UK ambassador: No dilemmas on Kosovo

Today is the 6 year anniversary of the murder of 17 year old Dimitrije Popovic in Gracanica by masked albanian terorists. He was guilty of nothing and was killed while standing in line for a hamburger. This is a very sad story and I encourage you all to keep him and his family in your prayers wether you are a Serb or Albanian.
RIP Dimitrije Popovic 6/5/04

I wonder what Oliver has to say about this one, now!?

Will someone tell the UK it is not acceptable to steal Serbian land?

The issue is not dead, and the current 'solution' is not even a good one.

The UK likes to be noisy in the world, but really it should back down and stop interfering with Serbian land. The UK should be more open to a rethink.

It seems the Albanian threats of violence are something the UK is afraid of. Why not stamp on them for a change instead of stamping on Serbia? Their ethnic cleansing of Serbs was largely the cause of the troubles that predated Milosevic.

There is a strong case for not rewarding the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo by Albanians. There is no genuine reason or honest justification for giving them a separate state. Their ability to run away from their own country and then produce lots of children has been a real trouble to Serbia but it does not justify stealing the land.

As for the Albanians that live in Kosovo, just because they don't agree with it does not mean that they cannot put up with it.

The udi is an essentially meaningless concept - the protectorate status is the reality.

Again, people like Woodsworth see only what they want to see and talk about very vague concepts regarding Kosovo-UNMIK's future. They can say "no new negotiations" all the want, but the fact remains that Kosovo inits current state has no tangible roadmap for EU integration beyond existing as an EU-administered parastate. By refusing negotiations, the international community is only perpetuating Kosovo's limbo status.

It is not up to Wordsworth or anyone else to tell Serbia what to do, he can rant and bully as much as he likes but he desparately needs Serbia hence the EU carrot. Unfortunately for the USA, it is not their carrot to give and the EU will soon be finished anyhow.

“For the EU, as a whole, the existence of Kosovo is a reality, all 27 member-states agreed that Kosovo has a European perspective and in Brussels there is no one who would say that Kosovo will disappear tomorrow…"

Yes, Kosovo is reality, and reality is: It's a failed state! The concept of an "multiethnic" state didn't work out (not so surprising). It's a (legal) black hole.

If Kosovo would somehow physically disappear from the world tomorrow, many problems would be solved. But yes, that miracle won't happen, so a partition is the best solution.

Of course the EU's allure for potential members has taken a real beating in recent times due to the financial crisis. Wordsworth's obviously at a loss for words on this point :)

“For the EU, as a whole, the existence of Kosovo is a reality, all 27 member-states agreed that Kosovo has a European perspective and in Brussels there is no one who would say that Kosovo will disappear tomorrow…

Having 27 member states agreeing on Kosovo’s EU prospective vs. UDI is like comparing apples and oranges. There are EU countries that will never recognize illegal UDI by terrorists in Serbian province of Kosovo. Kosovo will join EU together with Serbia as Serbia’s southern province. Otherwise I don’t see Serbia joining EU. On the other hand, by the time this Kosovo fiasco is said and done, EU probably wouldn’t even exist.

@Kosova-USA,
I wouldn’t worry that much on what Oilver has to say. If I was Albanian I would worry about 12 million Serbs in Balkans and living on their land.

"No dilemmas regarding Kosovo"

Ancient Chinese wiseman Confucius had a follower who never questioned anything. He was always certain and sure of things.
Confucius told him a story about the wise frog that lived in a deep well, giving all kind of advices to other animals, and was always certain that is right.
One day, animals, confused and unable to determine what is a shape and size of the sky, gathered and went to the well to ask.

"That's easy", wise frog answered. "Sky is round, and about 1 meter in diameter"
(view from the well).

Confucius thought his follower that truly wise ones must constantly question and challenge their own views, while fools never have any dilemmas.


“If Serbia, or some other country, asks us to move backwards, first of all, this would not happen..."

I don't really expect it to happen.
Another metaphor.
Pigeon wing blinds is a part of a harness put on the horse's head to prevent it from looking sideways. Horse is left with very narrow vision field and is able to look only straight.

Much of Western politicians are behaving as they have very, very narrow sight.

In interview given on April 26, 2006

http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/20060425.htm

Noam Chomsky talks about Western "intellectual culture" among other things.

"First of all that's a common feature of intellectual culture. One good U.S. critic, Harold Rosenberg once described intellectuals as the "herd of independent minds." They think they are very independent but they are a stampede in a herd, which is true; when there is a party line, you have to adhere to it and the party line is systematic. "

"And the nineties are for the West, not just the U.S. and France and England were the worst - probably the low point in intellectual history for the West, I think."

