Kosovo PM: We will have control in entire Kosovo

"Thaci stressed that the Kosovo government had in 2011 started the technical talks with Belgrade and that it was completely determined to keep all the solutions in accordance with the highest international standards."

Thaci should first care for that elections are held 'in accordance with highest international standards' - oops, no, then this clown wouldn't be prime minister.


Happy new year 2012

“We made the decision on July 25 at the time when there was a belief that the situation in the north could not change,” he said.


Damn right, and I am glad you took that action to change things for ever in north Mitro.
PM Thaci prevailed, and even Serbian IM Dacic said today that ; Serbia can live without Kosova, which is a good news in sense that a high politician admits that not everything evolves around Kosova, and K-Serbs are expandable.

In a way he is right: the whole of the Kosovo province is ruled UN as per 1244.

Wish everyone in the Serbian province of Kosovo a very happy 2012: no new borders, no new states!

It is amazing what this guy thinks he can do on someone else's land.

I guess his plan is to continue to make life unbearable for decent people of Serbian decent - then he can complete the plan of ethnic cleansing of Serbs that has long been the aim of Albanians living in Kosovo.

Remember that the first use of the term 'ethnic cleansing' is credited to the Albanian Communists in Kosovo.

Ethnic pressure was applied in a way that was effective in driving out decent peaceful Serbs from Kosovo long before the time of Milosevic. Many things were done to make life in Kosovo impossible for Serbs. Albanians punished fellow Albanians who were trading or socialising with Serbs.

Once the take-over of Kosovo is complete, the Albanian pressure will be similarly turned on to other countries in the area so that they can give up some of their land too. Presevo is often mentioned and as Serbia is already viewed as weakened it is quite plausible that an amount of trouble can be caused there. Also in parts of Montenegro, Macedonia, etc..

Of course, the west will continue to insist that this is a multi-ethnic Kosovo. However, that is a straight forward self-deception that they will pigheadedly continue to use as part of the basis for the current construct.

Agim Kelmendi

Like always you albanians only see what you want to see. Dacic said that there needs to be a fair peace in Kosovo (partition) in order for peace to prevail. Put your glasses on next time.

Albanians keep saying serbian politicans are liars but how can anyone believe Thaci? Taking control of the north! Yeah right! Keep dreaming!

@Agim Kelmendi - Don't take Dacic words so seriously he doesn't represent the Serbian people. and they will be replaced by Nationalists after the election.

Kosovo will always be part of Serbia. time will come Serbian troops will march again in Pristina.

A nice pep talk to cover up his failures, falterings, mishaps, hiccups, and screwups for 2011. Here's hoping for more bouts of idiocy from the Snake in 2012 :)

ZZZZZ, wake me up when that happens. Surely by now even the local Albanian are tired of Thaci's nonsensical BS.

“We made the decision on July 25 at the time when there was a belief that the situation in the north could not change,” he said.

I wonder whose initiative it was- Thaci's or the West.

What was the real dialog between them before Juli 25, was it something like that:

the West: consolidate power over the whole of Kosovo by taken Kosovo North under your control
Thaci: I don't need it, I feel quite happy with what I already have.
the West: Nop, you should, otherwise you will lose our support
Thaci: OK

or like that:
Thaci: I'll send my police to the North to consolidate power
the West: Please stay where you are and don't make truoble, you must be happy with what you've already gained.
Thaci: No, I will go to the North and you are to support me, otherwise you will have problems with Albanian nationalists, whom only I could control
the West: OK

"What was the real dialog between them before Juli 25, was it something like that"
(aaayyy, 31 December 2011 17:00)

No, the problem was that there was NO dialogue when Thaci decided to send his special police to the North (in a way his teacher and brother in mind, Milosevic, once did). You could see it when almost everyone (including the EU officials) said this action was 'not helpful' (which translates, from diplomatic language, as unneeded, unnecessary and stupid).

There's no other alternative. Serbs can hold as many referendums as they want, as long as they got money to waste.

I expect that Thaci is correct that Kosovo will end up with control over the whole country, but not for any of the reasons he thinks.

