Belgrade – Zoran Stankovic, the President of the Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, said that the situation in southern Serbia was stable, that there were no inter-ethnic conflicts, nor any indications of deterioration of the security situation.

“As regards the conduct of a specific number of people, it is not from yesterday, that kind of behavior was noticed ten or more years ago, "Mr. Stankovic said for the Tanjug news agency.

He is convinced that, when it comes to South Serbia, no great significance should be attached to the “inflammatory statements” that are daily made for political purposes "because of the low specific weight of those who give them."

Especially, Mr. Stankovic said, since their only aim is to remain in power as long as possible, including the spreading of an idea, the idea of ​​a "Greater Albania", which is unfeasible.

“Not only because we say so, but because the international community clearly told everyone in Tirana, Pristina, Belgrade, Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja that there would be no annexation of foreign territories and no creation of new large countries, which are the ideas of different ethnic groups, various nationally oriented people, for whom that is the only way to survive in the political arena, " Mr. Stankovic says.

“There is no exchange of territories," he pointed out, adding that he stuck in his work to everything that all international factors had said. 

“I spoke with all the ambassadors of the world's leading countries, as well as with the OSCE Ambassador, and there are simply no indications of any redrawing of territories, or of the redrawing of borders and the creation of large states, "Greater Albania" and the like, "Mr. Stanković said.

Mr. Stankovic points out that the basic preference of the Coordination Body, in these difficult economic conditions, is to provide, with joint efforts all those who live in those areas, the economic conditions for employing a large number of people, so that they could live from their work, improve their lives and enjoy all the pleasures of life they and their family members needed.  

“That is the guiding light that should lead us in our future work, as well as it has led us so far, " Mr. Stankovic said.

He pointed out that if one followed the media, it was clear that there was an increasing number of factors that "had been announcing wars and armed conflicts in the region  for three years, or even longer" and said:

“I can say responsibly that we do not expect any tensions or indications that there may be a deterioration of the security situation, regardless of the tension caused by elections and election results that is currently, as well as in the previous period, present in Macedonia

According to all the information I have, continued Mr. Stankovic, people can be carefree and   unburdened with the imaginary fears and armed conflicts, "because we and other small countries do not decide about the wars in this region, but larger countries do, which showed us in the past period how they do it.”

In support of cooperation regarding and work on improving the economic, social and overall situation, Mr. Stankovic referred to a recent meeting with Ardita Sinani, the Mayor of Presevo, and stated that she had requested assistance from the Coordination Body in order to have tens of talks with the Serbian government and various ministries, so that she could solve the problems bothering the municipality of Presevo.

"This is a sure sign that she respects the legitimacy and authority of the bodies and of the Government of Serbia and recognizes the sovereignty of our country, and together with the Serbian government solves everyday problems of residents of the municipality of Presevo," Mr. Stankovic said.

And in all the discussions, he adds, the key issue is what everyone is looking for – the creation of more jobs.

“We will, thus, employ people, and employed people have only one goal, which is to secure livelihoods to their families and themselves, as well as everything else. Those were the prevailing conversations that we had, which permeated the meetings with the people who run the local self- governments,” Mr. Stankovic said.

He said that over the past few days, during talks with the local self-governments, it was pointed to a large number of facilities that could be used to "activate" the existing potentials and provide jobs, but also to the supporting contents, such as an improvement in the conditions for the education of students at schools and at the Subotica Faculty of Economics’ Department in Bujanovac.

According to him, with the development of the economy,  all those life issues come to the forefront,  while all those assumptions and "loud announcements" that  lead only to destruction and that no one wants,  which we are, as he said, witnessing these days, remain in the background.

Mr. Stankovic also commented on the intention of the authorities of Presevo to withdraw the letter of thanks given to Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, which he received when the maternity hospital and roads were built in Presevo with the money of the citizens of Serbia, adding that he was present when the letter of thanks was given to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister did not ask for a letter of thanks, but it was given to him by ethnic Albanians themselves, because he was the first Prime Minister to visit Presevo and the one who was interested in the improvement of living and working in the municipality, and the said letter of thanks was given to him on those grounds," Mr. Stankovic explained.

According to him, he saw neither the reason nor the point for giving importance to someone who was, now, trying to withdraw the letter of thanks.  

He noticed that that was yet another example of conduct, inherent to those who had not achieved much in their lives, except that they pointed their fingers at someone else, but considered  themselves infallible and worthy of all the tasks they performed.

Source: “Tanjug” news agency and Coordination Body