Albanians in Valley concerned about EU silence

Albanians of the Presevo Valley have expressed concern over the lack of international factor's actions towards the crackdown being done on ethnic grounds by the state of Serbia.

Albanian Democratic Party Chairman Ragmi Mustaf has said the European Union is working on two standards, referring to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Kaya Kallas' visit to Serbs in Northern Mitrovica, reports Time, us, broadcast Periscope.

If they had to visit and hear their concerns, there was one million more reason to stop in Presevo, Bujanoc and Medvedja and hear our concerns. Albanians here are leaving their autochthonia. Because of Belgrade's very long range of pressure on vulnerable Albanians”, he has told TIMES Mustaf.

The concerns of Albanians in the Valley have also been outlined in a report by the Council of Europe's Consultative Committee for the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minority in Serbia, published in early May.

This report stresses as problems: equipmenting addresses, sub-representing Albanians in public institutions, poverty, unemployment and difficulties with access to health and education.

Bujanovac Mayor Arber Pajaziti said Albanians in this part have begun to lose hope in the international factor.

We always face neglect or deklarative reactions and have not seen concrete steps so far. Serbia is continuing to play with two cards, sometimes with Russia, once with Europe, and is exploiting it very well, and for that reason it is very often petted by Europe in order not to let it go with Russia”, Pajaziti has said.

Before Kallas, who did not visit the Valley Albanians, has called for concrete actions to protect their rights, incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Two days ago during her visit to Switzerland, even President Vjosa Osmani raised concerns about the rights of Albanians to Serbia.

“What is happening to Albanians in Serbia is ethnic cleansing by administrative means, and they do so by turning away from voter lists, leaving out of citizenship and there are many violations of other fundamental rights that are contrary to the international obligations Serbia has taken through the” international conventions, Osmani has said.

Earlier this month the European Parliament has also highlighted concerns for Albanians in the Valley, which among other things are limited to the right to education in the mother tongue. /Periscope/