December, 2004

Index Kosova, joint venture with BBSS Gallup International, private company for opinion, media and market research, in its regular poll conducted in November 2004, has posed several questions to citizens of Kosova about some of the actual political matters in Kosova. Questions were related to most important problems that Kosova is facing today, most urgent issues that the Kosova Government should deal with, approval of leaders. The fieldwork of the survey was conducted from 24-30 November 2004, with 1033 Albanian and minority respondents (excluding Serbs), Kosova-wide. The sample of this survey is representative of the surveyed population aged 18+ years and the margin of error is ±3%. According to the survey results, citizens of Kosova consider that unemployment and resolution of status of Kosova are most important problems facing Kosova today. When respondents were asked to provide their opinion on which is the most important problem facing Kosova today, 58% mentioned unemployment, 19% undefined status of Kosova, 5% power/ electricity/ KEK, 4% economy and infrastructure, 3% poverty and low living standard, etc.

Most Important Problem in Kosovo Today (first mention)

Baring in mind that respondents had the chance to give their opinion about the second most important problem as well, cumulative percentages of two mentions show that unemployment comes first again (81%), followed by undefined status of Kosova (36%), power/ electricity/ KEK (20%), etc.

Most Important Problem in Kosovo (cumulative % of two mentions)

Survey data also show that unemployment is a bigger problem for females in Kosova than it is for males. Also, citizens of younger age groups (18-35 years) consider unemployment to be a bigger problem than those of older age groups (36+ years) do. On the other hand, undefined status of Kosova is much more stressed as a problem among males than among females, as well as more by elderly than by younger generations. Citizens of Kosova also declared what are the most urgent issues that the Government of Kosova should deal with. Keeping in mind the schedule provided by the International Community for the beginning of resolution of the status of Kosova, undoubtedly citizens do consider this to by as one of the most urgent issues for the Government of Kosova. Although this problem seem to be very close with the problem of unemployment (26% undefined status of Kosova, 28% unemployment), again, unemployment seems to be the main concern of the ordinary Kosovan citizen – which should urgently fit into the agenda of the newly formed Government.

Most Urgent Issues for the Kosovo Government

As for the approval of leaders in Kosova, their current ranking according to respondents’ answers looks like this:   1. Bajram Rexhepi 5. Ramush Haradinaj     2. Agim Çeku 6. Hashim Thaçi     3. Nexhat Daci 7. Soren Jessen Petersen     4. Ibrahim Rugova 8. Veton Surroi   Respondents’ answers reveal that the leaders who have slightly increased their approval rate are President Rugova, Prime Minister Haradinaj and General Agim Çeku. Approval rate of the Head of the Assembly Daci and of the ex-Prime Minister Rexhepi remains almost the same, although there is a slight decrease. Further, Thaçi and Surroi have a decreased approval rate.