Momirovic: We have entered a humanitarian crisis zone; witnessing a creeping ethnic cleansing of the Serbs

Minister of Foreign and Internal Trade of Serbia, Tomislav Momirovic, stated that due to Pristina's decisions during the period of banning trade in goods produced by Serbian companies, we had practically entered a humanitarian crisis zone.

"The Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina have now completely blocked the traffic of people and goods in northern Kosovo and Metohija. The expulsion of people from the north is being prepared, following the same scenario as in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s. We have a creeping ethnic cleansing from the territory of four municipalities in northern Kosovo and Metohija," Momirovic said for RTV.

He noted that at the Forum of Ministers of Economy of Berlin Process and Business Forum held in Tirana last week, he had spoken in a civilized manner about how the violation of basic human and political rights in Kosovo had its consequence, which was the loss of human lives.

"We are talking about economic cooperation in the Western Balkans while there is conflict in northern Kosovo, at a time when people are being shot at, and the traffic of people and goods is prohibited. In principle, the European Union has condemned it, but sometimes we feel lonely, as it was in 1995 or 1999," Momirovic said.

He stated that Serbia had many friends in the EU, and deeper ties with US partners, but after the events in Banjska, we had come to a situation where no one condemned the treatment of the Serbs in Kosovo and the anger was turned towards Serbia.

He added that Serbia had partners and friends all over the world and that it would prevail.

When asked if the threats of EU sanctions should be taken seriously, Momirovic said that Serbia had been under tremendous pressure all the time, but the country's stance on imposing sanctions on Russia or the way to resolve the Kosovo issue had not changed.

"In the end, we must return to the negotiation process. People around the world will understand that we must have a constructive approach, that the Brussels Agreement must be implemented, and that the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities must be formed before we can even talk about stability," Momirovic emphasized.

He reminded that one of Serbia's main goals was to become an EU member, and after 20 years on that path, the reality said that this would not happen for at least the next four or five years.

"That is why we must create new economic partnerships. We primarily want a higher standard for our citizens. In talks with our EU partners, the first topic must be how many EU standards we have met, and then we should hear about the perspective of our EU membership. On the other hand, a partnership with China means more investments, better highways, new factories, high-speed railways... Well, the investments of the United States in China, and vice versa, are enormous, and that is good," Momirovic concluded.