Without Uyman, Kosovo economy stops

Once built over the Iber River for a larger state, the Lake of Weiman (Gazioda) has become a topic of international disagreement between Belgrade and Pristina today. With a length of 23m and an amount of water of 380m cubic metres, two-thirds of the lake is located on Kosovo territory and one-third in Serbia. The filling, however, comes from Serbia and Montenegro. The DW issue has been discussed by water economy expert Ljubisa Miciq and environmental conservation.

What's the strategic significance of Weeman Lake?

Ljubisa Miaciq: The Lake of Weyman has been created primarily for water supply, while electricity production has begun later because it has been seen to have such potential. All installations are on the territory of Zubin Potok municipality, and only Serbs work there. But besides wages, northern Kosovo Serbs from this lake get nothing else. Revenues get company „Iber-Lepenci”, which is located in Pristina and which on board has no Serb, which means there is a kind of resource exploitation imbalance. The Lake of Uyman is a matter of major property disputes, because without this lake there is no economy in Kosovo. Without these resources, the economy stops, and not only the economy of the electric industry in Obilic, because water is used there for cooling at the Kosova B plant, but this water is also used for the industry in Feronikle, Trepca and agriculture in the country.

Why is it important for Serbia?

For Serbia at the moment is more important as a reference point in negotiations, but in the future it may be very important, because excessive water flow use on the Iber River could jeopardise Serbia's economy in Rasca and Kraleva's space. If an even greater amount of water is exploited today, water would be lost in wells, the amount of groundwater would be reduced in these regions of Serbia. Or, for example, Serbia plans to build mini hydropower plants in Raskia and Kraleva, and if the amount of water is reduced and exploited in Kosovo, then no one would invest in these projects in Serbia.

What are the arguments of one and the other?

We need to start with basics, which are Weiman's resources, dams and installations there, or water and where does that water come from? The water comes from Serbia. Kosovo has no water source on the Iber River. Second: The company “Ber Lepenci” was paid on loans from the World Bank. It has paid 45 million, but costs have cost much more, and Serbia has taken on the debt return obligation, under the success deal, because the equipment is in its cover. This means that all documentation and all payments are made by Serbia. Since Kosovo is not recognised by Serbia, debts and all other payments are still in the documentations of the Republic of Serbia, so Kosovo does not have many arguments here. Even if Serbia knew Kosovo, it would have to pay those debts. The only argument of the Kosovo side is that they need water and that without that water there would be no economy. Other reserves they have do not meet Kosovo's needs and investment needs. Kosovo's economy would be halted without Uyman.

How can this knot be solved?

If we had a perfect distribution of resources, if production and distribution were shared, then Albanians and Serbs would be forced to co-operate. This means Serbia has production capacities, while Kosovo for distribution, for Serbia to produce and provide water, respectively, while Kosovo gets certain water quotas, distribute it and take payments from those who exploit it. In this way the parties would be forced to cooperate. Serbs would thus benefit from revenues with which to finance further development, while Kosovo would have enough water for a longer time.
The lack of agreement could result in the halting of water from Serbia in the upper part and running water in the other direction, namely, towards the Tutin and Novi Pazar municipalities in Serbia and then returning to the Iber Riverbed in those parts without violating international conventions at all. Kosovo, on the other hand, would commit excessive water exploitation, even if Serbia agreed, because Romania and Bulgaria could complain.

Are we closer to the solution after President Vuciq's visit to Kosovo?

A real discussion about Weiman has not existed until now except on populist statements. Now it's being thought which side will put the matter first on the table, because it would show weakness, so at this point we have movement in nationalist frames and a lack of compromise. Kadri Wessel's statement that Weiman is Kosovo's is symptoms. And Aleksandar Vuciqi's statement testifies that his position is more powerful than he thought, but at this moment he will not expose much to fear the other side, which may decide not to talk about the matter at all. I think this is a matter before excellence where parties can put this topic on the table, they can work out and they can lay the foundations of peace in this century. / DW/