Bosniaks are not collateral in the dialogue. They are citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. It is time for them to have their rightful place at the tables where the future of the country is decided. On matters related to education, local self-government, public services, and language and cultural rights, Bosniaks must be at the table — not at its margins.
Written by: Haris Alija
For more than ten years, the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels has been presented as the path toward normalization—a bridge that will connect the future of the two countries on new foundations. But while the spotlight has focused almost exclusively on Albanian-Serbian relations, the voices of other communities—such as the Bosniaks—have remained in the shadows. They have never been called to the table. They are not mentioned in any agreement. Yet every agreement affects them as well.
Bosniaks are the third largest community in Kosovo. They live throughout the country, from Prizren to North Mitrovica. Yet, in political discourse, decision-making processes, and especially within the dialogue framework, they do not exist. They are invisible.
When the dialogue stalls, as often happens, the consequences are felt most strongly by the smaller communities. Institutions become blocked. Public services fail to function. The government cannot reach the places where it is needed most. The north of Kosovo was once home to several thousand Bosniaks; today, only a small portion of that population remains.
If a new institutional structure is formed, such as the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities, a legitimate question arises: what will happen to the Bosniaks living in those municipalities? Who will represent them? Who will protect their rights within a mechanism that did not include them from the start?
Moreover, the feeling of exclusion has bred apathy and distrust. Many Bosniaks no longer see meaning in voting, institutions, or political promises. The youth are leaving because they see no future in a system that does not recognize them. And this is not only a loss for them—it is a loss for all of Kosovo.
The state of Kosovo is built on the principles of equality, pluralism, and inclusion. It prides itself on its multiethnic identity. But this identity cannot remain only in constitutional documents or diplomatic brochures. It must be translated into real participation, equal opportunities, and active representation in key processes, including the dialogue with Serbia.
Therefore, it is time for the voice of the Bosniaks to be heard—not for the sake of political balance, but for the sake of justice. The dialogue cannot be complete without those who live its reality every day. Agreements that affect the lives of smaller communities cannot be made without their presence and consent. On matters related to education, local self-government, public services, or language and cultural rights, Bosniaks must be at the table — not at its margins.
Bosniaks do not seek favors. They do not ask for special treatment. They ask for something simpler: to be included, to be heard, and to be treated as an integral part of the state they call home. And this is not just their issue — it is an issue of Kosovo’s democracy.
Long-term peace and stability cannot be built on bilateral agreements while entire communities feel invisible. Democracy cannot function if it is not inclusive. Representation cannot be legitimate if it is selective. If Kosovo wants to be a European state, it must prove that it is a state for every one of its citizens without distinction.
Bosniaks are not collateral damage in the dialogue. They are citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. It is time for them to have their rightful place at the tables where the future of the country is decided. Because without them — without all of us — this country cannot build a just, equal, and shared future.
(Haris Alija is a photojournalist and filmmaker working at Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK). This publication was made possible within the framework of the “Dialogue, Solution, Future” project, supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, and implemented by the New Social Initiative (NSI) and the Musine Kokalari Institute for Social Policy. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany).