Kosovo talks produce deal on customs stamps

''which will be of great benefit to our people in Kosovo and our companies, and which will completely nullify Priština's unilateral ban on trade with the rest of Serbia," he told Tanjug. ''


To all serbs: Dosen't the statment above sound stupid to you?? By his words how can half of a country make a ban on rest of the country?? He try to consider Kosovo as part of his country when in real life(reality) it isn't.

One thing he dosen't get is that 80 countrys recognize Kosovo as independent and sovreign including big powers as US,France,Great Britain,Italy,Japan and Germany. He also dosen't understand that Kosovo leadership and the people of Kosovo will never accept for Kosovo in any way to be controled or influenced by Serbia.


He is still fighting a lost battle. But this time only with it's own people since he tryes to convince them that Kosovo is ''rest of the country''. The EU and Merkel it self have make it clear to serbs. If not then it will make it more clear to you in the future.

Since Serbia cannot get Kosovo as long as albanians don't want to give it away then Serbia will have to choose EU. hen Kosovo army will be formed in a couple of years everything will be more clear to Serbia.


I am just sorry for the serbian people wich have fake leaders trying to fool them everyday by lying to them that ''Kosovo is rest of the country''. I think the serbian people by now knowes what Kosovo is!!

According to Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanović, the stamp will be inscribed with "Customs of Kosovo", and will not bear "any other insignia related to the (Kosovo Albanian) authorities in Priština".

ej Borko, tell the truth please.

US of A cutoms seal says "US Customs" and not USA Customs, so what is the difference if seal says: " Kosova Customs"?
What happened to UNMIK-Kosova custom satmps, or pec,pristina and what ever you like to call them?

I got some news guys, Serbia agreed early on today for Kosovo to use Kosovo Customs stamps. To be honest those were the one used for the past three years. I just don't get it why Serbia agreed now! Maybe some kind of recognition I guess.

the stamp will be inscribed with "Customs of Kosovo", and will not bear "any other insignia related to the (Kosovo Albanian) authorities in Priština".

This is being served to the Serbs as a diplomatic victory.This is the same stamp that Kosovo uses since independence.It is not any different from what you serbs didn't want to agree in June.We use the same stamp even with the countries that have recognized us.Now that your goods are not allowed to cross the border anymore you accept the stamp.Serbs how does the stamp of your other autonomous province Vojvodina looks like?

You have to admit, Albanians aren't as stupid as Serbs take them to be. 12 years ago, they could not even get out of their homes without being afraid of Serbs. Today, the Serbs have just agreed to accept the Kosovo stamps. I know, I know there isn't a flag nor an emblem on the stamp but it is NOT a Serbian stamp. At one time, all this was unthinkable for Serbs. If you told a Serb that your Bus would be turned away in the Kosovo border just because Thaqi decided so, they would think you are crazy but now that it is a stark reality. You have to admit, Serbia didn't gain anything since 1999. As time passes, their "Jerusalem" is slowly slipping away.

So Serbia accepted custom stamps that Kosovo has been using for the past three years? So what was Serbia doing these past three years, screaming and yelling that they won't allow any goods to go to Serbia because of the stamps?

They accepted something they swore they will never do.
Watch them spin this into " but there is no Republic of Kosovo on the stamp, so we won". I would be curious to know how many Serbs would be willing to buy this spin.

One wonders why Serbia did the "unthinkable" and accepted Kosovo stamps?
Based on comments from Serbia Chamber of Commerce, it was economic pressure. The ban of goods was really starting to hurt Serbian companies, wasn't it? The train may have already left the station though as Kosovo business have now realized they can do without Serbian products.
What a way to shoot yourself on the foot Serbia!

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.
(Another Canadian Serb, 2 September 2011 15:08)

I only wish one could say the same about yours:
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=08&dd=25&nav_id=76070

"According to Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanović, the stamp will be inscribed with "Customs of Kosovo", and will not bear "any other insignia related to the (Kosovo Albanian) authorities in Priština"."

Like the existing ones? The Serbian Ministry of Truth at work!

(Demi, 2 September 2011 12:17)

I’m just curious, with what are the Albanians going to form this Kosovo Army? What are they producing in Kosovo that gives them that level income where they will be able to afford such a luxury as an armed forces?
Let me just explain to you what this means; to form an army means setting aside money to pay wages/salaries to the officer corp. and enlisted men/women plus you have to purchase equipment such as aircraft, armored vehicles such as personnel carriers and tanks then its communication and radar systems and so the list goes on and on.
Today the entire Albanian Kosovo institutions are being paid for by the EU so what is going to change in a couple of years that will make Kosovo this new beacon money making enterprise?
These are many questions to be answered but I doubt you have thought this one through before making this statement.
On the other hand if you have a very close look at what has transpired you will see that your Albanians, backed by the west, have had to compromise with a small country – I think that you should look at your leaders and see who is fooling whom.
The reason your Albanians have had to compromise is simple, the west wants some resolution to this and they can’t afford to go on with this for too long nor can they use force because they have had a taste of their superior weapons and training in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last month alone the US lost 48 troops in Iraq; you know the place where everything is nice and fine and Obama could with draw his troops.
As far as the UN is concerned, and this nonsense espoused by you lot that Russia and China are not strong enough to do anything well that’s simply explained as the west for now have the numbers and that is all they have otherwise Kosovo would have been competed a long time ago – the next round of “stimulus” in the US will GUARANTEE the death knell of the US as a power of any type in this world. The EU is going into another recession; as if they left the last one.

"What is certain is that we are going in with the conviction that regulating the customs stamp issue, in line with Resolution 1244 and UNMIK's stance, will allow a normal turnover of goods, which will be of great benefit to our people in Kosovo and our companies, and which will completely nullify Priština's unilateral ban on trade with the rest of Serbia," he told Tanjug.

Well, the ban on trade would better be called 'mutual' than 'unilateral'.

"Maybe the Kosovo tactics 'We demand a custom stamp with state symbols' was helpful for this compromise."

I am honestly curious where you have found that information. If you have a source could you please provide a link?

No it isn't a diplomatic victory for Serbia, but its kind of embarassing for the populist Kosovo Albanian government led burning of Serbian goods and all the childish cheerleading going on in forums such as these.

When will people get it through their thick heads that mutual progress is the aim? We have fools on both sides who would rather prefer for their 'enemy' to suffer a little more, whilst they are suffering a little less. Miserable, sad people with no idea what is good for themselves or their people.

The idea is not to make the 'enemy' suffer. The idea is to move forward and to grow, that is the primary objective. It might be too much to hope that we grow together, but lets at least desire to see our 'side' grow, rather than see both of us fail.

If you agree with my sentiments then stand up when you hear stupidity and slap it down. Its the human thing to do.

Edita is a very pretty woman!

She must have been a model before she became a politician.

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.
(Another Canadian Serb, 2 September 2011 15:08)

No one can compare to the former Miss Serbia, Sonja Liht. What a stunning creature.

Edita is a very pretty woman!

She must have been a model before she became a politician.

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.
(Another Canadian Serb, 2 September 2011 15:08)

Still not as lucky as you Serbs.Do you want to trade for Marija Serifovic?

Thank you once again bganon for being one of the remaining voices of reason around here. This is going to be hailed as some sort of diplomatic "victory" by both sides. Serbs are going to cheer because official "state symbols" of Kosovo are not used, while Albanians will cheer because some sort of customs stamp is being used. In reality, a compromise was reached and that's the only way to move forward. Thaci and others in Pristina were, only 24 hours ago, boasting that state symbols would not only be used, but no alternative would be accepted. Guess that sort of deflates another one of his boasts. As for Belgrade, it can look as status neutral all it wants, but no customs seals are required for what normally passes for internal trade.

At the end of the day, the compromise solution was the one proposed by the EU and I suspect the Cooper's solution was given to each side with a good deal of emphasis/pressure to accept. Otherwise these talks would have broken down again today, so as far as I'm concerened, the "winner" is both sides and neither side. I'm happy with the outcome as it allows both sides some breathing room but takes away from the more extremist boasting. This is how things should be progressing in regards to Kosovo's future status and those who frequently use this site to only talk smack are almost always those who live far far away from the area.

As as regards to the apparent second subject in this thread on who's hot or not, knowing full well the proclivity of Balkan people to look unbelievably beautiful, I'm led to conclude that anyone choosing Balkan politics as a profession will fall victim to premature aging and decrepitude. While we're on the subject of looks, can someone please tell Tadic to do something with that little streak of black hair on the side of his otherwise white hair head?

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.
(Another Canadian Serb, 2 September 2011 15:08)

I only wish one could say the same about yours:
[link]
(Bloody Mary, 2 September 2011 16:16)


Oh the banter. You've got to love it haha!

To bganon: agree that mutual progress should be the goal. But Albanians have made plenty of progress since Milosevic and Serbia unfortunately has decided to become a permanent barrier to progress. If the Kosovo-Serbia relationship is perceived as a zero sum game, that is absolutely wrong. Mutual progress is possible but as things stand it is Serbia that has chosen to stand on Kosovo's way.

"I am just sorry for the Albanian people which have fake leaders (criminal drug and human organ dealers) trying to fool them everyday by lying to them that ''Kosova is a country''. I think the Albanian people by now knowes what Kosova is!!
(Demi, 2 September 2011 12:17)
Demi, I helped you out a bit with your English. The simple corrections better express what you really mean.

Has anyone noticed that almost all the women, on all sides, are not the easiest on the eyes? That includes the EU's Ashton, and contributors from Austria. Why so few good looking babes in Balkan politics, when the Balkans are know for beautiful women?

Edita is a very pretty woman!

She must have been a model before she became a politician.

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.

I am honestly curious where you have found that information. If you have a source could you please provide a link?
(Bloody Mary, 2 September 2011 19:29)

No problem: I found it here on B92 in the great interview with Thaci, King of Kosovo:
Q: "The start of a new round of negotiations is expect, unofficially the EU is in favor of a Kosovo customs stamp without the coat of arms and flag - is that acceptable to you and why?"