EA

My issues with Kosovo started with Serbian friends who are very decent and peace loving people who feel very hurt by the way they were treated by Albanians in Kosovo and who were driven out of Kosovo by the racist behaviour of those Albanians long before Milosevic's time.

No mythology there.

Bob,

You and people like you have problems in reading the history! Everything you read is with Serbian political glasses who love myths. I can't help you on that!

He said that Serbia does not need a new “Kosovo conflict.”

“If Serbia, or some other country, asks us to move backwards, first of all, this would not happen, because no one in Kosovo would agree to it, nor would anyone try to convince them to agree to it,” he said.

Being England for many years I very well understand what the British ambassador messege to Serbia that

“Such actions would mean a continuation of confrontations between Belgrade and the 22 EU member-states that have recognized independence.

Serbia doesn't want to listen at that is Serbia's problem. I am preatty sure that the ambassador meant "active listening when he said "Many people have told Serbian officials several times that insisting on new negotiations would not be a good idea,” Wordsworth said, adding that relations toward Kosovo and Serbia’s EU integration path are no longer on separate roads.

You know by now from your sources that the ICJ verdict will be nothing but in favour for Serbia. So you have to state that there is no return back. Let me tell you something. When the verdict comes, there will be about 20 redraws of recognitions in a month. Then the years will go on, nothing will happen, because as I know the Serbs after almost 8 years in the Balkans working high level, the Serbs will NEVER give up Kosovo. I could speak to you for days why it is impossible to make Kosovo independent, but I am going for dinner. I will be back.

As far as the UK is concerned, this issue is behind, since they (and every other significant western country) has recognized Kosovo as an independent country. Since Serbia is not seeming to grasp the carrot dangling in front of them, countries are now starting to bring out the sticks. And no, nobody "needs" Serbia. Yes, everyone would like for Serbia to play nice and be a good neighbor to all around them, but the world will function just fine with Serbia fading into self-imposed isolation, poverty, and insignificance, if that is what Serbia wishes for itself.

"My issues with Kosovo started with Serbian friends who are very decent and peace loving people who feel very hurt by the way they were treated by Albanians in Kosovo and who were driven out of Kosovo by the racist behaviour of those Albanians long before Milosevic's time."

Bob,

Good for you to hear the Serbian story but I would advise you to hear the Kosovo/a's Albanians story and in addition to that do your own research to find out about THE TRUTH OF KOSOVO/A.

Let me tell you another truth about the ordinary Serbs I have worked with here in England. There are more worried about their lives and relatives back in Serbia itself and they know that Kosovo/a is lost for ever mainly because of Milosevic.

@Kosova-USA,
I wouldn’t worry that much on what Oilver has to say. If I was Albanian I would worry about 12 million Serbs in Balkans and living on their land.
(usaSERB, 5 June 2010 16:57)

Either way, I am not worried at all about Serbs or Serbia, including Ruskies. Kosova/o is a done deal and there is no going back.

Oh, go disapear already. They are all programed to repeat the same thing over and over, because, if they change their tune just a little, they will become confused. So, by repeating the same thing, little pats are happy and west keeps their hads. Seems like reasonable trade for west.

Sreten, as a brit living in Belgrade, I would like to tip my hat to you, bravo fella, bravo...your words will fly over the head of UK politicians, like wordsworthless, like a Concorde.

UK has lost a good ally, especially when the wider war on terrorism comes into play.

Dear Ambassador, any chance you and your FCO friends will wake up, no, i doubt. Never mind, our country now has to look forward to the weaker nations and their western designed Political and economic vision for the future [sarc]

What have you UK Politicks done? I suppose you'll only realise when its too late!

Sports bar here I come!

@Kosova-USA,
I wouldn’t worry that much on what Oilver has to say. If I was Albanian I would worry about 12 million Serbs in Balkans and living on their land.
(usaSERB, 5 June 2010 16:57)

usaSERB
If I were you I would not even mention the words that you can not convince yourself. Albanians of Kosovo are living in their rightful lands and therefore there is no need to worry. Whether you call that land Serbia or Kosovo that is your choice. All I know is that all albanians of Kosovo used to have citizenship of former SFRJ and former FRJ as well as legitimate papers which prove that they were and are rightful owners of their houses and lands. As long as you are naturalized and have papers that you own your apartment or house in USA, you do not live in anybody's but your land.
Many thanks

no one in Kosovo would agree to it - wrong statement, all non Albanians are for it.;
Kosovo has a European perspective - only as a part of Serbia
This guy got score C, making two major mistakes in one short interview.

