BELGRADE, KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- Oliver Ivanović today commented on announcement that ethnic Albanians will declare Kosovo's independence.
Source: FoNet, Tanjug
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"As matters currently stand, many countries will be very reserved towards that document, and Serbia will not accept it, so without Serbia, it will lack full legal legitimacy," Ivanović told Radio Free Europe.
Ivanović added it is "easy to declare independence and everyone can do that", but that its recognition is a lengthy process "and most importantly, it is not easy to take away a part of the territory of an internationally recognized state that is a member of the United Nations, and form a new state there."
Ivanović explained that, "just like all the other Serbs in Kosovo", he is opposed to the independence of the province, adding that the "Kosovo Serbs could decide not to recognize the independence" and remain consistent to UN Security Council Resolution 1244, according to which Kosovo is a part of Serbia.
Speaking about announcements of the Community of Serb Municipalities and Settlements in Kosovo that they will form a Serb assembly in the province later this week, Ivanović this was a "normal reactions by the Serbs who are dissatisfied with the way the international community has placed restrictions on Serbia."
Ivanović, who headed the Serb list of MPs in the Kosovo parliament until last week, said that northern Kosovo would not separate from the rest of the province.
"I believe that this will not happen, this would be a wrong move, because it would mean the recognition of the independence of Kosovo. On the other hand, this would place other Serbs in an very bad situation and would not resolve the problem, rather it would worsen the conflict between the two ethnic communities," Ivanović pointed out.
Earlier today, he was quoted by FoNet news agency as saying that the Kosovo Serbs are "anxiously awaiting instructions from Belgrade."
Ivanović told the agency that the Kosovo Serbs, particularly those in the enclaves, were very disturbed about the talk of an independence declaration by Priština, and that their concerns had been further exacerbated by the failure of the Belgrade authorities to address them directly.
“The most important decision is whether to stay or go, and that’s why it’s vital for the main Serbian institutions to address them directly,” he explained.
“Such a situation is very dangerous as it can lead to an exodus, and those that leave take their frustrations with them, so that Serbia as a whole will be unstable,” added the Kosovo Serb official.
He said that “at this moment in time, the Kosovo Serbs must not under any circumstances be the initiators of any sort of acts that could lead to instability or an incident, as tension is most dangerous for the Serbs.”
According to Ivanović, “it will be very dangerous if the Serbs in the north, under pressure from certain quasi-politicians, leave the Kosovo Police Service.”
“They will immediately be replaced by the foreign police contingent, but the danger for them is that, under the rules, logistics come too – in the form of Albanians,” the Kosovo Serb official pointed out.
He said that in such a scenario “incidents are almost certain” leading to an increased exodus of Serbs, regardless of where they live.
Albano, Kosovo is Serbian and therefore subject to Serbian rule. If you are looking for Albanian rule then I suggest you do what you suggest Ivanovic to do. Go to the relevant country, i.e. Albania to have your Albanian rule.
Don't let a little thing like reality to get in the way of your wishes for an Albanian rule.
(peggy, 14 February 2008 01:54)
There are two possibilities, M.Ivanovic, one is to stay in Kosova, and bow the Kososva law, and the second, is you can go ahead move to Serbia, when you can bow Serbias rule.
(albano, 13 February 2008 23:46)
Jovan, he knows he is standing in Kosova or soon-to-be Republic of Kosova...he knows it so well that he even speaks the native language of that place...Albanian!!
(KS, 12 February 2008 07:40)
Mike wrote:
"Ivanovic should be looking less towards Belgrade and more towards Brussels for support."
I know what you're trying to point out...But as far as looking to Brussels goes, he's low man on the Totem Pole.
Good people with good intentions don't get far. It's unfortunate.
As far as wishing for a "Genuine EU" mission, it's nothing but a replacement for UNMIK. IMHO, the most blatant of all parties involved.
EU involvement is nothing more than new management, but with the same old Mission Statement...
