"Macedonia should help Kosovo on visas"

I am really starting to get sick every time I hear this. West should help Albanians, Serbia should help Albanians and now Macedonia should help Albanians. It seems that the only people not required doing anything to help poor Albanians are they themselves. According to PRN they even have a healthy choice of who they want the help from and who they don’t. Aren’t you just beloved darlings! It all sounds so familiar - the only difference is that ex Yugoslavia did that for decades, whereas EU is obviously (rightfully) experiencing fatigue after mere years. Well, to PRN and others, where I live nobody likes ‘benefit thieves’ – dear Albanians included.

Haven't albanians received enough help? The West has been in Kosovo for 10 years. Albanian has had all the time in the world to move closer to Europe but still its as poor and undeveloped as Afganistan. Some things you just can't change.

Macedonia’s success also “caused sadness, especially in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has yet to succeed in this, and especially among Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims)”.
--
Umm, what do Albanians and Bosnian Muslims have in common? Why am I not surprised that Visa free travel has not been offered to them? However, it is extended to Serbians from Kosovo and BiH so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

If you thought the mass exodus of Albanians during NATOs bombing was something, what do you think will happen if they could suddenly travel freely - especially when half our ethnic Albanian citizens want to leave!

Look, the EU has practically created a prison camp in Kosovo. Serbians, Montenegrins and FYROMians will get Visa free travel while NATO creates operation "Strong Gate" to secure the "prison" boundaries.

It is a sad situation but completely understandable. The EU is not very tolerant towards illegal immigrants, especially those of a certain faith so those most likely to fit the bill have been isolated. And to think, the EU is being cheered for it!?!?

What is all the hoopla about instead of your small prison cell. You will be aloud to move around penitentiary and you don't have to pay the prison guards to do it. You are still in a prison and need your identity papers checked by the guards and their permission to do anything every where else. For a second you might feel free in the prison but reality will sink in very fast.

I don't think anybody knows what the real benefits to any of the Western Balkan countries actually will be when they join the EU sometime in the distant future ( if the EU is still around).

The imposition of the EU legal framework on all the local customs and practices will hit many of the traditional activities here. Most people have no idea what full membership means.

Certainly in Fyrom, the average person in the stret still regards the EU as some kind of panacea for all the ills of the country. (No one seems to be prepared to blame the politicians - a venal, pathetic spinelless bunch overall.

The outlook for Western Europe is pretty grim with thousands of workers joining the dole queues on a monthly basis.Reports in the British media also show thousands of immigrants from the newer EU states sleeping rough under bridges and in parks as they cannot afford the fares back home.

Is this the Europe that Western balkans yearn to join?

"SO Jelena,

let me bring you down to earth,

for long time serbia has took form kosovo all we had, the gold and all other resources from Trepqa mine industries, ask your self who build you the NEW BELGRADE town, all with money form kosovo, all our wealth was stolen from us, we where controlled by belgrade for long time, so dont tell me who help us, during the milosheviqs regime all kosovo work force was sacked from there work places only for being albanins, only diaspora help the country to stay alive, i know that kosovo is poor, but I rather die this way then ever go under serbia again.
(berat, 12 November 2009 13:04)"

More Kosovo Albanian myths! Pristina was a muddy village post WWII, who do you think paid for it to be built as a modern city, its infrastructure etc? Who built and paid for the power stations etc. etc.?

As for Trepca, it was a black hole that employed many people but produced little profit, i.e. it was subsidized by the state for decades. Most of the materials found there can be produced more cheaply and in greater quantities in many places around the world.

Tito threw tens of billion of dollars in IMF funds at Kosovo and the south and for what? If Kosovo wasn't in the SFRY, it would have been part of Enver Hoxa's famously rich Albanian. It would have been so much better!

It's great living for free and also moaning that everything was stolen. So who is stealing your wealth now? Everybody but your own fellow kosovo albanians Thaci and Haradinaj..