Hi.
I can not understand what is the aim of Serb(anti-Serb) posters with childish rumbling.
Mr Wordsworth is very clear that good neighbourly relations is a must for Serbia on the road to EU, and yes he means towards Kosovo.
Otherwise no EU.
And also if what you say that Serbs are better of to stay out of the EU than you should ask your elected leaders to shift course, like in the direction of North-East Europe.
Be real and stop faltering yourself the whole time.
Kind regards

RIGHT ON, MARK! BRILLIANT!

"Either way, I am not worried at all about Serbs or Serbia, including Ruskies. Kosova/o is a done deal and there is no going back.
(Kosova-USA, 5 June 2010 23:12) "

You may think that Kosovo is a done deal. But others would beg to differ.

I am embarassed to be represented by someone of Wordsworth's low calibre. He should be recalled to London at once.

"I wonder what Oliver has to say about this one, now!?
(Kosova-USA, 5 June 2010 14:55)"

Here you are. Enjoy. http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=06&dd=06&nav_id=67626

Serbia will eventualy recognize Kosovo. They also said they would never sign 1244! The people of Serbia might be nationalistic, but I don't believe the majority would give up the EU's economic benefits for a peice of land (Kosovo) which they have absolutly no control over. They want both. In the end they will have to choose one, and they wil choose EU, not Kosovo.

PS the ICJ will NOT be in favor of Serbia. It might be neutral, but deffinetly not in favor of Serbia.

This ambassador looks rather incompetent. His statement misses any real argument. Instead he just offers a mix of threats (Serbia cannot become an EU when it doesn't give in on Kosovo) and nonsense (no one in Kosovo will agree with this). Even quite a few Albanians will be happy to see Northern Kosovo with its Serb majority go.

It looks like some EU countries are afraid that giving in border changes in Kosovo will look like disapproval of their previous policies. Everyone makes mistakes, but it looks like the paternalistic attitude that many EU politicians have towards the Balkans prevents them from admitting that they are not infallible too.

This UK ambassador will go into hiding when the ICJ rules. I would love to see a "democratic" country like England go against the will of the world and international law. Serbia won't join the EU for a long time (hoepfully never) which means we Serbs have time to wait. In other words there can be no pressure on us to recognize until we are about to join. The question is can Kosovo and EU/America wait this long before its status is realy resolved? Wellfare receiving albanians probably can but not the West who is getting sick and tired of this situation. There needs to be a solution soon or the divisions in Kosovo will be permenent. The choices are two: status quo or autonomy for albanians.

well he could be wrong, in regard to his views.

but something else is rather interesting, is this individual still necessary?

I mean, why not proclaiming him "persona non grata" - and send him back to nowhere.

ps: Mr.G., you should rather start thinking about UK´s futre role in the world - with attitudes like yours you have lost your former empire, you know... =)

KASTRIOTI

Sartr is good. I read a lot in the past.
Now.

"And, the bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO 'agressors', common. This sounds so bitterly emotional. Whatever happened to the 1000 pound elefand standing in the middle of the room? Serbia was excecuting ethnic clensing in Kosovo..."

Popular narrative, completelly made up by NATO propagandists.
There was an ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, NATO had to step in and intevene to return refugees home, etc.

Open Chomsky's link again.

"What was the genocide in Kosovo? We know from the Western documentation what it was. "

From Western documentation, not from Serbian sources.

"In the year prior to the bombing, according to Western sources about two thousand people were killed, the killings were distributed, a lot of them were coming in fact according to British government, which was the most hawkish element of the Alliance, up until January 1999 a majority of killings came from the KLA guerillas who were coming in as they said, you know, to try to incite a harsh Serbian response, which they got, in order to appeal to Western humanitarians to bomb. "

"...a majority of killings came from the KLA guerillas..."

In 2001 British Parliamentary Comission completed its report on Kosovo prior to bombing. Report stated that majority of civilian deaths were caused by KLA actions (68%). Don't be surprised. KLA was kidnapping and murdering civilians, not only Serbs. Postal workers, forest rangers...every Albanian employed by the government was "collaborator" and eliminated. After all, first action for which KLA took responsability was attack on motel housing refugees from Krajina. 8 women and children died.
To continue.

"We know from the Western records that nothing changed between January and March, in fact up until March 20 they indicate nothing. March 20th they indicate an increase in KLA attacks. But, it was ugly but by international standards it was almost invisible unfortunately and it was very distributed. If the British are correct, the majority was coming from the KLA guerillas. "

And, here goes NATO and starts bombing.
What elephant you're talking about?
Week later, when refugees started flowing from Kosovo, bombing was declared humanitarian - NATO started bombing to return refugees home.
And "herd of independent minds" went along for a ride.

