Wednesday, February 08, 2006

British Foreign Office pressuring Serbia to give up Kosovo - commentary

A Belgrade newspaper says there was a "stormy response" to Foreign Office political director John Sawers when he conveyed to Serbian politicians that the Contact Group has agreed Kosovo should be given independence. It adds that Foreign Office representatives have reportedly claimed "for weeks" in meetings in Belgrade that Serbia has lost sovereignty over Kosovo and that the pressure on Serbia is not letting up. Washington and London would like Belgrade to agree to Kosovo independence of its own volition rather than force an imposed solution which would be vetoed by Russia in the Contact Group and by China in the UNSC, it says. The following is the text of the report by Dragana Matovic and Vladimir Radomirovic entitled "Pressure on Serbia to give up Kosovo: London undermining talks" published by the Serbian newspaper Politika on 8 February:

Even though he was about to get up from the table on Monday [6 February], when [British Foreign Office political director] John Sawers was "delivering" to Serb representatives in Pristina the Contact Group's supposed decision that Kosovo be granted independence, Goran Bogdanovic, a member of Serbia's negotiating team, yesterday said with a cool head that it would be fatal to discontinue the talks on Kosovo's status.

"It is all a trial balloon, an attempt to provoke us to make an injudicious decision in that direction and then to blame us for contributing to Kosovo's independence," said Bogdanovic.

He said Sawer's statement met with a stormy response, that the meeting passed in a tense atmosphere and that the Serb representatives had told the political director of Britain's Foreign Office that "Serbs do not want to live in an independent Kosovo".

Ever since the message reached the public, speculation has been rife on whether Sawers' supposed message had been properly conveyed, because he never said publicly that the "Contact Group has decided that Kosovo should be granted independence".

The British diplomat, who is in charge of reporting on the Balkans and regular contacts with the five other members of the Contact Group (United States, Germany, France, Italy and Russia), merely told the press on Monday: "The more the Kosovo leaders offer the other communities and prove that democracy is mature in Kosovo, the greater independence will be."

After meeting the Albanian negotiating team, Sawers said in an obvious message to both sides in Kosovo that the solution should be found by the end of the year, and that the pace would depend largely on the leaders of all ethnic communities in the province and their readiness to understand the needs of the other communities.

However, Sawers spoke differently behind closed doors, Kosovo Serb politicians claim. This is not the first time that British diplomats have conveyed such radical messages to the Serb side "face-to-face".

Politika has learned from diplomatic sources that representatives of the Foreign Office had for weeks maintained, in meetings with domestic officials, that Serbia has lost sovereignty over Kosovo.

Thus British Ambassador in Belgrade David Gowan "explained" to Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica that the Contact Group stance that there would be no return to the status prior to 1999 meant that the province would never again be under Serbia's jurisdiction.

Kostunica asked that the Contact Group explain this "explanation", saying that if it were true, it would considerably alter Belgrade's stance in the talks, in which case he would have to consult the assembly, which had given him the mandate for the talks. Kostunica asked the Contact Group urgently to issue a statement on Sawer's stance.

The meeting was held, but the British ambassador did not show up, but sent his deputy instead. US Ambassador Michael Polt did the same. At the meeting of the four ambassadors and two deputies, France and Russia supported Serbia's stand, Politika has learned, and Belgrade was told that there was no change in the Contact Group's position.

Pressure on Serbia, however, has not ceased, because the West (chiefly Washington and London) would prefer at this moment if Belgrade agreed to Kosovo's independence on its own. If the province were to obtain independence through a solution imposed on Serbia, it would mean that NATO did not wage the war in 1999 to "prevent a humanitarian catastrophe" but to break away Kosovo. And if independence were imposed, it would be a basis for Belgrade possibly to sue the nations that took part in seizing part of the state's territory.

But the United States and Britain want to avoid imposed solutions, as Russia would not agree to it in the Contact Group, nor would China in the Security Council, both countries looking after their own interests.

"I said this would happen back in April, when everyone attacked me over the proposal that Kosovo will get independence the day we enter the European Union," said Goran Svilanovic, member of the International Balkans Commission. He said that Belgrade should certainly not consider walking out of the talks because "there is much to negotiate".

Source: Politika, Belgrade, in Serbian 8 Feb 06 pp 1, 7

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Britain want to avoid imposed solutions, as Russia would not agree to it in the Contact Group, nor would China in the Security Council, both countries looking after their own interests.>>

OY VAY Poor Albs

Anonymous said...

"Sucking up to serbia" more like sticking it to serbia. Soon enough you will agree to give us even East Kosova.

Anonymous said...

