Aleksandar Vulin said on Tuesday morning that it was only through dialogue and discussion that a lasting and sustainable solution can be found in Kosovo.
Now have you a heard any of your Serb government members apologize to the victims of Gjakova. The mass grave is still in Serbia. All they need to do is go there and ask for forgiveness. Then they can complain if their provocateur in charge, Vulin, is not allowed in.
(J, 9 January 2014 03:23)
While we're at it, ever hear of any of your (well I shouldn't say "your" as I suspect you live elsewhere) government apologize for the March 2004 pogroms? Ever year of a single Kosovo Albanian official push for the search and arrest of the murderers of those Serbian children in Gorazdevac? The perpetrators of the Podujevo bus bombing? Has the murderer of any Kosovo Serb since 1999 been arrested? No, the general strategy is offer some half hearted boiler plate statement condemning the event, reiterating that Kosovo is a multiethnic democracy, and that we should just move on.
You demand an apology but do you think of doing any soul searching yourself? Of course not because that contradicts the carefully crafted story of collective suffering on your part as well as contradicting the carefully guarded story of Albanians never in their long long history engaging in any kind of violence that wasn't justified as retribution for a previous act of aggression. It's nothing different from the Serbian side, so don't sit there and think you're any different. Both sides have their horror stories, but if you want the other side to blink first, try acting like people they'd want to approach.
A real patriot, who loves his people and Nation would be the first to distance himself from criminality and he would demand that law and order be restored.
(marKo, 8 January 2014 19:38)
I totally agree and people were arrested by KSP.But serbia media doesn't report those.
Also this applies to serbian side too,or not?
Vulin,better behave himself when he goes to Kosovo.
In Gjakova live 1000 women raped by serbs and the city was left in ruins in 1999.
The people of Gjakova asked Vulin to apologize for those crimes,while Vulin called them "non human".Do you thing is constructive?NO!A simple word: "I apologize for what happened in 1999" could have solve everything,but Vulin behaves like albanians are still his slaves.
Vulin is provoking albanians every time he enters in Kosovo.Albanians are being too patient listening insults by this scumbag.
A real patriot, who loves his people and Nation would be the first to distance himself from criminality and he would demand that law and order be restored.
(marKo, 8 January 2014 19:38)
Justice got served, people were arrested, the law did its job.
Now have you a heard any of your Serb government members apologize to the victims of Gjakova. The mass grave is still in Serbia. All they need to do is go there and ask for forgiveness. Then they can complain if their provocateur in charge, Vulin, is not allowed in.
sadly though until peoples attitudes change, your proposal is just a pipe dream.
(Nikolle, 8 January 2014 19:59)
Sadly it is, but let's be honest that applies to Albanians as much as Serbs. Yes you're right that Belgrade envisions "Kosovo" to be without Albanians, but Albanians envision "Kosova" to be without Serbs. Neither side has made any attempt at reconciliation since 1999, and neither side really thought of diffusing the situation prior to 1999 and going as back as 1981. So in an incredibly ironic way, the international community's decision to divide Kosovo into ethnic areas gives both sides what they want without having to deal with the other. I'm not going to argue with what you said about Serbia's official policies towards Kosovo as asinine as they've been, but you can't say the current leadership in Pristina thinks any differently. Hence the reason why each side goes nuts whenever a member of the other side makes inroads into their territory.
I suppose if you want to look for alternative examples away from this ethnocentrism, you can look at local communities in Klina and Stprce.
But aside from that, we're stuck dealing with what is so we might as well cultivate what's productive and laugh at what's hypocritical and ridiculous.
"international powers that put them/ them there are bent on ethnofederalization"
a very interesting comment. have you ever wondered why this should be the case? because Serbs and Albanians don't want a multi-ethnic entity or more accurately its not in the interest of Serbia for it. i mean, if I was to take your point at face value, why did Serbs push so hard for Republika Srpska? that too is ethnofederalization. why not just live in Bosnia and be citizens of that state? why attempt to establish the Krajina Republic? you can spin it around anyway you like, ultimately the reason why we're dealing with a lot of this crap, is that the people who were in charge and the ones who could have made a positive change in the 90's didn't want to do it, and the heavenly people were the ones who ruled roost. there'd be no need for Albanians to break away had ordinary Serbs themselves not looked at at their fellow citizens of different ethnicity as people unworthy of oxygen, never mind basic human rights. you don't have to dig deep to see this still. apply simple logic, Serbs insist that holy Kosmet is still theirs, well this doesn't come without those Albanians who dwell here. what did the Serbian state do however? it struck them off the electoral list, pretty much confirming all the attitudes of the 90's, we want the territory but not the people.
i admire your idealist sentiments to the issue, sadly though until peoples attitudes change, your proposal is just a pipe dream.
Many have tried to provide, albeit skewed, context. But not a single Albanian on these pages would admit that these attacks are wrong. That tells me that none of you are real patriots. A real patriot, who loves his people and Nation would be the first to distance himself from criminality and he would demand that law and order be restored.
so what do you propose we do, join forces and kick out the internationals, then proceed to do the same to the ruling classes in Belgrade and Prishtina? (Nikolle, 8 January 2014 11:49)
As silly as it sounds, that might not be a bad idea. Look, let's get serious for a minute (I know it's uncanny to do so on an English language news portal on the Balkans with a comment section). Reintegration is just not going to happen regardless of whatever arguments the other side may have. I sincerely doubt those Serbs on the bus were the war criminals that plagued Djakovica in 1999 as I sincerely doubt every Albanian crossing the Ibar has a motive beyond trying to reclaim his/her lost property. But the politicians in charge, and the international powers that put them/keep them there are bent on ethnofederalization. And of course let's not forget local sentiment which is often characterized by the most insane group in the crowd. Serbs lose Djakovica and Albanians lose Kosovska Mitrovica. And yes, many Serbs (and Albanians) get their reclaimed houses in order and immediately sell them. Makes sense if you have no intention of living there (especially if you've relocated to a better place), so most of the woe-is-me rhetoric on either side lamenting the homes they no longer have masks the reality you mentioned. A 12,000 Serb district in Djakovica might have been nice, but unless there's some life to return to, it's just not going to happen.
