Kosovo after the Dayton Agreement

After the Dayton Agreement, it was obvious that there would be some changes in the Republic of Serbia, at least in the statements from people in power. The authorities, in a very optimistic manner, showed a shiny picture of the country's future. Progress was knocking on the door of Serbia. The change was most significant in reports from Kosovo. The last five years, reports in the newspapers focused on the despair, police control, starvation of the economy under sanctions, closed factories in Kosovo, lack of workers, machines, separatist movement, terrorist actions, migrations of Serbs and Montenegrians from Kosovo etc. After the Dayton agreement everything began to rapidly change.

Pictures from the state media became light and optimistic. April was a month of calls for dialogue, negotiations and reconciliation. Policemen got new uniforms and were not allowed to carry heavy weapons; Albanians were starting to work in state firms; appeals by those, who were allegedly illegally expelled from their jobs, were won; there were some rumours about common education and it looked as of the policy of small steps was working towards the stabilisation of the situation in Kosovo. These changes could be seeen in the headlines of the state newspapers: Albanian workers coming back to work in state firms, especially doctors and engineers. Albanians are paying taxes as all the other loyal citizens.

There was a series of articles in Borba, Vecernje Novosti (Evening News) and Politika Ekspres (Expres Politics) about normalisation of the situation, about how nice and peaceful life in Kosovo is and the need to live together.

We heared voices of hope and calls for dialogue after a long period of silence, the building up of prejudices, constant threats to Serbs and Montenegrians in Kosovo and the unstable situation from Ivica Dacic ( a spokesman of SPS), Milos Nesovic (deputy chief of the Kosovo district), Zivorad Igic (member of the Main Council of SPS and MP at the Federal Parliament) and at the third congress of Socialist Party of Serbia .

Ivica Dacic ( a spokesman of the Socialist Party of Serbia) stated on BBC radio that SPS is ready for dialogue on concrete questions concerning the human rights and freedom of national minorities, the functioning of mechanisms for their protection, the political structure and authorities in Kosovo, the participation of Albanians in elections and the question of their political parties .

Milos Nesovic, Deputy Chief of the Kosovo district, in his interview in Borba said Life is becoming normal. There are more and more workers who are leaving private business and the gray economy. The State industry factories in Trepca, Ferinikal and Sar are improving. I am in constant contact with Albanians and they come to my office. I think that there are a lot of loyal people with the Albanian nationality. I expect Albanians to vote in the local and federal elections. We can not allow this state of parallel life. The international community will not allow that. The government and the President of the Republic of Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, always said that they are ready for dialogue and we expect that. In an interview in Jedinstvo ( a Serbian language newspaper in Kosovo) he said that Albanians in Kosovo have the same treatment as other loyal citizens. The Ministry for Education is ready to negotiate about some changes and to recognize Albanian school programs .

Vukasin Jokanovic, Federal Minister for Internal Affairs stated that Kosovo is a part of Serbia, where all citizens can protect their human rights. Like any other state Yugoslavia will protect its territorial integrity.

The attitude of the international community, as seen in the statements of Wolfgang Ishinger (a diplomat from Bon) and Yvor Roberts (Ambassador of United Kingdom in Belgrade), is that there would be no changes of borders within Serbia as far as the international community is concerned. Wolfgang Shisel (Austrian Foreign Affairs Minister) said that the solution of the problem of Kosovo is not a pre-condition for the recognition of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. These statements were presented in the press mostly in the form of threats to Albanian separatists.

Yvor Roberts, the British ambassador in Belgrade stated in Nasa Borba (27/28 April, 1996) that as far as Kosovo is concerned our attitude is that it is a question of the inside politics of Yugoslavia, since it is a part of it. The international community keeps repeating that it will not support any secession of Kosovo from Yugoslavia. On the other hand, we would like to see the improvement of the human rights situation in Kosovo, which would provide them better control of their destiny and end of the repressive atmosphere which exists there... We believe that Albanians from Kosovo and Serbians should sit together and talk. They should create an atmosphere of normal life in which Albanians will fully participate in the state structures. We don't think that it is a healthy atmosphere in which the parallel structures are existing. It doesn't have any meaning.

Michel Barnier, the French Minister for European Affairs, according to Kosova Daily Report, stated that the French government will look into the possibility of opening an office in Prishtina.

The Washington - based agency Ruder Finn, quoted Republican Susan Molinar as saying As long as I am member of Congress, Serbia will not be recognised until the question of Kosovo is resolved. She further added that the outer wall of sanctions will remain in place.

