Don't Break the Principles

Don’t Break the Principles

New CEAS report on Belgrade-Pristina relations and the way towards formalization of relation

Belgrade | December 2019

Note: This Report is written in the form of Ms. Jelena Milić’s, director of Center for Euro- Atlantic Studies from Serbia open Letter to Albin Kurti, likely incoming Kosovo Prime Minister.

steemed Mr. Kurti, around this time last year in the article Own Goal by Haradinaj and Washington Post1 I deconstructed the tendentious and, in many aspects, incorrect text Kosovo’s Prime Minister: We Will Not Accept Serbia’s Violation of Our Sov- E 2 ereignty written by your outgoing Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, published in the Washington Post. No one has denied statements expressed then, just as no one refuted counterarguments and facts stated in the Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies (CEAS) report West Side Story,3 published in the spring 2018.

In my review of Mr. Haradinaj’s article I emphasized the following: “The text makes no mention of the indisputable fact that about 10,000 Kosovo Albanians, mostly civilians, were killed during the Kosovo war, while about 2,100 Serbs and about 500 Roma, Bos- toniaks, do prosecutingMontenegrins Serbian and other perpetrators non-Albanians for atrocities also perished against in theAlbanians conflicts. and The confronting fate of the majority of missing Serbs has not yet been clarified. Although Serbia still has a lot of work- tions to The Hague Tribunal in delivering high-ranking politicians and members of the militarythe recent and war-crimes the police pastfor crimes in general, in Kosovo. it is undeniable At the same that time, Serbia almost has twentyfulfilled years its obliga after the end of the war, Kosovo has prosecuted practically no one for the killings of non-Alba- nians .”

Everything I wrote back then is still valid. I am addressing you now directly because of your recent “lessons” on how “the genocide, massacres and mass graves are the truths 4

Ifabout you Serbiarecall thatwe metVučić at needs the beginning to start to ofdeal with”. the year in Thessaloniki, at a conference where Mr. Shpend Ahmeti Mayor of Pris- tina, you and I were among speakers. A few years before, Mr. Ahmeti and I were toghether on the prominent magazine Po- litico’s list of 28 people from 28 countries shaping, shaking and stirring Europe, a part of the world.5 rare privilege for public figures from our You asked me back then what came over *POLITICO 28 most influential people in the annual POLITICO 28 list of people shaking and shaping the me, as director of CEAS, to publish the Europe for the 2017, with Ms. Jelena Milic and Mr. West Side Story report, observing that by Shpend Ahmeti, among others then you could have signed every word in presentall the previous the facts CEAS concerning reports. what When was I asked actually you beingwhat wasdone specifically in the process inaccurate of enforcing in the transitionalreport in which justice one in dared Kosovo to, forand the in Serbia,first time and twenty to suggest years solutions after the inend line of withthe conflict, trends - swer. You just said, “Partition will mean war.” No arguments were offered. and the arguments of the second decade of the twenty-first century, you provided no an Don’t Break the Principles 1 Incidentally, I came to Thessaloniki straight from the Munich Security Conference. Speak-

Kosovo Institutions Hashim Thaci. The chance for a compromise that had emerged some- ers there were Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and the President of the Provisional West, had already been shattered and history would show how irresponsible that shatter- ingtime was. earlier, It has which already would proved have damaging anchored toBelgrade Kosovo and and Priština the region, more more firmly than in theto Serbia. political

I have to point out that the correction of the administrative line suggested by CEAS, is not a partition. Incidentally, since that option became legitimate as an element of a possible comprehensive multidimensional agreement between Belgrade and Priština, neither the war broke out, nor mass emigrations from Kosovo and southern Serbia were observed. - nia and Herzegovina is about to have a new government and the agreement on the contin- North Macedonia, is formaly going to become a fullfledged NATO member soon, and Bos 6 In addition, legitimizing uation of armed forces reforms will be delivered to NATO. Serbia has just adopted a new thecycle importance of the Individual of renewing Partnership the strategic Action Planalliance (IPAP) between with NATO. Serbia and the USA.7 Isn’t this greatthis option news broughtfor the whole many Western positive Balkansthings to and Serbia not itselfjust for – first Serbia? and foremost emphasis on

I don’t know whether you are aware Mr. Kurti, that by the end of the year another chapter in the negotiations with the confused EU is likely to be opened, that - mise among all actors in Bosnia and Her- zegovinaPresident on Vučić forming supported a new thegovernment compro and adopting a program of armed forces reforms to be carried out in cooperation - dreds of refugee children from the Middle *Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic attended with NATO; that in Serbia several hun Belgrade Pride in September 2019 - East and Asia are attending school; that we have regular, peaceful gay parades led by senior government officials ; that we had a suc ofcessful the many visit positiveof the President developments of France; happening that we in are Serbia. strengthening For a more cooperation extensive breakdown with most ofNATO’s developments eastern flank that members, are anchoring including Serbia the closer crucial to player the political Turkey West,- to mention against just all odds,some see readout of my speech delivered recently at CEAS annual international conference 8

BelegradeAll this is takingNATO Week.place in spite of the increasingly frequent obstructions of the Kremlin

who oppose these trends as well as any compromise with Priština.9 Mr. Kurti, CEAS has structures and the Kremlin associated self-proclaimed democratic opposition to Vučić, the Region so far. We have spotted the trend and analysed extensively its forms and driv- erspublished even before several it reportswas donor about driven various activity. aspects10 of Putin’s Russia influence in Serbia and addressed ones, like the role of Military Trade Unions, or a stalemate of dialogue with Our findings, including otherwise rarely experts and prominent think tanks.11 At the moment, it is your radicalism, and not the Kosovo in enabling malign Russian influence, are frequently quoted among established

official Belgrade, that is opening the door to Russia’s malign influence and its obstructions 2 Don’t Break the Principles to stabilization and democratization of the entire region. I believe the West will soon became aware of this as well.

This letter, Mr. Kurti, is a wish of a person, who in the 1980s stopped listening to fa- because of the song Don’t break my acacias (seemous the singer-songwriter note below the text Đorđe about Balašević this and other local references that follow for bet- *Tacan Ildem - NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Jelena Milic - CEAS Director and Ivica Dacic - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of by the audience’s nationalist reactions to Serbia at the opening of CEAS’s international conference ter understanding of this letter), horrified VII Belgrade NATO Week in November 2019 during performance, as I was among the fewBalašević’s here who inappropriate believed it was gesticulationa nationalis- tic allusion to Kosovars’ conduct towards the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugosla- via SFRY and Serbia, to bring things back on the track of talks about a possible compromise, based on facts and current geopolitical environment.

