This is my homecity... :(

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Fresh blast in Kosovo

26 February 2007 | 11:35 | Source: AP

PRIŠTINA -- Explosion damaged several vehicles belonging to OSCE on Monday in Peć, a police official said. No one was hurt.
The blast occurred around 3:30 a.m. and was caused by an explosive device - possibly a hand grenade - that shattered windows or caused other light damage to seven vehicles in the parking lot of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Investigators were not certain whether the OSCE was the target of the attack, which occurred in a residential area in the city of Peć, some 80 kilometers west of Kosovo's capital, Priština, said regional police spokesman Avni Gjevukaj.
Two other vehicles that did not belong to the organization were damaged in the blast. There was no immediate comment from the OSCE mission in Kosovo.
Tensions in Kosovo are running high amid negotiations between the ethnic Albanians and Serbs over the disputed province's status.
Three U.N. vehicles were bombed in Priština a week ago. In other recent violence, two people were killed in clashes between police and ethnic Albanians protesting the U.N. proposal on Kosovo's final status.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

By John Phillips
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
February 20, 2007

ROME -- Any attempt by the international community to deny Kosovo independence will set off "a new Balkan war," a senior Kosovar negotiator cautioned yesterday.
    Speaking as he prepared to take part in final talks between delegations from Kosovo and Serbia scheduled for today in Vienna, Austria, negotiator Ylber Hasa said Kosovars believe they already have made extensive compromises.

rest of the story at Washington Post

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I`m going home in a week... Hopefully not directly to war... :(

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

KLA claims responsibility for Priština blast

20 February 2007 | 09:59 -> 13:05 | Source: B92, FoNet, Beta, AP

PRIŠTINA -- Kosovo Liberation Army says it blew up three UN vehicles in Priština last night.

The scene of the explosion in Priština (FoNet)

The blast caused no injuries but raised tensions amid ongoing negotiations on Kosovo's future.
Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) distributed a statement to the media by e-mail claiming to have set up the explosion. Kosovo Police Service is yet to determine the authenticity of the statement.
Kosovo Liberation Army , now a disbanded force that fought against Serb forces during the 1998-1999 conflict, said it had regrouped in order to "avenge the death of two protesters" during a recent demonstration in Priština, adding it would avenge "any future injustice" against its people.

more at b92.net.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

Slobodan Antonić writes in Politika (Serbian original here):

... My "favorite" is the argument that says, "This isn't evil; the sooner we realize it's actually appropriate, the better off we will be!" Because, you see, "that's not ours anyway," and "who has ever actually been there," and "only priests and romantics care" and "queues in front of foreign embassies are a much bigger problem" and "they are actually doing us a favor," etc.
But when a NGO elitist says these words, he is really talking about himself. His mouth says "that's not ours anyway," but his eyes are betraying his thoughts: "that's not mine, so I don't care." His mouth says "who has ever actually been there?" but his eyes are going "I have never been there, so why would I care?" His mouth says "only priests and romantics care," his eyes are saying "I hate priests anyway, one church more or less, all the same to me." While his mouth says "queues in front of foreign embassies are a much bigger problem," his eyes are saying "why should I have to wait in those queues because of that damn Kosovo?" He considers it one and the same to "be modern" and "think only of oneself and money," and is now trying to persuade the rest of us that we should also be "modern," so we would feel as good as he does.

The hypocrisy of NGO "modernists," says Antonić, is best tested by the following hypothetical scenario: would they be as willing to give up one of the parking spots reserved for their SUVs, as they are willing to cede Kosovo? Ah, well, that's different, you see...
This is quotable enough, but Antonić offers another great passage in the same article:

Someone once compared the seizure of Kosovo with rape. The rapists are big and strong, the poor girl could get a beating if she resists too much, and maybe it is really better for her to give in. But for crying out loud, how can anyone say on top of that, "Oh be smart! Maybe they are rapists, but they are rich, powerful, you can't risk ruining your future relations with the, so don't dare complain. Think of your future, think of becoming a part of their rich and beautiful society tomorrow. Cry a little, then come back and smile as if nothing happened."
Can it really be like that? As if nothing had happened? Are you serious about the smiling? What if the boys get a desire to have a little bit of fun again? And what could one possibly say about those who jeer at the unfortunate woman, "Come on, sister, don't be conservative, the boys are doing you a favor, you need to be modern, enjoy the sex, and especially when the Big Boss goes on top of you. Then you have to be particularly enthusiastic, groan and sigh and scream - Yes! Yes! More!"
Yes, Big Boss likes to be the ladies' man. But dear Serbia, you don't have to put on an act for him. Cry freely. And most importantly, remember them all, both those who took their turns with you and those who jeered and cheered. Because one day...

