Vladimir Putin gave his final annual Press Conference as Russian President on Thursday.
According to Kommersant, at more than four hours, it was his longest ever and, as usual, Vladimir Vladimirovich has thrown out plenty of media-worthy quotes to excite press interest. Some crude, some scary, some twee.
To give you a flavour of the event, I’ve compiled some of my favourite quotes from the press conference and grouped them together around a few key themes.
On political leadership
It seems as though Putin wasn’t impressed with Hillary Clinton’s recent quip about his not having a soul. When asked what he thought of Clinton he quickly snapped back:
“A state official must at least have brains.”
Current President George W Bush, on the other hand, is clearly Putin’s soulmate:
“Sometimes you have to make decisions that nobody else can make… Do you think Bush has it easy?”
In his own job, Putin confessed that he works “like a galley slave”, but didn’t ask for any sympathy:
“Heads of state have no right to whinge, or drool for any reason… If they are going to slobber and blow snot and say things are bad, bad, then that’s how it will be.”
I don’t know about you, but to me those sound like the words of a man with a cold.
On being the richest man in the world
For a while now an unsubstantiated story has been floating around about Putin’s $40 billion wealth – his alleged ill-gotten gains from 8 years in the Kremlin. Putin clearly isn’t impressed by the man who has been spreading the rumours, bringing out the snot reference yet again:
“They picked it [the story] out of their noses and smeared it on paper.”
But in one sense, he really is the world’s richest man:
“That is true. I am the richest man in Europe and the whole world. I collect emotions. I am rich because the people of Russia have twice entrusted me with the top position in such a great country as Russia. I think this is my greatest wealth.”
On the future
Of course, the main question on everyone’s lips was “So, what are you going to do after the election, Vladimir Vladimirovich, when you have to move out of your shiny Kremlin office?”
For a change, Putin was willing to talk. Here’s a collection of his comments – I’ll leave it for you to judge what he meant:
“I know how the head of state’s job is set up, and assure you that our relations will be quite harmonious. I will never step in for the head of the government. I consider that damaging and counter-productive.”
“I should not cry but be happy that I have the opportunity to work in another capacity, and in another capacity to serve my country. I will be involved in the same tasks as when I was president. I will continue working.”
“The premiership is not a transitional post,” he said. “If I can see that in this capacity I can fulfill these goals, I will work as long as possible. There is no other answer.”
“I was never tempted to stay for a third term. Never,” he said. “From my first day of work as president I decided for myself that I would never violate the existing constitution. [...]
Some are addicted to cigarettes, some, God forbid, to drugs, and some become addicted to money. They say that the worst addiction is to power. I have never felt that. I have never been addicted to anything.”
“The president is the guarantor of the constitution. He sets the main directions for internal and external policies. But the highest executive power in the country is the Russian government, headed by the prime minister”
On Foreign Affairs
As you’d expect, Putin was blunt, possibly even confrontational when stating his views on foreign policy. He certainly pulled very few punches. On US plans for a missile shield based in Poland and the Czech Republic he threw out a nuclear threat:
“Our experts believe that the system threatens our national security. If it appears, we will have to react adequately. We will probably have to retarget our missiles against those objects which threaten our security.”
In a move that will please many, Putin drew parallels between independence for Kosovo and other struggles for national liberation around the world. Surprisingly, though, he shied away from traditional examples, such as Trans-Dniester, and instead cited Cyprus:
“I don’t want say anything that would offend anyone, but for 40 years northern Cyprus has practically had independence,” Putin said. “Why aren’t you recognizing that? Are you not ashamed in Europe of the double standards you are applying to settle problems?”
“I will yet again emphasize that we consider that unilateral support for independence for Kosovo is immoral and illegal.”
The greatest disdain, however, was reserved for those who want to monitor Russia’s Presidential election for compliance with ‘democratic’ standards.
“Let them teach their wives to make cabbage soup”
Indeed. At this rate, I’m going to need to update my Putin quotes to live your life by article.
