The KOSOVO IMPASSE IS STILL THERE

Book review
"Hiding Genocide in Kosovo, a crime against God and Humanity" by Iseult Henry
publisher THE AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR KOSOVO
P.O. Box 14434 Washington, DC 20044 http://www.savekosovo.org/ press@savekosovo.org Phone: 1-202-486-2008 Fax: 1-202-318-2477 ================ =

This book was written by a former member of the international mission in Kosovo under the pseudonym "Iseult Henry". It offers a gripping account of what happened in the very last years before the so-called "International community" acquiesced to Kosovo's illegal indpendance disrespecting the 1244 United Nations Resolution.
Since in the name of our governments grave mistakes have been made by agencies like NATO, the European Union, KFOR in its various elements, even by the UNHCR, we cannot act as if we were not concerned.
Kosovo Metohija harbours an important part of our common European spiritual and cultural heritage.
We therefore invite to read the 100 page book of reporting on the savages perpetrated against the Serbs in Kosovo.
What I propose to do is to reassume a few data which refute the idea that the loss of Kosovo was predetermined by a long drawn-out and unavoidable demographic trend favoring the Albanians over the Serbs.
Already Tito was neglectful on the slower demographic trend which he let happen for decades. As Iseult Henry shows his regime confiscated property from the Serbs and sold and built houses for the Albanians (p 45) In that time even official language was changed form Serbian to Albanian. Pressure on Serbs, Jews, Croats resulted in growing flows of refugees from Kosovo.
All that may be true. Nevertheless it was particularly in the recent years since 1999 that the speed was increased (p 46) A drastic speed increase in population shifts occurred "in our own time", during "our watch"
We shall give a few quotes on that matter but first addressa few broader urgent questions

Is there still some validity in UN resolution 1244? Some residual value we might use?
Can we still involve the Government of Serbia on a few matters related to Kosovo Metohija?
How can we monitor that justice will be done by the new police and jurisdictional mission from the European Union EULEX mission? What action for Serbian owners of houses, enterprises, land and graves? (see page 95 of the book)
the earlier KFOR mission (partly by its late arrival cf p 27 of the book) and the lack of adequate intervention, and also the NATO and even UNHCR (giving the empty houses of the Serbs to Albanians from Macedonia (page 50) have aggravated the injustices. Will that be undone?
How can we make sure that the serbs who were forced out of Kosovo will get back their possessions and return if they decide so? And if they decide not to return, how can they sell their properties?

Let us return to the particular point which the book illustrates, namely that population shifts are of a recent date. not a long-term slow motion
On this point a few quotes on the period since 1999 may be helpful. Readers will understand that if the demographic shift is that recent and that un-natural, the international responsibility of correcting it, is the more evident.

page 5 "The occupying powers since 1999 presided over the chasing out of two-thirds of the non Albanians".
page 7 "A map of Kosovo Polje april 2000 shows a majority of serb citizens, six months later, in September 2000 the map showed a completely different pattern"
page 43 "In 1999 Serbs had to flee in great numbers, 210.000 to Serbia and around 18000 to Montenegro"
page 53 "Croat villages in early 1999 had still 6000 inhabitants, in 2005 only 570"
page 55 "Urosevac city before june 1999 had up to 8000 Serbs and 14000 Roma .(page 58) In 1999 about 10.000 people left. (page 63) and about 2000 serbian houses were burnt down"
page 78 "The city of Vitina had 4000 serbs who owned all of the property in the village (page 80). They have practically all left. Even the name of the city is now albanized to Viti"
page 89 "The Gorani with a population of 27000 still in the 1990's are now down to 7000"
page 102 "Pristina in 1999 had 40000 serbs, Pec 16000 Prizen 10.000 Gnjilane 11000 By pressure of Albanian neighbours and others most of them have left."

These quotes may give the reader a better idea both about the vastness, the speed and the recent date of the demographic violent shift.
The argument about a longer-term natural and therefore legitimizing demographic trend, by people like Ahtisaari and the Crisis Group in Brussels should therefore be rejected
The real significant shifts in population took place in recent years under the eyes of European supervisers.

Let us see whether something practical could be done to foster peace:
Apart from actions needed to redress injustices is there not a way in which Western Europe could reach a hand to the people in Serbia and Kosovo-Metohija and show that we are aware of a common cultural and spiritual heritage in danger?
Could we in some way make use of the fact that we have in Western Europe monasteries, both Catholic and Orthodox, which have a deep understanding of the Byzantine and Orthodox world?
Would it be possible that a few western friars could at the invitation of Serbian bishops take up residence for some time in a few orthodox monasteries in Kosovo-Metohija?

I am certainly aware of the great spiritual divides which have occurred in past centuries. We all know about the shameful Fourth Crusade which was entirely deviated from its purpose.
It would indeed take a great souplesse from the side of the Serbian bishops to overcome their doubts about West-East relations.
But we live now in a particularly dangerous moment.
If on both sides a few well recognized experts in the field who know already each other (for instance Serbian bishops have visited the Benedictine Monastery of Chevetogne in Belgium) could look into this suggestion, perhaps something meaningful could be done.
The present situation calls for a clear sign of solidarity from the West to Kosovo Metohija and the Serbs. And the Serbian side might see some advantage in receiving in the uncertain days ahead a few trusted guests and valid observers.

Anton Smitsendonk
Paris June 2008

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