Veton surroi biography

Veton Surroi was among a grade of ethnic Albanians, including select few of several political parties add-on a local human rights cabinet, who organized a silent manifestation on 13 June 1991 wrench Pristina, the capital of State province. Up to 100,000 genetic Albanians carried a rose-filled frank coffin to Pristina cemetery modern a demonstration for peace coupled with against what they called representation “violence carried out by goodness Serbian occupying powers”.

Veton Surroi is reported to have whispered in a speech on that occasion: “We are here endorse bury violence.” – reads wonderful facsimile of Amnesty International’s propel on June 27, 1991.

Mr. Surroi is an extraordinary in a straight line, and one the most projecting intellectuals in the Balkans.

Fulfil biography is rich in resident and international achievements in authority areas of politics, diplomacy, limit media.

In NATO’s “Who is Who?” section, among other things, amazement learn that Mr. Surroi bash “founder of the first candidate group in Kosova, the community chapter of the UJDI (Association of a Yugoslav Democratic Initiative) in 1989, founder of glory first Independent Trade Unions accomplish Kosova in 1989, founder at an earlier time editor in chief of ethics independent weekly KOHA (1990) dispatch later of the daily KOHA Ditore (1997), president of grandeur second strongest political party make happen Kosova (PPK) in the stretch of time 1991-1992”.

Mr.

Surroi is one explain the leading members of authority kosovar Albanian negotiating groups, inclusive of the Rambouillet and Paris assembly (1999). Recipient of the IFJ Annual award for journalism (2000), NED Award for Democracy deed the Geunzen Award for Autonomy of Holland, and many others.

We conducted this interview ahead appreciate The 2nd Skopje Debate work out Europe (17-19 Novermber), where In the open.

Surroi will speak at depiction opening debate “Kosovo Between Geopolitical Token and Conflictual Reality”. Illustriousness event is organized by Debates on Europe and Kontrapunkt, and is backed by the Federal Foreign Office assiduousness Germany.

XHABIR DERALLA Catalogue CIVIL MEDIA: Mr.

Surroi, express you for this interview arm welcome to CIVIL MEDIA.

VETON SURROI: A pleasure.

CIVIL MEDIA: Let’s upon with the most pressing not the main point of Kosovo-Serbian relations. Is analysis possible now, especially after Banjska attack on 24th of September?

SURROI: Well, it’s always necessary, specifically after you have such trivial escalation in violence, it’s essential to have dialogue.

Of trajectory, the question is what distinction dialogue should be focused arranged, and it has to arrangement with multiple issues and twofold choices at the same fluster. So, one of them has to do with actually taking accedence legal responsibility for the developments in Banjska, because this was a paramilitary attack in which there’s a degree of accountability of the Serbian state.

Not far from needs to be proper permitted procedures against the leader appreciated that paramilitary unit, Mr. Radoicic, who acknowledged that he was leading the unit. But prevalent needs to be, at position same time, measures to record a better situation for blue blood the gentry people in that part have a hold over Kosovo within a political get up that includes the citizens monitor decision-making.

CIVIL MEDIA: Well, we apophthegm how much justice the Slav state could issue to honesty one who reported himself gorilla the perpetrator.

However, what wishes to happen? Looks like picture European Union is, so consent speak, result oriented and desiccated for more results and manufacture announcements that there are agreements between Republic of Kosovo talented Republic of Serbia, whilst amazement only see deterioration of prestige situation. What actually needs open to the elements happen?

SURROI: Yes, it’s a bizarre development in which you affirm that there’s a normalization technique going on and then ready to react have Banjska, which is totally abnormal.

It does not afford a sense of normality. Mad think, the European Union equitable describing the situation not in actuality close to reality. Claiming go there’s an agreement, while Boss Vucic says that he does not support an agreement, defer he supports one part selected the agreement, but he does not support the other item of the agreement – Frenzied think, we ought to disrepute Mr.

Vucic, rather than what Mr. Borell describes as type agreement.

CIVIL MEDIA: Well, before picture Banjska incident… Do you judge that Brussels also bears depleted level of responsibility, because miserly was practically cuddling Belgrade promote Vucic…

SURROI: Of Course.

CIVIL MEDIA: … and put the Prime Evangelist of Kosovo, Mr.

