Officials say Germany, Serbia do not agree on Kosovo

I am afraid that a tough period is ahead of Serbia. A period with such messages from Brussels, London, Washington… I think we will need a lot of diplomatic skills and intelligence to find a solution for these issues...
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Lets put it this way, it is not Serbia's friends who are getting weaker day by day. On the contrary, it is our friends who are getting stronger and stronger. It is the Germans, London, Brussels and Washington who are finding themselves cornered by Serbia's friends. They are the ones who are getting desperate and they are the ones who are now attempting to pressure Serbia before it is too late.

Anyone with a bit of common sense knows that Tadic's "no alternative to EU" policy was flawed from the very beginning. I think most Serbians can see the rotten carrot at the end of the stick now and hopefully this government and its flawed policies will be getting the boot soon.

As someone who lives in Serbia, I can see that the nationalists are getting stronger here (for better or worse). Tadic better watch his next steps and if he decides to sell-out, it is all over.

Unfortunately, it seems this process of "fair" negotiations has taken a few large leaps backwards. It seems that the window of opportunity to negotiate a fair compromise for all in the region has been scrapped by NATO, Germany, the UK and US, which is not really surprising. Whoever sides with Germany will find themselves on the wrong side of history once again. China is the new US.

History is repeating once again. Serbia will find it difficult in the coming years, true. We can relate it back to WWII and we have a choice now of either joining the NAZI's (or current day NATO) or play it smart until we have the upper hand, which is coming soon. When China becomes the world leader with partners such as India, Russia, Brazil and countries comprising the overwhelming majority of the world, it will be a very long and peaceful new world order. Serbia will benefit greatly from this period. It is the smart game that wins and time is on our side.

Nema Predaja!

Typical Germans trying to divide and conquer the Balkans.

What more can the world expect from such a country, especially considering its past.

And the US? Well you just have to look at how many countries have been invaded by the US in the past/present for financial gain & power.

It's unfortunately a sad world when "new" countries try to create a new history. We could all live in peace with one another IF when we migrated to someone else's country we 'respected' their culture and laws.

I'm amazed that if a Serbian lives in Albania they have to change their name to an Albanian one and also have an Albanian passport with this name. However, if an Albanian lives in Serbia they somehow seem to unilaterally declare independence and send their police units with intention of taking all control of the province.

No wonder there were so many wars in history. Germany and the US are hugely responsible for MASS damage during wars resulting from their invasion into OTHER PEOPLE'S countries.

Is anyone surprised by the outcome of this meeting? I say stop trying to satisfy Germany and starting looking at Russia as alternative to the EU. At least Putin and co. have our best interests in mind whereas Merkel only want to see Serbia weaken for easier domination of us by them.

Always stay reminded, Serbia's worst enemy was and still is Germany. Their face of fascism just turned into economic format. Temporarily. Agenda is still the same.

Collective amnesia in Serbia! Somehow you have a tendency to forget that it was you who played with fire and got burnt.
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 12:30)
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Serbia is a small country and it is fire that comes to us. We have no choice but to play with it, however, history proves that we always end up on the victorious side after some setbacks. There are new rules in this game. The US is the new Germany, militarily advanced but economically bankrupt. China is the new US, militarily emerging and economically strong with the numbers (brute force) and partners (India, Russia, Brazil) to rule the world. Russia is the new Britian, militarily advanced but without the brute force (numbers).

It is time to reunite the Orthodox world. I know which side I want to be on.

Nema Predaja!

The Serbian honesty with the media is highly laudable. It shows that Serbia is a democratic society. Compare this to Albanian Kosovo; they have a long way to go to even achieve mediocrity.

(CRZ, 24 August 2011 11:14)

Perhaps you may not have heard but here is the official IMF structure – President a European (the last one) Deputy President is, wait for it, Chinese. For the first time since the IMF was established in 1947 the US does not hold the vice presidency, but is only a board member.
The new board members are Brazil India and Russia. If you still don’t get it; the US is no longer in control.
KFOR will stick to what it has done for the last 12 years for fear that all might blow up in their faces and they will continue to put up with peaceful demonstrations in the north. No doubt that KFOR will make certain gestures from time to time, but its all show and nothing else.
Parallel structures will continue and the EU/US will lump it.

“Merkel’s statements are a clear sign that Europe expects Ahtisaari’s plan to be implemented in Kosovo and that Serbia is now facing a dilemma – to continue the policy of not recognizing Kosovo or change the policy if we want to join the European Union,” the professor stressed.'
What dilemma?? There is no dilemma at all. It's Kosovo all the way. Serbia doesn't need the EU, it needs its own currency so that it can become a huge exporter of agricultural and other goods. Adopting the Euro will destroy them and they would have to take orders from Germany like Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. No thanks. There has never been an easier choice.
Cheers!!

No wonder there were so many wars in history. Germany and the US are hugely responsible for MASS damage during wars resulting from their invasion into OTHER PEOPLE'S countries.
(trizo, 24 August 2011 11:45)

Collective amnesia in Serbia! Somehow you have a tendency to forget that it was you who played with fire and got burnt.

Useless visit of Merkel !
The only advice i can give to serbia is to keep good relations with everybody and don`t hurry anything !

(Zoran, 24 August 2011 12:06)
Interestingly enough BRICSA seems to be the nucleus of the premier world organisation. One member representing each continent, it might well replace the current system of 2 European 1 American stack we have currently. The league of Nations went when members did not respect their own laws and manipulated accords to suit certain beneficiaries. It all seems to be pointing that way.

Global soft power is shifting towards the East, it would be wise for Serbia to attract and enable more influence to come from these countries. It is inevitable BRICSA will be the future, why shouldn't Serbia position herself as a gateway for China/India etc to the Eu and vice versa. Balance European standards, strive for them but be independent(out of EU) and open Serbia to companies from East to West.

This is going to be BIG. USA has threatened Serbia with IMF as well and KFOR isn't going to be amused if Serbs go to barricades as blackmail. BTW, under 1244 no Serbian state structures are allowed in Kosovo, NOT ONE.
(CRZ, 24 August 2011 11:14)

Read article #4:
"Confirms that after the withdrawal an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel will be permitted to return to Kosovo to perform the functions in accordance with annex 2; "




It will be a glorious day when the VS returns... Let Russia, China rise and US/EU burn to the dust bins of history

What did Serbia expect? You have to finally face reality, but reading the comments it seems as if the population is living in a dream world. Peaceful demonstrations in Northern Kosovo; excuse me, Serbs killed a Kosovo policeman, set border crossings on fire, build barricades.... In what world are u living? Certainly not in a world where european or western value systems mean anything. It is not that Europe wants u to be in the EU, it is in Serbia's intrest to join the rest of Europe. We don't need u, but u need us. Doin't forget that ....

"recognizing Kosovo" wording is not used and not demanded. What demanded is much more: Serbia giving up any claim regarding anything in Kosovo and giving up the parallel structures. If that is done, Germany would be perfectly happy.

And what is interesting: in return there won't be any guarantee. For obvious political reasons (stability in Kosovo) Serbia won't be allowed to join the Union till Kosovo is ready, too. Otherwise there will be riots in Kosovo or worse.

With that in mind, there is nothing Serbia can gain, only lose. Unless Serbia can play with the "western" russophobia.

@ Vadarska Serb

You said it!!!!!!!

I just hope that Serbia will resist any temptations & always stand up for our country & our citizens.

We are a strong race of people and we have a lot to be proud for.

We must stand tall always and never give in to these outlandish demands.

It amazes me where they (Germany/US etc) get the nerve to make these kind of demands...and even have the idea that their input is so critical?!?!

We need to look to Russia. I understand we need to improve trade & boost our economy through funding etc but we simply cannot lose our dignity & our pride.

We should be looking at OTHER opportunities instead of focusing purely on EU opportunities. The EU is not exactly stable and there is probably a lot more going on behind the scenes than the general public even know about.

Serbia have great resources that are very undervalued. We also have a high number of very well educated & multi-lingual citizens who are ready & able to work toward increasing foreign investment & import/export opportunities.

Germany have only just recently paid off their World War One debt... I don't think they have earned the right to go telling other countries what and what not to do.

This is going to be BIG. USA has threatened Serbia with IMF as well and KFOR isn't going to be amused if Serbs go to barricades as blackmail. BTW, under 1244 no Serbian state structures are allowed in Kosovo, NOT ONE.

Read article #4:
"Confirms that after the withdrawal an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel will be permitted to return to Kosovo to perform the functions in accordance with annex 2; "
It will be a glorious day when the VS returns... Let Russia, China rise and US/EU burn to the dust bins of history
(Mladen, 24 August 2011 13:11)

What you seem to miss is that the agreed number is zero... Unless you can convince GB, France and the US this number will remain the agreed one.

It does not matter what Germany and other European Union Countries think at this time, because the German Electorate can vote for other Political Parties who will have better Policies.

Serbia should just be patient, and pursue the best Policies possible to maximize the benefit to Serbia, and the Serbian Voters need to Vote for the Best Political Parties in order to achieve this.

Serbia should demand that the European Union fully implement the SAA Agreement with the Money flowing now, and not use it to help Tadic and Company win the next Election.

This is because if Serbia receives the SAA Agreement at the next Election Campaign, then Serbia will not need Tadic and Company.

If Serbia does not receive the SAA Agreement before the next Election, then Serbia will not need Tadic and Company, and so the European Union should refrain from playing games, because Kosovo will always be more important than any Stupid European Union Membership.

Serbia should not give in to any demands of the European Union, and they should say that certain European Union Countries are the ones who have put a Road Block on Serbia progressing toward joining the European Union.

Unfortunately Mr Jeremic we don't care if you agree with Berlin or not, what matters is that Prishtina agrees 110% with Berlin. Have a good day.

Frau Merkel danke schön for making it clear for Serbia what it has to do in order to joint the EU or loose both EU and Kosovo.

Collective amnesia in Serbia! Somehow you have a tendency to forget that it was you who played with fire and got burnt.
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 12:30)

By resisting a German occupation/regime? Please.

The only ones who play with fire are the K.Albanians burning down our Monasteries.

Politically speaking what impact does all of this have on Serbia?

The west is calculating that the current government really needs official EU candidate status, as it had tied its mast to the EU as one of its chief policies.

The price to get this status is basically to bend over on Kosovo. As I see it there are only two possible options for the government:

The nuclear option - to tell certain EU governments that Tadic will announce an important statement to the Serbia people, that he has decided to not seek EU candidate status for the time being due to the pressure being imposed by EU states that support Kosovo indepdence that are trying to force recognition without compromise. He can state that he is continuing to work towards joining the EU at some future date and that Serbia will continue in harmonising Serbian standards / laws in line with EU standards etc. In such a speech he could do a bit a chest thumping on Kosovo combined with search for a fair compromise etc. Such a move could spare him defeat at the elections. Hell, he could even hint at the current crisis in the EU and afford to be honest about when Serbia would be able to join the EU in any case.

The second option is to seek compromise with the EU on their current position - on its own there is not much chance of this happening. However, if Tadic threatens to go to the country on Kosovo and eventual EU membership, EU diplomats might be sufficiently worried to change position. The main reason why the EU position has hardened is because of the Serbian election but some will also be well aware that Kosovo has been an election winner for politicians in Serbia in the past.

What would the EU do then? Support SNS? I don't think so, any such move by Tadic would immediately be supported by SNS who would not want to be outflanked on the Kosovo issue and to potentially lose support to Tadic. All Serbian parties with the exception of LDP would support the new position.

It would seem that the EU is playing hardball with Serbia. Politically I'm pretty sure that this hardball can be tossed out of court, at least in the short term. Whether Tadic and DS are too cowardly to re-align their position is another matter.

No one agrees with Serbia about Kosova.

Just see how Gazprom sees Serbia:

http://i55.tinypic.com/i3i5mo.jpg

Now Ataman will let you know what politically means Gazprom :)

Easy solution: Serbia will never give up on Kosovo. While doing so, it's occupiers will continue dumping billions into Kosovo with nothing to show for it. On top of this, Serbia continues good relations with the East. By the time the EU is completely bankrupt, they will dump their unwanted child (Rep. of Kosova) in the dumpster and scramble for a way to recover. At this point, Serbia will be prospering with it's friends in the East and the Kosovo(state) project will be over for good. Albanians will be able to live peacefully with Serbs or find a home in Albania or one of the great EU countries willing to feed them again.

=)

The one Serbia has caused by your Crna Ruka killing the Austrian archduke? But don't worry in case Serbia should ever enter the EU, reparations will also be discussed. After that you may raise your voice again.
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 13:49)

Spoken like a true amateur historian who speaks loudly, but grasps nothing.

