“The Albanian community in Southern Serbia is one of three minority communities (the other two being Bosniaks and Hungarians) and is territorially compact and located along the border (with North Macedonia and Kosovo). All three communities, especially the Bosniak and Albanian ones, have been subjected to various administrative measures (structural discrimination) aimed at reducing their numbers, as well as stifling demands for territorial autonomy. When it comes to the Albanian community, its position and actual status is closely linked to the status of Kosovo and the Serb community in Northern Kosovo.”

This is highlighted at the outset of the conclusions and recommendations in the 86-page report entitled ‘ALBANIAN MINORITY ON HOLD: Presevo, Bujanovac and Medveda as hostages of the Serbia and Kosovo relations’ which was published by Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia (HCHRS) authored by its founder and President Sonja Biserko in the beginning of July this year.   

Albanian Daily News had the opportunity to talk with Ms. Biserko, who was kind enough to answer some questions linked with the report. The report dwelt at length on many aspects of the situation of the Albanian minority in Presevo, Bujanovac and Medveda but it is highlighted with worrisome concern the problem of Albanians living in the south in the frame of the process of so-called "Passivation of residence of Albanians" working abroad, either in Western Europe or in Kosovo. “This "passivation" also targets citizens who permanently reside at their addresses. This measure is, in essence, a form of ethnic cleansing through administrative means.”

During the interview such issues like the current situation in the Western Balkans, the stalemate of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, the dragging of the EU’s enlargement process towards the Western Balkans, the expected role of the US President, Joe Biden in the region were touched upon.

In a comment on the scheme of border changes, Ms. Biserko said that should any change of borders take place, the whole region would end up in the mess. Since the 19th century Balkan nations are undergoing a process of the national emancipation and in that sense state projects were mostly projected as greater states. I think we have come to an end of this process and that red lines should be established vis a vis the border changes.  

In a comment on Merkel’s ‘farewell’ to the Berlin Process and politics in general she said Chancellor Merkel is a great European and world leader with personal integrity who guided EU through very difficult and turbulent times.

“She was the one who prevented change of the borders in the Balkans. It is to be hoped that the future Chancellor will continue along the same path,” noted President of Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia Sonja Biserko in the following interview:  

Albanian Daily News: At the outset, please let me congratulate you, Madame President, upon your work ‘ALBANIAN MINORITY ON HOLD: Presevo, Bujanovac and Medveda as hostages of the Serbia and Kosovo relations’, which was published at the beginning of July this year. First, which has been the motivation encouraging you to carry out such meticulous work and what institutions supported the Committee in this endeavor?

HCHRS' President Sonja Biserko: Monitoring minority situation is part of our regular work. Minorities (not only ethnic) reflect the state of democracy in every country, especially having in mind that Serbia (and most other countries in the region) is ethnocentric. Thus minorities, especially those border ones, are perceived as a threat and irredentist. Focus on the Albanian minority in the South of Serbia has been in place since 2000. We received several complaints about “passivation” but COVID prevented us to engage in the fact-finding mission earlier. Monitoring is part of the wider project supported by the Commission.

- It’s an 86-page report. Please would you sum up the main highlights of it, and which are the conclusions and recommendations? 

- The legal framework, the Constitution, the Law on Protection of the Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities, the Anti-Discrimination Law, as well as numerous strategies and action plans that guarantee equality and integration of all citizens of Serbia, are insufficiently applied in practice. Regardless of the presence of numerous embassies, the OSCE and other organizations in Southern Serbia, the Albanian community is living in limbo and in expectation of their status finally being resolved as part of the resolution of the Kosovo question.  

The most worrying problem of Albanians living in the south is the process of so-called "Passivation of residence of Albanians" working abroad, either in Western Europe or in Kosovo. This "passivation" also targets citizens who permanently reside at their addresses. This measure is, in essence, a form of ethnic cleansing through administrative means.

"Passivation" (mass and selective passivation of residence) leads to individuals losing their status of being a citizen of Serbia and, accordingly, all civil rights - the rights to vote, property, health insurance, pension, employment, etc. Since citizens are not informed about "passivation", they usually lose their right to appeal, the deadline for which is eight days.

Other particular problem is the non-recognition of Kosova diplomas, which prompts the departure of the most educated people belonging to the Albanian elite, who have no possibility of employment in state and public institutions.

The Albanian community is isolated and neither the government nor the opposition have shown interest in the problems it is facing. Opposition party leaders are only interested in electoral coalitions and the support of Albanian voters. Many Albanians leave due to the economic reasons. Albanians who are temporarily working abroad do not have the opportunity to invest in these three municipalities, both due to "passivation" and an unreliable legal framework.

- In the meantime, which has been the reaction of Albanians in Presevo, Bujanovac and Medveda, who are being faced with the so-called ‘scorched-earth policy’ of leaving their lands, and that of official authorities in Belgrade?

- We have distributed the report widely but there is no substantial reaction yet; though we did have reactions from the Albanians in the South who are pleased to have their problems presented in such a way. We hope that the report will receive due attention in the fall.

- Ms. Biserko, you have been called “the critical conscience of the Serb society” by Albanian civil society circles in Presevo Valley. How do you consider such an assessment of appreciation by Albanians as your stance and works, including the latest report, might not please certain Serb circles?

