The Mayor of Presheva Municipality, Ardita Sinani, raised the alarm from Tirana, where she is attending the diaspora summit, about the worsening situation of Albanians in the Presheva Valley. From the studio of the Evening News with Pandi Gjata on A2 CNN, Sinani stressed that modern methods of ethnic cleansing are being used in silence, which are leading to the emptying of the three municipalities of Presheva, Bujanovac and Medvedja.
"Now the repression of the systematic violation has begun on a large scale. Serbia is quietly using modern methods of ethnic cleansing, inciting a mass displacement not only through passivation, but most recently and most worryingly, compulsory military service." she said.
According to her, Serbian discrimination against Albanians of the Presevo Valley is also in the economic and financial aspect, while she also mentioned the lack of investment and obstacles for local businesses and foreign investors.
"Serbia tends to exclude Albanians from every level where justice, equality, economic development are required, it limits financial means, it has not increased transfers at the government level to municipalities. On the contrary, it obliges us to increase salaries. This year, it was supposed to increase the salary position by about 35%. Expenses have increased, while capital investments, but also the funds dedicated by the central level, are not only limited, but also cut. I can realistically say that in this period alone, out of about 91 million dinars, we have competed as the municipality of Presevo in the relevant ministries of the lines with various infrastructure projects, and of those, only 9.5% have been implemented. The figures themselves speak for the degree of discrimination not only in the social aspect, but also in the economic aspect. and the disregard or lack of support for local businesses. And despite the geostrategic position in which the municipality of Presevo is located, oppression continues at every level of life, not only in this respect, but also in both economic and financial, but also does not provide a suitable climate for attracting foreign investors."
Sinani praised the support of Kosovo and Albania in internationalizing the issue, but called for more concrete steps and greater coordination between Tirana and Pristina to advance the rights of Albanians in southern Serbia.
"In recent years, we have had an extremely large amount of help from the Republic of Kosovo, especially with the functionalization or institutionalization of the budget line for the Presheva Valley. Albania, the Albanian state has played an important role, especially in affirming the position of the Albanians of the Presheva Valley in key countries, especially in Washington, in the European Parliament, in the Council of Europe, by raising awareness of our position, by presenting the situation, and especially by passivizing the addresses that have raised their voices and have presented, have argued the issue of passivization. But not only these, all these normal models that should be in coordination between our two countries. Aid with books in the Albanian language was once promised. Without a doubt, there has also been help from Albania for the maternity hospital of Presheva. Don't be mistaken after the visit of Prime Minister Rama. What is needed in the Presheva Valley from Tirana and from Pristina, or mainly from Tirana, because Pristina is in an unclear position due to the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia for an unconcluded agreement. The reports of "The good friendship between Albania and Serbia is normal and should be concretized in the advancement of rights, regardless of the financial aspect. The assistance that the state of the Republic of Kosovo is providing is very important and vital, which has never been so intensive and of such a high value before. These normal examples that should be taken not only by the state of Albania but also by the diaspora, or even by North Macedonia, that is, it is to be appreciated.", she said.
She warned that, despite agreements signed over the years, Belgrade has not implemented them, while the current situation is more serious than decades ago.
"When I mentioned that Belgrade has the elected representatives of the Presevo Valley signed, with the mediation of the international factor, three agreements of 2001, the Koncur agreement of 2009 of the coordination body and the seven-point plan of 2013, not that it has not implemented it, but the situation has worsened. We can realistically say that the Albanian position of the Presevo Valley is more difficult, worse and more aggravated than in the 70s.", she said.
In the wake of political developments in Serbia, Sinani stressed the need for the Albanian political factor to unite to ensure stronger representation in parliament, while expressing skepticism about rapid changes in Serbian policy towards Albanians.
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