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Post by Fender on Nov 8, 2009 9:40:03 GMT -5
Tadic says, "A few years ago a world politician told me, 'You will have to recognize Kosovo's independence sooner or later'. Last year, the same politician spoke to me in this way: 'Soon the international community will address you to give you back what's yours'."When was this remark made?
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Post by Fender on Nov 5, 2009 20:55:13 GMT -5
EC: Kosovo's Progress a 'Deterioration' Pristina | 04 November 2009 | Lawrence Marzouk
European CommissionThe European Commission’s progress report on Kosovo, released last month, shows a ‘deterioration’ in the country’s performance, according to a high ranking EC official in the country.
Khaldoun Sinno, head of political, economic and European integration at the European Commission Liaison Office in Kosovo, made the comments at an event organised by his office to discuss the progress report.
He said: “The report for 2009 is more negative than last year – it is a deterioration.”
The European Commission revealed in its yearly performance report and study into Kosovo’s EU future that it would open discussions with Pristina on visa liberalisation.
But the document and subsequent statements have yet to clarify what path Kosovo will take.
Renzo Daviddi, head of the EC office in Kosovo, said at the same meeting that Kosovo’s path towards joining visa liberalisation would be “long and painful”.
Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro are expected to join the so-called White Schengen list from January 1, allowing their citizens to travel into the EU's Schengen countries without a visa.
In addition to a number of technical criteria that Kosovo must achieve to join its neighbours, the young country also faces problems with the five EU members that have not recognised its independence.
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Post by Fender on Nov 5, 2009 20:51:23 GMT -5
Kosovo - what is to be done? With the International Court of Justice's verdict on the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence likely to be tilted in Serbia's favour, possible elements of a future negotiation scenario, centred upon an Ahtisaari-plus approach, can already be discerned.
By Gerard Gallucci
Keywords: Serbia, Kosovo, EULEX, ICJ, Ahtisaari
Za tekst na srpskom jeziku, pogledajte ovde The inability of the UN Security Council to agree on a replacement for UNSCR 1244, plus Pristina’s unilateral declaration of independence, has left Kosovo in a jumble since February 2008. Serbia rejects independence but is trying to pursue a pragmatic policy of rapprochement with Brussels, offering cooperation even at some cost to Kosovo Serbs. Kosovo Serbs are split between north and south – with the latter having little choice but to try to co-exist with the Albanian reality surrounding them – but both wishing for more outside help in preserving their communal existence than they get from either Belgrade or the internationals. The Kosovo Albanians are pushing for more international recognition while also using all means to press the Serbs – north and south – into accepting their subordinate place under the Pristina institutions. The countries supporting Kosovo's independence – led by the EU and US – are seeking to help the Albanians by replacing the UN and adding to the pressures on the Serbs. The Russians continue to support Belgrade and to insist on the UN’s lead role.
With all the major actors going off in competing directions on Kosovo, the International Court of Justice will begin hearing in December submissions per Serbia’s request for an advisory opinion on the legality of the declaration. The Court is unlikely to find clearly for or against either side. It cannot rule Kosovo independence outright illegal as the fact of independence cannot be undone by such a decision. It cannot rule the declaration legal as it clearly is not within the framework established by the UN in 1999. Also, any such ruling would set a precedent for every other secessionist movement. A judgment in favor of a unilateral succession from an internationally recognized state and member in good standing of the UN – such as Serbia in 2008 – would be a precedent in all other such cases, despite any arguments about Kosovo’s “uniqueness”. This might have been different within the context of a new UNSC resolution, but so far there is none.
So the Court will probably issue an advisory opinion somewhere in the middle but tilting somehow to Serbia as it is the existing sovereign state. Then what next?
