Deeply concerned about the repressive and aggressive measures taken by the Government of Kosovo and the behavior of special police forces in the north of Kosovo that has the potential to escalate to unfathomable consequences for citizens’ peace and security, and to destroy long-term prospects for reconciliation and co-existence between Albanians and Serbs in this area;
Condemning all forms of violence committed against citizens, journalists and members of security forces over the course of recent events, and underlining that political problems cannot and must not be solved through police actions but rather through constructive means and at the dialogue table;
Having in mind lessons learned from history that an institutional apparatus under the control of a single ethnic community cannot and must not govern the lives of other ethnic groups, because democracy in post-conflict and multi-ethnic societies demands a just division of power and competencies, as well as the respect of human rights and freedoms. It certainly does not entail aggressive behavior by security structures and public bodies controlled by the majority community towards ethnic minorities;
Underlining that co-existence between Albanians and Serbs can be built solely upon a foundation of trust and mutual respect, and not by repression, violence and dehumanization, to which the Serb community is subjected to on a daily basis, starting from statements made by high-ranking officials down to media reporting and negative social media campaigns;
Calling attention to the fact that Serbs in Kosovo, both as a community as well as its members, are daily exposed to attempts at delegitimization, dehumanization, finger-pointing, and criminalization. This occurs both during government officials’ public appearances as well during meetings with international representatives, where the legitimate stances of the Kosovo Serb community are presented as being instrumentalized by the Government of Serbia, thereby attempting to discredit them in the eyes of international partners and the public;
Stressing that democracy is not built with elections held in mobile containers, or with those who hold public office yet have no popular legitimacy, but nevertheless intend to govern citizens belonging to other ethnic communities, with the power of the gun and police repression;
Underscoring that good governance and rule of law are not one in the same; while rule of law can be addressed by artificial intelligence, good governance is far more complex and delicate process that requires a talent for leadership;
Having in mind that the Government of Kosovo and its institutions violate the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the Serb community on a daily basis, fail to implement decisions handed down by the Constitutional Court, or fulfill its obligations undertaken during the dialogue process with Serbia;
Reaffirming not only our commitment to lead a dignified life in this area, to co-existence and mutual respect with Albanians and other ethnic communities, but also in our pride in ourselves, our history, our church, and cultural and religious heritage;
Wanting to believe in the sincerity of the statements made by representatives of the international community, especially those from the European Union and the Quint when they emphasize their support for multi-ethnicity and peaceful co-existence between ethnic communities in Kosovo;
We, the undersigned, members of the Serb community from all regions of Kosovo, are united in the demands that we are delivering to representatives of the European Union, United States of America, Germany, France, Italy, and Great Britain. We are directing our demands to them because we believe that they are the only actors that are capable of maintaining peace in Kosovo, and in applying pressure to the Government of Albin Kurti to carry out the measures outlined below, which are necessary for ensuring peace and creating the conditions for the implementation of the recently reached Agreement on Normalization:
- • The withdrawal of all special police units from the north of Kosovo since their presence is in violation of Articles 128 and 61 of the Constitution of Kosovo and Article 9 of the Brussels Agreement signed in 2013. The behavior of the police generates fear and disturbance among the local population. The absence of an adequate reaction to their deployment in the north at violently and unjustifiably confiscated land, conveyed a negative message that the militarization of this area is allowed.
- • For the political representatives of Kosovo Albanians, who have no democratic legitimacy to represent local communities here, to leave municipal and other public buildings in administrative centers in the north of Kosovo. Furthermore, we demand that current employees of local administrations be allowed unhindered access to their offices until the holding of new elections.
- • For the deployment of KFOR and EULEX units in the north of Kosovo in the goal of maintaining peace until the unconditional return of local Serbs to the police, which must also include strong guarantees for the respect of the Regional Police Directorate’s -North unique competencies which are defined by the Brussels Agreement, and which have been eroded by decisions issued by the Government of Kosovo starting from the end of 2021;
- • The implementation of Article 7 of the Agreement on Normalization that guarantees the right to self-management of Serb communities in Kosovo and that formalizes the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church;
- • The formation of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in accordance with the Brussels Agreement signed in 2013 and the Basic Principles for the formation of Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in 2015;
- • After adapting the legal framework for the formation of the Association, the holding of democratic elections in municipalities in northern Kosovo and the establishment of conditions for the unhindered and unconditional return of Serbs to institutions;
- • The implementation of the decision reached by the Constitutional Court in May of 2016 confirming the Visoki Dečani Monastery’s ownership of 24 hectares of land;
- • The resolution of all cases of attacks against Serbs and their property, including the illegal expropriation of land and recent incidents during which firearms were used by members of Kosovo’s security forces, as well as the strengthening of security measures in Serb-inhabited areas in Kosovo;
- • A stop to the demonization of the Serb community during public appearances by the President of Kosovo, Prime minister of Kosovo, and other high-ranking government officials from the Albanian community.