Update: A full transcript of the press conference can be found at kremlin.ru. Thanks to Ger for the link.
About Andy Young
Mike, I am quoting from your email to Ger, which I (like Andy) do not think is doctored.
What exactly did you refer to by writing “Andy’s always interfering, a real schmuckowiz” , if not Andy. Well, forget about it.
Back to the Kosovo, for those of you able to read German, or who have one of those brilliant online-translators Mike obviously has, here’s a good article by Spiegelfechter.
http://www.spiegelfechter.com/wordpress/293/totgeburt-eines-staates
Very interesting are the connections of the now “heads of state and government” in Kosovo and the organized crime. A good read.
I’ll also be delighted to give a helping hand if the online translation shouldn’t turn out good enough.
Andy:
That would be Heribert as I never called you a schmuckowitz (quite the contrary).
Heribert:
I’ve a very multi-national network of friends acquaintances, relatives and businness associates.
Second submission. Please excuse if duplicated.
Pardon misspell: business
Andy
Regarding your earlier media notes. ABC New NightLine didn’t cover Kosovo. The Obama-Clinton debate took some of the news thunder away from the Belgrade rioting.
Charlie Rose had on Obama adviser Samantha Power, who has a Sorosian outlook on former Yugoslavia. Same old, same old. I see her as possibly being somewhat more objective than a Holbrooke or Albright. She tends to deal more with “humanitarian” issues (at times arguably subjective in advocacy) not so related to the analytical route involving historical and political implications.
This morning’s CSPAN had on Bush foreign policy official Robert Fried, who said that American policy in Kosovo has been correct.
Watching the coverage of this issue on American television reveals a clear bias. On the Kosovo topic, someone like Lavrov is more objective than the Albrights, Rubins, Frieds and Clarks (among numerous others). This has to do with Russian policy being more even handed when compared to the official position taken by the US and some other countries.
It’s not as if there aren’t competent North American analysts who can authoritatively communicate the Serb position. Trifkovic, Jatras, Bissett, among others.
Hey guys,
first of all hope you had a nice weekend. I’m not here to restart the grief only to reiterate my apology to all concerned -Andy, as its his blog and couldnt do without all this bullshit, Mike for publishing what was a private set of emails and Heribert for getting sucked in (the emails were not doctored, however. Bad as I am, I’m not that bad. Mike . It was unforgivable atrocious behaviour. Mind you, I paid at least in part for it this weekend – had to babysit a grand total of five boys, so you can imagine the fun and games. Inspite of all the rubbish you can imagine -nintendo DS games, DVDs, toys -they’d fight over a piece of coal, if one of them became interested in it. We did watch the ‘Saint’ on tv sat nite and the kids were impressed with Moscow, mind you. Anyway, end result is I am now suffering what’s known as the ‘thousand yard stare’ after a weekend of madness, and I missed England beating France, which has opened up everything again!. Again, sorry to all concerned.
Inspite of my protestations, the wife is going in to Limerick today to vote for Putin (oops, sorry, Medvedev of course!). I’ll be alright as long as she brings me back a packet of smokes)
And I reiterate also that Mike is not anti-semitic. He appeared at a venue where such sympathies had been voiced, but not by Mike. Clearly he is not anti-semitic.
That mentioned venue is “clearly” not anti-Semitic. Once again, for consistency sake, some could make the same claims of J. Otto Pohl’s and Sean Guillory’s sites because of certain comments having been made which are either critical of Israel and-or Zionism as a political ideology.
At an earlier SL thread, Tim Nemwan and perhaps at least one other person noted my opposition to remarks that smacked of an anti-Jewish bias. I tend not to hold back in confronting bigotry. Bigotry against Russia and Russians is a reality that is soft pedalled in comparison to how some other prejudices are scorned. It’s reprehensible that supposedly open minded folks aren’t so aware of this. I’ve written about it, providing first hand documentation which others haven’t. FACT! Rather than acknowledging this, we see some stupid shit insulting replies about how someone’s children or grand children can say they do analytical work.
