Koštunica: Functional separation in Kosovo "inevitable"

Calm down guys, it's a functional partition that will be implemented because the Serbians recognise only Belgrade's authority.

Serbia has always offered the Albanians self rule so no issues there. Serbs rule Serbs and Albanians rule Albanians. It can be done no other way so when the Albanians are ready, they can talk to Belgrade and finalise this matter.

Remember, it is just functional partition as 1244 guarantees Serbia's sovereignty. This is not new but just the reality on the ground and it has been that way for a while. It should just be formalised so we can all move on.

I repeat, there is no chance the Serbians can rule the Albanians and neither can the Albanians rule the Serbians so get with it and finalise this matter. To think otherwise is just living in fairy land.

Mirsad, what's wrong with Kosovo being a precedent? If it opens the way for Russia to gain territory then the US should have thought about that before recognition. They were certainly warned but decided to ignore it.

Serbia can gain from it as well. It is a win/win situation for both Serbia and Russia. Just a little patience first.

Historically NKosovo was part of Serbia proper, so it is quite natural to see this as not being part of Kosovo - particularly after the UDI.

Partition does not mean that the rest of Kosovo does not remain part of Serbia's territorial integrity, it is just a de facto situation based on the ethnic balance elsewhere in the province and the current state of the mono-ethnic ambition of the Albanians who live there.

The Presevo valley is part of Serbia and will remain that way. This is not an issue of deals and balances.

Finally, I do not see this as a purely nationalist issue. Milosevic did no good service to Serbia or to the KAlbanians, but that is not the situation now. It was wrong of NATO to turn a humanitarian issue to one of simple conquest - the precedent set is dangerous and creates political problems for any future humanitarian interventions.

The west should have negotiated in terms of 1244 but decided to break that law quite cynically - they were wrong and should be opposed.

The US in particular have had a very blinkered view of why the problems in the Balkans occurred - it is fashionable to pour all the blame on Serbia, but actually the cause of the problem is as much the sessionists from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo - it was Yugoslavia that they destroyed, but Serbia gets the blame for that.

Kosovo is Serbia's heartland, but the Albanians have always wanted it for themselves - the term 'ethnic cleansing' was first applied to their plan to drive out Serbs from Kosovo. That should not have been rewarded by the US et al - they were wrong to do it.

I KOsovo partition happens then you can bet on Presheva Region in Serbia to do the same, along with 1/2 of Macedonia to start with and parts of Montenegro. What is fair is fair .... Then I would expect Vojvodina and Sandzak to be next to seperate from Serbia but Serbia may unite with Republika Srpska.

All because of politicians while random people suffer.

At the same time this assumes that Kosovo will have a new flag and be purely Albanian and there wont be any reasons why Kosovo and Albania should not unite (along with parts of Macedonia, Montenegro and Presevo).

So - are you sure you want to patition Kosovo?

Nothing new here. Functioning separation = partition = Serbian ultimate goal. The only downside this time, bargaining powers of Serb side are limited to threats of violence. Bar was initially set so high with the broad autonomy offer that now nothing that comes from Belgrade can be taken seriously. The expediency of brushing aside legalist arguments is just breathtaking. The new motto now seems to be I am here for what I can get and seems to be again linked to the political survival.
“Some of the Kosovo Serb leaders said the idea is in fact a proposal to partition Kosovo, while others believe that it is the only way for the Serbs to remain in that territory”. If the existence of the Serb in Kosova is exclusively linked to partition and hostilities towards the Albanian we will get nowhere to be frank.

Dear all

Functional separation is already done...that is with end of Serbia's rule on Kosovo (12 June 1999)...it is very functional...

To make it even more functional Kosovo leaders (in agreement with international community) declared independence on 17 February 2008,...this is a SEAL for advanced FUNCTIONALITY in Kosovo territity...

Cheers

Bravo Vojo!!! True Serbian patriot.

to our alban visitors on b92:
That is the reality on the ground right? Everything in KiM was built with serb money.