A: "The government of the Republic of Kosovo is dedicated to the inter-state dialogue with Serbia. Earlier we reached joint conclusions and we expect Serbia to at last recognize the customs stamps of Kosovo with state symbols of the Republic of Kosovo"

Has anyone noticed that almost all the women, on all sides, are not the easiest on the eyes? That includes the EU's Ashton, and contributors from Austria. Why so few good looking babes in Balkan politics, when the Balkans are know for beautiful women?
(MamaMia, 2 September 2011 20:00)

Ataman would disagree with you. Vlora Çitaku (http://bch1.tv/wp-content/uploads/Citaku-Marti-po-b%C3%ABn-balanc%C3%AB-joekzistente-n%C3%AB-mes-t%C3%AB-shtyp%C3%ABsit-dhe-viktim%C3%ABs.jpg) still holds her own in this domain. And I am only talking about being easy on the eyes. :-)

A: "The government of the Republic of Kosovo is dedicated to the inter-state dialogue with Serbia. Earlier we reached joint conclusions and we expect Serbia to at last recognize the customs stamps of Kosovo with state symbols of the Republic of Kosovo"
(Analyst, 2 September 2011 20:44)

Thanks, although I don't get this statement since there are obviously no state symbols on the stamps. Lost in translation?

"No one can compare to the former Miss Serbia, Sonja Liht. What a stunning creature."

But "Liht" is not a Serbian name at all. The woman is something else other than ethnic Serb.

I worry about the property records being used against Serbs - that the Serb owners will now be accused of "war crimes" and the like so that they can't return/get their property back and hence Albanians can freely take over their property.

"I got some news guys, Serbia agreed early on today for Kosovo to use Kosovo Customs stamps. To be honest those were the one used for the past three years. I just don't get it why Serbia agreed now!"
(Mendo, 2 September 2011 17:46)

That's good news. One stupid problem solved. Maybe the Kosovo tactics 'We demand a custom stamp with state symbols' was helpful for this compromise - just like it's customary for unions when it comes to salary negotiations: We demand 10% more (custom seals with state symbols and 'Republic of Kosovo' on it), you offer 1% (custom seals only with 'UNMIK-Kosovo'), and 3% (status neutral seals with only 'Kosovo customs' on it) is the great compromise?

Last month alone the US lost 48 troops in Iraq;
(sj, 2 September 2011 23:41)

Dude, as usual you continue to state your wishes, not the facts. August 2011 was the first month that US did not have any combat or non-combat related miliary deaths in Iraq. There had been a couple of months before where US did not have combat military deaths, but had non-combat ones; but August 2011 was the first one US did not have either.



However please keep continue speaking about your fantasies about deaths regardless of what the topic is about so we can have a good laugh :)

(sj, 3 September 2011 13:25)
You are an amazing person of misinformation. I can not figure if you dream up your info, live in a room with a computer tied to some Russian propaganda site or just set out to say anything knowing it can be refuted.
The Iraq statistics are correct ZERO deaths in August, why do you say there were 48 when you know anyone with half a brain can prove you wrong.
By the way have you checked the IMF lately. David Lipton just replaced Lipsky as First Deputy Managing Director, another American which means that an American is still the NO2 and an European is No 1 since its formation.
From your rantings I am begining to have hope for the American economy's future as so far you have not been right on anything.

To all the Albanians saying that this agreement between Serbia and the Pristina Authorities is the first step in Serbia recognizing their fruitless unilateral declaration of independence, I ask why? This agreement and the accompanying documentation referes to Kosovo nowhere as a State, no where. Serbia however is refered to as one. The Administrative crossings are still refered to as Administartive crossings and not border crossings in the agreement. The custom stamp of "Kosovo" also has not state symbols on it and is not refered to as "The Republic of Kosovo" but only as Kosovo. I mean what where the customs stamps supposed to say instead of "Customs of Kosovo", Kosovo has no other name. So to all my Albanian friends, I dont see how this is a victory for "Kosovo". And by the way the Albanians have not been using "Kosovo Customs" for the past three years, they have been using "Customs of The Republic of Kosovo". So the Albanians are the ones who renounced their own position on the custom stamp issue. Major victory for Serbia! The custom stamp and the accompanying documentation refers nowhere to Kosovo as a sovereign state, the crossings are not recognized as border crossings but as administrative, and Pristinas custom seal has no state symbols on it or any reference to it being a "Republic". Serbia only gained from this agreement, and lost nothing. The Albanians also gained because now they can export to Central Serbia and the other Province Vojvodina. Also they will now be able to passy their goods through the rest of Serbia instead of taking an 8 hour detour around the rest of the country. Once again, major victory for Serbia!

Bgannon, if you mean mutual progress is Serbia giving a little each time until anything Serbian is lost from Kosovo then yes this is the aim.
This is the aim of Albanians and Europe.
So where do you draw the line at mutual progress?

Seems to me it's only the Albanians who are progressing slowly but surely.

"At the end of the day, the compromise solution was the one proposed by the EU and I suspect the Cooper's solution was given to each side with a good deal of emphasis/pressure to accept."
(Mike, 2 September 2011 23:49)

Be sure, that's how the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, 'mediated' by the EU, works in general: Both sides come up with their extremist ideas, EU listens, forms a compromise solution, and Serbia and Pristina have to accept it.

Great news, hopefully everyone in the region can benefit from trade between the two; everyone should be able to appreciate this and forget about that silly political war of words for five minutes.

As we're talking about looks, is it just me or does Boris Tadic look a bit like George Clooney?

http://www.topnews.in/files/Boris-Tadic-1.jpg Is this Clooney?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/George_Clooney_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29_3Alt1.jpg/220px-George_Clooney_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29_3Alt1.jpg Is this Tadic?

Also I don't think female politicians are well known for their good looks. Being ugly was part of Maggie Thatcher the Milk Snatcher's look and appearance. Arguably it was one of her strengths politically.

However Yulia Tymoshenko was a pretty woman and as for Vlora Citaku... well I'd probably smash her back door in!

Peggy I'd be more than happy to hear what you would do in this Kosovo stamp situation.

Let me tell you my position - you choose 'battles' carefully and don't fight 'battles' you can't win.

If this 'fight' is about creeping authority, which I think we are in agreement about, then the diplomatic fight surely from the Serbian perspective is to identify issues on which we can creep.

I really don't think it would be any good to close ones eye's, insisting that because one's eyes are closed that it is dark and it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. And for as long as we keep saying that it is dark, it will remain so to us.

There is such thing as realism and no constitution is going to save for example the jobs of those who would be affected by Serbian exports, as a result of the stamp issue.

"Kosovo talks produce deal on customs stamps"

Ok, so they agreed that the Kosovo Customs stamp (which Kosovo has been using since 2008) is fine. That's great news since it will again allow people of both sides freely trade with each other.

"Why so few good looking babes in Balkan politics, when the Balkans are know for beautiful women?"

MamaMia

Because they invest their hard earned money in bigger boobies rather then in a university degree.

No, because the statement was made BEFORE the compromise was reached. That's why it is called an compromise: No UMNIK-Kosovo, no state symbol, only status neural stamp. All clear now?
(Analyst, 3 September 2011 10:27)

No, that's why it's called a hoax. The "compromise" is that Serbia will accept the existing stamps. According to your logic Thaci now only has to demand Preševo and Serbia will recognize Kosovo?

Have these talks actually yielded one positive result for Serbia? I guess in a years time Pristina will send the special forces again and Serbia will agree to Kosovo emblems and call it a 'compromise'.

This place will still be called Kosovo and calling it that is as acceptable to Serbs as it was a millennium before. What's not acceptable is to call it Albania.
(ZZ, 3 September 2011 10:53)

And what is it called now? Rigel VII?

Whether Kosovars or Serbs want to spin this however they want to. The true fact it this: Kosovo scored a major diplomatic victory towards establishing sovereignty with neighboring Serbia. About 184 countries have no state seals in Customs (including all EU nations). Kosovo does not have either. Serbia accepted Customs of Kosovo. Thank you.

"This is going to be hailed as some sort of diplomatic "victory" by both sides. Serbs are going to cheer because official "state symbols" of Kosovo are not used, while Albanians will cheer because some sort of customs stamp is being used. "

Uh, Mike, have you looked at the Serbian comments? The Serbs lost this round and know it. One medium-size frog is now being swallowed. (Thaci's threat of a real bullfrog - adding state symbols - makes it a little less disgusting. Maybe.)

At the regional summit at Viminacium today - one last chance not to invite the Kosovo government to something - Tadic said that all outstanding problems in the Balkans will be resolved in 5-10 years. Guess when he plans on standing before the General Assembly and calling on the nations of the world to recognize Kosovo, a close partner and special friend of his own Republic of Serbia.

(sj, 2 September 2011 23:41)

When and how we are going to form an army? I bet the arab people asked Israel the same thing when they created their country...

Before 1948 there was no state called Israel. But today it is a big power in the middle east with the strongest military force in that region.



Serbia is on the right way on recognizing Kosovo. Goods wich will be exported to or through Serbia will have an sign 'Made in Kosovo'. This exports will pay for the military of Kosovo. Be it weak or strong it will be an army wich will secure the territory of Kosovo.

You said Kosovo will never dare to declare independence but it did. Now you say that Kosovo cannot form an army but we will see that it will!!

Agim Ceku is forming that army and he said to me it will be formed in just a couple of years :)

"Thanks, although I don't get this statement since there are obviously no state symbols on the stamps. Lost in translation?"
(Bloody Mary, 2 September 2011 22:21)

No, because the statement was made BEFORE the compromise was reached. That's why it is called an compromise: No UMNIK-Kosovo, no state symbol, only status neural stamp. All clear now?

When this farce of an attempt to create a narco-state is finally put to rest, and it will be as sure as empires rise and fall. This place will still be called Kosovo and calling it that is as acceptable to Serbs as it was a millennium before. What's not acceptable is to call it Albania.