Logically, there can be only three outcomes: Kosovo’s status is settled through force, if not outright war then perhaps through targeted provocations or violence to further “clean-up” the ethnic map of Kosovo (and possibly southern Serbia); status is settled through new negotiations; or the current status quo becomes more or less entrenched for some indeterminate period (perhaps until the whole region merges into the EU). Of course in reality, the actual result may include all three, either at once or ad seriatum. But possible elements of a negotiation scenario can be discerned.
First are the elements that could go into a deal. I have noted before the contribution that might come from an Ahtisaari-plus approach. Essential would be finding ways to relate local Kosovo Serb institutions both to Serbia and to Kosovo. For example, Serb-majority municipalities might be allowed access to block grants from Pristina and/or funding for local services directly from Belgrade. The Ahtisaari Plan requires that funding from Belgrade go through Pristina but it could instead be through – or be verified and audited by – a third party acceptable to both Belgrade and Pristina. Education – including the university in north Mitrovica – is a local competency in Ahtisaari but the curriculum remains unsettled. Both sides would press for curriculum conforming to their “national” system. This might be resolved through mandating use of some neutral – perhaps European – standard. Courts might be re-opened by allowing existing local Serbian courts to operate with Yugoslav or UNMIK law, with cases involving appeal or differing jurisdiction going to international (EULEX) courts. Disputes over telecoms and electricity could be handled through expediting liberalization and grandfathering licenses to the existing Kosovo companies – north and south – to compete across the whole territory. The guiding principle would be to work out practical solutions to practical issues.
Or, it may be that after a Court ruling, the issue could be framed as one of defining Kosovo’s borders. The legality of these borders cannot be justified on the basis of an UDI. Pristina and friends cannot have their cake and eat it too. They cannot on one hand claim that Kosovo’s current borders are legal because they were established under Yugoslavia while also unilaterally declaring independence from the legal successor state.
The other element for a possible negotiation is “who” might facilitate and play the role of honest broker. As it now stands, the two candidates seem to be the Contact Group – again uniting the Quint and Russia – or the UN. Both have a legitimate mandate and the political responsibility to finish resolving Kosovo’s status. The EU currently is not well-placed to fill this role. It seems lately to be tacking in its approach to the north, appointing a new envoy (the Italian ambassador to Pristina) and getting ready to open a new office. But the EU currently has no credibility with Kosovo Serbs. It has done nothing to intervene in Albanian efforts to press the southern Serbs to surrender and has supported Albanian efforts to take territory in north Mitrovica and to push Pristina institutions – customs, courts, KEK – into the north whilst squeezing Serbs everywhere to participate in the November local elections called by Pristina. The EU has repeatedly made clear that it is not neutral, with its role being instead to help spread Pristina institutions everywhere.
Finding ways to resolve Kosovo’s status through dialogue and diplomacy would not be the hardest part. That would be to gather the political will to renew negotiations and, this time, achieve a mutually acceptable and implementable package or divorce. Maybe after the Court fails to settle the issue.
Gerard M. Gallucci is a retired US diplomat. He served as UN Regional Representative in Mitrovica, Kosovo from July 2005 until October 2008. The views expressed in this piece are his own and do not represent the position of any organization.
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Post by Fender on Sept 24, 2009 22:50:29 GMT -5
No its called reading Albanian news and Government officials statements. You in other hand, dont know sh!t until B92 publish it. Yes I've seen the Kosovo Albanian newspapers. The one that springs to mind is Kosova Express. Only they seem to write fairy tales which no other credible newspaper will touch. So much for your reading material. Find a new source if you want to be taken seriously.
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Post by Fender on Sept 22, 2009 21:21:57 GMT -5
You don't know since most of you guys don't really knows what happens over there or which is where. Presheva, Bujanovc and Medvegje residents use Merdare customs and not border Gate 1 and 31 which until now were used by Serbs in north without paying taxes will soon have a one single command and thats coming from Prishtina. Belgrade and EU made a deal, either you accept Kosovo unofficially or there wont be any visa liberalization, Belgrade agreed in one condition, not having Prishtina participate on the protocol sign, this way the public could stay calm, Prishtina saw that as being left aside and made a big deal, but in long turn would really benefit them as for once they would actually have some kind of control. If you don't believe me, ask any K-Serbs living in north what they think about the protocol signing between MUP and EULEX. There is games and politics, this one has both. Making up stories again on who said what. Obviously you weren't there at the meeting so would not have the first idea on what was agreed up and how the agreement came about.
