Constructing the future

“The independence proclaimed past February and the enforcement of the new Constitution arrived after much endeavour and are still awaiting recognition by the entire international community. Our political leaders ought to make further efforts in this direction. The Constitution was also polemically debated by those who view it as excessively moderate and to a certain extent as the fruit of a decision enacted by the international powers in Kosovo”, claimed Engelbert Zefaj, in charge of Education and Training at the youth centre “Atë Lorenc Mazrreku” in Pejë who drew a balance of the future prospects of his Country, Kosovo, for SirEurope .Why is the Constitution being so harshly criticised? “It’s almost a compromise. The Albanian majority was compelled to accept many elements that do not represent Kosovo’s society. These include a high number of privileges for minorities, which has no comparison in the world, and regulations which were previously unconceivable, like single-sex marriages. This situation prevents us from identifying the direction the Country wishes to follow”. What privileges do minorities enjoy?“Privileges include, for instance, Parliament seats for minorities. There are 6 minority groups in Kosovo: the Serbs, the Turks, the Bosnians, the Egyptians the Ashkali and the Roma People. Serbs have the right to 10 seats while other minorities have only two, plus the seats assigned after elections. This leads to an excessive fragmentation that might block certain political decisions. In this way, minorities are granted a veto right which risks holding up political life”.Couldn’t it also slow down Kosovo’s democratic process? “We know what we want, that is to be integrated in the European Union. However, the road we have been following is different from the one we had imagined. We certainly ought to integrate with other European cultures, but it’s hard to renounce Albanian culture. This is being acknowledged by the Kosovo people”. To what extent does the rupture with the Serbian minority affect the democratization process after the proclamation of independence? “Independence wasn’t a reason for divisions with Kosovo’s Serbian community, while this happened with Serbia. There are two Serbian ministers in Kosovo’s government, therefore the Serbian minority is represented also at local level. The real problem is the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo. The rupture exists with the Serbian communities in Northern Kosovo, which are hand in glove with Belgrade”. Independence was a major step. What will happen now? “Now that we’ve achieved independence we must cultivate the common good. Kosovo People’s needs are of various kinds. Education however, is paramount. Seventy per cent of Kossovars are under 30 years of age. We first ought to create employment, economic stability in the Country, and raise education levels to the same standards existing in the European Union. We want to be active players in the fields of education and employment. Our primary goal is to prevent the youth’s exodus to other Countries. We therefore ought to work to ensure them a future in this land, enabling them to study and work”.What’s the new Constitution’s contribution in the sphere of religious freedom? “The atheist Communist regime razed all religious and ethical values to the ground. As compared to past dictatorships, today we enjoy freedom of religion and worship and there are no more persecutions. You no longer risk being imprisoned or shot for speaking about faith. The youth are drawing close to the Churches. This has brought to an increase in mixed marriages and a certain degree of secularism separating the State from the Church”.Could Kosovo be defined a Muslim Country? “The latest census dates back to 1981. In virtue of this, there is a tendency to say that Kosovo is a Muslim Country. However, the Constitution makes it clear that Kosovo is a secular Country. Today, 5% are Serbian Orthodox, 3% are Albanian Catholics while the remaining are Muslim. Recently there have been a number of conversions from Islam, almost a recovery of Kosovo’s Christian roots. We should not forget that many still cherish the myth of President Ibrahim Rugova. The faith stemming from President Rugova was neither Muslim nor Christian. Rather, it was founded on values shared also by Christianity”. What do you expect from the EU and from the Churches in the future? “From the European Union we expect the formation and the democratization of the political class. Another major contribution is the enforcement of the rule of law, legislations and justice. Financial support is also crucial, however it is secondary to these affairs. We expect the Churches to contribute in conscience-formation of citizens especially as relates to the respect for their neighbour and to tolerance. As a Church, we are committed in training our youth in this direction”.