Vucic: We are going to Brussels for talks, problems are building up

BELGRADE - Commenting on upcoming high-level talks in the Brussels dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday problems were "building up."

"On Wednesday or Thursday, we will go to Brussels for talks with a Pristina delegation. It is our obligation because we have always believed dialogue is the only way to solve problems, but problems are building up. A day after NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he expects significant consultations about any 'Kosovo Security Force' or 'Kosovo Police' actions that may impact the security environment in the north of Kosovo-Metohija, ethnic-Albanian police officers stormed the Ivo Lola Ribar factory in Zubin Potok. Once again, their desire was to demonstrate that there is no limit to their power and that they can do anything they want," Vucic said in public address.

He also said Pristina had continued to arrest Serbs on criminal charges that were three or four years old.

He said 41 attacks on Serbs had been registered since Albin Kurti had taken office as Pristina's PM.

"We have had 15 attacks on Serb children and direct attempts to thwart the functioning of the Serbian health care system, cases where ambulances were pulled over and goods were seized from them, as well as direct attacks on health care service employees and 56 attacks on religious buildings," Vucic said.

He said four Serbs from the north of Kosovo-Metohija and six others from Strpce had been released from custody.

"Dusan Obrenovic, Milun Lune Milenkovic, Nenad Orlovic, Sladjan Trajkovic and Milovan Bozovic, as well as Dragisa Milenkovic from the south, are still in custody. Dejan Pantic has been released from house arrest ahead of a trial. Meanwhile, we have demonstrated good will, we have spoken with Serb representatives to tell them to always be ready to accept dialogue also on holding elections in the north, but there is no discussion about Serbs leaving their ancestral homes," Vucic said.