Serbia Says Use of Force Is an Option in Kosovo

dogman · September 6th, 2007

September 06, 2007

BALKAN FRICTION
Serbia Says Use of Force Is an Option in Kosovo
By Nicholas Wood in Belgrade

Kosovo's Albanian-dominated government seems set to declare its independence from Serbia. Some Western governments appear to back this move, but now Serbia is weighing its options -- and military options -- in such an event.

REUTERS
Serbia is prepared to use force to prevent Kosovo gaining independence.
Serbia is ready to use force to prevent Western states from recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, a senior Serbian official warned on Wednesday.

Dusan Prorokovic, Serbia's state secretary for Kosovo, outlined an array of tough measures to squeeze Kosovo that he said Serbia was ready to take in the event that Kosovo's Albanian-dominated government declared independence and was recognized by Western governments. These included the possible deployment of Serbian forces to the province, the sealing of its borders, and a trade embargo.

The potential steps are the harshest outlined so far by the government here and come as negotiations between the sides overseen by Russia, the European Union and the United States appear to be deadlocked. The United Nations has set a Dec. 10 deadline for the conclusion of the talks, after which the United States has indicated it would recognize Kosovo unilaterally.

International officials in Kosovo, regional analysts and Albanian politicians have repeatedly stated that a return of Serbian troops would prompt a renewed conflict in the region.

Until now, Serbia has shied away from making any threats that could associate it with the repressive response by its security forces to an ethnic Albanian insurgency during the 1990s, when Slobodan Milosevic was the president of Yugoslavia.

In an interview in the Serbian capital, Mr. Prorokovic warned that unilateral recognition by Western states would give Serbia the right to return its troops to the province, and to annul an eight-year agreement between NATO and what was then the Yugoslav government regulating the troops' exclusion. Mr. Prorokovic is also a senior member of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Serbian Democratic party.

"In case of self-proclamation, it is not an active paper anymore," Mr. Prorokovic said, referring to the agreement, known as the Kumanovo military accord. "Without Kumanovo, our army can go back without any legal limits," he said. "It can cross the boundary and go everywhere in Kosovo without any legal problems."

Serb-dominated forces were forced to withdraw from Kosovo in June 1999 after a 78-day NATO-led bombing campaign. Since then, the United Nations has administered the province. United Nations officials estimate that up to 10,000 ethnic Albanians lost their lives in the conflict.

Mr. Prorokovic said the redeployment of the Serbian Army was one of up to 16 options Serbia was considering if Kosovo declared independence. He also reinforced his government's stance that continued talks on Kosovo's future was the only option worth considering.

"We do not have an alternative," he said.

If Kosovo's Albanian leaders proceed with their plans to declare unilateral independence at the end of current talks, Mr. Prorokovic said, Serbia will initiate a trade embargo on the province, which relies on Serbia for much of its imports, and seal its boundaries with Serbia. "We will block every kind of commercial activity, and every kind of route," he said.

The warning comes ahead of the public announcement on Monday of terms of a detailed package offered to the ethnic Albanians in Vienna last week.

An adviser to Kosovo's prime minister, Agim Ceku, said Mr. Prorokovic's statement would not deter Kosovo's Albanian leadership from seeking recognition after negotiations finish in December.

"How do they walk over NATO troops in the region, and what do they do when they are exposed to open conflict?" said Borut Grgic, a foreign policy adviser to Mr. Ceku. "Occupation is out of the question. The international community would block it."

But Mr. Grgic conceded that the region was at risk of renewed tension by the end of the year as Kosovo's Albanian leaders move closer to proclaiming a state.

One leading political commentator in Belgrade said Serbia's increasingly tough stance on Kosovo, bolstered by Russia's refusal to accept recognition of the province within the United Nations Security Council, may test the resolve of European states that are divided over Kosovo's future.

The Serbs "know that security is not fantastic in Kosovo. In a way, they are threatening the others," said Bratislav Grubacic, editor of the VIP news agency.

Several European states have said they will not recognize Kosovo as an independent state without a United Nations resolution.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...504190,00.html

Moose · September 6th, 2007

I hope they go back in.

It would be quite entertaining to see what the Kwa would do if Russia decided to flex some muscle in a standoff this time around.

Donnachaidh · September 6th, 2007

The Serbs were stabbed in the back by their treasonous politicians who couldn't wait to sell out to the West for a few pieces of silver. Now, they are no doubt emboldened by the defeat of the Kwan army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Face it, if a few thousand untrained and basically unarmed goat herders could accomplish what they have, imagine what the Serbs could do. I know some of these guys and believe me, you would not want to go one on one with them. Add to the mix the fact that this time, Russia will not stand idly by without giving them some sort of aid. My prediction is that the kwan will take the safe route and do nothing but talk.

Mishko Novosel · September 6th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnachaidh

The Serbs were stabbed in the back by their treasonous politicians who couldn't wait to sell out to the West for a few pieces of silver. Now, they are no doubt emboldened by the defeat of the Kwan army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Face it, if a few thousand untrained and basically unarmed goat herders could accomplish what they have, imagine what the Serbs could do. I know some of these guys and believe me, you would not want to go one on one with them. Add to the mix the fact that this time, Russia will not stand idly by without giving them some sort of aid. My prediction is that the kwan will take the safe route and do nothing but talk.

Well as people know I'm not a big fan of Serbia, but prior to the war Yugoslavia had the 4th largest army in Europe. I'm not sure what's left of it, but they'll put up one hell of a fight if pushed, and Russia is backing them.

