President: Serbia has two parallel, achievable objectives

It seems that Tadic has now identified the terms of a deal with Pristina, or at least its supporters: in return for accepting (though not recognising for the meanwhile) an independent Kosovo, Belgrade obviously is now willing to accept some agreement on the north (partition or some form of enhanced status); better rights and protection for the Serbs in the South; and special recognition of the Serbian Orthodox religious sites (no more trying to pass them off as 'Kosovar'). It is a good move. The ideas are reasonable and deserve to be accepted, especially as Serbia still retains several vital trump cards, including the indirect ability to block UN membership for Kosovo. (And to all those KAs who say that UN membership is not important, this week's events regarding Palestine have shown just how very important it really is for full acceptance and legitimacy on the world stage. When you say this, it just makes you sound childish.)

However, what is the betting that Pristina will continue to reject any dialogue? The thing is that it would seem that international support for this intransigence is starting to ebb away. When even Feith mentions Catalonia and Kosovo in the same sentence then you know that something is brewing. If Serbia now plays the long-term game it may well get the north in the end, even if it doesn't get it now. (Once Kosovo is in the EU, Pristia will have to accept democratic principles, and accept secession if that is what the people still want.) At last, Serbia seems to be approaching this cleverly.

Your Leaders are kidding with you.

They can't say, just right now: It's over. We lost Kosovo. Kosovo it's not Serbia, no, not anymore.

But one day they will do. surely. In the same way that they are talking now only about the North and not for the entire Kosovo. Is there anyone who could have imagined, a couple of years ago, that your President will do such a thing?

But yes, it hapapened. They said two weeks ago : We will NEVER,NEVER let, not even
a single albanian police in the north. And now they're talking about dialogue, peace and only about dialogue. Oh, it's so ridiculous!
Everyone knows that: Kosovo or Europe. Tadic and others have choose, but thy are just a little scared to speak out the truth, now. And yes, they are right, The time is the best healer.

Tadic must be delusional, there are no two parallel achievable objectives. Its either forget Kosovo and join the EU, or keep fighting for Kosovo and forget the EU. There is no such possibility of a mutual agreement over Kosovo in which both sides and people are happy to accept. EU membership for Serbia is a longshot which will cripple Serbia economically, he has no right to drag the Serbian people down with him in his EU dreams. If he loves the EU so much perhaps he should step down, pack his bags and go live in the EU.

However, what is the betting that Pristina will continue to reject any dialogue? The thing is that it would seem that international support for this intransigence is starting to ebb away. When even Feith mentions Catalonia and Kosovo in the same sentence then you know that something is brewing. If Serbia now plays the long-term game it may well get the north in the end, even if it doesn't get it now. (Once Kosovo is in the EU, Pristia will have to accept democratic principles, and accept secession if that is what the people still want.) At last, Serbia seems to be approaching this cleverly.
(Jim, 24 September 2011 12:46)

Jim you dont know one thing the reason Serbs stick there is due to money they get for just being in Kosovo. Once situation is solved then Albanians will move in slowly but surly at first they wont sell but money talks and they will sell bit by bit. in 20 years there will be 10K Serbs and 200K Albanians in same region.

So yes dont worry let them hope of splitting this will make for a great way to swallow that pill but in the end West wont allow it since its never about people its always about Minerals and Trepca has lots and lots of it, you think US, UK, France put billions in Kosovo see it go to uncle Putin :).

Game is over Serbia will be preoccupied with Vojvodina and Sandjak just watch when they ask special status in Serbia.

Jim,

your assessment is flawed. Palestine's UN application is more for symbolic reasoning. Palestinians know fully well that the only way to resolve this indivisible issue is via a declaration to the world.

As far as Peter Feith giving his private opinion to EU observer, that is not indication on institutional change of the Troika.

Currently, serbia's president Tadic is trying to indirectly convey the message that Serbia's recognition of Kosovo's sovereignty isn't dependent on Serbia's EU ambitions. How is it doing this you ask? Well it seems he is using an idiom of parallels. Two parallel lines travel in the same direction but NEVER TOUCH (key point)....true but using the same ideology Tadic is also indirectly suggesting that the farther Serbia progresses with the recognition then the further it will progress with EU membership.


