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Dr. Rada Trajkovic: Kouchner offers a Zoo instead of cantons

by Lj. Staletovic

Glas Javnosti, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia, September 28 1999

Belgrade - The board member of Church-National Assembly of Kosovo, Dr. Rada Trajkovic was one of the foremost opponents of the formation of regions in Serbia, i.e. Kosovo at the time when it was proposed. These days she has changed her mind. In the interview for Glas she explained why she was against this proposal before and why she supports the idea now.

"I was against it because I was convinced that nobody could usurp Kosovo and Metohija. However, the events during last three months in the province made me change my mind. In this situation, when in the territories with Albanian majority they have their authorities and police, I can not find one single reason why the Serbs should not be allowed the same thing." She said that establishment of five Serbian cantons is in preparation.

The central canton would include a part of Pristina and neighboring Serb settlements. They are: Caglavica, Gracanica, Laplje Selo, Kosovo Polje, Obilic, Plemetina, Priluzje and surrounding villages. The northern canton would comprise of all Serb settlements in Kosovska Mitrovica region, that is: the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvecani, Zubin Potok, Ibarski Kolasin, Leposavic with its surroundings and the village of Gojbulja in Vucitrn municipality, where Serbs still live. Three other cantons are: Gnjilane canton including the villages around the town of Novo Brdo, Metohija Canton and Sirinicki canton. Sirinicki canton would include the villages of Sirinicka Zupa, Strpce municipality, a part of Prizren surroundings, that is all Serbian settlements in Sredacka Zupa on the Sara mountain.

However, chief of UNMIK, Bernard Kouchner is against cantonization of the southern Serbian province. "Instead of cantonization, Kouchner has offered to Serbs zones and administrators who would issue necessary papers for them. Thus, Kouchner would do 'a favor' to the Serbs, so that they would not have to go to Pristina for their papers. If necessary, UNMIK chief promised he would provide transportation for them. In another words, Kouchner offers to the Serbs who remained in Kosovo and Metohija, a life in a Zoo. The Serbs do not want such life, nor would they agree with it," stated for Glas Dr. Rada Trajkovic.


Translated in October 1999


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