Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Djurić: We will protect Trepča in every way

Priština authorities are once again trying to seize Trepča from its rightful owners, the Serbian Development Fund and other creditors, said Marko Djurić, the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, in a statement for RTS.

The provincial Assembly plans to debate on the Trepča mining basin on Friday. The Draft law was not on the government’s agenda, but it will be put before the deputies. During an appearance on RTS News, Marko Djurić said that the new draft law in the political sense appeared out of nowhere and that it envisages the nationalization of the Trepča complex and the deprivation of Serbian property and management rights.

Djurić says this is a gross violation of the CEFTA and SAA agreements.

“I hope that common sense will prevail and that this will be stopped, because otherwise, we will take legal and political measures”, Djurić said.

He pointed out that Belgrade initiated a procedure regarding the violation of the CEFTA agreement and that EU will be informed about everything. He also stressed the possibility of initiating arbitration proceedings and taking other available legal measures.

“We are taking political measures, trying to finish this process and encourage conversation”, Djurić said.

He emphasized that Trepča is not Priština’s property, but property of a company from Serbia Proper and, ultimately, the property of foreign companies that are shareholders.

Marko Djurić said that the problem is not only the hundreds of millions or billions of euros, but also the fate of more than 3,000 Trepča employees is a huge problem, because it would be threatened.

“In any case, the government will protect their interests and will not allow for anyone to remain on the street”, Djurić said.

He stated that this is a serious attack on the interests of Serbs and it threatens to cause broader destabilization. He emphasized that more ore deposits are located below Serbia Proper, but the entry points are from Kosovo and Metohija.

“By such moves, they are showing that by plundering they wish to put all participants before a done deal. That will not work, we will protect Trepča in every way”, Djurić said.

Speaking about the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, Djurić said that Belgrade negotiates solely in the interest of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija because their life and survival is of priority. He said that the process of euro integration should not be conditioned by the results of the dialogue, but should monitor the results of agreement implementation.

When it comes to agreement implementation, Djurić says that Belgrade did a “mountain of work” and that Priština has done very little, and the enormous obligation of forming CSM is before them.

“We cannot do everything, and they nothing, it is known that negotiations cannot function in such a way”, Djurić said.

Speaking about the ban on going to Kosovo and Metohija, Djurić said that he was previously also forbidden to go, but he still went. He adds he doesn’t wish to speak the language of threats and bans, and that such things show a very low level of political culture.

“No one will silence me. Kosovo and Metohija is Serbia and I will fight till the end”, Djurić concluded, adding he will visit Kosovo and Metohija in the next few days.