Putin: Don’t impose solutions

Putin should know that the only thing to do to bring peace in Kosovo, after what happened between 1989 and 2000, is to consent to the independence of Kosovo.

It is just as simple as that, and the remaining Serbs in Kosovo should be extradited to Serbia, for their protection and their safety.

Victor, you seem to be a good person with good intentions and I have been following your posts here. But I must admit, you re pretty much biased and you lack objectivity, Serbs did things worng as did Croats, Bosniaks and Albanians and the question in Kosovo is far from being simple as you say.
When you comment, try to put aside your racist comments please and be objective because you look alot only anti-Serb.

to Alex:
how do you get to the conclusion he is a good person when he´s openly agitating for rascist ideologies and for deportation of the Serbs? are you kidding?

this person called victor totally disqualifies himself as a serious individual.

racists should be called what they are: simple, narrow-minded, BAD poeple.

by the way:
www.kosovocompromise.com

and very nicely written this part:
http://www.kosovocompromise.com/pages/kosovo_yesterday/sub_links/4/4.htm

Wow. Strong words by Vlad! I'm glad to hear it, it's about time the Russian bear flexed its muscles. He is one of the few world leaders who is making any sense on the Kosovo issue.
Thank you Victor for showing your true colours. The fact that you advocate 'extradition' of the remaining Serbs out of Kosovo means that you are advocating ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Serb population out of their ancestral homes. At least now everyone knows, without a doubt, what you are all about.

Alex, I am not a racist and never would be. When I say that all Serbs should be removed from Kosobàvo, this is not a racial comment; it's barely good sense. How are you going to oblige people to live together when they don't wish to, when they know it would take generations to erase what the Serbs had planned to do with them.

I just try to be objective. It is the same when a man and a woman decide to divorce! How they live in the same house?

to my understanding russia will oppose any solution which is not accepted by both sides. that only means it will not vote PRO. RUSSIA will only be against or abstain in voting. i did not see that they mentioned any veto... Alex, we're trying to have some mature dialog and not trying to judge peoples behaviours. say what you have to say about the article and relax.
Avni Gjoni FERIZAJ

Yes victor is famous for anti-Serbian comments. I think it is the albanians who should be kicked out back to albania for THEIR safety. victor grow up, and at least put some effort in your comments because you sound like a child.

I've said it many times before, so at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll say it again: the word of the day is "Compromise". Kosovo's independence can only be realized after serious concessions to Serbia and generous provisions to its minorities. Albanians will get their self determination, but they won't be getting a free pass. Putin also isn't backing down as some predicted he would have, and this is really a battle between Russia and the US over who will blink first. Europe will fall in line with whoever wins. In this light, Kosovo will have to be constructed on lines of serious multiethnic cooperation, and it looks like the old "standards before status" will have to be reinforced once again.

i would say that this qualifies as a veto stance (even though he didnt use the word). he basically called washington the source of all evil in the modern world today... sounds pretty obvious where he's headed and what he'll do. he sees a bleeding washington... and he's picking a fight it.

about frigging time!

blag, name your ;) conditions. you and i, we place a bet. i say what ever happens, russia will never use veto on this situation (i mean Kosovo).
AVNI GJONI
Ferizaj

Did anyone else get the irony in Putin saying Russia would be against any unilateral solution taking land away from a country at a conference in Munich? He may not be the shining defender of democracy, but he sure as Hell is someone who will keep Serbia from becoming another Czechoslovakia.

Ratko, I honestly think that you're like your hero RATKO MLADIC! Being called a racist by you is a compliment. As for the Albanians, they occupy more than 90% of Kosovo, and Milosevic tried to send them back to Albania, and NATO sent his brrok back to Serbia. Too bad, the few remaining Serbs did not follow. After what they have done to te Kosovar Albanians, I say that their presence is Kosovo is persona non grata.

I am sure that these people have to be seperated, otherwise there will be no peace in Kosovo. I know it is sad, most of them lived all their life there, and they should have tried to live cordially with the Albanians instead of following Milosevic's criminal enterprise !