The Serbians in the north of Kosovo are making a tragic mistake by proceeding with the referendum. The outcome of the vote is already known (serbs in Kosovo are not in favor of accepting the Kosovo institutions), but the very fact that they are having the referendum - despite the objections of the Serbian government - means that the Kosovo serbs are also not accepting the rule of the Serbian government and view themselves as autonomous. If they are autonomous, they might just as well be autonomous within Kosovo as in Serbia. This makes things easier for everyone, as it solves both Serbia's problems and also Kosovo's. This whole affair is one huge step down the path towards recognition of Kosovo, and will likely prove irreversible once taken.

The Serbians in the north of Kosovo are making a tragic mistake by proceeding with the referendum. The outcome of the vote is already known (serbs in Kosovo are not in favor of accepting the Kosovo institutions)
(Glenn)

But Thaci keeps saying that he has no problem with northern KSerbs (does it mean they are loyal to independent Kosovo according to him?) and the only problem is a few KSerb criminals who make poor people build barricades. Referendum is to prove Thaci wrong.

And what should KSerbs do? Just wait until Albanian schools, courts and police be imposed on them? IMHO they want to put pressure on some Serbian politicians who are ready to trade them for EU candidate status.

No, the problem was that there was NO dialogue when Thaci decided to send his special police to the North (in a way his teacher and brother in mind, Milosevic, once did). You could see it when almost everyone (including the EU officials) said this action was 'not helpful' (which translates, from diplomatic language, as unneeded, unnecessary and stupid).
(Analyst, 31 December 2011 22:29)

I used to think like that before, but then I ABSOLUTELY don't understand WHY didn't the West stop Thaci, WHY do KFOR soldiers keep dismantling barricades and fighting with KSerbs?

I expected KFOR/EULEX to stop Thaci, to withdraw their support to him.

So if you want to say that Russia has a problem with the poor and America doesn't you really need to take a closer look at America.
(Peggy, 3 January 2012 11:28)

Peggy,

I've taken a closer look and find that to be "poor" in America is equivalent to being middle class in Serbia and Russia. Both Serbia and Russia depend on the West to feed them. The food Americans throw out daily could easily feed all of Serbia.

(Glenn, 1 January 2012 21:25)

You are correct when you say that the current politicians in Belgrade would sellout Serbs in Kosovo for the EU. It was evident when this started with NATO forces trying to remove the first barricades and the use of live ammunition – in fact there was a video of this actually happening, but the Serbian Defense Minister Sutanovic denied that it even existed. All of these actions were done with the full consent of Tadic.
If you take a good look at Tadic today you might notice that he does not look well. He does not look well because his EU bonus went up into thin air as the small groups of Serbs in Northern Kosovo burnt the EU application in front of his face with their barricades and Serbia was rejected to join the EU club. These politicians put all their bets on getting the green light as they gave up Karadjic, Mladic, Hadjic and anyone else they could get their hands on, but all to no avail.
Under normal circumstances if these Serbs were on their own, it would have been over red rover a long time ago as NATO would have crushed them using tanks, live ammunition etc and Belgrade would have looked the other way. The problem is Russia. They do not want the Kosovo issue settled in favor of the west and this will continue until other offers are made to the Serbs which Moscow will approve. This is no joke. Why do you think we have these various options being floated from time to time i.e full autonomy but in Kosovo, then the two Germanys solution, and others.
The Russians are not going to allow NATO to expand any further so you have this situation. No one is going to impose “schools, courts, police and all manner of KS government institutions” as the Albanians are not capable of carrying out such a task and the west will not dare take on the Russians as there is great fear that Russia is more than happy to arm the Serbs with all necessary to defend themselves. You see they will not sell the S300 series to Iran as they do not want it to obtain nuclear capacity, but they are more than happy to give a few away to the Serbs.
Three things have happened; the first is that Serbia’s chances have now gone; second a new government much more friendly to Moscow will be elected and the EU will go into a very deep recession so as the budgets get savagely cut around Europe so will the contributions to Kosovo.
Next summer should be interesting to see as the pot boils.

