Head of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic said the order of the Northern Mitrovica inspectorate for Serbian state institutions to move out of a building in the neighborhood of Bosnjacka Mahala directly threatens the livelihood and the right to work of around 40 employees working in this building, and that such actions lead to escalation of the situation. (Kosovo and Metohija is the official name for what the Serbian authorities consider to be the country’s southern province)
Petkovic said in a press release that the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Office of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund Directorate, Administrative District of Kosovska Mitrovica and the Vucitrn Social Welfare Center, which are all housed in this building, have been given an ultimatum to move out within three days.
The institutions located in this building, such as the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, provide services in the field of pension and disability insurance to tens of thousands of users of all nationalities, whereas as many as 120 socially endangered families depend on the work of the department of the Social Welfare Center, Petkovic said.
“Such unilateral and illegal moves by the fake mayor, who was not voted for either by the Serbs or by the Albanians, lead to new raising of tensions and a crisis on the ground and do not go toward de-escalation, but toward direct escalation,” the press release quoted Petkovic as saying.
He added that, through his aides, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti is making moves that are a direct threat to peace and stability, while the international community is silent on the matter.
