Simic: Tensions are very high, Kurti intends to continue the persecution of the Serbs

The vice president of the Serb List, Igor Simic, said that the tensions in Kosovo were very high, but that the Serbs were persistent in their intention to remain in the centuries-old hearths.

In the TV Prva morning program, Simic said that despite the difficult and uncertain situation, the Serbs would not give up their intention to preserve their centuries-old hearths, even though the situation was not at all naive.

"Serbs in the area of Kosovo and Metohija live under constant tensions, we are raising our children and trying to lead a normal life, but tensions are present and affect every social process that takes place around us. What is happening at the negotiations in Brussels is also a topic at the social gatherings these days, on the street, and in the working collectives, people are aware of the situation and tensions are very high. One can feel the uncertainty in the air due to the intention of Albin Kurti to continue the persecution of the Serbian people creating such conditions where the Serbs would give up their centuries-old hearths, and leave the area of Kosovo and Metohija, which is unimaginable of course. We are clear in our intention to stay and survive in these areas, and in this, we have the strong support of our state of Serbia and President Aleksandar Vucic," Simic said.

He adds that the question - of what will happen and what we can expect after the 48 hours postponement of the measure of the Government of Pristina to penalize unregistered vehicles, should be sent to Pristina and Albin Kurti.

"When we talk about tomorrow, the question should be addressed to Pristina, and we have been addressing it for days. The tensions we have are not the result of any activity of the Serbian people in Kosovo or any actions but the result of Albin Kurti and his plan, which he does not give up and at the same time turns a deaf ear to the demands of the world's biggest powers," adds Simic.

Simic points out that Kurti and his government do not know how to lead a policy of peace and economic development, and that is the reason for constant tensions.

"The registration license plates issued in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija have been issued for decades, it is not a new license plate, it is legitimate and legal and is used throughout Europe and the world. Pristina needs to create tensions due to the economic, energy, and food crisis to draw the attention of people from the real life problems in the north of Kosovo. They use the Serbs and the confrontation with the Serbs as a means to raise their political rating in the radical part of the Albanian public, and that is dangerous. In this sense, Albin Kurti is ready to do everything to improve his rating," Simic says.

He adds that the Serbs left the institutions because they were fed up with Albin Kurti and the non-implementation of what was signed in Brussels.

"We have said that it is enough because we have waited ten years for the Brussels Agreement to be respected, enough is enough, Kurti who persistently repeats that he will not respect the Brussels Agreement and that the Serbs should return to the institutions and that he will continue with the penalization as well as that the Serbs should participate in the elections, but that he will not form the CSM," Simic says.

He says that for all people in Kosovo, for Serbs, Albanians, Bosniaks, and the Roma, the most important topic is peace and security.

"Our country, together with us, is ready to make important decisions, and we are not running away from that, first of all, to preserve peace in these areas. The primary message that is being sent to Kurti by both us and the international community is that he will not be allowed to mistreat the Serbian people and endangers peace. On behalf of the presidency of the Serb List, in all the statements we made we called for peace. It is a shame that after ten years we are still standing in the same place when it comes to the CSM and something that should be an institution that protects Serbs in these areas," Simic concluded.