UN Kosovo Mission Ends
Kosovo-Metohija Serbs left with a trace of hope: Serbian girl attending school in Kosovo ghetto Ranilug. Photo: Jelena Milovanovic.
Verbeke: No Prejudging, No Pressure, No Haste
At the end of a three-day UN Security Council fact-finding mission, head of the delegation, Belgian Ambassador Johan Verbeke said on Saturday that resolving the important Kosovo-Metohija issue should neither be prejudged, nor hastened by the artificial deadlines, and that all Security Council member states should reach a decision on the issue through mutual agreement and in peace.
“We will work on the issue without any prejudging and in peace,” Verbeke told a press conference at the Pristina airport at the end of the mission’s visit to Kosovo-Metohija province, assessing that there had to be allowance for a natural process of debate and agreement-reaching.
“We have not yet come to any conclusions, and we will not make haste, we will explain all the parameters and set an equation,” the Belgian diplomat added.
Verbeke announced that sometime next week, the mission would make a report on its visit to Kosovo.
Churkin: Mission Accomplished!
UN Permanent Representative of Russia Vitaly Churkin said hard work was ahead in the Security Council and that he was satisfied with the results of the mission, which he considers successful. He also positively assessed Belgrade’s proposal for the supervised autonomy for Kosovo and Metohija, instead of “supervised independence” proposed by Martti Ahtisaari.
“It certainly makes sense to study Belgrade’s initiative, since at the negotiations Ahtisaari led only his proposal was considered,” Churkin told Itar-Tass news agency in Pristina.
Churkin stressed that some Security Council members were impressed by the fact that Serbian side did not formulate its approach as an ultimatum, but as a basis for negotiations with the Albanian minority. Commenting the scheduled dinner with Ahtisaari as an unnecessary detour, Churkin said that “hardly anything new can be expected from such a meeting,” adding that significant work will follow in New York, where the Security Council mission is preparing a report on the visit to the region.
Failure to Implement Resolution 1244 Throws Ahtisaari’s Plan Out
“This is yet another opportunity to assess all the details of the fulfillment, or non fulfillment of Resolution 1244 and, based on that, to determine how mature the situation in Kosovo province was in order for any plan to be considered, let alone a plan that does not have the approval of both sides,” the Russian representative to the UN said, adding that “things should be viewed realistically.”
Kosovo-Metohija Bishop Artemije: “We hope Ambassadors will be objective and truthful.”
Emphasizing that other delegates concluded the mission was “useful, important and informative,” Churkin explained that “right now it is not so much the Ahtisaari plan that is talked about, but rather the situation in Kosovo province and the fulfillment of Security Council Resolution 1244, which was the main purpose of the mission proposed by the Russian side.”
Russia’s representative to the United Nations said it was particularly important for Security Council members to finally hear out Kosovo Serbs, because only representatives of the province’s self-governing bodies were coming to New York, while the Serbs from the province “have never been heard in the Security Council.”
“These contacts are very important,” Churkin said following a meeting with representatives of Serbs in Kosovska Mitrovica and the Orthodox clergy in Gracanica Monastery. “They created a whole new perspective and I expect that Security Council members will have something to think about,” he said.
He also pointed out that the situation with the return of Serbian and non-Albanian refugees expelled from the southern Serbian province was talked about very much these days and that now the question is “how is it possible that only a small number of Serbian refugees have returned in all these years.”
French Ambassador Pulling Wool Over Everybody’s Eyes
Advisor to the Serbian president Dusan Batakovc assessed on Saturday that the French UN Ambassador’s statement in Pristina was highly inappropriate and politically harmful in that it strives to prejudge the final report of the UN Security Council mission.
“The statement by the French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere that he was impressed by the readiness of Kosovo Albanian separatists to implement Ahtisaari’s plan went beyond balanced and measured statements appropriate for the UN SC mission,” Batakovic told Tanjug.
He underlined the importance of the Security Council mission which should not prejudge the situation before it toured the Serbian enclaves as well, and saw for itself the degree of destruction Serbian people and their cultural heritage had suffered during the past 8 years.