Reparations? With analytical skills like this, why don't you write for the New York Times or just marry ivan?

Balance European standards, strive for them but be independent(out of EU) and open Serbia to companies from East to West.
(Alternatives, 24 August 2011 12:54)
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You mean BRICSAM? The list is growing all of the time and includes:

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (together with the sub-Saharan African region) and Mexico. The old world order is out and the new world order is forming. Serbia will benefit enormously with the geopolitical influence shifting eastwards.

Read the current demands by Germany as a sign of weakness. A last act of desperation. Twenty years of failures and instability brought to the Balkan peoples by a reunited Germany and followed by the West. We can't negotiate with dictators unfortunately. Once the new world order is in place the new rules will emerge.

Unbelievable what I have read so far...


1)Get one thing: The EU is broken ! IT IS DEAD !
You have South Europe practically bancrupt and asking and already heavy indebted north to bail them out!
The result will be a catastrophy!
2)China in 2015 and Russia in 2025 will become the worlds/Europes biggest economy(Germanys GDP is 2,9 trillion,Russias at the moment 2,3 trillions)which are practically debt free nations developing major industries and having a booming market!
Russia controlls ALL ENERGY for Europe!
3)Serbia has a free trade agreement with Russia,China and Turkey,THAT IS OUR CHANCE(we also have free trade with the EU),we have an industrial core,the most fertile lands in Europe (Vojvodina) and with an able government we will export to and live from these nations!
The agricultural exports to Russia have risen last year at approximately 30%!

We need to tell the EU to go **** itself and reorient stronger towards Russia!As far as the threats from the IMF are concerned,this is not 1999,now the Americans are the beggars while Russians and Chinese set the rules!
Meanwhile no compromise on our southern province Kosovo,we will not give up one single square metre,time is working for us!
The best indication for this are the angry pro-Albanian comments asking us constantly when will we recignize!
Here is the answer: NEVER!

You mean BRICSAM? The list is growing all of the time and includes:

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (together with the sub-Saharan African region) and Mexico. The old world order is out and the new world order is forming. Serbia will benefit enormously with the geopolitical influence shifting eastwards.

Read the current demands by Germany as a sign of weakness. A last act of desperation. Twenty years of failures and instability brought to the Balkan peoples by a reunited Germany and followed by the West. We can't negotiate with dictators unfortunately. Once the new world order is in place the new rules will emerge.
(Zoran, 24 August 2011 14:10)

Spot on!!

The Albanians are going through a power struggle... they hang on every word said by a German or an American and take it as gospel (or a verse from the Qur'an).

There was no war in Slovenia. A full investigation approved by the slovenian parliament with full access to slovene government archives shows this. It was 100% propaganda. My wife Mary really should stick to the prescribed medicine.

May have "sparked a reason"? You mean like Serbia mobilising its army, crossing onto Austrian-Hungarian territory, forcing Austria into a war, forcing Germany to follow their conventionary obligations towards Austria and so on? But you had of course nothing to do with that.
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 15:42)

I wonder why the moderators of this website approve obvious lies like your comment?

First of all, it was Austria who made the conflict between Austria and Serbia inevitable by illegitimately annexing Bosnia after the Russo-Turkish war of 77-78 and triggering a political crisis between Austria and Russia that remained unsolved until WW1. Second of all, the Serbs in Bosnia had no interest in being subjugated by another foreign power after having been occupied by the Ottomans for nearly 500 years so Crna Ruka was only a natural reaction to Austrian occupation.

@ Bloody Mary,

It seems you are playing the blame game all too much.

The Arch Duke of Austria being shot may have 'sparked' a reason for the WW1 to begin but in no means did Serbia cause the destruction or have the agenda that the Germans did.



Btw, the KLA started the war in Kosovo. I would like to know the date the first plans were drafted 'Camp Bondsteel'... just curious.

Yes, I believe that China will rush to Serbia's aid because....?

And UN was delayed for a meeting with her?

When oh when are Serbs going to learn?

Serbia needs to drop it wish of joining the EU and join up with China and Russia. Europe is a big mess so why get sucked up in their problems while having to suck up to them! Take Kossovo back, China and Russia will back you. Every country is too broke to get involved in another country's problems except China and Russia.

'Why you think EU is worried about Serbia or their stance? Is not like Serbia controls Kosovo and is not like EU can not keep life without Serbia.'

Bilabao thats a no brainer really. If the EU wasn't worried about Serbia and its stance, it wouldn't be sending Merkel and countless diplomats seeking negotiations and so on. If your theory is true then there is no problem in Kosovo at all and the EU can just impose a solution, help turf out the rest of the Serbs and lock down the border.

That isn't happening, so obviously what is going on in Serbia is important to them. They are not stupid, they know how the political environment in Belgrade influences the rest of the Balkans either in a good or a bad way.

Obviously you don't understand it, but their job is to keep a EU friendly government in power that will 'co-operate'. If the current government ensures there is no such alternative in Serbia this cannot come about. And if you really think that the EU will stop 'funding' Serbia (how much are these funds that you speak of worth btw?) then again you don't understand. The idea is not to escalate the situation from a western perspective - if the EU theoretically were to withdraw their 'funds', the Serbian people might reject EU membership and put pressure on the government to radicalise its position on Kosovo. That is not in the EU interest.

Now, are you honestly telling me that the hardening attitude of some EU countries isn't because of the upcoming elections in Serbia and more specifically because they believe that Tadic will lose if he doesn't deliver on EU candidate status?

This is the political side to it, I'm not referring to Russia or China - thats a different (but related) topic.

Germany have only just recently paid off their World War One debt... I don't think they have earned the right to go telling other countries what and what not to do.
(trizo, 24 August 2011 12:55)

The one Serbia has caused by your Crna Ruka killing the Austrian archduke? But don't worry in case Serbia should ever enter the EU, reparations will also be discussed. After that you may raise your voice again.

"Reparations? With analytical skills like this, why don't you write for the New York Times or just marry ivan?
(Fireman, 24 August 2011 14:44)"

Sorry, I always forget that according to the Serbian perspective Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo are the ones who should pay tribute to Serbia. Do you really think that the question of financial compensation for the damages Serbia has caused in these countries won't be discussed?

Serbia is a small country and it is fire that comes to us. We have no choice but to play with it, however, history proves that we always end up on the victorious side after some setbacks. There are new rules in this game. The US is the new Germany, militarily advanced but economically bankrupt. China is the new US, militarily emerging and economically strong with the numbers (brute force) and partners (India, Russia, Brazil) to rule the world. Russia is the new Britian, militarily advanced but without the brute force (numbers).

It is time to reunite the Orthodox world. I know which side I want to be on.

Nema Predaja!
(Zoran, 24 August 2011 13:18)

LMAO, does this comment even deserve a reply....LOL

Zoran, you just made my week.

Well, that wraps it up. tadic's masters have thrown him under the bus. No eu for Serbia and the ds is out of power next year. Maybe the Serbian people will finally wake up about the west. I am waiting for the next earthquake to destroy washington dc.

Who gives a damn about Slovenia. Feel for those Yugo soldiers probably ambushed by the Slovenes/BND while trying to make a retreat.

"I say stop trying to satisfy Germany and starting looking at Russia as alternative to the EU"

Yes, Russia is swimming in cash. It is also the most stable and prosperous country in the world. Please get real, Russia is in deep financial problems and has many conflict zones that is has to deal with. The Caucasus is in a perpetual state of insurgency and the East Siberian part is becoming depopulated to the point where China will start trying to exert influence in that oil and mineral rich region for its own interests. Russia's real economic , political, and military power has been shrinking dramatically since the end of the cold war (along with its population) that it is simply not seen as a big player in the world today and certainly won't be one in the future. German alone has an economy that is 3 time bigger then Russia's. Russia will sooner or later try to get closer to the EU and NATO in order to safeguard itself from insurgencies in the South and potential Chinese attempts to gain influence in the East. Putin 2004-2008 represents Russia's last hurrah on the world stage before looking for shelter in The West.

Washington and its European allies have no idea about what they are doing; that's for sure. They are presenting a list of demands, but offering nothing in return. How on earth will that work? Yes, Serbia is a small country and its bourgeoisie strongly desires to be in EU. But even those two factors would not be enough to persuade the Serbian government to give up on Kosovo.

"Serbia is a small country and it is fire that comes to us. We have no choice but to play with it, however, history proves that we always end up on the victorious side after some setbacks."

No, you always attract it. You have caused WWI, declared war on Germany in WWII (and had to be liberated by two Ukrainian fronts in the end) and caused the wars in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

I get a kick out of those saying that Serbia should turn it's back on the EU and develop closer ties with Russia. I'm sure every day millions of Belorussians wake up and thank God that they have such a close relationship with Putin's Russia. Being close to Russia and distant/excluded from the EU makes them very happy and they dance for joy each and every day to the tune of "I love Belarus". Maybe if Serbia continues down it's current path of isolating itself from the EU and getting chummy with Putin's Russia Serbians will also wake up every day and sing and dance like their Belorussian brethren.

"There was no war in Slovenia. A full investigation approved by the slovenian parliament with full access to slovene government archives shows this."

Obviously the Slovenian parliament has forgotten to inform the Slovenian army about the results you claim:

"In October 1990, upon the occupation of the Territorial Defence Republic Headquarters in Ljubljana, the Yugoslav People's Army (YPA) used weapons against the new Slovenian armed forces for the first time. The next attempt to impose the will of the YPA was on 23 May 1991 at the training centre in Pekre near Maribor, when the YPA tried to gain access to the conscripts by initiating an incident.
On 25 June 1991, the Republic of Slovenia declared its independence. On the same day, armoured and other units of the YPA launched an armed aggression to occupy Slovenian border crossings. The YPA was tasked to break Slovenia's connection with the world, to disarm members of the Territorial Defence and the Police Force and to force Slovenian governing authorities to discontinue the measures for the establishment of an independent country.
Slovenia agreed to the fight. Territorial Defence and Police Force units disabled the YPA's plans. They won the fight for the borders, stopped the movements of enemy columns, blocked YPA units stationed in the barracks and disabled their provisioning of the country.
The war lasted from 26 June to 7 July, when the Brioni Declaration was signed. Upon the signing of the declaration, the Territorial Defence was in control of the entire Slovenian territory. On 26 October 1991, the last YPA soldier left Slovenia from the port of Koper. At the beginning of the conflict, the Territorial Defence included 16,000 armed men, whereas at the end of the war it included 35,000 men. Territorial Defence weapons did not include armoured assets and artillery. The Slovenian Police Force was composed of some 10,000 members.
In the 10-day conflict, 31 tanks, 22 infantry fighting vehicles, 172 transport vehicles, 6 helicopters and other YPA's assets were destroyed. 45 YPA members were killed and 146 wounded. Territorial Defence units captured 4693 YPA members and 139 members of the federal police. There were 19 Slovenians killed and 182 wounded."
http://www.slovenskavojska.si/en/about-the-slovenian-armed-forces/history/

Yes Top I believe they are squeezing Tadic. Of course they know that he won't recognise Kosovo, but basically some important EU states want to push him towards a quiet, creeping recognition.

They know that politicians will do anything to be re-elected and their analysts have told them that Tadic must deliver EU candidate status or risk losing the election. Its hardball, the kind of stuff you have to put up with if you have a weaker barganing position, or are a weaker state against stronger ones.

In a way its a kind of bluff threat, the thing to do is to take the threat away by creating an alternative scenario and those EU states may be forced to climb down a little in the short term. However, unless something changes on the international scene we are in for quite a bit of this type of bullying.

Thinking about it some more, perhaps they are hitting Tadic with this so he says to them 'ok I'll give you more of what you want, just give me candidate status and I will do it after DS is re-elected'.

Part of diplomacy is to continually wear down a 'target' until they give ground under pressure.

By resisting a German occupation/regime? Please.
The only ones who play with fire are the K.Albanians burning down our Monasteries.
(trizo, 24 August 2011 13:19)

Somehow the second part of my comment got "lost" during transmission... I was refering to your recent history and the fact that you have set half the Balkans on fire.

Sorry, I always forget that according to the Serbian perspective Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo are the ones who should pay tribute to Serbia. Do you really think that the question of financial compensation for the damages Serbia has caused in these countries won't be discussed?
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 15:17)

You are not 'discussing' anything, just bleating your ignorant opinions as fact which you are of course unable to support in any empirical manner. Like the rest of your comments, simply irrelevant to the subject.

The ambassador said that he had several times reminded Berlin officials that it had taken 20 years for West Germany to establish some sort of relations with East Germany without recognizing each other, while Serbia was being asked to do that in just two years.

East and West Germanies were/are of same nationality, they just had two different ideologies. Albanians and Serbs are two different nationalities and worlds apart. Nice try, but no dice.