EA

I note your capital letters - are you shouting?(!)

My comment about the friends is the truth of Kosovo. Kosovo does not deserve to be a state and the UK should be prepared to rethink.

Serbia provided a refuge for many Albanians escaping the miserable existence they had under communist Albania. Serbs under 'brotherhood and unity' contributed their own money in taxes to support Kosovo because of its relative poverty. The term 'ethnic cleansing' predated Milosevic and was first used to describe the activities of the Albanian Communist Party in Kosovo in trying to drive out Serbs. Milosevic is only a late comer to the happenings there - group punishments of Serbia on account of his actions are not an acceptable attitude.

Yes, a few Serbs living in England may shrug their shoulders, but that is not an argument. In fact many Serbs in Serbia are pragmatically interested in getting on with their own lives. They rather despise the dirty trick that has been done on them in Kosovo. They know that they have been cheated.

You know by now from your sources that the ICJ verdict will be nothing but in favour for Serbia. So you have to state that there is no return back. Let me tell you something. When the verdict comes, there will be about 20 redraws of recognitions in a month. Then the years will go on, nothing will happen, because as I know the Serbs after almost 8 years in the Balkans working high level, the Serbs will NEVER give up Kosovo. I could speak to you for days why it is impossible to make Kosovo independent, but I am going for dinner. I will be back.
(Staff, 5 June 2010 22:15)
Wow, not only do you have information on a decision from the ICJ that has not been released to anyone yet, but you have inside information on at least 20 countries confidential conversations. You must be someone that is really important. Thank goodness for dinner time, I don't think anyone would survive the "days" of talk.

@ Sreten
Noam Chomsky talks about Western "intellectual culture" among other things.

"First of all that's a common feature of intellectual culture. One good U.S. critic, Harold Rosenberg once described intellectuals as the "herd of independent minds." They think they are very independent but they are a stampede in a herd, which is true; when there is a party line, you have to adhere to it and the party line is systematic. "

Sreten, Chomsky should really read Sartre instead of hiding behind intellectual dogma.

And, the bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO 'agressors', common. This sounds so bitterly emotional. Whatever happened to the 1000 pound elefand standing in the middle of the room? Serbia was excecuting ethnic clensing in Kosovo and hoping that after their submission to NATO (Serbia always knew that they would loose the battle), they would hope that Albanians would never return and claim the cleansened Kosovo for themselves. History had a different scenario for Kosovo.

And. my friend, read Sartre,not that the confuscious is not worthy, it just can get confusing
"And the nineties are for the West, not just the U.S. and France and England were the worst - probably the low point in intellectual history for the West, I think."
(Sreten, 5 June 2010 19:21)

wordsworth is just a parrot.

the fco's position is a bluff.

britain would not block a negotiation between belgrade and pristina.

He is going to say: I have heard these cowardly words of appeasement before.
Time for my violin lesson and practice.

Here comes the country-master of negotiations and peaceful dealings.

I hope this man just goes away and not further shame his country by making such ridiculous remarks. We all still see UK's expertise at negotiations and land fairness at work in Palestine. Some people really have no shame.

"...EU does not want new Kosovo status negotiations."

...And Serbia does not want the EU.

At last both the EU & Serbia can agree that they want nothing to do with one-another.

The final step will be to get this in writing.

And, here goes NATO and starts bombing.
What elephant you're talking about?
Week later, when refugees started flowing from Kosovo, bombing was declared humanitarian - NATO started bombing to return refugees home.
And "herd of independent minds" went along for a ride.
(Sreten, 7 June 2010 15:24)

From your logic, it appears that one milion refugees were really hollywood actors!

To what extent do you have to go to avoid the truth. You know this sounds very much like a defense at any cost of the ethnic clensing. I am afraid that there is no will to examine one's wrongdoings. What is next, a Heidegerian claim that the only way to prove reality is to partake in it.

To live in denial and to sell one's sould and integrity in defense of some old and fabricated claim "Kosovo was always Serbian", is in actuality to live in chains. Freedom, it is what Kosovo deserved and history was this time on Kosovo's side. The rest is interpretations.

“If Serbia, or some other country, asks us to move backwards, first of all, this would not happen, because no one in Kosovo would agree to it, nor would anyone try to convince them to agree to it,” ~ let those who can hear understand it.

UK one century ago had done a terrible mistake, offering Kosovo and other Albanian lands to other neighboring country with the idea that it will contribute to peace in Europe at Albanian's expense. Edward Grey had told his colleagues that this is unfair to Albanians, but it will please the Russians-Serbias traditional ally. Now they have to correct that mistake.