Others besides myself find http://russophobe.blogspot.com to easily qualify for the bigoted label when compared to the three mentioned sites.
EB willingly appeared at LR, while essentially calling me “anti-Semitic” – despite his acknowledgement of not being familiar with my work. What kind of morality and displayed intelligence is that?
Sticking on topic:
Getting Kosovo Right
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/53215
”Rather than acknowledging this, we see some stupid shit insulting replies about how someone’s children or grand children can say they do analytical work. ”
What are you talking about?!
What Andy had asked be put to rest. Namely, rehashing what was previously raised in a way that takes away from the subject of the discussion.
Andy also asked to be substantive when critiquing. Rather than questioning one’s sexual prowess (or lack thereof) and education level (many brilliantly successful analytical minds out there and comparatively not as well received Phds), a better attempt at questioning actual ideas with firm counter evidence.
Andy:
Following up on the media coverage, Friday’s PBS NewsHour had on Obrad Kesic (who has been employed by Milan Panic) and an Albanian VOA fellow whose name escapes me. An example of how moderate Albanian views appear (at least to me) more extreme than the Serb variant.
Awhile back, I turned down an invite to attend a Gutman-Rieff Columbia U. panel as a non-panelist. Why torture oneself? I know what they’re going to say. They get the first and last words in, while speaking the most. A Gutman, Rieff, Johnstone, Szamuely panel is another story. Hoping that Johnstone and Szamuely are as good in live point-counterpoint exchanges as their rock solidly written commentary.
”Rather than questioning one’s sexual prowess (or lack thereof)”
who asked about your sexual prowess? As I recall, more than once on threads you’ve referred to ex girlfriends and lovely Slavic girls of yours. Those who are getting some feel no need to talk about it.
”Namely, rehashing what was previously raised in a way that takes away from the subject of the discussion.”
Nobody was rehashing anything at all above. What are you talking about, exactly?
Substance: Your article at American Chronicle, aesthetics aside, is loaded on rhetoric and practially zero on fact. It fails miserably to acknowledge the most basic of parts of the story – that Serbia, who was GOVERNING Kosovo at the time, carried out genocidal acts in 1998-99 against the Muslim population. Omitting this fact or pretending its not there is just, well, weak, to say the least. Secondly, you astoundingly brush under the carpet the failure of Serbia or Srpska to hand over Karadic. I mean, are you actually joking? These are absolute pre-requisites to the acceptance of Serbia as an equal nation amoung the rest of Europe. If I was the EU, I simply wouldnt even answer Serbia’s begging for handouts until he is handed over. Thirdly -and this is hilarious – you repeatedly, with NO EVIDENCE WHATOSEVER, refer to the War Crimes Tribunal as a ‘kangaroo court’. This is simply astonishing, and you do it all the time.
Would you kindly back up that statement with FACTS, not opinions?
Fourthly, style. Mike, you may consider yourself a quality writer, but phraseoligies like ‘blah, blah, blah’ in a supposedly serious piece are simply not acceptable anywhere. You can scream ‘censorship’ all you want, but without basic writing skills you arent going to make a decent publication.
Now, without starting a tirade about trolling, could you deal with the valid points raised?
And by the way I know plenty of Hong Kongers, who I am quite certain wouldnt refer to it as a non-nation. More total ignorance.
”education level (many brilliantly successful analytical minds out there and comparatively not as well received Phds),”
Call me old fashioned, but a defended thesis is considerably weightier in terms of respect than blog articles and the odd radio appearance. Yes, I know there are some brilliant people without them out there, but clearly, they have proven themselves in their field.
He trolls on with misinformation, in clear contradiction of what Andy asked for.
The involved subject matter isn’t his clear expertise and yet he restates brazenly ignorant comments, as if he knows what I said to be wrong; which isn’t the case.
This thread has links and commentary soundly debunking his rehashed rubbish. ICTY, so called “genocide” etc.
Contrary to his last asshole suggestive remark, I’ve proven myself as a worthy contributor. Unlike the troll, I’ve appeared at some high profile venues and receive my share of applause – field related Phds included.