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link via http://grayfalcon.blogspot.com

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia

from www.b92.net/eng

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Russia fears chain reaction

9 February 2007 | 11:59 | Source: AP

SEVILLE -- Granting independence to Kosovo could inspire other breakaway regions in Europe and former Soviet Union, Sergei Ivanov warns today.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov spoke before holding planned talks with his NATO counterparts, who have backed a plan drawn up by U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari proposing internationally supervised statehood for the separatist Serbian province.
Ivanov issued a strong warning Friday that  Kosovo independence could spark 'chain reaction' among separatist regions. Russia has long expressed reservations about Kosovo's separatist aspirations, and Ivanov's comments underscored differences between Russia and the West. The issue of Kosovo's status will be discussed next month at the U.N. Security Council.
"If we imagine a situation where Kosovo achieves independence, then other people, people living in regions that are not recognized, will ask us: "are we not as good as them?" Ivanov told reporters.
"This concerns obviously the post-Soviet space, but also regions in Europe," he said. "This can create a chain reaction ... we must be careful not to open Pandora's box", Ivanov said.
Ivanov spoke after a meeting with German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung, who restated Western support for Ahtisaari's recommendations and said NATO and Russia should work together to persuade the Serbs and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority to "accept this proposal in the interest of a peaceful and stable development."
Jung also rejected Serb requests for a delay in talks on the plan. "I would wish that the Security Council can vote on this in March, and vote positively," he said.
Moscow has often warned that Kosovo's status will serve as precedent for other nations with similar cases, including several breakaway provinces in the ex-Soviet Union. The Kremlin has hinted that, were Kosovo to gain independence, two pro-Russian rebel regions in Georgia and a breakaway province in Moldova, which enjoy Moscow's tacit support, could follow suit.
Serbian officials also have warned that an independent Kosovo could also serve as a precedent for independence movements elsewhere, notably in Spain's Basque Country or Catalonia.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

from http://belgrade.org.yu/blog

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...we got Marti Ahtisaari in Belgrade today. Ahtisaari decided to come despite Koshtunica pretended he wasn’t there luckily, Boris Tadic was home so he opened the door and let the Finnish guy do his thing.

So, after his press conference in Media centre, everything is clear.

Apparently, the only things Kosovo will get are: justice department not controlled by outside forces**, their own police, an army free from external*** control and constraint, sovereign constitution, autonomous border control, Serbia’s property will become Kosovo property, they will choose their own coat of arms, national anthem, flag and will get the right to apply for membership in all international organizations without having to ask Serbia first.

Whew, and here i was, thinking they were going to get independence. Thanks to Sloba and Radicals some years ago and now Koshtunica, that will not happen. As Borat would say: Great success!

*oh, and please spread the news: we’re online again!

**as in: Serbia

***as in: Serbian

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from B92.net

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Tadić: Independence unacceptable

2 February 2007 | 14:51 -> 18:36 | Source: B92, FoNet, Beta

BELGRADE -- “I told Ahtisaari that Serbia and I, as its president, will never accept Kosovo’s independence”, president Tadić said.

