Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) organised a debate in framework of International Forum in Belgrade, 14 April 2010. The Forum was organized with support of the European Fund for the Balkans.
The main issue discussed was the further development of South Serbia and possibilities for the increased integration of ethnic Albanians into Serbian state institutions.
Participants in the forum were many respective officials from Serbia but external experts as well: Stephen Wordsworth, UK ambassador to Serbia; Mary Burce Warlick, US ambassador to Serbia; Milan Markovic, Serbian minister for state governance and local self-governance; Riza Halimi, member of the Serbian parliament; Vincent Degert, head of the EU Delegation to Serbia; and Dimitrios Kypreos, ambassador of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Tim Judah, Balkans Correspodent for the Economist, Emanuela Del Re, Expert for geopolitics and security issues for the Balkans etc.
The Forum gathered prominent experts who jointly provided some feasible models of sustainability for the region of South Serbia, having in mind interethnic problems between Serbians and Albanians in that part of Serbia.
The aim of the forum is to provide a platform for the participation of all interested parties and allow them to take part in a discussion on the opportunities for fostering stability and development in South Serbia, with particular reference to the work of the Coordinating Body of the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja and the establishment of a National Minority Council.
