Djuric: Kurti does not want Serbs to regain control of institutions in northern Kosovo-Metohija

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Tuesday Pristina's PM Albin Kurti did not want the Serbs to regain control of institutions in the north of Kosovo-Metohija in upcoming local elections in the province and maintain control of Serb-majority institutions south of the Ibar River, or be a part of the government as they were entitled to under the constitution of the so-called Kosovo.

Commenting on illegitimate decisions by Pristina's central electoral commission regarding the number of voters and electoral board members - which are aimed against the Serbs and Srpska lista - Djuric told Prva TV that, for two and a half years now, Kurti had been "doing everything in an attempt to marginalise the Serbs in the worst apartheid-like manner".

"We have seen that not only politically, but also when it comes to security. We also see that today, through the fact there are dozens of political prisoners incarcerated in Kosovo-Metohija. There are many other examples as well," Djuric added.

He also noted that Pristina had closed 125-130 Serbian institutions.

Under the so-called Kosovo constitution, the Serb party that wins the majority of votes nominates a minister and other officials, Djuric said.

"Kurti wants to prevent all that from happening and that is why he wants the Serbs not to turn out in the elections. We Serbs need to turn out in the elections and gather around Srpska lista because it is clear that that political organisation, due to its ties with the state of Serbia in terms of political discussions and coordination of positions in the past years, is a thorn in his side, and that is why he wants to label it as terrorist and as an aggressor organisation," Djuric noted.

Commenting on a statement by Pristina's justice minister that a decision to ban Srpska lista from running in the elections was a "triumph of democracy," Djuric said:

"We have made full use of that careless statement in discussions with various collocutors, especially in Europe. Their response is not favourable for Kurti," Djuric said.

Asked to comment on reports by some media outlets that the EU would break off contacts with Kurti and that there would be no discussions until a new Pristina government was formed, Djuric said he supported that stance as Kurti's regime had "nothing to show that it belongs in 21st-century Europe."

"It is a regime focusing on ethno-nationalism and social demagogy, and it is certainly not contributing to stabilisation in the region," Djuric said.