“Kosovo partition not option”

The albanians don't seem to realize that the more obstacles they introduce the greater chance of partition. The moment they ask serbs to show a passport in order to enter their own land Kosovo will be no more. Then again I can understand albanian desperation with the ICJ ruling looming around the corner. Desperate times require desperate measures.

"The Kosovo Albanian Interior Minister told the FoNet news agency that the Kosovo government, through the Ahtisaari plan, is trying to enable a better standard of local self-administration for the Serb communities."

-- Please tell me how self-administration for the Serbs in the north can get any better than the complete independence from Pristina that they have now? Please tell me what Pristina can offer them that Belgrade cannot.

"He said that a “partition is not a solution” and warned that it would lead to a “domino effect” in the region, naming the Republic of Srpska, which is unacceptable for Priština and the international community."

-- No offence Mr. Minister, but RS's road to independence was made all the more clear after Pristina's UDD. You keep telling yourself that the "domino effect" happens only *after* you make your move, not before. Besides, RS doesn't need to secede in order to prosper. They're doing at least twice as good as Federacija is right now. If the West finally agrees that some form of partition is required, you'll be forced to sign the dotted line.

"“The current government in northern (Kosovska) Mitrovica is not a legal one,” Rexhepi said regarding the parallel structures linked with Belgrade operating in the north of Kosovo."

-- No offence, but no one really cares what Pristina thinks about the north since it was based on similar "illegal" structures. Zubin Potok might as well be Subotica to Rexhepi. You say illegal, I say vox populi. You say independence, I say parastate.

""A real Kennedy, compared to the Serb politicians from Belgrade." (toke)

-- How? All I see is stubborn denial of the political and institutional shortcomings of this man's government without any practical solutions. Mikael C was right. He's more like George W. Bush.

Yeah, many ALBANIANS would like to partition KiM but not Serbs. The temp institutions know that they lose credibility if they openly suggest partition but Albanians dont mind giving up a little stolen land if they can keep most of it whereas Serbia is just protecting its ter. integrity & asserting its credibility by rejecting partition.

"A real Kennedy, compared to the Serb politicians from Belgrade."
toke

You mean a real George Bush!

"Bajram Rexhepi said that Priština does not support the partitioning of Kosovo, even though there are many who would like to see that happen. "

A real Kennedy, compared to the Serb politicians from Belgrade.
And all in 2 years :)

Highduke

you are wrong my friend...anyway, it seems like serbs will need a passport soon to go to Kosovo, if it was for me, i'd have built a high voltage fence along the northen border, backed up by lot of mines...yes lot of mines.
(sabaton
-
No wonder the Albanos were joined with the Nazis, they continue to share the same mentality.

"He said that a “partition is not a solution” and warned that it would lead to a “domino effect” in the region, naming the Republic of Srpska, which is unacceptable for Priština and the international community"

Fears about a "domino effect"? Strange! There are some other opinions that the Kosovo UDI "solution" could lead to a domino effect not only in the region, but all around the world where minorities are living in a state where they don't have the right for self determination (Kurdistan, Basques in Spain and so on and so on)

Why would a license be needed for the enthroning of the Patriarch? Isn't there freedom of religion?

Rexhepi sounds insincere when he says that things would have been different if Đinđić had been alive. It sounds like the combination of an easy excuse with a barb about Serbia's problems.

You all know the ending: "kosovo' will be partitioned 49%/51% just like BiH


If you really think Kosova/o is BiH,then you must be living in lalala land.
I admitt that BiH is no different than the old Yugoslavia, and that as an artificial state/country that will not stand a chance to survive. Kosova is inhabitted with over 92% of Albanians. therefore, how in the world you think it will be split 51%/49%??? Please, tell me smart guy!

Good idea, sabaton. That way K Albanians would be sealed off from the rest of Europe, and all Europeans would collectively give a sigh of relief. No one wants Albanians in their country because of the high crime they always bring with them. A high wall around A Kosovo would contain them and their crime to themselves and their own populated areas. As for the Serbs, they can go in and out of their own land as they chose.

"if it was for me, i'd have built a high voltage fence along the northen border, backed up by lot of mines...yes lot of mines." (sabaton)

-- Maybe some Pill Boxes too? Heaven knows Hoxha spent a load of money on them to protect a country the rest of the world forgot. Though such a scenario would give diasporas some sense of superiority, it kind of goes against the whole "Europe's youngest democracy" schtick. Just sayin...

