Kosovo: What's wrong with Ahtisaari's plan?
Blogged by: Nina Brenjo
A refugee man casts a shadow as his children sit inside their home at a refugee centre in Bosnia. Photo by REUTERS\Damir Sagolj
The U.N. Security Council is discussing a final resolution on the future of the Serbian province of Kosovo. The resolution will be based largely on a report by Martti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish president who's negotiated between the Kosovo Albanian and Serbian sides in the dispute. But Ioannis Michaletos, writing in World Press magazine, questions whether the Ahtisaari report is everything it's cracked up to be.
He says the report is just "another episode in the conflict". The report supports the eventual independence of Kosovo, in principle. But it fails to address how independence will actually be implemented, since Serbia has recently made a point of confirming its territorial integrity, in its most recent amendment to its constitution.
Michaletos also laments that fact that the report doesn't concern itself at all with organised crime, which is rampant in today's Kosovo.
Kosovo's independence would have wider consequences, not just in the region, Michaletos asserts. Russia, for one, would probably use it as a precedent to act in Georgia, in order to assert its influence in a strategically important region with oil pipelines running through it to the Caspian Sea, backed by Western oil corporations. The Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia have cultivated their friendships with Russia alongside their demands for independence.
What about other similar cases? Western Sahara in Morocco has been struggling for independence for much longer, but the Michaletos says the United States is unlikely to back its case for fear of riling Morocco, its "staunch ally in the Arab world".
You may think the plan looks like a clear win for the Kosovo Albanians, but not all of them are convinced it's good enough. Outright independence is a much better solution in their view, according to Michaletos.
There's nothing wrong with Ahtisaari's report, which would mean a relatively quick recognition of independent Kosovo, but it's unlikely the plan will stay intact, says Berat Buzhala, editor of Kosovo daily newspaper Express, writing for the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.
What he fears is "a new 'compromise' resolution, which will leave Kosovo more or less stuck in its existing transitional phase", in Buzhala's words. So, what's to be done? Buzhala says Kosovo's people should go out on the streets and demand that the Security Council follows Ahtisaari's proposal to the letter.
And what if the resolution does turn out to be a watered-down version of Ahtisaari's recommendations?
"It is... not melodramatic to stress how destructive the consequences of a wrong decision for Kosovo could be," Buzhala says. " It is not melodramatic either to stress the fragility of the political situation in neighbouring countries that depend in part on the stability of Kosovo."
If the U.N. resolution is delayed any longer, "it would be unwise to expect rational behaviour from a desperate and disillusioned society", Buzhala concludes.
This is precisely what Russia calls the "blackmail at the heart of the process". Russia insists that the resolution should be a compromise between the two sides, rather than the "one-sided" Atitsaari plan, Britain's Economist magazine reports.
But with the Russians increasingly likely to veto the U.N. resolution, the West may decide to postpone a decision until the autumn. The major powers, however, are unlikely to reach agreement on this, even with more time, the Economist says. Russia's not just motivated by loyalty to Serbia as a fellow Slav country. Moscow maing concern is the implications for "principles of state sovereignty and the inviolability of borders".
But even the EU countries do not all think alike when it comes to Ahtisaari's proposed solution. They would probably split even further if the United States decided to sidestep the U.N. process and recognise Kosovo unilaterally, the magazine suggests. And this time Europe would be unlikely to simply do a repeat of 1999 and agree to going ahead without the United Nations, as it did when NATO bombed Yugoslavia without a U.N. resolution to back it.
Delaying the solution on Kosovo would risk a backlash among Kosovo Albanians "whose expectations of independence are sky-high -- not least because leading EU states... ruled out other options early on in the process", says the Economist.
It was a mistake on the part of the European Union to think Kosovo could be resolved within a year and Russia's and Serbia's opposition broken. But some parts of the EU may have "got carried away" with the opportunity that Kosovo presented to give new meaning to EU common foreign policy, the Economist says.
Instead, the Economist concludes, "the EU is stumbling headlong into yet another Balkan crisis."
Reuters AlertNet is not responsible for the content of external websites.
24 responses to “Kosovo: What's wrong with Ahtisaari's plan?”
Please note that comments should not be regarded as the views of Reuters.