I wonder what Oliver has to say about this one, now!?

Will someone tell the UK it is not acceptable to steal Serbian land?

The issue is not dead, and the current 'solution' is not even a good one.

The UK likes to be noisy in the world, but really it should back down and stop interfering with Serbian land. The UK should be more open to a rethink.

It seems the Albanian threats of violence are something the UK is afraid of. Why not stamp on them for a change instead of stamping on Serbia? Their ethnic cleansing of Serbs was largely the cause of the troubles that predated Milosevic.

There is a strong case for not rewarding the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo by Albanians. There is no genuine reason or honest justification for giving them a separate state. Their ability to run away from their own country and then produce lots of children has been a real trouble to Serbia but it does not justify stealing the land.

As for the Albanians that live in Kosovo, just because they don't agree with it does not mean that they cannot put up with it.

The udi is an essentially meaningless concept - the protectorate status is the reality.

Bob,

You and people like you have problems in reading the history! Everything you read is with Serbian political glasses who love myths. I can't help you on that!

He said that Serbia does not need a new “Kosovo conflict.”

“If Serbia, or some other country, asks us to move backwards, first of all, this would not happen, because no one in Kosovo would agree to it, nor would anyone try to convince them to agree to it,” he said.

Being England for many years I very well understand what the British ambassador messege to Serbia that

“Such actions would mean a continuation of confrontations between Belgrade and the 22 EU member-states that have recognized independence.

Serbia doesn't want to listen at that is Serbia's problem. I am preatty sure that the ambassador meant "active listening when he said "Many people have told Serbian officials several times that insisting on new negotiations would not be a good idea,” Wordsworth said, adding that relations toward Kosovo and Serbia’s EU integration path are no longer on separate roads.

It is not up to Wordsworth or anyone else to tell Serbia what to do, he can rant and bully as much as he likes but he desparately needs Serbia hence the EU carrot. Unfortunately for the USA, it is not their carrot to give and the EU will soon be finished anyhow.

“For the EU, as a whole, the existence of Kosovo is a reality, all 27 member-states agreed that Kosovo has a European perspective and in Brussels there is no one who would say that Kosovo will disappear tomorrow…

Having 27 member states agreeing on Kosovo’s EU prospective vs. UDI is like comparing apples and oranges. There are EU countries that will never recognize illegal UDI by terrorists in Serbian province of Kosovo. Kosovo will join EU together with Serbia as Serbia’s southern province. Otherwise I don’t see Serbia joining EU. On the other hand, by the time this Kosovo fiasco is said and done, EU probably wouldn’t even exist.

@Kosova-USA,
I wouldn’t worry that much on what Oilver has to say. If I was Albanian I would worry about 12 million Serbs in Balkans and living on their land.

Today is the 6 year anniversary of the murder of 17 year old Dimitrije Popovic in Gracanica by masked albanian terorists. He was guilty of nothing and was killed while standing in line for a hamburger. This is a very sad story and I encourage you all to keep him and his family in your prayers wether you are a Serb or Albanian.
RIP Dimitrije Popovic 6/5/04

You know by now from your sources that the ICJ verdict will be nothing but in favour for Serbia. So you have to state that there is no return back. Let me tell you something. When the verdict comes, there will be about 20 redraws of recognitions in a month. Then the years will go on, nothing will happen, because as I know the Serbs after almost 8 years in the Balkans working high level, the Serbs will NEVER give up Kosovo. I could speak to you for days why it is impossible to make Kosovo independent, but I am going for dinner. I will be back.

"My issues with Kosovo started with Serbian friends who are very decent and peace loving people who feel very hurt by the way they were treated by Albanians in Kosovo and who were driven out of Kosovo by the racist behaviour of those Albanians long before Milosevic's time."

Bob,

Good for you to hear the Serbian story but I would advise you to hear the Kosovo/a's Albanians story and in addition to that do your own research to find out about THE TRUTH OF KOSOVO/A.

Let me tell you another truth about the ordinary Serbs I have worked with here in England. There are more worried about their lives and relatives back in Serbia itself and they know that Kosovo/a is lost for ever mainly because of Milosevic.

“For the EU, as a whole, the existence of Kosovo is a reality, all 27 member-states agreed that Kosovo has a European perspective and in Brussels there is no one who would say that Kosovo will disappear tomorrow…"

Yes, Kosovo is reality, and reality is: It's a failed state! The concept of an "multiethnic" state didn't work out (not so surprising). It's a (legal) black hole.

If Kosovo would somehow physically disappear from the world tomorrow, many problems would be solved. But yes, that miracle won't happen, so a partition is the best solution.

