83 per cent of citizens in Kosovo consider Serbia an enemy country

83 per cent of citizens have claimed that Serbia is an enemy country of Kosovo, because there is no softness of approach to Kosovo, while 90% have claimed that Serb influence in Kosovo is harmful. For Albania, however, the perception of the majority is positive, but there are others who think it is not a friend of Kosovo.

So said the launch of Kosovo security barometer results from the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies.

Donika Emine presented the report, reportedly 1125 citizens throughout Kosovo, where they were over 18.

She said that in a normal state, foreign policy should not be of interest to the citizens of Kosovo, but it is because Kosovo is a new state, where all efforts are focused on ensuring recognitions for Kosovo, which has very often influenced them to be quantitative and recognitions not to be quality, since very often it has failed to deepen even further and translate into good relations with the states that have recognised Kosovo.

Emini said that in the first chapter of the report, they are focused on regional co-operation, where perception of Albania is very positive.

“perception of Albania remains positive. Albania of all states that have been addressed in the survey remains as the biggest strategic partner towards Kosovo. Here we remove ethnic sentiment, cultural co-operation between Kosovo and Albania, but there is also a political aspect that lies behind this positive perception, and that is that many times it is seen as the voice of Kosovo. There is also a percentage that is not too large to think that Albania is not a friendly country towards Kosovo, this is primarily a currency for Serbian residents, but also some Albanians who think that Albania has influenced Kosovo to de-sectorise itself regionally”, she said.

According to her, Macedonia and Montenegro have tended to be neutral with direction from the positive because the two countries have distanced themselves from old politics, recognising Kosovo.

“In Macedonia's case, there is a rise in positive perception because of the change of government there and not so tense interethnic relations in Macedonia, as they have been before have influenced this positive opinion... ....as 83 %s of citizens have claimed Serbia is an enemy country of Kosovo, because there is no softness of approach to Kosovo, while 90 %s have claimed that Serbian influence in Kosovo is harmful”, she said.

She added that citizens' trust remains in the United States, until 45% of citizens have said that the EU is unwilling to accept Kosovo, as have 45 other people who think the EU is willing to accept Kosovo.

Professor Arben Avdullahu said 93 per cent of Kosovo's citizens are emerging for EU membership, but it would have to be known how many per cent of citizens are willing to meet the criteria set for membership in the European Union.

“Asking one of the questions is the EU willing to accept Kosovo? This is for me not to call paradoxical questions, but the EU is being seen in the latest strategy, and they are saying yes, we are willing, only you meet the criteria. But with the ball turned to us and thought to say we're really ready to meet the criteria. The criteria are seen as beginning with what is in fashion in us, the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue as they officially call it (not Kosovo- Serbia) and to issues of the quality of education, education system up to various sectoral policies”, he said.

While, Florian Qehaja stopped at the perception of Kosovo citizens for the Association of Kosovo Serb municipalities.

“As far as the association is concerned, based on the fact that in the past the Serb community in northern Kosovo has used physical blockades to harm other communities, and the dilemma is how to ensure that expanding competencies for Serb municipalities will not present difficulties or problems for the lives of majority “, he said.

The director of the new social initiative from northern Mitrovica, Jovana Radosa, said 50% of the citizens of Serbs in Kosovo receive salaries from Serbia and the parallel Serb system in Kosovo, providing them with a better life. /Kosovo pres/