Lastly as someone has previously stated in B92 that when Wikileaks published the cables that people were rushing to find what internationals (EU & America) were really saying behind the scenes about Kosovo. For this to many including you it should be a surprise that the international community has been clear and concise. Kosovo will be sovereign in its borders with a constitution that grants Serbs more rights than a traditional state (i.e. Serbian as official language, decentralization, TV channel, etc).




The end....Thanks for reading,

I just loved it when Tadic spoke about South Sudan and Republic of Sudan, how they reached a a peaceful solution after so many years of conflict, and he welcomed the new UN member.
For a moment I thought he is thinking about Serbia and Kosova and how he will welcomes Kosova as a new UN member.Other than that, he said nothing that was interesting, besides the hall was pretty much filled with empty chairs, only handful of delegates.
Time will tell.

Right now both goals are not achievable. Neither Kosovo nor the EU. The first goal becomes achievable when we give up on the second one.

Thanks.

Jim,

Do you believe democratic principles are important for EU? If so than why all the leading EU countries are stictly against Kosovo partition?

The problem is that at this stage the political culture in Kosovo is so underdeveloped that any attempt by the Kosovo Serbs to go their own way would lead to violence. As the EU is in favour of stability at all costs at this stage, even above democratic values, they are trying to resist partition, even though it is, in my view, a perfectly acceptable expression of self-determination, especially in light of the unilateral actions of Pristina. However, in the longer term, Kosovo will have to evolve politically, especially within the EU. Can one see the possibility of using force to suppress peaceful secessionist movements in Europe? Scotland, Catalonia, Flanders, etc.? This should be the long term goal. Keep Serbs in Kosovo until the Serbs in Kosovo can leave. Admittedly, it will be a long term project. But the reunification of northern Kosovo with Serbia might still come about one day. Just think of the Good Friday agreement for Northern Ireland. When the majority of the people in the province want unification, they will get it. Hopefully, the same will eventually apply to northern Kosovo. Until then, it seems that the EU will not be acting according to its democratic principles, but putting stability above all else.

It seems that Tadic has now identified the terms of a deal with Pristina, or at least its supporters: in return for accepting (though not recognising for the meanwhile) an independent Kosovo, Belgrade obviously is now willing to accept some agreement on the north (partition or some form of enhanced status); better rights and protection for the Serbs in the South; and special recognition of the Serbian Orthodox religious sites (no more trying to pass them off as 'Kosovar'). It is a good move. The ideas are reasonable and deserve to be accepted, especially as Serbia still retains several vital trump cards, including the indirect ability to block UN membership for Kosovo. (And to all those KAs who say that UN membership is not important, this week's events regarding Palestine have shown just how very important it really is for full acceptance and legitimacy on the world stage. When you say this, it just makes you sound childish.)

However, what is the betting that Pristina will continue to reject any dialogue? The thing is that it would seem that international support for this intransigence is starting to ebb away. When even Feith mentions Catalonia and Kosovo in the same sentence then you know that something is brewing. If Serbia now plays the long-term game it may well get the north in the end, even if it doesn't get it now. (Once Kosovo is in the EU, Pristia will have to accept democratic principles, and accept secession if that is what the people still want.) At last, Serbia seems to be approaching this cleverly.
(Jim, 24 September 2011 12:46)


Excellent analysis, Jim. I think you are right on the money. I firmly believe that Belgrade understands that time is on their side, and that the long-term strategy is the most effective road to take: that is why the KAs are losing their nerve and engaging in and threatening unilateral acts regarding the customs stations in order to disrupt a sound diplomatic process that Tadic has chosen. The UN card is a huge one in Belgrade's hand, as well as lack of uninimity among EU members on Kosovo's status, and the EU's lack of eurozone stablility. It is a very open question whether the EU maintains its fundamental structure ten years from now. Belgrade has shown enormous maturity and commitment to sophisticated diplomacy in their fight for territorial integrity: Pristina is only a ward of certain Western nations has now hit a dead-end; their "charm" is getting old even in the West.

"(Once Kosovo is in the EU, Pristia will have to accept democratic principles, and accept secession if that is what the people still want.)"

