ILIJA SRDANOVIĆ: “Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia, we will not abandon Serbs in Kosovo!”

“Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia,” Ilija Srdanović, the first candidate on the “Studentska lista – Studenti pobeđuju” list, said tonight, adding that, if they take power, they will be ready to seek “the best possible solutions, especially for Serbs in Kosovo,” and said: “We will not abandon them.”

Kosovo and the EU had previously been raised as issues that were not elaborated in greater detail in the Studentska lista program. Srdanović then said that foreign policy is “not the focus” at this moment, but rather Serbia’s internal affairs – the rule of law, corruption, organized crime and media freedom.

Srdanović, a cardiologist and professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, spoke tonight to Insajder as the first candidate on the list that is running in the parliamentary elections on October 25 under the name “Studentska lista – Studenti pobeđuju.”

During the discussion about the program of a future government, Kosovo was raised twice.

First, the host mentioned it together with the European Union, asking why such important political and foreign-policy issues were not part of the more detailed program presented.

Srdanović directed his answer toward what Studentska lista sees as its first task – Serbia’s internal situation.

“The issue of the European Union is not a question of current domestic policy aimed at preserving our country. We have a goal of preserving Serbia at this moment,” he said.

He recalled that Serbia has, as he put it, “pretty much stalled” in European integration precisely over issues of the rule of law, corruption, the fight against organized crime and media freedom.

“Quite simply, that is not the focus.”

He then said:

“At the moment, we have a choice in Serbia between choosing mere survival. Whether we will have Serbia at all, whether we will have the mafia? That is the first goal.”

“It unequivocally states what Kosovo’s place is”

Kosovo was raised again later, during a discussion about the healthcare system and access to healthcare for citizens outside major centers.

Asked what such a policy would mean for Kosovo, Srdanović linked his answer to a message to Serbs living there and to the Constitution of Serbia.

“What Studentska lista needs to clearly tell all Serbs outside the homeland, including, of course, people living in Kosovo, is that for several days now a cycling route has been taking place in Serbia, both north and south, where students symbolically bring citizens the Constitution as the most important legal act that no one must trample on. And in that same legal act, it unequivocally states what the place of Kosovo and Metohija is within Serbia.”

A direct question followed – does this mean that Studentska lista is not currently considering the implementation of the Ohrid and Washington agreements.

Srdanović did not answer whether they would implement or reject them, but said: “Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia.”

When told that the issue of Kosovo, if Studentska lista takes power, would nevertheless be one of the first issues it would have to face, he added:

“We will be ready to find the best possible solutions, especially for Serbs in Kosovo. We will not abandon them.”

EU – first “liberating Serbia,” then a referendum

As for the European Union, Srdanović was somewhat more specific.

In his view, decisions on Serbia’s further European path should be made after changes in Serbia, the liberation of the media and the creation of space for public debate.

“And what happens afterward, when Serbia is liberated, when the media are liberated, when space is freed for public discussion, when space is freed for what is, for example, the definitive decision that will be made in a referendum of the citizens, if we decide to do so, when all of that is over, whether we will join the European Union.”

He assessed that this is currently “very far away.”

“At this moment, it is much more important to create a country that is not organized as a mafia,” he said.

“There will be no further cooperation” with the current government

During the interview, Srdanović also spoke about how Studentska lista would form a government if it did not have enough mandates on its own.

He said there are “red lines,” but that other political actors could be partners if they accept the students’ plan.

“There will certainly be no cooperation with the current regime.”

Then, even more directly: “There will be no further communication or cooperation with them.”

Srdanović, however, claims that Studentska lista expects a “dominant” victory and that therefore there will be no need for an agreement with the current government.

Still wants to reach “the hardest-core SNS voters”

According to him, ruling out cooperation with the current government does not mean giving up on talking to its voters.

On the contrary, Srdanović says Studentska lista wants to reach even those who do not currently support it.

“We will try, on the other hand, to reach even those who, as they say, are the hardest-core SNS voters, to hear what their problems are.”

He stressed that they consider them “completely equal citizens of Serbia” and that they will try to explain to them why they consider the students’ plan a better way out of the social and political crisis.

At the same time, he claims that the student side will not be the one to provoke conflicts or call for violence.

“Everyone has their own local bully”

One of the central themes of the students’ program, according to Srdanović, remains corruption.

He says that through months of contact with people across Serbia, students have gathered information about what citizens consider to be the biggest problems.

“That is corruption, among the top two.”

He also described what this looks like in local communities, according to him:

“Everyone has their own local bully who is corrupt, who has stolen something. Especially those who have looted public property. That is their biggest problem.”

“Foreign policy is not the biggest problem for these people. Their problem is that someone robbed them. Robbed them of their public property and was not held accountable for it.”

As a response, he cited the reorganization of the judiciary, the implementation of regulations on the origin of assets and the creation of an independent prosecutorial police force that would conduct, as he put it, “unobstructed investigations.”

He announces lustration

Among the legislative measures of a future government, Srdanović also mentioned the adoption of a lustration law.

“That famous, long-announced lustration law.”

He said that only “those who have violated the criminal laws of the Republic of Serbia” and abused public office should fear it.

Asked how they would distinguish political from criminal liability, he answered:

“First and foremost, we will be guided and governed by criminal liability.”

Claims they already have observers for every polling station

Srdanović also spoke about Studentska lista’s announcement that it would “defend every vote.”

He claims they already have enough observers to cover all polling stations in Serbia.

“We came to the conclusion that, essentially, the best way to protect your vote is to have a sufficient number of observers.”

He also called on other citizens to get involved in monitoring the elections.

“It is in all of our interests, in the interest of all citizens of Serbia, that these elections take place in a fair and proper atmosphere, and that not a single vote be stolen.”

The goal, he said, is for October 25 to be a “celebration of democracy.”

Still rejects a debate with Vučić

Srdanović also repeated that he will not accept Aleksandar Vučić’s invitation to a televised debate.

He assessed that such an offer is “15 years” too late and does not guarantee that it would be a genuine dialogue.

At the same time, he rejected the interpretation that Studentska lista is avoiding television debates because of this.

He says that candidates with professional credibility in a specific field will participate in debates.

“We are not an irresponsible group of citizens who know everything, where everyone knows everything and understands everything.”

As a doctor, he said he himself would participate in discussions on healthcare, while other areas should be discussed by other candidates from the list.