Political tensions related to the fragile dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, along with the misunderstanding of the specific needs and position of the Serbian community by the Albanian majority, are among the factors that continue to deepen ethnic divisions in Kosovo. These tensions are further exacerbated by the high level of nationalism, which negatively impacts relations between the two main communities. These are some of the key findings from the Study on the State of Ethnic Relations in Kosovo – Trust Index, conducted by the Barabar Center. This center was founded by the NGOs Integra from Pristina and the Center for Affirmative Social Action from North Mitrovica, with the aim of promoting a multiethnic, multilingual Kosovo, fostering dialogue, tolerance, and trust-building.
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| Photo taken during the publication of the findings of the Study on the state of ethnic relations in Kosovo. September 24, 2024 |
The research for the study on the state of ethnic relations was carried out from late March to mid-April 2024, with 500 respondents participating—302 of whom were Albanian and 192 Serbian.
Approximately 57 respondents from the Serbian community and about 52 from the Albanian community believe that Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo will never be able to trust each other again. However, more than 69 percent of respondents from the Serbian community and over 64 percent from the Albanian community agree that reconciliation is essential for future generations to live better lives, REL reports.
The results of the study on ethnic relations were presented on September 24 in Pristina, marking the one-year anniversary of the attack in Banjska, Zvečan, where a group of armed Serbs killed a Kosovan police officer. In the ensuing gunfire, three Serbian attackers were also killed. This attack was preceded by ongoing crises in northern Kosovo, stemming from the Serbs' withdrawal from Kosovan institutions following the Kosovan government's decision to replace Serbian-issued license plates with Kosovan ones.
When asked how a solution could be found, 71 percent of respondents from the Serbian community and 62 percent from the Albanian community said that promoting peace and tolerance by politicians from all communities would help achieve peace and tolerance in Kosovo.
Additionally, public narratives and hate speech in the public space were highlighted as key factors driving distrust between ethnic communities in Kosovo.
On July 9, Radio Free Europe reported that a negative narrative exists regarding the coexistence of Serbs and Albanians. In response, Kosovo’s Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rašić, raised this issue during a government meeting, emphasizing that coexistence should be a completely normal occurrence in a multiethnic society.
On the other hand, civil society pointed out that cooperation between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo often takes place "behind the scenes" due to the rhetoric used by politicians. In the conclusion of the "Study on the State of Ethnic Relations in Kosovo", it is stated that respondents from both communities expressed skepticism about mutual relations, but at the same time showed a degree of optimism and interest in improving them.
“The high percentage of negative attitudes indicates a deeply rooted mistrust, but a significant number of undecided respondents shows that there is room for potential change,” said Boban Simić from the NGO Center for Affirmative Social Action, according to Radio Free Europe.
The Albanian and Serbian communities in Kosovo have been deeply divided since the last war in 1998-99, during which around 13,000 people—mostly Albanians—were killed. Additionally, around 1,600 people are still considered missing.
Since 2011, Kosovo and Serbia have been engaged in a dialogue mediated by the European Union, aimed at normalizing relations between the two countries.