Voices of Kosovo

What are your expectations from the new Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu and how do you think the change in Kosovo leadership will impact on the status process?

I expect the new President to urge for improvement of overall situation, especially of the Serb community whose situation is rather bad. As far as Kosovo status negotiation is concerned, I expect a compromise that will satisfy both sides, but particularly I expect a satisfactory solution to the decentralization issue.
Milorad, Vrbovac/Vërbovc

I like the new President, and I hope he will achieve something regarding independence. As a person he looks very smart and I believe that there will be a brighter future for Kosovo with the new president.
Besa, Prishtinë/Pristina

The new Kosovo President should make a supreme effort to improve the situation of the Serb community. Above all, he should make an effort to facilitate return of displaced persons and normalize interethnic relations. Concerning negotiations, I expect a solution that will be in favour of everybody in Kosovo. Of course, it will be very difficult but I think that, with international community intervention, a compromise will be found.
Trajan, Ranilug/Ranillug

I don’t know very well the new president. But I am glad that they elected the president and I hope he will be a good president as President Ibrahim Rugova was. I hope there will be changes for a better life for everybody.
Nita, Prishtinë/Pristina

No matter who the Kosovo President is, his aim is an independent Kosovo and it has never been my favoured option since I am Serbian. In my opinion, this new President and others will support exclusively that option during the negotiation process.
Branka, Laplje Selo/Llapje Sellë

I don’t think anything will change for the better with the new President. Independent Kosovo is the only acceptable solution for them and I don’t think they care that I and other Serbs from Kosovo completely disagree with that solution.
Milorad, Novi Badovac

I do not expect any changes, nothing will change in Kosovo. It is the same rhetorics. The new President promised the highest standards established by the democratic world, rule of law, protection of human and minority rights as soon as Kosovo becomes independent. I do not believe in these stories. Changes in composition of Kosovo or Serbian leadership will not influence the negotiations in Vienna much. Contact group members will have the most important role in the status process.
Ninoslav, Mitrovica/Mitrovicë

I believe in co-existence between Serbs and Albanians. But by showing the example, the new President of Kosovo must offer reconciliation and cooperation to all minority communities. Whatever the future status resolution be, people of Kosovo will share the same destiny.
Goran, Zvecan/Zveçan

I do not have any special expectations in relation to the new President of Kosovo, and the change of Kosovo leadership will influence the status process as much as the international institutions and great powers would allow it.
Nenad, Orahovac/Rahovec

I believe that no one could replace President Rugova better than Fatmir Sejdiu.
Syzana, Prishtinë/Pristina

I believe he is the right person to be chosen and the best. He looks well balanced. I hope he will work on the situation towards the progress.
Bashkim, Prishtine/Pristina

I hope for a faster solution, for independence. That is what is important. It’s not important who the President is for now.
Remzi, Prishtinë/Pristina

He used to be my professor. He is very good and it’s worthwhile he is a President. He is a very calm person. He was very communicative with the students. I think he is more meritorious than Rugova. I don’t expect changes in the future, but I wish that he will represent the people, not the party.
Vetoni, Prishtinë/Pristina

For the new President and for our professor, I think he is the right person for this political process that Kosovo is going through. I think he is the most acceptable politician for the time being because he is transparent, communicative and most importantly for the public he is not corrupted. Usually the politicians here think more about themselves and their party than about the people. We expect more from our professor, we expect a lot from the new President.
Bekim, Prishtinë/Pristina

No one can replace Ibrahim Rugova. I expected a businessman as a new President in order to help Kosovo. I expected Bexhet Pacolli.
Aziz, Prishtinë/Pristina