Just like so many politician figures in Balkans, Mr A Vulin's public behaviour, political and religious views are very good indicators that this person suffers from psychomania.
Unfortunately for people who have to deal with them, this type of people are born like that and there is no cure for it either, and as such life never gets any easier.
Government of Kosovo should have not interfered on this matter at all and would have been much better to have left him to go to that small town in middle of nowhere for few hours to be greeted by the portrait pictures of faces of this killed people hanged on both side of the street walls on the way to that small church.
LOLOL why would you "allow" him to go anywhere in Kosovo i Metohija at all? This boggles my mind. You guys love to talk tough (on somebody else's dime) but cannot answer this simple question.
(Ari Gold, 7 January 2014 18:47)
I agree that he "should" not be allowed to go anywhere in Kosovo as his agenda is only one of antagonism and to insure there is no peace. However, in attempting to encourage Serbs to participate in Kosovo institutions and success in Brussels it is necessary for the Pristina authorities to allow some access to Kosovo as he is the Serbian chosen representative. But when his agenda is overtly obvious that it is simply to cause disruption and create issues then it is necessary to draw the line.
It is ironic that Vucic had already announced that Vulin would be traveling with him to Gracanica, so the so-called planned trip to Gjaklova was probably a ruse to elicit a response as was he bus load of Serbs that were more than likely paid by Serbia to go to Gjalkova.
A very interesting opinion. so what do you propose we do, join forces and kick out the internationals, then proceed to do the same to the ruling classes in Belgrade and Prishtina? tell me, are you aware that some of the Serb returnees who's houses have been build from Kosova's budget have sold their houses back to Albanians and then moved again to Serbia? I mean, Serbs love Kosmet so much that when their houses are built with other peoples money, they make a profit and leave again! amazing.
@Jeff: judging by the number of incarcerated Serbian war criminals at the Hague, I'd say you have yet to leave the stone age. who knows, maybe you will find the exit door someday
"While Vulin is right about "apartheid", let's be honest: no one, not Albanians, not Serbs, and not the international community really wants integration in Kosovo.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 7 January 2014 21:14)
I agree, even the internationals realized that the idea of creating a multiethnic, democratic, European Kosovo where all ethnic groups can live together miserably failed. It would have been best option (well, maybe it IS still the best option) to split Kosovo along the Ibar river and to give up on 'returning of refugees'. Why not swap population (the leftover Serbs in southern Kosovo with the Albanians in northern Kosovo + Albanians in Presevo Valley) + installing some concrete walls and electrical fences along the Serbian churches and monasteries to protect them against the Albanian mob.
I think this solution would have been cheaper than the billions of money spend for KFOR, EULEX and other things without yielding tangible result in more than a decade.
Pissed off some overrated politician with a one-sided agenda is engaging in insensitive selective memory that glosses over the victims of state sponsored ethnonationalism? Insulted he plays his side up to be the victim while dismissing the other side as aggressive, confrontational, and xenophobic?
I'd like to say now you know how Kosovo Serbs have felt since 1999, but I'm not that lucky you'll see the parallels, let alone realize each side has chronic selective memory.
ZSO is a major benefit of Serb participation in local elections in Kosovo, and returns them to the official position to manage their territories and influence policy-making at the level of Kosovo. Of paramount importance to the ZSO as soon formed and immediately proceed with arranging the situation in Kosovo.
While Vulin is right about "apartheid", let's be honest: no one, not Albanians, not Serbs, and not the international community really wants integration in Kosovo. Yes, Serbs can't go (back) to Djakovica, but Albanians can go (back) to northern Kosovo. Moreover, the agreements reached last year between Dacic and Thaci purposefully divided up Kosovo into Serb and Albanian municipal spheres of influence, making this ethnic separation a fait accompli. And let's be honest: the Albanian mob organizes the minute a Serb enters their territory just as much as the Serb mob organizes the minute some Albanian they don't know crosses the Ibar, or goes to someplace other than the central market in Gracanica.
And let's also be honest about returning to pre-1999 homes: who REALLY wants to go back to some selo that's now overrun by the other side? Yeah it would be great if all 12,000 Serbs returned to Djakovica, but can you imagine anyone in the north willing to allow Albanians to return? Better yet, what's there to return to? It's one thing to return to a place that has a chance of survival beyond the next 20 years. It's another to return to what was already some podunk middle of nowhere village where Albanians are looking to get out of. Unless there's a Serb municipality carved out of it, it won't happen.
Kosovo's broken. It isn't returning to 1999. And Belgrade, Pristina, Brussels, and Washington are more than happy to keep it like that.
Mr. Vulins statement is beyond sickening and not in touch with reality. As someone who has lost family and relatives it pains me a great deal to hear him spit out garbage like this.