However Yulia Tymoshenko was a pretty woman and as for Vlora Citaku... well I'd probably smash her back door in!
(Ian, UK, 3 September 2011 12:25)

Don't you be getting yourself all mommocked up over some foreign women now,Ian--them disco days be over long time ago.

As far as the UN is concerned, and this nonsense espoused by you lot that Russia and China are not strong enough to do anything well that’s simply explained as the west for now have the numbers and that is all they have otherwise Kosovo would have been competed a long time ago – the next round of “stimulus” in the US will GUARANTEE the death knell of the US as a power of any type in this world. The EU is going into another recession; as if they left the last one.
(sj, 2 September 2011 23:41)

People of your ilk have been predicting the demise of the USA from before you were born. Each time their predictions were wrong, as yours will be, mark my words. Perhaps you should ask them how they learned a very important lesson, namely, "Never bet against the USA."

If you told a Serb that your Bus would be turned away in the Kosovo border just because Thaqi decided so, they would think you are crazy but now that it is a stark reality.
(10800 km, 2 September 2011 20:26)

Great example, something to be really proud of. And at the same time, these clowns are talking about European values, himan rights, free movement and so on.

(Demi, 3 September 2011 01:45)

Albanians are not Jews so don’t compare Israel and Kosovo because you people don’t have that level of wealth or lobby power in the US. Your just dreaming here about an army, mate.
What goods are made in Kosovo? If its BS then I accept that you Albanians are the producers of the greatest BS in Europe but how do you export that?
Hello is anyone home or are the lights are on and no one is home? Or do just ramble on and on – YOU NEED MONEY TO HAVE AN ARMY.
On this issue of stamps, who cares what the albos do with stamps as all states in the US have their own symbols etc. If you people are hanging your hats on this stamp business to recognize Kosovo then your might naïve or downright stupid.

(icj1, 3 September 2011 02:00)

Well dude if it makes you happy there you are no deaths in Iraq, but the reality is 48 in August and that is a fact. If this Wiki leaks business has not opened your eyes to the lies and crap the US Government spills out then live in happy land all you like.
Body bags are coming back every week from Iraq, but they tell you it’s from Afghanistan because things are great in old Bagdad and that why the US could pull out their combat troops, but it’s funny how its just as dangerous to live in that country as in the past even though there is all this peace brought on after training the Iraqis in democracy.
I like people like; no brains but straight to an official US government website and there it is; no deaths in August, but just continue to laugh; I do every time I see death numbers of body bags.

(The Count of Kosova, 3 September 2011 03:01)

Ahh but this is where I make my living mate. The Us is on the verge of having another printing spree called a stimulus package. Print money to give as tax cuts so people will spend but people are too afraid to spend because of the state of the country. Look at how much is repaired following the cyclone; where bridges stood for 150 years there will be road closures.
For that matter the US went to war against Gaddafi, but the man now in charge of Tripoli et al is an Islamic fundamentalists with very close connections to Osama’s people – bet on the US you say; not even on your life.

"Uh, Mike, have you looked at the Serbian comments? The Serbs lost this round and know it. One medium-size frog is now being swallowed. (Thaci's threat of a real bullfrog - adding state symbols - makes it a little less disgusting. Maybe.)" (Amer)

-- Well it would see the hardliners on both sides aren't happy and are interpreting this as a setback for their own side. I expected DSS officials to condemn this, both in Belgrade and in Mitrovica where they have a strong representation. But Self-Determination is also interpreting this as a defeat since it's understood as a "compromise" by Pristina's part too. Tahiri wasn't greated in the most diplomatic way upon her return.

Aside from that, those Serbs seeing it as another capitulation are those removed from the area. I wouldn't be surprised if average Serbian public opinion *in* Serbia is more ambivalent, even to the point of uninterested. For me, I'm ok with the outcome if for no other reason than that the flow of goods continues to move from central Serbia to Kosovo. I'm quite sure a lot of local Albanians are happy too. It's been over a month since they've had Plasma Keks. :)

Peggy reality is telling me that after all the fuss about the customs stamps and diplomatic and economic defeat that came with it, that Stefanovic and company haven't got anywhere.

In other words we might have avoided this nonsense by not disputing the issue in the first place, or at least made a big deal about being co-opeartive on this issue and seeking concessions in other areas.

On the one hand you have a strong opinion about what is going on, but on the other don't have any opinions about what to do instead? Thats a very comfortable position. Instead of complaining about the Serbian government position why don't you 'spit' out your own opinion?

Do you not want to state an opinion because you feel as if the situation is lost? Do you not want to state an opinion because you believe that Serbia should send in the army, but in reality you know NATO would beat back Serbia and a new age of international sanctions and economic chaos would befall the country?

The situation is a poor one, it is not under our control. We can only alter certain situations, fight diplomatic battles.

Ataman would disagree with you. Vlora Çitaku ([link]) still holds her own in this domain. And I am only talking about being easy on the eyes. :-)
(Jetoni, US, 2 September 2011 21:16)

She looks like the drummer in my rock band.

(pss, 3 September 2011 14:57)

Just keep looking at the internet and you’ll be fine. I am amazed at just how you people are brainwashed in that everything you see on the internet that comes from the US government you believe every word – absolutely amazed and this is even after Wiki Leaks.
If you look at the rate of joblessness in the US on official websites its only 9.1%, but these days even the die hearts openly agree that its closer to 22%. Who pointed this out to you Albos? I did two years ago.
Now on the issue of Iraq, I have never looked at a Russian website as I have difficulty even reading the Cyrillic alphabet so any information is useless to me. You see this little news item of the 48 US killed was mentioned in a Malaysia newspaper and I contacted a friend who has extremely good contacts who confirmed that number.
Here is another item just published that may never be mentioned in the US:
“British and US intelligence cooperated closely with Libya, with prisoners being offered to Moamer Kadhafi's regime under the rendition programme, a report said Saturday citing files found in Tripoli.”
Nice people the US and UK. While they tell you one thing they do the opposite. Oh by the way where are those western Human Rights groups to condemn this – what not a peep out of them; what a surprise.
While the people in the US maybe kept in the dark and fed on BS, the rest is not stupid to believe all the crapola emanating from Washington.
Now your on the IMF hobby horse, you see since WW2 the arrangement was that the Europeans have the MD position, but the US is the deputy and this is despite the fact the US was the larger and much more wealthier economy up to recently. You can read all you like on the website because it does not give you a picture of what is going on behind closed doors.
Let me tell you this much – if the west peeves off the Chinese then Beijing will walk out and the whole, and let me repeat it for you again, the entire IMF system falls over like a deck of cards. So you can appoint John Lipton, David Lipton, David Bekham or my late grandfathers or even my grandmothers but you see the US and Europeans would not be inviting countries like Brazil, China, India or Russia to the “dining table” which has been their exclusive playground for the last 6 decades if the world is not changing.
Bye the way, those “units” held by the US in the IMF that you quoted are part of your ever growing and unmanageable debt of now $15 Trillion.
“From your rantings I am beginning to have hope for the American economy's future”
How many jobs were created in August 2011? NO A BLESSED ONE mate.
The real test of how well your economy is going is to take a drive through those areas after the cyclone season and see what has been repaired and what has been abandoned – New York has already stated that it does not have the money to do any work and will have to look at abandoning the idea of repairing bridges on various roads and will simply close them. I see that more cyclones are on their way – chin up, it could be worse such as the big earthquake in California.

(icj1, 3 September 2011 18:13)

This tells it all “Almost 4,500 US soldiers have died there” (Iraq). When the first casualty figures started being published and when they came up to 500 for about a week nothing then the US started again, but they started at 450 when it reached about 700, silence once again and the clock was restarted at 550 and so it goes on and on.
My particular favorite is the town of Fallujah in Iraq where US forces had to do some real fighting – street to street. Any military person who has been involved in combat will tell you that this is the deadliest form of combat or the equalized. No amount of artillery or airpower can help because your forces and combatants are so close together you would risk killing your own troops firing from a distance.
The US had to use the marines and when it was all over the US lost 1,200, I bet this is figure is not on any of the official websites.
For your information the BBC is a UK Government-owned organization so why do you think it would print the truth? What because its living in freedom and democracy; grow up and read some of that stuff on Wiliki Leaks and you just might see the truth.
Every country has a BBC-style media group and they print what is in the “national interest”. There are ground rules which are to lengthy to be covered here but the BBC plays the game according to those rules. They are very sophisticated in that the BBC will reveal government corruption etc but what is in the national interest is kept under wraps.

Don't you be getting yourself all mommocked up over some foreign women now,Ian--them disco days be over long time ago.
(come back home,son., 3 September 2011 16:35)

Well you do wonder why people like me go on drunken holidays to places like Prague, we love the foreign pretty women ;)

Much nicer than our own haha

"Tadic said that all outstanding problems in the Balkans will be resolved in 5-10 years. Guess when he plans on standing before the General Assembly and calling on the nations of the world to recognize Kosovo, a close partner and special friend of his own Republic of Serbia."
(Amer, 3 September 2011 01:36)

This can only happen after Kosovo gets a clean government and all the suspected war criminals from the past that are currently playing politicians spend their time in prison and are replaced by correctly elected real politicians who are not extremists but share democratic and European values. To have the current Kosovo as a special friend would be like having Milosevic's Serbia as a special friend - no state can be proud of that.

Bgannon, all I see is that Serbia is giving more and more concessions all the time.
I don't see Albanians in any sort of retreat while Serbs definitely are by giving more concessions.
I don't have answers but surely conceding all the time cannot be the answer either. I am not a politician with the task of fixing it and I certainly don't envy the ones who are but let's get real here.

You are big on reality on the ground. What is this reality telling you?
Just spit it out. Tell us how fare can Serbia concede and still retain Kosovo?

