Petkovic: Kurti continues with unilateral and illegal raids on Serbian institutions

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, issued a statement following the raid by Kosovo Police on the Public Utility Company (PUC) "Ibar Waterworks" in North Mitrovica, stating that Albin Kurti has continued his policy of unilateral and illegal incursions into Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo.

Petkovic emphasized that since this morning, dozens of police officers have been stationed in front of PUC "Ibar Waterworks," which provides utility services to thousands of Serbs as well as other residents of the city, and employs more than 80 workers whom the Republic of Serbia will continue to support.

"This is a vital institution that is essential for the uninterrupted operation of the hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica, kindergartens, and schools, which cannot function or provide essential services without a water supply. Kurti’s enforcers, carrying out dirty work, removed the sign bearing the name of the Serbian Waterworks and are replacing it with a sign of the regional waterworks from the southern part of Mitrovica. Employees were told they had a deadline to 'integrate into the Kosovo system.' We stress that this is not some 'parallel institution,' as the authorities in Pristina are trying to spin it, but a utility company that should be part of the Community of Serb Municipalities, which must have authority over the provision of public services, something Kurti is fully aware of," Petkovic said.

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija also pointed out that it has now been 12 years since Pristina failed to form the CSM, and that Kurti, through his actions and statements, violates this and all other agreements on a daily basis in full view of the international community.

"He demonstrated this again today by taking unilateral actions while the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, is visiting Belgrade, an obvious provocation aimed even at European officials. The Office for Kosovo and Metohija will address all relevant international representatives and missions operating in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija to highlight this latest unilateral move by the outgoing authorities in Pristina and the violation of binding agreements," Petkovic concluded.