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Why do they try to scare us? (Radio KIM)

There are different warnings on alleged conflicts arriving from Belgrade over the last couple of months, including those about “possible attacks against the Serbs in the north” and “tensions” created by Pristina. Such statements can be heard almost on a daily basis from the Serbian President, Foreign Affairs Minister, members of Srpska Lista, and also Serbian Army Chief-in-Staff, Radio KIM reports. However, some Serbs from the north of Kosovo think such statements aim to intimidate the population, while an intention to sign the agreement and hand over Kosovo has been behind it. Slavisa Ristic, former mayor of Zubin Potok and Serbian Assembly MP, who is living in the northern Kosovo said that tensions and concerns for the security were always present, but this time the tension is created by Belgrade authorities’ representatives, foremost Aleksandar Vucic. One can get an impression, Ristic added, the intention is to create such an environment “in order to let Kosovo go, so the people would swallow it and accept an independent Kosovo.” “It goes beyond comprehension to have a situation in which Aleksandar Vucic is scaring us in this way, simply playing a role of some sort of a scarecrow over the last year with constant announcements of Kosovo police and army intrusion to the north. Instead of sending messages of calm, and encouraging the people to stay here, they are doing the opposite,” Ristic told RTV KIM. Ristic further believes “Albanians would do nothing unless they have some sort of permission for that by their mentors” or “some sort of silent Belgrade’s consent,” so the job regarding delineation can be “completed.” Nenad Radosavljevic, an analyst and a journalist from the north of Kosovo thinks that representatives of the Serbian authorities cannot stay on a political scene without causing problems, hoping it would turn profitable to them. Radosavljevic told RTV KIM representatives of authorities both in Pristina and Belgrade are ready to remain in power even by causing conflicts. “They are so thirsty of power that they have no limits. Some people try to stay on a political scene this way, and many went too far in this. Rhetoric is getting harsher and harsher and that is one thing, but if one considers what can be felt in the air related to these statements, it is realistic there is a such possibility in particular regarding the north and taking over the border, and also eventual actions by Serbia. Then some tampon zone would be created, and a peace conference would follow where both sides would easily sign what they are offered because they are forced to do so, despite of it not being their good will,” Radosavljevic explained in an ironic tone. Meanwhile, Ristic added no one has the right to even think about the idea of delineation, let alone to implement it. “No one has the right to surrender even a small part of Kosovo and Metohija. Another thing is that Kosovo is occupied at the moment, however, this is not for the first time that somebody has occupied Kosovo, but nobody has the right to hand over that territory,” Ristic concluded.