Kosovars repatriated from EU countries

A wave of kosovar's repatriation from some member states of the European Union (EU) started on Tuesday with 73 people being sent back to Pristina airport with a direct flight from Hungarian capital, Budapest.

The repatriation follows a massive wave of illegal migration in recent months towards EU countries from Kosovo.

The first group of repatriated kosovars that failed to resolve their asylum status in hosting EU countries, after an illegal migration, was deported from Hungary, Germany, France, Austria, Sweden, and Finland.

Betim Uka, a man in his 20s, said he was deported from Hungary.

"I arrived in Hungary 40 days ago and spent all the time in prison," Uka told reporters at Pristina airport.

Though, not only Kosovo Albanians constituted the first group of repatriated, Nikola Mihajlovic is a Kosovo Serb from Mitrovica north. He spent last two years in Germany, but failed to resolve status there.

"I'm there for two years, but there is a fact that there is no chance to resolve the status, that's why I was returned by force," Mihajlovic told reporters.

Despite the deportation, likewise Uka, many repatriated persons claim they will try again to leave Kosovo.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Serbia categorically refuses to recognize its independence.

Seven years after the unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia, Kosovo faces a high rate of employment and lack of economic development, therefore many people seek their future abroad and risk to illegally migrate.

Despite the high rate of unemployment and lack of economic development, the EU insists that no asylum status can be granted for Kosovars due to economic reasons. A number of EU countries have announced similar deportation measures for those illegally migrating from Kosovo. Endit