Residents of Gracanica: We are not afraid of the Hague verdict, after 27 years we are used to everything

Residents of Gracanica say they are not afraid of tomorrow’s verdict against the leaders of the former KLA in The Hague or of possible provocations and incidents, because, as they say, they have been through a great deal over the past 27 years and have become accustomed to everything.

Speaking to Kosovo Online, they said they had noticed provocations in recent days from cars displaying KLA and Albanian flags, but that this was nothing new for them, only more intense during this period.

Residents of Gracanica, however, will not leave their homes tomorrow unless necessary.

“I am not expecting anything, absolutely nothing. Whatever God decides, so be it. Whether it is good or bad, for everyone and for me as well. There is nothing I can do. They have been provoking us continuously for 27 years. And that is quite normal, because the fact is that Kosovo is under the occupation of KFOR international military forces, under the occupation of a foreign police force, EULEX. The question is how long the Serbian people can endure this terror, this occupation, this camp-like, prison-like life, and these provocations,” a resident of Gracanica said.

His fellow resident also stressed that he shares the same fate as his neighbors.

“Whatever happens, let it happen. I am not afraid,” he said.

A female resident of Gracanica said she was not even thinking about the verdict or possible incidents, but believes the verdict should be a guilty one.

“How can I be afraid? You can see that KFOR is protecting us. I mean, supposedly, it is only... But no, no, I am not afraid. Whatever happens will happen. I am not thinking about it at all. They should be convicted, they should. I have seen the provocations, we are used to them,” she said.

Her fellow resident said there was nowhere for them to go and that whatever was meant to happen would happen.

“We are afraid and we are not. We have been shaken by everything so many times already. We are where we are. Whatever happens, let it happen, but we are not afraid. There have been provocations in recent days, they shout things at us, but we do not even listen to them anymore. What is there to listen to? It is like that all the time. Whoever had somewhere to go has left. Those who have nowhere to go sit here, and whatever happens, let it happen,” she said.

Her neighbor said that the Serbian people had become accustomed to everything.

“We have become used to everything. Whatever happens, let it happen. We have nowhere to go. Better for them to drive us out once and for all, so that we know where we stand. You cannot live like this anymore, but we have nowhere to go,” the Gracanica resident said.

Ahead of the verdict against the leaders of the former KLA, there is a visibly increased presence of KFOR, EULEX and the Kosovo Police in Gracanica, while the situation today remains calm.