President Boris Tadić

“Imposed independence for Kosovo would contravene with the basic principles of international law and would represent a very dangerous political and legal precedent”, the Serbian president said in his address.
Boris Tadić added that the Kosovo status proposal submitted by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari does not specifically mention the word independence, but that it also leaves out the terms sovereignty and integrity, when it comes to Serbia’s jurisdiction over the province.
The president said that the proposal also dealt with a number of issues beside Kosovo’s status, such as decentralization, protection of the Serb Orthodox Church and its heritage in Kosovo, and international civilian and military presence there.
Tadić said he will ask all the parliamentary parties’ leaders to attend a meeting where he will present Ahtisaari’s blueprint.
Drašković: Ahtisaari overstepped mandate
Serbia’s outgoing foreign policy chief Vuk Drašković reacted to Ahtisaari’s proposal presented in Belgrade today by saying that the UN special envoy has “overstepped the mandate given to him by the UN secretary-general”.
“He turned the Kosovo status negotiations into a change of Serbia’s status, an internationally recognized state”.
The foreign ministry press release states that Serbia will point to this it its communication with the Contact Group, the UN Security Council, the EU and NATO.
Analyst: No mention of Kosovo army - good news
Military analyst Zoran Dragišić believes lack of any mention of Kosovo’s army or armed forces in Ahtisaari’s proposal is a positive development, as those represent “elements of statehood”.
“’Lightly armed forces’ are mentioned, but that refers to a kind of gendarmerie rather than an army, set to operate within the police force. That would not be unacceptable since even municipalities have police, which is not an element of statehood”, Dragišić says.
He added that Annex VIII of the proposal needed to be studied carefully, as, in his words, “the devil is often in the details”.
Dragišić thinks the existence of a Kosovo intelligence agency would be unacceptable for Serbia, since such agencies work as part of a country’s foreign policy, something a province cannot exercise.

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read more:

International Reactions

Ahtisaari: UN Security Council to decide status

Halimi: Kosovo will reflect on south of Serbia

What do you think about this?

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

So, what happens when leaders of a wannabe country are ex-terrorists educated by professional PR agencies from the West to show off as good guys?

Weapons seized, officials arrested in Kosovo

21 December 2006 | 14:19 | Source: Beta

PRIŠTINA -- Kosovo police (KPS) and KFOR confiscated a large amount of weapons in Glogovac last night.
KPS spokesman said that a significant amount of arms and ammunition was found in a van in the village of Štutica, Glogovac municipality, and confirmed that three people were arrested.
However, he did not disclose the identities of those placed in police custody. The media for its part speculates that a Kosovo government official is among those arrested last night.

Well, what happens is that they are commited to get Kosovo regardless of what Serbia or any other country thinks about it... Adn they smile in front of cameras, they visit Serbian enclaves and monasteries in Kosovo with foreign officials etc.. but they are also arming their fighters - poor stupid dudes that are willing to die for a stupid cause... and they are arming them even if UN (which is running Kosovo at the moment) doesn`t allow them to do so...

And in the end, the very same leaders stay untouched and some dude is arrested and will probably dissapear completely soon... Leaders will of course "condemn any illegal action regardless of who perpetrates it in the strongest terms and remains convinced that such people have no place in Kosovo’s government" and continue to use other dudes for the job...

The worst thing is that these poor dudes think that they are fighting for their "homeland" or "Great Albania" or even simply against "Evil Serbs", while they are actually fighting for the country that is supposed to serve those "leaders" as their own private land and a place where they can centralize their "business" of dealing drugs, firearms, lead prostituion etc...

I`m really trying not to write so much about Kosovo but recent moves and actions simply force me to do it... I can clearly see what is going to happen in Kosovo after final status is defined... One way or another, blood will be all over the place again...

And I hate that. And I don`t want to see that. Ever again.

Read the full story here and also check comments of dumbfucks from both sides (plus "peacefull foreigners").

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

The story continues... (am refering to this story)

Exactly the same system as in Kosovo and Southern Central Serbia. Macedonia too, I guess...

Ethnic Albanians demand release of terrorist suspects

18 December 2006 | 11:53 | Source: AP

PODGORICA -- Protests were held to free U.S. citizens accused of terrorist plots in Montenegro.

Relatives of two jailed U.S. citizens accused of plotting an ethnic Albanian insurgency in their native Montenegro rallied Sunday outside the U.S. Embassy here demanding freedom for the suspects.
"Help American citizens imprisoned without evidence" read a banner held by some of the several dozen protesters who claimed that the charges against cousins Rok and Kolja Dedvukaj were politically motivated.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

as suspected, "the Great Albania" project continues... however, I thought they will wait until they get Kosovo first and then continue...

anyhow, it will be interesting to see reactions from albanian side on this...

Montenegro accuses ethnic Albanians of plotting insurgency

8 December 2006 | 11:05 | Source: AP

PODGORICA -- Montenegrin authorities indicted 18 ethnic Albanians, including five living in the United States.