Mass media has a negative rep. with many, because of the existing imperfections. Proof positive that it can be qualitatively changed.
The Hong kong reference is to show how a non-nation can be treated like one at a major intnl. org.
My prior American Chronicle article, as well as points earlier raised at this thread soundly debunk the recent tirade of repeated misinformation.
When compared to his commentary, my points are more fact based and much better documented. Needless to say, they make far more sense.
Check a recent Robert Amsterdam thread on the Kosovo subject to see how a civil conversation is conducted.
A comment directed at those who think the troll is “too dim” to alter a few words in an email. This same “dim” individual was “dim” enough to know how to initially get Mike to think he was a serious poster here. He also is “dim” enough to grasp the what sort of wind-up would get Mike pissed off and apply it. He’s also “dim” enough to turn a straight forward thread into an unreadable mass of “he said – she said” bickering. He is also “dim” enough to have looked up some Irish researcher’s name and background and assumed that person’s identity for posting here. He is also “dim” enough to be able to find a Russian website. He’s also “dim” enough, after having done all of this, to still have people on this blog thinking he was a serious poster.
I’ve not looked around here and am unfamiliar with whom is “boyfriends” with whom here (besides the obvious ger and db) but I’ve seen enough of these trolls to recognise their operating routine. Mike is fairly straight foreward, though a bit hot tempered (and always wrong when he disagrees with me ;D ), but anyone who would take the word of the troll over his, especially after all the crap that troll has already done, really should bring along a trusted friend when they go “bridge shopping”.
Mike,
I put some points to you. Either answer them, or concede them. I read your article and paid attention to it, but your explanations are all too simplistic or non-existent. I’m sorry if you dont like your views being questioned, but that’s life. Shouting and roaring that the ICTY is a kangaroo court isnt good enough; back it up with facts or a link, preferably a non-propaganda site.Now, defend your article or accept the criticism.
”The involved subject matter isn’t his clear expertise and yet he restates brazenly ignorant comments, as if he knows what I said to be wrong; which isn’t the case.”
You put the article out there; expect to defend it. Thats what academics do -they publish articles then defend them, not howl ‘troll’. As I recall, you got quite a pasting at a Fistful of Euros piece about the PMR. I am by no means the first to question the validity and factuality of what you write, wont be the last, and if someone with little interest in the Balkans like me can cause you such consternation, God Knows what an expert would do.
hayate,
I’d love to read your piece, but I’m going to have to get a ‘Russglish’ translator in. Expect a reply to your paranoid nonsense when I find a Russian pre-intermediate student of english. As for finding Russian websites, its obviously all part of the training I received from MI6. See hayate, even in little Ireland, surrounded by sheep, pubs and stone walls, there are evil men like me plotting against Putin’s Russia mwahahahah!:-)
… Republika Srpska has the status of a republic …
Mike, you are mistaken here. Despite the name, Republika Srpska is not really a republic.
http://www.ccbh.ba/public/down/USTAV_BOSNE_I_HERCEGOVINE_engl.pdf
“db”
You’re mistaken. Refer to the Dayton Accord. It speaks of a clause allowing Republika Srpska to establish its own parallel relationships with other states after a four year wait from the 1995 signing. True, the Bosniak nationalists and their fronts abroad (like the “Bosnian Institute”) have succeeded in curtailing Republika Srpska’s identity. It’s also true that Republika Srpska gets dictated to by Western appointed non-Serb dictators for the entity. Then again, “independent Kosova” isn’t so independent as George Szamuley eloquently detailed in his recent Counterpunch article.
Hayate:
You might be onto something. Chris Doss and Lyndon Allin are real folks under those names. The troll is a fraud as shown by how he repeats raising the same topics that were previously responded to in great detail. When this has happened, he moves to another issue. Awhile later, he’ll bring up those earlier points as if they weren’t discussed. Anyone taking his side is either of a twisted mind, or not paying attention to his disingenuously slimey antics.
This thread has been a great lesson in cyber trolling.
