Neighbours,
Kosovo and Minorities
In view of recent recognition of Kosovo by several
neighboring countries, notably Hungary and Croatia, the internal scene
of Serbia is anew affected by growing tensions. Those tensions are
fanned mostly in inter-ethnic milieus by political factors who consider
ethnic minorities a factor which threatens "the all-Serb unity" in the
state and national policy. Prominent official of the Serb Radical Party
in Vojvodina, and the Serb Parliament MP, Milorad Mircic, stated on the
17 th of March that "there is a danger of eruption of incidents in the
Hungarian minority-inhabited parts of Vojvodina when Budapest recognizes
Kosovo." Mircic added that he was informed about that possiblity "by
confidential, intelligence sources." According to him, Hungary would be
held accountable in case of eruption of such incidents.
In Vojvodina that statement caused some concern, in
view of the fact that it is a throwback to the notorious blueprint of
"internal enemies -generating" in a milieu which over the past two
decades bore the brunt of such provocations.
Bojan Pajtic, co-president of the Provincial Security
Council: "We heard their statements to the effect that incidents could
erupt in Vojvodina Hungarians-inhabited localities. However, I was
informed by the state institutions that they have not "registered" any
danger or threat to membes of national minorities. Thus the Radicals by
circulating such a story aim to sow fear among members of other
nationalities and also to inspire various militants and extremists, who
already have a propensity for causing incidents. Radicals have now
resorted to far subtler means...in the past they called for a direct
showdown with minorities members, while now they engage in
incident-mongering among Vojvodina extremists...Some incidents are
possible and that is why I demand the highest possible vigillance by the
local police forces and their high readiness to prevent any incident. "
Tivdar Tot, head of the MP club of the Alliance of
Vojvodina Hungarians in Vojvodina Pariament, stated the following:
"Vojvodina Hungarians are citizens of Serbia, its tax-payers, and they
rightfully expect protection from competent bodies of this country."
Laslo Djula, MP of Democratic Alliance of Vojvodina
Hungarians in Vojvodina Parliament, was of the following opinion: "Mr.
Mircic carries a certain political weight. He is the former president of
the Security Committee of Serbia and a man quite familiar with
structures of the state security services and the police services.
Therefore he should dislose in detail any such relevant information."
Tomaš Korhec, provincial Secretary for National
Minorities Rights stated that, according to his information, the mood in
Vojvodina is not at all propitious for eruption of spontaneous unrest
relating to recognition of Kosovo by Hungary, or any other neighbouring
country: "If anything unpleasant happens, rest assured that such an
incident shall be entirely engineered by some power centers in
Vojvodina-namely state bodies, political parties or other organized
groups..."
Branko Horvat, President of National Council of
Croats: "We think that this day, the day of recognition of Kosovo shall
cause a certain strain, and tensions. We shall try to pre-empt such
tensions and protect ourselves from possible excesses. Added to that we
shall endeavour not to generate any provocation, in view of the current
situation and mood. |