I doubt Russia is capable of picking up the slack since they can't even feed their own population. However, feel free to continue wishing for a doomsday scenario, since most 16 year old's living in the West have nothing to fear.
(The Count of Kosova, 3 January 2012 01:49)
=========================

And how many are hungry and homeless in the US?
Every country has their share of hungry and homeless so don't go there.
How about more and more children are showering in schools because their parents have lost their homes in America?

So if you want to say that Russia has a problem with the poor and America doesn't you really need to take a closer look at America.

(The Count of Kosova, 2 January 2012 16:41)

As Serbia is already barely off the ground in a financial sense it matters little to them, but a deep recession in Europe is something yet to behold. You see the people there have not yet experienced poor living standards. You also have to remember that the vast majority of EU countries have spent their reserves during the last recession and are now penniless in that regard. This one is going to really bite the average EU citizen on all fronts and to try and avoid civil unrest the EU will have to concentrate more on its own people rather than places like Kosovo leaving it to their trusty man, Thaci to keep the Albanians under control.
The Serbs do not need EU money to feed themselves as they are more than selfsufficient in that regard, but what are your Albanians going to do when there is a shortfall in the so called Kosovo budget? It is a fact thsat if EU money is not made available there would be 95% unemployment.
The only money being handed over to Serbia is in the form of bribes to politicians and the rest is BS. I read many times of the EU doing this or handing over so much to Serbia when in fact its the same money but rebadged and sold as new money.
Russia flies over NATO countries right now and does not get NATO permission mate. You set a lot of faith in this NATO, you know that battle group that is being thrashed by people living in mud huts and caves. The US totally LOST in Iraq and now it will lose as part of NATO in Afghanistan, so why you keep on NATOing this or that is a complete mystery. If NATO was a strong as you think it would have crushed the Serbs during the first days of the barricades.
Actually on one occasion a couple of years back there was an incident involving the Russians and the west; and the Turks, thinking they are important, declared they would stop any Russian naval ships from travelling in the Bosphorus, which is international waters. The Russians had a little chat with the Turks and no problems ever since that time. In fact only a couple of days ago the Turks gave their OK to the South stream pipeline – it’s on B92. This act is called sticking a very sharp and pointy stick in western eyes.

Glenn I don't follow your logic. After the referendum NKosovo will want to open up the borders to Serbia and will reintegrate to its normal status as part of Serbia. This is not the decision of the Serbian government or the international community but of the people of NKosovo.

The alternative is for Merkel and others to impose their will on those who will not accept it.

But Thaci keeps saying that he has no problem with northern KSerbs (does it mean they are loyal to independent Kosovo according to him?) and the only problem is a few KSerb criminals who make poor people build barricades. Referendum is to prove Thaci wrong.

And what should KSerbs do? Just wait until Albanian schools, courts and police be imposed on them? IMHO they want to put pressure on some Serbian politicians who are ready to trade them for EU candidate status.
(aaayyy, 1 January 2012 14:51)

Aaayyy, I agree that people are delusional on all sides of this issue, though I expect that Thaci is fully aware (whatever he might say) that the Kosovo government does not have widespread support in the north,or much of any, for that matter. The referendum will provide at least some facts for people to throw around, though of course much of it will depend on exactly how the question(s) are phrased.

As far as what Kosovo Serbs should do, that is hard to say. The ones further south in Kosovo really have no choice but to integrate as well as possible, and the degree with which they are able to do so will greatly determine their quality of life in Kosovo.

The Kosovo Serbs in the north have a harder decision. They can wait for schools, courts, police and all manner of KS government institutions to be imposed on them, or they can "put pressure on some Serbian politicians who are ready to trade them for EU candidate status" as you so correctly stated it. There is no doubt that this is what they are trying to do (to apply pressure). However, I expect that rather than this pressure causing Serbian politicians to stand up for northern Kosovo, the KSerbs move might instead make it easier for politicians to trade them for EU candidate status, since this is clearly what has already been decided anyway.

From whom did get Thaci this land from anyway ?
Who has decided on these borders ?
This is the question !
Happy new year !

