"Uncertainty could destabilize region"

"Responding to Serbia’s stance against a EU mission arriving the Kosovo without a new resolution from the United Nations Security Council, Steinmeier said that Belgrade “should not reject such a mission,” because it will work on developing structures for the rule of law, which Serbs and other non-Albanians will benefit from."

So they do admit that Serbia is in a legal position to reject such a mission. The answer is staring the EU in the face - work with Serbia and come up with a true compromise. The Kosovo Albanians may demand full independence, but the sooner that the message is delivered that they will have to settle for a workable compromise, the better.

"Steinmeier also said that Serbia’s European integration and Kosovo’s status should be seen as two different issues...

"He concluded that the speed of European integration will depend on Serbia’s efforts made in the process."

Two conflicting approaches within one statement from the same person, yet again.

Mr Steinmeier, if you worked with Serbia instead of against Serbia you wouldn't have a problem.
Serbia is very agreeable to a fair deal. Try it.

Mr Steinmeier, by violation of the international law and resolution of 1244 the stability will be already compromised. If the EU brutally impose independence there will be no more any law that will guarantee the stability and peace worldwide.

In other words this means "Serbia-bend over".
We all know that you could care less about stability of Serbia and Kosovo,it`s the market you want.
Happy New Year to all my Serbian commentators.

"Uncertainty could destabilize region"

Yes, he is absoulutely right! The UN should decide once and for all that Kosovo Metohija should remain part of Serbias integral territory and no illegal theft of country will be rewarded.

Problem solved!

"Uncertainty could destabilize region" is not the right headline. Try one of these.

Creating greater Albania could destabilize region.

Stealing Serbian land could destabilize region.

Albanians threatening Serbs could destabilize region.

Giving Serbia ultimatums instead of negotiating could destabilize region.

you still think it´s all done, right? =)

let´s see what future brings..

Wow. This guy is celebrating New Years early -he's had too many drinks I think. First of all, the question of Kosovo is FIRSTLY an issue for Serbia, not the EU, NATO or any other German apparatus. Secondly, allowing Albanian separation towards a larger (not Greater) Albanian state will destabilize other countries, like Macedonia. Lastly, he agrees that the NATO occupation has done nothing to stabilize NATO's Albanian Kosovo and assumes that the EU, consisting of countries that are already there, will do a better job with less. If that isn't signs of true drunkeness it's a sign a sign that he and his are already drunk with their own self importance, and most of all, their military power.

“A solution for the Kosovo status is firstly a European question". Well it's not Mr Steinmeier. It's primarily a Serbian issue. And then the UN gets into the picture due to Resolution 1244. Only after this it becomes a European issue. In geographic sense because EU laws do not apply to Serbia. Serbia is a sovereign country that decides about her future and relationships with any other country or aliance in accordance with her own interests.

Very Happy New Year and all the best in 2008!

Good observation Kate.

Additionally, which "rule of law" is Steinmeier referring to? It's obviously NOT International law as if he were as versed in it as he should be, he wouldn't be sticking his foot in his mouth!

Hi Ben:

"A systematically terrorized peoples, discriminated whose culture was/is heavily jeopardized and in a real risk"

Sounds like you're describing the Serbs of Kosovo not the Albanians. You make a real good case for the Serbs of North Kosovo and why they want to stay in Serbia.

An illegal indep Kosovo (UDI) will destabilze the region and other parts of the world. They (IC) know that they backed the wrong side from the start but have to stick with it to save face. Even Holbrook said "we made a deal with the devil & now we have to stick with it". & who was that genral that said "we bombed the wrong side". Not to mention alot of money changed hands. Ask Mr. A-plan and the rest that are pushing indep like their lives depend on it. Sorry to say but the Albanians didn't earn their "right for indep" they bought it, and we all know where the money came from. Kosovo is the Albanian's test case for their goal of greater Albania. And if they succede then the rest of their goal will be a walk in the park. Well Greese may be a challange but not imposible. I feel their will be no peace if Kosovo gains indep. It only proves to the other Albanians in the region that if the K-Albanians can get indep so can they. And if you beleive otherwise you are being duped. Kosovo is Serbia!