The divisions in Kosovo are just too deep for there to be any agreable solution. Albanians won't give in an inch on their demands which leaves us with the current situation. EULEX have stated that they won't use force to include Serb areas into Pristinas control and they better not if they know what's best for them. Bosnians, Serbs and Croats were closer then Serbs and Albanians will ever be. And we see how great the divisions in Bosnia are so one doesn't have to be Einstein to realize that reconciliation in Kosovo is not going to happen. Even if 10-15 new countries recognize Kosovo it won't mean a thing in practice. Serbs will control Serb areas and vice verca. As long as Serbia, China and Russia continue to block Kosovo is going no where. Kosovo is becoming Europes own Gaza. If Kosovo had a coast we'd see "ship to Kosovo convoys". Kosovo will continue to haunt the EU and America for a long time to come.

"i agree w/bajram rexhepi. more partition is the worst option, and the further "daytonizing" of the area will lead to war, disaster, and the continuing break-down of the region, incl. serbia. does the blgd regime really want to see more ethnic partition? a very dangerous game indeed. "
(roberto, 20 June 2010 18:52)

Funny to argue against "ethnic partion" and advocating the independence of Kosovo at the same time. What else has it been but ethnic separation? Or do you really believe in the illusion of the socalled "multiethnic Kosovo"?

It's sad, and it's bad, but to be realistic, an ethnic partition (== split of Kosovo) is the only viable way to avoid further conflicts.

Highduke

you are wrong my friend...anyway, it seems like serbs will need a passport soon to go to Kosovo, if it was for me, i'd have built a high voltage fence along the northen border, backed up by lot of mines...yes lot of mines.

@ sabaton -- if it was up to Albanians, your fence would be up but it isn't. It isn't even up to Serbs. It's about which superpower has the more stable economy & alliances to back up its military to monopolize world-wide natural resource production & distribution.

Saboton...threats threats threat...such chilling remarks....scary.

Unfortuntately, those threats are meant to scare children I suppose. However, the obvious fact is that Kosovo is anything BUT a nation and those types of decsions are beyond your capacity. Why don't you run that up the flagpole in Brussels and Washington for a response, but I suspect the answer will be for you to sit, or fetch like a common puppy. Bad doggie.

""i agree w/bajram rexhepi. more partition is the worst option, and the further "daytonizing" of the area will lead to war, disaster, and the continuing break-down of the region, incl. serbia. does the blgd regime really want to see more ethnic partition? a very dangerous game indeed." (roberto)

-- Unfortunately, "ethnic partition" seems to be the only solution Western powers have had at their disposal. Dayton was the child of the West; not the "blgd regime" as you refer to it. Kosovo's UDD was approved under the Western pretext that the Albanians just didn't want to live in Serbia - the 1999 war notwithstanding, it was a long drawn-out process that only culminated in 1999 but started as early as 1981. If you have any displeasure with "ethnic partition", look no further than the Western powers that apparently are too lazy to study the region beyond the "ancient hatreds" model of Robert Kaplan. Most of those arguments go against the very arguments you yourself have raised over Bosnia's multiethnic character. Now that "ethnic partition" has effectively been legitimized, why should we deny Belgrade what has apparently been given to Sarajevo and Pristina? At the very least, "Daytonization" has elimiated any context of further violence in Bosnia outside the ramblings of people like Mesic. I can't see anything other than stability coming from a partitioned Kosovo in one way or another. It's not like whatever Pristina will "lose" was under their authority anyway.

"Kosovo has one the healthiest birth rates in Europe with rich deposits of every known commodity.Easy exit to Adriatic coast through brand new highway.
Serbia on the other side is facing a declining population declining economy and aging work force. "
(jesse, 21 June 2010 00:16)

This could have been written by a "fireworks rocket scientist"

A "healthy" birth rate is one that suits more to an african country? No, with 50% (some say 80%) unemployment rate it is one of the reasons for the problems Kosovo is facing.

Declining Serbian economy? Okay, in Kosovo, there's not much that can decline. It's "economy" is based on donor money, transfers by emigrated Kosovars and... scrap metal exports (illegal activities like drug dealing and human trafficking are usually not considered a part of the economy)

Pristina will do what it is told by its sponsors. The Serbs must remain obstinate enough to make the US/EU accept partition as a fact.

You all know the ending: "kosovo' will be partitioned 49%/51% just like BiH, the question will be: who gets the last 1%? Serbia will keep its half and annex the Republika Srpska as compensatory damages for all of the trouble the west caused for the Serbs since the fall of communism due to their stupid, Cold War dinosaur mental retardations. Who knows what the albos will do with their part of "kosovo"? Their backwards-style of non-diplomacy will keep them out of the mainstream of the world for many generations to come.

