Elek: Every vote matters, we are fighting for the survival of the Serbian people

The President of the Serb List, Zlatan Elek, stated that Pristina will receive "the loudest response" at tomorrow's elections to the pressures that, he says, the Serbian people in Kosovo have been subjected to in recent months. He said that the Serb List expects to win all ten seats reserved for the Serbian community, as this is the only way to secure the future of Serbs in Kosovo, Politika reported.

Speaking about the recent detentions of Serbs, including a Serb List activist from Ugljare, as well as the leaders of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic and Ivan Zaporozac, Elek said that these are a continuation of pressure from the authorities in Pristina.

"The nervousness of the regime in Pristina, Albin Kurti and his satellite Rasic, ahead of the June 7 vote is becoming increasingly visible, and that is why they are intensifying pressure on the Serbian people. The detention of Aleksandar Trajkovic, as well as the legally elected leaders of the Municipality of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic and Ivan Zaporozac, who represent the interests of the Serbian people, is a vivid example of how Pristina tramples on all regulations in order to target Serbs. They believe that repression will intimidate our people," Elek said in an interview with Politika.

According to him, during the campaign, the authorities in Pristina focused particularly on northern Kosovo, but also on Serbian communities south of the Ibar River.

"Their obsession in this campaign has been the municipalities in northern Kosovo and Metohija, as well as Serbian communities and respected individuals from central Kosovo, because they know how much support the Serb List enjoys there and how strong our unity is across all Serbian communities. That is why Kurti and his satellites will receive their loudest response precisely on Sunday at the polling stations," the president of the Serb List said.

Commenting on expectations ahead of the elections, Elek stressed that the Serb List expects to win all ten parliamentary seats.

"The Serb List expects all ten seats because that is the only way to preserve the political strength of the Serbian people in Pristina. Could there be attempts at election fraud? Unfortunately, experience teaches us that we must remain cautious. That is why we call on citizens to turn out in as large numbers as possible, because mass support is the best safeguard against any attempt to alter the electoral will of the people. Our observers will be present on voting day wherever possible in order to protect the electoral will of our people, which we have always respected and valued," Elek said.

Responding to assessments that the Serb List's campaign was quieter than in previous years, he said it had been adapted to the current situation facing the Serbian people in Kosovo.

"The Serb List's campaign is clear, direct, and above all based on direct contact. I would not say it is quieter; rather, it is adapted to the seriousness of the moment. The fact is that people are cautious and tired of the pressure, arrests, and repression of Kurti's regime, and we did not want noise, but conversation with the people. This campaign was a campaign of responsibility, unity, and seriousness, and it was fully adapted to every part of Kosovo and Metohija where our people live," Elek emphasized.

Speaking about the arrest of directors of Serbian institutions, he pointed out that the goal of the authorities in Pristina is to weaken the Serbian institutional presence.

"Kurti's regime has already shown that its goal is to weaken Serbian institutions, especially healthcare and education. It attempted this on March 15 as well, but that was thwarted through the diplomacy of our state leadership, us in the Serb List, and with the support of the international community. On the other hand, let me remind you that two days before the arrests, Rasic, at a session of Kurti's government, of which he is a member, publicly called on the regime in Pristina to act and, through his policies, directly brought the Kosovo Police into Serbian educational and healthcare institutions, while our doctors and professors ended up in detention," Elek said.

He added that neither Kurti nor Rasic have anything to offer voters.

"So, Kurti and his favorite, Rasic, have nothing to offer voters except attacks on everything Serbian. Unfortunately, that has so far produced results among Albanian voters. Nevertheless, I believe that will change on Sunday," Elek said.

Regarding the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities, the president of the Serb List said that without it there can be no normal life for Serbs in Kosovo.

"There must be hope for the Community of Serb Municipalities because without the Community there can be neither a normal life for Serbs, nor trust, nor stability. The CSM is not anyone's whim, but an obligation stemming from the Brussels Agreement and a necessity for the Serbian people. For years, Pristina has sought excuses, and the technical mandate is just one in a series of them. The international community must stop accepting excuses and finally insist on the implementation of what has been signed," Elek said.

He added that the Serbian people have waited too long for the fulfillment of the obligations that were undertaken.

"The Serbian people have waited far too long for the implementation of what was signed, and that is why these elections are important. After winning ten municipalities in the October local elections, we now also need genuine representatives of the Serbian people at the central level who will insist on the CSM, rather than those who simply nod along to Kurti's orders, such as the aforementioned Nenad Rasic," Elek said.

Reflecting on the international community's approach to the position of Serbs, Elek said there is widespread distrust among Serbs.

"Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija have good reason not to trust the international community, because for years they have watched their problems go unaddressed or be met only with statements rather than actions. The premises of our institutions are being closed, people are being arrested without grounds, severe penalties are being imposed, administrative barriers are being introduced, and the reactions are either mild or nonexistent. We are not asking for privileges, but for basic human and political rights, and it is the obligation of international representatives to protect those rights," he said.

As he added, there have been situations in which international representatives took a positive stance toward Serbs, but he believes that the lack of reaction to certain moves by Pristina has further deepened distrust.

"Have there been situations in which they took a positive stance toward us? Yes, there have. Nevertheless, we believe that silence in certain situations was met with enthusiasm in Pristina and with bitterness among Serbs. Still, we must continue the struggle, because we do not have the right to give up. This is our land, the land of our forefathers who paid a high price so that we could establish our families here and live on our own land. And that is why there can be no surrender," Elek said.

Speaking about Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's call for Serbs to participate in the elections, Elek said he sees it as a call for unity.

"I see President Aleksandar Vucic's call as a call for unity, responsibility, and a large turnout of Serbs at the polls. Every vote matters, because we are not fighting for seats, but for the survival of our people, for our institutions, schools, hospitals, jobs, and the right to live as masters in our own home. In these difficult times, these elections are an opportunity to secure a better tomorrow for our people," Elek said.

He expects higher voter turnout than in previous elections.

"Personally, I expect higher turnout than in February and December, because the people fully understand the gravity of the moment, and our people have shown that when times are hardest, they are most united," Elek said.

He also called on voters to cast their ballots and demonstrate unity, saying that a vote for the Serb List is a vote for the future of Serbs in Kosovo.

"My message for Sunday is simple: come out, vote, and show unity. We must not allow others to decide on our behalf. A vote for the Serb List is a vote for survival, for Serbia, for our families, for our schools, hospitals, and our future in Kosovo and Metohija. A vote for the Serb List under number 119 is a vote against all those who serve Kurti against the interests of our people. We are Serbs, masters in our own home, and aware that we have no room for mistakes. That is why I want to repeat: we are one heart, one people, one list, only the Serb List under number 119," Serb List President Zlatan Elek said.