All this is not the case for International Associations and NGOs. For example, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights with its central office in Vienna stated that Serbian police is killing and maltreating participants of peaceful demonstrations and unarmed civilians in Kosovo. They have registered 2.666 cases of maltreatment and torture of Albanians in Serbian jails. They warned the international community that Serbia and Montenegro have not fulfilled the criteria for the normalisation of relationships. IHF asked from members of EU and OSCE to examine the state of human rights in Kosovo where Albanians are living under police repression and forced colonisation of Kosovo.

The question remains whether US and European governments will maintain the so - called outer wall of sanctions which was defined in the Dayton agreement. What will they decide, for example, about the admittance of Yugoslavia to IMF (International Monetary Fund) structures or which arrangements they will make with the Yugoslav government regarding the return of Yugoslav refugees from their countries.

Another controversial point is whether Belgrade will accept the internationalisation of the Kosovo conflict. The LDK is asking for an international mediation presence and that the outcome of any negotiations be guaranteed by EU and US.

Yugoslavia considers Kosovo as an internal question and will avoid any international interference.

The Serbian government made a small gesture of good will towards the Albanians in Kosovo and the government in Tirana concerning communication between Kosovo and Albania. Since 1981, citizens of Yugoslavia needed exit visas for Albania which were issued by the Federal Secretariat for Internal Affairs (now Ministry). It was introduced as a way to stop the communication between Albanians in Kosovo and Albania. With the development of electronic media (satellite programs etc.) and other sources of electronic communication such as e-mail, it became obvious that this old police method was no longer productive. So, since April 1996, exit visas are not required any more. That way, the authorities in Belgrade eliminated the strongest argument of Albanians in Kosovo, i.e. that Belgrade is preventing Albanians from using their right to have free political, cultural and economical co - operation with Albania as their motherland.

At the 52nd session of the UN Commission for Human Rights an Albanian representative stressed that the regime in Serbia is guilty for the escalation of the crises in Kosovo, after the Dayton agreement. The State media reported this news through comments of Miroslav Milosevic, charge d'affare of FRY mission in UN, Geneva. It was understood as one more attack on Serbia and interference in state matters of Yugoslavia.

In addition to the Serbian independent media, the government was working on the issue of Albanian independent media. On April 7, local police in Prishtina stopped the printing of the weekly journal Koha (Time). They arrested the owner of the printing house Feniks (Phoenix), Ljutvi Zilivoda and forbid further printing until the editorial board gave the police the next issue for censorship. The Editorial board of Koha was not informed about the reasons of such an attitude of the police. A couple of days later there was a short note from the District prosecuter that Koha published photographs (photomontage) which were offensive to the president of Serbia.

The leaders of opposition parties in Serbia were much less optimistic comparing with authorities:

Vesna Pesic, the leader of Civic Alliance of Serbia said that preconditions for resolving of the Kosovo question are: a stop of police repression, the normal functioning of schools and University with agreements on the plans and programs which would provide an affirmation of Albanian cultural identity, the normal functioning of hospitals, Albanian cultural institutions and media in Albanian language, the return of Albanian workers to their jobs and a repeal of thelaw on the state of emergency and real estate in Kosovo.

Radovan Lazarevic (President of the Executive Board of New Democracy) said that the question of Kosovo can be solved only with a policy of open borders, together with European integration, implying the respect of all human rights. Most of the problems would be solved with a law on local self - governing.

Vuk Draskovic (president of the Serbian Renewal Party) said that he is against the idea of Kosovo becoming a federal unit within Yugoslavia. The government is the one which should not waste of time and opposition should not be put aside.

In a program made by the Serbian Radical Party it is said that the solution is a strong unitary state. They would allow Albanians the use of their language in the courts, as well as the right to primary education, religious and cultural freedom. Schools teaching minority languages should be private.

Dragoslav Petrovic (president of Reform Democratic Party of Vojvodina, which is a collective member of Democratic Center) stated that this is the right moment for the state to show good will in aiming to motivate citizens in provinces for their participation in development of the country. There can't be an identical solutions for Vojvodina and Kosovo because of economical, political, educational and other differences. The international community will not support any separatist tendencies.

On the Albanian side, there are now two clearly profiled political blocks. One lead by Ibrahim Rugova, Democratic League of Kosovo, the biggest Albanian party in Kosovo, and the other one by Adem Demaqi, dissident and long time political prisoner (in Kosovo he is called the Albanian Mandela). He has the support of the Parliamentary party and the Association of Independent Intellectuals. Adem Demaqi is also chair of the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedom. Both of them are now travelling around the world, looking for the help of the international community.

The reason for the separation into two political blocks is due to different ways of thinking about the resolution of the Albanian question and Kosovo problem as well as the attitude of the international community towards the independence of Kosovo.

The standpoint of Ibrahim Rugova is to continue with peaceful protests for independence, Adem Demaqi stands for civil disobedience, demonstrations and occupation of schools and public buildings.