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Post by Fender on Sept 14, 2009 5:25:35 GMT -5
i hate to be frank, but the west is the reason why kosovo albanians have any government control over kosovo. if it wasnt for the west, belgrade would have direct control over kosovo a long time ago, and most of the kosovo albanians wouldve fled to albania, and from there alot of them would head for western europe and USA/canada/australia/NZ. kosovo albanians should be very greatful to having their limited government. they are effectively out of belgrades reach, and can more or less run kosovo independantly, and celebrate and teach their culture, language and history to its peoples, BUT,... the price is under the supervision of EU/NATO. they can generally run their own affairs internally, but EU/NATO has the last say on matters it deems as important to them. this is the price kosovo albanians have to pay in order to be free from belgrades rule, because kosovo's independance was by UN law illegal, so EU/NATO needs to run things to what they see fit, to keep kosovo out of belgrade's reach, because as soon as EU/NATO pull its forces out of there, and give up the will to enforce kosovo staying separate from serbia,.... then serbian forces will move in to reclaim its lost territory, together with russian forces, and russian peacekeepers to keep belgrades grip on kosovo. So ironic that a Croat of all people posts this. If we must think in terms of debts and owing favors, then we still don't owe the West (except the US) anything, simply because this situation wouldn't of been if it wasn't for the Great Powers to begin with. Those who fervently supported us now were the same powers that supported Kosova's annexation by Serbia 1912 (see London Conference, 1913). By liberating us 1999 and recognizing our unilateral declaration of independence 2008, they are the ones paying back for wronging us earlier. Having said that, we fought for liberty. We didn't fight to trade one invader for another. Certainly the complexity of Kosova's legal status within former Yugoslavia has made things more difficult, hence why we're in this position today. But the word "never" as in things will never change in this regard, is a little to definite. Serbia has already lost Kosova forever, and gradually we'll be strengthening our grip over our own state as time proceeds. One example of this is the gradual and constant reduction of KFOR presence in Kosova. Certainly Nato knows it cannot carry this out by risking the security. Some sort of replacement by an indigenous military organ, stronger than the current FSK, will have to occur. Conclusively, we're not ungrateful for the military intervention 1999, nor are we ungrateful of the recognitions we've received by the most prominent members of EU. But why should we accept the undermining of what little sovereignty we have by Serbia, as if EU's limitations of it aren't enough?It is our right and duty to protest ... the manner in which people do it is a different issue altogether, and people might object to Vetevendosje's 'radical' methods, but you'd understand their frustration if you'd open your mind a little. EULEX should be seen as a temporary solution, and the competences still held by it and the UN should ultimately in the end be overtaken by Kosova's parliament and government, otherwise if status quo continues forever, we'll never receive true democracy. And nothing you say can change the fact that we deserve it no less than you Croats or the Serbs, which essentially is what you're saying, and thats despicable. still spreading lies I see.
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Post by Fender on Sept 7, 2009 5:29:07 GMT -5
Meantime, "high Kosovo government officials admit that the goings-on regarding the protocol had brought Priština to a stalemate".
On the one hand, Kosovo Albanian leaders "are finding it difficult to backtrack on their grandstanding as they rejected the protocol", while on the other, they are "finding it even harder to stand up to the pressure from high European mechanisms that seek their support for the signing of the protocol", the daily's sources were quoted. www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2009&mm=09&dd=06&nav_id=61600LMAO Looks like the honeymoon period is over. Time for the Pristina gang to bend over and take it like a ?
