There are no interethnic incidents in the Vushtrri region

When noon comes and the temperatures go to the maximum, Zeqir Ademi leaves work in his garden and asks for some shade under the trees.

They talk to the village mayor, Bratislav Kostic, about the day-to-day affairs, in particular the crops in Bahce. Despite belonging to two different communities, the relations are very friendly.

“We are safe here, we are not afraid of anyone, neither the Serbs of us nor we Albanians of them. There were no problems that made us fear each other”, declares Zeqir Ademi.

Bratislav Kostic also says that they have no problems with each other.

“We live close to each other. My daughter got married, there was music in Serbian, but I apologized to my neighbors and they were fine. The same thing happens with their entertainment, with their music and their language. We are all born in Kosovo and have some similar needs. I ask everyone to respect each other as much as possible,” said Kostic.

Bratislav Kostic’s house, the day before, was the target of an important visit. Here was the head of the EU office in Kosovo, Thomas Szunyog. The EU chief also announced about this meeting, while a large part of the statement was dedicated to inter-ethnic incidents, which according to Szunyog have become more frequent recently.

“While in Vushtrri/Vučitrn, together w/Mayor Idrizi, I visited Gojbulja/Gojbulë village to talk to the local Kosovo Serb population.

Inter-ethnic incidents were rare in Vushtrri/Vučitrn until the pandemic, but have since intensified&must be addressed.

The EU stands 4 equal rights!”, Szunyog wrote on his Twitter account.

RTV Dukagjini has requested an answer from the Office of the EU Chief on which institution this statement is based on. But for one thing for which they have not returned an answer. Similar to the fact that they did not say what was discussed in Kostic’s house. The latter says that the guests complained mainly about employment problems and lack of infrastructure.

“Regarding our conversation, we talked about the employment of young Serbs, because in the center of the municipality of Vushtrri are infrastructure problems, sewerage, water, lighting and similar problems. They have understood our needs and there are promises from them that the living of Albanians and Serbs will become even better. The Serbs living here today are fine. You also have those who only greet each other, sometimes there are also problems from certain people whose nationality I do not want to mention. Yesterday we talked about this with the mayor and I believe that some political agreements can offer solutions in a better life”, Bratislav Kostic declares for RTV Dukagjini.

President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti also denied the statement on inter-ethnic incidents. Even based on the data of the Kosovo Police, the statement of the EU Chief does not stand.

“Regarding your interest, we would like to inform you that in the region of Vushtrri with villages, from 2019 until the end of April 2022, a case has been reported. In 2020, a case was reported ‘Incitement of discord and intolerance’, a case which was completed and sent to the Prosecutor”, it is said in the response of the Kosovo Police.

This answer also reflects on the reality of the village with about 50 habitable houses, the inhabitants of which belong to the Albanian and Serbian community.