Marsenic: Albanians want an ethnically pure nation; census in Kosovo a tactical move of repression against Serbs

Albanians seek an ethnically pure nation, and the project of an independent Kosovo is temporary until the green light is given for opening the path to a "Greater Albania," sociologist Marija Marsenic from the Institute of European Studies assesses for Kosovo Online. She sees the upcoming population census in April as another tactical move of repression against the Serbian population.

"As for the question of forming a new Kosovo nation in these areas, it's interesting to note that in the identity cards of so-called Kosovo, the national affiliation listed is 'Kosovar.' This was primarily done to present to the international community and the collective West some semblance of inclusivity among Serbs, Albanians, and other peoples living in the Kosovo and Metohija region. However, the goal is, of course, entirely different," Marsenic believes.

She points out that the Kosovo government actually wants to prove, on one hand, that the number of Albanians is expanding, but that there is also the issue of Serbs separating themselves from their national identity in this way.

"Of course, the goal is not about inclusivity and equality, rather, the goal is the same for Tirana and Pristina, despite certain political disagreements, and that is the formation of a 'Greater Albania,'" our interlocutor explains.

Marsenic believes that they will identify themselves as Albanians in the census because they desire an ethnically pure nation.

"Declaring national affiliation as Kosovar is temporary because it raises the question for them as well of what a Kosovar is. Is it an Albanian from Kosovo and Metohija, or is it something else? So, they need an ethnically pure nation, and the project of the so-called independent Kosovo is also temporary. Officials of the so-called Kosovo government also say this. The project of the so-called independent Kosovo is temporary until the green light is given for annexation and the opening of the path to 'Greater Albania,'" she concludes.

Regarding what the census will mean for Serbs in Kosovo, she says that, in any case, it won't accurately reflect the situation on the ground.

"On the contrary, they want the census to show a smaller number of Serbs than there actually are in Kosovo and Metohija. Additionally, we can expect Pristina to block people from coming to the addresses they are registered at and where they lived until Albin Kurti's regime came to power. Of course, due to the repression of his regime, a large number of Serbs who lived in Kosovo and Metohija were forced to leave their ancestral homes, and they won't have the opportunity to return during the census period. Overall, the position of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is the worst it has ever been, and we witness daily mistreatment and harassment of Serbs both north and south of the Ibar River, which is a way for Albanians to remind Serbs that they have no rights in these areas," she notes.

She also adds that it is important to note that many Albanians from Kosovo hold citizenship from North Macedonia and Montenegro, and these same individuals are being counted as citizens in different states.

"The population census should serve as the basis for forming the social and political life of a people, describe and provide a general understanding of a nation's democratic landscape, rather than serve as a source of tension and conflict. So, in any case, this population census won't benefit Serbs as it will lead to a reduction in their political and further opportunities in the Kosovo and Metohija region. Of course, there are many aspects to consider, from socio-economic planning, education systems, employment, to analyzing social welfare, public health and healthcare services, and security, as well as the distribution of resources and government policies in terms of political representation of the people at different levels of government," Marsenic concludes.