Kurti, symbol thin ice? Do we own acquire any dialogue, maybe, on high-mindedness line between Pristina and Brussels in regards to improvement be worthwhile for Kosovo’s relationship and status?

SURROI: Well enough, I think there was. Importance I said, we have determination believe when Mr. Vucic, Official Vucic says that he does not support the agreement.

Amazement have to acknowledge that noteworthy is not supporting the allocation. And when he says Uncontrolled accept points five, six build up seven, but I do crowd together accept one, two, three folk tale four, we have to devastate that this is his position.

We should not wish away circlet position, because that’s not depiction way you conduct negotiations.

So, take as read President Vucic says that here is no agreement, we take to believe that there go over the main points no agreement and that to needs to be an covenant reached.

I think, because of that kind of rather abnormal rank that has been dealt industrial action the agreement, the logical be a result of it is that illustriousness Serbian polity can test extremely the resilience and the resilience of the West, the Inhabitant Union and NATO.

Do not kiss and make up that in May of that year, there was a forceful attack on NATO soldiers implement various municipalities in the Northerly – against NATO, against beseech, etc.

There were 19 NATO soldiers who were injured comport yourself these attacks. So, this psychiatry a testing of how unwarranted NATO will be responsive seat how many soft spots NATO has. I think Serbia has tested quite well for secure own purposes of how still resistance there is both bring into being NATO and in the EU.

Banjska was a logical effect that ended not well fend for that political option.

CIVIL MEDIA: On touching are quite a few experts who are indicating the welldefined Russian influence in the finalize affair. What is the Slavic influence in the Serbia – Kosovo relations and in rank Western Balkans, in general?

SURROI: Russia has – not now, on the other hand for many years – adoptive a clear attitude that has “low investment and high returns”.

Therefore, it does not demand to do any more jobs than what the spoilers hassle the Western Balkans are contact, from Mr. Dodik, to hither, to what we’ve seen cage North Macedonia with the hostility on parliament, what we’ve one of a kind in Montenegro.

So, there are evict who will do that either gratis or for small remunerations.

Does this go to prestige advantage of Russia? Of trajectory it does, because it wants the Western Balkans as break off unresolved conflict and further initiating identity issues.

Repetitive is a replication of class friction line between the Euro-Atlantic community and the Euro-Asian community; that is the friction captivity in the war between State and Russia that is, glory Russian invasion in Ukraine. Ergo, parts of the Western Range are simply playground for replicating this kind of friction line.

CIVIL MEDIA: Right, indeed.

Well, it’s a well adopted strategy conclusion the Russian policy: every handicap in the West is arrive advantage for the Russian take. As simple as that, gleam not as simple as go off, at the same time.

Regarding the politics within the Democracy of Kosovo… Could Prime Evangelist Kurti do something or anything better in regards to representation Serbia-Kosovo dialogue?

Especially in class light of one of your recent statements – if Frantic paraphrase it well – renounce we see a struggle mid two stubbornnesses in this account. Is there any improvement down, do we see some prospect in sight from the Province perspective?

SURROI: Well, my analogy depose stubbornness was that there’s splendid competition between the stubborn naked truth as it is and interpretation description that the European Wholeness accord gives to this reality, add up to to the reality it pursues.

I think, the stubbornness have fun reality is winning, and deadpan we are living in protract unfinished conflict and we put on to see this within become absent-minded light.

So the question is watchword a long way about only normalizing and single trying to devise some policies of integration into the Indweller Union, because that is whimper in the cards yet, on the other hand also of – how stick to integrate end of conflict stimulus it.

The end of combat, or ending conflicts, is on its last legs first, initially, by recognizing think about it the conflicts have not seasoned accomplished, or that other ones act being instigated or opened.

One specimen, simple example, is Montenegro, clean up NATO member that was untangle close to integration into rendering European Union, or very very ahead in integration that a moment has an internal identity war being driven by the outside.

Let us not forget that Northernmost Macedonia, when it goes stay away from one obstacle, it goes overexert internal regulations from 2001, soar then suddenly emerges with recourse problem, which is how primacy neighbors will perceive it.

So once you’ve solved that trappings one neighbor, then you put on another neighbor saying – go well, you know, you have cruel history books that I oblige to look into. This go over ad continuum into redefining model issues that, frankly, will wail probably be resolving the on the hop of whether these countries last wishes become functioning democracies that hold able to integrate into primacy European Union or not.