Well dude if it makes you happy there you are no deaths in Iraq, but the reality is 48 in August and that is a fact.
(sj, 3 September 2011 13:25)

I'm not happy or un-happy about that. I don't care whether USA had 4.8, 48, 480 or more deaths in Iraq. It does not affect me.

My point was that your information was wrong and US did not have any military death in Iraq in August 2011. If the "48" in your numerical system means 0 in the normal numerical system then, yes, what you're saying is a fact :).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-14745907

sj,
"You see this little news item of the 48 US killed was mentioned in a Malaysia newspaper and I contacted a friend who has extremely good contacts who confirmed that number"
This was in a Malaysia paper and conirmed by your "friend" well hold the presses that cinches it, I would always believe your friend over legitimate websites.
I earn a good wage and live a good life, so I think I will trust the people that have enabled me to do this than trust your "friend".

As far as the IMF goes they are changing and allowing other emerging economies more control. The plan is to give the BRIC countries 6% more voting rights. Does this totally tip the scale--in no way. It takes a 85% voting majority to pass major policies and actions. Do you know the one country that can block any major action. The US as it has over 16% of the voting power. Not China, not Russia.
True appointments come and go, and you are free to predict the future all you want, as with a million people there will be a million predictions all as credible as yours, but you want to change the facts of the present which is well documented.
I do not know what the true future will be in the US but I know we are resillant and have been through tougher times. And I know that as of today we STILL have the power, as evidenced by the whining from Serbia in the act that Russia was powerless to pass their presidential statement.
The truth is this:
You rely too much on opinion pieces that make statements without any supporting evidence and repeat them as facts.
You are oblivious to the fact that a true meltdown of the US economy would have global consequences.
You apparently have never been to the US and base your "knowledge" on any news article that supports your dreams of a failed America.
You criticize the BBC and say it withholds the truths from the people. Can you without a doubt say any news source prints the whole truth, including your Malaysian rag. Baiscally you are the one who is being fooled in that you assume if it is anti-American or most definitely anti-Albanian it MUST be true.
I am an American and I have faith in our way of life. Do I think we are perfect, no way. There is only one perfect place and someday I plan to be there!

This tells it all “Almost 4,500 US soldiers have died there” (Iraq). When the first casualty figures started being published and when they came up to 500 for about a week nothing then the US started again, but they started at 450 when it reached about 700, silence once again and the clock was restarted at 550 and so it goes on and on.
(sj, 4 September 2011 01:40)

Actually, I did not know that only 4,500 US soldiers died in Iraq. This is probably the most successful war in history when you consider that with the hundreds of thousands of soldiers that the US deployed, only 4,500 were killed.



My particular favorite is the town of Fallujah in Iraq where US forces had to do some real fighting – street to street. Any military person who has been involved in combat will tell you that this is the deadliest form of combat or the equalized. No amount of artillery or airpower can help because your forces and combatants are so close together you would risk killing your own troops firing from a distance.
The US had to use the marines and when it was all over the US lost 1,200, I bet this is figure is not on any of the official websites.
(sj, 4 September 2011 01:40)

That’s my favorite part, too. Indeed, those 1,200, if they actually happened (sorry to say that, but being almost all “facts” presented by you in these forums wrong, I need to take that number with caution) are included in the 4,500



For your information the BBC is a UK Government-owned organization so why do you think it would print the truth? What because its living in freedom and democracy; grow up and read some of that stuff on Wiliki Leaks and you just might see the truth.
(sj, 4 September 2011 01:40)

Because BBC reported the months when the US had the highest casualties, as well as the lowest

(icj1, 4 September 2011 22:05)

Actually if you double that number you just might get a better picture of the number of US deaths in Iraq up to so called cessation of combat operation in Iraq. Since that time the US has continued to lose troops due to sniper, road side bombs etc not on the scale as before.
Fallujah was street to street fighting so I suggest that you ask anyone in the armed services what that means. I know for a fact that it’s the worst form of combat – this is where you are so close to the enemy that artillery and helicopters or aircraft are useless because you would bomb your own troops.
As I have said on numerous occasions you have to go well beyond the internet to find out the truth and that is the reason why I keep reminding people that government’s tell big lies in the “national interests” and the US government is the worst as its combined losses in Iraq and Afghanistan now exceeds 20 000. This fact HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED on any US government website.
And no the 1200 is not part of the of any official death statistics. In all honesty I really don’t give a hoot whether you believe me or not as I am not here to prove to you or any of your Albanians a thing.
I literally campaigned for well over six months on the issue of the real unemployment figures in the US and I was hounded down as lies and unthruths, but now I have even some of the die hearts accepting that its closer to 22% as the government covers up these figures. Now if they lie about something like this why would they not hide something even worse as deaths in combat expacially since the US has lost it battle for Iarq.
On the BBC issue, they uphol;d the national interest. Initially most of the media did report US losses but its how numbers were later manipulated in that interest. I don’t trust RTS either as it’s a government organization.


(pss, 4 September 2011 14:33)

All media are manipulated for the “greater good” and that Malaysian rag is one of the worst in the world. What are you talking about Malaysia being anti Albanian – it has recognized Kosovo.
I have arguied long and hard about US unemployment figures being false when claiming they were only 9.5% but I was shouted down but now even your media admints its well inexcess of 20%
You can feel all you like but the truth is the truth and the US has gone beyond the point of no return and is now spending on the basis when they win all will be fine.

(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51
The only logical response is You are a true legend in your own mind.
Just because you have some opinion pieces that give numbers contrary to legit figures they are not necessarily credible. I think I will stick to verifiable sources than someone saying believe me, there is nothing to support my claims but I am right. It reminds me of the Rev Jim Jones, he spread his version of the truth and how the corrupt govt was all lies. Him and his followers set up a compound in Guyana, eventually they had a Kool-aid party and the rest is history.
Unemployment figures can also be manipulated and those who want to be the doomsday sayers get creative. There are many people who do not work that can be thrown into the mix but these are people who are not activiely seeking employment, disabled, early retirees, and some who like to live on public assistance. You can ask your friends in Malaysia, but I live it everyday.
We in America have been taught to hold out for our dream job. Some have to now learn that may not be possible and need to look outside the box. For instance healthcare has huge openings. It is estimated that there is currently a shortage of nurses to the tune of 70,000 and growing. The median salary of which is 60K.

(pss, 5 September 2011 14:21)

Firstly I have to post a correction the US death total for both Iraq and Afghanistan is just over 16,000 and not 20,0 00 as I mentioned. These late night (for me as its 11.30 pm) is having an effect on my postings.
I don’t care what you say about my figures because you have NOTHING available to you that can either prove or disprove what I say – you run the official website and it does not march with what I have stated and naturally I’m wrong – so let’s leave it with I am wrong.
However, here is your test, when this cyclonic activity that hit NY is over take a drive and see how many bridges and roads are repaired and then you will see how healthy you economy really is.
People are generally stupid and governments control of the media they keep telling you how wonderful it is and people generally believe it. Your standard of livng is dropping in increments and its not really covered in the media and this story does not get the oxygen it needs so people don’t notice. That is why riots come as a surprise.
There was an old Soviet joke where two people were talking one comments “Pravda is saying that the Soviet Union produces 300 million pairs of shoes, the other man turns around and ask “if that is so then why am I going barefoot?
There is shortage of nurse in Australia, US, UK Canada and several other countries that I know of, but why do your nurses come to Australia if they are so well paid in the US? Looking outside the box is fine if you have that level of education and intellect, but what about the millions that don’t fall into that category? Your country manufactures very litte and your economy is consumer based so where are these jobs? I can tell you, they are in Asia.

– so let’s leave it with I am wrong
sj, 5 September 2011 15:41)
I knew eventually we would find something we could agree on!

Actually if you double that number you just might get a better picture of the number of US deaths in Iraq up to so called cessation of combat operation in Iraq. Since that time the US has continued to lose troops due to sniper, road side bombs etc not on the scale as before.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

Even if you triple it (I’m even accepting your wrong numbers), it still remains one of the most successful wars in history given that hundreds of thousands of soldiers were deployed and only the number that you say was killed.



Fallujah was street to street fighting so I suggest that you ask anyone in the armed services what that means. I know for a fact that it’s the worst form of combat – this is where you are so close to the enemy that artillery and helicopters or aircraft are useless because you would bomb your own troops.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

That’s why I agreed with you that this was my preferred one, too :)



As I have said on numerous occasions you have to go well beyond the internet to find out the truth and that is the reason why I keep reminding people that government’s tell big lies in the “national interests” and the US government is the worst as its combined losses in Iraq and Afghanistan now exceeds 20 000. This fact HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED on any US government website.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

It does not matter… You are mentioning it :) That’s why we are all here to hear the true and exclusive news that only you have access to… You must open a news agency my friend. You'd make a lot of money, even more than CNN.



And no the 1200 is not part of the of any official death statistics. In all honesty I really don’t give a hoot whether you believe me or not as I am not here to prove to you or any of your Albanians a thing.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

Of course I believe you, so that you may feel happy :) Why deny you the happiness ?!



I literally campaigned for well over six months on the issue of the real unemployment figures in the US and I was hounded down as lies and unthruths, but now I have even some of the die hearts accepting that its closer to 22% as the government covers up these figures. Now if they lie about something like this why would they not hide something even worse as deaths in combat expacially since the US has lost it battle for Iarq.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

Well, if it makes you happy, I say that the unemployment figure in the US is 44%. This fact HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED on any US government website. Trust me… I asked a friend of mine in Malaysia who said so.



On the BBC issue, they uphol;d the national interest. Initially most of the media did report US losses but its how numbers were later manipulated in that interest. I don’t trust RTS either as it’s a government organization.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

As I said, BBC reported the US high casualties before, and the low casualties now. If I trusted it for the high ones, I don’t see why I should not trust it for the low ones. I don’t base trust on whether I like or not a particular news from BBC. I base the trust on whether their reporting is balanced and free of bias.