Since the spring of 2018, when CEAS published the aforementioned report entitled *Opening of the CEAS’s high level international conference - VII Belgrade NATO Week, held at the Palace of Serbia West Side Story, we have lost contact with some people from Kosovo who we thought were our friends, went through a hazing of sorts by the Western pundits, and most likely lost a couple of projects. Maybe for the same reason we were left to face alone the grueling court battles against Vojislav Šešelj, a per-

“Serb-haters”, in- son convicted of crimes against humanity; Nemanja Ristić, convicted of Kremlin-backed forattempted the murder coup of in two Montenegro; Albanians, Ivanplus mostIvanović, of the who Serbian composed tabloids, a list without of wider support cluding myself; Jugoslav Petrušić, who threatened and vilified us, and who is standing trial ourof local own and defense. regional And colleagues for what andreason NGOs. exactly? I mention Was itonly because a portion we, apartof the frompending reporting cases, for the majority of which we had to file criminal and civil charges ourselves and finance both Russian and local, to the level that I was under police protection, or because we also deconstructedextensively about the Russian false mantra influence about here administrative for which we haveline correctionbeen harassed between by Putin Belgrade trolls, and Pristina as the creation of mono-ethnic states that other actors from our milieu have been propelling,12 or because we dared to ask how things stand concerning trials for war crimes against Serbs and other non-Albanians, and to name a number of new geopolitical andBy the regional way, my factors and CEAS that significantlycase of being affect harassed the possibleby pro-Kremlin outcome structures of the dialogue? and numerous pending court cases has not been attracting local and regional attention but is described thoroughly in a book Putin Trolls 13 I eventually had to cancel my police protection because of the “Savamala case”, when the police failed to respond to citizens, written request by for prominent assistance Finish14 as I didjournalist not want Jessikka to be aAro privi- leged citizen.

Don’t Break the Principles 3 I write this in the days when I am party to the case 15 who intimidated and slandered me, claiming that Iagainst boasted notorious about the mercenary dismissal Jugoslavof General Petrušić, Ljubiša - an Armed Forces, and that I was working against the interestsDiković, a of retired Serbia Chief and conspiredof General withStaff theof the Albanian Serbi lobby in organizing terrorist attack with the inten-

tion of offing President Trump, no less. TV Happy16 that I am suing him for, was instigated byI believe CEAS’s thatsupport the and entire promotion Petrušić’s of appearancea report by the on reputable Humanitarian Law Center, on the num-

ber of civilian victims in Kosovo killed in the area *Cover page of the book Putin Trolls , written by 17 prominent Finish journalist Jessikka Aro, in which she also presented the case of CEAS and its Director - Jelena Milic being harassed by pro-Kremlin structures of responsibility of the aforementioned Diković, who has now finally retired. By the end of his mili - ingtary charges service for Diković the killing was denied of two Albanians.entry to the Although United I am the plaintiff in the case, I was de factoStates. His name should mean something to you. Just like the name of Petrušić, who is fac letter requesting an investigation and justice for the murder of the Bytyqi brothers,18 three USA citizens interrogated of Albanian for hours origin by Petrušićwho were and murdered his lawyer – execution for, among style other – and things, dumped signing in a mass grave in Serbia at the end of the Kosovo war in 1999. The Bytyqi case has been close-

lyA daymonitored later, I hadby the to listenUS government, to Vojislav whichŠešelj, strongly a person urges convicted Serbia of to crimes find the against perpetrators. humanity by a UN court The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY),19

myholler lawsuit. down Believethe court me, corridor, it was not“Where easy isto NATO’s listen to. crabs I sued Jelena him Milić? over aThere book she called is NATO’s Jelena Milićcrabs NATO’s Jelena crabsMilić…”,, which as he he was recently coming published to a preliminary and promoted hearing on televisionof, what was stations yet again, with national frequency – which are a public good, and continued to insult me on the website of his parliamentary party, that CEAS and I are paying for from the national budget!20 None of the competent authorities reacted. I am not complaining to you, I am just trying to illustrate the circumstances behind and reasons why I am writing this open letter to you. Incidentally, according to Šešelj, as well as Serbian tabloids and televisions with national frequency, I was your, So- ros’s, Thaci’s, Haradinaj’s, and who knows who else’s – whore .

*Titles of the Serbian tabloids on Jelena Milic: “Terrible NATO evil” and “Jelena Milic -Face of NATO evil”

4 Don’t Break the Principles bombing, although due to them CEAS and I have been satanized and intimidated for years21 toI stand the point behind that each we of no my longer positions have ontime the to causes, record, reasons let alone and report consequences it. I also stand of the by NATO the fact that without the compromise with Kosovo, which will also reinforce Serbia’s position in the political West, there is no chance that the remaining issues of transitional justice will be resolved. that Serbia must answer to, including the difficult matter of the Bytyqi brothers’ murder, I also stated the same before the Foreign Affairs Committees of both Houses of the Irish Parliament, as they were deciding whether Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) - eral Staff of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment bywith ICTY the forEU genocide,should be crimesapproved against for Serbia, humanity while and Ratko violations Mladić, of former the laws Chief or ofcustoms the Gen of - mander of its armed forces, convicted and sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment for genocide,war, and Radovan crimes against Karadžić, humanity former Presidentand violations of Republika of the laws Srpska or customs (RS) and of Supreme war commit Com- strengtheningted by Serb forces its support during thefor thearmed EU, conflictand then in extradited Bosnia and the Herzegovina aforementioned (BiH), indictees. from 1992 until 1995, where still at large. Fortunately, I was right. Serbia first concluded the SAA, toHowever, two years the recent imprisonment Kosovo’s first-instancefor “inciting national,verdict against racial, Ivan religious Todosijević, hatred, sentenced unrest or intolerance”22 for claiming that controver-

Republicsial Račak ofcase, Yugoslavia a massacre back that in is 1999,known23 wasas a atrigger fabricated for NATO event, bombing is not a ofright Former step towards continuing to expose and punish *The Grdelica train bombing occurred on 12 April 1999, when two crimes of the past. This measure comes at missiles fired by NATO aircraft hit a passenger train while it was a time when Austrian Peter Handke, who passing across a railway bridge over the Južna Morava river in the Grdelica gorge. At least 20 civilian passengers were killed or denies the Srebrenica genocide and extols declared missing. Estimates of the total death toll run as high as 60

Prize for Literature!24 I suspect that the purpose of this court decision, as well as your seriesSlobodan of factually Milošević, incorrect is awarded comments the Nobel and insinuations about genocide and impunity for elephant in the room - the attitude of the Kosovo leadership, both previous and the incum- bent,crimes and which the camesociety as ata reaction large, towards to Vučić’s the stance unpunished on Račak, crimes is to againstdivert attention more than from 2,500 the Serbs and other non-Albanians, and the need to co-operate with the Specialist Chambers for the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) crimes that has been imposed on you and which you have long resisted. Loud silence is shattering the ears of all of us who have been listening intently for years. The longstanding absence of Western pressure on Kosovo to deal with its share of the criminal past is also conspicuous and raising some questions. These circumstances deprive you of the right to reproach others for their attitude on crimes from a false moral high ground.