“Such statement was entirely inappropriate, it was unnecessary and politically harmful in attempt to prejudge and affect the final report of the mission, while neutralizing the picture of the overwhelmingly poor results of the Albanian self-government institutions in Kosovo-Metohija,” Batakovic, who is also a member of the state negotiating team, pointed out.
He said that Serbia expected the mission, once it visited the territory in the southern part of the province, would report objectively, in a way that would reflect the reality, specifying the “results of the mission’s work in the terrain, rather than in the office.”
U.S. State Department Needs a Reality Check
Ahtisaari’s plan has failed, and it is not only Serbia that “claims” such a thing, since Russia, as well as an increasing number of other Security Cuncil member countries point to the fact as well, and it would be good if the American side accepted the reality, Advisor to the Serbian Prime Minister Kostunica, Slobodan Samardzic told Tanjug on Saturday.
“Russia has been pointing to the fact for several weeks now, and a number of Security Council member states agree with this, either explicitly, or implicitly. If this had not been true, the Security Council mission would have never come to Serbia and visited Belgrade, Pristina and other places,” Samardzic said.
US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried earlier during the day criticized in Brussels the authorities in Belgrade, accusing them of trying to convince its people that Ahtiaari’s plan was dead and that new negotiations would be launched, and announced that once the mission concluded the visit, the drafting of a new resolution, based on Ahtisaari’s plan, would begin.
Stuffing UN Security Council Ambassadors with his plan until their brains start to bleed: Unavoidable dinner with Ahtisaari in Vienna, on the UNSC delegates’ way back to New York.
Ahtisaari’s Plan Dead as a Doornail
Samardzic said that the Secuirity Council was a lot more realistic in seeking ways for resolving the Kosovo province issue, which could be viewed as the “first stage of a new process in determining Kosovo-Metohija’s status.”
“Serbia holds that in this new process negotiations should be launched. This is Serbia’s constructive stand, and those who believe that it is possible to find a solution for the Kosovo-Metohija issue without negotiations are very wrong,” said Samardzic, who is also coordinator of the state negotiating team.
According to him, a new decision or a new resolution cannot be reached “on the basis of a dead plan.”
“The announcements that U.S. will work on a new resolution are an attempt to pressure the other members of the UN Security Council, particularly the permanent member states, and this pressure is the last tool they have at their disposal,” Samardzic assessed.
Samardzic pointed out that it would be good if, in accepting the reality, the United States gave its support to the new phase of negotiations on southern Serbian province, instead of continuing to “pressure Serbian authorities and Serbia’s public opinion to accept something which we all know is dead and no longer exists.”
Bildt: Americans Are Playing With Fire
During the same “Brussels Forum” conference, where Daniel Fried tried to exert more pressure onto Serbian government to accept Ahtisaari’s proposal, even though it couldn’t be deader, going as far as to instruct Serbian media to advertise Finn’s plan among the Serbs, another American speaker, Richard Holbrooke repeated his set of threats, revolving around the promise to Albanian separatists United States will unilaterally recognize Kosovo-Metohija independence.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt sharply criticized the American bullying, saying that the claims by US diplomats that official Washington would recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo-Metohija is “playing with fire” in Europe, playing with fire in transatlantic relations — relations between Untied States and Europe — and playing with fire in the Balkans.
Bildt warned that “such an attitude is unacceptable,” stressing that solution for the Kosovo-Metohija issue has to be reached through the UN Security Council and it is the Council of 15 member states that will jointly work on resolving the problem, not individual governments acting on their own impulses. Carl Bildt pointed out that the question of Kosovo-Metohija province has to be resolved “step-by-step,” that there are “no simple solutions” and that United Nations, European Union and Serbia have to be taken into consideration.
Comments
I have followed very closely everything that is happening and has happened in relation to Kosovo-Metohija and I have read people's statements about how America and the west backed the wrong side and how as soon as they realize this they will leave Serbia in peace and let us be.
People think Washington and their cronies in Berlin Brussels and London are just misinformed and foolish that is why they waged the illegal 99 terror bombing and that is why they backed the KLA.
