Jevtic: Attacks on Serbs and Serb List will intensify until the end of the campaign

Dalibor Jevtic, the vice president of Serb List, stated that the Serbian people in Kosovo have never expected, nor do they expect, anything good from Albin Kurti, as he is vehemently trying to prevent the participation of Serb List in the electoral process. Jevtic is convinced that attacks on the Serbian people and Serb List will intensify by the end of the electoral campaign.

In an interview with Kurir, Jevtic described Kurti as an ethno-nationalist who is implementing a policy of ethnic cleansing of the Serbian people in Kosovo.

"In normal societies, in the 21st century after four years of governance, those in power would be opening new roads, showcasing economic, social policy, and investment achievements during their electoral campaign. However, Kurti has no results in any of these areas and only offers his voters the ethnic cleansing of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija," Jevtic observed.

Reminding that Kurti's first message on the first day of the electoral campaign was that he "has police and military for the Serbs," Jevtic stated that this message did not scare the Serbs, but it represents another "slap" by Kurti to the international community, as does, he adds, the action of closing buildings housing Serbian institutions—a message to the international community that he can do whatever he wants, dictatorially implementing an ethno-nationalistic policy.

On the other hand, he emphasizes that the state of Serbia and official Belgrade always stand with their people, and that President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, have clearly stated that none of the employees of the closed institutions will lose their salaries.

"Not only that, the state of Serbia will be opening even more new jobs in the coming period, providing financial and other support to the Serbian people and all loyal citizens of Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija. These are concrete steps and the best response at this moment from Belgrade. Kurti can close buildings, but institutions are made up of people. Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are the state of Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija," Jevtic clarified.

Regarding international condemnations, he says they are welcome, but more than words of condemnation are needed, as it has been shown that no statement, condemnation, or direct message from either American officials or the international community in general, has prevented Kurti from carrying out actions aimed at expelling the Serbian people.

"I do not expect any concrete measures at this moment, at least not until January 20 and the arrival of the new administration headed by Donald Trump in Washington. I think Kurti knows this, which is why he is somewhat nervous and in a hurry to cause as much damage as possible to the Serbs and Serb List and to boost his own political rating," said Jevtic, who is also the mayor of Strpce.

He reiterates that the Serbs in Kosovo have never expected, nor do they expect, anything good from Albin Kurti.

"I have no doubt that until the end of the electoral campaign, attacks on the Serbian people, and thus on Serb List, will become stronger, and that he will use all methods not only to prevent Serb List from winning all 10 mandates but to help his prompter and favorite, Nenad Rasic, who helps Kurti realize his dream called 'Greater Albania', to snatch a mandate so that Kurti can continue to talk about some multi-ethnic Kosovo and fairy tales about how the Serbs respect him citing the example of this one failed gambler who has gathered some Serbs around him who for petty personal interest work against the interests of the Serbian people and against the state of Serbia," Jevtic stated.

Asked about the expected outcome, he responds that Serb List will be the election winner within the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija.

"Despite all challenges and pressures, all these dirty games, manipulations, and lies by Albin Kurti and Nenad Rasic, the Serbian people will prevail. Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija trust only their state Serbia and President Vucic who supports only Serb List and therefore only Serb List will win," Jevtic asserted.

He noted that they in Serb List are aware that it will be difficult until February 9, not just through the campaign, to respond to all attacks on the party, and that even on election day itself, there will be dirty tricks attempting to steal votes for Serb List, but he emphasizes that they are determined to defend their future, survival, and return through democratic means in this political process.

Dalibor Jevtic expressed that securing all 10 mandates in the Kosovo Assembly is a critical first step towards freeing the north of Kosovo and Metohija from those currently terrorizing the Serbian population. The subsequent step will be the local elections that are to occur this autumn. Therefore, he clearly states, "It will be clear again. The clearing begins with a significant victory for the Serb List on February 9. Every Serbian man and woman with voting rights in Kosovo and Metohija must understand that the February 9 elections are for the Serbian people and the Serb List, and against Kurti. It is crucial that everyone goes out to vote, not to back down under any pressure or blackmail, and proudly cast their vote for the Serb List. Any other decision, whether it is to stay at home that day or to vote for Rasic or other options, is a vote for Kurti. And if anyone tells you otherwise, just look at who is attacking the Serb List and the state of Serbia today—the same sentences, the same narrative, whether from Kurti, from Rasic, but also from other options. They all unite against us because we are the ones who protect the interests of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija," highlighted Jevtic.

Asked whether the arrival of the new U.S. administration under President Trump will affect positive developments regarding Kosovo, he responds that the impression is that the whole world is "waiting," in which the Serbs in Kosovo are no exception, and there are high expectations for changes concerning Kosovo. However, he notes that America will not alter its general stance towards Kosovo.

"We must be aware that there is a lot of work ahead of us and that the good relations President Vucic has with people close to President Trump must be smartly channeled to achieve positive advancements through future diplomatic activities regarding Kosovo and Metohija. This task will not be simple or easy, but there is certainly optimism that things will change and that no one in Pristina will be able to ignore Washington as they currently do," Jevtic believes.

He opines that there will be progress in the implementation of all agreements reached, including the final formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

"Given that Richard Grenell will also address the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, and the fact that this American diplomat is well-acquainted with the situation here, there won't be much time lost in concrete actions within the dialogue process. This does not mean that everything that comes up as a proposal or topic will always be completely on the side of Serbia and the Serbs. We must be ready for some compromises, but fundamentally, the most important thing is to establish peace, stability, and to finally stop those like Kurti who want conflicts at any cost," concluded Jevtic.