# Highduke
you are wrong my friend...anyway, it seems like serbs will need a passport soon to go to Kosovo, if it was for me, i'd have built a high voltage fence along the northen border, backed up by lot of mines...yes lot of mines.
(sabaton, 20 June 2010 15:46)

i am sorry, but i found this an incredibly stupid response. which of course was followed by a racist, ugly attack on the albanian people. like i always say, you never forget where you are...

as though this world, the balkans, needs even one more land mine. have you any idea the human cost left behind with the million(s??) plus landmines buried, hickelty-pickety throughout the former YU, incl kosova and even into albania? and the number of victims, typically children, of these "nice" weapons, which are utterly blind to ethnicity, age, gender, soldier or civilian?!

there has got to be a better way.

i do agree that law and order must be brought throughout kosova, incl and esp.ly the north. serbia has done everything to keep that from happening, and will push for partition as the best they can possibly get (they "lost" kosova, thank god!) they will do everything in their power to keep the situation unstable, especially as long as the intl comm (eulex) allows and facilitates it.

i agree w/bajram rexhepi. more partition is the worst option, and the further "daytonizing" of the area will lead to war, disaster, and the continuing break-down of the region, incl. serbia. does the blgd regime really want to see more ethnic partition? a very dangerous game indeed.

every country MUST offer protection and meaningful representation for all of its citizens, period. ancient animosities, recent animosities, too bad. it's hard work, let's get started.

thanks.

robert-0

Fears about a "domino effect"? Strange! There are some other opinions that the Kosovo UDI "solution" could lead to a domino effect not only in the region, but all around the world where minorities are living in a state where they don't have the right for self determination (Kurdistan, Basques in Spain and so on and so on)
(Top, 20 June 2010 11:48)
They have been trying to sell that since 2007, and so far no one has even lined the dominoes up on the table. Russia tried to stimulate it with the Georgian provinces but anyone with an IQ over 25 knew what was happening there.
Anyone, anywhere, can make a "declaration of independence" however for it to mean something it has to be recognized by others. Plus there has to be a separation from whomever they wish to be independent from. The UN/NATO took care of the separation, the west took care of the recognition.
Unless these "dominoes" have the backing of other major players there will not be any type of chain reaction.

"Kosova is inhabitted with over 92% of Albanians. therefore, how in the world you think it will be split 51%/49%??? Please, tell me smart guy!"
(Kosova-USA, 20 June 2010 21:28)

Yes, 51%:49% is nonsense. The upcoming split will be only affecting the north, the Ibar river is the natural border line for the split. The remaining Serbian enclaves like Gracanica will be part of Kosovo, just like there are regions within Serbia with Albanian majority like Presevo...

Time is in Kosovo's side. It does not take a rocket scientist
to see the foundation that Kosovo and Serbia sit on.Kosovo has one the healthiest birth rates in Europe with rich deposits of every known commodity.Easy exit to Adriatic coast through brand new highway.
Serbia on the other side is facing a declining population declining economy and aging work force.It will be a struggle for Serbia to keep its hold on Vojvodina,Sangjak and Preshevo Valley.Serbian students by large margin want to leave Serbia.All this facts lead to very bleak future.Serbian politician and experts know this and the rhetoric about not letting Kosovo go is for domestic consumption.

this guy is using the same reasoning of why serbia(kosovo) shouldnt be partioned

..funny he says k albanians should have right to self determination in south serbia (kosovo) but serbs in south serbia (kosovo) cant ?? "that what ive stolen i will not share"

this is like a screen door on a sub ..wont hold water very long !!

kosovo is serbia,without pristina

I agree Kosovo will be partitioned at some point, but I see no chance that proposition to ever be accepted by Kosovo Institutions or their International supporters if it doesn´t include Presevo and half of Bujanovac, which then would be percieved as an exchange instead of total loss of the North for Kosovo.

No, Albert.
Partition of Kosovo is not possible without inclusion of Bosnia (RS).
Borders of the republics are guaranteed.
Why would we settle for loss of any Serbian land south of Ibar?
Croatia didn't accept loss of any land, why would I?
You are thinking about compensating Albanians for loss of Northern part of Kosovo? How about thinking about compensating us for loss of Serbian territory? RS would be appropriate compensation.

'He said that a “partition is not a solution” and warned that it would lead to a “domino effect” in the region, naming the Republic of Srpska, which is unacceptable for Priština and the international community.'

If anything in the Balkans will lead to a domino-effect, then it would be the unilateral secession of Kosovo itself. Even if Kosovo will be partitioned, a compensation for the North (like Presevo) would be very unfair. Where is the compensation for Serbia for the territory they lost? Further more I think any compensation for the loss of Kosovo should be found somewhere south of the river Ibar. Let's say an area that includes the Patriarchy of Pec, Gracanica and a part of Kosovo Polje that includes the Bezistan-monument. Plus a solution should be found for Brezovica. The problem then of course is that K-Albanians state that those are the best parts and I think Serbia could help K-Albanians (financially) to build new factories, a ski resort etc. that now happen to be in Serb-dominated areas.

