For the Serbs is all the same who is at the head of the Government. We’ll see what would be the new prime minister’s position towards problems that we have. What is certain is that it will not be easy, because the Serbs and Albanians have drastically different views on the situation and the solutions that need to be found.
It is a difficult process, but we will work together. We have no choice but to try cooperating in the search for solutions, said in an interview with Danas, Branimir Stojanovic, Vice President of Kosovo’s new government, the mayor of Gracanica in resignation, and a member of the Provincial Board of SNS.
Which requirements of the Serbs have entered into the coalition agreement of the Serbian List with PDK and LDK?
– The basis of our requirements is the Brussels Agreement, especially the part that refers to the formation of the Community of Serbian municipalities, reviewing the part of the privatization especially in Serbian areas, but also other unresolved problems that today burden the Serbs. One of them, which is not directly defined by the Brussels agreement, but is agreed, is the normalization of the distribution of medicines.
What are the obligations towards the Albanian majority that the Serbian List has, by that coalition agreement and whether the PDK and LDK have conditioned you with the votes of Serbian MPs in order to amend the Constitution of Kosovo and the establishment of the Kosovo army?
– There was no conditionality, nor had we agreed in advance about anything. All we want is to work together. Their duty was to include us in the government. Here we are. We want to work in a constructive manner. If this does not happen then we will not be in the government.
Did the Serbian list really asked for the position of deputy commander of the Kosovo Security Force and the Kosovo Intelligence Service?
– There are many positions about which we still have to discuss. These things are not defined, but are certainly important.
For Mustafa’s government many say that it is “the German project” aimed at weakening and elimination of Hashim Thaci. Where is there the Serbian list, which during the post-election political crisis initially had supported VLAN, the Albanian opposition coalition?
– We are not doing such analyses. For me it is important that the Serbs know what they want, to gather around this common aim and thus try to create a better life for themselves. This is the essence of our political action.
Are you aware of responsibility of duties that you had assumed – a good part of the Serbs from Kosovo does not accept Brussels Agreement, and the ruling majority in Serbia which is behind the Serbian List, despite the dominance in the Serbian parliament, has only a quarter of the electorate of Serbia?
– There are those who are responsible and trying to solve problems, not only those who only record them. We have lots of people all over Serbia who are willing only to criticize, but not to offer a solution. If someone says what is the alternative to this what we are doing today, I would gladly welcome it. This is not pleasant to anyone. But it seems that the fate of Kosovo Serbs is to be Albanians in Serbia and traitors in KiM. I want to be responsible for those people here who really have difficult life; to use my position best I can so that their lives change for better. Those who are in charge of dealing with the highest political issues – let them do it.
How many municipalities will eventually be in the ZSO, and what powers will it have?
– What is certain, the ZSO will consist of 10 Serbian municipalities. The main battle will be lead around the statute – direct jurisdiction, powers of the ZSO.
The statute was written more than a year ago. Do you know that you will have institutional links with Belgrade or will it be what Pristina announces – Association of Municipalities, according to the existing Kosovo legislation?
– It was so because there was no address in Pristina. Now that there is one, we will have to concretize the status. There are plenty of obligations assumed by Pristina, but will not be easy, because certainly they will fight for the ZSO with less powers. For us to fight to increase the powers, because this is the only mechanism for long-term resolution of the status of Serbs in Kosovo. I think it will not be what Albanians say, but we shall see. About how the statute will finally look will negotiate two delegations – Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels.
EU and “rruga” Karadjordje
Why are the street markings in Gracanica first on Albanian language, and then in Serbian?
– It is a project of the EU that was agreed and implemented before the current government was formed. Regardless of our insistence, they did not accept, nor that the inscriptions are in Cyrillic. This suggests that in fact some things have not changed, nor have been done properly. For many things in fact we will not be asked, but it is our job to make sure we get the most out of the current situation. We have seen that the boycott and ignoring all is not a solution, but if someone has a better alternative than what we do, I cannot wait to hear it.
