Residents of Leposavic and Gracanica: Serbian products mostly available, we buy what we are forced to buy

Residents of Leposavic and Gracanica have differing views on the availability of Serbian products on the market. While some say that Serbian goods are generally available and that supply problems occur only occasionally, others point out that prices are higher than in central Serbia.

“I haven’t noticed Serbian goods being unavailable. Sometimes certain products are out of stock. There are also products from Macedonia—milk, sour cream and other goods,” one Leposavic resident told Kosovo Online reporters.

He stressed that fewer restrictions on the movement of Serbian goods would also mean lower prices for consumers.

“It would be much better; goods would be cheaper. When I go to Raska to buy things, they are much cheaper there. For our slava celebrations, we buy drinks, but they only allow us to bring across one or two crates of beer or soft drinks at a time. So we have to make several trips by car,” he said.

A younger resident of Leposavic believes Serbian products should be available on the market.

“There should be Serbian goods, just as there are goods from every other country. There are Macedonian and other products that serve as substitutes, but Serbian goods should be available as well,” he said.

Some of those surveyed also pointed to the difficult circumstances facing residents and the importance of regular supplies.

“We have to make do with whatever we are forced to accept. What else can we do? It would be good for us so that we can remain here, but the way things are going, it is difficult,” one Leposavic resident said.

Another resident said that the availability of Serbian products was of great importance to everyday life.

“We are short of all kinds of Serbian products. It is crucial to improving our lives. The crossing should be opened so that everything can get better,” she stressed.

Residents of Gracanica say that Serbian goods are available in the town, although across Kosovo in general they can be found in some places but are scarce in others.

“In the Kosovo and Metohija market, Serbian goods are available in some places and unavailable in others. It all depends on where you are, but I think there are fewer Serbian products and more foreign goods. We buy what is available, and what we cannot get, we simply do without. Serbian products can be found, but not everywhere,” one Gracanica resident said.

Another resident said that he, too, simply bought whatever was available.

“Whether the goods are Albanian, Serbian, Turkish or something else, we buy what is on the market if the price suits us,” he said.

Another Gracanica resident said that the origin of products sold in stores did not matter to him, although he considered Serbian confectionery products superior to others.

“I see that Plazma is available. I buy whatever is on offer and whatever I like. It makes no difference to me whether a product is Serbian, Albanian, Croatian or from somewhere else. But I think Serbian confectionery products are better. Consumers in Kosovo have seen that for themselves. You can find all sorts of things here—Plazma, Mendele and other products. Viva Fresh has all kinds of goods,” he said.