I am really starting to get sick every time I hear this. West should help Albanians, Serbia should help Albanians and now Macedonia should help Albanians. It seems that the only people not required doing anything to help poor Albanians are they themselves. According to PRN they even have a healthy choice of who they want the help from and who they don’t. Aren’t you just beloved darlings! It all sounds so familiar - the only difference is that ex Yugoslavia did that for decades, whereas EU is obviously (rightfully) experiencing fatigue after mere years. Well, to PRN and others, where I live nobody likes ‘benefit thieves’ – dear Albanians included.
(Jelena, UK, 12 November 2009 12:05)

SO Jelena,

let me bring you down to earth,

for long time serbia has took form kosovo all we had, the gold and all other resources from Trepqa mine industries, ask your self who build you the NEW BELGRADE town, all with money form kosovo, all our wealth was stolen from us, we where controlled by belgrade for long time, so dont tell me who help us, during the milosheviqs regime all kosovo work force was sacked from there work places only for being albanins, only diaspora help the country to stay alive, i know that kosovo is poor, but I rather die this way then ever go under serbia again.

Let's be realistic. Kosovo will not get White Schengen.

First: it is not a state but a province.
Second: most people in Western Europe are not looking forward to 2 million more people being able to travel to EU without visa. To be quite honest: we already have enough illegals in Western Europe.

Borat - "for long time serbia has took form kosovo all we had, the gold and all other resources from Trepqa mine industries, ask your self who build you the NEW BELGRADE town, all with money form kosovo, all our wealth was stolen from us, we where controlled by belgrade for long time,"

The mines were closed just about the entire length of the Balkan wars, so before that the mines were controlled and run from Belgrade by Serbs, Croats and Slovenes when the country was Yugoslavia. Before that it was Tito who controlled everything. Funny how Albanians weren't complaining about all their wealth travelling north then!

So you can forget this fantasy that the big bad Serbs stole all of Trepca + Kosovo's assets. I suppose the Serbs took all of Albania's assets as well for the last 100 years. Or then again, maybe it's the Albanians fault that the Albanians are so poor within Serbia and Albanina.

you might start to improve your standard of living when you learn to grow up and take responsibility for your own actions and actually start putting all your energy into work instead of blaming everyone else for your misfortunes!

Thank you Mr Kacin, but we as independent country have the option to chose from whom we want help. Slavic neighbours have far more troubles than we do, are very jelaous towards us and our rich history so cannot help us.

We may chose Austria, Germany UK, FRance or any other civilised country for all help that we need to integrate in to the EU.

The Slavic neighbours are all in a same rotten boat...and may sink at time.

"Slavic neighbours have far more troubles than we do, are very jelaous towards us and our rich history so cannot help us. (PRN)"

-- Proof that while self-imposed lobotomies may make one happier personally, they don't help one's argument in a room of cognitive thinkers.

First: it is not a state but a province.
Second: most people in Western Europe are not looking forward to 2 million more people being able to travel to EU without visa. To be quite honest: we already have enough illegals in Western Europe.
(Ron, 12 November 2009 14:38)

You contradict yourself over and aver again.
If Kosova is a province, which means the province of a country, and as you claim Kosova is province of Serbia, then where is the problem. If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right???

Lenard,

I agree no big deal for people to travel in EU since most people cant even afford it. with Balkan salary at woping 400Euros u cant aford vacation in France or Spain.

Some will be able to and its good for few people but in the end its just a small ilusanary triumph for Politicians to say look we have given u free visas.

"If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right???"
(Kosova-USA, 12 November 2009 16:30)

Yes, but only when they accept that they live in Serbia and are Serbian citizens. While they maintain that they are a separate country, they should not be awarded those provileges.

"for long time serbia has took form kosovo all we had, the gold and all other resources from Trepqa mine industries"

To add to what others have said, the main reason Slovenia and Croatia left was they were tired of having money flow out of their regions and into Kosovo.

No one stole Kosovo's wealth, it had a net positive cash flow from other regions under Tito.

Where do you guys find this nonsense?

I agree no big deal for people to travel in EU since most people cant even afford it.
(ATM, 12 November 2009 11:26)
--
I'm all for Visa free travel. You'll be surprised how resourceful Balkan people can be with their money. They are not going to stay in 5 star hotels but they can all get into a Yugo, chip in for petrol, put the picnic basket in the boot with some Slanina, Kobasica, bread tomatoes, water and be good for a few days in the EU! Also, they will enjoy their holiday just as much as any other tourist.