Again, people like Woodsworth see only what they want to see and talk about very vague concepts regarding Kosovo-UNMIK's future. They can say "no new negotiations" all the want, but the fact remains that Kosovo inits current state has no tangible roadmap for EU integration beyond existing as an EU-administered parastate. By refusing negotiations, the international community is only perpetuating Kosovo's limbo status.

As far as the UK is concerned, this issue is behind, since they (and every other significant western country) has recognized Kosovo as an independent country. Since Serbia is not seeming to grasp the carrot dangling in front of them, countries are now starting to bring out the sticks. And no, nobody "needs" Serbia. Yes, everyone would like for Serbia to play nice and be a good neighbor to all around them, but the world will function just fine with Serbia fading into self-imposed isolation, poverty, and insignificance, if that is what Serbia wishes for itself.

EA

My issues with Kosovo started with Serbian friends who are very decent and peace loving people who feel very hurt by the way they were treated by Albanians in Kosovo and who were driven out of Kosovo by the racist behaviour of those Albanians long before Milosevic's time.

No mythology there.

@Kosova-USA,
I wouldn’t worry that much on what Oilver has to say. If I was Albanian I would worry about 12 million Serbs in Balkans and living on their land.
(usaSERB, 5 June 2010 16:57)

Either way, I am not worried at all about Serbs or Serbia, including Ruskies. Kosova/o is a done deal and there is no going back.

no one in Kosovo would agree to it - wrong statement, all non Albanians are for it.;
Kosovo has a European perspective - only as a part of Serbia
This guy got score C, making two major mistakes in one short interview.

Sreten, as a brit living in Belgrade, I would like to tip my hat to you, bravo fella, bravo...your words will fly over the head of UK politicians, like wordsworthless, like a Concorde.

UK has lost a good ally, especially when the wider war on terrorism comes into play.

Dear Ambassador, any chance you and your FCO friends will wake up, no, i doubt. Never mind, our country now has to look forward to the weaker nations and their western designed Political and economic vision for the future [sarc]

What have you UK Politicks done? I suppose you'll only realise when its too late!

Sports bar here I come!

He is going to say: I have heard these cowardly words of appeasement before.
Time for my violin lesson and practice.

"No dilemmas regarding Kosovo"

Ancient Chinese wiseman Confucius had a follower who never questioned anything. He was always certain and sure of things.
Confucius told him a story about the wise frog that lived in a deep well, giving all kind of advices to other animals, and was always certain that is right.
One day, animals, confused and unable to determine what is a shape and size of the sky, gathered and went to the well to ask.

"That's easy", wise frog answered. "Sky is round, and about 1 meter in diameter"
(view from the well).

Confucius thought his follower that truly wise ones must constantly question and challenge their own views, while fools never have any dilemmas.


“If Serbia, or some other country, asks us to move backwards, first of all, this would not happen..."

I don't really expect it to happen.
Another metaphor.
Pigeon wing blinds is a part of a harness put on the horse's head to prevent it from looking sideways. Horse is left with very narrow vision field and is able to look only straight.

Much of Western politicians are behaving as they have very, very narrow sight.

In interview given on April 26, 2006

http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/20060425.htm

Noam Chomsky talks about Western "intellectual culture" among other things.

"First of all that's a common feature of intellectual culture. One good U.S. critic, Harold Rosenberg once described intellectuals as the "herd of independent minds." They think they are very independent but they are a stampede in a herd, which is true; when there is a party line, you have to adhere to it and the party line is systematic. "

"And the nineties are for the West, not just the U.S. and France and England were the worst - probably the low point in intellectual history for the West, I think."

Of course the EU's allure for potential members has taken a real beating in recent times due to the financial crisis. Wordsworth's obviously at a loss for words on this point :)

Serbia will eventualy recognize Kosovo. They also said they would never sign 1244! The people of Serbia might be nationalistic, but I don't believe the majority would give up the EU's economic benefits for a peice of land (Kosovo) which they have absolutly no control over. They want both. In the end they will have to choose one, and they wil choose EU, not Kosovo.

PS the ICJ will NOT be in favor of Serbia. It might be neutral, but deffinetly not in favor of Serbia.

This UK ambassador will go into hiding when the ICJ rules. I would love to see a "democratic" country like England go against the will of the world and international law. Serbia won't join the EU for a long time (hoepfully never) which means we Serbs have time to wait. In other words there can be no pressure on us to recognize until we are about to join. The question is can Kosovo and EU/America wait this long before its status is realy resolved? Wellfare receiving albanians probably can but not the West who is getting sick and tired of this situation. There needs to be a solution soon or the divisions in Kosovo will be permenent. The choices are two: status quo or autonomy for albanians.

