Petkovic, UK's Pierce discuss situation in Kosovo-Metohija

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic met with the UK's special Western Balkans envoy Karen Pierce on Friday to inform her of progress in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, as well as of Pristina's refusal to discuss proposals for deescalation on the ground.

On a daily basis, Kosovo-Metohija Serbs face terror and violent moves by Pristina, which is systematically destroying all the achievements of the Brussels dialogue, rather than complying with agreements, Petkovic said.

None of this would be happening had Pristina formed a Community of Serb Municipalities, for which the Serbs have been waiting for 12 years, a statement released by the Office quoted Petkovic as saying.

"Albin Kurti is trying to disguise the political crisis in Pristina with attacks on Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, arbitrary arrests, dangerous plans to open two new bridges, a police occupation and militarisation of the north of Kosovo-Metohija and closures of Serbian institutions, which is all aimed at changing the ethnic composition of the Serb communities and at expelling the Serbs," Petkovic warned.

He added that the nearly 700 incidents since Kurti's rise to power, dozens of escalatory moves and persecution of Srpska lista leaders were a testimony to that and aimed at creating impossible living conditions for the Kosovo-Metohija Serbs.

In spite of all obstructions, a disinformation campaign and demagogic attacks by Pristina, Belgrade will remain firmly committed to dialogue as a platform for normalisation of relations and a quest for sustainable solutions on the ground, Petkovic said, noting that Pristina must urgently start establishing the Community of Serb Municipalities to enable progress in the process.