"K. Serb assembly de facto part of Serbia's authority"

@ Nehat:
"The Serb defiance is exactly the same defiance we the Albanians only a just cause can win .... "

This is nothing like the Albanian "defiance" !
For this to be similar to the Albanian method Kosovo Serbs would be
- Burning down Mosques
- Throwing hand Granedes at the houses of Albanians
- Racketeering/Drug running into Western Europe
- Buying and Selling women into Prostitution
- Attacking and Killing Police en masse
- Terrorising Albanians

Did I mention buring down Churches ? And finally ....

Begging Russia to bomb the hell out of Albania and Tirana. Finally get CNN/BBC to video a staged Serb exodus of Kosovo .. oops sorry ... being "ethnically cleansed".

Jevic, it's a functional partition as independence is irreversibly blocked at the UN by both Russia and China.

Nehat, the Hungarians of Vojvodina and the Bosniaks of Sanjak just formed a government with the Serbians. The only people talking of partition in these areas are the Albanians, but that is no surprise considering they have difficulties living with any of their neighbours.

It would be far better if the Albanians kept their views to themselves instead of exposing their destructive nature.

I don't care if Sejdiu thinks this is an irrelevant or symbolic govermnent. He's a non-entity as far as the Serb municipalities go, and the same status could easily be applied to the puppet government in Pristina, considering the power of the EU, UNMIK, and even the US piulling the strings and telling him and others what to do, when to do it, and how it should be done. For the time being, he's simply an impotent underling among a multi-headed bureaucratic hydra that's running Kosovo.

My only hope is that the Kosovo Serb Assembly fully represents the interests of the Kosovo Serb community. They have no interest in running the lives of Albanians, as the term "functional separation" implies. The regional government just south of the Ibar could take a large page from this playbook and apply it to improving their own modesty.

Good luck Serbs on your way on this 2008 Vidovdan.

wishful thinking on the UNMIK cheifs part. What will happen is the division of Kosovo. The Kosovo state doesnt function that well and will have to be suppoerted by the UN and EU for many years to come. It will be interesting to see what happens if the Serbs start to prosper. Under the current mandate by some countries to recognise the illegal independence under UN1244 then in the same context they will have to recognise the Serb seperation of the Kosovo area. Basically the independence of Kosovo was allowed because of an ethnic majority in an area. This special case that is coined is utter rubbish, its a way for states to justify the illegal independence. There are many in my country of the UK who support Serbia and not our flagging Labour goverment on this issue. good luck to the new Serb assemblies.

This brought tears to my eyes as I was born in Pristina and was kicked out of my home as a small boy before the bombings.


Do not worry Russia is with us, China is with us, Latin America is with us, India is with us, even a lot of the Islamic world is with us and yes Europe IS with us... no I am not talking about the dirty corrupt European politicians I am talking about actual Europe.. the European people... the Brits, the Poles, the Czechs, the Slovakians, the French, the Romanian, the Spanish ALL of Europe's wonderful people

but most importantly... God is with us... we fought of the evil from Kosovo once... and before God we will do it again.


Although I do not agree with this new cabinet... they BETTER do whatever it takes to preserve our integrity over the cradle of our civilization


Kosovo Je Srbija

S Verom U Boga

CCCC

Play it down as much as you want but when it comes to talking to the people, the first point of contact will be these representatives.

This is the new reality on the ground and I congratulate all of the Serbians in Kosovo. You have my full support and only a technical agreement for the freedom of movement and transportation remains.

On your own way!

Partition is a possibility but should not be encouraged as the whole Kosovo is a part of Serbia.

This is flaud it’s a complete joke, an assembly that is has no more power then a village assembly in any other Kosova village.

The Serb defiance is exactly the same defiance we the Albanians only a just cause can win and the Serb cause will never ever win anything.

I guess the people of Presevo maybe Vojvodina and even Sandzak should set up there Parliaments as we will use the Serbian tactic PRECEDENT

Dear Mike,I followed your comments for many years!
Many months ago you were still not so radical like now,I think since that last visit to Belgrade ,you've changed your tune!
"non-etnity","impotent",these are the words you described out President Mr.Sejdiu!!!
Well Mike,Albanians in Kosovo,Albania,Macedonia,Montenegro,Serbia are ONE!!!
We could be a different citizens, but we are Albanians first and in the case of Kosovo, we never felt we belonged to Serbia as we lived together in Yougoslavia!
About being "impotent",I think you should say about your Serbian Government as they couldn't do nothing to stop Kosovo on her way...
No hard feelings!

