Trading with the enemy in Mitrovica, Kosovo. - RUhosting

6.3. Opinions of people not directly involved in trade.
People, both local as well as international not directly involved in trade but with some expertise on it were
more positive than the traders themselves about the possibility of trade to improve relations. None of them
believed trade between Albanians and Serbs would have a negative effect on their relations and everyone
who had something to say about it believed trade would have a positive effect. Much of their opinions have
already been discussed during the result sections of this thesis, and the rest will be discussed in this
paragraph.
The Albanian director of an NGO aimed at helping youth in Kosovo start their own business believes that
inter-ethnic trade in Mitrovica improves relations in the long run. “It starts with basic trust in trade, but
slowly this trust would extend to more personal feelings as well”. He says that right now business is the only
link and only thing where inter-ethnic contact takes place and that is why he believes this really needs to be
promoted (Respondent #8). Another director of an NGO shares the same opinion: “Right now the relations
between Albanians and Serbs are still very bad, there is much hatred and this probably became worse after
the independence. Reconciliation should be build by working together and communication. But a big force is
required to bring these two groups together, and this big force is economic interest” (Respondent #15).
Respondent #13, an international who worked on reconciliation projects in Kosovo for the past 8 years
agrees: “Inter ethnic trade can definitely lead to reconciliation”. To illustrate this he gives the example of
the European Union: the EU still took 40 years for political integrations and it's basis was economic
integration and interdependence. There are differences though, as after WWII everyone agreed: “never
again”. In Kosovo this consensus doesn't exist. But still, on a small scale it would work he explains as he
gives some examples of small but successful NGO projects aimed at this. “The NGO Worldvision organized
something with hotdogs: Albanian bread - Serbian meat, which worked well”. Also there are plans with
Saffron, which is the most expensive spice in the world (per weight unit). Apparently conditions for growing
Saffron are very good in Kosovo but in order to be profitable you need large fields to be able to offer a high
enough quantity to the buyer. So the 50 Albanian farmers would need to include Serbs to attract international
buyers.“Trade will be superficial contact but there will be no conflict. Cooperation will then be a part of life
without, and for the young generations: without the experience of war”. To this he adds that (economic)
motivators are not enough, as you need the will of the people in order to achieve better inter-ethnic relations
and for this an active civil society is needed (respondent #13). Respondent #16, a Serb from Mitrovica north
was of all my respondents the most sceptical about the possibility of good relations between Albanians and
Serbs. But even he was positive about trade, and said the only good cooperation is happening at the market.
“All reconciliation is bullshit, only good cooperation is in trade” (Respondent #16).
Respondent #17, an Albanian living in Mitrovica north believes that there is progress in the trade sector
which leads to an improvement of inter-ethnic relations there. This happens because trade facilitates contacts
and this inter-ethnic contact helps making people "more relaxed". To illustrate this he tells a story about the
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