PREŠEVO -- An ethnic Albanian leader in the Preševo Valley is questioning whether the government has a plan for southern Serbia.
Source: B92, FoNet
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He specified that a letter sent by Education Minister Žarko Obradović to the municipal presidents in Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac, instructing them not to recognize diplomas issued by the University of Priština and stamped by UNMIK, "arrived out of the blue, since this problem was resolved in 2001".
"This was one of the greatest achievements, which opened up the possibility of integration of Albanians into local self-governments. Obradović's order blocks the functioning of the local and state institutions," Halimi believes.
He also told the news agency that he had sent letters to Premier Mirko Obradović, the OSCE and ambassadors of the countries engaged in the political process in southern Serbia.
In the wake of the 1999 war in Kosovo, armed ethnic Albanian groups started attacking Serbian forces, bringing the region to the brink of war. An internationally brokered agreement in 2001 diffused the crisis.
Today, Halimi said that he expects the diploma issue to be solved by September.
"Otherwise, there will be big problems and the situation will start to destabilize," he warned, and added that he expects the government to consider Obradović's decision, "and all of its consequences".
Halimi also said that the three municipal chiefs have not been actively involved in the making of a draft Coordinating Body for Southern Serbia strategy, prepared in Belgrade.
"The strategy contains several wrong political appraisals, such as that Albanians are not taking part in the integration because they boycotted elections. Even though some parties boycotted, we had active participation of Albanians in elections. There has always been readiness to take part in local and state institutions," he continued.
Halimi added that the start of Albanian participation "is also possible through objections to this program", and said that only then, this body would start "truly functioning after a long pause since 2004".
The ethnic Albanian leader described the economic situation in southern Serbia as "a catastrophe", with no privatization, "while the Coordinating Body showed no interest to solve these problems".
Halimi expressed expectation that ethnic minority issues will be treated "more seriously", and urged adoption of a law on minorities.
Serbia is making this move with diploma, so that after few days, officially state that OK we will recognize again, but we want more paperwork. You will see. Arben Xhymshiti, Presevo
(Arben Xhymshiti, 2 September 2008 11:36)
I agree with George that Serbia should recognize the UP diplomas because it will have to recognize them very soon anyways, so why loose time? What I don't agree is that Serbia built that University as this was loaned money to Yugoslavia which Kosovo was part of that. The sad thing was that only very small of money that was supposed to go to Kosovo at that time, it actually went there. Let's see: How many highways went through Kosovo? How many factories got built in Kosovo such as: auto factory, ammunition factory etc...? All of them got built in Serbia and a lot less in other regions and almost none in Kosovo. That`s why it was so much hunger to up rise for independence even if it meant to go to a war... Anyways, the point is that Serbia needs to be the leader of peace and stability in the region otherwise the innocent Serbs will suffer the most.
(AJt, 1 September 2008 04:23)
I am proud to say that Diplomas of school from Kosova are recognized all over the Europe and US. Me myself, I have transferred from University of Prishina to an University in US. All my credits have been transferred, it was just perfect, I continued my studies without any problems.
I just dont understand why people here make comments that don't contain truthfulness at all.
(IA, 1 September 2008 00:22)
Should Serbs recognize diploma from University of Peistina?YES because Serbs build that University for Albaniens and NO because not even US recognize diplomas from diferent countries. Not a big deal.Get diploma some place else because nobody in Europe will recogneze diploma from Pristina.
(George Nelson, 31 August 2008 20:07)
and Serbs wonder why don't trust their reassurances that they 'have changed.' Keep it up this way and soon and Sndzak and Vojvodina will split (many Serbs were in Montenegro too.) How do you want to join the family of Europeans nations when you don't respect minorities? Are you trying to make the Presevo Albanians leave too? It will backfire like in Kosova
(Dashnori i Ceces, 31 August 2008 19:00)
and Serbs wonder why don't trust their reassurances that they 'have changed.' Keep it up this way and soon and Sndzak and Vojvodina will split (many Serbs were in Montenegro too.) How do you want to join the family of Europeans nations when you don't respect minorities? Are you trying to make the Presevo Albanians leave too? It will backfire like in Kosova
(Dashnori i Ceces, 31 August 2008 19:00)
Should Serbs recognize diploma from University of Peistina?YES because Serbs build that University for Albaniens and NO because not even US recognize diplomas from diferent countries. Not a big deal.Get diploma some place else because nobody in Europe will recogneze diploma from Pristina.
(George Nelson, 31 August 2008 20:07)
I am proud to say that Diplomas of school from Kosova are recognized all over the Europe and US. Me myself, I have transferred from University of Prishina to an University in US. All my credits have been transferred, it was just perfect, I continued my studies without any problems.
I just dont understand why people here make comments that don't contain truthfulness at all.
(IA, 1 September 2008 00:22)
I agree with George that Serbia should recognize the UP diplomas because it will have to recognize them very soon anyways, so why loose time? What I don't agree is that Serbia built that University as this was loaned money to Yugoslavia which Kosovo was part of that. The sad thing was that only very small of money that was supposed to go to Kosovo at that time, it actually went there. Let's see: How many highways went through Kosovo? How many factories got built in Kosovo such as: auto factory, ammunition factory etc...? All of them got built in Serbia and a lot less in other regions and almost none in Kosovo. That`s why it was so much hunger to up rise for independence even if it meant to go to a war... Anyways, the point is that Serbia needs to be the leader of peace and stability in the region otherwise the innocent Serbs will suffer the most.
(AJt, 1 September 2008 04:23)
Serbia is making this move with diploma, so that after few days, officially state that OK we will recognize again, but we want more paperwork. You will see. Arben Xhymshiti, Presevo
(Arben Xhymshiti, 2 September 2008 11:36)
and Serbs wonder why don't trust their reassurances that they 'have changed.' Keep it up this way and soon and Sndzak and Vojvodina will split (many Serbs were in Montenegro too.) How do you want to join the family of Europeans nations when you don't respect minorities? Are you trying to make the Presevo Albanians leave too? It will backfire like in Kosova
(Dashnori i Ceces, 31 August 2008 19:00)
Should Serbs recognize diploma from University of Peistina?YES because Serbs build that University for Albaniens and NO because not even US recognize diplomas from diferent countries. Not a big deal.Get diploma some place else because nobody in Europe will recogneze diploma from Pristina.
(George Nelson, 31 August 2008 20:07)
Serbia is making this move with diploma, so that after few days, officially state that OK we will recognize again, but we want more paperwork. You will see. Arben Xhymshiti, Presevo
(Arben Xhymshiti, 2 September 2008 11:36)
I am proud to say that Diplomas of school from Kosova are recognized all over the Europe and US. Me myself, I have transferred from University of Prishina to an University in US. All my credits have been transferred, it was just perfect, I continued my studies without any problems.
I just dont understand why people here make comments that don't contain truthfulness at all.
(IA, 1 September 2008 00:22)
I agree with George that Serbia should recognize the UP diplomas because it will have to recognize them very soon anyways, so why loose time? What I don't agree is that Serbia built that University as this was loaned money to Yugoslavia which Kosovo was part of that. The sad thing was that only very small of money that was supposed to go to Kosovo at that time, it actually went there. Let's see: How many highways went through Kosovo? How many factories got built in Kosovo such as: auto factory, ammunition factory etc...? All of them got built in Serbia and a lot less in other regions and almost none in Kosovo. That`s why it was so much hunger to up rise for independence even if it meant to go to a war... Anyways, the point is that Serbia needs to be the leader of peace and stability in the region otherwise the innocent Serbs will suffer the most.
(AJt, 1 September 2008 04:23)