All Serbians in what ever party affiliation should STAND UP and continue to fight to end the NATO/KLA occupation of kosovo province.

I am very proud of the heroic Serbs in the province of Kosovo. This reminds me of the article written Monday, July 12, 1982 in the New York Times by Marvine Howe.
Here is a link
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/benworks/1980news.html#BM9

I have to hand it to the Albanians though, they are very persistent. Too bad they are messing with the wrong people. They should have picked a fight with a less resistant populatoin.

KOSOVO IS SERBIAN

No hard feelings at all Louie. I've just found that Sejdiu is increasingly becoming an Albanian Kostunica - a man who thinks he's more important than he really is, and is trying to hold on to territory that is either no longer, or never was, under his control.

I have absolutely nothing against the Albanians taking matters into their own hands in Kosovo. It's clearly obvious they want nothing to do with Serb rule. Fine. But people like Sejdiu need to realize that Serbs also want nothing to do with Albanians. Pristina does not hold a monopoly on Vox Populi, nor does it hold a monopoly on breakaway governments.

So if Pristina can self proclaim their independence, Mitrovica can do the same as well. My condemnation of Sejdiu is simple: he's trying to control territory that rejects his authority, and his comments about illegal declarations and meaningless elections sound more and more like the Kostunicas and the Nikolics of Serbia by the day - and I'm a fan or neither of them. It's almost silly to hear him make the statements he makes, knowing very well he's basically against the Serbs doing just what the Albanians did. I don't hear Thaci or Surroi or others lamenting this. Maybe they do, but Thaci is smart enough to realize what he can control and where his authority extends. Sejdiu wants everything.

Please don't equate my disregard for Sejdiu as a blanket stereotype for Albanians. As long as each side handles their own affairs and respects the authority of the other within Kosovo, the troubled land will stabilize.

And don't worry about my statements. I at least still think I'm one of the more moderate voices here. I just have no time for extremists, or extremist actions, that mask themselves in the name of rationality, reason, or historical righteousness.

If that partition happens, 100 thousend Serbs of inner Kosova do not stand a chance of living there. But there is more to come. Soon Kosova security troops will take controll of the border. We Albanians will not just stand and watch. Wait and see. Kosova will remain as it is, with or without the Serbs.

Congratulations to the Serbs in Kosovo for taking the first step in kicking out the foreigners in Kosovo. The next step comes in September when Serbia introduces a resolution in the UN General Assembly condemning the albo UDI and getting, at least, 120 votes. That is, if this government chooses to introduce it. Those events will prove if tadic is really a Serb.

Mike,
thank you for your fast and honest reply!
I for one am not against Serbs as well.
I used to live in the town of Peja(Pec) where I used to have a lot of Serbs and Montenegrins as friends!
I was apalled that some of my friends did not so "good things" then!
Now living in London,I have a lot of customers from ex-Yugo in my coffee shop and sometimes we ask ourselves that what did happened with us?!
They greet me "hello Zemo" and they find it interesting that all of us(Albanians,Serbs,Montenegrins,Bosniaks)can have a coffee together without insulting or fighting each other!!!
For that reason I believe that there is a life together in Kosovo, give them some time,I will send them some positive energy from my coffee shop and with the right attitude and hard, there could be a chance that one day all Kosovans can live together!

Dearest Mike,

President Sejdiu is more important than you give him credit. I agree with a fellow poster when he says that you have radicalized since Beograd.

This "parliament" looks like a rented gym, how appalling. Is this what Serbia and its' allies have become?

This isn't news. If your going to build a "parliament" with no executive powers go right ahead, just do it on YOUR land and not a Kosovars and claim it "church land"

@28 Jan Andersen
"Silly people. Move on!!! That was 600 years ago...//...than celebrating a now utterly insignificant battle."
If you dont have a national concious or you dont feel like belonging somewhere where you can be proud of, then at least respect those that do. History punishes those that are too arrogant to ignore it.

Congrats,
the worst is behind you dear Serbs from Kosovo.
Future for you will flourish
and we will help you to prosper.

(louie,
sure no hard feelings, no feelings at all: your rationale is so typically fanatic.

Mike, you are dead right.
I believe in this instance that God (whether you believe or not) is on the side of Serbia.

“democratically elected representatives and bodies of authority”

This is a lie. The body is basically constituted only by the Seselj’s Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and Serbian Democratic Party (DS).

“They were joined by some 100 Red Star FC supporters who had come to Gazimestan by both public and private transport, while three buses also arrived from Podgorica.

