Serbian president's river statement seen as political ploy

Jelena Bulajić, a journalist for Nova.rs, believes Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's recent statement about changing the course of the Ibar River was a calculated political maneuver. She suggests the statement served a dual purpose: as an election message and an attempt to mitigate the impact of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Belgrade.

Bulajić argues that by reintroducing the Kosovo issue, Vučić's statement targeted the more staunch segment of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party's electorate. Polling data indicates that voters supporting the ruling coalition are predominantly pro-Russian. Zelenskyy's visit, despite prior announcements, reportedly came as a surprise and a negative shock to this demographic.

Following Zelenskyy's visit, Vučić stated that Serbia was considering altering the Ibar River's course within its territory due to the Pristina authorities' treatment of Serbs in Kosovo. The Ibar River is dammed in Kosovo, creating the Gazivode artificial lake. Recently, Pristina authorities demolished Serbian homes, cottages, and hotels near this lake.

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I am sure that this is some plan that has existed for a long time. This is something that has existed wherever there were international forces. In Bosnia, I think, this is nothing new. What can you say about the state leadership that knows, or at least should know, that it has been informed that this is the period when this phase is reached, that Kosovo policemen will gradually patrol the bridge and on the Ibar and around Visoki Dečani. What can you say about the leadership that at that moment says: 'I am not satisfied with how the government in Pristina treats Serbs, I could think about it, then turn the course of the Ibar and leave them without water. There is really no comment on that. That is irresponsibility to the power of cubed.

Bulajić also commented on KFOR's withdrawal from the main bridge in Mitrovica and Visoki Dečani, with the Kosovo Police gradually taking over security. She believes this is part of a long-standing plan, common where international forces have been present. She criticized the Serbian leadership for its response, stating that it is irresponsible to consider diverting the Ibar River at a time when such security transitions are occurring, especially given the context of Pristina's actions against Serbs.

Regarding the upcoming election campaign, Bulajić feels that while Kosovo remains a key issue for some segments of society, most of Serbia has resigned itself to the fact that many developments concerning Kosovo have unfortunately concluded unfavorably for the Serbian people there. She expressed dismay that the difficult fate of Kosovo and its people is being exploited for cheap political points.

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I think that, however, most people in Serbia are aware that we can change very little from Belgrade. Now, why do we tolerate that unhappy Kosovo is so misused and that these people and their fate, which is very difficult, are misused for cheap political points, that is the most terrible thing to me.