2008: EU Mission in Kosovo, backed by a new UN resolution that mandates it without changing the territorial status of Serbia for the immediate future.

Improvement, Stability, Peace, Reconciliation, EU entry.

Happy New Year to All!

The EU is like a democratic form of communism. Where the top countries use and abuse the little countries. There's going to be a time when there will be a power struggle among the top countries. The smaller ones will gamble and take sides. And poof a possibal war. Right now Germany is top dog in the EU and we all know what happen last time the had that title in europe. I not saying another war in europe, but history tends to repeat it's self. Countries do anything just to stay on top, just look at the US. Is it worth jumping through hoop to join the EU. Is it worth your land (Kosovo), waters (Croatia), your identity. The smaller countries are no better now then they were before they joined the EU. Well maybe alittle but not much. What did they get? The Euro, a new licence plate & a signing bounes. Still no jobs no economy. You have people leaving their EU country for a better life in another EU country. It's dog eat dog in the EU. And eventuly it will break up. Not a bad idea but not with the current players.

COME ON KOSOVARS
just declare the Independec
GET IT OVER AND DONE WITH
HAPPY NEW YEAR
ALL B92 COMMENTETARS

Illegal independence by a minority group WILL destabilize the whole world not just the region, it has already begun.
http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/29-12-2007/103273-lakotafreepeople-0

You know very well what has happened to the Serbs in Kosovo. The Serbian population of Kosovo has dwindled down to 10%, and your denial speaks volumes about what kind of person you are.

Furthermore, the remaining Serbs are forced to live under constant guard by NATO. They can't even go grocery shopping or to school without being escorted by NATO troops for fear of being attacked by Albanian mobs.

On this happy note
Happy New Year to everyone.

Don't worry this region of western balkans will not be destabilzed once Kosova decalres its Independence.
Happy New Year to my dear friend Kate, she finally came up on the screen again.

Kosova is already de facto independent. It will be de jure very very soon and everyone will be happy that this problem ended peacefully and all of us can get back to our lives and our future. Serbia and Kosova will be business and cultural partners, probably even an example of good relations for frozen conflicts all over the world. This bright future is being delayed by some mafia-politicians on both sides, who can only make tons of cash if situation stays like this, unresolved. But they cannot keep hostage two nations, Kosovar and Serbian. Soon we will see them leave the political arena and be forgotten and dropped like bad habits. If not, there will be no real progress or happiness in Serbia or Kosova.

"Uncertainty could destabilize region"

Independence will stabilize the region.

Veran Matic must have been deleted my last comment here personally... =)

Mr. Steinmeier can say whatever he wishes to...

nothing changed, UNSC 1244 is in effect, Kosovo is serbian territory, as it always was in modern history since the early middleages... and that is good !

nothing changed, Mr.Steinmeier, ...except, it´s no longer 1999...

http://www.antiwar.com/malic/?articleid=12118

Dealing with the Kosovo issue is like playing with fire... there is no way that both sides will win... Always someone will get burned. It is up to the international community to realise this and to get true stability, both sides must lose here. This is why I advocate partition. Serbia would lose over 10% of its land, but will also lose over 90% of its albanian minority. The albanians would have accomplished their landgrab, and wouldn't have to deal with trying to integrate the Serbs, but would lose the Trepca mines. Each side can be compensated for their "losses" through money from the powers that be. And since the secession of Kosovo is claimed by the west to be a unique case, why can't the same "uniqueness" argument be applied to partition? The reason being is that something else is cooking, only time will tell.

By not respecting the will of the martyriazed kosovars you destabilize the region...

Klisman can you imagine the serbian army and police coming to kosova, will they be greeted as the NATO troops in 1999? will they be 'able' to secure peace in kosova, as there is now for 8 years? oh yes, only if they could clean ethnically kosova like they tried in 1999, then maybe they will be able to bring 'peace' in kosova.

There is no trade-off between Serbians and Albanians.

