Kormjan (Korminjane) is a Serb village in the east of Kosova, only 4-5 kilometers away from the border with Serbia. This is the nearest village to this border (in fact, it borders the Presheva (Presevo) Valley), out of 50 Serb villages, clustered in the eastern part of Kosova. The above-mentioned article in Politika proves that the re-settlement of Serbs displaced by the "Albanian entity" with the goal of designing a "Serb entity" in Kosova, has already started. Instead of returning to their residence in Ferizaj (Urosevac) (which according to the Serbs now belongs to the "Albanian entity"), this Serb family was placed in the eastern part of Kosova, which is strategically very important, and which the Serbs have reserved for themselves.
Six months earlier, on August 24, in the same Belgrade daily newspaper, reported about the Serb village of Ropotova e Madhe (Gornje Ropotovo) (in Dardana (Kamenica) Municipality), where "the houses constructed by Coordinating Center were blown up", without an explanation who they were constructed for. In December last year there was an article in Politika that told of a plan to construct other new houses in the Serb village Hodefc (Odovce) in the same municipality this spring. At the end of last year, a new school was constructed in the Serb village Carefc (Carevce) (this news was published in the web site of "Radio OK" in Vranje, Serbia). Based on the law, Dardana (Kamenica) Municipality officials should have issued construction permits for these facilities. However, naturally the Serbs would have ignored them anyway.
These are clear signs that the Serb colonization has already started in the eastern part of Kosova. In the maps for Kosova cantonization, it is seen that Serbs see eastern Kosova as a connection between Serbia and the largest Serb enclave south of Prishtina (Pristina). There are also plans for Serb cantonization of other zones. In Politika of December 13 last year, there was an article that told for UNMIK plan for the construction of 57 houses for the displaced Serbs of Mirefc (Mirevce), Merdare, and Livadice (Livadica) villages of Podujevo Municipality. Podujevo Municipal administrator Michael Verling confirmed personally that these houses were not projected for the Serbs that previously lived here; but would nevertheless be constructed once "security situation becomes satisfactory".
"Satisfactory security situation" means in practice that they will be placed near the border with Serbia. If the 57 new Serb houses will be constructed close to the border with Serbia, then Kosova will be deprived of that part of its territory. The speech of the UNMIK administrator in Podujevo reveals the UNMIK attitude (and also contradicts Steiner's insincere declarations against parallel institutions) towards Kosova integration and Serb colonization of Kosova. It is lunacy when Kosova Assembly requests from UNMIK to undertake measures against the self-declared association of Serb municipalities when it is clear that UNMIK has a secret agreement with the Serbs. This is not the first example of Serbian encroachment on Kosova territory in Podujevo Municipality with international assistance (KFOR/UNMIK).
On December 6 last year, you could read in Politika that Medvegje (Medvedja) Municipality in Serbia (controlled by Serbs), has financed the road construction between mountain and field villages Sekiraqe (Sekirace) and Metergoc (Medregovac) and Serbia. Serbian Construction Company ‘Vranje" and Czech and Slovak KFOR battalion carried out the construction. It is unknown whether Podujevo Municipality officials issued a permit to the Serbian company to conduct the workings on the municipal territory.
On January 6, in Belgrade daily newspaper Danas you can read that the criteria for allocation of certain apartments and houses to refugees and displaced persons, have been put in effect. According to these criteria, not only Kosova Serbs, but others as well (Serb refugees from Croatia and Bosnia, and other homeless Serbs as well), have a chance to receive accommodation in completed apartments and houses, owned by the Belgrade government. This is a legal basis for the new Serb colonization of Kosova.
First, it is necessary for the Albanians to organize strict monitoring of Serb villages along the border with Serbia, and also of the northern part of Kosova that is controlled by the Serbs. The construction of houses and other facilities should be obstructed with tacit agreement of representatives of the international mission. This should be done in a way that avoids unnecessary victims. All these buildings are Belgrade properties (that are rented to the colonists) and Albanians have the moral right to destroy them. The same Serbs who come to Kosova as colonists from the remnants of the Belgrade criminal regime have no right to live in Kosova, and they present legitimate targets for attacks. Therefore, the residents of the Serb villages earmarked for colonization should live in fear while the human rights of other Serbs should be respected.
The Serb villages along the border should be disconnected from Serbia, including their electricity grid and telephone services. If these Serb villages are supplied with electricity by Kosova (KEK) and provided phone services by the Kosova telecommunications company PTK, this would prevent large volume colonization. On the other hand, if they are supplied by Serbia, these connections should be completely cut off. It would be good to destroy the electrical grid and telephone lines that come from Serbia and connect the Serb villages.
