Simic: Usurpers seized Serbian state property; the right to work and live denied to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija

Igor Simic, Director of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund Directorate for Kosovo, stated that "usurpers who have seized the property of the Serbian state" have prevented more than 40 families from earning their wages, while over 30,000 people are unable to receive services from the institutions housed in the building of the Provisional Authority of Kosovska Mitrovica. Simic called on KFOR and other international representatives in Kosovo to intervene and ensure the right to work and live for Serbs in Kosovo.

"The usurpers came, seized the property of the Serbian state, and prevented these people from working, and not only that, more than 40 families earn their livelihood here, and over 30,000 people receive services from these institutions. These are not parallel institutions because the services provided by these institutions – the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, the Mitrovica District, the Social Work Center, and the Pension Fund – are not provided by anyone else," Simic told reporters in front of the building that Kosovo Police entered on Friday.

Regarding the Pension Fund, since he is the director of that institution, Simic said that they pay out 30,000 pensions to all citizens, regardless of nationality.

"To Serbs, Bosniaks, and Albanians. More than 4,000 Albanians will not be able to receive their pensions because someone decided to take over this building. 4,000 Albanian families and 26,000 Serbian and Bosniak families don’t know what will happen tomorrow," said Simic, who is also a member of the Presidency of the Serb List.

Noting that KFOR constantly emphasizes freedom of movement, Simic called on them to come and not just stand by, but to enable the employees of these institutions to have the right to work.

"I urge them to actually ensure that freedom of movement, to protect the Serbian people. I call on the Quint countries, the EU, UNMIK, and all those who have condemned these actions to come and support these people and the right to work and the right to life for Serbs in Kosovo. This is the only way, not the anemic statements we have been hearing for two years," he said.
The question remains, Simic added, as to how many more statements are left in the drawer until there are no Serbs left in Kosovo.

He informed reporters that this had been emphasized in a meeting on Saturday.

"If they didn’t know what was happening, we informed them on Saturday. Now that they know, we expect concrete reactions. These people need to go back to their homes, take off the equipment they have, and allow these people to work and provide services to all citizens. They have been checking for two days and found nothing illegal inside, absolutely nothing – just the documents of citizens seeking help, pensions, and social assistance, and that’s it," Simic concluded.