Russia will never use force to solve Kosovo problem - envoy

[Afro-European]

MOSCOW, February 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will never use force to solve the problem of Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia, Russia's envoy to NATO said on Sunday. "This [use of force] will never take place," Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with the Vesti television channel in reply to a request to comment on his statement made at a February 22 Moscow-Brussels video conference and wrongfully interpreted by some media.
Some media claimed, referring to Rogozin's statement on Kosovo, that he admitted of the use of force to restore international law. These reports prompted an angry reaction from Washington.
According to Rogozin, he would advise U.S. representatives to use reliable rather than dubious information sources.
Rogozin said Russia will defend its position on Kosovo in the UN Security Council as its permanent member.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080224/99968509.html

People got worked up about what he supposedly said but the truth is,he was misquoted.
In no way Russia would attack Nato and vice versa coz we all know where that will lead into.

[Calanen]

Its not important enough for Russia. They might get grumpy, but tanks are not going to rumble over it.

[Ordie]

Russia always delivers empty promises to the Serbs ever since Tzarist times.

[Frutzel]

Other countries do the same.....politics are a dirty business.

[zg18]

Russia always delivers empty promises to the Serbs ever since Tzarist times.


This is simply not true, Russians always helped Serbs politicaly or militarily depended on situation and realistic Russian capabilities,i know at least 3 or 4 situations were Russian support was criticaly importnat for the Serbs.

[Igor01]

Russia always delivers empty promises to the Serbs ever since Tzarist times.

In WWI Russia lost over 3 million KIA and almost 5 million wounded.

[Afro-European]

If you think the 1999 sh!t gonna happen again,then think again.Anyhow this problem will be solved peacefully coz all parties involved(The US and EU vs Russia) are smart enough to engage themselves in a confrontation.



Russia always delivers empty promises to the Serbs ever since Tzarist times.

[cinoeye]

Sure, they are not Americans. ;)

[Afro-European]

hahahah what do you mean by that?


Sure, they are not Americans. ;)

[Ordie]

In WWI Russia lost over 3 million KIA and almost 5 million wounded.

Which ingnited the 1917 October Revolution led by the Bolsheviks.

[cinoeye]

hahahah what do you mean by that?



They will do anyting to get what they want, icluding using weapons.

THey supported Albanians in media and on the ground, by training them, arming them and finnaly openly using weapons against Serbia with the escuse they are stoping genocide. (200 000 according to then US president).

Russia suppotred Serbia, but they did noting.

Or maybe they did.
My friend, the RUssias army officer trew out TV thru the window, when NATO started campaign.
ANd Boris Yeltsin took extra shoot of Vodka that day.
That's abou it.

[KoTeMoRe]

Russia always delivers empty promises to the Serbs ever since Tzarist times.

Bull****

Last time they tried the freaking British Fleet came to them. Seems some have special interests into the failure of these promises.

[Snoshi]

They will do anyting to get what they want, icluding using weapons.



Just because some countries cant use force does not meant that they are against it or will never use it..

[Ordie]

Bull****

Last time they tried the freaking British Fleet came to them. Seems some have special interests into the failure of these promises.

The Russian and British Royals are first cousins. I guess you can call that special interest.

[cinoeye]

Just because some countries cant use force does not meant that they are against it or will never use it..

I know and they did in the past.

I'm just trying to be a comedian. :)

[Igor01]

Which ingnited the 1917 October Revolution led by the Bolsheviks.

The October Revolution followed in the wake of the February Revolution that did away with monarchy in Russia and plunged the country into chaos and reaction, it wasn't the Bolsheviks that made Nicholas II abdicate the crown but his own ministers and generals.

Russia entered WWI to protect her ally Serbia and sustained immense losses and even bigger hardships that the war brought about (two revolutions, collapse of the Empire, a Civil War far more bloodier than WWI).

[Bongopete]

In WWI Russia lost over 3 million KIA and almost 5 million wounded.

And people didnt think that the first world war was possible at the time either.

[Igor01]

And people didnt think that the first world war was possible at the time either.

I can appreciate historical parallels just like the next guy, but the situation in the world has changed somewhat since 1914, don't you think?

