www.b92.net > > FoNet News Agency, Belgrade > April 23, 2004 > > Demachi: UNMIK has spoiled the Serbs > > Gnjilane - Albanian politician Adem Demachi accused UNMIK of "making an > mistake and spoiling the Kosovo Serbs" and that "as a result of the > incendiary and immoderate activities of the Kosovo Serbs, a revolt > appeared among Kosovo citizens". Speaking in Gnjilane today in a debate > organized by the Pristina Council for the Protection of Human Rights and > Freedoms, Demachi assessed that "the attempt of the Council and Kosovo > society to make common life possible is being undermined by Belgrade > which regularly asks local Serbs not recognize the new reality in > Kosovo". > > He warned that "the Serbian regime must understand that its projects for > keeping Kosovo under its rule have failed once and for all time" and he > accused Belgrade of "attempting to act spitefully toward this reality > primarily to the detriment of the Kosovo Serbs" and "in Kosovo there are > also Serbs who have had enough of Belgrade's shell games". > > Ibrahim Makoli assessed that "the municipality of Gnjilane was the best > example of reintegration of minorities after March events" and that > because of this "the interethnic debate was organized here". Albanian > mayor Lutvi Haziri said that "in the four years since the war that > befell Kosovo, we have managed to create a new space for common life > with all minorities" and assessed that "there are still Serbian leaders > who will not admit this reality" > > All Serbs left Gnjilane on March 17-18 and their houses have been burned > down and destroyed Not a single Serb has returned to the town The > official website of Gnjilane includes the information that there were no > Serb representatives present in the interethnic debate held in the town > Participants in the talks include Adem Demachi, Azem Vlasi, mayor Lutvi > Haziri, Ibrahim Makoli, Pajazit Nusi, Baki Sfirca and representatives of > UNMIK and OSCE The conclusion of most of the participants in the debate > was that only recognition of independence could help resolve the > problems in Kosovo.