3.3. RECENT ESCALATIONS

The suspension of the territorial and political autonomy, which was guaranteed by the legal constitution system of former Yugoslavia, was experienced by the Albanian population as an occupation by another federal unit. The installed apparatus authority in Kosova was totally rejected by the Albanian population.

This was manifested by a nonviolent peaceful resistance, to be later accepted and articulated by the political parties. The delegates of the Kosova Parliament, which was suspended and banned, were the first to announce the Constitutional Declaration, and later the Constitution was approved (1991), thus declaring the independence of Kosova. This was verified by a referendum the same year. In 1992, parliamentary and presidential elections were organized. The Parliament never convened because of obstacles caused by Serbian authorities, until the next elections held in spring 1998. However, the government in exile, elected by the previous parliament, in cooperation with political parties, continued its activity.

The situation in Kosova was characterized as follows:

• The installed Serbian authority communicates with about 90% of the population exclusively through the force apparatus.

• The majority population, who completely rejected this imposed authority, considering it as an occupation, established its own institutional mechanism of administration and responding to the public needs, intending freedom and independence. Unfortunately, the peaceful resistance movement of Albanians, which very successfully expressed the Albanian aspirations for seven years, did not succeed to make any progress nor open any process for a substantial change of the situation. The Serbian authorities permanently rejected to open talks with the representatives of this movement, not recognizing them and proclaiming the problem of Kosova as in-existent. The international community supported the peaceful forms of resistance and conditioned lifting the outer wall of sanctions against Yugoslavia with a substantial change of the situation in Kosova. But, all these undertakings were not sufficient to make any positive changes. Therefore, the predictions that the situation of the status-quo under such systematic repression measures cannot last very long, became a reality. By the end of February 1998, the armed conflicts continued between the Yugoslav military-police force and Kosova Liberation Army (KLA), and the population forced to protect their families, houses and property. About 40% of the territory of Kosova is included in the war conflicts, which with an estimation by the end of September of this year, resulted in the deaths of about 1600 people, mostly civilians, with 15-20% of displaced population. The humanitarian situation became extremely difficult, with a potential risk for a humanitarian catastrophe and ethnic cleansing. Grave problems and difficulties are facing the Albanian population after the blockade in food and necessities. Economic activities have also become very difficult. The economic damages are not yet evaluated, but are considered to be evidently high, especially after the destruction of private houses - about 40.000 (humanitarian organizations and press estimation), destruction of small family enterprises (economies), private company facilities. In fact, a total blockade of the activity in the war conflict included many regions and a significant activity reduction in other regions. The financial transactions operating by private companies through Banka Ekonomike in Prishtina have been recently reduced to 75%. That is an illustration of the new environment for the business community of Kosova.

The Kosova crisis as well as the crisis in Croatia and Bosnia have proved that the situation can exceed and a process of solution can be open, only by a strong involvement of the international community, before the risk of a conflict expanded and the ethnic cleansing becomes a reality. The problem of Kosova is a very complex one, and it can be presented in many aspects and dimensions. The economic dimension, as indicated here, is very complicated and extremely important in the whole matter. This dimension, no doubt, has a strong influence in taking of positions of both sides, therefore also to Serbian authorities, regardless the fact that quite often this position is intended to be presented in the light of medieval sentiments. The economic interests of Serbia are very transparent and first of all are in conjunction with:

1. To exploit the natural resources of great importance in the relations of rump Yugoslavia (Serbia & Montenegro) and,

2. The market of Kosova, where the products of Serbia can be sold without any competition of domestic or foreign market products.

The previous experience has clearly proved that the Serbian authorities have been permanently leading a colonial policy towards Kosova, adjusting to these needs the appropriate mechanisms of their political and economic system.