Why do the majority of Albanians in Kosovo still see Serbs as enemies?

"Most Albanians still believe that their independence, progress, freedom, and democracy depend on dealing with the 'evil Serbs,' probably because these categories are still quite distant and foreign to them. They fail to form them within their own society. And so, they need a scapegoat."
Prepared by: Milos Garic
The number of ethnically motivated attacks on Serbs and their property by Albanian perpetrators in Kosovo in recent years has dramatically increased, almost to the levels seen immediately after the war more than 20 years ago. However, this is not discussed in the Albanian-language media and in most of the Kosovar public.
From the highest representatives of the authorities, led by Albin Kurti and Vjosa Osmani, to the lowest officials at the municipal level, constant messages are sent that there is a danger from Serbs and Serbia, and that dialogue with Serbs in Kosovo could not be established "because Serbia did not allow it." Particularly ominous is the statement, "As long as Serbia does not leave the Serbs alone, they will suffer," which is made by a large number of representatives of the Albanian elite in Kosovo.
For the backwardness in the economy, judiciary, healthcare, social services, education, a significant number of Albanians in Kosovo do not hold the leaders in Pristina responsible. They have their scapegoat – the Serbs.
Why do Albanians in Kosovo believe that their independence, progress, freedom, and democracy depend on dealing with the "evil Serbs"? Insiders say this is because these concepts are still quite distant and foreign to them. They fail to form them within their own society. And so, they need a scapegoat, with Kurti constantly waving the Serbian threat and guilt in front of their eyes.
Instead of leaving the remaining Serbs alone within the ghettos where they are already humiliated beyond measure, from Leposavic, through Osojane, Gorazdevac, to Gracanica, Velika Hoca, and Partes, a large part of the Albanian political elite and ordinary people persistently want to interfere in their lives, impose their opinions and habits on them. While convincing them that they are actually bringing them freedom and human rights in this way. This kind of mental torture, when someone constantly tells you how your life should look and that who you are is not good enough, and even incorrect, becomes harder than beatings, arrests, and life behind barbed wire.
Not to mention that thousands of Serbs in Kosovo no longer dare to leave their settlements, to go to their properties, to work on them, to make plans with their property. Because it can be very dangerous. The Albanian neighbor most often "recognizes" and declares as a war criminal exactly the Serbian whom he unlawfully usurps his land or cuts down his forest without asking.
After 25 years, the hunt intensifies. Kurti announces new investigative teams against Serbs, secret indictments, and trials in absentia. A large number of Albanians in Kosovo feel triumphant and superior to Serbs, not realizing that they are actually deluding themselves and spiraling into a tragic cycle of hatred.
Yes, it's true
Nexhmedin Spahiu is one of the rare Albanian intellectuals in Kosovo who does not shy away from a realistic description of the current situation.
"Yes, it's true that the vast majority of Albanians in Kosovo consider Serbs as enemies, but that is not the case, of course, with all Albanians. What is interesting is that among Albanians, Albin Kurti is not perceived as an enemy of Serbs. That's a paradox. Although in the Serbian public, he is perceived as the biggest enemy among Albanians, the Albanian community does not see him as an outright enemy of Serbs. Albin Kurti has support among Albanians in Kosovo for entirely different reasons," Spahiu points out for Kontekst.
According to him, if an agreement were reached between Kosovo and Serbia, it would greatly reduce the hostile attitude.
"But for real reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians, the narrative taught in schools, in history, and literature needs to change. These narratives must change because it's in the interest of both Albanians and Serbs, as well as the entire region. I don't see that happening from any side until there comes a prime minister or minister of education who is aware of this and willing to change it," emphasized Spahiu.
However, Mazlum Baraliu, a professor at the University of Pristina, says that Albanians do not consider Serbs as enemies.
"Absolutely, that's not true and it has never been the case, even in the worst moments, so to speak, because it is true that we have had conflicts among ourselves, but I think that the relationship between citizens has always been better than the agendas, goals, and policies of political elites, from Garasanin's time to the present day. As for the current situation, I think that especially after September 24th, I believe that citizens of Serbian nationality in the northern part of the country, as well as citizens of other minorities, all clearly say and clearly reflect this atmosphere in a positive sense, that they are liberated from criminal groups and gangs that were directed from Belgrade and Vucic. I think the situation there is much better, and citizens notice that," Baraliu claims for Kontekst.
He believes that the relationship between Serbs and Albanians is not entirely ruined.
"There are interpersonal relationships regardless, not only in the north but also in other municipalities, but politics is like that, both in Belgrade, especially in Belgrade. This Serbian world has emerged, you have Dodik and Vucic's meeting to present what's next, what plans are there for this Serbian world, which means that all Serbs in the Balkans live in one country, which was lost. In former Yugoslavia, Serbs and other nations were in the same country that existed quite well considering it was a monistic state. It's the policies, the politicians, the political elites that affect the relationship between citizens and make everyday life more difficult, in this case, Kosovo and Serbia, not the citizens, not the nations," Baraliu believes.
Parallel Worlds
Long-time socio-political activist Agim Alickaj is convinced that Serbs are to blame for their problems in Kosovo, and regarding tensions between Serbs and Albanians, he says that Kosovo is "an example of legality, democracy, and human rights." The extent of the divergent parallel realities is evident when Alickaj considers the return of land to the Decani Monastery as injustice and regards it as Albanian.
"Western diplomats will sooner or later be ashamed of pressuring Kosovo to violate the law and constitution to satisfy Serbia's dark desires. The Serbian minority in Kosovo enjoys all rights adorned with privileges. The statement of the American envoy Gabriel Escobar that the Community of Serb Municipalities ensures the inclusion of the Serbian minority in the state of Kosovo is unfounded. On the contrary, the association causes the final loss of independence until the complete destruction of Kosovo. In fact, the Serbian minority in Kosovo is threatened by criminals of the Serbian state, not the state of Kosovo. At the moment when the criminal influence of the Serbian fascist regime in Kosovo is completely blocked, this minority will embrace its state of Kosovo without hesitation," Alickaj wrote among other things for Glas Albanaca.
The current high level of misunderstanding between Serbs and Albanians is also reflected in the statement of analyst Bljerim Burjani for Kontekst, who fully justifies Albin Kurti's policies.
"Kurti couldn't establish a dialogue with Serbs in Kosovo because Serbia didn't allow it, wanting to be present in Kosovo through Serbs. I believe that until Serbia leaves Serbs alone, they will suffer because they don't decide anything now, but they should decide for themselves about their fate in Kosovo. Kurti advocates for the rule of law, in the north as well as in all parts of Kosovo. The image of Kurti in Serbia and his actions are interpreted differently, as Vucic's policy wants to present it," Burjani asserts.
Burjani adds that Kurti is not against Serbs in Kosovo, nor against Serbia, and points out that Kurti just wants to "force Serbia to recognize Kosovo."
"The dinar issue was created artificially, as you know, the euro is in use in Kosovo. However, this technical issue should be resolved later. Kurti was in a hurry; the whole world shouldn't have been dealing with this technical issue; there shouldn't be stubbornness on this topic. I think the dinar should be in use on Kosovo for some more time in a transitional phase. This problem shouldn't have been created, we shouldn't waste energy on it, I don't think it was urgent for the problem to appear, the solution must be found as soon as possible," Burjani concludes regarding the current crisis caused by Kurti's government decision to ban the dinar.
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