B92 TV's Ljubica Gojgić interviewed visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg in Belgrade on Thursday. Below is the transcript of the interview.
B92 TV's Ljubica Gojgić interviewed visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg in Belgrade on Thursday. Below is the transcript of the interview.
B92: Mr. Steinberg, you’ve arrived from Sarajevo, so I’ll first ask what is more important for the U.S., Bosnia or Kosovo?
Steinberg: Oh, I don’t think we have a comparison here. Our commitment is to build a strong relationship with all the countries of this region, to help all the people achieve bright future, stability, peace and prosperity. And I think working on this all together, recognizing that this is a region where need to build cooperation and cooperative strategy is our overall approach.
B92: Going back to Bosnia, what are your expectations from Serbia? What would you like to see Serbia do in contributing to that strategy for the region when it comes to Bosnia?
Steinberg: We’re very appreciative of a leadership that President (Boris) Tadić and the government here have shown in helping us to work with the parties in Bosnia, to take the practical steps they need to build the future for their own people, to help chart a path for Bosnia into the EU, and into NATO, the aspirations of the Bosnian people, and I think that the strong commitment that we have together with Serbia to work to move forward within the Dayton framework to secure a future for Bosnia, it’s a common effort and I’ve been appreciative and had good conversation with President Tadić about that last night.
B92: Is it true that in a way Washington counts on Serbia to sometimes influence on Mr. (Milorad) Dodik when Mr. Dodik is being less constructive than you would like?
Steinberg: I think that what’s been important is that all the leaders of the region from the former Yugoslavia are working together to help support the effort that we are working on hand in hand with the EU in Bosnia. President Tadić, in Croatia, in Slovenia, I was in Ljubljana on this trip, meeting with PM (Borut) Pahor, all the leaders here want to see Bosnia move forward in a constructive way and each of them has a role to play and positive contribution, they’re working together and sending a common message to all the leaders in Bosnia to try to work together, to make the kinds of decision they need to make to build that future.
B92: Do you accept the position of Mr. Dodik and Serbs in Bosnia that they are willing to cooperate, that they are ready for all sorts of compromises, but they do not want to sacrifice the Republic of Srpska (RS)?
Steinberg: Again, I think that we had very positive meetings with all the political leaders in Bosnia, I meant it was a joint mission with the Spanish FM on behalf of the EU, we met with the leaders of all the political parties there, and we heard a common message from all of them that they share the same aspirations in leading Bosnia into European and trans-Atlantic future, each have some specific sets of concerns, we all have a lot of difficult challenges to find common ground working forward but we believe that we should within the Dayton framework and acceptance of the territorial integrity of Bosnia as the framework within which to move forward in that future. I think that’s a shared view among all the political leaders and now we need to find a way, that’s a practical matter to bridge their differences.
B92: But when you talk about the territorial integrity of Bosnia that nobody puts in question, I think, could you also guarantee the continuing existence of RS?
Steinberg: That’s part of the Dayton framework and there’s nothing that we’re trying to do that would be inconsistent with that.
B92: The news that came from New York yesterday was that the UN secretary-general was concerned with current situation in Kosovo and especially with the plan of Kosovo’s government and Mr. (Pieter) Feith to integrate the north of Kosovo. He said that the plan was drafted without any kind of consultations with the UN and the same we heard from the EU, from Mr. (Spanish FM Miguel Angel) Moratinos earlier that the EU is not behind that plan. Your government supports it and how do you think that contributes to the stability of the region?
Steinberg: I have not had a chance to read the secretary general’s report so I don’t want to comment on specifics of that but I think we’ve made very clear that we support the efforts of the government of Kosovo to move forward in a way that respects the rights of all the citizens of Kosovo. It’s important that all the communities feel engaged and represented, that’s at the heart of the Ahtisaari plan, that’s the heart of what we believe if Kosovo is going to have a future, is to take care and respect the interest of all the people.
B92: The problem is that the Ahtisaari plan was never adopted by the UN, the Security Council, and has been reject by the Serbian government and by the Serbs who live in Kosovo, and they do not want to be integrated in such a society. So, there is a problem there?
