Petkovic after new round of dialogue: We insisted on Community of Serb Municipalities, Pristina not interested

Speaking to reporters in Brussels after the discussions, Petkovic noted that, however, Pristina was not interested in the Community and that its chief negotiator Besnik Bislimi had declined to say whether he accepts the European draft statute for the Community.

“If there is no Community, that raises the issue of the survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. Therefore, for us, it is already a humanitarian issue because the Serbs can no longer endure the terror by (Kosovo’s interim Prime Minister Albin) Kurti’s police and Kurti’s regime. I said that openly to Mr. Bislimi, too,” Petkovic noted, Tajug reported.

He said he also addressed the plight of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs and attacks on Serbian churches, temples and cemeteries.

“The Community of Serb Municipalities is a framework for the survival of our people, and we will insist on that. We said having that Community, for which we have been waiting for a full 12 years, is a prerequisite for any further steps,” Petkovic said.

He noted that, during a trilateral meeting, he insisted on the Community and on launching concrete discussions about its statute.

“You will see, Bislimi will tell his story. Of course, this was the main topic. Both (EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Peter) Sorensen and the team present there can confirm that. So, when we talk about the Community of Serb Municipalities, I repeatedly asked Bislimi about it, even in front of Sorensen — whether he accepts the European draft statute for the formation of the CMS — and I also asked Sorensen to pose that question, because he wouldn’t answer me,” said Petkovic.

He stressed that Belgrade will keep trying to safeguard peace and protect the Serbs in Kosovo, which he noted was not easy as “these are difficult times,” and added that numerous obstructions targeting the Serb List in the electoral process were also addressed.

Petkovic explained that the issue of missing persons was also discussed.

“We said clearly that we are absolutely committed to resolving that issue, above all, for the benefit of the families that have been waiting for the full truth about the plight of their loved ones for over 20 years,” Tanjug quoted him as saying.