I have seen the Chessmaster Putin spend a lot of personal time with the Cowboy Bush in Texas and in Moscow.When is the last time that either Bush or Putin came to visit Kostunica or Ceku and go horseback riding???Real world politics is at play here being engaged in by shrewd mature people on the Russian side and the EU and US sides.Neither Serbs nor especially Albanians should overestimate their importance in the grand scheme of things.The EU relies on Russia for stability in Europe and this will be even more so in the future .If Russia sneezes the rest of Europe catches a cold.It is the fear of instability that is causing gridlock among the respective parties as how to best handle this Kosovo issue right at this minute.Russia's main trading partner is Germany and the EU as a whole.Russia is 6.6M sq.mi. and the rest of Europe is 2.2m.Anything that happens in Russia may have MAJOR consequences for Europe as a whole be it positive or negative.The Chernobyl incident is a prime example of something that could negatively affect the actual existence of the European homeland based on something that can happen on Russian soil.Not to even mention the fact that 30m Russians actually live outside of Russian borders.30% of Estonia's population is ethnic Russian to cite just one example of many.In the long run 145m Russians are more important for Europe than 11m Serbs or 6m Albanians.But the immediate threat of Albanian violence coupled with Al-Qaeda influence in that region and the potential for neverending violence between Serbs and Albanians is what is driving the FEAR among some EU countries to speed up Kosovo's final status towards independence.This is the reality and not due to the fact that we Americans like Albanians or hate Serbs.There are actually many many more Serbian-Americans than there are Albanian-Americans and many Serbian-Americans have achieved a high level of economic and political power in my country.My home state of Illinois has a Serbian-American governor.But I must say that the single worst thing Serbs did in the eyes of the world was NOT directing those massive refugee columns towards Belgrade instead of across internationally recognized borders into Albania and Macedonia back in 1999.Everything else would have very likely been forgotten by now.Anybody still talking about Rwanda?Notice how the EU and the US are insisting that Serbs,Muslims and Croats forget about their civil war and live together in a unified state.Maybe it is because all 3 of these groups are actually thought of as Slavs or maybe due to the fact that the civil war in Bosnia was brought to an end a few years before the Kosovo conflict but both these reasons are too simplistic for people who are informed about the actual present day circumstances over there on the ground as they exist today.It may seem that economic benefits are not enough to encourage people of the Balkans to live together as countrymen so maybe a redrawing of the borders is called for in Kosovo and in Bosnia.In time this will undoubtedly happen if the peoples of that region insist on ethnic identity even at the price of enhanced economic prosperity.I only hope that it can all be done in a peaceful way and that the Yugoslav tragedy can eventually be put to restwith NO MORE loss of life on ANY side.

Hey Victor what’s your solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Which side in that issue would you ethnically cleanse? How about Iraq? Or any other number of similar conflicts in the world today? Considering Victor’s support of Operation Storm, these comments come as no surprise. I’d be interested in hearing from the Albanian side if they support or condemn Victor’s comments.

Anyways, once again I apologize for the suffering of the Albanian people in Kosovo. You deserve an official apology and massive restitution for the property and economic damage suffered in the 90’s. I also support your Right to Self Determination. I, personally believe that Serbs and Albanians have the same issues when it comes to Self Determination and that we would be natural allies in such an endeavor. It is my hope that Russia’s support for some kind of compromise might be given some consideration. I believe that some sort of partition followed by a land swap for Presevo that allows for the Albanian side to join Albania would grant much more freedom to more Albanians in the Balkans. Putin has absolutely nothing to lose in supporting Serbia’s position, it’s a win-win for them either way, no matter what happens regardless of whether they’d actually veto or not. They are happy to find an issue like this one and clearly it will go far with the Serbian people, who will naturally gravitate towards Russia instead of the EU as a result. The Bush regime has clearly put a low priority on this, its getting zero airplay on their “official” news outlet, FoxNews. That I find strange as it would be a total win-win issue for Bush as well.

Anyways, as I pointed out before, the International Community are not our friends, and they never do anything for purely Humanitarian reasons. The fact that they’ve already sold off the Trepeca mines and used those proceeds to pay off portions of Milosevic’s debt proves this. If only they had waited until after the Proposal, Kosovars would have profited from this instead. Clearly the International Community is not concerned with the economic viability of Kosovo, and merely want to plunder it as they do all weak countries. You should be outraged.

In addition, the conditions set by the international community on the status talks were designed to fail. They took off all possible points to compromise on, like letting Kosovo join Albania, partition, and the absence of any possible further Self Determination for Albanians in other regions where they wish independence. Basically leaving only Independence (for Kosovo ONLY) or the Status Quo as the only two available options. The International Community would like for the Balkans to remain divided in opinion in order to better take advantage of the situation.