Leave a Reply
When you submit a comment to us we request your name, e-mail address and optionally a link to a website. Please note where you submit a website address, we may link to it via your name. By sending us a comment, you accept that we have the right to show the comment and your name to users. Although we require your email address, this will not be published on the site, and is only required to enable us to check facts with you, e.g. if you are making a claim we can not confirm easily. Additionally, if you would like your comment removed at anytime, you'll have to use this e-mail address when you contact us. To remove a comment at any time please e-mail us at blogs-(at)-reuters-(dot)-com (address obscured to avoid spam) specifying who you are and what you would like removed. We moderate all comments and will publish everything that advances the post directly or with relevant tangential information. We reserve the right to edit comments in order to maintain the quality of the comments, and may not include links to irrelevant material. We try not to publish comments that we think are offensive or appear to pass you off as another person, and we will be conservative if comments may be considered libelous. Reuters will use your data in accordance with Reuters privacy policy. Reuters Group is primarily responsible for managing your data. As Reuters is a global company your data will be transferred and available internationally, including in countries which do not have privacy laws but Reuters seeks to comply with its privacy policy.
04 Jun 2007 18:08:59 GMT
Ioannis Michaletos is he a greek? probably! Why did he write this article, what are his intentions...What does he have to do as a Greek in the Kosovo case? Many questions arise, but maybe he wants to say that by giving independence to Kosovo there will be balkan crisis again. I would suggest for him to see the facts as they are and not to write as nationalist in reuters if he wants to do that he can go and write in the greek "stoxos". Shame on you as journalists and as whole reuter. Regading to the Kosovo case I would like to inform this greek that there where genecides there, there where people killed because of racism and by suggesting no independence for kosovo he agrees with what happened. SHAME!!!!
04 Jun 2007 21:40:44 GMT
Nice press overview. But giving the title I had expected more with what is wrong with the Ahtisaari proposal.
Its dishonesty - that Michaletos indirectly mentions - is of course part of the problem. If the UN wants Kosovo independent it should say so explicitly - not create another unclear statement. I find the present Western position, where they say that they never intended to keep to the territorial integrity part of the Resolution 1244 rather disgusting. This is not elegant diplomacy. I am amazed that Michaletos expects the international community to fight crime. In theory it sounds nice. But after 8 years of watching how the internationals rather make peace with mafiosi than fight them I don't see a reason to expect them to change. Let's leave the crime fighting to the Albanians. But you don't even mention the most important objection against the Ahtisaari proposal: that it is license for cleansing Kosovo's remaining Serbs. Ahtisaari basically gives all the power to the Albanians and expects thing to become ok. This is not how the outcome of negotiations should look.04 Jun 2007 21:42:55 GMT
Why is there need for a new resolution??? Surely the International community should set about with a real focus on enacting all that they have signed upto in 1999 when they signed the UN resolution 1244 - after the Illegal bombardment of a sovereign state - Serbia. We were told that this was a "humanitarian" intervention not an attempt to invade and partition another soverign UN recognised state. When it is looked at from that perspective I guess the penny will drop that "Kosovo" was the pre-cursor whopper to Iraq.
In which respect surely the best solution is to find a way where ALL the poeples of Serbia can be reconciled and learn to live together no matter what their ethnic background. Like Blair said recently in the UK "conform to it" - surely the democratic goverment of Serbia could apply the same sentiment! If there is no new resolution the US would not ILLEGALLY recognise and ILLEGAL unilateral delaration especially given that the US formulated and signed resolution 1244 - reconfirming Serbia's territorial integrity! Unless of course they wish to show the world and the UN total disrespect again and we all know where that can lead!!!04 Jun 2007 21:43:46 GMT
I have read articles from Ioannis Michaletos before. His articles are almost always published by decidedly Serb or pro-Serb websites (Serbianna, etc.) This writer, along with other Serb commentators is always spinning the organized crime/islamist story to justify why Kosovo should not be independent.
I am Albanian and I can't deny that Kosovo may have some uncomfortable implications for other countries; however, given the history of the region and the brutal and indiscriminate crackdown of the Serbian state on it's own Albanian citizens during the 90-s, I don't see how any other arrangement could work. There are other Serbian commentators out there who've pointed out the enormous challenges that Serbia would face if Kosovo remained part of it, among which: 1. the significant funds that Serbia would have to shell out for the reconstruction of a devastated region that's 90% Albanian. I wonder how popular that would be with the common Serb citizen considering the bad blood and mistrust that exists between the two populations. 2. presence of Albanian deputies in a Serb parliament where 30+ % of the deputies belong to the Radical Party; the same party that was behind most of the destruction in former Yugoslavia and Kosovo. No doubt that Kosovo does have its problems. It's been argued however that many of them are a result of the province being in a "limbo" status. The finalization of the status would probably go some way to tackling such problems. Given the circumstances, independence seems like the more logical route to go.04 Jun 2007 21:44:21 GMT
This is a great analysis. Kosovo independence wouldn't bring anything good but another Balkan crisis. This issue can not be solved without an agreement from one of the sides, Kosovo Serbs. Otherwise the entire region is bracing for another big crisis where other nations would require similar arrangements as Kosovo Albanians request for themselves. One can't get everything while the other side gets nothing.