I am embarassed to be represented by someone of Wordsworth's low calibre. He should be recalled to London at once.

"Either way, I am not worried at all about Serbs or Serbia, including Ruskies. Kosova/o is a done deal and there is no going back.
(Kosova-USA, 5 June 2010 23:12) "

You may think that Kosovo is a done deal. But others would beg to differ.

Hi.
I can not understand what is the aim of Serb(anti-Serb) posters with childish rumbling.
Mr Wordsworth is very clear that good neighbourly relations is a must for Serbia on the road to EU, and yes he means towards Kosovo.
Otherwise no EU.
And also if what you say that Serbs are better of to stay out of the EU than you should ask your elected leaders to shift course, like in the direction of North-East Europe.
Be real and stop faltering yourself the whole time.
Kind regards

Oh, go disapear already. They are all programed to repeat the same thing over and over, because, if they change their tune just a little, they will become confused. So, by repeating the same thing, little pats are happy and west keeps their hads. Seems like reasonable trade for west.

“If Serbia, or some other country, asks us to move backwards, first of all, this would not happen, because no one in Kosovo would agree to it, nor would anyone try to convince them to agree to it,” ~ let those who can hear understand it.

UK one century ago had done a terrible mistake, offering Kosovo and other Albanian lands to other neighboring country with the idea that it will contribute to peace in Europe at Albanian's expense. Edward Grey had told his colleagues that this is unfair to Albanians, but it will please the Russians-Serbias traditional ally. Now they have to correct that mistake.

RIGHT ON, MARK! BRILLIANT!

EA

I note your capital letters - are you shouting?(!)

My comment about the friends is the truth of Kosovo. Kosovo does not deserve to be a state and the UK should be prepared to rethink.

Serbia provided a refuge for many Albanians escaping the miserable existence they had under communist Albania. Serbs under 'brotherhood and unity' contributed their own money in taxes to support Kosovo because of its relative poverty. The term 'ethnic cleansing' predated Milosevic and was first used to describe the activities of the Albanian Communist Party in Kosovo in trying to drive out Serbs. Milosevic is only a late comer to the happenings there - group punishments of Serbia on account of his actions are not an acceptable attitude.

Yes, a few Serbs living in England may shrug their shoulders, but that is not an argument. In fact many Serbs in Serbia are pragmatically interested in getting on with their own lives. They rather despise the dirty trick that has been done on them in Kosovo. They know that they have been cheated.

@Kosova-USA,
I wouldn’t worry that much on what Oilver has to say. If I was Albanian I would worry about 12 million Serbs in Balkans and living on their land.
(usaSERB, 5 June 2010 16:57)

usaSERB
If I were you I would not even mention the words that you can not convince yourself. Albanians of Kosovo are living in their rightful lands and therefore there is no need to worry. Whether you call that land Serbia or Kosovo that is your choice. All I know is that all albanians of Kosovo used to have citizenship of former SFRJ and former FRJ as well as legitimate papers which prove that they were and are rightful owners of their houses and lands. As long as you are naturalized and have papers that you own your apartment or house in USA, you do not live in anybody's but your land.
Many thanks

well he could be wrong, in regard to his views.

but something else is rather interesting, is this individual still necessary?

I mean, why not proclaiming him "persona non grata" - and send him back to nowhere.

ps: Mr.G., you should rather start thinking about UK´s futre role in the world - with attitudes like yours you have lost your former empire, you know... =)

You know by now from your sources that the ICJ verdict will be nothing but in favour for Serbia. So you have to state that there is no return back. Let me tell you something. When the verdict comes, there will be about 20 redraws of recognitions in a month. Then the years will go on, nothing will happen, because as I know the Serbs after almost 8 years in the Balkans working high level, the Serbs will NEVER give up Kosovo. I could speak to you for days why it is impossible to make Kosovo independent, but I am going for dinner. I will be back.
(Staff, 5 June 2010 22:15)
Wow, not only do you have information on a decision from the ICJ that has not been released to anyone yet, but you have inside information on at least 20 countries confidential conversations. You must be someone that is really important. Thank goodness for dinner time, I don't think anyone would survive the "days" of talk.

"I wonder what Oliver has to say about this one, now!?
(Kosova-USA, 5 June 2010 14:55)"

Here you are. Enjoy. http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=06&dd=06&nav_id=67626

Here comes the country-master of negotiations and peaceful dealings.

I hope this man just goes away and not further shame his country by making such ridiculous remarks. We all still see UK's expertise at negotiations and land fairness at work in Palestine. Some people really have no shame.

wordsworth is just a parrot.

the fco's position is a bluff.

britain would not block a negotiation between belgrade and pristina.

