Petkovic: Kurti continues policy of illegal raids on Serbian institutions

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said Tuesday's police raid on the offices of the waterworks company in Kosovska Mitrovica was a continuation of Pristina caretaker PM Albin Kurti's policy of unilateral and illegal raids on Serbian institutions in the north of Kosovo-Metohija.

On Tuesday morning, the so-called Kosovo Police deployed dozens of troops outside the Ibar Waterworks utility company, which serves thousands of Serb and other residents and employs 80 people.

In a statement, the Office said the waterworks company was vital for unobstructed operation of the Kosovska Mitrovica hospital, kindergartens and schools.

"Those who have been put in charge of doing the dirty work for Kurti took off the board with the name of the Serbian waterworks company and replaced it with a board with the name of a regional waterworks firm from the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, and told the employees they have a deadline to integrate into the 'Kosovo system,'" Petkovic said.

"We note that this is no 'parallel institution', like the Pristina authorities are trying to spin things, but a utility company that, as such, should be a part of a Community of Serb Municipalities," he added.

Noting that the establishment of the Community was now 12 years overdue, Petkovic said that, with his actions and statements, Kurti was violating all agreements on a daily basis, in front of the eyes of the entire international community.

He also demonstrated this today, by making unilateral moves during a visit to Belgrade by European Council President Antonio Costa, Petkovic said, noting that this was an evident provocation to European officials as well.