Sorry, I always forget that according to the Serbian perspective Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo are the ones who should pay tribute to Serbia. Do you really think that the question of financial compensation for the damages Serbia has caused in these countries won't be discussed?
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 15:17)

This is a legitimate arguement. I know Bosnian officials are re-visitng the matter of reparations. Kosovo should also seek some type of compensation from Serbia for crimes committed against humanity.

"The Arch Duke of Austria being shot may have 'sparked' a reason for the WW1 to begin but in no means did Serbia cause the destruction or have the agenda that the Germans did."

May have "sparked a reason"? You mean like Serbia mobilising its army, crossing onto Austrian-Hungarian territory, forcing Austria into a war, forcing Germany to follow their conventionary obligations towards Austria and so on? But you had of course nothing to do with that.

You are not 'discussing' anything, just bleating your ignorant opinions as fact which you are of course unable to support in any empirical manner. Like the rest of your comments, simply irrelevant to the subject.
(Fireman, 24 August 2011 17:04)

Two simple solutions: Ignore my comments or prove me wrong

Yes Top I believe they are squeezing Tadic. Of course they know that he won't recognise Kosovo, but basically some important EU states want to push him towards a quiet, creeping recognition.
(bganon, 24 August 2011 20:40)
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In the mean time Tadic will be dealing with loud and creeping nationalism which is strongly opposed to any ground given on KiM. The chance for a peaceful settlement came with negotiations but it seems Pristina and the West threw that idea out the window. Big mistake that was as now things start getting messy.

"...forcing Germany to follow their conventionary obligations towards Austria and so on?..."

Poor, stupid germans! "Forced" to go to war! Here's laughing at you, kid.
(Kapitan Dumkopf, 24 August 2011 17:17)


"For I no longer have any doubt that England, Russia and France have agreed among themselves—knowing that our treaty obligations compel us to support Austria—to use the Austro-Serb conflict as a pretext for waging a war of annihilation against us ... Our dilemma over keeping faith with the old and honourable Emperor has been exploited to create a situation which gives England the excuse she has been seeking to annihilate us with a spurious appearance of justice on the pretext that she is helping France and maintaining the well-known Balance of Power in Europe, i.e. playing off all European States for her own benefit against us."
Wilhelm II.

A simple solution may be viable from Serbian perspective ... tell the EU that once Serbia is granted candidate status then the issue of a Kosovo "final solution " may be addressed. If I recall correctly Germany has a historical knowledge of final solutions :)
Besides... nothing is ever set in stone. Alot can happen in the 8 years between candidate status and joining the EU club... with the current xenophobia gripping most developed western EU countries the club itself may not want to expand beyond what it currently has.

US and EU are not going anywhere.
(Pls say it ain't so!!!, 24 August 2011 15:09)
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I think I agree with you there. How to boil a frog? The US and EU are not going anywhere. They will all be floating in the same place. Check -> http://www.cartoonistgroup.com//properties/benson/art_images/cg4beaa3b4dfce0.jpg

CRZ, 24 August 2011 11:14)

Perhaps you may not have heard but here is the official IMF structure – President a European (the last one) Deputy President is, wait for it, Chinese. For the first time since the IMF was established in 1947 the US does not hold the vice presidency, but is only a board member.
The new board members are Brazil India and Russia. If you still don’t get it; the US is no longer in control.
KFOR will stick to what it has done for the last 12 years for fear that all might blow up in their faces and they will continue to put up with peaceful demonstrations in the north. No doubt that KFOR will make certain gestures from time to time, but its all show and nothing else.
Parallel structures will continue and the EU/US will lump it.
(sj, 24 August 2011 12:08)
CRZ
Hopefully you will visit the official IMF site before believeing some of the dribble you are being fed.
http://www.imf.org/external/about/mgmt.htm

The highest official at the IMF is called the Managing Director not President and has always been a European and as of now there is no way anyone could predict that the next one will not be also.
Below the Managing Director is the First Deputy Managing Director and 3 Deputy Managing Directors. The First Deputy Managing Director is John Lipsky an American and the position has always been held by an American. In July a Chinese "Min Zhu" became one of the Deputy Managing Directors.
Also in July John Lipton an American became Special Advisor to the Managing Director making 2 Americans on the management team.
Furthermore Countries unlike the UN have 1 Country 1 vote, their voting power is derived from thier financial quotas for instance the US has 421,965 votes or 16.76% of the total. China 96,000, Russian Federation 60,195, Brazil 43,246, India 58,956. Which means that the US has almost double the voting power of the BRIC countries combined.
So when it comes to the IMF the US is very much in control!!

I just don't understand these commentators who keep bringing up Russia, China, India, Brasil, Turkey etc. What exactly do they expect these countries to do? Where does this fantasy of the BRICs coming to Serbia's rescue come from? What use does China have for Serbia? There are 7 million Albanians and 7 million Serbs. If you count others ethnic groups in the region there are 4 million Croats, 3 million Bosnians, etc. Why would China jeopardize business and good relations with 5 countries and 15 million people so they can push for Serbia's political agenda? What has Serbia done for China to make them work on their behalf? How many Serbs live in China? In what way is Serbia relevant for China's policies towards Europe? China is a developing country that is preoccupied with its own problems and the myriad of conflicts in its own neighborhood, it doesn't care about Europe's problems and I'm sure it would choose having good relations with all the countries in the Balkans over having really good relations with Serbia at the expense of having good relations with others. India has absolutely nothing to do with Serbia and has very close ties to the US and the EU they will not do anything to help Serbia at the expense of those close relationships. As has been mentioned Russia is well past it's prime and is slowly disappearing off the world's economic and political map, and Brasil may or may not know that Serbia exists it certainly won't bend over backwards to help Serbia in its struggle with Kosovo. Turkey is a rising regional economic and political power that is firmly behind Kosovo and its policies.I think these visionaries and dreamers need to get down to earth and realize that the only relationships that matter to Serbia are those it has with its neighbors and with the European community, all else is window dressing.

"...forcing Germany to follow their conventionary obligations towards Austria and so on?..."

Poor, stupid germans! "Forced" to go to war! Here's laughing at you, kid.

I think I agree with you there. How to boil a frog?
(Zoran, 24 August 2011 20:21)

Zoran, your frog is timeless.

Politically speaking what impact does all of this have on Serbia?

The west is calculating that the current government really needs official EU candidate status, as it had tied its mast to the EU as one of its chief policies.

The price to get this status is basically to bend over on Kosovo. As I see it there are only two possible options for the government:

The nuclear option - to tell certain EU governments that Tadic will announce an important statement to the Serbia people, that he has decided to not seek EU candidate status for the time being due to the pressure being imposed by EU states that support Kosovo indepdence that are trying to force recognition without compromise. He can state that he is continuing to work towards joining the EU at some future date and that Serbia will continue in harmonising Serbian standards / laws in line with EU standards etc. In such a speech he could do a bit a chest thumping on Kosovo combined with search for a fair compromise etc. Such a move could spare him defeat at the elections. Hell, he could even hint at the current crisis in the EU and afford to be honest about when Serbia would be able to join the EU in any case.

The second option is to seek compromise with the EU on their current position - on its own there is not much chance of this happening. However, if Tadic threatens to go to the country on Kosovo and eventual EU membership, EU diplomats might be sufficiently worried to change position. The main reason why the EU position has hardened is because of the Serbian election but some will also be well aware that Kosovo has been an election winner for politicians in Serbia in the past.

What would the EU do then? Support SNS? I don't think so, any such move by Tadic would immediately be supported by SNS who would not want to be outflanked on the Kosovo issue and to potentially lose support to Tadic. All Serbian parties with the exception of LDP would support the new position.

It would seem that the EU is playing hardball with Serbia. Politically I'm pretty sure that this hardball can be tossed out of court, at least in the short term. Whether Tadic and DS are too cowardly to re-align their position is another matter.
(bganon, 24 August 2011 14:30)

Why you think EU is worried about Serbia or their stance? Is not like Serbia controls Kosovo and is not like EU can not keep life without Serbia.

EU can stop funding Serbia and it will put even more pressure, If Serbia thinks that inviting Russia will make them strong think again, it will be Berlin all over again and you know how developed West Berlin was compared to East.

Serbia always seems to think that Russia india and China are on their side and that they are strong. They hate each other India still is at the ready since 1968 war with China. Russia has no good relation with china and dont you think China wants to expand in influancing border region with Russia.

Bloody hairy- you are finally seeing the light. Congratulations.
(Andy Dufresne., 25 August 2011 15:03)


The odds are six to five that the light in the end of the tunnel is the headlight of an oncoming train!

We can't negotiate with dictators unfortunately. Once the new world order is in place the new rules will emerge.
(Zoran, 24 August 2011 14:10)
# Comment link

My point exactly!! We don't negotiate with dictators either.

New World order!!?? LOL, do you actually think that might happen any time soon??!!

With US controlling the world market, fully in control with gas prices (Russia and Middle East), fooling China that they have some kind of control, by importing plastic goods from them and selling goverment debts (to then cause they're stupid enough to buy them), US and EU are not going anywhere.

Keep on dreaming folks; I guess that is the only thing left for you.

Pls say it ain't so!!!

Now, are you honestly telling me that the hardening attitude of some EU countries isn't because of the upcoming elections in Serbia and more specifically because they believe that Tadic will lose if he doesn't deliver on EU candidate status?
(bganon, 24 August 2011 16:29)

I don't understand this conclusion. So, the EU is putting more pressure on Tadic? It's clear that even Tadic, being pro-European, won't change his stand on Kosovo - that unilateral moves are not helpful, and that solutions can only be found through the Belgrade-Pristina talks, and that Serbia won't recognize an independent Kosovo. If the idea is (as some people claim) that the EU doesn't want the next Serbian government becoming more nationalist/extremist, then what's the point to put pressure on Tadic instead of 'rewarding' him with a concrete date for the EU candatidate status?

There shouldn't even be any discussion here about EU vs. Kosovo. The EU, with most European banks being bankrupt, is truly on life-support. The final nails in the EU "coffin" will be when Spain and Italy look to the EU for a 5-6 trillion dollar bailout within the next 6 months.....a bailout so big that it will be impossible to repay. French banks are now on the hook for the Greek bailout, which will never be repaid. Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy will be soon "let go" out the EU, so that they can repay their investors with their own inflated currencies, thereby giving a 25% or more "haircut to the worried investors. The EU is monetarily breaking down, and there is not enough money to keep it from happening very soon. So why should Serbia subject itself to a sinking ship??? Protect and preserve Kosovo!!!

"The slovene TO initiated an insurgency and attacked the fully legal and limited action of the JNA. Marko Prešeren is the name of the guy who did the research. Suck it up.
(Fireman, 25 August 2011 01:33)"

I have indeed found an article about this guy including interesting statements like: "The less known facts Slovenians generally don’t like to be reminded of throw completely different light on these events, tarnishing the accepted falsified version, enshrined in Slovenian and Western history books (and, of course, on Wikipedia, a global instant “history,” forged to further brainwashing of the masses)." The site features other interesting articles like "Srebrenica Forensics: 1919-1923 Victims in Total", "The Tall Tale of General Ratko Mladić’s Arrest " etc. It's a shame they don't run an abduction by aliens section to complete the picture.

"Serbia should join up with Russia and China"

What does this even mean? Is Serbia going to become a Russian "republik" or are they going to become a Chinese "province"? Russia is itself on the verge of failing apart due to never-ending ethnic and religious conflicts and China only cares about one nation and one ethnic group - China and the Han Chinese.

The only real meaning that I can interpret behind these statements is that Serbia should become a client state of one or both of these countries the way Cuba was for the USSR or Haiti and Taiwan are for the USA. As can be seen from many examples from history and the present time, being a small dysfunctional client state for a foreign power that is in close proximity to a competing foreign power never ends well for the client state. Serbia would be much wiser to develop better relationships with its neighbors and the EU and US instead of looking to becoming a client state for a foreign power.

Keep in mind that the US, EU, NATO, CIA, and other Western secret service agencies were able to crush and dismember the USSR, one of the most powerful states ever to exist, in a matter of decades to the point that most of its former members are now either NATO member states or aspire to be NATO member states. Serbia is very much fooling itself it it thinks that becoming a client state for a foreign power in the heart of Europe is a wise decision. It wouldn't take much to bring it down to its knees begging for forgiveness. Those who remember the 90s know what it's like to be on the EU's, US's, and NATO's bad side - it's not pleasant. I very much doubt that most Serbians would want to find themselves in that place again.

And next you'll be quoting from your David Irving collection! Funny, for a 'war' the slovenes had no losses...

