Independence in the north, Serbs do not want, Albanians cannot celebrate

They have told Kosovo Prees that not only do they not celebrate, but they are not aware of this holiday, nor do they care.

Lubisa Dobric, a citizen from northern Mitrovica, says he does not come into consideration to celebrate Kosovo's independence.

He said that for them, Kosovo is part of Serbia and they celebrated their state's independence two days ago.

This is not the job, he added, for the same holiday to be celebrated twice a year.

No, I didn't know, now I heard from you, and I don't care. What to celebrate, the day of Kosovo independence, is not coming into consideration. We have celebrated the day of the Republic of Serbia”, Dobric said.

Milutin Periq, a northern citizen of Mitrovica, also said that two days ago he celebrated Serbia's independence and that he cannot celebrate two similar holidays within the year.

I didn't even know about independence. I celebrated a few days ago, so I can't celebrate the same party twice. I celebrated Serbia's independence”, Periq stressed.

Meanwhile, Adem Mripa, also citizen from the north of this city, explained that Albanians in the north are in an occupied manner and still do not have the opportunity to celebrate this holiday as celebrated throughout the country.

“In the northern part, there are no signs of an independence holiday because we are still in an occupied manner and we still don't have that freedom to feel the satisfaction of independence”, he said.

He has called for national unity more than ever, saying that even in the north it will be celebrated in the future, but without predicting when this will happen.

On the other hand, in southern Mitrovica, where the city is decorated with flags, citizens have come out in large numbers to enjoy this holiday, which in addition to various activities over the past days, was accompanied today by the independence concert held in the centre of the city as it was organised by the municipality of Mitrovica.

Hasime Hasani, citizen, argued the holidays in Mitrovica are always flawed, because Albanians in the north do not have the possibility of any organisation as in the south.

“In Mitrovica always holidays are flawed because unlike the north that is all quiet and Albanians there don't have any kind of organisation, we should enjoy even what we have organised here in the south”, Hasani said.

Otherwise, throughout the country, municipalities have organised activities to mark Kosovo's 12th anniversary of independence, while Pristina has been the chief focus of events having the seal of the presidency and the government.