Together Serbia and Albania should demand a regional solution to the regions problems. By working together and going beyond our differences, it would show the World that we both have the political maturity to play a constructive role in the regions future.

Luckily the loss of life was not as severe as what happened in Bosnia or elsewhere, homes can be replaced, lives can not. It is truly tragic that the Serbian leadership did not take seriously the suffering of the Kosovars and attempt to reconcile and repay them for what happened. The amount of property damage was truly extensive. I believe that if the Serbian government were to do such actions and truly attempt to make amends, that the Kosovars would be much more willing to compromise and work towards a common future as good neighbors. I believe it is Serbia’s responsibility to take the first step.

While I support massive restitution and allowing large portions of Albanian areas to join with Albania, I just can not support giving up those areas with a Serbian population or that represent the very foundation of our civilization and identity. I wish I could, but I can not. Regardless of the eventual outcome, I will continue to support a Serbian presence in our Homeland, and encourage Serbs to retain our presence and economic influence. We in the Diaspora are in the best position to do so. We must start an economic investment program and buy as much real estate as possible. Simply buying a summer home in Kosovo would be a start. We must work towards creating and supporting religious tourism to our Holy sites. We must change the view of the Albanians towards our cultural sites from one of personal liability to one of economic prosperity. Only then will our culture and monuments truly be safe. This is true regardless of the outcome of the status talks. Now is the best time to buy a summer home there. Once again, I will make an offer to buy property from anyone who is planning to sell theirs. I call on other members of the Serbian Diaspora in a position to do so, join me.

It is my hope that in the coming months that the Kosovars take into consideration the wants and needs of the Albanians living outside of Kosovo and not settle for something that denies them the Right to Self Determination in the future. I know its been very difficult for some of you, but regardless of Independence or not, we need to start working together for the good of the region as a whole. Many in my immediate family were ethnically cleanse in Krajina or suffered true genocide at the hand of the Ustashe in WWII, yet I support working with Croatia as the only sensible solution for the future. We must look beyond the hatred and the crimes of the region, or the Nationalists on both sides will have won. The best thing either side can do to fight Nationalism is simply to judge the “other side” as individuals and not as a whole.

jovan could it be that Alex has a fair perception of Victor and you don't. As an Albanian, I agree completely with Alex, Vic is a very objective person.

Jovan The KLA was and is us. It is a fact.
They were people who took up arms to fight against a regime that was no different from Nazis in Germany.

I am not obsessed with a Greater Albania, but I am obsessed with freedom, which I posses since 1999, and believe me I am enjoying every minute of it.

Maybe you don’t know what I am talking about because freedom you always had, but for me and my fellow Albanians is different.

I understand that there should be compromise, on both sides, and we need to learn to see each other as equals and just as Kosovars first, regardless ethnicity,.

With this statement a definate veto. Kosovo shall be split up if the albanians will have there independance. The serbs in the enclaves and albanians in presevo, bujonac and medveda swap places. Let the albanian part join Albania and so what if they take a chunk from macedonia, its not like they supported serbian sovereignty. It is then important for serbia to close its borders and include in negotiations with the EU that albanians cannot have rights in serbia otherwise do not join. Than the serbs should sort out there economy and help families produce more children by taxing beer and cigarettes and the money collected to pay child benefit.

http://www.kosovocompromise.com/pages/kosovo_yesterday/sub_links/4/4.htm


In their interpretation of history, Albanians see themselves as the descendants of the Illyrians, a pre-Roman people which disintegrated or got entirely assimilated in the 3rd century, which makes them, as they say, “the true autochtone population of the Balkans”.

However, there are no scientific proof for these claims: No European nation can lay claim to territorial rights dating from that historical Maelstrom preceding the Great Migrations.

Claiming such historical continuity seems impossible today, for in this period there was no France and no Frenchmen, no Germany and no Germans, no Russia and no Russians, no Serbia and no Albania.

Despite this, Albanian politicians and historians like to indulge in exotic pre-historical terminology and revisionist theories, according to which Kosovo has been ‘Albanian for 2500 years’, Slavs are ‘colonizers of Albanian Kosovo’ and the Serbian Orthodox Churches in Kosovo are actually Catholic churches built by ‘Proto-Albanians’ (sic).

