Jankovic to "Junge Freiheit": Pristina mocks the European Union

Serbs in Kosovo are in a very difficult position, unlike any other people in Europe, highlighted Snežana Jankovic, the Serbian Ambassador to Germany, noting that Pristina ignores the international community’s warnings and continues with its violent actions, thus necessitating a much more decisive response.

Speaking to the German weekly "Junge Freiheit" Jankovic emphasized that after the recent violent closure of more than 30 Serbian institutions, Serbs have been left without basic civic services, and 9,500 of them without income.

"Unfortunately, the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija are in a very difficult position, unlike any nation in Europe. After the last violent closure of over 30 Serbian institutions, Serbs have been left without basic civic services, and 9,500 are without income. Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are constantly exposed to attacks and threats to their basic rights and freedoms, which generally go unpunished and unnoticed by the international community," explained the ambassador.

Asked whether this latest move by Pristina was an exception, she said that, unfortunately, it was not the case, and that the repression of Serbs is a constant policy of Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

"Pristina's goal is an ethnically pure Kosovo, where there will be no Serbs. In the last four years, nearly 600 ethnically motivated attacks on Serbs have been recorded, with over 200 last year alone, leading to 20 percent of Serbs leaving Kosovo," Jankovic stated.

On whether the EU responded to the closure of Serbian institutions, the ambassador reminded that the Union condemned it and emphasized that the status of Serbian institutions must be resolved only through dialogue, and that Pristina's actions are contrary to this.

"Unfortunately, EU statements have so far proven ineffective. A more decisive reaction from the international community is needed," Jankovic asserted.

Asked about a possible boycott of the upcoming elections by the Serb List, she said that Pristina is trying in every way to eliminate the Serb List from political life in Kosovo.

"For example, representatives of the Serb List have been excluded from election committees. This intends to exclude the Serbian community from the decision-making process in Kosovo and Metohija," the ambassador pointed out.

On the role of KFOR in ensuring stability, she reminded that Serbia maintains very good cooperation with this mission.

"The presence of KFOR is of great significance to us, also because it ensures the safety of Serbs and Serbian cultural heritage. However, we would like to see KFOR act much more actively in preventing intimidation actions and threats to the Serbian population," Jankovic emphasized.

Regarding the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, she expressed regret that the dialogue cannot progress if the other side refuses to actively participate.

"While Serbia has implemented all its obligations from the Brussels Agreement, Pristina has been refusing to form the Community of Serbian Municipalities for 11 years, which it committed to by signing the agreement. Thus, Pristina mocks the EU as the guarantor of the Agreement," Jankovic underlined.

On the issue related to the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina as a precondition for EU membership, she pointed out that five EU member states do not recognize the unilaterally declared and unlawful independence of Kosovo.

"Normalization of relations must be sought within the frameworks of international law and principles of respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of internationally recognized states," the ambassador underscored.

Regarding the relations between Serbs and Albanians, she noted that historically they have been complex, which has not prevented people from building personal relationships.

"Unfortunately, Pristina's measures contribute to further mistrust. Not even two percent of the Serbs who fled from Kosovo and Metohija during the nineties have returned. They too are faced with threats and destruction of their property," conveyed Jankovic.

Asked about the countries that have recognized Kosovo and how it affects the relationship with Serbia, the ambassador pointed out that a larger number of countries that have recognized Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence are in Europe and North America.

"In other parts of the world, the number of countries doing so is decreasing. More and more countries in Asia, Africa, and South America realize that this represents a very dangerous precedent that undermines international law and global security," she explained.

Asked about the scenarios for possible normalization of relations in the coming years, she said it is difficult to give estimates.

"Normalization of relations should be carried out under the conditions of civilized dialogue and mutual trust. In Serbia's opinion, the international community should finally exert a strong influence on Pristina to return to the dialogue," she emphasized.

Regarding the position of Serbia, which according to the Carnegie Foundation "has a hybrid autocratic-democratic government that wants to join the EU but does not impose sanctions on Russia," she decisively rejected such a description of the Government of Serbia.

"The Government of Serbia is democratic and its strategic goal is EU membership. Sanctions, however, are a punitive measure that is justified only in the UN system, which Serbia respects, and it also considers its own painful experience with nearly a decade of sanctions in the nineties. Expecting support for Serbia's position regarding Kosovo and Metohija in the UN Security Council is part of our policy based on principles and grounded in international law," Jankovic stated.

Regarding sanctions imposed on NIS, she pointed out that these measures cause significant problems for Serbia, which cannot be easily resolved.

"We will try to resolve them in an honest dialogue with both Washington and Moscow in the best possible way and in the best interest of Serbia," she underlined.

Asked to comment on protests against lithium mining in Serbia, she said that last year there were demonstrations against the proposed lithium mining project, but that the Government of Serbia has taken its citizens' concerns very seriously.

"The government is doing everything to ensure the safe execution of this project, in cooperation with Germany and the EU, primarily taking into account the protection of the environment and the health of its citizens," concluded Ambassador Jankovic.