Trading with the enemy in Mitrovica, Kosovo. - RUhosting

its economic situation. Mitrovica used to be known not for its division but for its mines, the Trepça mining
complex. The mines are located north of the river Ibar, the factories south. Kosovo has the world's fifth
largest reserves of lignite, and in Trepça's Mineral Belt there is furthermore bismuth, cadmium, coal, gold,
lead, silver and zinc to be found (ECIKS, 2009). Trepça has been a mine since the middle ages, and during
the Yugoslav period was closely linked with Mitrovica, providing about 20,000 jobs there. Since the 1980s
the mines have not been able to produce a profit any more, and large scale production has been halted since
2000 with disastrous economic results for Mitrovica. In its current state the mining complex needs huge
investments to be able to run a profit again and it's unclear yet if these profits would be high enough to
warrant the required investments. Both Albanians and Serbs still see Trepça as highly valuable, despite its
lack of economic success in recent years (ICG, 2005). As Trepça used to be the main employer (ICG 3 June
2002), the unemployment rate in Mitrovica is with its current 77% very high, even for Kosovo's standards
(OSCE, 2008). With its mining gates closed Mitrovica is in some ways a town fallen from glory, and both
Albanians and Serbs who are not originally from Mitrovica often describe it as a depressing place (field
notes).
It is clear that a lot of investment is needed to revive the city's economy. Besides the possible (full) reopening
of the Trepça complex there are studies regarding restarting the old car battery recycle plant in Zvecan or the
zinc smelter and car battery production line in Mitrovica south. But their potential remains unclear, just like
the possibilities for Trepça. The ICG (2005) recommends more support for creating new SME's as a way of
reviving the economy but stresses the importance of the attitude of the local population. On either side of the
river there appear to be very different mentalities regarding work, which might lead to both communities
developing in a different direction. “The attitude of city residents themselves will be crucial. While the
municipal authority in south Mitrovica emphasises growth of small and medium enterprises, studies have
reportedly determined that north Mitrovica's inhabitants do "not want to work in manufacturing sectors".
Therefore, local officials put faith in public services as the mainstay of development” (ICG, 2005). If this
would lead to a more diverse city economy, with the north and south each specialised in other areas, perhaps
this could lead to an increase in trade. But it has to be seen how this will develop in the future.
This severe weakness of the economy has its effects on the local population. Serbs keep leaving Kosovo for
the same reasons as before 1999: lack of economic opportunity (ICG, 2002). Belgrade knows this and is
offering Kosovo Serbs economic incentives to stay, in the form of the so called “double salaries” (field
notes). Many Serbs in Mitrovica receive multiple government salaries (ICG, 2005) resulting in, for example,
schools that are completely “staffed” but do not have any students. There are cases of people having over 5
“jobs” (ICG, 2009). Because of the many corruption scandals in north Kosovo and the economic crisis
Belgrade is lowering its Kosovo budget which led to increased tensions between the Kosovo Serbs and
Belgrade. Government salaries in Kosovo used to be standard 200% of the equivalent job in Serbia proper
but this has decreased recently to 150%, leading to many complaints and treats of more Serbs leaving
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