Petkovic with Konrad: Pristina uses tragic events in Banjska for terror and confrontation with the Serbs

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, held talks today with the German Ambassador to Serbia, Anke Konrad, discussing the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, and he emphasized Belgrade's strong and principled commitment to peacefully resolve all outstanding issues and problems within the framework of the dialogue on the normalization of relations with Pristina.

"Petkovic specifically highlighted the steps Belgrade has taken to normalize the situation in northern Kosovo and pointed out that Pristina had not taken the necessary measures to reduce tensions and de-escalate the situation. Instead, as he said, they continue to take escalatory actions daily, aiming to provoke new crises, tensions, and ethnic cleansing of our people," as stated in the Office for Kosovo and Metohija's press release.

Petkovic extended Belgrade's invitation and the Serb List's willingness to participate in local elections in northern Kosovo and Metohija, but he informed his interlocutor that Pristina, led by Albin Kurti, was obstructing and sabotaging this process with various conditions and administrative obstacles because Pristina does not really want to hold the elections.

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija noted that Pristina was using the tragic events of September 24th in Banjska for further terror and confrontation with the Serbian people, resulting in the exodus of Serb residents from their ancestral homes.

Petkovic outlined the main examples of the difficult situation for Serbs in the province, including their daily arrests and mistreatment, emphasizing the fact that Azem Kurtaj, who had shot Serbian boys Stefan and Milos Stojanovic from Gotovusa on January 6th of this year, had been allowed to be released from house arrest, pending trial.

"This clearly shows that there is no justice or rights for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija under Albin Kurti's regime," Petkovic stated.

Regarding the endangered security and political issues facing the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, Petkovic particularly highlighted the "presence of the so-called Kosovo Police in northern Kosovo and Metohija, which terrorizes and intimidates Serbs on a daily basis, leading to new tensions and crises."

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija emphasized that Belgrade remained genuinely interested in promptly sitting at the negotiating table and reaching a compromise in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina to create conditions for lasting stability and peace in the region.

To achieve this, according to Petkovic, Pristina must urgently de-escalate the situation on the ground and enable the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, which Albin Kurti categorically rejects, before the eyes of international actors, as stated in the press release.