Since 2007, Pax christi Aachen (Germany) with an office in Derventa, in cooperation with ForumZFD (civil peace service) and as part of its Western Balkans program, have implemented the ‘Development of structures for cooperation and dialogue’ project. The project aims to mitigate social and ethnic segregation in Derventa region, as well as to contribute to the creation of structures of civil society that serves the promotion of peace through cooperation, dialogue and reconciliation. The following areas are at the centre of their objectives:

1. Strengthening civil society through:
   1. Research resources and needs in order to activate the community
   2. Support for the upcoming initiatives and empowerment
   3. Networking
2. Dealing with the past through:
   1. Creating the conditions for open dialogue, exchange experiences, opinions, ideas
   2. Studying the past to create a better future
   3. Support the education and creation of self-help groups for war veterans
   4. Promotion of the concept KUVI (konstruktivna upotreba veteranska iskustva): Dialogues between youth and war veterans
   5. Collecting and publication of the brochure ‘Naša životna priča’ (My life story)
3. Education through:
   1. The development of own skills and improve knowledge on the subject
   2. Communications
   3. Conflict resolution
   4. Strengthening of personal identity
   5. Capacity building, teamwork and interculturality
   6. International youth-encounters
4. Interreligious dialogue through:
   1. Strengthening of peacekeeping resources contained in all religious beliefs
   2. Public roundtables with all religious representatives of Derventa and Doboj
   3. Visits of the Houses of God with young students of Derventa
   4. Publication and promotion of the brochure ‘Dani otvorenih vrata vjerskih zajednica u Derventi.’

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Activities:

• Dialogue among young Serbs, Albanians, Roma, Gorani and Bosniaks;
• Dialogue among youth from Serbia and Kosovo;
• Inter-ethnic Dialogue within Kosovo and Serbia;
• Human Rights and Democracy;
• Rule of Law;
• Advocacy for Minorities Rights;
• International and Regional Cooperation;

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TransConflict Serbia currently focuses on four specific programme areas:

• Institution Building
• Economic Development
• Human Security
• Transformative Mediation.

Current TransConflict Projects

The Community for Mutual Trust

The Community for Mutual Trust (CfMT) is a project to recruit a network of civil society organisations to act as a focal point for both local community and security elements, in order to improve the level of communication and cooperation between actors. The aim is to improve community relations with the security infrastructure of the Ministries of Defence and Interior in southern Serbia.

Strengthening Inter-Municipal and Economic Co-operation in the Podrinje Region

This project, in conjunction with the Representational Office of Republika Srpska in Belgrade, is to promote and facilitate economic and inter-municipal co-operation between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. By strengthening the skills and knowledge of municipal officials and small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) from 25 municipalities (13 in Serbia, 12 in Republika Srpska) throughout the Podrinje region, which is afflicted by high-levels of unemployment and poverty, TransConflict Serbia aims to stimulate regional co-operation, including economic trade and municipal ties. More info on this project>>>.

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Women in Black is active internationally, they have established the International Network of Women in Black, are active members of numerous international peace networks, and have received international recognition including the first Millennium Peace Prize for Women from UNIFEM and a number of Nobel Peace Prize nominations.

They are active in demanding a confrontation with the region’s turbulent past, calling for justice, reconciliation, and transparency, in order for the region to break from its violent, criminal past and move toward a culture of peace. To this end they have arranged various actions, including mass protests, memorials and peace education programmes, to promote their cause.

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They initially found funding from the East West Institute (EWI), and the focus of their activities is on promoting trust and cooperation amongst the many ethnic groups in the region. The council publishes a tri-lingual youth magazine called ‘Youth Bridges’, which brings together voices of youth activists from across the Balkans. YC4CBC actively promotes education, and provides students in Kosovo, Serbia and Macedonia with information about courses, seminars and projects available to them.