''which will be of great benefit to our people in Kosovo and our companies, and which will completely nullify Priština's unilateral ban on trade with the rest of Serbia," he told Tanjug. ''


To all serbs: Dosen't the statment above sound stupid to you?? By his words how can half of a country make a ban on rest of the country?? He try to consider Kosovo as part of his country when in real life(reality) it isn't.

One thing he dosen't get is that 80 countrys recognize Kosovo as independent and sovreign including big powers as US,France,Great Britain,Italy,Japan and Germany. He also dosen't understand that Kosovo leadership and the people of Kosovo will never accept for Kosovo in any way to be controled or influenced by Serbia.


He is still fighting a lost battle. But this time only with it's own people since he tryes to convince them that Kosovo is ''rest of the country''. The EU and Merkel it self have make it clear to serbs. If not then it will make it more clear to you in the future.

Since Serbia cannot get Kosovo as long as albanians don't want to give it away then Serbia will have to choose EU. hen Kosovo army will be formed in a couple of years everything will be more clear to Serbia.


I am just sorry for the serbian people wich have fake leaders trying to fool them everyday by lying to them that ''Kosovo is rest of the country''. I think the serbian people by now knowes what Kosovo is!!

Edita is a very pretty woman!

She must have been a model before she became a politician.

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.

No it isn't a diplomatic victory for Serbia, but its kind of embarassing for the populist Kosovo Albanian government led burning of Serbian goods and all the childish cheerleading going on in forums such as these.

When will people get it through their thick heads that mutual progress is the aim? We have fools on both sides who would rather prefer for their 'enemy' to suffer a little more, whilst they are suffering a little less. Miserable, sad people with no idea what is good for themselves or their people.

The idea is not to make the 'enemy' suffer. The idea is to move forward and to grow, that is the primary objective. It might be too much to hope that we grow together, but lets at least desire to see our 'side' grow, rather than see both of us fail.

If you agree with my sentiments then stand up when you hear stupidity and slap it down. Its the human thing to do.

"No one can compare to the former Miss Serbia, Sonja Liht. What a stunning creature."

But "Liht" is not a Serbian name at all. The woman is something else other than ethnic Serb.

(Demi, 2 September 2011 12:17)

I’m just curious, with what are the Albanians going to form this Kosovo Army? What are they producing in Kosovo that gives them that level income where they will be able to afford such a luxury as an armed forces?
Let me just explain to you what this means; to form an army means setting aside money to pay wages/salaries to the officer corp. and enlisted men/women plus you have to purchase equipment such as aircraft, armored vehicles such as personnel carriers and tanks then its communication and radar systems and so the list goes on and on.
Today the entire Albanian Kosovo institutions are being paid for by the EU so what is going to change in a couple of years that will make Kosovo this new beacon money making enterprise?
These are many questions to be answered but I doubt you have thought this one through before making this statement.
On the other hand if you have a very close look at what has transpired you will see that your Albanians, backed by the west, have had to compromise with a small country – I think that you should look at your leaders and see who is fooling whom.
The reason your Albanians have had to compromise is simple, the west wants some resolution to this and they can’t afford to go on with this for too long nor can they use force because they have had a taste of their superior weapons and training in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last month alone the US lost 48 troops in Iraq; you know the place where everything is nice and fine and Obama could with draw his troops.
As far as the UN is concerned, and this nonsense espoused by you lot that Russia and China are not strong enough to do anything well that’s simply explained as the west for now have the numbers and that is all they have otherwise Kosovo would have been competed a long time ago – the next round of “stimulus” in the US will GUARANTEE the death knell of the US as a power of any type in this world. The EU is going into another recession; as if they left the last one.

"I am just sorry for the Albanian people which have fake leaders (criminal drug and human organ dealers) trying to fool them everyday by lying to them that ''Kosova is a country''. I think the Albanian people by now knowes what Kosova is!!
(Demi, 2 September 2011 12:17)
Demi, I helped you out a bit with your English. The simple corrections better express what you really mean.

You have to admit, Albanians aren't as stupid as Serbs take them to be. 12 years ago, they could not even get out of their homes without being afraid of Serbs. Today, the Serbs have just agreed to accept the Kosovo stamps. I know, I know there isn't a flag nor an emblem on the stamp but it is NOT a Serbian stamp. At one time, all this was unthinkable for Serbs. If you told a Serb that your Bus would be turned away in the Kosovo border just because Thaqi decided so, they would think you are crazy but now that it is a stark reality. You have to admit, Serbia didn't gain anything since 1999. As time passes, their "Jerusalem" is slowly slipping away.

"I got some news guys, Serbia agreed early on today for Kosovo to use Kosovo Customs stamps. To be honest those were the one used for the past three years. I just don't get it why Serbia agreed now!"
(Mendo, 2 September 2011 17:46)

That's good news. One stupid problem solved. Maybe the Kosovo tactics 'We demand a custom stamp with state symbols' was helpful for this compromise - just like it's customary for unions when it comes to salary negotiations: We demand 10% more (custom seals with state symbols and 'Republic of Kosovo' on it), you offer 1% (custom seals only with 'UNMIK-Kosovo'), and 3% (status neutral seals with only 'Kosovo customs' on it) is the great compromise?

I worry about the property records being used against Serbs - that the Serb owners will now be accused of "war crimes" and the like so that they can't return/get their property back and hence Albanians can freely take over their property.

Thank you once again bganon for being one of the remaining voices of reason around here. This is going to be hailed as some sort of diplomatic "victory" by both sides. Serbs are going to cheer because official "state symbols" of Kosovo are not used, while Albanians will cheer because some sort of customs stamp is being used. In reality, a compromise was reached and that's the only way to move forward. Thaci and others in Pristina were, only 24 hours ago, boasting that state symbols would not only be used, but no alternative would be accepted. Guess that sort of deflates another one of his boasts. As for Belgrade, it can look as status neutral all it wants, but no customs seals are required for what normally passes for internal trade.

At the end of the day, the compromise solution was the one proposed by the EU and I suspect the Cooper's solution was given to each side with a good deal of emphasis/pressure to accept. Otherwise these talks would have broken down again today, so as far as I'm concerened, the "winner" is both sides and neither side. I'm happy with the outcome as it allows both sides some breathing room but takes away from the more extremist boasting. This is how things should be progressing in regards to Kosovo's future status and those who frequently use this site to only talk smack are almost always those who live far far away from the area.

As as regards to the apparent second subject in this thread on who's hot or not, knowing full well the proclivity of Balkan people to look unbelievably beautiful, I'm led to conclude that anyone choosing Balkan politics as a profession will fall victim to premature aging and decrepitude. While we're on the subject of looks, can someone please tell Tadic to do something with that little streak of black hair on the side of his otherwise white hair head?

"What is certain is that we are going in with the conviction that regulating the customs stamp issue, in line with Resolution 1244 and UNMIK's stance, will allow a normal turnover of goods, which will be of great benefit to our people in Kosovo and our companies, and which will completely nullify Priština's unilateral ban on trade with the rest of Serbia," he told Tanjug.

Well, the ban on trade would better be called 'mutual' than 'unilateral'.

the stamp will be inscribed with "Customs of Kosovo", and will not bear "any other insignia related to the (Kosovo Albanian) authorities in Priština".

This is being served to the Serbs as a diplomatic victory.This is the same stamp that Kosovo uses since independence.It is not any different from what you serbs didn't want to agree in June.We use the same stamp even with the countries that have recognized us.Now that your goods are not allowed to cross the border anymore you accept the stamp.Serbs how does the stamp of your other autonomous province Vojvodina looks like?

Edita is a very pretty woman!

She must have been a model before she became a politician.

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.
(Another Canadian Serb, 2 September 2011 15:08)

No one can compare to the former Miss Serbia, Sonja Liht. What a stunning creature.

To bganon: agree that mutual progress should be the goal. But Albanians have made plenty of progress since Milosevic and Serbia unfortunately has decided to become a permanent barrier to progress. If the Kosovo-Serbia relationship is perceived as a zero sum game, that is absolutely wrong. Mutual progress is possible but as things stand it is Serbia that has chosen to stand on Kosovo's way.

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.
(Another Canadian Serb, 2 September 2011 15:08)

I only wish one could say the same about yours:
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=08&dd=25&nav_id=76070

I am honestly curious where you have found that information. If you have a source could you please provide a link?
(Bloody Mary, 2 September 2011 19:29)

No problem: I found it here on B92 in the great interview with Thaci, King of Kosovo:
Q: "The start of a new round of negotiations is expect, unofficially the EU is in favor of a Kosovo customs stamp without the coat of arms and flag - is that acceptable to you and why?"

A: "The government of the Republic of Kosovo is dedicated to the inter-state dialogue with Serbia. Earlier we reached joint conclusions and we expect Serbia to at last recognize the customs stamps of Kosovo with state symbols of the Republic of Kosovo"

I got some news guys, Serbia agreed early on today for Kosovo to use Kosovo Customs stamps. To be honest those were the one used for the past three years. I just don't get it why Serbia agreed now! Maybe some kind of recognition I guess.

Has anyone noticed that almost all the women, on all sides, are not the easiest on the eyes? That includes the EU's Ashton, and contributors from Austria. Why so few good looking babes in Balkan politics, when the Balkans are know for beautiful women?
(MamaMia, 2 September 2011 20:00)

Ataman would disagree with you. Vlora Çitaku (http://bch1.tv/wp-content/uploads/Citaku-Marti-po-b%C3%ABn-balanc%C3%AB-joekzistente-n%C3%AB-mes-t%C3%AB-shtyp%C3%ABsit-dhe-viktim%C3%ABs.jpg) still holds her own in this domain. And I am only talking about being easy on the eyes. :-)

Edita is a very pretty woman!

She must have been a model before she became a politician.

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.
(Another Canadian Serb, 2 September 2011 15:08)

Still not as lucky as you Serbs.Do you want to trade for Marija Serifovic?

According to Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanović, the stamp will be inscribed with "Customs of Kosovo", and will not bear "any other insignia related to the (Kosovo Albanian) authorities in Priština".

ej Borko, tell the truth please.

