Petkovic: Continuation of Belgrade-Pristina talks on the CSM text in two days

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, emphasized that the meeting between the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, had been serious, and he mentioned that Belgrade had accepted Lajcak's invitation to resume talks in Brussels in two days, where they would discuss the statute of the CSM.

"The discussion between Vucic and Lajcak was very serious. President Vucic thoroughly and convincingly briefed Lajcak on the gravity of the situation faced by Serbs in Kosovo and presented data and facts about the daily threats to Serbs and Kurti's escalatory moves. We also discussed the CSM, which is a key and most important topic, especially for the Serbian people in Kosovo," Petkovic said.

As he added, the CSM represents a mechanism for preserving the collective and individual rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo.

"De-escalation on the ground is necessary, and it is essential to see the normalcy of life in northern Kosovo, which is endangered every day. But it is also crucial that we finally enter into discussions on the statute of the CSM as well as its executive powers in accordance with the agreements from 2013 and 2015. Belgrade has every right to finance these institutions," Petkovic noted.

According to him, Belgrade has accepted Lajcak's invitation to continue negotiations in Brussels on November 16.

"We also discussed all other topics within the agreements signed or agreed upon in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. Belgrade has never avoided talks and dialogue. We have always insisted on dialogue and the normalization of relations. We have accepted Lajcak's invitation to meet in Brussels in two days, where the discussions will continue. As you well know, Belgrade advocates for peace, and dialogue is essential for us," Petkovic told reporters after the meeting with Lajcak.