[Mastermind]

True, Russia will not use force...But, I have to wonder what might happen if Russia sent to Serbia some small scattered contingent of "Instructors" or of "Maintenance Battalian" along with some sort of reatively peaceful equipment, like transports or started building a new electrical infrastructure in Serbia...so that their "Technicians" might be anywhere at any time. Then, the Serbs began their antics...as before...but, this time, with Russians all over the country in "harms way"...the West and Euros would be very hard pressed to do a dman thing about it....and there would be no concensus for bombing the tihs out of a nation filled with Russians or even Chinese. Serbs could then basically do any thing they wanted to keep Kosovo in the realm and no outside interference and Russians would not have to fight anyone.

[sosed]

Now is not the right time for Russia or Serbia to go into war for Kosovo. But i'm sure when the time will be right, serbian army will go back in Kosovo and nobody will do anything about it.

[Igor01]

True, Russia will not use force...But, I have to wonder what might happen if Russia sent to Serbia some small scattered contingent of "Instructors" or of "Maintenance Battalian" along with some sort of reatively peaceful equipment, like transports or started building a new electrical infrastructure in Serbia...so that their "Technicians" might be anywhere at any time. Then, the Serbs began their antics...as before...but, this time, with Russians all over the country in "harms way"...the West and Euros would be very hard pressed to do a dman thing about it....and there would be no concensus for bombing the tihs out of a nation filled with Russians or even Chinese. Serbs could then basically do any thing they wanted to keep Kosovo in the realm and no outside interference and Russians would not have to fight anyone.

Mastermind, this would have been a realistic (and smart) scenario circa 1999. You have to remember that since then a lot of changes took place everywhere. Serbia, for example, experienced a "democratic revolution" which brought new leadership that did an aweful lot to patch up the old wrongs in the hopes of EU membership and a mutually acceptable resolution to Kosovo. Serbia today is a very different country than it was 9 years ago and Kosovo has NATO forces on the ground.

Russia, despite all the recent talk of rising back to her Imperial glory, has given up a lot of ground, and NATO and US have immediately filled the vacuum left by her pulling out. And unlike 1999, today's Russian ruling elite has much more lucrative passtimes than pretend to be USSR (back then oil was like what, $20?)

[Mastermind]

Good...hell, excellent pints Igor...but, it is still a cool scenario to wonder about...and, Putin is, afterall, spoiling to increase tensions world wide to help solidify his post presidential position.

It is a rather decidedly delicious cavort into Geo Political Fantasy. I would love to hear the excited debates in the WH, and at the Clinton and Obama campaigns.

[Bongopete]

I can appreciate historical parallels just like the next guy, but the situation in the world has changed somewhat since 1914, don't you think?

I would really like to think so...and in some parts of the world maybe things have...but in others I dont think they have at all.

[Ordie]

But i'm sure when the time will be right, serbian army will go back in Kosovo and nobody will do anything about it.

Question: How much is Kosovo worth? Is Serbia prepared to commit suicide for that piece of real estate? Or its it willing to cope and move on.

Overall it's a no win situation for either Serbia or Russia. Russia is dependent on European cash for its natural gas reserves. Even if Russia were to turn-off the gas, its very hard to move fixed pipelines to other customers. Kosovo is not worth the trouble for Russia.

For Serbia there are very few options left. Other than the "verbal" support of Russia, who else can Serbia turn to for help?

The only other option is to get back to normalcy as quick as possible by transitioning into the EU grid and hope for seamless invisible borders, market, development and currency between Turkey and Ireland and Kosovo and Serbia.

Given the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state, and the history human right atrocities in this region, Kosovo will be protected for the immediate future (10-20 years).

As an Argentine-American, I can understand Serbia's loss in comparison with the Falkland/ Malvinas Islands. But one learns to live with a loss of territory that was not ment to be.

[TopolA]

Question: How much is Kosovo worth? Is Serbia prepared to commit suicide for that piece of real estate? Or its it willing to cope and move on.

Overall it's a no win situation for either Serbia or Russia. Russia is dependent on European cash for its natural gas reserves. Even if Russia were to turn-off the gas, its very hard to move fixed pipelines to other customers. Kosovo is not worth the trouble for Russia.

