Petkovic tells German Ambassador Konrad: Pristina is using events in Banjska to usher in more terror
He added that Belgrade is firmly committed to peaceful resolution of all open issues and problems within the dialogue on normalization of relations with Pristina
The director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Dr. Petar Petkovic spoke today with German Ambassador to Serbia Anke Konrad about the current situation in Kosovo and Metohija, and on that occasion pointed out that Pristina is using the tragic events of September 24 in Banjska in order to bringing on additional terror and confrontation with the Serb people.
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In the conversation with the ambassador, Petkovic stressed that this results in the outflow of the Serb population from their centuries-old homes, a statement said.
He added that Belgrade is firmly committed to peaceful resolution of all open issues and problems within the dialogue on normalization of relations with Pristina.
The director of the office for Kosovo and Metohija particularly stressed that Belgrade has taken numerous steps in order to normalize the situation in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, pointing out that Pristina has not taken the necessary measures that would lead to calming tensions and to deescalation, but, on the contrary, is taking additional escalating moves every day with the aim of causing new crises and tensions, and the ethnic cleansing of the Serb people.
He emphasized Belgrade's call, but also the willingness of the Serb List to participate in local elections in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, conveying to his interlocutor that Pristina, led by the prime minister of the provisional Pristina institutions, Albin Kurti, is hindering and sabotaging that process with various conditions and administrative obstacles because they do not actually want to hold these elections.
Petkovic enumerated the main examples of the difficult situation the Serbs are facing in the province, including daily arrests and harassment, especially drawing attention to the fact that Azem Kurtaj, who shot 11 and 21-years old Serb youths Stefan and Milos Stojanovic from Gotovusa on January 6 of this year, has first resulted in his house arrest - but now the shooter is free, pending the outcome of proceedings.
"This clearly shows that there are no rights, or justice for the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, nor can there be any, under Albin Kurti's regime," said Petkovic.
Speaking about the security threats and political problems faced by the Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija, Petkovic particularly emphasized the presence of the so-called Kosovo police in the Serb, i.e., northern Kosovo areas.
Petkovic stressed that Belgrade remains sincerely interested in sitting down at the negotiating table as soon as possible and reaching a compromise solution in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which would create the conditions for lasting stability and peace in the region.
In order for that to happen, it is necessary, according to Petkovic, for Pristina to urgently deescalate the situation on the ground and enable the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO).
Petkovic added that the prime minister (Kurti)of the provisional Pristina institutions categorically refuses to do this (a Brussels agreement commitment of Pristina) - in plain sight of international actors, the statement concluded.
(Telegraf.rs)