poor Srbs live in peace in Kosova and dont play or protect them like the ones in KNIN.Then you will look for China or Russias help if they can help and I dont think so as you do the same.

Reading some comments unjust can't jelp bit pitch in my two cents. Do you think that Presevo will stand idle let Serbia get the NOrth. When we are gone start forming ethnically clean states in the ballkans look at not to far but 12 years ago. So all this is smOle and mirrors. Kosovo will be safe and Serbia will claim we did all we could. As far as albanians not being able to for one state our affairs are perfectly in order and thenlpnger this keeps on the better our resolve to unify under one state with Presevo, Medvegja and every inch where albanian is spoken.

Until then enjoy the present and leave such hopes to rest in peace.
(Creative rationality, 25 March 2011 14:08)

Thank you, and you enjoy your independence.

The only de jure Serbia recognizes may be soup de jure but not your phony pseudo-state. But since the eu will not give Serbia candidate status this year, they will use the talks as a platform against american imperialism.

NATO right now is bombing Libya. Very easy they can bomb Serbia again. It's not hard for them to do it again.
(ivan, 25 March 2011 15:26)

Not everything is like the video games daddy and I buy you.

Ask the question can Kosovo survive on its own. Is there a possibility to open up employment by attacking investment? It is no to both questions.
I repeat what I saw on HTV about 5 weeks ago when Jadranka Kosor was invited to visit a local factory and the workers had gathered around her and one asked why hasn’t Croatia spend more time effort in trying to attract new industry to the country? She replied that they and others in the past made every effort and offered many incentives, but foreign industry will not invest because Croatia is a small market and there is no return on investment. I was surprised to hear such a frank statement and I appreciated Kosor’s honesty.
Now if Croatia is unable to attract industry what are Pristina’s chances? This myth about huge oil or gas or minerals reserves in Kosovo is just that. Unless you can extract these minerals at a cheap rate forget it. They may as well be on the other side of the planet. It is well known that there exists shale rock that can be converted to oil, but the process is expensive and it would cost $400/$500 per barrel so what are the chances that BP or Exxon will invest to extract oil when the current price on the world market is $104 per barrel?

(ivan, 25 March 2011 15:26)

So if you don’t get your way then NATO will bomb Serbia; I think not.
Wait till you get the bill for NATO’s latest escapades. So far it has been close to 3 billion for the first week and that will equate to about 12 billion per month for the next say 3 to four months followed by a land invasion followed by occupation for at least 10 years. At the same time Al Qaida moves in and starts to replicate Iraq in Libya.
Why do you think Putin is smiling from ear to ear? Because he has given them carte blanch while he got Serbia with Kosovo and Republika Srpska in exchange. He gave the silly Americans the green light knowing they will further impoverish their country without Russia lifting a little finger. If you Google US debt you will see its 14.2 trillion, but I know it’s much higher because a lot is hidden in government departments and not counted. However, let say it’s 14.2; the 2011 budget deficit will be 1.6 trillion while in 2012 it’s 1.2 trillion - in 21 months you will have 17 trillion.
The UK is in deep doo doo right now with massive budget cuts which includes a loss of 400 000 jobs in government. If we assume that Libya will be settled in say 8 weeks then you will only have to add another 100 000 jobs to be slashed, but if it going to take 3 to 4 months then you will see another 600 000 to 800 000 jobs lost in Government to bring the total to over 1000 000 and this does not take into account the cost of occupation.
France is only a step away from Spain.

(Creative rationality, 25 March 2011 14:08)
As an international historian I’d be interested to read some of your work. Can you please post. I e-mailed your statement to a colleague that covers European finance – his reply is unprintable, but he had a good laugh about Kosovo and Albanian economies integrating. I also asked him about the Montenegrin economy being stronger than the Serbian economy. He replied then why is Montenegro whinning about Serbia stopping the sale of wheat? If you have a strong economy you have the money and you buy elsewhere.
On the issue of the Albanian economy he said it is slightly better than Kosovo. Tells you a lot about living in paradise.
On the issue of Kosovo having the upper hand, that is also unprintable. Unfortunately my colleague uses many expletives when he has to deal with banal comments like this. But he did say “when you live from hand to mouth as in Kosovo and Albania, the only upper hand is the one they raise in the air above their heads. I have never read more utter rubbish in my life”.