After the service, Artemije said that Gazimestan was the center of the Serb people, because all Serbs were there in their thoughts and prayers.

“The Lord is with us to help us uphold the Orthodox faith, to keep Kosovo within Serbia, because it is not only the territory, but the heart, of Serbia,“ said the Bishop.”

The same Red Star who provided mercenaries for Arkan’s Tigers ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serb_Volunteer_Guard ).

Ah yes Louie, Matthew from this site always has nice things to say about you in our private emails, and mentioned your restaurant. I was in London last week on my way back to the States from BG. Believe it or not, the cab driver that took me from the train station to my place in Colchester was a K Albanian (talk about small world - I told him I came from Serbia and asked if he ever was there, to which his answer was "technically yes", since he was born around the Strpce area). We had a great conversation in the cab, though I'm sure you can imagine we disagreed on a number of things, but the conversation was pleasant and civil (plus his Serbo-Croatian was great!)

I'd love to stop by your coffeeshop next time I'm in the neighborhood. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

The Parliament of Kosovo is open to all citizens - regardless of their ethnical background.

Establishment of a shadow parliament for Kosovars with Serbian ancestors is an act of politics based on ethnicity.

From the article:

"Some 2,000 Serbs gathered today in Gamizestan to celebrate Vidovdan and the anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo in 1389."

Silly people. Move on!!! That was 600 years ago. I do hope that most of you readers have something better and more important to do than celebrating a now utterly insignificant battle.

'Silly people. Move on!!! That was 600 years ago. I do hope that most of you readers have something better and more important to do than celebrating a now utterly insignificant battle.
(Jan Andersen, DK, 29 June 2008 14:07)'

This is rich, considering the post of yours, immediately before this one, so reverently invoking Danish history. Is Danish history so much more important than Serbia's?

You, sir, are a hypocrite of the very worst kind and have no business commenting on Balkan affairs with an attitude like this. Or anyone's affairs, for that matter.

"Zannier said that he realized that this was a formation of an assembly of all municipalities. “The assembly has no operative role. As far as I can see, it will be more symbolic.”

Of course being "of all municipalities" is merely the Serb ambit claim. And what Zannier is saying is that when it is restricted to the Serb majority regions and enclaves, where it will be "operative," well then we will be talking about the solution.

---So if Pristina can self proclaim their independence, Mitrovica can do the same as well. My condemnation of Sejdiu is simple: he's trying to control territory that rejects his authority

Sandzak and Presevo will do the same. So will part of Vojvodina.

Richard:
“The Parliament of Kosovo is open to all citizens - regardless of their ethnical background. Establishment of a shadow parliament for Kosovars with Serbian ancestors is an act of politics based on ethnicity.”

To some extent I agree with this, yes the A Plan does make Kosova a state of all its citizens with exceptionally large rights and position for Serbs. However, reality on the ground, as you know, has not helped foster that sense among the K Serbs, whose last 9 years of experience does not suggest any great feeling of rights and security under the Albanian majority, any more than the latter would feel it under Serbia. So that’s simply a reality that needs to be taken into account.

While some of Mike’s statements might sound a little more radical than a while ago, that’s probably all part of the sharpened situation where we might all up our rhetoric here and there. Fact is, Mike has been one of the few pro-Serb camp who has appeared willing to accept independence, if the internal arrangements are changed, and has continually put forward what I think is the only workable plan: Kosovo/a as a kind of federation between legally equal K Albanian and K Serb entities, ie, upping the status of the Serbs in the A Plan, in exchange for which Albanians may not have to be burdened with all this international “supervision.” This kind of plan recognises the reality that Kosovo/a consists of pars of two nations who mostly live outside.

The problem with full partition as envisaged by the Belgrade govt. plan and its supporters in Kosovo/a in their latest declaration is that in effect, even if the smaller enclaves can really become part of Serbia together with the north, they will be geographically locked in behind the borers of another country. And if the north is able to stay part of Serbia in a partition, then the rest could also join Albania, meaning Gracanica, Pec, Novo Brdo, Strpce etc are all actually geographically inside Albania, even if officially part of Serbia.

Far better the plan that recognises an independent Kosovo/a as a state of the two nations, plus minorities, so that these enclaves can remain effectively in the same country as northern Mitrovica and the north. In other words, I’, not against this declaration of a K Serb assembly – in one sense I’m very much for it – but its official aim of full-scale partition (leave aside the fictional aim of eventually reconquering all of K) I do not support. However, as it is, it will form the basis f negotiations.

