The political struggle of the two rivals in the race for mayor of Gracanica, Vladeta Kostic and Nenad Rasic, has the same goal- that Gracanica become the centre of gathering of all the Serbs.
“Kosovo’s fate is here in central Kosovo. Gračanica must be a small town rather than a large village. We have to develop the economy in order to reach that. Gračanica is a bastion of Serbhood, and our cradle, which must be strengthened and supported as a centre of Serbs in Kosovo,” said the candidate of PDS (Progressive Democratic Party) Nenad Rasic, in the TV show “Dogovor”.
Vladeta Kostic, the candidate of CI Srpska says that Gracanica was in the centre of attention in the past year. “Let’s not consider Gracanica as an ordinary local government. Until a year ago, Pristina, the international community, even Belgrade were focused on the north and north was favoured. In a year, we managed that all the attention is focused on Gracanica.”
On the question of whether candidates for mayor received political support of the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic who visited Gracanica in the midst of an election campaign, Kostic said that the arrival of the prime minister had other purpose. “The most important thing for us is that Serbian Prime Minister sent a message of peace and coexistence.”
Speaking about his plans for the development of Gracanica, candidate of PDS Nenad Rasic said that agriculture and opening of micro-enterprises are the areas in which should be invested.
Vladeta Kostic believes that the chance of Gracanica in addition to agriculture is the development of tourism. “Gračanica has two hotels, but the accommodation capacities of Gracanica are still small. That tourism, which can be called a religious tourism, can be achieved only by connecting with tourist organizations in Serbia, “says Kostic.