Note that I took Andy’s advice of not wanting to go back to such discussion. I clearly didn’t initiate it.
I’m a genuine human being, free of the phony bullshit out there. The troll is either doing someone else’s bidding with their active support or (more likely) serving the role as a useless idiot for them. Useless in the sense that I’m showing how I don’t punk out when faced with such behavior.
Second submission. Pardon if duplicated.
This message from a friend in Belgrade:
Despite the press hoopla about crazed mobs attacking
embassies (only a few hundred people), hundreds of
thousands of real Serbs — patriotic, peace-loving souls –
showed their feelings for Kosovo in a more than dignified
manner. Much more dignified than the Western nations who
fomented the seperatist war, then carved Kosovo off.
The Real Story Behind Kosovo’s Independence
http://www.counterpunch.org/scahill02232008.html
Mike, in case you missed it, I posted a link to the full text of Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina. You can check for yourself that, despite the name, Republika Srpska is not really a republic.
1) Give Ireland Back To The Irish
2) Give Kosovo Back To The Serbians
3) Give Siberian Light Back To Andy Young
Speaking as an Englishman who is pro Kosovan independence, I wholeheartedly agree with point number three.
Sorry Ger & Mike
Troll on you anonymous ****. Republika Srpska is a republic in name and what I last said about it is true.
What’s your real name please? Just getting to the selective level of some others.
db’s m.o. is to selectively nitpick what someone says while not being as high strung with others, when they’re wrong on such matters as spelling.
One of his recent troll barbs dealt with Skoropadsky’s last name spelling. He didn’t come back to answer why Kenez and Brinkley spell that name as Skoropadskii. Another dealt with how a Russian web site abbreviated the name of the involved org in the English language. Both instances weren’t so analytical as they were trivial. In those situations, his troll like presentations were wrong.
Andy:
Your venue.
My right to reply to babble said about me and-or views, individuals and orgs. that I support in one way or another.
Mr. Schindler has done some cranky things, which have been correctly responded to.
I gather you won’t mind if Wales and Scotland decide to break away. The latter being the more likely of the two. In any event, I don’t believe that Scotland has been considered the birth place of England.
Considering Kosovo’s overall history, inclusive of how it recently (in history) became an Albanian majority, I’d say that Serbia has some legitimate say. There’s also UNSC 1244 standing in the way of Kosovo ever becoming a UN member without Serb support.
The RS constitution refers to RS as a “repoublic”. Its name has reublic in it.
The non-Serb Sarajevo based Bosniak nationalist politicos and their fronts abroad can spin all they want.
That’s “republic”.
I’m with Mike here on the substantive point, although not on the rest of the nonsense he is spewing out at the moment about trolls and the like.
Commonly today Republics are states, with all of the baggage that comes with statehood – particularly sovereignty.
But, equally, Republics can be sub-state bodies, which is what Republika Srpska is today, in my view. Similarly to Soviet Republics or, perhaps, even US states today.
Having said that, whether Republika Srpska fits the definition of a republic or not is really neither here nor there. It is a member of the Bosnian Federation, and has signed up to abide by the rules governing that Federation until such time as it leaves.
By the way – I haven’t had time to check the constitution – is there provision within the for the either of the two constituent members of the Bosnian Federation to leave legally?
Heribert: Priceless:-) Danke schon:-) kogda ya buil student, ya znal student, kto buil Pallatine. Ochen khoroshii chelovek. Ryadom moi derevnaya tam muzei Palletine.
Andy: Vsyo ponyatno. Kogda ya pisal vechera, ya prosto khotel skazat’ ‘izvinitye’. No, konechno, nash luchshii analist nachal voina opyat. Kak durak. Kak obuichno.
db: vyu otclichi, kak kazhdaya vremya:-) maladyets)
Vsei: ya znayu moi russkii ochen plokho! Prosti menya!:-)
BTW, look how many years it took before an agreement was reached in Northern Ireland. Look at the Cyprus matter. In comparison, there was no legitimate need to rush an ill advised independence declaration for Kosovo.
