Leaders from municipalities in the Preshevë Valley have criticized the decision of the Serbian president to reinstate compulsory military service. They have stated that they will appeal to international allies to ensure that such a decision is not implemented for Albanians, as it is believed that it will lead to their displacement.
The approval of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić for the reinstatement of compulsory military service has been met with criticism from leaders of municipalities in the Preshevë Valley.
The Mayor of Preshevë, Ardita Sinani, has described it as a threat to peace and security in the region. She also emphasized that this will cause a mass displacement of Albanians.
“In the 1990s, when Milošević’s regime aimed to suppress and persecute Albanians, our youth were forced to flee en masse to escape military service and repression. Today, history risks repeating itself! The reinstatement of compulsory military service will once again lead to the mass displacement of young Albanians from the Preshevë Valley. Our boys, upon turning 18, are forced to leave to avoid serving in an army that does not represent them, in a state that continuously discriminates against them,” said Sinani.
She also stated that Serbia is not a country threatened by its neighbors but that the real threat to peace and stability in the region comes from Serbia itself.
“Our region needs peace, development, and a secure future for our youth. Unfortunately, Vučić’s Serbia continues to show that it has no will for normalization and stability. Albanians in the Preshevë Valley want peace, not tensions! The region needs progress, not new conflicts!” she wrote.
The decision is expected to be approved by the Government of Serbia, which abolished compulsory military service on January 1, 2011, focusing instead on a professional force.
“I want to believe that the Government of Serbia will approve the decision. I want to believe that everyone understands how much we need a strong army, how much we will need to buy more weapons. Because it’s not our wish to attack someone. Nor will we do so. But our desire is to deter all those who threaten us every day,” Vučić said during the graduation ceremony of 177 cadets from the Military Academy on Saturday.
The Mayor of Bujanovc, Arbër Pajaziti, has said that they will ask international allies to pressure the Government of Serbia to exclude Albanians from the recruitment process.
“At this stage, there is no reason to be concerned because we do not know how it will be implemented. Albanians have been migrating for some time, and it could naturally have a negative impact in this regard. However, I still say there is no reason to panic. We will request both from the Government and international actors that this decision not be applied to the Albanian minorities living in Serbia,” said Pajaziti.
He is convinced that Albanians will oppose the decision if it is approved by the Government of Serbia.
“Albanians have always boycotted this, and I don’t know if any Albanian has ever been recruited into this army. I believe they will continue to do so, and no Albanians will be recruited or go to perform military service in Serbia for many reasons, as the wounds are still fresh among Albanians,” he added.
Since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, several Western Balkan countries have reinstated or are considering reinstating compulsory military service. Meanwhile, the state of Kosovo has decided not to make military service compulsory, despite it being a commitment of Prime Minister Albin Kurti before coming to power.
The “General Defense” program, which aims to protect the state from threats, attacks, and natural disasters, was approved by the Government of Kosovo on Wednesday.
Minister of Defense Ejup Maqedonci said that the decision not to include this service in the Program is based on an analysis of security circumstances both within and outside the country, including the attack in Banjska and the war in Ukraine.
