Zeri Islam

“One thousand years ago, the cornerstone of Serb statehood, of its national consciousness and culture, was laid down in Kosovo-Metohija. Ever since, no other legal state, but Serbia, has existed in Kosovo-Metohija. Of all the peoples who lived and worked in these territories during a thousand years long history, the roots of the Serbian people there are the deepest and the most extensively stretched down. A Serbian State without Kosovo-Metohija is unthinkable. Thus, keeping Kosovo-Metohija as an integral part of Serbia means keeping the Serb nation whole and alive.

Serb migrations and the abandonment of their lands became the destiny of the Serb people of Kosovo-Metohija. The Ottoman rule and the atrocities committed by Alba-nians converted to Islam, subsequently settling there, brought about conditions under which life for Serbs there became impossible. Serbs had no other alternative but to run away, as far as they could, in order to save their lives and those of their children; run away without turning their heads back, to abandon homes, properties, cemeteries of their ancestors; and, to seek refuge in Serbia and elsewhere.

Serb migrations from Kosovo-Metohija stopped during the inter-war years between the First and Second World conflagrations. Serb volunteers settled there –warriors first and foremost – improving to some extent the ethnic picture of Kosovo-Metohija. Regrettably, this lasted only until 1941 when, first the occupying Fascist rulers and then the Commu-nist regime initiated a campaign aimed at driving Serbs out of Kosovo-Metohija, and replacing them with large numbers of emigrants from Albania.

During the 1944-1945 period, the Communist regime prevented the expelled Serbs from returning and taking possesion of their properties, recognizing the existing ethnic structure with Albanian emigrants as an accomplished fact. At the same time, Albanians were rewarded with an autonomous status of Kosovo-Metohija, which later was to serve them as a stepping stone for secessionist policies.

The effect of such anti-Serb policies by the communists proved to be fatal, resulting in a new wave of Serbs leaving Kosovo-Metohija. Albanian thieves grabbed hundreds of hectares of both State and Serb privately-owned land, whereas monasteries, cemeteries and other Serb sacred places became objects of systematic devastation.

In the late 1980’s, in a bid to hold power, the Communist regime announced that it would pursue a just national policy, and it would seriously set sail to solve the Kosova-Metohija issue. Serbs were misled with the amending of the Serb Constitution and the decision-making authority given back to the Parliament.

It appeared that Serbia became a unified State, while promises of the Serb president (Milosevic) paved the way for the return of Serbs to Kosova. This was a historic opportunity and an obligation which the current Serb regime (of Milosevic) failed to honor. The past policies of the Belgrade regime, and the presnt ones, vis-à-vis Kosovo-Metohija are motivated chiefly out of a sheer political opportunism, of politics of the day, thus failing to address the genuine interests of the Serbian people.

With the consent of, and under pressure by, the international community, the regime has quietly allowed the Albanians’ secessionist movement to get stronger, and create a de facto para-state called the Republic of Kosova, as well as the internationalization of the Kosovo-Metohija issue.

Once th former Yugoslav Federation crisis is settled, it becomes very clear that the Serb problem must, by all means, be resolved with the unification of all Serb territories into one state.

Aware of the alarming situation in Kosovo-Metohija, which is deteriorating at a mind-bungling speed; bearing in mind the treachery of the Serb regime towards its fellow nationals in the Republika Serpska and the Serb Republic of Krajina, one can expect that something similar could happen to Kosova too. Distressed by statements issued by foreign emissaries, advancing the idea that Kosovo-Metohija, Sandjak and Voivodina should be resolved as part of the crisis in the former Yugoslavia; being aware of the the national consciousness and the future of the Serb people is unthinkable without Kosovo-Metohija as an inalienable part of the Serb State; and, convinced that the President of Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, has made the blueprint of a new treason against the sacred land of Serbia delivering it to the Albanian secessionists, we are hereby declaring the following goals for the Serb national policy in Kosova, as well as describe the necessary steps to be taken to reach those goals:

To crush with all means available the insurrection of the

Albanian secessionists in Kosovo-Metohija. To this end, we are committed to urgently apply the following steps:



a)The reorganization of the State.-



To reorganize the State…which means the dissolution of the present federation and the autonomous territories within it, since they have proven to be lethal to the Serb people. A prerequisite for a best solution would be the establishment of a single state which would include the Serb Republic of Krajina, the Republika Srpska, the Republic of Serbia, and the Republic of Montenegro.