I gather you won’t mind if Wales and Scotland decide to break away. The latter being the more likely of the two. In any event, I don’t believe that Scotland has been considered the birth place of England.
Well, clearly the best solution to all the world’s ills would be for the British Empire to be resurrected and allowed to stand astride the entire globe like a mightly colossus. But, failing that…
If the Welsh & Scots feel that independence from the UK is in their best interests, then that’s what they should have. I, and most in England, wouldn’t dream of trying to stop them.
I’m personally not convinced that independence would necessarily be in the interests of either Scotland or Wales – particularly in the economic sense. I’ve an open mind though, and am ready to be convinced.
You’re right – Scotland isn’t the historic birthplace of England but, even if it were, the above should surely still stand. What happened hundreds of years ago should be of no direct relevance today. Historic birthplaces are one of those daft arguments that get brought out when people can’t think of anything rational to say.
Rather like religion…
”BTW, look how many years it took before an agreement was reached in Northern Ireland.”
NI isnt independent, nor will it ever be. It is devolved, a different thing altogether. And, neither British troops, nor the IRA, nor the UVF ever committed genocide. They knocked the shit out of each other and there were civilians killed, but there was never a systemic attempt by any side to wipe out ethnically their opponents. I dont think it requires much intellect to recognize that when the Serb government did this, they lost the right to rule Kosovo.
Well Andy …
1) “Nationality” is a side effect of a thing called “place of birth”. So being an Englishman is actually not your fault. But I admit, and I am delighted to do so, you are a member of the very rare species called “Nice Englishman”
2) As to your statement being “Pro Kosovo Independence” … well, nobody is perfect.
3) As to you agreement on point #3 … here’s my suggestion.
Let’s install UNMISL (United Nations Mission in Siberian Light), let’s deploy SLSFOR (Siberian Light Stabilisation Force) and start negotiations regarding the partial independence of “TBFKASL – POBMA” (The Blog Formerly Know As Siberial Light – Presently Occupied By Mike Averko).
Will you accept German Peacekeepers or shall I contact my Russian friends to send a bunch of Desantniki ? In case you should be catholic, I could also ask for the Papal Swiss Guard (remember: the pope is German). But Benedict presently has only 110 men at his disposition. Might not be enough.
Well, you are probably not a Muslim, so sending a buch of Mudjaheddin wouldn’t be a good idea. Neither would be sending the Srpska Prva Armija.
The peace talks could take place in Paris, I know quite a few nice places there.
That’s not the only argument. There’s the economic side (Serb $$ involvement with Kosovo) and the many Serb churches in Kosovo, of which a good number were destroyed.
When it comes to a territory like Kosovo, taking the part of a whole and treating that part as separate from the whole is problematical in terms of how other borders could be changed.
This point probably explains why all EU and OIS members aren’t keen on supporting Kosovo’s independence.
What was the rush to push this agenda given how greater time has been allowed on the Northern Ireland and Cyprus issues? As of now, Kosovo isn’t capable of carrying on like a truly independent nation.
The Schindler troll strikes again with nonsense.
If Heribert Schindler doesn’t like it, he can go to his blog and say negatively misreperesentative things about others in his native German. He does that regardless. Some really monopolistic folks out there.
That’s: misrepresentative.
Thanks Andy for contributing in a purely on topic manner in your last post. Note my disagreeing with you, while lauding that kind of discourse.
”Historic birthplaces are one of those daft arguments that get brought out when people can’t think of anything rational to say.
