Nikolic: Kurti's statements about the comfortable life of Serbs in Kosovo are not surprising; the truth is different

Ivan Nikolic, Director of the NGO "Communication for Social Development" (CSD) from Gracanica, says that the statements by Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti about the "comfortable life" of Serbs in Kosovo are not surprising, as this was his rhetoric during the election campaign, and it has continued since he came to power. However, Nikolic adds, the truth is different – Serbs are not satisfied with the conditions in which they live.

"It is not surprising to receive such messages from Prime Minister Kurti; this is his pattern, the way he conducts politics, the rhetoric he used in the election campaign and continues to use now," Nikolic told Kosovo Online.

He adds that the figure of 68 ethnically motivated attacks since the beginning of this year should not be ignored and that, in light of such statistics, it is irresponsible for Kurti to speak of the well-being of the Serbian community in Kosovo.

Furthermore, the number of Serbs who have left Kosovo since Kurti came to power supports the notion that they are dissatisfied with the conditions created in recent years.

"What needs to be said is that this is not true. According to some data, there have been more than 60 ethnically motivated attacks; this information should not be ignored; it is a very serious number. It is irresponsible for someone in such a position to comment in such a way, claiming that the Serbian community lives in prosperity. The Serbian community is confused in this whole process, they feel insecure, and the trend of migration, that is, the increasing and more frequent departure of Serbs from Kosovo, supports the notion that they are not satisfied with the quality of their life in Kosovo," emphasized Nikolic.

He stated that the distorted public perception of the life of Serbs in Kosovo is also due to Albanian media, which do not give any significance or space to the problems of Serbs and the attacks on them.

"We also have Albanian media that do not devote even a fraction of space to such ethnically motivated attacks, and this creates a completely distorted picture of the real situation in Kosovo," said Nikolic.

Serbs do not believe that anyone will solve their problems in Kosovo, which is why many of them give up on resolving these issues through the authorities, Nikolic believes.

"There are many such examples where people do not report attacks because they do not believe that their problem will be solved, and if such a situation becomes known, they could be even more endangered. So, it is not uncommon for Serbs to remain silent about less dangerous but still ethnically motivated situations," concluded Nikolic.