Steinberg: No, I think that there is a recognition that we have a multi-ethnic society throughout this region and each of the countries of the Balkans has multiple communities and different voices and we’re not going to have the Balkans in which we will simply try to sort it out solely on ethnic grounds. What’s important for the future of this region, and all the countries in the region is the respect for the right of both majorities and minorities and to build a future for them all within a broader European framework which will allow them to express their interest and have this kind of future.
I think that this is the 21st century vision for the Balkans, it’s a way of overcoming the past and recognition that whatever the political boundaries that they are going to be different communities within those states and that they have to respect rights and interests of all of them. And so I will have an opportunity, I’m going to be in Kosovo later today, in Priština, I will have a chance to meet with some of the Serb mayors, I’m going to go to Gračanica monastery to show that in fact we have a strong support for those communities and we will make clear to the leaders of Kosovo that’s part of our expectation for them in terms of their leadership in that country.
B92: I guess that the president of Serbia and the minister of internal affairs, whom you talked to earlier, do not share your vision for Kosovo for the 21st century.
Steinberg: I think that we obviously have differences of status of Kosovo, we’ve agreed to disagree as Vice President Biden said when he was here, but I think we also recognize that there are some pragmatic steps that we can take such as cooperation with EULEX, and try to deal with some of those practical questions, customs issues and alike that would allow all the people of the region to have a more secure and prosperous future as we continue to try to sort out these political arrangements.
But I think what’s important to recognize here is that what we need to make sure that whatever the political arrangements, whatever our differences are that we have a fundamental respect for the interests and rights of all the people, whether they’re in Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Croatia or any of the other countries in the region.
B92: My final question would be, you said that somewhere, that the U.S. are tirelessly working on spreading the support for the independent Kosovo. Many countries report –countries that did not recognize Kosovo – that they see that as pressure coming from Washington. How important is it to you to have as many countries as possible recognize Kosovo before the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and what if that court’s legal opinion does not support the independence?
Steinberg: Well, I think it’s important to recognize what the ICJ proceedings are about and what they’re not about. It’s an advisory opinion that’s requested by the General Assembly. Our view is that we strongly support the independence of Kosovo, we believe that it’s consistent with…
B92: Regardless of what the court will say?
Steinberg: The issue of recognition and how states determine recognition is a sovereign decision that countries make. We don’t put pressure on anybody, there are no threats, no inducements. It’s obviously our judgment that that is in the best interest of the people of Kosovo and the region to move forward, to put this behind us and to move forward, so that would be the position of the U.S. We obviously, since that is our view, we advocate it, just as the government in Serbia here advocates to its friends a different view. We’ve agreed to disagree about that, but we don’t put pressure, we don’t try to course anybody.
B92: But why do you advocate an independent Kosovo? It’s not your country, it’s not even your continent, why is it so important?
Steinberg: I think the U.S. has a great stake in this region, I think we have a long history in this region in contributing to peace and stability here, I think we’ve made a great contribution. Because of that stake, because of our involvement we believe that it’s the right thing to do. We’re not the only ones, by the way, majority of the states of the EU take the same view that we do, so this is not an outlined view of the U.S. And so because we think it’s right we advocate for what’s right, I think that’s important for every state to do, just as Serbia advocates for its view.
But I think what’s important is that, although we have differences with the government here about that, we also have strong areas of cooperation and I think it’s important to remember how far the relationships between the U.S. and Serbia have progressed, how much we’re doing together, how strongly we’re working for Serbia’s future trying to support its integration into Europe and its membership in the EU, to support new levels of cooperation between us in an economic, political and security fronts. That’s a very bright future, now we’re stating this very important difference, we actually have an extraordinarily positive center of developments in the 15 months since President (Barack) Obama has been the president.
I felt like this question came from a common citizen and not a "professional" journal.
(RKS, 9 April 2010 17:04)
===…==
You wouldn't know a professional journalist if it bit you on your rear end.
Asking uncomfortable questions is the job of a journalist. Not so according to you. Don't you dare ask our beloved benefector anything that might make his uncomfortable.
