Arsic: Law on Foreigners worries teachers and students, University continuously points to the consequences

The Rector of the University of Pristina temporarily based in Kosovska Mitrovica, Nebojsa Arsic, emphasized that employees and students at the university are concerned about the announced implementation of the Law on Foreigners, since a large number of them do not possess Kosovo documents, and that the implementation of this law would pose a major problem for the entire Serbian community.

Rector Arsic told Kosovo Online that the University in North Mitrovica is one of the pillars of Serbian society in Kosovo, and that imposing a regime that would prevent the University from operating represents a serious problem.

“The announced implementation of the law, followed by its postponement for a few months, shows how serious this issue is, especially when it comes to the University. The University is one of the pillars of our society in Kosovo and Metohija and, together with the healthcare system, represents support for our people. Any imposition of a regime that would prevent our University from functioning represents a major problem, not only for the University as a teaching and research institution, but for our entire society. Of course, this has caused great concern among both students and professors for justified reasons, because the provisions of the law foresee restrictive measures regarding the stay of people they consider foreigners, and in such a situation a large number of employees and students at our University would find themselves affected,” Arsic said.

The rector explained that out of 1,100 people employed at the University, 500 do not have Kosovo documents, as well as more than 2,000 students.

“Under that law, they would automatically fall under a regime in which they are considered foreigners and their stay in Kosovo and Metohija would be limited. They would not be able to attend classes, and people would not be able to come to work. That would, in a way, mean the shutdown of our University, and that is why it has caused great concern,” Arsic added.

He stressed that in the previous period the University had done everything to point out the serious consequences that such a decision would have, not only for the University but for the entire Serbian community.

“We have been in constant contact with international representatives, because we are convinced that it depends on them, that without their consent, Pristina will not be able to implement this. I must say that we encountered understanding, so the decision to postpone the implementation of these laws is probably the result of certain talks with them and pointing out the factual situation. We are not inventing anything, nor are we saying anything untrue, but are speaking only about concrete data. We believe that every action and activity must be part of a joint agreement with our authorities,” our interlocutor said.

According to him, postponing the implementation of the Law on Foreigners would mean that the University would continue to function normally, as it has until now.

“Despite all these developments, in recent months we have been working under difficult conditions, but normally. All teaching activities, scientific research activities, projects, and all activities related to students are proceeding normally. Of course there is concern, and we have also had quite a number of people withdraw from the faculty, which is our biggest problem. The question is how this will affect enrollment policy for the next academic year. These are things that greatly concern us and push us, so to speak, to be proactive in this regard and to stay in contact with all actors who decide on this issue,” Rector Arsic said.

He denied claims about the integration of the University into the Kosovo system, as well as its relocation to central Serbia.

“I must also emphasize that the problem is the spread of various disinformation regarding the status of our University, about some kind of integration, relocation of the University, moving it to other cities in Serbia. I must take this opportunity to deny, and I do not know for how many times already, that these are merely rumors and speculation spread by people who do not wish well to our University and our people. We have no official information or confirmation that anything of the sort is being worked on,” Arsic emphasized.