Summary of the Week 75

To many, it seems as if we never even left campaign mode, but officially, this week a new one began. Local issues on one side, overseas obstacles on the other. Equal rules for all, yet tied hands for some. A short time has passed, but already there are plenty of impressions to gather.

No beginning is easy. The start of this election campaign has felt routine for some, but particularly difficult for others.

“We Serbs from Kosovo have been expelled from the towns,” reminds director Ivan Milojevic, standing in front of the locked post office in Gracanica. “We worked with our post office for 25 years in villages, in private houses. And now, even the little we managed to build is being taken away from us,” says Milojevic.

During a campaign, as a rule, there are more promises and giveaways than takeaways. Expectations and offers do not always match.

“There are plenty of promises,” sums up one Mitrovica resident, reflecting on what they have heard from politicians so far. He adds his own wish: “Only God grant that there is peace. As they say, that we are alive and well and that there is peace in the country.”

Everyone understands what peace is. What unrest means, however, and what disturbs whom—especially during a campaign—takes on a new significance. Sometimes it is the goal. And sometimes the means.

Analysts believe that not all the cards have yet been laid on the table.

“There is a certain degree of pressure, especially on the Serbian community, to try to reduce the number of people who will turn out to vote,” says Aleksandar Rapajic of the NGO Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture. He adds: “We can expect anything!”

Not even “anything” would surprise them, but if possible, they would like to change something. In their own campaign these days, the civil sector is pushing for better living conditions. Everything that troubles them they have written in a letter to the Council of Europe.

“This is our opportunity to try to change something, to help ensure that human rights begin to be respected in the right way,” explains Gordana Djoric, president of the association Avenija, for Kosovo Online.

Even when elections are far away, it is difficult to determine who respects the rules and who does not remember them. During a campaign, that task is even harder. Hence, it is no surprise that yet another Brussels meeting ended without conclusions.

“For the European Union it is important that a bilateral meeting at least takes place, so that they can record, I would say, a political point without results,” says diplomat Zoran Milivojevic.

Political points will be tallied until October. Afterwards, analysts believe, some earlier promises will also come due.

“Now we’re waiting for the elections, in just a month’s time,” reminds Shkëlzen Maliqi. “Only when new authorities are formed can the community and everything else be organized,” he adds.

The countdown to correcting long-standing injustice has ended. There are defendants and victims, witnesses are present, judges are prepared. Only hope is lacking.

Ahead of the defense statements of KLA leaders, professor Dusko Celic says:

“I do not believe that in this case justice will be achieved for the majority of Serbian victims in Kosovo and Metohija.”

Far from Kosovo, far from the heart. Politicians have other concerns. Who will remain friends in the campaign, and who will become friends, is yet to be seen. For now, enemies such as the Constitutional Court are, for many, a common denominator.