Speaks academic Rexhep Ismaili: The idea to exchange territories is fatal for Kosovo

Rexhep Ismajli considers that a total mist has been created in terms of the idea of exchanging territories, leaving in the background who, what are being exchanged.

I don't know exactly what the actual exchange of territories means, because it's gone nowhere. What are we exchanging: their own something for something? Who's bartering? Are the exchangers equal? Do they know each other as such? From what we're looking at in the information tools, because only they are available, there's a general telephone on all issues that have been discussed. To have an attitude like an opinion, we would have to have just one thought shaped by an instance of our state (so a center for strategy, a government instance, etc). We have the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo, which specifically prohibits any division of the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, any giving of a part for union with another state, and any takeover of another country's territory to join ours. As citizens, we have this base, which is protected by the legal instance”, he said.

It raises concerns about how a possible exchange of territories would take place, adding that if the Presevo Valley were not exchanged as a whole, a further division would occur that would paralyse Medvedja and Bujanocin.

“On the other hand, it is said that the Presevo Valley must be exchanged for something in Kosovo (most often mentioned 4 municipalities in the north). The basic account should tell us whether they are equal. Even more, would Presevo Valley municipalities, Bujanoc and Medvedja be taken in as a whole, or would there be a further division, leaving behind the railway and communication knots in Presevo and Bujanoc, thus turning that area into a blind intestine, breaking and breaking it up? On the other hand, what would be considered of value to Kosovo, and why is any part of it now being declared as something to be given? Finally, is it possible and should they become ethnically clean states?”, he says.

The lack of a concrete project regarding the much talked about exchange of territories, for Ishmael, is a risk of size unknown.

Kosovo's “Republic has had a major success on its international stabilisation path and has managed to secure 116 recognitions on its borders (which were valid before 1989). At this extent it has defined its borders with the Republic of Macedonia, with the Republic of Montenegro and the Republic of Albania. The border with the Republic of Serbia is also functioning on these grounds, even though it always calls the administrative border. There have been two to three years, or even a little earlier -- perhaps with the beginning of dialogue with Serbia) there has been a stagnation of international recognitions. A review of the borders with countries that have recognised us as Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania could be a process of equality, while the reconciliation of borders with Serbia, which in its Constitution, Kosovo is viewed as an integral part of the territory of the Republic of Serbia, could lead us to dangerous consequences: preventing the process of recognition, orientation of the attention of those who have recognised us in other directions from the path they have so far followed, the release of very dangerous signals for the future of the country. Of course, all of this is worth not seeing anything clear from such projects, and we are unable to know the true size of this”, he says.

Ismajli says he has always lacked care for the Presevo Valley Albanians, and a possible exchange of territories would have an extremely negative impact even for Albanians living on the Macedonian border, who have always maintained ties with the Albanians of the Valley.

<x0) After 1912 he took over all Macedonia and from all this space moved not a few to Turkey (in Lyleburgas today still resembles a whole Presevo in Skopje and Kosovo, to Switzerland or Germany, but what from foreigners (to grant a legitimacy) was called the Presevo Valley until today. Never was the demand seriously satisfied with enough national and international support for that people to be kept there and to enjoy all the rights of normal development of their potential, including the right of non-division from the entire ethnographic, cultural and national (The Presevo Valley is limited to Kosovo, with the Albanian parts of Macedonia, with Serbia and in a part that, as little inhabited to the border with Bulgaria). Its survival is closely linked to communication knots (heckings and highways), but also to unhindered contact with Kosovo and Macedonia. All of this could have consequences for the Albanians of Macedonia from the border to Skopje, which make up an ethnogeographic set around Karadaku, which even after Macedonia's independence has preserved contacts and exchanges with this population. We are therefore dealing with an issue belonging to all Albanians (Kosovo states, Albania, the Albanians of Macedonia, as long as they have their own state there, as do the Albanians of Montenegro)”, the Islamic academic coccluludon.

The ASHAK member says that in addition to the fact that Serbia is trying to present Kosovo as a unstable country, it is making efforts to legitimise and Republika Srpska, and is aiming to implement the Qosic plan for mass evacuation of peoples that would bring a new genocide and would be fatal for Kosovo.

I think Serbia through such a process is aiming to achieve several goals. On one side it aims (as far as we can hear in the opinion) to make its opinion publicly acceptable that Kosovo is not a properly founded state, that is, to problem it. In this process it aims to get as much of Kosovo's prosperity as possible. At the same time, it will make legal its goal and Republika Srpska's goal for unity, which in fact would be the greatest benefit for those targeting Greater Serbia. Granted, it is aimed at meeting the condition for European integration. She's also learning to accomplish what Qosic and others have long been articulating and in their own language they've been calling "Salrazgrainieje S. Albancima." Who knows the history of such deregulation in the Balkans sh. 20 It is clear that this will be accompanied by the deportation of populations, genocide acts, new disasters. Who would suffer more in such a process? But of course, the one who is weaker, in the first place weaker as state”, he adds.

The US statement that they will not intervene in the event of the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia for exchange of territories is seen with a lot of concern by Islamaj and says this should turn Kosovo from sleep.

We're only partially informed about the attitudes and statements of various officials that we're being served. The US is the most important state, and among the first to have recognised the Republic of Kosovo (even more, has helped its growth and independence), and has recognised it at its borders today. Ten years after declaring independence, it is our duty to give our friends the opportunity to support us further. The statements you're mentioning should distract us from our work. We are not looking at coherent activities, organised by political subjects who rule the scene at us, however those subjects should be much more informed that we as citizens for the situation, behind their backs and games that feed the depriveds, as it is said in the opinion”, are complete.

The idea of exchange of territories was first presented by the president of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, who in any form has tried to reason on the idea, even citing former President Ibrahim Rugova.

His idea has not found support in the political factor in the country. Prime Minister Haradinaj has even said that such an idea leads to war and if Thaci really thinks about exchange of territories then Kosovo has a big problem.

It has been the position of Donald Trump's adviser, John Bolton, who has surprised everyone, saying the US will not intervene if Kosovo and Serbia agree on exchange of territories.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has come out against touching borders in the Western Balkans. And Croatia's prime minister, Andrej Plenkovic, has said that touching the borders between Kosovo and Serbia opens Pandora's box.