The JNA did not launch and armed aggression, they were sent without ammunition in a show of force by the croat pm of the SFRY Ante Markovic to secure the border posts. The slovene TO initiated an insurgency and attacked the fully legal and limited action of the JNA. Marko Prešeren is the name of the guy who did the research. Suck it up.

(pss, 24 August 2011 14:54)

What money does the US have again? Considering that it is in debt to 102% of GDP today. What do you think that recent squabble between democrats and republicans revealed? If they did not reach agreement on borrowing 1 Trillion the pensions (military and civilian) plus wages for US soldiers at home and overseas would not be paid – hello are you awake or still sleepwalking.

Do you think for one moment I don’t know what is on the IMF website and I’d just write the first thing that comes into my head knowing that people like you would go straight to it? The Chinese delegate is the first change then later this year or very early next year the rest will take up new positions. I don’t care if they appointed my grandfather as a special advisor to the MD because if he does not do what he is told then his special advisor days are over. What do you think that Lipton’s appointment is for life and can’t be removed?

For that matter what do you think will happen if the BRIC countries decided against a certain position the US was pushing? They turn around and walk out and the creaking noise would lead to a very loud thud of a collapsing IMF. They are not expanding the IMF membership because the US is democratic or fun loving but because they need money and these countries have. With exception of maybe Brazil the rest are not very friendly to the US.

So I used the term President instead of MD; big deal. I generally write my comments at 10pm while you are writing this stuff during the day.

Let me repeat it for you. For the first time the US since 1947 the US is not second in charge. Now you take it how you like but that is a fact mate.

Jez Atamoonsky: how is frog cooked in Gazpromes banquets??? :)) [link]
(ben, 25 August 2011 12:21)

Beni, you need that self-reassession that muh? Fine, I don't mind it. You can even put on (or put in ?) these maps on your X'mas tree. But won't be surprised if one day you get Deda Mraz / Ded Moroz as a visitor, straight from Veliky Ustyug.

Jez Atamoonsky: how is frog cooked in Gazpromes banquets??? :)) [link]
(ben, 25 August 2011 12:21)

Sorry to butt in, can you tell me when Italy annexed Slovenia? Did I miss another takeover.

To all the people who keep saying Russia/Brasil/China/India etc won't save Serbia & what good will they do?

The whole thing is about trade & finance. If you cannot work out what we are talking about then I suggest you go and learn a bit about economics.

By the way the sexiest woman in the world "Adriana Lima" from Brasil, married a Serbian ;)

Number 1 tennis player in the world: Novak Djokovic (Serbian)

Captain of Manchester United Football Club: Nemanja Vidic (Serbian)

Not too bad for a country of only 7 million right?

"fully in control with gas prices (Russia and Middle East), ..."

(Pls say it ain't so!!!, 24 August 2011 15:09) "

Ok, it ain't so. See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720121931.htm.

Who gives a damn about Slovenia. Feel for those Yugo soldiers probably ambushed by the Slovenes/BND while trying to make a retreat.
(Jeff, 24 August 2011 23:28)

First person who died in that conflict was actually a Slovenian Chopper pilot serving the JNA. Yes I totally agree with you 18 YO conscripts who were serving were easy targets and barely knew a thing, nothing to celebrate only to dwell on how one would feel if the shoe was on the other foot.

Bloody hairy- you are finally seeing the light. Congratulations.

Zoran, your frog is timeless.
(Je¿ / NOT! ¿aba / - szeszeljska, ludobojna i prawos³awna, 24 August 2011 22:02)

Jez Atamoonsky: how is frog cooked in Gazpromes banquets??? :)) http://i55.tinypic.com/i3i5mo.jpg

(pss, 25 August 2011 15:04)

I like these Albanians like Pss. They go straight to the website and there it is, set in stone. Let me give you a little bit of information that is not on the IMF website.
In 2007/8 after the US and their friends in the EU expended all their money on trying to stop the “recession”, but it did not help and the IMF was in a dire situation as its coffers were empty. You see despite all the talk that the IMF only deals with “failed states” like Serbia it was giving out loans to most of the west, now I bet that is not on the IMF website.

Japan at that time placed $300 billion in the IMF, but still it was not enough so they went cap in hand to China and for the first time in IMF history we had a situation where a Communist regime was about to save a capitalist system. They then deposited more than $600 billion and today the IMF is still with us – now I bet that is not on the IMF website.

The problem with people like you is that you don’t like to hear anything that affects the US theory of greatness, but it over red rover – the IMF is being reorganised as I write this response and soon the US will be nothing but another board member.

You can appoint my dead grandfathers, both of them, to advise the MD because there is a very old but golden rule “he who has the gold makes the rules” and the US has run out of gold. When your politicians were arguing over the issue of increasing the debt and there was no sign of agreement then your Treasury Secretary was preparing to sell the last of government assets such your gold reserves to pay the bills – I bet that is not on the IMF or US government websites.

You and your friends have to come to terms with the fact that when the US has to borrow $1trillion to pay for civil and military pensions and pay your servicemen and women fighting overseas then you are in BIG TROUBLE.

The internet does not answer all questions so don’t be lazy and do some research and I can guarantee you’ll be horrified.

Pss, you got it wrong, because the things you wrote above are facts. That's not what sj was speaking about. He was referring, as usual, to his wishes :)
(icj1, 26 August 2011 05:57)

Have it your own way. He is the latest, there are strong rumors that Germany’s credit rating is about to be downgraded. The Germans are denying this but you know where there is smoke there is fire.
This also is not on the IMF website.

Ataman stated:

"There is a very interesting problem no one does mention. Let's assume, Serbia does everything and even more what Thaçi dreams about. If everything goes smoothly from that point of view - including joining NATO and kicking any BRIC - related plan in favor of USA-EU sponsored ones - than joining E.U. by 2020 is realistic.

"However, Kosovo needs at least one more decade to join E.U.

"Does any Eurocrat imagine what the reaction of Kosovo-Albanians would be in that case? If not, than it's time to think about. That means 2030 or 2035 at earliest - and that in the case if Serbia + Croatia would sponsor Kosovo the way Hungary did sponsor Romania."

Ataman:

For such a self declared intelligent person you appear to contradict yourself. In your zeal to outdo everyone else, logic escapes you. Please reread what you have written then edit and rewrite your essay.

A glaring inconsistency was overlooked by you in your glee to showoff once again. Unless arithmetic is not you strong suit, I would think you can figure out you error but, just in case, I will be glad to help you out. According to your calculations, both Kosova and Serbia need another ten years before they can join the EU. However, you then go on to state that Croatia + Serbia should sponsor Kosova in "2030 or 2035 at earliest" but, how can that be since as you state: "If yes, than the only solution I can imagine they are thinking about is: Serbia joining E.U. together with Kosovo."

Must I point out to you that if Serbia, itself, is not a member of the EU at that time then how can she co-sponsor Kosova. Nonetheless, at the rate t Serbia is making progress, I think it will be Kosova sponsoring Serbia.

Ataman, if you don't mind my saying, I think you are working yourself too hard. What you need is a nice vacation on the Albanian Riviera!

I, would advise Serbia that if they do not recognize Kosova as a whole with its entire borders intact as independent as have some 80 country's some which are the major power's in the world today and tommorow,(i would'nt bet that Russia & China are going to come to the rescue of the Serb nation and risk there cooperation with these big player's of the world.)the European Union will,have to take a serious look at the option of a swift acceptance of Kosova into the E.U. as a full member. As long as Kosova officially recognize's serbia'a proper current border's. Serbia would then be put in a positive E.U. position, if Serbia does not want to be obliged by the law's of the E.U,then the other country's that share a border with Serbia should not be the one's to be punished by a lengthy wait for E.U. membership. Serbia,should be made aware,that it cannot change the law's of E.U. and it's rule's of which country's are accepted within it. If Serbia would like to continue to play these game's, then the country's that are on Serbia's border's which are trying so hard to make progress to truly fulfill the E.U. guideline's for membership, shoud actually have have thier membership bid's expedited...

"Yes Top I believe they are squeezing Tadic. Of course they know that he won't recognise Kosovo, but basically some important EU states want to push him towards a quiet, creeping recognition. "

I think this is rather the impression that Tadic wants to give to Serb voters. Of course he wants a de facto recognition of Kosovo! His only problem is how to persude his voters that this bitter pill must be swallowed.

You can repeat it all you want but that does not make it the truth!
"The IMF has a Managing Director, who is head of the staff and Chairman of the Executive Board. He is assisted by a First Deputy Managing Director and two other Deputy Managing Directors."
"First Deputy Managing director, John Lipsky, an American, has been First Deputy Managing Director since September 2006. Before coming to the IMF, he worked for JPMorgan Investment Bank."
These are direct quotes copied from the official IMF site. How can it be any clearer the No:2 position has always and is now occupied by an American.
[link]
The link for anyone wishing to see for themselves.
(pss, 25 August 2011 15:04)

Pss, you got it wrong, because the things you wrote above are facts. That's not what sj was speaking about. He was referring, as usual, to his wishes :)

Beni, you need that self-reassession that muh? Fine, I don't mind it. You can even put on (or put in ?) these maps on your X'mas tree. But won't be surprised if one day you get Deda Mraz / Ded Moroz as a visitor, straight from Veliky Ustyug.
(Ataman, 25 August 2011 22:33)

Ataman: touchy touchy come one dude relax- it's not me drawing those maps its your beloved Gazprom=Working Russia. The rest is BS and you know that's why you are touchy :)

Glad though to see that you did understood at least the meaning of the map (countries where gazprom operates in blue and where it doesen't in gray) unlike some guys from your camp :)

Have it your own way. He is the latest, there are strong rumors that Germany’s credit rating is about to be downgraded. The Germans are denying this but you know where there is smoke there is fire.
This also is not on the IMF website.
(sj, 26 August 2011 11:43)

Of course it is not... IMF is not a credit rating agency or news agency. Given your expertise in financial matters, I'm suprised that you looked at IMF's website for such news/rumors.

"Officials say Germany, Serbia do not agree on Kosovo"

This can't be good for Serbia or its hopes of joining the EU anytime soon.

Sj
Yes I. Do think you would write whatever knowing that anyone could go to the official site andv learn the truth. You have done the same thing many times. I don't think you have an accurate enough crystal ball to predict the future happenings at the IMF, especially since you were unaware that the chinese appointment was a step below the US position.

Let me repeat it for you. For the first time the US since 1947 the US is not second in charge. Now you take it how you like but that is a fact mate.
(sj, 25 August 2011 04:51)
You can repeat it all you want but that does not make it the truth!
"The IMF has a Managing Director, who is head of the staff and Chairman of the Executive Board. He is assisted by a First Deputy Managing Director and two other Deputy Managing Directors."
"First Deputy Managing director, John Lipsky, an American, has been First Deputy Managing Director since September 2006. Before coming to the IMF, he worked for JPMorgan Investment Bank."
These are direct quotes copied from the official IMF site. How can it be any clearer the No:2 position has always and is now occupied by an American.
http://www.imf.org/external/about/mgmt.htm
The link for anyone wishing to see for themselves.

"The IMF has a Managing Director, who is head of the staff and Chairman of the Executive Board. He is assisted by a First Deputy Managing Director and two other Deputy Managing Directors."
"First Deputy Managing director, John Lipsky, an American, has been First Deputy Managing Director since September 2006. Before coming to the IMF, he worked for JPMorgan Investment Bank."
These are direct quotes copied from the official IMF site. How can it be any clearer the No:2 position has always and is now occupied by an American.
[link]
The link for anyone wishing to see for themselves.
(pss, 25 August 2011 15:04)

Lipsky is retiring in a couple of days, the US is proposing Lipton as his replacement. The theme of emerging BRIC economies getting more say and with the US's decision to replace the head with a non-European (pissing off the Europeans) and lucking out due to Russian and Chinese influence, there just might be a non American(US) in that seat. We will find out in a few weeks if SJ might be on the money again. Traditionally it has been European President, US vice but with these events who knows for sure.

(sj, 26 August 2011 00:42)
True you can find out many things on the internet and disprove those who wish to spread lies.
I have come to the conclusion you must be a waiter in a coffee shop and overhear bits and pieces of conversations and during your busy day dream up your own virtual reality, because while you can quote a few facts as to the US financial situation of the US which pretty much dominates the news in every country of the world.(Of course one has to wonder why if we have become powerless as you claim) You cannot base anything else on facts.
The world according to sj live in it if you want, I choose to live in reality here on earth.

You criticize me because I can go to an established website and show facts where your only supporting evidence is "because sj says".
By the way thanks for the complement of "Albanians like pss" being pretty much like the rest of Americans who have no definitive ancestry, I appreciate you giving me one.

