Rhetoric Does Not Change Reality

These days SNV prolonged its observing mandate, again under the pressure of severe accusations of some Serbs, but that role is no longer that passive. Father Sava Janjic, priest of the monastery of Decani and member of SNV, speaks to VREME that, ever since SNV joined PAVK, they are expecting vital implementation of the already begun projects.

'That is the more active participation of the Serbs in local offices in areas where the Serbs live, in favour of a better organisation of life in the zones inhabited by the Serbs, then, the more active partaking in discussions about the organisation of life in Kosovo, the lack of which would have rigorous consequences for us. The main example of that is the insisting of the Albanians that the Serbs should take part in municipal associations, while our position is that, due to security reasons - since there is no freedom of movement - we cannot participate in their activities, but only in a work of local offices in those zones inhabited by the Serbs. Such offices would, of course, be connected to those municipal associations, but that would enable the Serbs to enjoy some sort of local self-management.

We would continue with preparation of the program for the safety of our people, we would organise the inspection of the terrain to local residents, we would fight for a greater participation of the Serbs in the police of Kosovo and the allocation of special police forces. We would also continue to propagate the action of return of our people to their homes, with the development of independent media and a number of other projects', says Father Sava.

'VREME': Did the head of the civil administration in Kosovo, Bernard Coushnaire give you any concrete promises?

FATHER SAVA: On June 29th, Mr. Coushnaire will sign the document consisting of seven articles, behind which stand both UMNIK and the international association, but above all the American administration. With this document UMNIK would take over the responsibility of everything concerning the previous problem. That would be the document to which we could always refer, demanding the decisions to be put into practice.

'VREME': What is the cause of Momcilo Trajkovic's departure from SNV, and how do you explain the conflicts among the Serbs in Kosovo?

FATHER SAVA: The relations are mostly disturbed because a number of Serbs are not capable of understanding that there should exist one and the same reality in Kosovo, which cannot be changed by means of rhetoric, nor by the outbursts of fury and an anti-constructive policy of criticism. Instead, above all, the only means of procuring the more favourable situation for us lies in active endeavour. On one side, we have those who support the politics of the regime, which altogether leads towards worsening the position of the Serbs in Kosovo and their confrontation with KFOR and UNMIK. Mr. Trajkovic and three other representatives unexpectedly left the session on Monday, because they could not accept the decision of the majority, while 83 representatives put forward the mandate to the representatives of SNV in order to represent the Serbs in the United Nations. Mr. Trajkovic isolated himself by attacking certain members of SNV, to which he does not belong since last April, and he was deprived of right to use the name and reputation of SNV in his further activities. We must say that we did not notice that he has any other solution, he only criticises what we do.