Petkovic: International Community Responsible for Kurti’s Attempts to Enslave Northern Kosovo

Petar Petkovic/BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC/

Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Petar Petkovic said on April 17 that "the biggest responsibility in attempts to politically and in other ways enslave the Serb people in north Kosovo lied with the international community, which strongly supports the forced staging of elections in which Serbs will not vote."

"How will representatives of the West now explain the fact that purely Serb regions and municipalities are going to be led by the two percent of Albanians who are going to be the only ones to vote," Petkovic said in a written statement in which he commented on a meeting between Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti and four candidates of the Self-Determination movement for mayor in the four Serb municipalities in the north of Kosovo."

Petkovic went on to say that "this kind of election, which has the purpose of annulling the existence of the absolute majority of Serb people in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, are a continuation of Kurti's terror and violence against Serbs, with the goal of fully occupying the north of Kosovo and Metohija."

The EU said in a statement for Radio Kosovo on April 15 that "it is very disappointing that the Serb Ticket and other parties that represent the Kosovo Serbs have decided not to participate in local elections on April 23 in the four northern municipalities."

"Kosovo's and Serbia's duty is to prioritize the return of Kosovo Serbs to local governments, the police and justice system and agree on the road ahead which will be inclusive, just, democratic and peaceful," the EU's spokesman said to Radio Kosovo.