What you should ask yourselves and all of us, is should a systematically terrorized peoples, discriminated whose culture was/is heavily jeopardized and in a real risk (see resolutions of your parliaments about the human rights violations in kosova, resolutions of the EU parliament, reports of the amnesty international and finally, if you don’t have problems with the memory, you will certainly remember what happened in 1999) be granted an independent state- not as a gift but as the only real way that could lawfully protect these people and their culture? In other words, to get rid of the ‘kosovar’ complex, should be granted independence to Darfur or not?

I would be extremely happy to see kosova as a positive case for cases like Darfur. It would be a clear message to all states that they cannot humiliate and jeopardize the culture of their own citizens just because they are of different nationality of yours. If you do violate them then you loose you right to rule over them.

Happy new year to all of you!!!

Klinsman (thankfully you're not Jurgen) You have the whole world i Kosova/o. If the Serbs there were treated so badly I think they would have seen it. Apparently only the Serbs are able to see this, the rest of the world must be blind, or love Albanians and hate the Serbs. Trust me not the whole world loves us love us. Nothing is happening, that is the reason and that is a good thing.

P.S If this is the same Mike; you're becoming more and more radicalized with each passig day.

holiday greetings to everyone
i won't repeat my position for the 1,000th time, not that it stops anyone else here. just an observation: once upon a time, i thought reconciliation would come (relatively) quickly in the balkans, and then people could actually get on with (gasp) their lives, and all of those boring things. but reconciliation here is far, far away -- for many reasons. in my opinion, one is how the so-called international community has stretcheddddd out the independence thing, stretcheddd out the pain, and accompanying demagoguery. and your politicians (and i am NOT just talking about kostunica and the Radicals; b-92 can censor me now and for the rest of time, but i will say the truth, at least my truth): they are rotten to the core. they are not interested in the welfare of the common people, and their use of nationalism (esp. about kosovo, but not exclusively) is so sickening and just debilitating. oh why can't people there see it, why why why??? everyone else is always at fault, but somehow the leadership there is just "doing the right thing." so short sighted, exactly as we said w slobo:
all short-term tactics, no long-term strategy.

oh well, same old, same old.

happy holidays t0 all!

xxxxxx roberto from san francisco

COME ON KOSOVARS
just declare the Independec
GET IT OVER AND DONE WITH
HAPPY NEW YEAR
ALL B92 COMMENTETARS

Don't worry this region of western balkans will not be destabilzed once Kosova decalres its Independence.
Happy New Year to my dear friend Kate, she finally came up on the screen again.

Kosova is already de facto independent. It will be de jure very very soon and everyone will be happy that this problem ended peacefully and all of us can get back to our lives and our future. Serbia and Kosova will be business and cultural partners, probably even an example of good relations for frozen conflicts all over the world. This bright future is being delayed by some mafia-politicians on both sides, who can only make tons of cash if situation stays like this, unresolved. But they cannot keep hostage two nations, Kosovar and Serbian. Soon we will see them leave the political arena and be forgotten and dropped like bad habits. If not, there will be no real progress or happiness in Serbia or Kosova.

By not respecting the will of the martyriazed kosovars you destabilize the region...

Klisman can you imagine the serbian army and police coming to kosova, will they be greeted as the NATO troops in 1999? will they be 'able' to secure peace in kosova, as there is now for 8 years? oh yes, only if they could clean ethnically kosova like they tried in 1999, then maybe they will be able to bring 'peace' in kosova.

There is no trade-off between Serbians and Albanians.

What you should ask yourselves and all of us, is should a systematically terrorized peoples, discriminated whose culture was/is heavily jeopardized and in a real risk (see resolutions of your parliaments about the human rights violations in kosova, resolutions of the EU parliament, reports of the amnesty international and finally, if you don’t have problems with the memory, you will certainly remember what happened in 1999) be granted an independent state- not as a gift but as the only real way that could lawfully protect these people and their culture? In other words, to get rid of the ‘kosovar’ complex, should be granted independence to Darfur or not?

I would be extremely happy to see kosova as a positive case for cases like Darfur. It would be a clear message to all states that they cannot humiliate and jeopardize the culture of their own citizens just because they are of different nationality of yours. If you do violate them then you loose you right to rule over them.

