Statehood Day marked in northern Kosovo and Metohija

ZUBIN POTOK Statehood Day was marked on Friday in Kosovo and Metohija with a ceremony in the northern town of Zubin Potok. Representatives of Serbs gathered there said that they do not want the Pristina, i.e. Albanian institutions in their areas north of the Ibar River, where Serbs are a majority. Statehood Day marked in northern Kosovo and Metohija Zubin Potok Mayer Slavisa Ristic said that Serbs were "happy to celebrate the national holiday, but also concerned about their survival and safety of their houses, holy sites and graves". That is the reason why Serbs regard with anxiety the agreements reached so far in the dialogue in Brussels, and that is why they are concerned about the continuation of the dialogue, Tanjug reported. “These days, the international community is threatening with the abolition of the institutions of the Republic of Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija, and in the last 13 years, we have been fighting to preserve the Serb institutions in Kosovo and Metohija,” Ristic said. He underscored that Serbs in northern Kosovo do not want other institutions in northern Kosovo than those of Serbia. “We do not want artificial creations and some fabricated institutions, because if we want to celebrate Serbia's Statehood Day here in the future, then we need Serb institutions, and no others,” he said. Ristic noted the results of the referendum that was held a year ago, when local citizens said no to independent Kosovo and Kosovo institutions. He stressed that Serbs want the following issues to be put on the agenda: the security of Serbs and other non-Albanians, return of the usurped assets in Kosovo, return of displaced people, and protection of religious and cultural heritage. The ceremony in Zubin Potok brought together, among others, representatives of the local self-governments from the four municipalities in northern Kosovo, municipalities from central Serbia, Government Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin. "Serbs must not let others decide their fate" Aleksandar Vulin stated on Friday that Serbs in Kosovo will not be the only nation in Europe without the right to their own voice and noted that they should not let others decide on their fate without them. During the gathering to mark Statehood Day in Zubin Potok, Vulin noted that Serbs are the only nation in Europe whose cemeteries are desecrated, whose children are targeted by bombs and who are being arrested, beaten and imprisoned on their religious holidays. “Serbs must not be the only nation in Europe to be deprived of the right to decide where and how they would live and in which territory they want to stay. Serbs must not be the only nation in Europe without the right to their own voice,” Vulin said. Pointing out that Serbia has existed for a long period of time, Vulin stated that all previous agreements would be respected but that Serbia will not reach an agreement which would be detrimental to the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and the country itself. He called on the Serbs gathered in Zubin Potok, including the guests from ten municipalities from central Serbia, to stand united and forget about differences and parties and to oppose decisions being made without their voice. Serbia's institutions will not be annulled and we have come forth with the platform and resolution on Kosovo-Metohija and we can discuss the country's future and the future of the nation only if the international community understands these two documents, he noted. “There is no lasting, just and sustainable solution without the will of Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and there can be no fair solution for Kosovo and Metohija without Serbs,” Vulin stated. Tanjug

Statehood Day marked in northern Kosovo and Metohija

Zubin Potok Mayer Slavisa Ristić said that Serbs were "happy to celebrate the national holiday, but also concerned about their survival and safety of their houses, holy sites and graves".

That is the reason why Serbs regard with anxiety the agreements reached so far in the dialogue in Brussels, and that is why they are concerned about the continuation of the dialogue, Tanjug reported.

“These days, the international community is threatening with the abolition of the institutions of the Republic of Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija, and in the last 13 years, we have been fighting to preserve the Serb institutions in Kosovo and Metohija,” Ristić said.

He underscored that Serbs in northern Kosovo do not want other institutions in northern Kosovo than those of Serbia. “We do not want artificial creations and some fabricated institutions, because if we want to celebrate Serbia's Statehood Day here in the future, then we need Serb institutions, and no others,” he said.

Ristić noted the results of the referendum that was held a year ago, when local citizens said no to independent Kosovo and Kosovo institutions.

He stressed that Serbs want the following issues to be put on the agenda: the security of Serbs and other non-Albanians, return of the usurped assets in Kosovo, return of displaced people, and protection of religious and cultural heritage.

The ceremony in Zubin Potok brought together, among others, representatives of the local self-governments from the four municipalities in northern Kosovo, municipalities from central Serbia, Government Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin.

"Serbs must not let others decide their fate"

Aleksandar Vulin stated on Friday that Serbs in Kosovo will not be the only nation in Europe without the right to their own voice and noted that they should not let others decide on their fate without them.

During the gathering to mark Statehood Day in Zubin Potok, Vulin noted that Serbs are the only nation in Europe whose cemeteries are desecrated, whose children are targeted by bombs and who are being arrested, beaten and imprisoned on their religious holidays.

“Serbs must not be the only nation in Europe to be deprived of the right to decide where and how they would live and in which territory they want to stay. Serbs must not be the only nation in Europe without the right to their own voice,” Vulin said.

Pointing out that Serbia has existed for a long period of time, Vulin stated that all previous agreements would be respected but that Serbia will not reach an agreement which would be detrimental to the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and the country itself.

He called on the Serbs gathered in Zubin Potok, including the guests from ten municipalities from central Serbia, to stand united and forget about differences and parties and to oppose decisions being made without their voice.

Serbia's institutions will not be annulled and we have come forth with the platform and resolution on Kosovo-Metohija and we can discuss the country's future and the future of the nation only if the international community understands these two documents, he noted.

“There is no lasting, just and sustainable solution without the will of Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and there can be no fair solution for Kosovo and Metohija without Serbs,” Vulin stated.