Actually on one occasion a couple of years back there was an incident involving the Russians and the west; and the Turks, thinking they are important, declared they would stop any Russian naval ships from travelling in the Bosphorus, which is international waters. The Russians had a little chat with the Turks and no problems ever since that time. In fact only a couple of days ago the Turks gave their OK to the South stream pipeline – it’s on B92. This act is called sticking a very sharp and pointy stick in western eyes.
(sj, 2 January 2012 23:09)

sj,

As much as you like to fantasize that Serbia is self sufficient, B92, on several occasions recently, has reported that a rather large portion of Serbian society is living in poverty. Imagine what would happen if Western aid was no longer available for Serbia. I doubt Russia is capable of picking up the slack since they can't even feed their own population. However, feel free to continue wishing for a doomsday scenario, since most 16 year old's living in the West have nothing to fear.

From whom did get Thaci this land from anyway ?
Who has decided on these borders ?
This is the question !
(moris, 2 January 2012 12:06)

Thaci will be always thankful to Milosevic who revoked Kosovo's autonomy and made all this happen. He's thankful for teaching him the method of 'solving' problems by sending special police into regions where people don't wanna be suppressed and refuse to live a 2nd class citizens.

About the borders: This happened long before Milosevic, ironically the borders for the Kosovo province was drawn exactly to have a more ethnically balanced area. In south Kosovo, Albanians were the majority already 50 years ago. Of course not 95% like nowadays, after the ethnic cleansing of Serbs, but about 60-70%.

Glenn, I don't follow your logic. After the referendum NKosovo will want to open up the borders to Serbia and will reintegrate to its normal status as part of Serbia. This is not the decision of the Serbian government or the international community but of the people of NKosovo.

The alternative is for Merkel and others to impose their will on those who will not accept it.
(Another Glenn or an Imposter...!, 2 January 2012 02:54)

My logic is simple. Serbs in north Kosovo are pawns and being traded down the road for entrance into the EU. By holding the referendum, they are alienating themselves from the Serbian government (and showing complete disdain for the sovereignty of Serbia in northern Kosovo). They might want to open up the borders to Serbia, but Serbia has already decided that they prefer being in the EU to having the northern part of Kosovo, and the international community will see that northern Kosovo is autonomous (both from Serbia and Kosovo), and will decide that preserving current country borders (at least as shown on many maps) is more important (for stability) than self determination for 40,000 people, or however many are in northern KS.

Therefore, the northern Kosovo Serbs will be offered nothing more than autonomy in Kosovo. The international powers will be OK with it (even Russia), because Serbia will ultimately sign off on it, since they have already bet the future on being part of the EU, and the northern Serbs have just impaired Serbia's chances of joining quickly.

I think that the pressure the northern KS Serbs are trying to apply will work against their interests, rather than for them.

Three things have happened; the first is that Serbia’s chances have now gone; second a new government much more friendly to Moscow will be elected and the EU will go into a very deep recession so as the budgets get savagely cut around Europe so will the contributions to Kosovo.
Next summer should be interesting to see as the pot boils.
(sj, 2 January 2012 09:18)

sj,

To be brief, there are two facts you are overlooking:

1. Any recession in the EU will greatly impact Serbia. Remember, Serbia is very dependent on the EU for financial aid. I doubt the EU will deprive itself in order to feed the Serbs.

2. For Russia to send any weapons to Serbia it must get permission from NATO to fly over NATO countries. I'm sure even you know that Serbia is surrounded by NATO.

Q.E.D.

I've taken a closer look and find that to be "poor" in America is equivalent to being middle class in Serbia and Russia. Both Serbia and Russia depend on the West to feed them. The food Americans throw out daily could easily feed all of Serbia.
(The Count of Kosova, 3 January 2012 16:22)
=======================

I wonder how much food all these homeless are throwing out each day.
We all throw food out, in the US, Russia, China etc, so what are you talking about?
Are you saying that nobody throws food out in Russia?

It's really no use debating with a fool or someone who just cannot grasp he point. Good luck with arguing with yourself because it's best not to engage you again.