You have no idea what you're talking about, in democracies you cannot vote secede because you want to. You can but no one will agree with you.

@ Tony - I think you will find that you are mistaken. In democratic societies, it is recognised tha there is a fundamental right to secession, but that this must be undertaken through democratic means, and cannot be unilateral. Rather, it is expected that if a people wish to secede then there must be a clear expression of that will through, for example, a referendum at that this just be followed by negotiations with the central government, which in turn must engage constructively in the process. This is the essence of the Canadian Supreme Court decision on Kosovo, which now shapes much of the thinking on secession in liberal democracies. It is certainly very obvious in the case of Scotland, where the British Government now understands that if the Scottish people want independence they have a right to it - as long as the correct procedures are followed. Times have changed. Again, your comment rather proves my point that political culture in Kosovo is, at present, too underdeveloped to understand this. The closer Kosovo is to the EU, and the more democratic it becomes, the greater the chance that the Serbs in the north will eventually get their own way.

President Tadic made it quite clear, all he wants in the article are Iron Clad guarantees for the Serbs in Kosovo. He does not want Kosovo, he does not want it to be part of Serbia. All that will be acceptable and suffice to him is that there are Iron Clad guarantees such as the rite to sell their property and move to Belgrade. With this type of thinking it is necessary Serbia starts planning and requests more IMF money for future Serbian refugees.

EU membership for Serbia is a longshot which will cripple Serbia economically
(SCP UK, 24 September 2011 14:41)

It's unfair to use Greece as justification (assuming that you are using that as one), since the Greek government not only were extremely inept at collecting revenue (since the Greeks treat the avoidance of tax as a spectator sport), but they spent ridiculously (wages to public servants who didn't even work - that's just one example) and wasted an abhorrent amount of money (most of it German).

Sure, you also had silly bankers from Western Europe who were stupid enough to purchase long-term Greek bonds in the hope that they might get a decent return on their purchase... But anyone who knows anything about finances knows that bond markets are pretty silly markets in the first place, since they pose no real return to an investor apart from the collection of principal and interest...

Anywho, Serbs have always been shrewd with money, and are generally more fiscally careful than Westerners (who splurge on anything and everything). Provided that Serbian government debt remains manageable, then the size of the markets which Serbian corporations will become open to, and the forces which effect those markets, can only benefit Serbian corporations and make them more competitive. At the moment, they're pretty much relying on sparse investments from some Western Europeans, but I think that if Serbian markets opened even further, then more venture capital will flood into Serbia - and that's never a bad thing.

Unless you're a socialist, then I'll just agree to disagree.

Long live Boris Tadic, the 21st century Serbian Tito!

Jim,

IMHO Eulex as status neutral institute should recommend Thaci to leave the North alone and if he doesn't listen to use force against his people or withdrow and let Serbs do with him. Kosovo North is compact enclave inhabited by Serbs and adjecent to cenral Serbia, there won't be much violence there.

The EULEX and KFOR could let the Serbs police north of the Ibar and Albanians will continue to police south of the Ibar. Crisis solved.

It seems that Tadic has now identified the terms of a deal with Pristina, or at least its supporters: in return for accepting (though not recognising for the meanwhile) an independent Kosovo, Belgrade obviously is now willing to accept some agreement on the north (partition or some form of enhanced status); better rights and protection for the Serbs in the South; and special recognition of the Serbian Orthodox religious sites (no more trying to pass them off as 'Kosovar'). It is a good move. The ideas are reasonable and deserve to be accepted

Jim


Is it something new? Even Milosevic was said to agreed on kosovo partition.

The problem is that at this stage the political culture in Kosovo is so underdeveloped that any attempt by the Kosovo Serbs to go their own way would lead to violence. As the EU is in favour of stability at all costs at this stage, even above democratic values, they are trying to resist partition, even though it is, in my view, a perfectly acceptable expression of self-determination, especially in light of the unilateral actions of Pristina. However, in the longer term, Kosovo will have to evolve politically, especially within the EU. Can one see the possibility of using force to suppress peaceful secessionist movements in Europe? Scotland, Catalonia, Flanders, etc.? This should be the long term goal. Keep Serbs in Kosovo until the Serbs in Kosovo can leave. Admittedly, it will be a long term project. But the reunification of northern Kosovo with Serbia might still come about one day. Just think of the Good Friday agreement for Northern Ireland. When the majority of the people in the province want unification, they will get it. Hopefully, the same will eventually apply to northern Kosovo. Until then, it seems that the EU will not be acting according to its democratic principles, but putting stability above all else.
(Jim, 24 September 2011 21:23)

I believe that Kosovo Albanians should have waited until Serbia becomes truly democratic and then tried to separate by peaceful and democratic means and procedures.

