Kosovo: News, Politics & Issues

[Gocka]

Something big is going to happen in the Balkans with relation to Serbia, Macedonia Kosovo and Albania. What is going to decide the matter is the USA and Donald Trump. Albanians are clearly banking on the same policy being upheld by the USA. They are getting ambitious in Macedonia, they are acting tough towards Serbia, at some point there will be a flash point. The outcome all depends on whether the USA will act as in the past and shelter and support the Albanian side, even then there is a chance that the western Europeans will act on their own. But and its a big but. if no one comes to the rescue of the Albanians they could be in for a rude awakening, and all the past aggression may but punished.

Trump seems to favor strong handed authoritarian types, not the "victims", so in my opinion the Albanians are playing a very risky game here.

You can punch above your weight for only so long until someone knocks you the hell out.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Something big is going to happen in the Balkans with relation to Serbia, Macedonia Kosovo and Albania.

That is a possibility, especially given that relations between all three groups are at a low.

What is going to decide the matter is the USA and Donald Trump. Albanians are clearly banking on the same policy being upheld by the USA.

Albanians would have preferred Clinton and the Democrats, of that there is no doubt. But they have already started efforts to warm up to Trump and the Republicans:

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-s-meta-hires-lobbyists-to-secure-invitation-for-trump-s-inauguration-01-12-2017

The Socialist Movement for Integration, LSI, - a partner party in Albania's coalition government - has signed an agreement with McKeon Group, which BIRN has seen, showing that the party will pay the company 15,0oo US dollars per month for six months, specifically to obain invitations for LSI leaders to attend the inauguration of new US President Donald Trump, on January 20, and organize meetings with other political leaders during the visit. After January 20, 2017, according to the contract, the company is expected to foster a "good and special relationship" between the party and the new Republican administration in the US.

As for the below, I think it is downright shameless the way they go about trying to suck up to American politicians, but, each to their own.

https://www.rt.com/usa/349065-hillary-clinton-monument-albania/

30 June, 2016

US presidential elections are still months away, but a city in Albania has already erected a monument to Hillary Clinton. Another Albanian city already has a statue of George W. Bush, while Bill Clinton was honored by a statue in Albanian-held Kosovo. A bust of Hillary Clinton was unveiled Thursday in Sarandë, a tourist town of some 20,000 people in southern Albania. The monument is intended to represent Clinton “as a woman in politics, as a representative of the old Albania-US friendship, for her contribution to the Albanian nation in different historical moments,” the city authorities said, according to AP.

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kamza-town-in-albania-honours-donald-trump-11-24-2016

24 November, 2016

In a surprise move, the Mayor of Kamza, Xhelal Mziu, a town of more than 100,000 inhabitants near the Albanian capital, has declared US President-elect Donald Trump an Honorary Citizen. Mziu, who comes from the opposition centre-right Democratic Party, announced the decision on a Facebook post and on the council website. "City hall members voted unanimously for the decision with the motivation", the decision reads, having agreed that the victorious US Republican was "a revolutionary model for the new democratic order, an expert in the economy, a deal-maker in foreign policy, a popular wise communicator and a leader for modern times," the council decision reads.

Trump and his relationship with Putin could change U.S policy in the Balkans. Time will tell.

[Risto the Great]

Serbia's president today said that Kosovo had shown it wanted war with after it deployed special forces to prevent a train painted with Serbia's national colours and the words "Kosovo is Serbia" from entering its territory.

If Macedonia stopped a train coming in from Greece that was painted "Macedonia is Greece", I would say it is Greece making a declaration of war.

[vicsinad]

If Macedonia stopped a train coming in from Greece that was painted "Macedonia is Greece", I would say it is Greece making a declaration of war.

I don't know if you can compare the two situations. Kosovo's status is in limbo; the KLA murdered and ethnically cleansed Serbs to get independence; and there are international agreements in place to deal with movement into northern Kosovo from Serbia and Kosovo, as well as Kosovo security forces into northern Kosovo.

But certainly, it was a provocation by Serbia to send in a train with Kosovo Is Serbia on it. Serbs knew how the Albanians would react. If it's true that the Kosovo government sent in security forces to deal with it, the Albanians played into the Serbs' hands quite easily. It's what the Serbs wanted -- to put in jeopardy the idea of a stable Kosovo and to paint Kosovo as a troublemaker in the Balkans. The Albanians are banking on Western diplomats or eventual forces to intervene somehow, while the Serbs are betting against it, especially with a resurgent Russia backing them.

I can't figure out if this helps or hurt Macedonia. Being that the Kosovo Albanian movement was behind Macedonia's Albanian's NLA movement -- and that they're intricately tied to one another -- I hope that the Kosovo thugs get what they deserve for what they've done in the region. Further, with the Albanians in Macedonia wanting federalization and etc., I see the need for Macedonia and Serbia to stop the Albanianization of non-Albanian lands. Serbia at least has the balls to stick it to the Albanians, while Macedonians play this dance of not wanting to step on anyone's toes. But on the other hand, Serbia's provocations don't usually result in peaceful resolutions.

[Soldier of Macedon]

I don't know if you can compare the two situations......Serbia at least has the balls to stick it to the Albanians.....

The two situations shouldn't be comparable, but despite Serbia's rhetoric about Kosovo being Serbian, some of their concessions point to a form of de facto recognition of Kosovo as a state, at least partially.

[vicsinad]

The two situations shouldn't be comparable, but despite Serbia's rhetoric about Kosovo being Serbian, some of their concessions point to a form of de facto recognition of Kosovo as a state, at least partially.

Publicly, I think they've conceded to recognizing Kosovo as an autonomous unit within Serbia but as an integral part of Serbia. And the formal agreements they've signed fall into that reasoning. I think they realize, however, that much of Kosovo is indefinitely lost to Serbia. So now they're making a move on the northern Serb inhabited part to salvage what they can. Certainly, for their part, Kosovo Serbs do not want to live under an Albanian dominated country and would rather be with Serbia. I don't blame them. But they are obviously being used as pawns both by the Serbian government and the Kosovo government.

[tchaiku]

If Macedonia stopped a train coming in from Greece that was painted "Macedonia is Greece", I would say it is Greece making a declaration of war.

Common sense.

[vicsinad]

As for the below, I think it is downright shameless the way they go about trying to suck up to American politicians, but, each to their own.

Here's another recent example how Albanians suck up to US politicians:

Ambassador Reminds Trump That Kosovo Loves America

Kosovo's ambassador to Washington, Vlora Citaku, has held a brief conversation with Donald Trump in which she reminded the new US President of her country's staunch loyalty to America.

Vlora Citaku, Kosovo's ambassador to the US, has held a brief talk with incoming President Donald Trump, in which she reminded him that Kosovo is the most "pro-American country in the world".

“Had the opportunity to speak briefly to the President elect Donald Trump, Secretary of State nominee Tillerson, and National Security Advisor Flynn. Told them that I am a proud ambassador of the most pro-American nation on the face of the earth,” Citaku wrote on Facebook.

The meeting happened only three days before the new US President's inauguration, at the dinner that the Inauguration Committee organized for the diplomatic community.

Kosovo officials promptly started working on making contacts with the new Republican administration as soon as Trump was elected.

- See more at: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/arti....6BNGEdrC.dpuf

[Gocka]

RTG was totally right about the Albanian psyche being heavily impacted by the Ottoman period.

It's almost like its in their DNA to kiss the ass of the leader. They can be so subservient when it comes to their master, but so unruly when its anyone else.

Call it smart call it cowardly, I honestly dont know which one it is. For the last few decades it has worked for them.

What is worrying is that from basic observation, Donald Trump seems to love a good ass kissing, and the the Albanians are have their tongues out before he's even in office.

Here's another recent example how Albanians suck up to US politicians:

[vicsinad]

I normally don't think I should post things not related to Macedonia on this forum, but I do believe that things that are happening in and around the Balkans that will affect what happens in Macedonia. So it's good to keep some of these things on our radar.

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2017&mm=01&dd=25&nav_id=100332

Thaci accuses Belgrade of "arming Serbs in north"
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has said that Serbia was "arming Serbs in the north, as part of a plan to partition Kosovo."

Thaci spoke for German broadcaster Deutsche Welle when he made this claim, Beta reported on Wednesday.

He added that Kosovo's institutions had information that what was referred to as "the Russian train" - a Russian-manufactured Serbian Railways train on the Belgrade-Kosovska Mitrovica line that was prevented from reaching its destination earlier this month - transported "arms and members of paramilitary formations whose goal was to enter Kosovo and destabilize it."

"At the same time, we know of a Serb plan to partition Kosovo and we also know that Serbia is arming Serbs in northern Kosovo," said Thaci.

