“has potential for escalation” Jablanovic talks about the situation in the North

There is potential for escalation, Jablanovic says as he talks about elections expected to be held in the four northern municipalities: Northern Mitrovica, Leposaviq, Zvecan's Zubin Potok.

Incidents marked as burning cars, properties and such, according to him, will influence unless citizens get out of the election, respectively, fear of them.

Jablanovic also has criticism for the Central Election Commission mentions the question of polling stations, which only today became known. Critics also have for the two governments of the QUN ambassadors who, according to him, did not visit the north to deliver a message.

As he talks about the Serbian List, he stresses that this party is always active, always participates in elections, which, according to him, has only one goal.

Serbian “List through several NGOs has sent the names of surveyors for elections”, Jablanovic for Inseder has voiced conviction.

Total interview:

Jablanovic: The security situation in northern Kosovo has never been good, primarily because it has never been stable in the long term. The reasons for this are many and would take a long time to list them all. Currently, the security situation is no longer favourable, because Serbs left the institutions, including the KPS, and barricades from December 2022 showed how potential the escalation is. The vast majority of citizens fear for their security and their families, and unfortunately people are increasingly leaving the north of Kosovo due to frequent tensions. We are witnessing that before the 2304 elections, car burns, property and other incidents continue to occur every day, which only complicate the situation. I think the fear of citizens will have a big impact on the election. I have to stress that members of the police (Albanians) located at the northern stations do their job with difficulty and purely professionally. However, the citizens' attitude towards the Special Unit of the KP and its members towards the citizens is quite another story! You can also see the major commitment of KFOR and EULEX to help maintain the rule and law.

Isander newspaper: According to your survey/analysis: Can you mention what are the main problems in the election process?

Jablanovic: The main problem, in my opinion, is that at the beginning of this election process, the CEC did not take a clear initiative, and that feels and is seen in the fact that only a few days before the election has the decision been made. Where you'll vote. This decision was taken by the CEC without consulting political parties registered for this election, and some of these polling stations and their locations could be contested. It is not yet known when and where the training of election commissions will take place. On the other hand, the Republika Srpska List has been actively working to prevent elections and behave as if without them institutions should not exist and that without them “jet” must be stopped. We are witnessing that no senior official of the Government of Kosovo and the Government of Serbia, as well as no QUINT ambassador, has visited Kosovo's north and sent clear messages and signals to citizens with their presence before the elections. They simply announced from the convenience of their offices without sincere care and feelings for the needs of the citizens, and it certainly takes choices for municipalities to function and develop normally.

Isander newspaper: The Serbian list is not part of these elections, do you expect any trouble from them on Sunday?

Jablanovic: In my opinion, the Serbian List is part of this election process. It actively participates in preventing elections and convincing citizens not to vote in the elections. At the same time, they stop voting where they've been doing about 40 years. The public should know that the Serbian List through several NGOs has sent the observer names for this election. The purpose of these actions is to intimidate citizens in the polling stations themselves. The SL is aware that it has lost the credibility and support of the people and is now trying to hinder the normal organization of violent elections. As a person, I am particularly concerned about the fact that they did not clearly condemn the attacks on Serb property in the north and the daily burning of cars. The fact that the SL left the institutions and mayors resigned does not absolve them of responsibility. They are legally obliged and responsible for all processes and events until the selection of new political structures. SL officials have been using the resources of Kosovo and municipalities under the Kosovo system all this time, and they are doing so at the expense of citizens and for their own benefits. It will last until 2304 and then I think some people have to answer for their responsibility as officials and with whom they abused.