Interview: Krstimir Pantic, former president of the Provisional authority northern Mitrovica
Krstimir Pantic, who after the decision not to sign the declaration for Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor resigned as deputy director of the Government Office for Kosovo, says that, after all, he will not leave Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). He expects meeting with Aleksandar Vucic and to the new candidate of CI “Srpska” for the Mitrovica Mayor, he wish victory in the elections, on 23 February.
After your resignation as Deputy Director of the Office for Kosovo, are you still at the helm of the Interim Council of the Municipality North Kosovska Mitrovica?
By submitting an irrevocable resignation, Minister without portfolio responsible for Kosovo Aleksandar Vulin asked me to resign as president of the Provisional Authorities in northern Mitrovica, so the Government of the Republic of Serbia, at the same session sacked me. Given that the government has not appointed a new president of the Provisional authority, I will perform that duty, in accordance with the Law on Local Self-Government, till the appointment of a new president, when I will hand him over the seals and do the handover. I wouldn’t like that because of disagreements with the Vulin, municipal employees suffer any sanction.
Did you have contact with Aleksandar Vucic, First Deputy Prime Minister after refusing to accept the position of the first man in northern Kosovska Mitrovica ?
I spoke by phone with Aleksandar Vucic, and I expect soon to see him.
Vucic said that, you do not have his support, as you claimed, after the decision to refuse to sign the declaration for the position of mayor?
I never said that I had the support of Aleksandar Vucic for what I did. I also didn’t say that he supported me to resign and not to sign a statement of accepting position of Kosovska Mitrovica mayor. However, I said that I would be in politics as a member of the Serbian Progressive party (SNS), until Aleksandar Vucic has confidence in me. It is true that I said so, but my statement was misunderstood. The first vice president was very convincing when stated that I don’t have his support, but at the same time highly appreciates the work of Aleksandar Vulin.
Will you, after all, withdraw from the SNS?
I have no intention of leaving the SNS. Unless, as I said, the first deputy prime minister, or the party authorities decide differently.
Is it true that you are in conflict with Aleksandar Vulin because of the positions for directors, the distribution of apartments, but also your conduct, which at the time was qualified as arrogant and inappropriate?
During the campaign, at a meeting at the Palace of Serbia, Minister Vulin before all candidates and councilors from CI “Srpska” has said that he will replace all directors of public companies and institutions established by the Government of the Republic of Serbia who are working against the government and call for a boycott. All 19 candidates CI “Srpska” for councilors in Kosovska Mitrovica requested the dismissal of directors who are actively involved in the anti-campaign. I just backed councilors and together with them sided with the state. We risked our lives, experienced harassments and offenses, as well attacks.
You said that you will be involved in the campaign in elections for mayors and support option that is not for a boycott. Do you support the new candidate for mayor of Kosovska Mitrovica from “Srpska”?
I have read the statement of the Minister Vulin that there is a “successor” for the mayor. Councilors from “Srpska” told me that they were not called, or asked for opinion. I wish a luck to the new candidate, patience and of course, to win. I won’t be in Kosovska Mitrovica on 23 February, and we’ll see if people will vote; whether they will be forced to vote, or will someone call for a boycott. Krstimir Pantic will not stand on one’s road.
You have resigned on the grounds that you will not suffer the humiliation, which many people here interpreted as ‘returning to the right track’. Do you think that after all Belgrade used you and then “let you go down the Ibar River”?
Beograd did not use me, as you say; a decision to candidate in elections was solely mine, in both situations; when I was a supporter of the boycott, and then when I decided to participate in the elections. I did not want to sacrifice the others. I sacrificed myself in order to preserve the territory and citizens, even though I knew that I will face the avalanche of insults and that my move will not be understood.