As proof for this claims, Thaci said there was "evidence that Serbia is using the model used by Russia in Ukraine."

"They are sending civilians but also people in uniforms to the north, and are arming Serbs with firearms and other weapons, so they can be ready to defend themselves from alleged Albanian attacks," he said.

Thaci then called on Kosovo Serbs "not to fall under the influence" and also "not to become the victims of Belgrade's nationalist policy which caused great pain to the Serbs in the past."

"Instead of calls for war from Serbia, I'm calling the Kosovo Serbs to peace and dialogue. Instead of ethnic and territorial partition I call on them to join NATO and the EU," Thaci told Deutsche Welle.

"Absolutely not"

Speaking on Tuesday in Brussels, where he was taking part in a new round of the EU-sponsored Kosovo talks, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic dismissed the claims that Serbs in northern Kosovo were being armed - previously presented in some Albanian language media - and called them "nonsensical."

"That is absolutely not correct, because that's impossible to do in a territory that is completely under control of EULEX, UNMIK, KFOR, and a police where Albanians are represented. That's impossible also because all crossings are under full control," said Nikolic.

He added that he "doesn't know why Albanians came up with this story - unless it's to find excuses for attacking that territory."

"I don't recommend to them to endanger peace and security anywhere in Kosovo and Metohija, especially not in the north," Nikolic said.

[vicsinad]

Kosovo Minister: If Serbia provokes a war, we will ask help from Albania

Kosovo Minister of Diaspora, Valon Murati, said that potential attack of Serbia against Kosovo, will be considered as attack against all Albanians.

During an interview with Klan Kosova, minister Murati said that Kosovo is facing repeated provocations of Serbia and erupting of a war is likely. “The attack against Kosovo would be considered as attack against all Albanians, will destabilise the Balkan region,” he said. “Under current circumstances a large scale war is unlikely, But Serbia it will persist in conducting provocations.”

He also said that Albania’s involvement in a potential armed conflict is possible. “Albania is member of NATO Alliance, and its implication is highly likely. Today we are and independent state and we can ask Albania’s help,” said Murati.

http://www.gazetaexpress.com/en/news/kosovo-minister-if-serbia-provokes-a-war-we-will-ask-help-from-albania-171985/

[Niko777]

Kosovo Minister: If Serbia provokes a war, we will ask help from Albania

Kosovo will probably ask for help from Macedonia too, and Macedonia will probably help...

[Gocka]

They are both pumping their chests, are elections near or something?

Both sides sense that a changing in world order is on the horizon and want to capitalize in hopes that they will be the one to get international support. Lets be honest this conflict should it turn into one, is not in either of their hands. For that reason I don't think there will be a conflict because it is out of their hands.

[vicsinad]

They are both pumping their chests, are elections near or something?

I know Serbia does soon.



Sticking with the theme of escalating tensions in the region, Greece military was put on high alert as several Turkish military boats sailed into Greek waters, according to Greek sources, as a response to Greece not extraditing Turkish soldiers involved in the coup attempt in Turkey.

Turkish gunboat with army chief sails into Greek waters; military on high alert

The Greek military was on high alert on Sunday after a Turkish gunboat carrying Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar sailed into Greek waters and around the Imia islet at around 10.30 a.m.

The Turkish gunboat was escorted by several assault craft carrying commandos, which also circled the islet that brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war 21 years ago, almost to the day.

Greek authorities responded to what is being viewed as Turkish provocation with warnings and dispatched the Hellenic Navy’s Krataios gunboat, which escorted the Turkish flotilla out of Greece’s territorial waters.

Diplomatic officials believe the incident to be a response to a Greek Supreme Court ruling last week rejecting a request from Ankara for the extradition of eight Turkish servicemen accused of taking part in failed coup last summer.

Turkish military authorities released photographs to media showing Akar on the gunboat, with Imia in the background.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/215701/article/ekathimerini/news/turkish-gunboat-with-army-chief-sails-into-greek-waters-military-on-high-alert

[Soldier of Macedon]

Kosovo will probably ask for help from Macedonia too, and Macedonia will probably help...

I find it hard to see Macedonians directly attacking Serbs on behalf of Albanians. It's more likely that our politicians will assist in less 'direct' ways, like whoring out territory so NATO can bomb Serb positions in Kosovo from Macedonia. Neither option is appealing.