Ethnic Albanians in South Serbia Rally to Join Kosovo

Presevo_Hundreds of ethnic Albanians from Serbia’s volatile south rallied Friday in the town of Presevo and demanded secession of Presevo, Bujanovac, and Medvedja in order to become part of Kosovo.

The protest was staged by the Association of War Veterans, an organisation that rallies former ethnic Albanian guerrillas who fought Serbian security troops during the 2000 insurgency. The conflict ended in 2001 with international mediation.

The association’s head, Lulzim Ibishi, told some 500 protesters that the main goal of the ethnic Albanian minority in the area is to join Kosovo, in accordance with a 1992 referendum. Kosovo has been an international protectorate since 1999.

"Albanians have the right to decide about their faith, and we expressed our desires at the 1992 referendum,“ Ibishi told the crowd.

There were no incidents during the rally, which was supported by mayor Ragmi Mustafa, who is also the head of the Democratic Party of Albanians, and by Jonuz Musliu, the deputy mayor of neighbouring Bujanovac and a former guerrilla commander.

"This is the legitimate will of Albanians, and soon we will officially forward our demand to the Serbian parliament to join Kosovo,“ Musliu told Balkan Insight.

Patience? I thought they were running out of patience last week.

B92 News Politics Diplomacy & IR

Wisner urges patience in Kosovo

15 June 2007 | 09:39 -> 13:30 | Source: B92, AP

PRIŠTINA -- Frank Wisner, the U.S. Kosovo envoy visiting the province Friday, said the status negotiations were "complex and time consuming".

"It is very important to maintain the calm and discipline that have defined Kosovo and its leaders over the past months. We look to them to maintain their unity of effort and work in partnership with the international community as Kosovo moves toward independence," the AP reported Wisner as saying at a news conference after meeting with Kosovo president Fatmir Sejdiu.

He was also to meet with Kosovo prime Minister Agim Ceku.

Wisner urged the Kosovo authorities to continue work on the constitution, election law, decentralization, cultural heritage, and finish the process of state symbols.

The envoy said that the United States would push hard "to get a prompt outcome," but added, "I can't give you an exact date."

Kosovo’s president said, however, that "Kosovo cannot remain a hostage continuously."

"The process to achieve independence is taking longer that you or we Americans would have liked. But, it is important that your independence be achieved as a result of a UN Security Council resolution that will set the stage for recognition, and will open the door for your acceptance into NATO and the EU," said Wisner.

Two other officials from Contact Group member countries also arrived in Kosovo Thursday.

The series of visits was opened by British European Affairs Director Anthony Smith, who repeated that the West supported Martti Ahtisaari’s plan.

“What we wish to achieve in New York is to have a resolution that is based on Ahtisaari’s plan and is acceptable to all members of the Security Council,” Smith said.

Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema arrived in Priština late Thursday, meeting with Italian troops and the Kosovo status negotiation team.

His unannounced visit to Priština and Belgrade, is being referred to as “a routine diplomatic maneuver.”

This was reiterated by Smith, who said that French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s proposal for extending the Kosovo status discussions another six months is being discussed by Western powers.

Comments (48) | Send your comment

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.