On the issue of the Albanian economy he said it is slightly better than Kosovo. Tells you a lot about living in paradise.
On the issue of Kosovo having the upper hand, that is also unprintable. Unfortunately my colleague uses many expletives when he has to deal with banal comments like this. But he did say “when you live from hand to mouth as in Kosovo and Albania, the only upper hand is the one they raise in the air above their heads. I have never read more utter rubbish in my life”.
(sj, 26 March 2011 00:37)

sj,

I don't know where to start since all your arguments are based on fallacies. In the end, you conclusions lead to contradictions. Do yourself a favor, get an education and please stop wasting everyone's time.

MikeC, please don't hurt our feelings to much... :D

Zoran that sounds like a ringing endorsement of the government's 'sell out' policy on Kosovo.

Sometimes, I think there are two Zorans!

But on the point, Stefanovic neatly sums up the Serbian position. I personally am more flexible, but its probably too early to enter into full blown negotiations.

So lets sort out bread and butter issues and try to keep the political point scoring down to a minimum.

"Since when is eric an albanian name? Why not use your real name? Ashamed?
Albanians can't hanle one state much less two. Nationbuilding isn't for everyone. You are made to live in societies run by others. Albanians have proven, in Albania, that they are not capable of running a country.
MikeC"

MikeC,
Since when is Mike a Serbian name?
Why not use your real name? Ashamed?
I don't expect you to know much based on your comments I read here. There's nothing but hatred coming out of you.
That's fine by me. Everyone should be allowed to voice their own opinion and live freely.
A belief that you don't share.

For your record, Albania has made much larger strides in the last 20 years than Serbia has.

Albanians have struggled for centuries. Now, Albanians are on the rise and their future is bright.

So Belgrade has clearly laid out three general principles at the conference:

1. Hold on to the north
2. Claim some sort of active authority over the Serb enclaves in the center and south including monasteries (Gracanica and Strpce seem two likely cases)
3. No recognition of Kosovo, but at the same time no active attempt at undermining whatever authority Pristina already has, and will continue to have, with the large Albanian sectors.

This seems like Belgrade has become far more pragmatic over the years at it appears to be cutting a good amount of what it previously claimed. Note we don't hear one thing about "reintegration" or reestablishing any of Belgrade's authority over Albanians. If Belgrade plays its cards right and keeps a cool head, it can extract far more concessions than it was previously told to deal with in 2008. But this comes at, I must say, implicitly or indirectly recognizing Pristina's authority and legitimacy, if not its independence.

bring back the 235,000 odd Serbian refugees, rebuild the churches, and get the minorities out of the ghettos, give them freedom of movement, and get them living amongst the Albanians. Allow both sides to operate their own lisense plates/governments/telephone companies without predujice
(New Zealander, 26 March 2011 01:23)

While you at it, why don't you bring all Serbs living in Australia and New Zealand to Kosova, and I will bring all Albanians living in USA,Swiss and Germany to Serbia proper.
(Agim Kelmendi, 26 March 2011 08:26)

I'm not a Serb, I was born in the UK, my parents grew up in New Zealand, and their ancestors were English and Irish

I don't know where to start since all your arguments are based on fallacies. In the end, you conclusions lead to contradictions. Do yourself a favour, get an education and please stop wasting everyone's time.
(Xhako, 27 March 2011 21:52)

Well instead of flapping your gums show me where I have made my mistakes. This should be a good read in fantasy and imagination about the great Albanian economy and its superiority in the Balkans. Unfortunately you people always finish it with threats about NATO and how it would be unwise to tangle with Albania.

I have an excellent education and I don’t rely on the CIA world book nor on most of the drivel published in the west for my information.