Petkovic after talks in Brussels: Without forming Community of Serb Municipalities, we can't move forward

Petkovic with Lajcak; Photo: Twitter/@MiroslavLajcak

Belgrade's chief negotiator in the dialogue with Pristina, Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic, said in Brussels after the talks with EU Special Representative for Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak that without the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo and Metohija, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue cannot move forward.

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"We have finished another round of talks, we spent 10 hours in the EU building. The first and basic issue we raised is the formation of the ZSO (Community of Serb Municipalities). Nine years have passed since the Brussels Agreement and we are still waiting for the ZSO to be formed, and they (Pristina) must also meet all their other obligations," said Petkovic.

Petkovic added that he spoke only with Lajcak, because the representative of Pristina, Besnik Bislimi, refused to talk to the Serbian side. Petkovic stressed that it is not possible to move further without the formation of the ZSO.

"Without the ZSO, I don't know how we can go further and discuss other issues. We are ready to go further, but everything must be fulfilled, our side has fulfilled everything," Petkovic stressed.

He added that energy issues have also been discussed.

"We insisted on energy, and on the agreement from 2013, and we are still waiting for licenses to be issued to two Serbian companies... It's important to ensure a stable supply of electricity to northern Kosovo and Metohija," Petkovic emphasized.

He added that during the talks with Lajcak, they also spoke about numerous attacks on Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

"Since the beginning of the year, we have had 23 attacks on Serbs, which is three times more than in the same period last year. We talked exclusively with Lajcak, the representative of Pristina, Besnik Bislimi, refused to talk to the Serbian side," said Petkovic.

The director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija said that he expected a new round of talks soon.

"During the next round Pristina will, I hope, be much more responsible, and that means coming to Brussels to discuss numerous topics. That is important for the continuation of the dialogue," said Petkovic.

Lajcak also held a separate meeting with Bislimi.

(Telegraf.rs)