Petkovic meets with Sorensen

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic met with the EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Peter Sorensen on Thursday to discuss the course of the dialogue and implementation of an EU solution for Pristina's so-called law on foreigners, as well as finding a solution to its so-called law on motor vehicles.

Petkovic said the solutions were important for everyday life of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and unobstructed work of Serbian education and health care institutions in the province, but that problems with issuance of documents remained, the Office for Kosovo-Metohija said in a statement.

For that reason, it is important that EU representatives monitor the process actively so that all obstacles are avoided, as well as that the EU engages even more strongly when it comes to finding a solution to the motor vehicles issue.

Petkovic said Belgrade was ready at all times to resume technical-level discussions with Pristina and discussions about a draft statute of a Community of Serb Municipalities, especially as April 19 would mark the 13th anniversary of the signing of the First Brussels Agreement on normalisation of relations, which envisions the establishment of the Community.

"That is why the Serbs rightly expect that commitment by Pristina to be met, because the EU itself is also a guarantor of its implementation. For Belgrade, safeguarding peace and security for our people, along with respect for their fundamental human rights, is what is the most important for Belgrade, while Pristina's unilateral and escalatory moves do not contribute to normalisation of the situation on the ground," Petkovic said.

During the constructive discussion, Belgrade noted that it was important to continue the implementation of a declaration on missing persons as well as to devote attention to the issue of internally displaced persons from Kosovo-Metohija.