(sj, 26 August 2011 00:42)
True you can find out many things on the internet and disprove those who wish to spread lies.
I have come to the conclusion you must be a waiter in a coffee shop and overhear bits and pieces of conversations and during your busy day dream up your own virtual reality, because while you can quote a few facts as to the US financial situation of the US which pretty much dominates the news in every country of the world.(Of course one has to wonder why if we have become powerless as you claim) You cannot base anything else on facts.
The world according to sj live in it if you want, I choose to live in reality here on earth.

You criticize me because I can go to an established website and show facts where your only supporting evidence is "because sj says".
By the way thanks for the complement of "Albanians like pss" being pretty much like the rest of Americans who have no definitive ancestry, I appreciate you giving me one.

Beni, you need that self-reassession that muh? Fine, I don't mind it. You can even put on (or put in ?) these maps on your X'mas tree. But won't be surprised if one day you get Deda Mraz / Ded Moroz as a visitor, straight from Veliky Ustyug.
(Ataman, 25 August 2011 22:33)

Ataman: touchy touchy come one dude relax- it's not me drawing those maps its your beloved Gazprom=Working Russia. The rest is BS and you know that's why you are touchy :)

Glad though to see that you did understood at least the meaning of the map (countries where gazprom operates in blue and where it doesen't in gray) unlike some guys from your camp :)

(pss, 25 August 2011 15:04)

I like these Albanians like Pss. They go straight to the website and there it is, set in stone. Let me give you a little bit of information that is not on the IMF website.
In 2007/8 after the US and their friends in the EU expended all their money on trying to stop the “recession”, but it did not help and the IMF was in a dire situation as its coffers were empty. You see despite all the talk that the IMF only deals with “failed states” like Serbia it was giving out loans to most of the west, now I bet that is not on the IMF website.

Japan at that time placed $300 billion in the IMF, but still it was not enough so they went cap in hand to China and for the first time in IMF history we had a situation where a Communist regime was about to save a capitalist system. They then deposited more than $600 billion and today the IMF is still with us – now I bet that is not on the IMF website.

The problem with people like you is that you don’t like to hear anything that affects the US theory of greatness, but it over red rover – the IMF is being reorganised as I write this response and soon the US will be nothing but another board member.

You can appoint my dead grandfathers, both of them, to advise the MD because there is a very old but golden rule “he who has the gold makes the rules” and the US has run out of gold. When your politicians were arguing over the issue of increasing the debt and there was no sign of agreement then your Treasury Secretary was preparing to sell the last of government assets such your gold reserves to pay the bills – I bet that is not on the IMF or US government websites.

You and your friends have to come to terms with the fact that when the US has to borrow $1trillion to pay for civil and military pensions and pay your servicemen and women fighting overseas then you are in BIG TROUBLE.

The internet does not answer all questions so don’t be lazy and do some research and I can guarantee you’ll be horrified.

This is going to be BIG. USA has threatened Serbia with IMF as well and KFOR isn't going to be amused if Serbs go to barricades as blackmail. BTW, under 1244 no Serbian state structures are allowed in Kosovo, NOT ONE.

Unfortunately Mr Jeremic we don't care if you agree with Berlin or not, what matters is that Prishtina agrees 110% with Berlin. Have a good day.

Frau Merkel danke schön for making it clear for Serbia what it has to do in order to joint the EU or loose both EU and Kosovo.

No wonder there were so many wars in history. Germany and the US are hugely responsible for MASS damage during wars resulting from their invasion into OTHER PEOPLE'S countries.
(trizo, 24 August 2011 11:45)

Collective amnesia in Serbia! Somehow you have a tendency to forget that it was you who played with fire and got burnt.

What did Serbia expect? You have to finally face reality, but reading the comments it seems as if the population is living in a dream world. Peaceful demonstrations in Northern Kosovo; excuse me, Serbs killed a Kosovo policeman, set border crossings on fire, build barricades.... In what world are u living? Certainly not in a world where european or western value systems mean anything. It is not that Europe wants u to be in the EU, it is in Serbia's intrest to join the rest of Europe. We don't need u, but u need us. Doin't forget that ....

"I say stop trying to satisfy Germany and starting looking at Russia as alternative to the EU"

Yes, Russia is swimming in cash. It is also the most stable and prosperous country in the world. Please get real, Russia is in deep financial problems and has many conflict zones that is has to deal with. The Caucasus is in a perpetual state of insurgency and the East Siberian part is becoming depopulated to the point where China will start trying to exert influence in that oil and mineral rich region for its own interests. Russia's real economic , political, and military power has been shrinking dramatically since the end of the cold war (along with its population) that it is simply not seen as a big player in the world today and certainly won't be one in the future. German alone has an economy that is 3 time bigger then Russia's. Russia will sooner or later try to get closer to the EU and NATO in order to safeguard itself from insurgencies in the South and potential Chinese attempts to gain influence in the East. Putin 2004-2008 represents Russia's last hurrah on the world stage before looking for shelter in The West.

Read article #4:
"Confirms that after the withdrawal an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel will be permitted to return to Kosovo to perform the functions in accordance with annex 2; "
It will be a glorious day when the VS returns... Let Russia, China rise and US/EU burn to the dust bins of history
(Mladen, 24 August 2011 13:11)

What you seem to miss is that the agreed number is zero... Unless you can convince GB, France and the US this number will remain the agreed one.

Germany have only just recently paid off their World War One debt... I don't think they have earned the right to go telling other countries what and what not to do.
(trizo, 24 August 2011 12:55)

The one Serbia has caused by your Crna Ruka killing the Austrian archduke? But don't worry in case Serbia should ever enter the EU, reparations will also be discussed. After that you may raise your voice again.

"The Arch Duke of Austria being shot may have 'sparked' a reason for the WW1 to begin but in no means did Serbia cause the destruction or have the agenda that the Germans did."

May have "sparked a reason"? You mean like Serbia mobilising its army, crossing onto Austrian-Hungarian territory, forcing Austria into a war, forcing Germany to follow their conventionary obligations towards Austria and so on? But you had of course nothing to do with that.

Typical Germans trying to divide and conquer the Balkans.

What more can the world expect from such a country, especially considering its past.

And the US? Well you just have to look at how many countries have been invaded by the US in the past/present for financial gain & power.

It's unfortunately a sad world when "new" countries try to create a new history. We could all live in peace with one another IF when we migrated to someone else's country we 'respected' their culture and laws.

I'm amazed that if a Serbian lives in Albania they have to change their name to an Albanian one and also have an Albanian passport with this name. However, if an Albanian lives in Serbia they somehow seem to unilaterally declare independence and send their police units with intention of taking all control of the province.

No wonder there were so many wars in history. Germany and the US are hugely responsible for MASS damage during wars resulting from their invasion into OTHER PEOPLE'S countries.

"recognizing Kosovo" wording is not used and not demanded. What demanded is much more: Serbia giving up any claim regarding anything in Kosovo and giving up the parallel structures. If that is done, Germany would be perfectly happy.

And what is interesting: in return there won't be any guarantee. For obvious political reasons (stability in Kosovo) Serbia won't be allowed to join the Union till Kosovo is ready, too. Otherwise there will be riots in Kosovo or worse.

With that in mind, there is nothing Serbia can gain, only lose. Unless Serbia can play with the "western" russophobia.

I am afraid that a tough period is ahead of Serbia. A period with such messages from Brussels, London, Washington… I think we will need a lot of diplomatic skills and intelligence to find a solution for these issues...
--
Lets put it this way, it is not Serbia's friends who are getting weaker day by day. On the contrary, it is our friends who are getting stronger and stronger. It is the Germans, London, Brussels and Washington who are finding themselves cornered by Serbia's friends. They are the ones who are getting desperate and they are the ones who are now attempting to pressure Serbia before it is too late.

Anyone with a bit of common sense knows that Tadic's "no alternative to EU" policy was flawed from the very beginning. I think most Serbians can see the rotten carrot at the end of the stick now and hopefully this government and its flawed policies will be getting the boot soon.

As someone who lives in Serbia, I can see that the nationalists are getting stronger here (for better or worse). Tadic better watch his next steps and if he decides to sell-out, it is all over.

Unfortunately, it seems this process of "fair" negotiations has taken a few large leaps backwards. It seems that the window of opportunity to negotiate a fair compromise for all in the region has been scrapped by NATO, Germany, the UK and US, which is not really surprising. Whoever sides with Germany will find themselves on the wrong side of history once again. China is the new US.

History is repeating once again. Serbia will find it difficult in the coming years, true. We can relate it back to WWII and we have a choice now of either joining the NAZI's (or current day NATO) or play it smart until we have the upper hand, which is coming soon. When China becomes the world leader with partners such as India, Russia, Brazil and countries comprising the overwhelming majority of the world, it will be a very long and peaceful new world order. Serbia will benefit greatly from this period. It is the smart game that wins and time is on our side.

Nema Predaja!

@ Vadarska Serb

You said it!!!!!!!

I just hope that Serbia will resist any temptations & always stand up for our country & our citizens.

We are a strong race of people and we have a lot to be proud for.

We must stand tall always and never give in to these outlandish demands.

It amazes me where they (Germany/US etc) get the nerve to make these kind of demands...and even have the idea that their input is so critical?!?!

We need to look to Russia. I understand we need to improve trade & boost our economy through funding etc but we simply cannot lose our dignity & our pride.

We should be looking at OTHER opportunities instead of focusing purely on EU opportunities. The EU is not exactly stable and there is probably a lot more going on behind the scenes than the general public even know about.

Serbia have great resources that are very undervalued. We also have a high number of very well educated & multi-lingual citizens who are ready & able to work toward increasing foreign investment & import/export opportunities.

Germany have only just recently paid off their World War One debt... I don't think they have earned the right to go telling other countries what and what not to do.

No one agrees with Serbia about Kosova.

Just see how Gazprom sees Serbia:

http://i55.tinypic.com/i3i5mo.jpg

Now Ataman will let you know what politically means Gazprom :)

"Serbia is a small country and it is fire that comes to us. We have no choice but to play with it, however, history proves that we always end up on the victorious side after some setbacks."

No, you always attract it. You have caused WWI, declared war on Germany in WWII (and had to be liberated by two Ukrainian fronts in the end) and caused the wars in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Collective amnesia in Serbia! Somehow you have a tendency to forget that it was you who played with fire and got burnt.
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 12:30)

By resisting a German occupation/regime? Please.

The only ones who play with fire are the K.Albanians burning down our Monasteries.

The Serbian honesty with the media is highly laudable. It shows that Serbia is a democratic society. Compare this to Albanian Kosovo; they have a long way to go to even achieve mediocrity.

Collective amnesia in Serbia! Somehow you have a tendency to forget that it was you who played with fire and got burnt.
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 12:30)
--
Serbia is a small country and it is fire that comes to us. We have no choice but to play with it, however, history proves that we always end up on the victorious side after some setbacks. There are new rules in this game. The US is the new Germany, militarily advanced but economically bankrupt. China is the new US, militarily emerging and economically strong with the numbers (brute force) and partners (India, Russia, Brazil) to rule the world. Russia is the new Britian, militarily advanced but without the brute force (numbers).

It is time to reunite the Orthodox world. I know which side I want to be on.

Nema Predaja!

By resisting a German occupation/regime? Please.
The only ones who play with fire are the K.Albanians burning down our Monasteries.
(trizo, 24 August 2011 13:19)

Somehow the second part of my comment got "lost" during transmission... I was refering to your recent history and the fact that you have set half the Balkans on fire.

Sorry, I always forget that according to the Serbian perspective Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo are the ones who should pay tribute to Serbia. Do you really think that the question of financial compensation for the damages Serbia has caused in these countries won't be discussed?
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 15:17)

This is a legitimate arguement. I know Bosnian officials are re-visitng the matter of reparations. Kosovo should also seek some type of compensation from Serbia for crimes committed against humanity.

(CRZ, 24 August 2011 11:14)

Perhaps you may not have heard but here is the official IMF structure – President a European (the last one) Deputy President is, wait for it, Chinese. For the first time since the IMF was established in 1947 the US does not hold the vice presidency, but is only a board member.
The new board members are Brazil India and Russia. If you still don’t get it; the US is no longer in control.
KFOR will stick to what it has done for the last 12 years for fear that all might blow up in their faces and they will continue to put up with peaceful demonstrations in the north. No doubt that KFOR will make certain gestures from time to time, but its all show and nothing else.
Parallel structures will continue and the EU/US will lump it.

