The ongoing threat to peace in the Balkans began on March 23, 1989, and continues to this day. Arben Fetoşi, director of the OCTOPUS Institute, marked the anniversary of Kosovo’s autonomy abolition on March 23, 1989. He considers this date the beginning of Slobodan Milošević’s project, designed to utilize Kosovo for Serbian interests.
Fetoşi’s analysis reveals a deliberate strategy of “victimization.” This tactic, originating with the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 1986, sought to rationalize violence as a defensive measure. The core of this approach involved portraying Kosovo’s situation as requiring protection. He highlights that Kosovo’s significant autonomy, enshrined in the 1974 Constitution, presented a key legal challenge to Milošević’s ambitions.
The narrative subsequently developed following events in Fushe Kosovë in 1987 served to validate the removal of this autonomy. This March marks a critical juncture in understanding the historical roots of the conflict within Kosovo.
Topics: #kosovo #analysis #march