Simic: Kurti is looking for a protector in order to expel the Serbs, I believe he will not have US support

Igor Simic, a member of the Presidency of the Serb List, stated that the Serbian people in Kosovo are suffering repression under the regime of Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti. He emphasized that during a panel held yesterday in North Mitrovica, on the occasion of International Children's Day, it was highlighted that every right of Serbian children in Kosovo has been violated. According to Simic, Kurti is now seeking a protector to further his aim of expelling Serbs from Kosovo but expressed confidence that he will not find support from the new US administration.

"For two and a half years, Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, especially in the north, have been subjected to repression by the Pristina regime. Yesterday, while the world marked International Children's Day, we attended a panel organized by students of the University of Pristina, temporarily based in Kosovska Mitrovica. The panel included parents and educators whose children or students have been victims of torture by Kurti’s forces, with no one held accountable," Simic said during an appearance on "Novo Jutro" program on TV Pink.

As he added, in an environment where assaults on adults and children and property confiscation are normalized, Serbs survive thanks to support from Serbia.

"In an atmosphere where it is permissible to beat Serbs, seize their property, and even harm their children, it is truly miraculous how the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija endure. Without the support of official Belgrade and President Aleksandar Vucic, this would be impossible. Our goal is to address this peacefully, but we must protect our people and our children. Every right has been violated for our children. As parents, we are even forbidden to bring books for our children through legal means," Simic added.

He emphasized that the panel had also been an opportunity to showcase the reality of life for Serbs in Kosovo.

"Our children are beaten. You know, worse than criminals are criminals in uniform. You send your child to a city celebration or birthday party, and they return beaten, or worse, you get a call from the police station to come pick them up because they have been both beaten and arrested. This is the reality for Serbian families and children in Kosovo and Metohija. That is why yesterday's panel was a good way to present this to the broader public," he said.

Although representatives of international missions in Kosovo were invited to the panel, Simic noted that none had attended, which he described as a clear message to Serbs.

"Unfortunately, although representatives of Quint countries, the European Union, and EULEX were invited to the panel, none of them appeared. This sends a clear message that Serbian tears and Serbian victims have no protection, not even from those mandated by the United Nations to ensure peace, security, and safety for all citizens, including Serbs," he said.

Regarding Kurti's reliance on the newly elected US President Donald Trump following his election victory, Simic said Kurti is seeking a protector to help expel Serbs from Kosovo, but he believes the new US administration will not support this.

"Kurti is seeking an international protector to continue what he has started, which is the ethnic cleansing of Serbs and everything Serbian from Kosovo and Metohija. On the other hand, I deeply believe that the administration of Donald Trump will not support actions that have, in just a few months, forced hundreds of economically stable Serbian families to leave Kosovo and Metohija purely for security reasons," Simic emphasized.

As he also noted, former US envoy for the Western Balkans Richard Grenell sent a clear message that the expulsion of an ethnic group is unacceptable, and that the tearing of Trump posters in northern Kosovo was a reflection of the Pristina regime’s hatred.

"When Kurti began the harassment and expulsion of Serbs from this area, the only high-ranking official who came was Richard Grenell. He met with representatives of the Serb List and Serbian institutions and clearly stated that the expulsion of an ethnic group from its ancestral land is unacceptable. In that sense, I believe that the current US administration, when making decisions, will send a clear message to Kurti. His actions today are best illustrated by the tearing of Trump posters with the US and Serbian flags by his police officers, acting on his orders. They cannot hide their hatred for Trump, let alone their active campaign against him in favor of Kamala Harris," Simic said.

On the other hand, Simic highlighted the strong support Trump enjoys among Serbs.

"Serbs in America, because of everything happening to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, clearly supported Trump. Statistics show that among Serbs, Trump enjoyed the highest support in Europe, with two-thirds of Serbs supporting his reelection as US President," Simic concluded.