But with a nicer smile.
Hey KS, how many Serbs in Pristina could Ivanovic stand in front of? Perhaps they need a map to the great future that you pretend lies ahead for them...
Considering how UNMIK has bungled up the whole situation of cohabitation, the only future anybody could possibly have, is looking at how well the "PASSED" used to be.
(Pijetro, 12 February 2008 04:38)
Here's were all the centuries old Serb propaganda comes to surface. We Albanians stayed in Kosova/o under repression of Serbia let alone being under the sovereignty of Serbia or Jugoslavia for centuries.
Here are the Serbs who are ready to leave just because of a declaration of independence. That goes to show that Kosova/o means very little to these people.
(johny, 12 February 2008 04:34)
Ivanovic is the only politician that could and can lead the Kosovar-Serbs into the future. Ivanovic knows very well when he is addressing a crowd in Mitrovica, Prishtina, or any city, he is standing in Kosova...not Yugoslavia, or Serbia. He should be upset as he continually tries to get people to look forward instead of listening to what Belgrade wants. Out with the past, in with the future.
(KS, 11 February 2008 19:35)
Ivanovic should be looking less towards Belgrade and more towards Brussels for support. The issue of Serbs staying in Kosovo is one of the major lynchpins of getting this Mission to work, and as such, Ivanovic could have political authority disproportionately in his favor. K-Serbs can cull multiple favors and privileges from the EU for staying within Kosovo's boundaries, and I also feel that if the EU Mission is genuine, we could finally see some real political authority placed in the hands of K Serbs for once.
If Ivanovic becomes to Kosovo what Dodik is to Bosnia (an independent political actor with strong support but not administrative oversight from Belgrade), the position of K-Serbs, at least north of the Ibar will be stabilized.
(Mike, 11 February 2008 16:32)
Ivanovic is the only politician that could and can lead the Kosovar-Serbs into the future. Ivanovic knows very well when he is addressing a crowd in Mitrovica, Prishtina, or any city, he is standing in Kosova...not Yugoslavia, or Serbia. He should be upset as he continually tries to get people to look forward instead of listening to what Belgrade wants. Out with the past, in with the future.
(KS, 11 February 2008 19:35)
Ivanovic should be looking less towards Belgrade and more towards Brussels for support. The issue of Serbs staying in Kosovo is one of the major lynchpins of getting this Mission to work, and as such, Ivanovic could have political authority disproportionately in his favor. K-Serbs can cull multiple favors and privileges from the EU for staying within Kosovo's boundaries, and I also feel that if the EU Mission is genuine, we could finally see some real political authority placed in the hands of K Serbs for once.
If Ivanovic becomes to Kosovo what Dodik is to Bosnia (an independent political actor with strong support but not administrative oversight from Belgrade), the position of K-Serbs, at least north of the Ibar will be stabilized.
(Mike, 11 February 2008 16:32)
Mike wrote:
"Ivanovic should be looking less towards Belgrade and more towards Brussels for support."
I know what you're trying to point out...But as far as looking to Brussels goes, he's low man on the Totem Pole.
Good people with good intentions don't get far. It's unfortunate.
As far as wishing for a "Genuine EU" mission, it's nothing but a replacement for UNMIK. IMHO, the most blatant of all parties involved.
EU involvement is nothing more than new management, but with the same old Mission Statement...
But with a nicer smile.
Hey KS, how many Serbs in Pristina could Ivanovic stand in front of? Perhaps they need a map to the great future that you pretend lies ahead for them...
Considering how UNMIK has bungled up the whole situation of cohabitation, the only future anybody could possibly have, is looking at how well the "PASSED" used to be.
(Pijetro, 12 February 2008 04:38)
There are two possibilities, M.Ivanovic, one is to stay in Kosova, and bow the Kososva law, and the second, is you can go ahead move to Serbia, when you can bow Serbias rule.
