Petkovic: Pristina using Banjska case to escalate terror against Serbs

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic met with German Ambassador to Belgrade Anke Konrad on Thursday, noting that Pristina was using the tragic September 24 events in Banjska to escalate terror and crack down on Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija.

This has resulted in departures of Serbs from their ancestral homes, Petkovic said.

He added that Belgrade was firmly committed to peaceful resolution of all open issues and problems as part of dialogue on normalisation of relations with Pristina, the Office said in a statement.

He noted that Belgrade had undertaken numerous steps with a view to normalisation of the situation in the north of Kosovo-Metohija while Pristina had not taken the necessary measures that would lead to a calming of tensions and de-escalation but was making further escalatory moves on a daily basis to cause new crises and tensions and an ethnic cleansing of Serbs.

He said Belgrade had called for new local elections in the north of Kosovo-Metohija and that Srpska lista was ready to participate in them but that Pristina and its PM Albin Kurti were obstructing and sabotaging that process through various conditions and administrative obstacles because they were, in fact, unwilling to carry out elections.

Petkovic named key examples of the difficult position of Serbs in the province, including daily arrests and harassment, and particularly drew to Konrad's attention the fact that Azem Kurtaj, who shot and wounded two young Serbs from the Gotovusa village on January 6, had been released from house custody and allowed to remain free during trial.

"That shows clearly there is no law or justice for Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija - nor can there be under Albin Kurti's regime," Petkovic said.

Speaking about threats to the security of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, Petkovic particularly noted the presence of the so-called Kosovo Police in the north of Kosovo-Metohija.

He said Belgrade remained sincerely committed to a soonest possible resumption of dialogue with Pristina and a compromise solution that would create conditions for permanent stability and peace in the region.

For that to happen, Pristina must urgently de-escalate the situation on the ground and enable the establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities, Petkovic said, adding that Kurti was categorically refusing that in front of the eyes of international actors.