The new Serb State would have one President, a single Parliament, while the regions would serve as liaisons and mediators between the local self-administration and the Central Government.

The Serbian State should be defined as a national and democratic state of the Serbs, and citizens of other ethnic groups, guaranteeing all individual, civil and civic rights.

The abolition of the existing autonomy of Kosovo-Metohija, which has created a fatal disparity in Serbia providing for the Albanians a basis to secede, is th core element for the solution of the Serb national problem.

The Serb people, now at the forefront of the struggle for the unification of all Serb lands, must consider the upholding of those territories within Serb borders, as its first priority. The total inclusion of Kosovo-Metohija into a unique state of Serbia is simply an internal affair for Serbia, and it should be resolved as such, without any arbitration by the so-called inter-national community. A settlement of the status of Kosova as an integral part of the Serbian State, as well as the settlement of all other issues related to the establishment of a modern and democratic state of law, can be achieved by promulgating a new constitution. This constitution could be promulgated by the… Parliament, a body elected in a direct voting by all the people of the country.

The national policy toward Kosovo-Metohija cannot be achieved without being discus-sed thoroughly by the appropriate bodies of the Parliament, and without the consent of the legitimate representatives of the Serb people in Kosovo-Metohija.

Given the fact that a considerable number of national minorities live in Serbia, and in conformity with the international standards, they should enjoy all individual and collec-tive rights, i.e. the right to using their language before the courts, the basic right to education in their own languages, the right to property ownership, to cultural activities, and so on. However, a complementary requisite for the enjoyment of these rights, must be their obligation to show their loyalty to the State, of which they are citizens.



b) Based on the 1991 census, revise citizens’ registers and citizens’ rights, accordingly.



It is urgent and necessary for the Federal Parliament to immediately approve the law on citizenship. The law would define the number of Albanian emigrants, and their predecessors, who have illegally acquired property and other real estate in any illegal way and to a degree unseen in other countries. Today, there are 400.000 such foreigners in Yugoslavia. Such a law would prevent them from living any longer in our state. Similar standards should be applied to all citizens of the already seceded republics, unless they are of Serb nationality, as well as to all minorities who would refuse to accept the citizenship of the Federal Republic of Serbia. Consequently, 400.000 Serb refugees from other republics of the former Yugoslavia would be settled in their places, with a very legal and legitimate procedure.

Double standards should be applied in eliminating the emigrants: those who have proven to be extremists should be immediatle expelled. The others should be accepted conditionally if they possess identity documents, even surrogate ones; however, the very precondition should be the certificate of citizenship and “fathertland papers”(“otadzbinski list”), something that none of them possess. “The fatherland papers” must have the Serb coat of arms on their cover page: white double-headed eagle of the Nemanjic dynasty, and the crest with four Cyrillic c’s. Failure to possess the paper could serve to immediately expell all those not having the citizen status of Serbia.

To prevent, by all means, the repatriation of Albanians tempo-rarily working in foreign countries, especially those who left during the 1990-1993 years. It is estimated that their number reaches 300.000.

To deny employment to people of certain trades which would result in forcing them to leave the country and flee abroad. In this respect, Albanians are very expedient; on one hand they have the backing of many countries, and on the other, it agrees with their mentality to live in an alien country. Such measures would, firstly and mostly, impact the educated section of their population, while the rest could be pressured and manipulated, and would not be able to organize without their “leadership group”.



c) To revise property ownership status.-



In revising the property ownership status, a special law should be enacted providing the trasnfer of all land and other wealth to Serbs only, and to the Serb Orthodox Church. The Church did possess large estates, and succeded in maintaining sui generis welfare activities for the local population. By enlarging their land possessions, monasteries would perform their religious, cultural and national mission in most desirable conditions. They would also help the Serb people to congregate, preventing their further emigration.

