Belgrade to back Serb participation in Kosovo government

Source: Tanjug

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- Office for Kosovo head Marko Đurić met with UNMIK Chief Farid Zarif and told him that Serbia intends to support Serbs' participation in a new Kosovo government.

Marko Đurić (Tanjug, file)

Đurić told Zarif on Friday in Kosovska Mitrovica that representatives of Serbs in Kosovo are taking an active part in the formation of the new provincial administration, new provincial government.
Strengthened with Serbs' participation in the parliament and government, Serbia will continue fighting for the interests and rights of its citizens in the southern province, Đurić said.

He underlined that the objective of Serbs' participation in the parliament and government is to resolve the backlog of problems facing them for quite long, such as the seizure of property and shady privatization deals.

“Our message to the UNMIK chief has been that we will continue fighting for each and every one of our citizens in Kosovo, each and every house, field, monument, the right to survive and live decently,” he said.

Đurić said that, in the coming months, the priorities will be the adoption of the statute and the formation of a community of Serb municipalities in line with the agreement on the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Priština, which was reached in Brussels on April 19, 2013.

He noted that he also discussed with Zarif the current political and security situation in Kosovo, and underscored that the stability in the province is Serbia's key interest.

The meeting also addressed projects aimed at economic development in Kosovo.

Đurić voiced the confidence that Serbia, as a UN member state, can count on the support and understanding from the world organization.

“Our talks passed in the spirit of mutual understanding and desire to secure the stability in Kosovo and Metohija,” Đurić concluded.

Zarif did not address reporters after the meeting.