Serbia's Kosovo Policy Unclear, Diversion of Ibar River a Sign of Pressure, Says Journalist

N1 journalist Sanja Sovrlić has voiced strong criticism regarding Serbia's policy on Kosovo, particularly questioning the recent focus on diverting the Ibar River. She suggests that this shift from "we won't give up Gazivode" to "I will divert Gazivode" indicates a lack of clarity or public understanding of President Aleksandar Vučić's strategy.

Sovrlić posits that the emphasis on diverting the Ibar River might be a forced reaction to mounting pressure concerning the precarious situation of Serbs in Kosovo, whose rights she states are genuinely threatened. She also attributes the current situation to a "sloppy negotiation process" involving all parties, where key issues have not been treated with sufficient seriousness.

While acknowledging the international community's responsibility in unfulfilled promises, such as the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, Sovrlić also places blame on Belgrade. She argues that Serbia's diplomatic efforts have yielded no results, and that Belgrade has consistently offered the same promises to Kosovo Serbs without tangible progress.

The journalist stressed that the Kosovo policy affects not only the Serbs and Albanians living there but the entire region. She warned that without a sustainable agreement guaranteeing peace between Serbs and Albanians, the Western Balkans face uncertainty, with tensions potentially escalating. Sovrlić concluded that Belgrade's past actions have transformed Kosovo Serbs into a compliant electorate, rather than strengthening their capacity to resist human rights violations.