Serbs in Krajiste: We are used to provocations, "Thank You" to Albanian neighbors

This year, the celebration of the church feast day in Krajiste near Lipljan could not pass without provocations from Albanians. Serbs who gathered for the liturgy at the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian said that their Albanian neighbors always greet them this way, but it will not deter them from returning to their native village, which they were forced to leave.

The church was desecrated with "UCK" graffiti, which was later "crossed out" with red paint, and the same message was written on the road near the church. Albanian, Kosovo, and KLA flags were placed along the road to the church, while loud music and songs mentioning one of the KLA leaders, Adem Jashari, were blaring from a house next to the church, accompanied by loud shouts.

This is the scene that greeted around a hundred Serbs in Krajiste on July 14th.

For Serbs who left their homeland in 1999 and whose houses were almost all burned down, provocations are nothing new, but as they point out, they also give them motivation to return in greater numbers every year.

"It's like this every year, but by coming, we show our unity and that we will keep coming back even more. Our neighbors greet us with music, thanks to them for that," said Ivan Nedeljkovic from Nerodimlje, expressing his frustration.

Milorad Nedeljkovic stated that Serbs from Nerodimlje did not deserve such treatment from their Albanian neighbors.

"We helped them when it was hardest. We didn't persecute them, we didn't burn their houses, nothing... And this is how they greet us. Our houses are all burned down, we have no home here. We come for two hours and have to return, no staying, nothing, and the neighbors shouldn't have treated us this way. These flags were never here before, but when Serbs come before the holiday to clean the churchyard, they find out about the holiday, and you see what happens. This is not neighborly, it's not humane," said Nedeljkovic, visibly upset.

Ivan Nedeljkovic from Nerodimlje recounted how Serbs, when expelled from Krajiste, had two hours to pack and leave their homes.

"Before 1999, there were about 25 Serbian houses and about 150 to 180 Albanian houses here. No one touched their houses, and all ours were burned to the ground. All our property was destroyed, and people were scattered. We had two hours to pack up and leave. That was the hardest thing for me, and it still is. My mother was buried here in 1994, and her monument was destroyed. My feelings are strong; I tremble as I speak," Nedeljkovic added.

Jelica Jovanovic said that it is very difficult for her to see the broken monuments of her parents.

"The music irritates me, I can't stand it... It's very hard. I was born here, my ancestors are buried here. The monuments are all broken. It's very hard for me when I come here," she said.

Reflections on the Past and Hopes for the Future

"I lived here; this is still my house, my home, just a few meters from here... It's mine. Undisputed. I was a village teacher; my two sons grew up here, were born here. Everything beautiful that happened to me in life happened here, so I am very happy to be here among my people," said Kostic.

She did not want to comment on the provocations from Albanians, stating that it is an eternal wound.

"We are used to it, but we still have hope. We will come next year as well. We are here, and now, whatever God gives us. But He will give good for these people. We are strong, we will endure here, we won't leave. I won't leave, even if someone had to," Kostic said.

Lipljan parish priest, Father Dragisa Jerinic, said that a few days ago, Serbs came to clean the churchyard, but there were no graffiti then.

"It was noticeable, however, that 'a welcome was being prepared' for the Serbs," he said.

He added that Serbs in Kosovo are somewhat used to provocations and Kosovo flags, but he questions why Albanian flags are displayed.

"That provokes me because when I put up my Serbian flag, I was born here, in holy Kosovo, they ask 'what's the Serbian flag doing here'. The Serbian flag has been here, is here, and will be here. I have no answer to why the Albanian flag is here. The Kosovo flags don't bother me, but the Albanian flags constantly do," Jerinic added.

He recounted that when he approached the church, he saw it was painted red.

"We suspect what might have been written, and as much as we can see, considering that it took us 40 minutes to travel these eight kilometers from Lipljan to Krajiste, it was certainly being removed so we wouldn't see it now. This won't deter us; we will keep coming. Now we are even more willing to come, work, and maintain it. It seems to me that this is a call for us to come and maintain the church so that we can serve liturgies, not just holy ceremonies," said the priest, adding that Orthodox Serbs still have property in Krajiste to return to.

"We will work on restoring this church so that both they and we can return here," said Jerinic.

The Kosovo Online team asked the Kosovo police officers who were nearby who had painted over the graffiti in the meantime, but they did not receive an answer, as the officers claimed they did not understand the Serbian language.