In spite of the unfavorable developments in the second half of the 20th c., it was only the Serb clergy who did not move out of Kosovo-Metohija. As a reward for their patriotism and their right to inheritance, they deserve larger estates. The land sold to Albanians, or which has in various ways ended up into the hands of Albanians, especially during the 1966-1987 years (of the Albanian National Front rule), as well as lands acquired by Fascist during WW II, should be given back to the previous owners, and/or their successors. This can easily be executed, since in most cases Albanians have not built new houses and have knocked down the existing ones, to prevent the return of the

claiming Serbs. This was done for the Albanians’ own security as they lived with the idea that things might change one day and properties may be lost forever.

During the socialist (Communist) rule, agricultural cooperatives and combines (huge enterprises of the Communist system) were exclusively established on Serb estates and villages. Thus, an imminent need for reprivatization and return of properties to previous owners emerges. Those receiving the property must, however, decide to live in them, otherwise the land would go to new (Serb) owners.

There is plenty of state-owned land which can either be allocated, or sold, to Serbs outside Kosovo-Metohija. The land must be given to private citizens, snce the State has not handled it adequately.

In addition, the land of agricultural cooperatives is adequate to resettle of a signi-ficant number of “colonists”, who, by living together, could be more efficient in develop-ping welfare, cultural, and defense activities. There is plenty of such land all over Kosovo Metohija, and it is very easy to conglomerate some vibrant nucleuses of Serb population on such places, and who could maintain close cooperation with centers providing assis-tance for their development. The establishment of a chain of settlements is achievable at the border belt between Dechan, Prizren and Suhareka. By expelling some en-claves of local Albanians, a strong defense barricade against Albania could be erected.



d) To change the ethnic structure of the population.-



The colonization of Kosovo-Metohija should be carried out quickly and decisively. Through political propaganda, colonists could be portrayed as Serbs populating Serb lands, an operation similar to the movements in other parts of the country, free choice of place to live. The former expelled Serbs, besides land ownership, should be supplied with agricultural equipment and long-term bank loans, so that they can cultivate their newly acquired land, and encourage an attachment to it.

Most of the Croats from Janjevo and Letnica (two Kosovo-Metohija centers where Croats have previously lived and where some still do) guided by their ethnocentric ideas and without any pressure, left for Croatia. Their properties have been either sold to Albanians, or plundered by people coming from the neirghboring areas. Serb refugees from Croatia should be settled in their homes and given their lands.

Confiscating the land Albanians have illegally expropriated is not enough. Those who have pillaged the wealth and occupied lands belonging to Serbs must assume full respon-sibility pursuant to the Law on Banning Repatriation of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija.

The Law on Prohibition of Selling Estates should be fully enforced, and no effort should be spared to have its provisions fully and properly implemented. To this end, the foremost responsibility goes to the Ministry of Finances (Treasury) of the Republic of Serbia, an institution which until now has in fact mostly violated the law.

The ethnic expansion of the Albanians to the detriment of the Serb State on privately owned land must be foiled by all means available. All Albanians who are not our citizens, a status that can be easily proven through the Census, should be sacked form their jobs.

All Albanians could be given emigration documents if they so desire. Albanian of Yugoslav citizenship living abroad, and/or involved in secessionist activities, should have their citizenship revoked.

Taking into account the current ethnic distribution with only a few rural Serb enclaves, but over 700 purely Albanian settlements – and the minimal Serb presence in towns sup-pressed by the Albanian majority – we consider that the colonization should be carried out in an organized fashion, through the establishment of new settlements (new villages, localities, small towns or neighborhoods in the existing towns). Such places should be of a closed-ended type with their inner form of organization, i.e. medical protection, entertainment, cultural activities, etc.

This way, the population can be divided along ethnic lines, while the direct effect of such a move is that the scarse Serb population in mixed town neighborhoods would gra-dually move to the new estalished enclaves, an idea which requires both support and motivation. To have Serb enclaves protected, an Albanian population of 5-10 percent should be installed there.(This must be a selection of well-nown families with local authority)

To construct highways (deliberately divided in two parallel tracks up to one km. apart and justified by the “terrain configuration”) and to cleanse a vast belt alongside the roads throughout Albanian-inhabited enclaves, and nearby other objects such as military barracks, polygons, depots, etc.



