“Kosovo is the heart of Serbia”

Novak Djokovic he gave his support to the Serbian population in the north of Kosovo, where inter-ethnic tension has returned with clashes between KFOR troops and demonstrators Serbs against new mayors of Albanian ethnicity elected in the four largest municipalities in the north with a Serbian majority. «Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence!» wrote the Serbian champion on a television camera at the end of the fight he won against the American Alexander Kovacevic, in the first round of Roland Garros. Words then projected onto the giant screens of the playing field. But the statement has sparked a lot of controversy.

The tension

Il Kosovo has been declared an independent state since 2008. But Belgrade he never acknowledged his sovereignty and relations between the two countries have never been entirely peaceful. Moments of tension between the two countries have also occurred recently, with the “plate war” which broke out between 2021 and 2022: first Serbia and then Kosovo had passed laws that prohibited the circulation of vehicles with registration plates of the other country on their territory.

Which created many problems for the many citizens of both countries residing in the neighboring country.

Tensions rose again last weekend, with the revolt of Serbs in northern Kosovo against the election of Albanian mayors. An insurrection that forced the local police forces to occupy and guard the town halls, before the intervention of the NATO contingent Kfor: the clashes caused the wounding 41 soldiers in allincluding i 14 Italian members of the IX Alpini Regiment.

Serbian tennis player
Novak Djokovic, after winning a game
at the Roland Garros tournament, he wrote on a camera where players traditionally leave autographs:
“Kosovo is the heart of Serbia.
Stop the violence.”

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— Sabrina F. (@itsmeback_) May 30, 2023

Djokovic’s response to criticism

After the “incendiary” sentence, the Belgrade champion had to run for cover to avoid misunderstandings, explaining to the microphones of a Serbian broadcaster that his only intention was to spread a message of peace. But without hiding his solidarity with the Serbian protesters.

“I am not a politician, nor do I intend to enter into debates. As a Serb, what is happening in Kosovo hurts me. Our people have been expelled from the communes. This is the least I could do. As a public figure, I feel an obligation to show support for our people and for all of Serbia. I’ve heard that there has been a lot of criticism on social media – said the number 3 in the ATP ranking – I don’t know if someone will punish me or something, but I would do it again. I am against wars and conflicts of any kind. Kosovo is our heart, the stronghold, the center of the most important events, the greatest battle took place there, the greatest number of monasteries. There are many reasons why I wrote this, my father was born there.”