Vucevic: The Serbs in Kosovo are ready to go to the end; fighting for survival

The Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija were ready to go to the end even at the cost of their own lives, and those who did not understand that, they did not understand what Kosovo was and what the current situation was, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Serbia and Minister of Defense, Milos Vucevic, pointed out today and said that no one should test the readiness of the Serbian Army to protect the territorial integrity of the state and the Serbian people from expulsion.

Vucevic, for TV Pink, said that the week behind us had been difficult, especially Monday, when a complete tragedy had been narrowly avoided, when Dragisa Galjak could have almost lost his life, as well as others, which, he underlined, would have led to a disaster for all of us.

"This is the scenario that Albin Kurti wishes for - Serbia's conflict with NATO, to continue the occupation of all of Kosovo, primarily the north," he underlined.

Vucevic said that he was not an optimist, but that it was good to talk.

He pointed out that the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, had had a large number of activities and meetings in Moldova at the summit of the European Political Community.

"It was a good opportunity to hear Serbia's voice, our arguments on how we should proceed with de-escalation on the ground. The EU envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak and the US envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar are coming, after which we will be able to say something more. After that, the conversation with the Serbs in Kosovo awaits us. We'll see how Lajcak and Escobar see a way out. But I don't believe that Kurti will be ready to withdraw or reduce the number of policemen and Special Forces in the north," he explained.

He emphasized that the Serbs in Kosovo were very upset, worried, and, in his opinion, ready to go to the end.

"These people no longer have even a millimeter of space, they have nowhere to go, they have nothing to do other than the struggle for simple survival, to guard centuries-old hearths. This is a harsh reality, which we must understand and we must find a way to protect their basic rights in a peaceful way. It is my fault that non-governmental organizations in central Serbia, which always come forward for numerous issues, are now silent as if watered down. Apparently, only the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija do not have basic rights, to freedom and life, human rights do not apply only to them," Vucevic said.

He pointed out that Serbs were not unique and that it was used by those who did not have good intentions.

He said that it was good how US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Ambassador to Pristina Jeffrey Hovenier reacted, but warned that this did not mean that Washington would change its strategic position towards Kosovo.

At the same time, he believes that there is room for the pressure on Kurti to be stronger.

When asked if any other country from the Quint supported Kosovo, he said that they certainly received support.

"They are receiving weapons from Turkey, and serious weapons. For the first time, offensive weapons, this can pose a danger to our country. But we have an answer to that. They are working on the formation of the Kosovo army. This is happening on the ground while we are dealing with some kind of rallies. They are arming themselves and preparing to wipe out our people from Kosovo and Metohija," Vucevic warned.

He said that the Serbian Armed Forces were trained and equipped, and certainly motivated to carry out every order of the Supreme Commander and to protect the country's territorial, land, and air sovereignty.

"It's better that no one tries it, both for them and for us so that no one gets hurt. It's better that we don't go into the details of how it would look like. I hope that those who mediate in those conversations are aware of it and that they will contribute to Pristina lowering its guard and returning to the negotiating table," he stressed.

Vucevic said that Kurti's only policy was the conflict with the Serbs.

"When he talked about calming down the situation; when he talked about good relations with the Serbs. He only talks about someone attacking them, liberating the entire territory, and occupying the north. That is his only policy. We are dealing with an irrational person." he is convinced.

He called on the citizens to unite, adding that this did not mean that there were no different opinions and attitudes, but as politically responsible mature people, it was necessary to protect our country and recognize the moments when someone tried to collapse our country.

"This is a serious blow to us," Vucevic emphasized.

He also said that Kurti was vitally interested in Vucic not leading Serbia because he hoped that he could achieve complete sovereignty with others.

When it comes to the protests, he said that this was all being done at the moment when there was the biggest attack on the Serbs in Kosovo, on Serbia, when the last blow was being given to clear the Serbs from the north of Kosovo.

"No one really cares what is being done there, for the sake of order they mention that they are sorry, and they do not offer anything specific regarding the protection of the Serbs in Kosovo. What would they offer except to make peace with the Albanians, Kurti does not want to make peace, except that we recognize them and that the few remaining Serbs leave. Kurti is the strongest supporter of the protests," he emphasized.

Vucevic emphasized that there would be no Maidan in Belgrade, no blood on the streets, and no transitional government without elections.