Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's call for the reinstatement of compulsory military service has alarmed Albanians in the Preševo Valley.
A citizen of the Valley spoke to KOHĘN on condition of anonymity, expressing concern about this proposal. "I dare not give my two sons to Serbia for this purpose," he said. According to him, among Albanians, after Vučić's announcement, there has been an increased fear that young people will give up and leave their homeland.
And during the day, Driton Rexhepi, president of the Municipal Assembly in Bujanovac, announced a request that the municipal assemblies in Bujanovac, Preševo and Medvedja come up with a unique and official position.
“The announced return of compulsory military service has raised completely justified concerns among our families and especially our youth in Bujanovac, Preševo and Medvedja and in the diaspora. Our specific historical and political circumstances require prudence, coordinated action, but above all — institutional action and concrete solutions, not just words. As representatives of your will, we will not allow this situation to be handled with passivity or improvisation,” he wrote on Facebook.
Rexhepi said that this platform will demand the suspension of the obligation for the Presheva Valley and the ban on sending to barracks. In addition to these, Rexhepi has also proposed two other points.
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Fear in the Valley of Compulsory Military Service in Serbia
Proposals:
1. Moratorium or Postponement through Political Dialogue: Official request from political representatives for a suspension of this obligation for the Presevo Valley, taking into account the specific post-conflict circumstances (option coordinated with international friends), with full guarantees approved in the relevant institutions!
2. Prohibition of sending to barracks: This model of local civil service would completely avoid combat training and staying in barracks, eliminating the feeling of insecurity and fear among young Albanians.
3. Authorization of the Negotiating Group: Through this joint session, we will authorize an Official Delegation (composed of representatives of the three Assemblies and the Albanian National Council) to conduct direct talks with the Ministry of Defense on the implementation of these regional specifications.
4. Local Civil Service, without weapons: We demand that for all our young people who exercise their constitutional right to conscientious objection, civil service be performed exclusively in our local institutions (Health Homes, Public Enterprises, Fire Services and the Red Cross) within our municipalities.
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Compulsory military service in Serbia considered a threat to Albanians in the Valley
"The political and institutional leaders of the Valley will speak with a single and powerful voice. This draft decision will be our official platform towards the central authorities and the international factor. Our primary obligation is to protect our youth, guarantee their rights and ensure that they contribute to their settlements," he wrote.
Days ago, Vučić said that mandatory military service would be restored in March next year. Earlier, the Serbian government had announced that it planned to extend this service to men younger than 30. The "fast" service is valid for 75 days.
