Protest against Brussels agreement
A protest of Serbs from Kosovo against the implementation of the Brussels agreement on the normalization of relations with Pristina initialed on April 19 is underway in Belgrade.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Friday, May 10, 2013
The protest rally dubbed "We are staying in Serbia" started at 12:44 CET, which symbolizes UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The Resolution reads that KiM is a province of the Republic of Serbia and that the level of its autonomy should be subsequently determined through negotiations.
The Resolution was adopted after NATO's bombardment of Serbia and the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement. In June 1999, international troops entered KiM and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was established.
The protesters are carrying banners saying "Serbia first," "We will liberate Kosovo," "Kosovo is Serbia."
They are also wearing T-shirts with the words "Never a border" and carrying flags of Serbia and the Democratic Party of Serbia. A big flag that says "Always with you - Banja Luka" is stretched across Belgrade's central square.
Kosovo Serbs oppose the implementation of the agreement with Pristina and believe that it violates the Constitution and the laws of Serbia and abolishes the country's institutions.
They refuse to be integrated into the institutions of the self-proclaimed state of Kosovo, whose independence is not recognized by Serbia either.
Serbs from northern Kosovo are not holding Serbia hostage or standing in the way of its European future, Mayor of Zubin Potok Slavisa Ristic said at a protest against the agreement on normalization of relations with Pristina.
"The Serbs in Kosovo are not Prince Lazar's heroes and knights, but they are also not out for profit, or the ones who are holding Serbia hostage," Ristic said at the event organized in downtown Belgrade under the slogan ""We are staying in Serbia."
"We are just one of you, ordinary Serbs, who have been forced by foreign powers, and lately by our own government, to fight for and defend the lives of our children, our homes and our holy sites," said Ristic.
Ristic said the agreement Serbia accepted in Brussels on April 19 is "an act of betrayal of Serbia and a loss of Kosovo," and accused the government of intending "to sell out Kosovo and the Serb people."
"Today, while we are stopping them from implementing their treason, we still have our Serbian institutions in Kosovo," he said, stressing there is no division between the Serbs south and north of the Ibar river.
"We are being divided by those who want to commit treason," said Ristic, adding that the people who signed the Brussels agreement agreed to shut down Serbian institutions and turn the Serbs over to "the quasi state of Kosovo and Hasim Taci's terrorist creation."
"Our president says he does not understand how the state leaders can reach an agreement with Taci, and cannot reach one with Serbs from northern Kosovo.
President Nikolic, with Kosovo Serbs you can only come to an agreement about defending, but not about conceding and betraying Kosovo," said Ristic.
He called on "all patriotic groups in Serbia" to join forces and come to a rally in Belgrade on St. Vitus Day, June 28, because this year, after so many centuries, Kosovo was attacked in Belgrade rather than at Gazimestan.
"A small portion of us from Kosovo are here among you today asking for your support. The majority of the Serb people were unable and afraid to come because they stayed, ever vigilant, to defend the Serbian door in Kosovo," he said.
At the beginning of the protest, Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral led a prayer for Kosovo.
The Resolution was adopted after NATO's bombardment of Serbia and the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement. In June 1999, international troops entered KiM and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was established.
The protesters are carrying banners saying "Serbia first," "We will liberate Kosovo," "Kosovo is Serbia."
They are also wearing T-shirts with the words "Never a border" and carrying flags of Serbia and the Democratic Party of Serbia. A big flag that says "Always with you - Banja Luka" is stretched across Belgrade's central square.
Kosovo Serbs oppose the implementation of the agreement with Pristina and believe that it violates the Constitution and the laws of Serbia and abolishes the country's institutions.
They refuse to be integrated into the institutions of the self-proclaimed state of Kosovo, whose independence is not recognized by Serbia either.
Serbs from northern Kosovo are not holding Serbia hostage or standing in the way of its European future, Mayor of Zubin Potok Slavisa Ristic said at a protest against the agreement on normalization of relations with Pristina.
"The Serbs in Kosovo are not Prince Lazar's heroes and knights, but they are also not out for profit, or the ones who are holding Serbia hostage," Ristic said at the event organized in downtown Belgrade under the slogan ""We are staying in Serbia."
"We are just one of you, ordinary Serbs, who have been forced by foreign powers, and lately by our own government, to fight for and defend the lives of our children, our homes and our holy sites," said Ristic.
Ristic said the agreement Serbia accepted in Brussels on April 19 is "an act of betrayal of Serbia and a loss of Kosovo," and accused the government of intending "to sell out Kosovo and the Serb people."
"Today, while we are stopping them from implementing their treason, we still have our Serbian institutions in Kosovo," he said, stressing there is no division between the Serbs south and north of the Ibar river.
"We are being divided by those who want to commit treason," said Ristic, adding that the people who signed the Brussels agreement agreed to shut down Serbian institutions and turn the Serbs over to "the quasi state of Kosovo and Hasim Taci's terrorist creation."
"Our president says he does not understand how the state leaders can reach an agreement with Taci, and cannot reach one with Serbs from northern Kosovo.
President Nikolic, with Kosovo Serbs you can only come to an agreement about defending, but not about conceding and betraying Kosovo," said Ristic.
He called on "all patriotic groups in Serbia" to join forces and come to a rally in Belgrade on St. Vitus Day, June 28, because this year, after so many centuries, Kosovo was attacked in Belgrade rather than at Gazimestan.
"A small portion of us from Kosovo are here among you today asking for your support. The majority of the Serb people were unable and afraid to come because they stayed, ever vigilant, to defend the Serbian door in Kosovo," he said.
At the beginning of the protest, Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral led a prayer for Kosovo.