“We made the decision on July 25 at the time when there was a belief that the situation in the north could not change,” he said.


Damn right, and I am glad you took that action to change things for ever in north Mitro.
PM Thaci prevailed, and even Serbian IM Dacic said today that ; Serbia can live without Kosova, which is a good news in sense that a high politician admits that not everything evolves around Kosova, and K-Serbs are expandable.

@Agim Kelmendi - Don't take Dacic words so seriously he doesn't represent the Serbian people. and they will be replaced by Nationalists after the election.

Kosovo will always be part of Serbia. time will come Serbian troops will march again in Pristina.

There's no other alternative. Serbs can hold as many referendums as they want, as long as they got money to waste.

"Thaci stressed that the Kosovo government had in 2011 started the technical talks with Belgrade and that it was completely determined to keep all the solutions in accordance with the highest international standards."

Thaci should first care for that elections are held 'in accordance with highest international standards' - oops, no, then this clown wouldn't be prime minister.


Happy new year 2012

A nice pep talk to cover up his failures, falterings, mishaps, hiccups, and screwups for 2011. Here's hoping for more bouts of idiocy from the Snake in 2012 :)

In a way he is right: the whole of the Kosovo province is ruled UN as per 1244.

Wish everyone in the Serbian province of Kosovo a very happy 2012: no new borders, no new states!

ZZZZZ, wake me up when that happens. Surely by now even the local Albanian are tired of Thaci's nonsensical BS.

It is amazing what this guy thinks he can do on someone else's land.

I guess his plan is to continue to make life unbearable for decent people of Serbian decent - then he can complete the plan of ethnic cleansing of Serbs that has long been the aim of Albanians living in Kosovo.

Remember that the first use of the term 'ethnic cleansing' is credited to the Albanian Communists in Kosovo.

Ethnic pressure was applied in a way that was effective in driving out decent peaceful Serbs from Kosovo long before the time of Milosevic. Many things were done to make life in Kosovo impossible for Serbs. Albanians punished fellow Albanians who were trading or socialising with Serbs.

Once the take-over of Kosovo is complete, the Albanian pressure will be similarly turned on to other countries in the area so that they can give up some of their land too. Presevo is often mentioned and as Serbia is already viewed as weakened it is quite plausible that an amount of trouble can be caused there. Also in parts of Montenegro, Macedonia, etc..

Of course, the west will continue to insist that this is a multi-ethnic Kosovo. However, that is a straight forward self-deception that they will pigheadedly continue to use as part of the basis for the current construct.

Agim Kelmendi

Like always you albanians only see what you want to see. Dacic said that there needs to be a fair peace in Kosovo (partition) in order for peace to prevail. Put your glasses on next time.

Albanians keep saying serbian politicans are liars but how can anyone believe Thaci? Taking control of the north! Yeah right! Keep dreaming!

"What was the real dialog between them before Juli 25, was it something like that"
(aaayyy, 31 December 2011 17:00)

No, the problem was that there was NO dialogue when Thaci decided to send his special police to the North (in a way his teacher and brother in mind, Milosevic, once did). You could see it when almost everyone (including the EU officials) said this action was 'not helpful' (which translates, from diplomatic language, as unneeded, unnecessary and stupid).

I expect that Thaci is correct that Kosovo will end up with control over the whole country, but not for any of the reasons he thinks.

The Serbians in the north of Kosovo are making a tragic mistake by proceeding with the referendum. The outcome of the vote is already known (serbs in Kosovo are not in favor of accepting the Kosovo institutions), but the very fact that they are having the referendum - despite the objections of the Serbian government - means that the Kosovo serbs are also not accepting the rule of the Serbian government and view themselves as autonomous. If they are autonomous, they might just as well be autonomous within Kosovo as in Serbia. This makes things easier for everyone, as it solves both Serbia's problems and also Kosovo's. This whole affair is one huge step down the path towards recognition of Kosovo, and will likely prove irreversible once taken.

“We made the decision on July 25 at the time when there was a belief that the situation in the north could not change,” he said.