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Post by Fender on Sept 3, 2009 19:51:49 GMT -5
"P.S. Novi, I have just found out that the great Richo actually has a Croatian grandmother. No sh1t." Fark, l used to look at him at times and think is there something 'nashi' in him I'm glad Damien Hardwick has taken the role so he can toughen the team ;D The infamous dummy spits are now obvious. ;D
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Post by Fender on Sept 3, 2009 5:21:14 GMT -5
Well, you can't make an omellete without breaking some eggs.
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Post by Fender on Sept 3, 2009 5:18:08 GMT -5
Here's one for you out of the blue. The great Mathew Richardson from the magnigicent Richmond Football Club has a Croatian grandmother. Now you know where the dummy spits come from. Hot headed mongrels. Sorry, that should read PASSIONATE. ;D
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Post by Fender on Sept 3, 2009 5:14:21 GMT -5
Then let 'em sign, who's stopping them? Your missing the point. They have signed but your miserable lot are trying to stall but have no real say or any real power. This is proof positive that Serbia still holds the reins over Kosovo, its just that the entire international community are only allowing the belief that Pristina has any real power. Its just an illusion that has been shattered. As Bruce Mckevany once said, "delicious". ;D P.S. Novi, I have just found out that the great Richo actually has a Croatian grandmother. No sh1t.
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Post by Fender on Sept 2, 2009 9:10:23 GMT -5
What was that about sovereignty then?
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Post by Fender on Aug 29, 2009 21:00:31 GMT -5
Former Kosovo PM to Go Before Hague Tribunal Pristina | 28 August 2009 | Petrit Collaku
Ramush HaradinajRamush Haradinaj, the leader of the opposition Alliance of Kosovo’s Future, AAK, is to again appear before the Hague tribunal, with the prosecution urging a partial retrial on war crimes charges.
On October 29, 2009, the prosecution will ask for the partial retrial of Haradinaj and co-defendants Lahi Brahimaj and Idriz Balaj, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, says.
The prosecution is asking for the new trial "to hear direct evidence of witnesses regarding the participation [of the three accused] in a joint criminal enterprise and their individual responsibility" in relation to a number of crimes, the ICTY website reports.
The prosecution first asked the Appeal Chamber for a partial retrial of the trio last year, claiming that Haradinaj and Balaj were released because witnesses were “threatened and blackmailed”.
Haradinaj and his co-defendants, who are also former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, were previously indicted on charges relating to the murder, kidnap, torture and rape of Serbs, Roma and Albanians between March and September 1998.
In April 2008, Haradinaj and Balaj were cleared of all charges, following a three-year trial. Brahimaj was sentenced to six years in prison, having been found guilty of cruel treatment and torture.
Brahimaj's defence is seeking an acquittal or a reduced sentence.
Burim Ramadani, the general secretary of the AAK, said that the former prime minister will overcome this hurdle.
“We are convinced that this [...] challenge will end for the good of Kosovo and [that of] former prime minister Haradinaj,” Ramadani was quoted by Pristina daily Express as saying.
He added that this will not affect the AAK local election campaign, which starts on October 15.
“We think that he will be here to lead the political processes in Kosovo, and not just the election campaign. There is no reason to be concerned,” Ramadani said, referring to Haradinaj.
If the prosecution fails to convince the court, then Haradinaj's cases will be closed forever, as will that of Balaj.
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Post by Fender on Aug 29, 2009 20:57:58 GMT -5
Kosovo leadership confronts EU authorities ANDREW RETTMAN
28.08.2009 @ 09:25 CET
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The president and prime minister of Kosovo have walked out of talks with EU representatives in the first serious bilateral rift since Kosovo declared independence last year.
The meeting in Pristina on Thursday (27 August) was designed to soothe ethnic Albanian fears over a new police co-operation agreement between the EU's police mission to Kosovo, EULEX, and Serbia's interior ministry.
Anti-EULEX graffiti in Pristina (Photo: jonworth.eu) Print Comment article The co-operation protocol will help EULEX and Serb police share information on cross-border organised crime and is a pre-condition for Serbia to obtain visa free travel to the EU in 2010.