What just annoys the hell out of me is that the UN and the US keep sticking their noses in places that it doesn't belong, hell the fuckers INVENTED Bosnia. That country NEVER existed, they basically STOLE Croatian and Serbian land and created it out of thin air. I believe the reason why they the TPTB are doing this is because of the term "divide and conquer". It's easier to mess with small countries than one large one.......

September 6th, 2007	#1
dogman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,499	Serbia Says Use of Force Is an Option in Kosovo September 06, 2007 BALKAN FRICTION Serbia Says Use of Force Is an Option in Kosovo By Nicholas Wood in Belgrade Kosovo's Albanian-dominated government seems set to declare its independence from Serbia. Some Western governments appear to back this move, but now Serbia is weighing its options -- and military options -- in such an event. REUTERS Serbia is prepared to use force to prevent Kosovo gaining independence. Serbia is ready to use force to prevent Western states from recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, a senior Serbian official warned on Wednesday. Dusan Prorokovic, Serbia's state secretary for Kosovo, outlined an array of tough measures to squeeze Kosovo that he said Serbia was ready to take in the event that Kosovo's Albanian-dominated government declared independence and was recognized by Western governments. These included the possible deployment of Serbian forces to the province, the sealing of its borders, and a trade embargo. The potential steps are the harshest outlined so far by the government here and come as negotiations between the sides overseen by Russia, the European Union and the United States appear to be deadlocked. The United Nations has set a Dec. 10 deadline for the conclusion of the talks, after which the United States has indicated it would recognize Kosovo unilaterally. International officials in Kosovo, regional analysts and Albanian politicians have repeatedly stated that a return of Serbian troops would prompt a renewed conflict in the region. Until now, Serbia has shied away from making any threats that could associate it with the repressive response by its security forces to an ethnic Albanian insurgency during the 1990s, when Slobodan Milosevic was the president of Yugoslavia. In an interview in the Serbian capital, Mr. Prorokovic warned that unilateral recognition by Western states would give Serbia the right to return its troops to the province, and to annul an eight-year agreement between NATO and what was then the Yugoslav government regulating the troops' exclusion. Mr. Prorokovic is also a senior member of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Serbian Democratic party. "In case of self-proclamation, it is not an active paper anymore," Mr. Prorokovic said, referring to the agreement, known as the Kumanovo military accord. "Without Kumanovo, our army can go back without any legal limits," he said. "It can cross the boundary and go everywhere in Kosovo without any legal problems." Serb-dominated forces were forced to withdraw from Kosovo in June 1999 after a 78-day NATO-led bombing campaign. Since then, the United Nations has administered the province. United Nations officials estimate that up to 10,000 ethnic Albanians lost their lives in the conflict. Mr. Prorokovic said the redeployment of the Serbian Army was one of up to 16 options Serbia was considering if Kosovo declared independence. He also reinforced his government's stance that continued talks on Kosovo's future was the only option worth considering. "We do not have an alternative," he said. If Kosovo's Albanian leaders proceed with their plans to declare unilateral independence at the end of current talks, Mr. Prorokovic said, Serbia will initiate a trade embargo on the province, which relies on Serbia for much of its imports, and seal its boundaries with Serbia. "We will block every kind of commercial activity, and every kind of route," he said. The warning comes ahead of the public announcement on Monday of terms of a detailed package offered to the ethnic Albanians in Vienna last week. An adviser to Kosovo's prime minister, Agim Ceku, said Mr. Prorokovic's statement would not deter Kosovo's Albanian leadership from seeking recognition after negotiations finish in December. "How do they walk over NATO troops in the region, and what do they do when they are exposed to open conflict?" said Borut Grgic, a foreign policy adviser to Mr. Ceku. "Occupation is out of the question. The international community would block it." But Mr. Grgic conceded that the region was at risk of renewed tension by the end of the year as Kosovo's Albanian leaders move closer to proclaiming a state. One leading political commentator in Belgrade said Serbia's increasingly tough stance on Kosovo, bolstered by Russia's refusal to accept recognition of the province within the United Nations Security Council, may test the resolve of European states that are divided over Kosovo's future. The Serbs "know that security is not fantastic in Kosovo. In a way, they are threatening the others," said Bratislav Grubacic, editor of the VIP news agency. Several European states have said they will not recognize Kosovo as an independent state without a United Nations resolution. http://www.spiegel.de/international/...504190,00.html

September 6th, 2007	#3
Donnachaidh Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mount Zion - Jew York Shitty Posts: 6,348	The Serbs were stabbed in the back by their treasonous politicians who couldn't wait to sell out to the West for a few pieces of silver. Now, they are no doubt emboldened by the defeat of the Kwan army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Face it, if a few thousand untrained and basically unarmed goat herders could accomplish what they have, imagine what the Serbs could do. I know some of these guys and believe me, you would not want to go one on one with them. Add to the mix the fact that this time, Russia will not stand idly by without giving them some sort of aid. My prediction is that the kwan will take the safe route and do nothing but talk. __________________ The Western democracy of today is the forerunner of Marxism which without it would not be thinkable. It provides this world plague with the culture in which its germs can spread. -Adolf Hitler (Mein Kampf)

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September 6th, 2007	#2
Moose Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 909	I hope they go back in. It would be quite entertaining to see what the Kwa would do if Russia decided to flex some muscle in a standoff this time around.