Kostunica, I thought you guys wanted all of Kosova, why only settle with the north?

don´t fear that we would forget you, Pejoni! ...All in it´s proper time!

"I KOsovo partition happens then you can bet on Presheva Region in Serbia to do the same, along with 1/2 of Macedonia to start with and parts of Montenegro. What is fair is fair .... Then I would expect Vojvodina and Sandzak to be next to seperate from Serbia but Serbia may unite with Republika Srpska.

All because of politicians while random people suffer.

At the same time this assumes that Kosovo will have a new flag and be purely Albanian and there wont be any reasons why Kosovo and Albania should not unite (along with parts of Macedonia, Montenegro and Presevo).

So - are you sure you want to patition Kosovo?
(mark, 2 May 2008 12:54)"

mark,

Kosovo is already divided de facto at the Ibar.

Unlike Kosovo south of the Ibar with its 1.6 million ethnic Albanians, Presevo only has about 60,000 Albanians -- they are not going to be able to have any real influence politically or physically. You may have a better chance with Macedonia though.

And in case you are ignorant about Vojvodina, that region is two-thirds Serb. Unless you are coming up next with the ridiculous notion that Serbs there are seeking to secede from Serbia! Get real!

Mr. PM Kostunica what happened to whole of Kosova that you been barking till now. Now all of sudden you are talking about north of Mitro. Shame on you using K-Serbs to meet your end.
As for partition you were in extremly good position when Ahtisari's talks were going on, why have you not said anything then? Now is little to late for that.

Pitty, pitty for the people of serbia that this evil nationalist leader keeps making far-fetched statements such as this. Kosovo will not partition, especially true because the USA ridiculed it.

Everyone knows that this fabrication that kostunica is pursuing is nothing based on his empathy for serbs in the north of kosova, or due to religious beliefs, but because of the very rich minerals, the same reason russia hold onto chechnya; because of oil.

Do you want help from russia now? Everyone knows why russia opposed the independence and labeled it as a 'precedent', so as to make it 'OK' to steal two of georgias regions and say it was kosovos fault!

Time once more for those ever-so-annoying reality checks for both sides:

1. Northern Kosovo is not, and barring an outright use of military force will not, be any functioning part of Kosovo. It butts directly next to Serbia Proper, gets nearly all its aid, supplies, and finance from Serbia, and has been recognized in all realistic outlooks by UNMIK, KFOR, the EU, etc as a distinctive Serb sector. Pristina can do little to extend its authority there.

2. The enclaves south of the Ibar will, whatever the outcome, have to cooperate with the surrounding Albanian areas. Like it or not, Novo Brdo, Strpce, etc are Serbian islands in a sea of Albanian territory. Local rule may be achieved, but issues such as mobility, overland shipment of goods, and regional development must be made with the larger area.

3. UNMIK and EULEX want to minimize the headache they will have to take care of as much as possible. Aside from the rhetorical statements of a few talking heads, I think it's painfully obvious that Kosovo Province is already "funcationally separated". What follows next is simply the recognition of what's already on the ground and the acceptance that
a) Belgrade has no control over Albanian sectors
b) Pristina has no control over Serb
c) A negotiated settlement in which the Serbs get what's there's will speed up efforts to pacify an incredibly unpacified region.

I find it interesting that when Albanians, both here and Pristina said Kosovo's independence was a done deal, Serbs and their supporters scoffed. Now the roles are reversed when Serbs and their supporters say Kosovo's partition is a done deal and Albanians scoff. I see no other outcome.

Mark (nice name, by the way!), you bring up good points.

If you start to partition based on ethnic demographics, then you will have to partition every country in the Balkans. While this would have been the best way last century when the borders were more or less decided, today it will cause a considerable ruckus: not for the population suffering but for the nationalists and politicians of countries that don't want to lose land (even if it didn't rightfully belong to them in the first place).

Roughly 1/3 of Macedonia will go, a small part of Montenegro, the Presevo, Medvedja, and Bujanovac areas of southern Serbia, Bosnia, Vojvodina, etc. etc.

Under such a threat it would be in Montenegro's and Macedonia's best state interests to recognize Kosova as a whole independent state, than to linger and allow for a series of partitions to take place.

yeah JohnyBravo! you are right! the whole Balkan-peninsula was illyrian a long time ago... completely right! the only problem is..: todays Albanians are not linked to them in the slightes way!

that´s something you´ve been told by your spin-doctors.. and have read in some Encyclopedia Brittanica from nineteen-twenty-something...

but when it comes to facts...

you have simply nothing to do with them!

sorry, if that was new to you, but someone hast to tell you this!

as for the "newborn"... I didn´t see anything new being born.. what are you talking about?

UNSC 1244! do you hear it ring?

anyway, nice nick-name, though! :)

Kostunica can say anything but the beauty is you will be gone as a looser after may 11 and I hope you will be find guilty of that what happen in serbia for burning embassy's where a young civilian get kill'd,and trouble in Kosova for cause of death a peacekeeper ..PLEASE NO MORE BUTCHER'S....

Please read your own coment and tells us the god honest the truth if you really ment what you wrotte till today?
(Ahmet Isufi, 2 May 2008 18:00)
--
Sorry Ahmet, you are seriously mistaken. I have always promoted "more than automony but less than independence". That is the only workable solution and the Albanians will get more than they have now or ever will. They will have proper international recognition, rule themselves and representation in international bodies.

The problem is, it's not up to the Albanians but as Koštunica says, it's a NATO creation and they do what suits them, not the Albanians.

"I repeat, there is no chance the Serbians can rule the Albanians and neither can the Albanians rule the Serbians so get with it and finalise this matter. To think otherwise is just living in fairy land", said ZK UK.
Please make up your mind, until yesterday all I have read from your coments is: KIM is Serbia and K-Albanians will be ruled by Belgrade and so on...
Please read your own coment and tells us the god honest the truth if you really ment what you wrotte till today?

The pressure is absorbed..,the "French key" is in position..As a step (1 of 15..,about),partition will be a start point of "way back to earth".Quite enough time to prepare Albanian population-psichologically for a Serbian society "comeback".It will be easy..,the statue of a Clinton needs only a little stomach to become ..SESELJ,let's say..We do not want SERB-KOSOVO metal to be wasted for a new one...

Am I missing something here? Did Dr Kostunica Vojislav recognised the Independent of Kosova, or at least most part of Kosova? Where is the promise that whole Kosova is Serbia? Whole Kosova and only whole Kosova and nothing but whole Kosova.

Is this the first indication from Dr Kostunica Vojislav that most of Kosova is Independent and lost but we will fight for what we can, north of Mitrovica.

Well lets see what will he say the nearer to 11th of May. Russia already approved the signing of SAA eventhough indirectly, by saying it was well overdue. I wonder what Dr Kostunica Vojislav will say on his last day of campaign?

Mark

You have it the nail in the head, as they say.

i agree entirely

"He evaluated that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) means "giving up the lawsuit that Serbia should pursue, proving that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia.""

For how long this two faced man will hold on to his pathetic power?

Isn't he who just yesterday said that SAA is equivalent of signing Kosova off? Now he is twisting his belief?
God Almighty, he is sniffing that Tadic will win the elections and is trying to make up for what he has done.
It would be simply ridiculous if he still hopes for PM position in another coalition with DS.

Sorry moderator. I can understand how last severed part of my comment might be interpreted as insensitive. Allow me to say only this as part of my original comment.
Mitovica for better or worse is linked to Kosova for good.

The region of Kosovo has been inhabited by Illyrian tribes since the Bronze Age. In ancient times the area was known as Dardania and was settled by a tribe with the same name. So Serbs are just invaders who came late to invade Kosovo.. Come read your history , please!!!