Here are some travelling tips for my fellow Serbians:

1. Those countries that have not recognised Kosovo are far nicer to visit than those that have - try Romania, Greece, Slovakia and Cyprus first.

2. If you are driving through a country that has recognised Kosovo, you can always fill up at a Lukoil station or fill up before crossing the border.

3. Using point 2 above you can see many parts of Hungary and Bulgaria by spending practically nothing.

4. If visiting Slovakia, you can pop into Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic by spending next to nothing again.

There are enough affordable places mentioned to keep the average Serbian busy for a while.

Also, there's no need to visit Croatia or Montenegro either. I wonder how the tourist situation will change after 19 Dec?

Živeli!

"Slavic neighbours have far more troubles than we do, are very jelaous towards us and our rich history so cannot help us."
-PRN

Please God let this be some kind of sick joke. Rich history? Less problems than Slav neighbors? Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa:)))

If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right???
(Kosova-USA, 12 November 2009 16:30)
--
They are all eligible yes however this obviously does not apply to those in prison.

I did see some ethnic Albanians in Belgrade getting their Serbian passports so not everyone has allowed their senseless nationalism to keep them in self-imposed isolation.

Kosovo-USA,

As Kosovo is ruled by UN other rules apply to the Kosovo province.

But my personal opinion is: Serbia with the province of Kosovo should join EU!
Special status for Kosovo can be discussed. BUT NO UNILATERAL STEPS PLEASE!

And on a personal note: please get a life! Why should rules apply to 6 billion people on the planet but not to 2 million Albanians in Kosovo?

Sorry my friend. International law is much more important then Kosovo. MUCH MORE!!

1. Those countries that have not recognised Kosovo are far nicer to visit than those that have - try Romania, Greece, Slovakia and Cyprus first.
(Zoran, 12 November 2009 14:45)

Zoran - Spain first :) Very nice country :)

Kosovo-USA
you seem to be contracdicting yourself as well. You argue that if Kosovo is a province of Serbia then it should be on the white list along with Serbia because all provinces of states get on white list when state does. I would agree with that. However, you also constantly claim Kosovo case to be unique. As such then it does not imply that Kosovo Province gets on white list when it's Parental state Serbia does.
See the cake? You can have it, but not eat it.

If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right???
(Kosova-USA, 12 November 2009 16:30)

Yes, Kosovoa-USA, you are right again!

I think this is the 3rd time in a week that you and I agree on something...amazing!

(Denis, 12 November 2009 18:34)


Are you a stand up comedian? Your comparing Albania and Serbia! What does Albania produce and sell???
The Croatian and Slovenian GDP; oh! Serbia what have you done to have lost these two great economical states. Here is some news for you, Croatia and Slovenia are like the US banks, on paper they are profitable, but with US banks when you add the toxic loans they would have to stand on an extension ladder to see the gutter. So with Croatia and Slovenia, they receive large quantities of aid from the EU and they count that as of their earnings in the budget, but not for long because the EU is struggling and there will be less and less aid and more and more asset sales in both countries.

Of course the Albanians living in Kosovo did not benefit from Yugos being sold in the US. If memory serves me right there was a factory that produced parts for Zastava in Pristina that employed a large number of Albanian refugees. In fact there were other factories there as well and I remember when people in Serbia had to work Saturdays and all the money would go for the development of Kosovo.

What do have now” nothing!

Thank you Mr Kacin, but we as independent country have the option to chose from whom we want help. Slavic neighbours have far more troubles than we do, are very jelaous towards us and our rich history so cannot help us.

We may chose Austria, Germany UK, FRance or any other civilised country for all help that we need to integrate in to the EU.

The Slavic neighbours are all in a same rotten boat...and may sink at time.
(PRN, 12 November 2009 11:13)


Haha great comment PRN, aboslutely fantastic...but you sort of left out the part where albanians have illegally moved into all of the surrounding slavic nations and systematically cleansed the population through violence and intimidation...including the vandalisation of cemetaries, destructiona an desecration of holy sites and terrorising through bombs and hang grenade attacks.