Those countries that have recognized Kosovo on the promise that they would work to build a multi-ethnic and democratic society and have spent years fostering the affirmation of its independence, have a historical and moral obligation towards the Serbs who live there. Our future depends on your resolve, and keeping peace in Kosovo depends on the swiftness of your actions. History will remember the course that you will now follow. We ask that you be accountable and faithful to democratic values in the diverse, multi-ethnic societies on which western civilization rests.
Signatories:
Name and Surname/ Institution, organization, or profession/ Location
1. Dragiša Mijačić / InTER / Zubin Potok
2. Jovana Radosavljević / New Social Initiative / Leposavić
3. Milica Andrić Rakić / New Social Initiative / Zubin Potok
4. Miodrag Milićević / Aktiv / North Mitrovica
5. Dušan Radaković / ACDC / North Mitrovica
6. Archimandrite Sava Janjić / abbot of Visoki Dečani / Dečan
7. Miroslav Ivanović / retired judge / North Mitrovica
8. Nenad Todorović/ theatre director / North Mitrovica
9. Ljubomir Pantović / lawyer / North Mitrovica
10. Professor Nebojša R. Mitić PhD / professor at the Medical Faculty of UP / North Mitrovica
11. Professor Biljana Jaredić PhD / Zvečan
12. Momčilo Trajković / president of the Serbian National Forum / Gračanica
13. Prim. dr Zvonko Radosavljević /head of surgery University hospital of North Mitrovica/ Leposavić
14. Professor Igor Damjanović PhD / drama professor, Faculty of Arts of UP / Beograd, displaced
15. Aleksandar Arsenijević / president of Civc Initiative Serbian survival / Zvečan
16. Radmila Kapetanovic / Kolo srpskih sestara / Zubin Potok
17. Jasmina Živković Jovanović / Association of the families of missing persons – Štrpce/ Štrpce
18. Goran Avramović / editor RTV Kim / Gračanica
19. Predrag Miljković / lawyer / North Mitrovica
20. Zorica Vorgučić / editor RTV Kim / Gračanica
21. Darko Dimitrijević / editor Radija Goraždevac / Goraždevac
22. Anđelka Ćup / journalist / Gračanica
23. Ivan Nikolić / CSD / Gračanica
24. Ružica Simić / Womens’ Right / North Mitrovica
25. Marko Jakšić / Bachelor of Law and political activist / North Mitrovica
26. Saša Lazarević Kudra / vocal soloist / Zubin Potok
27. Ana Marija Ivković / journalist Alternativna / Zvečan
28. Miloš Subotić / Bachelor of Law / North Mitrovica
29. Stefan Veljković / social and political activist / North Mitrovica
30. Marko Milenković / New Social Initiative / Leposavić
31. Ivan Vučković / journalist / Leposavić
32. Stefan Kalaba / forestry engeneer / Zvečan
33. Nenad Maksimović / Center for Peace and Tolerance / Gračanica
34. Aleksandar Rapajić / Nansen Dialogue / North Mitrovica
35. Milica Radovanović / New Social Initiative / North Mitrovica
36. Rajko Jovanović / Center for Social Dialogue / Gračanica
37. Aleksandar Velić / Center for Social Dialogue / Gračanica
38. Vladimir Radosavljević / professor / Leposavić
39. Milan Dobrić / graphic designer / North Mitrovica
40. Danilo Đurić / climbing instructor / Osojane
41. Jelena Jevremović / professor / Leposavić
42. Bojana Manitašević / Center for Social Dialogue / Gračanica
43. Nevena Radosavljević / peace activist and researcher / Leposavić
44. Suzana Vukašinović / financial manager / Laplje Selo
45. Mladena Vukašinović / Laplje Selo
46. Veljko Samardžić / Center for Social Initiatives / Peć
47. Biljana Stanković / Laplje Selo
48. Aleksandar Tanasković / Eco Lepo / Leposavić
49. Vladan Pavić / master of tone National Theatre of Priština in Gračanica/ North Mitrovica
50. Vladislav Đerković / administration of National Theatre of Priština in Gračanica/ Leposavić