Serbs
Look who is talking about terror ,the Butchers of the Balkans.Suck up russia and china and very soon you are going to get it up your ass from both of them.

Anonymous said...

hahahah,

UK and US: Talk to the hand, Kostunica. That's gotta hurt. Ooch!!!

Anonymous said...

Its funny how Serbs decide to look the other way even when the West is making it VERY clear that independence will be the outcome. Perhaps part to their collective identity and culture...to turn defeats into 'victories.' Just like you had 'won' in the Battle of Kosovo, that 'sacred' event in in Serbian history. DEAL WITH IT: IT'S OVER! FINITO!

Anonymous said...

your right, it is our country...and you can´t kill us anymore you thugs.

Anonymous said...

Serbia is acting like a wounded tinger. It will drop dead in the end, no worries...

Anonymous said...

Here is a photo of the one serbs in Kosovo want back.That tells enough how much reconciliation they want.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/060209/481/xdmv10302091328

Anonymous said...

Hong Kong issue?? Dig your head out of your ass moron. The Hong Kong issue has been resolved years ago. And we are not worried about the independence it will come whether you like or not. AS for influence, we have albanians in East Kosova who will cry just as loud as your serbs here in Kosova. and the orthodox church is nothing but a warmongering machine, the whole world know it for what it really is. A spiritual house for massmurderers and rapists.

Anonymous said...

Veto on independence means Kosova will not get a seat at UN. USA and EU will recognise Kosova and that's all we need. And you will never get into EU or NATO.

Anonymous said...

all what serbs want is partition of Kosova...too late...this is not 19th century...you and your ideas of partition have no support from international community...
And don´t try to be sarcastic cause you know very well that those words are used to offend us...We are called SHQIPTAR but that is too hard for you to say it...you are full of anger and frustration...you lost it buddy...
PS. we have "nicknames" for you too but still i don't wanna drop to you level and offend you anymore...by being a serb is enough shame on your nation...other slavic people are also ashamed of you...

Anonymous said...

It's interesting how non of you guys recognize that they're giving us the conditional indepedence with which we don't even have the right for our own army.But the most dangerous process is decentralization because thruogh this serbs would realize the authonomy of serbs into Kosovo the same as they've done in Bosnja

Anonymous said...

to anonymous

this picture of a serb you mentioned here is too nicety for you.....it's just inapprehensible for your poor narrow mind.....

Anonymous said...

This is the most ridiculous article Politika has published to date...

However, I do understand them since as a newspaper that has been with the Serbs through "good and bad" since 1904 (wow that's evern before Kosovo was annexed by Serbia), to give people in Serbia a little hope...

Anonymous said...

I wonder why Serb savages aren't saying anything now. You should see that video and UNDERSTAND that people of your blood are a disease and a flaw of the human race. Please give me ONE justification for what you did. Please tell me how can you sleep knowing that your people are a disgrace to modern society. Tell me why doesn't every serb apologize for what they have done (not only in Bosnia) and give up their citizenship. Believe it or not I feel sick even writing to you. You are either a big idiot, or just lacking your brain not to see these things. And when you talk about ethnic cleansing of Serbs - if they
persist to be like yourself they will be finished (including those living in Serbia) by the rest of the world - nobody wants animals living amongst us. Soon you will be a rare species.

*spitting at you*
a human

Anonymous said...

bela zora said...

to anonymous

this picture of a serb you mentioned here is too nicety for you.....it's just inapprehensible for your poor narrow mind.....

First learn english imbecile! Secondly that fugly bitch shares the sentiment of all of you serbs. If you want Slobo back then you will have to mumify the garbage.

Anonymous said...

hahaha Ivan I think you are out of your mind. Did you say that you are doing something about Serbian terrorists and that you overthrew a government? Dude, if you weren't starving and in great need of foreign aid you would still have milo as your leader (see pics above). Now you dont have milo you have kostunica and sheshelj radicals (baby killers)... mladic and karadjic are still in your midst - I thought u said that you are dealing with your past :) who knows maybe you were sleepwriting. Lastly, I dont see any videos or any evidence of albanians' attrocities - do you think that might be because a) we dont have videocams since we're pooor? b) the world loves us and never send reporters in ground or c) you are making up these things.

No matter what the situation is you are, unfortunately for you, a serb - your brothers and father did what you saw in that video (if you had the guts of watching it) - thus I dont think you are in any position to say anything AT ALL to anyone else. Your nation is capable of doing such things and that should be a problem, understand?

Anonymous said...

11:53, good points, though I don't think Ivan is that dumb to have it pointed out to him.
I love the nonchalance with which he explains oh by the way Srebrenica "is part of Republika Serbska now." These guys are psychos hellbent on acquiring territory and human live to them is just an afterthought.

