Masic: The decision on eviction is inapplicable; the Serbs will not be able to survive by denying their rights

The acting Director of the Center for Social Work from Vucitrn, Suncica Masic, told Kosovo Online that Pristina's decision to evict certain Serbian institutions from the premises in the building in Bosniak Mahala, including that Center, was practically inapplicable, because they were there to provide assistance to the displaced, stressing that this was another decision of Pristina whose goal was to expel the Serbs from Kosovo.

"That decision is inapplicable to us. The Center for Social Work opened an office in Bosniak Mahala precisely so that it could provide support to the displaced Serbs from Vucitrn, the largest number of whom are in Kosovska Mitrovica. And not only them but also to the villagers of Banjska and Gojbulja, for whom Mitrovica is the closest place where they can safely come and exercise their rights in the area of social protection. We are always in a place where we need to provide assistance to citizens," Masic said.

She points out that the employees if they have no other choice, will have to leave the premises, but they will not stop working.

When asked if she feared that the Kosovo Police could use force, Masic replied that it always existed as a possibility, but that the Serbs from Kosovo were not afraid.

"We will not enter into conflicts; that is out of the question. In that case, we will respect that decision, but it means that they left some employees on the street. By throwing them out of their offices, they did not shut down the institutions, they only made them find themselves on the street and that citizens exercise their rights on the street, which as a professional, as a human being, and a Serb woman, I do not consider to be the right way to go," Masic said.

She notes that the Center covers around 120 families with monetary social assistance, as a permanent form of assistance.

"In addition, there are one-time grants, so about 90 families have applied for that type of aid. The Center also provides services to users of the allowance for assistance and care of another person, as well as return aid. All these rights are exercised through the institutions of Serbia, that is, the Center. We also work on family legal protection, and that is why it is unacceptable for us to calmly accept such a decision," Masic said.

She said that this was another in a series of decisions by which Pristina was trying to expel the Serbs from Kosovo because by denying them certain rights, they remained in a position where they could not survive, which, she said, was the goal of the Kosovo institutions.

"However, the state of Serbia is behind us and we can count on it at any moment. I believe that we will find a way not only to resist but also to meet the beneficiaries and provide them with everything they need," Masic said.

She adds that with such a decision, Pristina is trying to create confusion among the Serbs.

"But that rush is not necessary. No matter how hard they try, the Serbs are on one side and always will be. We are not afraid of elections, but we will not participate under the conditions which Kurti and the Kosovo institutions want," Masic concluded.