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The organisation ‘Syri i Vizionit’ is based in Peja and started to implement projects in the aftermath of the Balkans War in 1999. Syri i Vizionit’s primary aim is to promote local democracy and citizens’ participation in Kosovo. In its continuous efforts to enforce democratic practices, a special emphasis is made on the promotion of good governance, accountability, transparency and participation in multiple spheres of civic life.

Any project implemented by Syri i Vizionit seeks to form sustainable linkages between municipal authorities and civil society actors.

Initially the organisation operated as an informal youth group of 40 persons aged from 18-27. Together they developed a range of small scale projects.

A Balkan youth camp that fosters reconciliation

To encourage the spirit of co-operation, Syri i Vizionit helped organise ‘Youth Reconciliation Initiative’ summer camps. The camps’ main goal is to create permanent mechanisms – not only temporary bridges – to decrease tension and promote tolerance and ethnic diversity between the communities.

The Pejë/Pec Youth Network (YPNE) in Kosovo and the inter-ethnic Project Kumanovo in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, co-organised the camp at the scenic Ohrid lake. The OSCE Office in Pejë/Pec supported the project. Attendance was high, bringing together 30 young people from YPNE and 30 from Kumanovo.

The camp

At the start of the camp, participants introduced themselves and the activities they were involved in. To break the ice, both youth networks had prepared presentations of the results of their activities prior to their arrival in Ohrid.

Over nine days, participants dived into numerous courses in conflict management and analysis, intercultural and religious diversity, team-building and communication skills.

Milestones like the Youth Reconciliation Initiative summer camp will be followed up. The next stage is the production of a documentary film, newsletter and website in late 2009. There is still a long way to go, but the continuation of these youth activities provides much hope for the future.

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1913: Treaty of London.

1918: Following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War One (WW1), Kosovo becomes part of the Kingdom of Serbia.

1941: Germany invades and much of Kosovo becomes part of a greater Albania controlled by the Italians.

1946: Kosovo is absorbed into the Yugoslav federation and becomes communist.

1960: Belgrade shows increasing tolerance for Kosovan autonomy.

1974: Yugoslavian Constitution accords Kosovo autonomy and the status of a ‘federal autonomous unit.’

1981: Yugoslav troops sent in as Albanian students riot over poor living conditions in the province. Several deaths result and increasing anti-Serb sentiments prompt some non-Albanians to leave the region.

1987: Slobodan Milosevic is elected President in Serbia.

1989: A decade of rising Serb nationalism culminates in a mass rally, led by Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic, on the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo Field. Milosevic warns Serbs will never cede control of Kosovo.

1989: Kosovo autonomy begins to be progressively stripped away.

1990: Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian leaders declare independence from Yugoslavia in July. After declaring itself a Republic, a parallel education structure is created and non-violent civil disobedience campaigns are suppressed. Belgrade reacts by dissolving the province’s government and sacking more than 100,000 ethnic Albanian workers. This leads to wide spread strike action across the remaining workforce.

1991: Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia declare their independences from Yugoslavia.

1992 (July): Ibrahim Rugova is elected president of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo.

1992: War breaks out across the Balkans.

1997: As ethnic tension and armed unrest escalates, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) is formed and begins to intimidate the non-Albanian population. This drives the minorities from their homes.

1998: The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) guerrilla insurgency gathers pace, meeting with harsh Serbian reprisals.

1998 (Sept): NATO offers an ultimatum to President Milosevic to halt the crackdown on Kosovo Albanians.

1999 (June): NATO Air strikes are suspended after Milosevic agrees to withdraw troops. NATO forces arrive in Kosovo and the KLA agrees to disarm. Serb civilians flee revenge attacks.

2001: General elections in Kosovo see Ibrahim Rugova elected President and Bajram Rexhepi Prime Minister.

2003 (Oct): Kosovo Albanian and Serbian politicians meet for the first time since 1999.

2003 (Dec): The U.N. sets out its conditions for final status talks due in 2005.

2004: A fresh wave of anti –Serb violence and generalised insecurity leaves 19 dead.