05 Jun 2007 08:36:02 GMT
What is wrong? What is right with the the plan? Nothing! To take a teritory of one sovern state without consent. To create one more indipendent country with a nation that already has it own country. To have separation based on national population. To not resolve any crime problems in last eight years. To sell a property to international companies without consent of the owners. To separate Yugoslavia's states and then to bring them together under EU umbrela.. This is perferct example of crime against internatinal law.
05 Jun 2007 08:36:42 GMT
I am from Spain and personally think Kosovo cannot continue under UN. or Serbian rule anymore and the U.N.-sponsored negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia's leaders will not produce a settlement. I think is time to resolve Kosovoâs status permanently and let those people who have suffered during 90's wars develop and integrate with EU.
My Sister works in Kosovo for UNMIK (UN mission is Kosovo) and i have heard very good stories about albanians as a nation and how keen they're to forget about the ast and concentrate for the future. I believe a phased transition to Independence is the only option for a politically stable and economically viable Kosovo. I think Kosovo is ready and willing to implement reforms, including one that would ensure the protection of Kosovo's Serbian minority. People should live together in harmony and government in Kosovo will do everything to protect the rights of everyone living in there. In a democratic society the voice of people should be heard. More than 90% of Kosovo's population is asking for independence and that independence should be granted slowly. Martti Ahtisaaris plan should be implemented. The guy has lived in the region himself and knows what's good for the people of Kosovo and the region itself.05 Jun 2007 08:38:26 GMT
The people of Kosovo are the ones suffering the status quo and subsequent insecurity that generates. People like Putin, Bush, or any of the rest of the bureaucrats get paid high salaries, receive all the honoraries, and keep arguing the world order, while the people for or against whom, like those in Russia and mid America and central Europeans suburbs do often struggle to make ends meet. In truth, politics are out of touch with the reality on the ground. As for the Status of Kosovo, anything that does not comfort the still open wounds of its population, the rape flashbacks, the mass graves being uncovered as we speak, will not be a solution to this century-long dispute. Serbs, lead by their leaders, have grown to believe that the Albanian population have got tails. Their leaders have several times attempted cleansing the entire non Serb population out of Kosovo; these attempts have been well documented and have been explained in Noel Malcolmâs Kosovo: A Short History. Uncertainty will bring more war and destruction something (loved by serb blind megalomaniacs) the region or the world does not need. The region needs economic prosperity and clan based politicians power-thirsty like Kostunica and the rest of the Ballkanites are not mentally fit to bring that, after all most of them believe in the afterlife. Serbia has lost its moral right over Kosovo long ago, 2 mil people do not wish to be governed by the very people who unleashed the drugged and drunken cannibals who committed so much suffering, mass amputation, beheadings, rapes, assassinations, destruction and the list goes long. Therefore, any attempt by the serbs, Russians or any other serbo-phile will be counterproductive. Kosovo is a unique case because of its history and any arguments to present it as a precedent is made to derail its independence. The Russians on the other hand are simply using the Kosovo case to get some attention as a powerful nation led by ex-KGB murderers. According to a recent development, them people, seem ready to start a new cold war, making direct nuclear threats to the European cities. Is this the way we want to go? America, Britain, France, Germany, The secretary general, most of the EU nations and many other organisations such as the ICG, do support the Ahtisaari Plan of compromise. That is what we need a language of compromise not nuclear threats and further animosity.
05 Jun 2007 08:39:47 GMT
I worked in Kosovo with U.N. and i must admit Kosovo has completly changed. The nation is full of young people that are keen to work and look forward to EU integration. The whole nation is an extremly business minded people and i am sure once they get the independence they're going to quickly be the richest nation in eastern europe.
Kosovo is working hard to help other minorities currently living in Kosovo. I know this as i have been working with the government in this aspect. Personally i think kosovo should get the independence. I am sure Albanians in kosovo will take care of serbs minorities better than serbia taking care of their own. In regards to this article, i don't think it makes any sence. I agree with the comments above, you as a journalist should write about the facts and not write as nationalist in reuters. If you really want to learn more about Kosovo go and live there like i did. You'll see what i mean. Kosovo should get its indepenence.05 Jun 2007 08:40:27 GMT
It is good to see that someone has a brain in the EU. Kosovo is part of Serbia and as part of Serbia, Albanians are minority in the Serbia. There is no need of mentioning 90% of population when they are 5% of population of Serbia. Think about this before you write your shallow comments, based on media reports. Read book, read historical books. Do not watch TV and make comments.
05 Jun 2007 09:35:40 GMT
I don't understand why we need a new resolution either! Resolution 1244 protects the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia, a country that no longer exists. Since this is the case, the only thing left to do is hold a referendum where by the people of Kosovo decide wether or not Kosovo should be independent or part of Serbia. Montenegro didn't require an "Ahtisaari Plan".
Everything is wrong with the Ahtisaari Plan but this is the price of compromise. I just wish that Serbs would beging to understand this so we can all move on. There is no way, practical or theoretical, that can allow for an integration of Kosovo into Serbia. It hasn't happened since 1912 and it won't happen now. PS: A kind reminder of Serb policies in Kosovo is the latest mass grave that contains over 500 bodies of Albanian children, women and other civilians. How many more must die?05 Jun 2007 09:39:54 GMT
A very good overview by Nin Brenjo and an excellent article by Ioannis Michaletos. Obviously, the American administration repeats the "not a precedent" phrase in hope more times it is repeated more people will be convinced. And it is not so, anyways Kosovo status be resolved, it sets a precedent, and there is no doubt for that.
As for our fellow Albanian readers' comments. Why are they so anxious to speak about history of Kosovo only in the 90'. Would they tell us how the Albanians persecuted and decimated the Christian populations in the Balkans for centuries (not only Serbs, ask any Macedonian, Greek, Vallachian). Ask them what happened to Moscopolis near today's Tropoja. Ask them how many orthodox shrines were destroyed in Kosovo by Albanians mobs (not only after KFOR arrival, but in all other times except the 10 years of Milosevic dictatorship). And now when they cleansed the territory, they call upon the right of self-determination, having as an excuse 10 years of Milosevic rule. Kiddin'? And what about all those years they sided with Ottomans in killing serbs, what about second world war when albanian SS were slaughtering the freedomlike Serbs? Who and when should be punished for that. Or, are the Serbs the only punishable nation?05 Jun 2007 10:42:35 GMT
In response to William's comment: Nina Brenjo's article, like all MediaWatch pieces, simply reports on what others are saying in the media and offers no personal views.
05 Jun 2007 11:21:09 GMT
I worked in Kosovo with U.N. and i must admit Kosovo has completly changed. The nation is full of young people that are keen to work and look forward to EU integration. The whole nation is an extremly business minded people and i am sure once they get the independence they're going to quickly be the richest nation in eastern europe.
Kosovo is working hard to help other minorities currently living in Kosovo. I know this as i have been working with the government in this aspect. Personally i think kosovo should get the independence. I am sure Albanians in kosovo will take care of serbs minorities better than serbia taking care of their own. In regards to this article, i don't think it makes any sence. I agree with the comments above, you as a journalist should write about the facts and not write as nationalist in reuters. If you really want to learn more about Kosovo go and live there like i did. You'll see what i mean. Kosovo should get its indepenence.05 Jun 2007 11:23:09 GMT
The article of mine concerning Kosovo in worldpress.org, aims to inform on the complexities surrounding Kosovo's pending status. Independence by itself would not solve problems in the region. Organized crime activities, Islamic footholds and widespread corruption can only be solved through international cooperation; otherwise an independent goverment in Pristina would be powerless to confront groups and individuals that trade narcotics and weapons and have strong paramilitary forces to enforce their say (1). Needless to say that there is a regional concern to all of the above, since crime has spread throughtout the Balkans.
