Serbia

Head of Serbia’s negotiation team Borislav Stefanović criticized the opposition parties and their alleged purposeful political impediment to finding a political solution for the situation in Kosovo. The truth, said Stefavonić, is that Belgrade sends mixed messages to its citizens in Kosovo thereby worsening the situation there. It appears that the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) obstructs the government’s efficiency and in fact actively pursues a governmental collapse so as to reap the benefits from such an occurrence in the upcoming 2012 elections. This he told Aleksandar Vučić, deputy president for Serbia’s Progressive Party (SNS), during a program on the news outlet B92 adding that Serbia has achieved more on the political front than it has over the past ten years regarding the agreement on trade and goods. While Stefanović and Vučić agreed that Serbia ought to obtain as much as possible within the process of finding a solution for Kosovo, they disagreed on other issues. According to Vučić, there have been no viable solutions proposed for the Serbs that reside in Kosovo while a partition of Kosovo is unacceptable.

Meanwhile, Tomislav Nikolić, head of SNS is already getting ready for the upcoming elections. He pledged to construct an enormous industrial zone that was to be built on the Danube and stretch from Novi Sad all the way to Belgrade. Nikolić stated that he seeks to realize the 70 year old dream by which ships, especially German ones, could travel on the Danube thereby shortening their travel time. This he pledged in addition to the construction of seven hydroelectric plants. Nikolić added that the current government promised its citizens 200,000 jobs while in reality, 250,000 jobs were lost since its inception.

“Nikolić: Dva projekta od 100 milijardi evra ako SNS pobedi”. Ekonom East Group. accessed September 28, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/165035.html

“Stefanović: Deo opozicije želi kolaps državne politike”. Ekonom East Group. accessed September 26, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/164847.html

Serbia and Kosovo

Serbian protestors clashed with KFOR and EULEX staff on the Jarinje crossing on the 27th of September. The incident transpired as KFOR and EULEX staff initiated the removal of the illegally placed roadblocks erected by Serb citizens. As a result, Serbs threw rocks at the international forces to which KFOR and EULEX reacted by shooting ‘rubber bullets’ and teargas at the protestors. According to EMG, six protesters were brought to the hospital in Priština while four KFOR soldiers were wounded due to an improvised explosive device. President Tadić meanwhile urged all three sides including the Serbs, KFOR and EULEX missions as well as Albanian citizens to quiescence as diplomatic means pose the only viable solution to resolving the current instability in northern Kosovo. State secretary for KiM Oliver Ivanović echoed Tadić’s words asking, however, that KFOR withdraw from the barricades. Ivanović criticized the KFOR for shooting at “peaceful citizens” with ‘live ammunition’ adding that such an incident had not happened since eleven years when KFOR commenced its mission in Kosovo. Ivica Dačić too voiced his criticism stating that the conflict between Serbs and KFOR was a “big shame” for the international community adding that Serbia seeks to obtain a precise position of the international mission in Kosovo. The reason as to why violence was used against people who protest peacefully on the day when Belgrade was to continue its dialog with Brussels is questionable added Dačić while asserting that Serbia is committed to continuing the peace process regarding Kosovo.

Milovoj Mihajlović, head of media relations, stated that it will be more difficult to control the situation in northern Kosovo after incidents of the preceding days. Mihajlović asserted that the main struggle was not held on the roadblocks. Instead, they are being fought in New York and Brussels were Priština’s main goal was to weaken the position of Serbia. France and Berlin meanwhile criticized Serbia and its citizens stating that violence against KFOR forces was unacceptable. The sharpest statement of criticism, according to EMG, came out of Priština in which it is asserted that violent reactions against KFOR troops is carried out by those people who do not care for law and order and instead identify with criminal structures, illegal trafficking and the organized crime.

On the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings, Serbian citizens are getting ready for the winter on the barricades. Head of the Kosovske Mitrovice administrative district Radenko Nedeljković stated that with regard to the Jarinje and Brnjank border crossings, Serbs seek that the situation go back to the pre July 25th status. In addition, representatives of the northern Kosovo municipalities have asked the international community to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation so as to find out what really happened at the Jarinje crossing. Slaviša Ristić, mayor of Zubin Potok, stated that citizens residing within his municipality will request to swap EULEX forces with representatives of UNMIK. Mihajlovic, however, assured that the presence of the EULEX mission is a guarantor for the wellbeing of Serb citizens in northern Kosovo. EULEX, he said further, is part of the UN adding that EULEX might not be neutral in all situations but that it is up to Serbia to change this situation.

“Mihajlović: Euleks mora da ostane”. B92. accessed October 1, 2011. www.B92.net/info/vesti/index/php?yyyy=2011&mm=10&dd=01&nav_category=640&nav_id=546072

“Spremni za zimu na barikadama”. B92. accessed October 2, 2011. www.B92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=10&dd=02&nav_category=640&nav_id=546306

“Vlada: Sad je teže održavati mirnu situaciju”. Ekonom East Group. accessed September 28, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/164990.html

“Najmanje 10 povređenih u sukobima na Jarinju”. Ekonom East Group. accessed September 27, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/164916.html

“Vier KFOR-Soldaten durch Sprengsatz verletzt”. Stern.de. accessed September 27, 2011. www.stern.de/politik/ausland/kosovo-grenzuebergang-vier-soldaten-durch-sprengsatz-verletzt-1732772.html

Sandžak on the Kosovo situation

Regarding the question as to how to resolve the situation in Kosovo, the Democratic Party of Sandžak has put forward a proposal which includes that political elites, Kosovars and Serbs grasp the reality caused by the incidents following 1999 and that subsequent changes be altered in Serbia’s constitution. The Serb institutions which, according to the Democratic Party of Sandžak, consist of Milošević’s secret service, are to disbanded immediately while the Ahtisaari plan was to be consulted given that it poses a good option regarding the protection of the Serb population and its cultural heritage. Further points include the discontinuance of animosities between Albanian and Serbian peoples under the stipulation that both sides establish the best neighborly relations possible while Serbs living in northern Kosovo should be given autonomy.

“Stav Bošnjačke demokratske stranke Sandžaka: regionalna autonomija za severa Kosova”. Politika Online. accessed October 2, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/Politika/Stav-Bosnjacke-democratske-stranke-Sandzaka-regionalna-autonomija-za-severa-Kosova.lt.html.

Sandžak

Education is a crucial factor when seeking to construct a national identity and inheritance thereof, according to Zehnija Bulić. While the success of a nation is based on scientific and professional advancement, the compulsory contents such as the teachings of national literature, language, music, history and geography are pillars that make up a nation in the first place. Bosniaks that reside in Serbia, however, have only the Bosnian language from all the above named while the Bosnian language is only an elective. The reason for this is that the Bosnian minority council chose, out of three, the above mentioned option. Other options included that Bosnian be tough as a compulsory subject while the other option was to study the two languages, Serbian and Bosnian, side by side as an equally compulsory subject. Why then, the author asks has the council chosen that Bosnian be taught at schools only as an elective subject. Children of Serbian and Bosnian backgrounds are thus at a disadvantage regarding the development of their national identity and behind Hungarian and Slovakian children who have that option, assures Bulić.

“Izborni i postizborni predmeti”. Sandžak Press. accessed September 29, 2011. sandzakpress.net/izborni-ipostizborni-predmeti