Welcome to this special interview brought to you by TUIC Akademi. Today, we have the distinct honor of engaging in a conversation with Ms. Rada Trajkovic, President of the European Movement of Serbs in Kosovo. A pivotal figure in the Kosovo Serb community, Ms. Trajkovic brings a nuanced understanding to the complex political relationship between Kosovo and Serbia. This interview will explore a wide array of critical topics: from the contentious Banjska incident and its ramifications, to the roles played by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti, to the geopolitical implications involving the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the upcoming Turkish command of NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR). Additionally, we will delve into the Serbian Orthodox Church’s stance on recent events, given the religious and cultural significance of the Banjska Monastery, and seek Ms. Trajkovic’s insights into feasible solutions for improving relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Our objective is to dissect these multifaceted issues to gain a nuanced understanding, which Ms. Trajkovic, with her intimate knowledge of the intricacies involved, is uniquely positioned to provide.
On the Banjska Incident: The Banjska attack has attracted significant attention, with the fact that Milan Radoicic, vice-president of Srpska Lista led a group of armed men in the area. Can you shed light on this incident and tell us how it reflects the overall state of lawlessness in the North of Kosovo? Further, what is your assessment of Alexander Vucic’s relationship with Milan Radoicic, and how does this relationship influence the Serbian government’s policies towards Kosovo?
Also, regarding Military Deployment at the Kosovo-Serbia Border: There has been an official statement from the White House regarding the Serbian military’s deployment at the border with Kosovo. What is your perspective on this deployment, and how does it align or conflict with the region’s broader goals of peace and stability?
Rada Tarajkovic: When there is a consistent failure of diplomacy, there is always a real risk that one of the parties in the negotiations would resort to violence and try to force the hand of the international community by changing the status quo on the ground through violent means. So, I am afraid that a conflict could break out since Belgrade seems to be in turmoil, with Vucic’s once firm hold on power severely disturbed by the Banjska incident. I cannot imagine a scenario in which Vucic – who often boasts that he knows everything, even what the institutions in Pristina are saying and doing in private – would be completely unaware of the guerrilla group that was preparing for the attacks in the North. If he indeed was oblivious to these events, then this is equally as dangerous as it signals his loss of control. So, who is in control in Serbia then? Vucic has for years nurtured lawlessness in the North and propped up Radoicic’s rise to power for his own political reasons. Radoicic and his associates were allowed to infiltrate and exercise control over Serbia’s security services and other relevant institutions, including law enforcement. The system has become too eroded, and now this is coming back to haunt Vucic in the worst and most damaging way possible.
It is clear that the Banjska attack was a poorly thought-through and executed plan, which cost lives and also severely hampered the diplomatic effort. None of us wanted to see loss of life in Kosovo again, nor attacks on law enforcement who are simply doing their jobs. We do not have time for propaganda or PR games anymore – both Vucic and Kurti must show sincere commitment to de-escalation. Otherwise, if the stubbornness on both sides continues, I can see the possibility of further violence, regional destabilization, and, in the worst-case scenario, an exodus of Serbs from the North.
Kosovo Government’s Stance: Prime Minister Albin Kurti has had a distinct approach to issues involving Serb-majority regions in Kosovo. How do you interpret his response to the Banjska incident, and what do you believe should be his role in resolving tensions and establishing law and order?
Rada Trajkovic: In a way, Kurti and Vucic are a perfect couple – if your desired outcome is a complete collapse of diplomacy. The Banjska incident is the culmination of many months of unwise actions on behalf of both parties. Let us not forget Kurti’s move to enter by force the municipal buildings in Serb municipalities in the North, which – although legal on paper – was clearly escalatory. This led to the violent clashes between Serb protestors and NATO-KFOR forces, where KFOR bravely and responsibly inserted themselves into the situation and prevented possibly even more bloody inter-ethnic clashes. Let us also not forget Belgrade’s misjudged encouragement of local Serbs in the North to abandon their roles in the local law enforcement, which resulted in further insecurity and raise in police brutality and arbitrary arrests of Kosovo Serbs. Bit by bit, the situation has been getting worse, and actions by both sides reignited old ethnic hatred instead of promoting reconciliation. Propaganda rather than ideas about how to move the dialogue forward is coming out of both Pristina and Belgrade, and the lives and interests of real people at stake here – Kosovo Serbs – are being overlooked. We are stuck in an ego game of two leaders with problematic ideologies, and I fear that this will result in further destabilisation and decision by many Kosovo Serbs to leave Kosovo for good. Sometimes I think that both Kurti and Vucic would welcome this outcome. No Serbs in Kosovo, no need for further diplomatic effort to find a sustainable model for their long-term survival.
Turkish Command of KFOR: Turkiye is expected to take command of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) soon. Given Turkey’s political and cultural influence in the region, what impact do you foresee this transition having on the stability of Kosovo, particularly in Serb-majority areas?
