Controversial Preševo memorial "Serbia's internal issue"

Looks like its "au revoir" to the terrorist memorial.

"Now the French envoy told Belgrade-based daily Politika that "in addition to the question whether the monument is legal, its presence is unnecessary and inappropriate and brings back old tensions which now belong to the past." "

Wise words. No more to add.

"This is an entirely internal issue of Serbia, which should be resolved through dialogue, in accordance with Serbian law and inside its institutions," said Deniau. "

Maybe the French ambassador in Albania and Kosovo should have come up with the same statements.

" "A visit like this is completely normal and I recall that former president Boris Tadić spend last Christmas at the Visoki Dečani monastery. A gesture of openness, on one of the biggest Orthodox holidays, would show willingness to cooperate and calm the situation," said Deniau."

Right. And the refusal of the visit, together with other provocations (KPS arresting Serbs for 'looking suspicous' and probably torturing some them in prison) shows willingness to escalate the situation and shows the real face of the 'young Europeans' in Pristina.

But let the brutal past, serve as our foundation, so that we can build that better future, as well!
Those that don't look at previous historical mistakes, are prone to repeat them!
(Rocky, 10 January 2013 17:05)


Wise words. You might want to apply your own advice the next time you decide you've got nothing better to do than burn a church down, beat up an elderly pensioner or shoot at children in Kosovo or Macedonia. In the meantime, that terror monument in Presevo is to be removed.

"But let the brutal past, serve as our foundation, so that we can build that better future, as well! "
(Rocky, 10 January 2013 17:05)

You mean Kosovo's foundation? Ethnic cleansing of Serbs, looted churches and monasteries, some of them belonging to UN cultural heritage, a state mainly established by several Albanian mafia groups for having a safe haven for doing their drug business?

no Nikolle, the mentality of us, old Europeans, is not to question suspects while kicking their testicules: this, "maybe" can happen in your heaven democratic Albania and Kosovo

Now the French envoy told Belgrade-based daily Politika that "in addition to the question whether the monument is legal, its presence is unnecessary and inappropriate and brings back old tensions which now belong to the past."

Well looks like it's pretty obvious: no outside aid, no international support, and no sympathy for this "unnecessary" and "inappropriate" eyesore. Get the bulldozers ready :)

I love how Albanians are nowadays are throwing in their own windows with all these justifications of things that the rest of the world considers terrorism. It makes it a lot easier for people to see actually how terrible they are.

How nice of the French to yet again define Serbia's sovereignty. If they change their mind, they can set up another Badinter Commission to legalized their tearing up of other people's countries without a negotiated solution.

The message to the albanians in southern Serbia from the West is clear. STFU and stop the provocations. Wait for an albanian 'NGO' to declare that their human rights have been violated...

of course the police would deny it. They won't say they abused prisoners.

Now the French envoy told Belgrade-based daily Politika that "in addition to the question whether the monument is legal, its presence is unnecessary and inappropriate and brings back old tensions which now belong to the past."

Exactly why the monument should remain, it serves a very legitimate purpose!
1. It serves a purpose of reminding the current & future generations, of Serbia's dark & brutal oppressive past, towards other ehtnic groups of the region! 2. It also serves to remind Serbia, that it (Serbia) should strive to find better & stronger democratic policies, which in turn will benefit all ethnic groups, & minority's, Both within serbia & the region! 3. It also serves Serbia's history in a positive way! That there was a ethnic group within Serbia, at a time during the 1990s- & early 21s century, that did not sit down idly, like the majority of Serbia!! A time of inconceivable horrific & barbaric acts & policy's, perpetrated by the government of Serbia, against other ethnic groups! These albanian inhabitants of presevo, should always & by every citizen in Serbia, be acknowledged for their valiant sacrifice, a sacrifice and struggle, against the monstrous Serbia of the time, a struggle to bring a democratic change to Serbia & the region! Yes let's srive for a more peaceful future! But let the brutal past, serve as our foundation, so that we can build that better future, as well!
Those that don't look at previous historical mistakes, are prone to repeat them!

"A gesture of openness, on one of the biggest Orthodox holidays, would show willingness to cooperate and calm the situation"

really? why is it that Kosovar officials are not allowed to visit their brethren in Presheva? why don't Serbs do a Christian gesture and allow us to visit them?

Albania and Kosova's OFFICE in Presheva support the memorial and the inhabitants Human Rights and Freedom of Expression.....

I am sure Serbia has more important things to do like qualifing for EU integration then to harass the Albanians in Eastern Kosova ........

