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Sporadic, and sometimes prolonged, uprisings of violence are not unfamiliar to the city, but given that what appears to be a final settlement has been handed to Kosovo in the form of recognised independence from most of the world’s most powerful countries, it is now time that the situation calmed down. This particular rioting is related to a group of Serbs having stormed the courthouse in their half of Mitrovica, saying that they refuse to receive any orders from Albanian superiors. They quickly overwhelmed the security personnel present and it did not take long for someone to climb onto the roof, lower the UN flag and hoist a Serb flag in its place. There have been injuries to both NATO and UN staff, and of course to protesters too, and whilst arrests were made, many of these people subsequently escaped after the convoy which was carrying them came under attack.
It remains to be seen for how long these protests will continue, and whether new ones will emerge. The position of the Kosovo Serbs is precarious to say the least. They are an aging community, the youth moving away to find employment in Serbia, and furthermore are ever decreasing in number amongst elder generations as many decide to give up the battle by relocating to their safer motherland.
What does Kosovo mean to the Serbs? Evidently a great deal, the now independent country being central to their national myth which dates back to 1389 and also being the site of a several important monasteries. We must always respect the past and respect culture, but now is time for the Serbs to move forward. Since Kosovar Albanians now have the upper hand in both the country’s political apparatus and the quest for international allies they have not used the history card themselves. Were they to do so then it would be possible for them to list a great many achievements and events that link their nation to Kosovo, for example personalities like Pjeter Bogdani and the League of Prizren which are both central characteristics in Albanian nationhood. The Kosovar Albanians have realised that they must use the current climate to aid their progress as a respected member of the international community, even if membership of the UN looks unlikely for the time being given Russian objections. By making claims based on events that go back over 600 years the Serbs are missing one clear fact: Life is lived in the present, not in the past.
Ed Alexander is an award winning blogger of Balkan politics, culture and soccer. He is based in London and Zagreb, Croatia.
contra omnes
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... Apart from the fact that a statement like yours should be substantiated by more than a single source, this doesn't change much- while criminals surface in any army and any violent event in history, the truth stays. And the truth is that Kosovo saw the latest genocide attempt in Europe, by a country which yet has to be held accountable for it. Take it from there. |
Mike Babic
said:
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... KLA kidnapped and killed over 600 Serb people. Removed their organs and sold them aboard. What about that? |