Perhaps you are trying to compare B92 with "New Kosova Report"?
(Peggy, 22 July 2010 03:48)
This man has a very skewed view of the region. His comments show that he lacks an understanding of it's people and their aspirations. Serbia should politely sideline the efforts of the US they are not ultimately constructive. Bosnia join NATO? What nonsense.
(Balkan Belly full, 16 April 2010 09:49)
I don't think the statement that countries of the EU support his view is any sort of argument. This is not a vote of external powers. If the US and the EU think that they can go around unilaterally changing borders that is one thing, but thinking that because they 'agree' is not of itself a justification.
The major fault in the line of argument is that a monoethnic creation (a second Albania in Kosovo) is being marketed as a multiethnic entity. Milosevic was definitely wrong in one direction, the US is definitely wrong in another. There is no equivalent of Dayton for Kosovo and the udi has no justification to sustain itself other than it is the result of determined monoethnic ambition on the part of Albanians. The US has wrongly rewarded this.
EULEX is being used as a tool for ensuring a separate entity - the fact that Serbia is going along with it shows how weakened Serbia is. The article does not discuss 1244 - if it 1244 at an end perhaps it is time for Serbia to start to reclaim occupancy of its territory? 1244 did establish that the territorial integrity of Serbia includes the province of Kosovo. If that is not being accepted then Serbia has the right to act.
The world is tied together with treaties, and for international politicians, international politics is now about playing political games within those structures. Every time a country signs a treaty it signs away rights. If any country wants to preserve its sovereignty it should stop signing away rights by signing treaties. However, every treaty can be renegotiated.
UDI Kosovo exists by the military might of NATO - not by any piece of paper that was signed. Kosovo as a udi is not an acceptable solution. Given that there is no justification for the military might of NATO to be on Serbian territory there can be a different future from the one implied in this article. Armies of occupation do not stay forever - their imperative erodes.
It is time to start changing things. The promise of the EU is the weapon of choice to suppress Serbia. If Serbia is not in the EU quickly however, the weapon will lose its power.
This article illustrates a kind of self satisfaction that is at the level of an illusion. Using human-rights issues to justify invasions is not good for the world; it destroys trust in the human rights argument if it is abused as it has been in Kosovo. The 'moral' justification has been negated by a bad political imposition.
The US is trying to impose a new status quo - if Serbia allows that to stabilise then it may as well sign away Kosovo now.
Where I will agree with the mood of the article is in the wish for a peaceful future that is inclusive. What Serbia should do however, is insist that the future inclusivity includes the end of any dreams of a permanent udi for Kosovo.
(Bob, 12 April 2010 12:51)
The one missing question: why are there so much refugees from that multi-ethnic Kosovo and why goes their return soo sloowwllyy.
(Wim Roffel, 11 April 2010 18:02)
This man said a lot but cleared nothing. Dancing around every question like eny guilty person that is trying to prove the point.
(L, 11 April 2010 15:29)
Jason, I am a Serb...from a Serbian-American family that has lived here since 1906. America's politics and international plans have been so destructive since after WWII, and even more so since the fall of communism. As an American who is not a blind and ignorant fool as most, sadly, are in this time and place, I say this: To the Albanians in Kosovo and their supporters elsewhere, You all are but a pawn and a means to an end for the world-wide hegemon known as the USA. Despite your most devious and back-handed efforts and schemes that you employ with the implicit and explicit support and guidance of the US State Dept. you will never take Kosovo from the hearts of the Serbian people, nor will you escape judgment for your deceit, murder,destruction of God's churches, blaspehemy, and the treachery of your conversions to Islam. You may have won the battle as of now, but you will not win the war for truth. People need to wake up and see the danger in the way the US and its allies are trying to run the world, but I understand that the thought of the next life barely crosses the minds of most any longer and all that concerns many is the pursuit of wealth and power...both of which lack permanence. Jason, I will always speak the truth, no matter where I live and who I am up against.