Kosovo leaders said that EULEX' direct dealing with Serbia undermines their attempt to establish a sovereign state.
"The Kosovo leaders reiterated in the meeting their firm position against the protocol and emphasised that from today any debate and discussion on this issue is completely closed. Kosovo does not take any obligation and responsibility for issues which it has not decided in a sovereign way," the office of Kosovo president Fatmir Sejdiu said.
The statement came out after Mr Sejdiu and Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci broke off talks with EULEX chief Yves de Kermabon and the EU's civilian representative to Kosovo, Pieter Feith.
The police protocol has stoked anger in the majority ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo.
On Wednesday, the ethnic Albanian Vetevendosja ("self-determination") movement attacked EULEX vehicles in events leading to 21 arrests.
"We want the Republic of Kosovo to join the EU. But what we need are economic experts, doctors, scientists to help us develop. Not EU policemen to rule over us in a completely unaccountable way," Vetevendosja leader Albin Kurti told EUobserver.
Mr Kurti said Serbian police were involved in the killings of ethnic Albanian civilians in the 1990s: "They are criminals. They killed 12,000 people and only a dozen or so of those responsible are in prison."
Serbia's minister for Kosovo, Goran Bogdanovic, gave provocative comments to the Serbian Vecernje novosti newspaper on Thursday.
"With this document [the police protocol], the EU is confirming Serbia's integrity even on the areas that our country does not have full control over," he said.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 with the backing of the EU institutions and the US. Twenty two out of 27 EU states have recognised its sovereignty. But Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania have not.
The EU visa free deal will cut along ethnic lines in the Balkans.
The agreement is to embrace the majority Orthodox Christian countries, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. But it will exclude the majority Muslim Kosovo and Albania.
Bosnian Muslims will also be stuck with visa requirements. But most Bosnian Serbs will benefit from the EU deal because they hold Serbian passports.
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Post by Fender on Aug 29, 2009 19:40:38 GMT -5
What dead horse? Countries that formally recognize Kosova make up over 70% of the World's Total nominal GDP. It's only a matter of time these smaller states recognize Kosova one by one. Even Serbia will recognize it for the sake of joining the EU. Thay 70% of GDP crap is only a smokescreen. It has no meaning.
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Post by Fender on Aug 26, 2009 7:34:47 GMT -5
Why are the U.S. still trying to flog this dead horse?
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Post by Fender on Aug 8, 2009 6:30:51 GMT -5
KFOR wil leave like UNMIBH left But US will stay and have their base, that is sure And south of Kosovo is Albania, a NATO member...so you don't get any wrong ideas in the future I don't recall Serbia ever being interested in Albania. Whats your point?
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Post by Fender on Aug 6, 2009 21:20:34 GMT -5
, he said that Russia had not taken part in considering the views of other countries for tactical reasons, The tactic is called DON'T CARE ENOUGH. Novi do you realize that Russia can play the good Serbian ally and yet gain the most from a pro Kosovo ICJ opinion? It will be much easier to support the claims over S.O,Abkhazia,Transnistria,Crimea using a pro Kosovo verdict. As for Chechnya or Ingushetia Russia has control of those territories through local leaders who are simply Russian puppets.West is not that interested in helping them either considering their muslim fundamentalism. And the Kosovo Albanians are the American pawns/puppets.
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Post by Fender on Aug 3, 2009 21:23:44 GMT -5
Go with the Sony before the Asus. In my expereince the Asus was always slow and troublesome. HP are good as well as the upmarket Toshiba models. As some one noted, make sure the processor is a Centrino as a minimum and upgrade your ram to 4gig. If you can get your hands on an MSI brand, don't hesitate.
Just my two cents. ;D
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Post by Fender on Jul 31, 2009 21:31:05 GMT -5
Hubba Hubba, nice nipples. ;D
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