Djuric, OSCE's Kamp discuss situation in Kosovo-Metohija

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Christophe Kamp on Tuesday.

Djuric said the meeting had been "an excellent opportunity to exchange views on the key issues within High Commissioner Kamp’s mandate," the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

"Reflecting on Serbia’s cooperation with the OSCE, Minister Djuric emphasised that Serbia remains deeply committed to the protection and advancement of both the individual and collective rights of persons belonging to national minorities. He highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the institutional and legal frameworks in this domain and to ensure their effective implementation.

In his conversation with Kamp, Minister Djuric expressed particular concern regarding the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, where Serbs face systematic violations of their fundamental human rights as a result of unilateral actions taken by the authorities in Pristina.

Providing a detailed account of recent developments in Kosovo-Metohija and the daily consequences experienced by the Serbian population, Minister Djuric underscored that improving the position of Serbs must be a collective effort by all stakeholders, as this is the only way to achieve visible results that will help prevent their departure from their centuries-old homes.

The Minister also underlined the importance of creating a positive environment that would enable Serbian representatives to be adequately and proportionately represented in all institutions and at all levels of government.

Minister Djuric further stressed that Serbia attaches particular importance to the work of the OSCE missions operating on its territory, noting that it is essential for them to report and respond promptly to unilateral actions by Pristina," it also said.

The parties also addressed improvement of the status of national minorities in Serbia and Djuric informed Kamp of concrete measures undertaken in this field.