Yes, one nation is much bigger than the other, but that is the same in Cyprus, where Greeks are over 80% of the population, and where this kind of plan is the outline of the deal, likely to be achieved this year, which will work as a model for K:

“Mr. Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, agreed on May 23 on the outlines of a future agreement. They managed, linguistically at least, to square the circle between Greek Cypriot demands for unity and Turkish Cypriot demands for autonomy. Under the envisioned deal, Cyprus would have one "federal government" with a "single international personality" but two constituent states "of equal status."
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5510&l=1

“Since their first meeting on 21 March 2008, Christofias and Talat have opened a new crossing at Ledra Street in the capital, Nicosia, and made solid progress in preparatory talks. In a joint statement on 23 May, they committed to establishing a bicommunal, bizonal federation as a partnership with a single international identity and two equal Constituent States.”
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5502&l=1

Jan, that was a very insensitive thing you said about silly people moving on.

Australia commemorates the battle of Gallipoli (WW1 against the Turks) every year.
Anzacs (British, Australian and NZ soldiers lost that battle and had heavy losses but every year we have Anzac day march to honour the fallen soldiers and commemorate that battle plus the battles after.

Now go and tell the Australian government and people that they are very silly and should move on.

If you don't have anything intelligent to say, please don't insult the fallen soldiers of the past.

"Soon Kosova security troops will take controll of the border. We Albanians will not just stand and watch. Wait and see. Kosova will remain as it is, with or without the Serbs.
(hamid, 28 June 2008 20:13)"

hey hamid,

you mean, like the ominous "waves" of recognition? :)

you know, the k-albanians themselves, if everything else fails, are the smalles problem! it´s foreign occupation, my dear , what is the real problem, but with your "kosova troops" you can play around at a supermarket as "security"...

I am very eager to see those "kosova troops" entering the northern part of the serbian province...

very eager! :)

The title of this article shows that Serbs are getting slowly but surely acquainted with the new situation.

"K. Serb assembly de facto part of Serbia's authority"

De facto, not de jure.

Now that's good news for all parties. Cheers.

On 28 June 2008 20:24, KV wrote:

"This "parliament" looks like a rented gym, how appalling. Is this what Serbia and its' allies have become?"

That comment takes the prize as the stupidest and ignorant comment ever made on this site. And believe me, that is no small feat giving the many bad comments here.

The wish, and the right, to democracy and self-government does not require fancy buildings, only wise men and women.

The word for the Danish parliament, "Folke-ting" translates directly into "Peoples Assembly". In the (very) old days, when the king and the nobles ruled Denmark, each village would have a "Ting-sted" in the center of the village. Sometimes it would just be a ring of sitting stones, but it was the Ting, it was where the locals decided when to sow and when to harvest. Out of this humble beginning grew our democracy. The fancy building (Christiansborg) where the Folketing currently resides is just an add-on.

@28 Jan Andersen
Silly people. Move on!!! That was 600 years ago. I do hope that most of you readers have something better and more important to do than celebrating a now utterly insignificant battle.

Your insights (insults) and views, as always, are a waste of time. Go away and find another less challenging interest.

If GOD is not on side of Serbia can you tell me what’s the priest job in K.Serb assemble? (See picture)

ALB_MCSE
(Respect, 30 June 2008 22:43)

I am really upset that B92 did not publish my comment in reaction of the political words of the bishop mentioned in the article above. on the other side it's allowed when people spread there propaganda here. when will it be allowed to say "Kosovo was Serbia" as an opinion? and how many comments with such expressions were deleted by B92?

Hi Tom O'Donoghue,
If GOD is not on side of Serbia can you tell me what’s the priest job in K.Serb assemble? (See picture)

ALB_MCSE

@16 hamid

"If that partition happens, 100 thousend Serbs of inner Kosova do not stand a chance of living there. But there is more to come. Soon Kosova security troops will take controll of the border."

So from what you say i gather:
1. Kossovo Serbs are not allowed to live in Kossovo.
2. Although Kossovo Serbs are an official ethnic minority of quite a size, the Kossovo security forces will only have albanians in their ranks. And those albanians will control even the Kossovo Serbian part of Kossovo.
So the albanians in the surrounding countries, but also inside Serbia before the UDI, had and still have every right to cry and shout for participation in the state rankings, but the Serbs have no such right whatsoever.

I like this kind of democratic spirit very much :)

Oh and another little thingy:

http://xs4.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=06&dd=26&nav_id=51408

where in short says that in some years from now (and not "soon") if this Kossovo puppet doesnt collapse, it will have Serbs and albanians in its security forces, so dont hold high hopes :)

This is flaud it’s a complete joke, an assembly that is has no more power then a village assembly in any other Kosova village.