US of A cutoms seal says "US Customs" and not USA Customs, so what is the difference if seal says: " Kosova Customs"?
What happened to UNMIK-Kosova custom satmps, or pec,pristina and what ever you like to call them?

"According to Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanović, the stamp will be inscribed with "Customs of Kosovo", and will not bear "any other insignia related to the (Kosovo Albanian) authorities in Priština"."

Like the existing ones? The Serbian Ministry of Truth at work!

So Serbia accepted custom stamps that Kosovo has been using for the past three years? So what was Serbia doing these past three years, screaming and yelling that they won't allow any goods to go to Serbia because of the stamps?

They accepted something they swore they will never do.
Watch them spin this into " but there is no Republic of Kosovo on the stamp, so we won". I would be curious to know how many Serbs would be willing to buy this spin.

One wonders why Serbia did the "unthinkable" and accepted Kosovo stamps?
Based on comments from Serbia Chamber of Commerce, it was economic pressure. The ban of goods was really starting to hurt Serbian companies, wasn't it? The train may have already left the station though as Kosovo business have now realized they can do without Serbian products.
What a way to shoot yourself on the foot Serbia!

A: "The government of the Republic of Kosovo is dedicated to the inter-state dialogue with Serbia. Earlier we reached joint conclusions and we expect Serbia to at last recognize the customs stamps of Kosovo with state symbols of the Republic of Kosovo"
(Analyst, 2 September 2011 20:44)

Thanks, although I don't get this statement since there are obviously no state symbols on the stamps. Lost in translation?

This place will still be called Kosovo and calling it that is as acceptable to Serbs as it was a millennium before. What's not acceptable is to call it Albania.
(ZZ, 3 September 2011 10:53)

And what is it called now? Rigel VII?

"Maybe the Kosovo tactics 'We demand a custom stamp with state symbols' was helpful for this compromise."

I am honestly curious where you have found that information. If you have a source could you please provide a link?

Whether Kosovars or Serbs want to spin this however they want to. The true fact it this: Kosovo scored a major diplomatic victory towards establishing sovereignty with neighboring Serbia. About 184 countries have no state seals in Customs (including all EU nations). Kosovo does not have either. Serbia accepted Customs of Kosovo. Thank you.

(sj, 2 September 2011 23:41)

When and how we are going to form an army? I bet the arab people asked Israel the same thing when they created their country...

Before 1948 there was no state called Israel. But today it is a big power in the middle east with the strongest military force in that region.



Serbia is on the right way on recognizing Kosovo. Goods wich will be exported to or through Serbia will have an sign 'Made in Kosovo'. This exports will pay for the military of Kosovo. Be it weak or strong it will be an army wich will secure the territory of Kosovo.

You said Kosovo will never dare to declare independence but it did. Now you say that Kosovo cannot form an army but we will see that it will!!

Agim Ceku is forming that army and he said to me it will be formed in just a couple of years :)

As far as the UN is concerned, and this nonsense espoused by you lot that Russia and China are not strong enough to do anything well that’s simply explained as the west for now have the numbers and that is all they have otherwise Kosovo would have been competed a long time ago – the next round of “stimulus” in the US will GUARANTEE the death knell of the US as a power of any type in this world. The EU is going into another recession; as if they left the last one.
(sj, 2 September 2011 23:41)

People of your ilk have been predicting the demise of the USA from before you were born. Each time their predictions were wrong, as yours will be, mark my words. Perhaps you should ask them how they learned a very important lesson, namely, "Never bet against the USA."

If you told a Serb that your Bus would be turned away in the Kosovo border just because Thaqi decided so, they would think you are crazy but now that it is a stark reality.
(10800 km, 2 September 2011 20:26)

Great example, something to be really proud of. And at the same time, these clowns are talking about European values, himan rights, free movement and so on.

(Demi, 3 September 2011 01:45)

Albanians are not Jews so don’t compare Israel and Kosovo because you people don’t have that level of wealth or lobby power in the US. Your just dreaming here about an army, mate.
What goods are made in Kosovo? If its BS then I accept that you Albanians are the producers of the greatest BS in Europe but how do you export that?
Hello is anyone home or are the lights are on and no one is home? Or do just ramble on and on – YOU NEED MONEY TO HAVE AN ARMY.
On this issue of stamps, who cares what the albos do with stamps as all states in the US have their own symbols etc. If you people are hanging your hats on this stamp business to recognize Kosovo then your might naïve or downright stupid.

(icj1, 3 September 2011 02:00)

Well dude if it makes you happy there you are no deaths in Iraq, but the reality is 48 in August and that is a fact. If this Wiki leaks business has not opened your eyes to the lies and crap the US Government spills out then live in happy land all you like.
Body bags are coming back every week from Iraq, but they tell you it’s from Afghanistan because things are great in old Bagdad and that why the US could pull out their combat troops, but it’s funny how its just as dangerous to live in that country as in the past even though there is all this peace brought on after training the Iraqis in democracy.
I like people like; no brains but straight to an official US government website and there it is; no deaths in August, but just continue to laugh; I do every time I see death numbers of body bags.

(The Count of Kosova, 3 September 2011 03:01)

Ahh but this is where I make my living mate. The Us is on the verge of having another printing spree called a stimulus package. Print money to give as tax cuts so people will spend but people are too afraid to spend because of the state of the country. Look at how much is repaired following the cyclone; where bridges stood for 150 years there will be road closures.
For that matter the US went to war against Gaddafi, but the man now in charge of Tripoli et al is an Islamic fundamentalists with very close connections to Osama’s people – bet on the US you say; not even on your life.

You Albanian guys are so lucky to have an attractive woman like Edita running around Kosovo.
(Another Canadian Serb, 2 September 2011 15:08)

I only wish one could say the same about yours:
[link]
(Bloody Mary, 2 September 2011 16:16)


Oh the banter. You've got to love it haha!

Has anyone noticed that almost all the women, on all sides, are not the easiest on the eyes? That includes the EU's Ashton, and contributors from Austria. Why so few good looking babes in Balkan politics, when the Balkans are know for beautiful women?

"This is going to be hailed as some sort of diplomatic "victory" by both sides. Serbs are going to cheer because official "state symbols" of Kosovo are not used, while Albanians will cheer because some sort of customs stamp is being used. "

Uh, Mike, have you looked at the Serbian comments? The Serbs lost this round and know it. One medium-size frog is now being swallowed. (Thaci's threat of a real bullfrog - adding state symbols - makes it a little less disgusting. Maybe.)

At the regional summit at Viminacium today - one last chance not to invite the Kosovo government to something - Tadic said that all outstanding problems in the Balkans will be resolved in 5-10 years. Guess when he plans on standing before the General Assembly and calling on the nations of the world to recognize Kosovo, a close partner and special friend of his own Republic of Serbia.

Bgannon, if you mean mutual progress is Serbia giving a little each time until anything Serbian is lost from Kosovo then yes this is the aim.
This is the aim of Albanians and Europe.
So where do you draw the line at mutual progress?

Seems to me it's only the Albanians who are progressing slowly but surely.

"Thanks, although I don't get this statement since there are obviously no state symbols on the stamps. Lost in translation?"
(Bloody Mary, 2 September 2011 22:21)

No, because the statement was made BEFORE the compromise was reached. That's why it is called an compromise: No UMNIK-Kosovo, no state symbol, only status neural stamp. All clear now?

When this farce of an attempt to create a narco-state is finally put to rest, and it will be as sure as empires rise and fall. This place will still be called Kosovo and calling it that is as acceptable to Serbs as it was a millennium before. What's not acceptable is to call it Albania.

No, because the statement was made BEFORE the compromise was reached. That's why it is called an compromise: No UMNIK-Kosovo, no state symbol, only status neural stamp. All clear now?
(Analyst, 3 September 2011 10:27)

No, that's why it's called a hoax. The "compromise" is that Serbia will accept the existing stamps. According to your logic Thaci now only has to demand Preševo and Serbia will recognize Kosovo?

Have these talks actually yielded one positive result for Serbia? I guess in a years time Pristina will send the special forces again and Serbia will agree to Kosovo emblems and call it a 'compromise'.

"At the end of the day, the compromise solution was the one proposed by the EU and I suspect the Cooper's solution was given to each side with a good deal of emphasis/pressure to accept."
(Mike, 2 September 2011 23:49)

Be sure, that's how the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, 'mediated' by the EU, works in general: Both sides come up with their extremist ideas, EU listens, forms a compromise solution, and Serbia and Pristina have to accept it.

(sj, 3 September 2011 13:25)
You are an amazing person of misinformation. I can not figure if you dream up your info, live in a room with a computer tied to some Russian propaganda site or just set out to say anything knowing it can be refuted.
The Iraq statistics are correct ZERO deaths in August, why do you say there were 48 when you know anyone with half a brain can prove you wrong.
By the way have you checked the IMF lately. David Lipton just replaced Lipsky as First Deputy Managing Director, another American which means that an American is still the NO2 and an European is No 1 since its formation.
From your rantings I am begining to have hope for the American economy's future as so far you have not been right on anything.

To all the Albanians saying that this agreement between Serbia and the Pristina Authorities is the first step in Serbia recognizing their fruitless unilateral declaration of independence, I ask why? This agreement and the accompanying documentation referes to Kosovo nowhere as a State, no where. Serbia however is refered to as one. The Administrative crossings are still refered to as Administartive crossings and not border crossings in the agreement. The custom stamp of "Kosovo" also has not state symbols on it and is not refered to as "The Republic of Kosovo" but only as Kosovo. I mean what where the customs stamps supposed to say instead of "Customs of Kosovo", Kosovo has no other name. So to all my Albanian friends, I dont see how this is a victory for "Kosovo". And by the way the Albanians have not been using "Kosovo Customs" for the past three years, they have been using "Customs of The Republic of Kosovo". So the Albanians are the ones who renounced their own position on the custom stamp issue. Major victory for Serbia! The custom stamp and the accompanying documentation refers nowhere to Kosovo as a sovereign state, the crossings are not recognized as border crossings but as administrative, and Pristinas custom seal has no state symbols on it or any reference to it being a "Republic". Serbia only gained from this agreement, and lost nothing. The Albanians also gained because now they can export to Central Serbia and the other Province Vojvodina. Also they will now be able to passy their goods through the rest of Serbia instead of taking an 8 hour detour around the rest of the country. Once again, major victory for Serbia!

