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expressed <strong>the</strong> hope that representatives of <strong>the</strong> Albanian population ofSouth Serbia would soon choose to participate <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutions of<strong>the</strong> Republic.This Serbian participant declared <strong>the</strong> upcom<strong>in</strong>g elections <strong>in</strong> Serbia(scheduled for January 21, 2007) will ensure <strong>the</strong> au<strong>the</strong>ntic representationof ethnic m<strong>in</strong>orities <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Serbian parliament. He reported that <strong>the</strong>number of signatures required on petitions nom<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g c<strong>and</strong>idates forethnic m<strong>in</strong>ority parties has been reduced to make it easier for c<strong>and</strong>idatesof ethnic parties to ga<strong>in</strong> a place on <strong>the</strong> ballot, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> electoral thresholdfor m<strong>in</strong>ority representation has been lowered so as to guarantee <strong>the</strong> presenceof m<strong>in</strong>ority representatives <strong>in</strong> parliament.F<strong>in</strong>ally, this participant called for settlement of <strong>the</strong> status of Kosovo on<strong>the</strong> basis of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciple of <strong>the</strong>territorial <strong>in</strong>tegrity <strong>and</strong> sovereignty of Serbia. Such a settlement wouldrequire compromise. But, any solution that did not take <strong>the</strong>se pr<strong>in</strong>ciples<strong>in</strong>to account would not be acceptable to <strong>the</strong> government of Serbia.A politician from Republika Srpska (RS) <strong>in</strong> Bosnia-Herzegov<strong>in</strong>a reportedthat right-w<strong>in</strong>g forces were defeated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> last round of elections, <strong>and</strong>this has “calmed down radical elements” <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluential SerbianOrthodox Church. Yet, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> view of this participant, basic questions ofequality between <strong>the</strong> nations of Bosnia have not been resolved. “We triedto revise <strong>the</strong> constitution, under strong <strong>in</strong>ternational pressure, <strong>and</strong>agreed on a compromise. But that compromise could not w<strong>in</strong> a twothirdsmajority <strong>in</strong> parliament.” This participant argued “<strong>the</strong> House ofPeoples should control vital national <strong>in</strong>terests under <strong>the</strong> new constitution,but this was not adopted.” Accord<strong>in</strong>g to this participant, “<strong>the</strong> Bosnjaksdon’t want entities. They want a highly centralized state. Serbs want topreserve <strong>the</strong> RS. Croats are dissatisfied with <strong>the</strong>ir representation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>Federation <strong>and</strong> on <strong>the</strong> national level.” In argu<strong>in</strong>g for preservation of <strong>the</strong>RS, this participant suggested “<strong>the</strong>re is proportional representation ofethnic groups <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> state adm<strong>in</strong>istration. The government [of RS] isnot exclusively Serb.” The ma<strong>in</strong> problem <strong>in</strong> Bosnia, accord<strong>in</strong>g to thisparticipant, is that “confidence <strong>and</strong> trust between ethnic groups has stillnot been restored.” Many people hold “negative images of <strong>the</strong> ‘o<strong>the</strong>r’ asthose who were ‘on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side of <strong>the</strong> front l<strong>in</strong>es’.” This participantsuggested that <strong>the</strong> solution to <strong>the</strong>se <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r problems <strong>in</strong> Bosnia was<strong>in</strong>tegration of Bosnia Herzegov<strong>in</strong>a <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> EU.This participant suggested that determ<strong>in</strong>ation of <strong>the</strong> future status ofKosovo would have important consequences for Bosnia. “Politicians <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> RS are frequently asked not to mention Kosovo at all,” he reported.“But people <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> RS are follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> dialogue on Kosovo more closelythan <strong>the</strong>y are follow<strong>in</strong>g what is go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong>side Bosnia. People seeKosovo as a vital issue,” <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y view it “emotionally.” He warned that“without <strong>the</strong> consent, or consensus of people <strong>in</strong> Serbia <strong>and</strong> Kosovo, <strong>the</strong>recannot be a stable solution.” He contrasted “imposed partition <strong>in</strong>Kosovo” to “imposed unity <strong>in</strong> Bosnia,” <strong>and</strong> cautioned “an imposed solutionwill cause problems. People will ask how is it possible to have <strong>in</strong>dependencefor Kosovo <strong>and</strong> not have <strong>in</strong>dependence for <strong>the</strong> RS?” He stated that“no one will take up weapons,” but he warned “<strong>the</strong>re will be widespreadfeel<strong>in</strong>gs of frustration if <strong>the</strong>re is imposed <strong>in</strong>dependence for Kosovo.”Ano<strong>the</strong>r participant from Bosnia began his remarks by stipulat<strong>in</strong>g thathis was not “ano<strong>the</strong>r’ or “different” voice from Bosnia, not an oppos<strong>in</strong>gvoice. He wanted to be heard as only “one more” voice. He firstaddressed <strong>the</strong> issue of territorialization of ethnic identity, reject<strong>in</strong>g it as alast<strong>in</strong>g solution to <strong>in</strong>terethnic relations. He agreed <strong>the</strong> only solution for<strong>the</strong> Balkan region is <strong>in</strong>tegration of <strong>the</strong> whole region <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> EuropeanUnion. He reported <strong>the</strong> number of “serious” central state <strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong>Bosnia has <strong>in</strong>creased considerably s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> Dayton Accord. This developmentof common state <strong>in</strong>stitutions, he declared, was accomplishedwith <strong>the</strong> full agreement of both entities <strong>and</strong> all three nations. “The viewof Bosnia as a state <strong>in</strong> which <strong>in</strong>ternal differences mean noth<strong>in</strong>g gets donewithout direct <strong>in</strong>tervention by <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational community is no longercorrect,” he argued. He reported <strong>the</strong> requirements of EU accession haveled Bosnia to adopt 45 new laws <strong>and</strong> to establish 27 new common<strong>in</strong>stitutions. But <strong>the</strong>se actions, he <strong>in</strong>sisted, were not undertaken solelybecause of EU pressure. They were undertaken because <strong>the</strong>y servedBosnian self-<strong>in</strong>terest. “The capacity of <strong>the</strong> Bosnian state to act has notreceived appropriate recognition,” he declared. He anticipated that byJune significant progress toward accession will be achieved, <strong>the</strong> office of<strong>the</strong> High Commissioner will have been elim<strong>in</strong>ated, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> “Daytonphase” of Bosnian development will give way to a “Brussels phase.”A participant from Montenegro suggested his country was a good exampleof a multiethnic state that had conformed to European dem<strong>and</strong>s. Heattributed at least part of <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternal opposition to <strong>in</strong>dependence to“xenophobic, conservative, <strong>and</strong> nationalistic” attitudes among some people.1213
None<strong>the</strong>less, he affirmed that <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dependent state of Montenegrowould cont<strong>in</strong>ue to pursue <strong>in</strong>terethnic harmony. He cited <strong>the</strong> support ofethnic m<strong>in</strong>orities for <strong>in</strong>dependence <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> recent referendum, criticizedby <strong>the</strong> nationalistic opposition who suggest <strong>in</strong>dependence was won by“m<strong>in</strong>orities” <strong>and</strong> not <strong>the</strong> “majority,” as evidence of <strong>the</strong> good <strong>in</strong>terethnicrelations already established <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> country.A participant from Albania emphasized <strong>the</strong> importance of fulfill<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>requirements of her country’s stabilization/association agreement with<strong>the</strong> EU as a precondition for accession. In connection with this, sheunderscored her government’s “zero tolerance” for organized crime, asthis is a major obstacle not only to accession, but to establishment of <strong>the</strong>rule of law. The most important issue for citizens, however, is improv<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> st<strong>and</strong>ard of liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Albania, which ultimately requires cont<strong>in</strong>uedeconomic development.A politician from South Serbia suggested that <strong>the</strong> implementation of <strong>the</strong>agreement end<strong>in</strong>g conflict <strong>in</strong> that region had, <strong>in</strong> his view, produced nopositive results. On <strong>the</strong> contrary, he argued, “<strong>the</strong>re is cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g pressurefrom <strong>the</strong> Serbian police.” He supported <strong>the</strong> view that m<strong>in</strong>orities shouldenjoy collective rights, <strong>and</strong> called for <strong>the</strong> regionalization of Serbia, <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> establishment of regions that respect ethnic identities. He cited<strong>in</strong>terethnic agreements <strong>in</strong> Montenegro as a model for resolv<strong>in</strong>g problems<strong>in</strong> Serbia. But he added “<strong>the</strong> Presevo valley must have special status,special treatment <strong>in</strong>side of Serbia.”Ano<strong>the</strong>r participant from Serbia argued that significant