Rasp: A decision on terrorist organisations contributes to panic

He says the decision was voted under the different “ ”, so there was no accompanying documentation to know more about it.

Therefore, Rassic believes that this decision has been hasty and hopes there will be no consequences for the survival of Serbs in northern Kosovo, who, as he put it, leave “daily due to uncertainty”.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said during the argument of the decision that these two organisations, operating in the north, present “serious and direct threats to constitutional order and security in Kosovo”.

The US State Department, on the other hand, told Radio Free Europe that the Government of Kosovo has not been co-ordinated with Washington in terms of this decision.

Radio Free Europe: Mr. Rassic, at the Kosovo Government's meeting you have voted against declaring organisations “Civil Protection” and “North Brigade” as a terrorist organisation. Why?

Nenad Rassic: First of all, it was not the goal that some potential organisations, in this case, be understood as my protection of those organizations. I wanted to stress as always, I said yesterday in Government, what methodology will actually be defined, or what methodology is defined as terrorist or extremist, and what are the steps after that? When will they identify, who means that one individual is terrorist or extremist?

That decision was adopted at the various “ ” point, which means there was no accompanying document that would indicate the legal framework or assumption that we would know what we were deciding on.

In addition, you yourselves know that there have recently been many surprises for our fellow citizens in northern Kosovo, and all this contributes to the panic that has already been created. I don't know if you know, but I know that every day, or every second day, you have an ecstasy from the north. And those people who stayed, with some hasty decisions like this they get into an even worse situation, making their attitude uncertain.

So a very hasty decision, for me. Maybe we should take a good look. There's no way I've ever wanted to protect or support any organization that might be called terrorist or extremist, but there are decisions that need a little deeper research and fact planning and only after consulting to make such a decision.

So, I think this was generally a mistake, because I think it would bother our fellow citizens even more in the north. And in no way will it contribute to what we're constantly promoting that is reconciliation, an agreement that can be comprehensive. In my opinion, it only makes it difficult to achieve reconciliation.

Radio Free Europe: You mentioned that it is not yet known how one will determine whether one is part of these two organisations. In the meantime, have you learned anything more from Interior Minister Jalal Svecla?

Nenad Rassic: Honestly, no. Some say these are absolutely invented organisations, that they do not exist in the sense of membership, but are used only as terminology, as an alleged expression to support fellow citizens in the north.
Remember, the term “Civil Protection” has been present before, and according to the 2016 Brussels agreement, if I am not mistaken, then most of those Civil Protection members have integrated into Kosovo society, or each of the ministries had a certain number of people who were employed and who were once in Civil Protection.

So my question is, respectively, what happens now to people who were part of the Civil Protection and are now part of Kosovo institutions?

For this, colleague Svechla said that's not good for them, because all those people are engaged in the Brussels Agreement, so they don't belong to that group that might be called extremist or terrorist.

So I think the minister has meant that maybe the future cases, that something like that can be described as terrorist or extremist. I want to believe that this is probably done to prevent any further action in that kind of organization, such as those two organizations.

Therefore, there is much uncertainty in the methodology of implementing the government's decision yesterday (29 June), but come on, I believe it will be clearer and I hope there will be no consequences for the survival of Serbs in northern Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Do you think your “voice gets”?

Nenad Rassic: Everyone listens, but how do they react to him? Unfortunately, my political organization's capacities are limited, that's not a secret. Mine is trying to protect the interests of the community in every way, with all my power and in this case as a little more concrete -- the interests of the Serb community, and I will always do that.

Now, how successful I am in this is not just up to me. It depends on many factors, not only domestic but also international. It is a broader organization to keep working toward something.

Radio Free Europe: You talked about “severe consequences” from such a decision. What were your consequences?

Nenad Rassic: So this panic will prevail further north. I said, almost every day you have people leaving because of the uncertainty that has been created.

Radio Free Europe: You mentioned it is increasingly difficult to achieve co-operation with Serbs living in the north. But, the interior minister believes these two organisations are making co-operation and communication with Serbs in the north difficult. What is your position on this matter?

Nenad Rassic: I'm going to point out an example from diplomacy, that if you want to communicate with people, you have to find the best side of your institutions in this case is communication about rights that can be realized and offered in the north of the country.

Unfortunately, in recent months we haven't been completely close to all the people on the ground, because of those <x0-real barriers” that have occurred, because of the security situation, although we've been trying in different ways, as the Ministry for Communities is doing, to be closer to citizens, with competitions to help farmers, businessmen, non-governmental organisations... Again, the [Kosovo] government can and should do much more to show its true face that it wants Serbs to integrate into society.

Radio Free Europe: As minister of the Communists, do you have contact with people in the north?

Nenad Rassic: Of course, we have appointed a deputy minister from the north (Radojica Radomirovic). We've also hired several accomplices to work for people from the north. We have received about 20 to 30 applications for support of businesses, farmers, nongovernmental organisations.

Some progress has been made on our part, but much more needs to be made. The next thing to do is open competitions in several municipalities after free positions (because of the resignation of people from the Serb community).

Radio Free Europe: In general, how would you assess the actions of the Government of Kosovo in the north in recent weeks?

Nenad Rassic: Still more can be done, there is room for great progress. I understand concern, we all know there have been various criminal acts in the north, but it cannot be eliminated that crime for all who live in the north. Of course, those who have violated the law must bear responsibility and in no way intend to protect those people, but not to put them all in the same category.

Every crime or criminal has a name and a surname; all people or communities cannot be identified as criminals.

Radio Free Europe: We witnessed a conflict with KFOR members in Zvecan. You think these are terrorist acts, don't you?

Nenad Rassic: I wouldn't call it a terrorist act, there were hundreds of people there. In this case, if we say so, does that mean they would be terrorists? Absolutely not, they were individuals who seized the opportunity to hurt KFOR members or police officers by some means. Every criminal has a name and a name, he cannot have a general community for something that has been done by individuals.

Radio Free Europe: How do you see the solution to the current crisis in the north?

Nenad Rassic: We need a little more tolerance and understanding for the other side. This is what we've unfortunately lost on all sides, because I don't see just one, but three or four sides. If they could just give each other a little more time.