In Expectation of Peace

AIM Podgorica, 21 February, 1999

(By AIM correspondent from Pristina)

While delegations of Kosovo Albanians and Serbs are "confined" in the Rambouillet castle where they are negotiating on a peaceful solution for the issue of Kosovo, news about the course of the negotiations are eagerly expected in Kosovo. Bombing attacks and mysterious murders which have been happening lately, increased fear among the population of Kosovo that in case of a possible failure of the talks in Rambouillet, the conflict might spread into cities in Kosovo. The people fear greatly the so often announced spring which could lead to restoration of the conflicts, which would be much more intensive, as international diplomatic and military circles forecast. Some sort of psychological warfare seems to have already begun.

In the capital of Kosovo, as soon as night falls, people shut themselves up in their homes, going out at night only when absolutely necessary. Anxiety, fear, but hope as well, are the predominant feelings of the citizens of Kosovo. That is exactly why the success of the talks in Rambouillet has become an imperative in order to find a way out of this situation. In such circumstances, the eyes of Kosovo are turned in the direction of Rambouillet, and every piece of news or rumour is received with curiosity and hope that everything will end well after all.

However, people have different opinions concerning the possible success of negotiations in Rambouillet. "I think this is just the begnning of a solution of the question of Kosovo. A problem which exists during a whole century cannot be solved with just one conference", says 32-year old economist Agron Berbatovci. He says that much will depend on how much the great powers will insist on reaching of the agreement. A former Serb official from Kosovo who wished to remain anonymous says that by these talks some sort of a transitional agreement will certainly be reached in the form of an acceptable compromise for both parties. "This agreement should bring the Albanians and the Serbs closer together, and on the other hand it would contribute to democratization of Yugoslavia", says he and adds that in a democratised Balkan, the question of borders which is so intensely discussed, in the future will have no significance.

The only thing which makes Kosovo Albanians optimistic is the fact that the Albanian delegation travelled to Rambouillet united. Disunity between the political and the military factions among the Albanians was considered to be an obstacle for the achievement of their aspirations. On the other hand, the international community considered it to be an obstacle for reaching a peace agreement.

"Isn't it a miracle that Rugova, Qosja and Krasniqi were together in the plane", says 20-year old student Lavdrim Lajci, who believes that this unity should be preserved in the future. On the other hand, there are opinions which are based on historical bad experience from various conferences of the Albanians. "Conferences which were expected to solve the question of Kosovo, have created this problem in the first place, therefore I have not the courage to believe in this conference either", says 22-year old Fatmir from Iglarevo near Klina whose house was burnt to the ground in the conflict and who lives in Pristina now. "The Albanian party should not sign any agreement which would not lead to indipendence of Kosovo in the future", he thinks.

A large number of citizens of Albanian ethnic origin closely link success of the talks in Rambouillet with the presence of NATO land troops in Kosovo. For them, NATO would be the guarantor of peace and a mechanism contributing to stability in the region. Presence of NATO troops is the stand firmly imprinted on the minds of the people in Kosovo and every agreement without NATO seems impossible to them. "If NATO is the guarantor of the agreement, it will be implemented", says 38-year old Adem Beqiri from Pristina. He thinks that the presence of the international community will also be necessary to assist in development of democratic institutions in Kosovo. "Presence of NATO and other representatives of the international community in Kosovo would prevent a non-democratic struggle for power which would at the moment when there are still differences among Albanian political parties turn into violence", says Beqiri.

On the other hand, the Serbs in Kosovo believe that in case an agreement is reached in Rambouillet, there will be no need for it and its implementation to be guaranteed by NATO troops. They are resolutely against NATO troops in Kosovo. "There is absolutely no point in the presence of NATO troops in Kosovo. If an agreement is reached, it should be implemented by the people living in Kosovo, because only then would it be stable", says 40-year old Zvonko P.

The presence of NATO in Kosovo is commented in different ways among the citizens of Kosovo - depending on their ethnic origin. While the Albanians see the arrival of NATO troops as winning freedom, the Serbs think that it would be an occupation. In expectation of what will happen in Rambouillet, life in Kosovo is somewhere between optimism, realism and disappointment. A single, smallest, piece of news from Rambouillet is sufficient to induce the people to change their views which have never been unchangeable in Kosovo. It seems that both the Serbs and the Albanians are growing tired of the atmosphere of insecurity and total hopelessness. Majority of them wish everything to come finally to an end. Rambouillet continues to mean some hope for them, but they still do not dare feel relieved.

Shkumbin MUNISHI