"Austria does not want to intervene on Balkans problems. But in the last phase of the Ottoman Empire, 1870-1914, many documents from the Austrian consulates in Mitrovica, Prizren and Skopje reveal that Kosovo was not just a problem between Albanians and Serbs, but even more than that," writeson top of the article the paper, showing the acquisition of a scientific project by historian Oliver Schmidt, to check all the archives and documents of that time.
According to the Swiss historian, Oliver Jens Schmidt, who has written several books on the history of Albanians, Austria had more information about the events in Kosovo than the Ottoman Empire.
"Austro-Hungarian Monarchy has sent many experts on the region in the Balkans. This was a project outside of it," says Schmidt to Der Standard, as Bota Sot reports.
He also shows that this story begins earlier in the eighteenth century where Austria wanted the protection Albanian Catholics, but faced competition from Italy and France. According to a document of 1899, provided by the Austrian consul Ritter Alfred Rappaport, Catholic clergy were supposed to play the leading brokerin role among Albanian population and Austro-Hungarian empire.
To Weaken Serbia
Rappaport also highlights the tendency of establishing an Albanian state, as only in this way Serbia will weaken.
"The main idea of our state propaganda, is to use the moments where the separation of Kosovo Vilayet be used in our interests," said the Austrian consulate. According to him, this can be achieved "by giving Catholic clergy natural place in our political system and the weakening of Serbia".
But according to Rappaport, there were few problems, not only Catholics, but also Albanian Muslims did not have much interest in the creation of the Albanian state. In the document of October 19, 1899, he reports:
"Is very difficult to convince Mohammedans Albanian to an Albanian state, since most of them are connected fanatically with the Ottomans. Also, the national relationship between Catholics and Muslims of Albania is weak, as they are directed more towards religion. "
Rappaport evidence also shows how Albanian Muslims would be willing to fight for the protection of Slavic Muslims in Sandzak, but not for the creation of the Albanian state.
History "repeated"
To make more accessible the history of Kosovo of that era, Oliver Schmidt connects it with the today's situation, where many external forces seeking influence and the application of their interests.
"The problem of different interests in Kosovo at the end of the Ottoman Empire is similar to today", claims historian Schmidt.
"The presence of EULEX multiethnic Kosovo, has the effect of creating local forces in Kosovo, to be used later for the interests of each country," he continues.
The project won by Oliver Schmodt, will have also the analysis of the Austro-Hungarian support to the Croatian fascist Ustashe, and to Slavic organization of VMRO.