Rapajic: The decision of the Court in Pristina is a positive step, but I do not expect any changes

Aleksandar Rapajic, the Program Director of the NGO "ACDC" in North Mitrovica, believes that the decision of the Court in Pristina, which annulled the preliminary decision of the Kosovo Government on the expropriation of land in the municipalities of Leposavic and Zubin Potok, is a positive step, however, he expects that the process that will be restarted will be unfavorable and that there won't be any "changes on the ground."

"This is a positive step. We have been saying from the beginning of the whole process that the process is not in accordance with Kosovo laws, that procedures have not been respected, that public discussions have not been held, and that the purpose of the expropriated land has not been explained. Now the court has made the only possible decision that would be fair," Rapajic said to Kosovo Online.

Our interlocutor does not believe that after this decision, the special units of the Kosovo Police will withdraw from the bases in Zubin Potok, where infrastructure has already been built.

"I think those bases were made to stay, and nobody intends to move them without some significant pressure, either from the international community or another factor," he emphasized.

Rapajic also reminded of the new provisions in the Expropriation Law adopted by the Kosovo Government, stating that they would yield unfavorable results on the ground.

"Unfortunately, last year, the Kosovo Government adopted a new Expropriation Law, adding a new provision that land can now be expropriated for defense purposes, specifically for the police and security forces. I think, after the decision, if the government does not appeal this decision, they will initiate a new process that will now be legal and in accordance with the law, but the result will again be unfavorable for us on the ground because it will be the same, there will be no changes," Rapajic emphasized.