Petkovic: Challenging year, but we will persevere; from February, new financial support for Serbs in Kosovo

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, stated that despite the challenges and difficulties faced by Serbs in Kosovo, especially in the past year, they have managed to persevere and strengthen unity with the help of the state of Serbia and the policies of President Aleksandar Vucic. Petkovic called on Serbs in Kosovo to vote for the Serb List in the upcoming parliamentary elections, describing it as a bulwark against everything Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti aims to achieve. He also announced additional financial assistance for the socially disadvantaged, as reported by TV Most.

"The past year was indeed difficult. Full of challenges, unrest, and insecurity, particularly for the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. What our people endured over these 12 months is something only a brave and resilient people can withstand, and that is the Serbian people, who stand with their state of Serbia and President Aleksandar Vucic. We will never abandon our people. We will fight together to preserve peace, stability, and a future for our children and our people on their ancestral homes," Petkovic said in an interview for TV Most.

Petkovic noted that during the past 12 months, Albin Kurti's regime deployed every mechanism to dismantle Serbian institutions, instill fear in northern Kosovo, and expel the Serbian population.

"Kurti attempted to achieve his goals through the Kosovo Police, whose sole task in northern Kosovo is to occupy the north and thereby attempt to expel the state of Serbia from Kosovo," Petkovic said.

"We are fighting for peace, committed to the future. This is the message of every citizen living in Kosovo and Metohija," he emphasized, adding that Serbia seeks to invest even more in the Serbian people in Kosovo.

New financial support starting February

Petkovic recalled that Serbia, through the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, has done much to assist its people in Kosovo. The latest support measure is the snack supplement provided to all children, from preschoolers to high school students.

"I want to bring good news to all our people living in Kosovo and Metohija: starting in February, we will introduce a new, significant financial support measure for the most socially vulnerable individuals. The state of Serbia has allocated funds, and starting February, 5,000 socially disadvantaged individuals will receive monthly financial support of 20,000 dinars from the state of Serbia," Petkovic emphasized. He also announced another support package for unemployed Serbs living in Kosovo.

By 2025, Petkovic said, Serbia aims to ensure that no citizen from the Serbian, Gorani, or Roma communities in Kosovo is left without support from Serbia.

"This is a major and significant effort that demonstrates our commitment to genuinely caring for our people in Kosovo and Metohija, fighting for them, and showing that we stand with them," Petkovic said.

Petkovic highlighted that the policies of President Aleksandar Vucic, aimed at peace, stability, and economic strengthening, are bringing better living conditions and more financial resources to all citizens of the Republic of Serbia.

According to him, in 2025, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija will receive its largest budget to date, reflecting the fundamental commitment of the Government and state leadership to the Serbian people in Kosovo.

The Serb List is a bulwark and defense against everything Kurti wants

"Together, we must fight to preserve our unity and strive for freedom in a democratic manner, leveraging all tools to stop the persecution by Albin Kurti, halt the attacks by the Kosovo Police, arbitrary arrests, assaults on property, people, and the Serbian Orthodox Church, and desecration of Serbian graves," Petkovic said.

Given these challenges, Petkovic stressed the importance of victory for the Serb List in the elections scheduled for February 9.

"Belgrade supports the Serb List and provides full backing, recognizing that this will strengthen the bulwark and defense against everything Kurti seeks to implement against Serbs, which ultimately aligns with the creation of Greater Albania, the political program of the Self-Determination Movement," Petkovic stated.

According to him, the outcome of Kurti's policies includes "four false mayors" in Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo.

"We must carefully interpret what is happening in Pristina and understand Kurti's plans and collaborators. The fact that the CEC initially refused to certify the Serb List for participation in the elections, with direct opposition from two members of the Self-Determination movement, shows that Kurti does not want the Serb List in this electoral process," Petkovic said, adding that Kurti prefers other Serbian political parties that the CEC certified.

Petkovic emphasized that it is essential to consider what is in the interest of the Serbian people – whether it aligns with what Kurti desires or with what the Serb List advocates and fights for.

"Let that be the clearest indicator to everyone, in addition to everything that already exists as the legacy of the Serb List, which has always stood by its people and never turned its back on them. This time as well, it is of essential, crucial importance that all 10 guaranteed seats in the Pristina parliament go to the Serb List," the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija stressed, addingbthat this is the only way to resist Kurti's oppression.

According to Petkovic, this is the reason behind Kurti's attacks and those of his followers on the Serb List and everything Serbian, because he seeks to have allies who will work in Pristina's interests against the Serbian people, citing the example of Nenad Rasic.

"That is why others were certified, but not the Serb List. But we will overcome this as well because every attack, every blow, and everything the Serbian people have endured in recent years only strengthens our resolve to fight and prevail," Petkovic stated.

With the state's support and President Vucic's policy, 2025 will bring progress for Serbs in Kosovo

Petkovic expressed hope that with the support of the state and the policies of President Aleksandar Vucic, 2025 would bring a better life for people in Serbian communities in Kosovo.

He extended holiday greetings to all citizens of Serbia, particularly Serbs in Kosovo, wishing them good health, peace, and prosperity. He called for unity and harmony, which he said were values that sustained them in the past and would continue to do so in the years ahead.

"This unity has preserved us in Kosovo and Metohija and will continue to do so not only in the coming year but in years to come," Petkovic concluded with the salute, "Long live Serbia."