Petkovic with Pierce on Belgrade–Pristina dialogue

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, met today with the UK’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Karen Pierce, to brief her on the course of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, as well as on Pristina’s refusal to discuss proposals aimed at de-escalating the situation on the ground. Instead, Pristina continues to pursue a policy of unlawful and unilateral actions, according to a statement from the Office for Kosovo and Metohija.

The Serbian people in Kosovo are exposed daily to terror and violent actions by Pristina, which, instead of honoring agreements and deals, is systematically dismantling all the achievements of the Brussels Dialogue. None of this would be happening had Pristina established the Community of Serb Municipalities, which the Serbian people have been waiting on for 12 years, as Director Petkovic emphasized.

“Albin Kurti is trying to cover up the political crisis in Pristina by targeting the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, through arbitrary arrests, dangerous plans to open two new bridges, police occupation and militarization of northern Kosovo, and the shutting down of Serbian institutions, all with the ultimate goal of changing the ethnic composition of Serbian areas and expelling the Serbian population,” Petkovic warned.

He added that this is evidenced by nearly 700 incidents since Kurti came to power, numerous acts of escalation, and the persecution of Serbian List leaders in an effort to leave the Serbian people unprotected, all aimed at creating unbearable living conditions for Serbs in Kosovo.

Director Petkovic stressed that despite all of Pristina’s obstructions and obstacles, its disinformation campaign, and demagogic attacks on Belgrade, Serbia remains firmly committed to dialogue as the platform for normalizing relations and seeking sustainable solutions on the ground. He emphasized that for progress in this process, it is essential that Pristina urgently begin forming the Community of Serb Municipalities.