With all due respect, I've never thought the memorial was a very wise idea. Why can't all sides just stop unnecessary provocation? The only future of the Balkans is to live together. Is it really so hard to realize the wars caused victims and hurt on all sides? There was no such thing as a black and white situation with innocent victims on one side and the perpetrators on the other side. Every person who personally witnessed the wars (like I did) knows it and everyone who's denies it is a lier.

well excuse me Mauro, but the Kosovar police have denied the allegations. they have called for an investigation already and I am hoping EULEX will conduct it. if the allegations are true, then I expect the Serb victims to sue the Kosovar police, so let them take this issue to legal matters

I agree with the Ambassador. This is an internal issue for Serbia and other states including Albania should not become involved. The memorial was a deliberate provocation to the local Serbs and it should be removed. As Kiko said in different thread, since it is on state public property it should be removed to private property and placed there. Its time to look to the future and not try to stir up hatred and emotions from the past.

Lets move on people and learn to live and co-exist with each other. Peace and reconciliation is the only way.

Northern Kosova is our internal issue isn’t it?!
(Pls say)

No it isn't. Northern Kosovo and Preshevo have very different statuses - while nobody in the whole world questions that Preshevo belongs to Serbia, Northern Kosovo is twice disputed territory.

".. probably torturing some them in prison"

why is it that you write probably? do you not believe the serbian testimonies? you were eager to believe them yesterday? btw, you can be taken in for questioning in the west for suspicious behavior. this the mentality of the 'old' Europeans

@ Bekim_Novi Sad

I totally agree with your last comment, ‘live and co-exist with each other’, well said.

But, the very sentence ‘This is Serbia’s internal issue’ can go both ways. Why do you meddle in Kosova’s internal issues then? Northern Kosova is our internal issue isn’t it?!

Nobody is stirring anything up, just claiming their existence, you in Novi Sad/Serbia claim your own.

We will move on and live ‘happily ever after’ when we are left alone and not provoked by the Serbs, you have that guaranteed.

I is a clear support of french ambassador in belgrade to serbian authorities. But it is not right at all. All countries have the duty to protect their minorities whenever they are and to ensure their rights are respected. This is valid for France, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo and all countries worldwide.

On the other side France was among the countries who in 2001 guarantied an internationally brokered peace agreement between LAPMB and Serbian government.

Now the French envoy told Belgrade-based daily Politika that "in addition to the question whether the monument is legal, its presence is unnecessary and inappropriate and brings back old tensions which now belong to the past."

Exactly why the monument should remain, it serves a very legitimate purpose!
1. It serves a purpose of reminding the current & future generations, of Serbia's dark & brutal oppressive past, towards other ehtnic groups of the region! 2. It also serves to remind Serbia, that it (Serbia) should strive to find better & stronger democratic policies, which in turn will benefit all ethnic groups, & minority's, Both within serbia & the region! 3. It also serves Serbia's history in a positive way! That there was a ethnic group within Serbia, at a time during the 1990s- & early 21s century, that did not sit down idly, like the majority of Serbia!! A time of inconceivable horrific & barbaric acts & policy's, perpetrated by the government of Serbia, against other ethnic groups! These albanian inhabitants of presevo, should always & by every citizen in Serbia, be acknowledged for their valiant sacrifice, a sacrifice and struggle, against the monstrous Serbia of the time, a struggle to bring a democratic change to Serbia & the region! Yes let's srive for a more peaceful future! But let the brutal past, serve as our foundation, so that we can build that better future, as well!
Those that don't look at previous historical mistakes, are prone to repeat them!

Albania and Kosova's OFFICE in Presheva support the memorial and the inhabitants Human Rights and Freedom of Expression.....

I am sure Serbia has more important things to do like qualifing for EU integration then to harass the Albanians in Eastern Kosova ........

"A gesture of openness, on one of the biggest Orthodox holidays, would show willingness to cooperate and calm the situation"

really? why is it that Kosovar officials are not allowed to visit their brethren in Presheva? why don't Serbs do a Christian gesture and allow us to visit them?

".. probably torturing some them in prison"

why is it that you write probably? do you not believe the serbian testimonies? you were eager to believe them yesterday? btw, you can be taken in for questioning in the west for suspicious behavior. this the mentality of the 'old' Europeans

well excuse me Mauro, but the Kosovar police have denied the allegations. they have called for an investigation already and I am hoping EULEX will conduct it. if the allegations are true, then I expect the Serb victims to sue the Kosovar police, so let them take this issue to legal matters

Looks like its "au revoir" to the terrorist memorial.

