Objectives
The ICDT’s goal is to develop recommendations for increased cooperation between minority communities in Kosovo.

Background
According to recent estimates, 2.15 million people are currently living in Kosovo; 92% are Kosovo-Albanian, 5.3% Serbian, and 2.7% belong to other groups, including Turkish, Bosniak, Gorani, Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian. The heterogeneity of the Kosovo legislature cannot be justified by the size of the minority population; the constant ethnic conflicts and the long governance of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) calls for it. Based on the declaration of independence and the adoption of the Constitution, the Kosovo Parliament regulates the rights of minority communities applying the language and anti-discrimination laws of 2004.

The Bosnians, Turks and the majority of the Roma, Ashkali and Kosovo Egyptian (RAE) communities are well integrated and their representatives recognize Kosovo's independence. The Serbs and the Gorani, however, are lacking integration.

Project Description
The ICDT’s experts, including a minority rights researcher, a community developer, and a sociologist, conducted interviews with community representatives in the municipalities of Peja/Pec, Prizren, and Strpche/Strepche.

In the course of the project the ICDT developed a comprehensive paper which seeks to analyze and give recommendations regarding the regulations and legislation on the rights of minorities in Kosovo, the situation of ethnic groups in different municipalities, the socio-economic situation, the main challenges handling the minority situation, and the relations between community groups and possibilities for improved relations.

Based on the analysis and the recommendations, the ICDT will develop project proposals; special emphasis is given to international experience which could benefit and strengthen the pre-conditions for increased community integration.