ZK UK, I dont see how this is a win win situation for anybody, especially serbia and russia. Georgia has the weight of NATO and the USA behind it, condoleeza rice openly declared her countries support to Georgia. This is a mutual geopolitical game the two world powers are playing, and everyone knows that russia will lose because of the backing of the EU. Without the EU Russia cant sell their gas to anybody (not like they are going to anyway, since russia plays games on its gas monopoly i.e ukraine)

So how is this a win win situation for Russia or Serbia? Do you know that northern kosovo is protected by NATO? how is it partitioned apart from there being a serb majority due to kosovars fearing to live there?

I repeat there are billions worth of natural resources in mitrovica!

Who did design the old borders didn’t do so without a reason.
A few points here about the functionality of this separation.
Serbian attempt to partition is not practical long term.
Mitrovica is a divided town, three quarters of which are Albanian.
Despite the present situation the town in itself is intrinsically a unit.
Mainly a mineral town that has entrances to mines on the Serb side, enrichment plant on the Albanian side and mineral deposits underneath the town.
It doesn’t make sense economically but even more sociologically.
The present sponsorship of the town and a subsidy system is not sustainable.
If Mitrovica is not wholly Serb how can it function as the main urban referral point of the whole Serb area? These 40,000 inhabitants will be under best pension scheme in the world but can it continue. No state in the world can pay inhabitants just to stay at a particular place. If Mitrovica is not that urban centre that the Serbs crave, that centre is certainly not Prishtina.

Hey Kostunica I thought you would never trade Kosovo? I guess I was wrong. Kosovo can not be partitioned. Kosovo needs to remain intact! Once you partition its a sign that you have recognized Kosovo's IUDI. Not one milimeter of Kosovo land should be partitioned or be recognized something that is not Serbian.

ALL of Kosovo is Serbian!

think everyone agrees who was, is and will continue to be lying regarding Kosova, mythology etc. it was always the Kostunica type politicians especially the once who have never even been there!

Historically Kosovo including Serbia were Illyrian lands, and Albanians are Illyrian decendands. Whatever claims 'serb radicals' make with regards to Kosova, one has to always look at the final motive, which was always to gain more territory.

Serbia was always 50% with Russia and 50% with Europe, which will never help it to heel itself and become a modern European society.

Kosova can not be left a prisoner of Serbia, and independence was the right thing to do in order to move on, as all other parts of Ex-Yu have done.

As with regards to comapring Croatia, Slovenia etc rights to break away and say that Kosova was a province rather than a Republic as the others, one should note that Kosovo was part of the Federation and as such had a vote in the Federation, hence it had full constitutional rights of a republic appart from being called one. As a conclusion, Kosova by right as all other federation constituents has broken away.

All the best to Kosovo, the newborn.

> Kostunica can say anything but the beauty is you will be gone as a looser after may 11 and I hope you will be find guilty of that what happen in serbia for burning embassy's where a young civilian get kill'd,and trouble in Kosova for cause of death a peacekeeper ..PLEASE NO MORE BUTCHER'S....
(ernie, 3 May 2008 00:15)

Twisted aren't you. Will straighten you out..

The 'young civilian' got killed doing something foolish. Is tragic. And accidental. You blame Kostunica for his death. You are wrong.

Find myself wondering what the 'youth' himself would say if it were possible to ask him. Suspect he would not blame anyone at all, save possibly himself - & certainly not Kostunica.

And responsibility for death of ukrainian peacekeeper obviously lies primarily with UNMIK leaders Ruecker & Rossin. These two bear the responsibility for that ill-fated raid. Reasoning for this is set out in posts #35 & 30 of this link:

http://xs4.b92.net/eng/news/comments.php?nav_id=48616

Analysis is exhaustive & so far as I know Ukrainians still blame Rossin for this.

Let us hope that the terms of reference of UN investigation are wide enough to enable indictment of Rossin & his masters.

And 'ernie', as for your final point, true butchers are most likely albanian in nationality - same people who chopped up healthy young men & women for their body parts. You know.. ex-KLA types - same as you support.