- The Committee is known to be voicing the malaise of our society since our existence. Minorities have always been our priority and we have produced several reports and publications which have raised the awareness domestically and internationally. Unfortunately, the implementation of the existing legal framework is not fully in place and integration of Albanians into wider Serbian economic, political and cultural life is minimal. Rule of law is the major problem of the Balkan societies and one of the main obstructions to their approximation to the EU membership.

- How do you explain that there is no real ethnic or religious tension between local Serbs and Albanians in Bujanovac, Presevo and Medveda, and how does it happen that such a relationship is not affected by the hostile political environment?

- This is what we were told by all interlocutors. Serbia is highly centralized society and Belgrade is key to all problems which affect whole of Serbia. Every decision is made by Belgrade. Problems of Albanians stem from the administrative obstructions inspired by Belgrade, namely through functioning of the courts, prosecutions and police. Albanians do not truly participate in the state and public institutions and live in some kind of segregation.

- Maybe it is too much to ask but anyway it would be interesting to know if your institution has handed over this report officially to the relevant official institutions of Serbia, Presevo, Kosovo, Albania and other regional countries and international bodies?

- We have sent the report to all relevant institutions in Serbia, all embassies and relevant EU institutions as well. Also, the report was sent to Albanian relevant representatives.

- Given your past seasoned experience, how much do such kinds of reports and findings and conclusions influence the official and public opinion of those concerned, and as a follow up, please, which are your expectations for the ongoing Pristina-Belgrade talks?

- Our reports are always paid attention to and I hope that this report will receive due attention as well. We hope to be able to promote the report in the fall. Pristina-Belgrade talks at the moment are not truly ongoing. Having in mind that both sides will soon have elections I do not expect much to happen until the next year. Belgrade is for the first time faced with the politician on the Albanian side who is not easily bullied or blackmailed; Albin Kurti is truly the first politician of the new generation and I do hope he will be successful in bringing new ethics in the political life of the region. I also hope that the resuming of the dialogue will be based on reciprocity and equality.  

- I notice that the scheme of border changes in the Balkans has been re-activated and it is still being hinted that the non-paper linked with that concept has originated from the PM of Slovenia, which is at the helm of the EU Presidency. Do you think this scheme can be the breakthrough to the stalemate not only between Kosovo and Serbia but to other regional disputes? And secondly, how come that it was reactivated as soon as Slovenia took the EU Presidency?

- Non-papers will obviously always exist and the recent ones show that the change of borders is still on the minds of some political circles. In Serbia for sure. The fact that they appeared just in wake of Slovenia’s overtake of the EU presidency does not surprise much. Jansa belongs to so called illiberal circle together with Orban and others. It is reality of the EU which triggered discussions on the future of the EU and defense of the democracy. Balkan states belong to this group as well having in mind the level of democracy in the region. Some of the regional politicians are very much relying on this group in the EU like, for example, president Vucic.

- Do you think that there is ground to believe that some circles work on the creation of ‘Greater Serbia, ‘Greater Albania’ or ‘Greater Croatia’? 

- Certain circles in Serbia are still hoping for the re-composition of the Balkans. The “Serbian World” is still very alive and we can see it being now implemented in Montenegro and Bosnia. Should any change of borders take place, the whole region would end up in the mess. Since 19th century Balkan nations are undergoing process of the national emancipation and in that sense state projects were mostly projected as greater states. I think we have come to an end of this process and that red lines should be established vis a vis the border changes.

- Let me touch please upon the EU's stance on the enlargement towards the Western Balkans. Do you think that Brussels’ protracted enlargement ‘fatigue’ is one of the causes of the persistent volatile situation in the region, and is such a situation suitable for some Union’s members which do not want ‘problematic’ countries in their ranks? And secondly, is there a paradox in this stance as the WB is kept out of the Union and at the same time it is ‘advised’ to boycott Russian and Chinese presence in the region?

- In order to answer this question, we must be aware that the EU is undergoing deep and complex internal changes. There are many reasons for that. First, challenges incited by the financial crisis (2008), migrant crisis (2014) and COVID19 pandemic. These are only some of the new challenges. Secondly, after 20 years it became clear that post-socialist countries have different concepts of democracy and that it poses serious problems in bringing decisions necessary to make the EU, as the most developed and the richest regions of all, relevant international player. In this context Balkans would only bring in more problems. Unfortunately, most of the Western Balkans are not truly embracing democratic values.

On the other side, Western Balkans are perceived as the European sphere of the interest. There needs to be some balanced approach which will help these countries move faster. It is to be seen how the new EU ambitious global infrastructure plan linking Europe to the world, will affect the Western Balkans. However, the most serious problems of the Western Balkans are corruption, lack of rule of law and free media, respect for human rights, plurality etc. It is clear that without help of certain international mechanisms Balkans will stagnate. It is to be hoped that Biden administration directives to address corruption and those obstructing peace and progress will soon be effective.

-To conclude, Ms. Biserko, does the ‘farewell’ to Chancellor Merkel at the Summit of the project for the Western Balkans in Berlin on July 5, 2021, launched by her, mean a ‘farewell’ to the ‘Berlin Process’?

- Chancellor Merkel is a great European and world leader with personal integrity who guided EU through very difficult and turbulent times. She was the one who prevented change of the borders in the Balkans. It is to be hoped that the future Chancellor will continue along the same path.