Politicians from Berane and Niksic on Kosovo entry ban: We are considered a security threat by Pristina

The Mayor of Niksic, Marko Kovacevic, who was barred from entering Kosovo ahead of Vidovdan, said that he considers it an honor that Albin Kurti's administration regards him as a threat. Vida Ivanovic, President of the Municipal Assembly of Berane, was also denied entry. She believes the ban is intended to punish Serbian politicians in Montenegro, given that she is a member of the New Serbian Democracy party, RTS reports.

Marko Kovacevic, the Mayor of Niksic, who was turned back at the Brnjak crossing, said that the document handed to him—which he refused to sign—stated that he represented a threat to internal stability.

"We saw what happened yesterday in Gracanica, at the event I was supposed to attend—the memorial service for the Vidovdan heroes. There were also people from Montenegro arrested there. These are clear messages reflecting the desire to destabilize the region by a regime that is gradually losing both international and every other form of support and is becoming one of the greatest problems in the region," Kovacevic told RTS.

Commenting on the ban, he said he regretted not being able to be with the Serbian people but added that he regarded it as an honor that Albin Kurti's administration viewed him as a threat.

Vida Ivanovic, President of the Municipal Assembly of Berane, said she had received an official invitation from the Mayor of Gracanica to attend the Vidovdan commemorations.

"I set out for Kosovo and Metohija with a delegation consisting of myself as President of the Municipal Assembly and two municipal councilors. However, at the administrative crossing I was simply denied entry, with the explanation that I represented a political threat to Kosovo and Metohija," Ivanovic said.

She believes that the reason for the entry ban is an attempt to punish Serbian politicians in Montenegro, as she is a member of the New Serbian Democracy party.

"It appears that a certain selection of Serbian politicians was made among those who were supposed to attend the Vidovdan celebrations in Kosovo and Metohija. It should be noted that, in addition to myself, the Mayor of Niksic, Mr. Marko Kovacevic, who is also a member of the New Serbian Democracy party, was turned back at the border. I have also been informed that the Deputy Mayor of Niksic, Zoran Tomic, who belongs to the Socialist People's Party (SNP), was likewise denied entry," Vida Ivanovic stressed.

Historian Stefan Radojkovic said that arrests and entry bans in Kosovo always benefit the authorities in Pristina because Albin Kurti is still effectively campaigning.

"Although the elections for Pristina's institutions concluded at the beginning of June, it is evident that new elections will most likely be held unless, by some miracle, the Albanian opposition parties reach an agreement with the Serb List—not only on constituting the government and securing a parliamentary majority within Pristina's institutions, but also on a potential presidential candidate," Radojkovic stated.

He emphasized that yesterday's events continued the pattern whereby, on a holiday of great importance not only to Serbs in Kosovo but to Serbs throughout the region, Serbian people are subjected to harassment.

Asked what form of response remains available, Radojkovic said that people should continue visiting Kosovo.

"We should continue coming here. As far as I understand, there were more people at this year's Vidovdan gathering than last year. As long as we continue coming to Kosovo and Metohija, it remains ours," Radojkovic said.

Commenting on yesterday's arrests of Serbs, historian Aleksandar Gudzic said that this was a scenario repeated year after year.

"It is evidently Pristina's intention to reduce the Vidovdan commemoration to an insignificant, barely visible event attended exclusively by clergy at Gazimestan, while in the future—and Pristina has demonstrated this quite openly—it seeks to take over the commemoration of Vidovdan itself," Gudzic said.