Serbian-language media outlet "Informer.rs" published an article today (May 4) claiming that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has confirmed that he will expel Serbs from Kosovo by force.
This claim was raised in connection with the decision to dismiss the management team that was responsible for the creation and drafting of the draft statute of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.
However, apart from the decision to dismiss the board, this interpretation, which presents it as Kurti's intention to eradicate (annihilate) Serbs in Kosovo, is not based on any additional facts.
Link to the article published on "Informer.rs":
Excerpts from the article published on "Informer.rs":
The so-called Prime Minister of the fake state of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, dismissed the Management Team for drafting the statute of the Union of Serbian Municipalities (USO) and thus officially began to fulfill his ultimate goal – the extermination of all Serbs from Kosovo and Kosovo!!!
The claim that Kurti is seeking the expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo was also made by the head of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, Petar Petkovic, after the meeting in Brussels. According to him, official Pristina has rejected the draft statute presented by the management team and that Kurti, according to him, was not ready to agree with it and that he was not interested in the formation of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities. (here)
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, after the trilateral meeting, spoke about the issue of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, stating that the draft statute presented is fundamentally incompatible with the Constitution.
"In today's meeting following the agreement on the missing persons, we listened patiently and attentively to the management team who presented a draft statute with a total of 67 articles and then gave our position that such a draft statute is fundamentally incompatible with the Constitution..." (here)
Kurti also stated that "Serbs must live in our state, be members with rights and obligations in our society, and in this way, together, create a society that is internally cohesive and leaves no one behind.,” thus presenting his draft vision regarding Article 7 of the basic agreement, taking into account Article 10, what should be the framework that regulates the issue of the Serbian community in Kosovo. Kurti emphasized the fact that in compiling this draft vision he was inspired by the agreement for the normalization of relations, Croatia-Serbia, which also provides for rights and protective provisions for the Serbian national minority in Croatia. (here)
In his draft vision, Kurti does not specifically mention the Association, but instead refers to Article 7 of the Ohrid Agreement, which provides for a level of self-governance for the Serb community. To achieve this, according to Kurti, a draft statute must meet several conditions – among others, “offer members of the Serb community in Kosovo the opportunity to promote and protect their interests through a self-governance framework”. Then, according to Kurti, the possibility of cooperation with Kosovo institutions must be foreseen, as well as “fully recognizing the constitutional characteristics” of Kosovo, while respecting its independence and territorial integrity.
Kurti's document also states that members of the Serbian community should have a direct channel of communication with the Government of Kosovo, as well as the opportunity to be financed by Kosovo and other countries, including Serbia, but through the procedures and rules of the Kosovo Ministry of Finance. It also states that associations in the fields of culture, art, science and education, as well as associations of various kinds for the "expression, nurturing and development of Serbian identity", can be established, based on current laws on the exercise of non-profit services. (here)
Offering a draft vision to regulate the rights and provisions of the Serbian community in Kosovo shows official Pristina's interest in regulating and integrating this community in Kosovo, and not any intention to eradicate them, as alleged.
The very provision of a draft vision by Kurti shows his interest in regulating this issue and there is no tendency to not create the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities. Although he does not specifically call it an Association, he foresees a level of self-management for the Serb community, citing Article 7 of the Ohrid Agreement.
Analyze:
The facts provided show that Prime Minister Kurti has a plan to regulate the rights and provisions of the Serbian community in Kosovo. Despite the rejection of the draft statute compiled by the management team, Kurti offered his draft vision, emphasizing the fact that Serbs should live in the state of Kosovo with their rights and obligations.
Therefore, the claims that Kurti has confirmed that he will expel Serbs from Kosovo by force and that he is not interested in forming the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities are unfounded.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info qualifies this claim as "misinformation".
Rating:
A “Disinformation” rating is given to media reporting that contains a “mix” of inaccurate sources or even half-truthful content. This rating will also address reports that have incorrect attributions or headlines that do not reflect the text in terms of information accuracy.