"No justice in Kosovo and Metohija": Djuric on murder of protected witness against so-called KLA

He recalls that officials from the Netherlands-based tribunal assured representatives of Serbian institutions that the situation was different than before, and that the killings of witnesses could not happen again

The director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija (KiM), Marko Djuric, says the murder of yet another protected witness in a proceeding against the so-called KLA ("Kosovo Liberation Army") is a horrific event, but not an unprecedented one.

"In the past as well protected witnesses had been killed in Kosovo and Metohija and as a result, under the pretext, none of the leaders of the terrorist KLA have been held responsible so far for numerous war crimes. I would remind you that thousands of Serbs are still listed as missing in Kosovo and Metohija," Djuric pointed out.

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He recalls that officials from the Netherlands-based tribunal assured representatives of Serbian institutions that the situation was different than before, and that the killings of witnesses could not happen again.

"Once again it becomes apparent that there is no rule of law in Kosovo and Metohija and that there is no respect for elementary principles of justice," Djuric believes.

"Dialogue only after taxes have been revoked"

Marko Djuric said that an end to the trampling of the rights of Serbs is much more important than who will form the government in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as for th constitutional and legal norm that says at least 7 percent of public sector employees must be Serbs to be met.

He stressed that the Serb List winning 10 out of 10 seats in the Kosovo parliament means that whoever wants to form a government in Pristina has to knock on the door of the Serb List.

He stressed that the dialogue with Pristina can only be resumed after the abolition of anti-civilization taxes.

150 million euros more to support Serbs in Kosovo

Since the start of year, assistance to Kosovo's most vulnerable households began to arrive via the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. The director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Djuric, announced that, in addition to 12 regular daily bus routes, Belgrade and Pristina could soon be connected by an air route, for the first time in 20 years.

Djuric pointed out that since the beginning of the year, the implementation of the "Serbia 2020-2025" program started in Kosovo and Metohija, within which Serbia allocates an additional 150 million euros to support our people.

"I would like to remind you that during the previous year, on President Vucic's initiative, with full cooperation of the government, the Office and all competent institutions, implementation began of 348 projects of assistance and support to our people," says Djuric.

He explains that this involves renovation of schools, outpatients clinics, hospitals and of complete infrastructure.

"In the previous period, 22 of the 28 healthcare centers and outpatient clinics have been renovated. Of course, we will also work on hospitals in Kosovska Mitrovica and a new hospital in Gracanica. I think it's very important for our people that 49 churches and monasteries have been completely restored," Djuric stressed.

He said that the goal in the coming period is to reach every Serb and anyone who feels like a citizen of Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija.

"We are well aware that today the fight for Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija is a fight for people," says the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

(Telegraf.rs/RTS)