Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Simić: Establish CSM without further delay

President of the Serbian List Slavko Simić stated today that the representatives of Serbs in the Provincial Institutions wish to distance themselves from the ongoing conflict in the Albanian community, and undelined that there must be no further delays in establishing the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM).

Simić presented this position at the meeting held with the Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and the leaders of political parties in Pristina, which ended without reaching any specific agreement.

After the meeting, Simić told Tanjug that he reaffirmed that the representatives of the Serbian community who participate in the government would steer clear off the political instability generated by the conflict between the government and the opposition in Kosovo and Metohija, and in the Albanian community.

Simić presented the unambiguous position that there must be no procrastination in establishing the CSM, nor must it be reduced to the level of a non-governmental organization. Every element of the Brussels agreement reached by representatives of Belgrade and Priština must be fully and unconditionally observed and implemented.

"I also conveyed that it is in the interest of all citizens in Kosovo and Metohija to continue the process of normalizing relations between Priština and Beorgad. This is not an easy process and must be upheld by the incumbent or those who come to power in Kosovo", said Simić .

At the meeting, Simić called for overcoming the crisis in Kosovo and Metohija, stressing that the current process of destabilization of institutions is conducive to complete isolation.

Simić said that, in his address at the meeting, the leader of AFK Ramush Haradinaj, never mentioned the agreement on the CSM or on the demarcation of borders with Montenegro, but rather focused on issuing an ultimatum that the Assembly be dissolved and elections called for March or April.

Simić confirmed that Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga announced that another meeting among the representatives of the authorities and the opposition would be scheduled later in the week, in an attempt to find a solution to the political crisis.