Can one see the possibility of using force to suppress peaceful secessionist movements in Europe?
(Jim, 24 September 2011 21:23)

Fighting with the windmills like Don Quixote I see :). Making up non existent scenarios and then criticizing them. Jim, when was force ever used to suppress peaceful secessionist movements in Kosovo? What are you talking about.

The EULEX and KFOR could let the Serbs police north of the Ibar and Albanians will continue to police south of the Ibar. Crisis solved.
(Vardarska Serb, 25 September 2011 12:16)

This is too simple and not interesting at all. No intrigue involved.

@Jim
...It seems that Tadic has now identified the terms of a deal with Pristina, or at least its supporters: in return for accepting (though not recognising for the meanwhile) an independent Kosovo, Belgrade obviously is now willing to accept some agreement on the north (partition or some form of enhanced status)...

This is Ahtisari plan that Kosova has ALREADY approved and put in its Constitution.Tadic doesnt mention it, but this is Ahtisari plan.

Couple more questions:How Tadic is going to reach an agreement for these points and not give in return the formal recognition of Kosova?How he can recognise Kosova when the serbian constitution states that Kosovo(South and North Ibar) Je Serbia?

I think even if serbs want a deal with albanians,is serbian constitution which barres them from reaching an agreement with albanians.
Change the constitution first, otherwise I dont think there is gonna be a deal.Till then albanians dont have other way but to work to get 128 recognitions in order to get UN membership.We will get 100-105 by the end of this year and we will get 128 by November 28 2012 when Albania celebrate 100 years of independence Kosova will be member of UN.This is the western project and is going according to the schedule.

It seems that Tadic has now identified the terms of a deal with Pristina, or at least its supporters: in return for accepting (though not recognising for the meanwhile) an independent Kosovo, Belgrade obviously is now willing to accept some agreement on the north (partition or some form of enhanced status); better rights and protection for the Serbs in the South; and special recognition of the Serbian Orthodox religious sites (no more trying to pass them off as 'Kosovar'). It is a good move. The ideas are reasonable and deserve to be accepted, especially as Serbia still retains several vital trump cards, including the indirect ability to block UN membership for Kosovo. (And to all those KAs who say that UN membership is not important, this week's events regarding Palestine have shown just how very important it really is for full acceptance and legitimacy on the world stage. When you say this, it just makes you sound childish.)

However, what is the betting that Pristina will continue to reject any dialogue? The thing is that it would seem that international support for this intransigence is starting to ebb away. When even Feith mentions Catalonia and Kosovo in the same sentence then you know that something is brewing. If Serbia now plays the long-term game it may well get the north in the end, even if it doesn't get it now. (Once Kosovo is in the EU, Pristia will have to accept democratic principles, and accept secession if that is what the people still want.) At last, Serbia seems to be approaching this cleverly.

Tadic must be delusional, there are no two parallel achievable objectives. Its either forget Kosovo and join the EU, or keep fighting for Kosovo and forget the EU. There is no such possibility of a mutual agreement over Kosovo in which both sides and people are happy to accept. EU membership for Serbia is a longshot which will cripple Serbia economically, he has no right to drag the Serbian people down with him in his EU dreams. If he loves the EU so much perhaps he should step down, pack his bags and go live in the EU.

Jim,

Do you believe democratic principles are important for EU? If so than why all the leading EU countries are stictly against Kosovo partition?

Your Leaders are kidding with you.

They can't say, just right now: It's over. We lost Kosovo. Kosovo it's not Serbia, no, not anymore.

But one day they will do. surely. In the same way that they are talking now only about the North and not for the entire Kosovo. Is there anyone who could have imagined, a couple of years ago, that your President will do such a thing?

