Both politics and economy and lately sports and entertainment, whatever the topic in Kosovo and Metohija is security is an indispensable part of the story, outgoing Kosovo Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Milan Radojevic told RTS. He added security situation on the ground is different from what is stated in the official reports.

Speaking for RTS morning news edition Radojevic said the security situation in Kosovo and Metohija only appears to be stable and that the intensified rhetoric is the biggest challenge.

“But we’re far from seeing it on the ground. Last year was one of the most difficult in the past decade - the murder of Oliver Ivanovic, the arrest of Marko Đuric, the incursion into Mitrovica, and then the tariffs”, Radojevic noted, commenting on Admiral James Foggo’s report that there was no security risk in the Serbian areas in Kosovo.

He also said, in addition to the security challenges, Serbs in Kosovo put up with the institutional and economic pressures. “Serbs are under economic blockade and sanctions, and this is visible in the four Serb municipalities in the north. There is a different problem in Gracanica - an attempt to change ethnic structure. Thefts of cattle were frequent in Novo Brdo”, Radojevic stressed.

Political representatives of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija informed Admiral Foggo and US Ambassador Kosnett about the problems on the ground, but also about their concerns that these problems could escalate.

“We are concerned that due to the absence of dialogue, and soon the elections for the European Parliament will start, Pristina will try to change the situation on the ground in its favor. We urge all of them to come to see the situation on the ground, because one thing is stated in the report, and it’s quite different when you come for a field visit and face people and their fears”, Radojevic pointed out.

He recalled that over the last six months, there have been more than 100 registered attacks on returnees.

“Unfortunately, we do not have a clear condemnation from representatives of the institutions in Pristina. They need to come forth in public and say the people should return, not to constantly have roadblocks and pressure. We hope Kosovo police will take slightly stricter measures in the future”, Radojević underlined.