This is going to be BIG. USA has threatened Serbia with IMF as well and KFOR isn't going to be amused if Serbs go to barricades as blackmail. BTW, under 1244 no Serbian state structures are allowed in Kosovo, NOT ONE.
(CRZ, 24 August 2011 11:14)

Read article #4:
"Confirms that after the withdrawal an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel will be permitted to return to Kosovo to perform the functions in accordance with annex 2; "




It will be a glorious day when the VS returns... Let Russia, China rise and US/EU burn to the dust bins of history

Is anyone surprised by the outcome of this meeting? I say stop trying to satisfy Germany and starting looking at Russia as alternative to the EU. At least Putin and co. have our best interests in mind whereas Merkel only want to see Serbia weaken for easier domination of us by them.

Always stay reminded, Serbia's worst enemy was and still is Germany. Their face of fascism just turned into economic format. Temporarily. Agenda is still the same.

"There was no war in Slovenia. A full investigation approved by the slovenian parliament with full access to slovene government archives shows this."

Obviously the Slovenian parliament has forgotten to inform the Slovenian army about the results you claim:

"In October 1990, upon the occupation of the Territorial Defence Republic Headquarters in Ljubljana, the Yugoslav People's Army (YPA) used weapons against the new Slovenian armed forces for the first time. The next attempt to impose the will of the YPA was on 23 May 1991 at the training centre in Pekre near Maribor, when the YPA tried to gain access to the conscripts by initiating an incident.
On 25 June 1991, the Republic of Slovenia declared its independence. On the same day, armoured and other units of the YPA launched an armed aggression to occupy Slovenian border crossings. The YPA was tasked to break Slovenia's connection with the world, to disarm members of the Territorial Defence and the Police Force and to force Slovenian governing authorities to discontinue the measures for the establishment of an independent country.
Slovenia agreed to the fight. Territorial Defence and Police Force units disabled the YPA's plans. They won the fight for the borders, stopped the movements of enemy columns, blocked YPA units stationed in the barracks and disabled their provisioning of the country.
The war lasted from 26 June to 7 July, when the Brioni Declaration was signed. Upon the signing of the declaration, the Territorial Defence was in control of the entire Slovenian territory. On 26 October 1991, the last YPA soldier left Slovenia from the port of Koper. At the beginning of the conflict, the Territorial Defence included 16,000 armed men, whereas at the end of the war it included 35,000 men. Territorial Defence weapons did not include armoured assets and artillery. The Slovenian Police Force was composed of some 10,000 members.
In the 10-day conflict, 31 tanks, 22 infantry fighting vehicles, 172 transport vehicles, 6 helicopters and other YPA's assets were destroyed. 45 YPA members were killed and 146 wounded. Territorial Defence units captured 4693 YPA members and 139 members of the federal police. There were 19 Slovenians killed and 182 wounded."
http://www.slovenskavojska.si/en/about-the-slovenian-armed-forces/history/

The ambassador said that he had several times reminded Berlin officials that it had taken 20 years for West Germany to establish some sort of relations with East Germany without recognizing each other, while Serbia was being asked to do that in just two years.

East and West Germanies were/are of same nationality, they just had two different ideologies. Albanians and Serbs are two different nationalities and worlds apart. Nice try, but no dice.

We can't negotiate with dictators unfortunately. Once the new world order is in place the new rules will emerge.
(Zoran, 24 August 2011 14:10)
# Comment link

My point exactly!! We don't negotiate with dictators either.

New World order!!?? LOL, do you actually think that might happen any time soon??!!

With US controlling the world market, fully in control with gas prices (Russia and Middle East), fooling China that they have some kind of control, by importing plastic goods from them and selling goverment debts (to then cause they're stupid enough to buy them), US and EU are not going anywhere.

Keep on dreaming folks; I guess that is the only thing left for you.

Pls say it ain't so!!!

Politically speaking what impact does all of this have on Serbia?

The west is calculating that the current government really needs official EU candidate status, as it had tied its mast to the EU as one of its chief policies.

The price to get this status is basically to bend over on Kosovo. As I see it there are only two possible options for the government:

The nuclear option - to tell certain EU governments that Tadic will announce an important statement to the Serbia people, that he has decided to not seek EU candidate status for the time being due to the pressure being imposed by EU states that support Kosovo indepdence that are trying to force recognition without compromise. He can state that he is continuing to work towards joining the EU at some future date and that Serbia will continue in harmonising Serbian standards / laws in line with EU standards etc. In such a speech he could do a bit a chest thumping on Kosovo combined with search for a fair compromise etc. Such a move could spare him defeat at the elections. Hell, he could even hint at the current crisis in the EU and afford to be honest about when Serbia would be able to join the EU in any case.

The second option is to seek compromise with the EU on their current position - on its own there is not much chance of this happening. However, if Tadic threatens to go to the country on Kosovo and eventual EU membership, EU diplomats might be sufficiently worried to change position. The main reason why the EU position has hardened is because of the Serbian election but some will also be well aware that Kosovo has been an election winner for politicians in Serbia in the past.

What would the EU do then? Support SNS? I don't think so, any such move by Tadic would immediately be supported by SNS who would not want to be outflanked on the Kosovo issue and to potentially lose support to Tadic. All Serbian parties with the exception of LDP would support the new position.

It would seem that the EU is playing hardball with Serbia. Politically I'm pretty sure that this hardball can be tossed out of court, at least in the short term. Whether Tadic and DS are too cowardly to re-align their position is another matter.
(bganon, 24 August 2011 14:30)

Why you think EU is worried about Serbia or their stance? Is not like Serbia controls Kosovo and is not like EU can not keep life without Serbia.

EU can stop funding Serbia and it will put even more pressure, If Serbia thinks that inviting Russia will make them strong think again, it will be Berlin all over again and you know how developed West Berlin was compared to East.

Serbia always seems to think that Russia india and China are on their side and that they are strong. They hate each other India still is at the ready since 1968 war with China. Russia has no good relation with china and dont you think China wants to expand in influancing border region with Russia.

I get a kick out of those saying that Serbia should turn it's back on the EU and develop closer ties with Russia. I'm sure every day millions of Belorussians wake up and thank God that they have such a close relationship with Putin's Russia. Being close to Russia and distant/excluded from the EU makes them very happy and they dance for joy each and every day to the tune of "I love Belarus". Maybe if Serbia continues down it's current path of isolating itself from the EU and getting chummy with Putin's Russia Serbians will also wake up every day and sing and dance like their Belorussian brethren.

The one Serbia has caused by your Crna Ruka killing the Austrian archduke? But don't worry in case Serbia should ever enter the EU, reparations will also be discussed. After that you may raise your voice again.
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 13:49)

Spoken like a true amateur historian who speaks loudly, but grasps nothing.

Reparations? With analytical skills like this, why don't you write for the New York Times or just marry ivan?

Serbia is a small country and it is fire that comes to us. We have no choice but to play with it, however, history proves that we always end up on the victorious side after some setbacks. There are new rules in this game. The US is the new Germany, militarily advanced but economically bankrupt. China is the new US, militarily emerging and economically strong with the numbers (brute force) and partners (India, Russia, Brazil) to rule the world. Russia is the new Britian, militarily advanced but without the brute force (numbers).

It is time to reunite the Orthodox world. I know which side I want to be on.

Nema Predaja!
(Zoran, 24 August 2011 13:18)

LMAO, does this comment even deserve a reply....LOL

Zoran, you just made my week.

You are not 'discussing' anything, just bleating your ignorant opinions as fact which you are of course unable to support in any empirical manner. Like the rest of your comments, simply irrelevant to the subject.
(Fireman, 24 August 2011 17:04)

Two simple solutions: Ignore my comments or prove me wrong

(Zoran, 24 August 2011 12:06)
Interestingly enough BRICSA seems to be the nucleus of the premier world organisation. One member representing each continent, it might well replace the current system of 2 European 1 American stack we have currently. The league of Nations went when members did not respect their own laws and manipulated accords to suit certain beneficiaries. It all seems to be pointing that way.

Global soft power is shifting towards the East, it would be wise for Serbia to attract and enable more influence to come from these countries. It is inevitable BRICSA will be the future, why shouldn't Serbia position herself as a gateway for China/India etc to the Eu and vice versa. Balance European standards, strive for them but be independent(out of EU) and open Serbia to companies from East to West.

Useless visit of Merkel !
The only advice i can give to serbia is to keep good relations with everybody and don`t hurry anything !

CRZ, 24 August 2011 11:14)

Perhaps you may not have heard but here is the official IMF structure – President a European (the last one) Deputy President is, wait for it, Chinese. For the first time since the IMF was established in 1947 the US does not hold the vice presidency, but is only a board member.
The new board members are Brazil India and Russia. If you still don’t get it; the US is no longer in control.
KFOR will stick to what it has done for the last 12 years for fear that all might blow up in their faces and they will continue to put up with peaceful demonstrations in the north. No doubt that KFOR will make certain gestures from time to time, but its all show and nothing else.
Parallel structures will continue and the EU/US will lump it.
(sj, 24 August 2011 12:08)
CRZ
Hopefully you will visit the official IMF site before believeing some of the dribble you are being fed.
http://www.imf.org/external/about/mgmt.htm

The highest official at the IMF is called the Managing Director not President and has always been a European and as of now there is no way anyone could predict that the next one will not be also.
Below the Managing Director is the First Deputy Managing Director and 3 Deputy Managing Directors. The First Deputy Managing Director is John Lipsky an American and the position has always been held by an American. In July a Chinese "Min Zhu" became one of the Deputy Managing Directors.
Also in July John Lipton an American became Special Advisor to the Managing Director making 2 Americans on the management team.
Furthermore Countries unlike the UN have 1 Country 1 vote, their voting power is derived from thier financial quotas for instance the US has 421,965 votes or 16.76% of the total. China 96,000, Russian Federation 60,195, Brazil 43,246, India 58,956. Which means that the US has almost double the voting power of the BRIC countries combined.
So when it comes to the IMF the US is very much in control!!

@ Bloody Mary,

It seems you are playing the blame game all too much.

The Arch Duke of Austria being shot may have 'sparked' a reason for the WW1 to begin but in no means did Serbia cause the destruction or have the agenda that the Germans did.



Btw, the KLA started the war in Kosovo. I would like to know the date the first plans were drafted 'Camp Bondsteel'... just curious.

"Reparations? With analytical skills like this, why don't you write for the New York Times or just marry ivan?
(Fireman, 24 August 2011 14:44)"

Sorry, I always forget that according to the Serbian perspective Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo are the ones who should pay tribute to Serbia. Do you really think that the question of financial compensation for the damages Serbia has caused in these countries won't be discussed?

Unbelievable what I have read so far...


1)Get one thing: The EU is broken ! IT IS DEAD !
You have South Europe practically bancrupt and asking and already heavy indebted north to bail them out!
The result will be a catastrophy!
2)China in 2015 and Russia in 2025 will become the worlds/Europes biggest economy(Germanys GDP is 2,9 trillion,Russias at the moment 2,3 trillions)which are practically debt free nations developing major industries and having a booming market!
Russia controlls ALL ENERGY for Europe!
3)Serbia has a free trade agreement with Russia,China and Turkey,THAT IS OUR CHANCE(we also have free trade with the EU),we have an industrial core,the most fertile lands in Europe (Vojvodina) and with an able government we will export to and live from these nations!
The agricultural exports to Russia have risen last year at approximately 30%!

We need to tell the EU to go **** itself and reorient stronger towards Russia!As far as the threats from the IMF are concerned,this is not 1999,now the Americans are the beggars while Russians and Chinese set the rules!
Meanwhile no compromise on our southern province Kosovo,we will not give up one single square metre,time is working for us!
The best indication for this are the angry pro-Albanian comments asking us constantly when will we recignize!
Here is the answer: NEVER!

Serbia needs to drop it wish of joining the EU and join up with China and Russia. Europe is a big mess so why get sucked up in their problems while having to suck up to them! Take Kossovo back, China and Russia will back you. Every country is too broke to get involved in another country's problems except China and Russia.

"Serbia should join up with Russia and China"

What does this even mean? Is Serbia going to become a Russian "republik" or are they going to become a Chinese "province"? Russia is itself on the verge of failing apart due to never-ending ethnic and religious conflicts and China only cares about one nation and one ethnic group - China and the Han Chinese.

The only real meaning that I can interpret behind these statements is that Serbia should become a client state of one or both of these countries the way Cuba was for the USSR or Haiti and Taiwan are for the USA. As can be seen from many examples from history and the present time, being a small dysfunctional client state for a foreign power that is in close proximity to a competing foreign power never ends well for the client state. Serbia would be much wiser to develop better relationships with its neighbors and the EU and US instead of looking to becoming a client state for a foreign power.

