Ivica Dačić Says Serbian Flag Will Fly Over Prizren, Vows to Fight Kosovo's Independence

 Serbian Socialist Party leader Ivica Dačić has sparked renewed controversy with nationalist statements about Kosovo during Serbia's election campaign, declaring that the Serbian flag will eventually fly over Prizren and claiming that another 20 countries could withdraw their recognition of Kosovo if his electoral list wins public support.

 

Dačić, who leads the “Stability Factor” electoral list, made the remarks while addressing supporters in Raška. He reiterated that his party would never recognize Kosovo's independence and portrayed the issue as a central national priority ahead of the upcoming elections. His statements were reported by Serbian news agency Beta and the Serbian newspaper Danas on October 7. 

“Sooner or later, the Serbian flag will fly over Prizren. Be sure of that,” Dačić declared, adding that Serbia had the right to concern itself with Kosovo and the Serb population there, just as he argued that Türkiye and the United States intervene in regional affairs.

His remarks go beyond a rejection of Kosovo's independence, invoking the prospect of Serbia reasserting its authority over territory that declared independence in 2008 and has since developed its own institutions.

A campaign promise to reverse international recognition

Dačić also claimed that, if his electoral list receives sufficient support, another 20 countries will withdraw their recognition of Kosovo. He did not identify those countries in the reported remarks.

The claim comes against the background of Serbia's longstanding diplomatic campaign to persuade countries to withdraw recognition of Kosovo, a policy pursued alongside its refusal to accept Pristina's independence.

However, Dačić's prediction should be understood as a campaign claim, not as confirmation that 20 countries have committed to changing their positions. Any such changes would depend on decisions by the individual states concerned.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. It is recognized by a substantial number of countries, although Serbia, Russia, China and several other states continue to oppose its statehood. Kosovo's international status remains a central point of disagreement between Belgrade and Pristina.

Dačić rejects NATO membership and defends closer ties with Russia and China

The Serbian Socialist Party leader also reiterated his opposition to Serbia joining NATO, framing the alliance question through a historical narrative of foreign military attacks and Serbia's relationships with international powers.

Referring to unexploded ordnance discovered in Serbia from earlier European conflicts, Dačić argued that Russia and China should be considered closer friends of Serbia than Germany, Austria or Türkiye. He also described any socialist who disagreed with that position as a traitor.

The remarks underline the nationalist and pro-Russian elements of the political message he is promoting during the campaign, while reinforcing his party's opposition to Serbia's integration into the Western military alliance.

Kosovo remains a central issue in Serbian election politics

Dačić's statements once again place Kosovo at the center of Serbia's domestic political debate. For decades, the issue has been used by Serbian political leaders to mobilize voters, reinforce national identity and challenge the international arrangements that followed Kosovo's declaration of independence.

The promise that the Serbian flag will fly over Prizren is particularly significant because it invokes territorial symbolism in a city located within the internationally recognized territory administered by Kosovo's institutions.

Such rhetoric also raises questions about the prospects for normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina, a process that remains important to regional stability and both sides' European aspirations.

While political leaders in Serbia retain the right to oppose Kosovo's independence, statements suggesting the return of Serbian authority over Kosovo are likely to deepen tensions rather than clarify a practical path toward a negotiated settlement.

For Kosovo, the immediate significance of Dačić's remarks lies in the fact that they come during an election campaign and explicitly connect electoral success with renewed efforts to challenge its international recognition. Whether the promises can translate into diplomatic results remains uncertain, but the language itself demonstrates how strongly Kosovo continues to feature in Serbia's political messaging.