Don’t Break the Principles 5 *Images of Aleksinac after the NATO missiles attack in April 1999. At least 11 civilians were killed, 50 were injured and a medical clinic used by civilians was hit in the town, about 100 miles south of Belgrade

President Vučić is entitled to his position on Račak, an event full of controversy. He did not take Serbia out of the UN, or stopped cooperating with The Hague or NATO because of his timestance and on place. Račak. This A criminal criminal complaint complaint filed does against not contribute him in Kosovo to the recently continuation concerning of the hisdi- alogue.postion Mr. on Kurti,Račak, avoidance in the age of of continuation Handke winning of the a dialogue Nobel Prize, is increasingly seems completely becoming out your of obvious goal.25 26 director of the Srebrenica-Potocari Memorial Center, For and the others. record I am in full public support of the fight and arguments against this prize of my colleague and friend Emir Suljagić, -

LawUnfortunately, Center (HLC), even27 excludingthe only organization Račak, Serbian in addition forces killed to The approximately Hague Tribunal, 1,500 CEAS and and ex I usepelled as thesome source 400,000 to keep Kosovars record before and describe the NATO how bombing, civilians according and other to casualties the Humanitarian have lost their lives during the Kosovo war and throughout the region. This gives legitimacy to the bombing, especially bearing in mind the genocides in Srebrenica and Rwanda just a few - point I suffered dire consequences living and working in Serbia for the past twenty years, butyears I stand before by the it. Kosovo conflict, which the West did not prevent. Because of this view

However, Serbia is slowly changing for the better and has almost paid its dues, unlike

aggression.Kosovo. For28 example, last spring in a TV show I participated in, President Vučić said that CEAS and HLC have the most accurate casualty records from the Kosovo war and NATO On the other hand, I do not see such progress in the positions of long-time KosovoAs you know,officials. I worked at the Serbian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights when Naša Borba late 1990s. More importantly, I worked for the International Crisis Group (ICG) at a time , anti-war and anti-Slobodan Milošević daily, gave you the Tolerance Award in the

southernwhen the Serbia, late Serbian and simultaneously Prime Minister, releasing Zoran Albanian Đinđić, was political peacefully prisoners cooperating from Serbian with prisons,NATO to includingcalm the rebellionyourself, ofin thethe Liberationnear impossible Army localof Preševo, circumstances. Bujanovac29 Iand still Medveđa remember in - ers,30 everevery while second I was of the a member meeting of between the Civic Đinđić Alliance and of Morton Serbia Abramovic, political party one (anti-nationalist,of the ICG found related to this topic, that I was present at. Goran Svilanović, my only party leader- ity Pact for South East Europe, still my role model and a friend, at the mentioned time anti-war, anti-Milosević), my boss later on when he was a high level official at the Stabil

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the federal government, also significantly helped all these 6 Don’t Break the Principles processes. He also paid a high internal political cost for conducting this policy, just like politicalthe late Prime majority Minister while seekingĐinđić. Thiscompromise is what sticking with Pristina to good that principles can be democratically and being leaders validated,mean. 31Aleksandar but nonetheless Vučić, currenthe is pushing president for it. of I Serbia, do not issee also any in of a toughthis in position Kosovo 2019-2020.to maintain

“I was a member of the Civic Alliance of Serbia political party (anti-nationalist, anti-war, anti-Milosević), my boss later on when he was a high level official at the Stability Pact for South East Europe, still my role model and a friend, at the mentioned time Minister of Foreign Affairs of the federal government, also significantly helped all these processes. He also paid a high internal political cost for conducting this policy, just like the late Prime Minister Đinđić. This is what sticking to good principles and being leaders mean. Aleksandar Vučić, current president of Serbia, is also in a tough position to maintain political majority while seeking compromise with Pristina that can be democratically validated,31 but nonetheless he is pushing for it. I do not see any of *Jelena Milic Director of CEAS at this in Kosovo 2019-2020.” the cartoon created by the Serbian cartoonist Predrag Koraksić Korax The mentioned meeting was, by the way, among my last longer while she was a member of the Resistance movement OTPOR encounters with the late Prime Minister. Shortly afterwards, he the role my ex-husband and the father of my children, the then Serbian Deputy Minister was assassinated by an anti-Hague lobby. Mr. Svilanović was on a hit list too. Because of of the Interior and before that chief of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić’s cabinet, played in32 ofoverthrowing which I was thean activeheinous member regime and of Slobodanpromoter Milosevićof its legacy and and his knowledge extradition after to the we ICTY top- under difficult 33circumstances, my children and assisted I spent by 79 the days nonviolent under heavy Resistance protection, movement in circumstanc OTPOR - es similar to a house arrest, during the state of emergency that was declared a few hours afterpled Milošević,the assassination, under police operation “Sabre”.34

*Funeral of the assassinated Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. Serbia, March 2003

Don’t Break the Principles 7 - gional Cooperation Council35 (SPSEE spinoff) of which Kosovo is a member, for which Mr. These days I fully agree with Mr. Svilanović, until recently longstanding chair of the Re- promise. He believes that the deal is urgent because the unresolved status is draining enormousSvilanović wasenergy instrumental, from the Serbian that we society should and move deprives on with it notregard just to of the energy potential but media com space as well, so that some other issues, of crucial importance for Serbia’s democracy and

applies to Kosovo. People there have also voted for the change with the expectations that theEU accession,new government do not wouldget enough combat attention. corruption However, and strive as Svilanović to develop points the economy, out, the but same as long as there is no agreement with Belgrade and a status solution, the new Kosovo govern-

betweenment would Belgrade not be and able Pristina to focus are on asolving matter such of urgency problems for there both sides.either. I firmly agree with Svilanović that continuing talks and reaching a compromise agreement in the dialogue I am writing to you now, Mr Kurti, mentioning even some semi-private things because I Don’t Break My Acacias. Isn’t it ironic that I’m quoting him now? At this moment when the facts are had enough - you went overboard, as Balašević would say in his popular song and Kosovo, you state that Serbia did nothing to confront its crimes and you brand us as genocidal.more important Why is than that? ever before in defining a new form of relationship between Serbia