Even if a partition would become reality, Serbia should under no circumstances accept that Rep. Srpska is used as compensation for anything. K-Albanins in Presevo will have to accept that there is a limit to the extension of Albanian lands in Europe. We had one, now we have 1.5 and the day we have 2 (wich I think won't happen), we can wait for Albanians in Montenegro and Macedonia with aims to secede.

Still, I think for both Serbs and K-Albanians, the creation of a new Yugoslavia would be the best solution. Even for K-Albanians; Kosovo will never be a part of a greater Albania and Serbs will never give up in their aim to get back what they think is stolen. Economically there is no chance for a healthy independent Kosovo, without any support from the Serbian side. No railways and no highways will be built to connect the Kosovo border with the rest of the world. Kosovo within Serbia won't make it healthy either, since K-Albanians won't give up on trying to get rid of Serbian rule. The only solution imo is to let them have it both, governed by a larger entity in wich some kind of an autonomous Albanian part gives them a certain kind of independence, in wich they even can add Albanian areas in Macedonia. There are lot's of exemples around the world where such solutions work, like in Russia, Italy, Spain etc. Perfect they are not, but in a lot of cases they are quite peaceful and economically healthy, rather then there is a war coming up. But sadly, a lot of water has to flow through the Ibar before a solution that fits both comes to reality. The overdose of proudness that can be found around the Balkans, won't help any solution either. Time goes on, and the rest of the world won't wait for you both..

Does Serbia really want to have a border with an Albania having 8 million citizens and the fastest birth rate in Europe? Serbia is in terminal demographic and economic decline and given the fact that its neighbors and NATO will never allow it to become too strong again it's a fair bet that Serbia influence in the region will continue to shrink over time.

Top,
Serbia and many other European countries are doing any thing they can to improve their population birth rate without any results.
As far as drugs and unemployment Serbia has plenty of it.You think of Kosovo as black hole but we see it as great place to live.I sleep without locking my doors.The small business is flourishing and Kosovar entrepreneurship is fixing the mess Serbian colonialism left behind.As far as getting a helping hand from from donors, Serbia is right next to Kosovo.
Kosovar diaspora brings in billions every year.Rebuilding of Kosovo has been going on steady in the last ten years and it shows.With the help of our American and European allies Kosovo's prosperity is bright.The optimism of people who live here is one the highest in the world.

"Kosovar diaspora brings in billions every year.Rebuilding of Kosovo has been going on steady in the last ten years and it shows.With the help of our American and European allies Kosovo's prosperity is bright.The optimism of people who live here is one the highest in the world."
(jesse, 21 June 2010 20:38)

Well, surely there's some progress, but Kosovo is far from being a sustainable country and is strongly depending on donor money. And though the people may be the most optimistic ones, there are a lot of them trying to emigrate because of the situation and all the unemployment, some even illegally with the help of human traffickers.

`kosovar nation` is a EU farce, you can`t just label half of Albanian nation with a geographical term. Yes! There is a Kosovar state, as there is a Tiranas municipality, but there is no Tiranas nation and there will never be a Kosovar nation, regardless its actual status. Never forget that the indipendence is another step through our 1878 unfinished job...also i found the below comments about albanians being poor very exhausting and pathetic, they also say that we are run by corrupt and mafia gov etc etc...yes we are poor, and our gov are corrupt, our politicans may be the godfathers of the balkans along with the zemun clan , those are our and serbian internal problems respectively! But the real reason we have ended up one of the most poor nations in Europe is not our own post communist corrupt system (just like any post communist country), the real reason is that a living organism can not work cut in two or three pieces, for 100 years albanian nation has been cut in three pieces, imagine the head ,the legs and hands removed from the torso...this has been the metaphore of our nation for more than 100 years, it is a miracle how we have managed to run a state which only last year was able to invest billions of euro in infrastructure dedicated only for linking pristina with our harbours...not considering other more expensive future projects still on progress, like the one making possible a shortcut between tirana and skopje...not mention military and investments in the field of energy.

"Kosovar diaspora brings in billions every year.Rebuilding of Kosovo has been going on steady in the last ten years and it shows.With the help of our American and European allies Kosovo's prosperity is bright.The optimism of people who live here is one the highest in the world."
(jesse, 21 June 2010 20:38)
===================

Sooner or later the diaspora is going to stop throwing good money after bad.
There is no way there will ever be any investment in Kosovo because it is just too unstable and risky. Also, most of the world does not recognise you and won't accept an embassy in their country let alone have one there. How are you going to trade? Who with? Who is going to invest in Kosovo when status will never be solved unless you negotiate with Serbia.

So donations will dry up. No investment and no participation in anything worthwhile. Looks to me like sooner rather than later "Kosova" will exist no more.