Peggy I'd be more than happy to hear what you would do in this Kosovo stamp situation.

Let me tell you my position - you choose 'battles' carefully and don't fight 'battles' you can't win.

If this 'fight' is about creeping authority, which I think we are in agreement about, then the diplomatic fight surely from the Serbian perspective is to identify issues on which we can creep.

I really don't think it would be any good to close ones eye's, insisting that because one's eyes are closed that it is dark and it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. And for as long as we keep saying that it is dark, it will remain so to us.

There is such thing as realism and no constitution is going to save for example the jobs of those who would be affected by Serbian exports, as a result of the stamp issue.

(pss, 3 September 2011 14:57)

Just keep looking at the internet and you’ll be fine. I am amazed at just how you people are brainwashed in that everything you see on the internet that comes from the US government you believe every word – absolutely amazed and this is even after Wiki Leaks.
If you look at the rate of joblessness in the US on official websites its only 9.1%, but these days even the die hearts openly agree that its closer to 22%. Who pointed this out to you Albos? I did two years ago.
Now on the issue of Iraq, I have never looked at a Russian website as I have difficulty even reading the Cyrillic alphabet so any information is useless to me. You see this little news item of the 48 US killed was mentioned in a Malaysia newspaper and I contacted a friend who has extremely good contacts who confirmed that number.
Here is another item just published that may never be mentioned in the US:
“British and US intelligence cooperated closely with Libya, with prisoners being offered to Moamer Kadhafi's regime under the rendition programme, a report said Saturday citing files found in Tripoli.”
Nice people the US and UK. While they tell you one thing they do the opposite. Oh by the way where are those western Human Rights groups to condemn this – what not a peep out of them; what a surprise.
While the people in the US maybe kept in the dark and fed on BS, the rest is not stupid to believe all the crapola emanating from Washington.
Now your on the IMF hobby horse, you see since WW2 the arrangement was that the Europeans have the MD position, but the US is the deputy and this is despite the fact the US was the larger and much more wealthier economy up to recently. You can read all you like on the website because it does not give you a picture of what is going on behind closed doors.
Let me tell you this much – if the west peeves off the Chinese then Beijing will walk out and the whole, and let me repeat it for you again, the entire IMF system falls over like a deck of cards. So you can appoint John Lipton, David Lipton, David Bekham or my late grandfathers or even my grandmothers but you see the US and Europeans would not be inviting countries like Brazil, China, India or Russia to the “dining table” which has been their exclusive playground for the last 6 decades if the world is not changing.
Bye the way, those “units” held by the US in the IMF that you quoted are part of your ever growing and unmanageable debt of now $15 Trillion.
“From your rantings I am beginning to have hope for the American economy's future”
How many jobs were created in August 2011? NO A BLESSED ONE mate.
The real test of how well your economy is going is to take a drive through those areas after the cyclone season and see what has been repaired and what has been abandoned – New York has already stated that it does not have the money to do any work and will have to look at abandoning the idea of repairing bridges on various roads and will simply close them. I see that more cyclones are on their way – chin up, it could be worse such as the big earthquake in California.

(icj1, 3 September 2011 18:13)

This tells it all “Almost 4,500 US soldiers have died there” (Iraq). When the first casualty figures started being published and when they came up to 500 for about a week nothing then the US started again, but they started at 450 when it reached about 700, silence once again and the clock was restarted at 550 and so it goes on and on.
My particular favorite is the town of Fallujah in Iraq where US forces had to do some real fighting – street to street. Any military person who has been involved in combat will tell you that this is the deadliest form of combat or the equalized. No amount of artillery or airpower can help because your forces and combatants are so close together you would risk killing your own troops firing from a distance.
The US had to use the marines and when it was all over the US lost 1,200, I bet this is figure is not on any of the official websites.
For your information the BBC is a UK Government-owned organization so why do you think it would print the truth? What because its living in freedom and democracy; grow up and read some of that stuff on Wiliki Leaks and you just might see the truth.
Every country has a BBC-style media group and they print what is in the “national interest”. There are ground rules which are to lengthy to be covered here but the BBC plays the game according to those rules. They are very sophisticated in that the BBC will reveal government corruption etc but what is in the national interest is kept under wraps.

Last month alone the US lost 48 troops in Iraq;
(sj, 2 September 2011 23:41)

Dude, as usual you continue to state your wishes, not the facts. August 2011 was the first month that US did not have any combat or non-combat related miliary deaths in Iraq. There had been a couple of months before where US did not have combat military deaths, but had non-combat ones; but August 2011 was the first one US did not have either.



However please keep continue speaking about your fantasies about deaths regardless of what the topic is about so we can have a good laugh :)

"Kosovo talks produce deal on customs stamps"

Ok, so they agreed that the Kosovo Customs stamp (which Kosovo has been using since 2008) is fine. That's great news since it will again allow people of both sides freely trade with each other.

"Why so few good looking babes in Balkan politics, when the Balkans are know for beautiful women?"

MamaMia

Because they invest their hard earned money in bigger boobies rather then in a university degree.

Great news, hopefully everyone in the region can benefit from trade between the two; everyone should be able to appreciate this and forget about that silly political war of words for five minutes.

As we're talking about looks, is it just me or does Boris Tadic look a bit like George Clooney?

http://www.topnews.in/files/Boris-Tadic-1.jpg Is this Clooney?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/George_Clooney_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29_3Alt1.jpg/220px-George_Clooney_66%C3%A8me_Festival_de_Venise_%28Mostra%29_3Alt1.jpg Is this Tadic?

Also I don't think female politicians are well known for their good looks. Being ugly was part of Maggie Thatcher the Milk Snatcher's look and appearance. Arguably it was one of her strengths politically.

However Yulia Tymoshenko was a pretty woman and as for Vlora Citaku... well I'd probably smash her back door in!

Well dude if it makes you happy there you are no deaths in Iraq, but the reality is 48 in August and that is a fact.
(sj, 3 September 2011 13:25)

I'm not happy or un-happy about that. I don't care whether USA had 4.8, 48, 480 or more deaths in Iraq. It does not affect me.

My point was that your information was wrong and US did not have any military death in Iraq in August 2011. If the "48" in your numerical system means 0 in the normal numerical system then, yes, what you're saying is a fact :).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-14745907

"Uh, Mike, have you looked at the Serbian comments? The Serbs lost this round and know it. One medium-size frog is now being swallowed. (Thaci's threat of a real bullfrog - adding state symbols - makes it a little less disgusting. Maybe.)" (Amer)

-- Well it would see the hardliners on both sides aren't happy and are interpreting this as a setback for their own side. I expected DSS officials to condemn this, both in Belgrade and in Mitrovica where they have a strong representation. But Self-Determination is also interpreting this as a defeat since it's understood as a "compromise" by Pristina's part too. Tahiri wasn't greated in the most diplomatic way upon her return.

Aside from that, those Serbs seeing it as another capitulation are those removed from the area. I wouldn't be surprised if average Serbian public opinion *in* Serbia is more ambivalent, even to the point of uninterested. For me, I'm ok with the outcome if for no other reason than that the flow of goods continues to move from central Serbia to Kosovo. I'm quite sure a lot of local Albanians are happy too. It's been over a month since they've had Plasma Keks. :)

"Tadic said that all outstanding problems in the Balkans will be resolved in 5-10 years. Guess when he plans on standing before the General Assembly and calling on the nations of the world to recognize Kosovo, a close partner and special friend of his own Republic of Serbia."
(Amer, 3 September 2011 01:36)

This can only happen after Kosovo gets a clean government and all the suspected war criminals from the past that are currently playing politicians spend their time in prison and are replaced by correctly elected real politicians who are not extremists but share democratic and European values. To have the current Kosovo as a special friend would be like having Milosevic's Serbia as a special friend - no state can be proud of that.

Bgannon, all I see is that Serbia is giving more and more concessions all the time.
I don't see Albanians in any sort of retreat while Serbs definitely are by giving more concessions.
I don't have answers but surely conceding all the time cannot be the answer either. I am not a politician with the task of fixing it and I certainly don't envy the ones who are but let's get real here.

You are big on reality on the ground. What is this reality telling you?
Just spit it out. Tell us how fare can Serbia concede and still retain Kosovo?

sj,
"You see this little news item of the 48 US killed was mentioned in a Malaysia newspaper and I contacted a friend who has extremely good contacts who confirmed that number"
This was in a Malaysia paper and conirmed by your "friend" well hold the presses that cinches it, I would always believe your friend over legitimate websites.
I earn a good wage and live a good life, so I think I will trust the people that have enabled me to do this than trust your "friend".

As far as the IMF goes they are changing and allowing other emerging economies more control. The plan is to give the BRIC countries 6% more voting rights. Does this totally tip the scale--in no way. It takes a 85% voting majority to pass major policies and actions. Do you know the one country that can block any major action. The US as it has over 16% of the voting power. Not China, not Russia.
True appointments come and go, and you are free to predict the future all you want, as with a million people there will be a million predictions all as credible as yours, but you want to change the facts of the present which is well documented.
I do not know what the true future will be in the US but I know we are resillant and have been through tougher times. And I know that as of today we STILL have the power, as evidenced by the whining from Serbia in the act that Russia was powerless to pass their presidential statement.
The truth is this:
You rely too much on opinion pieces that make statements without any supporting evidence and repeat them as facts.
You are oblivious to the fact that a true meltdown of the US economy would have global consequences.
You apparently have never been to the US and base your "knowledge" on any news article that supports your dreams of a failed America.
You criticize the BBC and say it withholds the truths from the people. Can you without a doubt say any news source prints the whole truth, including your Malaysian rag. Baiscally you are the one who is being fooled in that you assume if it is anti-American or most definitely anti-Albanian it MUST be true.
I am an American and I have faith in our way of life. Do I think we are perfect, no way. There is only one perfect place and someday I plan to be there!