I am convinced that you are well aware of the undisputed facts – even after the assassi-

including during Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica’s mandate. Six active military and po- licenation generals of Prime and Minister two presidents Đinđić, Serbia have beencontinued extradited to co-operate to The Hague, with The mostly Hague for Tribunal crimes

to follow, the military and political chiefs of Republika Srpska – entity of another state, Bosniacommitted and againstHerzegovina, Albanian not civiliansSerbia, responsible in Kosovo. Ratkofor the Mladić siege of and Sarajevo Radovan and Karadžić the Srebreni were-

Serbia was found guilty of not preventing, and not committing, genocide in Srebrenica.36 ca genocide. I remind you that, according to the decision of the Permanent Court of Justice, There were no other genocides in the

according to the decisions of the relevant international1990s conflicts courts, in the so region, it is not at clear least what not exactly are you referring to these days. As I have stated, there were mass crimes committed against Albanians as well as ethnic cleansing, for which a number of individuals in Serbia were held accountable for. However, in my opinion, ethnic cleansing was committed against the Serbs in Cro- *Photos of the victims of the Staro Gracko massacre - the mass killing of 14 Kosovo Serb farmers in the village of Staro Croatian forces killed at least 1,800 Serbs Gracko in the Kosovo municipality of Lipljan on 23 July 1999 andatia expelledduring 1995 250,000, Operation37 which Storm, was neverwhen adequately punished, as is the case with Ramush Haradinaj’s crimes, due to an outrageous trial at The Hague Tribunal, during which several witnesses were mysteriously killed.

8 Don’t Break the Principles Mr. Kurti, how often do you and your colleagues speak about the crimes against Serbs and other non-Albanians? Does 38 39 mean anything to you, to mention just some of the toponymsKlečka or related Radonjić to the Lake, suffering of Serbs in Kosovo. Remember the 2004 pogrom40 in Kosovo when hundreds were wound- ed and at least 14 people were killed? It was reported that a number of Serbian churches and shrines in Kosovo had been damaged or destroyed by rioters. At least *Relatives of murdered Serb abductees from villages Opteruša and Retimlje 30 sites were completely destroyed, more or less destroyed, or further destroyed (sites that had been previously damaged). Apart from the churches and monasteries, tens of support buildings (such as parish buildings, economical buildings and residences) were destroyed, bringing the number close to 100 41 42 Niš Express43 mean anything to you? How many persons have been held accountable for all thisbuildings and other of the crimes Serbian against Orthodox Serbs Church in Kosovo? destroyed. Does Staro Gracko, Orahovac,

Kosovo civilians by Serb forces in Kosovo.44 When did one of yours do something similar Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić attended an HLC exhibition on the persecution of CEAS included, insist on confronting the criminal past, requesting a memorial to be built inwhen Batajnica, it comes45 ato notorious Serb victims? police Many training Serbian centre non-governmental close to Belgrade, organizations where hundreds (NGOs), of bodies of Kosovo Albanians were found buried, the state is financing the production of- films on crimes against Kosovars – and what is happening on your side? How vocal and thepersistent recent HLCare Kosovo report onNGOs, trials with for thewar exception crimes against of the Serbs prominent in Kosovo, Humanitarian since the end Law of Cen the ter branch in Kosovo (HLC Kosovo), on this topic? Mr. Kurti,46 let me remind you, findings of conflictWhere is to the the support present ofday, leaders are profoundly and the public disappointing. for the set up and work of The Specialist 47 for the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) crimes? Are the 2,500 Serbs and other non-Albanians killed irrelevant, a statistical error? By what right doChambers you claim, and in Prosecutor’s rare occasions Office when you mention these crimes at all, that its up to Kosovo courts and not the Specialist Chamber to deal with such cases, when only two years ago you set off tear-gas in the Assembly of Kosovo calling it practically a “captured state”? What has really changed in Kosovo in the meantime, except the possibility of you coming to power? And meanwhile the time passes and the witnesses die.

At the moment, it is your radicalism, and not the official Belgrade, that is opening the door to Russia’s malign influence and its obstructions to stabilization and democratization of the entire region.

Don’t Break the Principles 9 When comparing the ratio of Kosovar civilian victims, on one side, and Serbian and other

be counted, which would make the ratio smaller) with the number of convictions for crimesnon-Albanian against on them, the other texts (roughlyin the western 4:1, but printed perhaps media the victims about Kosovo of NATO casualties bombing inshould relation to other victims, statements by the western politicians about one in comparison with - gression damages, expectations of you and many in the West that Serbia is going to simply recognizethe other, policiesKosovo asapplied a matter to Kosovo of course, and even to Serbia, though the at death this moment toll and thehalf cost of the of UNNATO mem ag-

certainly not be like the one concerning casualties, it would be much more “in your favor”. ber states have not done so, including 5 EU and 4 NATO member states, the ratio would Making and analyzing this inventory would be worthwhile, for the sake of sustainable peaceful relations in the future and for the sake of Serbian and other non-Albanian victims. As well as for the sake of what Serbian diplomacy and the general public, including

worthmany NGOs, wondering should why do thein the pendulum future, especially has swung in so relations much to to one the side. US, and that is to form a more accurate picture of the causes and consequences of the conflict in Kosovo. It is also Mr. Kurti, a victim’s privilege is a legitimate status for a period of time. But not forever. It is not honorable to abuse it. And

as Thaci suggests,48 a worse crime on the not every victim is innocent. Why is Račak,- eration Storm, Srebrenica, the camps at Prijedor,European the soil massacre than the ofTuzla Serbs Column, in eastern Op

of Stalinism, that also perished after the WorldHerzegovina? War II? Or By worse exaggerating than the in victims com- *Mr. Behgjet Pacolli, Kosovo’s outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, paring the Serbian accountability for the tweets/statements on “Serbian genocidal policy against Kosovo” 1990s with German Nazism, are you, Kosovo leaders, not offending millions of victims of Nazism? If I were a raped Albanian woman I would feel terrible because of the exaggerated

insist upon, though being a woman is enough to feel that.49 number of rapes by Serbian forces during the conflicts that your officials systematically

“Mr. Kurti, a victim’s privilege is a legitimate status for a period of time. But not forever. It is not honorable to abuse it.”

Speaking of Germans, did you know that long-time German chancellor Angela Merkel has

25 years?50 only recently visited Auschwitz, making her the first German chancellor to do so in the last Since you are so adamantly and casually sticking genocidal labels around, please allow me 51 WW2 concentration camp where, according

andto ask anti-fascists you, Mr. Kurti between – what 1941 about and Jasenovac, 1945? Have you, or any other Kosovo leader or a pub- to the Jasenovac Memorial Site, the Croatian Ustasa killed over 83,000 Serbs, Jews, Roma

10 Don’tlic figure, Break the reacted Principles to current shameless attempts coming from Croatia to call Jasenovac a “collection” or “labor” camp.52 How and where do you draw the line? Are you not relativ- izing the genocide in Srebrenica by calling other war crimes of the 1990s that were not used the word genocide or not? Has Serbia stopped cooperating with The Hague after the court determined as such - a genocide? And what does it matter whether a Serbian official you, Mr. Kurti, as well as Thaci, Haradinaj, and others, are spreading ethnic hatred at this Srebrenica verdicts? No. Has Serbia fulfilled its remaining obligations? Yes. Could it be that claim? moment with this amount of prejudicial inaccuracies and not the Serbian officials, as you Mr. Kurti, in your very recent interview to Financial Times you reiterated: “We should shift from [debating] control over territory towards the rights of the citizens and the needs of 53 theIt seems communities. . . because to me Mr. Kurti that maps you aredo notracist know for sure.”what racism is, otherwise you would not insult millions of victims of racism with this inappropriate comparison. Stop with labeling so easily. Maps were for sure included when Czechia and Slovakia separated peaceful-

- lyly, Serbswhen populatedSerbia and municipalitiesMontenegro were to become peacefully administrative separating, whenparts ofSudan Kosovo was province, splitting…54 whichWhen theis still communist the case regimeand seems of Josip to me Broz you Tito do afternot object the WW2 it, was was it addingracist? predominateAre your and

CyprusAnd while flags on racist? the subject of false analogies and comparisons let me address your “con- cerns” with regard partition of Serbian community, one of your false arguments against a comprehensive multidimensional compromise agreement, and let me ask you what hap- - pened to the Bosniak community in Sandžak when it was administratively divided be tween Serbia and Montenegro? Nothing. They are still Sandžak, with all its ups and downs. AsMr. it Kurti, happens, if you one come part to is power in NATO, in Kosovo,and good you for will them. have More to cooperatestability for with everyone. the Specialist Chambers, which have already conducted a considerable number of interviews. The in- dictments and extraditions are to follow. You will get a chance to see what it means to ex- tradite while you encounter resistance to enforcement of the obligations and a conspiracy face the challenges that Serbia is now slowly leaving behind. of silence by the security system, and the society fails to support you. Only then will you

*Rebellion and highway blockade by now-disbanded Special Operations Unit in a rebellion against the Serbian government of Zoran Djindjic in 2001 In addition to confronting your war-criminal past, you will also have to face another element of the present times - that neither Serbia nor the world is the same as in the late 1990s. Until recently you have been very critical of the situation in Kosovo, and now you are acting as if you are intentionally closing your eyes to some of the flaws.Don’t Break The the time Principles of 11 privilege of young “harmless” romantic nationalisms over the old “dangerous” nationalisms is passing, and they are now treated as one and the same. Some prison sentences have been served and you cannot forever invoke the crimes that have been punished and use them to justify or obscure your own wrongdoings. Your *After the Kosovo election in October 2019 Kosovo Central youthful radicalism was understandable, Election Commission (CIK) said the ballot papers for the but adulthood requires a mature under- parliamentary elections that came from Serbia would be counted after the police completed their investigation standing of things and mature actions. into whether they contained any dangerous substance. I sincerely hope that you are up to it, be- Investigation showed that the accusations were unfounded cause the number of common challenges and threats is enormous. Your obstinacy increas- es the chances that due to a deadlock in the communication and exchange of data and intelligence, potential perpetrators or weapons to be used in a new terrorist act some- where in the world, may well pass across our territory, to mention just one of the possible negative consequences.

Mr. Kurti, what you are doing now is breaking principles. Do not break our principles.

president, and the Serbs in Kosovo overwhelmingly voted for the Serbian List. Democracy isPolitics tough. and Not lawmany are here not are a buffet. delighted Serbia with has your elected electoral Aleksandar victory, but Vučić we ashave the to legitimate deal with 55 poisoned ballots and the manner you dealt with it – were totally unacceptable. Mr. Kurti, instead ofit, althoughexcessively some and features inaccurately of your castigating election –Serbia the allegations of 2019,56 ofyou ethno-specific should face democracy head-on. Take a look at the new CEAS-CESID public opinion poll and the possible options concerning the results of the dialogue with Priština.57 Any agreement between Belgrade

to you, bearing in mind your numerous statements about inviolability of Kosovo Consti- tution,and Priština but we must have get one democratic too. Fun fact, verification both can here be amended. too. I know Serbia it may does come not as have a surprise to join

with Pristina is not going to kick it out of there. You in Kosovo are under more severe time neither the EU nor the NATO. Serbia is in the UN and a peaceful status quo in relations

pressure and in conflict with reality. You need to face it, too.

*CEAS comprehensive research results “Serbia and the New Horizons – Citizens on Security Challenges, NATO, USA, Kosovo and Regional Cooperation” commissioned from the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), published in November 2019

12 Don’t Break the Principles WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS?

A compromise solution should involve a delimitation with four northern municipalities remaining in Serbia albeit with Kosovo is independent a continued KFOR presence, and extensive and Serbia should Kosovo should remain autonomy for Serbian municipalities in accept this situation and in Serbia at any cost Kosovo turn to the future

Disagree 18 (22 in 2018) 24 58 (63 in 2018)

Neither agree nor disagree 14 (24 in 2018) 25 13 (12 in 2018)

Agree 66 (53 in 2018) 44 10 (24 in 2018)

DNK /Cannot estimate 1 (1 in 2018) 6 13 (1 in 2018)

We used to eat so well. In it he keeps enumerating on and on what kind of food was eaten and in what And in closing, Mr. Kurti, just one more thing. Balašević has another song called becomingorder, while like on this a road overindulgent trip, finishing binge with trip a with local cipiripi brand ofat thea chocolate end. Mr. creamKurti, you “cipiripi” have the as opportunitythe finale of toa senseless contribute overeating. to setting usYour all onlist a of road conditions journey forheading continuing towards the West dialogue togeth is- says in yet another song Boža the Jack er. Don’t overplay your hand and become another “hot-shot that went bust” as Balašević because, after all, the successful gambler Boža the Jack is just another character from a Balašević’s songs. Jelena Milić, CEAS Director Belgrade, December 2019

Don’t Break the Principles 13 PS. In the light of the recent similar unfounded allegations made by Mr. Behgjet Pacolli, Kosovo’s outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs, I kindly ask you Mr. Kurti to forward this letter/report to him too.

