PROJECT âFEASIBILITY STUDY OF MULTIETHNIC COEXISTENCEâ Project âFeasibility Study of Multiethnic Coexistenceâ has had, for its primary objective, to examine and compare experiences of Mitrovica and Mostar. These two cities were aimed, for they were or still are divided cities in the Balkans. Since Mitrovica is de facto divided city today, the idea of this project was to identify similarities and differences in comparison to Mostar. In addition, through the Survey the objective of the project was to determine positions of Serbian and Albanian communities in regard to possible and eventual rapprochement of the two communities. One of the objectives of the project was introduction of Mostar realities, which certainly include political, economic and social dimension. With such objectives, visit to Mostar was also foreseen that would be based not only on field research but also on meetings with key actors in Mostar society such as representatives of local selfgovernment, non-governmental organizations and media. Comparative methodological approach has been chosen as the most adequate for Mitrovica requirements in order to qualitatively compare situations in the two cities, establish similarities and differences and conclude on possible and similar solutions. Nonetheless, team of the NGO activists from Mitrovica, was from the very beginning aware that there are no universal solutions that could be implemented in all individual cases. It is necessary to stress this due to the fact that the objective of this project was on no account to equalize the situations and prejudge the solutions in the two cities. This is supported by the Survey results that undoubtedly pointed out the significant differences between Mitrovica and Mostar, which makes it practically impossible to utilize the same concept. However, after introducing ourselves to the situation in Mostar, it is clear that some steps, though different, are already taken in Mitrovica. Certainly, anyone who is nearly familiar with the situation in Mitrovica, is well aware of the level of the distance between Serbian and Albanian communities, thus it is clear that the Mostarâs âgood conceptâ is inapplicable in the long run. The basic structure of the Project was the Survey aimed to examine the opinion poll in Mitrovica and Mostar with regard to the situation in the two cities and possibility of coexistence. The Survey, designed by the team of NGO activists from Mitrovica, was compiled of 18 questions. The sample was composed of 400 interviewees, i.e. 100 interviewees on each side of the two cities.1 Furthermore, we were careful when tackling population structure including age, education, gender and other relevant criteria.2 The Survey was conducted in Mitrovica first, between January 26 â 28, 2005 and in Mostar February 07 â 09, 2005. The results of the Survey were processed in Mostar, thus the team from Mitrovica had a chance, along with the colleagues from Mostar, to discuss and analyse the results even during their visit to Mostar. The group from Mitrovica that visited Mostar contained eleven NGO representatives from each side of the city. The implementing partner in Mostar was the NGO called âSunÄana stranaâ, i.e. the President Husein OruÄeviÄ and same NGO volunteers who were involved in all activities of the Project, and without their ardent and generous help the Project would not have been successfully implemented.
CONTINUED..... http://s95376427.onlinehome.us/SNN/Kosovo/Brosura.pdf . . Serbian News Network - SNN [email protected] http://www.antic.org/