But yes, it hapapened. They said two weeks ago : We will NEVER,NEVER let, not even
a single albanian police in the north. And now they're talking about dialogue, peace and only about dialogue. Oh, it's so ridiculous!
Everyone knows that: Kosovo or Europe. Tadic and others have choose, but thy are just a little scared to speak out the truth, now. And yes, they are right, The time is the best healer.

"(Once Kosovo is in the EU, Pristia will have to accept democratic principles, and accept secession if that is what the people still want.)"

You have no idea what you're talking about, in democracies you cannot vote secede because you want to. You can but no one will agree with you.

However, what is the betting that Pristina will continue to reject any dialogue? The thing is that it would seem that international support for this intransigence is starting to ebb away. When even Feith mentions Catalonia and Kosovo in the same sentence then you know that something is brewing. If Serbia now plays the long-term game it may well get the north in the end, even if it doesn't get it now. (Once Kosovo is in the EU, Pristia will have to accept democratic principles, and accept secession if that is what the people still want.) At last, Serbia seems to be approaching this cleverly.
(Jim, 24 September 2011 12:46)

Jim you dont know one thing the reason Serbs stick there is due to money they get for just being in Kosovo. Once situation is solved then Albanians will move in slowly but surly at first they wont sell but money talks and they will sell bit by bit. in 20 years there will be 10K Serbs and 200K Albanians in same region.

So yes dont worry let them hope of splitting this will make for a great way to swallow that pill but in the end West wont allow it since its never about people its always about Minerals and Trepca has lots and lots of it, you think US, UK, France put billions in Kosovo see it go to uncle Putin :).

Game is over Serbia will be preoccupied with Vojvodina and Sandjak just watch when they ask special status in Serbia.

Long live Boris Tadic, the 21st century Serbian Tito!

It seems that Tadic has now identified the terms of a deal with Pristina, or at least its supporters: in return for accepting (though not recognising for the meanwhile) an independent Kosovo, Belgrade obviously is now willing to accept some agreement on the north (partition or some form of enhanced status); better rights and protection for the Serbs in the South; and special recognition of the Serbian Orthodox religious sites (no more trying to pass them off as 'Kosovar'). It is a good move. The ideas are reasonable and deserve to be accepted, especially as Serbia still retains several vital trump cards, including the indirect ability to block UN membership for Kosovo. (And to all those KAs who say that UN membership is not important, this week's events regarding Palestine have shown just how very important it really is for full acceptance and legitimacy on the world stage. When you say this, it just makes you sound childish.)

However, what is the betting that Pristina will continue to reject any dialogue? The thing is that it would seem that international support for this intransigence is starting to ebb away. When even Feith mentions Catalonia and Kosovo in the same sentence then you know that something is brewing. If Serbia now plays the long-term game it may well get the north in the end, even if it doesn't get it now. (Once Kosovo is in the EU, Pristia will have to accept democratic principles, and accept secession if that is what the people still want.) At last, Serbia seems to be approaching this cleverly.
(Jim, 24 September 2011 12:46)


Excellent analysis, Jim. I think you are right on the money. I firmly believe that Belgrade understands that time is on their side, and that the long-term strategy is the most effective road to take: that is why the KAs are losing their nerve and engaging in and threatening unilateral acts regarding the customs stations in order to disrupt a sound diplomatic process that Tadic has chosen. The UN card is a huge one in Belgrade's hand, as well as lack of uninimity among EU members on Kosovo's status, and the EU's lack of eurozone stablility. It is a very open question whether the EU maintains its fundamental structure ten years from now. Belgrade has shown enormous maturity and commitment to sophisticated diplomacy in their fight for territorial integrity: Pristina is only a ward of certain Western nations has now hit a dead-end; their "charm" is getting old even in the West.

Jim,

your assessment is flawed. Palestine's UN application is more for symbolic reasoning. Palestinians know fully well that the only way to resolve this indivisible issue is via a declaration to the world.

As far as Peter Feith giving his private opinion to EU observer, that is not indication on institutional change of the Troika.