2004 (Dec): Rugova is re-elected as President and former KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj is elected as Prime Minister.

2005 (Mar): Mr Haradinaj indicted for war crimes tribunal by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. After resigning as prime minister he is succeeded by Bajram Kosumi.

2005 (July): A series of simultaneous bomb attacks go off near the UN, OSCE and Kosovo parliament buildings in Pristina. Attacks against minority groups continue.

2005 (Oct): U.N. Security Council gives go-ahead for final status talks to begin the following year.

2006 (Jan): President Rugova dies from lung cancer. He is succeeded by Fatmir Sejdiu.

2006 (Feb): Talks on the final status of Kosovo begin. They are brokered by U.N. special envoy, former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari.

2006 (Jul): Talks in Vienna fail to reach a breakthrough.

2006 (Oct): A Serbian referendum approves a new constitution that re-asserts Kosovo’s status as part of the country. Kosovo’s Albanian majority boycotts whilst allegations of massive fraud at polling stations are reported.

2007 (Feb): Special UN envoy Ahtisaari presents an independents plan for Kosovo under European Supervision. Russia threatens to veto the UN resolution. The plan is welcomed by Kosovo Albanians but rejected by Serbia.

2007 (Mar): Talks end in deadlock. Ahtisaari confirms it is now up to the UN Security Council to decide whether to grant the province independence.

2007 (Jun): Although Russia continues to oppose the resolution, U.S. President George Bush clearly states his support for Kosovo independence.

2007 (Nov): UN multi-party talks end with no compromise. Albanian leaders say province will declare independence shortly.

2008 (Jan): Former guerrilla leader Hashim Thaci becomes Prime Minister whilst Serbia’s pro-Western President Boris Tadic wins re-election.

2008 (Feb): Kosovo declares independence.

2008 (Jun): After nine years of UN rule Kosovo’s constitution enters into force; transferring power to a majority Albanian government. Hardline Serbs convene their own rival assembly in the divided city of Mitrovica

2008 (July): 1.2bn Euros is pledged by international donors to help rebuild Kosovo.

2008 (Oct): The UN General Assembly grants Serbia’s request to ask the International Court of Justice to consider if Kosovo’s secession is legal.

2008 (Dec): EU police and justice mission (EULEX) deploys in Kosovo. Serbia accepts the mission.

2009 (Jan): Kosovo’s launches a multi-ethnic Security Force under NATO supervision.

2009 (May): Kosovo joins the International Monetary Fund.

2009 (Jun): Kosovo joins the World Bank.

2009 (Jun): NATO decides to cut its presence in Kosovo from 14,000 to 10,000 peacekeeping troops.

2009 (Feb): UN War Crimes Court acquits former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic of ordering a ‘campaign of terror’ against Kosovo Albanians in the 1990s.

2009 (Apr): Serbian President Boris Tadic makes rare visit to Kosovo.

2009 (Apr): The deadline for parties to submit arguments to the International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo’s declaration of independence passes.

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Balkan Investigative Reporting Network – News on latest training, publication and debates. BIRN has also produced a documentary “Kosovo: Does anyone have a plan?” exploring different perceptions on the future for Kosovo.

BBC Country Profile: Kosovo – An insightful overview of the political and socioeconomic landscape of Kosovo. Also note worthy is the timeline feature.

CARE country profile and projects in Kosovo – Country profile and information of CARE’s projects in Kosovo.

CDA – Has peacebuilding made a difference in Kosovo? – A study of the effectiveness of peacebuilding in preventing violence, based on the March 2004 riots in Kosovo

European Stability Initiatives reports on Kosovo- In-depth analysis from this non-profit research and policy institute on the issues involved in promoting stability and prosperity.

Reuters AlertNet: Kosovo Future – Navigate through the extensive categorised sections for a comprehensive overview of Kosovo. Includes timelines, statistics and a ‘who works where’ database of local and international NGOs.

Photo credit: Joseph Ferris

Government and International Organisations

Human Rights Watch on Serbia – An overview of the human rights issues in the area.

Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre on former Yugoslav states – Analysis and reports from an international body monitoring conflict-induced internal displacement.

International Crisis Group on Kosovo – country profile and updates.

Kai Eide’s report on Standards in Kosovo – A 2005 UN-commissioned report on the future of Kosovo written by a Norwegian diplomat.

Kosova Women’s Network – A network of women’s groups and organisations from across Kosovo that advocates on behalf of women at local, regional, and international level.

Kosovan Nansen Dialogue – a non-profit organisation which aims to contribute to reconciliation and peacebuilding through inter-ethnic dialogue.

Kosovo Force (KFOR) – the NATO-led Kosovo Force which currently has approximately 16,000 troops in the region to guarantee security and stability.

OSCE Mission in Kosovo – The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is mandated with promoting human rights and the rule of law in the region.

ReliefWeb on Serbia – Information on the humanitarian situation in the region through the online vehicle of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Swisspeace’s FAST Kosovo Update – The latest early warning report from the peace research institute, Swisspeace.

UNDP Kosovo Early Warning System (EWS) – The EWS relies on continuous opinion poll surveys in order to provide stakeholders in Kosovo with a systematic and complex conflict monitoring system.

United Nations Interim Administration Mission on Kosovo (UNMIK)

United Nations Office for the Special Envoy for Kosovo – Created in 2006 and led by UN special envoy, former Finnish President, Marti Ahtisaari.

USAID on Kosovo

Publications and Documents

NGO’s and Peacebuilding in Kosovo: The is working paper was published in 2003 by the Centre for Conflict Resolutions Department of Peace Studies in Bradford, UK. This paper aims to explore the definitions and applications of peace building employed by local and international NGOs in Kosovo.

Between Serb and Albanian: A History of Kosovo

Miranda Vickers (Christopher Hurst/Columbia University Press, 1998) – A history from medieval times.

Civil Resistance in Kosovo

Howard Clark (Pluto, 2000) – Mainly on non-violent struggle.

Kosovo: A Short History

Noel Malcolm (Macmillan, 1998) – Examines the historical controversies from the year dot.

Kosovo: How myths and truths started a war

Julie Mertus (University of California Press, 1999) – Explores the contrasting perceptions of Albanians and Serbs and the widening gulf between them from 1981-1990.

Kosovo: War and Revenge – Tim Judah (Yale University Press, 2000) – Mainly on the 1998-99 war.

Books

Kosovo – A Short History, Noel Malcolm: A brilliantly researched and authoritative book.

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TV for All

This initiative seeks to combat the spread of misinformation and false claims from politicians by establishing television transmission in the rural areas of Kosovo, removing sources of ethnic tension and helping to bring the Bosniak community more fully into Kosovan life and out of ‘media darkness’.

Kosovo may be a 21^st Century country, but it can be difficult to see in the South and East where many residents cannot receive a signal from the national television station, Kosovo Television, leaving those that can afford it relying on expensive satellite services, and those that can’t without. VKBIK research has shown that for many people in the region it is the latter, creating a huge barrier to the delivery of reliable information, as misinformation spreads across the area adding to already fragile tensions and conflicts. This is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of people affected by the lack of a free public service are of the Bosniak community, a group who already perceive themselves to be deliberately isolated from the rest of Kosovo society.

TV for All was established to address this problem. Beginning in the municipalities of Zupe and Dragash, where many people have no alternative but to listen to Serbian radio, or watch Serbian TV, hearing most of their information about Kosovo only from a Serbian perspective, TV for All sought to organise influential parties in Kosovo to arrange a deal with TV Kosovo to build a television infrastructure in order for people to enjoy a free public service.

VKBIK has so far carried out this work in only these two small municipalities, with the problem still existing across the rest of the region. It estimates that to build enough transmitters would cost approximately €130,000, and is currently looking at furthering its fundraising strategies to bring the whole region out of ‘media darkness’.

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