Coexistence in Kosovo “behind the” curtains and with negative narratives: Who is responsible?

Some of Radio Free Europe's conversationaries have faced threats earlier because they have spoken well of neighbours or their acquaintances from another ethnic community.

There have been even cases when individuals have been reluctant to speak publicly about good interethnic relations because they are afraid of condemnation from their community.

Who is responsible for this situation?

Kolliqi and Miodrag Milliq, activists who promote, among other things, co-existence, peace and meeting with the past, point fingers at Kosovo institutions and politicians.

The Minister for Communities and Return of Kosovo, Nenad Rassic, agrees, who says this issue will be raised at a Kosovo Government session.

This really bothers me. I worked all my career for reconciliation, but it's hard... One thing is certain: well meant and tolerant citizens should be protected”, Rassic tells Radio Free Europe.

The Albanian and Serb communities in Kosovo have been deeply divided since the war in the late 1990s, when about 13,000 mostly Albanian people were killed.

In 2011, with the European Union's mediation, Kosovo and Serbia started a dialogue on normalisation of relations, but the goal has not yet been achieved.

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The challenge, by the non-governmental Integration organisation, tells Radio Free Europe that co-existence between Albanians and Serbs does not come to light, but that it always remains “in the shadow of” of dialogue that Kosovo and Serbia develop.

“I strongly believe that co-existence [in Kosovo] exists, but that it develops behind the curtains, because there is a negative sodium when it comes to that kind of co-operation”, Koliqi points out.

He adds that it is up to the Albanian majority community to create an atmosphere in which other communities, including the Serb community, feel secure.

According to him, this is also one of the reasons why his organisation, Integration, and the nongovernmental Centre for Social Affirmation Action have opened the Barabar Centre in Pristina.

Various events are held at this centre promoting multiethnic and multilingual Kosovo, dialogue, tolerance and confidence building.

But, Koqi adds, members of the Serb community must also find ways to resist pressure from Belgrade and local politicians” and to get more active in the integration process.

Official Belgrade does not accept Kosovo's independence, which was declared in 2008, but in 2013 it agreed with Serb participation in Kosovo institutions.

However, this kind of support does not suit all political options, but only the Serb List and its loyal ones.

“unilateral display of problems”

Miodrag Milliq, executive director of the nongovernmental organisation active, says that Kosovo society is deeply divided and that “problems affecting our communities are viewed on the one hand either Albanian or Serbian”.

Then, in the middle, we have politicians who, with their rhetoric, promote negative emotions on one side and emotions related to patriotism or national feelings on the other. And when there are situations that are punishable or require responsibilities from institutions, then we have problems”, he says.

Milliqevic adds that co-existence in Kosovo is accompanied by a negative sodium due to the consequences of war, victims or missing persons respectively

He believes the institutions are responsible for this too, because “has left space for politicians to pull this painful issue out of their sleeves each out of”.

What should be done?

Milliqevic says Kosovo institutions should take responsibility in situations when a certain ethnic community becomes the target of a possible attack, therefore, immediately condemn all incidents, regardless of which ethnic community is at stake.

He also says that “political disagreements” between Belgrade and Pristina should be resolved without using rhetoric that negatively affects co-existence.

This [incentive rhetoric] is something to contain. First of all, it comes from politicians, different political speeches, political statements that are inappropriate and have very strong and negative influence on ethnic communities, and society as a whole”, Milliq believes.

According to him, politicians from Kosovo and Serbia should stop accusing each other, using stimulating rhetoric, for the sake of personal points.

For Koliqi it is essential that the people in power, to provide support to interethnic co-operation so that the co-existence of Albanians and Serbs “becomes a normal thing for the general public”.

“Barabar Centre can be an example for all, for local institutions [in Kosovo] and international ones, how this co-operation must function”, it says.

According to Kolic, the Government of Kosovo is what, before all, should provide a friendly “mambient” for all minority communities.

What do they say in the Government of Kosovo?

Free Radio Europe asked the Government of Kosovo if it is aware that co-existence between Albanians and Serbs on the ground is often associated with a negative sodium and what it is doing to promote co-operation and tolerance.

The government did not directly answer these questions.

Instead, she spoke of the importance of integrating the Serbian community, adding that employment and education are the best way to do so.