Why would the Serbs choose to go and celebrate Christmas in a city where they massacred hundreds and the city still hasn't healed its wounds from the last conflict. I don't know whether Vulin realizes but there isn't a single family in Gjakova which doesn't have either a family member which has been killed or a family member that is listed as missing from the last conflict. Gjakova or Djakovica was treated the most brutally by the Serb forces. Almost 100% of the city centre was destroyed and thousands had been killed raped and tortured. Why, why for gods sake would anyone choose to celebrate Christmas in a place where your people have massacred, killed, raped and tortured the local civilians is beyond anyone's rationale. If my people had done the same thing in Serbia I would be ashamed to ever step foot on that town. However this was indeed more of provocation rather than a celebration.
Forgiving our Serb neighbors for burning our houses, raping our mothers and daughters, killing our children and massacring our parents right in front of our eyes, not even god can forgive the Serbs never mind the Gjakovars. Human nature is strange... it just doesn't work that way. I am afraid there will never be an welcoming ceremony for a Serb entering Gjakova/Djakovica.
Last apartheid in Kosovo Sir, was established in 1989 and lasted to 1999. It was structured by you and your friends..
There were lots of victims of your apartheid,one of which is me... I forgive everything what you did but one thing I can not is the closing of schools.
It was more than anything your actions that resulted the KS to become free of Serb troops. Ironically you are still in power and accusing others of wrong doing. How pathetic this is, only your people knew it as I do.
It is still necessary to divide into us and them. Our victims are buried in mass graves in Belgrade's outskirts. There are known mass graves in Serbia were human remains haven found but any digging has been stopped by the Serb government even though the UN and Eulex insists on work to continue. You are denying our victims to have a name associated with their remains. You are denying them a humane burial.
Your victims meanwhile, live in Belgrade. Do you hear that. They LIVE.
Vulin the fascist and his human shield was denied access by the families of our dead victims. When the Serb government, Vulin, does not deny our dead victims a proper burial in their own homes you can complain. You are denying even our dead ones from coming to Kosova and you complain that you who are ALIVE are not allowed to go into one specific church. Stop playing with our dead. You are perpetuating a crime you committed.
an obedient Serb he did as told.
(a New Day, 7 January 2014 15:17)
LOLOL why would you "allow" him to go anywhere in Kosovo i Metohija at all? This boggles my mind. You guys love to talk tough (on somebody else's dime) but cannot answer this simple question.
For some reason, Vulin fails to say why 12000 serbs are not in Đakovica anymore.
He fails to tell about the horrible crimes done there from Serb military and paramilitary groups.
Even Aleksandar Vucic mentioned that some horrible crimes were done in Kosovo in 1998-1999.
There is always a reason behind something.
Yeah sure danilo- I was in pristina during those days. i can tell you there were no Albanians being stoned going to mosque. Mainly because they were just exiting the stone age, and had no idea about anything. Still, they lived and did as they pleased. Im sure a few terrorist scumbags got their asses kicked from time to time though.
How short are the memories of this politician. What about the loss of life during the war and prior to the war in the municipality of Djokov(ica). Talk about apartheid now but where were the Serbian politicians when they were doling out the apartheid to their Kosovo/a citizens which constituted the majority (Albanians). No one remembers the years of Apartheid under Milosevic the Great eh?
Vulin should be ashamed of himself and he should have listened to the mothers cry and speak out about their lost loved ones and the MISSING!
Serbs have a right to visit their churches and return but the government of Serbia has not officially apologized to the victims who reside in Djokov(ica).
Reconcile that then you will see people less angry for the losses they incurred due to the government of Milo the Great!
Gracanica?? Wasn't this guy "banned" from entering Kosovo i Metohija like 23490583 times loll?
(Ari Gold, 7 January 2014 13:15
As usual falsehoods and halftruths to try to create an issue. He was approved to go to Gracanica but not Gjakova and like an obedient Serb he did as told.
Mr. Vulins statement is beyond sickening and not in touch with reality. As someone who has lost family and relatives it pains me a great deal to hear him spit out garbage like this.
Why would the Serbs choose to go and celebrate Christmas in a city where they massacred hundreds and the city still hasn't healed its wounds from the last conflict. I don't know whether Vulin realizes but there isn't a single family in Gjakova which doesn't have either a family member which has been killed or a family member that is listed as missing from the last conflict. Gjakova or Djakovica was treated the most brutally by the Serb forces. Almost 100% of the city centre was destroyed and thousands had been killed raped and tortured. Why, why for gods sake would anyone choose to celebrate Christmas in a place where your people have massacred, killed, raped and tortured the local civilians is beyond anyone's rationale. If my people had done the same thing in Serbia I would be ashamed to ever step foot on that town. However this was indeed more of provocation rather than a celebration.
Forgiving our Serb neighbors for burning our houses, raping our mothers and daughters, killing our children and massacring our parents right in front of our eyes, not even god can forgive the Serbs never mind the Gjakovars. Human nature is strange... it just doesn't work that way. I am afraid there will never be an welcoming ceremony for a Serb entering Gjakova/Djakovica.
Gracanica?? Wasn't this guy "banned" from entering Kosovo i Metohija like 23490583 times loll?
(Ari Gold, 7 January 2014 13:15
As usual falsehoods and halftruths to try to create an issue. He was approved to go to Gracanica but not Gjakova and like an obedient Serb he did as told.
It is still necessary to divide into us and them. Our victims are buried in mass graves in Belgrade's outskirts. There are known mass graves in Serbia were human remains haven found but any digging has been stopped by the Serb government even though the UN and Eulex insists on work to continue. You are denying our victims to have a name associated with their remains. You are denying them a humane burial.
