Political consequences of the Tuesday’s violent demonstrations in Pristina are twofold. Most important shot-term consequence is an adamant request for resignation of the Minister for Communities and Return in the Kosovo government, Aleksandar Jablanovic, because he called protestors in Đakovica, who prevented the passage of buses with displaced Serbs, savages. He later apologized.
The second request that Trepca is transformed into a public company by the law is related to a long-term goal: that opposition in future has a bigger influence on negotiations with Belgrade in Brussels, because Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, would have to face threats by protesters in Pristina for any concession to ‘international representatives and Belgrade’.
So, the entire story with the tear-gas, stones and water-canons in Pristina will mostly reflect on Serbian interests. Despite all assurances that unrest is not directed against the Serbian population, Serbs are in fear and can’t resist recalling the Pogrom they went through.
According to Politika’s information obtained by officials dealing with Kosovo and Metohija, Belgrade, so far, has no intention to interfere in Jablanovic’s case. The Director of the Serbian Government’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Đuric, said to RTS, while answering on question whether government will ‘succumb to pressure’ by Prisitna when it comes to resignation of Jablanovic, that Serbian Government has supported participation of the Serbian List on elections in Kosovo and Metohija in order that our people settle problems they are faced with in Kosovo. He further said that as long as it appears possible to realize such goals within the provincial government, they will do it in that manner. “We’ll never give up fighting for our interests,” said Đuric, without giving the precise respond on whether Jablanovic had become a part of the problem or a part of solution.
Political analyst Fatmir Sheholli claims that protests were not directed against the Serbs. He believes that the moment when two conditions of the protesters are met, would mean the end for protests. “It would be desirable and good that Jablanovic restrains from asking Aleksandar Vucic, or Isa Mustafa, what to do. He should simply resign, and someone who is more responsible in terms of public appearance should take over his duty. I am confident that after his statement he will not be able to perform his duties as the Minister of Communities and Returns. How would he manage to organize return of Serbs south of the Ibar River? He is supposed to talk with local Kosovo Albanians, and he has no credit for it anymore,” believes Sheholli.
Political analyst Dusan Janjic, said that the opposition can “turn” the protests against the Serbs whenever they want. “They are now holding Mustafa, official Belgrade, even the international community in a checkmate position. They have a potential to carry on protests either as anti-Serb ones or anti-government ones. They are becoming a serious factor,” said Janjic, and added that Serbian parliamentary group in Pristina could split in two fractions if the problem with Jablanovic is not settled.
