Fehmi Ajvazi, an eminent author from Kosovo, has shared his book ‘In the Kingdom of Death’ published in Albanian in 2012 in Pristina, and in Romanian in 2019, and was translated from Albanian to English. Sindh Courier is starting its episodes for the readers

[In March 1999, the Serbian regime blanketed Kosovo with a contingent of 120,000 regular police, military, and civilian paramilitary forces. Just about two weeks before NATO’s intervention in Kosovo began, the region was surrounded on all sides, while pockets of the interior (villages and towns) were hit with arrests, liquidations, and massacres. Kosovo became a reservation. A kingdom called the “Kingdom of Death” established authority everywhere! However, some areas were controlled by insurgent liberation forces, and in some places, Serbian forces couldn’t penetrate. Well, the hatred between Serbs and Albanians was the same, but the bullets were the same too: they brought death to everyone, and it was no problem for the “bullet” whether the target was Albanian or Serbian. I mean, the forces of the Kosovo Liberation Army held some territory and kept it free! But about ten days before NATO planes launched their attack in their battle for Kosovo, Albanian insurgents managed to have the world’s most powerful force as their ally: the NATO alliance. However, no one had managed to master a pact with death. Just a few days before March 24th, the “Lady of Death” was the ruler of Kosovo, in reality, she was the ruler of the Albanian citizens of this extremely small territory! And for the third time in history, the state of Serbia wanted nothing more and nothing less than: the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo. Over 1 million residents before March 24, 1999, challenged “this kingdom” by saying, “Here we are, your power is not the power of God!” I had decided to stay, not to leave. I was a journalist, but also a creator. And so, I had no idea what dilemmas lay in this direction, despite the open threats from the Serbs, and I knew well that they would try to wash their hands of us like Pontius Pilate! Regardless of every situation and circumstance, I sacrificed to be a witness to a time and a history without parallel! Yes, a witness…! And everything I have said and written about literary-historical conditions is in this book – a testimony. Therefore, this book is a source and my personal experience of a time I pray will never be repeated – anywhere. Just as I pray for the souls of those who did not come out alive in this “kingdom of death” in the third millennium! Read the truth about Kosovo…  Author]

 IN THE KINGDOM OF DEATH

Signs in time

I’m keeping notes. These are fragmented notes about various events unfolding around us, as they are unknown. They consist of a collection of words intertwined with some events and data. They are more like paragraphs and sketches, woven together with some unexplained facts. I’m trying to take notes, gather newspapers, and remember news and various events that are shaping our destiny, life, our collective journey. Things that are not noted are forgotten. Indeed, I am trying to keep some notes that I think are important or may become important one day. So, in thick lines. Keeping notes at this time honestly sometimes seems somewhat abnormal, not to say absurd, compared to what is happening. In a time when everything is burning in Kosovo, even when the earth is burning, what do I need these ‘yellow scribbles’ on white paper for? It makes me feel like it’s a matter without interest, a waste of time, or it’s a monotonous and pointless task at a time when the living in Kosovo (people), and perhaps even the mountain birds, are neither in heaven nor on earth. On the other hand, I know well and am convinced that, at the core of these simple and fragmented notes, something interesting, something valuable for this time, may one day be sought and found, despite the fact that we, all of us, have already turned into events, characters, into history. In truth, I lack the mental and physical drive to maintain a diary. A diary with dedication, seriousness, and care. I don’t have abundant energy, no matter how much is required for a journalist (which is my current profession), for a creator or publicist, for a novelist; they will never find in their life a more motivating time to keep such notes. Well, from time to time, I put down on ‘white paper’ sentences without rhyme, fragmented lines, and strengthened paragraphs, pages torn from a diary, with a lifeless and static writing structure, without artistic brilliance, without rhythm. But these, neither more nor less, are lines of a true drama unfolding around us; of a drama that shakes the foundations of our ancient civilization and beyond. Above these notes, one day, perhaps I will write a book. A book, of course – if I survive. A book that bears witness, a book that speaks, a book that documents this insane time. It doesn’t matter when, but if I stay alive, the generations of this time and those who will come into this world will have this kind of book in their hands. I am aware right now that this book must be written and rewritten several times because, for the time being, it’s just a ‘bookmark.’ However, that doesn’t matter much now… I apologize, but I am trying to gather and collect the necessary ‘ingredients’ for a future book! One day, the entire history of this time, of this country’s drama, and of our people must be written. On the other hand, I must admit: despite the desire, despite the respect I have for thought and writing, I am content with a few disoriented words, more with incomplete sentences. However, what is important for now is perhaps the laying out of facts, figures, signs, events, images, characters, and not their artistic side. ‘Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored,’ says Aldous Huxley, a well-known English writer. These lines, as they are, in any way and form, are primary evidence, original. I cannot help but admit that these lines sadden me as I write them, precisely because of the effect they produce, the relevance they contain, the factual substance based on everything that is happening in Kosovo and around it. And they will continue to sadden me, of course, in the future: every time I write and rewrite them until they are published. But they will also sadden me every time I have them in front of me, every time I read and reread them if, of course – I remain alive. May God be with us!

