„Letters to a Close Enemy“

By Ilir Deda

Dear Mr. Janković,

Thank you so much for your letter! It is a great pleasure to be part of this dialogue platform on KoSSev.

I have been reflecting on my response for quite some time, and in the meantime, some unfortunate events have occurred, from the vandalism of the KoSSev director’s private car to the arrest of the young politician from northern Kosovo, Aleksandar Arsenijević.

True Dialogue, with a capital D, seems to be in a coma, but it is up to us to demonstrate that conversation, the exchange of opinions, and even disagreement can occure with mutual respect.

In this madness of the resurgence of national chauvinism, we need to expose the farce and misery of that ideology of evil and misfortune. I am astonished that our societies have learned absolutely nothing from the wars of the 1990s, as if they are yearning for yet another conflict, one that could lead to (self-)destruction this time.

I agree that we are „enemies“— but enemies of hatred, authoritarianism, populism, chauvinism, conflict, and intolerance. We are enemies of everything that stands in the way of building open, free, liberal, and democratic societies.

Through our exchange, I believe we can share valuable insights that will hopefully help dismantle the black-and-white narrative that has been created about Kosovo and Serbia.

In contrast to the public sphere poisoned by populism, Kosovo saw the creation of the „Multiethnic Peace and Tolerance Caravan“ this year, comprising leading civil society organizations from Pristina and North Mitrovica.

I am proud to be part of this Caravan, as a person of goodwill, with the belief and experience that this initiative can yield positive results.

By the end of our correspondence, I hope to point to a few positive examples of our collective efforts.

I believe the current situation has evolved beyond what you described. We now have the 2023 „Basic Agreement“ and the Ohrid Annex—legal and political commitments that will measure the seriousness and dedication of both Belgrade and Pristina in transforming their relationship.

For me, beyond the Brussels Agreements, the fundamental questions are these:

Can our societies reconcile with themselves and with each other?

More specifically, can Serbia reconcile with itself by accepting the consequences of the wars of the ’90s and reconcile with its neighbors?

Can Serbia extend a hand of respect, recognition, and cooperation to its neighbors?

Can Kosovo deeply understand, comprehend, and accept that it is also a home for Serbs, and fully embrace the equality of Serbs and the Serbian Orthodox Church?

Can it respect the right of Serbs to feel and love Kosovo in the way they wish, and understand the importance of the eight-century-long existence and heritage of the SOC?

At its core, can Kosovo extend a hand to Kosovo’s Serbs? We have a shining example in the mayor of Peć.

Moreover, can we embrace the commitments of the Berlin Process, which aims to dismantle these „Chinese walls“—borders—and fully implement the „four freedoms“?

For me, regional integration is the foundation for broader normalization, enabling us to transition from the current hostility to the building of partnerships.

Regional integration creates a shared economic space where, among other things, citizenship becomes secondary.

I am truly looking forward to our dialogue. Perhaps, one day, it will serve as an example of a conversation between two well-meaning individuals.

Sincerely yours,
Ilir

“Letters to a Close Enemy”