New Kosova Report

A stable Kosovo integrated into the EU

Wednesday, 04 June 2008

Kosovo integrated into the EU

Dailies quote European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, as saying on Tuesday in Moscow that the EU believes that a stable, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo has a EU perspective.

Asked if other parts of countries will follow the example of Kosovo and ask for independence, Ferrero-Waldner said that Kosovo is a unique case, because it has a specific history over the past decades.

“I don’t believe that it is right to make comparisons between the conflicts. Instead, we should try through negotiations to find solutions which are acceptable to all parties”, dailies quote Ferrero-Waldner as saying.

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Sebaneau said:

...
My dear "Alexa",

Most sources say that there are 90 percent Albanians or mor in Kosovo; the only serious source I know who once published a figure of 80 percent late enough for it to be relevant is Professor Michel Roux.

You certainly do not qualify as a "serious source", since you repeat the typically Serb lie of a recent massive "immigration" from Albania: typically Serb since a few seconds' reflection shows that it is impossible on its face. At the time you mentioned the Hoxha regime would shoot at sight on anyone who tried to flee from Albania, and every significant immigration from Albania would have elicited howls of protests among Serbian pseudo-nationalists, something which, curiously enough, only occurred after the alleged "fact".

The Yugoslav Federal authorities published official statistics on the number of Albanians who settled from Albania into Yugoslavia between 1948 and 1988; they had registered 7,137 refugees, most of whom had come between 1952 and 1956, that is, at a time when Aleksandar Ranković was busy forcing tens of thousands of Kosovars out of their homeland (see "Politika", 29 December 1988, p. 10 ).

To speak of any kind of Albanian "immigration" into Kosovo is in itself another typical Serb in-your-face lie, since the very notion of Albanians "immigrating" in a region where Albanians have lived from time immemorial and where their own language was born in the 10th century, is another self-evident absurdity.

Another fallacy, of course, would be to try and weaken the claim that Kosovo is now "monoethnic" because there were recent changes in its ethnic makeup: a plain non sequitur, self-evident enough but since it is generally mentioned in relation to the main, 96-years-old, Serb lie to the effect that the Kosovars are but "recent immigrants" in in their own country, it still deserves to be mentioned.

That is why Veton Surroi said that Kosovo is monoethnically Albanian: when 90 percent of a country's population is of one ethnicity, you say that this country is "monoethnic", Politically Correct pieties notwithstanding.
And that is also why I repeat that Kosovo is monoethnic, and that the idea of saying otherwise is in itself dishonest.

July 03, 2008
Votes: +1

AlexA said:

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My dear Sebaneau,

Kosovo is not monoethic.
There are many ethnicities who live there - apart from the Serb community, there are also Romas, Montenegrans, Macedonians, Ashkalias, Bosniaks, etc...
What's more, to the contrary of the falsely imposed figure that there is more then 2 000 000 Albanians in Kosovo today, with a little bit of exploration, one could come up with the nearly exact figure of the real number of Alabanian inhabitants in Kosovo - it is no more then 1 600 000 (including more then 500 000 immigrants who entered Kosmet from Albania, fleeing form oppresive regime of Hoxa during 70es, and especially 80es).
Of course, exact figure could and will be obtaned only after unbiased census, which is not carried out since 1971, due to the fact that Albanians didn't want to participate in the 81' and 91' cenuses, because they didn't want to disclose the real nuber of Albanians living in Kosovo.

http://files.osa.ceu.hu/holdings/300/8/3/text/118-2-80.shtml

So, today there is about 80% (not 90%) Albanian inhabitants of Kosovo. Other 20% consists of other ethnic communities.

June 27, 2008
Votes: -2

Sebaneau said:

	... The Serbs consider Kosovo to be "part of Serbia" whereas Kosovo is now monoethnically Albanian, and had an absolute Albanian majority throughout the 96 years when Serbia tried to annexate it in vain. This says everything about their grasp on reality and respect for other peoples' rights.
	report abuse vote down vote up

June 19, 2008
Votes: +0

AlexA said:

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robert-0,

I am glad there is someone who supports WORK. Unfortunately, you're not from this part of the World, and even though you try to position yourself as an unbiased observer, your stance is obviously pro-Albanian. (for example, your comment on "Kosmet". Do you really think "kosovo/a" sounds 21st century?).

You are talking about Belgrade's separation fostering. Yes, that is correct observation, but... What do you think about USA and EU's fostering Kosmet's separation from Serbia? I know you may use an old argument that it was a right thing to do, regarding Serb's treatment of Albanians. We could discuss that in some other posts, but you cannot deny the fact that, be it right or wrong, that move by the West was illegal having in mind International law.