Your victims meanwhile, live in Belgrade. Do you hear that. They LIVE.
Vulin the fascist and his human shield was denied access by the families of our dead victims. When the Serb government, Vulin, does not deny our dead victims a proper burial in their own homes you can complain. You are denying even our dead ones from coming to Kosova and you complain that you who are ALIVE are not allowed to go into one specific church. Stop playing with our dead. You are perpetuating a crime you committed.
For some reason, Vulin fails to say why 12000 serbs are not in Đakovica anymore.
He fails to tell about the horrible crimes done there from Serb military and paramilitary groups.
Even Aleksandar Vucic mentioned that some horrible crimes were done in Kosovo in 1998-1999.
There is always a reason behind something.
While Vulin is right about "apartheid", let's be honest: no one, not Albanians, not Serbs, and not the international community really wants integration in Kosovo. Yes, Serbs can't go (back) to Djakovica, but Albanians can go (back) to northern Kosovo. Moreover, the agreements reached last year between Dacic and Thaci purposefully divided up Kosovo into Serb and Albanian municipal spheres of influence, making this ethnic separation a fait accompli. And let's be honest: the Albanian mob organizes the minute a Serb enters their territory just as much as the Serb mob organizes the minute some Albanian they don't know crosses the Ibar, or goes to someplace other than the central market in Gracanica.
And let's also be honest about returning to pre-1999 homes: who REALLY wants to go back to some selo that's now overrun by the other side? Yeah it would be great if all 12,000 Serbs returned to Djakovica, but can you imagine anyone in the north willing to allow Albanians to return? Better yet, what's there to return to? It's one thing to return to a place that has a chance of survival beyond the next 20 years. It's another to return to what was already some podunk middle of nowhere village where Albanians are looking to get out of. Unless there's a Serb municipality carved out of it, it won't happen.
Kosovo's broken. It isn't returning to 1999. And Belgrade, Pristina, Brussels, and Washington are more than happy to keep it like that.
Last apartheid in Kosovo Sir, was established in 1989 and lasted to 1999. It was structured by you and your friends..
There were lots of victims of your apartheid,one of which is me... I forgive everything what you did but one thing I can not is the closing of schools.
It was more than anything your actions that resulted the KS to become free of Serb troops. Ironically you are still in power and accusing others of wrong doing. How pathetic this is, only your people knew it as I do.
How short are the memories of this politician. What about the loss of life during the war and prior to the war in the municipality of Djokov(ica). Talk about apartheid now but where were the Serbian politicians when they were doling out the apartheid to their Kosovo/a citizens which constituted the majority (Albanians). No one remembers the years of Apartheid under Milosevic the Great eh?
Vulin should be ashamed of himself and he should have listened to the mothers cry and speak out about their lost loved ones and the MISSING!
Serbs have a right to visit their churches and return but the government of Serbia has not officially apologized to the victims who reside in Djokov(ica).
Reconcile that then you will see people less angry for the losses they incurred due to the government of Milo the Great!
Yeah sure danilo- I was in pristina during those days. i can tell you there were no Albanians being stoned going to mosque. Mainly because they were just exiting the stone age, and had no idea about anything. Still, they lived and did as they pleased. Im sure a few terrorist scumbags got their asses kicked from time to time though.
Pissed off some overrated politician with a one-sided agenda is engaging in insensitive selective memory that glosses over the victims of state sponsored ethnonationalism? Insulted he plays his side up to be the victim while dismissing the other side as aggressive, confrontational, and xenophobic?
I'd like to say now you know how Kosovo Serbs have felt since 1999, but I'm not that lucky you'll see the parallels, let alone realize each side has chronic selective memory.
@Jeff: judging by the number of incarcerated Serbian war criminals at the Hague, I'd say you have yet to leave the stone age. who knows, maybe you will find the exit door someday
an obedient Serb he did as told.
(a New Day, 7 January 2014 15:17)
LOLOL why would you "allow" him to go anywhere in Kosovo i Metohija at all? This boggles my mind. You guys love to talk tough (on somebody else's dime) but cannot answer this simple question.
Just like so many politician figures in Balkans, Mr A Vulin's public behaviour, political and religious views are very good indicators that this person suffers from psychomania.
Unfortunately for people who have to deal with them, this type of people are born like that and there is no cure for it either, and as such life never gets any easier.
Government of Kosovo should have not interfered on this matter at all and would have been much better to have left him to go to that small town in middle of nowhere for few hours to be greeted by the portrait pictures of faces of this killed people hanged on both side of the street walls on the way to that small church.
A very interesting opinion. so what do you propose we do, join forces and kick out the internationals, then proceed to do the same to the ruling classes in Belgrade and Prishtina? tell me, are you aware that some of the Serb returnees who's houses have been build from Kosova's budget have sold their houses back to Albanians and then moved again to Serbia? I mean, Serbs love Kosmet so much that when their houses are built with other peoples money, they make a profit and leave again! amazing.
LOLOL why would you "allow" him to go anywhere in Kosovo i Metohija at all? This boggles my mind. You guys love to talk tough (on somebody else's dime) but cannot answer this simple question.
(Ari Gold, 7 January 2014 18:47)
I agree that he "should" not be allowed to go anywhere in Kosovo as his agenda is only one of antagonism and to insure there is no peace. However, in attempting to encourage Serbs to participate in Kosovo institutions and success in Brussels it is necessary for the Pristina authorities to allow some access to Kosovo as he is the Serbian chosen representative. But when his agenda is overtly obvious that it is simply to cause disruption and create issues then it is necessary to draw the line.