Albanians have done such a great job that they all seem to be in a spastic rush to leave Serbia(Kosovo), Macedonia, Montenegro and all the rest to illegally enter EU countries....i.e. Tisa River incident

European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin praised Macedonia and called on the country to help Kosovo get on the Schengen white list.

And when are they going to do something for themselves??

Reading day after day the nationalistic k-a comments, I would say never, far too busy in blaming the all world for their misery, while the criminals sitting in the govnt are laughing and filling their pockets! What a mess..

Why on earth Macedonia would lift one finger to help, to be stapped in the back right afterwards and have another kosovo II "unique" case in their back yard!

Let's be realistic. Kosovo will not get White Schengen. Ron

If same standards apply for Kosovo and Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro than Kosovo is not that far away.

Haven't albanians received enough help? The West has been in Kosovo for 10 years. Albanian has had all the time in the world to move closer to Europe but still its as poor and undeveloped as Afganistan. Some things you just can't change.
(MikeC, 12 November 2009 13:02)

This is not exactly right. Serbia's foreign debt has always been 12+ times higher than that of Albania, but the GDP per capita is only 33% higher, and this does not consider the fact that there is a high % of GDP in Albania not recorded since it is considered as "grey economy" and the calculation includes Albanians which do not live in the country.

Not to mention here the 5+% of croatian and slovenian GDP that Serbia always swallowed during the ex-yugo times. Not to mention here the great help that US gave to Serbia by opening up its markets to Serbian products such as Yugos.

That goes to tell you who build Serbia. So it seems to me that the other way around is true, Serbia had all the time in the world to move towards Europe but it chose to engage in medival style wars and conflicts. Look at Croatia and Slovenia, which are 4 to 5 times better economically than Serbia, although Croatia did not suffer less from the conficts and wars than Serbia.

So do not through stones from your glass house.

"If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right;;

Right as soon as they stop dreaming that they are living in a country called Kosovo once those ;Kosovar`s; what ever that is, accept they live in a Serbia and Serbian territory then your argument will be valid until then have a good time in your illegal yard.

God bless all the Serb children in Kosovo!

Thank you Mr Kacin, but we as independent country have the option to chose from whom we want help. Slavic neighbours have far more troubles than we do, are very jelaous towards us and our rich history so cannot help us.

We may chose Austria, Germany UK, FRance or any other civilised country for all help that we need to integrate in to the EU.

The Slavic neighbours are all in a same rotten boat...and may sink at time.

I am really starting to get sick every time I hear this. West should help Albanians, Serbia should help Albanians and now Macedonia should help Albanians. It seems that the only people not required doing anything to help poor Albanians are they themselves. According to PRN they even have a healthy choice of who they want the help from and who they don’t. Aren’t you just beloved darlings! It all sounds so familiar - the only difference is that ex Yugoslavia did that for decades, whereas EU is obviously (rightfully) experiencing fatigue after mere years. Well, to PRN and others, where I live nobody likes ‘benefit thieves’ – dear Albanians included.
(Jelena, UK, 12 November 2009 12:05)

SO Jelena,

let me bring you down to earth,

for long time serbia has took form kosovo all we had, the gold and all other resources from Trepqa mine industries, ask your self who build you the NEW BELGRADE town, all with money form kosovo, all our wealth was stolen from us, we where controlled by belgrade for long time, so dont tell me who help us, during the milosheviqs regime all kosovo work force was sacked from there work places only for being albanins, only diaspora help the country to stay alive, i know that kosovo is poor, but I rather die this way then ever go under serbia again.

I am really starting to get sick every time I hear this. West should help Albanians, Serbia should help Albanians and now Macedonia should help Albanians. It seems that the only people not required doing anything to help poor Albanians are they themselves. According to PRN they even have a healthy choice of who they want the help from and who they don’t. Aren’t you just beloved darlings! It all sounds so familiar - the only difference is that ex Yugoslavia did that for decades, whereas EU is obviously (rightfully) experiencing fatigue after mere years. Well, to PRN and others, where I live nobody likes ‘benefit thieves’ – dear Albanians included.

Haven't albanians received enough help? The West has been in Kosovo for 10 years. Albanian has had all the time in the world to move closer to Europe but still its as poor and undeveloped as Afganistan. Some things you just can't change.

