Supported by the King Baudouin Foundation and the Belgrade Fund for an Open Society, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights organised a two-day conference in Belgrade on “Kosovo status and standards: towards assuring regional security and stability”.

In the first panel discussion, Sonja Biserko commented that partition of Kosovo would be a time bomb and that the peaceful move to multiethnic independence in Montenegro would provide a better model for Kosovo. She feared the new threat of a Serbian exodus from enclaves in Kosovo and emphasised the importance of finding a long-term strategy that would include Kosovan Serbs participating in Kosovan institutions. Skelzen Maliqi spoke of the distrust between different communities in Kosovo, but said that there are signs that things are improving, with the two communities communicating more than before; He believed that Kosovo would eventually be independent but that mechanisms would need to be secured to guarantee normal life and all rights to all minorities. Serbs in Kosovo would maintain links with Serbia, but it was vital that they participated in building a democratic Kosovo.

Slobodan Petrovic pleaded for clear-cut signals of goodwill towards the Serbian minority in Kosovo and emphasised the importance of decentralisation and of Serbians voting in local and municipal elections. Azem Vllasi said that only a multiethnic Kosovo could open up the road to economic prosperity, stabilize security and ensure the free flow of its people. He also called for the Kosovo Serbs to participate alongside Albanians and other minorities in Kosovo’s institutions, so that everyone could work towards true European and democratic options. Cedomir Jovanovic endorsed decentralisation and pleaded with the international community to remain in Kosovo even after its status has been defined. Zoran Ostojic emphasised the importance of integration, especially if a Kosovan capital city is designated, and Randjel Nojkic spoke of the special difficulties that returnee Serbs have in Kosovo. Simple issues like securing new ID cards, driving licences and social payments must be resolved through direct discussion between the various parties.

In the second panel discussion, Nexhmedin Spahiu spoke of the challenge of Mitrovica because it represents a litmus test for the whole of Kosovo: it must remain as a single town and not be divided as part of a solution that involves the partition of Kosovo. Petar Miletic was opposed to this view, believing that the town should become two separate municipalities. Pavel Domonji said that any idea about Serbian integration in Kosovo, however small, deserves support, whilst Ergin Koroglu, speaking up for the Turkish and other minorities in Kosovo, supported a multiethnic and decentralised Kosovo where representatives of all communities participated in the drafting of regulations. Finally, Nenad Rasic reminded delegates about the importance of economic growth throughout Kosovo, which implied trading between different ethnic groups as well as living harmoniously together.

The Conference declaration supported encouraging Kosovo Serbs to remain in Kosovo and international guarantees for minorities and their rights, with affirmative actions to accelerate the integration processes. Partition of Kosovo should be avoided at all costs.