Petkovic: Kurti wants a crisis; it's an absolute lie that Belgrade is preparing for an attack

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija has called an extraordinary press conference for today to address the public following the latest accusations made by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, alleging that Serbia is preparing for an attack on Kosovo. He stated that this was an absolute lie and that Kurti did not want the normalization of relations but rather a crisis.

"We, the President and representatives of the Serbian Government have repeatedly responded to all the lies coming from the mouth of Albin Kurti, who is trying to conceal the real situation in Pristina and the catastrophic economic situation, as well as almost daily incidents of shooting. He uses the issue of Banjska and the north of Kosovo, which clearly shows that this man does not want to form the CSM, does not want the normalization of relations, but rather crises", Petkovic said.

Petkovic states that it is an absolute lie that Belgrade is preparing for an attack and that there is no training taking place on shooting ranges.

"This is a way to avoid the obligations he has in the dialogue because we have now reached the point of discussing specific steps for the formation of the CSM", Petkovic emphasizes.

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija notes that "Svecla does not talk about the daily attacks on the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, about raids and confiscation of Serbian goods in Kosovo happening now".

He prohibits Serbian elections but organizes elections for fake mayors in some containers

“When citizens from the north tried to submit a petition for the removal of fake mayors, you all witnessed the circus conducted by CEC and fake mayors because Kurti does not want to withdraw them but to change reality. That's why there are illegal expropriations, the construction of a new base near Zvecan, and the harassment of people. Belgrade advocates for normalization, for dialogue, for the Open Balkan Initiative, but Kurti is not interested in that; he only wants to attack the Serbs", Petkovic says.

Petkovic also emphasized that they (Kurti and Svecla) spoke at a conference about people in Banjska having weapons produced by Serbia, "so we pointed out that Kosovo police officers also have those rifles".

"Did we train and provide weapons to the Kosovo Police to attack the Serbs? In Kurti's points presented yesterday, there is no CSM, he says, 'I will write the statute', and then interferes in the electoral process here in Belgrade, assuming the right to speak about elections here. It is clear to you that the opposition in Belgrade is doing the same job with Kurti, which is to weaken Aleksandar Vucic and bring those who will recognize independent Kosovo. He bans Serbian elections but organizes elections for fake mayors in some containers. This is also a message to the international community to see what Albin Kurti is doing. Unfortunately, September 24th happened, and we condemned those events. Regarding Milan Radoicic, competent state authorities are doing their job, and I am telling you here that there will be no attacks", Petkovic said.

He added that by mentioning the family of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Kurti was questioning the security of his son, Danilo.

"Kurti mentions Vucic's family again, mentions Danilo Vucic. He questions Danilo's security. This has exceeded all limits. It is the same pattern of attacks on President Vucic's family as the one carried out during the campaign by a part of the opposition before the elections", Petkovic said.

Why was EULEX rejected from participating in the investigation?

"How much time has passed since Banjska, and there are still no results from the autopsy and investigation? We asked for our pathologists to participate. Why haven't they shown the drone footage, not just that minute or two, but everything, so we can see who from the Kosovo Police participated in the attack on the Serbs? Why was EULEX rejected from participating in the investigation? When families were taking over the bodies, the document stated that the autopsy had been conducted on the 25th, and EULEX told us it had been done on the 26th of September. So, what is happening?" Petkovic asked.

He emphasized that now was the right moment for the international community to clearly understand who was the main culprit here, who did not want the CSM, who was stopping KM license plates, and who was causing all the crises in the north.

"They have shown all the participants in the incident in Banjska; there is no one from central Serbia. I want to convey that Belgrade will continue to take care of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, to see what we can do primarily in terms of finance and economics, although the conditions are never more challenging, to continue implementing agreements. We will continue to preserve peace and stability because that is what the citizens of Serbia clearly showed in these elections. It is useless for Kurti to hold such conferences every day if it is clear that there is no dialogue and no progress in the dialogue. He wants to write the statute of the CSM with Rasic, who said that the CSM was a community of sparrows. Kurti is not competent to write the statute", Petkovic concluded.