The region of Kosovo has been inhabited by Illyrian tribes since the Bronze Age. In ancient times the area was known as Dardania and was settled by a tribe with the same name. So Serbs are just invaders who came late to invade Kosovo.. Come read your history , please!!!

Nothing new here. Functioning separation = partition = Serbian ultimate goal. The only downside this time, bargaining powers of Serb side are limited to threats of violence. Bar was initially set so high with the broad autonomy offer that now nothing that comes from Belgrade can be taken seriously. The expediency of brushing aside legalist arguments is just breathtaking. The new motto now seems to be I am here for what I can get and seems to be again linked to the political survival.
“Some of the Kosovo Serb leaders said the idea is in fact a proposal to partition Kosovo, while others believe that it is the only way for the Serbs to remain in that territory”. If the existence of the Serb in Kosova is exclusively linked to partition and hostilities towards the Albanian we will get nowhere to be frank.

Dear all

Functional separation is already done...that is with end of Serbia's rule on Kosovo (12 June 1999)...it is very functional...

To make it even more functional Kosovo leaders (in agreement with international community) declared independence on 17 February 2008,...this is a SEAL for advanced FUNCTIONALITY in Kosovo territity...

Cheers

Mr. PM Kostunica what happened to whole of Kosova that you been barking till now. Now all of sudden you are talking about north of Mitro. Shame on you using K-Serbs to meet your end.
As for partition you were in extremly good position when Ahtisari's talks were going on, why have you not said anything then? Now is little to late for that.

Pitty, pitty for the people of serbia that this evil nationalist leader keeps making far-fetched statements such as this. Kosovo will not partition, especially true because the USA ridiculed it.

Everyone knows that this fabrication that kostunica is pursuing is nothing based on his empathy for serbs in the north of kosova, or due to religious beliefs, but because of the very rich minerals, the same reason russia hold onto chechnya; because of oil.

Do you want help from russia now? Everyone knows why russia opposed the independence and labeled it as a 'precedent', so as to make it 'OK' to steal two of georgias regions and say it was kosovos fault!

Kostunica, I thought you guys wanted all of Kosova, why only settle with the north?

don´t fear that we would forget you, Pejoni! ...All in it´s proper time!

Bravo Vojo!!! True Serbian patriot.

to our alban visitors on b92:
That is the reality on the ground right? Everything in KiM was built with serb money.

Mark (nice name, by the way!), you bring up good points.

If you start to partition based on ethnic demographics, then you will have to partition every country in the Balkans. While this would have been the best way last century when the borders were more or less decided, today it will cause a considerable ruckus: not for the population suffering but for the nationalists and politicians of countries that don't want to lose land (even if it didn't rightfully belong to them in the first place).

Roughly 1/3 of Macedonia will go, a small part of Montenegro, the Presevo, Medvedja, and Bujanovac areas of southern Serbia, Bosnia, Vojvodina, etc. etc.

Under such a threat it would be in Montenegro's and Macedonia's best state interests to recognize Kosova as a whole independent state, than to linger and allow for a series of partitions to take place.

"He evaluated that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) means "giving up the lawsuit that Serbia should pursue, proving that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia.""

For how long this two faced man will hold on to his pathetic power?

Isn't he who just yesterday said that SAA is equivalent of signing Kosova off? Now he is twisting his belief?
God Almighty, he is sniffing that Tadic will win the elections and is trying to make up for what he has done.
It would be simply ridiculous if he still hopes for PM position in another coalition with DS.

I KOsovo partition happens then you can bet on Presheva Region in Serbia to do the same, along with 1/2 of Macedonia to start with and parts of Montenegro. What is fair is fair .... Then I would expect Vojvodina and Sandzak to be next to seperate from Serbia but Serbia may unite with Republika Srpska.

All because of politicians while random people suffer.

At the same time this assumes that Kosovo will have a new flag and be purely Albanian and there wont be any reasons why Kosovo and Albania should not unite (along with parts of Macedonia, Montenegro and Presevo).

