Vucevic: Plan to declare Kosovo and Metohija as a special social protection area aims to strengthen the Serbian community

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic stated that the Serbian government’s plan to declare Kosovo and Metohija as a special social protection area aims to further support and strengthen the Serbian community and all others in Kosovo who identify as Serbian citizens.

"To clarify, this includes Gorani, Roma, and all who view Serbia as their country, we are not talking from a mono-ethnic perspective but rather addressing everyone for whom Serbia is their nation, though it primarily relates to Serbs," Vucevic explained.

He adds that amendments to the law on the organization of judicial bodies were adopted, establishing a special division of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade responsible for prosecuting war crimes committed in Kosovo since 2008.

Vucevic notes that a public hearing will now take place in the National Assembly, followed by a session in coordination with the Speaker of Parliament, Ana Brnabic, where the government will present these proposals.

He also announces that there would be a decision to nullify all decisions and acts implemented in Kosovo since 2008 that contradict the agreements reached between Belgrade and Pristina within the Brussels Dialogue and the Serbian Constitution.

Prime Minister Vucevic said that the Open Balkan initiative remains functional as agreements reached within it are respected, and noting that Germany is attempting to give renewed strength to the Berlin Process, he stated that any initiative promoting peace and stability in the region is welcome.

"It is active in the sense that the agreements are respected, though it seems that Albania, in particular, is no longer highly interested," Vucevic observed.

He says that in 2023, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama declared Open Balkan to be a “concluded mission” and mentioned that the new government in North Macedonia was expected to clarify its stance on the matter.

Vucevic remarked that during a recent visit to Skopje, where he met with Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, the topic was not brought up, indicating that there was not much interest in it.

Noting that Germany is trying to reenergize the Berlin Process, Vucevic says that regardless of the name of any initiative, if it promotes peace and stability in the region, it is welcome.

"I believe Open Balkan is a good initiative. Unfortunately, the opportunity was missed for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to join. This could have enriched the initiative and demonstrated to Europe and to ourselves that we can collaborate instead of constantly accusing each other," he stated.

He emphasizes that all processes encouraging dialogue, trade, and the movement of people and capital are beneficial and adds that he discussed ways to reduce border congestion during his talks in North Macedonia.