Elek: Pressure on Serbs continues, clear message behind Kosovo-Albania-Croatia military alliance

The president of the Serb List, Zlatan Elek, stated that the formation of a military alliance between Albania, Croatia, and Kosovo sends a clear message to those who are realistic and responsible.

"I regret that some of our citizens in central Serbia are not aware that we are under intense attack from those who would like Serbia to disappear and for Serbs to vanish—not just from Kosovo and Metohija, but also from the Republic of Srpska, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. The militarization of the Western Balkans has always brought problems and misfortunes. That is why we need stability in the country and further strengthening, to deter those who think Serbia is an easy target," Elek said in an interview with Kurir.

He pointed out that pressure on the Serbian people has not ceased, and the final days of Albin Kurti’s government have been marked, like the previous four years, by physical and institutional mistreatment of Serbs.

Elek recalled a recent incident in which three Serbian boys and one Bosniak boy were beaten by Kurti's police.

"These were 14-year-old children who were brutally arrested without notifying either their parents or a lawyer, all under the 'watchful eye' of EULEX officers who are supposed to monitor the work of the Kosovo police. These days, our hospitality businesses are being harassed, their food is being confiscated, and every effort is being made to make their operations more difficult, affecting the livelihoods of dozens of families. The persecution of everything Serbian has not stopped," Elek emphasized.

Speaking about the results of the parliamentary elections, he reiterated that the  Serb List securing nine out of ten seats allocated to the Serbian community was the result of political engineering orchestrated by Albin Kurti.

"Kurti, after conspiring with Nenad Rasic to infiltrate Serbian institutions, provided him with unlimited financial resources and full support from Pristina, and ultimately even handed him Albanian votes—making Rasic nothing more than Kurti’s MP, illegitimately usurping a mandate meant for the Serbian people," Elek stated.

He added that even Kurti’s officials now admit that Rasic is not a Serbian MP, which, according to Elek, only highlights the arrogance and autocracy of the Kosovo government.

"The Serbian people sent a clear message by choosing the Serb List as their representative in parliament. Despite Pristina’s attempts to ban or silence us, we have shown—together with our people—that we will not allow them to erase us from these lands. We will fight even harder for our children and our future here," Elek said.

Regarding the formation of Kosovo's new government, Elek emphasized that the Serb List has always been and will remain a stronghold for defending Serbian interests.

"Our decisions will always be guided by the interests of our people. That is why we were a thorn in the side of Kurti’s regime and also of certain individuals among the Serbian community who, throughout the campaign, attacked only the  Serb List while saying nothing about Kurti," he said.

According to Elek, the process of forming the new government is being delayed by legal appeals filed by Self-Determination, which, in his view, are merely a tactic to prolong Kurti’s time in power.

Elek expressed hope for significant changes in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue but stressed that no miracles are needed—only the implementation of already signed agreements, particularly the creation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM).

"Kurti avoids this issue like the devil avoids the cross, and European representatives are not behaving any better," Elek remarked, adding that he hopes the new U.S. administration will have more understanding for the suffering of the Serbian people and the violations of their fundamental rights.

Regarding his meeting with the new EU special envoy for dialogue, Peter Sørensen, Elek described it as an introductory discussion.

"He was aware of some of the problems Serbs face, but not all. Along with my colleagues, I pointed out the systematic persecution of Serbs by Kurti’s regime, from physical and psychological violence to economic harassment. We expressed our expectation that Sørensen remains neutral and ensures that signed agreements are respected. The Community of Serb Municipalities has been awaited for 12 years—it is a stain on the EU’s reputation as the guarantor of those agreements," Elek concluded.

When asked about the European Parliament’s decision to open its Western Balkans office in Tirana, Elek stated that it is evident that European officials struggle to accept Serbia as an independent, sovereign state.

"In today’s Europe, Serbia’s rapid development and strengthening under President Aleksandar Vucic are not forgiven. He is leading the only correct policy—one that puts Serbia, the Serbian people, and all Serbian citizens first, rather than serving the interests of other countries," Elek concluded.