Petkovic: Meeting with Quint representatives today about Popovic’s arrest – No Dialogue while he is in Prison

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, announced that today, together with Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, he will meet with representatives of the Quint to raise the issue of the arrest of his assistant Igor Popovic for alleged verbal offenses, emphasizing that there will be no dialogue while Popovic is in prison.

He also recalled that on this day, 26 years ago, the massacre in Staro Gracko occurred — a bloody harvest in which 14 Serbian farmers were killed.

“They were killed at point-blank range. This was a crime unlike any other seen in Kosovo and Metohija. To this day, no one has been held accountable, even though it's well known who committed the massacre. There is extensive documentation from British KFOR and others about the perpetrators. The crime happened while international forces were present in Kosovo,” Petkovic told RTS.

He stressed that the most disgraceful thing is that the investigation was dropped:

“EULEX abandoned the investigation claiming there was no evidence. When it comes to Serbs, there is never evidence. In Pristina, an organized silence prevails — crimes of the KLA are hidden, no one is held accountable, while Serbs and Serbian victims are shamed, and those who speak out and demand justice are targeted,” Petkovic said.

He added that Serbia will never stop seeking the truth and justice for the killers, because war crimes do not expire:

“It is the obligation of all state institutions to investigate. Serbia will not rest until the truth is uncovered. Everything is known — Kosovo and Metohija is a small territory where it’s well known how the KLA operated, where the biggest killings occurred, and who held command responsibility,” he stated.

Petkovic recalled that Popovic attended the memorial in Staro Gracko last year, just as he recently attended a memorial for 47 murdered Serbs and Roma in Orahovac.

He also reminded that the Special Court in The Hague is currently conducting a trial that includes the Orahovac case.

“There must be no criminal liability for someone who calls the perpetrators by their true name,” Petkovic underlined.

He stated that the Office for Kosovo and Metohija will be present today at the anniversary commemoration of the murdered harvesters, together with the Serbian people and their political representatives, and that they will never stop speaking about this crime:

“If they think they can stop the truth by arresting people — that we will stop talking about the suffering of Serbs in Staro Gracko — we will not. This crime was committed by KLA terrorists. That is the truth, and we will never give up on it. The truth will not be exiled. We will only raise our voices louder and strengthen our demands that truth must prevail,” he emphasized.

He said he already knows what Quint representatives will say today — that they don’t interfere with the judiciary in Pristina and that “this is the rule of law.”

“They pretend to be naive, but in fact, they are aiding Albin Kurti. Still, we must look out for ourselves. The EU may be status-neutral on Kosovo and Metohija, but the mentors of Kosovo’s independence, including the most powerful EU countries, will never give up on the project of so-called Kosovo independence,” Petkovic stated.

Asked whether he expects understanding from the Quint, he repeated that their standard position is that they “have taken note, are monitoring the case, hope procedures will be followed, and call for both sides to act constructively.”

“Our answer is clear and will become even clearer. Kurti’s behavior carries serious consequences. You will soon see our response,” Petkovic said.

Commenting on the lack of reaction from the EU and the U.S. over Popovic’s arrest, Petkovic said he has been in daily contact with international representatives since the moment his assistant was “kidnapped,” along with the entire Serbian state apparatus, especially President Aleksandar Vucic.

“There hasn’t been a single meeting where we didn’t insist on Popovic’s release. There have been numerous letters, phone calls. I told Peter Sørensen directly: there will be no continuation of dialogue until Popovic is free. His arrest is an attack on the dialogue process,” Petkovic stressed.

He clarified that this is not a break in dialogue, but a clear signal that no meetings will take place until Popovic is back in Belgrade — a red line must be drawn, because Pristina has crossed all limits, and this arrest was the final straw.

Asked what Sørensen told him, Petkovic replied:

“Everyone knows I am telling the truth, but pressure is always put on Belgrade. That’s why it’s important to preserve peace and find a compromise.”

“But many don’t want that. They want us to head toward recognizing Kosovo. That will not happen,” he declared.

He concluded with a message to Serbs in Kosovo: Be patient, don’t fall for provocations — every form of terror has its end.

“We must preserve peace and stability, care for our country, develop Serbia, raise wages and pensions, open new factories — because none of that exists in Pristina. Kurti, preparing for elections, presents only an anti-Serb agenda, as it’s the only thing he can offer his voters. The decision to build two bridges sends a message to Albanian extremists that they can advance from the south toward the north,” Petkovic explained.

He also reminded that for 12 years, Pristina has failed to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO), blaming the EU, which signed the Brussels Agreement, for failing to ensure its implementation.

He emphasized that dialogue remains important as a principle for resolving issues, because the alternative is conflict — something Serbia does not want.

“Dialogue is the only way to protect our people. We are trying to help our citizens financially — especially the most vulnerable — to ensure that every Serb in Kosovo receives some form of support from the Serbian state. Through wise policy, we can protect the Serbian people from Kurti’s dangerous escalation and steer our ship toward calmer waters,” Petkovic said.

He reiterated that this autumn will bring additional financial aid for Serbs in Kosovo:
Following the February aid package for 5,000 of the most vulnerable, another 5,000 Serbs will receive monthly aid of 20,000 dinars.

“In total, 10,000 Serbs will receive assistance — those who have no other income and who truly live in Kosovo and Metohija. These are the two criteria. With this, we will succeed in covering all the unemployed and those without any income in Kosovo and Metohija,” Petkovic concluded.