Peggy reality is telling me that after all the fuss about the customs stamps and diplomatic and economic defeat that came with it, that Stefanovic and company haven't got anywhere.

In other words we might have avoided this nonsense by not disputing the issue in the first place, or at least made a big deal about being co-opeartive on this issue and seeking concessions in other areas.

On the one hand you have a strong opinion about what is going on, but on the other don't have any opinions about what to do instead? Thats a very comfortable position. Instead of complaining about the Serbian government position why don't you 'spit' out your own opinion?

Do you not want to state an opinion because you feel as if the situation is lost? Do you not want to state an opinion because you believe that Serbia should send in the army, but in reality you know NATO would beat back Serbia and a new age of international sanctions and economic chaos would befall the country?

The situation is a poor one, it is not under our control. We can only alter certain situations, fight diplomatic battles.

However Yulia Tymoshenko was a pretty woman and as for Vlora Citaku... well I'd probably smash her back door in!
(Ian, UK, 3 September 2011 12:25)

Don't you be getting yourself all mommocked up over some foreign women now,Ian--them disco days be over long time ago.

Ataman would disagree with you. Vlora Çitaku ([link]) still holds her own in this domain. And I am only talking about being easy on the eyes. :-)
(Jetoni, US, 2 September 2011 21:16)

She looks like the drummer in my rock band.

Don't you be getting yourself all mommocked up over some foreign women now,Ian--them disco days be over long time ago.
(come back home,son., 3 September 2011 16:35)

Well you do wonder why people like me go on drunken holidays to places like Prague, we love the foreign pretty women ;)

Much nicer than our own haha

This tells it all “Almost 4,500 US soldiers have died there” (Iraq). When the first casualty figures started being published and when they came up to 500 for about a week nothing then the US started again, but they started at 450 when it reached about 700, silence once again and the clock was restarted at 550 and so it goes on and on.
(sj, 4 September 2011 01:40)

Actually, I did not know that only 4,500 US soldiers died in Iraq. This is probably the most successful war in history when you consider that with the hundreds of thousands of soldiers that the US deployed, only 4,500 were killed.



My particular favorite is the town of Fallujah in Iraq where US forces had to do some real fighting – street to street. Any military person who has been involved in combat will tell you that this is the deadliest form of combat or the equalized. No amount of artillery or airpower can help because your forces and combatants are so close together you would risk killing your own troops firing from a distance.
The US had to use the marines and when it was all over the US lost 1,200, I bet this is figure is not on any of the official websites.
(sj, 4 September 2011 01:40)

That’s my favorite part, too. Indeed, those 1,200, if they actually happened (sorry to say that, but being almost all “facts” presented by you in these forums wrong, I need to take that number with caution) are included in the 4,500



For your information the BBC is a UK Government-owned organization so why do you think it would print the truth? What because its living in freedom and democracy; grow up and read some of that stuff on Wiliki Leaks and you just might see the truth.
(sj, 4 September 2011 01:40)

Because BBC reported the months when the US had the highest casualties, as well as the lowest

(icj1, 4 September 2011 22:05)

Actually if you double that number you just might get a better picture of the number of US deaths in Iraq up to so called cessation of combat operation in Iraq. Since that time the US has continued to lose troops due to sniper, road side bombs etc not on the scale as before.
Fallujah was street to street fighting so I suggest that you ask anyone in the armed services what that means. I know for a fact that it’s the worst form of combat – this is where you are so close to the enemy that artillery and helicopters or aircraft are useless because you would bomb your own troops.
As I have said on numerous occasions you have to go well beyond the internet to find out the truth and that is the reason why I keep reminding people that government’s tell big lies in the “national interests” and the US government is the worst as its combined losses in Iraq and Afghanistan now exceeds 20 000. This fact HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED on any US government website.
And no the 1200 is not part of the of any official death statistics. In all honesty I really don’t give a hoot whether you believe me or not as I am not here to prove to you or any of your Albanians a thing.
I literally campaigned for well over six months on the issue of the real unemployment figures in the US and I was hounded down as lies and unthruths, but now I have even some of the die hearts accepting that its closer to 22% as the government covers up these figures. Now if they lie about something like this why would they not hide something even worse as deaths in combat expacially since the US has lost it battle for Iarq.
On the BBC issue, they uphol;d the national interest. Initially most of the media did report US losses but its how numbers were later manipulated in that interest. I don’t trust RTS either as it’s a government organization.


(pss, 4 September 2011 14:33)

All media are manipulated for the “greater good” and that Malaysian rag is one of the worst in the world. What are you talking about Malaysia being anti Albanian – it has recognized Kosovo.
I have arguied long and hard about US unemployment figures being false when claiming they were only 9.5% but I was shouted down but now even your media admints its well inexcess of 20%
You can feel all you like but the truth is the truth and the US has gone beyond the point of no return and is now spending on the basis when they win all will be fine.

(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51
The only logical response is You are a true legend in your own mind.
Just because you have some opinion pieces that give numbers contrary to legit figures they are not necessarily credible. I think I will stick to verifiable sources than someone saying believe me, there is nothing to support my claims but I am right. It reminds me of the Rev Jim Jones, he spread his version of the truth and how the corrupt govt was all lies. Him and his followers set up a compound in Guyana, eventually they had a Kool-aid party and the rest is history.
Unemployment figures can also be manipulated and those who want to be the doomsday sayers get creative. There are many people who do not work that can be thrown into the mix but these are people who are not activiely seeking employment, disabled, early retirees, and some who like to live on public assistance. You can ask your friends in Malaysia, but I live it everyday.
We in America have been taught to hold out for our dream job. Some have to now learn that may not be possible and need to look outside the box. For instance healthcare has huge openings. It is estimated that there is currently a shortage of nurses to the tune of 70,000 and growing. The median salary of which is 60K.

(pss, 5 September 2011 14:21)

Firstly I have to post a correction the US death total for both Iraq and Afghanistan is just over 16,000 and not 20,0 00 as I mentioned. These late night (for me as its 11.30 pm) is having an effect on my postings.
I don’t care what you say about my figures because you have NOTHING available to you that can either prove or disprove what I say – you run the official website and it does not march with what I have stated and naturally I’m wrong – so let’s leave it with I am wrong.
However, here is your test, when this cyclonic activity that hit NY is over take a drive and see how many bridges and roads are repaired and then you will see how healthy you economy really is.
People are generally stupid and governments control of the media they keep telling you how wonderful it is and people generally believe it. Your standard of livng is dropping in increments and its not really covered in the media and this story does not get the oxygen it needs so people don’t notice. That is why riots come as a surprise.
There was an old Soviet joke where two people were talking one comments “Pravda is saying that the Soviet Union produces 300 million pairs of shoes, the other man turns around and ask “if that is so then why am I going barefoot?
There is shortage of nurse in Australia, US, UK Canada and several other countries that I know of, but why do your nurses come to Australia if they are so well paid in the US? Looking outside the box is fine if you have that level of education and intellect, but what about the millions that don’t fall into that category? Your country manufactures very litte and your economy is consumer based so where are these jobs? I can tell you, they are in Asia.

– so let’s leave it with I am wrong
sj, 5 September 2011 15:41)
I knew eventually we would find something we could agree on!

Actually if you double that number you just might get a better picture of the number of US deaths in Iraq up to so called cessation of combat operation in Iraq. Since that time the US has continued to lose troops due to sniper, road side bombs etc not on the scale as before.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

Even if you triple it (I’m even accepting your wrong numbers), it still remains one of the most successful wars in history given that hundreds of thousands of soldiers were deployed and only the number that you say was killed.



Fallujah was street to street fighting so I suggest that you ask anyone in the armed services what that means. I know for a fact that it’s the worst form of combat – this is where you are so close to the enemy that artillery and helicopters or aircraft are useless because you would bomb your own troops.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

That’s why I agreed with you that this was my preferred one, too :)



As I have said on numerous occasions you have to go well beyond the internet to find out the truth and that is the reason why I keep reminding people that government’s tell big lies in the “national interests” and the US government is the worst as its combined losses in Iraq and Afghanistan now exceeds 20 000. This fact HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED on any US government website.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

It does not matter… You are mentioning it :) That’s why we are all here to hear the true and exclusive news that only you have access to… You must open a news agency my friend. You'd make a lot of money, even more than CNN.



And no the 1200 is not part of the of any official death statistics. In all honesty I really don’t give a hoot whether you believe me or not as I am not here to prove to you or any of your Albanians a thing.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

Of course I believe you, so that you may feel happy :) Why deny you the happiness ?!



I literally campaigned for well over six months on the issue of the real unemployment figures in the US and I was hounded down as lies and unthruths, but now I have even some of the die hearts accepting that its closer to 22% as the government covers up these figures. Now if they lie about something like this why would they not hide something even worse as deaths in combat expacially since the US has lost it battle for Iarq.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

Well, if it makes you happy, I say that the unemployment figure in the US is 44%. This fact HAS NEVER BEEN MENTIONED on any US government website. Trust me… I asked a friend of mine in Malaysia who said so.



On the BBC issue, they uphol;d the national interest. Initially most of the media did report US losses but its how numbers were later manipulated in that interest. I don’t trust RTS either as it’s a government organization.
(sj, 5 September 2011 09:51)

As I said, BBC reported the US high casualties before, and the low casualties now. If I trusted it for the high ones, I don’t see why I should not trust it for the low ones. I don’t base trust on whether I like or not a particular news from BBC. I base the trust on whether their reporting is balanced and free of bias.