The Serb defiance is exactly the same defiance we the Albanians only a just cause can win and the Serb cause will never ever win anything.

I guess the people of Presevo maybe Vojvodina and even Sandzak should set up there Parliaments as we will use the Serbian tactic PRECEDENT

@ Nehat:
"The Serb defiance is exactly the same defiance we the Albanians only a just cause can win .... "

This is nothing like the Albanian "defiance" !
For this to be similar to the Albanian method Kosovo Serbs would be
- Burning down Mosques
- Throwing hand Granedes at the houses of Albanians
- Racketeering/Drug running into Western Europe
- Buying and Selling women into Prostitution
- Attacking and Killing Police en masse
- Terrorising Albanians

Did I mention buring down Churches ? And finally ....

Begging Russia to bomb the hell out of Albania and Tirana. Finally get CNN/BBC to video a staged Serb exodus of Kosovo .. oops sorry ... being "ethnically cleansed".

If that partition happens, 100 thousend Serbs of inner Kosova do not stand a chance of living there. But there is more to come. Soon Kosova security troops will take controll of the border. We Albanians will not just stand and watch. Wait and see. Kosova will remain as it is, with or without the Serbs.

Dear Mike,I followed your comments for many years!
Many months ago you were still not so radical like now,I think since that last visit to Belgrade ,you've changed your tune!
"non-etnity","impotent",these are the words you described out President Mr.Sejdiu!!!
Well Mike,Albanians in Kosovo,Albania,Macedonia,Montenegro,Serbia are ONE!!!
We could be a different citizens, but we are Albanians first and in the case of Kosovo, we never felt we belonged to Serbia as we lived together in Yougoslavia!
About being "impotent",I think you should say about your Serbian Government as they couldn't do nothing to stop Kosovo on her way...
No hard feelings!

This isn't news. If your going to build a "parliament" with no executive powers go right ahead, just do it on YOUR land and not a Kosovars and claim it "church land"

Play it down as much as you want but when it comes to talking to the people, the first point of contact will be these representatives.

This is the new reality on the ground and I congratulate all of the Serbians in Kosovo. You have my full support and only a technical agreement for the freedom of movement and transportation remains.

On your own way!

I don't care if Sejdiu thinks this is an irrelevant or symbolic govermnent. He's a non-entity as far as the Serb municipalities go, and the same status could easily be applied to the puppet government in Pristina, considering the power of the EU, UNMIK, and even the US piulling the strings and telling him and others what to do, when to do it, and how it should be done. For the time being, he's simply an impotent underling among a multi-headed bureaucratic hydra that's running Kosovo.

My only hope is that the Kosovo Serb Assembly fully represents the interests of the Kosovo Serb community. They have no interest in running the lives of Albanians, as the term "functional separation" implies. The regional government just south of the Ibar could take a large page from this playbook and apply it to improving their own modesty.

Good luck Serbs on your way on this 2008 Vidovdan.

“democratically elected representatives and bodies of authority”

This is a lie. The body is basically constituted only by the Seselj’s Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and Serbian Democratic Party (DS).

“They were joined by some 100 Red Star FC supporters who had come to Gazimestan by both public and private transport, while three buses also arrived from Podgorica.

After the service, Artemije said that Gazimestan was the center of the Serb people, because all Serbs were there in their thoughts and prayers.

“The Lord is with us to help us uphold the Orthodox faith, to keep Kosovo within Serbia, because it is not only the territory, but the heart, of Serbia,“ said the Bishop.”

The same Red Star who provided mercenaries for Arkan’s Tigers ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serb_Volunteer_Guard ).

Dearest Mike,

President Sejdiu is more important than you give him credit. I agree with a fellow poster when he says that you have radicalized since Beograd.

This "parliament" looks like a rented gym, how appalling. Is this what Serbia and its' allies have become?

From the article:

"Some 2,000 Serbs gathered today in Gamizestan to celebrate Vidovdan and the anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo in 1389."

Silly people. Move on!!! That was 600 years ago. I do hope that most of you readers have something better and more important to do than celebrating a now utterly insignificant battle.

Jevic, it's a functional partition as independence is irreversibly blocked at the UN by both Russia and China.

Nehat, the Hungarians of Vojvodina and the Bosniaks of Sanjak just formed a government with the Serbians. The only people talking of partition in these areas are the Albanians, but that is no surprise considering they have difficulties living with any of their neighbours.