"Bajram Rexhepi said that Priština does not support the partitioning of Kosovo, even though there are many who would like to see that happen. "

A real Kennedy, compared to the Serb politicians from Belgrade.
And all in 2 years :)

The albanians don't seem to realize that the more obstacles they introduce the greater chance of partition. The moment they ask serbs to show a passport in order to enter their own land Kosovo will be no more. Then again I can understand albanian desperation with the ICJ ruling looming around the corner. Desperate times require desperate measures.

Highduke

you are wrong my friend...anyway, it seems like serbs will need a passport soon to go to Kosovo, if it was for me, i'd have built a high voltage fence along the northen border, backed up by lot of mines...yes lot of mines.

Yeah, many ALBANIANS would like to partition KiM but not Serbs. The temp institutions know that they lose credibility if they openly suggest partition but Albanians dont mind giving up a little stolen land if they can keep most of it whereas Serbia is just protecting its ter. integrity & asserting its credibility by rejecting partition.

Fears about a "domino effect"? Strange! There are some other opinions that the Kosovo UDI "solution" could lead to a domino effect not only in the region, but all around the world where minorities are living in a state where they don't have the right for self determination (Kurdistan, Basques in Spain and so on and so on)
(Top, 20 June 2010 11:48)
They have been trying to sell that since 2007, and so far no one has even lined the dominoes up on the table. Russia tried to stimulate it with the Georgian provinces but anyone with an IQ over 25 knew what was happening there.
Anyone, anywhere, can make a "declaration of independence" however for it to mean something it has to be recognized by others. Plus there has to be a separation from whomever they wish to be independent from. The UN/NATO took care of the separation, the west took care of the recognition.
Unless these "dominoes" have the backing of other major players there will not be any type of chain reaction.

You all know the ending: "kosovo' will be partitioned 49%/51% just like BiH


If you really think Kosova/o is BiH,then you must be living in lalala land.
I admitt that BiH is no different than the old Yugoslavia, and that as an artificial state/country that will not stand a chance to survive. Kosova is inhabitted with over 92% of Albanians. therefore, how in the world you think it will be split 51%/49%??? Please, tell me smart guy!

# Highduke
you are wrong my friend...anyway, it seems like serbs will need a passport soon to go to Kosovo, if it was for me, i'd have built a high voltage fence along the northen border, backed up by lot of mines...yes lot of mines.
(sabaton, 20 June 2010 15:46)

i am sorry, but i found this an incredibly stupid response. which of course was followed by a racist, ugly attack on the albanian people. like i always say, you never forget where you are...

as though this world, the balkans, needs even one more land mine. have you any idea the human cost left behind with the million(s??) plus landmines buried, hickelty-pickety throughout the former YU, incl kosova and even into albania? and the number of victims, typically children, of these "nice" weapons, which are utterly blind to ethnicity, age, gender, soldier or civilian?!

there has got to be a better way.

i do agree that law and order must be brought throughout kosova, incl and esp.ly the north. serbia has done everything to keep that from happening, and will push for partition as the best they can possibly get (they "lost" kosova, thank god!) they will do everything in their power to keep the situation unstable, especially as long as the intl comm (eulex) allows and facilitates it.

i agree w/bajram rexhepi. more partition is the worst option, and the further "daytonizing" of the area will lead to war, disaster, and the continuing break-down of the region, incl. serbia. does the blgd regime really want to see more ethnic partition? a very dangerous game indeed.

every country MUST offer protection and meaningful representation for all of its citizens, period. ancient animosities, recent animosities, too bad. it's hard work, let's get started.

thanks.

robert-0

Time is in Kosovo's side. It does not take a rocket scientist
to see the foundation that Kosovo and Serbia sit on.Kosovo has one the healthiest birth rates in Europe with rich deposits of every known commodity.Easy exit to Adriatic coast through brand new highway.
Serbia on the other side is facing a declining population declining economy and aging work force.It will be a struggle for Serbia to keep its hold on Vojvodina,Sangjak and Preshevo Valley.Serbian students by large margin want to leave Serbia.All this facts lead to very bleak future.Serbian politician and experts know this and the rhetoric about not letting Kosovo go is for domestic consumption.

"He said that a “partition is not a solution” and warned that it would lead to a “domino effect” in the region, naming the Republic of Srpska, which is unacceptable for Priština and the international community"

Fears about a "domino effect"? Strange! There are some other opinions that the Kosovo UDI "solution" could lead to a domino effect not only in the region, but all around the world where minorities are living in a state where they don't have the right for self determination (Kurdistan, Basques in Spain and so on and so on)

kosovo is serbia,without pristina

"A real Kennedy, compared to the Serb politicians from Belgrade."
toke

You mean a real George Bush!

