Petkovic: Pristina has no capacity to enter into defence alliances

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Friday that, under international law, the provisional authorities in Pristina had no capacity whatsoever to enter into any defence alliances as they did not represent a state but, as their name suggests, a legal provisorium.

Commenting on a memorandum on defence cooperation recently signed by Albania, Croatia and Pristina, Petkovic said the main problem with the tripartite pact was not only related to formal law as it was also a serious security provocation that was undoubtedly aimed at destabilising the region.

"Pristina is not only not under threat, but, for years now, it has been the one threatening Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija, and those who enter into this kind of contractual relationship with it are sending a message that they want to help it to be more successful in continuing a campaign of violence and oppression against those who do not recognise the violation of international law and the law of force," Petkovic said in a statement released by the Office.

He said Pristina's president Vjosa Osmani did not speak the truth in saying Albanians had never attacked anyone or attempted to take a part of someone else's territory as she was speaking on behalf of those who had started an armed rebellion and attempted to create a state in the territory of Serbia's southern province, Kosovo-Metohija.