Full story here

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

I wonder what would happen in any other country after such public display of disrespect to the country where you live...

to clarify something - each and every minority in Serbia is allowed to celebrate their national days (and even encouraged in a way through local municipalities` budgets) and display their national flag along with Serbian one, but only if they register so called National Council of respective minority (this is to protect from funny guys asking for funds from municipalities to celebrate "National Penguins day" or whatever they claim they are - because that`s another thing you can do in Serbia - you can actually declare as whatever you want to be :D). While most of the minorities did this, Albanians didn`t, for the sole reason that they expect this part of Serbia (southern central Serbia) to be next to get independence, after Kosovo.

And this is what they did...

Preševo Albanians remove Serbian, display Albanian flag

28 November 2006 | 14:19 -> 17:07 | Source: B92, Beta

PREŠEVO, BUJANOVAC -- Albanians in Preševo removed the Serbian flag and instead displayed three Albanian flags.

Serbian flag was taken off the municipal building as part of the Albanian national holiday celebrations in the south of Serbia. Preševo municipal president Ragmi Mustafa told journalists that the display of Albanian flags instead of the Serbian should ”not be viewed as an incident”, adding that ”Albanians in Serbia have the right to their own symbols”.

...

The organizers played the Albanian national anthem, after which the gathering paid tribute to the dead members of the officially disbanded Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac Liberation Army (UCPMB).

Now you tell me if it`s OK that they use local government`s money to pay tribute to the dead members of a terrorist group???

Which country would allow this? Which country would ignore this?

Indeed, only Serbia!

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

...bombing of Serbia started... The "big and strong" NATO cowardly attacked my country from the air, attacking many non-military targets, killing 2500 people, dropping uranium bombs (which makes us affraid to have a baby these days - you never know if it will be born with an extra head or leg), trying out their new weapons...
I`m still pissed off... even if 7 years have passed... the only thing that calms me down is the fact that history told us that no dominant force is there forever... they will be fucked up soon... one way or another...
What history also tells us is that Serbia will always be around, sometimes strong, sometimes weak... but always an important factor in Balkans... liked it or not, that`s how it is... ;)

check out some pics made by a friend of mine, who is a news photographer - http://www.focus.co.yu/bombardovanjeeng1.htm

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

...yesterday in Vienna...
I`ll write more about the proposed solutions later, but until then, check out this BBC Belgrade video on "Why are Serbs reluctant to give up Kosovo". It doesn`t cover all the reasons, nor it is expected from BBC though, but it is still a nice presentation of what Serbs think about it...

Click here and then click on video file on the right side.

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

For everyone interested in negotiations over Kosovo, this may be a relevant link:

http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/kosovo-metohija/

If you find other links also relevant for the topic, please leave a comment with the link...

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

... passed as if it were 7 days... I still remember all the details, all the faces, all the pain...

For those that don`t know me that good, I`m talking about a massacre in "Panda", a local pub in my hometown, Pec. It happened back in 1998, during the "war" in Kosovo, when 2 masked terorists jumped into a bar and killed 6 people with automatic guns... 6 of my really close friends... I should`ve been in that pub that day, for I`ve been there every bloody day and night for more then 3 years... I missed going there only once... when I heard of the massacre, beside the pain I felt like I dissapointed them... I should`ve been there... as I always was when we partied, watched football, played cards... damn, that is one fucked-up feeling, trust me...

I thought if I should upload this pic or not, and decided to do it... I think everyone should see it and think just for a second about the life... about how easy it is to take it from someone...



BTW, in most of the western media, this was an incident, not massacre...

Rest in peace, my dear friends...

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues

A year after the tragic March events last year in which Kosovo Serbs and Roma experienced their "Kristallnacht" despite the presence of thousands of NATO led peacekeepers and the UN Mission hardly anything seems to have changed to the better in Kosovo. Although the international community strongly condemned the ethnic Albanian riots and the Kosovo Government reconstructed under the international pressure one part of destroyed homes, only a handful of 4000 expelled Serbs and Roma have returned to their homes. They don't feel safe in a society in which ethnic discrimination has become a regular pattern of life and in which no one can grant them security and freedom. Medieval Serbian churches are still in ruins, Christian cemeteries still covered by garbage and desecrated, there is no freedom of movement and normal life - the remaining Serbs remember the tragic anniversary in constant fear of renewed Albanian violence while explosions in Kosovo cities warn that the restive province is still a powder keg.

more on http://www.kosovo.com/news/archive/2005/March_17/1.html

Labels: Kosovo, Serbia, World Issues