I have been very very curious to know real life opinions and feelings abt the Kosovan independence from real Serbs and Albanians, and not just a British reporter.
This article (hyperlinked above) gives a chilling glimpse into the lives of people (Serbs or Albanians) that lived in Serbia/Kosovo during the 80s, pre and post Milosevic era. \
As I read through their comments, I get the feeling most of them have witnessed violence and betrayal. Most of them have been displaced form their homeland.
Serbian and Albanian language is apparently very different. A Serb didn’t learn the Albanian language and vice versa in their childhood. Dating among a Serb and Albanian is uncommon. There is a deep untrust between the two groups. From the reader comments, I get the feeling the two groups tolerated each other, but never was any effort to become one major group. I can understand this- they have different religion, practices and language. This conflict is strikingly similar to the apartheid movement in South Africa.
Initially, I tended to lean towards Albanians- with their ethnic cleansing despite the fact they were a majority (90% of the population) in Kosovo in the '80s. As I’m reading more and more from different resources, I want to take a neutral stance now. Both Albanians and Serbs have been through a lot of trauma and have lost families and friends in the inter-ethnic tension. I am still not able to convince myself if the Kosovan independence is the right thing that benefits both parties.
I would like to have to observe what reforms and regulations the PM of Kosova, Hashim Thaci mandates in the coming months.
My sympathies to all Kosovans-Albanians, Serbs and other minorities for being brave and having come this far into the 21st century.
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