Serbs neither trust Belgrade

Representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church, particularly representatives of this church in Kosovo, had been declared against such an idea of resolving the problem.

Randjel Nojik, former Kosovo Assembly deputies from the Serb community's ranks, tells Radio Free Europe that such statements by Serbia's authorities have not only shattered the unity of Kosovo Serbs, but have sparked fears of representatives of northern Kosovo Serbs that such a solution to the problem does not enjoy the support of the Serb community.

Moreover, according to him, in the upcoming talks, such ideas could trigger far greater consequences, which would be, as he calls them, “destructive for Serbs”.

This is what it says there is no unity even among Serbs in northern Kosovo. Meanwhile, there are, however, differences when it comes to Serbs living on the southern side of the Iber River, because they -- mainly, almost all -- are with the Serbian Orthodox Church, besides political representatives, who are now trying to give support to Vuciqi. This speaks quite clearly that there is a precipice, not only with northern Serbs supporting division with the demarcation of borders, but also between official Belgrade and Serbs in Kosovo's”, Nojrik stressed.

Petar Miletic, also former Kosovo Assembly deputies from the Serb community's ranks, speaking of Radio Free Europe, says that since Serbia's authorities -- and in particular, Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq -- regarding their statements have received the backing of political representatives of Kosovo Serbs, who are involved in the Serbian List, they have not expected a harsh response from representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Meanwhile, according to him, reports between Serbs living in the south and those in northern Kosovo have always been in some kind of disagreement, because they lived under different circumstances. But, as it says, the idea of setting boundaries between Albanians and Serbs has sparked anxiety among Serbs living on the southern side of the Iber River.

I have visited many people on the south side of the Iber River. They ask only one question. What would happen to us, if we were to happen, although fortunately it does not seem to happen that border assignment, that division, that limit correction, whoever or whatever it is, will call? We'll be smaller. Surely even Serb rights would be smaller. Who knows, maybe even some massive Kosovo Serb exit” would happen, Miletic stressed.

Even Nojik says that there is fear among Kosovo Serbs, because, according to him, when official Belgrade puts pressure on the Serbian Orthodox Church, then Kosovo Serbs feel completely powerless in the face of pressures that can be exerted on them. As he emphasises, Kosovo Serbs already live with this fear and have lost confidence in official Belgrade.

Kosovo's “Serbs do not trust Belgrade, and I think Vuciq is clear as well. This is about the fact that his referendum confession may indicate that for such a solution, he cannot get the support of Serbs south of Ibri. Vuciqi's confession that he has the full support of all Serbs, either 80 per cent of Serbs, falls into the water. I think Serbs this time have made it very clear to Belgrade that they do not agree with the policy that applies to”, Nokjic said.

Despite that, Miletic expresses the opinion that Kosovo Serbs will continue to trust Belgrade because, according to him, some need this, some for emotional reasons and some others because they have no alternative. But, according to him, the much bigger problem will be the continuation of relations between Albanians and Serbs. That is because, as he says, statements by the top Serbian authorities for setting borders between Albanians and Serbs as a solution to the problem give the message that Albanians and Serbs cannot live together.

This is my biggest and most dangerous message. Who has the right to say that Serbs and Albanians cannot live in the same space? That's the idea of setting boundaries and the idea of us putting the line between us and never having any contact again. This does not go towards reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians. This leads to deepening the gap and conflict between Serbs and Albanians. I think this is not in the interest of the people who live, not only in Kosovo, but throughout the Balkans”, Miletic stressed.

However, most Kosovo Serbs, as Miletic said, will not voice a critical attitude towards Belgrade because they depend on it. Meanwhile, which, according to him, the official Pristina and neither the international community have made sufficient efforts all these years in order to benefit the faith of Kosovo Serbs.