Djuric: The latest escalation in Kosovo is solely Pristina’s responsibility

The Serbian Ambassador to the United States, Marko Djuric, assessed today that the latest escalation in Kosovo and Metohija was solely the Pristina authorities’ responsibility. In previous months Pristina authorities forbade Serbs to vote in general elections and to use the Brussels Agreement guaranteed rights, such as using status-neutral KS license plates, reported Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV).

In a statement to Tanjug, Djuric recalled that "the Pristina authorities also forbade the minorities representatives in Kosovo and Metohija to participate in the elections for the national Community Council and to elect their representatives".

"They have recklessly and publicly spoken they will never allow the establishment of The Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM). Albin Kurti was the last to do it, and no less, he said that in front of the German Prime Minister's office in the center of Berlin. The last straw was the expulsion of Serbian leaders from the Kosovo police structures, which happened simultaneously with the ban imposed on ordinary citizens to use their cars, just because someone from Pristina didn’t like their license plates, and, according to the Brussels Agreement, the citizens were entitled to them", Djuric pointed out.

He noted that everything that the Pristina institutions had done in recent months clearly showed that they did not want dialogue, they did not want reconciliation, or normalization of relations, on the contrary, they wanted "new distractions" in the dialogue process relation.

"Pristina is undermining the efforts of the international community to reach a peaceful solution acceptable to the citizens of both sides. Significantly, we could hear a clear invitation from the highest American representatives to finally, after ten years, start with the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, and to withdraw harmful and destructive related to license plates decision", said Djuric.

He reminded that the Serbs patiently and calmly waited for ten years for the formation of the CSM and for the other fundamental Brussels Agreement elements to be implemented, and pointed out it is clear now that the entire Brussels order in Kosovo rested on Serbian patience.

"The trampling of the Serbs basic rights and the escalating steps led to the fact that the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija had no choice but to raise their voices and stand up for the protection and defense of their basic human and civil rights, and even basic dignity", Djuric pointed out.

"Certain countries such as the USA, but also some other countries not traditionally aligned with Serbia about the Kosovo status, were increasingly speaking about the fact that Pristina must end the vicious escalation cycle. We have noticed this important development", he added.

"Support of these countries for the Kosovo status no longer means that they directly support them when it comes to every irresponsible move they make. I think Pristina has lost its monopoly on good relations with the US and some other countries", says Djuric.

As he points out, this is the result of the fact that the team headed by the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, raised Serbia's reputation and credibility in previous years with moves that were not just words. These moves were the Serbian economy strengthening, responsible behavior in critical situations, and building personal contacts and relationships of trust with some of the Western countries' most important leaders.

When it comes to police duties, after the escalating moves of the anti-Serbian, anti-American, and anti-European Kurti government, it is very important that the vacuum created in the northern Kosovo region is filled by KFOR, EULEX, and other international missions' authorized representatives, as Djuric says. In other words, it is crucial not to allow the Kurti regime to continue with its dangerous and incendiary games, which this regime is very prone to, as seen in the previous weeks.