It would be far better if the Albanians kept their views to themselves instead of exposing their destructive nature.

Partition is a possibility but should not be encouraged as the whole Kosovo is a part of Serbia.

wishful thinking on the UNMIK cheifs part. What will happen is the division of Kosovo. The Kosovo state doesnt function that well and will have to be suppoerted by the UN and EU for many years to come. It will be interesting to see what happens if the Serbs start to prosper. Under the current mandate by some countries to recognise the illegal independence under UN1244 then in the same context they will have to recognise the Serb seperation of the Kosovo area. Basically the independence of Kosovo was allowed because of an ethnic majority in an area. This special case that is coined is utter rubbish, its a way for states to justify the illegal independence. There are many in my country of the UK who support Serbia and not our flagging Labour goverment on this issue. good luck to the new Serb assemblies.

Congrats,
the worst is behind you dear Serbs from Kosovo.
Future for you will flourish
and we will help you to prosper.

(louie,
sure no hard feelings, no feelings at all: your rationale is so typically fanatic.

This brought tears to my eyes as I was born in Pristina and was kicked out of my home as a small boy before the bombings.


Do not worry Russia is with us, China is with us, Latin America is with us, India is with us, even a lot of the Islamic world is with us and yes Europe IS with us... no I am not talking about the dirty corrupt European politicians I am talking about actual Europe.. the European people... the Brits, the Poles, the Czechs, the Slovakians, the French, the Romanian, the Spanish ALL of Europe's wonderful people

but most importantly... God is with us... we fought of the evil from Kosovo once... and before God we will do it again.


Although I do not agree with this new cabinet... they BETTER do whatever it takes to preserve our integrity over the cradle of our civilization


Kosovo Je Srbija

S Verom U Boga

CCCC

All Serbians in what ever party affiliation should STAND UP and continue to fight to end the NATO/KLA occupation of kosovo province.

Congratulations to the Serbs in Kosovo for taking the first step in kicking out the foreigners in Kosovo. The next step comes in September when Serbia introduces a resolution in the UN General Assembly condemning the albo UDI and getting, at least, 120 votes. That is, if this government chooses to introduce it. Those events will prove if tadic is really a Serb.

I am very proud of the heroic Serbs in the province of Kosovo. This reminds me of the article written Monday, July 12, 1982 in the New York Times by Marvine Howe.
Here is a link
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/benworks/1980news.html#BM9

I have to hand it to the Albanians though, they are very persistent. Too bad they are messing with the wrong people. They should have picked a fight with a less resistant populatoin.

KOSOVO IS SERBIAN

On 28 June 2008 20:24, KV wrote:

"This "parliament" looks like a rented gym, how appalling. Is this what Serbia and its' allies have become?"

That comment takes the prize as the stupidest and ignorant comment ever made on this site. And believe me, that is no small feat giving the many bad comments here.

The wish, and the right, to democracy and self-government does not require fancy buildings, only wise men and women.

The word for the Danish parliament, "Folke-ting" translates directly into "Peoples Assembly". In the (very) old days, when the king and the nobles ruled Denmark, each village would have a "Ting-sted" in the center of the village. Sometimes it would just be a ring of sitting stones, but it was the Ting, it was where the locals decided when to sow and when to harvest. Out of this humble beginning grew our democracy. The fancy building (Christiansborg) where the Folketing currently resides is just an add-on.

Jan, that was a very insensitive thing you said about silly people moving on.

Australia commemorates the battle of Gallipoli (WW1 against the Turks) every year.
Anzacs (British, Australian and NZ soldiers lost that battle and had heavy losses but every year we have Anzac day march to honour the fallen soldiers and commemorate that battle plus the battles after.

Now go and tell the Australian government and people that they are very silly and should move on.

If you don't have anything intelligent to say, please don't insult the fallen soldiers of the past.

"Zannier said that he realized that this was a formation of an assembly of all municipalities. “The assembly has no operative role. As far as I can see, it will be more symbolic.”

Of course being "of all municipalities" is merely the Serb ambit claim. And what Zannier is saying is that when it is restricted to the Serb majority regions and enclaves, where it will be "operative," well then we will be talking about the solution.

No hard feelings at all Louie. I've just found that Sejdiu is increasingly becoming an Albanian Kostunica - a man who thinks he's more important than he really is, and is trying to hold on to territory that is either no longer, or never was, under his control.

I have absolutely nothing against the Albanians taking matters into their own hands in Kosovo. It's clearly obvious they want nothing to do with Serb rule. Fine. But people like Sejdiu need to realize that Serbs also want nothing to do with Albanians. Pristina does not hold a monopoly on Vox Populi, nor does it hold a monopoly on breakaway governments.

