Petkovic informs Bunford of details of Kosovo-Metohija polls, Belgrade's positions in dialogue

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic met with Hungary's special Western Balkans envoy Zsolt Bunford and Hungarian Ambassador to Belgrade Jozsef Magyar on Tuesday to inform them of the details of Sunday's local elections in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as of Belgrade's positions in the dialogue with Pristina.

Petkovic said that, in spite of obstructions by Pristina - which he noted had been sparking crises throughout the electoral process - Kosovo-Metohija Serbs had turned out in huge numbers to vote in support of Srpska lista and reclaim municipalities in the north of the province and solidify municipalities in the south, an official statement said.

"With a landslide Srpska lista win, the Serbs have freed the north of sham ethnic Albanian mayors," Petkovic said, adding that Serb mayors would "make decisions in the best interest of the Serbs."

Pristina and Albin Kurti are already threatening the Serbs with new unilateral measures and further disenfranchisement, which is contrary to all agreements reached in the dialogue, Petkovic said, adding that, in spite of Pristina's provocations, Belgrade and President Aleksandar Vucic would act in a responsible manner and remain committed to preservation of peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

Petkovic expressed special gratitude for the engagement of Hungarian troops in the KFOR mission, as well as for the Hungarian government's understanding regarding many issues of national significance and interest for Serbia, and noted that the close and friendly relations between President Vucic and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban had definitely contributed to that.