Late Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova even suggested that ‘the flag of Kosovo should bear the name Dardania, which was a province of Illyria’.

Scientifically speaking, the ethnogenesis of the Albanians is one of the least illuminated aspects of European history.

Albanian history goes back to the 11th century when they are mentioned for the first time. Up to the 13th century, they do not represent a sufficiently clear historical entity, being nomadic shepherds, highlanders far from the sea, small in number and with an ethnically vague identity.

On the other hand, the region of Kosovo has been settled since the early Middle Ages by a homogenous Serb population.

Even the first Serbian states of the 10th and 11th centuries leaned towards Kosovo.

Under Byzantine rule right up to its final incorporation into the Serbian state of the Nemanjić dynasty in the late 12th century, Kosovo was, ethnically speaking, a Serbian land when political integration began.

This is borne out by historical documents (the charters of Serbian rulers) and particularly by a study of the anthronyms (first names) they contain and the original toponyms (place names), for in Kosovo these are mainly of Slav origin.

Nomadic groups of Albanian shepherds, mostly of the Roman catholic faith, made up a negligible two percent of the overall population and were concentrated in the mountainous West, around what is today the Serbian-Albanian border.

There were also a few Albanian craftsmen, miners and merchants in the towns.

To Victor: You re right when you say they can't live together but the fact here is that separatist Abanians wanted to take Kosovo way back in 1941 when they joined Hitler. At that time, they were minority. During Tito time, same thing happened and Tito sent to separatist to Albania (after he let 300 000 illegally enter for better life). Then after his death a terrorist organisation was created KLA that started the trouble when Milosevic removed the autonomy to the province. During 10 years, KLA terrorised serb population and even police. Then in 1989, alot of civilian Albanians perished because of the brutal attack, which was mainly to defend the Serb population and sovreignity there but got out of control. Now, the bad guys there are Serbs or Albanians? They re both the same, but it's Serb territory and the ones that should move to there home respectively are Albanians don't you think so and don't just look at 1989 and how serbs killed lot of them. If you do, then yes, you re a pure racist.
BTW: Peace to Albanians and Serbs over there, try to work together.

Putin said that Russia will oppose any Kosovo status solution unacceptable to EITHER side. This doesnt mean that serbian stance is favoured at all. If there is a deadlock and no compromise, I think Russia will quietly abstain. No other option really. Serbia to russia is not that important to risk its own reputation by supporting a country that has a tainted reputation on the world stage.

Move Serbs eh? gee good idea since thats what the Army was trying to DO in 1999 MOVE Albanians from Kosovo to Albania no t kill them, because as you said "they did not want to live together" and now to make it "Peaceful" they should move the Serbs?.............OH ya now I see why NATO is in Kosovo....complete garbage from you sir!

I agree, indeed, that it is imperative to be objective when offering opinions that B92 has enabled for people here. In terms of Russia’s stand with regard to Kosova, it is quite possible that even if Russians veto UN proposal plan for kosova, countries may still be able to recognize it as an independent entity. It certainly seems like an option.

Looks like Putin is quoting Zimmerman (with Izetbegovic –Lisbon accords) by telling Serbs:
"If you don't like it, why sign it"...

Mike the comments show how ignorant you are. The document of Ahtisaari give more rights to the minority than the majorette Albanians. How can you say that the Serb's need to be given more concessions. you know Reading this like being in the twilight zone.

Victor will be miffed to know that the Serbs need not move out of Kosovo. They just need to move to the northern part and further solidify their majority there.

lowe,
Serbs can live anywhere they wish in Kosova as long as they do NOT have blood on their hands. Of course, they must realize that they are now only EQUAL to Albanians.
Serbs who choose to live in Kosova must abide by the laws determined by the majority of ALL citizens of Kosova and not by laws made in Belgrade. i.e. There will be ONLY ONE set of laws for all citizens of Kosova. If the Serbs can handle these conditions then they are welcome to be proud citizens of Kosova provided they can produce proof that they were citizens of Kosova JUST before the war in 1999.
I hope these simple and fair conditions do not miff any Serb wishing to have the privilage of living in Kosova.

to all albanian bloggers who always discredited russia now you see that the president himself has declared russia's stance. so be it! russia can now flex its muscle knowing the unpopularity of the US worldwide. don't you think so friends???

