Serbs turn Albanian homes in northern Mitrovica into garbage dumps

Even in the past, reconstruction of houses in northern Kosovo has been done, but unfortunately still a large number of houses burned during the war have not been rebuilt. Those families continue to live in difficult conditions, many in social assistance, and many also rent.

Kosovo's government at one of the last meetings has made a change in meeting the Administrative Guide for the Reconstruction of homes in the northern part, considered to be around 300 unrestructed homes.

Naser Spehiu from the Vitakut neighbourhood, which is currently temporarily sheltered by the South Mitrovica municipality from post-war to 2015, has paid rent for the residence.

Spahiu claims to Kosovo that even the minimum conditions are not for living in the country where he lives in the last five years as a shelter.

Since there are no material conditions, he is eager to see the Government rebuild the house in its native country and return with ten family members on its property, which has been made a dump by Serbs in the north.

Spahiu: My Serb-burned house has become my warehouse.

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We're expecting to return to our homes and property... There are very few promises to us, while making them very little, because there were eight years no bloc was placed in this part, and they don't even know where we residents of the northern part... This is where the warehouse was made. I've also asked for help from the institutions of our state, but they haven't studied to stop what Serbs have done. In war it was destroyed, we possessed the documentation we had back then... ( Banoj) South Mitrovica, 15 years of rent, where I entered loans paid rent... In Serbs we have done nothing to you, we have security, the property is mine, if it were in another country the property is mine, I will return to my country. I don't bother anyone, but I don't tolerate anyone on my property. We look forward to returning”, Spahiu claims.

Nadire Kralan of the Kodra of Minors, who lives in the south of Mitrovica, has not yet been rebuilt by the house that has been burned and destroyed by Serb forces during the war.

She says she would have willingly returned to her property, but did not have the chance to rebuild the house so far.

Kralan seeks the government's help to rebuild the house because he is unable to rent into southern Mitrovica.

Crowley: I'm coming back. That's what the kid wants. It's our place.

I live in southern Mitrovica, because the house is burned. On this property, we had our house here and I wasn't rebuilt. But I'm coming back. That's what the baby wants. It's my place. I'd love to come back here. For sure, there are, and I have the partners here, it's not like there's no security at the bottom of”, says Kralan.

While Sinan Behram deputy chairman of the neighbourhood of Kroi Vitakut, which was previously rebuilt by the Government, believes all Albanians would return to their properties, provided the reconstruction of their homes is done.

Behram says in the neighborhood where he lives, there are 70 houses that have not been rebuilt.

Behram: With housing reconstruction, residents will return to their properties

I've had Serbian-burned property, I have a rebuilt Government house that I live on for seven years... We have some houses that are rebuilt and residents are not back, about 10 houses. But I believe that with those we talk about, each resident says we have to go back, we believe they're going back, most of them are going to be exactly”, Beram claims.

While at the Kosovo Government meeting held on July 19th, the decision to meet and change Administrative Guide for centralised procurements led by the Central Procurement Agency has been adopted. The purpose of the changes is to manage requirements by the Central Procurement Agency for the security of goods, services or jobs that have joint use of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. In particular, the decision adopted will enable the Central Procurement Agency to implement all procedures in the project to rebuild burned houses in North Mitrovica.

Acting Finance Minister Bedri Hamza believes that the project to rebuild houses in northern Mitrovica is important and special in terms of humanitarian, social and economic, but also in the state, perhaps according to him, people have the right to live on their property.

Hamza for Kosova Prees says the cost of the project will be divided through budgetary years and will not be sustainable for Kosovo's budget. For this year, according to him, the tools are within the Ministry of Finance and believes that even in future budgetary processes, there will be caution on this project.

Hamza also says there will be no problem with the aspect of funding, even though the project is millions of euros.

Hamza: Not a problem in terms of funding

For this year's “depending on the dynamics of executing the works, but as long as it is likely to be financed. So, it's not a problem to finance, even though we're talking about millions of euros or amounts of millions that are expected to cost this project to be finalised to a total of”, Hamza claims.

He also expects on the basis of procedures that will be applied to the Central Procurement Agency, the reconstruction project will begin in October of this year.

Hamza: Waiting for Reconstruction Project to Begin in October

“There is evidence, we are talking about the entire northern part of Kosovo, including the municipalities Zubin Potok, northern Mitrovica, Leposaviq and Zvecan, which are somewhere over 300 houses that need to be rebuilt. I wish the project would be implemented this year, but even if it all happens this year it will probably be financed again. But because of contract-related procedures and the start of executions, it is impossible to complete the project within the current fiscal year. Part I wish it would be done this year and the rest to continue in the years that followed... I'd wanted the beginning of October to be the last time the execution of rebuilding houses begins. However, this legal part, the procedure is a matter that the AQP is developing, which is independent in its work”, he says.

He eventually said it is not this project in an effort to one community and to harm the other community, but every house burned during the war in the northern part of Kosovo will have financing.

By contrast, in the northern part by Serbia's authorities the illegal “project is under way Sun Valley”, which applies only to Serbs in that section.