„I know that since the post-war period, Leposavić has remained the same. Millions came from Serbia, millions from Kosovo, and from the international community, and I thought there was no poverty here. But when I arrived, there was extreme poverty,“ said the Mayor of Leposavic, Lulzim Hetemi, for the Jeta in Municipalities series on Kallxo, led by journalist Jeta Xhara.
„Extreme Poverty“ Despite Millions Invested
Reflecting on the state of Leposavić upon taking office in May 2023, Hetemi described the dire economic situation he encountered as “extreme poverty.”
He alleged that wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few:
„Only a small group, like Srpska Lista and some individuals, became billionaires.“
Strengthening Sovereignty and Stability
Hetemi emphasized his administration’s focus on stabilizing the municipality and integrating it under Kosovo’s governance:
„In the early days, the municipal building only had Serbian documentation and symbols. After 30 years, the sun has finally shone on the people of Leposavić,“ he said.
He highlighted an agreement with the Kosovo Football Federation for a sports complex, featuring an Olympic pool and recreational areas, as evidence of progress. While 800,000 euros from this year’s budget remain unused, Hetemi assured it will be completed by the end of next year.
Asphalt Solely for Albanian-Majority Villages
During the interview, Hetemi addressed plans to allocate 1.1 million euros to pave Bistrica-Kosutovo road – Albanian-majority villages, as confirmed by Hetemi himself.
„Does this mean that you’re allocating most of the budget to areas where only Albanians live? The majority of residents in Leposavić are of Serbian origin, yet you’ve chosen to send most of the budget to Albanians. Is this a form of discrimination? Is it because Serbs didn’t vote for you, so you don’t want to reward them with paved roads?“
Jeta Xhara asked Hetemi, who responded by mentioning plans for a central square in Leposavić, for which the municipality will allocate 450,000 euros.
When questioned about the disparity in funding—750,000 euros for Serbian-majority areas versus 1.1 million for villages with only 5% of the population—Hetemi defended his decisions, citing long-standing neglect. „We did not plan it this way. In the villages of Ceranja, Kosutovo, and Bistrica, there hasn’t been a paved road—not even during the communist era,“ he explained.
Tensions with International Actors
Hetemi confirmed that the municipality has plans to build parks and playgrounds for children.
However, when asked why such projects haven’t been implemented more than a year into his administration, Hetemi explained that the municipality still doesn’t have clear ownership of the land.
Hetemi also blamed external interference for delays in municipal projects:
„It’s not allowed—even if you want to take action, someone from the international community will apply pressure. For instance, Hovenier (the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo) will complain to the Prime Minister about everything,“ he said.
„It happens with everything. Absolutely everything. That’s just how it works. If you even try to start building a park, that’s the kind of reaction you’ll face,“ he claimed.
He claimed that fear and threats hinder discussions with the Serbian community. His deputy, Marina Bogojević, supported this, citing past obstructions: „Until March, we were surrounded by KFOR wire.“
KFOR’s Alleged “Blacklist” for Municipal Visits
In one segment of the interview, Hetemi claimed that KFOR had a “blacklist” preventing certain government officials from entering the municipality.
According to him, the list included officials like Radomirović, Krasniqi, and Vokrri, among others. However, he noted that Albin Kurti and Vjosa Osmani were not on the list.
„The same message continued, and at times they even restricted my ability to fully manage the municipality. When the Americans got involved, they bombarded me with letters and photos. I told them, ‘Are you serious? Are you out of your mind? How can a mayor function without the full government, which you’ve put on a blacklist? Everyone—starting with Radoica, Deputy Minister Arber Vokrri, Elbert, and so on—but not the Prime Minister or the President,’“ Hetemi stated.
He added that KFOR likely imposed these restrictions because they believed ministerial visits to the municipality could cause issues.
KFOR Firmly Rejected Allegations
However, KFOR denied these allegations yesterday, calling Hetemi’s claims “unfounded.”
“In response to allegations circulating in the media that KFOR has ‘blacklists’ barring certain officials of the Institutions in Kosovo from entering the Municipality of Leposavic, KFOR states that these claims are unfounded; and firmly rejects such allegations.”
The mission urged all actors to “refrain from declarations and unilateral actions that could create unnecessary tensions and negatively affect regional stability.”
KFOR also underlined that they maintain regular communications with all its key counterparts and “the highest standards of transparency in communicating its activities, through its official communications channels available to the public.”
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