progress hasbeen achieved <strong>in</strong> South Serbia. But he suggested that for <strong>the</strong> past threeyears <strong>the</strong> Albanian m<strong>in</strong>ority <strong>the</strong>re has not been will<strong>in</strong>g to make use of all<strong>the</strong> rights it enjoys under Serbian law. Serbian law “gives sufficientroom,” he argued, <strong>in</strong> such areas as culture, education, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> media. Itwas not until very recently that <strong>the</strong> Albanian m<strong>in</strong>ority <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> region waswill<strong>in</strong>g to set up a national council of its own, as 14 o<strong>the</strong>r m<strong>in</strong>oritieshave already done <strong>in</strong> Serbia, which would enable <strong>the</strong> Albanian nationalm<strong>in</strong>ority to exercise such rights.An <strong>in</strong>ternational participant asked “what have been <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>centives forthose m<strong>in</strong>ority representatives who have cooperated <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> effort to builddemocratic <strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir countries?” And, he asked “why havethose who cooperated with majorities, <strong>and</strong> won concessions for <strong>the</strong>irpeople, still lost political power?” This region-wide pattern might leadsome to conclude that exist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>centives to cooperate are <strong>in</strong>sufficient if<strong>the</strong>se politicians risk <strong>the</strong> loss of power. “Is <strong>the</strong> hope of membership <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>EU still a strong enough <strong>in</strong>centive,” he asked, especially <strong>in</strong> light of recentchanges <strong>in</strong> public op<strong>in</strong>ion <strong>and</strong> official rhetoric <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> EU? These questionsrema<strong>in</strong>ed unanswered.Ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong>ternational participant noted that “<strong>the</strong>re is noth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> acquiscommunautaire about ethnic m<strong>in</strong>orities.” EU <strong>in</strong>sistence on resolutionof <strong>in</strong>terethnic issues is “part of conditionality for accession. The EU willnot import problems,” he warned. He suggested that “<strong>the</strong> promise ofliv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>tegrated region without obstacles to travel, movement,or employment should be especially significant for groups dividedamong several states.” He later declared “after Kosovo, <strong>the</strong> territorialorganization of <strong>the</strong> whole region will be set, <strong>and</strong> all governments will berequired to endorse this.”BUILDING A DEMOCRATIC ANDMULTIETHNIC KOSOVOA politician from Kosovo opened <strong>the</strong> discussion of <strong>the</strong> challenges of build<strong>in</strong>ga democratic <strong>and</strong> multiethnic Kosovo by po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> elections<strong>in</strong> Serbia scheduled for January 2007 as an important opportunity for“potential partners” <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> process of def<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> future status of Kosovoto come to power. He <strong>in</strong>sisted that “it is time for <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternationalcommunity to resolve <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al status after <strong>the</strong> elections <strong>in</strong> Serbia, via anew resolution <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UN Security Council.” He warned that <strong>the</strong>decision on status must come soon after <strong>the</strong> elections, “it cannot bemonths.” He argued that “for now, <strong>the</strong>re is an opposition moratorium <strong>in</strong>Kosovo <strong>in</strong> order to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> consensus over <strong>the</strong> process of ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>dependence.” But “<strong>the</strong> future of Kosovo must not be held hostage; thatwould be very dangerous.” He also rejected draw<strong>in</strong>g any parallel betweenKosovo <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> RS. “The RS was created through violence, whileKosovo was created by peaceful means,” he <strong>in</strong>sisted. A participant fromAlbania also rejected any comparison between Kosovo <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r cases.“It is a special case,” she <strong>in</strong>sisted. “Fur<strong>the</strong>r delay is unacceptable. Even if<strong>the</strong>re are elections or events elsewhere, <strong>the</strong>y are unrelated to Kosovo.”Ano<strong>the</strong>r participant from Kosovo characterized Kosovo as “a sui generis case.”An American participant argued that “Kosovo has passed all lawsdem<strong>and</strong>ed by <strong>the</strong> EU.” He argued that “<strong>the</strong> current situation cannot be1415
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Page 16 and 17: Council of EuropeMarc Scheuer, Dire

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