(Karanovic, 10 April 2010 06:36)
As an American, I am sickened by the views that Steinberg and all of his Washington pals have for the rest of the world. The US doesn't pressure other countries? That is surely believable. Republicans...Democrats...they all have the same problem...they are Americans with an agenda which only really seeks to further their continued domination of the world economically, militarily, "culturally", and politically. I get physically ill when I read comments made by these guys. The US has improved or contributed to the Balkans and has a large stake in the region? Yes, I see how the US and NATO "improved" FRY/Serbia in 1999 and how it has contributed to the castration of it people and the excision of 12% of its sovereign and historical territory. This is all a pack of lies and complete BS. Sorry for the rant, but then again, I am not sorry.
(Karanovic, 9 April 2010 16:15)
Don't be sorry, I am glad to hear other Americans who feel as I do. Beware though, because trolls from Team Albania and their supporters like Joe will scream bloody murder, call you a closet-Serb, or a traitor.
More and more foreigners on here are waking up and getting informed about the disaster the kosovo experiment is... keep speaking out!
(Jason, 9 April 2010 20:32)
dear genc, ...unfortunately, you´re the one, who should go and ask some K-albanians for their opinion...
unfortunately, they won´t tell you what they really think, since there is still this criminal gang called "kla" around, that is attacking even k-albanians who are not sharing their views.
why don´t you ask those k-albanian mothers who gave birth to a crippled baby, ...why don´t you ask them, instead of spreading your cheap hatred here?
I mean, nobody is teaching you to think anything, your own reason or let´s say intellect should be your guidance, but unfortunately, the only thing you´re capable of is writing about how others are teaching you something ...
and just to inform you, there is no "divorce", if that is what they teach you in your cheap yellow-press in down-town Pristina, ...don´t believe it! =)
there is no such thing, that you could even compare to a divorce.
divorce is something between two equal partners - you aren´t partners of the Republic of Serbia, ...you´re a province of that very same republic.
seems like you still need some time to get that...
wish you a nice weekend, my dear friend.
(Jovan, 9 April 2010 18:34)
on the other hand, only an Albanian, without responsibility for his own ethnicity can agree with him...
(Jovan, 9 April 2010 15:41)
Oh Sir!
again you're teaching the Albanians what's good for them, how should they think, how should they feel...
Didn't change anything in the past 140 years. Didn't learn anything. Time has just frozen...
You're on the best way to build up incommunicability and to make anyone thinking it differently turn away from you.
Maybe this is what you are looking for. Maybe you can live side by side, only with sb. that shares your views/orders. Think/do/feel as your Master suggests... then you're equal.
And you wonder why did it happen? And you expect that everything will be so simply cancelled. Keep on...
As for your question: Please, Lord, take a trip down here and ask all the Albanians, one by one, what do they think and how do they feel about the argument.
Your words are among the best assets of our divorce.
(genc, 9 April 2010 17:06)
As an American, I am sickened by the views that Steinberg and all of his Washington pals have for the rest of the world. The US doesn't pressure other countries? That is surely believable. Republicans...Democrats...they all have the same problem...they are Americans with an agenda which only really seeks to further their continued domination of the world economically, militarily, "culturally", and politically. I get physically ill when I read comments made by these guys. The US has improved or contributed to the Balkans and has a large stake in the region? Yes, I see how the US and NATO "improved" FRY/Serbia in 1999 and how it has contributed to the castration of it people and the excision of 12% of its sovereign and historical territory. This is all a pack of lies and complete BS. Sorry for the rant, but then again, I am not sorry.
(Karanovic, 9 April 2010 16:15)
"I think we have a long history in this region in contributing to peace and stability here, I think we’ve made a great contribution."
given that they trained and armed the socalled KLA, a gang of simple terrorists, and given that they acted as the "airforce" of this movement, using even depleted-uranium shells.
on the other hand, only an Albanian, without responsibility for his own ethnicity can agree with him...