Keep in mind that the US, EU, NATO, CIA, and other Western secret service agencies were able to crush and dismember the USSR, one of the most powerful states ever to exist, in a matter of decades to the point that most of its former members are now either NATO member states or aspire to be NATO member states. Serbia is very much fooling itself it it thinks that becoming a client state for a foreign power in the heart of Europe is a wise decision. It wouldn't take much to bring it down to its knees begging for forgiveness. Those who remember the 90s know what it's like to be on the EU's, US's, and NATO's bad side - it's not pleasant. I very much doubt that most Serbians would want to find themselves in that place again.

There was no war in Slovenia. A full investigation approved by the slovenian parliament with full access to slovene government archives shows this. It was 100% propaganda. My wife Mary really should stick to the prescribed medicine.

Well, that wraps it up. tadic's masters have thrown him under the bus. No eu for Serbia and the ds is out of power next year. Maybe the Serbian people will finally wake up about the west. I am waiting for the next earthquake to destroy washington dc.

Who gives a damn about Slovenia. Feel for those Yugo soldiers probably ambushed by the Slovenes/BND while trying to make a retreat.

And UN was delayed for a meeting with her?

When oh when are Serbs going to learn?

May have "sparked a reason"? You mean like Serbia mobilising its army, crossing onto Austrian-Hungarian territory, forcing Austria into a war, forcing Germany to follow their conventionary obligations towards Austria and so on? But you had of course nothing to do with that.
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 15:42)

I wonder why the moderators of this website approve obvious lies like your comment?

First of all, it was Austria who made the conflict between Austria and Serbia inevitable by illegitimately annexing Bosnia after the Russo-Turkish war of 77-78 and triggering a political crisis between Austria and Russia that remained unsolved until WW1. Second of all, the Serbs in Bosnia had no interest in being subjugated by another foreign power after having been occupied by the Ottomans for nearly 500 years so Crna Ruka was only a natural reaction to Austrian occupation.

Sorry, I always forget that according to the Serbian perspective Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo are the ones who should pay tribute to Serbia. Do you really think that the question of financial compensation for the damages Serbia has caused in these countries won't be discussed?
(Bloody Mary, 24 August 2011 15:17)

You are not 'discussing' anything, just bleating your ignorant opinions as fact which you are of course unable to support in any empirical manner. Like the rest of your comments, simply irrelevant to the subject.

"...forcing Germany to follow their conventionary obligations towards Austria and so on?..."

Poor, stupid germans! "Forced" to go to war! Here's laughing at you, kid.

Yes, I believe that China will rush to Serbia's aid because....?

"...forcing Germany to follow their conventionary obligations towards Austria and so on?..."

Poor, stupid germans! "Forced" to go to war! Here's laughing at you, kid.
(Kapitan Dumkopf, 24 August 2011 17:17)


"For I no longer have any doubt that England, Russia and France have agreed among themselves—knowing that our treaty obligations compel us to support Austria—to use the Austro-Serb conflict as a pretext for waging a war of annihilation against us ... Our dilemma over keeping faith with the old and honourable Emperor has been exploited to create a situation which gives England the excuse she has been seeking to annihilate us with a spurious appearance of justice on the pretext that she is helping France and maintaining the well-known Balance of Power in Europe, i.e. playing off all European States for her own benefit against us."
Wilhelm II.

“Merkel’s statements are a clear sign that Europe expects Ahtisaari’s plan to be implemented in Kosovo and that Serbia is now facing a dilemma – to continue the policy of not recognizing Kosovo or change the policy if we want to join the European Union,” the professor stressed.'
What dilemma?? There is no dilemma at all. It's Kosovo all the way. Serbia doesn't need the EU, it needs its own currency so that it can become a huge exporter of agricultural and other goods. Adopting the Euro will destroy them and they would have to take orders from Germany like Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland. No thanks. There has never been an easier choice.
Cheers!!

I just don't understand these commentators who keep bringing up Russia, China, India, Brasil, Turkey etc. What exactly do they expect these countries to do? Where does this fantasy of the BRICs coming to Serbia's rescue come from? What use does China have for Serbia? There are 7 million Albanians and 7 million Serbs. If you count others ethnic groups in the region there are 4 million Croats, 3 million Bosnians, etc. Why would China jeopardize business and good relations with 5 countries and 15 million people so they can push for Serbia's political agenda? What has Serbia done for China to make them work on their behalf? How many Serbs live in China? In what way is Serbia relevant for China's policies towards Europe? China is a developing country that is preoccupied with its own problems and the myriad of conflicts in its own neighborhood, it doesn't care about Europe's problems and I'm sure it would choose having good relations with all the countries in the Balkans over having really good relations with Serbia at the expense of having good relations with others. India has absolutely nothing to do with Serbia and has very close ties to the US and the EU they will not do anything to help Serbia at the expense of those close relationships. As has been mentioned Russia is well past it's prime and is slowly disappearing off the world's economic and political map, and Brasil may or may not know that Serbia exists it certainly won't bend over backwards to help Serbia in its struggle with Kosovo. Turkey is a rising regional economic and political power that is firmly behind Kosovo and its policies.I think these visionaries and dreamers need to get down to earth and realize that the only relationships that matter to Serbia are those it has with its neighbors and with the European community, all else is window dressing.

Easy solution: Serbia will never give up on Kosovo. While doing so, it's occupiers will continue dumping billions into Kosovo with nothing to show for it. On top of this, Serbia continues good relations with the East. By the time the EU is completely bankrupt, they will dump their unwanted child (Rep. of Kosova) in the dumpster and scramble for a way to recover. At this point, Serbia will be prospering with it's friends in the East and the Kosovo(state) project will be over for good. Albanians will be able to live peacefully with Serbs or find a home in Albania or one of the great EU countries willing to feed them again.

=)

Yes Top I believe they are squeezing Tadic. Of course they know that he won't recognise Kosovo, but basically some important EU states want to push him towards a quiet, creeping recognition.
(bganon, 24 August 2011 20:40)
--
In the mean time Tadic will be dealing with loud and creeping nationalism which is strongly opposed to any ground given on KiM. The chance for a peaceful settlement came with negotiations but it seems Pristina and the West threw that idea out the window. Big mistake that was as now things start getting messy.

It does not matter what Germany and other European Union Countries think at this time, because the German Electorate can vote for other Political Parties who will have better Policies.

Serbia should just be patient, and pursue the best Policies possible to maximize the benefit to Serbia, and the Serbian Voters need to Vote for the Best Political Parties in order to achieve this.

Serbia should demand that the European Union fully implement the SAA Agreement with the Money flowing now, and not use it to help Tadic and Company win the next Election.

This is because if Serbia receives the SAA Agreement at the next Election Campaign, then Serbia will not need Tadic and Company.

If Serbia does not receive the SAA Agreement before the next Election, then Serbia will not need Tadic and Company, and so the European Union should refrain from playing games, because Kosovo will always be more important than any Stupid European Union Membership.

Serbia should not give in to any demands of the European Union, and they should say that certain European Union Countries are the ones who have put a Road Block on Serbia progressing toward joining the European Union.

You mean BRICSAM? The list is growing all of the time and includes:

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (together with the sub-Saharan African region) and Mexico. The old world order is out and the new world order is forming. Serbia will benefit enormously with the geopolitical influence shifting eastwards.

Read the current demands by Germany as a sign of weakness. A last act of desperation. Twenty years of failures and instability brought to the Balkan peoples by a reunited Germany and followed by the West. We can't negotiate with dictators unfortunately. Once the new world order is in place the new rules will emerge.
(Zoran, 24 August 2011 14:10)

Spot on!!

The Albanians are going through a power struggle... they hang on every word said by a German or an American and take it as gospel (or a verse from the Qur'an).

Yes Top I believe they are squeezing Tadic. Of course they know that he won't recognise Kosovo, but basically some important EU states want to push him towards a quiet, creeping recognition.

They know that politicians will do anything to be re-elected and their analysts have told them that Tadic must deliver EU candidate status or risk losing the election. Its hardball, the kind of stuff you have to put up with if you have a weaker barganing position, or are a weaker state against stronger ones.

In a way its a kind of bluff threat, the thing to do is to take the threat away by creating an alternative scenario and those EU states may be forced to climb down a little in the short term. However, unless something changes on the international scene we are in for quite a bit of this type of bullying.

Thinking about it some more, perhaps they are hitting Tadic with this so he says to them 'ok I'll give you more of what you want, just give me candidate status and I will do it after DS is re-elected'.

Part of diplomacy is to continually wear down a 'target' until they give ground under pressure.

A simple solution may be viable from Serbian perspective ... tell the EU that once Serbia is granted candidate status then the issue of a Kosovo "final solution " may be addressed. If I recall correctly Germany has a historical knowledge of final solutions :)
Besides... nothing is ever set in stone. Alot can happen in the 8 years between candidate status and joining the EU club... with the current xenophobia gripping most developed western EU countries the club itself may not want to expand beyond what it currently has.

Balance European standards, strive for them but be independent(out of EU) and open Serbia to companies from East to West.
(Alternatives, 24 August 2011 12:54)
--
You mean BRICSAM? The list is growing all of the time and includes:

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (together with the sub-Saharan African region) and Mexico. The old world order is out and the new world order is forming. Serbia will benefit enormously with the geopolitical influence shifting eastwards.

Read the current demands by Germany as a sign of weakness. A last act of desperation. Twenty years of failures and instability brought to the Balkan peoples by a reunited Germany and followed by the West. We can't negotiate with dictators unfortunately. Once the new world order is in place the new rules will emerge.

US and EU are not going anywhere.
(Pls say it ain't so!!!, 24 August 2011 15:09)
--
I think I agree with you there. How to boil a frog? The US and EU are not going anywhere. They will all be floating in the same place. Check -> http://www.cartoonistgroup.com//properties/benson/art_images/cg4beaa3b4dfce0.jpg

And next you'll be quoting from your David Irving collection! Funny, for a 'war' the slovenes had no losses...

The JNA did not launch and armed aggression, they were sent without ammunition in a show of force by the croat pm of the SFRY Ante Markovic to secure the border posts. The slovene TO initiated an insurgency and attacked the fully legal and limited action of the JNA. Marko Prešeren is the name of the guy who did the research. Suck it up.

I, would advise Serbia that if they do not recognize Kosova as a whole with its entire borders intact as independent as have some 80 country's some which are the major power's in the world today and tommorow,(i would'nt bet that Russia & China are going to come to the rescue of the Serb nation and risk there cooperation with these big player's of the world.)the European Union will,have to take a serious look at the option of a swift acceptance of Kosova into the E.U. as a full member. As long as Kosova officially recognize's serbia'a proper current border's. Serbia would then be put in a positive E.U. position, if Serbia does not want to be obliged by the law's of the E.U,then the other country's that share a border with Serbia should not be the one's to be punished by a lengthy wait for E.U. membership. Serbia,should be made aware,that it cannot change the law's of E.U. and it's rule's of which country's are accepted within it. If Serbia would like to continue to play these game's, then the country's that are on Serbia's border's which are trying so hard to make progress to truly fulfill the E.U. guideline's for membership, shoud actually have have thier membership bid's expedited...

Bloody hairy- you are finally seeing the light. Congratulations.

Washington and its European allies have no idea about what they are doing; that's for sure. They are presenting a list of demands, but offering nothing in return. How on earth will that work? Yes, Serbia is a small country and its bourgeoisie strongly desires to be in EU. But even those two factors would not be enough to persuade the Serbian government to give up on Kosovo.

'Why you think EU is worried about Serbia or their stance? Is not like Serbia controls Kosovo and is not like EU can not keep life without Serbia.'

Bilabao thats a no brainer really. If the EU wasn't worried about Serbia and its stance, it wouldn't be sending Merkel and countless diplomats seeking negotiations and so on. If your theory is true then there is no problem in Kosovo at all and the EU can just impose a solution, help turf out the rest of the Serbs and lock down the border.

That isn't happening, so obviously what is going on in Serbia is important to them. They are not stupid, they know how the political environment in Belgrade influences the rest of the Balkans either in a good or a bad way.

Obviously you don't understand it, but their job is to keep a EU friendly government in power that will 'co-operate'. If the current government ensures there is no such alternative in Serbia this cannot come about. And if you really think that the EU will stop 'funding' Serbia (how much are these funds that you speak of worth btw?) then again you don't understand. The idea is not to escalate the situation from a western perspective - if the EU theoretically were to withdraw their 'funds', the Serbian people might reject EU membership and put pressure on the government to radicalise its position on Kosovo. That is not in the EU interest.

Now, are you honestly telling me that the hardening attitude of some EU countries isn't because of the upcoming elections in Serbia and more specifically because they believe that Tadic will lose if he doesn't deliver on EU candidate status?

This is the political side to it, I'm not referring to Russia or China - thats a different (but related) topic.

