Petkovic: Kurti sparking new crisis in Kosovo-Metohija by land-grabbing

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Friday that, by land-grabbing in a Serb-majority municipality, Pristina PM Albin Kurti's "occupation gauleiter" in northern Kosovska Mitrovica had taken a new step towards militarisation and occupation of the north of Kosovo-Metohija by Kurti's parapolice.

In a statement, the Office said the occupation authorities in the North Mitrovica municipality had, without prior notice, a public debate or any consultations with citizens, allotted a large plot of municipal land to the so-called Kosovo interior ministry to add more weight to the "shackles imposed on Serbs" living north of the Ibar River and build a new police fortification in a Serb community.

It said the land plot was being used by several utility companies and the Kosovska Mitrovica Interim Authority.

"Usurpation of the land by Kurti's occupation gauleiter is another attempt to spark a new crisis in the north of Kosovo-Metohija and avoid Pristina's commitments regarding the establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities, as well as to thwart the process of relieving illegal mayors of their duties," Petkovic said, noting that the process had been initiated by local Serbs.

He noted that he had informed all international officials of Kurti's unlawful and escalatory decision and that he expected them to react urgently to stop the "rampage of Kurti's gauleiter."