The Albanian language Journal, Zeri (Voice) accuses Democratic League of Kosova for not recognising and respecting Bujar Bukoshi government in exile (elected on parliamentary elections on May 24, 1992).

According to reports of the Council for Defence of Human Rights and Freedom from Prishtina, in March this year 839 Albanians were maltreated or tortured by police in Kosova. This is 250 cases more then in February. From that number, 59 were women and 65 were children. As an illustration, there is a case of community Stimlje where, during March, 122 persons were maltreated, 116 families were searched, 129 persons were called in for informative talks in the police station. In April this year were, according to the the Council for Defence of Human Rights and Freedom 711 Albanians ill- treated.

According to the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedom from Prishtina about 1000 sellers in the green market in Prishtina are in strike. The reasons to go on strike are the following:

• systematic plundering and confiscation of goods by the police and civilians
• the destruction of stands during the night and the confiscation of goods without any particular reason
• the closing of one of the entrances of the market
• dirtyness in the market, and
• the unreasonable rise in the daily charges for the stands from 320 dinars to 1.200 dinars, while the proposed solution by the Serbian mayor of the town is 800 dinars.

The strike began on April, 4 and it is still going on.

The Kosova Information Service stated that early in the morning of April 21, 1996, a student of medicine, Armend Daci, age 21 was killed in Prishtina. According to Kosova Daily Report The Serb civilian fired a rifle from his apartment, on the fifth floor of the block of flats, and shot Armend in the heart. In the Serbian media it was presented as an accident. According to the newspaper Politika, there were three murders that day in Prishtina, two between Albanians and the murder of Armend Daci. It happened in a part of Prishtina called Suncani breg, on Sunday, at 3 a.m. Zlatko Stojanovic, suspecting that someone wanted to steal his car, shot on Armend from the terrace of his fifth floor apartment. Versions of this crime are different and they range from accident to first degree murder. The Union of Students of the Albanian - language University in Prishtina called students and citizens of Kosova to pay tribute. They called to turn off the lights on Friday evening, April 26, from 9 p.m. to 9:05 p.m. The Women's Forum of LDK and other associations of Albanian women organised, at the spot were Armend Daci was killed, a candle vigil as a protest against this murder .

The Information service of the Ministry of Police stated that on April 22, 1996, from 20:25 to 21:30 in Pec, Stimlje, Decani and on the road Kosovska Mitrovica - Pec, five people were killed and five were wounded in terrorist attacks.

In the restaurant Cakor in Decani three people were killed, Djordje Dragic (from Belgrade, age 46), Blagoje Okuka (from Pancevo, age 43), Stana Radusinovic (from Decani, age 48) and one was wounded, Branko Babic (from Prishtina).

In Pec, during a routine control, two policemen, Safet Kocan and Zoran Dasic were wounded.

In Stimlje, policeman Milenko Bucic (from Brus, age 24) was wounded. He died, from his wounds, in the hospital in Prishtina.

On the road Kosovska Mitrovica - Pec, in an attack on a police vehicle, Dragana Nesic (from Prishtina, age 19) was killed and policeman Slobodan Dudic was wounded.

The media has generally given little importance to the killings. Both sides stated that they were done by a terrorist group, probably called National Front for the Liberation of Kosova.

The Kosova Information Center quoted (report number 878), the Wednesday-evening editon of the Albanian, Serbian and Croatian services of the BBC stating that an alleged Albanian organisation calling itself The Liberation Army of Kosova (Ushtria limitare e Kosoves - UK) has claimed responsibility for the 22 April shooting incidents in several places in Kosova, in which five Serbs, including a police officer, were killed and as many wounded. A written statement forwarded to the Albanian section of the BBC UK said such actions will be a warning to the world that support given to the Serbian aggressors while ignoring the will of the occupied people of Kosova will only mean that the armed struggle in Kosova and the conflict in the Balkans will continue. The armed struggle of the Kosova people is not terrorism, inter - ethnic or inter - religious conflict, but rather a war for the liberation of Kosova.

The question is of course, who did it and why? The versions are different:

In his interview to Belgium Soir, Ibrahim Rugova described these killings as the provocation by Serbian extremist circles. Bujar Bukoshi stated to BBC radio that just because the victims are Serbs, responsibility can't be automatically placed on Albanians.

According to the second version, in the Belgrade press, these actions could represent a revenge for the murder of student Armend Daci. The Albanians are specially revolted since the Serbian police didn't show any interest for this case.

Supporters of the third theory pointed out that it is hard to believe that Albanians could prepare revenge in 24 hours, which would require well- arganised activities similar to the level at which the IRA opperates (according to Vreme magazine).