So if Pristina can self proclaim their independence, Mitrovica can do the same as well. My condemnation of Sejdiu is simple: he's trying to control territory that rejects his authority, and his comments about illegal declarations and meaningless elections sound more and more like the Kostunicas and the Nikolics of Serbia by the day - and I'm a fan or neither of them. It's almost silly to hear him make the statements he makes, knowing very well he's basically against the Serbs doing just what the Albanians did. I don't hear Thaci or Surroi or others lamenting this. Maybe they do, but Thaci is smart enough to realize what he can control and where his authority extends. Sejdiu wants everything.

Please don't equate my disregard for Sejdiu as a blanket stereotype for Albanians. As long as each side handles their own affairs and respects the authority of the other within Kosovo, the troubled land will stabilize.

And don't worry about my statements. I at least still think I'm one of the more moderate voices here. I just have no time for extremists, or extremist actions, that mask themselves in the name of rationality, reason, or historical righteousness.

The title of this article shows that Serbs are getting slowly but surely acquainted with the new situation.

"K. Serb assembly de facto part of Serbia's authority"

De facto, not de jure.

Now that's good news for all parties. Cheers.

Mike, you are dead right.
I believe in this instance that God (whether you believe or not) is on the side of Serbia.

---So if Pristina can self proclaim their independence, Mitrovica can do the same as well. My condemnation of Sejdiu is simple: he's trying to control territory that rejects his authority

Sandzak and Presevo will do the same. So will part of Vojvodina.

"Soon Kosova security troops will take controll of the border. We Albanians will not just stand and watch. Wait and see. Kosova will remain as it is, with or without the Serbs.
(hamid, 28 June 2008 20:13)"

hey hamid,

you mean, like the ominous "waves" of recognition? :)

you know, the k-albanians themselves, if everything else fails, are the smalles problem! it´s foreign occupation, my dear , what is the real problem, but with your "kosova troops" you can play around at a supermarket as "security"...

I am very eager to see those "kosova troops" entering the northern part of the serbian province...

very eager! :)

@16 hamid

"If that partition happens, 100 thousend Serbs of inner Kosova do not stand a chance of living there. But there is more to come. Soon Kosova security troops will take controll of the border."

So from what you say i gather:
1. Kossovo Serbs are not allowed to live in Kossovo.
2. Although Kossovo Serbs are an official ethnic minority of quite a size, the Kossovo security forces will only have albanians in their ranks. And those albanians will control even the Kossovo Serbian part of Kossovo.
So the albanians in the surrounding countries, but also inside Serbia before the UDI, had and still have every right to cry and shout for participation in the state rankings, but the Serbs have no such right whatsoever.

I like this kind of democratic spirit very much :)

Oh and another little thingy:

http://xs4.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=06&dd=26&nav_id=51408

where in short says that in some years from now (and not "soon") if this Kossovo puppet doesnt collapse, it will have Serbs and albanians in its security forces, so dont hold high hopes :)

Mike,
thank you for your fast and honest reply!
I for one am not against Serbs as well.
I used to live in the town of Peja(Pec) where I used to have a lot of Serbs and Montenegrins as friends!
I was apalled that some of my friends did not so "good things" then!
Now living in London,I have a lot of customers from ex-Yugo in my coffee shop and sometimes we ask ourselves that what did happened with us?!
They greet me "hello Zemo" and they find it interesting that all of us(Albanians,Serbs,Montenegrins,Bosniaks)can have a coffee together without insulting or fighting each other!!!
For that reason I believe that there is a life together in Kosovo, give them some time,I will send them some positive energy from my coffee shop and with the right attitude and hard, there could be a chance that one day all Kosovans can live together!

Ah yes Louie, Matthew from this site always has nice things to say about you in our private emails, and mentioned your restaurant. I was in London last week on my way back to the States from BG. Believe it or not, the cab driver that took me from the train station to my place in Colchester was a K Albanian (talk about small world - I told him I came from Serbia and asked if he ever was there, to which his answer was "technically yes", since he was born around the Strpce area). We had a great conversation in the cab, though I'm sure you can imagine we disagreed on a number of things, but the conversation was pleasant and civil (plus his Serbo-Croatian was great!)

I'd love to stop by your coffeeshop next time I'm in the neighborhood. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

The Parliament of Kosovo is open to all citizens - regardless of their ethnical background.

