Petkovic: Pristina wanted to conceal that the Kosovo Police brutally killed the Serbs in Banjska

Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, stated today that EULEX had not participated in the investigation in Banjska because the Kosovo Police had wanted to hide the fact that Serbs had been brutally killed there.

Petkovic added at a press conference, that he wanted to inform both the domestic and international public about what had happened in Banjska and why EULEX had been refused participation in the investigation of the tragic events.

He also asked why everyone was silent, and no one except Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was speaking about it.

"Why hasn't EULEX spoken out?" Petkovic asked.

He said that Serbia had obtained information and witnesses that Bojan Mijajilovic had been brutally killed in cold blood after being wounded and after surrendering.

Petkovic stated that this was what Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla had wanted to hide, and he added that Serbia had evidence of this. He emphasized the importance of an independent international commission and experts, together with Serbian pathologists, examining the bodies and conducting autopsies.

As he pointed out, the Kosovo Police had been trying to conceal the bodies for four days.

He also mentioned another reason why Svecla and the Kosovo Police were not allowing EULEX to participate in the investigation, which, as he said, was to avoid revealing which Albanians had participated in the brutal killing of the Serbs in Banjska, as there were statements from protected witnesses about this.

Serbia's only demand, he added, was the demand that had existed for a year now: for KFOR to be present in the north and for the Kosovo Police, which the Serbs in the north perceive as occupying, to withdraw.

He also said that the Pristina authorities had lied about many things, from the story about Milan Radoicic to the claim that a military force had been deployed, which had not even been in a state of increased combat readiness.

"Serbia is seeking an independent investigation and for Serbian pathologists to examine all the bodies," Petkovic said.

He added that the families would identify the bodies, and that Bojan Mijailovic was "literally disfigured" and that it was evident that he had been killed at close range.

According to his words, there were no police or law enforcement in the north; instead, it was gangs that went to kill all the Serbs.

He also said that he had discussed everything with international officials, including the Special Representative for the Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, and as he pointed put, he had sent a letter to the head of the EULEX Mission regarding the determination of the circumstances of the deaths of three individuals of Serbian nationality.