First: it is not a state but a province.
Second: most people in Western Europe are not looking forward to 2 million more people being able to travel to EU without visa. To be quite honest: we already have enough illegals in Western Europe.
(Ron, 12 November 2009 14:38)

You contradict yourself over and aver again.
If Kosova is a province, which means the province of a country, and as you claim Kosova is province of Serbia, then where is the problem. If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right???

Macedonia’s success also “caused sadness, especially in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has yet to succeed in this, and especially among Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims)”.
--
Umm, what do Albanians and Bosnian Muslims have in common? Why am I not surprised that Visa free travel has not been offered to them? However, it is extended to Serbians from Kosovo and BiH so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

If you thought the mass exodus of Albanians during NATOs bombing was something, what do you think will happen if they could suddenly travel freely - especially when half our ethnic Albanian citizens want to leave!

Look, the EU has practically created a prison camp in Kosovo. Serbians, Montenegrins and FYROMians will get Visa free travel while NATO creates operation "Strong Gate" to secure the "prison" boundaries.

It is a sad situation but completely understandable. The EU is not very tolerant towards illegal immigrants, especially those of a certain faith so those most likely to fit the bill have been isolated. And to think, the EU is being cheered for it!?!?

Lenard,

I agree no big deal for people to travel in EU since most people cant even afford it. with Balkan salary at woping 400Euros u cant aford vacation in France or Spain.

Some will be able to and its good for few people but in the end its just a small ilusanary triumph for Politicians to say look we have given u free visas.

Let's be realistic. Kosovo will not get White Schengen.

First: it is not a state but a province.
Second: most people in Western Europe are not looking forward to 2 million more people being able to travel to EU without visa. To be quite honest: we already have enough illegals in Western Europe.

"SO Jelena,

let me bring you down to earth,

for long time serbia has took form kosovo all we had, the gold and all other resources from Trepqa mine industries, ask your self who build you the NEW BELGRADE town, all with money form kosovo, all our wealth was stolen from us, we where controlled by belgrade for long time, so dont tell me who help us, during the milosheviqs regime all kosovo work force was sacked from there work places only for being albanins, only diaspora help the country to stay alive, i know that kosovo is poor, but I rather die this way then ever go under serbia again.
(berat, 12 November 2009 13:04)"

More Kosovo Albanian myths! Pristina was a muddy village post WWII, who do you think paid for it to be built as a modern city, its infrastructure etc? Who built and paid for the power stations etc. etc.?

As for Trepca, it was a black hole that employed many people but produced little profit, i.e. it was subsidized by the state for decades. Most of the materials found there can be produced more cheaply and in greater quantities in many places around the world.

Tito threw tens of billion of dollars in IMF funds at Kosovo and the south and for what? If Kosovo wasn't in the SFRY, it would have been part of Enver Hoxa's famously rich Albanian. It would have been so much better!

It's great living for free and also moaning that everything was stolen. So who is stealing your wealth now? Everybody but your own fellow kosovo albanians Thaci and Haradinaj..

Haven't albanians received enough help? The West has been in Kosovo for 10 years. Albanian has had all the time in the world to move closer to Europe but still its as poor and undeveloped as Afganistan. Some things you just can't change.
(MikeC, 12 November 2009 13:02)

This is not exactly right. Serbia's foreign debt has always been 12+ times higher than that of Albania, but the GDP per capita is only 33% higher, and this does not consider the fact that there is a high % of GDP in Albania not recorded since it is considered as "grey economy" and the calculation includes Albanians which do not live in the country.

Not to mention here the 5+% of croatian and slovenian GDP that Serbia always swallowed during the ex-yugo times. Not to mention here the great help that US gave to Serbia by opening up its markets to Serbian products such as Yugos.

That goes to tell you who build Serbia. So it seems to me that the other way around is true, Serbia had all the time in the world to move towards Europe but it chose to engage in medival style wars and conflicts. Look at Croatia and Slovenia, which are 4 to 5 times better economically than Serbia, although Croatia did not suffer less from the conficts and wars than Serbia.

So do not through stones from your glass house.