The fourth version is connected with recent visits of Albanian leaders to West European countries. It is predicted that these attacks were planned at the time when Albanian leaders were visiting Western countries and foreign delegations were visiting Kosovo.

These attacks could also be in intended to make the role of Ibrahim Rugova and Democratic League of Kosovo stronger and more important as a peaceful solution comparing to terrorism.

Compared to the past when all the accidents were presented in the Serbian press as attacks of terrorists, at this moment the government seems to be surprised with the good organisation of these killing or maybe they just don't want to ruin the picture they have been creating about Post Dayton Serbia.

Ibrahim Rugova (the president of the Democratic league of Kosova) is against all the acts of terrorism and violence and he called all the citizens of Kosova to refrain from every behaviour and action which can make the situation worst.

Adem Demaqi: With the recognition of Yugoslavia, Europe encouraged the Belgrade regime and its anti - Albanian politics and recognised the colonial position of Kosova. Albanian people are increasingly criticised that we betrayed our national interests; They say that to me as well. More then ever before, the international community should undertake some preventative measures. He expresses his doubt that a peaceful solution can be found if the international community keeps the attitude that Kosova is an internal question for Serbia and unless preconditions for equality and dialogue are found.

The Party of Serbian Unity from Kosova called all the Albanians loyal to Serbia and Yugoslavia to condemn and despise all the forces of separatism which are working towards terrorism, anarchy and war.

The Branch of the Socialist Party in Kosovska Mitrovica stated that Albanian separatist are not satisfied with political processes which are leading towards peace in this part of the Balkans. Attacks on police and civilians of Serbian nationality are one more prove of the hopeless situation in which a separatist movement has been created and it employs methodes of classically politically-motivated terrorism. These horrible crimes are increasing tensions in Kosovo, to stop the process of integration of Albanians political life, which had began.

Ivan Kovacevic (spokesman of Serbian Renewal Party) said at a press conference that without urgent talks with representatives of Albanians from Kosovo about all the controversial questions, with full respect for international law and standards, a solution for Kosovo can't be reached. The platform for these talks should be the political, national, economical and cultural interests of all the citizens of Serbia and not just one party.

At a pressconference Milan Paunovic (vice president of the Civic Alliance of Serbia) expressed his concern about the situation in Kosovo. He pointed out that negotiations in which all democratic parties in Serbia and Montenegro would be included, are the only way to find a solution for the problems.

Bora Kuzmanovic (president of the Executive Committee of Democratic Center) said that police must secure the life of people and property in Kosovo and politicians finally must start to have a dialogue. There is no real dialogue between the government and Albanians, which is a precondition for a peaceful solution of the problems.

Vojislav Kostunica (Democratic Party of Serbia) stated what happened in Kosovo and Metohija in the last couple of days is terrorism. That always happens where problems are not in the proces of resolvement. Instead of dialogue, open violence occures.

Sali Berisha, president of the Republic of Albania stated that the recent events and murders in Kosova are element of the strategy of Serbian extremist circles. Serbian ultranationalist, with these violent actions, want to stop the increasing support by the international community of Kosova. He called all the political parties and Albanians in Kosova to keep calmness and self-control and not to answer on provocation.

In a letter by Albanian intellectuals (among whom is famous writer Ismail Kadare) to six world presidents they call them to put a strong pressure on officials in Belgrade to start negotiations with Kosovo Albanians with a prescence of a third party... The Peace initiative of Ibrahim Rugova is facing the risk of being compromised since militant Serbian chauvinism is leading Albanians to conflict.

In an explosion of a bomb in Velika Reka (Lum i Madh) on April, 27 Nexhat Hetemi (age 13) died and three other Albanian boys were wounded, Arsim (age 8), Fatmir (age 12) and Xhavid Hetemi (age 15).

According to the Kosova Information Center one of the wounded boys, quoted that late Nexhat (who was grazing cattle together with other boys) as saying: Somebody has thrown something to us from a car. Let's see what it is!. The device exploded immediately, leaving the boy critically wounded. He died on the way to the hospital.

An excellent example for the situation and atmosphere in Kosovo is the difference between two quotations of the father of death child. In KIC Daily it is quoted that as saying, he prayed that his son would be the last to die in Serbian occupied Kosova. In Serbian Vecernje Novosti (Evening News) it is said that the father of the son doesn't want any political connection to the death of his son and that he is in sorrow. What is interesting is that only these two statements were quoted in the reports.

The best conclusion might come from the statement by Milenko Karan, a physiologist from Prishtina (Vreme, April 27) How can I know what is going on if all they are showing on television are Koreans, Chinese and folk singers. Five people died here and they are chasing women.

The above text may freely be reproduced, copied, or translated, in whole or in part, as long as the source is stated as: Balkan Peace Team.