26 years since Albanians in Presevo Valley called for union with Kosovo

On March 1st and 2nd marks the 23rd anniversary of the Referendum for Political and Territorial Antonomi, with the right to join Kosovo, when it became the Presevo Valley Albanians' declaration of two options: for Auttonomi (political and territorial) in Serbia, and for joining Kosovo.

Twenty-six years ago Albanians from the Presevo Valley were declared political and territorial autonomy with the right to join Kosovo. The organisation of the March 1st and March 2nd 1992 Referendum was and remains the most important result of the first two political parties, PVD and DPA, which two years earlier had begun with the independent political organisation of Albanians in the Presevo Valley.

It is important to note that in the Assembly to organize Referendum, together with representatives PVD é and DPA were invited and attended by most Albanian delegates from Presevo and Bujanoc Municipal Places.

The sweeping Karatacter Referendum was also provided with its organization not only in all the settlements of Presevo, Bujanoc, and Medvedja but also in many cities of Switzerland, Germany, and other European states.

From a distance of 26 years, today the major importance of the Referendum can be singled out not only that for the first time the Albanian population publicly declared its political will, but even more important was the fact that this political will expressed under the circumstances of the destruction of a state system offered political options for resolving the status of Albanians in the Presevo Valley.

During 1991- 1992 in three Presevo Valley municipalities: Medvedja, Bujanoc and Presevo established this initiative for the formation of political parties and civic associations with the motivation to protect and raise the voice of Albanians in the region. On February 16, 1992, the Assembly made up of 96 delegates, which were representatives of political parties and associations released by Albanians from three municipalities, was held in Presevo: Medvedja, Bujanoc and Presevo. The majority vote was proposed for territorial autonomy with the right to join Kosovo.

Three options were proposed at this assembly: Territorial-political autonomy, administrative-cultural autonomy and territorial autonomy with the right to join Kosovo.

On March 1 and 2, 1992, the entire Albanian Referendum was organized by Presevo Valley for these three upper - mentioned municipalities. With the declaration of territorial autonomy rightly joining Kosovo. The initiative was of the people being printed daily and more, and the only way was the major solution to the echoed referendum, which left clues to the future as democratic arguments. Serbia's democratisation was the obstacle of Referendum. The banners for public invitation were removed from Serbian police, no advertising were allowed, and citizens' invitation was a major obstacle from the Serbian government. 75 seats opened in private and local homes as well as in private, and for two days citizens went to the polls, as the first day they were prevented by Serbian police. The citizens' ranks were big for voting.

Over 46,000 voters came out. 98 % of the population responded to the positive version and the referendum was assessed successfully.

Although the text of the ceasefire agreement was signed on March 12th 2001, on May 7th the decision was made to demilitarise UCMP and the peace agreement was signed on 21st 2001 it was not met in practice, it was not respected on the Serbian side.