(Jovan, 9 April 2010 15:41)
As an American, I am sickened by the views that Steinberg and all of his Washington pals have for the rest of the world. The US doesn't pressure other countries? That is surely believable. Republicans...Democrats...they all have the same problem...they are Americans with an agenda which only really seeks to further their continued domination of the world economically, militarily, "culturally", and politically. I get physically ill when I read comments made by these guys. The US has improved or contributed to the Balkans and has a large stake in the region? Yes, I see how the US and NATO "improved" FRY/Serbia in 1999 and how it has contributed to the castration of it people and the excision of 12% of its sovereign and historical territory. This is all a pack of lies and complete BS. Sorry for the rant, but then again, I am not sorry.
(Karanovic, 9 April 2010 16:15)
Don't be sorry, I am glad to hear other Americans who feel as I do. Beware though, because trolls from Team Albania and their supporters like Joe will scream bloody murder, call you a closet-Serb, or a traitor.
More and more foreigners on here are waking up and getting informed about the disaster the kosovo experiment is... keep speaking out!
(Jason, 9 April 2010 20:32)
Jason, I am a Serb...from a Serbian-American family that has lived here since 1906. America's politics and international plans have been so destructive since after WWII, and even more so since the fall of communism. As an American who is not a blind and ignorant fool as most, sadly, are in this time and place, I say this: To the Albanians in Kosovo and their supporters elsewhere, You all are but a pawn and a means to an end for the world-wide hegemon known as the USA. Despite your most devious and back-handed efforts and schemes that you employ with the implicit and explicit support and guidance of the US State Dept. you will never take Kosovo from the hearts of the Serbian people, nor will you escape judgment for your deceit, murder,destruction of God's churches, blaspehemy, and the treachery of your conversions to Islam. You may have won the battle as of now, but you will not win the war for truth. People need to wake up and see the danger in the way the US and its allies are trying to run the world, but I understand that the thought of the next life barely crosses the minds of most any longer and all that concerns many is the pursuit of wealth and power...both of which lack permanence. Jason, I will always speak the truth, no matter where I live and who I am up against.
(Karanovic, 10 April 2010 06:36)
"I think we have a long history in this region in contributing to peace and stability here, I think we’ve made a great contribution."
given that they trained and armed the socalled KLA, a gang of simple terrorists, and given that they acted as the "airforce" of this movement, using even depleted-uranium shells.
on the other hand, only an Albanian, without responsibility for his own ethnicity can agree with him...
(Jovan, 9 April 2010 15:41)
dear genc, ...unfortunately, you´re the one, who should go and ask some K-albanians for their opinion...
unfortunately, they won´t tell you what they really think, since there is still this criminal gang called "kla" around, that is attacking even k-albanians who are not sharing their views.
why don´t you ask those k-albanian mothers who gave birth to a crippled baby, ...why don´t you ask them, instead of spreading your cheap hatred here?
I mean, nobody is teaching you to think anything, your own reason or let´s say intellect should be your guidance, but unfortunately, the only thing you´re capable of is writing about how others are teaching you something ...
and just to inform you, there is no "divorce", if that is what they teach you in your cheap yellow-press in down-town Pristina, ...don´t believe it! =)
there is no such thing, that you could even compare to a divorce.
divorce is something between two equal partners - you aren´t partners of the Republic of Serbia, ...you´re a province of that very same republic.
seems like you still need some time to get that...
wish you a nice weekend, my dear friend.
(Jovan, 9 April 2010 18:34)
As an American, I am sickened by the views that Steinberg and all of his Washington pals have for the rest of the world. The US doesn't pressure other countries? That is surely believable. Republicans...Democrats...they all have the same problem...they are Americans with an agenda which only really seeks to further their continued domination of the world economically, militarily, "culturally", and politically. I get physically ill when I read comments made by these guys. The US has improved or contributed to the Balkans and has a large stake in the region? Yes, I see how the US and NATO "improved" FRY/Serbia in 1999 and how it has contributed to the castration of it people and the excision of 12% of its sovereign and historical territory. This is all a pack of lies and complete BS. Sorry for the rant, but then again, I am not sorry.
(Karanovic, 9 April 2010 16:15)
This man said a lot but cleared nothing. Dancing around every question like eny guilty person that is trying to prove the point.