"Now the French envoy told Belgrade-based daily Politika that "in addition to the question whether the monument is legal, its presence is unnecessary and inappropriate and brings back old tensions which now belong to the past." "

Wise words. No more to add.

"This is an entirely internal issue of Serbia, which should be resolved through dialogue, in accordance with Serbian law and inside its institutions," said Deniau. "

Maybe the French ambassador in Albania and Kosovo should have come up with the same statements.

" "A visit like this is completely normal and I recall that former president Boris Tadić spend last Christmas at the Visoki Dečani monastery. A gesture of openness, on one of the biggest Orthodox holidays, would show willingness to cooperate and calm the situation," said Deniau."

Right. And the refusal of the visit, together with other provocations (KPS arresting Serbs for 'looking suspicous' and probably torturing some them in prison) shows willingness to escalate the situation and shows the real face of the 'young Europeans' in Pristina.

Now the French envoy told Belgrade-based daily Politika that "in addition to the question whether the monument is legal, its presence is unnecessary and inappropriate and brings back old tensions which now belong to the past."

Well looks like it's pretty obvious: no outside aid, no international support, and no sympathy for this "unnecessary" and "inappropriate" eyesore. Get the bulldozers ready :)

I love how Albanians are nowadays are throwing in their own windows with all these justifications of things that the rest of the world considers terrorism. It makes it a lot easier for people to see actually how terrible they are.

But let the brutal past, serve as our foundation, so that we can build that better future, as well!
Those that don't look at previous historical mistakes, are prone to repeat them!
(Rocky, 10 January 2013 17:05)


Wise words. You might want to apply your own advice the next time you decide you've got nothing better to do than burn a church down, beat up an elderly pensioner or shoot at children in Kosovo or Macedonia. In the meantime, that terror monument in Presevo is to be removed.

How nice of the French to yet again define Serbia's sovereignty. If they change their mind, they can set up another Badinter Commission to legalized their tearing up of other people's countries without a negotiated solution.

The message to the albanians in southern Serbia from the West is clear. STFU and stop the provocations. Wait for an albanian 'NGO' to declare that their human rights have been violated...

"But let the brutal past, serve as our foundation, so that we can build that better future, as well! "
(Rocky, 10 January 2013 17:05)

You mean Kosovo's foundation? Ethnic cleansing of Serbs, looted churches and monasteries, some of them belonging to UN cultural heritage, a state mainly established by several Albanian mafia groups for having a safe haven for doing their drug business?

no Nikolle, the mentality of us, old Europeans, is not to question suspects while kicking their testicules: this, "maybe" can happen in your heaven democratic Albania and Kosovo

of course the police would deny it. They won't say they abused prisoners.

@ Bekim_Novi Sad

I totally agree with your last comment, ‘live and co-exist with each other’, well said.

But, the very sentence ‘This is Serbia’s internal issue’ can go both ways. Why do you meddle in Kosova’s internal issues then? Northern Kosova is our internal issue isn’t it?!

Nobody is stirring anything up, just claiming their existence, you in Novi Sad/Serbia claim your own.

We will move on and live ‘happily ever after’ when we are left alone and not provoked by the Serbs, you have that guaranteed.

I agree with the Ambassador. This is an internal issue for Serbia and other states including Albania should not become involved. The memorial was a deliberate provocation to the local Serbs and it should be removed. As Kiko said in different thread, since it is on state public property it should be removed to private property and placed there. Its time to look to the future and not try to stir up hatred and emotions from the past.

Lets move on people and learn to live and co-exist with each other. Peace and reconciliation is the only way.

Northern Kosova is our internal issue isn’t it?!
(Pls say)

No it isn't. Northern Kosovo and Preshevo have very different statuses - while nobody in the whole world questions that Preshevo belongs to Serbia, Northern Kosovo is twice disputed territory.

With all due respect, I've never thought the memorial was a very wise idea. Why can't all sides just stop unnecessary provocation? The only future of the Balkans is to live together. Is it really so hard to realize the wars caused victims and hurt on all sides? There was no such thing as a black and white situation with innocent victims on one side and the perpetrators on the other side. Every person who personally witnessed the wars (like I did) knows it and everyone who's denies it is a lier.

I is a clear support of french ambassador in belgrade to serbian authorities. But it is not right at all. All countries have the duty to protect their minorities whenever they are and to ensure their rights are respected. This is valid for France, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo and all countries worldwide.

On the other side France was among the countries who in 2001 guarantied an internationally brokered peace agreement between LAPMB and Serbian government.