Serb politician from northern Kosovo, Aleksandar Arsenijević placed flags of the communities living in Kosovo in front of the Government building of Kosovo, including the flag of Serbia. However, a few minutes later, they were removed by security and other members of the executive.
Arsenijević initially tried to place the flags within the courtyard of the Government, but the police did not allow it, so he placed them a few meters away.
“Amidst the crisis and inter-ethnic tensions in Kosovo, I wanted to show that since all central institutions have the Albanian flag, I wanted us, who live here – because my grandfather, great-grandfather were born in Kosovo, anyone born and living in Kosovo – to have the right to display our symbols,” said Arsenijević.
“Kosovo belongs to all of us, the communities recognized in the Constitution, meaning Serbs, Gorani, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptians, we are all equal under this law. I referred to the Constitution and its articles, and I do not want to incite hatred,” added Arsenijević, who leads the Civil Initiative “Serbian Survival”.
This action by Arsenijević comes at a time of increasing tensions in northern Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by Serbs. Serbs have been protesting since May 26th, opposing the entry of new Albanian mayors into municipal buildings in the north. They are also demanding the withdrawal of special units from the north.
Although Serbs are the majority in ten municipalities in Kosovo, the exact number of members of this community is unknown, as they refused to participate in the last population census in 2011. However, it is estimated that there are around 100,000 Serbian community members in Kosovo. According to the Constitution, communities enjoy special rights, and the use of their national symbols is regulated by law.
Regarding language use, the official languages at the state level are Albanian and Serbian. Meanwhile, the languages of other communities have official language status in municipalities where a community constitutes the majority.
