Elek: Kurti sees Serb List as the greatest threat because it is the bulwark of the survival of Serbs in Kosovo

Zlatan Elek, President of the Serb List, stated that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his Self-Determination Movement view the Serb List as their greatest political opponent, knowing they cannot manipulate its members. This, he said, is why Kurti has tried to prevent the party from participating in elections.

"Kurti has once again attempted to block the Serb List from participating in the February 9 elections. He sees the Serb List as his greatest political opponent because it is composed of people he cannot manipulate. As long as he and his like-minded allies attack us, we know we are on the right path," Elek told RTS in response to Self-Determination's latest complaint against the CEC's decision to certify the Serb List.

Elek emphasized that the Serb List is the bulwark of Serbian survival in Kosovo, making it Kurti’s greatest perceived threat. Kurti will do everything to prevent its participation in elections.

When asked what he expects after the elections, Elek replied that changes in the international community, such as Donald Trump’s return to power in the US, Kurti’s weakening, and securing all 10 parliamentary seats allocated to the Serbian community in the Kosovo Assembly, could enable the Serb List to prevent Kurti from adopting laws harmful to the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church.

"Our goal is to stop Kurti from installing his 'Serbs,' to retain the 10 seats in the hands of the Serbian people. This way, we can prevent the unification of Kosovo and Albania, the banning of the Serbian language, and the endangerment of protected zones around monasteries such as Gracanica, Visoki Decani, the Church of the Mother of God of Ljevis, and others," Elek said.

He added that the 48 candidates of the Serb List represent the best of the Serbian people across Kosovo.

"These include distinguished professors, deans, judges, and doctors. Dragisa Milovic, a respected orthopedist and deputy director of KBC, with the most extensive political experience, is one of the most esteemed Serbian politicians in Kosovo and Metohija. Ljiljana Stevanovic, a judge respected by the Serbian community, has committed herself to the people. Tanja Vujovic, dean of the Faculty of Economics, and Professor Srdjan Milosavljevic, along with former MPs who are proven fighters for Serbian rights in Kosovo and Metohija," Elek noted.

The list also includes Dragica Gasic, the only Serbian woman living in Djakovica.

"She is a true Serbian heroine of the 21st century, battling health issues while demonstrating courage and perseverance in fighting for Serbian rights in Kosovo and Metohija. Her only wish is to live in her apartment, but she endures pressure from local authorities and NGOs seeking to evict her from Djakovica. Local Albanians refuse to sell her bread, let alone grant her other rights," Elek said.

When asked who he expects support from, Elek replied, "From the Serbian people."

"We expect Serbs to channel their unity, harmony, and wisdom into positive energy and support the Serb List, the only party recognized by Serbia and President Aleksandar Vučić," Elek said.

Regarding President Vucic’s statement about two major countries possibly withdrawing their recognition of Kosovo, Elek stated that this demonstrates Serbia has not abandoned its fight for Kosovo.

As he added, Vucic managed to bring the Kosovo issue back onto the international stage, despite many claiming it was a "done deal."

"This gives us further encouragement to think about survival and staying here and to see that Serbia stands with us," Elek said.

Describing the start of 2025 for Serbs in Kosovo, Elek reported that it began with pressure, citing an example where the Djokic family’s auxiliary buildings were burned, and much of their property was destroyed.

"Once again, we received the message that we are not welcome, that Serbs are not wanted in Kosovo and Metohija," Elek said.

He also noted that there was no organized New Year’s celebration in Serbian areas, either north or south of the Ibar River.

"Serbs want to forget 2024 as soon as possible, a year remembered for Kurti’s regime’s abnormal repression and pressure. We hope 2025 will be a better year for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija," Elek stated.

Discussing the daily life of Serbs, he emphasized that during Kurti’s government, more than 500 ethnically motivated attacks on Serbs were recorded across Kosovo.

"Additionally, for four years, no Serbian press has been delivered, textbooks have been confiscated, and we travel for hours to central Serbia to collect salaries and pensions. Medicine and food supplies are restricted, and we live in a ghetto, surrounded by hundreds of heavily armed Kosovo special forces," Elek said.

Regarding the situation at the Clinical Hospital Center "Kosovska Mitrovica," the institution he leads, Elek stated that Serbia’s Ministry of Health and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija are making great efforts to ensure normal working conditions.

Highlighting challenges with medical supplies and equipment, he reminded that the Clinical Hospital Center was targeted multiple times by Kosovo special forces last year.

"We experienced two raids on the Clinical Hospital Center premises and over 700 instances of ambulance interceptions, with patients, doctors, and medical staff harassed during transport. To this day, our video surveillance cameras seized from the entrances have not been returned, nor has the material damage from the raids been compensated. We haven’t even seen written justification for the raids on the Clinical Hospital Center premises," Elek concluded.