Djuric: An ideology that sees Serbs as an inferior group that should be expelled is still present

Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Djuric, stated today, on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo, that Serbia believes in cooperation but remembers what happened and does not forget that there are still tendencies to appropriate and endanger Serbian Christian heritage in various ways. He warned that not only has no one been held accountable for the crimes, but that an ideology which sees Serbs as part of the problem is still present in political life.

“Today is a very difficult day for Serbs because we remember that 22 years ago, an unprecedented pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija began. In just a few hours, hundreds of our villages were burned, dozens of churches and monasteries were destroyed, and 4,000 to 5,000 of our compatriots were expelled from their homes, from their centuries-old hearths. Eight Serbs lost their lives, and many were injured,” Djuric recalled.

The head of Serbian diplomacy said that 22 years later, not only has no one been held accountable for these crimes, but an ideology that sees Serbs as part of the problem, as some kind of inferior group that should be expelled, is still present in political life.

“We believe in the exact opposite of that, in a different future for both Serbs and Albanians, we believe in cooperation, we remember what happened, and we will not forget that there are tendencies to appropriate and endanger our Christian heritage even today in various ways,” Djuric said.

The Minister said he is grateful to Stefania Craxi, chair of the foreign affairs committee of the Italian Senate, who today, at a gathering marking 30 years of the Central European Initiative in Trieste, spoke about the position of the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo, mentioning the Patriarch and the general situation of Serbs.

“I mention this because more and more people around the world understand that a policy in which one people, in this case ours, is subjected to persecution is not acceptable. I think it is good that we continue with diplomatic efforts and dedicated work in order to present our side of the story. Our goal is not to cultivate a victim mentality and build the future on that, but we must raise awareness beyond our borders about what we have gone through,” Djuric emphasized.

He added that if this is not done, others will shape the image of Serbs as perpetrators and themselves as victims, and that this cycle will not be broken.

“It is clear that a tragedy happened to us, that we must turn a new page, remembering our victims and never forgetting the burned churches, monasteries, and all the hatred that was directed against our people, which some are still ready to express today,” the head of Serbian diplomacy pointed out.

Djuric stressed that Serbia is now much more prepared to protect its state and national interests thanks to the policies of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the Government.

He said this could be seen in recent days when one of the worst scenarios for the Serbian people was avoided, namely their administrative expulsion from that area.