Petkovic: Zubin Potok raid continuation of Pristina's violence, expulsion of Serbs

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said Pristina's raid on the regional waterworks facility in Zubin Potok on Thursday was a continuation of a spiral of violence and expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija as well as closures of Serbian institutions in the autonomous province.

In a statement after a meeting with ambassadors and representatives of Quint states, Petkovic said the meeting had not been an easy one and that he had requested it urgently after Pristina's latest violent and escalatory move.

He said the waterworks company was a major Serbian project employing 30 people and supplying water to Serbs, ethnic Albanians and other non-Albanians in Zvecan, Zubin Potok and the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica.

Petkovic noted that the so-called Kosovo Police had also raided the local waterworks company in Kosovska Mitrovica on Wednesday and that previous raids in Serb communities had also targeted other Serbian institutions, including an institute for sports and youth.

"It is clear that (Pristina's caretaker PM Albin) Kurti, who is nervous these days because he cannot constitute institutions as he does not have the majority of votes, is trying to cover that up with new attacks on Serbs," Petkovic said.