I wonder whose initiative it was- Thaci's or the West.

What was the real dialog between them before Juli 25, was it something like that:

the West: consolidate power over the whole of Kosovo by taken Kosovo North under your control
Thaci: I don't need it, I feel quite happy with what I already have.
the West: Nop, you should, otherwise you will lose our support
Thaci: OK

or like that:
Thaci: I'll send my police to the North to consolidate power
the West: Please stay where you are and don't make truoble, you must be happy with what you've already gained.
Thaci: No, I will go to the North and you are to support me, otherwise you will have problems with Albanian nationalists, whom only I could control
the West: OK

(The Count of Kosova, 2 January 2012 16:41)

As Serbia is already barely off the ground in a financial sense it matters little to them, but a deep recession in Europe is something yet to behold. You see the people there have not yet experienced poor living standards. You also have to remember that the vast majority of EU countries have spent their reserves during the last recession and are now penniless in that regard. This one is going to really bite the average EU citizen on all fronts and to try and avoid civil unrest the EU will have to concentrate more on its own people rather than places like Kosovo leaving it to their trusty man, Thaci to keep the Albanians under control.
The Serbs do not need EU money to feed themselves as they are more than selfsufficient in that regard, but what are your Albanians going to do when there is a shortfall in the so called Kosovo budget? It is a fact thsat if EU money is not made available there would be 95% unemployment.
The only money being handed over to Serbia is in the form of bribes to politicians and the rest is BS. I read many times of the EU doing this or handing over so much to Serbia when in fact its the same money but rebadged and sold as new money.
Russia flies over NATO countries right now and does not get NATO permission mate. You set a lot of faith in this NATO, you know that battle group that is being thrashed by people living in mud huts and caves. The US totally LOST in Iraq and now it will lose as part of NATO in Afghanistan, so why you keep on NATOing this or that is a complete mystery. If NATO was a strong as you think it would have crushed the Serbs during the first days of the barricades.
Actually on one occasion a couple of years back there was an incident involving the Russians and the west; and the Turks, thinking they are important, declared they would stop any Russian naval ships from travelling in the Bosphorus, which is international waters. The Russians had a little chat with the Turks and no problems ever since that time. In fact only a couple of days ago the Turks gave their OK to the South stream pipeline – it’s on B92. This act is called sticking a very sharp and pointy stick in western eyes.

The Serbians in the north of Kosovo are making a tragic mistake by proceeding with the referendum. The outcome of the vote is already known (serbs in Kosovo are not in favor of accepting the Kosovo institutions)
(Glenn)

But Thaci keeps saying that he has no problem with northern KSerbs (does it mean they are loyal to independent Kosovo according to him?) and the only problem is a few KSerb criminals who make poor people build barricades. Referendum is to prove Thaci wrong.

And what should KSerbs do? Just wait until Albanian schools, courts and police be imposed on them? IMHO they want to put pressure on some Serbian politicians who are ready to trade them for EU candidate status.

Actually on one occasion a couple of years back there was an incident involving the Russians and the west; and the Turks, thinking they are important, declared they would stop any Russian naval ships from travelling in the Bosphorus, which is international waters. The Russians had a little chat with the Turks and no problems ever since that time. In fact only a couple of days ago the Turks gave their OK to the South stream pipeline – it’s on B92. This act is called sticking a very sharp and pointy stick in western eyes.
(sj, 2 January 2012 23:09)

sj,

As much as you like to fantasize that Serbia is self sufficient, B92, on several occasions recently, has reported that a rather large portion of Serbian society is living in poverty. Imagine what would happen if Western aid was no longer available for Serbia. I doubt Russia is capable of picking up the slack since they can't even feed their own population. However, feel free to continue wishing for a doomsday scenario, since most 16 year old's living in the West have nothing to fear.

No, the problem was that there was NO dialogue when Thaci decided to send his special police to the North (in a way his teacher and brother in mind, Milosevic, once did). You could see it when almost everyone (including the EU officials) said this action was 'not helpful' (which translates, from diplomatic language, as unneeded, unnecessary and stupid).
(Analyst, 31 December 2011 22:29)

I used to think like that before, but then I ABSOLUTELY don't understand WHY didn't the West stop Thaci, WHY do KFOR soldiers keep dismantling barricades and fighting with KSerbs?

