Petkovic meets with Botsan-Kharchenko: Significant progress on missing persons, but a tangible step needed in forming the Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, met today with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Serbia, Aleksandar Botsan-Kharchenko, whom he briefed on the political and security situation in Kosovo and the latest round of the Belgrade–Pristina dialogue held in Brussels.

Petkovic noted that, following numerous meetings in Brussels, significant progress has been made with regard to the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons, including the holding of the first meeting of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija announced.

He emphasized that, during the dialogue, he once again called for concrete and tangible steps toward the establishment of the Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities, while also underscoring that Pristina continues to pursue unlawful, unilateral, and escalatory actions that jeopardize the survival, peace, and security of the Serbian people in Kosovo.

Petkovic cited numerous examples of institutional and physical violence and intimidation carried out by Pristina, noting that even the most basic human rights of the Serbian population are being violated.

He stressed the importance of the international community recognizing the many risks arising from Pristina’s announced implementation of the law on foreigners and the law on vehicles, and taking concrete steps in response. Petkovic added that Belgrade will continue to use all diplomatic channels to defend the legitimate rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo on these and other issues of vital importance for their life and survival.

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija also conveyed his gratitude to his interlocutor for the principled position of the Russian Federation on Kosovo, including its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and for UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the statement concluded.