See I view things differently I think the imperial powers know exactly what they are doing and why they are backing the side of evil. This Kosovo chapter was part of the book on destroying Yugoslavia and destroying the people who had the most to lose the Serbs. It is a very devious plan for it is better to be seen as unforgivably stupid than to be seen for what they really are unforgivably evil.
America which is the leader of the New World Order pack is turning into an utter fascist police state and Serbia among a host of other people are being stomped by the boots of oppression and tyranny. But we have a great history of resisting those who seek to enslave us and the rest of the world. International law is with us and we must stay united and together if we are to survive this criminal assault because we will continue to be bullied as long as we allow it. We in this case are the freedom loving people of this world.
How sad that the country that once stood for freedom and justice is acting in this criminal terrorist way - America what happened to you? The people of America think they are free so they do not resist this New World Order which seeks to enslave the planet. Propaganda is being focused on the American people by these criminals who have hijacked the USA and propaganda is most effective when it is directed at people who don't even recognize it.
Posted by: Jovan | April 28, 2007 09:17 PM
There is nothing I disagree with in your excellent comment, Jovane! I too believe that the main architects of Yugoslavia dismemberment and continuous assaults on Serbs are very much aware of the truth, that they fully know what kind of people and ideologies have they allied themselves with and that they have done it on purpose, with premeditation and completely awake. There can be no confusion - if some existed in the 1990, it was soon replaced with certainty and detailed information on all the parties, what each one wants and a clear decision to focus on destroying Serbs.
The only thing left to debate is "why". I think mainly for the reasons you cite, global enslavement and a form of the most deviant and degenerate power-drunkenness, but also because Serbs have always been seen as "little Russians" in the heart of Europe and have turned to be the most unpleasant inconvenience throughout history, for every single conquistador that tried to storm his way through Europe, from West or East. Therefore, the logic would dictate, once you crush the Serbs, all roads in Europe and through Europe are open in every direction. Still, many mighty empires had their teeth broken on a tiny Serbia, regardless of the inordinate sacrifices Serbs have been paying their intransigence with.
I too find it unfortunate that every time Serbs start showing a sincere desire to deepen and develop relations with the West, they get hit right between the ears. It's funny that West keeps talking about the need for Serbia to want to become part of the EU, NATO and other Western clubs, while constantly treating Serbs as the untouchables, and Serbia as a pariah state, and doing everything in their power to push it away for good.
Well, they got what they wanted - Serbia is right now closer to Russia and more disillusioned with West than ever during the past 60 years.
Posted by: Svetlana | April 28, 2007 10:03 PM
will see what happen....what's easy to see, there is a tremendous pressure from some officials.
French Ambassador talk as representer of country which host a most number of Muslims in whole Europe. France was confront Muslim community with some laws about wearing wraps of Muslim girls in school. There was a riot in big French cities suburbia. Does his words are caused by giving a Muslims a note that French government are actually a friend of Muslims? Serbia is not a powerful figure in the world and it's good to do that over its back.
Things with US are more unfavorably for Serbia. It is obvious that in follow years democrats will take power in US. And democrats and republicans doesn't threat Kosovo in different way. Look at ex US ex ambassador Richard Holbrook, he predict a unilaterally recognizing a "independence of Kosovo" by US if Russia try to delay it in UN. In a coming a new democrat US administration, Richard probably will be a one of a major figure, so his words had a importance. Current administration talks in a similar way as we can see. Nicholas Burns and US ambassador in UN went further. What to say about ambassador who congratulated Kosovo officials in a progress they made, even if he dont have a initial point from where he can recognize progress.
Will see...God is great and He have His reasons. What ever happen, this will be God's gift or punish. Best we can do is never give up on where we are all from.
Posted by: dejan | April 29, 2007 12:32 AM
Yes Dejan it is true that Democrats will soon be in power in the US and no matter if they are Dems or Reps they have the same view in relation to the Balkans because they (Democrats/Republicans) are different management styles for the same team.
In the US senate right now I have read about Resolution 135 Lead by Lantos and Mccain to steal Kosovo-Metohija. These congressmen want to show Muslims that other than Israel and Palestine the US supports terror and violence as a means to achieving an objective as long as that terror and violence is not aimed at the US and its allies.