What is all the hoopla about instead of your small prison cell. You will be aloud to move around penitentiary and you don't have to pay the prison guards to do it. You are still in a prison and need your identity papers checked by the guards and their permission to do anything every where else. For a second you might feel free in the prison but reality will sink in very fast.

Borat - "for long time serbia has took form kosovo all we had, the gold and all other resources from Trepqa mine industries, ask your self who build you the NEW BELGRADE town, all with money form kosovo, all our wealth was stolen from us, we where controlled by belgrade for long time,"

The mines were closed just about the entire length of the Balkan wars, so before that the mines were controlled and run from Belgrade by Serbs, Croats and Slovenes when the country was Yugoslavia. Before that it was Tito who controlled everything. Funny how Albanians weren't complaining about all their wealth travelling north then!

So you can forget this fantasy that the big bad Serbs stole all of Trepca + Kosovo's assets. I suppose the Serbs took all of Albania's assets as well for the last 100 years. Or then again, maybe it's the Albanians fault that the Albanians are so poor within Serbia and Albanina.

you might start to improve your standard of living when you learn to grow up and take responsibility for your own actions and actually start putting all your energy into work instead of blaming everyone else for your misfortunes!

"Slavic neighbours have far more troubles than we do, are very jelaous towards us and our rich history so cannot help us. (PRN)"

-- Proof that while self-imposed lobotomies may make one happier personally, they don't help one's argument in a room of cognitive thinkers.

Let's be realistic. Kosovo will not get White Schengen. Ron

If same standards apply for Kosovo and Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro than Kosovo is not that far away.

"Slavic neighbours have far more troubles than we do, are very jelaous towards us and our rich history so cannot help us."
-PRN

Please God let this be some kind of sick joke. Rich history? Less problems than Slav neighbors? Hahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa:)))

If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right???
(Kosova-USA, 12 November 2009 16:30)
--
They are all eligible yes however this obviously does not apply to those in prison.

I did see some ethnic Albanians in Belgrade getting their Serbian passports so not everyone has allowed their senseless nationalism to keep them in self-imposed isolation.

"If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right???"
(Kosova-USA, 12 November 2009 16:30)

Yes, but only when they accept that they live in Serbia and are Serbian citizens. While they maintain that they are a separate country, they should not be awarded those provileges.

I agree no big deal for people to travel in EU since most people cant even afford it.
(ATM, 12 November 2009 11:26)
--
I'm all for Visa free travel. You'll be surprised how resourceful Balkan people can be with their money. They are not going to stay in 5 star hotels but they can all get into a Yugo, chip in for petrol, put the picnic basket in the boot with some Slanina, Kobasica, bread tomatoes, water and be good for a few days in the EU! Also, they will enjoy their holiday just as much as any other tourist.

Here are some travelling tips for my fellow Serbians:

1. Those countries that have not recognised Kosovo are far nicer to visit than those that have - try Romania, Greece, Slovakia and Cyprus first.

2. If you are driving through a country that has recognised Kosovo, you can always fill up at a Lukoil station or fill up before crossing the border.

3. Using point 2 above you can see many parts of Hungary and Bulgaria by spending practically nothing.

4. If visiting Slovakia, you can pop into Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic by spending next to nothing again.

There are enough affordable places mentioned to keep the average Serbian busy for a while.

Also, there's no need to visit Croatia or Montenegro either. I wonder how the tourist situation will change after 19 Dec?

Živeli!

If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right???
(Kosova-USA, 12 November 2009 16:30)

Yes, Kosovoa-USA, you are right again!

I think this is the 3rd time in a week that you and I agree on something...amazing!

(Denis, 12 November 2009 18:34)


Are you a stand up comedian? Your comparing Albania and Serbia! What does Albania produce and sell???
The Croatian and Slovenian GDP; oh! Serbia what have you done to have lost these two great economical states. Here is some news for you, Croatia and Slovenia are like the US banks, on paper they are profitable, but with US banks when you add the toxic loans they would have to stand on an extension ladder to see the gutter. So with Croatia and Slovenia, they receive large quantities of aid from the EU and they count that as of their earnings in the budget, but not for long because the EU is struggling and there will be less and less aid and more and more asset sales in both countries.

