Five houses owned by a Serb family called Stefić were demolished in Đakovica, a town in southwestern Kosovo, on Monday. The family does not live in Kosovo.
Kusari told the TV station RTK2 "the owners had not been informed about the demolition, but only UNMIK."
Local authorities decided to tear the buildings down "after complaints from citizens that the houses could collapse and that they constituted a threat to their safety," she explained.
After inspection, "authorities decided to demolish the buildings and posted the decision on the municipality's website," she stated.
When asked if the local government would compensate the owners, she responded that "they had in fact done a favor to the Serb family by knocking down the buildings."
Kosovo Minister of Community and Return Dalibor Jevtić criticized the decision to tear down the houses, adding that it "went against the efforts to bring the Serbs who had fled the conflict in Kosovo back to their homes."
"The events in Đakovica are in my view an act that goes against the process of return. We here are working as an institution to build something, while on the other side, there are institutions who do the opposite," he pointed out.
President of the association of displaced persons from Đakovica Đokica Stanojević said it was not the first case of Serb-owned buildings being demolished in that town.
"The church of the Ascension of the Holy Mother was torn down in 2004. Later, another church was demolished in the very centre of Đakovica. All the churches in the town have been knocked down, all the houses destroyed. .The worst of it is - who is destroying our houses - those who occupied our houses in Serb Street," Stanojević said.
Director of the Serbian Government's Office for Kosovo Marko Đurić on Tuesday condemned in the strongest terms the destruction of five Serb houses and asked the international community and the Albanian authorities in Priština to prevent attacks on Serbs and ensure they were safe and secure.
By destroying the Serb houses, extremist Albanians sent a clear, but very bad message that they do not want to see Serbs in the area of Đakovica, Đurić said.
Đurić pointed out that Đakovica had been home to some 12,500 Serbs before 1999 and that ever since none of them have been able to return to their homes.
(Christian West, 30 October 2014 19:12)
What an idiotic post, if you are truly from the west then you know that in whatever country you are in that abandoned houses that are falling in are routinely condemned and torn down by the governing authorities(and usually a bill sent to the property owners).
As for your threats of Serbs rolling in, you sound more Serbian than westerner.
Should the Serbs start rolling in they do not have to ask, we are already there with the mandate of the UNSC security council to take action and stop any invasion. The only way we are leaving is should at some time Russia change course and push for UN admission and thus the cancellation of UNSC 1244. But even at that some Western forces will probably always remain as guest forces to the country.
As for "your hard earned tax dollars" send me an address I will gladly refund the nickel that would amount to the amount you may have contributed to Kosovo over the last 15 years.
A lot of people who claim the Christian faith live their lives in a very UN-Christian way with with attitudes that would appall Christ himself.
(a New day, 31 October 2014 14:10)
"Having the house burned down in Kosovo as a Serb seems to be like winning the lottery, so things are never black and white in Kosovo unfortunately. "
(boom, 31 October 2014 03:46)
Indeed! Things in Kosovo are almost always black - even more unfortunately.
Probably this 'mayor' will build a new villa .. oops - office building for himself on that ground, payed by EU donors.
(Comm. Parrisson, 31 October 2014 10:50)
The owner of the house must be fully compensated for the land value minus the demolition costs.
My understanding from the Serbs I know from Kosovo is that they do not want to return because it is insecure, but rather that it is poor and miserable place to be and there are better opportunities elsewhere in Serbia. Mafia id inherent in most Albanian institutions and it is not going to change. Kosovo would be a much better place if it was run by a German administration.
At least one couple I know from the area burned down their own house and accused Albanian extremists. This way he told me he can get way more money than his house is worth from the EU minority fund paid and run by the EU. With this money he can move elsewhere in Serbia and live a much better life. Having the house burned down in Kosovo as a Serb seems to be like winning the lottery, so things are never black and white in Kosovo unfortunately. I wish Serbia could move with its own economic development rather than trying to obsess over this remote backward province that will only drag down the whole nation.
(boom, 31 October 2014 03:46)
Total nonsense. There weren't even 1000 in Gjakova in 1998 or 1999. He must be counting all those army personnel stationed there, none of whom were local residents. Serbs sure as hell have an over-active imagination
(Dardan, 30 October 2014 16:30)
Hey Dardan, you can come here and lie to the Serbs all like, but don't even think about to lie to these Albanians. [link]/
(Forgetaboutit, 30 October 2014 21:19)
Demolition of houses was "favor to Serbs" says mayor
Thank you mayor. Was that the case with their churches, monuments and cemeteries also? If so, thank you for that too. All I need to know now is if any of my hard earned tax money helped you in your noble endeavors. If so, somebody owes me an explanation as to why there wasn't even an honorable mention, or any show of gratitude to that fact. It's not right, and it's very selfish on your part to take all the credit for yourself.
P.S. Although I can't speak for the Serbs, I can at least assure you that when the time is right, they'll return your favor in kind and then some. In fact, I can almost guarantee it.
