Petkovic meets with Due: Catastrophic scenario for the Serbian people in Kosovo averted

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, met today with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Peter Due, whom he briefed on the latest solution reached regarding the Law on Foreigners, emphasizing that the rights of the Serbian people and the functioning of Serbian educational and healthcare institutions in Kosovo have been safeguarded.

Petkovic stressed that this development has, as he stated, averted a catastrophic scenario for the Serbian people in Kosovo, and underlined that it is of utmost importance to find a sustainable solution with regard to the Regulation on Motor Vehicles, which, he added, affects several thousand Serbs by restricting their freedom of movement and enjoyment of property.

Petkovic highlighted the importance of the UNMIK mission for the Serbian people in Kosovo, as well as the need for full respect of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, and expressed hope that the forthcoming six-month report of the mission, to be presented at a UN Security Council session in early April, will duly reflect all the problems and violations of rights that, as he emphasized, the Serbian people in Kosovo face on a daily basis.

“During the meeting, which was also attended by Dominika Krois, Head of the United Nations Office in Belgrade, Petkovic particularly emphasized Belgrade’s commitment to the dialogue with Pristina conducted in Brussels, and underlined that it is essential to promptly resume discussions on the establishment of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities and the draft Statute of the ASM, which represents the most important framework for the protection of the collective and individual rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” the Office for Kosovo and Metohija stated.

Petkovic also pointed out that unilateral actions by Albin Kurti undermine the fragile security situation both in Kosovo and in the wider Western Balkans region, presenting numerous examples to substantiate this assessment.

He further stated that the activities of UNMIK are of exceptional importance for the Serbian people in Kosovo, who place considerable trust in the mission, adding that they expect it to act in accordance with its mandated responsibilities and objectives.