Pristina bans Serbia’s minister from visiting Kosovo

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The Government of Serbia's Office for Kosovo “most strongly” condemned the decision by Pristina to ban Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin to visit Kosovo on June 28, an important Serb religious holiday.

The Serbs celebrate the June 28 in memory of the Battle for Kosovo from 1389 against the Turks. Serbs lost the battle and later fell under the Turkish rule, but celebrate the date as a religious holiday Vidovdan.

“It is clear that Pristina brought the decision in coordination with the European External Action Service (EEAS) with an intent to humiliate Serbia,” said a statement from the Office.

The statement added that “the decision is even worse since Pristina in the meeting in Brussels on Sunday (between presidents Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and Hashim Thaci of Kosovo) accepted to implement the so far achieved agreements and to act with respect toward the Serb side.“

Vulin’s visit was announced according to all existing rules and procedures, the statement said, and the ban was the most noticeable breach of the Officials’ Visits Agreement guaranteed by the EU.

Vulin said he would ask Vucic for an urgent meeting following the ban.