Lucic: Pristina’s decision is a further escalation against Serbs, I will fight to overturn it

General Director of Telekom Srbija Vladimir Lucic announced that, with the help of an international team, he will fight against Pristina’s decision to declare him a persona non grata and that he will internationalize the issue. He stressed that the decision represents a further escalation in relations toward Serbs and that his victory, which he is confident of, will be more than a legal victory.

“It is sad that they have declared me a threat to their sovereignty. It is even ridiculous. They made a decision directed at me personally. I will take all legal action and fight it fiercely. This is not just my legal battle against Pristina’s interior minister, who woke up one day and decided that I was a danger to them, even though I have been visiting Kosovo and Metohija for three years. If someone had wanted to resolve this with me, they could have met me in Kosovo and Metohija, but they chose to take this step,” Lucic told RTS.

He pointed out that he is fighting for a third mobile telecommunications licence in Kosovo, which would entail an investment of several hundred million euros and several hundred new jobs.
“My legal victory, which I am convinced will happen, will be a victory for people in the Western Balkans who advocate economic cooperation and new jobs, against those who spread conspiracy theories and try to rule through fear, like that interior minister. I have been coming to Kosovo and Metohija for three years and, when you look at my statements, I have said nothing new,” Lucic said.

He therefore considers Pristina’s decision to be a further escalation against Serbs.

“Obviously, they need a new opponent, so they are trying to make one out of me. The decision shows that they will continue making life difficult for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” Lucic said.

He announced that he would assemble a strong international team and internationalize the fight against Pristina’s decision.

“I will bring diplomats from the United States and Europe onto the team. My victory will be greater than a legal victory. It will be good for the further development of the Western Balkans. That is why I will fight fiercely to overturn this unreasonable decision,” he stressed.

Kosovo’s Ministry of Internal Affairs declared Lucic a persona non grata several days ago, while acting minister Xhelal Svecla explained that the decision was based on statements made by the Telekom Srbija director. The decision came a day after Lucic visited the MTS d.o.o. branch in North Mitrovica and announced new investments.

Lucic said that, unlike the other two operators in Kosovo, the company operates at a profit and announced further investments.

“We will continue with the investments we announced, primarily in fixed-line telecommunications and the construction of two facilities in Parteš within two months, as well as four additional branches in Kosovo. We provide internet and television services to around 30,000 households,” Lucic stressed.

As for mobile telecommunications, he said, the situation is more difficult.

He recalled that under the Brussels Agreement, Telekom Srbija is limited to 29 mobile base stations, which is insufficient to meet the needs of Serbian users.

According to him, the small number of base stations creates reception problems throughout the territory.

“After 14 years, 29 base stations are far too few. We will fight for the third licence, for which the Pristina authorities were obliged to call a tender. They are not doing so because they know we will win,” Lucic stressed.

He also said that the international community must start pressuring Pristina to respect the Brussels Agreement, and that negotiations on new agreements should only begin once existing obligations have been fulfilled.

“We are a threat to their sovereignty because we are demanding that a tender be called for the third licence. Through my legal battle, I will prove that Pristina is violating its own laws with the aim of discriminating against companies from Serbia,” Lucic stressed.

He said that the biggest problem was that the Pristina administration was constantly creating new flashpoints.

“They demolish people’s homes where they have lived for years and then send them the bills for the demolition, making the issue of the third licence seem less urgent. I hope that the simple issue of calling a tender for the third licence, which is in the interest of the population, will finally be addressed, so that we can resolve the mobile telecommunications issue as well,” Lucic said.

Speaking about the strategic dialogue between Serbia and the United States, he expressed satisfaction that cooperation had reached this level, saying that it was important for the company itself as well.

He pointed out that Telekom Srbija has enjoyed the support of the US Export-Import Bank for the development of its 5G network for years. He recalled that he had recently visited Washington, where, he said, he had had exceptionally good talks, not only with representatives of the bank but also at the State Department and the Department of Commerce. He added that the talks focused on the development of artificial intelligence and the readiness of US companies to work with Telekom on development projects.

He announced another visit to the United States at the end of the month, when, he said, he would travel with a detailed document outlining which companies Telekom could work with and exactly which services it could develop.

“Artificial intelligence is a major opportunity for developing countries because, with its help, they can accomplish in 10 years something that would otherwise take 100 years,” Lucic stressed.

He added that the company is working intensively on the development of its 5G network, with the goal of covering all parts of the country, because a 5G network is key infrastructure for the development of artificial intelligence, the use of robots and autonomous vehicles.