Djuric: Serbia continues fight for rights of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs

NEW YORK - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Tuesday in New York Belgrade was grateful to the US for suspending strategic dialogue with Pristina and noted that the move was an important signal by the US administration that it had identified and did not approve of violations of the rights of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs.

"We are grateful to US officials because they suspended strategic dialogue with Kurti's regime last month, sending a clear signal that they are aware what Kurti is doing to the Serbs and that they do not agree to Christian Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, or anyone else, being treated that way," Djuric told reporters after a UN Security Council session on Kosovo-Metohija.

Even though Belgrade and Washington do not share the same views when it comes to the status of the autonomous province of Kosovo-Metohija, Serbia highly respects and appreciates the fact the US is taking the position and the rights of Serbs into account in such a clear and concrete manner and in a way not heard before, Djuric said.

"I appreciate the fact that, through their actions, last month they made a step forward to protecting non-majority communities in Kosovo-Metohija," Djuric said.

He noted that Serbia was fighting a diplomatic battle on a daily basis to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens in Kosovo-Metohija and that the latest UNMIK report was a confirmation of those efforts.

Djuric, who met with current UN SC President Vasily Nebenzya after the session, was also due to speak with senior US officials.

"We continue to lobby for Serbia with full intensity," he noted.