The Never-Ending Tale

The year 1999. The last year of the 20th century. This year, from its very beginning, brought more violence and terror to Kosovo, more atrocities, killings, and so on. There was no improvement in the situation compared to the previous year; on the contrary, the situation continued to deteriorate. Despite international efforts for a ceasefire, the fighting between the forces of the Kosovo Liberation Army and the Serbian forces did not stop. In fact, despite attempts at peacekeeping, the clashes did not cease; they even intensified and became more brutal. On January 15th, the massacre of Racak occurred. This heartbreaking event, which horrified the world, was deemed a crime against humanity by the head of the OSCE Observer Mission, Mr. William Walker. The weight of the massacre affected everyone: the locals and the internationals. After this event, things entered another phase. It became clear that the situation in Kosovo was heading towards a major explosion.

The year 1999. The last year of the 20th century. This year, from its very beginning, brought more violence and terror to Kosovo, more atrocities, killings, and so on.

Following the Racak massacre, international political pressure on Belgrade increased significantly, accompanied by threats of military intervention from the NATO alliance. As a result of this situation, the Rambouillet Conference for Kosovo was organized from February 6 to February 23. The Serbian dictator, Milosevic, a politician with totalitarian communist-nationalist ideas, compelled by various international pressures, agreed to initiate a negotiating process between Belgrade and Pristina. However, he always attempted to camouflage the situation in his known style: by ignoring the parties in the negotiations (the Albanians and the international community). He sent a mixed ethnic delegation to Rambouillet (according to the representation formula), undoubtedly of a lower rank, if not of the third rank. In fact, according to political and intellectual representation, of the fifth or sixth rank.

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The outcome of this conference quickly became evident: the Serbian delegation not only sabotaged the negotiations but also, from the very beginning, mocked the need for negotiations; the importance and essence of the negotiations; the manner and form of conducting them, and so on. As it quickly became apparent to everyone, the Serbian delegation, despite its participation, would not sign any agreement that did not suit Belgrade. Consequently, Belgrade would make no concessions on the ground in any form and would ignore and sabotage the negotiations. The Serbian delegation, just as it arrived in Rambouillet, returned to Belgrade: empty-handed. Our delegation signed the Rambouillet Agreement. With this Balkan overture in Paris, the paths of negotiations were also closed. All possible avenues to find a political solution for Kosovo at the negotiating table were closed off. The failure of the Rambouillet Conference brought the international use of military force to the forefront to resolve the Kosovo issue. There would be no political solution to the Kosovo problem, even if further attempts at dialogue were made because Belgrade had made up its mind: it would not accept any peaceful option for resolving the Kosovo problem. While the Rambouillet negotiations failed, the international community swiftly moved into preparations for military intervention. (Continues)

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