(albano, 13 February 2008 23:46)
Jovan, he knows he is standing in Kosova or soon-to-be Republic of Kosova...he knows it so well that he even speaks the native language of that place...Albanian!!
(KS, 12 February 2008 07:40)
Albano, Kosovo is Serbian and therefore subject to Serbian rule. If you are looking for Albanian rule then I suggest you do what you suggest Ivanovic to do. Go to the relevant country, i.e. Albania to have your Albanian rule.
Don't let a little thing like reality to get in the way of your wishes for an Albanian rule.
(peggy, 14 February 2008 01:54)
Here's were all the centuries old Serb propaganda comes to surface. We Albanians stayed in Kosova/o under repression of Serbia let alone being under the sovereignty of Serbia or Jugoslavia for centuries.
Here are the Serbs who are ready to leave just because of a declaration of independence. That goes to show that Kosova/o means very little to these people.
(johny, 12 February 2008 04:34)
Ivanovic is the only politician that could and can lead the Kosovar-Serbs into the future. Ivanovic knows very well when he is addressing a crowd in Mitrovica, Prishtina, or any city, he is standing in Kosova...not Yugoslavia, or Serbia. He should be upset as he continually tries to get people to look forward instead of listening to what Belgrade wants. Out with the past, in with the future.
(KS, 11 February 2008 19:35)
Albano, Kosovo is Serbian and therefore subject to Serbian rule. If you are looking for Albanian rule then I suggest you do what you suggest Ivanovic to do. Go to the relevant country, i.e. Albania to have your Albanian rule.
Don't let a little thing like reality to get in the way of your wishes for an Albanian rule.
(peggy, 14 February 2008 01:54)
Ivanovic should be looking less towards Belgrade and more towards Brussels for support. The issue of Serbs staying in Kosovo is one of the major lynchpins of getting this Mission to work, and as such, Ivanovic could have political authority disproportionately in his favor. K-Serbs can cull multiple favors and privileges from the EU for staying within Kosovo's boundaries, and I also feel that if the EU Mission is genuine, we could finally see some real political authority placed in the hands of K Serbs for once.
If Ivanovic becomes to Kosovo what Dodik is to Bosnia (an independent political actor with strong support but not administrative oversight from Belgrade), the position of K-Serbs, at least north of the Ibar will be stabilized.
(Mike, 11 February 2008 16:32)
Jovan, he knows he is standing in Kosova or soon-to-be Republic of Kosova...he knows it so well that he even speaks the native language of that place...Albanian!!
(KS, 12 February 2008 07:40)
Here's were all the centuries old Serb propaganda comes to surface. We Albanians stayed in Kosova/o under repression of Serbia let alone being under the sovereignty of Serbia or Jugoslavia for centuries.
Here are the Serbs who are ready to leave just because of a declaration of independence. That goes to show that Kosova/o means very little to these people.
(johny, 12 February 2008 04:34)
Mike wrote:
"Ivanovic should be looking less towards Belgrade and more towards Brussels for support."
I know what you're trying to point out...But as far as looking to Brussels goes, he's low man on the Totem Pole.
Good people with good intentions don't get far. It's unfortunate.
As far as wishing for a "Genuine EU" mission, it's nothing but a replacement for UNMIK. IMHO, the most blatant of all parties involved.
EU involvement is nothing more than new management, but with the same old Mission Statement...
But with a nicer smile.
Hey KS, how many Serbs in Pristina could Ivanovic stand in front of? Perhaps they need a map to the great future that you pretend lies ahead for them...
Considering how UNMIK has bungled up the whole situation of cohabitation, the only future anybody could possibly have, is looking at how well the "PASSED" used to be.
(Pijetro, 12 February 2008 04:38)
There are two possibilities, M.Ivanovic, one is to stay in Kosova, and bow the Kososva law, and the second, is you can go ahead move to Serbia, when you can bow Serbias rule.
(albano, 13 February 2008 23:46)