Jevtic: Serb List is stronger than ever, we want to defend Serbian interests through institutions

The Vice President of the Serb List and Mayor of Strpce, Dalibor Jevtic, emphasized that the Serb List has decided to participate in the Kosovo elections because it seeks to serve as a safeguard for the interests of the Serbian people through institutions. He added that Albin Kurti's greatest defeat is that the Serb List, as the political representative of the Serbian people, is now stronger than ever.

"We made the only logical decision at this moment. When we look at all the attacks on Serbs, the latest incident in the Kosovo Assembly, where Serbian MPs were unacceptably barred from attending the session, it is clear that Albin Kurti does not want Serbs in institutions or in Kosovo. We have an obligation, due to the support of the Serbian people, to participate in the elections, win, and secure all 10 mandates to prevent Kurti from installing his own Serbs to control," Jevtic explained to RTS.

He said that Kurti has brought his Serbs into the government—people who are ethnically Serbian in name but implement only his policies.

"We must find a way to protect the rights and interests of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija through institutions. That is what we want. Whether we will be able to implement our policies is uncertain. Nonetheless, we want to serve as a safeguard for the interests of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija through institutions. Representatives in positions designated for Serbs must have the support of the citizens, not be handpicked by Kurti. That is why we have chosen to be part of the electoral process," Jevtic said.

He stated that the Serb List expects to win all 10 mandates, especially given the situation in which Serbs in Kosovo face more difficulties under Kurti's government, which has done almost everything to implement the Self-Determination Party's policy—to expel Serbs and make them feel unsafe.

"Regarding the Albanian community, it seems that Kurti is showing nervousness ahead of the elections, provoking incidents on the ground to gain greater support through these provocations," Jevtic emphasized.

He pointed out that the Serb List is facing a tough task but believes that, with the support of its state, it can achieve its goals—ensuring the survival of Serbs, enabling a dignified life for the Serbian people, and restoring normalcy so that scenes of armed individuals patrolling near schools and kindergartens in the north are no longer visible.

When asked whether he expects Serb List MPs to be allowed back into parliament after the elections, Jevtic expressed doubt, noting that if Self-Determination continues to lead the Assembly, it will likely persist in its current policies.

"But no one can stop us. The image of Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca barring Serbs from sitting in the Assembly sends a message to all Serbs: 'We don’t want you here.' Our message will be: 'Not only will we be here, but there will be more of us,'" Jevtic said.

He highlighted that Serbs respond to all challenges and incidents with a message of resilience: they will not give up on life in Kosovo.

"Recently, at the celebration in the Visoki Decani Monastery, we had more attendees than ever before, around 5,000 to 6,000 people. This is the message of the Serbian people," Jevtic stressed.

When asked how he views the lack of response from the international community regarding the expulsion of Serbian MPs from the Kosovo Assembly, he said it is concerning.

"I have often spoken with representatives of the international community who urge us to participate in institutions. I am the Mayor of Strpce, and I make decisions that Pristina ignores. They seize buildings and property from Serbs. When we in Strpce refuse to give up a property crucial to us, like the Stojkova House, Pristina threatens us, saying we will be held accountable," Jevtic pointed out.

He said that in discussions with international representatives, he often asks whether they want Serbs in institutions just to claim that these institutions are multiethnic.

"We will not be in institutions to follow dictates from Pristina but only to represent the voice of the people. The lack of response from the international community is worrying. What Konjufca did is a form of fascism. They always react to the slightest incident involving Serbs, yet remain silent when Serbian MPs are expelled, when provocations occur in Gracanica, when our people are arrested for license plates reading 'Kosovo is Serbia,' while Kurti publicly declares that 'Kosovo is Albania,'" Jevtic concluded.

He added that he knows the period leading up to the February 9 elections will be difficult and reiterated that Kurti's greatest defeat is that the Serb List, as the political representative of the Serbian people, is stronger than ever.

Regarding the attack on the Ibar-Lepenac canal, Jevtic says it was exclusively in Kurti's interest.

"When you have a situation where it benefits only one regime, it’s clear where the wind is blowing from. Of course, there is no evidence or answers. Last Saturday, Kurti said it was the weekend and that there was no evidence yet. You have a terrorist act, and you don’t have investigation results just because it’s the weekend? Who are you fooling?" Jevtic asked.

He further stated that it is well-known that Serbs are not behind this attack, especially since Kurti attempted to portray it as being orchestrated by official Belgrade. This is part of Kurti’s ongoing narrative to depict Kosovo as Ukraine and Serbia as Russia, aiming to provoke an international response.

"It will be proven that neither the Serbs nor official Belgrade are behind this, but only the regime in Pristina, whose goal is to create a situation where the Serb List is declared a terrorist organization and to place Belgrade in a more difficult position in the international arena. This would allow Kurti to send troops to the north and ride that momentum to win the elections," Jevtic said confidently.

He emphasized the importance of the Serb List participating in the upcoming election process in Kosovo, adding that Kurti dismisses any Serbs who refuse to follow his directives.

As an example, Jevtic cited the recent dismissal of the Board of Directors in Brezovica because it opposed the allocation of property to Albanians.

"This is yet another reason why we must be part of the electoral process and ensure that we have legal and legitimate representatives of the Serbian people," Jevtic concluded.