Note 1: Cover page picture presents a rare and poorly attended anti-war in Kosovo rally organized by a handful NGOs like HLC and Women in Black back in 1998 that Jelena Milic attended. Photo was published in Dnevni Telegraf, daily whose owner and editor was shot dead by Milosevic’s assassins during the NATO bombing of the FRY. Poster in girls hands states: “I don’t want war”.

Note 2: Djordje Balašević is one of the most famous performers and singer-songwriters of popular music in the SFRY and Serbia. In 1986, he published a love song Don’t Break My Acacias, in which a farmer tells his neighbors, who for years have been stealing produce and crops from his estate, that they have gone overboard when they start breaking acacias “down there towards the road” of his estate, that remind him of a woman he loved and who had passed away; he tells them that he had enough and that he is going to take justice into his own hands. The song sparked controversy because some believed it was an allusion to Kosovars’ conduct towards the SFRY and Serbia. We used to eat so well (1991) is another Balašević ‘s song mentioned, referring to excessive eating in Serbian culture, in which sometimes even after a meal consisting of ten or more dishes, one reaches for the Serbian version of Nutella (Cipiripi) as a dessert. The third song mentioned is Boža the Jack (1982), about a successful and mysterious gambler who made his rivals go bankrupt.

14 Don’t Break the Principles References

1 CEAS. December 2018. Available at: https://www.ceas-serbia.org/en/news/announcements/7658-own-goal-by-haradinaj-and- washington-post-jelena-milic-review-of-the-opinion-piece-by-haradinaj-published-by-washington-postOwn goal by Haradinaj and Washington Post- Jelena Milic review of the opinion piece by Haradinaj published by Washington Post. 2 Kosovo’s Prime Minister: We will not accept Serbia’s violation of our sovereignty. The Washington Post. November 2018. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/11/28/kosovos-prime-minister-we-will-not- accept-serbias-violation-of-our-sovereignty/?utm_term=.17945c81c185 3 prica-sa-zapadne-strane West Side Story. Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies report. June 2018. Available at: https://www.ceas-serbia.org/sr/publikacije/ 4 https://kossev.info/kurti-genocid-masovne-grobnice-i-masakri-su-istina-srbije/ Kurti on Vučiće’s statement: „Genocides, mass graves and massacres are Serbian thruth“. KosSev.December 2019. Available at: 5 Politico. 2017. Available at: https://www.politico.eu/list/politico-28-class-of-2017-ranking/jelena-milic/ 6 Individual Partnership Action Plan IPAP. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. December 2019. Available at: http://www.mfa.gov.rs/sr/ images/ipap/IPAP_2019-2021.pdf 7 role in raising Serbia-USA releationship to a higher level. Kurir. November 2019. Available at: https://www.kurir.rs/vesti/ Strategicpolitika/3357429/srbiji-bitno-stratesko-partnerstvo-sa-sad-marinkovic-predsednik-srbije-aleksandar-vucic-najzasluzniji-sto- partnership with USA is important to Serbia! Marinković: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić played the crucial su-odnosi-srbije-i-amerike-podignuti-na-visi-nivo 8 9 From Moscow Without Love. Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies report. April 2019. Available at: https://www.ceas-serbia.org/sr/ Belgrade NATO Week Conference Website. Available at: https://natoweek.rs/en/about-conference publikacije/iz-moskve-bez-ljubavi 10 Eyes Wide Shut - Strengthening of Russian soft power in Serbia: goals, instruments and effects. CEAS. May 2016. Available at: https://www.ceas-serbia.org/images/publikacije/CEAS_Studija_-_%C5%A0irom_zatvorenih_o%C4%8Diju__ENG.pdf 11 Ibid 12

NGOs ask Mogherini to reject Kosovo partition. N1. August 2018. Available at: http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a410942/ 13 NGOs-ask-Mogherini-to-reject-Kosovo-partition.html at: https://www.propastop.org/eng/2019/10/25/jessikka-aro-putins-trolls-true-stories-from-the-frontlines-of-the-russian- Jessikkainformation-war/ Aro „Putin’s trolls: true stories from the frontlines of the Russian information war“. Propa stop. October 2019. Available 14 15 Alleged ‘assassins’ were no strangers to France. Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). November 2005. Available at: Justice for Savamala. Pescanik. July 2018. Available at: https://pescanik.net/justice-for-savamala/ https://iwpr.net/global-voices/alleged-assassins-were-no-strangers-france 16 Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSmCkTzgFW8 Jugoslav Petrušić on threats, terrorist links and Kosmet. TV Happy – Good morning Serbia. Broadcasted on 5 October 2018. 17 105-dosije-ljubisa-dikovic Dossier “Ljubiša Diković”. Humanitarian Law Center. January 2012. Available at: https://www.ceas-serbia.org/sr/u-fokusu/6 18 com/2016/07/bytyqiopenltr2.pdf Open Letter by various CSO’s and individuals. Bytyqi brothers. Available at: https://bytyqibrothers.files.wordpress. 19 Seselj found guilty on appeal, sentenced to 10 years in jail. B92. April 2018. Available at: https://www.b92.net/eng/news/ crimes.php?yyyy=2018&mm=04&dd=11&nav_id=103913 20 Studies’s statement. December 2019. Available at: https://www.ceas-serbia.org/sr/preuzeto/8577-ceas-poziva-drzavne- CEASorgane-da-reaguju-povodom-mizogine-seseljeve-izjave-jelena-milic-je-nato-picajzla calls on state authorities to react to Šešelj’s misogynous statement “Jelena Milić isNATO’s crabs”. Center for Euro-Atlantic 21 Vilify and Amplify. Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies publication. Decembar 2017. Available at: https://www.ceas-serbia.org/sr/ publikacije/7443-vilify-and-amplify-2 22 a549774/Ivan-Todosijevic-osudjen-na-dve-godine-zatvora-zbog-izjave-o-Racku.html Todosijević to teo zears imprisonment for his statement on Račak. N1. December 2019. Available at: http://rs.n1info.com/Vesti/ 23 https://iwpr.net/global-voices/analysis-tribunal-judges-restrict-racak ANALYSIS: Tribunal Judges Restrict Racak Evidence. Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR). June 2002. Available at: 24 Peter Handke –facts. Nobel Prize. Available at: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2019/handke/facts/ 25 krivicna-prijava-protiv-vucica-zbog-izjave-o-racku_1073714.html Criminal complaint against Vučić for his statement on Račak.. RTV. December 2019. Available at: http://rtv.rs/sr_lat/politika/ 26 Available at: @suljagicemir1 27 org/?p=19413 Human losses during NATO bombing of FRJ. Humanitarian Law Center. March 2013. Available at: http://www.hlc-rdc. 28 on 26 March 2019. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQnYl-V_qlE President Vučić on NATO aggression, intrusion into RTS and the preservation of Serbs in Kosovo.TV Happy, Ćirilica. Broadcated 29 sta-hoce-aljbin-kurti/ Who is Aljbin Kurti (and what does he want). Istinomer. October 2019. Available at: https://www.istinomer.rs/analize/ko-je-i- 30 The International Crisis Group. Available at: https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/history 31 Ibid