I expected KFOR/EULEX to stop Thaci, to withdraw their support to him.

From whom did get Thaci this land from anyway ?
Who has decided on these borders ?
This is the question !
(moris, 2 January 2012 12:06)

Thaci will be always thankful to Milosevic who revoked Kosovo's autonomy and made all this happen. He's thankful for teaching him the method of 'solving' problems by sending special police into regions where people don't wanna be suppressed and refuse to live a 2nd class citizens.

About the borders: This happened long before Milosevic, ironically the borders for the Kosovo province was drawn exactly to have a more ethnically balanced area. In south Kosovo, Albanians were the majority already 50 years ago. Of course not 95% like nowadays, after the ethnic cleansing of Serbs, but about 60-70%.

I doubt Russia is capable of picking up the slack since they can't even feed their own population. However, feel free to continue wishing for a doomsday scenario, since most 16 year old's living in the West have nothing to fear.
(The Count of Kosova, 3 January 2012 01:49)
=========================

And how many are hungry and homeless in the US?
Every country has their share of hungry and homeless so don't go there.
How about more and more children are showering in schools because their parents have lost their homes in America?

So if you want to say that Russia has a problem with the poor and America doesn't you really need to take a closer look at America.

But Thaci keeps saying that he has no problem with northern KSerbs (does it mean they are loyal to independent Kosovo according to him?) and the only problem is a few KSerb criminals who make poor people build barricades. Referendum is to prove Thaci wrong.

And what should KSerbs do? Just wait until Albanian schools, courts and police be imposed on them? IMHO they want to put pressure on some Serbian politicians who are ready to trade them for EU candidate status.
(aaayyy, 1 January 2012 14:51)

Aaayyy, I agree that people are delusional on all sides of this issue, though I expect that Thaci is fully aware (whatever he might say) that the Kosovo government does not have widespread support in the north,or much of any, for that matter. The referendum will provide at least some facts for people to throw around, though of course much of it will depend on exactly how the question(s) are phrased.

As far as what Kosovo Serbs should do, that is hard to say. The ones further south in Kosovo really have no choice but to integrate as well as possible, and the degree with which they are able to do so will greatly determine their quality of life in Kosovo.

The Kosovo Serbs in the north have a harder decision. They can wait for schools, courts, police and all manner of KS government institutions to be imposed on them, or they can "put pressure on some Serbian politicians who are ready to trade them for EU candidate status" as you so correctly stated it. There is no doubt that this is what they are trying to do (to apply pressure). However, I expect that rather than this pressure causing Serbian politicians to stand up for northern Kosovo, the KSerbs move might instead make it easier for politicians to trade them for EU candidate status, since this is clearly what has already been decided anyway.

So if you want to say that Russia has a problem with the poor and America doesn't you really need to take a closer look at America.
(Peggy, 3 January 2012 11:28)

Peggy,

I've taken a closer look and find that to be "poor" in America is equivalent to being middle class in Serbia and Russia. Both Serbia and Russia depend on the West to feed them. The food Americans throw out daily could easily feed all of Serbia.

(Glenn, 1 January 2012 21:25)

