Political leader's removal of banner
called step toward stability in Kosovo
By Rick Scavetta,
Stars and Stripes
Rick Scavetta / Stars and Stripes
Surrounded by reporters, local Albanian leader Adem Salihaj, left, displays a 101st
Airborne Division coin presented by Brig. Gen. William David, Task Force Falcon’s
commanding officer. David praised Salihaj for removing Albanian flags from the sports
center where Serbs play. |
UROSEVAC, Kosovo — A red flag with a black eagle means as much to Albanians as
"broad stripes and bright stars" mean to Americans.
Under Serbian persecution, Albanians in Kosovo fought under that flag, and they died
under that flag.
When U.S. Army officials insisted Albanians lower their flag to accommodate a Serb
basketball team, some ethnic Albanians felt like the Americans were asking the local
population to forget years of ethnic hatred in favor of fairness toward their former
enemies.
After weeks of negotiation with U.S. leaders and intense scrutiny by local media, one
political leader braved opposition and took down their honored banner, a step Army
officials said was toward stability.
"It’s all about tolerance and making someone feel comfortable in a
non-hostile environment," said Col. Anthony Tata, Task Force Falcon’s deputy
commander.
On Wednesday, Brig. Gen. William David, Task Force Falcon’s commanding officer,
visited the sports complex in Urosevac, which is commonly called Ferizaj, the city’s
Albanian name. Surrounded by dozens of reporters, David congratulated Adem Salihaj, head
of the municipal government, for resolving the problem.
"It took enormous personal courage for this man," David said. "The real
issue is not about flags. The real is was one of fairness."
Inside, Serb basketball players from Strpce were losing miserably to an Albanian team
from Mitrovica. But just the fact that they were playing, with no flags involved, was a
large step for the community, Tata said.
In mid-September, the team from Strpce, a predominantly Serb enclave, joined the Kosovo
League. Strpce has no gymnasium and they needed a place to play, Tata said.
At first, the Serb team asked to play at Camp Bondsteel, a place they consider safe.
Army officials denied their request but suggested the Urosevac sports center instead, Tata
said.
The problem surrounded two Albanian flags hung inside the sports complex and another
that waves out front.
During the first game Oct. 7, Greek troops had locals remove the flags, and Serbs took
to the court with Albanians without incident. During the second game a week later, the
flags came down again.
But on Oct. 21, when Serbs came to Urosevac for their third game, sports center
director Adomi Ramadan refused to take down the flags, saying that he received death
threats, Tata said. For his refusal, Ramadan spent two hours at a U.N police station, but
officials did not charge him, Tata said.
Due to the uproar, that game was canceled.
The controversy caused a stir among Albanians after local media reported that Army
officials threatened to fire Albanians and hire Serbs if the flags did not come down
during the games. But Tata said the reporters took his statements out of context.
"Nobody threatened to fire anyone," Tata said. "KFOR supports those who
support KFOR."
About 4,700 people from Urosevac work at Camp Bondsteel, a workforce that supports
about 30,000 people in town, Tata said. Since the Army took over the hilly cow pasture
outside town, the U.S. government has invested about $1.5 million into the community, to
include donating a fire truck and a sanitation vehicle.
While many Urosevac workers benefit from the nearby camp, Tata said it would be just as
easy to contract work from Gnjilane or Strpce, both towns where many Serbs live.
"Ferizaj received a windfall from KFOR," Tata said. "They need to
understand that if they are against KFOR, we’ll withdraw support."
Going against the feelings of most his Albanian neighbors, Salihaj stepped forward and
removed the flags. David admired Salihaj’s courage, even more so after learning
Salihaj spent 12 years in Serb prisons during the country’s political unrest.
Following the praises, David presented Salihaj with a ceremonial coin from the 101st
Airborne Division.
"KFOR cannot endorse or support politicians," David said. "But we can
support leaders."
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