Jevtic: Kurti will do nothing to form the CSM, but will continue to put pressure on Serbs

The Mayor of Strpce and Vice President of the Serb List, Dalibor Jevtic, points out that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti will not do anything regarding the Community of Serb Municipalities, despite appeals from the international community for Pristina to urgently and immediately begin its formation. This is especially true, he believes, because it would jeopardize his political position ahead of the upcoming elections in Kosovo.

“I do not expect Pristina to do anything about this, taking into account our experiences from the not-so-distant past. The fact is that on February 9, parliamentary elections are scheduled in Kosovo. Does anyone really think in Brussels that Albin Kurti will do something like this before the elections, which would further put him in a worse position?” Jevtic said in an interview with Euronews.

Although it is expected that Kurti’s party will win the elections, Jevtic adds, the Kosovo prime minister is not strong enough to form the future government of Kosovo on his own.

According to him, this is exactly why Kurti will do nothing regarding the Community of Serb Municipalities. On the contrary, he will make moves that are contrary to all recommendations from the international community, relating to de-escalation and a different approach when it comes to northern Kosovo.

Jevtic emphasizes that due to such behavior and the endangerment of Serbs, Kosovo is facing EU sanctions, which, he assesses, will probably not be lifted.

Jevtic is not optimistic that Pristina will take steps towards the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, even though the Quint countries have issued an appeal.

“This is not the first time. We have already heard these calls. If I mention just a few of the meetings we, as representatives of Serbs, had with representatives of the international community, we have heard multiple times over the past few years that ‘the Community of Serb Municipalities will be formed, we guarantee it, with or without Kurti.’ However, we have fallen into an increasingly worse situation and an increasingly worse position for Serbs. I really have no expectations until the parliamentary elections are held and until a new administration is established in Washington,” the Serb List Vice President said.

Regarding the sending of the draft statute of the Community of Serb Municipalities to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, Jevtic believes that this request is simply buying time and avoiding the obligation to form the Community.

“No one from Belgrade has gone to Brussels to negotiate with Pristina over something that is already enshrined in the laws and Constitution of Kosovo. There, negotiations are about what additional steps can be taken for the position and life of Serbs, to create institutional mechanisms to protect Serbs in Kosovo. This process of sending the draft statute to the Constitutional Court will only buy more time for someone and give Pristina an excuse not to implement it and never form the Community of Serb Municipalities,” Jevtic emphasized.

He reminded that it was agreed in Brussels that Kosovo would align its legislation with the signed agreement on the Community of Serb Municipalities and that the Kosovo Assembly ratified the Brussels Agreement with a two-thirds majority.

“For us, the Community of Serb Municipalities is a vital, not a political issue, while for Pristina, all of this is political. And I repeat, especially when it comes to Albin Kurti, he would abolish even the little rights we have through the existing laws in Kosovo,” Jevtic noted.

Speaking about the participation of the Serb List in the February 9 elections, Jevtic emphasizes that Serbs within Kosovo institutions must have their legitimate representatives, who will advocate for the rights of the Serbian people.

He stresses that the connection and support from Belgrade are crucial for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo.

“That connection is something that Serbs should support, and it is important for Serbia to continue providing help and support to the Serbian people, which is not easy at all,” Jevtic concluded.