(L, 11 April 2010 15:29)
The one missing question: why are there so much refugees from that multi-ethnic Kosovo and why goes their return soo sloowwllyy.
(Wim Roffel, 11 April 2010 18:02)
on the other hand, only an Albanian, without responsibility for his own ethnicity can agree with him...
(Jovan, 9 April 2010 15:41)
Oh Sir!
again you're teaching the Albanians what's good for them, how should they think, how should they feel...
Didn't change anything in the past 140 years. Didn't learn anything. Time has just frozen...
You're on the best way to build up incommunicability and to make anyone thinking it differently turn away from you.
Maybe this is what you are looking for. Maybe you can live side by side, only with sb. that shares your views/orders. Think/do/feel as your Master suggests... then you're equal.
And you wonder why did it happen? And you expect that everything will be so simply cancelled. Keep on...
As for your question: Please, Lord, take a trip down here and ask all the Albanians, one by one, what do they think and how do they feel about the argument.
Your words are among the best assets of our divorce.
(genc, 9 April 2010 17:06)
I don't think the statement that countries of the EU support his view is any sort of argument. This is not a vote of external powers. If the US and the EU think that they can go around unilaterally changing borders that is one thing, but thinking that because they 'agree' is not of itself a justification.
The major fault in the line of argument is that a monoethnic creation (a second Albania in Kosovo) is being marketed as a multiethnic entity. Milosevic was definitely wrong in one direction, the US is definitely wrong in another. There is no equivalent of Dayton for Kosovo and the udi has no justification to sustain itself other than it is the result of determined monoethnic ambition on the part of Albanians. The US has wrongly rewarded this.
EULEX is being used as a tool for ensuring a separate entity - the fact that Serbia is going along with it shows how weakened Serbia is. The article does not discuss 1244 - if it 1244 at an end perhaps it is time for Serbia to start to reclaim occupancy of its territory? 1244 did establish that the territorial integrity of Serbia includes the province of Kosovo. If that is not being accepted then Serbia has the right to act.
The world is tied together with treaties, and for international politicians, international politics is now about playing political games within those structures. Every time a country signs a treaty it signs away rights. If any country wants to preserve its sovereignty it should stop signing away rights by signing treaties. However, every treaty can be renegotiated.
UDI Kosovo exists by the military might of NATO - not by any piece of paper that was signed. Kosovo as a udi is not an acceptable solution. Given that there is no justification for the military might of NATO to be on Serbian territory there can be a different future from the one implied in this article. Armies of occupation do not stay forever - their imperative erodes.
It is time to start changing things. The promise of the EU is the weapon of choice to suppress Serbia. If Serbia is not in the EU quickly however, the weapon will lose its power.
This article illustrates a kind of self satisfaction that is at the level of an illusion. Using human-rights issues to justify invasions is not good for the world; it destroys trust in the human rights argument if it is abused as it has been in Kosovo. The 'moral' justification has been negated by a bad political imposition.
The US is trying to impose a new status quo - if Serbia allows that to stabilise then it may as well sign away Kosovo now.
Where I will agree with the mood of the article is in the wish for a peaceful future that is inclusive. What Serbia should do however, is insist that the future inclusivity includes the end of any dreams of a permanent udi for Kosovo.
(Bob, 12 April 2010 12:51)
This man has a very skewed view of the region. His comments show that he lacks an understanding of it's people and their aspirations. Serbia should politely sideline the efforts of the US they are not ultimately constructive. Bosnia join NATO? What nonsense.
(Balkan Belly full, 16 April 2010 09:49)
I felt like this question came from a common citizen and not a "professional" journal.
(RKS, 9 April 2010 17:04)
===…==
You wouldn't know a professional journalist if it bit you on your rear end.
Asking uncomfortable questions is the job of a journalist. Not so according to you. Don't you dare ask our beloved benefector anything that might make his uncomfortable.
Perhaps you are trying to compare B92 with "New Kosova Report"?
(Peggy, 22 July 2010 03:48)
on the other hand, only an Albanian, without responsibility for his own ethnicity can agree with him...