Establishment of a shadow parliament for Kosovars with Serbian ancestors is an act of politics based on ethnicity.

Richard:
“The Parliament of Kosovo is open to all citizens - regardless of their ethnical background. Establishment of a shadow parliament for Kosovars with Serbian ancestors is an act of politics based on ethnicity.”

To some extent I agree with this, yes the A Plan does make Kosova a state of all its citizens with exceptionally large rights and position for Serbs. However, reality on the ground, as you know, has not helped foster that sense among the K Serbs, whose last 9 years of experience does not suggest any great feeling of rights and security under the Albanian majority, any more than the latter would feel it under Serbia. So that’s simply a reality that needs to be taken into account.

While some of Mike’s statements might sound a little more radical than a while ago, that’s probably all part of the sharpened situation where we might all up our rhetoric here and there. Fact is, Mike has been one of the few pro-Serb camp who has appeared willing to accept independence, if the internal arrangements are changed, and has continually put forward what I think is the only workable plan: Kosovo/a as a kind of federation between legally equal K Albanian and K Serb entities, ie, upping the status of the Serbs in the A Plan, in exchange for which Albanians may not have to be burdened with all this international “supervision.” This kind of plan recognises the reality that Kosovo/a consists of pars of two nations who mostly live outside.

The problem with full partition as envisaged by the Belgrade govt. plan and its supporters in Kosovo/a in their latest declaration is that in effect, even if the smaller enclaves can really become part of Serbia together with the north, they will be geographically locked in behind the borers of another country. And if the north is able to stay part of Serbia in a partition, then the rest could also join Albania, meaning Gracanica, Pec, Novo Brdo, Strpce etc are all actually geographically inside Albania, even if officially part of Serbia.

Far better the plan that recognises an independent Kosovo/a as a state of the two nations, plus minorities, so that these enclaves can remain effectively in the same country as northern Mitrovica and the north. In other words, I’, not against this declaration of a K Serb assembly – in one sense I’m very much for it – but its official aim of full-scale partition (leave aside the fictional aim of eventually reconquering all of K) I do not support. However, as it is, it will form the basis f negotiations.

Yes, one nation is much bigger than the other, but that is the same in Cyprus, where Greeks are over 80% of the population, and where this kind of plan is the outline of the deal, likely to be achieved this year, which will work as a model for K:

“Mr. Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, agreed on May 23 on the outlines of a future agreement. They managed, linguistically at least, to square the circle between Greek Cypriot demands for unity and Turkish Cypriot demands for autonomy. Under the envisioned deal, Cyprus would have one "federal government" with a "single international personality" but two constituent states "of equal status."
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5510&l=1

“Since their first meeting on 21 March 2008, Christofias and Talat have opened a new crossing at Ledra Street in the capital, Nicosia, and made solid progress in preparatory talks. In a joint statement on 23 May, they committed to establishing a bicommunal, bizonal federation as a partnership with a single international identity and two equal Constituent States.”
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5502&l=1

@28 Jan Andersen
"Silly people. Move on!!! That was 600 years ago...//...than celebrating a now utterly insignificant battle."
If you dont have a national concious or you dont feel like belonging somewhere where you can be proud of, then at least respect those that do. History punishes those that are too arrogant to ignore it.

Hi Tom O'Donoghue,
If GOD is not on side of Serbia can you tell me what’s the priest job in K.Serb assemble? (See picture)

ALB_MCSE

@28 Jan Andersen
Silly people. Move on!!! That was 600 years ago. I do hope that most of you readers have something better and more important to do than celebrating a now utterly insignificant battle.

Your insights (insults) and views, as always, are a waste of time. Go away and find another less challenging interest.

'Silly people. Move on!!! That was 600 years ago. I do hope that most of you readers have something better and more important to do than celebrating a now utterly insignificant battle.
(Jan Andersen, DK, 29 June 2008 14:07)'

This is rich, considering the post of yours, immediately before this one, so reverently invoking Danish history. Is Danish history so much more important than Serbia's?

You, sir, are a hypocrite of the very worst kind and have no business commenting on Balkan affairs with an attitude like this. Or anyone's affairs, for that matter.

If GOD is not on side of Serbia can you tell me what’s the priest job in K.Serb assemble? (See picture)

ALB_MCSE
(Respect, 30 June 2008 22:43)

I am really upset that B92 did not publish my comment in reaction of the political words of the bishop mentioned in the article above. on the other side it's allowed when people spread there propaganda here. when will it be allowed to say "Kosovo was Serbia" as an opinion? and how many comments with such expressions were deleted by B92?