It is ironic that Vucic had already announced that Vulin would be traveling with him to Gracanica, so the so-called planned trip to Gjaklova was probably a ruse to elicit a response as was he bus load of Serbs that were more than likely paid by Serbia to go to Gjalkova.
Now have you a heard any of your Serb government members apologize to the victims of Gjakova. The mass grave is still in Serbia. All they need to do is go there and ask for forgiveness. Then they can complain if their provocateur in charge, Vulin, is not allowed in.
(J, 9 January 2014 03:23)
While we're at it, ever hear of any of your (well I shouldn't say "your" as I suspect you live elsewhere) government apologize for the March 2004 pogroms? Ever year of a single Kosovo Albanian official push for the search and arrest of the murderers of those Serbian children in Gorazdevac? The perpetrators of the Podujevo bus bombing? Has the murderer of any Kosovo Serb since 1999 been arrested? No, the general strategy is offer some half hearted boiler plate statement condemning the event, reiterating that Kosovo is a multiethnic democracy, and that we should just move on.
You demand an apology but do you think of doing any soul searching yourself? Of course not because that contradicts the carefully crafted story of collective suffering on your part as well as contradicting the carefully guarded story of Albanians never in their long long history engaging in any kind of violence that wasn't justified as retribution for a previous act of aggression. It's nothing different from the Serbian side, so don't sit there and think you're any different. Both sides have their horror stories, but if you want the other side to blink first, try acting like people they'd want to approach.
Many have tried to provide, albeit skewed, context. But not a single Albanian on these pages would admit that these attacks are wrong. That tells me that none of you are real patriots. A real patriot, who loves his people and Nation would be the first to distance himself from criminality and he would demand that law and order be restored.
"international powers that put them/ them there are bent on ethnofederalization"
a very interesting comment. have you ever wondered why this should be the case? because Serbs and Albanians don't want a multi-ethnic entity or more accurately its not in the interest of Serbia for it. i mean, if I was to take your point at face value, why did Serbs push so hard for Republika Srpska? that too is ethnofederalization. why not just live in Bosnia and be citizens of that state? why attempt to establish the Krajina Republic? you can spin it around anyway you like, ultimately the reason why we're dealing with a lot of this crap, is that the people who were in charge and the ones who could have made a positive change in the 90's didn't want to do it, and the heavenly people were the ones who ruled roost. there'd be no need for Albanians to break away had ordinary Serbs themselves not looked at at their fellow citizens of different ethnicity as people unworthy of oxygen, never mind basic human rights. you don't have to dig deep to see this still. apply simple logic, Serbs insist that holy Kosmet is still theirs, well this doesn't come without those Albanians who dwell here. what did the Serbian state do however? it struck them off the electoral list, pretty much confirming all the attitudes of the 90's, we want the territory but not the people.
i admire your idealist sentiments to the issue, sadly though until peoples attitudes change, your proposal is just a pipe dream.
so what do you propose we do, join forces and kick out the internationals, then proceed to do the same to the ruling classes in Belgrade and Prishtina? (Nikolle, 8 January 2014 11:49)
As silly as it sounds, that might not be a bad idea. Look, let's get serious for a minute (I know it's uncanny to do so on an English language news portal on the Balkans with a comment section). Reintegration is just not going to happen regardless of whatever arguments the other side may have. I sincerely doubt those Serbs on the bus were the war criminals that plagued Djakovica in 1999 as I sincerely doubt every Albanian crossing the Ibar has a motive beyond trying to reclaim his/her lost property. But the politicians in charge, and the international powers that put them/keep them there are bent on ethnofederalization. And of course let's not forget local sentiment which is often characterized by the most insane group in the crowd. Serbs lose Djakovica and Albanians lose Kosovska Mitrovica. And yes, many Serbs (and Albanians) get their reclaimed houses in order and immediately sell them. Makes sense if you have no intention of living there (especially if you've relocated to a better place), so most of the woe-is-me rhetoric on either side lamenting the homes they no longer have masks the reality you mentioned. A 12,000 Serb district in Djakovica might have been nice, but unless there's some life to return to, it's just not going to happen.
sadly though until peoples attitudes change, your proposal is just a pipe dream.
(Nikolle, 8 January 2014 19:59)
Sadly it is, but let's be honest that applies to Albanians as much as Serbs. Yes you're right that Belgrade envisions "Kosovo" to be without Albanians, but Albanians envision "Kosova" to be without Serbs. Neither side has made any attempt at reconciliation since 1999, and neither side really thought of diffusing the situation prior to 1999 and going as back as 1981. So in an incredibly ironic way, the international community's decision to divide Kosovo into ethnic areas gives both sides what they want without having to deal with the other. I'm not going to argue with what you said about Serbia's official policies towards Kosovo as asinine as they've been, but you can't say the current leadership in Pristina thinks any differently. Hence the reason why each side goes nuts whenever a member of the other side makes inroads into their territory.
I suppose if you want to look for alternative examples away from this ethnocentrism, you can look at local communities in Klina and Stprce.
But aside from that, we're stuck dealing with what is so we might as well cultivate what's productive and laugh at what's hypocritical and ridiculous.
A real patriot, who loves his people and Nation would be the first to distance himself from criminality and he would demand that law and order be restored.
(marKo, 8 January 2014 19:38)
Justice got served, people were arrested, the law did its job.
