Petkovic: At the core of our people is the struggle for freedom; every occupation has an expiration date

When it's the hardest, the Serbian word becomes stronger, and our people are further empowered and determined to remain in their ancestral hearths, Petar Petkovic, the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija stated, during the opening of the stand of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija at the 66th International Book Fair in Belgrade.

Petkovic emphasized that the stand of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija would host over 70 book and scientific work promotions, with the participation of more than 30 diverse exhibitors and publishers from Kosovo.

"Why did I tell you this? I told you to point out a paradox, which in our case might not be a paradox at all but rather a matter of our identity and Serbian nature. It's that when it's toughest, and when they terrorize our people in Kosovo and Metohija, we rise and become even stronger. Believe it or not, it's precisely in these difficult times that we witness the most significant and extensive creative output by the Serbs from the Kosovo and Metohija region, which we want to present to you at this wonderful stand," Petkovic highlighted.

Petkovic stated that at the core of the Serbs was the fight for freedom, as they were a freedom-loving nation, and that was what had defined us all these years, decades, and centuries, and it would continue to be so.

"When it's the hardest, the Serbian word becomes stronger, and our people are further empowered and determined to remain in their ancestral hearths. It was like this, and it will remain so," he said.

He emphasized that every occupation had its expiration date, and this one, imposed on the Serbs by the Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, would pass soon.

"The state of Serbia is with its people in Kosovo and Metohija, with its church in Kosovo and Metohija, because that's the only way we can survive. There is no other place our people can look to other than to their Belgrade and their President, Aleksandar Vucic. Even yesterday, on an extremely challenging day when the “big five“ visited us, the talks were tough, but on the other hand, President Aleksandar Vucic showed exceptional courage and determination to defend the Serbs, primarily their right to life and peace, and the interests of the Serbs and our national interests in the territory of our southern province, Kosovo and Metohija, using arguments and, above all, facts that are based on the UN Charter and international law," Petkovic said.

Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo also attended the opening of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija's stand.

From October 22nd to 29th, every day, at the Office for Kosovo and Metohija's stand in Hall 1a, within the 66th Belgrade International Book Fair, poets, artists, and scientists from Kosovo's territory, as well as writers and researchers dealing with Kosovo-related issues in their work and studies, will present themselves to the audience.