You are correct when you say that the current politicians in Belgrade would sellout Serbs in Kosovo for the EU. It was evident when this started with NATO forces trying to remove the first barricades and the use of live ammunition – in fact there was a video of this actually happening, but the Serbian Defense Minister Sutanovic denied that it even existed. All of these actions were done with the full consent of Tadic.
If you take a good look at Tadic today you might notice that he does not look well. He does not look well because his EU bonus went up into thin air as the small groups of Serbs in Northern Kosovo burnt the EU application in front of his face with their barricades and Serbia was rejected to join the EU club. These politicians put all their bets on getting the green light as they gave up Karadjic, Mladic, Hadjic and anyone else they could get their hands on, but all to no avail.
Under normal circumstances if these Serbs were on their own, it would have been over red rover a long time ago as NATO would have crushed them using tanks, live ammunition etc and Belgrade would have looked the other way. The problem is Russia. They do not want the Kosovo issue settled in favor of the west and this will continue until other offers are made to the Serbs which Moscow will approve. This is no joke. Why do you think we have these various options being floated from time to time i.e full autonomy but in Kosovo, then the two Germanys solution, and others.
The Russians are not going to allow NATO to expand any further so you have this situation. No one is going to impose “schools, courts, police and all manner of KS government institutions” as the Albanians are not capable of carrying out such a task and the west will not dare take on the Russians as there is great fear that Russia is more than happy to arm the Serbs with all necessary to defend themselves. You see they will not sell the S300 series to Iran as they do not want it to obtain nuclear capacity, but they are more than happy to give a few away to the Serbs.
Three things have happened; the first is that Serbia’s chances have now gone; second a new government much more friendly to Moscow will be elected and the EU will go into a very deep recession so as the budgets get savagely cut around Europe so will the contributions to Kosovo.
Next summer should be interesting to see as the pot boils.

Three things have happened; the first is that Serbia’s chances have now gone; second a new government much more friendly to Moscow will be elected and the EU will go into a very deep recession so as the budgets get savagely cut around Europe so will the contributions to Kosovo.
Next summer should be interesting to see as the pot boils.
(sj, 2 January 2012 09:18)

sj,

To be brief, there are two facts you are overlooking:

1. Any recession in the EU will greatly impact Serbia. Remember, Serbia is very dependent on the EU for financial aid. I doubt the EU will deprive itself in order to feed the Serbs.

2. For Russia to send any weapons to Serbia it must get permission from NATO to fly over NATO countries. I'm sure even you know that Serbia is surrounded by NATO.

Q.E.D.

From whom did get Thaci this land from anyway ?
Who has decided on these borders ?
This is the question !
Happy new year !

Glenn, I don't follow your logic. After the referendum NKosovo will want to open up the borders to Serbia and will reintegrate to its normal status as part of Serbia. This is not the decision of the Serbian government or the international community but of the people of NKosovo.

The alternative is for Merkel and others to impose their will on those who will not accept it.
(Another Glenn or an Imposter...!, 2 January 2012 02:54)

My logic is simple. Serbs in north Kosovo are pawns and being traded down the road for entrance into the EU. By holding the referendum, they are alienating themselves from the Serbian government (and showing complete disdain for the sovereignty of Serbia in northern Kosovo). They might want to open up the borders to Serbia, but Serbia has already decided that they prefer being in the EU to having the northern part of Kosovo, and the international community will see that northern Kosovo is autonomous (both from Serbia and Kosovo), and will decide that preserving current country borders (at least as shown on many maps) is more important (for stability) than self determination for 40,000 people, or however many are in northern KS.

Therefore, the northern Kosovo Serbs will be offered nothing more than autonomy in Kosovo. The international powers will be OK with it (even Russia), because Serbia will ultimately sign off on it, since they have already bet the future on being part of the EU, and the northern Serbs have just impaired Serbia's chances of joining quickly.

I think that the pressure the northern KS Serbs are trying to apply will work against their interests, rather than for them.

Glenn I don't follow your logic. After the referendum NKosovo will want to open up the borders to Serbia and will reintegrate to its normal status as part of Serbia. This is not the decision of the Serbian government or the international community but of the people of NKosovo.

The alternative is for Merkel and others to impose their will on those who will not accept it.

I've taken a closer look and find that to be "poor" in America is equivalent to being middle class in Serbia and Russia. Both Serbia and Russia depend on the West to feed them. The food Americans throw out daily could easily feed all of Serbia.
(The Count of Kosova, 3 January 2012 16:22)
=======================

I wonder how much food all these homeless are throwing out each day.
We all throw food out, in the US, Russia, China etc, so what are you talking about?
Are you saying that nobody throws food out in Russia?

It's really no use debating with a fool or someone who just cannot grasp he point. Good luck with arguing with yourself because it's best not to engage you again.