You all know the ending: "kosovo' will be partitioned 49%/51% just like BiH, the question will be: who gets the last 1%? Serbia will keep its half and annex the Republika Srpska as compensatory damages for all of the trouble the west caused for the Serbs since the fall of communism due to their stupid, Cold War dinosaur mental retardations. Who knows what the albos will do with their part of "kosovo"? Their backwards-style of non-diplomacy will keep them out of the mainstream of the world for many generations to come.

"i agree w/bajram rexhepi. more partition is the worst option, and the further "daytonizing" of the area will lead to war, disaster, and the continuing break-down of the region, incl. serbia. does the blgd regime really want to see more ethnic partition? a very dangerous game indeed. "
(roberto, 20 June 2010 18:52)

Funny to argue against "ethnic partion" and advocating the independence of Kosovo at the same time. What else has it been but ethnic separation? Or do you really believe in the illusion of the socalled "multiethnic Kosovo"?

It's sad, and it's bad, but to be realistic, an ethnic partition (== split of Kosovo) is the only viable way to avoid further conflicts.

The divisions in Kosovo are just too deep for there to be any agreable solution. Albanians won't give in an inch on their demands which leaves us with the current situation. EULEX have stated that they won't use force to include Serb areas into Pristinas control and they better not if they know what's best for them. Bosnians, Serbs and Croats were closer then Serbs and Albanians will ever be. And we see how great the divisions in Bosnia are so one doesn't have to be Einstein to realize that reconciliation in Kosovo is not going to happen. Even if 10-15 new countries recognize Kosovo it won't mean a thing in practice. Serbs will control Serb areas and vice verca. As long as Serbia, China and Russia continue to block Kosovo is going no where. Kosovo is becoming Europes own Gaza. If Kosovo had a coast we'd see "ship to Kosovo convoys". Kosovo will continue to haunt the EU and America for a long time to come.

"Kosova is inhabitted with over 92% of Albanians. therefore, how in the world you think it will be split 51%/49%??? Please, tell me smart guy!"
(Kosova-USA, 20 June 2010 21:28)

Yes, 51%:49% is nonsense. The upcoming split will be only affecting the north, the Ibar river is the natural border line for the split. The remaining Serbian enclaves like Gracanica will be part of Kosovo, just like there are regions within Serbia with Albanian majority like Presevo...

"The Kosovo Albanian Interior Minister told the FoNet news agency that the Kosovo government, through the Ahtisaari plan, is trying to enable a better standard of local self-administration for the Serb communities."

-- Please tell me how self-administration for the Serbs in the north can get any better than the complete independence from Pristina that they have now? Please tell me what Pristina can offer them that Belgrade cannot.

"He said that a “partition is not a solution” and warned that it would lead to a “domino effect” in the region, naming the Republic of Srpska, which is unacceptable for Priština and the international community."

-- No offence Mr. Minister, but RS's road to independence was made all the more clear after Pristina's UDD. You keep telling yourself that the "domino effect" happens only *after* you make your move, not before. Besides, RS doesn't need to secede in order to prosper. They're doing at least twice as good as Federacija is right now. If the West finally agrees that some form of partition is required, you'll be forced to sign the dotted line.

"“The current government in northern (Kosovska) Mitrovica is not a legal one,” Rexhepi said regarding the parallel structures linked with Belgrade operating in the north of Kosovo."

-- No offence, but no one really cares what Pristina thinks about the north since it was based on similar "illegal" structures. Zubin Potok might as well be Subotica to Rexhepi. You say illegal, I say vox populi. You say independence, I say parastate.

""A real Kennedy, compared to the Serb politicians from Belgrade." (toke)

-- How? All I see is stubborn denial of the political and institutional shortcomings of this man's government without any practical solutions. Mikael C was right. He's more like George W. Bush.

Top,
Serbia and many other European countries are doing any thing they can to improve their population birth rate without any results.
As far as drugs and unemployment Serbia has plenty of it.You think of Kosovo as black hole but we see it as great place to live.I sleep without locking my doors.The small business is flourishing and Kosovar entrepreneurship is fixing the mess Serbian colonialism left behind.As far as getting a helping hand from from donors, Serbia is right next to Kosovo.
Kosovar diaspora brings in billions every year.Rebuilding of Kosovo has been going on steady in the last ten years and it shows.With the help of our American and European allies Kosovo's prosperity is bright.The optimism of people who live here is one the highest in the world.

Highduke

you are wrong my friend...anyway, it seems like serbs will need a passport soon to go to Kosovo, if it was for me, i'd have built a high voltage fence along the northen border, backed up by lot of mines...yes lot of mines.
(sabaton
-
No wonder the Albanos were joined with the Nazis, they continue to share the same mentality.

