Petkovic: Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue to Resume Next Week

Petar Petkovic/BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC

The director of the Serbian government's Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petkovic, has announced the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina technical dialogue for next week and has said he expects nothing from that meeting.

"Like every time, we are going prepared with our experts, with all those topics that are on the table. We are ready to openly discuss everything. We especially insist on the forming of the Community of Serb Municipalities. That is crucial for the survival of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, for the future, and we will do everything to preserve peace and stability through that approach and safeguard the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija," Petkovic told public broadcaster RTS on June 28.

Regarding Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's meeting with the EU special representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in Brussels, Petkovic said that it was clear to them, too, that Serbia had completely done its part and was in favor of the dialogue process and the normalization of relations, while Kurti was the one who had refused to talk.

According to Petkovic, the EU has this time clearly said that Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti is the one to blame for having refused to talk, despite sitting in the next room. "Either way, in its statement the European Union did not say its famous phrase that both parties were responsible, rather it clearly said that Kurti, i.e. Pristina, was avoiding the dialogue and normalization process," said Petkovic.