Rada Trajkovic: Türkiye has been cultivating good relations with both Pristina and Belgrade, and has demonstrated willingness to politically mediate between the two sides. This is, of course, encouraging as we need to return to diplomacy as soon as possible. In addition, as a NATO member, Türkiye has added credibility in the wider security context. I am sure that Ankara understands the nuances of the situation in Kosovo well. Its own minority community in Kosovo has faced discrimination and pressures to assimilate into the majority Albanian population, so it will also understand the particular viewpoint and challenges faced by the Serb community in Kosovo. I am sure that they will be well received in the Serb areas of Kosovo as a nation with which we share particular kinship and cultural similarities.
The Association of Serb Municipalities and Future Relations: Your viewpoints often reflect a nuanced understanding of the Kosovo Serb community. Could you elaborate on your foresight regarding the development of the Association of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo? How could this entity alter relations between Kosovo and Serbia, especially in light of secessionist moves from the leadership of Republika Srpska as an entity in the Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Rada Trajkovic: It is important to realise that the mood among Serbs in Kosovo is currently one of deep distrust. Serbs in the North are disorientated by recent developments in Banjska. The attackers who were killed are well known in the local, tightly-knit community, and people are still in shock. No one expected these recent events, and no one understands them. What was the purpose of it all? Paranoia is spreading and the local Serbs mistrust (perhaps rightly) both Belgrade’s and Pristina’s good intentions. They also lack representation – both in the local law enforcement and other relevant institutions, but also politically. For many years the Serb List, the strongest Serb political party in Kosovo whose deputy president Milan Radoicic admitted his role in organisation of the Banjska attack, supressed any alternative voice, and became known for corruption and nepotism. So, in such situation, the local Serbs need a friendly ear and a concrete plan from the international community to recognise and validate their needs and guarantee respect for their identity. But they also need to realise that their future lies in cooperation with and not resistance to Kosovo’s institutions.
The Association of majority Serb municipalities remain the only viable and urgently needed solution to satisfy the existential requirement of Serbs in Kosovo but also the institutional requirements of the government in Pristina. The parallels that some make between this future association – which was already foreseen in the Ahtisaari plan – and the constitutional issues in Bosnia, with regard to Republika Srpska, are unfair ones. Serbs in Kosovo are far less numerous than Serbs in Bosnia. With the small exception of the north, they are also scattered across Kosovo and do not form a compact territorial entity. Kurti must recognise the very basic truth: association is being created to save us from extinction not to allow us to rule over anyone else.
Serbian Orthodox Church’s Role: The Banjska incident occurred within the premises of the Banjska Monastery, a significant religious site for the Serbian Orthodox Church. Can you elaborate on the Church’s perspective on this incident and broader issues between Serbia and Kosovo? Furthermore, how do you see the role of religious institutions, including the Serbian Orthodox Church, in shaping or influencing the political and social dynamics between the two actors?
Rada Trajkovic: The immediate statement from our Diocese in Kosovo regarding the events in Banjska – where they promptly explained the situation and distanced themselves from the attackers – tells you all about the SOC’s stance on this. Our Diocese has always been a positive influence on multiethnic relations in Kosovo, and they are particularly just and brave in times of crisis – including on the day of the Banjska incident. Despite the attempt by both Belgrade and Pristina to undermine our Diocese’s influence and good reputation, it remains among the key stakeholders in any future solution in Kosovo. The SOC’s right over our stunning cultural heritage in Kosovo is scientifically indisputable, as well as our Church’s significant land ownership. The SOC and our Diocese are also the social safety net for many members of our community. As such, they enjoy tremendous trust and respect among Serbs in Kosovo. And this is a powerful leverage in any negotiation.
Towards a Constructive Future: You have offered us a rich tapestry of insights into the past and present landscapes of Kosovo-Serbia relations. Based on your experiences and perspectives, what are the most viable solutions or steps that both Kosovo and Serbia should consider for moving towards a more constructive relationship? What role can international stakeholders, play in facilitating this process?
Rada Trajkovic: Over the last year or so – especially since the start of the Russian invasion against Ukraine – the international community seemed to be in a hurry to “solve” Kosovo. And rushed solutions are never the best ones. I understand the need to resolve the issues as soon as possible, but not at the expense of democracy and human rights of the people who need to live with these solutions for decades to come. On the other hand, the international community is here dealing with insincere negotiators who have their own parallel political agendas. They have both accepted the Ohrid Agreement, so why are we in this situation today? The blueprint for the way out of this crisis is there – so why are we not taking advantage of it? Instead, we are engaging in almost academic discussions about irrelevant points.
But I don’t think all is lost just yet. As I say, we have a solution already agreed. The task now if to make the negotiators understand that they need to implement it. No more excuses.