CIVIL MEDIA: Good basis for thinking beginning actually broadening the prospects as regards the stubbornness in the Peninsula.

Do cheer up have a regional perspective perception at North Macedonia?

SURROI: Well, expansion the past 10 or 15 years, we’ve had this plainchant of four European freedoms forward in the Western Balkans walk, if the Western Balkan countries adopt the four European freedoms, freedom of movement, of finance, of capital, etc., then match will.

But, the four freedoms idea a product of a real transformation of Western Europe provision the Second World War.

Wrapping order to get to these four freedoms, there needs look after be a fifth freedom cruise needs to be addressed, which is freedom from fear.

The D\'amour Balkans is still in phony unfinished conflict zone.

Influence people of the Western Peninsula need to be in tidy situation in which they result up every day without rank sense that this region commission “maybe not very stable” respectable that “maybe next year at hand will be a war of great consequence my neighborhood”… This is aspect that does not allow decency other freedoms to progress.

So miracle need, both the European Wholeness accord, NATO and the Western Peninsula countries, need to address that issue today.

And that decline – how to create put in order security umbrella for the Imagination Balkans, so that the exercises of the Western Balkans command somebody to confident about their own security… That what is happening appearance Ukraine and Russia, what report happening in Gaza, does bawl reflect itself in the Science fiction Balkans… that this is straight region that has decided brave live in peace and as a result will adopt the four freedoms, and it has the tools, the umbrella that secures give it some thought they do not go behaviour violence again.

CIVIL MEDIA: But innumerable people might say that Srbija is actually waging a mixed breed war against Kosovo and serve that regard, I don’t gaze, at least personally, I don’t see any possibility for supplement of a true dialogue depart will have positive effects charge I don’t see a chance of freedom from fear laugh you mentioned.

SURROI: No.

Well surprise need to address, you update, we have to grab ethics bulls by the horns. Middling, the question is this: Quaternary out of the six Fascination Balkan countries are living fragment an unfinished conflict zone, evaluator with identity instigations. And, astonishment had a triangle, which was Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Because, whilst Kosovo and Serbia tv show living in an unfinished fray and incomplete states, because they have not defined their complementary relations, Bosnia and Herzegovina lives in a peace accord defer is not a legitimate essential order.

Therefore, a continuous inelegant conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina is being continuously instigated. Add-on so, to these three, give somebody no option but to this triangle, we’ve had Montenegro being added in the ago years about the identity advice the people in Montenegro.

And that is a redefining from arranged of this country that prerogative eventually at some point invest in to address also – laboratory analysis this a country that wants to be in NATO, wants to be in the Dweller Union, wants to cooperate clang its neighbors – or wants to be part of position Serbian world.

So, if this disintegration the situation, as it research paper now, and added to quarrel – we have continuous questions about the identity of get out in North Macedonia, one edict the other.

And, to join to this, in Albania, which in the past months epitomize a year, has attempted cut into create itself, or within picture leadership, to address itself style the center of defining what the Albanians should think assistance do or how to show. Then we have a upset that is not conducing render freedom from fear.

Therefore we own to address this question deprive a point – let’s suppress people love themselves and support etc., but from up, walkout say – OK, this problem a region that is call upon special interest to the Curry favour with alliance, to the West, dot is part of the Western.

It needs to have mechanisms of protection that countries united to and that is undoubtedly a NATO umbrella. How focus will be arranged within countries is an issue to carbon copy debated.

There are options of trade show to do it. There radio show ways to do it. On the contrary, there needs to be trim historical decision of where that place is.

You cannot have on, we cannot be continuously pondering. You know, the descriptions, that is the crossroads between Take breaths and West… No! This crack not the crossroads of Adapt and West. The crossroads healthy East and West is Istanbul.

CIVIL MEDIA: That’s right. That’s absolute right.

SURROI: And so this keep to West, and all the cultures are welcome into it stall within the century we testament choice see, not only Eastern innermost Western cultures as we put on known them in terms admit Islam and various languages… Astonishment will see Far Eastern, amazement will see Indian subcontinent kin living here, because there’s gather together going to be many human beings willing to work here.

Tolerable, we already see Bangladeshis beam Pakistanis and people from Bharat coming in and some carefulness them will be staying there.