Putin should know that the only thing to do to bring peace in Kosovo, after what happened between 1989 and 2000, is to consent to the independence of Kosovo.

It is just as simple as that, and the remaining Serbs in Kosovo should be extradited to Serbia, for their protection and their safety.

Victor, you seem to be a good person with good intentions and I have been following your posts here. But I must admit, you re pretty much biased and you lack objectivity, Serbs did things worng as did Croats, Bosniaks and Albanians and the question in Kosovo is far from being simple as you say.
When you comment, try to put aside your racist comments please and be objective because you look alot only anti-Serb.

to Alex:
how do you get to the conclusion he is a good person when he´s openly agitating for rascist ideologies and for deportation of the Serbs? are you kidding?

this person called victor totally disqualifies himself as a serious individual.

racists should be called what they are: simple, narrow-minded, BAD poeple.

by the way:
www.kosovocompromise.com

and very nicely written this part:
http://www.kosovocompromise.com/pages/kosovo_yesterday/sub_links/4/4.htm

Wow. Strong words by Vlad! I'm glad to hear it, it's about time the Russian bear flexed its muscles. He is one of the few world leaders who is making any sense on the Kosovo issue.
Thank you Victor for showing your true colours. The fact that you advocate 'extradition' of the remaining Serbs out of Kosovo means that you are advocating ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Serb population out of their ancestral homes. At least now everyone knows, without a doubt, what you are all about.

Alex, I am not a racist and never would be. When I say that all Serbs should be removed from Kosobàvo, this is not a racial comment; it's barely good sense. How are you going to oblige people to live together when they don't wish to, when they know it would take generations to erase what the Serbs had planned to do with them.

I just try to be objective. It is the same when a man and a woman decide to divorce! How they live in the same house?

to my understanding russia will oppose any solution which is not accepted by both sides. that only means it will not vote PRO. RUSSIA will only be against or abstain in voting. i did not see that they mentioned any veto... Alex, we're trying to have some mature dialog and not trying to judge peoples behaviours. say what you have to say about the article and relax.
Avni Gjoni FERIZAJ

Yes victor is famous for anti-Serbian comments. I think it is the albanians who should be kicked out back to albania for THEIR safety. victor grow up, and at least put some effort in your comments because you sound like a child.

I've said it many times before, so at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll say it again: the word of the day is "Compromise". Kosovo's independence can only be realized after serious concessions to Serbia and generous provisions to its minorities. Albanians will get their self determination, but they won't be getting a free pass. Putin also isn't backing down as some predicted he would have, and this is really a battle between Russia and the US over who will blink first. Europe will fall in line with whoever wins. In this light, Kosovo will have to be constructed on lines of serious multiethnic cooperation, and it looks like the old "standards before status" will have to be reinforced once again.

i would say that this qualifies as a veto stance (even though he didnt use the word). he basically called washington the source of all evil in the modern world today... sounds pretty obvious where he's headed and what he'll do. he sees a bleeding washington... and he's picking a fight it.

about frigging time!

blag, name your ;) conditions. you and i, we place a bet. i say what ever happens, russia will never use veto on this situation (i mean Kosovo).
AVNI GJONI
Ferizaj

Did anyone else get the irony in Putin saying Russia would be against any unilateral solution taking land away from a country at a conference in Munich? He may not be the shining defender of democracy, but he sure as Hell is someone who will keep Serbia from becoming another Czechoslovakia.

Ratko, I honestly think that you're like your hero RATKO MLADIC! Being called a racist by you is a compliment. As for the Albanians, they occupy more than 90% of Kosovo, and Milosevic tried to send them back to Albania, and NATO sent his brrok back to Serbia. Too bad, the few remaining Serbs did not follow. After what they have done to te Kosovar Albanians, I say that their presence is Kosovo is persona non grata.

I am sure that these people have to be seperated, otherwise there will be no peace in Kosovo. I know it is sad, most of them lived all their life there, and they should have tried to live cordially with the Albanians instead of following Milosevic's criminal enterprise !

