US expert: Situation in Kosovo worsening

Radio Television Serbia, Belgrade, May 14, 2005 12:03

Natalija Djurickovic, an associate of the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy, stated after visiting Kosovo and Metohija that the situation in the province has worsened after the March (2004) violence.

"UN refugee agencies are investing enormous efforts into refugee returns. Because of the March violence and the fear factor, those returns are nevertheless not happening. Some do return but more Serbs are leaving Kosovo each month than are returning, Djurickovic told "Voice of America" after her just completed visit to Kosovo and Republika Srpska.

"The situation in Kosovo has in fact worsened since last year's March violence. I say that because when I visited Kosovo in 2003 and 2004, there was at least the semblance of freedom of movement. However, now because of March events Serbs are afraid to travel, especially in areas with an Albanian population," she said.

Djurickovic emphasized that freedom of movement in Kosovo is limited for Serbs because their vehicles do not have Kosovo license plates, partly because they cannot get them and partly because they do not want them because they are issued by Albanian officials.

As long as the international community, and especially UNMIK, do not demonstrate sufficiently strong will to do what was done in Bosnia - to ensure freedom of movement, refugee returns and the rule of law - I do not believe we will be witness to an improvement of the situation in Kosovo, Djurickovic said. The National Endowment for Democracy, founded by the U.S. Congress, will be engaged in upcoming negotiations on the final status of Kosovo as part of a program for conflict resolution. "We try to find Albanian and Serbian groups willing to promote peaceful negotiations between two sides," emphasized Djurickovic.