Why would a license be needed for the enthroning of the Patriarch? Isn't there freedom of religion?

Rexhepi sounds insincere when he says that things would have been different if Đinđić had been alive. It sounds like the combination of an easy excuse with a barb about Serbia's problems.

Good idea, sabaton. That way K Albanians would be sealed off from the rest of Europe, and all Europeans would collectively give a sigh of relief. No one wants Albanians in their country because of the high crime they always bring with them. A high wall around A Kosovo would contain them and their crime to themselves and their own populated areas. As for the Serbs, they can go in and out of their own land as they chose.

Saboton...threats threats threat...such chilling remarks....scary.

Unfortuntately, those threats are meant to scare children I suppose. However, the obvious fact is that Kosovo is anything BUT a nation and those types of decsions are beyond your capacity. Why don't you run that up the flagpole in Brussels and Washington for a response, but I suspect the answer will be for you to sit, or fetch like a common puppy. Bad doggie.

I agree Kosovo will be partitioned at some point, but I see no chance that proposition to ever be accepted by Kosovo Institutions or their International supporters if it doesn´t include Presevo and half of Bujanovac, which then would be percieved as an exchange instead of total loss of the North for Kosovo.

"if it was for me, i'd have built a high voltage fence along the northen border, backed up by lot of mines...yes lot of mines." (sabaton)

-- Maybe some Pill Boxes too? Heaven knows Hoxha spent a load of money on them to protect a country the rest of the world forgot. Though such a scenario would give diasporas some sense of superiority, it kind of goes against the whole "Europe's youngest democracy" schtick. Just sayin...

""i agree w/bajram rexhepi. more partition is the worst option, and the further "daytonizing" of the area will lead to war, disaster, and the continuing break-down of the region, incl. serbia. does the blgd regime really want to see more ethnic partition? a very dangerous game indeed." (roberto)

-- Unfortunately, "ethnic partition" seems to be the only solution Western powers have had at their disposal. Dayton was the child of the West; not the "blgd regime" as you refer to it. Kosovo's UDD was approved under the Western pretext that the Albanians just didn't want to live in Serbia - the 1999 war notwithstanding, it was a long drawn-out process that only culminated in 1999 but started as early as 1981. If you have any displeasure with "ethnic partition", look no further than the Western powers that apparently are too lazy to study the region beyond the "ancient hatreds" model of Robert Kaplan. Most of those arguments go against the very arguments you yourself have raised over Bosnia's multiethnic character. Now that "ethnic partition" has effectively been legitimized, why should we deny Belgrade what has apparently been given to Sarajevo and Pristina? At the very least, "Daytonization" has elimiated any context of further violence in Bosnia outside the ramblings of people like Mesic. I can't see anything other than stability coming from a partitioned Kosovo in one way or another. It's not like whatever Pristina will "lose" was under their authority anyway.

Pristina will do what it is told by its sponsors. The Serbs must remain obstinate enough to make the US/EU accept partition as a fact.

"Kosovo has one the healthiest birth rates in Europe with rich deposits of every known commodity.Easy exit to Adriatic coast through brand new highway.
Serbia on the other side is facing a declining population declining economy and aging work force. "
(jesse, 21 June 2010 00:16)

This could have been written by a "fireworks rocket scientist"

A "healthy" birth rate is one that suits more to an african country? No, with 50% (some say 80%) unemployment rate it is one of the reasons for the problems Kosovo is facing.

Declining Serbian economy? Okay, in Kosovo, there's not much that can decline. It's "economy" is based on donor money, transfers by emigrated Kosovars and... scrap metal exports (illegal activities like drug dealing and human trafficking are usually not considered a part of the economy)

@ sabaton -- if it was up to Albanians, your fence would be up but it isn't. It isn't even up to Serbs. It's about which superpower has the more stable economy & alliances to back up its military to monopolize world-wide natural resource production & distribution.

'He said that a “partition is not a solution” and warned that it would lead to a “domino effect” in the region, naming the Republic of Srpska, which is unacceptable for Priština and the international community.'

If anything in the Balkans will lead to a domino-effect, then it would be the unilateral secession of Kosovo itself. Even if Kosovo will be partitioned, a compensation for the North (like Presevo) would be very unfair. Where is the compensation for Serbia for the territory they lost? Further more I think any compensation for the loss of Kosovo should be found somewhere south of the river Ibar. Let's say an area that includes the Patriarchy of Pec, Gracanica and a part of Kosovo Polje that includes the Bezistan-monument. Plus a solution should be found for Brezovica. The problem then of course is that K-Albanians state that those are the best parts and I think Serbia could help K-Albanians (financially) to build new factories, a ski resort etc. that now happen to be in Serb-dominated areas.

