ABSTRACT This article focuses on the role the Bosnian Serb Assembly played in the process of socially constructing Bosniaks as “Turks” during the period between October 1991 and December 1995. This process can be placed within the wider context of the genocidal policies pursued by agencies, institutions and organs under the sway of the assembly. The article argues that the assembly—both its individual members, and as an institution—played a central role not only in determining policies that ultimately led to genocide, but also in the process of reconceptualization of Bosniaks as cultural aliens whose very existence presented a mortal threat to the existence of the Serb people.

Serbia and Kosovo have initiated a process of territorial exchange that could have serious repercussions, both in the Western Balkans and internationally. Historically speaking, territorial exchanges have a mixed record. In some instances, these projects have inaugurated periods of protracted cooperation and reconciliation. However, on a number of occasions, such agreements have had devastating consequences and have led to carnage, violence, and ethnic cleansing. Whereas Serbia and Kosovo have the sovereign and democratic right to engage in a genuine dialogue and decide on adjustments to their borders, it is important for the international community to pay close attention to the dynamics of the process and to consider the stability and security of the wider region should this project materialize. its former autonomous province and compensate Pristina by ceding three towns in southern Serbia –Bujanovac, Medvedja, and Presevo– to Kosovo. Needless to say, Vučić’s proposal provoked a flurry of negative reactions, both internationally and domestically. In Kosovo, the plan has gained some traction with President Hashim Thaçi; on the other hand, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and various opposition groups have vehemently opposed the idea, stating that such a land swap could trigger a local war.2 In Serbia, the plan was immediately rejected by the Serbian Orthodox Church and by nationalist parties such as the Serbian Radical Party and the Dveri Movement. Among Serbs, COMMENTARY * Independent Researcher, Czech Republic ** Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway Insight Turkey Vol. 21 / No. 2 / 2019, pp. 11-21 Vučić’s Proposal In February 2018, former U.S. President Bill Clinton congratulated the people of Kosovo on the 10th anniversary of their independence from Serbia. By way of a warning, he emphasized the fact that the youngest country in Europe needed to strengthen the rule of law and the protection of minorities.1 That same year in July, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić reintroduced the old idea of an exchange of territories between his country and Kosovo. According to this scheme, Belgrade would acquire direct control over the northern part of Kosovo and, in return, Serbia would recognize the independence of DOI: 10.25253/99.2019212.01 The Proposed Territorial Exchange between Serbia and Kosovo ALEKSANDER ZDRAVKOVSKI* and SABRINA P. RAMET**

Purpose: The basic research goal of the current study was to determine the relationship between stressful life events and the appearance and course of psoriasis under the extreme conditions of war. Patients and Methods: A prospective study was made encompassing 181 patients with psoriasis. One half of the patients were soldiers in active duty under war conditions, the other half consisted of civilians who were living in an area that was frequently subject to shelling from across the nearby frontline. Diagnosis was based on clinical picture, patient history, and auxiliary diagnostic methods. The study has been carried out at the University Clinical Center of Tuzla, as a result of the cooperation between the Departments of Dermatology and Psychiatry. Although numerous measurement instruments were used, the present article concentrates on the analysis of stressful life events with standardized instruments such as ‘Five-Stage Rating Scale’, and ‘Social Readjustment Rating Scale’. Severity of the clinical picture was estimated according to the PASI score, a standardized measurement instrument. Results: Stress levels were observed to be very high: 75% of the soldiers scored above 300 points, with 34% even above 500 points. Civilians scored significant lower, but 51% still had scores above 300 points. Stress was found to be strongly correlated to severity of the disease with correlations of 0.862 and 0.773 (Kendall’s tau-b, p < 0.0001) for soldiers and civilians, respectively. Conclusions: In the past, many authors reported correlations between stress and severity of psoriasis. Our findings demonstrate that under extreme circumstances the correlation between severity of psoriasis and the experience of stress is also extremely strong.