So - are you sure you want to patition Kosovo?

Time once more for those ever-so-annoying reality checks for both sides:

1. Northern Kosovo is not, and barring an outright use of military force will not, be any functioning part of Kosovo. It butts directly next to Serbia Proper, gets nearly all its aid, supplies, and finance from Serbia, and has been recognized in all realistic outlooks by UNMIK, KFOR, the EU, etc as a distinctive Serb sector. Pristina can do little to extend its authority there.

2. The enclaves south of the Ibar will, whatever the outcome, have to cooperate with the surrounding Albanian areas. Like it or not, Novo Brdo, Strpce, etc are Serbian islands in a sea of Albanian territory. Local rule may be achieved, but issues such as mobility, overland shipment of goods, and regional development must be made with the larger area.

3. UNMIK and EULEX want to minimize the headache they will have to take care of as much as possible. Aside from the rhetorical statements of a few talking heads, I think it's painfully obvious that Kosovo Province is already "funcationally separated". What follows next is simply the recognition of what's already on the ground and the acceptance that
a) Belgrade has no control over Albanian sectors
b) Pristina has no control over Serb
c) A negotiated settlement in which the Serbs get what's there's will speed up efforts to pacify an incredibly unpacified region.

I find it interesting that when Albanians, both here and Pristina said Kosovo's independence was a done deal, Serbs and their supporters scoffed. Now the roles are reversed when Serbs and their supporters say Kosovo's partition is a done deal and Albanians scoff. I see no other outcome.

Calm down guys, it's a functional partition that will be implemented because the Serbians recognise only Belgrade's authority.

Serbia has always offered the Albanians self rule so no issues there. Serbs rule Serbs and Albanians rule Albanians. It can be done no other way so when the Albanians are ready, they can talk to Belgrade and finalise this matter.

Remember, it is just functional partition as 1244 guarantees Serbia's sovereignty. This is not new but just the reality on the ground and it has been that way for a while. It should just be formalised so we can all move on.

I repeat, there is no chance the Serbians can rule the Albanians and neither can the Albanians rule the Serbians so get with it and finalise this matter. To think otherwise is just living in fairy land.

Mirsad, what's wrong with Kosovo being a precedent? If it opens the way for Russia to gain territory then the US should have thought about that before recognition. They were certainly warned but decided to ignore it.

Serbia can gain from it as well. It is a win/win situation for both Serbia and Russia. Just a little patience first.

Am I missing something here? Did Dr Kostunica Vojislav recognised the Independent of Kosova, or at least most part of Kosova? Where is the promise that whole Kosova is Serbia? Whole Kosova and only whole Kosova and nothing but whole Kosova.

Is this the first indication from Dr Kostunica Vojislav that most of Kosova is Independent and lost but we will fight for what we can, north of Mitrovica.

Well lets see what will he say the nearer to 11th of May. Russia already approved the signing of SAA eventhough indirectly, by saying it was well overdue. I wonder what Dr Kostunica Vojislav will say on his last day of campaign?

"I repeat, there is no chance the Serbians can rule the Albanians and neither can the Albanians rule the Serbians so get with it and finalise this matter. To think otherwise is just living in fairy land", said ZK UK.
Please make up your mind, until yesterday all I have read from your coments is: KIM is Serbia and K-Albanians will be ruled by Belgrade and so on...
Please read your own coment and tells us the god honest the truth if you really ment what you wrotte till today?

Sorry moderator. I can understand how last severed part of my comment might be interpreted as insensitive. Allow me to say only this as part of my original comment.
Mitovica for better or worse is linked to Kosova for good.

Kostunica can say anything but the beauty is you will be gone as a looser after may 11 and I hope you will be find guilty of that what happen in serbia for burning embassy's where a young civilian get kill'd,and trouble in Kosova for cause of death a peacekeeper ..PLEASE NO MORE BUTCHER'S....