You are describing Serbian stance toward Albanians as "racist". My question is: How would you describe Albanian stance toward Serbs? Please, bear in mind that more then 120 000 Kosmet's Serbs are still living, throughout Kosmet, in the enclaves and ghettoes, protected by the KFOR (NATO) soldiers and barbed wire. Western diplomats constantly talk about "protection of minorities". If Albanians don't pose threat to Kosmet's Serbs, then from whom NATO is protecting Serbs?
As for Kosmet Serbs voting for Radicals, they did that simply because they fear pro-EU government wouldn't do anything for them, and that they wouldn't protect them, in case Albanians decide to ethnically cleans them, as they tried to do back on March 17th 2004. If you have any doubts about possible Albanian intentions, please read one post below yours. The first sentence is:
"This idea of "multi-ethnicity" is a bad one, because it is a lie."
In that sentence alone you will find a firm proof why Kosmet Serbs consider Belgrade, and not Pristina, as their Capital city!
Say no more.

If Albanians don't change their position, and back up that change with firm deeds (not words), the chances of Kosmet becoming multi-ethnic society are very, very scant.

And, since Albanians are a vast majority in Kosmet, it's up to them to make the first move in a good direction.

June 10, 2008
Votes: +0

Tringa said:

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Alexa,

Serbs dont have to be and are not "afraid" of Albannians because unlike Serbs, Albanians don't have it in their blood to ETHNIC CLEANS a whole nation and have the populations backing on it. Only Serbia can result to such inhumane treatment.

You said: Let`s not forget March `17th, 2004``. Well for the most brutal massacres caused by Serbia on kosovar Albanians lets not forget the whole year of 1998 to 1999, where Albanian woman, men, children, elderly were traumatized, murdered, massacred, shot, kicked out of their own country, raped, etc.... all in the hands of Serbia. So if anyone should be scared is the Albanians.

And as well the only reason why there is no stability for Kosovar Serbs is because Belgrade threatens them with hypocracy andéor death if they co-operate with the Republic of Kosova`s governemnt. What needs to happen, is serbia to stop trying to take control over their `serb-population`` in Kosovo to the brink of gettin them scared for their own lives, and let Kosova rule it`s people.

Kosovar-Serbs are NOT scared of Albanians, indeed they are afraid of Serbia rejecting them.

June 10, 2008
Votes: -1

robert-0 said:

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i do agree that there is work to be done, but i don't think anyone is questioning that, whether you call it kosmet (sounds so 19th century) or kosovo/a. talk and work. but most of the talk i hear is not exactly the kind that will lead to reconciliation. there are so many steps between the present and some kind of meaningful multi-ethnic society.

the thing is, alexa, belgrade is fostering separation and frankly promotes fear-mongering, which in the balkans is a very bad thing to be doing. and most serbs in kosovo/a end up voting Radical (as all of the news reports indicate), which indicates that they would support ethnic violence and ethnic cleansing, again. which doesn't exactly inspire trust on the other side.

in my opinion, many things need to happen, including increasing dialogue, decreasing interference from belgrade, and a strong and fair international presence, if such a thing is possible. forums like this one, or b92 (in theory) could host meaningful dialogue, which has so far been mostly absent. nearly all of the serb posters i read (and i read quite a lot) are nationalistic and generally very nasty about albanians (we would say "racist") some of these are diaspora serbs, a few are not. but given their tone, things do not feel promising, in the near run.

peace,
roberto/frisco

June 09, 2008
Votes: +1

Sebaneau said:

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This idea of "multi-ethnicity" is a bad one, because it is a lie. Veton Surroi said that much a few years ago, but it was too politically incorrect to be accepted. Yet, lies are the enemies of justice, peace and the rule of law, and therefore of the success of Kosova independence. No one says Slovenia, with the same percentage of Slovenes, is anything but "monoethnic"; everyone knows that the difference lies in Serbia's claims on the territory, and these should be rejected without compromise.
Better speak of a "democratic" Kosovo, and the "rule of law". That's enough of a program for the years to come.

June 06, 2008
Votes: +1

AlexA said:

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Kosmet will probably never be a multi-ethnic society. Why? As I already said - Serbs are very much afraid of the Albanians. And they have every right to feel that way. Just remember March 17th, 2004.

Basics of multi-ethnicity is TRUST. If you have one enthnicity which doesn't trust other ethnicity, then there is no multi-ethnicity. And Serbs doesn't TRUST Albanians. They still live in the ghettoes, in constant fear for their lives. And, of course, they don't believe Albanian politicians and their promises - because they think Albanians are lying to them. So, if Albanians really want to gain Serb's trust, they must stop talking, and start working. They must stop with the propaganda of accusing Belgrade - because they must accept the reality. For the Serbs still living in Kosmet, Belgrade is still their Capitol!

When and if Albanians succeed tu persuade Kosmet's Serbs that their capitols is Pristina, only then they could start thinking about multi-ethnic sociaty. And that could be achived only through DEEDS, not by word. Multi-ethnicity cannot be implemeted by force!!!! So, stop putting Serbs in ghettoes and enclaves, don't try to cut their ties with Serbia, stop threating them, stop trying to subjugate them, let them live freely and without fear, and most important - open borders of Kosmet and let refugees come back to their homes. Only then you could start thinking about multi-ethnicity. Not before.

So, stop talking! START WORKING!