Currently, serbia's president Tadic is trying to indirectly convey the message that Serbia's recognition of Kosovo's sovereignty isn't dependent on Serbia's EU ambitions. How is it doing this you ask? Well it seems he is using an idiom of parallels. Two parallel lines travel in the same direction but NEVER TOUCH (key point)....true but using the same ideology Tadic is also indirectly suggesting that the farther Serbia progresses with the recognition then the further it will progress with EU membership.


Lastly as someone has previously stated in B92 that when Wikileaks published the cables that people were rushing to find what internationals (EU & America) were really saying behind the scenes about Kosovo. For this to many including you it should be a surprise that the international community has been clear and concise. Kosovo will be sovereign in its borders with a constitution that grants Serbs more rights than a traditional state (i.e. Serbian as official language, decentralization, TV channel, etc).




The end....Thanks for reading,

Right now both goals are not achievable. Neither Kosovo nor the EU. The first goal becomes achievable when we give up on the second one.

Thanks.

The problem is that at this stage the political culture in Kosovo is so underdeveloped that any attempt by the Kosovo Serbs to go their own way would lead to violence. As the EU is in favour of stability at all costs at this stage, even above democratic values, they are trying to resist partition, even though it is, in my view, a perfectly acceptable expression of self-determination, especially in light of the unilateral actions of Pristina. However, in the longer term, Kosovo will have to evolve politically, especially within the EU. Can one see the possibility of using force to suppress peaceful secessionist movements in Europe? Scotland, Catalonia, Flanders, etc.? This should be the long term goal. Keep Serbs in Kosovo until the Serbs in Kosovo can leave. Admittedly, it will be a long term project. But the reunification of northern Kosovo with Serbia might still come about one day. Just think of the Good Friday agreement for Northern Ireland. When the majority of the people in the province want unification, they will get it. Hopefully, the same will eventually apply to northern Kosovo. Until then, it seems that the EU will not be acting according to its democratic principles, but putting stability above all else.

It seems that Tadic has now identified the terms of a deal with Pristina, or at least its supporters: in return for accepting (though not recognising for the meanwhile) an independent Kosovo, Belgrade obviously is now willing to accept some agreement on the north (partition or some form of enhanced status); better rights and protection for the Serbs in the South; and special recognition of the Serbian Orthodox religious sites (no more trying to pass them off as 'Kosovar'). It is a good move. The ideas are reasonable and deserve to be accepted

Jim


Is it something new? Even Milosevic was said to agreed on kosovo partition.

EU membership for Serbia is a longshot which will cripple Serbia economically
(SCP UK, 24 September 2011 14:41)

It's unfair to use Greece as justification (assuming that you are using that as one), since the Greek government not only were extremely inept at collecting revenue (since the Greeks treat the avoidance of tax as a spectator sport), but they spent ridiculously (wages to public servants who didn't even work - that's just one example) and wasted an abhorrent amount of money (most of it German).

Sure, you also had silly bankers from Western Europe who were stupid enough to purchase long-term Greek bonds in the hope that they might get a decent return on their purchase... But anyone who knows anything about finances knows that bond markets are pretty silly markets in the first place, since they pose no real return to an investor apart from the collection of principal and interest...

Anywho, Serbs have always been shrewd with money, and are generally more fiscally careful than Westerners (who splurge on anything and everything). Provided that Serbian government debt remains manageable, then the size of the markets which Serbian corporations will become open to, and the forces which effect those markets, can only benefit Serbian corporations and make them more competitive. At the moment, they're pretty much relying on sparse investments from some Western Europeans, but I think that if Serbian markets opened even further, then more venture capital will flood into Serbia - and that's never a bad thing.

Unless you're a socialist, then I'll just agree to disagree.

I just loved it when Tadic spoke about South Sudan and Republic of Sudan, how they reached a a peaceful solution after so many years of conflict, and he welcomed the new UN member.
For a moment I thought he is thinking about Serbia and Kosova and how he will welcomes Kosova as a new UN member.Other than that, he said nothing that was interesting, besides the hall was pretty much filled with empty chairs, only handful of delegates.
Time will tell.

Can one see the possibility of using force to suppress peaceful secessionist movements in Europe?
(Jim, 24 September 2011 21:23)

Fighting with the windmills like Don Quixote I see :). Making up non existent scenarios and then criticizing them. Jim, when was force ever used to suppress peaceful secessionist movements in Kosovo? What are you talking about.

