Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Đurić: I expect urgent Government session over arrests on Mt. Brezovica and concerning Unesco

Director of the Office of the Government of Serbia for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Đurić will request from the Prime Minister to convene an urgent session of the government of Serbia over the arrests of the Serbs which took place on the Brezovica Mountain, as well as concerning the so-called Kosovo’s bid for UNESCO membership.

Đurić confirmed to the reporters in Brussels that the special units of the Kosovo Police arrested fifteen Serbs on Mt. Brezovica today:

"This morning, shortly after ten o'clock, heavily armed Kosovo Police Rosu units broke into the Šara National Park on Mt. Brezovica and arrested all the workers they found there," Đurić said at the extraordinary press conference held in Brussels.

Đurić said that the Kosovo special police forces arrested 15 workers, along with the General Director, and that they are currently detained in Uroševac.

Đurić stressed that this act constitutes gross violation of the rights of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and also amounts to stomping over everything so far achieved in the framework of the Brussels dialogue, and is a provocation aimed at Serbia as a whole.

The head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija estimated that this act is linked to Priština’s bid for UNESCO membership, and constitutes an attempt of imposing on Serbia a forced recognition of Kosovo’s unilaterally proclaimed independence.

Đurić announced that he would request from the Prime Minister of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić to convene an urgent session of the Serbian government.

“Serbia must not and will not remain silent in the face of attempts to misappropriate its cultural heritage, and to stomp on the fundamental rights of our people in Kosovo and Metohija”, Đurić said, adding that he conveyed Belgrade’s dissatisfaction to the EU representatives.

Đurić stated that he received information about attempts to infuse the negotiating platform for the opening of Chapter 35 with provisions which predetermine the outcome of the Brussels dialogue and impose Priština’s position on the status of Kosovo and Metohija.

“We hold that the EU should maintain objectivity and neutrality on the issue of status”, Đurić underlined.

Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija said that he expected from the Government of Serbia to take a clear stand at this urgent session towards the arrests of Serbs on Mt. Brezovica, and towards Priština’s bid for UNESCO membership.

“Now is the time to draw the line and cast the right political decision as to the direction of the Brussels dialogue, and consider whether what is imposed is really normalization of relations with Priština or, in fact, Priština’s position on the issue of status”, Đurić said.