The land and space near such highways should be allocated to colonists, which would result in weakening of the “deep country territories”, a significant element which gene-rates the sense of security for Albanians.

The purpose of these moves would be the formation of a typi-cal ethnic “leopard skin”, while a gradual expansion of Serb en-claves would result in diminishing, and later on disappearing, of Albanian enclaves.

Gaining territories in this way is more efficient than through colonization in concentric circles, or by “implanting” individuals in compact Albanian communities, for it does not raise huge ownership issues. The first method provides for more security to colonists as they would not have a feeling of loneliness, while the second is a more delaying process.

The Serb enclaves would depend mainly on state catering to a small number of Serb-owned commercial firms, while the Albanian firms could be allowed to operate through private routes. For new entities of private-run businesses, artificial shortages can easily be promoted, something that will not affect the State, but it will result in hopelessness and uncertainty for those relying solely on private firms.

Disruption of electricity (frequent and deliberate outages and sabotage on the network of the Albanian enclaves) and water supplies can be used as real pressure tactics to make one’s life unbearable in Kosovo-Metohija.

All this, aims at not only having the population entirely divided, but utterly isolated too, whereas, if the Serbs find the neigh -boring enclaves of Albanians attractive (with privately owned shops, exclusive entertainment resources etc.) they can eliminate them by provoking incidents in those enclaves, such as beatings, troubles etc.

The fundamental prerequisite to efficiently control the flow of goods and capital is to prevent the corruption in Kosovo-Metohija and in Serbia proper, for, one must bear in mind that Albanians are very much in the habit of cheating and bribing others. To prevent uncompromisingly the flow of large amount of capital through illegal channels, the flow of goods must be strictly carried out through a well-organized banking system.

Frequent interventions of the fiscal police, rigid control of transportation on the roads, attentiveness over any kind of major changes occurring in the market, complication of costums procedure and trade with dealers from abroad, investigation of the sources for financing political organizations, etc. must be done.

All necessary measures should be taken to thwart the normal functionning of the (Albanian) private sector through a complica-ted administration and permanent restructuring of their activi-ties. This, in turn, would result in maintaining a rigid control over the funds of their political parties. We must prevent their contacts with private firms and companies in Serbia , so that Albanian-owned capital could not have a monopoly in Serbia, and could not impact on the welfare relationship in Serbia. For these purposes, we should use perti-nent legislation and efficient taxation policies, especially on illegal construction. Large amounts of money could be collected and it could be used to finance various programs such as our colonization plans.

Paramount attention must be paid to drug trafficking. In cases when one single person is caught and involved in such an activity, the event must be used as a pretext to stalk and punish larger groups of people.

Such cases could also serve to discredit important personlaities in the opinion of the Western world, since it is a particularly sensitive issue for them, while Albanians are already considered as major drug carriers in the world.

Rigorous measures should be taken against smugglers, especially tobacco retailers and other smugglers, though this issue should be first and foremost taken with producers.

All this can result in serious social tentions if one bears un mind the fact that most of their population (Albanian) earns a living as street sellers and smuggling,practices which inevitably result in increased criminal activities. However, we consider that through a strong and very efficient police force, it is quite easy to placate tensions and make people seek refuge abroad. All steps should be taken so that the substantial capital of the Alba-nians is channeled through Macedonia and Albania.

Issuance of specific documentation and other papers from state authorities (in addition to passport seizures) has to be a complicated procedure as much as possible, whereas all those who fail to possess them will be oppressively fined. Albanians like to stick to their tribal customs in solving their disputes and hate administrative interferences in their walk of life they consider intimate. Legislation should be adopted requiring to get government permission to even possess a milking cow. Promo-tion of such regulations will help people to seek emigiration easily while facing serious impediments at the borders when attempting to return to the country. As for inhabitanrts of Serbian enclaves, the procedure should be less complicated, while in the cities where the services are in common for the whole community, such as the Ministry of Interior, citizens of differene nationalities should be treated in different ways. The overall activity within Albanian organizations will undoubtedly result in dissatisfaction amongst their community, which will be a precondition for a greater predisposition to get involved in various organizations, including terrorist groups. Therefore, individuals from the state security organs must “infiltrate” such groups and in certain circumstances press for the establishment of such underground and/or hostile organizations, or even provide leadership themselves within such organizations.

