Minister Nenad Ricalo's first reaction: That's the truth of the charges against me

Ricalo says all this information is inaccurate and deliberate.

The fake campaign that's being led against me and my family is based entirely on incorrect information”, he wrote.

Full letter:

I inform the public that the information of the last few days that have been published to me is inaccurate and intentional and has been aimed at discrediting me, the Serbian List, the newly formed government and my future work at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development.

As a person who has witnessed a commitment to reconciliation between communities and a multiethnic society over the past 18 years, I realize that the wounds of war have not yet healed and that they still cause pain no matter who they belong to. These wounds cause deep emotions that are easier to manipulate. At no time have I done any harm to any Kosovo Albanian. Until 1999, I played basketball, studied and lived a quiet life in Pristina. I've never spoken to any of my neighbors or entered into conflict. Now I'm seeing that some of them didn't like me very much, but I guess I had most of them.

From 2001 to 2003, I worked in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and from 2003 I have actively worked in the civil sector for reconciliation between communities and developing society. This public may not know, but four years I have been a member of the Board at the Soros Foundation along with Shpend Ahmeti and Ilir Deda and other prominent intellectuals from Pristina. In 2003, I shared with Albin Kurt in establishing the KAN. At the time together, we have worked on establishing a non-violent war strategy for a better life and reconciliation among people in Kosovo. He has later changed his beliefs by starting another way, has formed the Vetevendosje movement, which uses violent methods of achieving political goals in politics, which I do not agree with. Since then we've stopped working together. I have been part of many civil society projects and initiatives in Kosovo since 2013 and have worked at the Central Election Commission in Pristina in 2017. I'm a public face, I've given hundreds of statements and interviews, during my working time at the Central Election Commission I've been present in the media on live television broadcasts and through different chronics.

The false campaign that is being led against me and my family is based entirely on incorrect information. Two facts are important, my brother did not live and was not present in Kosovo during 1998 and 1999, my father retired in 1996 after surviving two heart attacks. Those who lead this campaign can continue freely to fabricate lies about them, but unquestionable evidence exists. Mr. Zemaj MP in the Kosovo Parliament has lied to the public when he showed my brother's alleged photograph, where he is not found, and is part of the deliberate public manipulation campaign.

I think that the public should know all of this, that the campaign is completely political nature, and that its goal is to discredit me and overthrow the government. It seems that any prominent Serb must go through this situation on false charges, but this time they have chosen the wrong man. I've been here 18 years, I'm a public person, constantly present in the media, and if someone's goal is to scare me, that's what he's never done.

With respect,

Nenad Ricalo

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development