Petkovic: Dangerous threats by Kurti to the Serbian people and the Serb List

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, pointed out that for the first time, the EU, and even the US, had clearly stated that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti was responsible for the failure of the dialogue.

"We had an extremely difficult day - these were not ordinary technical negotiations. In impossible conditions, President Aleksandar Vucic was talking to Kurti, who refuses everything and does not want to form the Community of Serb Municipalities, and yesterday, Josep Borrell made that clear," Petkovic said on RTS.

He added that, although Belgrade had been oriented toward compromise all these years, the EU had put both sides on the same level and said after the meetings that both sides should do something, thus placing responsibility on both Pristina and Belgrade.

"Now we have seen for the first time the EU's, and if you will, the US's stance, that Kurti is responsible for the failure of the dialogue. Kurti does not want to form the CSM, and when Vucic asked him in front of Borrell and Lajcak whether he would form it in accordance with what was agreed in 2013 and 2015, he refused to answer. However, he gave an answer yesterday at a press conference when he threatened the Serbian people and the Serb List, telling them that they would suffer and pay," the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija emphasized.

Petkovic asks what else they need to pay and why they should suffer when, so far, Kurti has been engaging in a quiet occupation of the north, the Kosovo police have been shooting Serbs, arresting them, and unlawful decisions have been implemented.

"That statement is very dangerous because it shows the true nature of Kurti's violent regime, and that is why President Vucic was not satisfied yesterday because, to be honest, there was at least a little reason for it. It was evident that Belgrade was not to blame, that it had shown constructiveness, and that it had accepted the EU's proposal, which implies, first of all, the formation of the CSM, then the implementation of the agreement, which is not easy, while on the other hand, we have Kurti, who does not want it and who threatens Serbs and the Serb List," he emphasized.

He stated that such statements were unacceptable, and he indicated that Kurti had made that statement in front of the building where the dialogue was taking place.

"That is a dangerous statement, and that is why Vucic was worried yesterday because he knew what would follow the rejection of the proposal," Petkovic said, pointing out that in just two months since the EU made a statement to urgently start implementing measures for de-escalation in northern Kosovo, there had been 22 escalatory moves by the Pristina authorities.

Petkovic says that this is not the end of negotiations, and Belgrade will continue to fight fiercely to preserve peace and stability.

Regarding the elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo, Petkovic says that Kurti has not only rejected the formation of the CSM, the EU's proposal for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, but also the proposal for de-escalation in the north.

"When it comes to elections, President Vucic was correct here as well, but the administrative instruction is just a trick of Pristina. The procedure from submitting a petition to holding elections takes 118 days. Kurti is trying to call into question the EU itself and wants to play with everyone, but it seems to me that the international community has finally seen who the source of the problem in Kosovo and Metohija is," the director stated.

On the question of whether pressure could be expected on Kurti, Petkovic says that Borrell's statement and the approach of the EU, as well as the statement on Kurti's responsibility yesterday, are certainly a step forward, but Western states created an independent Kosovo, and it is their child.

"No matter how naughty Kurti is, they will try to preserve the independence of Kosovo. We do not give up on our position, on our people; there is no other choice," Petkovic concluded.

He congratulated the citizens on the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom, and the National Flag, emphasizing that this day was especially important for Serbs in Kosovo.

"As long as President Vucic is at the helm of the state, we will never abandon the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, and we will continue to make efforts, as we did yesterday in Brussels. We will try, with wise moves, to preserve peace, but we will insist on the implementation of everything that has been agreed so far," Petkovic concluded.