Rather like religion…”
Never a truer word said. Thats why I think NI should remain part of the UK, and always have. There is a Unionist majority there who wants it so. Even the most rabid nationalists recognize that it is simply not possible to rewind 800 years. At that rate, where do you stop? Do your rewind back to Roman Times? Countries change, populations change, for right or wrong reasons, and the situation now is the only thing that is relevant.(And before anyone talks about the Republic of Ireland, it was always overwhelmingly Irish nationalist, though could easily have remained part of the UK, if the Brits hadnt made such a bollocks of dealing with the 1916 rebellion and given us devolution) The birthplace argument is actually hilarious. Apply it to Ireland, and we are entitled to Galicia in Spain, Wales, most of Scotland and parts of England and Wales. Are we getting a hearing at the UN for these territorial claims?:-)
The facts now are very simple. Kosovo has an Albanian majority, which were ethnically persecuted in 1998-99. If it was a football match it would be a penalty and straight red card against Serbia for professional foul and serious foul play. No issue there at all. Act like tin-pot tyrants, and expect to be treated like them.
Regarding a recent swet of comments:
If there was a genocide in Kosovo, it has been against the non-Albanian population. The Serbs were far less brutal than the Turks against Kurds, Iraqi Arabs against Kurds and Russians against Chechens. Note that the Albanians are far from virtuous.
Mike, make this “Mr. Schindler – Troll” and “Sir”, then I might not ask the UN to place a “candy embargo” on you … but wait … breaking news … the Norwegians have addressed the UN Security Council and complained about your exaggerated use of the word “troll” … as they claim trolls being a “Norwegian Cultural Asset”.
Moscow and Beijing commented already, they will not veto …
”What was the rush to push this agenda given how greater time has been allowed on the Northern Ireland”
Groan. The reason there wasnt a settlement in NI was that they were knocking the shit out of each other for 30 years beforehand and decided, wisely, that it was going nowhere. If you’re going to make comparisons, please make relevant ones. NI is in no way comparable to Kosovo, as I’ve explained above. And I wish you’d leave Ireland out of it. Its obvious you havent a clue beyond drinking the odd pint of Guinness. Kvatit, pazhaluista, it burns my eyes!
The facts are that some folks censor other facts after they were presented to them
- Albanians persecuted non-Albanians in Kosovo
- The last 100 year demographic change in Kosovo is due in good measure to terrorism against non-Albanians
- UNSC 1244 clearly recognizes Kosovo as a continued part of Serbia
- Support for Kosovo independence is based on faulty premises
The point about NI is that there was no rush to judgement. Same with Cyprus. Kowtowing to Albanian nationalist terrorism is a cowardly route to follow.
Second submission. Pardon if duplicated.
Heribert babbles on with troll like barbs. Let him go on You Tube with his own “comedy” show.
Andy, Ger … sorry for bringing in Ireland … can we switch to “Gibraltar” please ?
”Will you accept German Peacekeepers or shall I contact my Russian friends to send a bunch of Desantniki ?”
I know a retired desant colonel in Krylatskoe. He was in Afghanistan. They’d break your arms with their little fingers. They are KRUTA. Astoundingly tough. He loves giving me dead legs, just for the hell of it. I think he enjoys the opportunity to give a foreigner some pain) Sixty years old, he’d take 99% of the male population to the cleaners fitness-wise. If you ever see a big guy running near the Velodrome wearing an Irish sbornaya jersey, thats him.
”The last 100 year demographic change in Kosovo is due in good measure to terrorism against non-Albanians”
On that logic, should Dublin tell the Brits to move the 1.2 million Ulster Scots home so we can have Belfast back? NI was quite clearly stolen 800 years ago. But that was then, this is now.
”Andy, Ger … sorry for bringing in Ireland … can we switch to “Gibraltar” please ?”
No need to apologise at all Heribert – I’m actually trying to use Ireland as an example myself. I’m not in anyway nationalist, and I’d say Andy isnt bothered really either. Thankfully its not a contentious subject for the two countries really anymore.
”The Serbs were far less brutal than the Turks against Kurds, Iraqi Arabs against Kurds and Russians against Chechens. Note that the Albanians are far from virtuous.”
Thats all relative and not relevant. Genocide is genocide, end of story. And whilst it is absolutely true that the Kosovar Albanians are guilty too, Serbia was the governing nation and they kicked it off.
”As of now, Kosovo isn’t capable of carrying on like a truly independent nation.”
That’s true, but Serbia, quite rightly, should not be allowed to govern it.
