Petkovic with Ming: Closure of social welfare centers directly endangers 9,000 beneficiaries

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, met today with the Chinese Ambassador to Serbia, Li Ming, to discuss the severe security and existential challenges faced by the Serbian people in Kosovo since Albin Kurti took office. Petkovic highlighted the recent closure of Serbian social welfare centers in northern Kosovo and addressed what he described as “attempts to alter the electoral will of the Serbian people in the province.”

According to Petkovic, shutting down these social welfare centers is a direct attack on the most vulnerable and at-risk Serbian communities in Kosovo. He stated that nearly 9,000 recipients of social assistance, child benefits, one-time financial aid, and personal care support now face dire consequences, as these payments are essential for their survival.

He reminded that the Pristina authorities had previously closed Serbian institutions across Kosovo in a similar manner – institutions that, according to him, should serve as the foundation for forming the Community of Serb Municipalities, which the Pristina government has refused to establish for over 11 years.

“The closure of Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija by Pristina’s authorities is creating unbearable living conditions for the Serbian people, ultimately leading to their forced expulsion from the province. The goal is to establish an ethnically pure Kosovo and Metohija, which is Albin Kurti’s undisguised agenda,” Petkovic stated.

The Office for Kosovo and Metohija’s director informed the ambassador that the Serbian delegation participated in a high-level event during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, attended by numerous UN member state representatives.

Petkovic conveyed that the event specifically addressed violations of basic human rights of Serbs in Kosovo, with direct victims of Pristina’s regime testifying to the ongoing persecution.

He also drew attention to “strange developments” surrounding the vote count following Kosovo’s recent parliamentary elections.

Given that even twenty days after the elections, final results have not been announced, as  Petkovic said, there is a justified concern that an attempt may be made to manipulate the election outcome in Kosovo and Metohija to the detriment of the Serb List.

At the end of the meeting, Petkovic expressed gratitude to the ambassador for China’s steadfast support of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as its commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the Kosovo issue based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244.