P.S.S. If y'all don't quit your ultra-evil shenanigans and don't quit physically hurting and ethnically cleansing
your minorities, please don't come whining, begging, and crying wolf to us again--especially when the Serbs and whoever else starts rolling your way. In other words, FORGET THE NUMBER.
(Christian West, 30 October 2014 19:12)
I fail to understand who's safety was in jeopardy if the family didn't live in the houses. Instead of demolishing the buildings, the local authorities should have fined any trespassers. The real motive here is to keep the family from ever returning by destroying their property. The EU needs to quickly step in and rebuild these homes!!!…!!
(robert1899, 30 October 2014 16:34)
Total nonsense. There weren't even 1000 in Gjakova in 1998 or 1999. He must be counting all those army personnel stationed there, none of whom were local residents. Serbs sure as hell have an over-active imagination
(Dardan, 30 October 2014 16:30)
Unless this "mayor" has plans to rebuild those allegedly crumbling houses with new ones for the families, this is one of the stupidest rationales made by an Albanian in Kosovo. And considering the leaps in logic and lobotomized statements coming from an assortment of Hoxhafied yokels and whackos over the years, that's saying a lot.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 30 October 2014 15:31)
Unless this "mayor" has plans to rebuild those allegedly crumbling houses with new ones for the families, this is one of the stupidest rationales made by an Albanian in Kosovo. And considering the leaps in logic and lobotomized statements coming from an assortment of Hoxhafied yokels and whackos over the years, that's saying a lot.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 30 October 2014 15:31)
I fail to understand who's safety was in jeopardy if the family didn't live in the houses. Instead of demolishing the buildings, the local authorities should have fined any trespassers. The real motive here is to keep the family from ever returning by destroying their property. The EU needs to quickly step in and rebuild these homes!!!…!!
(robert1899, 30 October 2014 16:34)
Demolition of houses was "favor to Serbs" says mayor
Thank you mayor. Was that the case with their churches, monuments and cemeteries also? If so, thank you for that too. All I need to know now is if any of my hard earned tax money helped you in your noble endeavors. If so, somebody owes me an explanation as to why there wasn't even an honorable mention, or any show of gratitude to that fact. It's not right, and it's very selfish on your part to take all the credit for yourself.
P.S. Although I can't speak for the Serbs, I can at least assure you that when the time is right, they'll return your favor in kind and then some. In fact, I can almost guarantee it.
P.S.S. If y'all don't quit your ultra-evil shenanigans and don't quit physically hurting and ethnically cleansing
your minorities, please don't come whining, begging, and crying wolf to us again--especially when the Serbs and whoever else starts rolling your way. In other words, FORGET THE NUMBER.
(Christian West, 30 October 2014 19:12)
Total nonsense. There weren't even 1000 in Gjakova in 1998 or 1999. He must be counting all those army personnel stationed there, none of whom were local residents. Serbs sure as hell have an over-active imagination
(Dardan, 30 October 2014 16:30)
Hey Dardan, you can come here and lie to the Serbs all like, but don't even think about to lie to these Albanians. [link]/
(Forgetaboutit, 30 October 2014 21:19)
The owner of the house must be fully compensated for the land value minus the demolition costs.
My understanding from the Serbs I know from Kosovo is that they do not want to return because it is insecure, but rather that it is poor and miserable place to be and there are better opportunities elsewhere in Serbia. Mafia id inherent in most Albanian institutions and it is not going to change. Kosovo would be a much better place if it was run by a German administration.
At least one couple I know from the area burned down their own house and accused Albanian extremists. This way he told me he can get way more money than his house is worth from the EU minority fund paid and run by the EU. With this money he can move elsewhere in Serbia and live a much better life. Having the house burned down in Kosovo as a Serb seems to be like winning the lottery, so things are never black and white in Kosovo unfortunately. I wish Serbia could move with its own economic development rather than trying to obsess over this remote backward province that will only drag down the whole nation.
(boom, 31 October 2014 03:46)
"Having the house burned down in Kosovo as a Serb seems to be like winning the lottery, so things are never black and white in Kosovo unfortunately. "
(boom, 31 October 2014 03:46)
Indeed! Things in Kosovo are almost always black - even more unfortunately.
Probably this 'mayor' will build a new villa .. oops - office building for himself on that ground, payed by EU donors.
(Comm. Parrisson, 31 October 2014 10:50)
Total nonsense. There weren't even 1000 in Gjakova in 1998 or 1999. He must be counting all those army personnel stationed there, none of whom were local residents. Serbs sure as hell have an over-active imagination
(Dardan, 30 October 2014 16:30)
(Christian West, 30 October 2014 19:12)
What an idiotic post, if you are truly from the west then you know that in whatever country you are in that abandoned houses that are falling in are routinely condemned and torn down by the governing authorities(and usually a bill sent to the property owners).
As for your threats of Serbs rolling in, you sound more Serbian than westerner.
