Djuric: The presented measures are the beginning of a new era in the fight for the rights of Serbs in Kosovo

Serbia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marko Djuric, stated today that the measures and actions presented by President Aleksandar Vucic are literally the beginning of a new era in the fight for the rights of Serbs in Kosovo and the survival of dialogue.

Speaking to RTS, Djuric pointed out that, for almost two years, Albin Kurti's regime had completely eliminated dialogue as a method for maintaining stability on the ground, even at a basic level.

"We have all become accustomed to intolerable and unacceptable news. Serbs in Kosovo have been wounded seven times by gunfire from the Kosovo Police Special Forces, not to mention the raids on temporary institutions. You can no longer register a newborn child or finalize or dissolve a marriage in Kosovo. Salaries and pensions have been blocked, and we have 86 political prisoners," the minister enumerated.

This is why, he said, the measures presented by the President of Serbia are the most comprehensive package since 1999, with the most far-reaching consequences.

"In a sea of bad news from Kosovo and Metohija, this is finally a piece of good and important news for the Serbs. This means that Serbia will stand behind its people in Kosovo, and it will do so through laws that will begin to punish those responsible for serious human rights abuses against Serbs in Kosovo," Djuric said.

The minister clarified that Serbia does not aim to replace international and local judicial systems but that Serbian judicial authorities will, under the principle of complementarity, "fill all the gaps" where local and international courts fail to punish officials of Kurti's regime for human rights violations against Serbs.

"Yesterday was a black Friday for all those who violate human rights. This doesn't apply only to officials of the Pristina regime and officials involved in human rights violations and torture but also to collaborators, as unfortunately, there are a few individuals from the Serbian community who have been instrumentalized," Djuric noted.

For this purpose, as he says, a special prosecutor’s office and special judicial chambers will be established, in accordance with the highest international standards, with prior public consultations and discussions with international partners.

"This puts pressure on those who want to violate human rights, oppress, and usurp Serbian property," Djuric remarked.

As another key measure, he mentioned the enactment of a law that will declare Kosovo a region of special social protection.

He added that for many years, a form of injustice had existed where some people had been recorded as living in Kosovo while enjoying privileges in central Serbia, which would no longer be the case.

Djuric announced a significant increase in financial support for people in Kosovo who are unemployed and unable to work after the suppression of Serbian institutions, so they can survive, while those who do not live in Kosovo will no longer be able to misuse funds intended for Serbs in Kosovo.

This, he added, will also contribute to greater transparency in the allocation of money for Kosovo.

When asked how difficult it will be to implement all these measures, Djuric noted that President Vucic spoke openly about the current situation yesterday, pointing out the hypocrisy of some people who don’t want to understand how difficult a situation the country finds itself in – a situation it has been dragged into for decades as piece after piece of authority and institutions have been taken away, while some political authorities turned a blind eye and swept the problem under the rug.

"We will not abandon our fight for our people but will intensify it – politically, through investments, and in every possible way," he added.

He also announced an intensification of the diplomatic campaign within the international community, stating that he will have a meeting today with EU and Quint ambassadors.

"We are launching a global diplomatic campaign, and the heads of diplomatic missions in 103 centers have received instructions to present human rights abuses and explain these measures through which Serbia is fighting to preserve dialogue, normalcy, and human rights," Djuric said.

He added that President Vucic, during his visit to New York next week, will have a series of meetings.

"I, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, will also have a series of meetings, and we will spread out to bring the voice of Serbs to the world and show how we are fighting for Serbs and dialogue through these measures," Djuric said.

He reiterated that what Serbia is demanding is nothing beyond the framework of international law and agreements and that it does not want to be deceived or misled.

"When we demand free elections in the north… We cannot remain silent and pretend it is normal for municipalities where 97% of the population are Serbs to be led by Albanians with 0.03% support, and for these to be considered legitimate institutions, while the legitimate institutions of Serbia are supposedly not. Kurti does not even respect his own constitution, which guarantees that there must be Serbs in key government positions, as he appoints puppets," Djuric said.

Serbia’s goal, he emphasized, is to protect the Serbs in Kosovo during this period of unprecedented geopolitical turbulence.

He noted that Serbia’s GDP today is 2.5 times larger than at the time of the signing of the Brussels Agreement and that thanks to this, additional funds can be allocated, and the state can more vigorously support the Serbs in Kosovo.

Djuric reminded that the EU had condemned the Central Bank of Kosovo’s decree, the raid on temporary institutions, the Postal Savings Bank, and the ban on the entry of the SOC Patriarch – but he asked whether this had stopped Kurti.

"It did not," the minister said, adding that this is why measures are necessary to protect the Serbs and deter Kurti from actions that are not in line with any international convention.

"Our borders are not worth less than others'. We are seeking a compromise and a fair solution," Djuric stressed.

He pointed out that Kosovo is a topic of the highest national importance.

"There are a thousand issues on which we can compete in political life. Kosovo and Metohija is a topic around which we should unite because we are facing a political class united around separatists. That is why we need unity, if nothing else, around the protection of human rights. I am confident that we can achieve that goal," Minister Djuric concluded.