Serbs from central Kosovo at a gathering in Gracanica: We strongly support our brothers and sisters in the north

Serbs living in central Kosovo held a rally in front of the Cultural Center in Gracanica today, in support of Serbs from the north of Kosovo, from which it was announced that the Serbian people in these areas had never been more united.

The gathering was attended by several thousand people, who carried Serbian flags and the banner "Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija".

The president of the municipality of Gracanica, Ljiljana Subaric, addressed the audience and pointed out that today's gathering showed Serbian unity in Kosovo, adding that if the pressures continued, the Serbs from the south knew what they would do.

"The decision to leave all institutions in the north was justified and it aimed to protect Serbian national interests and the human rights of all citizens. Political violence against our people and institutions throughout Kosovo and Metohija by Albin Kurti, with the desire to drive us away from our centuries-old hearths by daily pressures and bullying, shows the clear intention and goal of Pristina that there are no more Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. Serbs have never been characterized by fear, but these days the words of concern and uncertainty reflect the life of Serbs in Kosovo and Kosovo, fear of those who think that violence is the way to solve the open issue between Belgrade and Pristina, who think that unilateral moves, threats, and blackmail are an adequate substitute for dialogue. Our people have never suffered and will not suffer the trampling of freedom and rights, because we are people who love freedom," Subaric said.

She added that she would even more decisively continue to advocate for the respect of human rights.

"We the Serbs from central Kosovo strongly support our brothers and sisters in the north. More united than ever in the face of all challenges. If this cruelty continues, I want to warn the relevant factors that Serbs in the south know what we have to do," Subaric stated in her speech.

The director of the National Library in Gracanica Brankica Kostic pointed out that today's gathering is a response to the torture carried out by Pristina institutions.

"Enough is enough. Stop torturing our representatives and our president. Stop with social engineering. We have the deed to this land. It is registered with God. If you want something stronger, don't go any further, take the UN Resolution 1244, that's where Serbia is registered as the owner. We are not here just because of the license plates, you (Pristina) are carrying out existential terror in front of the eyes of the world. Please, on behalf of all of us, do not write Kosovar on our identity cards, we are not Kosovars. And when it is said Serbian minority – we are not a minority in our country. Troubles continue to squeeze us, but those troubles unite us, and we are one. The message from the gathering is that all those who did not hear us should take it seriously now – stop using institutional, existential, or any other violence. Once people understand something, you can do nothing about it anymore," Kostic said.

Retired teacher Ljubomir Maksimovic said today that the goal of the gathering was for the Serbs to show those who "thought they were great powers and exceeded every measure".

"We the people from Kosovo are peaceful and tolerant, but we love freedom and honor more than anything. For twenty years now they have been trying to take away our freedom and honor and drive us away. What's worst, my dear people, they do it so treacherously that the whole world thinks that we want to limit our own freedom and rights. We will not participate in that performance," Maksimovic emphasized.

At the end of his speech, Maksimovic offered words of support to the Serbs from the north of Kosovo.

"We are united and ready to follow the path of our brothers from the north of Kosovo."

The gathering in Gracanica was secured by the Kosovo Police.