Here is a quote by this scum Lantos "Let me just raise a few items, Mr. Secretary. The first one: just a reminder to the predominantly Muslim-led governments in this world that here is yet another example that the United States leads the way for the creation of a predominantly Muslim country in the very heart of Europe. This should be noted by both responsible leaders of Islamic governments, such as Indonesia, and also for jihadists of all color and hue. The United States’ principles are universal, and in this instance, the United States stands foursquare for the creation of an overwhelmingly Muslim country in the very heart of Europe."
Wow there is no questioning what he is saying it is upfront and blatant. Who is he to give away something that is Serbian. The US is openly on the jihadists side as in 1999.The US s clear give up Kosovo or we will guarantee US sponsored Albanian violence.
The Serbian people cannot stand for this blackmail. Lets not forget NATO occupied Kosovo-Metohija by force and now they are trying to permanently dismember it by force and then they are trying to say they might consider Serbia joining the EU and all the EU offers like economic slavery and German control. Serbia does not need the EU we have managed to get out of IMF debt and have had decent economic growth considering where we were in the 90s. What are we going to do when push comes to shove and we are forced to act.
Posted by: Jovan | April 29, 2007 07:15 PM
Jovane, that is a great point, and I agree.
I don't think Serbs would want to be governed by France, Britain and Belgium, considering what kind of damage those same countries are applying on Serbia as we speak.
Lantos is a disgrace to his country and to his Jewish people. And ''Responsible Islamic Government'' is an oxymoron.
Indonesian responsible governement?
On November 9th, 2006 THREE Christian high school girls were beheaded as a Ramadan "trophy" by Indonesian militants who conceived the idea after a visit to Philippines jihadists, a court heard yesterday.
The girls' severed heads were dumped in plastic bags in their village in Indonesia's strife-torn Central Sulawesi province, along with a handwritten note threatening more such attacks.
The note read: "Wanted: 100 more Christian heads, teenage or adult, male or female; blood shall be answered with blood, soul with soul, head with head.
This among the thousands upon thousands of attack on Christians and Buddhists (and anyone who is not Muslim). Does this constitute the 'responsible' Islamic government.
Is this kind of responsibility Lantos is taking about?
And also, in regards to creating Islamic state in the ''heart'' of Europe - I thought France was already in the heart of Europe.
Posted by: Mila | April 30, 2007 03:12 AM
Yeah that is true France is the heart of Europe Kosovo is on the outer edge.What I find incomprehensible is Western Europes attitude to the hords of muslim immigrating to German,France,Italy and Holland.In Germany recently a judge actually invoked the Koran an article by Dr Srdja Trifkovic stated "The husband routinely beat his 26-year-old German-born wife, mother of their two young children, and threatened to kill her when the court ordered him to move out of their apartment in Hamburg. The police were called repeatedly to intervene. The wife wanted a quick divorce—without waiting a year after separation, as mandated by German law—arguing that that the abuse and death threats she suffered easily fulfilled the “hardship” criteria required for an accelerated decree absolute. The judge—a woman by the name of Christa Datz-Winter—refused, however, arguing that the Kuran allows the husband to beat his wife and that the couple’s Moroccan origin must be taken into account in the case. This is one of many actions parts of the EU have taken to
ingratiate Muslim immigrants to Europe rather than ask them (which is common to immigrants)to assimilate to the host countrys laws laws and morals.The EU is certainly inviting trouble with this
way of thinking.They do not understand or do not want to that Islam by nature is certainly expansionist and once they are a good chunk of the population they will then demand Sharia.This is something that Serbs learned the ard way under the Ottoman boot.Muslims in Europe live in seperate communities from the regular populace and if things stay on this path then what happened in the streets of Paris a few summers ago will look like a walk in the park.I am not anti-Muslim I am against any form of tyrany.The Western European politicians think that if they bend to Islamic will now when non-Muslims in Europe are in the minority they will be treated the same way.I shudder to think of that future. Dr.Trifkovic's full article can be viewed at http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/cgi-bin/newsviews.cgi interesting story
Posted by: Jovan | May 1, 2007 08:51 PM