Now have you a heard any of your Serb government members apologize to the victims of Gjakova. The mass grave is still in Serbia. All they need to do is go there and ask for forgiveness. Then they can complain if their provocateur in charge, Vulin, is not allowed in.
ZSO is a major benefit of Serb participation in local elections in Kosovo, and returns them to the official position to manage their territories and influence policy-making at the level of Kosovo. Of paramount importance to the ZSO as soon formed and immediately proceed with arranging the situation in Kosovo.
"While Vulin is right about "apartheid", let's be honest: no one, not Albanians, not Serbs, and not the international community really wants integration in Kosovo.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 7 January 2014 21:14)
I agree, even the internationals realized that the idea of creating a multiethnic, democratic, European Kosovo where all ethnic groups can live together miserably failed. It would have been best option (well, maybe it IS still the best option) to split Kosovo along the Ibar river and to give up on 'returning of refugees'. Why not swap population (the leftover Serbs in southern Kosovo with the Albanians in northern Kosovo + Albanians in Presevo Valley) + installing some concrete walls and electrical fences along the Serbian churches and monasteries to protect them against the Albanian mob.
I think this solution would have been cheaper than the billions of money spend for KFOR, EULEX and other things without yielding tangible result in more than a decade.
A real patriot, who loves his people and Nation would be the first to distance himself from criminality and he would demand that law and order be restored.
(marKo, 8 January 2014 19:38)
I totally agree and people were arrested by KSP.But serbia media doesn't report those.
Also this applies to serbian side too,or not?
Vulin,better behave himself when he goes to Kosovo.
In Gjakova live 1000 women raped by serbs and the city was left in ruins in 1999.
The people of Gjakova asked Vulin to apologize for those crimes,while Vulin called them "non human".Do you thing is constructive?NO!A simple word: "I apologize for what happened in 1999" could have solve everything,but Vulin behaves like albanians are still his slaves.
Vulin is provoking albanians every time he enters in Kosovo.Albanians are being too patient listening insults by this scumbag.
Gracanica?? Wasn't this guy "banned" from entering Kosovo i Metohija like 23490583 times loll?
(Ari Gold, 7 January 2014 13:15
As usual falsehoods and halftruths to try to create an issue. He was approved to go to Gracanica but not Gjakova and like an obedient Serb he did as told.
Yeah sure danilo- I was in pristina during those days. i can tell you there were no Albanians being stoned going to mosque. Mainly because they were just exiting the stone age, and had no idea about anything. Still, they lived and did as they pleased. Im sure a few terrorist scumbags got their asses kicked from time to time though.
For some reason, Vulin fails to say why 12000 serbs are not in Đakovica anymore.
He fails to tell about the horrible crimes done there from Serb military and paramilitary groups.
Even Aleksandar Vucic mentioned that some horrible crimes were done in Kosovo in 1998-1999.
There is always a reason behind something.
It is still necessary to divide into us and them. Our victims are buried in mass graves in Belgrade's outskirts. There are known mass graves in Serbia were human remains haven found but any digging has been stopped by the Serb government even though the UN and Eulex insists on work to continue. You are denying our victims to have a name associated with their remains. You are denying them a humane burial.
Your victims meanwhile, live in Belgrade. Do you hear that. They LIVE.
Vulin the fascist and his human shield was denied access by the families of our dead victims. When the Serb government, Vulin, does not deny our dead victims a proper burial in their own homes you can complain. You are denying even our dead ones from coming to Kosova and you complain that you who are ALIVE are not allowed to go into one specific church. Stop playing with our dead. You are perpetuating a crime you committed.
an obedient Serb he did as told.
(a New Day, 7 January 2014 15:17)
LOLOL why would you "allow" him to go anywhere in Kosovo i Metohija at all? This boggles my mind. You guys love to talk tough (on somebody else's dime) but cannot answer this simple question.
How short are the memories of this politician. What about the loss of life during the war and prior to the war in the municipality of Djokov(ica). Talk about apartheid now but where were the Serbian politicians when they were doling out the apartheid to their Kosovo/a citizens which constituted the majority (Albanians). No one remembers the years of Apartheid under Milosevic the Great eh?
Vulin should be ashamed of himself and he should have listened to the mothers cry and speak out about their lost loved ones and the MISSING!
Serbs have a right to visit their churches and return but the government of Serbia has not officially apologized to the victims who reside in Djokov(ica).
Reconcile that then you will see people less angry for the losses they incurred due to the government of Milo the Great!
Mr. Vulins statement is beyond sickening and not in touch with reality. As someone who has lost family and relatives it pains me a great deal to hear him spit out garbage like this.
Why would the Serbs choose to go and celebrate Christmas in a city where they massacred hundreds and the city still hasn't healed its wounds from the last conflict. I don't know whether Vulin realizes but there isn't a single family in Gjakova which doesn't have either a family member which has been killed or a family member that is listed as missing from the last conflict. Gjakova or Djakovica was treated the most brutally by the Serb forces. Almost 100% of the city centre was destroyed and thousands had been killed raped and tortured. Why, why for gods sake would anyone choose to celebrate Christmas in a place where your people have massacred, killed, raped and tortured the local civilians is beyond anyone's rationale. If my people had done the same thing in Serbia I would be ashamed to ever step foot on that town. However this was indeed more of provocation rather than a celebration.
Forgiving our Serb neighbors for burning our houses, raping our mothers and daughters, killing our children and massacring our parents right in front of our eyes, not even god can forgive the Serbs never mind the Gjakovars. Human nature is strange... it just doesn't work that way. I am afraid there will never be an welcoming ceremony for a Serb entering Gjakova/Djakovica.
