Djuric, Petkovic meet with Quint and EU representatives

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric and the director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic met with representatives of the Quint states (the US, the UK, France, Germany and Italy) and the head of the EU Mission to Serbia on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Serbia's southern province following the arrest of Igor Popovic, assistant director of the Office for Kosovo-Metohija.

"It was emphasised that the arrest of Popovic represents a continuation of the political persecution of Serbs. This time, a member of the Serbian Government’s negotiation team has been detained – an act Belgrade finds completely unacceptable," the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

"Minister Djuric recalled that the arrest took place during commemorations honoring Serb and Roma victims in Orahovac and Staro Gracko.

By arresting Serbs and Serbian officials, along with other illegitimate actions, the authorities in Pristina are attempting to impose their own version of 'truth' and reinterpret historical events on their terms, rather than reflecting the factual record, Minister Djuric noted, reiterating Serbia’s expectation that Igor Popovic be released without delay.

The meeting with Minister Djuric was attended by the ambassadors of Italy and the United Kingdom, as well as the chargés d’affaires of the embassies of the United States, France, Germany and the EU Mission," the ministry also said.