Petkovic: Belgrade will not tolerate Pristina's attack on MTS's rights

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Wednesday Belgrade would not tolerate the violence and tyranny demonstrated in Pristina's attack on the rights of MTS doo, a daughter company of Telekom Srbija, as it was not only a violation of a company's right to operate without obstructions but, above all, an attack on the rights of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija.

In a statement, he warned that MTS had legal mechanisms for getting an "absurd" decision by the so-called Kosovo's business registration agency annulled and that Pristina could suffer serious consequences in the field of telecommunications.

He said all relevant international interlocutors, including the EU special envoy in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and Quint states, had been informed immediately through diplomatic channels of the most recent tyrannical act by Pristina's PM Albin Kurti and his servants, as well as of Belgrade's position on the situation, and that an urgent reaction was demanded.

Petkovic said MTS operations and telecommunications services in Serb communities in Kosovo-Metohija were regulated by Brussels agreements reached in the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

The statement said Serbia would continue to protect valid agreements and law and justice together with MTS and Telekom Srbija.

The so-called Kosovo's business registration agency has revoked the registration certificates of 15 Serbian companies operating in Kosovo-Metohija, including MTS doo, due to "unconstitutional content."

In a statement, Pristina's ministry of industry, entrepreneurship and trade said the companies had displayed content such as "Pec, Republic of Serbia", "Pristina, Serbia", "Djakovica, Republic of Serbia", "Kosovska Mitrovica, Republic of Serbia", "Gnjilane, Serbia", etc, and noted that it was allegedly "unconstitutional."

Telekom Srbija CEO Vladimir Lucic said earlier MTS would continue to operate and provide services to its customers despite a decision by the Pristina authorities to shut down the company.