Mark

You have it the nail in the head, as they say.

i agree entirely

Who did design the old borders didn’t do so without a reason.
A few points here about the functionality of this separation.
Serbian attempt to partition is not practical long term.
Mitrovica is a divided town, three quarters of which are Albanian.
Despite the present situation the town in itself is intrinsically a unit.
Mainly a mineral town that has entrances to mines on the Serb side, enrichment plant on the Albanian side and mineral deposits underneath the town.
It doesn’t make sense economically but even more sociologically.
The present sponsorship of the town and a subsidy system is not sustainable.
If Mitrovica is not wholly Serb how can it function as the main urban referral point of the whole Serb area? These 40,000 inhabitants will be under best pension scheme in the world but can it continue. No state in the world can pay inhabitants just to stay at a particular place. If Mitrovica is not that urban centre that the Serbs crave, that centre is certainly not Prishtina.

think everyone agrees who was, is and will continue to be lying regarding Kosova, mythology etc. it was always the Kostunica type politicians especially the once who have never even been there!

Historically Kosovo including Serbia were Illyrian lands, and Albanians are Illyrian decendands. Whatever claims 'serb radicals' make with regards to Kosova, one has to always look at the final motive, which was always to gain more territory.

Serbia was always 50% with Russia and 50% with Europe, which will never help it to heel itself and become a modern European society.

Kosova can not be left a prisoner of Serbia, and independence was the right thing to do in order to move on, as all other parts of Ex-Yu have done.

As with regards to comapring Croatia, Slovenia etc rights to break away and say that Kosova was a province rather than a Republic as the others, one should note that Kosovo was part of the Federation and as such had a vote in the Federation, hence it had full constitutional rights of a republic appart from being called one. As a conclusion, Kosova by right as all other federation constituents has broken away.

All the best to Kosovo, the newborn.

ZK UK, I dont see how this is a win win situation for anybody, especially serbia and russia. Georgia has the weight of NATO and the USA behind it, condoleeza rice openly declared her countries support to Georgia. This is a mutual geopolitical game the two world powers are playing, and everyone knows that russia will lose because of the backing of the EU. Without the EU Russia cant sell their gas to anybody (not like they are going to anyway, since russia plays games on its gas monopoly i.e ukraine)

So how is this a win win situation for Russia or Serbia? Do you know that northern kosovo is protected by NATO? how is it partitioned apart from there being a serb majority due to kosovars fearing to live there?

I repeat there are billions worth of natural resources in mitrovica!

Historically NKosovo was part of Serbia proper, so it is quite natural to see this as not being part of Kosovo - particularly after the UDI.

Partition does not mean that the rest of Kosovo does not remain part of Serbia's territorial integrity, it is just a de facto situation based on the ethnic balance elsewhere in the province and the current state of the mono-ethnic ambition of the Albanians who live there.

The Presevo valley is part of Serbia and will remain that way. This is not an issue of deals and balances.

Finally, I do not see this as a purely nationalist issue. Milosevic did no good service to Serbia or to the KAlbanians, but that is not the situation now. It was wrong of NATO to turn a humanitarian issue to one of simple conquest - the precedent set is dangerous and creates political problems for any future humanitarian interventions.

The west should have negotiated in terms of 1244 but decided to break that law quite cynically - they were wrong and should be opposed.

The US in particular have had a very blinkered view of why the problems in the Balkans occurred - it is fashionable to pour all the blame on Serbia, but actually the cause of the problem is as much the sessionists from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo - it was Yugoslavia that they destroyed, but Serbia gets the blame for that.

Kosovo is Serbia's heartland, but the Albanians have always wanted it for themselves - the term 'ethnic cleansing' was first applied to their plan to drive out Serbs from Kosovo. That should not have been rewarded by the US et al - they were wrong to do it.

"I KOsovo partition happens then you can bet on Presheva Region in Serbia to do the same, along with 1/2 of Macedonia to start with and parts of Montenegro. What is fair is fair .... Then I would expect Vojvodina and Sandzak to be next to seperate from Serbia but Serbia may unite with Republika Srpska.

