Radakovic: Without concrete dialogue in Brussels, there will be fewer Serbs in Kosovo

Executive Director of the NGO Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture from North Mitrovica, Dusan Radakovic, tells Kosovo Online that the Serbs in Kosovo today are in a much more subordinate situation compared to February 17, 2008, when Kosovo declared independence and states that human rights are violated every day, there is no Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, nor are there any negotiations.

He points out that 16 years ago, there was a greater possibility of support for the Serbian community through the international community on any issue, whereas today, there is no progress even when the entire international community applies pressure on certain issues.

"I am afraid that if there is no concrete and purposeful dialogue in Brussels, there will be fewer Serbs in Kosovo, which suits the Prime Minister and that policy of the Self-Determination. The fewer Serbs in Kosovo, the smaller the problem. I fear that we will see the 17th and 18th year in an even worse situation regarding human rights and interethnic relations," Radakovic says.

According to his assessment, the fact that the Serbs were involved in Kosovo's institutions was not wrong because, he says, it provided a way to defend certain issues institutionally and through politics. He points out that the Serbs' withdrawal from the institutions was used by the ruling structures in Kosovo for even greater repression and for making decisions arbitrarily by a few individuals.

Therefore, he emphasizes the importance of their swift return to institutions, municipalities, police, and courts, and stresses the need to continue internal dialogue.

"The international community looks after its interests, there are more and more hotspots in the world, and there is less desire to exert pressure on both the government in Serbia and in Kosovo. The Serbs and the Albanians must solve problems through dialogue themselves. It is important to highlight violations of the rights of all communities at every step, and I hope for some assistance from the international community," Radakovic says.