Petkovic: Quint statement different this time

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Tuesday past statements by the Quint states about various illegal bans imposed by Pristina's PM Albin Kurti had been void of substance and relevance but that the latest one - issued after Pristina announced it would stop payment transactions with central Serbia and ban the Serbian dinar from February 1 - was different.

"You remember when Kurti banned the holding of Serbian elections in the territory of Kosovo-Metohija? At the time, the Quint came out with statements saying they regretted that but that Kurti had the right to do something like that. This time, the statement by the US representative in Pristina and the Quint in general is different, we will see," Petkovic told reporters at the Topcider army barracks in Belgrade.

He said Belgrade had done absolutely everything to clarify and explain to everyone the disastrous consequences of the moves announced by Pristina, and added that this was not just a matter of politics but a matter of survival for Kosovo-Metohija Serbs, who depend on Serbia for their salaries, pensions, welfare benefits and other funding.

"If Kurti stops that, it will be clear he does not want peace and that he is doing everything that is the opposite of heading towards deescalation. I hope reason will prevail," Petkovic said, noting that Serbia stood with Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and would never abandon them.