Letter addressed to UN and EU regarding the current talks between Kosovo and Serbia
Dear Secretary General,
Dear Ms. Wallstrom and Ms. Ashton,
The non-governmental organization “Medica Kosova” feels moral obligation and responsibility to address the demands and attitude of its target groups - war traumatized women - regarding negotiations which started between Republic of Kosova and Republic of Serbia.
Women who experienced sexual violence during the war are quite disappointed with the process of negotiations (even if technical) as a process imposed by United Nations and European Union without going through phases of transitional justice which post-war countries have applied as a necessary precondition for peace building and reconciliation. As most of war affected population, they consider that Serbia as a country which produced wars in the Balkans during 1991 – 1999 and continues with nationalistic mentality of conflict generating in Kosova, is not a worthy partner for talks without being confronted with crimes committed during the war.
On behalf of war traumatized women, Medica Kosova requires from UN and European Union to issue a Resolution which obliges Serbia to act in compliance with international norms of war guilt obligations toward accepting responsibility for committing war crimes in Kosovo which would determine the conditions for further talks with Serbia. In this regard, Serbian government should fulfill the following conditions for continuation of negotiations in a constructive manner and with a sustainable impact:
- To make a public apology for all terrible crimes committed in Kosova during 1998 and 1999 when the democratic world got shocked from intentions for genocide and ethnic cleansing of Albanian population.
- To reveal the bodies of all war missing persons and provide repatriation of the bodies in order to end the nightmare of mothers who continue to demonstrate traumatic symptoms.
- To recognize the statehood of Kosova by confirming in this way the admission of Serbia’s dark and criminal past and acknowledge the new created reality in Kosovo.
- To start with prosecution of all war criminals who continue to be free for serving nationalistic aspirations of their country which was proven after the last uproars in the North of Kosovo
Regardless from knowledge that members of UN and European Institutions have about the crimes Serbia committed during the war, you could even better understand the need for these demands if you hear directly some of the women’s traumatic experiences which continues to affect their adequate integration in post-war Kosovo. They continue to carry their opened spiritual and physical wounds caused by inhuman tortures committed by Serbian militaries and paramilitaries but orchestrated by the Serbian government.
Despite these crimes Serbia did not apologize while UN and European Institutions failed to demand this from Serbian government. On the contrary, Kosovo and its population got punished by ignoring the women and girls with tortured souls, crippled and broken bodies while Serbian government got awarded with visa liberalization and promises to enter the European family if accepting to continue negotiations with Kosovo.
The last uproars in the North of Kosovo on the other hand have caused that traumatization of survivors of wartime rape and women with missing families continue. These women are very sensitive to circumstances of insecurity and fragile peace caused precisely by perpetrators who continue with criminal actions in Kosovo. According to our professional experience, symptoms of re-traumatization appear each time peace and security is threatened and women fear from a wider conflict. In these cases they continue to demonstrate signs of hyper-vigilance, to experience flashbacks and psychosomatic symptoms. Despite this, your institution did not undertake concrete measures of stopping these criminal actions by making pressure on Serbia, instead of criticizing Kosovo government for the efforts to practice its competences in that part of Kosovo territory.
Based on Resolution 1325 which guarantees peace and security for women in general and survivors of wartime rape in particular, we kindly request to use your authority on the Serbian government for complying with above mentioned international and moral norms. Precisely these talks developed without having Serbian government to fulfill its war guilt responsibilities toward Kosova population has created human insecurity among war traumatized women and girls. Ignorance of their pains by national and international institutions has significantly reduced their belief in a better future hence affecting even more the peace and reconciliation process in Kosovo.
Confrontation with the past is one of the key processes of transitional justice as a precondition for improving the future and building peace and reconciliation between all communities living in Kosovo. We owe this to all civilian victims of war including children and infants burned alive, war martyrs who sacrificed their lives for freedom and above all women who continue to suffer consequences of sexual crimes.
UN and European policymaking isn’t just about the future, it also concerns the past as basis for reaching historical justice for the victims of the past. After all, the historical experience of all post-war countries confirms the need for having justice to lead the peace processes as long as there is no peace without justice.
Sincerely, Gjakove, 09.09.2011
Veprore Shehu
Executive Director
Medica Kosova