Drecun: Pristina demonstrates its disregard for the Brussels Agreement

Pristina demonstrated its attitude toward the freedom of movement provisions of the Brussels Agreement by carrying out the largest mass arrests to date at Gazimestan during the Vidovdan commemoration, Serbian parliamentary Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs Chairman Milovan Drecun said, adding that the intimidation of Serbs is linked to the forthcoming verdict in The Hague.

Speaking to RTS, Drecun said that pressure and intimidation against Serbs wishing to visit Gazimestan on Vidovdan, one of the most important Serbian holidays, has been increasing year after year.

"You cannot go to Gazimestan without a sense of national identity and patriotic songs. Pristina would prefer Serbs to go there carrying 'Greater Albania' flags. This was the largest mass arrest operation so far. It was enough to mutter something under your breath if you were Serbian," Drecun said.

He stressed that there had been no incidents or violence and questioned why such a large number of Kosovo police officers and security agents had been deployed.

He described the situation as deeply concerning, adding that while those arrested would most likely face misdemeanor penalties, the primary objective was to intimidate Serbs and discourage them from travelling to Gazimestan in large numbers.

"They are trying to erase every trace of the Serbian presence in Kosovo and Metohija, of which Gazimestan is the greatest symbol. Pristina wants to do what was done during Ottoman rule—to prevent Serbs from marking Vidovdan," Drecun said.

He also described the role of the international presence in Kosovo as highly intriguing, referring to the United States' reaction, which he characterized as shocking because it merely called on all parties to respect law and order.

"Radical jihadists are roaming Kosovo and Metohija freely, yet no one touches them," Drecun said.
He also referred to EULEX's statement that it had monitored the developments and would subsequently inform the competent authorities, questioning why it had not advised Pristina to deploy only traffic police while EULEX itself monitored the situation on the ground.

Commenting on KFOR's assessment that the security situation in Kosovo is stable, Drecun argued that the situation could only be described as stable if stability meant that Serbs remained silent and endured the circumstances.

"The main problem lies in KFOR's interpretation of its mandate. Under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, KFOR is the only armed force in Kosovo responsible for ensuring the safety of everyone, particularly the Serb population. KFOR's interpretation of its mandate is problematic and cannot be reconciled with the Resolution when it describes itself as merely the third security responder," Drecun explained.

According to Drecun, Albin Kurti is using the intimidation of Serbs to win support, particularly among younger generations in Kosovo and within the diaspora, and this is connected to the expected verdict that the court in The Hague will soon deliver against former KLA leaders.

He said the expectation is that the actions of the KLA will be legally characterized as a joint criminal enterprise.

"That is what hurts Pristina the most. Anticipating the verdict, they are trying to conceal it through terror against the Serbs," Drecun said.

Asked whether he expected a guilty verdict, Drecun replied that such an outcome was inevitable unless the court came under significant political pressure.

"The evidence presented during the trial was extremely strong. It established that the KLA did not consist of several separate, uncoordinated groups. Thanks to the documentation we submitted, its hierarchical command structure was proven. What troubles Kurti the most is that numerous crimes committed by the KLA against Albanians have also been documented," Drecun concluded.