Fled to survive the "multiethnic" Kosmet

In a situation of ongoing killing, when the non-Albanian population is left defenseless before the Albanian separatists, UNMIK Chief Bernard Kouchner announced a census. It looks as if somebody wants to legalize, with a single move, current serious disorder on the ethnic map of Kosovo-Metohija.

The primary goal of the self-appointed leader of the KLA Hashim Tachi is to create an ethnically cleansed, i.e. Albanian Kosovo, so that he could afterwards, as he said in a speech in Orahovac, proclaim the independent state. This way he would open the door for creation of "Greater Albania" that has been a dream of extreme Albanian fanatics from Tirana, Tetovo and Pristina for a long time.

Organization of census in troubled relations in Kosovo, the way they are now, would be direct violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yugoslavia and statistic genocide against one sovereign country, what is actually precedent in fifty years long history of UN. That also raises question how will Kouchner conclude who the citizens of Yugoslavia are.

That would be the false picture of balance of forces between nationalities in the province, because there was no such ethnic collapse in Kosovo and Metohia before KFOR and UNMIK arrived to the province.

During the last three months, hence since the beginning of presence of international peacekeeping forces, about 300.000 Serbs, Montenegrins, Gypsies and Turks fled the province under the pressure of Albanian separatists. KFOR actually allows that and the process is not halted yet.

Contrary to the promises of the head of the UN peacekeeping mission, the Yugoslav border is for more than three months widely open towards Macedonia, and especially towards Albania. That is not done by chance and the KLA leadership naturally uses this unexplained vacuum at the border to bring Albanian citizens to the province. These Albanians are moving into empty houses of Serbs, Montenegrins, Gypsies and Turks who are persecuted by force. The number of Albanians in Kosovo increased that way for at least 200.000 persons.

Until the return of non-Albanian population to Kosmet, and while Albanians aren't returned to where they came from - Albania, the census in the province will be just a big Kouchner's game serving those who wish to separate Kosovo from Yugoslavia.

Let us remind of a fact that shouldn't be forgotten: one of the crucial attitudes of the Resolution 1244 and Group 8 is providing wide autonomy for all nations in Kosovo, and simultaneously guaranteeing Belgrade sovereignty in the province. By holding elections in current deeply disturbed conditions, the international community would irreparably undermine the role of world organization's peacekeeping mission.