Even if a partition would become reality, Serbia should under no circumstances accept that Rep. Srpska is used as compensation for anything. K-Albanins in Presevo will have to accept that there is a limit to the extension of Albanian lands in Europe. We had one, now we have 1.5 and the day we have 2 (wich I think won't happen), we can wait for Albanians in Montenegro and Macedonia with aims to secede.

Still, I think for both Serbs and K-Albanians, the creation of a new Yugoslavia would be the best solution. Even for K-Albanians; Kosovo will never be a part of a greater Albania and Serbs will never give up in their aim to get back what they think is stolen. Economically there is no chance for a healthy independent Kosovo, without any support from the Serbian side. No railways and no highways will be built to connect the Kosovo border with the rest of the world. Kosovo within Serbia won't make it healthy either, since K-Albanians won't give up on trying to get rid of Serbian rule. The only solution imo is to let them have it both, governed by a larger entity in wich some kind of an autonomous Albanian part gives them a certain kind of independence, in wich they even can add Albanian areas in Macedonia. There are lot's of exemples around the world where such solutions work, like in Russia, Italy, Spain etc. Perfect they are not, but in a lot of cases they are quite peaceful and economically healthy, rather then there is a war coming up. But sadly, a lot of water has to flow through the Ibar before a solution that fits both comes to reality. The overdose of proudness that can be found around the Balkans, won't help any solution either. Time goes on, and the rest of the world won't wait for you both..

Does Serbia really want to have a border with an Albania having 8 million citizens and the fastest birth rate in Europe? Serbia is in terminal demographic and economic decline and given the fact that its neighbors and NATO will never allow it to become too strong again it's a fair bet that Serbia influence in the region will continue to shrink over time.

No, Albert.
Partition of Kosovo is not possible without inclusion of Bosnia (RS).
Borders of the republics are guaranteed.
Why would we settle for loss of any Serbian land south of Ibar?
Croatia didn't accept loss of any land, why would I?
You are thinking about compensating Albanians for loss of Northern part of Kosovo? How about thinking about compensating us for loss of Serbian territory? RS would be appropriate compensation.

`kosovar nation` is a EU farce, you can`t just label half of Albanian nation with a geographical term. Yes! There is a Kosovar state, as there is a Tiranas municipality, but there is no Tiranas nation and there will never be a Kosovar nation, regardless its actual status. Never forget that the indipendence is another step through our 1878 unfinished job...also i found the below comments about albanians being poor very exhausting and pathetic, they also say that we are run by corrupt and mafia gov etc etc...yes we are poor, and our gov are corrupt, our politicans may be the godfathers of the balkans along with the zemun clan , those are our and serbian internal problems respectively! But the real reason we have ended up one of the most poor nations in Europe is not our own post communist corrupt system (just like any post communist country), the real reason is that a living organism can not work cut in two or three pieces, for 100 years albanian nation has been cut in three pieces, imagine the head ,the legs and hands removed from the torso...this has been the metaphore of our nation for more than 100 years, it is a miracle how we have managed to run a state which only last year was able to invest billions of euro in infrastructure dedicated only for linking pristina with our harbours...not considering other more expensive future projects still on progress, like the one making possible a shortcut between tirana and skopje...not mention military and investments in the field of energy.

this guy is using the same reasoning of why serbia(kosovo) shouldnt be partioned

..funny he says k albanians should have right to self determination in south serbia (kosovo) but serbs in south serbia (kosovo) cant ?? "that what ive stolen i will not share"

this is like a screen door on a sub ..wont hold water very long !!

"Kosovar diaspora brings in billions every year.Rebuilding of Kosovo has been going on steady in the last ten years and it shows.With the help of our American and European allies Kosovo's prosperity is bright.The optimism of people who live here is one the highest in the world."
(jesse, 21 June 2010 20:38)

Well, surely there's some progress, but Kosovo is far from being a sustainable country and is strongly depending on donor money. And though the people may be the most optimistic ones, there are a lot of them trying to emigrate because of the situation and all the unemployment, some even illegally with the help of human traffickers.

"Kosovar diaspora brings in billions every year.Rebuilding of Kosovo has been going on steady in the last ten years and it shows.With the help of our American and European allies Kosovo's prosperity is bright.The optimism of people who live here is one the highest in the world."
(jesse, 21 June 2010 20:38)
===================

Sooner or later the diaspora is going to stop throwing good money after bad.
There is no way there will ever be any investment in Kosovo because it is just too unstable and risky. Also, most of the world does not recognise you and won't accept an embassy in their country let alone have one there. How are you going to trade? Who with? Who is going to invest in Kosovo when status will never be solved unless you negotiate with Serbia.

So donations will dry up. No investment and no participation in anything worthwhile. Looks to me like sooner rather than later "Kosova" will exist no more.