Milovic: We expect new attacks from Kurti’s regime, unity and solidarity of the people are needed more than ever

The policy of Albin Kurti has, for years, aimed at the complete occupation of northern Kosovo and the closure of Serbian institutions. Considering that he performed poorly in most municipalities in the local elections, we can expect further obstruction and pressure, Vice President of the Serb List Dragisa Milovic said in an interview for Novosti, emphasizing that the unity and solidarity of the people are now more necessary than ever.

“When it comes to the policy of Albin Kurti and his regime, we have always said that anything is possible, and we are rightly concerned about what tomorrow may bring for us, the Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija. His policy over all these years has essentially represented the occupation of the north, closing Serbian institutions, building police bases and stations instead of creating new jobs for young people, solving social problems, and improving the lives of all citizens. Given that Kurti performed poorly in most municipalities in the local elections, it’s certain that we can expect further obstruction and pressure, such as the recent incursion of so-called KSF soldiers into North Mitrovica,” said Milovic, who, as the Serb List’s candidate for mayor of Zvecan, won a landslide victory with more than 85 percent of the vote.

Milovic thanked all his fellow citizens, candidates for councilors and mayors, for what he called an outstanding result in the local elections, where the Serb List won in all ten Serb-majority municipalities. In nine of them, Serb List candidates won in the first round, while a second round will be held in Klokot.

He noted that the support of the state of Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic, and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija was extremely significant.

“Despite the constant pressure on our people and the Serb List by the provisional institutions in Pristina, we have shown unity, political maturity, and determination to remain on our ancestral land and to strengthen the unbreakable bond with our motherland, Serbia,” Milovic emphasized.

Can the return of the Serb List to power at the local level stop Kurti’s silent ethnic cleansing of Serbs and the apparent intent to seize hospitals and schools in Kosovo and Metohija?

The return of the Serb List to the Serb-majority municipalities, especially in the four northern ones, has restored faith and hope among our citizens that they have a future in the place where they were born. Our compatriots south of the Ibar have also preserved their municipalities and shown that together we can achieve anything. We must do everything to stop the silent ethnic cleansing carried out by Kurti’s regime, which has been particularly evident in the north, where, over the past several years, nearly 20 percent of our fellow citizens have left their homes due to constant pressure and arrests.

Unfortunately, most of the international community, aside from occasional statements, does not react to the institutional violence and discrimination against Serbs. Almost all institutions of the state of Serbia in these areas have been shut down by the provisional institutions in Pristina, except for healthcare and education. That is why victory in the local elections is crucial, so that the implementation of the Brussels Agreement and the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities can continue.

What will be the first steps of the new local authorities in Zvecan?

Immediately after the formation of the new Assembly, we must review all decisions made by the illegitimate mayor and local parliament. Any decisions harmful to our citizens will be annulled.

Also, given that Zvecan has been stagnating in darkness for the past three years, we will begin addressing numerous accumulated infrastructure problems. The first step will be to open the municipality to its citizens and, together, in the period ahead, restore to Zvecan the shine it once had, the one it truly deserves.

You have filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court regarding the election of Nenad Rasic as Deputy Speaker of the Assembly in Pristina, representing the Serbian community. What outcome do you expect?

As we have already said, this is not merely a matter of one seat in the Assembly, it is about respecting the right of the Serbian people to choose their own representatives and to have adequate representation in institutions. We are aware that Albin Kurti’s regime forcibly installed Rasic both as a Member of Parliament and as Deputy Speaker, but constitutionally guaranteed rights must be respected. That is why we expect the Constitutional Court to act urgently on this matter and to protect the rights of the Serbian people.

Pristina persistently presents Rasic as the legitimate representative of the Serbs, even though in these local elections the candidates of his “Freedom, Justice, and Survival” party suffered a debacle, managing to win only around a hundred votes in most areas?

It has been proven that, despite Kurti’s support, Rasic is not a legitimate representative of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. These local elections have demonstrated that most clearly. Despite the large financial resources and subsidies Rasic offered, citizens clearly showed whom they trust, they gave their confidence to the candidates and mayors of the Serb List. His party and its candidates suffered a complete defeat in all Serb-majority municipalities.

The Serb List also received overwhelming support in North Mitrovica, where as many as seven Serbian lists competed. Is unity now more necessary than ever?

The unity and solidarity of our people are more necessary now than ever before. The best example of that is the elections in Gracanica, North Mitrovica, and other Serb-majority municipalities. In Gracanica, the Albanian parties united against the Serb List, even though they cannot reach agreement among themselves in the Assembly in Pristina. The Serbian people recognized this, they demonstrated unity and placed their trust in the mayor and councilors of the Serb List.

This unity is essential in the period ahead, in a time full of challenges, with possible new extraordinary parliamentary elections. The unity and support of our motherland, Serbia, remain the greatest guarantee that we will survive and remain on our ancestral land.