Remaining Kosovars in Syria won't return without verification

But about 100 other Kosovars remain in Syria's state, of which about 40 are believed to be children.

In the new Government of Kosovo, they do not confirm whether they are planning a new operation of repatriating the remaining Kosovars on Syrian territory.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla tells Radio Free Europe that institutions will not rush into actions as far as Kosovars return. He says that before any possible return operation occurs, an assessment will initially be made of any person who could potentially be repatriated to Kosovo.

“We think Kosovo has results and strategies on the issue. We will continue to work intensively with our allies. We are aware that there are still Kosovo citizens there and normally that their status classification should be made, and on the basis of this rating, then the state of Kosovo will also take the necessary steps, always in full agreement and co-ordination of actions with our allies”, Deputy Prime Minister Svechla said.

Svechla says that currently no timeline can be discussed when the return of Kosovars to Syria can occur.

On the other hand, since April of last year, Kosovo institutions have been activated in the process of reintegration of 110 Kosovars who returned from Syria through an operation, the largest in Europe.

Most children repatriated in April 2019 have returned to the learning process. They are part of different rehabilitation programs until experts working with them say most of them are fully integrated.

Valbona Tafilaj, psychiatrist and also Health Coordinator and Mental Health to restore from Syria, says children have been affected by various traumas because of the events they have been through during their stay in Syria.

It's been a year since we've had our kids and women back. We've seen a huge difference in thanks to the work of psychiatrists and child psychologists who worked with them all the time. We've seen a huge change in children who are now socialized, play with toys the same as other kids play, go to school, have learning advancements, in learning are very good. These are the things we've seen and we appreciate very much in relation to all the things that have been offered to children”, Tafilaj tells Radio Free Europe.

Tafilaj says that the integration of children is a longer process that requires more time, but, according to her, working with the integration of children back from the conflict zone is on track, because children are not showing aggressive signs. According to her, the integration of children has also helped co-operate with mothers of children and their families who have not refused to cooperate with institutions.

For the integration of Syria-turned children into Balkan countries, an international terror expert Adrian Steun has recently published a report.

This report says that especially the Western Balkan states have a high number of returnees as well as those who can be repatriated and that the governments of these countries have very few human resources, capacities and expertise available to deal effectively with returnees compared to most other European states.

Steun says Western Balkan countries should create clear strategies as far as integration of children returning from conflict areas. According to him, for children education and professional training are some of the most important aspects that can help provide a new future for them.

Most of the Kosovars who were repatriated in April 2019, including women and foreign fighters, are facing court processes. Some already, courts have even pronounced sentences for criminal activity “Organisation and terrorist group participation”.

In addition to Kosovo, one of the countries in the region that repatriated high numbers of citizens from Syria is also Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On December 19 of last year, the institutions of this country repatriated 6 women, 12 children, and 7 men who had until then been in various Syrian camps and prisons.