Similar farces could be exploited by the State as a pretext to undertake uncompromising actions against all such organiza-tions, resulting in inter-ethnic tensions and further ruptures in their parallel lives. To this end, ore and more such groups are needed, while the Police would now and then, destroy them. They could be allowed to consolidate again and appear to be genuine and bona fide organizations to arrange the existence of political parties of Albanians through specidic legislation. At the same time, scandals could be engineered to discredit them. This could be exploited and used as propaganda tactics against the Albanians, thus discrediting their leaders and affecting domestic and foreign public opinion which Albanian are sensitive to.

Distinguished individuals (active and potential leaders) who play or could play a key role in their (Albanian) political life should be eliminated by exaggerated political scandals, killing caused by jealousy, or infecting them with the AIDS virus while they travel abroad. Their infection would be discovered at their border crossings, thus enabling us to use a quarantine against them. Through adequate propaganda in the mass media, such events could create an artificial picture of the intolerable percentage of infected people, and be used to excuse the isolation of large groups of people. This would also help us in promoting opinions about Abanians as an AIDS infected people.



e) Information and propaganda.-



(Tactics to be used): To broadcast special radio and TV programs in the Albanian language aiming at eroding the patriarchal and tribal mentality by offering the most decadent values from the West, values which can be easily adopted by primitive people. The Serb enclaves would be spared from such garbage, primarily owing to languauge barriers, as well as through the installment of cable television in newly-built constructions for the Serb settlements.

It is essential to establish powerful and efficient propaganda channels to feed the international public opinion, something which has already been used. Even an underground (secret) publishing activity must be originated so as to enable them to promote subtle criticism against the “Serb regime” , an activity that would prove to be fatal to Albanians.

Albanians must be denied all kind of social assistence since, it has facilitated their high birth rate. The high birth rate seen in minorities of Moslem faith has resulted in a very high density population in Kosova. Such occurrences create demographic surpluses; therefore, the emigration of the Albanians is imperative, and cannot be achieved under normal circumstances,without pressure by Serb authorities.

A crucial element of the Serb national program, is to have a third and fourth child. Serbia has enough space and economic resources to feed millions of inhabitants; hence, an increased birth rate is a reasonable expectation in every aspect. In order to have the birth rate increased, with a direct impact on Kosova itself, dozens of concrete actions must be undertaken respectively, be they stimulative or restrictive.

Serb mothers who have three, four or more children should be entitled to early retirement. They must be granted children’s allowances regardless of family income. Planning of large families must be a top priority for all individuals, families and the entire

society. Serb families with more children must be granted loans for housing and private business; they must be secured apartments, given jobs and other facilities and incentives to raise children,

It is necessary to open in Kosovo-Metohija military academies and police schools, additional military institutions and other state institutions such as ministries, which would facilitate the settling there of thousands of army officers, policemen, state officials, together with their families, and to erect additional infrastructure needed for their normal lives. All Serbs who wish to live in those areas must be given free fertile land, construction sites, and lots for their private businesses. All those who locate their economic facilities there, and have at least ten employees, should be provided with abundant opportunities, such as being exempt from taxations for ten years.

Retired army officers, policemen and state employees can have their housing problems solved by allocating them comfortable and large apartments in the region of Kosovo-Metohija. The border belt, a minimum of 50 km. extending all along the Albanian border, should be used for settling Serbs. This would avert any danger of having the zone jeopardized, while the neighborly relationships could work in compliance with the needs and interests of both sides. The border zone near Albania would be exclusively allocated to Serbs, while the rest of the land would become the property of the Yugoslav Army.