Of course the Albanians living in Kosovo did not benefit from Yugos being sold in the US. If memory serves me right there was a factory that produced parts for Zastava in Pristina that employed a large number of Albanian refugees. In fact there were other factories there as well and I remember when people in Serbia had to work Saturdays and all the money would go for the development of Kosovo.

What do have now” nothing!

European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin praised Macedonia and called on the country to help Kosovo get on the Schengen white list.

And when are they going to do something for themselves??

Reading day after day the nationalistic k-a comments, I would say never, far too busy in blaming the all world for their misery, while the criminals sitting in the govnt are laughing and filling their pockets! What a mess..

Why on earth Macedonia would lift one finger to help, to be stapped in the back right afterwards and have another kosovo II "unique" case in their back yard!

"for long time serbia has took form kosovo all we had, the gold and all other resources from Trepqa mine industries"

To add to what others have said, the main reason Slovenia and Croatia left was they were tired of having money flow out of their regions and into Kosovo.

No one stole Kosovo's wealth, it had a net positive cash flow from other regions under Tito.

Where do you guys find this nonsense?

Thank you Mr Kacin, but we as independent country have the option to chose from whom we want help. Slavic neighbours have far more troubles than we do, are very jelaous towards us and our rich history so cannot help us.

We may chose Austria, Germany UK, FRance or any other civilised country for all help that we need to integrate in to the EU.

The Slavic neighbours are all in a same rotten boat...and may sink at time.
(PRN, 12 November 2009 11:13)


Haha great comment PRN, aboslutely fantastic...but you sort of left out the part where albanians have illegally moved into all of the surrounding slavic nations and systematically cleansed the population through violence and intimidation...including the vandalisation of cemetaries, destructiona an desecration of holy sites and terrorising through bombs and hang grenade attacks.

Albanians have done such a great job that they all seem to be in a spastic rush to leave Serbia(Kosovo), Macedonia, Montenegro and all the rest to illegally enter EU countries....i.e. Tisa River incident

1. Those countries that have not recognised Kosovo are far nicer to visit than those that have - try Romania, Greece, Slovakia and Cyprus first.
(Zoran, 12 November 2009 14:45)

Zoran - Spain first :) Very nice country :)

I don't think anybody knows what the real benefits to any of the Western Balkan countries actually will be when they join the EU sometime in the distant future ( if the EU is still around).

The imposition of the EU legal framework on all the local customs and practices will hit many of the traditional activities here. Most people have no idea what full membership means.

Certainly in Fyrom, the average person in the stret still regards the EU as some kind of panacea for all the ills of the country. (No one seems to be prepared to blame the politicians - a venal, pathetic spinelless bunch overall.

The outlook for Western Europe is pretty grim with thousands of workers joining the dole queues on a monthly basis.Reports in the British media also show thousands of immigrants from the newer EU states sleeping rough under bridges and in parks as they cannot afford the fares back home.

Is this the Europe that Western balkans yearn to join?

Kosovo-USA
you seem to be contracdicting yourself as well. You argue that if Kosovo is a province of Serbia then it should be on the white list along with Serbia because all provinces of states get on white list when state does. I would agree with that. However, you also constantly claim Kosovo case to be unique. As such then it does not imply that Kosovo Province gets on white list when it's Parental state Serbia does.
See the cake? You can have it, but not eat it.

Kosovo-USA,

As Kosovo is ruled by UN other rules apply to the Kosovo province.

But my personal opinion is: Serbia with the province of Kosovo should join EU!
Special status for Kosovo can be discussed. BUT NO UNILATERAL STEPS PLEASE!

And on a personal note: please get a life! Why should rules apply to 6 billion people on the planet but not to 2 million Albanians in Kosovo?

Sorry my friend. International law is much more important then Kosovo. MUCH MORE!!

"If all Kosovar citizens areSerbian citizens,then they should be on white list as well,right;;

Right as soon as they stop dreaming that they are living in a country called Kosovo once those ;Kosovar`s; what ever that is, accept they live in a Serbia and Serbian territory then your argument will be valid until then have a good time in your illegal yard.

God bless all the Serb children in Kosovo!