Don’t Break the Principles 15 32

Otpor and the Struggle for Democracy in Serbia (1998-2000). ICNC. February 2010. Available at: https://www.nonviolent- 33 conflict.org/otpor-struggle-democracy-serbia-1998-2000/ 34 A Force More Powerful. ICNC. Available at: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/force-powerful-english/ article/0,9171,449490,00.html Secrets Of The Serbian Assassins. Time. May 2003. Available at: http://content.time.com/time/magazine/ 35 The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). Available at: https://www.rcc.int/ 36 balkaninsight.com/2017/03/09/bosnia-appeal-in-genocide-case-against-serbia-rejected-03-09-2017/ Bosnia Appeal in Genocide Case Against Serbia Rejected. Balkan Transitional Justice. March 2017. Available at: https:// 37 Serbia will not forget victims in operation “Storm”. The Government of the Republic of Serbia. August 2019. Available at: https:// www.srbija.gov.rs/vest/en/143856/serbia-will-not-forget-victims-in-operation-storm.php 38 balkaninsight.com/2011/10/20/how-witness-x-s-diary-unlocked-kosovo-s-klecka-case/ How Witness X’s Diary Unlocked Kosovo’s Klecka Case. Balkan Transitional Justice. October 2011. Available at: https:// 39 php?yyyy=2007&mm=06&dd=22&nav_id=41978 Who killed Radonjić Lake victims. B92. June 2007. Available at: https://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes. 40 com/2015/03/18/march-events-have-faded-kosovo-s-image/ Deadly 2004 Unrest ‘Damaged Kosovo’s Image’. Balkan Transitional Justice. March 2015. Available at: https://balkaninsight. 41 Staro Gracko Massacre. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staro_Gracko_massacre 42 balkaninsight.com/2019/07/18/anniversary-of-kosovo-serbs-killings-marked-in-belgrade/ Anniversary of Kosovo Serbs’ Killings Marked in Belgrade. Balkan Transitional Justice. July 2019. Available at: https:// 43 Anniversary of terrorist attack on bus in Kosovo. B92. February 2015. Available at: https://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes. php?yyyy=2015&mm=02&dd=16&nav_id=93192 44 45 Dačić: Its important to convict the perpetrators. HLC. December 2013. Available at: http://www.hlc-rdc.org/?p=25891 46 Batajnica Memorial Initiative. Available at: http://www.batajnicamemorialinitiative.org/en/film pregled-sudenja-za-ratne-zlocine-na-kosovu-1999-2018/ Review of war crimes trials in Kosovo 1999-2018. HLC Kosovo. October 2018. Available at: https://www.hlc-kosovo.org/sr/ 47 48 Kosovo Specialist Chambers & Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. Available at: https://www.scp-ks.org/en Kosovo court sentences Todosijevic, Kosovo officials condemn Vucic. KosSev. December 2019. Available at: https://kossev.info/ 49 Kosovo / Priština claims that 20.000 Albanian women were raped during the war. Radio Sarajevo. May 2019. Available at: kosovo-court-sentences-todosijevic-kosovo-officials-condemn-vucic/ https://www.radiosarajevo.ba/vijesti/regija/pristina-tvrdi-je-tokom-rata-silovano-20000-albanki/336477 50 https://www.npr.org/2019/12/06/785572011/merkel-tours-auschwitz-with-sense-of-shame-and-warns-of-resurgent-anti- Merkelsemitism tours Auschwitz with a „sense of shame“and warns of resurgent anti-Semitism. NPR. Decembar 2019. Available at: 51 December 2019. Available at: https://www.coe.int/en/web/commissioner/-/commissioner-commemorates-the-victims-and- Commissionersurvivors-of-the-jasenovac-concentration-camp-in-croatia commemorates the victims and survivors of the Jasenovac concentration camp in Croatia. Council of Europe. 52 balkaninsight.com/2018/03/26/how-croatian-wikipedia-made-a-concentration-camp-disappear-03-23-2018/ How Croatian Wikipedia Made a Concentration Camp Disappear. Balkan Transitional Justice. March 2018. Available at: https:// 53 Kosovo ‘enslaved from within’ by corruption, says incoming PM. Financial Times. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/

54 Tito gave Albanians 670 Serbian villages: Here’s how he doubled the territory. Kurir. August 2018. Available at: https://www. ddc2f794-060e-11ea-a984-fbbacad9e7dd?shareType=nongift kurir.rs/vesti/politika/3101181/komunisti-pocepali-srbijutito-poklonio-albancima670-srpskih-naselja 55 www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2019&mm=10&dd=07&nav_id=107342 Kosovo election results: Vote count, tight election race between Vetevendosje and LDK. B92. October 2019. Available at: https:// 56 glasamerike.net/a/kurti-najavio-reciprocitet-umesto-taksi-na-robu-iz-srbije/5156159.html Kurti announced “reciprocity” instead of taxes on goods from Serbia. VOA. November 2019. Available at: https://www. 57 Novembar 2019. Available at: https://www.ceasSerbia.org/images/publikacije/Prezentacija_CeSID_CEAS_12_11_2019.pdf Srbija and the New Horizons – Public on security challenges, NATO, US, Kosovo and regional cooperation. CEAS/CeSID survey.

16 Don’t Break the Principles ABOUT JELENA MILIĆ

Serbia and the Western Balkans region. Jelena Milić is among the most influential political analysts in peopleIn December shaking, 2016 shaping she was and elected steering as Europe, one of thetogether POLITICO with 28 Most influential People in the annual POLITICO 28 list of- andthe mayorSecurity of Federica London Mogherini, Sadiq Khan, President the CEO of of Turkey Ryanair Recep Mi chael O’Leary, the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy- ety Foundation George Soros. Tayyip Erdoğan and founder and president of the Open Soci In mid-2018 CEAS became one of the 22 leading international organizations, and the only one from the Western Balkans, which are partners of the Atlantic Council (AC USA) on the new strategic project DisinfoPortal. Ms Milic is enlisted as one of the experts on the Disinfo portal.

