Kosovo analyst predicts fresh outbreak of anti-Serb violence

Kosovo analyst predicts fresh outbreak of anti-Serb violence
BBC Monitoring Europe - Political - July 14, 2005, Thursday

Text of report in English by Belgrade-based Radio B92 text website on 14 July

Pristina/Belgrade, 14 July: Political analyst Adem Demaci has said that there will be more violence to come for Serbs in Kosovo and that, this time, it will be even worse than the riots of March 2004. "The violence will be of such great proportions that 17 March 2004 will be completely forgotten. The Albanian majority feels that no-one is responding to their wishes and demands. There is a great deal of unemployment and crime in Kosovo and everyone is talking about decentralization and the interests of the Serb population, which makes up 6 or 7 per cent of Kosovo citizens. The masses are blind and think that the Serbs are responsible for this, not Belgrade and UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo]," Demaci said.

"The violence can also be aimed at corrupt Albanian leaders who do not have the strength to stand up to Serbian demands. I call upon the Serbian government to place its finger on its forehead and think about where their plan is leading. The only way to make sure that there will be no more bloodshed in Kosovo is to grant it independence," Demaci said.

Kosovo Serb representative Oliver Ivanovic has said that everything is possible and that among possible incidents he sees Albanian extremists putting pressure on officials with the aim of participating in the future status discussions in Kosovo. However, Ivanovic does not believe that another 17 March will be occurring. "After 17 March, Albanians have received nothing but negative criticism and it did not do them any good," Ivanovic said, adding that there would surely be more pressure, possibly large demonstrations, especially if the discussions end up moving in a direction that is unfavourable for the Albanian majority.

President of the Forum for Security and Democracy and former commander of security forces in southern Serbia, Ninoslav Krstic, has said that there is a possibility of violence once the status discussion begin to near. "Tension grows as we near the beginning of discussions. The international community and Kfor [NATO-led Kosovo Force] are making preparations for stopping massive violence against Serbs. According to the information I have received, there will be more forces transferred here from other parts of Europe, which means that Kfor believes that occurrences of violence are possible," Krstic said.

SOURCE: Radio B92 text website, Belgrade, in English 11:19 GMT, 14 Jul 05