51. Isidora Todorović / student of world literature / North Mitrovica
52. Nebojša Đorđević / actor at National Theatre of Priština in Gračanica / Valjevo, displaced
53. Ivana Simić /organizer National Theatre of Priština in Gračanica/ Beograd, displaced
54. Verica Nešović / Bachelor of Economics / Leposavić
55. Verka Jovanović / private sector / Leposavić
56. Slobodan Pejanović / Master of History / Leposavić
57. Gordana Đorić / Association of women entrepreneurs Avenija / Gračanica
58. Anđela Milosavljević / Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science / Leposavić
59. Ivan Milosavljević / Bachelor of Information Sciences / Leposavić
60. Nenad Jovanović / entrepreneur/ Leposavić
61. Srđan Simonović / Humani Centar Mitrovica / North Mitrovica
62. Veroljub Petronić / Humani Centar Mitrovica / North Mitrovica
63. Dejan Nedeljković / NGO Green heart / North Mitrovica
64. Miodrag Andrić / retired organizational engineer / Zubin Potok
65. Vesna Jovanović / professor of Serbian language and literature/ Parteš
66. Ružica Lukić / retired teacher / Parteš
67. Dobrivoje Jovanović / retired teacher / Parteš
68. Oliver Vujović / Forum for cooperation and multiethnic society / Gračanica
69. Milivoje Raičević / Master of Public Administation / North Mitrovica
70. Nikola Todić / New Social Initiative/ Leposavić
71. Slobodan Stošić / ACDC / North Mitrovica
72. Vladan Trifić / Institute for public research / Gračanica
73. Ivana Milosavljević / Association of the families of missing persons – Štrpce/ Štrpce
74. Jovana Cvetnić / graduated journalist / Zubin Potok
75. Saša ilić / Center for Peace and Tolerance / Gračanica
76. Nemanja Nestorović / professor of English Language and literature / North Mitrovica
77. Ivan Stojkovic / organizer National Theatre of Priština in Gračanica / Gračanica
78. Slađana Kostić / Bachelor of Economics / Zubin Potok
79. Uroš Branović / entrepreneur / Leposavić
80. Igor Dašić / social worker / Zvečan
81. Olivera Manojlović / professor of the Serbian language / Zubin Potok
82. Marko Radojević / Biology professor / Zubin Potok
83. Časlav Tomović / technology engineer / Velji Breg, Zubin Potok
84. Boban Petrović / professor / Gračanica
85. Milena Kasalović / professor of the Serbian language / Zubin Potok
86. Oliver Vezmar / Electrical Engineer / Zubin Potok
87. Ljubiša Mijačić / architect engineer / Zubin Potok
88. Bojana Vukadinovic / Master of Psychology / North Mitrovica
89. Nemanja Jovanović / IT professor / Zubin Potok
90. Nataša Trifunović / architect engineer / Zubin Potok
91. Dragana Dobrosavljević / Association of the families of missing persons – Štrpce/ Štrpce
92. Martin Aleksić / professor of mathematics / Zubin Potok
93. Dušan Bazović / student of medicine / North Mitrovica
94. Zoran Milić / professor of mathematics / Zubin Potok
95. Nikola Spasojević / professor of mathematics / Zubin Potok
96. Sanja Krtinić / civic activist, pegagoue / North Mitrovica
97. Bojana Miletić / professor of biology / Zubin Potok
98. Sonja Božović / professor of Serbian lanugage / Zubin Potok
99. Danijela Milosavljević / professor of Serbian lanugage / North Mitrovica
100. Radosava Đorđević / chemistry professor / Zubin Potok
101. Dragica Popović / doctor of medicine / North Mitrovica
102. Dragica Tomović / professor of sociology / Zubin Potok
103. Slađana Vulović / professor / Zubin Potok
104. Nataša Bjelica / professor of English language and literature / North Mitrovica
105. Aleksandra Savić / professor of Geography / Zubin Potok
106. Zlatko Stojanović / Laplje Selo
107. Miljan Božović / Bachelor of Economics / Zubin Potok
108. Miloš Mitrović / professor of the French language / Zubin Potok
