Simic: Trump's victory delights Serbs, fear of Kurti's reaction

Member of the Presidency of the Serb List, Igor Simic, stated that Serbs in Kosovo are optimistic about the return of Donald Trump’s administration in the U.S., but he also expressed concern that this might provoke additional reactions from the government in Pristina, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Speaking on RTS’s Morning Program, Simic, when asked whether the possibility of Richard Grenell’s return to the White House causes a "nightmare" in Pristina, said that this development is indeed a "headache" for the Kosovo authorities.

"This is what scares them and causes confusion in Pristina. They are not used to being led by someone who confronts them directly and their mentors. Albin Kurti managed to do this. I believe that the terrible period when neither the EU nor the U.S. understood our problems is slowly coming to an end. This gives us optimism and hope. However, on the other hand, it also causes concern over what Kurti might do to harm Serbs, especially as elections approach. This is the only tactic he uses to gain cheap political points, employing his institutions against the Serbian people without hesitation," warned Simic.

More Understanding for Serbs

Commenting on Trump’s victory, Simic said that the Serbian people in Kosovo have always held the greatest sympathies for Donald Trump but do not expect revolutionary changes in U.S. foreign policy.

"Serbs in Kosovo look forward to Trump’s administration with optimism. Of course, we are aware that there won’t be revolutionary changes that we would all wish for. But there will be more understanding, a willingness to listen to Serbs, discuss our problems, and resolve them through dialogue. That is certain. The fact is, this victory has brought joy to Serbs in Kosovo, giving them hope and awakening optimism, while deeply disappointing Kosovo Albanians, particularly the regime in Pristina, which openly sided with Kamala Harris," Simic noted.

Commenting on the fact that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was one of the first world leaders to speak with Trump after his election victory, Simic said, "This call resonated very positively among Serbs in Kosovo as a step forward in relations between Serbia and the U.S."

"But also as a step forward in addressing the Kosovo issue in a way that considers the interests of the Serbian people and Serbia," he emphasized.

Vucic-Trump Dialogue

Simic added that th conversation between Vucic and Trump was no coincidence but the result of years of diligent work by Serbian diplomacy.

When asked about the campaign against Serbia that followed Trump’s victory, Simic said it is not only due to Pristina’s fear that Trump will allow Belgrade a greater role in addressing the situation in Kosovo.

"At a time when Albin Kurti’s regime was terrorizing Serbs, beginning a two-to-two-and-a-half-year-long reign of terror, especially against Serbs in northern Kosovo, with his paramilitary units, Richard Grenell was one of the few who met with representatives of the Serb List and the Serbian community in Kosovo, sending a clear message that the U.S. would not support institutional violence against the Serbian people. During the previous period, Trump’s administration removed Kurti from his position as Prime Minister in Pristina because he refused to honor agreements and implement what had been negotiated in dialogue backed by the EU and the U.S.," Simic recalled.

He emphasized that despite this, no one should expect revolutionary changes in U.S. foreign policy toward Kosovo.

"We Serbs in Kosovo expect understanding of our position, and anyone who is objective can see that what Serbs endure today in 21st-century Europe is absolutely unacceptable and contrary to all European and global standards of human rights," Simic explained.

Tearing Down Posters

When asked about the removal of posters in Pristina celebrating Trump’s victory, Simic said this was a reaction to his election and reflects the confusion among Kosovo authorities.

"They tore down posters featuring Trump’s image, the American and Serbian flags—not ordinary people, but police officers under orders. They were told to tear these posters down in northern Kosovo, where Serbs celebrated Trump’s victory. I deeply believe that Trump’s future administration won’t forget this, just as they haven’t forgotten the undiplomatic and offensive remarks made by ungrateful people in Pristina. These are people who rely on what was given to them by the international community but still show no respect for international law, something they will, I believe, eventually have to acknowledge," Simic said.

He added that he is confident the U.S. is a serious country, and Trump is a serious statesman who won’t fall for such cheap provocations.

"The fact that they placed his image in Pristina shows they lack their own foreign policy. They shift with the winds, ignoring the realities on the ground and international law, which they will, I believe, have to respect in the future," Simic concluded.

Import of Serbian Goods

Commenting on Pristina's claims that Serbian goods are no longer among the top five imports, Igor Simic remarked, “What a wise person is ashamed of, a foolish one takes pride in.”

"He sent a message to his own people, a slap in the face. He managed to eliminate Serbian goods, demonstrating the nature of his policies. But on the other hand, there is another message. Albanians in Kosovo now pay the highest prices for goods because they no longer come from central Serbia. Moreover, the goods are of poor quality. He hasn’t only punished Serbs in Kosovo, but also his own economy, as their industries depend on goods coming from central Serbia. These are the actions of a desperate individual, someone determined to implement nationalist policies at any cost, ignoring not only the interests of the Serbian people but also those of his own nation," Simic emphasized.

He expressed hope that this might change with Trump’s return to power.

"I believe it will. It is not normal that, in an era proclaiming four fundamental freedoms—including the free movement of goods and services—you have trucks waiting for days. There are excuses, such as the claim that all goods must pass through Merdare. We’ve seen situations where goods were allowed through Jarinje and Brnjak, but then a decision was made to restrict everything to Merdare. This slows down—and, to be honest, blocks—Serbian goods from reaching end users and businesses. If we recall the Washington Agreement, Trump is someone who aimed to establish normal economic cooperation in the Western Balkans. This aligns with Aleksandar Vucic’s policies and the motivation behind the creation of the Open Balkan initiative. Kurti was the sole opponent of this initiative, and such resistance will not be well-received by representatives of the new U.S. administration," Simic stated.

Progress on Forming the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM)

When asked if Trump’s return could lead to progress in implementing the Brussels Agreement and establishing the Community of Serb Municipalities, Simic expressed optimism.

"The EU has proven to be an insincere partner in negotiations. Back in 2013, when the Brussels Agreement was signed, Serbs didn’t trust Pristina, as they don’t today. But they did trust the EU as a powerful organization that wouldn’t allow its signature to mean nothing. Yet, 11 years later, what was signed in the offices of the European External Action Service remains nothing but dead letters. There is a real chance that the U.S. will stop tolerating Pristina’s games and slowly push for the implementation of what was agreed upon in Brussels. This is precisely what the Serbs are demanding. When Serbs left Kosovo's institutions, they did so because they demanded the implementation of what was agreed upon and promised—nothing more, nothing less."

Simic pointed out the dismissive attitude of Pristina towards EU agreements.

"Statements from Pristina’s regime show they don’t care. They treat EU documents as mere 'non-papers' that don’t obligate them. They are mocking the entire European Union. Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija view this as a situation where it’s simply impossible for Kurti to be stronger than the EU, the U.S., or the strong EU member states like Germany, France, and Italy, which have silently watched as Serbs leave Kosovo and Metohija, their collective and individual rights are trampled, their children beaten by paramilitary units, and their property confiscated. I sincerely believe that such scenes will gradually disappear from our lives because someone in Washington will show greater understanding for us and exert appropriate pressure on Pristina to ensure that agreements are implemented on the ground," Simic concluded.