The following villages should be monitored continuously because they are suitable targets for Serb colonization:
Eastern Kosova: (Dardana (Kamenica), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Novo Brdo, Prishtina (Pristina) Municipalities) Mali Krshlanci (Krsljanci)(small village to the south of Hodanoc (Odanovce)), Domoroc (Domoroce), Kormjani i Poshtem (Veliko/Gornje Korminjane), Kormjani i Eperm (Malo/Donje Korminjane), Ranillug (Rani Lug), Gllogoc (Glogovac), Drenoc (Drenovac), Tomanc (Tomance), Panqela (Pancelo), Ropotova e Vogel (Gornje Ropotovo), Ropotova e Madhe (Donje Ropotovo), Hodefci (Odovce), Rajnofc (Rajnovci), Rozhefc (Rozevce), Mozgova, Draganc (Draganac), Kufca e Eperme (Malo Kusce), Melci (Melce), Shillova (Silovo), Stanishori (Stenisor), Koretishta (Koretiste), Strazha (Straza), Parallova (Paralovo), Zebnica (Zebince), Manishnica (Manisinci), Prekovica (Prekovce), Izvor, Bostani (Bostane), Trniqevci (Trnicevce), Broanaci (Berivojce), Makresh (Makres), Jasenovik, Belofc (Belovce), Tirinca (Tirince), Hanofci (Ainovce), Mesina, Businca (Busince), Grizima, Boshca (Boste), Carefci (Carevce), Mocari (Mocare), Strellci (Strelce), Konstadinca (Kostadince), Kolloleqi (Kololec), Carrakofci (Carakovce), Vaganeshi (Vaganes), Novoberda (Novo Brdo), Berivojca (Berivojce), Miganofci (Miganovce), Strezofci (Strezovce), Gragjenik (Gradjenik), Rahovica (Oraovica), and Klobukar.
Northern Drenica (Skenderaj (Srbica) and Burim (Istok) Municipalities): Baja (Banja), Suhogerlla (Suvo Grlo), Cerkolezi (Cerkolez).
Podujevo: Metergoc (Medergovac) and Sekiraqa (Sekiraca)
Besides, the whole Kosova-Serbia border should be monitored. The control of Stabllina-Hodanoc (Stabilina-Odanovce) area in eastern Kosova is of huge importance. It is important that Albanians constitute a majority in all ethnically mixed villages in eastern Kosova (Berivojce, Gragjenik (Gradjenik), Rahovica (Oraovica), Novoberda (Novo Brdo), Mesina, Draganca (Draganac), Strezoc (Strezovce)). This is indispensable so that these villages be eventually assigned to municipalities controlled by Albanians when and if the announced "decentralization" is implemented. Certain things should be done in order to achieve this goal.
First, it is necessary to obstruct the buying of Albanian land in these villages by Belgrade. Covic in March last year announced that they have plans to buy the Albanians' property. It is natural that the mixed villages are main targets for the buyers, sponsored by Belgrade.
Second, the Albanians should accelerate buying Serb' property in the mixed settlements (the most important is Berivojce, near Dardana (Kamenica)) and strategic border zones. Conversely, the buying of Serb property by the Serb Coordination Center (SCC) should be stopped.
Last December, Belgrade newspaper Politika wrote that the SCC had bought houses for Serbs in Gjilan (Gnjilane) from a Serb who emigrated to Serbia. Since Kosova is still fighting a war against Serbia (since, unlike NATO, Kosova has not concluded a peace agreement with Belgrade), each building in Kosova that is Belgrade's property, is a legitimate target for attack.
There will be no justification if a certain house in the strategic villages along the border with Serbia remains uninhabited. For instance, in the mixed village of Rahovica (Oraovica) alone, in northern part of Dardana (Kamenica), there are 40 uninhabited houses (Serb and Albanian). The homeless people, banished from their homes, refugees from north Mitrovica, and other people in need, should be settled in these villages. As long as Belgrade wants to have control of certain strategic points among the displaced Serbs, Kosova institutions should demand the establishment of their authority in the strategic zones. In crisis situations (as faced by Kosova today), occupation of these houses does not only provide a shelter, but is also important for the protection of the country.
Shelters in such zones are also a natural shield against the penetration of the enemy. No reasonable government would allow that these shields remain empty in critical times. TMK (Kosovo Protection Corps) teams should urgently conduct a survey of all strategic places (i.e. mixed villages, and the ones close to zones with significant Serb population and controlled by Serbs) so they can register all the abandoned houses.
Kosova institutions should then send people in need to these houses. Since it is a national interest to settle Albanians in strategic zones, owners should be ordered to give up uninhabited houses and, if possible, should be compensated for them.
If the Albanians do not "finish the job" at these strategic positions, the Serbs will do this instead. There is a plan for the return of displaced Serbs in Rahovec (Oraovica), and if this village ends up with only Serb residents, then Kosova faces a real danger that the village will belong to a Serb administration unit. Albanians should be vigilant and active if they don't want to face unpleasant surprises. This spring will be critical for the obstruction of Serb colonization plans for Kosova.
Naturally, these are only direct and short-term measures. In a long perspective, this should be indispensable to ensure the Albanians' interests. Albanians must not hesitate, and wait for UNMIK and internationals, since no one, except the Albanians themselves, will protect Kosova.
Given "obvious knowledge of geography of villages in eastern Kosovo and Metohija" the statement expresses doubts regarding the identity of the author. The statement asserts that "a knowledgeable Kosovo Albanian, perhaps one of the editors of Koha Ditore, perhaps even its owner Veton Surroi, is hiding behind ‘Peter Rogel'". "Unofficially, UNMiK circles suspect that Surroi is the true author of the article," concludes the statement.