109. Marija Trikoš / professor of Geography / North Mitrovica
110. Sanja Sovrlić / journalist / Leposavić
111. Nedeljko Mijačić / retired / Zubin Potok
112. Vasilije Marković / retired Electrical Engineer / Zubin Potok
113. Slađana Vukašinović / Laplje Selo
114. Đorđe Jelić / elektrotehničar računara / Zubin Potok
115. Aleksandar Arsić / Electrical Engineer / North Mitrovica
116. Dragiša Kostić / InTER / Zubin Potok
117. Ana Ćup Marković / journalist Gračanica Online and Prva TV / Gračanica
118. Bojan Milosavljević / Action for Social and Economic Development / Leposavić
119. Branislav Vasović / Youth Cultural Center / Leposavić
120. Mirjana Obradović / retired / Zubin Potok
121. Jelena Prica / tax administration worker / North Mitrovica
122. Milica Prica / philologist and designer / North Mitrovica
123. Marija Simunović / Agricultural Engineer / Zubin Potok
124. Anastasija Rakić / Agricultural Engineer / Zubin Potok
125. Vasiljka Voinović / Svet anđela / North Mitrovica
126. Marija Milenković / InTER / Zubin Potok
127. Katarina Milosavljević / student / Veliko Rudare, Zvečan
128. Aleksandra Fićović / student / Veliko Rudare, Zvečan
129. Dobrinka Obradović / Constrruction Technician / Zubin Potok
130. Mišel Koneski / Master of International Management/ Leposavić
131. Milica Milenković / Construction Engineer / Zubin Potok
132. Saša Jovanović / Association of the families of missing persons – Štrpce/ Štrpce
133. Verica Mijačić / professor of civic education / Zubin Potok
134. Milica Marković / Biology professor / Zubin Potok
135. Zorica Stanković / housekeeper / Parteš
136. Dragana Vićentijević / Professor of Chemistry / Zubin Potok
137. Andrijana Vlašković / Bachelor of Economics / Zubin Potok
138. Snežana Perić Bogdanović / Project Coordinator / Gračanica
139. Aleksandar Ratković / Architectural Engineer / North Mitrovica
140. Danilo Radović / specialist professional engineer of informatics and computer science / North Mitrovica
141. Mirjana Bojović / Bachelor of Law / North Mitrovica
142. Radoljub Jakšić / Plant Electrician / Zubin Potok
143. Milena Dabetić / psycologyst, European Certificate of Psychotherapy / North Mitrovica
144. Nikolina Klajić / student of Political Sciences / North Mitrovica
145. Marina Milentijević / student of journnalism/ Zvečan
146. Vladislav Ćup /media worker / Grčanica
147. Milena Maksimović / media worker / Radevo
148. Miladin Kostić / retired / Zubin Potok
149. Dimitrije Mirković / media worker / Laplje Selo
150. Zorica Obradović / student / Zubin Potok
151. Nikola Milosavljević / media worker / Gračanica
152. Nenad Cvetnić / Medical Technician / Zubin Potok
153. Božidarka Živković / Association of the families of missing persons – Štrpce/ Štrpce
154. Dragan Pešaković / Construction Engineer / Leposavic
155. Sunčica Andrejević / photo reporter Alternativna / Ugljare – Kosovo Polje
156. Marina Božović / professor of Geography / Zubin Potok
157. Vlado Vukomanović / Econimic Technician / Zubin Potok
158. Nemanja Božović / Bachelor of Pedagogy / North Mitrovica
159. Vesna Kostić / kindergarten teacher, pedagogue / Zubin Potok
160. Violeta Marinković / Bachelor of Economy / Zubin Potok
161. Nemanja Obradović / engineer of electrical engineering and computing / Zubin Potok
162. Andrija Igić / journalist, RTS correspondent/ Priština
163. Vesna Stajić / professional manager / Novo Brdo
164. Dragan Božović / engineer / Zubin Potok
165. Vladimir Živković / Electrical engineer and civic activist/ Gračanica
You can download the document in its entirety by clicking on the following link: https://ngoaktiv.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/APPEAL-FOR-PEACE-306.pdf
