Interview with Ivo Josipovic: Kosovo to see Croatian model for minority

Yes, the rights and freedoms of Serbs -- yes, a local autonomy -- yes, participation at the state level. But no a model that can create states within the state. So says former Croatia President Ivo Josipovic, in an interview with Inseder, asked about the Basic Agreement for normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which was initially hired in Brussels and then in Ohrid for the implementation part, where Kosovo pledged “immediately starts Article 7 implementation for “of a proper level of self-enition for the Kosovo Serb community<3>. Josipovic is entirely in favour of an arrangement for the Serb minority that Kosovo does not violate its state functionality.

Josipovic also has an idea of how such an arrangement can be made to guarantee Kosovo Serbs' rights and freedoms, but without defunct state. As an example that leaders in Kosovo can take, he says it is the Croatian model. I think that the Croatian model set by the Constitutional Law for the Rights of National Minority is a good model that can inspire leaders in Kosovo. Definitely, the model should ensure the rights of Serbs, not create state-state”, the former Croatian president says.

However, Josipovic is perfectly clear in that “whatever plan guarantees mutual peace and recognition between Kosovo and Serbia is worth having our support”. Yet, he says, throughout the years, the atmosphere has been building that has hindered him and continues to hinder him. “The biggest share in accepting any plan is the political climate that has been built for many, many years, that the new reality has made unacceptable for Serbia”, tells Ivo Josipovic.

As for the Kosovo side and Albanians, Josipovic also calls for their understanding. “Albanians must understand the feelings and fears of Serbs and accept solutions that guarantee security and equality for Serbs as citizens of Kosovo, protect their cultural and religious needs and traditions, and an adequate autonomy in parts of the country where the number of residents of Serbian ethnicity is at”, he says.

The same is true of the Serb side. The “E today, after the completely unnecessary and harmful war launched by Slobodan Milosevic, is clear that the reality of Kosovo and its future is independent. And Serbia cannot change that. Serbian leaders who will understand this and will be willing to find crutches for friendly co-existence between two states and two nations should be treated as heroes, not traitors. But, they also need to have partners in Kosovo”, the former president of Croatia says.