I have seen the Chessmaster Putin spend a lot of personal time with the Cowboy Bush in Texas and in Moscow.When is the last time that either Bush or Putin came to visit Kostunica or Ceku and go horseback riding???Real world politics is at play here being engaged in by shrewd mature people on the Russian side and the EU and US sides.Neither Serbs nor especially Albanians should overestimate their importance in the grand scheme of things.The EU relies on Russia for stability in Europe and this will be even more so in the future .If Russia sneezes the rest of Europe catches a cold.It is the fear of instability that is causing gridlock among the respective parties as how to best handle this Kosovo issue right at this minute.Russia's main trading partner is Germany and the EU as a whole.Russia is 6.6M sq.mi. and the rest of Europe is 2.2m.Anything that happens in Russia may have MAJOR consequences for Europe as a whole be it positive or negative.The Chernobyl incident is a prime example of something that could negatively affect the actual existence of the European homeland based on something that can happen on Russian soil.Not to even mention the fact that 30m Russians actually live outside of Russian borders.30% of Estonia's population is ethnic Russian to cite just one example of many.In the long run 145m Russians are more important for Europe than 11m Serbs or 6m Albanians.But the immediate threat of Albanian violence coupled with Al-Qaeda influence in that region and the potential for neverending violence between Serbs and Albanians is what is driving the FEAR among some EU countries to speed up Kosovo's final status towards independence.This is the reality and not due to the fact that we Americans like Albanians or hate Serbs.There are actually many many more Serbian-Americans than there are Albanian-Americans and many Serbian-Americans have achieved a high level of economic and political power in my country.My home state of Illinois has a Serbian-American governor.But I must say that the single worst thing Serbs did in the eyes of the world was NOT directing those massive refugee columns towards Belgrade instead of across internationally recognized borders into Albania and Macedonia back in 1999.Everything else would have very likely been forgotten by now.Anybody still talking about Rwanda?Notice how the EU and the US are insisting that Serbs,Muslims and Croats forget about their civil war and live together in a unified state.Maybe it is because all 3 of these groups are actually thought of as Slavs or maybe due to the fact that the civil war in Bosnia was brought to an end a few years before the Kosovo conflict but both these reasons are too simplistic for people who are informed about the actual present day circumstances over there on the ground as they exist today.It may seem that economic benefits are not enough to encourage people of the Balkans to live together as countrymen so maybe a redrawing of the borders is called for in Kosovo and in Bosnia.In time this will undoubtedly happen if the peoples of that region insist on ethnic identity even at the price of enhanced economic prosperity.I only hope that it can all be done in a peaceful way and that the Yugoslav tragedy can eventually be put to restwith NO MORE loss of life on ANY side.

Hey Victor what’s your solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Which side in that issue would you ethnically cleanse? How about Iraq? Or any other number of similar conflicts in the world today? Considering Victor’s support of Operation Storm, these comments come as no surprise. I’d be interested in hearing from the Albanian side if they support or condemn Victor’s comments.

Anyways, once again I apologize for the suffering of the Albanian people in Kosovo. You deserve an official apology and massive restitution for the property and economic damage suffered in the 90’s. I also support your Right to Self Determination. I, personally believe that Serbs and Albanians have the same issues when it comes to Self Determination and that we would be natural allies in such an endeavor. It is my hope that Russia’s support for some kind of compromise might be given some consideration. I believe that some sort of partition followed by a land swap for Presevo that allows for the Albanian side to join Albania would grant much more freedom to more Albanians in the Balkans. Putin has absolutely nothing to lose in supporting Serbia’s position, it’s a win-win for them either way, no matter what happens regardless of whether they’d actually veto or not. They are happy to find an issue like this one and clearly it will go far with the Serbian people, who will naturally gravitate towards Russia instead of the EU as a result. The Bush regime has clearly put a low priority on this, its getting zero airplay on their “official” news outlet, FoxNews. That I find strange as it would be a total win-win issue for Bush as well.

Anyways, as I pointed out before, the International Community are not our friends, and they never do anything for purely Humanitarian reasons. The fact that they’ve already sold off the Trepeca mines and used those proceeds to pay off portions of Milosevic’s debt proves this. If only they had waited until after the Proposal, Kosovars would have profited from this instead. Clearly the International Community is not concerned with the economic viability of Kosovo, and merely want to plunder it as they do all weak countries. You should be outraged.

In addition, the conditions set by the international community on the status talks were designed to fail. They took off all possible points to compromise on, like letting Kosovo join Albania, partition, and the absence of any possible further Self Determination for Albanians in other regions where they wish independence. Basically leaving only Independence (for Kosovo ONLY) or the Status Quo as the only two available options. The International Community would like for the Balkans to remain divided in opinion in order to better take advantage of the situation.

