The story about Belgrade’s role in the decision of the EU to prosecute Oliver Ivanovic is generally known to begin around the beginning of his detention in 2014. It’s nothing new. I have heard it from different sources, including ones that I consider to be credible and in a position to know. However, I cannot reveal their identity. But whatever the case, it is clear that the arrest of Mr. Ivanovic – after he narrowly lost the race for Mayor of northern Mitrovica – served the political goals of Belgrade. It did not want a strong local leader in northern Kosovo, who was ready to begin the process of pragmatic work with the international community and institutions in Pristina. Belgrade wanted someone who more lenient, because it is obvious that the Kosovo Serbs are used as a bargaining chip with Pristina.
It is also clear – and I think that this is well within the Serbian government’s right – that for Serbia, continuing the process with the EU is top priority, above all else. The idea that my statement was an attempt to “break up” the union between Serbia and Kosovo Serbs is absurd. It’s up to the Serbs from both Serbia and Kosovo to decide in the context of political and international realities.
The unity of interest, and even direct relations between Serbs in Serbia and Kosovo, can continue to exist even with full recognition of Kosovo’s independence. Now, it seems that the problem is that Belgrade would rather play games – including those related to Oliver Ivanovic – than make concrete and necessary decisions to finally put the status of Kosovo behind us. Kosovo will never be part of Serbia. It’s a fact. It is better to continue ensuring that the Kosovo Serbs fully benefit from all the agreements reached in the Brussels process, and are able to elect people like Oliver Ivanovic to represent them in a multi-ethnic Kosovo.
