Vucevic: Difficult days are ahead of us, Kurti is doing everything to ethnically cleanse Kosovo

“The recent arrests of the Serbs in Kosovo are also a continuation of the policy by Albin Kurti, which he has been implementing for two and a half years since he came to power in Pristina for the second time, and he doesn't give up on it," the Serbian Minister of Defense, Milos Vucevic stated, adding that he did not see the political will in the international community to restrain Kurti and stop what he was doing.

"After Banjska on September 24, it's as if he has gained momentum, and he will continue to do it more intensively," Vucevic told TV B92.

He pointed out that it was distressing that there were 11% fewer Serbs in Kosovo.

"That's a silent exodus that we don't see every day, but when you take stock, you see how many fewer Serbs there are in Kosovo, and that is Albin Kurti's political goal, to ethnically cleanse Kosovo of the Serbs. Everything he does is in pursuit of that goal, including arrests, injuries, and fabricated legal processes, it's all a part of the terror," Vucevic said.

He added that there were individuals in the international community who understood both the causes and consequences of what Kurti was doing, but there was no general sense of solidarity and understanding for Serbia.

"I would like to be wrong, but I do not expect solidarity... It is a great ordeal for us, primarily for the Serbs in Kosovo," the Minister of Defense observed.

When asked whether anyone had realized that many things could happen after Banjska, he responded that some in the international community were more cautious and aware of this, particularly the United States.

"I think that the United States is somewhat more cautious on this issue; they understand that a complete escalation is possible, and that's why it's necessary for us to have open communication with the KFOR command and the NATO Alliance," Vucevic pointed out.

He reiterated that Serbia did not have a problem with KFOR and that it was in Belgrade's interest for KFOR to have the capacity and determination to ensure peace and guarantee security for all Serbs.

He emphasizes that there are international actors who do not want any conflict here and are sending signals to de-escalate tensions and return to the negotiating table.

"Whether Kurti can be restrained is an enigma, I am not optimistic, but everything needs to be resolved politically. What happened on September 24 is tragic for both peoples," Vucevic added.

When asked where additional KFOR soldiers would be deployed, he responded that it depended on the KFOR Commander and the joint command in Naples, led by Admiral Stuart Munsch, who had visited Belgrade today and was the superior of the KFOR Commander.

"We have reiterated that we do not want war and conflict with KFOR, that it is not in our national interest, but we expect KFOR to truly take care of the security of all inhabitants in Kosovo. We do not want to deal only with the consequences, but also with the causes that led to this, primarily the flagrant violation of the Brussels Agreement," Vucevic said.

He pointed out that Kurti was doing everything to ethnically cleanse Kosovo of the Serbs, he had police-occupied the north, threatened to deploy the KSF and their entry into the north, established bases in the north that he should not have, arrested, and injured Serbs.

Vucevic emphasized that Belgrade still did not know where the arrested Obrenovic was or why they were keeping him in prison.

"I asked Munsch where he was, what he was accused of... no answer. Everyone who needs to be held accountable will be, but let's see what the cause is," the Minister reiterated.

He also pointed out that it would not be easy for Serbia because there are "hawks" trying to accuse Serbia of being a sponsor of terrorism, arming the Serbs...

He stated that claims by Pristina that the Serbian Army had participated in arming the group in Banjska had been echoed by a part of the Serbian opposition, which, he said, had an identical narrative.

As he said, even a letter from a part of the opposition to Josep Borrell was detrimental to Serbia.

"Are you not ashamed? Just as they participated in the criminalization of the Serb List, the Serbs from Kosovo... This should not be done. As a Serb, I am disgusted when someone accuses their own country. They are trying to bring down Vucic and to bring down Serbia. Imagine if someone in Israel did that today or in the Arab world... Some things are a matter of decency," Vucevic said.

He warned that difficult days were ahead of Serbia because there were states and "hawks" who believed that the country should be punished, but he was convinced that Vucic would defend Serbia from any potential negative consequences through diplomatic activity.

He also added that in conversations with numerous ambassadors, the number of Serbian soldiers in the Ground Safety Zone was a topic.

"We have no intention of doing anything secretly. If such an order existed, we would enter Kosovo and regain sovereignty while respecting the norms of international public and wartime law. But that is not a good scenario for us. We are not and we hope we won't have to do that, and even if we had to, we would announce it to KFOR then. We said that we had reduced the number of GSZ members to a regular level. However, we are following what is happening, we know when they raise the 'bayraktars'...," Vucevic said.

When asked about the upcoming visit to China, he said he expected good talks in Beijing. After that, he expected important visits by the Ministers of Defense of Germany, and then Turkey, whose army was becoming an increasingly influential component in the structure of KFOR. Vucevic stated that he should meet with the US Secretary of Defense at the beginning of November.

Regarding the linking of the President's son, Danilo Vucic, to the events in Banjska, he said that this was another lie and slander not only against Vucic but also against the whole of Serbia.

"They are undermining Vucic, but also Serbia. But in less than 24 hours, their lie fell apart," Vucevic said.