Ger, let’s set the “genocide” aside for a minute … how about his ?
Europol estimates, that 40% of the Heroin smuggled into Estern Europe and North America comes in via Kosovo. “Janes Intelligence Review” estimates it’s rather more like 70%. The German Intelligence Agency (BND) thinks it’s 80%.
The German BND believes to have sufficient data to prove that the key players in Kosovo (Haliti, Thaci, Haradinaj) are strongly tied to the organized crime (gunrunning, narco-trafficking, money laundry, illegal (forced) prostitution … the German law-enforcement and intelligence community is puzzled why the heck our government supports the “independence”.
Quite a few German military commanders are upset because …
a) The German ISAF-Contingent “protects” narco-farmers in Afghanistan
b) The German KFOR-Contingent “protects” narco-traffickers in Kosovo.
It is a member of the Bosnian Federation …
Andy,
Just to avoid further confusion, the whole thing is called simply Bosnia and Herzegovina. It consists of two so-called “entities” with rather limited autonomy and misleading names: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska. And no, I don’t think that constitutional status of those entities is a trivial matter, especially if one bills himself a Balkan analyst.
Ger,
You can call me ??.
db
I will do that. Spasibo:-)
Andy
“db” is a troll, who was unable to refute the stated manner of Republika Srpska’s formation in 1995 and the fact that RS’s constitution calls itself a republic – in addition to RS having the word “republic” in its name. Once again, the Bosniak nationalists in Sarajevo have been trying to eliminate RS altogether. The selective citing of some sources can be misrepresentative. “db” continues to show limited analytical abilities. He/she covers this up by raising nit picking points in a selective way in terms of who he/she targets.
The other troll deceitfully babbles on about matter he’s not so knowledgeable of. For whatever one might think of some (stress some) of Hayate’s views, he has these trolls down pat. Like how the troll continues to overlook prior points and misreprsenting what was said.
In the year and a half of Kosovo fighting prior to NATO’s bombing campaign, roughly 2 thousand were killed out of a 2 million Kosovo population. About 500 of those killed were Serbs, who at the time were said to be 10% of Kosovo’s population. Per capita wise, this means the Serbs were the greater victims. Furthermore, many of the Albanians killed during that period were those who showed a willingness to work within the existing Serb/Yugo structures. BTW, I was forwarded data confirming the view that the mentioned year and a half Kosovo casualty figure is on par and perhaps less the murder rate in some American urban areas like Washington DC.
How many have died since the American led 2003 attack on Iraq? Is that “genocide”? Once again, note how the troll skirted the previously mentioned way the Kurds were treated under Turkish and Arab Iraqi rule. Definitely worse than what the Serbs could be legitimately accused of doing to the Albanians. Once gain noting how the Albanians are far from virtuous.
Given the way the Kosovo demographics have changed and that land’s overall history other disputed territories: it’s faulty to have granted it independence on short notice and without full international approval. When it comes to a territory like Kosovo, taking the part of a whole and treating that part as separate from the whole is problematical in terms of how other borders could be changed.
You earlier stated how the economics regarding independence should be considered as a possible factor. On that and oher points, Kosovo isn’t really independent.
In summation:
- Albanians persecuted non-Albanians in Kosovo
- The last 100 year demographic change in Kosovo is due in good measure to terrorism against non-Albanians
- UNSC 1244 clearly recognizes Kosovo as a continued part of Serbia
- Support for Kosovo independence is based on faulty premises
As a followup to this remark:
“That’s true, but Serbia, quite rightly, should not be allowed to govern it.”
***
Neither should the new world order screw ups who have essentially and hypocritically repackaged terrorists as “responsible” government officials in an ethnically cleansed, crime ridden area.
Serbia minus Kosovo is economically better off and more muliti-ethnically tolerant than the KLA/foreign occupation regime in Kosovo.
The Serb position of supporting great but responsible autonomy for Kosovo is the more prudent rote to take.
At play in the Kosovo independence matter is the foreign miltary beachhead being established in Kosovo.