Happy new year to all of you!!!

"Uncertainty could destabilize region"

Independence will stabilize the region.

Klinsman (thankfully you're not Jurgen) You have the whole world i Kosova/o. If the Serbs there were treated so badly I think they would have seen it. Apparently only the Serbs are able to see this, the rest of the world must be blind, or love Albanians and hate the Serbs. Trust me not the whole world loves us love us. Nothing is happening, that is the reason and that is a good thing.

P.S If this is the same Mike; you're becoming more and more radicalized with each passig day.

On this happy note
Happy New Year to everyone.

"Responding to Serbia’s stance against a EU mission arriving the Kosovo without a new resolution from the United Nations Security Council, Steinmeier said that Belgrade “should not reject such a mission,” because it will work on developing structures for the rule of law, which Serbs and other non-Albanians will benefit from."

So they do admit that Serbia is in a legal position to reject such a mission. The answer is staring the EU in the face - work with Serbia and come up with a true compromise. The Kosovo Albanians may demand full independence, but the sooner that the message is delivered that they will have to settle for a workable compromise, the better.

"Steinmeier also said that Serbia’s European integration and Kosovo’s status should be seen as two different issues...

"He concluded that the speed of European integration will depend on Serbia’s efforts made in the process."

Two conflicting approaches within one statement from the same person, yet again.

Mr Steinmeier, by violation of the international law and resolution of 1244 the stability will be already compromised. If the EU brutally impose independence there will be no more any law that will guarantee the stability and peace worldwide.

Mr Steinmeier, if you worked with Serbia instead of against Serbia you wouldn't have a problem.
Serbia is very agreeable to a fair deal. Try it.

In other words this means "Serbia-bend over".
We all know that you could care less about stability of Serbia and Kosovo,it`s the market you want.
Happy New Year to all my Serbian commentators.

"Uncertainty could destabilize region"

Yes, he is absoulutely right! The UN should decide once and for all that Kosovo Metohija should remain part of Serbias integral territory and no illegal theft of country will be rewarded.

Problem solved!

Wow. This guy is celebrating New Years early -he's had too many drinks I think. First of all, the question of Kosovo is FIRSTLY an issue for Serbia, not the EU, NATO or any other German apparatus. Secondly, allowing Albanian separation towards a larger (not Greater) Albanian state will destabilize other countries, like Macedonia. Lastly, he agrees that the NATO occupation has done nothing to stabilize NATO's Albanian Kosovo and assumes that the EU, consisting of countries that are already there, will do a better job with less. If that isn't signs of true drunkeness it's a sign a sign that he and his are already drunk with their own self importance, and most of all, their military power.

An illegal indep Kosovo (UDI) will destabilze the region and other parts of the world. They (IC) know that they backed the wrong side from the start but have to stick with it to save face. Even Holbrook said "we made a deal with the devil & now we have to stick with it". & who was that genral that said "we bombed the wrong side". Not to mention alot of money changed hands. Ask Mr. A-plan and the rest that are pushing indep like their lives depend on it. Sorry to say but the Albanians didn't earn their "right for indep" they bought it, and we all know where the money came from. Kosovo is the Albanian's test case for their goal of greater Albania. And if they succede then the rest of their goal will be a walk in the park. Well Greese may be a challange but not imposible. I feel their will be no peace if Kosovo gains indep. It only proves to the other Albanians in the region that if the K-Albanians can get indep so can they. And if you beleive otherwise you are being duped. Kosovo is Serbia!

Good observation Kate.

Additionally, which "rule of law" is Steinmeier referring to? It's obviously NOT International law as if he were as versed in it as he should be, he wouldn't be sticking his foot in his mouth!

"Uncertainty could destabilize region" is not the right headline. Try one of these.

Creating greater Albania could destabilize region.

Stealing Serbian land could destabilize region.

Albanians threatening Serbs could destabilize region.

Giving Serbia ultimatums instead of negotiating could destabilize region.