Jim,

IMHO Eulex as status neutral institute should recommend Thaci to leave the North alone and if he doesn't listen to use force against his people or withdrow and let Serbs do with him. Kosovo North is compact enclave inhabited by Serbs and adjecent to cenral Serbia, there won't be much violence there.

@ Tony - I think you will find that you are mistaken. In democratic societies, it is recognised tha there is a fundamental right to secession, but that this must be undertaken through democratic means, and cannot be unilateral. Rather, it is expected that if a people wish to secede then there must be a clear expression of that will through, for example, a referendum at that this just be followed by negotiations with the central government, which in turn must engage constructively in the process. This is the essence of the Canadian Supreme Court decision on Kosovo, which now shapes much of the thinking on secession in liberal democracies. It is certainly very obvious in the case of Scotland, where the British Government now understands that if the Scottish people want independence they have a right to it - as long as the correct procedures are followed. Times have changed. Again, your comment rather proves my point that political culture in Kosovo is, at present, too underdeveloped to understand this. The closer Kosovo is to the EU, and the more democratic it becomes, the greater the chance that the Serbs in the north will eventually get their own way.

The EULEX and KFOR could let the Serbs police north of the Ibar and Albanians will continue to police south of the Ibar. Crisis solved.

President Tadic made it quite clear, all he wants in the article are Iron Clad guarantees for the Serbs in Kosovo. He does not want Kosovo, he does not want it to be part of Serbia. All that will be acceptable and suffice to him is that there are Iron Clad guarantees such as the rite to sell their property and move to Belgrade. With this type of thinking it is necessary Serbia starts planning and requests more IMF money for future Serbian refugees.

The problem is that at this stage the political culture in Kosovo is so underdeveloped that any attempt by the Kosovo Serbs to go their own way would lead to violence. As the EU is in favour of stability at all costs at this stage, even above democratic values, they are trying to resist partition, even though it is, in my view, a perfectly acceptable expression of self-determination, especially in light of the unilateral actions of Pristina. However, in the longer term, Kosovo will have to evolve politically, especially within the EU. Can one see the possibility of using force to suppress peaceful secessionist movements in Europe? Scotland, Catalonia, Flanders, etc.? This should be the long term goal. Keep Serbs in Kosovo until the Serbs in Kosovo can leave. Admittedly, it will be a long term project. But the reunification of northern Kosovo with Serbia might still come about one day. Just think of the Good Friday agreement for Northern Ireland. When the majority of the people in the province want unification, they will get it. Hopefully, the same will eventually apply to northern Kosovo. Until then, it seems that the EU will not be acting according to its democratic principles, but putting stability above all else.
(Jim, 24 September 2011 21:23)

I believe that Kosovo Albanians should have waited until Serbia becomes truly democratic and then tried to separate by peaceful and democratic means and procedures.

The EULEX and KFOR could let the Serbs police north of the Ibar and Albanians will continue to police south of the Ibar. Crisis solved.
(Vardarska Serb, 25 September 2011 12:16)

This is too simple and not interesting at all. No intrigue involved.

@Jim
...It seems that Tadic has now identified the terms of a deal with Pristina, or at least its supporters: in return for accepting (though not recognising for the meanwhile) an independent Kosovo, Belgrade obviously is now willing to accept some agreement on the north (partition or some form of enhanced status)...

This is Ahtisari plan that Kosova has ALREADY approved and put in its Constitution.Tadic doesnt mention it, but this is Ahtisari plan.

Couple more questions:How Tadic is going to reach an agreement for these points and not give in return the formal recognition of Kosova?How he can recognise Kosova when the serbian constitution states that Kosovo(South and North Ibar) Je Serbia?

I think even if serbs want a deal with albanians,is serbian constitution which barres them from reaching an agreement with albanians.
Change the constitution first, otherwise I dont think there is gonna be a deal.Till then albanians dont have other way but to work to get 128 recognitions in order to get UN membership.We will get 100-105 by the end of this year and we will get 128 by November 28 2012 when Albania celebrate 100 years of independence Kosova will be member of UN.This is the western project and is going according to the schedule.