Anonymous said...

to anonymous

Though my english is not good, you've got my message...


"Lastly, I dont see any videos or any evidence of albanians' attrocities - do you think that might be because a) we dont have videocams since we're pooor? b) the world loves us and never send reporters in ground or c) you are making up these things."

For the lack of documents and photos of albanian terror over Serbs, I enclose these two links you can see the opposite:

http://www.srpskapolitika.com/zlocin/foto-arhiva.html

http://www.kosovo.com/gracko_victims.html

And the answer to you question is d) so called "west democracy" DON'T WANT to see it!

Now, about Srebrenica; here are some more photos:

http://www.serbianna.com/features/s
rebrenica/001.shtml

And these photos are about Serbs in Krajina:

http://www.serbianna.com/features/krajina/011.shtml

I would also like to say that all war crimes that the "west democracy" impute to the WHOLE Serbian nation, in fact are - ACTS OF INDIVIDUALS.
On these photos you can see how acted your ARMY (besides Muslim and Croat armies).
So, now tell me who IS an animal?
(and all the other epithets you named Serbs with)

*Shame on you*

THE REAL HUMAN

Anonymous said...

Albanians should go back to their own country it is a shithole albania. that is why you want serbian land.

LONG LIVE ARKANS TIGERS.

Anonymous said...

All these comments,...
Ho are you people to talk in the name of your nations ???

How can a serb who haven't even been in Kosovo admit that the serbian forces killed 10 000 albanians ??

Only those who were down there know what happened.

The Americans have a expression.
" With my country, right or wrong !"
You should stick to it.

As for the British government and public they have always been against us ( The serbs)and they fuc*ed us up more then once.
Don't ever trust them or make deals with them.

I will not discuss the history of Kosovo because I am not a historian.
But ask yourselves one question:
" How hard is for a perticular group of educated people to write(invent) a new history which is tottaly different from the truth ??"
Think about it !!
At the end, don't let anybody manipulate you !
Especially those rotten bastards from BBC(and some other Tv corporations) !

AND JUST ONE OTHER THING.
Serbia was sliced and for more than a dozen of times through history by the great powers.
And we came back every time !
The Italians united in the 19th century, the Germans united in the 19th century, the Spanish are united despite the Basque and the Katalonians(Barcelona)wanting separate states.
The history repeats itself.
Our time will come again !
I hope we don't have to wait another 500 years though.

Serbia DO Tokia !

Anonymous said...

Oh yea,
One of the Albanians up there mentioned that Serbia is Europe's Iran(He probably ment Iraq).
Well, Kosovo/a is Europe's Columbia without a doubt(took it away from Albania).
Soo, hmmmm. I guess you can make a lot of money selling drugs to western Europe(but selling drugs is just one of the major illegal Economy branches that drive your economy) . That's by the way how you finance your struggle for indipendence.
Too bad you don't have a pandan for Che ?!

Bruce

Anonymous said...

I just read the comment from certain Albanian(PejaCity) probably from Pec which is the City's real name.
He mentioned something like "The serbs are affraid that Kosova will have it's own army and now it will be army against army." Well. I guess Peja, that you predicted that you will kick some serbian ass now when you have an army.
Well, that will happen only if NATO gives you a NUKE.
But you wouldn't use it, I guess.
The Albanians have always been out for a Knight duell(one on one).
As for that we lost all the wars in the 90s. Maybe you're right, but who lost, The Serbs or the Yugoslavs. Think about it,.
Anyway, Slobo was a traitor, and he was a Communist also. He was a dictator, no doubt, but he DID NOT WANT A GREAT SERBIA,. Jesus, how can ever a die hard COMMIE want a Great Serbia ?
He just wanted to preserve the unity and be the ONLY BOSS.
Also, don't forget that the Serbs had to fight against the whole fuc*in' world.
How hard was for the Albanians to get a autonomy from serbia with the whole wolrd behind their backs.
Fair fight, no doubt.
Now you will tell me," What is this idiot talking about, The serbs fought with tanks against albanian AK 47s!" Come on, what did you think, that we will get rid of the tanks and hit you with cans?
Why don't the Americans in Iraq get rid of their high tech shit and turtle shields and go hand to hand against the terrorists ??

Bruce

Anonymous said...

to Kristian


*"GREATER SERBIA" that is in the heart of all serbs*


Would you like to talk about GREAT ALBANIA?


to fauna

"i love all those references to kosovo.com and serbianna.com -- the myth continues"


I really feel pity for somebody who is amused with such photos, as in those references....