Another very serius challenge is the one of a precedent, especially for the neighbouring states. First of all we have Turkey, with a 15-20% Kurdish population, mainly habitating on the East of the country. By taking into account the guerilla warfare in that area and the American ambition of creating an independent Kurdish state in Kurdish state in N. Iraq, one could note the parallel that could be drawn and the bloodshed that will follow. Continuing the Caucausus area which is vital for European ( And USA) interests, would face a Russian pressure. On overall, since the international law functions on a common law basis a precedent in Kosovo is inevitable. There are viable long-term solutions though. A "Balkan Union" between the states of ex-Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Turkey can ease tensions and create a "Parallel EU" that could facilitate transition towards EU norms for the region. Something similar like the "Mediterranean Union" recently proposed by Sarkozy. Frankly I can't think of any other plan that will put the Balkans on the right track to get rid of ethnic animosities. Otherwise conflicts might perpetuate until every minority gets its way and create mini-states similar to the "Burg-states" of the medieval Germany. The Albanian people are generally progressive people and they have only flourished when they were parts of wider political units, like the Roman Empire, Byzantine, and Ottoman one. An independence in Kosovo will alienate them from their historical neighbours without reassuring them that the USA Administration will always support them. Prisitna is far from being the centre of the world and political realities often change; not always for the best of reasons nor the benefit of the local population. Lastly I wouild agree with Sasha " There is no need of mentioning 90% of population when they are 5% of population of Serbia" Until Kosovo status is formally decided, Albanians constitute a minority in Serbia, otherwise one can draw similar claims for countries such as Israel, Romania (Western parts), Spain (Basque country), Ukraine (Eastern part), or even Southern California! And that can be disastrous on the long term. (1) Realism is the key to this issue. Even though there is not enough space to elaborate, all interested readers can relatively easy acquire information from sources such as the FBI, EUROPOL, Interpol, or respected journals such as Jane's intelligence and various reports from the EU and NATO around the perils facing the Balkans nowadays. Already the "Self-denial" status of some mebers of the international community has costed dearly in the Balkans and beyond. Honestly I don't want to associate any more the Balkans as a gateaway to criminal activities & terrorism, it's time for some radical changes at last!05 Jun 2007 11:23:40 GMT
Would any other country in the world (including EU, US etc) give up 15% of their land to a national minority?? I THINK NOT. I think its time for the world to wake up. Why can one thing only apply to Serbia and Serbia alone. Serbia has suffered enough, and if the Albanians dont like where they live ie Kosovo, then go back to where you ame from.
Thanks to Russia, Kosovo will always remain part of Serbia. The K. Albanians can either learn to live in Serbia or think about getting out.05 Jun 2007 11:29:22 GMT
Yet only a reminder to Ylber, and the rest who neglect a certain fact. The Albains from Kosovo always speak of their killed women, elders and children. Yet, the 99 per cent of the Monuments to the fallen in Kosovo conflict, are dedicated to people who hold a gun in their hands. Let us not forget that those same people were blacklisted by the US administration in '98. So, it seems that you mention your killed women and kids only when you care assuring the internationals how much you suffered. Otherwise, you don't give a dime. It was obvious during the March 2004 riots when you pushed the women and kids in front of the demonstrators in order to stop the security forces from reacting. Indeed, a truly courageous behaviour.
05 Jun 2007 17:04:07 GMT
Kosovars are young people that are keen to work and look forward to EU integration. The whole nation is an extremly business minded people and i am sure once they get the independence they're going to quickly be the richest nation in eastern europe. Kosova is working hard to help other minorities currently living in Kosova. Kosova will get independence. Albanians in Kosova are taking care of Kosova Serbs minorities better than Serbia taking care of their own.
05 Jun 2007 17:06:46 GMT
Classical view of Kosovan crisis through Serbian Lens. For Ioannis Michaletos,like majority of Serbian politicians, the people of Kosova are completely ignored and treated as an irrelevant objects. Kosova for people like Ioannis Michaletos is treated only as a geographical term absent of any population. All the killings, persecution and oppression that has occured since the occupation of Kosova in 1912( Albanians being an absolute majority in Kosova in 1912) when Serbia declared triumphantly the 'liberation' of Kosova does not bear any importance for Ioannis Michaletos. The logic the Michaletos uses in terms of the dangers of corruption and crime can also in equal measure be appplied to Serbia, who until recently was run by mafia, the army has criminal elements, crime is sky high, country is a main transit for drugs(see recent capture of the largest shipment of cocaine between Serbia and Macedonia), the country is infested with war criminals and so on and on. Taking into consideration that the main premise of Ioannis Michaletos cannot be considered as valid I cannot conclude but classify his article as biased, objectively flawed and ultimately misleading. People of Kosova deserve freedom,especially after being subjected to apartheid system of discrimination and oppresion by the Serbian government. Serbia has never treated Albanians humanely and never will, therefore why should Albanians live under the Serbian rule.
