Kosovo falls hostage to big power rivalry

Diplomats and politicians on all sides expect a messy and inconclusive outcome, and fear further ethnic violence in Kosovo with peacekeepers from Nato caught in the middle.

Few believe that Martti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish president acting as UN mediator, can broker a compromise. This weekend Serbian voters are likely to approve by referendum a new constitution reaffirming Kosovo as part of Serbia, while the province’s ethnic Albanian majority overwhelmingly aspires to, and expects, full independence.

As Russia reasserts itself on the world stage, the US and Europe are wondering what price President Vladimir Putin will exact at the UN Security Council in exchange for consenting to Kosovo’s independence, or whether he will simply block the process completely.

Should Russia deprive Kosovo of the UN’s blessing for a path to independence, then the Kosovo Albanian government under Agim Ceku, prime minister, may be encouraged by the US to consider making a unilateral declaration of independence.

It was possible the Bush administration would seek to delay Kosovo’s bid for independence and Georgia’s bid for Nato membership to keep Russia on board over Iran and North Korea, he added.

Speaking of the deadlock facing Mr Ahtisaari, one Kosovo Albanian politician commented: “We are waiting for the real talks to begin – between the US and Russia.”

"How about; 'Agim Ceku "the war criminal" does'....

The truth sounds much better."

uh...I have to disgree, sorry. Change to "How about Agim Ceku, the War Criminal goes to the Hague with Ramush and Thaqi."

http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/print/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2006/10/27/feature-02

Wisner: Kosovo status agreement is close
27/10/2006

Frank Wisner, the US envoy to the UN-led Kosovo status talks, has ruled out the idea that this weekend's constitutional referendum in Serbia could affect the province's political future.
(Blic - 26/10/06; AP, Reuters, DPA, VOA, UPI, B92, Beta - 25/10/06)

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu (right) is joined by US special envoy Frank Wisner after their meeting in Pristina on Wednesday (October 25th). [Laura Hasani]

The constitutional referendum Serbia holds this weekend will not influence the decision on Kosovo's final status, the US envoy to the UN-led talks on determining the province's future said in Pristina on Wednesday (October 25th). Frank Wisner reiterated that Washington remains engaged with Kosovo despite other global obligations.

"What happens to you is a Kosovar matter, and an international matter," Wisner said after talks with Kosovo officials. "It is not a matter of Serbian sovereignty, which changed when the UN agreed on 1244," he added, referring to the Security Council resolution under which UNMIK was established more than seven years ago.

On September 30th, the Serbian parliament adopted a constitution intended to replace one that dates back to the Milosevic years. Besides proclaiming Serbia an independent state for the first time in almost 90 years, the draft defines Kosovo as an integral part of the country's territory.

Belgrade authorities have been urging voters to support the proposed constitution, as a way to forestall the province's secession.

Some 100,000 people, most of them Kosovo Serbs, are expected to go to the polling stations in the province. Wisner urged the Kosovo Albanian authorities to allow them to cast their ballots.

Kosovo Albanians, who make up 90% of the province's population of about 2 million people, are pushing for full independence from Serbia. Serbian authorities, meanwhile, have been repeating over the past months that all they can agree to is "substantial autonomy".

While in Pristina, Wisner rejected the idea of partitioning Kosovo. "This place will be united territory and will not have a division," he said. "There is only one territory and its name is Kosovo."

He urged Kosovo leaders to be as prepared as they can, because the process of determining the province's future must be concluded this year.

“We are close to an agreement on final status. Few of us have dilemmas as to what final status implies," the local daily Zeri quoted Wisner as saying. "It means achieving the historical vision that the people of Kosovo have desired for many, many years."

President Fatmir Sejdiu expressed his thanks for the US engagement in Kosovo and said such support is crucial. Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said Wisner had brought welcome and hopeful messages. Both reiterated Kosovo's demand for independence.

Southeast European Times correspondent Blerta Foniqi contributed to this report.

“We are waiting for the real talks to begin – between the US and Russia.”

Follow these talks and you'll always stay one step ahead of what the future holds for Kosovo.

I don't see this playing out any other way than the outcome containing a great deal more human tragedy. That so-called "humanitarian intervention" sure has made a big ugly mess a hell of a lot bigger, uglier and messier. Sadly, I don't see this ending until things get much worse than they even are now - no matter what the "final" status of Kosovo may be.

These next 12 months are going to be nothing if not interesting.

Kosovo will more than likely be the spark that will put a barrier between the U.S./EU and Russia. Iran will see this if they haven't already, and forge a relationship with Russia, in preparation with their planned attack against Israel. The propoents are in fact, if I may be so bold, provoking this by pushing for an independent Kosovo in order to forment this upcoming war. Remember, W. Clark is a card carrying member of the ICG, Soros has severe links with ICG, the links further are obvious....W. Clark tried to provoke Russia when he ordered the British General to "block" the Russians from taking the Pristina Airport. Why? Aren't they part of the effort to save K-Albanians from extinction as well....or, did we think the Russians were going to launch a double cross, with the Serbs...or; or were we trying to provoke a shoot out between the British and the Russians, starting a Third World War early on.........this is what they were trying to do. The same entity has been trying to provoke the Russians since 1959.....fact! After we set up Castro in 1957-1959, then we set up the Bay of Pigs to provoke the russians...fact.....three times we tried to provoke Russia. Bay of Pigs, Missile crisis, Vietnam (two reasons, oil and provocation).....there is more...but...

Independent Kosovo is just an intermediate objective, as was Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, then on to the Russian states and along the way, WWIII.....it will happen shortly.

uh...I have to disgree, sorry. Change to "How about Agim Ceku, the War Criminal goes to the Hague with Ramush and Thaqi."

How about

Agim Ceku, along with Ramush and Thaqi found hung from a tree next to the barn of Zeljko Stankovic of Kosovo Polje, Serbia. When asked how they this happened, Stankovic replied, "Why not, they are on MY LAND, they are trespassing and trespassers are handled, so I handled."

Stankovic went into town, tore down the shitter flag and raised the Serbian flag. He yelled out on top of the building, "You shittes are on MY LAND, get off or be handled like Ceku. So, he handled the town.

End of Story.

they know it better than I or anyone else. Know why? They are orchestrating this like they did in 1959, 1960's to provoke Russia, gain control or clear access to the oil fields in and around the Caspian, use Bondsteel as a base to provide support or.......or, move it to Bulgaria or Romania......then on to Russia in a effort to seriously provoke WWIII. Sometime around the end of 2008 to 2010, +/-, you are going to hear about a significant number of small banking chains going out of business. why? the big boys are placing a signficant amount of funds in their accounts, and when the time is right, they will put them out, making the small banks go out of business....then, the customers will be obliged to head the 6 larger banks, names can be provided....citicorp, Chase Manhattan to name two....and then the stock market will fall not too long after. the money they pull out will be reinvested in Gold, Silver etc.....so when the stocks fall, people lose their life savings, jobs, etc...due these scum......these folks will have their money, plus at the right time, buy the stocks cheaply make the market go back up making billions....while the average American is in debt to the US Govt. plus the reaction in Europe....will be close the same. It will ripe for a global government...........perfect. These people, most don't even know it yet.....and the others are afraid to face it.......!!!!!!

Serbia as you know have the radicals, against the reformed and the "They", the Globalist, I'm talking about may use the division to pit one against the other while giving false promises.......to both. yes, a possible spring offensive using kosovo as a terrorist springboard. the very thing allegedly the reason we are continuing in Iraq.....???? hmmmmmmm, something is funny here.

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