Poll: Serbs, Albanians unwilling to improve relations

Kosovo's Serbs and ethnic Albanians do not show readiness for a radical improvement of their inter-ethnic relations, a UNDP poll shows. Kosovo Albanians claim that the reason for this is the influence of Belgrade, while Serbs hold that responsibility rests with the Albanian leaders' position, the survey's results have revealed. Poll: Serbs, Albanians unwilling to improve relations Ethnic Albanians also cited unwillingness of Kosovo's Serbs to integrate into the Kosovo society, while the Serbs point to the fact that the Albanians are not making sufficient effort to integrate them. The survey is a part of the series of Early Warning Reports, which the UNDP carried out in July, when 1,260 people – 844 Albanians, 199 Serbs and 124 members of other ethnic communities – were polled. A total of 75 percent of Serbs said that they did not feel safe in Kosovo, compared to the May figure of 91.5 percent. More than half of the Serbs interviewed said they felt unsafe while outdoors, the results of the survey said. Most of those who participated in the poll, regardless of their ethnic background, said that they “always feel worried and are never relaxed”. Only 17 percent of Serbs, 11 percent of Albanians and 15 percent of members of other communities said they felt at ease and were not worried.

Poll: Serbs, Albanians unwilling to improve relations

Ethnic Albanians also cited unwillingness of Kosovo's Serbs to integrate into the Kosovo society, while the Serbs point to the fact that the Albanians are not making sufficient effort to integrate them.

The survey is a part of the series of Early Warning Reports, which the UNDP carried out in July, when 1,260 people – 844 Albanians, 199 Serbs and 124 members of other ethnic communities – were polled.

A total of 75 percent of Serbs said that they did not feel safe in Kosovo, compared to the May figure of 91.5 percent.

More than half of the Serbs interviewed said they felt unsafe while outdoors, the results of the survey said.

Most of those who participated in the poll, regardless of their ethnic background, said that they “always feel worried and are never relaxed”.

Only 17 percent of Serbs, 11 percent of Albanians and 15 percent of members of other communities said they felt at ease and were not worried.