KASTRIOTI

Sartr is good. I read a lot in the past.
Now.

"And, the bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO 'agressors', common. This sounds so bitterly emotional. Whatever happened to the 1000 pound elefand standing in the middle of the room? Serbia was excecuting ethnic clensing in Kosovo..."

Popular narrative, completelly made up by NATO propagandists.
There was an ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, NATO had to step in and intevene to return refugees home, etc.

Open Chomsky's link again.

"What was the genocide in Kosovo? We know from the Western documentation what it was. "

From Western documentation, not from Serbian sources.

"In the year prior to the bombing, according to Western sources about two thousand people were killed, the killings were distributed, a lot of them were coming in fact according to British government, which was the most hawkish element of the Alliance, up until January 1999 a majority of killings came from the KLA guerillas who were coming in as they said, you know, to try to incite a harsh Serbian response, which they got, in order to appeal to Western humanitarians to bomb. "

"...a majority of killings came from the KLA guerillas..."

In 2001 British Parliamentary Comission completed its report on Kosovo prior to bombing. Report stated that majority of civilian deaths were caused by KLA actions (68%). Don't be surprised. KLA was kidnapping and murdering civilians, not only Serbs. Postal workers, forest rangers...every Albanian employed by the government was "collaborator" and eliminated. After all, first action for which KLA took responsability was attack on motel housing refugees from Krajina. 8 women and children died.
To continue.

"We know from the Western records that nothing changed between January and March, in fact up until March 20 they indicate nothing. March 20th they indicate an increase in KLA attacks. But, it was ugly but by international standards it was almost invisible unfortunately and it was very distributed. If the British are correct, the majority was coming from the KLA guerillas. "

And, here goes NATO and starts bombing.
What elephant you're talking about?
Week later, when refugees started flowing from Kosovo, bombing was declared humanitarian - NATO started bombing to return refugees home.
And "herd of independent minds" went along for a ride.

@ Sreten
Noam Chomsky talks about Western "intellectual culture" among other things.

"First of all that's a common feature of intellectual culture. One good U.S. critic, Harold Rosenberg once described intellectuals as the "herd of independent minds." They think they are very independent but they are a stampede in a herd, which is true; when there is a party line, you have to adhere to it and the party line is systematic. "

Sreten, Chomsky should really read Sartre instead of hiding behind intellectual dogma.

And, the bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO 'agressors', common. This sounds so bitterly emotional. Whatever happened to the 1000 pound elefand standing in the middle of the room? Serbia was excecuting ethnic clensing in Kosovo and hoping that after their submission to NATO (Serbia always knew that they would loose the battle), they would hope that Albanians would never return and claim the cleansened Kosovo for themselves. History had a different scenario for Kosovo.

And. my friend, read Sartre,not that the confuscious is not worthy, it just can get confusing
"And the nineties are for the West, not just the U.S. and France and England were the worst - probably the low point in intellectual history for the West, I think."
(Sreten, 5 June 2010 19:21)

This ambassador looks rather incompetent. His statement misses any real argument. Instead he just offers a mix of threats (Serbia cannot become an EU when it doesn't give in on Kosovo) and nonsense (no one in Kosovo will agree with this). Even quite a few Albanians will be happy to see Northern Kosovo with its Serb majority go.

It looks like some EU countries are afraid that giving in border changes in Kosovo will look like disapproval of their previous policies. Everyone makes mistakes, but it looks like the paternalistic attitude that many EU politicians have towards the Balkans prevents them from admitting that they are not infallible too.

And, here goes NATO and starts bombing.
What elephant you're talking about?
Week later, when refugees started flowing from Kosovo, bombing was declared humanitarian - NATO started bombing to return refugees home.
And "herd of independent minds" went along for a ride.
(Sreten, 7 June 2010 15:24)

From your logic, it appears that one milion refugees were really hollywood actors!

To what extent do you have to go to avoid the truth. You know this sounds very much like a defense at any cost of the ethnic clensing. I am afraid that there is no will to examine one's wrongdoings. What is next, a Heidegerian claim that the only way to prove reality is to partake in it.

To live in denial and to sell one's sould and integrity in defense of some old and fabricated claim "Kosovo was always Serbian", is in actuality to live in chains. Freedom, it is what Kosovo deserved and history was this time on Kosovo's side. The rest is interpretations.

"...EU does not want new Kosovo status negotiations."

...And Serbia does not want the EU.

At last both the EU & Serbia can agree that they want nothing to do with one-another.

The final step will be to get this in writing.