For Serbia there are very few options left. Other than the "verbal" support of Russia, who else can Serbia turn to for help?

The only other option is to get back to normalcy as quick as possible by transitioning into the EU grid and hope for seamless invisible borders, market, development and currency between Turkey and Ireland and Kosovo and Serbia.

Given the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state, and the history human right atrocities in this region, Kosovo will be protected for the immediate future (10-20 years).

As an Argentine-American, I can understand Serbia's loss in comparison with the Falkland/ Malvinas Islands. But one learns to live with a loss of territory that was not ment to be.


Well, simply put, Kosovo means a lot to the Serbian people.

I have no doubt in my mind that a war over it will be fought once again, during the fallowing decade...

and how exactly would Serbia be committing suicide if they invaded Kosovo??!!??

I highly doubt that the KFOR forces stationed there would be much of an obstacle. And if you think that United States and the EU, are ready for yet another war, then you are mistaken...

Also keep in mind that Russia is not what it used to be in 1999, and that Putin is not Yeltsin, and although Russia does depend on Europe for the money for its gas, you seem to forget that that money is injecting the fuel into the Bear, Russia is on a serious mission of re-armament...


Keeping these things in mind, I would not be surprised if a war happened in Kosovo by 2015-2020.

[Ordie]

I highly doubt that the KFOR forces stationed there would be much of an obstacle. And if you think that United States and the EU, are ready for yet another war, then you are mistaken....

I don't think Modern Europe will tolerate another Srebrenica, or Jasenovac on its watch.

Divorce is always a better alternative than a murder-suicide. Besides, administering Kosovo would have been a real economic drag on Serbia in terms of resources, goods, services, infrastructure and public safety.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

How is Russia dependent on Europe?

I'm sure the Chinese would step in and buy the gas if Europe stopped buying.

Russia holds the key. Turn off the tap and Europe is stuffed.

[Ordie]

How is Russia dependent on Europe?

I'm sure the Chinese would step in and buy the gas if Europe stopped buying.

No natural gas pipelines from Russia to China. Besides any gas cut off will also affect Serbia.

[TopolA]

No natural gas pipelines from Russia to China. Besides any gas cut off will also affect Serbia.

I believe that eventually there will be a pipeline to China, and thus the reason why I say the possible war would be occurring in the next decade.

[guest]

I like Putin.
He makes the right noises.
We need another cold war to keep the Euros in line.

If we could figure out how to fight without nuclear holocaust....

I'd play in that game.

C'mon.. admit it.
WarsawPact/NATO conflict.. It's a War Nerds wet dream.

The only stickler was that whole "End of Humanity" thing...

How many of you played "Longbow 2".. oh you KNOW you loved ripple firing Hellfires after the "Pop=up"

Designating multiple targets on the TAADS..
Handing off contacts to my wing..
I'm drooling

Although thinking about it now, I'm sure Cdn 4BG "SpeedBump" was glad it never happened.

[Onslo]

Never? You have this see this on an a 350 year timescale.
After all the muslims occupied Serbia for 350 years and it is still kicking.

[SrB-23Q]

actually 1459 Serbia fell to the Ottomans but it all Started 1389
so u can pretty much say the muslims occupied all of Serbia since 1459 and most of it between 1389-1459 so it goes for way more then 350 years
and Serbia is still kicking :)

[Ordie]

I believe that eventually there will be a pipeline to China, and thus the reason why I say the possible war would be occurring in the next decade.

There a gas line being proposed between Kazakstan and China. The other is from Russia Far East into China. But Russia has yet to complete a highway to connect its Far Eastern Provences to Moscow.

The volume of gas sales is still limited due to lack of pipeline capacity.

[KoTeMoRe]

There a gas line being proposed between Kazakstan and China. The other is from Russia Far East into China. But Russia has yet to complete a highway to connect its Far Eastern Provences to Moscow.

The volume of gas sales is still limited due to lack of pipeline capacity.

LIke the Transsiberian? Routes and Permafrost don't get along that well (now why was I expecting such an intervention).

[Ordie]

LIke the Transsiberian? Routes and Permafrost don't get along that well (now why was I expecting such an intervention).
Wishful thinking