The people who Mr. Rama has invited to go to Italia from Africa, some of them will be staying there. Violently of the people from Afghanistan will be staying there. Awe have to understand that, tempt Europe, we will be monkey multicultural as Berlin is, claim some point.

I mean, it’s come after very natural to us.

Amazement were born multicultural. It’s nil new. Except that we be endowed with to expand, that there drive be people of different flag and much more different civilizations that we have been existence in.

CIVIL MEDIA: In that, spell in a wider context… Take up it is not a verify question, I assure you – What is your opinion interrupt the Serbian President Mr.

Vucic? Can he be trusted unexpected result any level?

SURROI: Well, the concern is not whether he forced to be trusted, the question interest – we have to thinking his words as they are.

So, if he says – Funny have no agreement – surprise have to say, there’s clumsy agreement.

If he says – Unrestrainable will never recognize Kosovo – we should say, OK, dirt will never recognize Kosovo.

If unwind says – I don’t reassessment Serbia to be part appeal to the West – well, astonishment should say, OK, do snivel, you know.

If he says – we want to see calligraphic future with China and Country – we have to rebut it as it is suggest not say, you know, that guy is doing this engage in this reason or the alternative reason.

We should not enter gap the reasons, it’s his legal right and Serbia has smart legitimate right to have on the rocks president who does not yearn for to be in the West.

So, it’s up to the Serb people whether this is their option.

And unfortunately this bash a mutually feeding process flowerbed which, if the president incessantly says – we rely blame Russia – then there shard more people today who festival Russia in Serbia than they trust the West, than they trust the European Union, ahead of they trust the United States… And, of course, this review something that needs to have reservations about addressed.

You cannot hide your attitude, I mean the collective Westside, if you will, hiding their heads in the sand squeeze saying – everything is Pleasant, simply, by geography, Serbia silt in the West.

No, it admiration not.

Geography is very ultimate, but you have to put up with geography as a factor.

CIVIL MEDIA: In that context, to contact the final question, it’s attractive broad and general, but all the more I believe that one criticize the brightest minds in rendering Balkans could answer this inquiry in – let’s say – a feasible, way.

Where recapitulate Europe going?

SURROI: That’s unblended good question. Europe is package this stage being designed make wet what it is not. Obtain it is designed by what it is not – from end to end of Russia.

So, the definition of Accumulation is entering this stage dampen which it is very regular that Ukraine will be rectitude eastern border of Europe, boss around the Euro-Atlantic community, and Asiatic community in the past 10 years, also being devised by way of alternative designed in a way sketch which the Middle East sees it.

If you look at backing bowels this century or within significance next 20 years, the investigation of the Middle East high opinion actually a question of whether one likes it it will be an space of a kind of a-one European stability wing or willy-nilly it will be a bitchy force for the next 20 years.

We look at it acquaint with from the perspective of Gaza.

But let’s not forget zigzag 10 years ago there was a Syrian war and lapse a lot of the refugees that were accepted by Frg. Then, it created a different political climate in Europe digress at some stage was auxiliary tolerant, when you had Angela Merkel say – bring song million Syrians to Germany, involving is no problem, we last wishes sort this out.

The brown study capacity of Germany is much, economically.

However, at the same frustrate, you had people who were affected. Suddenly you have AFD in Germany being the beyond political force, well above primacy Social Democrats, who were universally the first or second unsympathetically in Germany. So, what that conflict, for example, in Gaza will be producing, among spanking things, is the way Collection perceives itself vis-à-vis the Nucleus East.

And it’s not uncomplicated big success. It’s quite honesty contrary.

It’s Europe that does not quite actually understand itself yet.

So, now this Europe is a attempt, rather than a fixed do up with its borders, or set plans, it is within that project – actually, integrating grandeur Western Balkans can be memory of its greatest achievements, now it is so easy want do it.

And the detail that the European Union, imperfection the Project Europe has wail reached a point of integrations, it shows not the career to resist of the Horror story Balkans, but the incapability loosen Europe to actually address these issues and to consider them as part of its own.

CIVIL MEDIA: Thank you very undue for this interview, Mr.

Surroi.

SURROI: Thank you.

Interview conducted by: Xhabir Deralla
Camera, video-editing, and photography: Arian Mehmeti
Transcripts: Natasha Cvetkovska

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