Meeting of Minister Đurić with the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue Sorensen

Reflecting on a series of escalatory measures undertaken in recent weeks by the authorities in Pristina, aimed at further aggravating the position of the Serbs, Minister Đurić underscored the necessity of continued presence of international organizations and missions in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as their enhanced engagement with a view to improving the overall security situation, ensuring full respect for freedoms and rights, and preparing the forthcoming elections under democratic and fair conditions.

Stressing the importance of stronger involvement of the international community, and in particular of the European Union, in exerting influence on the authorities in Pristina to avoid further unilateral and provocative actions against Serbs and representatives of their political organizations, Minister Đurić pointed out that in recent weeks there has been an increase in entry bans for certain Serbs whose families live in Kosovo and Metohija, continued usurpation of private property and attempts to evict entire Serbian families from their homes, while the perpetrators of attacks on the property of representatives of Serbian political organizations remain unidentified. He added that the authorities in Pristina are attempting to create new points of tension in Kosovska Mitrovica through the construction of a new bridge, under the guise of alleged infrastructural development.

Minister Đurić emphasized that Belgrade encourages and expects the widest possible participation of Serbs in the upcoming elections in Kosovo and Metohija, and considers that such participation will open the way for their return, in appropriate numbers and in an adequate manner, to all institutions and levels of government.

It was jointly assessed that—alongside the imperative of de-escalation in Kosovo and Metohija—dialogue, open and substantive discussions, as well as the implementation of the agreements reached, constitute the best path towards resolving outstanding issues and normalizing living conditions for all citizens in Kosovo and Metohija. Both sides also expressed the expectation that, in the near future, a meeting of the heads of the negotiating teams of Belgrade and Pristina will be organized again in Brussels.