Together Serbia and Albania should demand a regional solution to the regions problems. By working together and going beyond our differences, it would show the World that we both have the political maturity to play a constructive role in the regions future.

Luckily the loss of life was not as severe as what happened in Bosnia or elsewhere, homes can be replaced, lives can not. It is truly tragic that the Serbian leadership did not take seriously the suffering of the Kosovars and attempt to reconcile and repay them for what happened. The amount of property damage was truly extensive. I believe that if the Serbian government were to do such actions and truly attempt to make amends, that the Kosovars would be much more willing to compromise and work towards a common future as good neighbors. I believe it is Serbia’s responsibility to take the first step.

While I support massive restitution and allowing large portions of Albanian areas to join with Albania, I just can not support giving up those areas with a Serbian population or that represent the very foundation of our civilization and identity. I wish I could, but I can not. Regardless of the eventual outcome, I will continue to support a Serbian presence in our Homeland, and encourage Serbs to retain our presence and economic influence. We in the Diaspora are in the best position to do so. We must start an economic investment program and buy as much real estate as possible. Simply buying a summer home in Kosovo would be a start. We must work towards creating and supporting religious tourism to our Holy sites. We must change the view of the Albanians towards our cultural sites from one of personal liability to one of economic prosperity. Only then will our culture and monuments truly be safe. This is true regardless of the outcome of the status talks. Now is the best time to buy a summer home there. Once again, I will make an offer to buy property from anyone who is planning to sell theirs. I call on other members of the Serbian Diaspora in a position to do so, join me.

It is my hope that in the coming months that the Kosovars take into consideration the wants and needs of the Albanians living outside of Kosovo and not settle for something that denies them the Right to Self Determination in the future. I know its been very difficult for some of you, but regardless of Independence or not, we need to start working together for the good of the region as a whole. Many in my immediate family were ethnically cleanse in Krajina or suffered true genocide at the hand of the Ustashe in WWII, yet I support working with Croatia as the only sensible solution for the future. We must look beyond the hatred and the crimes of the region, or the Nationalists on both sides will have won. The best thing either side can do to fight Nationalism is simply to judge the “other side” as individuals and not as a whole.

jovan could it be that Alex has a fair perception of Victor and you don't. As an Albanian, I agree completely with Alex, Vic is a very objective person.

Jovan The KLA was and is us. It is a fact.
They were people who took up arms to fight against a regime that was no different from Nazis in Germany.

I am not obsessed with a Greater Albania, but I am obsessed with freedom, which I posses since 1999, and believe me I am enjoying every minute of it.

Maybe you don’t know what I am talking about because freedom you always had, but for me and my fellow Albanians is different.

I understand that there should be compromise, on both sides, and we need to learn to see each other as equals and just as Kosovars first, regardless ethnicity,.

With this statement a definate veto. Kosovo shall be split up if the albanians will have there independance. The serbs in the enclaves and albanians in presevo, bujonac and medveda swap places. Let the albanian part join Albania and so what if they take a chunk from macedonia, its not like they supported serbian sovereignty. It is then important for serbia to close its borders and include in negotiations with the EU that albanians cannot have rights in serbia otherwise do not join. Than the serbs should sort out there economy and help families produce more children by taxing beer and cigarettes and the money collected to pay child benefit.

http://www.kosovocompromise.com/pages/kosovo_yesterday/sub_links/4/4.htm


In their interpretation of history, Albanians see themselves as the descendants of the Illyrians, a pre-Roman people which disintegrated or got entirely assimilated in the 3rd century, which makes them, as they say, “the true autochtone population of the Balkans”.

However, there are no scientific proof for these claims: No European nation can lay claim to territorial rights dating from that historical Maelstrom preceding the Great Migrations.

Claiming such historical continuity seems impossible today, for in this period there was no France and no Frenchmen, no Germany and no Germans, no Russia and no Russians, no Serbia and no Albania.

Despite this, Albanian politicians and historians like to indulge in exotic pre-historical terminology and revisionist theories, according to which Kosovo has been ‘Albanian for 2500 years’, Slavs are ‘colonizers of Albanian Kosovo’ and the Serbian Orthodox Churches in Kosovo are actually Catholic churches built by ‘Proto-Albanians’ (sic).