Should the Serbs start rolling in they do not have to ask, we are already there with the mandate of the UNSC security council to take action and stop any invasion. The only way we are leaving is should at some time Russia change course and push for UN admission and thus the cancellation of UNSC 1244. But even at that some Western forces will probably always remain as guest forces to the country.
As for "your hard earned tax dollars" send me an address I will gladly refund the nickel that would amount to the amount you may have contributed to Kosovo over the last 15 years.
A lot of people who claim the Christian faith live their lives in a very UN-Christian way with with attitudes that would appall Christ himself.
(a New day, 31 October 2014 14:10)
Total nonsense. There weren't even 1000 in Gjakova in 1998 or 1999. He must be counting all those army personnel stationed there, none of whom were local residents. Serbs sure as hell have an over-active imagination
(Dardan, 30 October 2014 16:30)
(Christian West, 30 October 2014 19:12)
What an idiotic post, if you are truly from the west then you know that in whatever country you are in that abandoned houses that are falling in are routinely condemned and torn down by the governing authorities(and usually a bill sent to the property owners).
As for your threats of Serbs rolling in, you sound more Serbian than westerner.
Should the Serbs start rolling in they do not have to ask, we are already there with the mandate of the UNSC security council to take action and stop any invasion. The only way we are leaving is should at some time Russia change course and push for UN admission and thus the cancellation of UNSC 1244. But even at that some Western forces will probably always remain as guest forces to the country.
As for "your hard earned tax dollars" send me an address I will gladly refund the nickel that would amount to the amount you may have contributed to Kosovo over the last 15 years.
A lot of people who claim the Christian faith live their lives in a very UN-Christian way with with attitudes that would appall Christ himself.
(a New day, 31 October 2014 14:10)
"Having the house burned down in Kosovo as a Serb seems to be like winning the lottery, so things are never black and white in Kosovo unfortunately. "
(boom, 31 October 2014 03:46)
Indeed! Things in Kosovo are almost always black - even more unfortunately.
Probably this 'mayor' will build a new villa .. oops - office building for himself on that ground, payed by EU donors.
(Comm. Parrisson, 31 October 2014 10:50)
Unless this "mayor" has plans to rebuild those allegedly crumbling houses with new ones for the families, this is one of the stupidest rationales made by an Albanian in Kosovo. And considering the leaps in logic and lobotomized statements coming from an assortment of Hoxhafied yokels and whackos over the years, that's saying a lot.
(Balkan Anthropologist, 30 October 2014 15:31)
Total nonsense. There weren't even 1000 in Gjakova in 1998 or 1999. He must be counting all those army personnel stationed there, none of whom were local residents. Serbs sure as hell have an over-active imagination
(Dardan, 30 October 2014 16:30)
Hey Dardan, you can come here and lie to the Serbs all like, but don't even think about to lie to these Albanians. [link]/
(Forgetaboutit, 30 October 2014 21:19)
Demolition of houses was "favor to Serbs" says mayor
Thank you mayor. Was that the case with their churches, monuments and cemeteries also? If so, thank you for that too. All I need to know now is if any of my hard earned tax money helped you in your noble endeavors. If so, somebody owes me an explanation as to why there wasn't even an honorable mention, or any show of gratitude to that fact. It's not right, and it's very selfish on your part to take all the credit for yourself.
P.S. Although I can't speak for the Serbs, I can at least assure you that when the time is right, they'll return your favor in kind and then some. In fact, I can almost guarantee it.
P.S.S. If y'all don't quit your ultra-evil shenanigans and don't quit physically hurting and ethnically cleansing
your minorities, please don't come whining, begging, and crying wolf to us again--especially when the Serbs and whoever else starts rolling your way. In other words, FORGET THE NUMBER.
(Christian West, 30 October 2014 19:12)
I fail to understand who's safety was in jeopardy if the family didn't live in the houses. Instead of demolishing the buildings, the local authorities should have fined any trespassers. The real motive here is to keep the family from ever returning by destroying their property. The EU needs to quickly step in and rebuild these homes!!!…!!
(robert1899, 30 October 2014 16:34)
The owner of the house must be fully compensated for the land value minus the demolition costs.
My understanding from the Serbs I know from Kosovo is that they do not want to return because it is insecure, but rather that it is poor and miserable place to be and there are better opportunities elsewhere in Serbia. Mafia id inherent in most Albanian institutions and it is not going to change. Kosovo would be a much better place if it was run by a German administration.
At least one couple I know from the area burned down their own house and accused Albanian extremists. This way he told me he can get way more money than his house is worth from the EU minority fund paid and run by the EU. With this money he can move elsewhere in Serbia and live a much better life. Having the house burned down in Kosovo as a Serb seems to be like winning the lottery, so things are never black and white in Kosovo unfortunately. I wish Serbia could move with its own economic development rather than trying to obsess over this remote backward province that will only drag down the whole nation.
(boom, 31 October 2014 03:46)