"fully in control with gas prices (Russia and Middle East), ..."

(Pls say it ain't so!!!, 24 August 2011 15:09) "

Ok, it ain't so. See http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110720121931.htm.

Bloody hairy- you are finally seeing the light. Congratulations.
(Andy Dufresne., 25 August 2011 15:03)


The odds are six to five that the light in the end of the tunnel is the headlight of an oncoming train!

Politically speaking what impact does all of this have on Serbia?

The west is calculating that the current government really needs official EU candidate status, as it had tied its mast to the EU as one of its chief policies.

The price to get this status is basically to bend over on Kosovo. As I see it there are only two possible options for the government:

The nuclear option - to tell certain EU governments that Tadic will announce an important statement to the Serbia people, that he has decided to not seek EU candidate status for the time being due to the pressure being imposed by EU states that support Kosovo indepdence that are trying to force recognition without compromise. He can state that he is continuing to work towards joining the EU at some future date and that Serbia will continue in harmonising Serbian standards / laws in line with EU standards etc. In such a speech he could do a bit a chest thumping on Kosovo combined with search for a fair compromise etc. Such a move could spare him defeat at the elections. Hell, he could even hint at the current crisis in the EU and afford to be honest about when Serbia would be able to join the EU in any case.

The second option is to seek compromise with the EU on their current position - on its own there is not much chance of this happening. However, if Tadic threatens to go to the country on Kosovo and eventual EU membership, EU diplomats might be sufficiently worried to change position. The main reason why the EU position has hardened is because of the Serbian election but some will also be well aware that Kosovo has been an election winner for politicians in Serbia in the past.

What would the EU do then? Support SNS? I don't think so, any such move by Tadic would immediately be supported by SNS who would not want to be outflanked on the Kosovo issue and to potentially lose support to Tadic. All Serbian parties with the exception of LDP would support the new position.

It would seem that the EU is playing hardball with Serbia. Politically I'm pretty sure that this hardball can be tossed out of court, at least in the short term. Whether Tadic and DS are too cowardly to re-align their position is another matter.

I think I agree with you there. How to boil a frog?
(Zoran, 24 August 2011 20:21)

Zoran, your frog is timeless.

Ataman stated:

"There is a very interesting problem no one does mention. Let's assume, Serbia does everything and even more what Thaçi dreams about. If everything goes smoothly from that point of view - including joining NATO and kicking any BRIC - related plan in favor of USA-EU sponsored ones - than joining E.U. by 2020 is realistic.

"However, Kosovo needs at least one more decade to join E.U.

"Does any Eurocrat imagine what the reaction of Kosovo-Albanians would be in that case? If not, than it's time to think about. That means 2030 or 2035 at earliest - and that in the case if Serbia + Croatia would sponsor Kosovo the way Hungary did sponsor Romania."

Ataman:

For such a self declared intelligent person you appear to contradict yourself. In your zeal to outdo everyone else, logic escapes you. Please reread what you have written then edit and rewrite your essay.

A glaring inconsistency was overlooked by you in your glee to showoff once again. Unless arithmetic is not you strong suit, I would think you can figure out you error but, just in case, I will be glad to help you out. According to your calculations, both Kosova and Serbia need another ten years before they can join the EU. However, you then go on to state that Croatia + Serbia should sponsor Kosova in "2030 or 2035 at earliest" but, how can that be since as you state: "If yes, than the only solution I can imagine they are thinking about is: Serbia joining E.U. together with Kosovo."

Must I point out to you that if Serbia, itself, is not a member of the EU at that time then how can she co-sponsor Kosova. Nonetheless, at the rate t Serbia is making progress, I think it will be Kosova sponsoring Serbia.

Ataman, if you don't mind my saying, I think you are working yourself too hard. What you need is a nice vacation on the Albanian Riviera!

Zoran, your frog is timeless.
(Je¿ / NOT! ¿aba / - szeszeljska, ludobojna i prawos³awna, 24 August 2011 22:02)

Jez Atamoonsky: how is frog cooked in Gazpromes banquets??? :)) http://i55.tinypic.com/i3i5mo.jpg

Pss, you got it wrong, because the things you wrote above are facts. That's not what sj was speaking about. He was referring, as usual, to his wishes :)
(icj1, 26 August 2011 05:57)

Have it your own way. He is the latest, there are strong rumors that Germany’s credit rating is about to be downgraded. The Germans are denying this but you know where there is smoke there is fire.
This also is not on the IMF website.

"Yes Top I believe they are squeezing Tadic. Of course they know that he won't recognise Kosovo, but basically some important EU states want to push him towards a quiet, creeping recognition. "

I think this is rather the impression that Tadic wants to give to Serb voters. Of course he wants a de facto recognition of Kosovo! His only problem is how to persude his voters that this bitter pill must be swallowed.

"Officials say Germany, Serbia do not agree on Kosovo"

This can't be good for Serbia or its hopes of joining the EU anytime soon.

"The slovene TO initiated an insurgency and attacked the fully legal and limited action of the JNA. Marko Prešeren is the name of the guy who did the research. Suck it up.
(Fireman, 25 August 2011 01:33)"

I have indeed found an article about this guy including interesting statements like: "The less known facts Slovenians generally don’t like to be reminded of throw completely different light on these events, tarnishing the accepted falsified version, enshrined in Slovenian and Western history books (and, of course, on Wikipedia, a global instant “history,” forged to further brainwashing of the masses)." The site features other interesting articles like "Srebrenica Forensics: 1919-1923 Victims in Total", "The Tall Tale of General Ratko Mladić’s Arrest " etc. It's a shame they don't run an abduction by aliens section to complete the picture.

To all the people who keep saying Russia/Brasil/China/India etc won't save Serbia & what good will they do?

The whole thing is about trade & finance. If you cannot work out what we are talking about then I suggest you go and learn a bit about economics.

By the way the sexiest woman in the world "Adriana Lima" from Brasil, married a Serbian ;)

Number 1 tennis player in the world: Novak Djokovic (Serbian)

Captain of Manchester United Football Club: Nemanja Vidic (Serbian)

Not too bad for a country of only 7 million right?

There shouldn't even be any discussion here about EU vs. Kosovo. The EU, with most European banks being bankrupt, is truly on life-support. The final nails in the EU "coffin" will be when Spain and Italy look to the EU for a 5-6 trillion dollar bailout within the next 6 months.....a bailout so big that it will be impossible to repay. French banks are now on the hook for the Greek bailout, which will never be repaid. Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy will be soon "let go" out the EU, so that they can repay their investors with their own inflated currencies, thereby giving a 25% or more "haircut to the worried investors. The EU is monetarily breaking down, and there is not enough money to keep it from happening very soon. So why should Serbia subject itself to a sinking ship??? Protect and preserve Kosovo!!!

Who gives a damn about Slovenia. Feel for those Yugo soldiers probably ambushed by the Slovenes/BND while trying to make a retreat.
(Jeff, 24 August 2011 23:28)

First person who died in that conflict was actually a Slovenian Chopper pilot serving the JNA. Yes I totally agree with you 18 YO conscripts who were serving were easy targets and barely knew a thing, nothing to celebrate only to dwell on how one would feel if the shoe was on the other foot.

Let me repeat it for you. For the first time the US since 1947 the US is not second in charge. Now you take it how you like but that is a fact mate.
(sj, 25 August 2011 04:51)
You can repeat it all you want but that does not make it the truth!
"The IMF has a Managing Director, who is head of the staff and Chairman of the Executive Board. He is assisted by a First Deputy Managing Director and two other Deputy Managing Directors."
"First Deputy Managing director, John Lipsky, an American, has been First Deputy Managing Director since September 2006. Before coming to the IMF, he worked for JPMorgan Investment Bank."
These are direct quotes copied from the official IMF site. How can it be any clearer the No:2 position has always and is now occupied by an American.
http://www.imf.org/external/about/mgmt.htm
The link for anyone wishing to see for themselves.

Now, are you honestly telling me that the hardening attitude of some EU countries isn't because of the upcoming elections in Serbia and more specifically because they believe that Tadic will lose if he doesn't deliver on EU candidate status?
(bganon, 24 August 2011 16:29)

I don't understand this conclusion. So, the EU is putting more pressure on Tadic? It's clear that even Tadic, being pro-European, won't change his stand on Kosovo - that unilateral moves are not helpful, and that solutions can only be found through the Belgrade-Pristina talks, and that Serbia won't recognize an independent Kosovo. If the idea is (as some people claim) that the EU doesn't want the next Serbian government becoming more nationalist/extremist, then what's the point to put pressure on Tadic instead of 'rewarding' him with a concrete date for the EU candatidate status?

Sj
Yes I. Do think you would write whatever knowing that anyone could go to the official site andv learn the truth. You have done the same thing many times. I don't think you have an accurate enough crystal ball to predict the future happenings at the IMF, especially since you were unaware that the chinese appointment was a step below the US position.

Jez Atamoonsky: how is frog cooked in Gazpromes banquets??? :)) [link]
(ben, 25 August 2011 12:21)

Beni, you need that self-reassession that muh? Fine, I don't mind it. You can even put on (or put in ?) these maps on your X'mas tree. But won't be surprised if one day you get Deda Mraz / Ded Moroz as a visitor, straight from Veliky Ustyug.

(pss, 24 August 2011 14:54)

What money does the US have again? Considering that it is in debt to 102% of GDP today. What do you think that recent squabble between democrats and republicans revealed? If they did not reach agreement on borrowing 1 Trillion the pensions (military and civilian) plus wages for US soldiers at home and overseas would not be paid – hello are you awake or still sleepwalking.

Do you think for one moment I don’t know what is on the IMF website and I’d just write the first thing that comes into my head knowing that people like you would go straight to it? The Chinese delegate is the first change then later this year or very early next year the rest will take up new positions. I don’t care if they appointed my grandfather as a special advisor to the MD because if he does not do what he is told then his special advisor days are over. What do you think that Lipton’s appointment is for life and can’t be removed?

For that matter what do you think will happen if the BRIC countries decided against a certain position the US was pushing? They turn around and walk out and the creaking noise would lead to a very loud thud of a collapsing IMF. They are not expanding the IMF membership because the US is democratic or fun loving but because they need money and these countries have. With exception of maybe Brazil the rest are not very friendly to the US.

So I used the term President instead of MD; big deal. I generally write my comments at 10pm while you are writing this stuff during the day.

Let me repeat it for you. For the first time the US since 1947 the US is not second in charge. Now you take it how you like but that is a fact mate.

Jez Atamoonsky: how is frog cooked in Gazpromes banquets??? :)) [link]
(ben, 25 August 2011 12:21)

Sorry to butt in, can you tell me when Italy annexed Slovenia? Did I miss another takeover.

"The IMF has a Managing Director, who is head of the staff and Chairman of the Executive Board. He is assisted by a First Deputy Managing Director and two other Deputy Managing Directors."
"First Deputy Managing director, John Lipsky, an American, has been First Deputy Managing Director since September 2006. Before coming to the IMF, he worked for JPMorgan Investment Bank."
These are direct quotes copied from the official IMF site. How can it be any clearer the No:2 position has always and is now occupied by an American.
[link]
The link for anyone wishing to see for themselves.
(pss, 25 August 2011 15:04)

Lipsky is retiring in a couple of days, the US is proposing Lipton as his replacement. The theme of emerging BRIC economies getting more say and with the US's decision to replace the head with a non-European (pissing off the Europeans) and lucking out due to Russian and Chinese influence, there just might be a non American(US) in that seat. We will find out in a few weeks if SJ might be on the money again. Traditionally it has been European President, US vice but with these events who knows for sure.

You can repeat it all you want but that does not make it the truth!
"The IMF has a Managing Director, who is head of the staff and Chairman of the Executive Board. He is assisted by a First Deputy Managing Director and two other Deputy Managing Directors."
"First Deputy Managing director, John Lipsky, an American, has been First Deputy Managing Director since September 2006. Before coming to the IMF, he worked for JPMorgan Investment Bank."
These are direct quotes copied from the official IMF site. How can it be any clearer the No:2 position has always and is now occupied by an American.
[link]
The link for anyone wishing to see for themselves.
(pss, 25 August 2011 15:04)

Pss, you got it wrong, because the things you wrote above are facts. That's not what sj was speaking about. He was referring, as usual, to his wishes :)

Have it your own way. He is the latest, there are strong rumors that Germany’s credit rating is about to be downgraded. The Germans are denying this but you know where there is smoke there is fire.
This also is not on the IMF website.
(sj, 26 August 2011 11:43)

Of course it is not... IMF is not a credit rating agency or news agency. Given your expertise in financial matters, I'm suprised that you looked at IMF's website for such news/rumors.