In a discussion on the PIKË podcast with journalist Veton Surroi, British-Kosovar writer and activist Elizabeth Gowing stated that Serbia is not genuinely interested in the welfare of Serbs living in Kosovo.
She emphasized that, despite a strong historical and cultural connection between the Serbian community in Kosovo and Serbia, Belgrade’s actions often block their development and integration into Kosovar society.
“I’ve seen, in very specific cases, that this mother state does not lobby for the benefit of Serbs in Kosovo. This frustrates me the most, because when Serbia actually blocks their development, it becomes very difficult for them to integrate and enjoy basic rights,” Gowing said.
She cited her work with the Commission for Diploma Verification in the Kosovo Government, which she leads, noting that through this mechanism, around 450 diplomas of Serbian-speaking citizens were verified to enable their employment in Kosovo institutions.
However, Gowing noted that Belgrade pressured high schools in the north not to cooperate with the Commission, despite the initiative being aimed solely at facilitating employment for Serbian-speaking citizens.
“This shows that the Serbian government is not interested in the welfare of Kosovo Serbs, but rather aims to block any connection they might have with opportunities offered by Kosovo,” she concluded.
