Serbia urges return of its military and police to Kosovo

AP via Serbianna.com ^ | Friday, August 17, 2007 | DUSAN STOJANOVIC

[montyspython]

Serbia urges return of its military and police to Kosovo
Friday, August 17, 2007 11:44 AM
DUSAN STOJANOVIC

BELGRADE, Serbia-Serbia urged the return of its army and police to Kosovo, an official said Friday, a move that could increase ethnic tensions in the breakaway province.

"The time has come for the return" of some 1,000 Serbian security personnel to the province, said Aleksandar Simic, a spokesman for Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. In Kosovo, 90 percent of the 2 million people are ethnic Albanians.

The U.N. administration in Kosovo refused to comment before it gets a formal request from the Serb government for the troops' return.

Under a U.N. Security Council resolution passed in 1999 when NATO troops chased out Serbian security forces from Kosovo after their crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists, Serbia was granted the return of up to 1,000 police and army troops to the province's borders and to guard Serbian churches and monasteries there.

But NATO and U.N. peacekeepers in Kosovo have not allowed the redeployment, fearing it could irritate Kosovo Albanians and re-ignite violence and ethnic tensions in the tense region.

Kosovo, considered by many Serbs as the cradle of their statehood and religion, is only formally a part of Serbia. The province has been run by the United Nations and NATO since 1999, when NATO launched an air war to halt Serbia's government onslaught on Albanian separatists.

Last week, envoys from the United States, the European Union and Russia launched a 120-day effort to end the impasse over Kosovo. A new round of talks has been set for Aug. 30 in Vienna, Austria.

Simic said that the return of the Serbian troops to Kosovo is a "precondition" for a possible deal with ethnic Albanians.

The new negotiation effort follows Russia's threat to block a U.S.-backed plan to grant Kosovo internationally supervised independence in the U.N. Security Council. The diplomats are to report back to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon by Dec. 10.

[montyspython]

Yes, it is time.

[Andy from Beaverton]

How about atleast sending Serb police to the few villages where Serbs remain?

[montyspython]

Full military contingent, IMO, then we apply the smack down.

[montyspython]

bump

[FormerLib]

This is the only way to return peace and justice to the Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija.

[F-117A]

...in 1999 when NATO troops chased out Serbian security forces from Kosovo...

Never happened! Yugoslav troops had left Kosovo before NATO troops arrived under the condition that they would be allowed to return later.

Item 6 of UN1244 Annex 2.

# After withdrawal, an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serbian personnel will be permitted to return to perform the following functions:

• * Liaison with the international civil mission and the international security presence;
• * Marking/clearing minefields;
• * Maintaining a presence at Serb patrimonial sites;
• * Maintaining a presence at key border crossings.

[montyspython]

Wesley Clark’s jaw dropping session when he realized that the Serb military was barely scratched was priceless.

[kronos77]

The time has come..

[Hoplite]

Never happened!

Woo-hoo! Serbs win.

And as a prize, the number of Serbian personnel to return agreed to by NATO will be zero.

Remember, you won!

[horse_doc]

And as a prize, the number of Serbian personnel to return agreed to by NATO will be zero

The U.N. has already agreed that 1000 can go back.

Are you suggesting that U.N. peace accords are worthless?

The question is simple - when will Serbian troops be allowed to return to Kosovo, as specified by the U.N. aggreement?

[ma bell]

the article in a poorly written article wrote ::
____________________________

Under a U.N. Security Council resolution passed in 1999 when NATO troops chased out Serbian security forces from Kosovo after their crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists, Serbia was granted the return of up to 1,000 police and army troops to the province's borders and to guard Serbian churches and monasteries there.
____________________________

Of course, they do have the right to patrol their lands. The problem that is foreshadowed is the tension between the Serbian patroling tactics/SOP and the US Army Patrol tactics. The animosity a few select Serbs would display would only ruin it for the entire party.

I had a chance to go as part of the US KFOR, but declined.

