Residents of Strpce: Serbian goods haven't reached us, everything depends on Kurti

Although November 7 will mark a month since the ban on Serbian goods crossing the Merdare checkpoint into Kosovo was lifted, residents of the municipality of Strpce say that Serbian goods still haven’t reached their local stores.

Veselinka Stojanovic from Strpce tells Kosovo Online that she believes Serbian goods will arrive to them the latest, since they live in the most remote area.

“I don’t follow the news much, but I heard there is heavy congestion at the crossings and that many trucks are still stalled, waiting for the green light. We are the southernmost point in Kosovo, so those goods will reach us last. We can find some basic items like 'Moja Kravica' milk, but we are waiting on everything else,” Stojanovic said.

Vesna Orlovic from Vrbestica says she has not noticed any Serbian goods on the shelves.

“We haven’t yet noticed any Serbian goods. Some items may be there, but they are not good quality. They have forced us to go far to get dinars. I have a disabled son and have to leave him to go get money. I get 9,000 dinars, to pay for electricity, and am expected to live on that? I don’t believe the goods will be allowed in as long as Kurti is in power, I have no faith in it,” Orlovic said bitterly.

Kostadinka Milenkovic from Sevce says that people in Kosovo are suffering.

“There are no goods, it’s a lie, they are giving us nothing. We are suffering here in Kosovo,” Milenkovic said angrily.

Milorad Stanojevic says he doesn’t expect goods to be allowed through other crossings and believes everything depends on Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

“It all depends on Kurti, whatever he says goes. There are few of us left, the children have gone, and we, the elderly, remain,” Stanojevic said.

He also mentions that he cannot even receive his pension, which he worked for over 40 years to earn.