According to Government spokesman Progress Kryeziu, the two provide conditions for co-operation about common goals and enable the creation of sound relations based on mutual respect”.

He cites several undertaken initiatives regarding employment and education, such as steps taken to respect the 10% quota and employment in public institutions of non-US communities, verifying diplomas of the University of Northern Mitrovica, the initiative for Common Education in Kosovo under the model of Northern Ireland. Kryeziu also cited the “Kosovo Generation Unmited” programme that offers practical jobs for young people, 15% of beneficiaries are among non-communist communities, the special Fund for non-US communities, and others.

These are some of our systematic and institutional efforts in the service of promoting full and stable integration, but at the same time increasing the welfare of citizens from non-US communities, because we believe that those who integrate live better”, says Kryeziu for Radio Free Europe.

The same questions, REL sent them to the presidency of Kosovo, but, until the publication of this article, there was no response from this institution.

Minister for Communities and Kthim Nenad Rassic says he will raise this issue in the future and that the responsibility of the security authorities will discuss with Kosovo Interior Affairs Minister Jhelal Svecla.

For there to be no more threats against fellow citizens or other ethnic communities”, Rassic says.

Rassic says competent bodies have a long struggle ahead to explain to citizens that promotional statements by some political representatives do not dare to influence interethnic relations.

Dialogue promised with Kosovo Serbs

In April 2022, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has begun visiting municipalities to talk to citizens about their problems.

But, until today, it has not visited either of the ten Serb-run municipalities and has not talked to citizens who come from the ranks of the Serb community.

When visiting South Mitrovica in 2022, she has said she wants to visit the four Serb majority municipalities in the north -- northern Mitrovica, Leposavicin, Zvecanin and Zubin Potok. However, as far as the public knows, this has not yet been done.

Also, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has warned dialogue with Kosovo Serbs since 2019, with the assessment that this dialogue is far more important than the one held with Serbia in Brussels. But this dialogue has so far not been developed publicly.

In late November 2022, the Kosovo government has told Radio Free Europe that communication and dialogue with local Serbs are conducted in secret, since members of the Serb community are exposed to pressure and threats from “structures and illegal groups”.

Kurti, on the other hand, occasionally addresses members of the Serb community in their mother tongue.

In late April, in Suhodol in the municipality of Gracanica, he has participated in sharing apartment keys, destined for families in social need, while in Kamenica, in mid-May, has visited businessmen from the ranks of the Serb community.

Bahrim Shaban, a member of the Parliamentary Commission for the Rights and Interests of Communities, estimates that the Government of Kosovo has done much to improve co-existence, through the implementation of different projects in the field of education and culture.

Shaban comes from the ranks of the Bosnian coalition “Vakas” and is part of the multiethnic parliamentary group in the Kosovo Assembly, which consists of different communities.

Besides the Serb community, the Kosovo Constitution recognises six other minority communities -- Bosniaks, Turks, Gorani, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians.

Shaban says even laws in Kosovo guarantee equal treatment of all communities, regardless of their ethnic affiliation.

Minority communities, otherwise, also have reserved seats in the Kosovo Assembly and Government, based on the Constitution of Kosovo.

“also exists the support of international organisations [dealing with minority communities], such as O The SEU and the European Union. They provide Kosovo support for building a multiethnic society, through various projects and programmes”, Shaban tells Radio Free Europe.

As far as relations between the Albanian and Serb communities are concerned, Shaban says that “these are two sides that should sit at the same table and talk within Kosovo institutions”.

Minister Rassic vows that the issue of promoting co-existence will be a topic he will deal with.

“I'll try to find a way for things to be seen in a different, more normal way. I will speak directly to the prime minister, perhaps with other colleagues, about methodology that can be used to prevent the negative narrative when it comes to co-existence”, Rassic says.

The 27-year-old Milona Lazarevic case from Low Bitia in the Shtrpce municipality of Kosovo's southern part shows that not everyone sees co-existence negatively.

After completing master studies in Belgrade, she has returned to her native village, where she works every day to overcome ethnic barriers.

I believe that this is something we need, because, even 25 years [after the war], Kosovo society is in transition and needs help in overcoming these difficulties” is its message. /rel