(Jovan, 9 April 2010 15:41)
Oh Sir!
again you're teaching the Albanians what's good for them, how should they think, how should they feel...
Didn't change anything in the past 140 years. Didn't learn anything. Time has just frozen...
You're on the best way to build up incommunicability and to make anyone thinking it differently turn away from you.
Maybe this is what you are looking for. Maybe you can live side by side, only with sb. that shares your views/orders. Think/do/feel as your Master suggests... then you're equal.
And you wonder why did it happen? And you expect that everything will be so simply cancelled. Keep on...
As for your question: Please, Lord, take a trip down here and ask all the Albanians, one by one, what do they think and how do they feel about the argument.
Your words are among the best assets of our divorce.
(genc, 9 April 2010 17:06)
As an American, I am sickened by the views that Steinberg and all of his Washington pals have for the rest of the world. The US doesn't pressure other countries? That is surely believable. Republicans...Democrats...they all have the same problem...they are Americans with an agenda which only really seeks to further their continued domination of the world economically, militarily, "culturally", and politically. I get physically ill when I read comments made by these guys. The US has improved or contributed to the Balkans and has a large stake in the region? Yes, I see how the US and NATO "improved" FRY/Serbia in 1999 and how it has contributed to the castration of it people and the excision of 12% of its sovereign and historical territory. This is all a pack of lies and complete BS. Sorry for the rant, but then again, I am not sorry.
(Karanovic, 9 April 2010 16:15)
dear genc, ...unfortunately, you´re the one, who should go and ask some K-albanians for their opinion...
unfortunately, they won´t tell you what they really think, since there is still this criminal gang called "kla" around, that is attacking even k-albanians who are not sharing their views.
why don´t you ask those k-albanian mothers who gave birth to a crippled baby, ...why don´t you ask them, instead of spreading your cheap hatred here?
I mean, nobody is teaching you to think anything, your own reason or let´s say intellect should be your guidance, but unfortunately, the only thing you´re capable of is writing about how others are teaching you something ...
and just to inform you, there is no "divorce", if that is what they teach you in your cheap yellow-press in down-town Pristina, ...don´t believe it! =)
there is no such thing, that you could even compare to a divorce.
divorce is something between two equal partners - you aren´t partners of the Republic of Serbia, ...you´re a province of that very same republic.
seems like you still need some time to get that...
wish you a nice weekend, my dear friend.
(Jovan, 9 April 2010 18:34)
As an American, I am sickened by the views that Steinberg and all of his Washington pals have for the rest of the world. The US doesn't pressure other countries? That is surely believable. Republicans...Democrats...they all have the same problem...they are Americans with an agenda which only really seeks to further their continued domination of the world economically, militarily, "culturally", and politically. I get physically ill when I read comments made by these guys. The US has improved or contributed to the Balkans and has a large stake in the region? Yes, I see how the US and NATO "improved" FRY/Serbia in 1999 and how it has contributed to the castration of it people and the excision of 12% of its sovereign and historical territory. This is all a pack of lies and complete BS. Sorry for the rant, but then again, I am not sorry.
(Karanovic, 9 April 2010 16:15)
Don't be sorry, I am glad to hear other Americans who feel as I do. Beware though, because trolls from Team Albania and their supporters like Joe will scream bloody murder, call you a closet-Serb, or a traitor.
More and more foreigners on here are waking up and getting informed about the disaster the kosovo experiment is... keep speaking out!
(Jason, 9 April 2010 20:32)
"I think we have a long history in this region in contributing to peace and stability here, I think we’ve made a great contribution."
given that they trained and armed the socalled KLA, a gang of simple terrorists, and given that they acted as the "airforce" of this movement, using even depleted-uranium shells.
on the other hand, only an Albanian, without responsibility for his own ethnicity can agree with him...
