Adis Ahmetović, a Member of the German Bundestag from the SPD, has strongly advocated for the rights of the Albanian minority in Southern Serbia and emphasized the need for continued attention to the Srebrenica genocide and Kosovo’s European integration. He voiced these positions in an interview with DW, noting a historical “political silence” regarding the situation of Albanians in Southern Serbia.
Srebrenica Commemoration: A Necessary Debate
Ahmetović, whose grandfather’s remains were identified from a Srebrenica mass grave in 2016, expressed profound gratitude for the recent consensual Bundestag debate commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide and the first International Day of Remembrance for this crime.
“Even after 30 years, there are still political actors in the Western Balkans – in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in Belgrade – who deny the genocide, try to distort history, and glorify war criminals,” he stated, calling such actions “unacceptable.” He stressed Germany’s responsibility to the victims, their families, and the entire region.
Kosovo’s Council of Europe Membership: A German Priority
Ahmetović underlined that the Western Balkans must remain a permanent part of Germany’s foreign policy agenda. Regarding Kosovo, he unequivocally stated: “We want this country to become a member of the Council of Europe as soon as possible – if it were up to the SPD, better yesterday than tomorrow.” He expressed disappointment that this was not achieved in the previous legislative term, attributing it to insufficient pressure from the German government on opposing Council of Europe member states. As the foreign policy spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group, he pledged to push the government to be more active in this regard.
Integration and Security: A Two-Way Street
Ahmetović emphasized that the integration of the six non-EU Western Balkan countries into the EU and NATO is crucial for stable and lasting regional security. He noted that people fled the Balkans in the 1990s due to war and persecution, not just for better jobs, highlighting the imperative of sustained inclusion in EU and NATO structures. He stressed that while Germany will support this, the Western Balkan states themselves must fulfill their “homework.”
Albanians in Southern Serbia: Addressing “Systematic Passivization”
A significant focus of Ahmetović’s interview was the plight of Albanians in the Preshevo Valley (Southern Serbia). He revealed that he recently hosted a delegation from the region in the Bundestag and was “very honest” that the situation of the Albanian minority in Serbia has “not received enough attention, neither in Germany nor in the European Union.”
He learned that the situation on the ground is “serious and problematic,” particularly regarding the systematic “passivization” of their addresses, which effectively disenfranchises them. Ahmetović stressed that minority rights must apply everywhere. He highlighted three agreements that Serbia has committed to, which contain clear obligations for the integration of Albanians into administration, judiciary, police, and political representation. He insisted that these agreements must be implemented as they are a prerequisite for Serbia’s EU perspective.
Legitimate Request for Inclusion in Dialogue
Ahmetović views the request by the Albanian minority in Serbia to be included in the EU-mediated dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo as “legitimate.” He questioned why the standards Serbia demands for Serbs in Kosovo should not also apply to Albanians in Serbia. “I think these standards should apply to all minorities – for minorities in Serbia, as well as for minorities in Kosovo,” he concluded, pledging to address this demand in his work.
