Bob and Austin,

Here is the answer to your questions, In Rambuelle France, Thaci signed for full autonomy of Kosovo within Serbia, it was Milochevic who refused to give Albanians of Kosovo full autonomy. This is why, kosovo is independent today, there was absolutely, unequivocally no bargaining for human rights with Milochevic and the Serbs at the time. Now Serbs want to "bargain", games over now!

Mikel , Florida , USA

"Brussels must offer the Serbs a real choice: between a tough military response, if Belgrade incites more demonstrations; and a generous package making emergency aid available to Serbia's stuttering economy if Belgrade tries to calm passions in the region."

A perfect portrait of US (sorry, EU) as a "good guy" and Russia as a "bad guy". With "good" albanian minorities and "bad" Serbian minorities. I love this story. How about Bruce Willis as a top hero?

That would look good for Soviet propoganda, but in means of democratic values that is really a shame.

Andrei, Novosibirsk, Russia

In response to Ron from Amsterdam;
"So Albanians want to leave Serbia to get their own state, but want to keep Serbians in their state? Strange.

Isn't Kosovo better off without Serbian North Kosovo? "

Sort off like the 49% off Christians in Bosnia and Herzegovina that are forced to live under a state only desired by the 51% Muslim majority, right?

Marc, Oregon, USA

Will the EU be carving up Macedonia next to suit Albanian irredentists there? The Albanian group in the Macedonian government walked out last week because, among other things, it was angry Macedonians wouldn’t pay state pensions to armed extremists who took part in the uprising of 2001. These are the kinds of kooky demands Albanians are making throughout the region because they have foolish support of the EU.

What of the Macedonians living in Greece and Bulgaria, shouldn’t they be allowed some modicum of human rights? What of the Hungarians in Voivodina, can’t they join Hungary? What of the Turks in Greece who can’t legally refer to themselves as ‘Turks’?

The EU’s special treatment of Albanians and transparent discrimination of other minorities is breathtaking and everyone is noticing. This should be addressed.

The EU's policies lack principle and consistency and there are too many double standards. Russia will try to exploit this opportunity to drive a wedge in NATO.

David, Montreal, Canada

As a Serb, I find it pathetic to hear all the talk and sacremongering when they say: Serbia has a choice between the EU and isolation.

Well, I do not want ot be a part of that entity. Milosevic was removed from power 8 years ago, and we still need visas to visit even pur first neighbors. All we got from EU are threats, bombs, humiliating demands and now even blackmail. I will try my luck with Russia now, as apparently, I have nothing more to lose.

As far as I am concerned, EU has lost until recently one staunch EU supporter. We survived Ottoman occupation, we survived Nazis, we survived communism, and we will definitely survive EU occupation of Kosovo.

God bless Serbs in Kosovo

Nenadjebivi, Kosovska Mitrovica,

I think that the Serbs will go on forever like that!
Some greater power must be used to lead them in a different more desirable direction! This will be in their own interes!
As they are lost and it does not seem likely that they will get anywhere! by themselvees!

Dor, London, UK

So Albanians want to leave Serbia to get their own state, but want to keep Serbians in their state? Strange.

Isn't Kosovo better off without Serbian North Kosovo?

Apart from the fact that this whole independence is illegal! (1244)

Ron, Amsterdam, Holland

If you want peace then help the serbs , not just the kosovans .
serbs have a right to be in kosovo there holy and historic land . the west has failed the serbs and failed themselves .

lee coleman ., london uk ., GB .

It is absolutely unacceptable that the UN troops in Mitrovica should be using such force against civilians. They stood back and watched while the Albanians burned Serb homes, churches and monasteries four years again. They did not lift a finger to help or stop the violence.

How is it possible that the UN has the means to respond when they did not have the wherewithal in Bosnia or when the violence was directed against the Serbs in Kosovo.

The Albanians have, with the help of the US and UK govt. primarily declared unilateral independence. This is against Resolution 1244 which is still in force and against International law.

Branka , London, UK

If real political autonomy is solution, it is beyond comprehension why NATO opposed real political autonomy of Albanians within Serbia. During Kosovo civil war 1998-99 Serbian per capita casualties were not smaller than Albanian ones. After the war, Albanians returned to their homes, while 250,000 Serbs and Roma were expelled without the right of return. Before the war, some 40 40,000 Serbs lived in Pristina. Today, less than 400. Thousands of flats has been looted, more than 1000 Serbs murdered, all this under NATO's watchful eye.

The fact is, Pristina can not establish viable state created by illegal secession, no matter how hard spinmeisters try to justify it.

Skeptics say Kosovo is needed as a NATO's launch pod where population has no say, unlike Poland, Czech Republic or other NATO countries.Hopefully, not true, because such lame plan could backfire elsewhere. With British forces stretched thin, it will be interesting ride. Home and abroad.

Bob Petrovich , Toronto, ON , Canada

I cannot help but find it humorous that it is finally Serbia's choice. It was not Serbia's choice when negotiations could have continued. It was not Serbia's choice when the UK and the US recognized Kosovo, in violation of UN Resolution 1244. It is not Serbia's choice to try to retain its own territory. Serbia's only choice is to submit itself to the will of higher powers, and hope for a carrot, or to try to defend its interests and be punished into isolation. Wow, what a choice.

Austin Robinson, Wherever,