The key areas of her expertise and interest are: Transatlantic relations; US foreign politics;- NATO affairs; EU affairs, NATO, policies of the EU and its member states towards South East Europe and Russia; Serbian foreign and security policies with a special focus on re multiculturalism.lations with NATO; Russian influence in the Western Balkans and Europe; Transitional justice and security sector reform; Contemporary social-liberalism; Democratic deficit of She is the leading researcher and author of CEAS reports, among which are most promi- - tember 2017 and “Eyes Wide Shut – Strengthening of the Russian Soft Power in Serbia –nent: goals, “Basic instruments Instinct: and The effects” Case for published More NATO in Mayin The 2016. Western Balkans” published in Sep

Her essays have been published in the bestselling book “Don’t leave me” by leading Serbi- anThe cultural Serbia-Kosovo sociologist agreement Ratko Božović; and the reform of National security issued in the confer- - lege Foundation in cooperation with the Italian Presidency of Council of the European ence “Western Balkans - The futures of integration” published by the NATO Defense Col

Union“The Elephant and the Balkanin the Room”Trust for - Incomplete Democracy Securityin 2014; Sector Reform in Serbia and its Con-

Western Balkans and the International Community, published by the Center for Transat- sequences for Serbian Domestic and Foreign Policies, issued in Unfinished Business: The lantic Relations Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University’The European in Washington Union and DCSerbia in 2012; issued in European standards in Serbia - collection of papers,Serbia: Betweenpublished the by wallsthe Center issued for in Democracy 1989-2009-2029 in 2009; / 20 Years ago, 20 Years ahead – Young Liberal Ideas published by Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in 2009.

Don’t Break the Principles 17 SCG and Serbia, during his mandate in the Stability Pact for South East Europe Department forMilic Democracy served as theand assistant Human Rights.to Goran Previously Svilanović, she the worked former asMinister a political of Foreign analyst Affairs and re of- searcher for the International Crisis Group and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights

in Serbia. In the late 1990s, Milic actively supported the work of the non-violent OTPOR movement, which significantly contributed to the fall of Slobodan Milosević’s regime. She was the regional producer of the film about OTPOR, Dictator Detection, which is part of the series A FORCE MORE POWERFUL, Produced by Steve York, Dalton Delan and Jack DuVall.She is an She alumni translated of the all Friedrich-Naumann- films of the series into Stiftung BHS languages. International Academy for Leader- ship (IAF) and had internship with prestigious Paris based think-tank CERI of the Science Po University sponsored by the European Commission.

Milic has a degree in Engineering Security Management from Union Nikola Tesla Universi-

system and emergency planning policies and structures. ty in Belgrade. She is currently finishing her master’s thesis on NATO’s Crisis management

18 Don’t Break the Principles ABOUT CEAS The Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies (CEAS) is an independent socio-liberal think-tank organization founded in 2007 in Belgrade, Serbia.

TheWe stand motto for: which the CEAS follows in its work is “Progress, Determination, Influence”.

• Adoption of the principle of the precedence of individual over collective rights, without

• Strengthening of the secular state principle and promotion of a faithless understanding disregard for the rights which individuals can only achieve through collective action;

• Development and preservation of a more open, freer, more prosperous and more coop- of the world; erative international order founded on smart globalization.

Our• advocacy and research work is mostly focused on: • Contemporary Serbian, Regional and Trans-Atlantic Foreign and Security Policies; • Full Serbian membership in EU and NATO; Russian and other non-democratic influences on the stabilization and democratization • Importance of connection between security sector reform and transitional justice in the of Western Balkans;

• Promotion of Responsibility to Protect, the international humanitarian and security post-conflict Balkans;

• doctrine; Among CEAS’s most popular reports are: “Eyes wide shut – Strengthening of Russian Soft Overcoming of the democratic deficits of multiculturalism. Power in Serbia– goals, instruments and effects” (2016), “The Missing Link: Security sector reform, ‘military neutrality’ and EU-integration in Serbia” (2014), “Guide through information security in the Republic of Serbia” (2016), “Keeping up with the private security sector – II” (2015), “Keeping up with the private security sector” (2013), “X Factor Serbia” - curity Vetting in Serbia” (2015), “CEAS analysis - Protection of Whistleblowers in Serbia” (2013), “CEAS analysis - The Law on Classified Information” (2015), “CEAS analysis - Se - chestra”(2015), “Extreme(2014), “Putinization” Makeover” (2014), (2014), “10x etc. in favor NATO” (2014), “CEAS analysis of the Law on Amendments of the Law on the Security Intelligence Agency” (2014), “Putin’s Or CEAS is the only member from the Region of South-Eastern Europe to have full membership in ICRtoP- the International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect. The coalition brings together non-governmental organizations from all over the world to collectively strengthen the normative consensus for the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect (RtoP), with the aim of better understanding this principle, pushing for the strengthened capac- ities of the international community to prevent and halt genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, and to mobilize the non-governmental sector to push for action to save lives in RtoP country-specific situations.

Don’t Break the Principles 19 - ganizations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Ser- biaCEAS and is aSlovenia, member advocating of the Coalition for the for founding RECOM –of a the coalition Regional comprising Commission more for than establishing 1,800 or facts about war crimes and other serious violations of human rights committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2001.

CEAS is among the most visible think-tanks in the Balkans, with a wide media, institution- al and social outreach. CEAS has been quoted in leading prominent liberal media such as The New York Times, Washington Post, Politico, etc. In December 2016, CEAS Director

Jelena Milic was elected as one of the POLITICO 28 Most influential People in the annual POLITICOIn mid-2018 28 CEAS list of became people onewho of are the shaping, 22 leading shaking international and stirring organizations, Europe. and the only one from the Western Balkans, which are partners of the Atlantic Council (AC USA) on the

tank organizations in the world. new strategic project DisinfoPortal. AC USA is considered one of the most influential think

CEAS programs have been so far supported by: Open Society Fund (OSF); Think Tank- Fund, Budapest; National Endowment for Democracy, USA; Rockefeller Brothers Fund, USA; European Commission; Balkan Trust for Democracy – GMF, Serbia; NATO Public Di- plomacy Division; Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Serbia; Royal Norwegian Embassy in Belgrade; Visegrad Fund, Slovakia; Friedrich Nauman Foun dation,For more Serbia; information Friedrich about Ebert CEAS, Foundation, our team Serbia; and activities USA Embassy please invisit Serbia. our web site www. ceas-serbia.org and more information of an overview of all pending and completed projects can be found directly at https://www.ceas-serbia.org/en/projects.

20 Don’t Break the Principles

Don’t Break the Principles New CEAS report on Belgrade-Pristina relations and the way towards formalization of relation December 2019

Center for Euro-Atlantic Studies (CEAS) Dr. Dragoslava Popovica 15 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Tel/fax: +381 11 323 9579 [email protected] | www.ceas-serbia.org | @CEASSerbia