Late Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova even suggested that ‘the flag of Kosovo should bear the name Dardania, which was a province of Illyria’.

Scientifically speaking, the ethnogenesis of the Albanians is one of the least illuminated aspects of European history.

Albanian history goes back to the 11th century when they are mentioned for the first time. Up to the 13th century, they do not represent a sufficiently clear historical entity, being nomadic shepherds, highlanders far from the sea, small in number and with an ethnically vague identity.

On the other hand, the region of Kosovo has been settled since the early Middle Ages by a homogenous Serb population.

Even the first Serbian states of the 10th and 11th centuries leaned towards Kosovo.

Under Byzantine rule right up to its final incorporation into the Serbian state of the Nemanjić dynasty in the late 12th century, Kosovo was, ethnically speaking, a Serbian land when political integration began.

This is borne out by historical documents (the charters of Serbian rulers) and particularly by a study of the anthronyms (first names) they contain and the original toponyms (place names), for in Kosovo these are mainly of Slav origin.

Nomadic groups of Albanian shepherds, mostly of the Roman catholic faith, made up a negligible two percent of the overall population and were concentrated in the mountainous West, around what is today the Serbian-Albanian border.

There were also a few Albanian craftsmen, miners and merchants in the towns.

To Victor: You re right when you say they can't live together but the fact here is that separatist Abanians wanted to take Kosovo way back in 1941 when they joined Hitler. At that time, they were minority. During Tito time, same thing happened and Tito sent to separatist to Albania (after he let 300 000 illegally enter for better life). Then after his death a terrorist organisation was created KLA that started the trouble when Milosevic removed the autonomy to the province. During 10 years, KLA terrorised serb population and even police. Then in 1989, alot of civilian Albanians perished because of the brutal attack, which was mainly to defend the Serb population and sovreignity there but got out of control. Now, the bad guys there are Serbs or Albanians? They re both the same, but it's Serb territory and the ones that should move to there home respectively are Albanians don't you think so and don't just look at 1989 and how serbs killed lot of them. If you do, then yes, you re a pure racist.
BTW: Peace to Albanians and Serbs over there, try to work together.

Putin said that Russia will oppose any Kosovo status solution unacceptable to EITHER side. This doesnt mean that serbian stance is favoured at all. If there is a deadlock and no compromise, I think Russia will quietly abstain. No other option really. Serbia to russia is not that important to risk its own reputation by supporting a country that has a tainted reputation on the world stage.

Move Serbs eh? gee good idea since thats what the Army was trying to DO in 1999 MOVE Albanians from Kosovo to Albania no t kill them, because as you said "they did not want to live together" and now to make it "Peaceful" they should move the Serbs?.............OH ya now I see why NATO is in Kosovo....complete garbage from you sir!

I agree, indeed, that it is imperative to be objective when offering opinions that B92 has enabled for people here. In terms of Russia’s stand with regard to Kosova, it is quite possible that even if Russians veto UN proposal plan for kosova, countries may still be able to recognize it as an independent entity. It certainly seems like an option.

Looks like Putin is quoting Zimmerman (with Izetbegovic –Lisbon accords) by telling Serbs:
"If you don't like it, why sign it"...

Mike the comments show how ignorant you are. The document of Ahtisaari give more rights to the minority than the majorette Albanians. How can you say that the Serb's need to be given more concessions. you know Reading this like being in the twilight zone.

Victor will be miffed to know that the Serbs need not move out of Kosovo. They just need to move to the northern part and further solidify their majority there.

lowe,
Serbs can live anywhere they wish in Kosova as long as they do NOT have blood on their hands. Of course, they must realize that they are now only EQUAL to Albanians.
Serbs who choose to live in Kosova must abide by the laws determined by the majority of ALL citizens of Kosova and not by laws made in Belgrade. i.e. There will be ONLY ONE set of laws for all citizens of Kosova. If the Serbs can handle these conditions then they are welcome to be proud citizens of Kosova provided they can produce proof that they were citizens of Kosova JUST before the war in 1999.
I hope these simple and fair conditions do not miff any Serb wishing to have the privilage of living in Kosova.

to all albanian bloggers who always discredited russia now you see that the president himself has declared russia's stance. so be it! russia can now flex its muscle knowing the unpopularity of the US worldwide. don't you think so friends???