Protest against restarting of talks with Serbia

Today, we protested as citizens of a free country, a freedom which is being put in doubt by a process of imposed negotiations between Belgrade and Prishtina.

During the protest, we threw rotten tomatoes, first at Mr. Robert Cooper, and then at the entrance of the Government building.  We believe that in physical and spatial terms, the Government has no need for a courtyard: Let it work in that high building with offices on end, and leave the courtyard to the people who as it is, have little public space. Politically, all of Kosova should be the Government’s courtyard: Instead of preparing to restart dialogue with Serbia, now about the north of Kosovo, Government officials should work for their citizens and the state of Kosova, the vital interest of which is sovereignty and territorial integrity. Kosovo must have its borders protected, and not buildings surrounded by the Government’s fences.

Today, we protested against the paternalist and constraining position of the EU representative, Robert Cooper, and also against the servile and undignified position of the Kosova Government.

We protested because the talks, into which we are being violently pushed, are not talks between Serbia and Kosovo, but talks with Serbia about Kosova. We protested because internationals, who are supposed to be the mediators in these talks, are governing in Kosova, but not in Serbia. But, above all, we protested against the talks because they are fundamentally unjust for ten key reasons.

First, Serbia does not accept Kosova’s independence. We cannot talk with a country that openly adopts territorial pretensions against us and is aggressive toward our homeland.

Second, Serbia has not changed its Constitution, in which it states that Kosova is part of Serbia.

Third, Serbia has never made even the smallest apology for the murders and crimes against Albanians during the 20th century. These talks violate public respect for those who were killed.

Fourth, Serbia has not given up Serb war criminals.

Fifth, Serbia has not returned to us the bodies of 1781 missing persons and it refuses to give information about them.

Sixth, Serbia has not paid any reparations for the material damage caused during the war and occupation.

Seventh, Serbia still today is treating Albanians in the Valley of Presheva as second class citizens, and doesn’t recognize even their fundamental rights.

Eighth, Serbia openly finances illegal state structures in Kosovo, undermining every attempt at state-building and institutionalization.

Ninth, Serbia has not returned the pension fund or bank deposits of Kosova’s citizens, the cadastral registers or cultural artifacts, which were looted.

Tenth, in Serbia, there are still tens of thousands of war criminals from the ‘90s walking free, which shows that there has been no change of course there, let alone a process similar to that of denazification.

We protested today for these reasons, and we will protest against talks until these reasons no longer exist.

Unequal and unjust talks create more inequality and more injustice.

Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE!