Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija and Đurić condemn violence of Kosovar opposition

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Đurić and representatives of Serbs today condemned the violence taking place in the streets of Pristina and in the Parliament of Kosovo and Metohija, noting that the responsibility lies with the police and judicial bodies.

Đurić called all parties to act responsibly, underscoring that it was not the time for violence in Kosovo and Metohija, whether triggered by national feelings or different political views.

“Personally, I don’t think it is normal and natural to make the Serbs, Belgrade and CSM their central issue when there are larger problems such are unemployment, corruption, organized crime and so on, causing stress to both Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija”, Đurić said.

“These are irrational and illogical actions. Also, it is unacceptable to resort to violent means to resolve political issues”, underlined Đurić.

Speaking about the violence caused by the Kosovar opposition parties in the Assembly of Kosovo and in Priština, the PISG Minister for Return and Communities, Dalibor Jevtić said that the events we have witnessed were detrimental and affected not only the return but also the survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

It is therefore important that the rule of law becomes visible in Kosovo and Metohija, since imposing one’s opinion by force will never benefit the society, especially when it comes to the issue of the displaced persons, Jevtić stressed.

“The display of force in the street protests and in the Assembly of Kosovo and the fact that the Serbs cannot go back to Đakovica, are sufficient indicators that we are still far away from an ideal society with democratic values and rule of law”, stated Jevtić.

Commenting on the acts of violence, PISG Deputy Prime Minister, Branimir Stojanović stated that those who have practiced street violence over the past 15 years, and more, to this day continue to demonstrate their skills.

“Now we can see if the police and judicial bodies in Kosovo and Metohija are up to their task of preventing people from creating chaos”, said Stojanović, adding that people are tired of violence and that it was high time for certain people to take responsibility. If there is no institutional response, I think that our logical step, and by our I mean all political representatives, should be to request changes within the system because to continue to tolerate violence will only suit thugs who want chaos among Serbian people but also among others who want to lead normal life here”, noted Stojanović.

Ljubomir Marić, PISG Minister of Administration and Local Self-Government said that the events in Priština yesterday and today raise a glaring question about the system - whether it exists or not.

"And the answer must be vigorous and prompt. Things have been tolerated so far – under the pretext that someone needs to showcase their true colors – but that only led to further complications and escalations, Marić said. Marić underlined concerns that the violence could spill over on Serbs, and especially the returnee settlements and the environments where there are very few Serbs, but that it also can involve the north of Kosovo and Metohija, “often used by some politicians as a target for projecting Priština’s problem onto a different place”.