2. Education



The public education system should adhere to elements asnd values of Serb, European and World culture and art; the lunguage of intruction should be Serbian. Open perspec -tives and free developments in Serbia will be very attractive for the minorities, while if they want to have a job, he/she will need a verification attesting to the completion of courses required following state curriculum. A careful selection and inclusion of all positive Serb values and structures will thus be part of their education. Following the overthrow of the Albanian para-state, the Serb University of Prishtina has made radical changes, and it is now (1995) positioned to achieve enormous results, which directly determine the fate of Kosovo-Metohija, and the scene itself. This course should be further stabilized and promoted in harmony with the new needs and new curricula. All efforts shoud be made to bring better conditions for learning to the Serb University of Prishtina than in Serbia proper.

Effort should also be made to further consolidate and promote the current underground parallel education of Albanians, because this way they will have all doors closed for later employment and incorporation into our society. All these efforts should aim at encouraging the Albanian population to emigrate all over the world, including Macedonia and Albania. Such activities should be carried out concomitantly with other pressure tactics, to create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. All tools, befitting the specific circumstances, should be used to prevent Albanian secessionists from finding jobs.



3. The Army.-



For the solution of the Kosovo-Metohija problem, the Yugoslav Army must be turned into a Serb Army. The republics that have already seceded from the (Yugoslav) Federation must be immediately expelled from the Army, starting with those who hold commanding posts. Those who have distinguished themselves as verified and gallant warriors in the defense of the Serbian people’s freedom, are excluded. Such an Army would be consolidated to reach the capacity needed for the solution of the complicated military and war issues; furthermore, it could be less expensive. The Law on Army should be so severe that it would obligate every citizen of Yugoslavia to make his/her contribution to the country’s defense, while members of national minorities could contribute money or labor. These issues must be detailed by a specific law. In the vicinity of the existing military bases, it is necessary to intensify the settling of Serbs, while non-Serbs must not be allowed to build houses there.

The current situation in this regard is catastrophic; therefore, urgent measures are needed to change it. Some military facilities of vital importance should be relocated to Serb enclaves, but at the same time full control should be maintained over the territory of Kosovo-Metohija through frequent visits, military exercises, and other Army activities.

Within the ranks of the Army, it is indispensable to legalize the operation of professional “Chetnik” units, who should be located in areas of strategic importance in Kosovo-Metohija. (“Chetnik” is a term used for Serb collaborationists during WW II. SR)



4. Police.-

Police is a very important element of the State, responsible for keeping Kosovo-Metohija a permanent property of the Serbian State. However, Police must be better trained and more professional than the one Serbia has now. Police cadres must be young and educated people, while all of its membership must complete additional training. The Police Academy should play an essential role in this respect. Police forces in Kosovo-Metohija will be exclusively involved in protecting Serb inhabitants, as an endangered population in that area.



5. Public Services.-



The route taken during the Serbian Army retreat in 1915, has significantly determined the direction of a future highway (Nish, Prishtina,Podgorica, Antivari), because, it solidely connects Serbia and Montenegro with the Adriatic Sea, via Kosovo-Metohija.

The completion of a such project must be a priority for our public services. Even during the present international sanctions and economic crisis, it is still possible to make rapid progress in this direction, considering its epochal impact on the problem of Kosovo-Metohija.



6. Defense.-



The current situation in Kosovo-Metohija can result in unpredictale consequences, especially as outside forces strive at writing a dangerous scenario. Therefore, particular attention must be paid to prevent such developments, first of all, by seizing all kinds of weapons, held with or without license, so as to neutralize all paramilitary, para-police, and para-territorial defense formations. If we have to fight a war to defend Kosovo-Metohija, it should be fought with all possible means available and should be finished as soon as possible.

No talks or agreements should be undertaken with Albanian representatives until the Law on Citizenship is adopted, and until such time as the exact number of those who recognize and accept our State as their State, is verified.

The State should be more tolerant towards those Albanians who claim Serb and Yugoslav citizenship, respectively, while they can be incorporated into State and political bodies, proportionately with their degree of integration and acceptance of the Serb State, and its laws.



Belgrade (Serbia) 14 October 1995





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Note: Translated by Hilmi Zogjani, Kosova Information Center, Prishtina, December 1995, and edited by Global Communicators, Washignton,D.C. November 1997. Re-edited, with emphasis, by Sami Repishti, Baldwin,New York, December 2006).