The Rt. Hon. Paul Martin
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Constituency Office
7731 Newman Blvd
Ville Lasalle, Quebec
H8N1X7
The Canadian Government, Canadian Parliament, and Canadian media
Ottawa. March 24, 2004
The Rt. Honorable Paul Martin
Prime Minister of Canada
Ref: Developments in the Serbian province of Kosovo & Metohija
Dear Prime Minister Martin:
The past week has brought back into focus a flash point of specific
importance to Canada’s foreign policy – the issue of the Serbian province
Kosovo-Metohija, and the broader context of stability in Southeast Europe,
raising many questions and shattering a few illusions.
The Serbian Canadian Organizations and Canadian Serbs generally, are
very concerned about the campaign of terror that occurred in the
UN-administered province March 17-20. Albanian extremists ethnically
cleansed some 3600 Serbs, destroyed over 30 Serb Christian Orthodox
churches, torched scores of villages and leveled over 300 houses, leaving
about 1000 people injured and 31 dead.
The aim of this outrage is to intimidate the minority population by
destroying their means of livelihood and effectively discouraging any
further refugee returns. It has now been widely recognized that
responsibility reaches to the top of the Kosovo Albanian political elite.
Peter Schieder, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly,
stated on March 20 that „Kosovo cannot build its future on the blood of
innocent people and the ashes of their burned homes and churches…“It is
already evident that the Albanian majority in Kosovo – and its political
leadership – are failing to demonstrate that they can create a future of
Kosovo …“ In the succinct words of NATO Southern Flank Commander, Adm.
Gregory Johnson, „Such activities are actually ethnic cleansing. That must
not continue and that is why we came to Kosovo.“
The rampage seriously damaged UN and US reputation in Kosovo, leaving
a very volatile situation. The challenge is clear. In the words of a top
Western diplomat: „There can be no question that this was a deliberate
attempt to drive away as many Serbs as possible, to inflict maximum damage
on the UN and to test how far NATO could be driven into accepting the new
realities“. We must face this test in a principled yet resolute way, as we
do with all forms of terrorism. These ill effects can be reversed, but only
with decisive goal-oriented action, as there may not be a second chance.
We are enclosing an outline of the key conditions we feel need to be
met to effectively accomplish this, to assist in formulating policies
properly aligned with our national interests and values.
In conclusion, the ominous words of former UN special envoy to the
Balkans, Carl Bildt:
„In the US, some are now saying that […] in the wake of the violence
we should reward the perpetrators with immediate independence: status –
without standards. But giving in to violence today would give a powerful
incentive to the ethnic cleansers of tomorrow. It is a principle as
dangerous in the fight against ethnic violence as it is in the fight against
terrorism. It risks betraying everything we have stood and fought for in the
region for more than a decade.“
RECOMMENDATIONS
Specific Objectives for Achieving Long-Term Stability
in the Serbian Province of Kosovo & Metohija
1. Guarantee security
a.. Halt immediately all ongoing violence.
b.. Guarantee freedom of movement:
1.. Checkpoints around non-Albanian enclaves
2.. Robust protection of patrimonial sites and sacred objects
3.. Escorts for general travel through province
4.. Full protection for agricultural enterprises
5.. Security in integrated/mixed communities
c.. True and comprehensive demilitarization of all paramilitary
forces (specifically, KPC) and armed civilians.
2. Reversal of ethnic cleansing during UNMIK administration
a.. Return of all refugees to sustainable conditions of safe
habitation.
b.. Rebuilding of all churches, homes and infrastructure.
c.. Reparations for all damage to private and community property.
d.. End discriminatory practices in employment and other social
spheres
3. Accountability and justice
a.. Enforcement of the rule of law.
b.. Decriminalization: investigation, indictments (at the level of
the Hague War Crimes Tribunal), trials and convictions of
perpetrators of all ethnically motivated crimes (crimes against humanity,
acts of terrorism and general violations of human rights) committed during
UNMIK administration and the armed conflicts that preceded it – actual
perpetrators as well as political leadership.
c.. Resolution of all unresolved ethnically motivated abductions.
d.. Establishment of an independent and objective judiciary system.
The above objectives can be achieved only with mechanisms capable of
providing:
1.. Effective monitoring of compliance
2.. Enforcement of administrative accountability
3.. Implementation tracking with defined milestones and timeframes
4 The Serb Community in Kosovo must be given the highest degree of
self-rule, based on the principle of cantons, which offers the only chance
of its survival in Kosovo.
It is strongly suggested that the situation warrant the establishment of a
joint Senate/Parliamentary Committee with jurisdiction to recommend action.
As loyal Canadians, we are distressed at the coverage in the
Canadian News Media that indicates a strong bias against all things Serbian.
It is not too much to say that there is a stereotype for Serbs, arising out
of the war in Bosnia and a highly successful PR program for Croats and
Bosnian Muslims. This could be described as „guilty while walking as Serbs“.
Thank you for your attention and for giving this serious matter its due
consideration.
For the Canadian Serbian organizations:
Slobodanka (Boba) Borojevic
Canada
The Serbian National Shield Society of Canada
Ottawa Serbian Theatre
Serbian Radio Program „Monday’s Encounter“
The Ottawa Serbian Heritage Society
Serbian Organization „Vuk Karadzic“ Sherbrooke
The Serbian Christian Orthodox Congregation „St. S.Mirotocivi“ – Sherbrooke
Movement of Serbian Chetniks Ravne Gora
Members of the Canadian-Serbian Community :
Ozren Vukobrat, Dr. Svetlana Cakarevic, Prof. Vladimir Krstic, Petar
Borojevic, and many more.
[Addresses and contacts are given in the original letter]