05 Jun 2007 17:08:16 GMT
I really can't grasp why the Kosovo independence issue is still such a hot topic - Kosovo will get independence because there is no way the two peoples can live together; Albanians cannot forget and forgive what has happened to them during a century of oppression. Since when Serbia got hold of this territory it has placed it under police protectorate, it has tried to ethnically cleanse it in the 1930s, in the 1960s and finally, in the 1990s. The Albanian citizens have been considered second class, always humiliated, underpaid, their rights never even considered, their language never used. Finally, if there was some hope for Serbs to reconcile decades of discrimination, they placed in power Milosevic, who took out all the limited rights they had; Serbs closed all schools, banned our language, dismissed all the Albanian population from the administration and replaced it with Serbs only. And finally, placed a state of terror in the wh! ole territory, putting gangs of paramilitaries, who terrorised the population, and finally caused us to seek total independence through armed resistance. There is no way Albanians can live under a Serbian authority, never more...
It is funny how you consider the 10 years of Milosevic as the only time when Albanians in Kosovo have been discriminated; you are wrong, that was only the culminating point. Serbs have discriminated Albanians and have tried to push them out since they got that territory. Even before getting it, they had the great idea of cleansing the territory of the Albanian population. Anyway, I am not surprised to see Mr. Michaletos writing about this issue, but I am surprised and disappointed to see Reuters publish such biased information, with bombastic titles, but so so mediocre... P.S. Mr. Michaletos, I am not going to deal with your biased articles in Serbianna, just teach you some mathematics: if Albanians were under the state of Serbia, 2 million inhabitants out of a total of 11 million (Serbia's population is currently 9 million) makes more than 18% of the population.06 Jun 2007 17:34:39 GMT
Yes, and what about Albanian militants shelling cities in Macedonia, and bringing arms and troops from Kosovo to do it? Do we really need another independent aggressively minded country in the Balkans? Militants from which, were seeking access to the sea, to open/ease their drug trafficking routes, thus the Macedonia attacks. Attacks against the Serbian police began as they cracked down on drug traffickers. And that led to the Serb genocidal rage reaction. Quiet expected of course, given their earlier behavior in Balkan wars, someone calculated correctly, when they started shooting up policemen. And yeah, they knew what was going to happen and did not and still do not give a damn about the local population either. What do you think will happen to those who even think on cracking down on organized crime in Kosovo? Organized crime made Kosovo, they are not going to let go. And yeah, I suppose it takes a business minded person to run! a drug cartel, but really, come on... I don't see anyone bombing Sudan because of Darfur, and a lot more people have died there, but then it's not a drug trafficking route into Europe. I suppose however that europeans don't really want messing with their opium/cocaine supply. EU is as hypocritical, as ever.
07 Jun 2007 14:34:11 GMT
Albanians want kosovo a piece of land that does not belong to them,but they have good reason for not wanting to go under serbian rule
Serbians want to keep Kosovo because it belongs to them and it's the cradle of their culture And the new goverment of serbia will give them broad autonomy The answer is "PARTITION" Both sides would be happy they may not say it poblicly but they all would like this outcome Vasa21 Jun 2007 09:10:52 GMT
The curse of the Albanian people is that we have horrible neighbors, who have done everything in their power to annex land from us (Kosovo being one area). I had to laugh at the comment of Michaletos about forming a Balkan union. Are you kidding?!? We can't seem to get along with each-other as is. What makes you think that if we form a union we are going to be happy? As Albanians, we may have "flourished" under other countries, but we have never liked to be under anybody's flag. We are a very freedom-loving people and if we were under the rule of some country or other, it wasn't by choice! Kosovo Albanians have lived there longer than any Serbs, so they have a right to that land and self-governing. I can see why they are skeptics when it comes to being autonomous under Serbia. They have tried before and it failed miserably! I am afraid that Western diplomacy will fail us again just as it did in 1912 when Kosovo should hav! e been given to its rightful owners. It's shameful how Serbs have always let Russia do their dirty work for them. Hopefully this will be solved quickly, but I'm afraid that it will always remain a thorn in our side.
26 Jul 2007 12:14:40 GMT
Kosovo was and will forever be Albanian land.Illyrians were the people who lived from modern day Slovenia to Northern Greece (Epirus) all that was their land and Albanians are the direct Discent of Illyria or Illyrians therefore Kosovo Has a right for independence and can choose themselves if they want to join the motherland Albania or create theyr own constitution or countrie......and Serbs have no right of trying to keep kosovo b/c even the land that they live on today is stollen land from the Illyria (Albania) they are russian and if they dont like the fact that kosovo will soon be independent they can go back to their mother land RUSSIA!