"While Vulin is right about "apartheid", let's be honest: no one, not Albanians, not Serbs, and not the international community really wants integration in Kosovo.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 7 January 2014 21:14)
I agree, even the internationals realized that the idea of creating a multiethnic, democratic, European Kosovo where all ethnic groups can live together miserably failed. It would have been best option (well, maybe it IS still the best option) to split Kosovo along the Ibar river and to give up on 'returning of refugees'. Why not swap population (the leftover Serbs in southern Kosovo with the Albanians in northern Kosovo + Albanians in Presevo Valley) + installing some concrete walls and electrical fences along the Serbian churches and monasteries to protect them against the Albanian mob.
I think this solution would have been cheaper than the billions of money spend for KFOR, EULEX and other things without yielding tangible result in more than a decade.
@Jeff: judging by the number of incarcerated Serbian war criminals at the Hague, I'd say you have yet to leave the stone age. who knows, maybe you will find the exit door someday
A very interesting opinion. so what do you propose we do, join forces and kick out the internationals, then proceed to do the same to the ruling classes in Belgrade and Prishtina? tell me, are you aware that some of the Serb returnees who's houses have been build from Kosova's budget have sold their houses back to Albanians and then moved again to Serbia? I mean, Serbs love Kosmet so much that when their houses are built with other peoples money, they make a profit and leave again! amazing.
"international powers that put them/ them there are bent on ethnofederalization"
a very interesting comment. have you ever wondered why this should be the case? because Serbs and Albanians don't want a multi-ethnic entity or more accurately its not in the interest of Serbia for it. i mean, if I was to take your point at face value, why did Serbs push so hard for Republika Srpska? that too is ethnofederalization. why not just live in Bosnia and be citizens of that state? why attempt to establish the Krajina Republic? you can spin it around anyway you like, ultimately the reason why we're dealing with a lot of this crap, is that the people who were in charge and the ones who could have made a positive change in the 90's didn't want to do it, and the heavenly people were the ones who ruled roost. there'd be no need for Albanians to break away had ordinary Serbs themselves not looked at at their fellow citizens of different ethnicity as people unworthy of oxygen, never mind basic human rights. you don't have to dig deep to see this still. apply simple logic, Serbs insist that holy Kosmet is still theirs, well this doesn't come without those Albanians who dwell here. what did the Serbian state do however? it struck them off the electoral list, pretty much confirming all the attitudes of the 90's, we want the territory but not the people.
i admire your idealist sentiments to the issue, sadly though until peoples attitudes change, your proposal is just a pipe dream.
A real patriot, who loves his people and Nation would be the first to distance himself from criminality and he would demand that law and order be restored.
(marKo, 8 January 2014 19:38)
I totally agree and people were arrested by KSP.But serbia media doesn't report those.
Also this applies to serbian side too,or not?
Vulin,better behave himself when he goes to Kosovo.
In Gjakova live 1000 women raped by serbs and the city was left in ruins in 1999.
The people of Gjakova asked Vulin to apologize for those crimes,while Vulin called them "non human".Do you thing is constructive?NO!A simple word: "I apologize for what happened in 1999" could have solve everything,but Vulin behaves like albanians are still his slaves.
Vulin is provoking albanians every time he enters in Kosovo.Albanians are being too patient listening insults by this scumbag.
Last apartheid in Kosovo Sir, was established in 1989 and lasted to 1999. It was structured by you and your friends..
There were lots of victims of your apartheid,one of which is me... I forgive everything what you did but one thing I can not is the closing of schools.
It was more than anything your actions that resulted the KS to become free of Serb troops. Ironically you are still in power and accusing others of wrong doing. How pathetic this is, only your people knew it as I do.
ZSO is a major benefit of Serb participation in local elections in Kosovo, and returns them to the official position to manage their territories and influence policy-making at the level of Kosovo. Of paramount importance to the ZSO as soon formed and immediately proceed with arranging the situation in Kosovo.
A real patriot, who loves his people and Nation would be the first to distance himself from criminality and he would demand that law and order be restored.
(marKo, 8 January 2014 19:38)
Justice got served, people were arrested, the law did its job.
Now have you a heard any of your Serb government members apologize to the victims of Gjakova. The mass grave is still in Serbia. All they need to do is go there and ask for forgiveness. Then they can complain if their provocateur in charge, Vulin, is not allowed in.
Just like so many politician figures in Balkans, Mr A Vulin's public behaviour, political and religious views are very good indicators that this person suffers from psychomania.
Unfortunately for people who have to deal with them, this type of people are born like that and there is no cure for it either, and as such life never gets any easier.
Government of Kosovo should have not interfered on this matter at all and would have been much better to have left him to go to that small town in middle of nowhere for few hours to be greeted by the portrait pictures of faces of this killed people hanged on both side of the street walls on the way to that small church.
Now have you a heard any of your Serb government members apologize to the victims of Gjakova. The mass grave is still in Serbia. All they need to do is go there and ask for forgiveness. Then they can complain if their provocateur in charge, Vulin, is not allowed in.
(J, 9 January 2014 03:23)
While we're at it, ever hear of any of your (well I shouldn't say "your" as I suspect you live elsewhere) government apologize for the March 2004 pogroms? Ever year of a single Kosovo Albanian official push for the search and arrest of the murderers of those Serbian children in Gorazdevac? The perpetrators of the Podujevo bus bombing? Has the murderer of any Kosovo Serb since 1999 been arrested? No, the general strategy is offer some half hearted boiler plate statement condemning the event, reiterating that Kosovo is a multiethnic democracy, and that we should just move on.