[Hoplite]

The U.N. has already agreed that 1000 can go back.

I'd suggest you direct your attention to:

Ahtisaari/Chernomyrdin Peace Plan, Para 6

UNSCR 1244, Annex 2, Para 6,10, & Notes

&

Military Technical Agreement, Article 1, Para 4a.

As far as I know, there is, as of this time, no subsequent separate agreement governing the return of Yugoslav/Serbian forces to Kosovo, and with our stated position regarding the independence of Kosovo, nor is there likely to ever be one.

If you know different, feel free to enlighten me.

[ma bell]

The Serb military will not be invited, only if they crash the party will they be seen in overt fashion. They are there under guise as civilians.

[FormerLib]

We always have the opportunity to correct our position and quit backing the Jihadist thugs, pancake boy.

[FormerLib]

This is the guy I was telling you about. He can’t wait to help the Jihadists get another base of operations in Europe.

[Beckwith]

Thanks — what a memory!

Is Hoplite the same guy you reference on your About page, with a new account?

[ma bell]

hoplite publicly declared he wished an early demise (death) for me a few years back. Hence, his ignoring my posts. When confronted with someone that has been there to Serbia/Kosovo (not so much) and Bosnia, he ridicules, cuts you down, name calling and then ignores ya. Hence, his ignorance, I meant to say, his ignoring my presence..:)

[Kunikuni]

Good idea Andy, at least send someone. Here's what is being discussed on an Albanian forum, and it isn't good.
Call to War. National Guard "Balli Kombetar" - Briefing

[ma bell]

Xhevrija

07-10-2007, 07:09 AM

www.ballikombit.org

National Guard "Balli Kombetar" - Briefing

The National Guard "Balli Kombetar", with the hope that it would not be the one to negatively affect the current political situation that has dominated our country, has retreated all of it's soldiers in the year 2000, that were stationed in all of the military structures of UCK (KLA).

Hoping that our cause would be solved on the basis that 3 years later the population would have decided for it's own fate:

Having analyzed that the situation that has been created, leads only towards the partitioning of Kosova and the loss of the national identity:

The National Guard has announced the general mobilization of all the soldiers and Commanders that had been sworn in during the wars that evolved in Kosova, Presheva Valley and Ilirida.

We thank our brothers in Albania that have opened their doors for us to start the preparation of the military formations, which will stay vigilent towards the situation that is nearing a collapse. All of those that will walk over the blood of the Martyrs should know that a good day is not awaiting them.

We invite Hoplite and the rest of his paypals in the population to be vigilent at a time when their politicians are trying to blind them before another partition of Kosova, just like it has been partitioned a thousand times.

We ask that NATO, US and especially Hoplite as our most beloved ally, do not allow another war to erupt that would not please anyone. We are for peace and tolerance, but not 1 millimeter of the Albanian lands will be given away, and there will be uninterupted war until the will of all of those who have fallen for a free and democratic Albania is completed.

To the Serbs that are being recalled into their own Guards, we say to them from our Albanian lands, that they will be met with the nozzle of the gun. This will be proven if those who are responsable for the protection of the territorial integrity, allow their entry into Kosova.

We invite Hoplite to instruct the electronic and newspaper medias to transmit this Briefing for the sake of correctly informing the People. Those medias that are interested, and have correct and objective information, can coordinate via Hoplite to attend in the military exercises that are taking place in the free mountains of Kosova. The Guard will inform you in time through Hoplite when and who can attend these exercises as soon as the decision has been made by the strategic group with it's center in Tirana.

Commander of the National Guard

Flamur "Hoplite" Kokollari

Prishtine 28/06/2007

Garda Kombëtare e Ballit Kombëtar" - Komunikatë

_________________________
_________________________

Does this say that I am uninvited? I need to file a grievance as I'm appalled and outraged. But, what happens if I have a picnic in the middle of their playground? Will they join me in a game of chicken?

[ma bell]

I noticed Hoplites name in this albanian article snippet...