Starovic: US an EU condemn Kurti's moves only verbally, but without concrete measures

Photo: Tanjug/Rade Prelic

Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Nemanja Starovic said, speaking about the closure of all branches of the Post of Serbia in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, that we are witnessing a pattern of unilateral measures implemented by the prime minister of Pristina's provisional institutions, Albin Kurti, as well as verbal condemnations of his actions by the US and the European Union, who are not taking any concrete measures.

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Starovic told TV Prva that the lack of reaction from the US and the EU is the result of a lack of political will.

"It offends common sense a little. It would have been more fair if they remained silent, if they did not issue those verbal condemnations and if they honestly said that Kurti has been given free rein to do what he wants," said Starovic.

He said that Kurti is aware of the geopolitical changes which is why he is trying to antagonize Serbs.

"The situation on the ground is very difficult. Pressure on the Serb people for the last two years has been very pronounced. The most vulnerable members of the Serb community, pensioners, those receiving social welfare, people living in small communities who are now being denied basic health care are especially under attack. Let's remember that a small clinic that served about a hundred Serbs still living in Pristina, out of the 40,000 that lived there before the war, has been closed," he said.

The minister stressed that we must not fall into Albin Kurti's trap, who wants a war.

"And not a war with Pristina, but with NATO. Avoiding the trap of an armed conflict with NATO, we must do everything in our power to further support our people, primarily with economic measures," said Starovic.

According to him, there is almost no Serb family in the territory of the southern Serbian province that is not receiving some form of financial support from Belgrade.

Starovic recalled that President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic announced that the state will by September ensure the existence of its people in Kosovo and Metohija.

Speaking about the announced opening of a bridge on the Ibar River between northern and southern parts of Kosovska Mitrovica, Starovic said it was a "major potential point of escalation."

"For the Serbs, it was the last point of resistance, the point where Kosovska Mitrovica was safeguarded," he said.

He adds that the presence of KFOR guarantees the safety of our compatriots in Kosovo and Metohija.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)