All because of politicians while random people suffer.

At the same time this assumes that Kosovo will have a new flag and be purely Albanian and there wont be any reasons why Kosovo and Albania should not unite (along with parts of Macedonia, Montenegro and Presevo).

So - are you sure you want to patition Kosovo?
(mark, 2 May 2008 12:54)"

mark,

Kosovo is already divided de facto at the Ibar.

Unlike Kosovo south of the Ibar with its 1.6 million ethnic Albanians, Presevo only has about 60,000 Albanians -- they are not going to be able to have any real influence politically or physically. You may have a better chance with Macedonia though.

And in case you are ignorant about Vojvodina, that region is two-thirds Serb. Unless you are coming up next with the ridiculous notion that Serbs there are seeking to secede from Serbia! Get real!

The pressure is absorbed..,the "French key" is in position..As a step (1 of 15..,about),partition will be a start point of "way back to earth".Quite enough time to prepare Albanian population-psichologically for a Serbian society "comeback".It will be easy..,the statue of a Clinton needs only a little stomach to become ..SESELJ,let's say..We do not want SERB-KOSOVO metal to be wasted for a new one...

Hey Kostunica I thought you would never trade Kosovo? I guess I was wrong. Kosovo can not be partitioned. Kosovo needs to remain intact! Once you partition its a sign that you have recognized Kosovo's IUDI. Not one milimeter of Kosovo land should be partitioned or be recognized something that is not Serbian.

ALL of Kosovo is Serbian!

yeah JohnyBravo! you are right! the whole Balkan-peninsula was illyrian a long time ago... completely right! the only problem is..: todays Albanians are not linked to them in the slightes way!

that´s something you´ve been told by your spin-doctors.. and have read in some Encyclopedia Brittanica from nineteen-twenty-something...

but when it comes to facts...

you have simply nothing to do with them!

sorry, if that was new to you, but someone hast to tell you this!

as for the "newborn"... I didn´t see anything new being born.. what are you talking about?

UNSC 1244! do you hear it ring?

anyway, nice nick-name, though! :)

Please read your own coment and tells us the god honest the truth if you really ment what you wrotte till today?
(Ahmet Isufi, 2 May 2008 18:00)
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Sorry Ahmet, you are seriously mistaken. I have always promoted "more than automony but less than independence". That is the only workable solution and the Albanians will get more than they have now or ever will. They will have proper international recognition, rule themselves and representation in international bodies.

The problem is, it's not up to the Albanians but as Koštunica says, it's a NATO creation and they do what suits them, not the Albanians.

> Kostunica can say anything but the beauty is you will be gone as a looser after may 11 and I hope you will be find guilty of that what happen in serbia for burning embassy's where a young civilian get kill'd,and trouble in Kosova for cause of death a peacekeeper ..PLEASE NO MORE BUTCHER'S....
(ernie, 3 May 2008 00:15)

Twisted aren't you. Will straighten you out..

The 'young civilian' got killed doing something foolish. Is tragic. And accidental. You blame Kostunica for his death. You are wrong.

Find myself wondering what the 'youth' himself would say if it were possible to ask him. Suspect he would not blame anyone at all, save possibly himself - & certainly not Kostunica.

And responsibility for death of ukrainian peacekeeper obviously lies primarily with UNMIK leaders Ruecker & Rossin. These two bear the responsibility for that ill-fated raid. Reasoning for this is set out in posts #35 & 30 of this link:

http://xs4.b92.net/eng/news/comments.php?nav_id=48616

Analysis is exhaustive & so far as I know Ukrainians still blame Rossin for this.

Let us hope that the terms of reference of UN investigation are wide enough to enable indictment of Rossin & his masters.

And 'ernie', as for your final point, true butchers are most likely albanian in nationality - same people who chopped up healthy young men & women for their body parts. You know.. ex-KLA types - same as you support.