Illegal independence by a minority group WILL destabilize the whole world not just the region, it has already begun.
http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/29-12-2007/103273-lakotafreepeople-0

holiday greetings to everyone
i won't repeat my position for the 1,000th time, not that it stops anyone else here. just an observation: once upon a time, i thought reconciliation would come (relatively) quickly in the balkans, and then people could actually get on with (gasp) their lives, and all of those boring things. but reconciliation here is far, far away -- for many reasons. in my opinion, one is how the so-called international community has stretcheddddd out the independence thing, stretcheddd out the pain, and accompanying demagoguery. and your politicians (and i am NOT just talking about kostunica and the Radicals; b-92 can censor me now and for the rest of time, but i will say the truth, at least my truth): they are rotten to the core. they are not interested in the welfare of the common people, and their use of nationalism (esp. about kosovo, but not exclusively) is so sickening and just debilitating. oh why can't people there see it, why why why??? everyone else is always at fault, but somehow the leadership there is just "doing the right thing." so short sighted, exactly as we said w slobo:
all short-term tactics, no long-term strategy.

oh well, same old, same old.

happy holidays t0 all!

xxxxxx roberto from san francisco

you still think it´s all done, right? =)

let´s see what future brings..

“A solution for the Kosovo status is firstly a European question". Well it's not Mr Steinmeier. It's primarily a Serbian issue. And then the UN gets into the picture due to Resolution 1244. Only after this it becomes a European issue. In geographic sense because EU laws do not apply to Serbia. Serbia is a sovereign country that decides about her future and relationships with any other country or aliance in accordance with her own interests.

Very Happy New Year and all the best in 2008!

2008: EU Mission in Kosovo, backed by a new UN resolution that mandates it without changing the territorial status of Serbia for the immediate future.

Improvement, Stability, Peace, Reconciliation, EU entry.

Happy New Year to All!

The EU is like a democratic form of communism. Where the top countries use and abuse the little countries. There's going to be a time when there will be a power struggle among the top countries. The smaller ones will gamble and take sides. And poof a possibal war. Right now Germany is top dog in the EU and we all know what happen last time the had that title in europe. I not saying another war in europe, but history tends to repeat it's self. Countries do anything just to stay on top, just look at the US. Is it worth jumping through hoop to join the EU. Is it worth your land (Kosovo), waters (Croatia), your identity. The smaller countries are no better now then they were before they joined the EU. Well maybe alittle but not much. What did they get? The Euro, a new licence plate & a signing bounes. Still no jobs no economy. You have people leaving their EU country for a better life in another EU country. It's dog eat dog in the EU. And eventuly it will break up. Not a bad idea but not with the current players.

Hi Ben:

"A systematically terrorized peoples, discriminated whose culture was/is heavily jeopardized and in a real risk"

Sounds like you're describing the Serbs of Kosovo not the Albanians. You make a real good case for the Serbs of North Kosovo and why they want to stay in Serbia.

You know very well what has happened to the Serbs in Kosovo. The Serbian population of Kosovo has dwindled down to 10%, and your denial speaks volumes about what kind of person you are.

Furthermore, the remaining Serbs are forced to live under constant guard by NATO. They can't even go grocery shopping or to school without being escorted by NATO troops for fear of being attacked by Albanian mobs.

Veran Matic must have been deleted my last comment here personally... =)

Mr. Steinmeier can say whatever he wishes to...

nothing changed, UNSC 1244 is in effect, Kosovo is serbian territory, as it always was in modern history since the early middleages... and that is good !

nothing changed, Mr.Steinmeier, ...except, it´s no longer 1999...

http://www.antiwar.com/malic/?articleid=12118

Dealing with the Kosovo issue is like playing with fire... there is no way that both sides will win... Always someone will get burned. It is up to the international community to realise this and to get true stability, both sides must lose here. This is why I advocate partition. Serbia would lose over 10% of its land, but will also lose over 90% of its albanian minority. The albanians would have accomplished their landgrab, and wouldn't have to deal with trying to integrate the Serbs, but would lose the Trepca mines. Each side can be compensated for their "losses" through money from the powers that be. And since the secession of Kosovo is claimed by the west to be a unique case, why can't the same "uniqueness" argument be applied to partition? The reason being is that something else is cooking, only time will tell.