You demand an apology but do you think of doing any soul searching yourself? Of course not because that contradicts the carefully crafted story of collective suffering on your part as well as contradicting the carefully guarded story of Albanians never in their long long history engaging in any kind of violence that wasn't justified as retribution for a previous act of aggression. It's nothing different from the Serbian side, so don't sit there and think you're any different. Both sides have their horror stories, but if you want the other side to blink first, try acting like people they'd want to approach.
LOLOL why would you "allow" him to go anywhere in Kosovo i Metohija at all? This boggles my mind. You guys love to talk tough (on somebody else's dime) but cannot answer this simple question.
(Ari Gold, 7 January 2014 18:47)
I agree that he "should" not be allowed to go anywhere in Kosovo as his agenda is only one of antagonism and to insure there is no peace. However, in attempting to encourage Serbs to participate in Kosovo institutions and success in Brussels it is necessary for the Pristina authorities to allow some access to Kosovo as he is the Serbian chosen representative. But when his agenda is overtly obvious that it is simply to cause disruption and create issues then it is necessary to draw the line.
It is ironic that Vucic had already announced that Vulin would be traveling with him to Gracanica, so the so-called planned trip to Gjaklova was probably a ruse to elicit a response as was he bus load of Serbs that were more than likely paid by Serbia to go to Gjalkova.
While Vulin is right about "apartheid", let's be honest: no one, not Albanians, not Serbs, and not the international community really wants integration in Kosovo. Yes, Serbs can't go (back) to Djakovica, but Albanians can go (back) to northern Kosovo. Moreover, the agreements reached last year between Dacic and Thaci purposefully divided up Kosovo into Serb and Albanian municipal spheres of influence, making this ethnic separation a fait accompli. And let's be honest: the Albanian mob organizes the minute a Serb enters their territory just as much as the Serb mob organizes the minute some Albanian they don't know crosses the Ibar, or goes to someplace other than the central market in Gracanica.
And let's also be honest about returning to pre-1999 homes: who REALLY wants to go back to some selo that's now overrun by the other side? Yeah it would be great if all 12,000 Serbs returned to Djakovica, but can you imagine anyone in the north willing to allow Albanians to return? Better yet, what's there to return to? It's one thing to return to a place that has a chance of survival beyond the next 20 years. It's another to return to what was already some podunk middle of nowhere village where Albanians are looking to get out of. Unless there's a Serb municipality carved out of it, it won't happen.
Kosovo's broken. It isn't returning to 1999. And Belgrade, Pristina, Brussels, and Washington are more than happy to keep it like that.
so what do you propose we do, join forces and kick out the internationals, then proceed to do the same to the ruling classes in Belgrade and Prishtina? (Nikolle, 8 January 2014 11:49)
As silly as it sounds, that might not be a bad idea. Look, let's get serious for a minute (I know it's uncanny to do so on an English language news portal on the Balkans with a comment section). Reintegration is just not going to happen regardless of whatever arguments the other side may have. I sincerely doubt those Serbs on the bus were the war criminals that plagued Djakovica in 1999 as I sincerely doubt every Albanian crossing the Ibar has a motive beyond trying to reclaim his/her lost property. But the politicians in charge, and the international powers that put them/keep them there are bent on ethnofederalization. And of course let's not forget local sentiment which is often characterized by the most insane group in the crowd. Serbs lose Djakovica and Albanians lose Kosovska Mitrovica. And yes, many Serbs (and Albanians) get their reclaimed houses in order and immediately sell them. Makes sense if you have no intention of living there (especially if you've relocated to a better place), so most of the woe-is-me rhetoric on either side lamenting the homes they no longer have masks the reality you mentioned. A 12,000 Serb district in Djakovica might have been nice, but unless there's some life to return to, it's just not going to happen.
Many have tried to provide, albeit skewed, context. But not a single Albanian on these pages would admit that these attacks are wrong. That tells me that none of you are real patriots. A real patriot, who loves his people and Nation would be the first to distance himself from criminality and he would demand that law and order be restored.
Pissed off some overrated politician with a one-sided agenda is engaging in insensitive selective memory that glosses over the victims of state sponsored ethnonationalism? Insulted he plays his side up to be the victim while dismissing the other side as aggressive, confrontational, and xenophobic?
I'd like to say now you know how Kosovo Serbs have felt since 1999, but I'm not that lucky you'll see the parallels, let alone realize each side has chronic selective memory.
sadly though until peoples attitudes change, your proposal is just a pipe dream.
(Nikolle, 8 January 2014 19:59)
Sadly it is, but let's be honest that applies to Albanians as much as Serbs. Yes you're right that Belgrade envisions "Kosovo" to be without Albanians, but Albanians envision "Kosova" to be without Serbs. Neither side has made any attempt at reconciliation since 1999, and neither side really thought of diffusing the situation prior to 1999 and going as back as 1981. So in an incredibly ironic way, the international community's decision to divide Kosovo into ethnic areas gives both sides what they want without having to deal with the other. I'm not going to argue with what you said about Serbia's official policies towards Kosovo as asinine as they've been, but you can't say the current leadership in Pristina thinks any differently. Hence the reason why each side goes nuts whenever a member of the other side makes inroads into their territory.
I suppose if you want to look for alternative examples away from this ethnocentrism, you can look at local communities in Klina and Stprce.
But aside from that, we're stuck dealing with what is so we might as well cultivate what's productive and laugh at what's hypocritical and ridiculous.
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