Kurti warns of expected provocations, EU Office calls for restraint and peaceful celebrations of Vidovdan
Express newspaper
27/06/2025 15:24
On the eve of the Vidovdan holiday, the European Union Office in Kosovo has called for all parties to show maximum restraint and for the celebrations to be peaceful.
“Regarding the Vidovdan celebrations, the EU in Kosovo calls on all parties involved to show maximum restraint, in order to enable a peaceful development of the celebrations,” said the EU Office in Kosovo.
This statement comes after Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said at today’s Government meeting that the authorities in Serbia could incite incidents in Gazimestan to divert attention from the domestic protests that will take place tomorrow in Belgrade.
This office has also commented on the recent decision of the Basic Court in Gracanica regarding the display of the Serbian flag during these celebrations.
The Basic Court had found that the Municipality of Gracanica, with its decision to place the Serbian flag on the occasion of the Vidovdan holiday, had seriously violated the unitary and constitutional character of the Republic of Kosovo.
“Regarding the display of the Serbian flag, we are informed about the recent decision of the Basic Court in Gracanica, which is currently under appeal. In our view, this decision does not fully guarantee the constitutional rights of Kosovo Serbs. Based on our assessment, the matter is within the administrative competences of the Municipality of Gracanica. We do not encourage the broad interpretation of this decision by Kosovo institutions in ways that could infringe on the cultural or religious rights of individuals or the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC), which are guaranteed by the Constitution and Laws of Kosovo,” the EU Office told KosovaPress.
Vidovdan or St. Vitus’ Day is celebrated every June 28 by the Serbian people and is associated with the ‘Battle of Kosovo’ on June 28, 1389 between Balkan forces led by Prince Lazar and the Ottoman Empire led by Sultan Murad.