Publicist Veton Surroi has stated that Serbia is undergoing a process similar to the peaceful overthrow of communism in Central Europe, and that this historic moment should be seized to improve relations between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo.
In a conversation on the podcast PIKË with Natasha Kandić, founder of the Humanitarian Law Center, Surroi emphasized that the change in Serbia is not merely a matter of political transition, but a transformation in the very nature of power from an authoritarian regime to a genuine democratic model.
“When this happens, Kosovo Serbs who are still dependent on various forms of control from Belgrade could be freed from that dependency. New relationships will be formed,” he stressed.
Kandić, meanwhile, pointed out that there is currently a political deadlock in Kosovo, and said she had expected more from acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti, particularly regarding the integration of Serbs and the treatment of minority communities.
“When I was in the village of Gracka e Vjetër this summer, Serbs there told me: ‘We preferred Thaçi over Kurti, because at least Thaçi used to come visit us,’” she recalled.
She also criticized Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, saying he publicly expresses hatred toward students and certain social groups, while institutions fail to respond.
“Students are determined to bring about change. They’ve even reached the point of political articulation, but the system simply doesn’t function,” Kandić emphasized.
Both Surroi and Kandić agreed that a systemic change in Serbia, along with a more open and inclusive approach in Kosovo, could pave the way for building new relationships between the majority and non-majority communities — as well as for a deeper reckoning with the past.