(Jovan, 9 April 2010 15:41)
Jason, I am a Serb...from a Serbian-American family that has lived here since 1906. America's politics and international plans have been so destructive since after WWII, and even more so since the fall of communism. As an American who is not a blind and ignorant fool as most, sadly, are in this time and place, I say this: To the Albanians in Kosovo and their supporters elsewhere, You all are but a pawn and a means to an end for the world-wide hegemon known as the USA. Despite your most devious and back-handed efforts and schemes that you employ with the implicit and explicit support and guidance of the US State Dept. you will never take Kosovo from the hearts of the Serbian people, nor will you escape judgment for your deceit, murder,destruction of God's churches, blaspehemy, and the treachery of your conversions to Islam. You may have won the battle as of now, but you will not win the war for truth. People need to wake up and see the danger in the way the US and its allies are trying to run the world, but I understand that the thought of the next life barely crosses the minds of most any longer and all that concerns many is the pursuit of wealth and power...both of which lack permanence. Jason, I will always speak the truth, no matter where I live and who I am up against.
(Karanovic, 10 April 2010 06:36)
The one missing question: why are there so much refugees from that multi-ethnic Kosovo and why goes their return soo sloowwllyy.
(Wim Roffel, 11 April 2010 18:02)
This man said a lot but cleared nothing. Dancing around every question like eny guilty person that is trying to prove the point.
(L, 11 April 2010 15:29)
I don't think the statement that countries of the EU support his view is any sort of argument. This is not a vote of external powers. If the US and the EU think that they can go around unilaterally changing borders that is one thing, but thinking that because they 'agree' is not of itself a justification.
The major fault in the line of argument is that a monoethnic creation (a second Albania in Kosovo) is being marketed as a multiethnic entity. Milosevic was definitely wrong in one direction, the US is definitely wrong in another. There is no equivalent of Dayton for Kosovo and the udi has no justification to sustain itself other than it is the result of determined monoethnic ambition on the part of Albanians. The US has wrongly rewarded this.
EULEX is being used as a tool for ensuring a separate entity - the fact that Serbia is going along with it shows how weakened Serbia is. The article does not discuss 1244 - if it 1244 at an end perhaps it is time for Serbia to start to reclaim occupancy of its territory? 1244 did establish that the territorial integrity of Serbia includes the province of Kosovo. If that is not being accepted then Serbia has the right to act.
The world is tied together with treaties, and for international politicians, international politics is now about playing political games within those structures. Every time a country signs a treaty it signs away rights. If any country wants to preserve its sovereignty it should stop signing away rights by signing treaties. However, every treaty can be renegotiated.
UDI Kosovo exists by the military might of NATO - not by any piece of paper that was signed. Kosovo as a udi is not an acceptable solution. Given that there is no justification for the military might of NATO to be on Serbian territory there can be a different future from the one implied in this article. Armies of occupation do not stay forever - their imperative erodes.
It is time to start changing things. The promise of the EU is the weapon of choice to suppress Serbia. If Serbia is not in the EU quickly however, the weapon will lose its power.
This article illustrates a kind of self satisfaction that is at the level of an illusion. Using human-rights issues to justify invasions is not good for the world; it destroys trust in the human rights argument if it is abused as it has been in Kosovo. The 'moral' justification has been negated by a bad political imposition.
The US is trying to impose a new status quo - if Serbia allows that to stabilise then it may as well sign away Kosovo now.
Where I will agree with the mood of the article is in the wish for a peaceful future that is inclusive. What Serbia should do however, is insist that the future inclusivity includes the end of any dreams of a permanent udi for Kosovo.
(Bob, 12 April 2010 12:51)
I felt like this question came from a common citizen and not a "professional" journal.
(RKS, 9 April 2010 17:04)
===…==
You wouldn't know a professional journalist if it bit you on your rear end.
Asking uncomfortable questions is the job of a journalist. Not so according to you. Don't you dare ask our beloved benefector anything that might make his uncomfortable.
Perhaps you are trying to compare B92 with "New Kosova Report"?
(Peggy, 22 July 2010 03:48)
This man has a very skewed view of the region. His comments show that he lacks an understanding of it's people and their aspirations. Serbia should politely sideline the efforts of the US they are not ultimately constructive. Bosnia join NATO? What nonsense.
(Balkan Belly full, 16 April 2010 09:49)