Op-Ed: As Lawmakers Intended

There are two contrasting perspectives on the current state of interethnic relations in Kosovo. From Pristina, the present moment is framed as significant progress and a political achievement that has addressed key drivers of conflict, creating conditions for institutional consolidation and advancement. Within the Kosovo Serb community, particularly in its northern part, the perception is markedly different. A substantial portion of the community feels politically misrepresented, administratively pressured by central authorities, and insufficiently supported by the international community, with limited confidence in its long-term prospects in Kosovo. This sense of insecurity has been reinforced by a persistent perception of exclusion from decision making processes that directly affect the community’s future. The awful feeling that you have no influence over decisions that will define your life. Explaining the roots of this political isolation is a complex task.

Miodrag Marinković is a prominent civil society activist from the Kosovo Serb community, and author of several noticeable studies, policy papers, and civic programs in the area of community rights, reconciliation, social development, etc. On May 31, 2021, the Assembly of Center for Affirmative Social Actions appointed Mr. Marinković as the director of the organization with a two-year mandate and entrusted him a task to steer the development of the organization by building its internal capacities and infrastructure, positioning the organization at the civic scene in Kosovo and development of functional ties with the constituency and stakeholders.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), or the Robert Bosch Stiftung.