Kosovo-Serbia Investigative Reports of Serbian List Role

While in the past legislative mandate, the Serbian List had abandoned the majority and passed into opposition, it had held the positions of deputy prime minister and two ministers at the executives.

In the current term, the Serbian List is not part of the ruling coalition, but based on constitutional requirements it has received two out of 15 ministries in the prime minister's government, Albin Kurti.

Politologist Ramush Tahiri tells Radio Free Europe that the role of the Serbian List -- whether of the past government of former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj -- has been constructive, despite the negative perception created in the opinion. According to him, the Serbian List protects the interests of the Serb community in Kosovo and despite its open stand against Kosovo independence, this political subject acknowledges the existing reality in the country.

The bad news is that even last time, whether or not Serbian government will participate in the Kosovo Government, the communique or the news Serbian Prime Minister Anna Brnabiq gave. It means, the Serbian List shows that it implements Belgrade's policy in Kosovo, which seems some sort of absurdity because it is the policy of another state in another state. However, exactly Kosovo is talking to Belgrade in Brussels about regulating domestic affairs in many areas, including the rights of the Serb community in Kosovo”, Tahiri said.

The recognition of political developments, Randjel Nojrik, former Kosovo Assembly deputies from the Serb community ranks, speaking of Radio Free Europe, expresses the opinion that the Serbian List's role in Kosovo institutions has so far been largely dependent on what signals it received from official Belgrade. But, according to him, take into account the pressures of US President Donald Trump's administration, which are being made to official Pristina to clear the 100 per cent fee for Serbia's products, but also the signals that after the eventual removal of this tax pressure will fall on official Belgrade for reaching an agreement with Kosovo, the role of the Serbian List will be adjusted in line with the circumstances in which Belgrade itself will be in.

“Whatever politics is and whatever the pressure is on (Serbia's president, Aleksandar) Vucicin, so will the Serbian List. The latter will not function independently. The Serbian list is not capable of bringing decisions on its own, so its role in the Government of Kosovo will depend on many, as yet, on how they receive signals from Belgrade. I think very important decisions will be made in the coming period, but the Serbian List will be supportive only of what Belgrade's” says, Nokjic said.

Serbian List officials, who Radio Free Europe has tried to contact to assume their role in the high institutions, have not been accessible.

Politologist Tahiri expresses the opinion that the Serbian List will continue working in the assembly, but also in the government, through two ministries, where it will deal with spending the previous budget on them and on specific projects, as well as employing their staff.

The “means, are administration, any other administration, but without any political powers that would influence the advancement or realisation of community rights or in Kosovo's progress in democratic processes”, Tahiri said.

But, Nojik estimates that the Serbian List will accept, for its two ministers to work as a team with the cabinet of ministers of Prime Minister Kurti's government, for the implementation of the governing programme, in case it requires official Belgrade.

“I think that the Serbian List will accept this, but all this depends on whether the tariff to Serbia's goods will be removed. If that happens, the Serbian List will all accept, because such an order will be received from Belgrade”, Nojrik estimated.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, earlier in an interview for Radio Free Europe, has said the presence of the Serbian List in the Government of Kosovo is a constitutional requirement, but it is not part of the ruling coalition. However, he has stressed that he expects the entire government cabinet to function as a single team and with a government programme, as well as has shown the hope that the Serb List will act under this programme to help improve the lives of all citizens in Kosovo, especially those of the Serb community whose votes the Serbian List has received.